Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Wonder Wednesday #347 (Be Who You Are!)


Wonder Wednesday - Author Todd Parr in ACTION

*We participated in our first author Skype today.

*When I got news from Little Brown about "Be Who You Are!" day, I knew my class was in.

*We so enjoyed listening to Todd Parr speak about his life, his writing, his art, and lots of things in-between.  

*I knew my fourth graders were enjoying the presentation when I could hear the "laughs out loud".


*Here are some images from our time with Todd Parr, or like he told us he likes to be called "Todd Party"...


Monday, September 28, 2020

An Inside Look #146 (Author INTERVIEW)


An Inside Look with Kim Ventrella
(Authors of The Secret Life of Sam)

*Welcome to my favorite feature of my blog.  

*Season #ONE (June of 2016 to March of 2017)

*Season #TWO (Summer of 2017)

*Season #THREE (School Year 2017/2018)






*
Season #FOUR
 (S
ummer/fall of 2018)

*Season #FIVE (School Year 2018/2019)

*Season #SIX (Summer 2019) 

*Season #SEVEN (Fall 2019) 

*Season #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

*I'm excited to be back for season #NINE with brand new interviews/authors.  


*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the FOURTH interview in which I'm calling Season #NINE.  

*Thank you to Kim for being the One-Hundred Forty-Sixth author I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.


*Here is my Review of the Novel...




The Secret Life of Sam

by Kim Ventrella

(September 29, 2020)

How did you come to know Sam?
I usually try out several partial versions of a novel before landing on the right voice. I have to write my way into a character, rather than outlining or making notes. I do those things too, but I can never really tell if my ideas will work until I write them out in narrative form. Sam, and the overall storyline, went through four or five 50-page versions before I settled into the ‘final’ first draft.


What do you think is Sam’s most admirable quality?
Sam is loyal, determined and ultimately courageous in the way he adapts to his new situation. We all have those times in our lives when everything turns upside-down. Sam loses his father, then has to move halfway across the country to live in Oklahoma with an aunt who’s basically a stranger. Even facing all that upheaval, he fights to get back what he lost, forges a new friendship, redefines his relationship with his aunt and, eventually, reaches a more balanced place in his grief journey.


Is there anything you wish he would have changed or done differently in his story?
Haha! I don’t tend to think of my characters as their own, sentient beings the way some authors do. In a way, I am all of my main characters, so while his actions weren’t perfect, they are totally understandable to me given the situation.


What do you think Sam can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what he went through?
Sam is about so many things: new friendships, reconciling with family, losing someone you love and, ultimately, finding hope in the midst of grief. I want readers to journey along with Sam as he grapples with his grief, to experience the highs and lows, and to come away with their own new understanding. Books can be a beautiful, safe way for readers to confront difficult topics and form their own opinions about the world. They can equip us to emotionally tackle tough situations , and I hope Sam fills that role for readers. I see this book encouraging readers to be more understanding, to focus on friendships and, of course, to look at the world in a more magical way.


How did you research
 Sam and the circumstances he found himself in?

Sam is thrust from his life on the swamps of Louisiana to a small, dusty Oklahoma town. I have lived in both states at different times in my life and wanted to explore the contrasts and also the beauty of both locales. I’ve explored grief in several of my novels. In 
Skeleton Tree, I talk about the experience leading up to loss. In Bone Hollow, I tackle it from Death’s perspective. And Sam focuses on the aftermath, i.e. how do you get back to living after losing someone you love? That part didn’t require research so much as a personal exploration. When it comes to Aunt Jo, I had several expert readers assist me in making her as realistic as possible in terms of her addiction issues and her experience living with a prosthesis. I also volunteered as the overnight, live-in staff person at a drug rehabilitation center for a year in college, so I had some personal experience to draw on.


Do you and Sam share any similarities?
We’re both determined to get what we want, loyal to our friends and capable of adapting in difficult situations.


What was the hardest scene to write about Sam?
The ending always feels the most poignant for me, the moment when everything comes together and leaves you with a feeling of catharsis. It’s not the most difficult to write from a craft standpoint, because I’m so deeply immersed in the story by then, but it is the most important and so it carries the highest stakes.


Who do you think was his biggest supporter and why?
Sam has an amazing support system in the book. Aunt Jo is there for him from the day she arrives in her beat-up VW Bug, even though she’s been absent almost four years. Their relationship grows much closer throughout the book, but Aunt Jo was always on Sam’s side, even when she wasn’t physically present. Then there’s Mr. Redding, Sam’s teacher, who offers wisdom and gentle nudges, and, of course, Edie. Sam and Edie become fast friends, and that friendship never really wavers, despite their misunderstandings. Finally, there’s Pa. Even though he’s passed on, Pa remains a constant support and guide for Sam well beyond the last page.


Why do you think young people, like Sam, are able to move forward after a great loss when some adults get stuck and can’t seem to move beyond the loss?
Maybe it’s the same reason young people are more willing to believe in magic. There’s a beautiful hopefulness that comes with youth, when it’s allowed to develop, and that can make kids super resilient. That said, I think loss profoundly affects people of all ages, and it’s important to have books like Sam to help kids process and articulate their feelings.


What do you think Sam is doing as the present time?
Popping open an ice-cold Orange Crush and telling stories with Edie under their new favorite tree.

 



*Here are links to the One Hundred Forty-Five interviews...

SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)













SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)







SEASON #SEVEN (Fall 2019)




















SEASON #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

Interview #121 with Melissa Savage (Author of Nessie Quest)

Interview #122 with Tamara Bundy (Author of Pixie Pushes On)

Interview #123 with Lindsay Lackey (Author of All the Impossible Things)

Interview #124 with Tae Keller (Author of When You Trap a Tiger)

Interview #125 with Jamie Sumner (Author of Roll With It)

Interview #126 with Hena Khan (Author of More to the Story)

Interview #127 with Phil Bildner (Author of A High-Five for Glenn Burke)

Interview #128 with Leslie Connor (Author of A Home for Goddesses and Dogs)

Interview#129 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Queen Bee and Me)

Interview #130 with Jody J. Little (Author of Worse Than Weird)

Interview #131 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Things You Can't Say)

Interview #132 with Kaela Noel (Author of Coo)

Interview #133 with Rebecca Stead (Author of The List of Things That Will Not Change)

Interview #134 with Gae Polisner (Author of Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me)

Interview #135 with Emily Blejwas (Author of Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened)

Interview #136 with Joy McCullough (Author of A Field Guide to Getting Lost)

Interview #137 with Kim Baker (Author of the Water Bears)

Interview #138 with Erin Entrada Kelly (Author of We Dream of Space)


Interview #139 with Jess Redman (Author of Quintessence)

Interview #140 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Every Missing Piece)

Interview #141 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Brave Like That)





SEASON #NINE (2020/2021)


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (9/28/20)

    


Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...
                


Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week...


Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

*My Novel Published for Adults

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

*My Young-Adult Novel










Anxious People
 by Fredrik Backman

*My Novel Published for Adults 








What Stars are Made Of by Sarah Allen

*My Middle-Grade Novel









American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar

*My Middle-Grade Novel (Audio)









The In-Between by Rebecca Ansari

*My Middle-Grade Novel (ARC)

Brave in the Woods by Tracy Holczer

*My Middle-Grade Novel (ARC)


Books I Read this Past Week...  


Black Brother, Black Brother
by Jewell Parker Rhodes

*Middle-Grade Novel (4 STARS out of 5 Stars)

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Wonder Wednesday #346 (Readers will READ)

Wonder Wednesday - Making it WORK

*We all know how different life in the classroom is during Covid-19.  

*My students are thrilled to be back and have been nothing but positive.  

*The other day during our independent daily reading, I noticed three readers not in their seats at their desks in ROWS.


*I thought maybe the three of them had snuck off to the bathroom together.  I wasn't amused.

*Then as I was walking around observing the readers, I found the missing girls.

*Seeing them trying to get comfortable as they read, warmed my heart.  

*As we all know, readers will READ, and they will READ as comfortable as they can.  

*Here are the readers in action...

 




Monday, September 21, 2020

An Inside Look #145 (Author INTERVIEW)


An Inside Look with Barbara Dee
(Authors of My Life in the Fish Tank)


*Welcome to my favorite feature of my blog.  

*Season #ONE (June of 2016 to March of 2017)

*Season #TWO (Summer of 2017)

*Season #THREE (School Year 2017/2018)




*
Season #FOUR
 (S
ummer/fall of 2018)

*Season #FIVE (School Year 2018/2019)

*Season #SIX (Summer 2019) 

*Season #SEVEN (Fall 2019) 

*Season #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

*I'm excited to be back for season #NINE with brand new interviews/authors.  


*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the THIRD interview in which I'm calling Season #NINE.  

*Thank you to Barbara for being the One-Hundred Forty-Fifth author I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.


*Here is my Review of the Novel...



My Life in the Fish Tank

by Barbara Dee

(September 15, 2020)

How did you come to know Zinnia?
Zinny is a product of my imagination. But I drew a bit on my daughter's experience when my son (her oldest brother) was in treatment for cancer. Of course, for that entire difficult year, our family's focus was on my son. But we all lived through his illness too--and coped in our own ways.


What do you think is her most admirable quality?
Zinny is a great family member, sensitive to everyone's needs, responsible and loyal. Some of this loyalty gets her into trouble, though, as she feels compelled to keep the family's secret.


Is there anything you wish she would have changed or done differently in her story?
I wish she had spoken up to her parents earlier about the need to keep Gabriel's condition a secret. I know she didn't because she was trying to be a good kid, not make waves, be respectful and considerate during a family crisis. But sometimes even an "easy," quiet kid needs to make some noise. Self-advocacy is an important survival skill.



What do you think Zinnia can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?
A few things. I hope Zinny's experience can show kids that mental illness happens even to nice, "normal" families, and should never be hidden or stigmatized.  Also, when one family member is affected, the whole family is affected, including siblings. Everyone may need some help, which can come in many forms--one-on-one talk therapy, a peer group like the Lunch Club, or maybe just informal conversation with a trusted adult like Mr. Patrick, the guidance counselor.  The important thing is to not push people away, even if you think no one understands, or that you shouldn't divulge personal family matters.


How did you research Zinnia and the circumstances she found herself in?
In addition to much reading, I interviewed a child psychologist whose patients include kids dealing with the mental illness of a sibling. She told me that a number of these siblings have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which typically appears in late adolescence.  So her patients tend to be younger siblings trying to cope both with the older sibling's mental illness and the changed family dynamic.


Do you and Zinnia share any similarities?
We both try to make people laugh--and we both love ice cream and pizza!


What was the hardest scene to write about her?
I think probably the hardest scene to write was the family therapy scene at the end, when Zinny finally confronts her parents about their wish to keep Gabriel's condition secret. I wanted Zinny to be strong in that scene, but the focus needed to stay on Gabriel--his shock and hurt. Also, the parents' reactions had to be raw but not overwhelming.  Balancing all this emotion for a middle grade reader was tricky.


Who do you think was Zinnia’s biggest supporter and why?
Zinny has several important supporters: her science teacher, her guidance counselor, and the other kids in Lunch Club. But I think her biggest supporter may be her friend Kailani, who remains loyal even as Zinny pushes her away. And I think the way Kailani secretly arranges for Zinny to join the lunch Club is brave and selfless.


Why do you think young people, like Zinny, show such resilience during difficult times when some adults don’t display positive and productive coping mechanisms.
Great question! Maybe one reason is that Zinny's curiosity and enthusiasm about science, particularly marine biology, brings her outside of herself, and gives her an understanding of what she can control--and what she can't. Also, Zinny is surrounded by caring people. Many adults going through difficult times simply withdraw without an institutional safety net like school.


What do you think she is doing at the present time?
I think Zinny is a brilliant marine biologist researching the effect of climate change on our oceans and its wildlife. She's both a scientist and a born nurturer, and that nurturing will extend into the natural world.



*Here are links to the One Hundred Forty-Two interviews...

SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)













SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)







SEASON #SEVEN (Fall 2019)




















SEASON #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

Interview #121 with Melissa Savage (Author of Nessie Quest)

Interview #122 with Tamara Bundy (Author of Pixie Pushes On)

Interview #123 with Lindsay Lackey (Author of All the Impossible Things)

Interview #124 with Tae Keller (Author of When You Trap a Tiger)

Interview #125 with Jamie Sumner (Author of Roll With It)

Interview #126 with Hena Khan (Author of More to the Story)

Interview #127 with Phil Bildner (Author of A High-Five for Glenn Burke)

Interview #128 with Leslie Connor (Author of A Home for Goddesses and Dogs)

Interview#129 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Queen Bee and Me)

Interview #130 with Jody J. Little (Author of Worse Than Weird)

Interview #131 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Things You Can't Say)

Interview #132 with Kaela Noel (Author of Coo)

Interview #133 with Rebecca Stead (Author of The List of Things That Will Not Change)

Interview #134 with Gae Polisner (Author of Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me)

Interview #135 with Emily Blejwas (Author of Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened)

Interview #136 with Joy McCullough (Author of A Field Guide to Getting Lost)

Interview #137 with Kim Baker (Author of the Water Bears)

Interview #138 with Erin Entrada Kelly (Author of We Dream of Space)

Interview #139 with Jess Redman (Author of Quintessence)

Interview #140 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Every Missing Piece)

Interview #141 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Brave Like That)




SEASON #NINE (2020/2021)