Historical Fiction

Book 1: Historical Fiction

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Bibliography:
Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and say. New York: Philomel Books. 

Summary:
The book is about two Union soldiers in the Civil War. One was white, Sheldon/Say, the other was black, Pinkus/Pink, both of them were just kids. Pink comes across Say who has been hit in his leg. Pink drags him to his home where his mother cares for them, but the boys can’t stay because they endanger Pink’s mom by being there. As they were getting ready to leave marauders come and the boys hide in the cellar while mother tries to steer them away, but they shoot her.  They are caught by confederates taken to Andersonville and separated. Say was eventually released from the camp in dire condition but alive, while Pink was said to be hanged.

My Impression:  
I thought the boys dialogue gave a lot of insight to how life would have been for these two different young soldiers of the Civil War. The last page that dedicates the book to Pinkus Aylee, since he has no one left to tell it for him, is so touching. The terms like “the sickness” for slavery gives a good portrait of how the act of keeping slaves was viewed to those fight against it.  The last page that dedicates the book to Pinkus Aylee, since he has no one left to tell it for him, is so touching.  The fact that is part of the author's own family makes it even more wonderful, because she shared a piece of her family with the reader.

Reviews 

“Polacco relates a true incident  from her family’s history in this powerful story set during the Civil War. Fifteen-year-old Sheldon “Say” Curtis has been wounded and left for dead by his fellow white Union soldiers. Pinkus “Pink” Aylee , a 15-year-old African American Union soldier, finds Say and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. Pink and his mother nurse Say back to health, and the two boys forge a strong bond of friendship, even though Pink plans to return to his military unit. Before they can leave, marauders kill Moe Moe Bay. Pink and Say are captured soon after and taken to Andersonville prison, where Pink is hanged within hours of arrival. Say survives to tell the story and pass it on through generations. Polacco’s artwork shows dramatic perspectives and faces full of emotion. As the friends are wrenched apart in prison, they are able to clasp hands for a moment as Pink says, “Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one more time.” This picture book is a departure for Polacco in terms of content and audience, but the familial ties still remain.” – Book Links (Gr. 4 - 11)

Pink and Say. (2005). Book Links, 15(1), 55.

“This picture book set during the Civil War is a departure from Polacco in term of content and audience. It is certiain;t the deepest and most serious vook she has done. Sheldon Curtis, 15, a white boy, lies badly wounded in a field in Georgia when Pinkus Aylee, and African American Union soldier about Sheldon’s age, finds him and carries him nad carries him home to his mother, Moe More Bay. Sheldon, known as Say, is nursed back to health in her nurturing care. But then she is killed by marauders, and the boys return to their units. They are then captured and taken to Andersonville, where Pink is hanged within hours of their capture. One of the most touchin moments is when Pink reads alound from the Bible to Moe Moe and Say. Sat tells them that he can’t read, but then he offers something he’s very proud of: he once shook Abraham Lincoln’s hand. This is a central image in the story, and is what ties the boys together for a final time, as Pink cries, “Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.” The picture of their claspesen hands, with the hands of the soldiers wenching them apart is exceptionaly moving. Polacco’s artwork, in fact, has never been better. She uses dramatic perspectives, dynamic compositions, and faces full of emotion to carry her powerful tale. Hisoty comes to life in this remarkable book” - School Library Journal (Gr. 4 & Up)

Persson, L. (1994). Book review: Grades 3-6. School Library Journal, 40(10), 126. 

Use in Classroom Setting:

After reading Pink and Say, elementary students explore and discuss the meaning of the story and its applicability to Civil War events. Students then create  a chart outlining what they already know, what they want to learn, and the last column what they have learned about the Civil War. Then they work in groups to research their ideas on the Civil War and share terms they've collected.

Middle school students read Pink and Say to try and understand the war from a soldier’s perspective. In class they discuss the American Civil War and soldiers' views of the war. They research several biographical stories for soldiers of both sides. Then they create a Venn diagram with Union Soldier on one side and Confederate Soldier on the other.

Book 2: Historical Fiction

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

 

Bibliography:
Choldenko, G. (2004). Al capone does my shirts. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Summary: 
Moose is a 12 year old boy that has just moved to Alcatraz Island because his dad got a new job there and his mother has hopes for his sister Natalie to attend a special school in San Francisco. Other families whose parents work for the prison live on the island too. His “younger” sister Natalie is autistic and the family has struggled with her illness for a long time. The opportunity for her to go to this special school is the last chance the family sees to getting her the help she needs and her first attempt is not successful. The book gets its title from the fact that the criminals of the prison perform a lot of the duties for the entire island, including the laundry services. There are an interesting set of children that Moose gets to know on the island including Piper, the warden’s daughter and a bit of a trouble maker.

My Impression: 
The book reads like a boy’s journal depicting his life from January to June in the year 1935. While the book is considered historical fiction because it takes place in the 1930’s while Alcatraz was still a functioning prison the main focus is this family and it’s struggle to cope with Natalie’s autism a condition that only recently has been made medical advances and in the 1930’s would have meant a child most likely be put in asylum. Moose surprises you with how much he is willing to do to make sure his sister gets into the school, and it turn out the time on the island is actually is making her try to get out of her own world.

 Reviews: 

“Set on the island of Alcatraz in the year 1935, Gennifer Choldenko’s book is a fun, as well as educational, young-adult novel. Twelve-year-old Moose and his family have moved to Alcatraz so that Moose’s father can work as an electrician and guard. The increased income will allow them to enroll their autistic daughter, 14-year-old Natalie, in a special school in San Francisco. When the school rejects Natalie, Moose must give up his beloved baseball games and come home after school to take care of her while his mother and father work. Although the storyline is somewhat grim, readers will find much to enjoy about this book. The well-developed characters of the children living on Alcatraz, especially the warden’s cute and troublesome daughter, Piper, and her schemes for making money and involving the reluctant Moose, lighten the plot. The constant love and attention Moose shows his sister makes this a heartwarming and appealing read. The added attraction of famous criminals such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelley will appeal to most middle schoolers. In addition, Choldenko offers some fascinating historical background information on Alcatraz in an afterward. She also addresses the issue of autism, which was really an unidentified disease at that time.” – Library Media Connection (Gr. 6 - 9)

Al Capone Does My Shirts (Book). (2004). Library Media Connection, 23(3), 69.  

“Set on Alcatraz Island in 1935, Choldenko's (Notes from a Liar and Her Dog) exceptionally atmospheric novel has equally unusual characters and plot lines. Twelve-year-old narrator Moose Flanagan has just moved to the island, where his father has been hired as an electrician and guard. At first Moose is spooked at being in such close proximity to the nation's most notorious criminals, and he doesn't know what to make of the all-powerful warden's bossy daughter, Piper, who flouts her father's rule about talking about the convicts ("You say [Al Capone's] name and hordes of reporters come crawling out of the woodwork ready to write stories full of foolish lies," the warden explains). At school, on the mainland, Piper hatches a scheme to make money from classmates ("Once in a lifetime opportunity! Get your clothes laundered by Al Capone and other world-famous public enemies!... Only costs 5 cents") and forces Moose to help her. Moose has reasons for staying on Piper's good side: his older sister, Natalie, has what would now be called autism, and Moose worries that her behavior will land the family in trouble with the warden. (Natalie's condition is so poorly understood that an expert tells her desperate mother, "An interesting case... you should consider donating her brain to science when she dies.") Choldenko captures the tense, nuanced family dynamics touched off by Natalie's disability as skillfully as she handles the mystique of Alcatraz and the exchanges between Moose and his friends. Fast-paced and memorable.”– Publishers Weekly (Ages 10 & Up)

Al Capone Does My Shirts (Book). (2004). Publishers Weekly, 251(5), 78. 
 

Use in Classroom Setting:
After reading Al Capone Does My Shirts students will watch “Voices from Alcatraz” provided by the Scholastic website (http://video.scholastic.com/services/player/bcpid858992059001?bctid=1430286267001). Students will then research other testimonies from the time Alcatraz was a
running prison to find evidence of the situation at the time of the 1930’s when the book took place. In the end they will make inferences about the conditions at Alcatraz to share with the class. 

After reading Al Capone Does My Shirts students will discuss Natalie and her effect on the family. Students will then examine autism and advances in autism research. In groups the students will share information about the research they have found. Afterwards the class can brainstorm on ideas to raise Autism Awareness during the month of April.