Mystery & Series Book

Book 1 for this Module: Mystery

Close to a Killer by Marsha Qualey

Bibliography:
Qualey, M. (2000). Close to a killer. New York, N.Y: Dell Laurel-Leaf.

Summary:
Barrie has no choice but to live with her mother Daria when her father and stepmother Melissa take off to Paris for a year. Barrie is getting use to living with her ex-con mother and working at her mother’s business, Killer Looks Salon. Daria started the business with other ladies she met while doing time for homicide at Washburn State Women’s Prison. Barrie is getting to know a lot of shady characters not only from her the salon but from the bookstore she hangs out at. Most of them are guests of the People’s Center where troubled people go for help. When two people are murdered people start suspecting that the employees of Killer Looks are to blame especially since they are clientele. Barrie doesn’t know who to trust and soon Barrie and her mother are the target of a burglary of their home and arson of the salon. After one last visit to the bookstore Barrie starts to see everything makes sense and she is caught up in the mess of it all.

My Impression:   
There is never a dull moment in Barrie's life with her having to adjust to a new life in the city, getting to know her mom again, and just when she is starts finding a routine her life is turned upside down with the criminal activity lurking at every corner.This book was an intriguing mystery that had me guessing who the guilty culprit was until the last minute, because there are plenty of suspicious characters with troubled pasts. Though the guilty party was a surprise it made sense when the details were laid out.

Reviews 
“This whodunit with a teenage protagonist isn't particularly graphic, but it's not your usual naive teen amateur investigator stuff, either. Part of that is due to the vivid inner-city backdrop, and part to the reference to some thoughtful moral questions (Is murder ever justified? Is a killer damned forever?). When not working for her mother, Daria, at Killer Looks, a beauty salon her mother started on being released from prison, Barrie finds solace in old photos and in reading vintage career romances. She thinks she's especially lucky when the friendly proprietor at a local bookstore presents her with three new books as well as some old pictures. Unfortunately, luck is nowhere in her personal forecast. Instead, her mother's salon is linked to two murders; their home is trashed; and the salon is torched, resulting in the death of an elderly woman. Coincidence? Not on your life. Qualey handles the mystery mechanics with exceptional flair, working in just enough of Barrie's ruminations about her mother's past and their awkward relationship to give the plot variety without slowing it down. The author also throws out a satisfying assortment of red herrings--after all, whom do you trust with ex-cons and street people all around? A good lead-in to adult mysteries; even the jacket suggests "older teens."”- Booklist (Gr. 9 - 12)

Zvirin, S. (1999). Close to a killer. Booklist, 95(11), 970.

“Barrie Dupre, raised in the suburbs by her father and stepmother, must now spend her junior year of high school in the heart of the city with her mother, an ex-con. Daria Dupre, imprisoned for manslaughter when Barrie was five-years old, is now the owner-operator od  Killer Looks, a successful beauty salon staffed entirely by women who, one way another, have killed someone. When two of the salon’s clients are murdered in their homes, Barrie is caught up in a plot that keeps bringing her even closer to a killer. The path that leads the teen to the murder is convoluted and the revelation of the truth smacks more of a deus ex machina than logical end of a carefully crafted plot. However, this book is difficult to put down because of the author’s deft hand with dialogue and wry way with characterization. A combination of sophisticate, smart-aleck, and innocent, Barrie collects 1950’s career romances and old photographs, writing imaginative but morose stories about the people in the pictures. Every character in the book, particularly Barrie, rings true. Qualey has delivered another successful YA novel” – School Library Journal 

Halsall, J. (1999). Close to a killer. School Library Journal, 45(3), 214.

Use in Classroom Setting:
Students are asked to think back to when they were reading Close to Killer and  explain who they thought was the guilty culprit was before the answer was revealed in the text. Students investigate stereotypes people have about people’s past and whether people deserve a second chance. The students are asked to think about their own life and choices and decide if people are able to change for the better. 
 

Students explore the guilt that Barrie’s mother, Daria, feels for the big mistake that landed her in prison. Students discuss the importance of forgiveness and making positive choices. Students examine and discuss emotions and the concept of forgiving and how it can make them feel.

Book 2: Mystery/Series

The Dark Stairs by Betsy Byars

Bibliography:
Byars, B. C. (1997). The dark stairs: A herculeah jones mystery. New York, N.Y: Puffin Books.

Summary: 
Herculeah Jones can tell when something is awry and no wonder with a police officer as a father and a private investigator as a mother. Her interest in the “Dead Oaks” residence gets sparked after she finds her dad in front of the home responding to a call that someone has been seen lurking around the place. Then she get home to find Meat, a friend, waiting at her home to warn her about a strange client her mother is talking to. This creepy character has hired her mom to find a body. The body is his father’s body, the only inhabitant of “Dead Oaks” that went missing years ago. The police were never able to produce one when they serched the home.  Herculeah, with some help from Meat, work the case to satisfy her search for the truth.

My Impression:  
Herculeah is not your average damsel in distress that just happens to come upon the truth. She is a smart kid who uses her brain and her strength to get at the truth. The truth of what happened to the Crewell family at “Dead oaks” is a surprise that you will not see coming, but it will change the way you feel about the scary son, William Crewell, who the kids nickname the "Moloch." This is a good series for kids at the elementary level.

 
Reviews: 

“Move over Nancy Drew, Herculeah Jones has arrived! Strong and agile, she lives up to her name and seems capable of solving any case that  comes her way; with a private investigator mother and a police detective father, she has a natural interest in mysterious situations. In this first volume of what is sure to be a popular series, Herculeah becomes fascinated with a forbidding estate and a frightening-looking client of her mother’s. She capitalizes on her contact in the police department (her father) and listens to her mother’s recorded interviews with her client; by refusing to follow rules set by her parents when she is driven to get closer to the truth, she succeeds in closing the case. She escapes after being locked in a dark musty basement and discovers a hidden staircase, at the bottom of which lays the long-missing dead owner of Dead oaks. Byars has created a likable case of main characters. Herculeah’s friend Meat serves as the perfect comic foil for her intensity; he seems as if he could be a first cousin to Bingo Brown. There is plenty to laugh at in this book, including classic chapter headings guaranteed to cause shivers for the uninitiated; practiced mystery readers may feel that they are in on a bit of a joke an appreciate the hint of parody. This is a page-turner that is sure to entice the most reluctant readers.” – School Library Journal (Gr. 5 - 7)

Fader, E. (1994). Book review: Grades 3-6. School Library Journal, 40(9), 214.

“The Dark Stairs is the second Herculeah Jones mystery by Betsy Byars (a Puffin Paperback from Penguin Books Canada Limited, 160 pages, $ 5), and it puts the adolescent Herculeah on the trail of a possible murder at the Dead Oaks estate. With the nervous participation of her best friend Meat, a hefty boy with no stomach for trouble, Herculeah sets out to discover why a gigantic stranger appears to have an interest in Dead Oaks and what became of the old man who once lived there. This book -- probably best for Grades 4 and up -- is a page-turner, partly because of the intriguing plot and partly because Herculeah's self-confidence and fearlessness are so refreshing.” – Calgary Herald

Kate Zimmerman, For the Calgary Herald. (1998). Modern hero arrives for girls: Final edition. Calgary, Alta: Infomart, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

Use in Classroom Setting:

After reading the mystery The Dark Stairs students are given photographs at random and asked to write their own mystery. The story by organizing the pictures in a sequence that they wish to convey then they write an outline of a mystery story using the elements found in a good mystery. 

Students discuss the ending of The Dark Stairs and whether they though the ending was plausible and fit the story well. They discuss how important a good ending is especially in mystery books. Students draft ideas about other possible endings that could have effectively provided a resolution to the mystery.

Information Nonfiction/Biography and Autobiography

Book 1: Biography

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Bibliography:
McDonnell, P., Schulz, J., Command-Z Design, & Little, B. a. C. (2011). Me... jane. New York: Little, Brown.

Summary:
The book is story about the life of Dr. Jane Goodall as a young girl. This girl loves her stuffed toy chimpanzee and animals of every kind. She tries to learn as much as she can from books and observation. She feels a connection to Tarzan's Jane and one day hopes to live in a jungle to help the animals. It shows the drive that will lead her as an adult.

My Impression:  
It is a book for younger elementary students. I really enjoyed the illustrations. I found them charming and well done to match the text. It hares Jane’s love and interest in animals and the world around her. Her intent to go to Africa was evident as early as the age of 10. I really enjoyed this account of a girl with big dreams. Good message to kids that they can do whatever they set their mind to.   

Reviews 

“This account of the childhood of Jane Goodall, the famous animal behavior scientist is complemented by ink and watercolor sketches in Patrick McDonnell’s popular style. Jane is shown as a child hiding for hours in the hen house to observe egg-laying, a practice which anticipate her long vigils watching and recording chimpanzees in the Tanzanian game reserve. There are pages of animal puzzles drawn by youthful Jane and photographs of her as a child and as a grownup. This account shows how her childhood dream of helping animals in Africa became a reality. The narrative ends with a message from Dr. Goodall saying that “each one of us makes a difference in the world.” The back matter includes a page of information about Goodall for adults. This pictorial account of the scientist’s youth is  a good introduction to the longer biographies on library shelves.” – Library Media Connection (K - Gr. 3)
 

Kimball, J. (2011). Me . . . Jane. Library Media Connection, 30(2), 83.
 

“Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nest and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan’s Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does. With the story’s last page turn, the illustrations change from ink-and watercolor scenes of Jane as a child, toting Jubilee, to a color photo of Jane Goodall as a young woman in Africa, extending her hand to a chimpanzee. Quietly told and expressively illustrated, the story of the child as a budding naturalist is charming on it own, but the photo on the last page opens it up through a well-chosen image that illuminates the connections between childhood dreams and adult reality. On two appended pages, “About Jane Goodall” describes her work, while “A Message from Jan” invites others to get involved. This remarkable picture book is one of the few that speaks, in a meaningful way, to all ages.” - Booklist (PreS - Gr. 3)

Phelan, C. (2011). Me . . . Jane. Booklist, 107(14), 53.

Use in Classroom Setting:
After reading Me…Jane students discuss how her interest in animals turned into her grown up job. Students draw a picture of what they want to be when they grow up. Students share with the class their picture and explain to the class what they want to be when they grow up.
 

Students read Me…Jane and discuss the importance of keeping a journal. The class works together to complete a journal about animals. Learners use a variety of materials to design an entry in the animal journal using collages, drawings, and paintings. In the end the journal has pictures and short facts about a variety of animals.

Book 2: Biography

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science by John Fleischman

Bibliography:
Fleischman, J. (2002). Phineas gage: A gruesome but true story about brain science. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

 

Summary: 
Phineas Gage is the foreman from a construction crew in 1848. He has a horrible brain injury that it seems he has recovered from but he dies of it more than 11 years later. A tamping iron (similar to a crow bar) goes in through his cheek and out through his forehead injuring the frontal lobes of his cortex but he is still alive and conscious.  His brain injury becomes famous because it helps to make discoveries about the brain and how it works because like his doctor observes “Gage was no longer Gage.” In 10 weeks Gage is marked as physically healed but the doctor is not convinced about his mental state. His personality has changed. Someone who used to be able to work well with others has list the ability to socially interact. Doctor Harlow writes about the case and gets the attention of a Harvard Professor of Surgery. Everyone is so interested because if he is still alive then what does that part of the brain do? Gage and Dr. Harlow travel to Boston where they meet with doctors who have two different theories about how the brain works. While both theories are incorrect they move research further that eventually starts to move in the right direction pinpointing control areas and mapping the brain bit by bit.  

My Impression:  
The story tells the event of Phineas brain injury in 1800’s giving the reader a good look at the event and the time period. It’s amazing to read about what doctors thought then compared to what they now in regards to Brain Science. The book frequently refers findings for the reader to understand the time line of medical advances when discussing the events of Phineas’ situation. Details of the story are expressed greatly through the pictures and diagrams within the book. I was really intrigued by the Phenological Head illustration and started touching my own head to try and feel what those brain “organs” might say about me. The entire book itself was so interesting, different from reading about the case from a dry medical journal this book included aspects of his like that made you understand Gage and his importance and struggle better.

 
Reviews: 

"In 1848, Phineas Gage, a twenty-six-year-old explosives expert, had an accident that should have killed him. His three-foot-long, spear like tamping iron, accidentally igniting the blasting powder, shot thirty feet into the air after first passing through his head. Miraculously, Gage was able to walk around, talk lucidly about the accident, and even joke with his horrified doctor. Later, it became clear that his personality and ability to make sound judgments had been drastically changed. Gage became the central figure in a medical debate between two factions of scientists that lasted long after his death eleven years later. Both the phrenologists and the whole-brain theorists were convinced that Gage's survival and personality transformation proved their theories and negated those of the other party. In fact, both theories were mostly incorrect. John Fleischman's bold, present-tense writing draws the reader into the story from the first sentence: 'The most unlucky/lucky moment in the life of Phineas Gage is only a minute or two away… [Soon] Phineas will have a horrible accident" The grisly cover photo of Gage's skull, a classy design, and large illustrations aid in captivating a younger audience (nine and up seems about right) who will likely be hooked by the story before Fleischman begins delving into the specifics of brain anatomy. While the text frequently addresses the reader directly ("Imagine you are inside Phineas’ head"), the serious subject and the author's skill keep the writing from becoming jejune. What truly elevates this book beyond a blow-by-blow description of a ghastly event and its aftermath is the introduction of the idea that some scientists are zealots who are compelled to support their own theories even if it means remaining blind to new evidence. At the heart of the book is the revelation that while science is a discipline based on facts, these "facts" change, forcing the field to evolve and reinvent itself.” – Horn Book Magazine (Intermediate, Middle School)
 

Robinson, L. (2002). Phineas Gage: A Gruesome But True Story About Brain Science. Horn Book Magazine, 78(3), 343-344.
 

"The fascinating story of the construction foreman who survived for 10 years after a 13-pound iron rod shot through his brain. Fleischman relates Gage's "horrible accident" and the subsequent events in the present tense, giving immediacy to the text. He avoids sensationalizing by letting the events themselves carry the impact. The straightforward description of Gage calmly chatting on a porch 30 minutes after the accident, for example, comes across as horrifying and amazing. The author presents scientific background in a conversational style and jumps enthusiastically into such related topics as phrenology, 19th-century medical practices, and the history of microbiology. He shows how Gage's misfortune actually played an intriguing and important role in the development of our knowledge of the brain. The present-tense narrative may cause occasional confusion, since it spans several time periods and dates are not always immediately apparent from the text. Illustrations include historical photographs; one showing the iron bar posed dramatically next to Gage's skull is particularly impressive. Other photos and diagrams help explain the workings of the brain. The work of Gage expert Malcolm Macmillan, cited in the list of resources, seems the likely main source for the quotes and details of Gage's life, but this is not clearly spelled out in the text or appendixes. Like Penny Colman's Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts (Holt, 1997) and James M. Deem's Bodies from the Bog (Houghton, 1998), Phineas Gage brings a scientific viewpoint to a topic that will be delightfully gruesome to many readers." - School Library Journal (Gr. 5 & Up)

Engelfried, S. (2002). Phineas Gage (Book). School Library Journal, 48(3), 247.
 

Use in Classroom Setting:
Students pay close attention to the mention of advances in medical science when reading Phineas Gage: A Gruesome But True Story About Brain Science. Afterwards the class works together to research then prepare timelines with graphic representations showing the specific medical advances they found. Then the class discusses the impact of these advances. 
 

The students will pay close attention to the Phrenology chart in Phineas Gage: A Gruesome But True Story About Brain Science. In groups the students have a chance to create their own Phrenology Chart using our current understanding of the brain function. They will do so on a bathing cap to demonstrate their work on a person. More resources for this lesson are found on the PBS site (http://www.pbs.org/saf/1302/teaching/teach.pdf ).