The Green Glass Sea

The Green Glass Sea

By: Ellen Klages

Puffin Books ©2006

ISBN#: 9780142411490

It’s 1943, and Dewy Kerrigan is on her way to a town that—officially—doesn’t exist. The United States is in the middle of World War II and Dewy’s father is one of the scientists working on “the gadget.” Susan also lives on “The Hill” and wishes she was back in her old life at Berkley. Little do these girls know, but their lives are soon to be tangled together when Dewy’s father has to go to Washington for meetings about “the gadget.” Dewy and Susan don’t see how they could have anything in common. However, over time they realize that Susan’s passion for art is very similar to Dewy’s passion for inventing and that misfits need to stick together. The Green Glass Sea shows how World War II had an impact on even the youngest life.

Klages immerses the reader in war time with finer details such as food rations and gasoline coupons. She also incorporates real scientists as characters in her story to give it more authenticity. Klages brings the truth of the raw destruction of the atomic bomb to life. “They walked in from the edge until all they could see was green: splattered at their feet, merging into solid color at the edges of their vision” (Klages 314). The atomic bomb turned the desert sand into glass. She also makes it apparent that there were some scientists who questioned whether or not the bomb should be used through the arguments between Susan’s parents.

This novel could be used in a discussion about the pros and cons of developing the atomic bomb. In a science class, this novel could be used to inspire students to make inventions of their own. It could also inspire artistic students to experiment with different materials. This novel could also help students develop an understanding for the quote “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” because of the girls’ fondness for searching through the dump.

Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2007.

Horn Book Magazine—“Cameo appearances are made by such famous names as Richard Feynman (he helps Dewey build a radio) and Robert Oppenheimer, but the story, an intense but accessible page-turner, firmly belongs to the girls and their families; history and story are drawn together with confidence”(S.R.).

Booklist—“The novel occasionally gets mired down in detail, but the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes” (Green).

Works Cited

R., S. "The Green Glass Sea." Horn Book Magazine 82.6 (2006): 716-717. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Green, John. "The Green Glass Sea." Booklist 103.6 (2006): 61-62. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Boston Jane

Boston Jane

By: Jennifer L. Holm

HarperCollins Children’s Books ©2001

ISBN#: 006028739

Boston Jane is set in 1849. Jane Peck is on her way from Boston to Shoalwater Bay to marry the man of her dreams, William. Jane has spent the last five years learning to be a proper young lady, even though her father taught her to think and speak her mind. However, things just keep going wrong for Jane. She loses her best friend on the journey and arrives only to find that William is gone. Jane faces any number of adventures, finds friends in unlikely places and discovers that “she ain’t no lady.”

Boston Jane will make readers laugh, but it will also make them think. It has a lighthearted tone, but presents some very heavy topics that could be discussed. In this novel, Jennifer L. Holm challenges society’s view that women should be meek, passable possessions of their husbands. Holm shows that life on the frontier made women into resourceful, independent, free-thinkers. Jane becomes a business partner and the areas doctor. Holm also addresses the misconceptions about native Indians in that area. Jane gets to Shoalwater Bay and believes all Indians are savages, but she quickly learns differently. Holm accurately depicts the hardships of travel and life on the frontier. It takes Jane’s ship 180 days to travel from Boston to Shoalwater Bay and she loses her closest friend in the process. Moreover, she learns that everyone has to help out and do their part.

This novel could be the basis for a classroom debate. In the novel, the frontiersmen do not agree on whether or not to move the Indians to a reservation. A teacher could split the class into two groups and debate both points of view. This novel could also be the starting off point for a discussion about the hardships of travel and life on the frontier or the roles of women in that time period.

Horn Book Magazine—“The comical overabundance of incident, combined with Jane’s indignant responses to the affronts perpetuated by the frontier and its inhabitants, create a slapstick romp that will entertain anyone in search of a fast-paced, feather-light read” (Burkam).

Works Cited:

Burkam, Anita L. "Boston Jane." Horn Book Magazine 78.5 (2002): 574. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Bloody Jack

Bloody Jack

By: L.A. Meyer

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company ©2002

ISBN#: 9780152050856

It all starts with “The Dark Day.” Mary Jacky Faber’s entire life is turned upside down when her family dies of the pestilence in 1797. She’s left to beg on the streets of London with a gang of orphans, but Jacky has dreams of something bigger—she wants to captain her own merchant ship. Bloody Jack is the thrilling tale of one girl’s mission to make her life better. Her adventures go from the grimy streets of London to disguising herself as a ships-boy on the HMS Dolphin. Jacky’s life is perfect as long as she can keep up “the deception” and avoid the hangman’s noose.

L.A. Meyer has created a thrilling tale that puts the reader on the streets of London in 1797. She writes with the heavy, street urchin dialect that adds authenticity to her story. “I runs and runs, just out of me head with terror, and I keeps on runnin’ till I starts heavin’ and gaspin’ and chokin’ and I can’t run no more and I falls down in an alley,…” (Meyer 2). This is even more apparent in the audio book reading by Katherine Kellgren. Moreover, the reader is faced with the glaring reality that the orphans are forced to beg or steal in order to survive, and sometimes that didn’t even save them.

This novel could be part of a book study on breaking gender roles. In a history class, this novel could be the starting point for a discussion about society in that time period. One of the major issues in the book is how many children were left to beg and survive on their own. This novel could also be used in a discussion of the time period when England ruled the seas.

Horn Book Magazine—“Jacky's diary reflects this language growth but always retains her strong, proud voice. The abrupt ending ties up the plot but hints at more adventures to come” (Carter).

Booklist—“Jacky is quickly becoming a respected ship’s boy aboard the HMS Dolphin but has a secret that she is struggling to keep from everyone onboard—she is not a boy. Katherine Kellgren’s cockney accent brings this rousing tale to life” (“Bloody Jack”).

Works Cited

"Bloody Jack." Booklist 104.13 (2008): 24. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Carter, Betty. "Bloody Jack." Horn Book Magazine 79.1 (2003): 81. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

Meyer, L.A. Bloody Jack. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2002. 2. Print.