BIBLIOGRAPHY
Clements, Andrew. 2002. THINGS NOT SEEN. Philomel Books: New York. ISBN: 0-399-23626-0.
PLOT SUMMARY
Bobby Phillips is leading a rather ordinary life until he wakes up one morning and discovers he is invisible. Bobby’s parents believe it is best to keep this condition a secret. Then, that same afternoon, his parents are in a car accident, and Bobby is on his own for a few days. He ventures out to one of his favorite places, the library, where he meets a young blind girl names Alicia. Gradually he and Alicia become friends. He shares his secret condition with Alicia and Alicia’s parents. The two fathers are both scientists and team up to try to solve this invisibility problem. The local state Child Protective Services agency has added motivation because they are investigating Bobby’s “disappearance” from school and home. They have given the Phillips’ family an ultimatum to produce Bobby or face arrest and incarceration.
Bobby and Alicia begin their own investigation to the cause of Bobby’s invisibility. It leads them to another invisible person and their fathers to the reason for the invisibility. The simple science and math principle, two negatives make a positive, leads Bobby to try sleeping under the electric blanket that caused all of this one more time. As the state authorities burst into the Phillips’ home at 4:30am, Bobby discovers that he is no longer invisible. The experiment worked. He is ready to resume his life and his relationship with Alicia.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Andrew Clements has written another captivating book with THINGS NOT SEEN. At some point in life, most people fantasize about what it would be like to be invisible. The main character Bobby wakes up and discovers this has happened. It is not the fun adventure one might expect. Mr. Clements presents a realistic look at what it would be like to be invisible.
The plot is fast paced and involving. The readers are tossed right into the story on the first page. There are no chapters of description and set up. The book begins with Bobby waking up to his invisible body. Readers plunge in and follow Bobby as he tries to sort out this new predicament. The action continues to build as Bobby finds another invisible person, and as the scientist fathers discover that the electric blanket and solar particles caused this condition. The story doesn’t climax until the police officer and Ms. Pagett open the Bobby’s closet door and discover he is in there. The readers are just as surprised to find Bobby visible as the rest of the book’s characters.
The story is set in Chicago in a non-descript time period. Readers could assume that this is current times. The description of items used and sights are all common place. There are neither old fashioned devices nor futuristic items. Also, Alicia mentions Brad Pitt in a conversation. He is a current movie star but he has been around for many years. So readers have a time reference point but the exact time span is not named. This adds a timeless element to a topic that is relatively universal.
Chicago is an interesting setting choice. Winter in Chicago is brutally cold. However, when Bobby is out and unable to find a place to stash clothing, he must be naked. Many readers may not think of this when considering invisibility. But seeing a shirt and pants with no arms, legs, and face would be disturbing. Being naked is also symbolic of being exposed. People in Western culture do not wander around naked. Even when invisible, nudity leaves Bobby feeling vulnerable. However, he chooses to remember lessons he learned about the Greek Warriors who fought naked. He chooses to see his present nudity as an aggressive stance, not a weakness.
This nudity is what leads to Alicia discovering Bobby’s invisibility. When Bobby grabs Alicia so a boy distractedly riding a scooter doesn’t run into her, Alicia realizes that he has no shirt on and wonders what kind of weirdo is out in a Chicago winter shirtless. This leads Bobby to share his secret with her. She can’t see him, but she can hear his voice and feel his body. The fact that he can’t be seen doesn’t affect their relationship. In fact, Alicia’s blindness is what frees Bobby to first talk with her in the library. Bobby realizes later that others avoid Alicia because of her blindness, but it was this very trait that drew him to her. Alicia’s cane moving back and forth seems to sweep people out of the way and away from Alicia. Bobby watches many people’s reactions to her and avoidance of her. It is amazing how people will act and react when they don’t know they can be seen.
The characters in this story are well developed and multi-dimensional. Many of the characters experience a profound change in outlook and attitude. Bobby is a typical teenage boy. His parents are always dictating his life for him. He smiles at a popular girl at school and she doesn’t acknowledge his presence. It is like he is invisible. Bobby then learns what it means to truly be invisible and learns how to take control of his life and assert his own will. His parents are both heavily involved in their academic careers. They love their son, but the demands of their career appear to be a top priority, at first. Both realize importance of listening and trusting their son. At the beginning of the story, they seem distant from Bobby but by the end they are proud of him and who is becoming.
Alicia is the blind girl that becomes Bobby’s sole companion during his stint as the invisible man. Alicia is an interesting character. She was not born blind but became blind due to an odd accident. She is not the stereotypical optimistic “disabled kid” who is always pleasant and long suffering. She laments the constant attention and assistance her mother believes she needs. She resents the idea that needs to be “saved or rescued”.
Ironically, it is Bobby, the “normal” boy, who needs to be rescued from his situation. Alicia is the body that Bobby needs to help him move around. She helps him gather information about the electric blanket and had many great ideas about how to solve the problem. In fact, Alicia is the one who makes the final suggestion that leads to Bobby reappearing. She may be blind, but she is not useless or waiting for someone else to come up with the great ideas. She has a brain and is capable.
She also has flaws. She is not the stereotypical superhero-disabled person. She is moody and temperamental. When Bobby gains his visibility, she is happy for him but rejects him because she is trying to protect herself from getting hurt. She and Bobby have many arguments over comments. Many of her conversations drip with sarcasm and belligerence.
The theme of the story is the importance of choices and the importance of learning how to live in one’s own skin—whether that skin is perfect or flawed. Bobby is so focused on reversing the invisibility he has difficulty understanding how the other invisible person he found does not want to try to reappear. The woman had been invisible for three years and had become comfortable with her life. She did not want to return. As she states, “I had started disappearing long before this happened to me. If it hadn’t been this, I would have disappeared some other way” (Clements 238). She has learned to live in her own skin, flaws and all. Bobby sends her the electric blanket anyway because he wants her to really have a choice before she decides that this is how she wants to stay.
Alicia believes that Bobby will be finished with her once he regains his form. She rejects his attempt to kiss her and sends him away. She sends him a poem explaining her motives. The novel ends with Bobby going to Alicia’s house to tell her that his feelings haven’t changed. Alicia is still working to accept her life but she wants to give Bobby a way out if he hasn’t truly accepted being with a blind girl when he doesn’t have to be.
A minor sub-theme is the idea of living people being invisible. This does not just include physical invisibility, such as the kind that envelopes Bobby, but feeling invisible and powerless. Alicia says she felt invisible once she became blind because all of her friends started to ignore and avoid her. Her parents made decisions for her because she was the “poor little blind girl”. Her disability did not impair decision making skills or social skills, but they were somehow linked by others. She was lonely. Bobby felt this same type of mental invisibility with classmates and his parents. Sheila, the other invisible person, felt invisible too even prior to her “disappearance”. Her body simply caught up with what her spirit felt.
This is an excellent fast-paced read. Andrew Clements has created another masterpiece. This book would be an excellent addition to any library.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From BOOK LIST: “The first page is electrifying… Clements isn't heavy-handed, but readers will easily be able to imagine what it must be like to have the world disappear.”
From PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “As preposterous as the teen's predicament may be, the author spins a convincing and affecting story.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Clements's story is full of life; it's poignant, funny, scary, and seemingly all too possible. The author successfully blends reality with fantasy in a tale that keeps his audience in suspense until the very end.”
From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “A readable, thought-provoking tour de force, alive with stimulating ideas, hard choices, and young people discovering bright possibilities ahead.”
CONNECTIONS
Waking up and discovering one is invisible is the fantasy of many people. You can do anything you want. Would you want this to happen to you? Why or Why not? Write a 2-3 page explanation of why you wish this would or wouldn’t happen to you and what you would do in this situation.
Using the link, students will select another book by Andrew Clements. After selected, they will read it and discuss with classmates if this book is similar to THINGS NOT SEEN. Authors sometimes write using a pattern and other times write something totally different. Students need practice evaluating works by an author.
Andrew Clements
Monday, August 4, 2008
LS 5653: Module 6: Habibi
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. HABIBI. Simon & Schuster: New York. ISBN: 0-389-80149-1.
PLOT SUMMARY
Liyana’s Palestinian father Poppy has always believed that he would someday return home. Liyana’s parents have decided that the time is now. With the belief that times are better in Palestine, they move Liyana and her brother Rafik from their St. Louis home to a new home in Poppy’s hometown of Jerusalem. Poppy wants his children to understand both sides of their heritage. As Poppy becomes reacquainted with his past, Liyana, Rafik, and their American mother discover how they fit into this new culture. They meet a large collection of family who are anxious to teach them about life in this area. All is not peaceful though. Liyana falls in love with a young Jewish boy and is faced with opposition to this. She learns the fragile nature of human interaction and coexistence when a friend is shot in the refugee camp, and her father is jailed for his effort to calm the situation. The value of peace and understanding overshadow the need for constant revenge and retribution. The story ends with a hopeful look into the future.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
HABIBI is the story of a father, Poppy, who wants to teach his children about both halves of their heritage. They have lived in the United States for many years. This is their mother’s homeland. Now, it is time to move to Jerusalem to learn about their father, his family, and his homeland.
The plot of the story is simple and easy to follow. The reader watches the Abboud family pack only the most important items from their life in America and unpack these items in their new home. The plot is not fast paced or action packed. Rather it drifts with Liyana and her family as they make Jerusalem their home. The reader will enjoy the pace of book; it mirrors the pace of a simple life that Liyana strives for.
The story is floating in and out of shops, and readers are making observations with Liyana when the story surges toward its climax. A friend in the refugee camp, Khaled, is shot, and Poppy is jailed when he tries to intervene with the soldiers. The story’s tone changes from light with moments of contemplation to shocking with moments of injustice. Ms. Nye does an excellent job knocking the Abboud family and the readers off balance with these events. As quickly as Poppy is jailed and Khaled hospitalized, the situation resolves itself. Poppy is released from jail, and Khaled’s condition is improving. The story wraps up neatly with the family thinking of peace and where life will take them. The end is contemplative and satisfying.
The story is begins in St. Louis, Missouri. But the story doesn’t remain in Missouri. Quickly it transitions to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is in the Middle East. This part of the world is different than the United States but descriptions of areas focus on similarities or on how interesting Jerusalem is. Liyana misses St. Louis immediately after she moves but by the middle of the story she wonders if she misses anything anymore. Jerusalem has now become her home, and she had what she needs. She doesn’t lament what she doesn’t have. Liyana’s new home is not described as inferior nor is it inferred that it is inferior. Liyana gets to know the shopkeepers in Jerusalem just like she did in St. Louis. Jerusalem is an urban area. There is public transportation, phone service, cars, a hospital, and many other conveniences. There are rural areas in Palestine, but they are not the sole establishment.
Ms. Nye chooses to focus on the human aspect of Jerusalem. The delicate balance between Arabs and Jews is part of the discussion, but it is not the entire focus. People are not repeatedly killed by car bombs; everyone is not a fundamentalist. The family is confronted with injustice when soldiers destroy Sitti’s house, shot Khaled, and jailed Poppy. But all of this injustice is quickly rectified and is not avenged. The Abbouds are not vengeful, which shows that not all Middle Easterners are bent on revenge. Jerusalem is full of regular people, not just the mourners, soldiers, and bombers seen on television.
The characters in the story are well developed and fascinating. Liyana is a high school freshman moved across the ocean. She struggles at first figuring out how she fits into this new community. However, she continues to try to find her place and eventually succeeds. She does not argue with her parents and sulk about leaving America. She trusts Poppy’s decision and looks back at her past American life only briefly.
The main struggle Liyana has is with maintaining proper decorum when dealing with her male friend, Omer. Liyana has not grown up in this culture. She was beginning to become interested in boys prior to moving and she developed her ideas about how boys and girls interact in the United States. These expectations are different than those in Palestine/Israel. Poppy keeps trying to remind Liyana, but this just proves to be frustrating. Another issue with Omer is that he is Jewish. Relations between the two cultures are strained, and Poppy fears the worst when he finds out his heritage.
Liyana’s father, affectionately called Poppy, is an Arab who moved to the United States because of the volatile situation in his homeland. He planned to return after medical school, but he met his wife and had 2 children. He always intended to return home. When the family returns, Poppy is surprised that some things have not changed as much as he wishes. The military presence is still very real and intense. The family is retained at the airport when they arrive in Jerusalem because moving from America to the area is deemed suspicious. Poppy was not expecting this. When Sitti’s home is invaded by soldiers, Poppy is indignant. He believed that this type of activity was gone from his homeland. Interestingly, because Poppy is an Arab he refers to the country as Palestine not Israel. Many Westerners may not realize that this name distinction exists.
The Abboud family is an Arab-American family. Many may assume that they would be Muslim. They are not. Ms. Nye avoids that stereotype. The family is Christian. They do not attend church regularly, but they have Christian beliefs but are not radical. When they first move to Jerusalem, they tour all of the major Christian sites in the area. Liyana’s mother becomes very emotional as she visits these places. She is touched by their power.
Understanding oneself and one’s place in the world is the theme of HABIBI. The Abboud family finds themselves in a new country, time zone, and culture. They each have to figure out how they fit into this culture and into the family that is eager to embrace them. It is not an easy transition. Ms. Nye shows the struggles that the Abbouds confront as they meld into society. However, at no time do they complain constantly or discuss leaving. This is their home. They are with family. Leaving is only mentioned in the last few pages when Poppy and Liyana are discussing where the family members may end up in later life. It is not a plan to leave now. It is discussion regarding the map everyone follows when living his/her own life.
HABIBI consists of a great story and interesting characters. It is a fast and enjoyable read. This book would be an excellent addition to any library collection.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From BOOKLIST: “What is it like to be young in Palestine today? That is the focus of this stirring docunovel, which breaks new ground in YA fiction… The story is steeped in detail about the place and cultures: food, geography, history, shopping, schools, languages, religions, etc. Just when you think it is obtrusive to have essays and journal entries thrust into the story, you get caught up in the ideas and the direct simplicity with which Nye speaks.”
From PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Nye's climactic ending will leave readers pondering, long after the last page is turned, why Arabs, Jews, Greeks and Armenians can no longer live in harmony the way they once did.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Though the story begins at a leisurely pace, readers will be engaged by the characters, the romance, and the foreshadowed danger. Poetically imaged and leavened with humor, the story renders layered and complex history understandable through character and incident. Habibi succeeds in making the hope for peace compellingly personal and concrete”
From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “In her first novel, Nye shows all of the charms and flaws of the old city through unique, short-story-like chapters and poetic language. The sights, sounds, and smells of Jerusalem drift through the pages and readers glean a sense of current Palestinian-Israeli relations and the region's troubled history.”
CONNECTIONS
Poppy takes the family to many historical and religious sites as the family settles into their new home. On a map of the area, students will label the location of these places—Jesus’ tomb, the Dead Sea, etc.
Liyana is moved from her life in the United States to a new and unfamiliar culture. How would you feel if you were in Liyana’s situation? Why would you feel that way? What do you believe would be the most difficult transition you’d have to make?
Liyana must learn Arabic to successfully navigate her new surroundings. Investigate the Arabic language with her. Use the following links to learn more about the language and its structure.
Arabic language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arabic Language
Arabic Language
(Note: these two sites are two different web links.)
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. HABIBI. Simon & Schuster: New York. ISBN: 0-389-80149-1.
PLOT SUMMARY
Liyana’s Palestinian father Poppy has always believed that he would someday return home. Liyana’s parents have decided that the time is now. With the belief that times are better in Palestine, they move Liyana and her brother Rafik from their St. Louis home to a new home in Poppy’s hometown of Jerusalem. Poppy wants his children to understand both sides of their heritage. As Poppy becomes reacquainted with his past, Liyana, Rafik, and their American mother discover how they fit into this new culture. They meet a large collection of family who are anxious to teach them about life in this area. All is not peaceful though. Liyana falls in love with a young Jewish boy and is faced with opposition to this. She learns the fragile nature of human interaction and coexistence when a friend is shot in the refugee camp, and her father is jailed for his effort to calm the situation. The value of peace and understanding overshadow the need for constant revenge and retribution. The story ends with a hopeful look into the future.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
HABIBI is the story of a father, Poppy, who wants to teach his children about both halves of their heritage. They have lived in the United States for many years. This is their mother’s homeland. Now, it is time to move to Jerusalem to learn about their father, his family, and his homeland.
The plot of the story is simple and easy to follow. The reader watches the Abboud family pack only the most important items from their life in America and unpack these items in their new home. The plot is not fast paced or action packed. Rather it drifts with Liyana and her family as they make Jerusalem their home. The reader will enjoy the pace of book; it mirrors the pace of a simple life that Liyana strives for.
The story is floating in and out of shops, and readers are making observations with Liyana when the story surges toward its climax. A friend in the refugee camp, Khaled, is shot, and Poppy is jailed when he tries to intervene with the soldiers. The story’s tone changes from light with moments of contemplation to shocking with moments of injustice. Ms. Nye does an excellent job knocking the Abboud family and the readers off balance with these events. As quickly as Poppy is jailed and Khaled hospitalized, the situation resolves itself. Poppy is released from jail, and Khaled’s condition is improving. The story wraps up neatly with the family thinking of peace and where life will take them. The end is contemplative and satisfying.
The story is begins in St. Louis, Missouri. But the story doesn’t remain in Missouri. Quickly it transitions to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is in the Middle East. This part of the world is different than the United States but descriptions of areas focus on similarities or on how interesting Jerusalem is. Liyana misses St. Louis immediately after she moves but by the middle of the story she wonders if she misses anything anymore. Jerusalem has now become her home, and she had what she needs. She doesn’t lament what she doesn’t have. Liyana’s new home is not described as inferior nor is it inferred that it is inferior. Liyana gets to know the shopkeepers in Jerusalem just like she did in St. Louis. Jerusalem is an urban area. There is public transportation, phone service, cars, a hospital, and many other conveniences. There are rural areas in Palestine, but they are not the sole establishment.
Ms. Nye chooses to focus on the human aspect of Jerusalem. The delicate balance between Arabs and Jews is part of the discussion, but it is not the entire focus. People are not repeatedly killed by car bombs; everyone is not a fundamentalist. The family is confronted with injustice when soldiers destroy Sitti’s house, shot Khaled, and jailed Poppy. But all of this injustice is quickly rectified and is not avenged. The Abbouds are not vengeful, which shows that not all Middle Easterners are bent on revenge. Jerusalem is full of regular people, not just the mourners, soldiers, and bombers seen on television.
The characters in the story are well developed and fascinating. Liyana is a high school freshman moved across the ocean. She struggles at first figuring out how she fits into this new community. However, she continues to try to find her place and eventually succeeds. She does not argue with her parents and sulk about leaving America. She trusts Poppy’s decision and looks back at her past American life only briefly.
The main struggle Liyana has is with maintaining proper decorum when dealing with her male friend, Omer. Liyana has not grown up in this culture. She was beginning to become interested in boys prior to moving and she developed her ideas about how boys and girls interact in the United States. These expectations are different than those in Palestine/Israel. Poppy keeps trying to remind Liyana, but this just proves to be frustrating. Another issue with Omer is that he is Jewish. Relations between the two cultures are strained, and Poppy fears the worst when he finds out his heritage.
Liyana’s father, affectionately called Poppy, is an Arab who moved to the United States because of the volatile situation in his homeland. He planned to return after medical school, but he met his wife and had 2 children. He always intended to return home. When the family returns, Poppy is surprised that some things have not changed as much as he wishes. The military presence is still very real and intense. The family is retained at the airport when they arrive in Jerusalem because moving from America to the area is deemed suspicious. Poppy was not expecting this. When Sitti’s home is invaded by soldiers, Poppy is indignant. He believed that this type of activity was gone from his homeland. Interestingly, because Poppy is an Arab he refers to the country as Palestine not Israel. Many Westerners may not realize that this name distinction exists.
The Abboud family is an Arab-American family. Many may assume that they would be Muslim. They are not. Ms. Nye avoids that stereotype. The family is Christian. They do not attend church regularly, but they have Christian beliefs but are not radical. When they first move to Jerusalem, they tour all of the major Christian sites in the area. Liyana’s mother becomes very emotional as she visits these places. She is touched by their power.
Understanding oneself and one’s place in the world is the theme of HABIBI. The Abboud family finds themselves in a new country, time zone, and culture. They each have to figure out how they fit into this culture and into the family that is eager to embrace them. It is not an easy transition. Ms. Nye shows the struggles that the Abbouds confront as they meld into society. However, at no time do they complain constantly or discuss leaving. This is their home. They are with family. Leaving is only mentioned in the last few pages when Poppy and Liyana are discussing where the family members may end up in later life. It is not a plan to leave now. It is discussion regarding the map everyone follows when living his/her own life.
HABIBI consists of a great story and interesting characters. It is a fast and enjoyable read. This book would be an excellent addition to any library collection.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From BOOKLIST: “What is it like to be young in Palestine today? That is the focus of this stirring docunovel, which breaks new ground in YA fiction… The story is steeped in detail about the place and cultures: food, geography, history, shopping, schools, languages, religions, etc. Just when you think it is obtrusive to have essays and journal entries thrust into the story, you get caught up in the ideas and the direct simplicity with which Nye speaks.”
From PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Nye's climactic ending will leave readers pondering, long after the last page is turned, why Arabs, Jews, Greeks and Armenians can no longer live in harmony the way they once did.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Though the story begins at a leisurely pace, readers will be engaged by the characters, the romance, and the foreshadowed danger. Poetically imaged and leavened with humor, the story renders layered and complex history understandable through character and incident. Habibi succeeds in making the hope for peace compellingly personal and concrete”
From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “In her first novel, Nye shows all of the charms and flaws of the old city through unique, short-story-like chapters and poetic language. The sights, sounds, and smells of Jerusalem drift through the pages and readers glean a sense of current Palestinian-Israeli relations and the region's troubled history.”
CONNECTIONS
Poppy takes the family to many historical and religious sites as the family settles into their new home. On a map of the area, students will label the location of these places—Jesus’ tomb, the Dead Sea, etc.
Liyana is moved from her life in the United States to a new and unfamiliar culture. How would you feel if you were in Liyana’s situation? Why would you feel that way? What do you believe would be the most difficult transition you’d have to make?
Liyana must learn Arabic to successfully navigate her new surroundings. Investigate the Arabic language with her. Use the following links to learn more about the language and its structure.
Arabic language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arabic Language
Arabic Language
(Note: these two sites are two different web links.)
LS 5653--Module 6: KING & KING
BIBLIOGRAPHY
De Haan, Linda and Stern Nijland. 2000. KING & KING. Illus. by authors. Tricycle Press: Berkeley, CA. ISBN: 1-58246-061-2.
PLOT SUMMARY
The queen orders her son, the prince, to find a suitable princess and marry. The prince and his mother search and analyze the princesses that step forward. However, none of them seem acceptable. All seems lost until the final princess and her brother appear. The prince falls in love with the other prince and the two marry and live happily ever after.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
KING & KING is a story that puts a twist on traditional fairy tales. The story of princess meets prince, falls in love, and lives happily ever after is paralleled in this story. The only twist is that the prince meets a prince and lives happily ever after.
The plot of the story is simple and will be familiar to readers. The plot progresses along to the climax which is when the young prince meets his true love and agrees to get married. The tale ends with the standard fairy tale line “and everyone lives happily ever after”.
The characterization in the story is limited and is seen mostly in the illustrations. The queen is a strong willed woman who has decided that she is done ruling the kingdom. She is ready for her son to wed and take over. The third page of the story shows the queen making a demanding the prince take her decision seriously. “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!” she bellows. Her face is cross, domineering, and contorted. The illustration consists of isolated words that the queen is saying. These words are the most important for the prince and the reader. “Romance”, “love”, “happy”, “to care for”, “dream wedding” is uttered as well as “I do it for you”. Readers realize that the queen is overbearing but loves her son. The prince is disinterested in getting married. He finally relents after his mother’s constant barrage of chatter.
The illustrations that accompany the story are phenomenal. They are vibrant, colorful, and inventive. Lines and images are a combination of smooth edges and jagged blobs of color. The pictures are detailed but not full of realistic detail. People look like cartoon characters; many other items are not proportional. However, this lack of realism and uniformity supports the fairy tale structure of the book. The illustrations increase the appeal of the book. Some of the illustrations have depth and dimensionality that cause them to appear to have texture on the page. Readers who are simply flipping through will be enveloped by the pictures.
The readers are introduced to the parade of princesses the prince and the queen endure through the illustrations. The prince and queen are unimpressed with the herd of potential mates. Each princess is not what they expected. They are not beautiful or stately. Each one has her own odd feature such as extreme height or weight. The final princess is pretty, and the readers could infer that she is the prince’s chosen mate until they turn the page. The two princes have a collection of colorful hearts between them as they fall in love and live happily ever after.
The theme of this story is acceptance and maturation. Initially the prince does not tell his mother he would rather find a prince. He simply tells her that he “never cared much for princesses.” Perhaps if he had been ready and told his mother of his preference, they could have avoided the princess parade. However, despite this omission does not hinder his “happily ever after” ending. The queen is accepting of her son’s choice and even “sheds a tear” at his wedding.
The entire story reads like a typical, traditional, Disneyesque fairy tale. There is only one difference. The prince falls in love with another prince and lives happily ever after. Even in this day and age, this is a controversial topic. Gay marriage has recently been legalized in a few locations and is a polarizing topic. The author of this book takes great care to present an ordinary love story. There is nothing unusual about this pair. This encourages the reader to view the couple as that, a normal loving couple and not some type of spectacle. The queen’s reaction to her son’s choice of spouse is accepting. She does not get upset or disown him. She simply wishes him well in his choice of mate. The prince made his selection, and she respects his selection.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From BOOKLIST: “Here's a winning Dutch import for parents looking for a original tale with a gay slant…Adults will know what's coming early in the story, but many kids won't. They'll simply like the fun artwork and the final twist on conventions.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The book does present same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale.”
From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Move over, Princess Smartypants: this Dutch import arrives to take top honors in the fairytale-fracturing department… Hurrah to newcomers de Haan and Nijland and to the publisher for bringing them to an American audience.”
CONNECTIONS
KING AND KING is considered a fractured fairy tale. This means that it takes a traditional fairy tale and gives it a twist. Students should read other fractured fairy tales and then write their own.
Jon Scieszka Fractured Fairytales and Fables
Fractured Fairy Tales
List of possible reading choices:
Fractured Fairy Tales - Booklists
Using the following fractured fairy tale lesson plans, allow students to select an activity and complete the selected assignment.
ReadWriteThink: Student Materials: Fractured Fairy Tales
Fractured Fairy Tales
De Haan, Linda and Stern Nijland. 2000. KING & KING. Illus. by authors. Tricycle Press: Berkeley, CA. ISBN: 1-58246-061-2.
PLOT SUMMARY
The queen orders her son, the prince, to find a suitable princess and marry. The prince and his mother search and analyze the princesses that step forward. However, none of them seem acceptable. All seems lost until the final princess and her brother appear. The prince falls in love with the other prince and the two marry and live happily ever after.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
KING & KING is a story that puts a twist on traditional fairy tales. The story of princess meets prince, falls in love, and lives happily ever after is paralleled in this story. The only twist is that the prince meets a prince and lives happily ever after.
The plot of the story is simple and will be familiar to readers. The plot progresses along to the climax which is when the young prince meets his true love and agrees to get married. The tale ends with the standard fairy tale line “and everyone lives happily ever after”.
The characterization in the story is limited and is seen mostly in the illustrations. The queen is a strong willed woman who has decided that she is done ruling the kingdom. She is ready for her son to wed and take over. The third page of the story shows the queen making a demanding the prince take her decision seriously. “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!” she bellows. Her face is cross, domineering, and contorted. The illustration consists of isolated words that the queen is saying. These words are the most important for the prince and the reader. “Romance”, “love”, “happy”, “to care for”, “dream wedding” is uttered as well as “I do it for you”. Readers realize that the queen is overbearing but loves her son. The prince is disinterested in getting married. He finally relents after his mother’s constant barrage of chatter.
The illustrations that accompany the story are phenomenal. They are vibrant, colorful, and inventive. Lines and images are a combination of smooth edges and jagged blobs of color. The pictures are detailed but not full of realistic detail. People look like cartoon characters; many other items are not proportional. However, this lack of realism and uniformity supports the fairy tale structure of the book. The illustrations increase the appeal of the book. Some of the illustrations have depth and dimensionality that cause them to appear to have texture on the page. Readers who are simply flipping through will be enveloped by the pictures.
The readers are introduced to the parade of princesses the prince and the queen endure through the illustrations. The prince and queen are unimpressed with the herd of potential mates. Each princess is not what they expected. They are not beautiful or stately. Each one has her own odd feature such as extreme height or weight. The final princess is pretty, and the readers could infer that she is the prince’s chosen mate until they turn the page. The two princes have a collection of colorful hearts between them as they fall in love and live happily ever after.
The theme of this story is acceptance and maturation. Initially the prince does not tell his mother he would rather find a prince. He simply tells her that he “never cared much for princesses.” Perhaps if he had been ready and told his mother of his preference, they could have avoided the princess parade. However, despite this omission does not hinder his “happily ever after” ending. The queen is accepting of her son’s choice and even “sheds a tear” at his wedding.
The entire story reads like a typical, traditional, Disneyesque fairy tale. There is only one difference. The prince falls in love with another prince and lives happily ever after. Even in this day and age, this is a controversial topic. Gay marriage has recently been legalized in a few locations and is a polarizing topic. The author of this book takes great care to present an ordinary love story. There is nothing unusual about this pair. This encourages the reader to view the couple as that, a normal loving couple and not some type of spectacle. The queen’s reaction to her son’s choice of spouse is accepting. She does not get upset or disown him. She simply wishes him well in his choice of mate. The prince made his selection, and she respects his selection.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
From BOOKLIST: “Here's a winning Dutch import for parents looking for a original tale with a gay slant…Adults will know what's coming early in the story, but many kids won't. They'll simply like the fun artwork and the final twist on conventions.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The book does present same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale.”
From KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Move over, Princess Smartypants: this Dutch import arrives to take top honors in the fairytale-fracturing department… Hurrah to newcomers de Haan and Nijland and to the publisher for bringing them to an American audience.”
CONNECTIONS
KING AND KING is considered a fractured fairy tale. This means that it takes a traditional fairy tale and gives it a twist. Students should read other fractured fairy tales and then write their own.
Jon Scieszka Fractured Fairytales and Fables
Fractured Fairy Tales
List of possible reading choices:
Fractured Fairy Tales - Booklists
Using the following fractured fairy tale lesson plans, allow students to select an activity and complete the selected assignment.
ReadWriteThink: Student Materials: Fractured Fairy Tales
Fractured Fairy Tales
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