Historical Fiction

Cushman, Karen. 2003. Rodzina. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618133518.







SUMMARY

Kathy Cushman’s Rodzina is a 215-page historical fiction chapter book for young adults grades 5-9. Rodzina’s story, told in first person, is loaded with adventure, intriguing personal relationships, sadness, fear and humor.

The only art is the book jacket, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, portraying a blue-eyed, robust Polish girl and her charge little Lacey.

Rodzina, about two dozen other orphans, Mr. Szprot and Miss Doctor board an orphan train in Chicago heading west. The train stops along the way to meet potential parents for the orphans. Some of the children are adopted into loving homes. Others are adopted as slaves. Two ladies acquire Rodzina to serve as their slave. Rodzina runs away and returns to the orphan train. A second family seeks her services to care for their near-death mother and then step into the mother’s shoes. Rodzina shows her stubbornness and is quickly returned to the orphan train. Rodzina meets a mail-order bride. Should she pursue this life? Two orphans insist they are not brothers—they are, in fact, brother and sister. Little Lacey and the train cat, Dumpling, disappear prompting a search of the town. Do they find Lacey and Dumpling safe?

As the train nears the west coast, Rodzina, feeling like the “most unwanted orphan”, who is still not adopted. Is a training school Rodzina’s destination? In the last chapter, the cold and mysterious Miss Doctor and Rodzina finally develop a relationship. Do they become a family?

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Rodzina is an excellent historical fiction novel exploring orphan trains--a concept that today’s students are probably not aware of. The novel also acquaints the reader with the Polish culture especially their food and language. The author questions “Do orphans mostly come to a bad end?” The journey west encompasses personal relationships, geography, fear, trust, and career goals for women. All of these topics stimulate excellent discussion.

This novel will be appropriately used in social studies and women’s history classes. It should also be featured during March—Women’s History Month.


REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 5-9. As in Cushman's Newbery winner, The Midwife's Apprentice (1995), the hero of this lively historical novel is a mean orphan, desperate for home, and her adult mentor is both as tough and as needy as the orphan child. Here the setting is the U.S. in 1881 on the orphan train going west from Chicago to California; but the story of the wild, lonely pauper kids is like something out of Dickens, especially when they remember their desperate lives in the streets and orphanages of the city they left behind. Twelve-year-old Rodzina's first-person account of the uproar on the journey makes the dramatic history immediate. She's terrified of being given away as a slave to strangers. Indeed, as the train stops at various frontier towns along the way, she sees kids brutally exploited for their labor, and she herself escapes a nightmare forced "marriage." But she also sees successful mail-order couples, and some kids do find homes with loving families……

School Library Journal
Grade 4-7. Twelve-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski tells the story of her journey across the United States on an orphan train in 1881 in this audio version of Karen Cushman's novel (Clarion, 2003). A strong-willed, not very attractive Polish girl from Chicago, Rodzina is convinced that she is unlovable and would only be adopted to be used as a slave. More than 20 orphans, along with the harsh Mr. Szprot and the strict Miss Doctor, make up the cast of characters. Narrator Becky Ann Baker's voice reflects the emotions and maturity level of each character. Despite the unfortunate situation that the orphans have found themselves in, the book has many funny and lighthearted moments, such as playing baseball on the train and having dinner with "circus" folk. Listeners see new cities in untamed parts of the West through the eyes of the children. Rodzina sees Indians riding on the platform between trains….

Audio File
Becky Ann Baker narrates this poignant tale set in the late 1800s with clarity and charm. The awkward 12-year-old Rodzina finds herself plucked from the streets of Chicago and placed on an orphan train to the West. Throughout the story, Baker animates this young girl whose life has turned upside down. Rodzina tries to cope as best she can, all the while seeing to the needs of the younger orphans. She learns about herself, the world, and people who really do care for her. This is a painstaking account of a slice of American history not often represented. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the audio Cassette edition.

Connections

For prereading activities review the Polish Pronunciation Guide on page 205 and discuss factual information in the author’s notes on pages 207-215.

Provide a display of “orphan train” books. Additional titles are listed on pages 214-215 of the book.

Provide a display of additional titles by Karen Cushman.

Sample Rodzina’s favorite Polish foods.

Research “orphan trains”:
www.orphantrainriders.com
http://www.kidskonnect.com/content/view/274/27/Google “orphan trains”

Discussion topics:
Should orphanages be opened in the United States?
Should adoption be open or closed?







Freedman, Russell. 1990. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 089919379X


SUMMARY

Russell Freedman’s photo-biography entitled Franklin Delano Roosevelt is a 200-page chapter book for student’s grades 5-8.

Each chapter begins with a facing-page black and white photo of FDR with an explanatory caption. There are additional black and white photographs within each chapter. Each chapter also begins with a quotation from a variety of people including FDR, Sara Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and A Soldier.

The biography begins with a radio report to the American people one of the many “firsts” for FDR. The biography then drops back to his childhood. FDR was a privileged child living on hundreds of acres near Hyde Park, New York. It is quite evident in the reading that Franklin idolized his older father. His mother also played an integral role in his entire life.

FDR attended Harvard where he was involved in many activities the most important being president and editor in chief of The Harvard Crimson.

FDR married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, his fifth cousin once removed. His mother did not approve. FDR and Eleanor as she was known had five children born to this union.

The book continues narrative of FDR’s career including: New York State Senator, Navy Assistant Secretary, a romantic affair, lawyer and businessman, contacting polio which left him paralyzed, Governor of New York and President of the United States.

This dynamic president initiated the New Deal which provided relief, recovery and reform for the American people following the depression.

FRD closely monitored the progress of World War 2. Following the December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor, he addressed a joint session of Congress. Within 33 minutes Congress declared that a state of war existed between the United States and Japan. The book continues with an account of World War II and ends with FDR’s death and funeral.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Russell Freedman’s biography on Franklin Delano Roosevelt is a very readable and appropriate book for middle and high school students. The narrative, which contains personal and professional information, is accurate but not laden with too much detail. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life of FDR from his birth in 1882 up to the time of his death in Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1945. The excellent selection of black and white photographs in each chapter including explanatory captions and the FDR photo album in the back of the book will entice students to complete the text.

Freedman carefully describes FDR’s strengths and weakness’ bringing a sense of humanness to a man who was dedicated to his job and country. He masterfully portrays FDR as a man who would confront head-on any obstacle that got in his way. A man who was bent on exhausting every avenue until there was none left. Shortly after being nominated for vice-president, FDR stricken with polio and instead of letting the disease defeat him he became more determined to prove everyone wrong. It was his determination in life and of life that placed him in one of the most important roles in his career.

This text, as well as Freedman’s other biographies, will enhance an American history class. Many students may prefer to read Freedman’s book rather than their classroom textbook. The lessons of perseverance, determination, dedication, and duty will certainly be learned through this biography.

BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly
The Newbery Medalist uses more than 100 archival prints and photographs to enhance this engrossing, accessible biography of our 32nd president. Age’s 9-up.

School Library Journal
Grade 5-8 --As in Lincoln: A Photo-biography (Clarion, 1987), Freedman has taken a larger-than-life historical figure about whom innumerable volumes have been written and has retold the story of one man's life in the context of his times. The carefully researched, highly readable text and extremely effective coordination of black-and-white photographs chronicle Roosevelt's privileged youth, his early influences, and his maturation. Drawing on first-hand observations of his family, friends, and enemies, as well as Roosevelt's own diary entries, Freedman formulates a composite picture of a complex, enigmatic individual and a consummate politician….

Connection

Pre-reading activity—Enjoy the FDR photo album on pages 179-192 of the book.

Provide a display of additional titles about FDR. Titles are listed on pages 193-194 of the book.

Have the students create posters of photos and short biographies for the presidents for President’s Day.

Create a time line of major events in the life of FDR.

Conduct a role-playing interview with FDR.

In you live near an FDR museum, plan a visit. Museums are listed on pages 177-178 of the text.

As an extension—Students can research databases for articles on the disease polio and write a short essay tying in information literacy skills.








Taylor, Mildred D. 2001. The Land. New York: Phyllis Fogelman Books. ISBN 0803719507



ANNOTATION

Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner

SUMMARY

Mildred D. Taylor’s book, The Land is a prequel to Taylor’s Newbery Medal Winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The book is a 373-page historical fiction chapter book for students in grades 7-12. Taylor is the author of several historical fiction novels portraying life of the African American prior to the Civil Rights Movement.

The only art is the jacket painting by Max Ginsburg. The painting is of Paul-Edward Logan an early adversary and later life-long friend and companion Mitchell Thomas.

This page turner is a Logan family series novel. A portion of the Logan family tree helps the reader understand the relationship of the characters. The story is based on stories told by the author’s family members and the history of the United States.

In “A Note to the Reader”, Taylor indicates that she uses authentic language of the time which caused many to want this book banned. The following language is used in the novel—“white nigger” and “nigger”.

Paul-Edward Logan tells his story of living in two worlds. He is the son of a white, wealthy plantation owner and his Indian-African mother who at the time of Paul’s birth was a slave owned by his father. Mr. Edward Logan has three white sons born by his now-deceased wife. Paul, his older sister Cassie and his mother live in a cabin near the main house. Paul’s mother continues to work for Mr. Logan. Paul and Cassie eat with Mr. Logan and his three sons except when visitors are present. The older sons teach Paul and Cassie what they learn in school.

Paul’s journey through life is filled with turmoil and adversity. As he matures, he begins to understand his place in society. He is taunted, degraded, and beaten. He learns never to talk back to or hit a white man. He is betrayed by his favorite brother, Robert. In spite of the turmoil, Paul continues to grow and learn new skills. He loves caring for, riding, and racing horses. Reading is an integral part of his life. Training in Georgia, he becomes an expert furniture carpenter. Paul falls in love with a woman he loses to Mitchell but later marries her.

A repeated theme is Paul’s desire to own land. How can a “white nigger” accomplish land ownership?

His first land acquisition is 40 acres of wooded land. Mitchell joins him to clear the land and hopefully receive the deed. Tragedy strikes.

The spectacular land he loves and wants to purchase has a meadow, pond, mountains and his praying rock. Can a “white nigger” acquire the property?

Note: To avoid redundancy, I have discussed events occurring in the Land as the professional book review excerpts vividly describe the emotional turmoil in this novel.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Land is a powerful novel of history, racial conflict, sibling/family issues, love, loss, hate, success, failure and betrayal. As you begin reading the book you find yourself drawn into that period of time. With each page you can actually feel Paul’s pain, joy, heart ache, disappointments and accomplishments. The narrative is easy to read and holds your interest throughout the book. The historical facts in the novel are descriptive and accurate. The language spoken brings life and realness to the story. When tired of being beat up all the time, Paul tries to garner help from his sister Cassie, she responds /Why’re letting him beat up on you?.../I’m not letting him!” I exclaimed in outrage. “You thinking I’m letting him beat up on me?/

The Land would be a wonderful addition which can be utilized as a supplementary text in American history, American literature, sociology and parenting classes.

BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Amazon Best of 2001
The Land is Mildred D. Taylor's wonderful prequel to her Newbery Medal winner, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. In the stories Taylor has to tell, life is not fair, hard work doesn't always pay off, and the good guy doesn't always win. That's because this extraordinary author tells the stories of her African American family in the Deep South during and after the Civil War, a time of ugly, painful racism.

Paul-Edward Logan, the son of a white, plantation-owner father and a slave mother, is our narrator, bound and determined to buy his own land and shape his own future at whatever cost. Caught between black and white worlds and not fitting into either one is devastating for him, but his powerful, engaging tales of the love of family, the strength of friendship, and growing up will inspire anyone to dare to persevere despite terrible odds…

Publishers Weekly
Taylor's gift for combining history and storytelling are as evident here as in her other stories about the Logan family. This prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry focuses on Cassies's grandfather, Paul-Edward Logan, and explains how the seeds were planted for feuds between the Logan’s and other families, as well as certain loyalties. Here, the author deftly explores double standards in the South during the years following the Civil War. She lays the groundwork for these issues to be examined through two key relationships in the childhood of Paul-Edward, a boy of mixed race: the strong bond he shares with Robert, his white half-brother, and a tenuous friendship with Mitchell, whose parents were born into slavery and whose father works for Paul-Edward's father. Through them, the hero becomes painfully aware of the indelible line dividing black and white society. Though it is acceptable that his father, plantation-owner Edward, keeps an African-American mistress and helps rear her children, Paul-Edward and his sister, Cassie, are not allowed the same privileges as their half-brothers…

Connections

For a pre-reading activity discuss the use of vocabulary current to the time the novel takes place.

Have a discussion about life in the South prior to the Civil Rights Movement.

Provide a display of additional titles by Mildred D. Taylor

Provide a display of ethnic literature by other authors.

Write a short story based on your family’s stories.

Have the students create posters of famous African Americans for display during Black History Month.

Create a family tree for the student’s family.

Discuss mixed-race families in your community.