School Library Journal» Little Brown

Pick of the Day: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

SLJ — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 09:00:02 +0000

QUICK, Matthew. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock. 280p. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-22133-7.
Gr 10 Up–Leonard Peacock has big plans for his 18th birthday. He plans to kill Asher Beal and then commit suicide. Leonard is a loner, an outcast, a misfit. Asher is a superpopular jock/bully. But they used to be friends, best friends. Something happened when they were 12, something bad. Leonard has had no one to confide in–his washed-up rock-musician dad is on the lam and his self-absorbed, oblivious mother forgets that she has a son. His anger, emotional pain, and brokenness build until he feels there is nothing left to do but end his life and the cause of his misery. As he gives gifts to the four people who mean something to him, he reveals some of his anguish. One recipient, his teacher Herr Silverman, picks up on his suicidal signals and offers the listening ear Leonard so desperately needs. As the heartbreaking climax unfolds, readers learn about the sexual and emotional trauma the teen has endured. Fortunately, there is no bloodshed, just the shedding of many overdue tears. Leonard knows he needs help and readers will hope he gets it. This is a difficult, yet powerful, book. Quick’s use of flashbacks, internal dialogue, and interpersonal communication is brilliant, and the suspense about what happened between Leonard and Asher builds tangibly. The masterful writing takes readers inside Leonard’s tormented mind, enabling a compassionate response to him and to others dealing with trauma. May there be more Herr Silvermans willing to take personal risks to save the Leonard Peacocks.–Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Alexie’s ‘True Diary’ Removed from NYC School’s Summer Reading List

Shelley Diaz — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 14:08:40 +0000

The inclusion of Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian—winner of the 2007 National Book Award—on a required summer reading list for sixth graders has raised the ire of a group of parents in Belle Harbor, NY, who have successfully called for its removal, the Daily News has reported. Bowing to pressure from the outraged parents (and after inquiries from the paper), the principal of Public School/Middle School 114 in Rockaway Park announced that the book is no longer required reading.

The lauded young adult novel—a story about Junior, a Spokane Indian who transfers from his school on the reservation to a rich, white school—received a starred review from School Library Journal, and is recommended for a grade 7–10 audience. In the original review, Chris Shoemaker says, “The teen’s determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message.”

Nevertheless, Queens parent Kelly-Ann McMullan-Preiss stepped forward last week with the support of about eight other parents to request that an alternative assignment be given to their children. McMullan-Preiss cited the repeated discussion of “masturbation” as the main reason for her complaint, according to the Daily News.

Attempts by SLJ to reach administrators and school library staff for comment were unsuccessful, however the original story has since made the rounds on several news outlets and through social media, and on Twitter, the author has responded personally. Alexie, after a banning of his book unrelated to the Queens controversy, also said recently in an interview on the National Coalition Against Censorship blog that, “I have no objection to a parent not wanting their kid to read my book. But when they try to control a school’s curriculum, that’s when the fight is on. So the second they try to make it a policy, no, I can’t think of when it’s acceptable because whatever the text, you can teach and learn from it.”

Alexie’s publisher echoes those sentiments. Megan Tingley, executive vice president and publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, tells SLJ that, her company is “proud” to be the publisher of the book, and that the company is “opposed to censorship of any kind.”

She adds, “We are dismayed about the recent decision of a middle school in Queens, NY, to remove the critically acclaimed book from its required reading list.” The book, she says, “is a story about hope and resilience. We applaud Sherman Alexie’s triumphant work of contemporary fiction, which shares a Native American experience that is both poignant and uplifting and has enlightened and engaged countless readers.”

The NCAC has also come out in support of Alexie. Its Kids Right to Read project coordinator Acacia O’Connor notes that, “Studies have shown that students who have some semblance of choice, read more. Alexie’s book is often selected for reluctant readers because it’s so popular and kids really feel that the characters and their experiences speak to them.”

She also says, “The message of this book is entirely positive and uplifting. I’m sure it was selected because highlights a teen character that has confronted adversity. If the parents have some objection to reading a specific title, we always encourage that an alternative is offered instead. If the book was selected by the teachers or school media specialist, it was for a reason.” The NCAC plans to honor Alexie in November 2013 for his work on free speech.

Pick of the Day: The Lucy Variations

SLJ — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:00:50 +0000

ZARR, Sara. The Lucy Variations. 320p. Little, Brown. May 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20501-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-316-23201-2.
Gr 8 Up–When 16-year-old Lucy walked out of a concert in Prague two years earlier, following a devastating discovery, her grandfather and mother abandoned their dreams of her career as a pianist. With Lucy’s younger brother, Gus, now the rising star of the family, she must adjust to life as an average high school student. But the arrival of Will Devi, Gus’s new piano tutor, inspires Lucy to reexamine herself and challenge her family’s assumption that she lacks devotion to her craft. Though self-possessed and intelligent, Lucy is often an impulsive and uncertain protagonist, which makes her an at times frustrating but always realistic adolescent with whom readers will readily identify. Adult characters receive an equally rich treatment; Lucy’s cold, dominating grandfather in particular reveals a softer side that keeps him from verging on cliché. The novel’s measured plotting, which includes brief flashbacks to Lucy’s previous life, effectively conveys both the rigorous discipline and joy that defined her commitment to music. The quiet, restrained prose is well suited for this thoughtful story about the struggle to find one’s voice. Exploring relationships is where Zarr soars; in addition to Lucy’s difficult rapport with her overbearing mother and stern grandfather, she must also cope with Gus’s anger and jealousy as Will’s interest in her career grows, her increasingly strained friendships, and her complicated feelings for Will himself. This strong coming-of-age story about music, passion, and the search for identity will appeal to longtime fans of Zarr’s work and newcomers alike.–Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Pictures of the Week: Jon Klassen at Little, Brown’s Spring and Summer Picture Book Celebration

SLJ — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:11:30 +0000

Please send your pictures of the week to mdar@mediasourceinc.com.

Picture book author and illustrator Jon Klassen with his Little, Brown editor, Susan Rich, and Little, Brown’s Art Director, Patti Ann Harris at Little, Brown’s spring and summer picture book celebration on March 13 in New York City.

Pick of the Day: Chowder (DVD)

SLJ — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:05:24 +0000

Chowder. DVD. 12 min. with tchr’s. guide. Nutmeg Media. 2012. ISBN 1-933938-91-9. $49.95.
Gr 1-3–Viewers learn from the get-go that “Chowder had always been different.” Still, youngsters will be tickled to see the pudgy brown pooch perched on the toilet in the opening scene. His owners, the Wubbingtons, are devoted to their beloved bulldog and treat him like a member of the family, but the pampered pup can’t seem to make it in the dog world. He tries to fit in, but word on the canine street is that he’s just plain weird. Normal dogs eat bones rather than use them to reconstruct dinosaur skeletons. Normal dogs don’t wear hats or sunglasses or ride in back carriers or on coin-operated horsey rides. And normal dogs play with squeak toys, not computers. Determined to make friends, Chowder sees an ad for a new petting zoo at his family’s supermarket and engineers a visit by eating everything in the fridge. Though he gets off to a rough start, he redeems himself and finally befriends a motley crew of farm animals. Peter Brown’s endearing bulldog, rendered lovingly in acrylic-and pencil in the picture book (Little, Brown, 2006), is even more appealing in this iconographic production. The bouncy, rhythmic background music and sympathetic narrator make this slightly sophisticated tale more accessible. A conversation with Brown explains how he got the idea for the story as well as how he decided to write and illustrate children’s books. Use with units on dogs, making friends, and being yourself.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Pick of the Day: The Diviners (Audiobook)

SLJ — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:00:24 +0000

The Diviners. By Libba Bray. 15 CDs. 15:15 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-80875-7. $60.
Gr 10 Up–Printz winner Libba Bray’s latest literary masterpiece (Little, Brown, 2012) is stunning, suspenseful, and sure to leave listeners utterly breathless. Thoroughly modern flapper Evie O’Neill’s psychic ability to divine secrets from inanimate objects gets her exiled from her stuffy Ohio town. Sent to stay with her Uncle Will in Prohibition-era New York City, the last thing Evie expects is to be thrown headlong into a terrifying, and seemingly paranormal, serial murder mystery. Crime scene evidence leads Evie to believe the killer is John Hobbes, a religious leader and madman who was hanged for murder 50 years ago. It seems “Naughty John” has returned from the grave to complete a deadly ritual to bring about the apocalypse. Evie believes her abilities can help stop this killer. But there are others with unique powers as well, including a clairvoyant child and a man with healing powers. Circumstances gradually draw these Diviners together. Are they strong enough to stop the evil that’s been unleashed? Not for the faint of heart, this spellbindingly creepy ghost story will keep listeners enthralled long into the night—preferably with the lights on. Bray’s writing is brilliant. Intricately detailed storylines interweave perfectly with a cast of richly drawn characters. Period slang and historical details help set the scene. January LaVoy’s exceptional narration skyrockets an already outstanding story to the next level. Characters live and breathe through distinctive voices, complete with accents and dialects. Perfect pacing bestows the story with a constant edge-of-the-seat ambiance. A must-have.–Alissa Bach, Oxford Public Library, MI

Pick of the Day: Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington

SLJ — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:57:46 +0000

ASIM, Jabari. Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington. illus. by Bryan Collier. 48p. bibliog. chron. Little, Brown. Dec. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-08657-8.
Gr 2-4–Here sits a barefooted boy leaning against a tree trunk, eyes closed, dreaming about reading. Here he is following his master’s daughter to school, carrying her books, feeling their “magic seeping into his hands.” Booker was born a slave, and slaves were forbidden to read. Emancipation came while he was still young. He worked with the men in his family, first shoveling salt, then in a coal mine. He learned to read from a spelling book his mother gave him. He attended the school for Negroes after work and dreamed of Hampton Institute, where he could study writing. He walked there–hundreds of miles through the mountains of Virginia, unloading ships in Richmond when his food money ran out. A janitor job at Hampton paid his room and board. Written in simply stated narrative, in a font that looks hand-printed, this story covers more of Washington’s life and offers more detail than Marie Bradby’s More Than Anything Else (Orchard, 1995), a brief, movingly told, beautifully rendered introduction to Washington for younger children. Collier’s patterned and textured watercolor and paper collage paintings perfectly mirror the narrative, reiterating details and settings in handsomely constructed glimpses of the young Booker at school and at work; the teen-aged Booker traveling on foot toward a better education; the student dreaming of great things to come. His dreams are shown as luminescent bubbles or rays of light that reach toward the sky; his shirt is map-patterned. Two pages of biographical endnotes include a time line of his significant accomplishments. An inspirational life, memorably presented.–Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH