Are You there God? It's me, Margaret.

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Bibliographic data: 

Blume, Judy (1970). Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret.  New York: Atheneum Books.

Summary:  

Margaret is a stereotypical eleven-year-old American girl.  Following a move to New Jersey, Margaret quickly makes friends with her new neighbor, Nancy.  She is introduced to her classmates and her new teacher, Mr. Benedict.  As she adjusts to her new life, she questions religion, learns about puberty and finds out what kinds of friends she really has made.   

Analysis:  

Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret, is a story most preteen girls could relate to.  Throughout the book, Margaret pleads with God to simply be normal – a feeling most fifth or sixth graders often have.  For Margaret, being normal has a number of different meanings.  She wants to physically be normal.  She and her friends are eager to get their first periods and “increase [their] busts.”  At the same time, these milestones make her feel awkward and unsure.  She worries that if her secret crush, a friend of a friend’s older brother, is discovered she would be made fun of.  Young girls would be able to see themselves in these struggles of Margaret’s, and learn from her experiences.

Margaret also wants to be religiously normal.  Her parents had different religious upbringings and abandoned all religion when they were married.  While Margaret writes to God in her journal, she has never attended church or synagogue, which is completely unheard of in her new hometown.   Throughout the novel is attends services of different faiths and begs God to help her feel something towards one of them.  This is an unusual theme in books for preteens, however is very relevant as many girls are going through confirmation or preparing for their Bat Mitzvah.

While often considered controversial and on banned book lists, Blume has created a novel that accurately portrays the turmoil of being a young woman.  Margret shows the mind of a sixth grader, with sixth grade worries and troubles.  The most risqué scene involves the entire sixth grade class playing spin the bottle and two minutes in heaven, however the kisses described are primarily pecks on the cheek. Those with firm religious beliefs may be put off by her casual relationship with God, however her search for truth is one that many religious faiths encourage at her age.  Margaret’s turmoil about where she belongs will be relatable to many girls who are questioning their personal beliefs.

This is a book that girls will be able to relate to and enjoy; a downfall is that boys would not, particularly not preteen boys.  The books focuses too much on girl topics, such as menstruation, bras and crushes, for boys to feel comfortable reading it.  Blume has written a similar book, Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, with a male main character that boys would be better able to relate to. 

Activity:  

For her sixth grade project, Margaret studies and considers what religion would be best suited for her.  She attends a number of religious services and confession, however the beliefs of the faiths she explores are not discussed.  To extend this search of Margaret’s for readers, guest speakers from different religions could be asked to speak about the similarities and differences in their creeds and answer any looming questions readers have.

Related Resources:

Throughout the book, Margaret and her friends discuss their changing bodies at length.  They are curious about what is to come.  Many young girls will likely have similar questions.  For those who are too shy to ask an adult, a website such as girlshealth.gov could be useful.  This site has articles covering many topics that Margaret has concerns over in the book, from puberty and crush to bullying and friendships.

http://www.girlshealth.gov/

Office on Women’s Health.  Girlshealth.  Retrieved from http://www.girlshealth.gov/ (accessed June 24, 2016)

Margaret’s adventures are told through a combination of narrated stories and diary entries.  After reading Margaret’s journal, readers may be inspired to write their own thoughts and concerns down.  The Care & Keeping of YOU: Journal 1 for Younger Girls provides a guided journal for young girls to reflect on their life, as well as information about common questions and concerns.

Natterson, Cara (2013).  The Care & Keeping of YOU: Journal 1 for Younger Girls.  Middleton: American Girl Publications:

Published Review:

“The comical longings of little girls who want to be big girls -- exercising to the chant of "We must -- we must -- increase our bust!" -- and the wistful longing of Margaret, who talks comfortably to God, for a religion, come together as her anxiety to be normal, which is natural enough in sixth grade. And if that's what we want to tell kids, this is a fresh, unclinical case in point: Mrs. Blume (Iggie's House, 1969) has an easy way with words and some choice ones when the occasion arises. But there's danger in the preoccupation with the physical signs of puberty -- with growing into a Playboy centerfold, the goal here, though the one girl in the class who's on her way rues it; and with menstruating sooner rather than later -- calming Margaret, her mother says she was a late one, but the happy ending is the first drop of blood: the effect is to confirm common anxieties instead of allaying them. (And countertrends notwithstanding, much is made of that first bra, that first dab of lipstick.) More promising is Margaret's pursuit of religion: to decide for herself (earlier than her 'liberal' parents intended), she goes to temple with a grandmother, to church with a friend; but neither makes any sense to her -- "Twelve is very late to learn." Fortunately, after a disillusioning sectarian dispute, she resumes talking to God. . . to thank him for that telltale sign of womanhood. Which raises the last question: of a satirical stance in lieu of a perspective.

Kirkus Review (1970).  Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret. n.p.: Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/judy-blume/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret/. Last updated October 2011.  (accessed June 25, 2016).

Midwinterblood

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Bibliographic data: 

Sedgwick, Marcus (2014).  Midwinterblood.  Read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.  New York: Listening Library.

Summary:  

Midwinterblood is comprised of seven short stories, each its own story but all connected by an island and two names, Merle and Erik.  Spanning thousands of years, each story is its own, telling of a journalist, archeologist, painter, farmer, fighter pilot, king and nanny.  Each story, however, has elements that are relate to the others: a hare, a phrase, a flower.  Could these stories, despite their differences and the years between them, be intertwined?

Analysis:  

Midwinterblood is an engaging, well-written and thought-out book.  Sedgwick managed to create seven stories that could easily stand on their own but instead group together to make a stronger, more compelling book.  With each new story, the reader becomes more certain that the Eriks and Merles from each story are somehow connected.  Each story provides the reader with the smallest hint of how the stories connect, hints that are often not obvious until a number of stories later.  This interconnectedness draws the reader in, making Midwinterblood an easy page-turner.

Because it is comprised of a number of short stories, there is a story line for nearly everyone.  The short story genres range from ghost stories to historical fiction, realistic fiction to mystery.  This variety makes Midwinterblood an ideal read for book groups or classroom assignments.  The variety is complimented by foreshadowing and reoccurring ideas, making it easy to make predictions about what is to come in the novel and discuss theories of how, or if, the stories are related.

Midwinterblood does not have the feel of a young adult novel.  The characters are not anxious teens attempting to discover themselves, but rather a mix of young and old, males and females.  This is likely to catch some young adults off guard.  The uniqueness of the story line will engage some young readers, while others might be unable to connect to the book without seeing more of themselves in the characters.

The audio reading is well done overall.  Julian Rhind-Tutt creates a variety of voices, allowing the multitude of characters to come to life.  The musical selection that plays between the stories matches the feel of the novel, mysterious and ancient.  Towards the end of the book however, Rhind-Tutt’s voice trails off awkwardly at the end of sentences, leaving the listener in a constant state of discomfort as he or she wonders if the chapter is ending or if there are errors with the playback.

Activity:  

A class could use the unique combined short story style of Midwinterblood as a starting point for a collaborative writing project.  To begin, all students could be given two names.  Each individual or small group could then compose a short story with two characters that have the assigned names. There should be no restraints on how the names are connected or used.  After this writing is complete, the individual writers would share their writing with the class.  Then, as a whole group, the class would brainstorm and write an overarching story that connects all of the short stories.

Related Resources: 

The connection between the stories in Midwinterblood is an ancient human sacrifice.   In an attempt to appease the gods and his people for years of bad crops, King Erik offers himself.  As he dies, he promises his wife, Merle, that they will live seven times and that he will find her.  European human sacrifice is likely an unknown topic for young adult readers, this site from the BBC will provide them with background knowledge on the subject.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/british_prehistory/human_sacrifice_01.shtml

Parker-Pearson, Mike (2011).  The Practice of Human Sacrifice.  Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/british_prehistory/human_sacrifice_01.shtml  (accessed June 20, 2016).

One of the stories in Midwinterblood tells of a famous painter who creates a giant painting depicting a scene of a primitive human sacrifice.  This sacrifice is central to the story and is titled “Midwinterblood”.  The painting however was not an idea original to Sedgwick.  He based the story off a painting created in 1915 by Carl Larsson titled “Midvinterblot,” which is housed at the Swedish National Museum.  Larsson’s painting does not match Sedgwick’s description exactly, however the similarities are obvious.  The following links tell more about Larsson, show examples of his work and tell about “Midvinerblot.”  This background knowledge could help the reader to better understand Sedgwick’s writing process as well as to visualize the painting and sacrifice scene from the book. 

Hernan, Oriol. Carl Larsson Paintings.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnrTJvpmynk (accessed June 20, 2016)

Oakley, Howard.  Carl Larsson: how a loved and popular painter became lost in controversy.  Retrieved from https://eclecticlight.co/2015/11/22/carl-larsson-how-a-loved-and-popular-painter-became-lost-in-controversy/  (accessed June 20, 2016).

National Museum.  Midvinterblot: Sweden’s Most Controversial Painting.  Retrieved from: http://www.nationalmuseum.se/ (https://goo.gl/qeEM81 ) (accessed June 20, 2016).  Translated using https://translate.google.com/.   

Published Review:

“Ominous drumbeats and solemn music introduce each intertwined story in the audio of Sedgwick’s Printz Award–winning fantastical and bleak tale. Each story works its way backward in time, exploring the lives of reincarnated lovers Eirikr and Melle, a Dark Ages king sacrificed for his people and the wife he asked to follow him through centuries of rebirth. All set on the island of Blessed, these tales are spooky and strange and bordering on the horrific. A Viking spurned by his lover—his brother’s wife—tries to reclaim his children, even after death, stalking the island seeking blood. A wraith masquerading as a nanny tells her ghostly tale to two unsuspecting children visiting the island. Rhind-Tutt’s voice is supple and full of gravitas, able to command as well as purr. Like a bard of yore, he grips the listener, though because some of the main narrators and characters are women, and young as well as old, it can be difficult to sort out relationships at times. This is an excellent choice for those seeking chills—just don’t listen alone at night, during a thunderstorm.”

Cruse, Karen. 2014. Miswinterblood. n.p.: Booklist, 2014. Book Index with Reviews, EBSCOhost (accessed June 20, 2016).

Midwinterblood is comprised of seven vignettes, with settings ranging from the future to Viking times and a variety of characters, including vampires, ghosts, and humans. Common to all the stories is the Scandinavian island, Blessed; a mysterious dragon orchid; and Eric and Merle, who play different roles in each story. This unusual book for teens (many of the stories feature adult characters only) goes backwards in time, beginning with a story that takes place in 2073. While each narrative could stand alone, combining them into one volume with the barest threads of connections (similar to Olive Kitteridge or Let the Great World Spin) makes the book noteworthy. The audiobook is expertly narrated by British actor Julian Rhind-Tutt, whose hushed English voice is perfect for the recording. Sedgwick's sparse prose is beautifully read with a haunting, dreamlike quality that lets listeners experience the horror, mystery, romance, and tragedy that abounds in the book. Melancholy yet lovely music briefly separates the vignettes.

Paladino, Julie. 2014. Miswinterblood. n.p.: School Library Journal, 2014. Book Index with Reviews, EBSCOhost (accessed June 20, 2016).

Z for Zachariah

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Bibliographic data: 

O'Brien, R. C. (2002). Z for zachariah. New York: Simon Pulse.

Summary  

After a weeklong war, the United States has been ravaged by a nuclear holocaustic.  Everything and everyone is dead, with the exception of sixteen-year-old Ann Burden.  Thanks to an unusual weather pattern, the valley she calls home is unaffected by the radioactive fall out.  She believes she is the last person alive…until Mr. Loomis appears in a radioactive safe suit.

Analysis  

Written as if reading Ann’s diary, Z for Zachariah is an engaging page-turner.  Unlike many dystopian books, Ann does not focus on survival.  Her agricultural upbringing has taught her the skills needed to meet her physical needs.  The fact that she may be the only person left alive in the country doesn’t seem to upset her much, she is too busy working to survive.  The conflict in the story is the relationship between Ann and Mr. Loomis.

Ann’s behavior in the novel is mystifying.  To start, she is strong and independent.  She runs her family’s farm on her own, keeping herself not only alive but also thriving, for over a year.  Yet, when Mr. Loomis appears Ann seems incapable of standing up for herself.  Mr. Loomis begins to dictate how the farm will be run, at times forcefully preventing Ann from completing tasks.  Ann rarely questions Mr. Loomis and continues to care for him, determined to keep him alive.  Even after Mr. Loomis attempts to physically harm Ann and she decides to move into the hills to be away from him, she continues to ensure that he has adequate food and is well taken care of. 

This inability to standup for herself goes against everything that society is working to teach girls.  While on her own, Ann is strong but she immediately bows when a man appears.  This is frustrating to see, however it could be an extremely beneficial novel for young girls who are in similar situations.  Ann is able to justify her loyalties to Mr. Loomis, she justifies his behaviors even when, to the reader, his actions are irrepressible.   Young girls who are developing their inner strength may be able to see themselves or their situations in Ann. 

Z for Zachariah would be an interesting book for young adults who enjoy stories about dystopian futures.  It is old enough that it provides a different prospective, rather than zombies or authoritarian governments, it is a nuclear holocaust; rather than fighting to survive, it focuses on the interactions and mindset of the characters.  It would be an interesting choice to compare against popular novels of today, such as the Hunger Games or The Maze Runner. 

Activity  

In a world without budget constraints, it would be amazing to present the readers with an opportunity to experience some of the farm work that is discussed in the novel, particularly for urban teens.  This could be done through a series of guest speakers that can discuss and educate on crops and animals, a small garden could be setup at outside the library for students to tend to or a trip could be arranged to visit a working farm.  Readers could engage in the activities that Ann does, such as caring for chickens, milking cows and farming by hand. 

 Related Resources  

The video “Nuclear War’s Worst-case scenario” could be used to engage students before reading.  The book begins a year after nuclear weapons were dropped.  In this video, clips from a number of Cold War and films about nuclear weapons have been put together to replicate what would happen during a nuclear attack.  The video would set the scene for what the world around Ann would be like.

Cdcollura. (2012). Nuclear war's worst-case scenario (nobody wins). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRWzNIaVyBs

Ann survives the destruction around her by farming.  For many teens in America, farming is completely foreign.  The Farm School is exactly what it sounds like, a school where the subject is farming.  They offer a yearlong course for adults, 3-day field trips for students and summer camps for kids and teens.  For a large undertaking or for students who are particularly interested in Ann’s way of life, this could be a resource to gain an understanding of this skill set.  Additionally, they have a resource section of their website that students could utilize to learn more about agriculturally based life.

The farm school. Retrieved from http://farmschool.org/

Published Review

“Z is for Zachariah, the last name in fifteen-year-old Ann Burden's Bible school alphabet book; it's also for zero population after nuclear bombs and nerve gas seem to have destroyed everyone in the world except Ann in her Amish country valley (her family left it and seem singularly unregretted but then Ann is one of those unthinking practical types) who is making it alone with her brother's dog Faro, with their cow, chickens, the diminishing supplies from the store and her garden. Until a stranger comes over the hill in his plastic safe-suit -- he'd killed to get it; he has a bout of radiation sickness and almost dies but Ann brings him back to health only to face a lethal gratitude on his part. Mr. O'Brien wrote two juveniles as well as another genocidal thriller, A Report from Group 17. This is a little of each for both audiences and you'll find Ann's level resourcefulness as insulating as that safe-suit. So, less convincingly so, is her abz naivete in a day and age which has just come to an end.”

O'Brien, Robert C. 1975. Z for Zachariah. n.p.: Atheneum, 1975. Book Index with Reviews, EBSCOhost (accessed June 11, 2016).