Month: June 2020

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Quintessence by Jess Redman – Book Review

 

Title: Quintessence
Author: Jess Redman
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: July 28, 2020

Alma suffers from panic attacks. Her suffering is solitary, isolating, and, at times, debilitating. She tries to keep her episodes a secret from her family, but they continue to get worse as Alma struggles to “acclimate” to her new home in Four Points. But the shopkeeper of the mysterious Fifth Point has bigger plans for Alma. A seemingly chance encounter between the two sets Alma on a fantastical quest. With the help of new friends and an emerging sense of self, Alma races against time to do the impossible: find the elements, grow the light, and save the starling.

The beauty of Quintessence lies in its raw, unfiltered depiction of a young person suffering from anxiety. Author Jess Redman captures Alma’s struggles in a visceral way, leveling a stirring emotional punch. The story’s emotion propels the plot and will keep readers engaged with the fantastical tale. While Alma and her friends’ quest is fun and purposeful, it takes place in a semi-real, semi-magical place. This setting creates dissonance at times although Redman’s incorporation of the Shopkeeper added much needed explanation for the impetus of the quest. Readers would benefit from his perspective much earlier. The tale truly finds its footing and rhythm about halfway through its telling, a length of time that may lose some readers as they turn disinterested in Alma’s transformation. This would be a shame because by the end of the novel, the story Redman brings to life proves powerful and compelling – so much so, readers may hope the tale of the Elementals continues in subsequent novels.

Quintessence imparts important messages to its readers: we are unique, we are interconnected, and we are resilient. These messages will resonate with middle grade readers and even bolster their own confidence to face the challenges in front of them. Its references to and emphasis on astronomy and science will surely attract the attention of STEM and STEAM-loving students. Most importantly, though, Quintessence provides young people a compassionate portrayal of Alma’s struggle with anxiety. With the need for social-emotional learning and mental health education rightly at the forefront of education, Redman’s novel can serve as a vehicle to open up conversations about these critical topics.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

  • Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a nonfiction study of astronomy.
  • Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of books that involve a quest.
  • Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading novels that are about quests.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

  • Astronomy
  • Star Formation
  • Principles of Astrophysics

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with Quintessence. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

*LIT Lessons participates in the Amazon Associate Program and earns a fee from qualifying purchases made on the Amazon.com site.
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War Stories by Gordon Korman – Book Review

 

Title: War Stories
Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release Date: July 21, 2020

Trevor’s passion for World War II borders obsession, especially since his beloved great-grandfather, G.G., is a war hero. G.G. fought valiantly in WWII. Now, a small village in France wants to honor his efforts at their liberation celebration, giving Trevor a chance to walk in G.G.’s footsteps. From training camp to the shores of Normandy and the hedgerows of France, G.G. relives his experiences with Trevor and Trevor’s father at his side. However, a mysterious group from the small village in France claims G.G. is no hero. As G.G. and company travel closer to the village, the threats they receive manifest in actual attacks. Will they be enough to stop the family from attending the celebration or will G.G. arrive at the village ready to face the darkest chapter of his past?

War Stories by Gordon Korman is a gritty, thought-provoking novel about the realities of warfare. As the story alternates between G.G.’s war stories and his present-day retracing of them, readers get an intimate look at the devastating and long-lasting effects of war. The seamless flow between these two time periods enhances the novel’s themes and helps fully immerse the reader in G.G.’s experiences. While alternating point of views or time periods are often overused as a dramatic narrative technique, in Korman’s hands with War Stories, they contribute to an emotional portrait of how war inflicts scars deep and irrevocable. In addition to the novel’s structure, G.G.’s character development is captivating. He is authentically human: plucky, complex, multi-dimensional. Finally, the scenes of warfare provide all the suspense and conflict expected from such action. Yet, their juxtaposition to Trevor’s glorified notions about it serve to reinforce how destructive and enduring those moments are for those that experience them. War Stories earns its place with other WWII middle grades novels, and rises to the top of must-read WWII titles. More recent literature captures different perspectives of the war, and Korman does so as well through another unique lens: a veteran. It is an important lens, and students will certainly gain valuable insight not only about the war but possibly – and more importantly – insight into how the war impacts an individual long after the fighting stops. It would be a fantastic book to pair with other perspectives of the war or novels about other global conflicts. However, the book can certainly be a standalone novel study. It offers a rich, textured presentation of war, and presents those dramatic events not just as episodes relegated to the past but as still living experiences that animate the present.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Scholastic, Inc., for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

  • Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a nonfiction study of World War II. It could focus on different perspectives and/or theaters of war.
  • Literature Circles – Use the novel as part of a study about World War II, especially one that focuses on multiple perspectives of the war.
  • Book Pairing – Pair the book with another novel about World War II, such as Allies by Alan Gratz, to create a thought-provoking unit that captures multiple perspectives on this global conflict.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

  • WWII
  • D-Day
  • WWII Veterans

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with War Stories. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

  • Allies by Alan Gratz (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
  • Grenade by Alan Gratz (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
  • Farewell to Manzanar by James D. Houston and Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
  • The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
  • Night by Elie Wiesel (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
  • On the Horizon by Lois Lowry (Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
*LIT Lessons participates in the Amazon Associate Program and earns a fee from qualifying purchases made on the Amazon.com site.