March 2016 - Page 2 of 12 - Anastasia Suen

Once Was a Time
by Leila Sales (Author)

In the war-ravaged England of 1940, Charlotte Bromley is sure of only one thing: Kitty McLaughlin is her best friend in the whole world. But when Charlotte’s scientist father makes an astonishing discovery that the Germans will covet for themselves, Charlotte is faced with an impossible choice between danger and safety. Should she remain with her friend or journey to another time and place? Her split-second decision has huge consequences, and when she finds herself alone in the world, unsure of Kitty’s fate, she knows that somehow, some way, she must find her way back to her friend.

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

It felt like my intestines were going to come spewing out of my mouth. Dad hadn’t warned me about this part of time travel.

Because Dad has never done it. So he didn’t know.

When my retching finally slowed down, I inhaled a deep breath. Air. So I wasn’t in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

That was something at least.

I opened my eyes. I was lying on grass. It was hot.

That was as much as I could get right now.

After all of her father’s time travel talk, Charlotte realizes that she is the first one in her family to actually experience it.

It felt like my intestines were going to come spewing out of my mouth. Dad hadn’t warned me about this part of time travel.

Because Dad has never done it. So he didn’t know.

As her travel sickness subsides, Charlotte’s focus slowly moves outward.

When my retching finally slowed down, I inhaled a deep breath. Air. So I wasn’t in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

That was something at least.

I opened my eyes. I was lying on grass. It was hot.

That was as much as I could get right now.

The main character’s time travel experience begins with her physical reaction. Only then does it move outward and begin to describe her new world.

Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land
by John Coy (Author) and Wing Young Huie (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

With lyrical text and thought-provoking photography, Their Great Gift explores the experiences of immigrants in the twenty-first century, focusing on the lives of children. Images of families who came to the United States from many different parts of the world celebrate the diversity of our country and contain a vision of hope for the future.

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

The book begins:

My family came here from far away . . .

TURN THE PAGE

because they dreamed of more.

This story is told in the first person voice with clear, spare, lyrical language. Most immigration stories are told from a single point of view, but this one is not. On each book spread are multiple photographs of immigrant families who came to the United States from all around the world.

How was this accomplished? The author and the photographer worked together to create this book. In the back matter the author writes:

I wrote text that was revised many times as we decided on pictures. While each family’s arrival story is unique, I wanted to focus on the overarching connection between immigrants–and between us all.

BONUS! Read an interview with the author and the photographer

Snippet: “This was the first time I’d ever worked directly with the artist.”

It’s Nonfiction Monday!