PDF - Christian Library Journal

MIDDLE SCHOOL
FICTION
The hollow tree, by Janet Lunn. LCCN
99076483. New York: Viking, Penguin
Putnam, 2000. ISBN 0670889490, HBB,
$15.99.
F. United States--History--Revolution, 1776-1783--
Fiction. 208 p. Middle school.
Phoebe Olcott, the fifteen-year-old protagonist
of The Hollow Tree by Janet Lunn, is one of that
unenvied company that find themselves neither
fish nor fowl. Resident of a small New
Hampshire village in 1777, she has no political
opinions and is extremely uncomfortable with
the passions that rage around her. All she wants
is that the would war stop so her family could
return home. But it isn’t long before her father
dies in the patriot cause; and then her beloved
cousin, Gideon, is hanged as a Tory spy.
Blinded by grief and reeling from accusations
levelled at her by both sides of the conflict,
Phoebe runs to the hollow tree which she and
her cousins had used to exchange letters, only to
find Gideon’s last request that someone take his
dearly-bought information to the British at Fort
Ticonderoga. The Hollow Tree is the story of
Phoebe’s journey through the wilderness to
fulfil her cousin’s request, in the course of which
she overcomes her own fears and self-doubts to
emerge a strong, determined young woman.
Janet Lunn’s book is an unusual one, depicting a
heroine who has no convictions other than
hatred of war in a time period that is fraught
with the conflict of great ideas. No doubt, there
were people who shared Phoebe’s feelings and
who have a story to be told, but the author does
not delineate her character’s convictions or
personality in such a way as to give adequate
impetus for Phoebe’s drastic action of setting
out alone into the wilderness. Although the
account of Phoebe’s journey is exciting, it is too
full of improbabilities and coincidences, and the
climax is too contrived to be taken as a possible
event. Few of the characters are convincingly
drawn, including Phoebe’s cousin, Anne, who
swings from benign self-absorption to irrational
hatred and back again, and many are caricatures
who serve merely to make their own beliefs look
petty and self-serving or, by contrast, to ennoble
Phoebe’s position, which is never clearly
defined.
Pamela A. Todd, Librarian/English Teacher, Chalcedon Christian
School, Cumming, Georgia
The journal of August Pelletier : the Lewis
and Clark Expedition, by Kathryn Lasky.
(My name is America.) LCCN 00020201.
New York: Scholastic, 2000. ISBN
0590684892, HBB, $10.95.
F. Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)--Fiction;
West (U.S.)--Discovery and exploration--Fiction;
Explorers--Fiction; Diaries--Fiction. 171 p. Middle
school (Elementary).
Fourteen-year-old Gus Pelletier runs away from
his abusive stepfather to join the Corps of
Discovery, the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Knowing he is too young to be accepted as a
member of the expedition, he “shadows” it on
land until he is sure he won’t be sent back. His
ability to read and write, and his artistic talent,
prompt Captain Lewis to make Gus his
assistant. In this position, Gus helps Lewis with
his scientific explorations, and transcribes his
journals.
The Journal of Augustus Pelletier presents an
accurate picture of the daily life of the members
of the Corps of Discovery. It portrays both the
hardships and triumphs experienced by the
members of the expedition. The rank-in-file
members of the expedition, along with
Sacajawea, York, Clark’s slave, and even Lewis’
Newfoundland dog, come alive through its
pages.
Although Kathryn Lasky’s book only covers the
trip to the Pacific Ocean, it offers an excellent
introduction for young readers to the Lewis and
Clark Expedition. Librarians and teachers
might even need to remind their readers that
both the book and the character of Augustus
Pelletier are historical fiction, not actual history.
The story is followed by a brief history of the
Corps of Discovery’s journey. It also includes
illustrations depicting important events during
the journey and items used by members of the
expedition.
Virginia Brown, Library Assistant, Freelance Writer, Former
Teacher, Sheridan, Wyoming
The journal of Joshua Loper : a black
cowboy, by Walter Dean Myers. (My
name is America.) LCCN 98018661. New
York: Scholastic, 1999. ISBN 0590026917,
HBB, $10.95.
F. Cattle drives--Fiction; Cowboys--Fiction; West
(U.S.)--Fiction; Afro-Americans--Fiction; Diaries--
Fiction. 158 p. Middle school (Elementary).
It is 1871, the era of the cowboy in Texas.
Walter Myers’ The Journal of Joshua Loper
gives us a ringside saddle on the Chisholm Trail,
as Joshua, the teenage son of former slaves, goes
on his first dirty, toilsome, dangerous, and
exciting cattle drive. With the help of his
parents’ teaching and his belief in the Lord,
Joshua learns to cope with the trail boss’ bigotry,
bone-wracking work, stampedes, rustlers, foul
weather, and having to shoot his beloved,
suffering horse. When the herd arrives in
Abilene, Kansas, Joshua receives his pay and
faces the blandishments of this wild town. He
also receives the respect of his trail boss and the
companionship of a new horse.
Part of the My Name is America series, The
Journal of Joshua Loper is firmly based on
historical events. Using basic language, and
often reproducing the speech patterns of his
characters, Myers manages to make us forget
this is fiction. He embellishes the story with
many interesting facts about the Chisholm Trail
and the cowboy era, describing aspects such as
the handling of cattle and horses, cowboy lingo
and food, bigotry, trail drive hierarchy, and
more. Myers tells it like it is, and includes some
rough talk and coarse jests, gory depictions of
death, and the temptations faced by cowboys on
the trail and in Abilene. Along the way, he
illustrates how cheaply some held life.
The story ends with an epilogue about Joshua’s
adult life and death, and notes about some of the
other characters. An appendix providing actual
photographs of black cowboys, cattle drives,
and notable people adds interest and flavor. A
map of the Chisholm Trail area concludes this
book. Author Walter Dean Myers has received
several awards, including the Coretta Scott King
Award and ALA Notable Children’s Book
Award.
Donna Eggett, Freelance Writer, Radford, Virginia
The journal of Otto Peltonen : a Finnish
immigrant, by William Durbin. (My
name is America.) LCCN 00021919. New
York: Scholastic, 2000. ISBN
043909254X, HBB, $10.95.
F. Emigration and immigartion--Fiction; Finnish-
Americans--Fiction; Iron mines and mining--Fiction;
Strikes and lockouts--Fiction; Minnesota--Fiction;
Diaries--Fcition. 171 p. Middle school (Elementary).
The Journal of Otto Peltonen chronicles the
emigration of a Finnish boy to northern
Minnesota in the early 1900’s. His father came
to America earlier, and worked in the mines to
earn money for the passage of his family, and to
buy his own farm. Otto, his two younger sisters,
and his mother join him in the town of Hibbing.
Journal entries are filled with descriptions of the
area and the mine, and again and again the many
gruesome accidents that take place in the mines.
There is also a sense of disillusionment with the
difficulty and ugliness of life. Otto relates his
progress in school and reading, and the interrelationships
within the family.
Social issues of the day are dealt with from a
common person’s viewpoint. Otto’s father
wants the union to help provide safety, security,
and equality for the workers; his mother is
appalled that women have the right to vote in
Finland before they do in America. When Otto is
about sixteen, he works in the mine for a time,
until the family finally saves enough money to
buy a farm.
The author, William Durbin, is obviously very
familiar with the life that he has detailed, as the
reader sees and feels what it was like. Otto
speaks Finnish and is learning English at the
beginning of the story. The text is written in
well-developed English, with a few Finnish
words interspersed. The reader is somewhat
struck by the incongruity between the text and
the boy’s reported limited knowledge of
English.
The cover shows a photo of a typical boy of the
time, with a faded blue and white photograph of
a mine. Following the body of the journal
readers will find an epilogue, a historical note as
to the reasons for emigration, a section of period
photos, a map, brief information about the
author, and a fold-out map showing a vertical
cross-section of an iron mine.
Judy Belcher, Teacher, Sylvan Way Christian School, Bremerton,
Washington
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