Meeting Notes: A Tale Dark and Grimm

A Tale Dark and Grimm was just that, a book that retold some of the Grimm's Brothers grim tales.  It was a great book for discussion.  The way the author wove the stories together created a lot of food for thought.  We discussed Hansel and Gretel's search for new parents and what makes good parents.  We related to Hansel when he was in the forest and kept killing more and more animals and he knew he shouldn't have.  We talked about when we or someone we knew were doing something wrong and couldn't stop and what to do about it.  We also talked about which of the stories told were our favorites.  I personally like the Seven Sparrows.


Before we knew it, it was time to chose the book for the next meeting.  The two books we chose from were:

Everything on a Waffle  by Peggy Horvath.  Primrose's parents have been lost at sea, but she believes without an iota of doubt that they are still alive, somewhere. She moves in with her Uncle Jack, but feels generally friendless. Her only real refuge is a local restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where the owner, Miss Bowzer, serves everything on waffles -- except advice and good sense, which come free of charge and are always reliable.

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman.  Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.

After much deliberation, the next book we will be reading is Everything on a Waffle.  Make sure you get your copy soon.  For the meeting, if you would please bring your favorite or an unusual waffle topping, we will be trying everything on waffles!

The next meeting in on November 18, 2011 at 3:00 pm in Community Room A.
Please note that this is the third, not the fourth Friday because of Thanksgiving weekend.  I hope to see you there!

Get Talking: A Tale Dark and Grimm

Here are some discussion questions for the book.  I hope you're enjoying it so far!


What do you think of the narrator of A Tale Dark & Grimm? Would the story be the same without him? Why or why not? Would you ever write a story with a similar narrator? Why or why not?

On page 8, Faithful Johannes defines "under-stand." Explain his definition. Who in your life is someone you under-stand and who under-stands you? As part of under-standing, what do you do for each other and why?

In "Brother and Sister" Hansel continues to hunt animals even though he knows doing so is wrong. Why does he continue? In the past, what have you or your friends done that you knew was wrong when you were doing it? Why did you continue? What was the result and how do you feel about it?

The worlds in fairy tales are very different from those most people live in today. So, why do people still enjoy reading them? Why might fairy tales still be important to people’s lives?

Hansel and Gretel go looking for adults who would be good parents. What do you think makes a good parent?

Which of the stories Hansel and Gretel play a part in was your favorite? Why?

What in A Tale Dark & Grimm made you laugh? Do you usually enjoy humorous stories? Why or why not?

A Tale Dark and Grimm is based on the original Grimm stories.  How do they differ from the versions of the stories that are usually told today?  Which do you like better?

Catch up with a Book Blurb

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was forced to skip last weeks blog entry.  I won't go into great detail about what we did at the meeting, because I'm sure all of you are anxiously waiting to know what book was picked for the scary month of October.  The choice was between:

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.  This Newberry winner is about Tabitha "Turtle" Wexler and the fifteen other heirs of Sam Westing.  Who ever solves the mystery of his will wins the game and the fortune!

and

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz.  Gruesome, yet awesome is how this book has been described.  This unique combination of Grimm's original stories and the author's imagination bring to life, with gory detail, the story of Hansel and Gretel and more.

And the winner is.....

A Tale Dark and Grimm

Reader, beware.

Warlocks with dark spells, hunters with deadly aim, and bakers with ovens retro-fitted for baking children lurk within these pages.

But if you dare,

Follow Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into the wilds—where magic, terror, and a little bit of humor shine like white pebbles lighting the way.

Come on in. It may be frightening, and it’s certainly bloody, but, unlike those other fairy tales you know, this one is true.

Once upon a time, you see, fairy tales were awesome.

In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches.
Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.

About the Author

I was born in San Francisco in 1982, but moved to Baltimore when I was two and a half. I grew up there, attending a school without very many rules. Somehow, I found a way to break all of them. I spent my entire middle school career in the principal's office. One day I will write a book and tell you about all of the ways you can be sent to the principal's office during middle school. Maybe each chapter will be a different way to be sent to the principal's office. There will be three hundred and forty-five thousand chapters.
I straightened myself out during high school and ended up going to college in New York City. I thought about majoring in religion, and then in philosophy, but ultimately chose English literature, because I think that the deepest truths about life tend to be written in works of fiction. Also, you can't beat the homework in English: "Enjoy this book! Now this one! Try this one, it's amazing!" I spent my third year of college in England. I walked around the old university town and ate beef pasties and sat in parks and read John Keats all day long. I only had to go to class twice a week, for an hour at a time. If you're any good at math, you'll know that that means I only had to be somewhere for two hours out of every 168. That means I was free to do whatever I wanted 166 out of every 168 hours, or 98.8% of the time. I didn't realize it then, but it was in that year that I discovered I could be a writer--me, a beef pasty, and my imagination is all I seem to need to be happy. (My fiancée tells me that this is untrue. I refuse to believe her.) 

After graduating, I stayed in New York and took a job in a second grade classroom at Saint Ann’s School, in Brooklyn, while attending Bank Street College of Education in the evenings. So during the days I was telling stories to kids at lunch and recess and story time, and at night I was meeting writers and reading bags full of children's books and thinking about how it all went together. 

Six years later, I'm still at Saint Ann's part-time, but now I teach second grade, fifth grade, and high school. I know. Crazy. It's the best thing ever. I may be discussing literary theory with 10th and 11th graders and then, an hour later, I'm building adding calculators out of batteries and wires with second graders. With my fifth graders, I pretty much just try to prevent them from going through puberty. 

Book and Author information taken from  http://www.adamgidwitz.com/

I hope you enjoy the book and I will see you for our next club meeting on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 3:00 pm at the library!

Gloria

Get Talking: Ella Enchanted

How does the curse cause Ella to be "in danger at every moment"? What happens to her if she tries to disobey an order?

What does Mandy reveal about herself to Ella after Ella's mother dies? What does Mandy tell Ella about Ella's family line?

Why are the gnomes friendly to Ella? What does the gnome predict for her?

Ella's father doesn't know about her curse. Why not? Why does Mandy advise Ella not to let him find out? What kind of man is Sir Peter?

How does Hattie figure out that Ella will obey her commands? What does she do with her power? Why doesn't she tell anyone? What does Ella hope to learn from the bogweed?

Even though she is cursed with obedience, how does Ella disobey orders? Does Ella's curse ever help her? Find an example of a positive result of the curse.

Each time Ella's book of fairy tales is opened, a different tale appears. Do the tales reflect the person reading the book? Why else do you think the fairy book shows certain things at different times?

Can you find any patterns in the different languages spoken in the book? Can you find any spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or other characteristic that distinguishes each from the other? Make a chart or list of your findings.

How does Prince Charmont feel about Ella? Does Ella realize how he feels? Find passages from his letters and their conversations to support your answers.

After meeting Lucinda, Ella thinks, "I knew I was happy only because I'd been ordered to be, but the happiness was absolute." If you were cursed as Ella was, would you rather be free to hate being obedient or be forced to be happy about it? How much freedom do you have to disobey orders in your own life? What keeps you from disobeying? If you do disobey, how does that come about?

What would you do in Ella's situation if you were forbidden to continue a dear friendship? If your circumstances prevented you from marrying the person you loved? Can Ella behave differently? How? What would the consequences of her actions be?

What do you think is the worst "gift" Lucinda bestows on anyone during the novel? Compare your choice with other gifts and discuss the disadvantages of each. Try to think of unusual ways each gift would affect the person's life.

What is the difference between small magic and big magic? Discuss how Mandy's and Lucinda's ideas about big and small magic are different. How do Lucinda's opinions change? Can you think of real-life situations in which people have power equal to big magic?

Ella Enchanted is based on the story Cinderella. Discuss how Ella's character and story is similar and how it is different from the traditional tale. What do you think the three most important differences are? Explain.

As always, this is just to get you thinking.  I'll see you next week!

Gloria

These questions are taken from
              http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=10952_type=Book_typeId=4279

Book Blurb: Ella Enchanted

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you've ever read.

Taken from http://www.amazon.com/

About the Author

Gail Carson Levine

I grew up in upper Manhattan, Washington Heights to be exact, a hilly, pretty neighborhood. My family lived across the street from P.S. 173, my elementary school, and from a park where I used to climb what my friends and I called the "danger" rocks, which were part of the palisades that overlook the Hudson River. Going up, clinging to cracks with my fingertips, terrified, I'd think, If I live, I will never do this again. When I reached the top I'd work my way down and start over just as frightened as before.

From third grade through high school I wrote stories and poems, and a few of my poems were published in an anthology of student writing, but I never thought of becoming a writer. The authors of most of my favorite childhood books were dead (Mark Twain, L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, Anna Sewell). I knew a few artists because my dad owned a commercial art studio, and I saw actors in the movies and on stage, but I didn't think of writing as work that any modern person did.

In college——first Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, then City College of New York (Phi Beta Kappa, not that I'm bragging)——I majored in Philosophy, a useless major for a future writer. Philosophers use winding, twisty, endless sentences and words like posit, predicate, epistemology, ontology. Don't get me wrong. Writers need to have enormous vocabularies, and I never met a word I didn't love, but we use our arsenal judiciously. We don't go all sesquipedelian at the drop of a hat.  And in college I met and married my husband David, who is a very witty man. He's been giving me humor lessons ever since!

After college, I worked for New York State government, mostly in jobs that had to do with welfare. My favorite time was the first part of my career when I helped people find work. How satisfying that was!
Meanwhile, I did my first bit of writing for children. In the 1970's I wrote the script for a musical called Spacenapped. David wrote the music and lyrics, and it was performed by The Heights Players, a community theater in Brooklyn. But I still didn't think of myself as a writer. I read novels constantly, as I always had, and one day while I was meditating I asked myself why, since I adored stories, I never made up any. That was the beginning of The King's Cure, an art appreciation book for kids. I wrote it and drew pencil illustrations of birds and used reproductions of famous art for the illustrations——and no one would publish it——but I became hooked on writing. I took writing classes and joined critique groups and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (find it online at www.scbwi.org, a great organization). And I collected rejection letters for nine years until an editor wanted the manuscript for Ella Enchanted. You know the rest.

Taken from http://www.gailcarsonlevine.com/

Wild Girl meeting

The attendance for this meeting was a bit lower than usual, but with school just starting it was to be expected.  The meeting focused on picking the book for next month.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.  At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you've ever read.


Princess Academy by Shannon HaleThe thought of being a princess never occurred to the girls living on Mount Eskel. Most plan to work in the quarry like the generations before them. When it is announced that the prince will choose a bride from their village, 14-year-old Miri, who thinks she is being kept from working in the quarry because of her small stature, believes that this is her opportunity to prove her worth to her father. All eligible females are sent off to attend a special academy where they face many challenges and hardships as they are forced to adapt to the cultured life of a lowlander. First, strict Tutor Olana denies a visit home. Then, they are cut off from their village by heavy winter snowstorms. As their isolation increases, competition builds among them.


And the winner is....Ella Enchanted.  I'm excited for this book.  It's been one of my favorites from the first time I read it.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

We will be meeting to discuss the book on September 23, 2011 in Community Room A.  I look forward to seeing you there!


Gloria

Super Woman Spotlight: Rosa Parks

I've been trying to think how I could get everyone more involved in the book clubs and I finally came up with the idea to have the girls write the Super Woman Spotlight.  Once a month the blog entry will be by them.  They can pick any woman they want to.  She can be someone famous, someone they know or anyone at all.  Just write a little bit about her and I'll post it.  Let me know if you are interested in writing it.

This first one is written by Lydia, age 9 and is about Rosa Parks.

In 1932, Rosa married a man named Raymond Parks.   He helped Rosa finish high school.  They lived in Montgomery, Alabama.   They became members of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).  They worked for civil rights. They wanted all people, no matter what color, to be treated fairly.  Rosa worked hard at the NAACP.   She wanted to do something the civil rights.   

On December 1, 1955, Rosa made a very important decision.   She was going to take the first step to change things.  That day, Rosa left work feeling tired.   She had worked for many hours at a department store. She took a seat on the bus, she was not allowed to sit in the front of the bus the. White are the only ones to sit in the front.  She was allowed in the back only. Buses were segregated and in the south it was the law. Soon the bus was filling up.  The bus driver told Rosa and other blacks to move.   Rosa did not move as the law stated.  It was very un-life like for Rosa.

Rosa Parks was arrested and taken to jail.  She was told to pay a fine.  When she was released from jail, she decided not to pay the fine.  Instead she decided to fight the unfair bus law.  Many people were ready to fight segregation.  But Rosa took the first step.  Rosa and her friends did a boycott.  (A boycott is when many people come together and refuse to buy or use something.)  The black people that usually took the bus to work agreed to walk instead.  This meant that the bus company would lose money.

An important minister helped tell people about the bus boycott.  His name was Martin Luther King, Jr.   He told people to fight for what they believed in, but to do it peacefully.  

While the boycott was going on Rosa’s lawyers took her case to the Supreme Court.  (That was the highest court in the United States.)   Rosa should never have been arrested.  They said that segregation on the buses should be against the law because it treats all black people unfairly.  

The boycott lasted for more than a year!  Then on December 20, 1956, the city of Montgomery got an order form Supreme Court.  Segregation is not allowed, period on bus.   It was great victory.   But many restaurants, stores, and even hospitals were still not open to the blacks.  It took very many years, and lots of battles to end segregation.  Rosa Parks worked very hard for civil rights movement.   She has won honors and lots of awards for all that she has done.   But one right stands before them all- the right to be treated fairly and with respect for ever.

Thank you Lydia for telling us about Rosa Parks.  She really was an amazing woman.

I'll see everyone next week at the meeting!

Gloria