Troublemakers in Trousers

Troublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done

Bibliography

Albee, Sarah. 2022. TROUBLEMAKERS IN TROUSERS. Ill. by Kaja KajfeŽ. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN 9781623540951

Plot Summary

Women are powerful! And this book proves it! Sarah Albee's Troublemakers in Trousers introduces readers to twenty-one incredible women who didn't stick to tradition and went by their own terms. From fighting in wars to becoming rulers to flying planes, these book covers the lives and remarkable accomplishments of these women and what they wore to do the job. Including glimpses into the past with pictures and historical mentions and beautiful illustrations by Kaja KajfeŽ, this text celebrates womanhood in a truly stylish fashion.

Critical Analysis

Sarah Albee's Troublemakers in Trousers covers the remarkable lives of twenty-one women who didn't stick to the status quo and made history in some unconventional clothing. 

Albee doesn't pull any punches in writing about these women, giving her own thoughts and feelings on how these women were treated and how women in general were treated in those days. Along with the facts and history, Albee sprinkles in some of her own quips and views, such as on page 70 after describing how Amelia Bloomer defended her clothing choices ("Bam. Mic drop") or on page 102 when she marvels at how Lozen, the amazing Apache woman, killed a longhorn on her own ("Did you get that? She crept up on a cow the size of a minivan sporting pointy horns six feet across, and killed it with a knife"). These quirky additions add some spice to the book and make it more original than just a plain old book of facts. 

Albee also includes some pictures of the women, or if there are no pictures of them, pictures that reflect the time period or what the women might have been wearing or looked like back then. She also includes little side boxes of information that gives readers better insight into what life was like during that time period, mainly for women. Each woman's bio is about the same length, no more than 7 or 8 pages and are formatted the same, which gives the book uniformity. 

At the beginning of each bio, we are given a colorful and beautifully illustrated picture of each woman by Kaja Kajfez. We see her own interpretation of what each woman might have looked like, and through the pictures, we can feel the power that each woman possesses and exhibits.

Troublemakers in Trousers highlights some amazing women that you might not have heard of, and who should be known by all. These women have accomplished amazing feats, and Sarah Albee has done these women justice in sharing their stories and wonders. 

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: "Colorful, fun, relatable tastes of history that may tempt readers into further research."

Booklist: "Whatever the case, their stories, accompanied by Kajfež’s beautifully illustrated portraits, are empowering and inspiring.:

School Library Journal: "Albee delivers in-depth portraits enticing enough to inspire further study; for all middle grade nonfiction collections."

Connections

More by Sarah Albee: Dog Days of History

                                    Bugged: How Insects Changed History

                                    Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom Up

Books about Amazing Women Trailblazers: Notorious RGB: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader                                                                                  Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik

                                                                      The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

                                                                      Teen Trailblazers: 30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the                                                                              World Before They Were 20 by Jennifer Calvert

Activity: Research a trailblazing woman and create a slideshow about her life and accomplishments. Include pictures if possible.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

 The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

Bibliography

Kerley, Barbara. 2010. THE EXTRAORDINARY MARK TWAIN (ACCORDING TO SUSY). Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780329839147

Plot Summary

Barbara Kerley's book gives the readers insight into the life of Mark Twain, a famous writer, through the eyes of his daughter, Susy. Kerley recounts Susy's process of writing this biography about her father and the man she knew that not many truly did. With Edwin Fotheringham's colorful and beautiful illustrations, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) shows us Mark Twain like we've never seen him before.

Critical Analysis

Most literature lovers know Mark Twain, but not in the way that his daughter, Susy, knows him. Barbara Kerley's biography within a biography gives readers unique insight into the life of the prolific author from the writings of his daughter. 

Kerley uses direct quotes from Susy, which are interspersed throughout her own text and in brief entries from Susy's biography, places in tiny flipping pages throughout the book. This addition lets us see directly into Susy's writings, misspelled words and all, which helps to back up Kerley's own words and lets readers connect with the Twain family. Kerley has done her research, going so far as to read through little Susy's writings, which can be found in the works that were published after her death. Kerley's text is paired with Edwin Fotheringham's exquisite illustrations that really help to bring to life the Mark Twain that Susy sees. Colorful and bright and filled with wonder, the pictures represent the brilliant mind of the brilliant man himself. 

Fans of Mark Twain will greatly appreciate this deeper look into the well known author, and those that have yet to be introduced to him would do good to pick up this book to see the life and mind of the extraordinary Mark Twain, according to his extraordinary daughter. 

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: "A heartwarming tribute to both the writing life in general and the well-loved humorist—oops, sorry Susy… 'Pholosopher!'"

Horn Book Guide: "Thirteen-year-old Susy Clemens's biography of her father informs this account covering both biographer and biographee. Kerley details Susy's process of writing about and observing her father, using primary sources and inserting seven small facsimiles of Susy's journal pages into the book. Fotheringham's muted palette and large, sturdy illustrations provide discreet counterpoint to a complicated design."

Publishers Weekly" "Adding dynamic flair to the limited palettes of each digitally created scene are curlicues representing words, which emanate wildly from pen tips, pages, and mouths. Author notes about Susy and her father, a time line of Twain’s life, and tips for writing an “extraordinary biography” complete this accessible and inventive vision of an American legend."

Connections

More by Barbara Kerley: Eleanor Makes Her Mark: How Eleanor Roosevelt Reached Out, Spoke Up,                                             and Changed the World

                                         A Cool Drink of Water

                                        Following Baxter

Picture Book Biographies: The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice B.                                                        McGinty

                                            Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade

                                            A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War                                             Double Agent by Anne Rockwell

Activity: Create a biography of a family member.  

Apex Predators

 Apex Predators

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 2017. APEX PREDATORS. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780544671607

Plot Summary

Apex Predators gives readers some facts and graphics about some of the deadliest hunters, extinct ones and ones still living today. Jenkins has drawn the creatures and briefly describes how they kill their prey and what makes them so powerful, along with a size graphic that shows just how big or small these animals are compared to us. Readers will be in awe of these amazing creatures in this factual book.

Critical Analysis

Steve Jenkin's factual and interesting read, Apex Predators, give readers some insight into some of the worlds' deadliest creatures that are on the top of their food chains. From the now extinct T-Rex to the modern and terrifying Great White Shark, Jenkins presents these animals with smooth illustrations, a few facts about their hunting techniques, and their size compared to humans (or in his words, the deadliest apex predator).

While Jenkins provides only a few sentences for each beast, he proves his accurate research in his bibliography at the end of the book, which includes multiple books and websites. Each page is organized in the same fashion, which makes this book easy to follow. The design of the book is simple but made colorful with Jenkin's illustrations of each animal, which are very detailed and textured. This book, while good for an average browse, would be made a little more engaging if Jenkins provided a few more facts about each animal.

Nevertheless, Apex Predators does its job in bringing awareness to some mighty and pretty scary creatures (and thank God some of them are gone for good).

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: "No red—but lots of tooth and claw on display."

Publishers Weekly: "Pithy headlines introduce each animal (a marsupial saber-tooth earns the headline “Fangs—and a pouch”), followed by short descriptive passages: “It was probably an ambush hunter, leaping on a deer or other grazing animal and stabbing it to death with its curved canine teeth.” The intricacy of Jenkins’s distinctive artwork will capture readers’ imaginations, as will the predator face-offs he stages between pairs of predators."

Booklist: "Making good use of his trademark paper-collage style, Jenkins focuses his attention on one specific facet of the animal kingdom: apex predators, of both the modern world and the prehistoric."

Connections

More by Steve Jenkins: What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?

                                       Animals in Flight

                                      How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships

More about Animals: Forgotten Beasts by Mike Sewell

                                   Animal Smackdown by Emily Krieger

                                  Tooth and Claw: Top Predators of the World by Robert M. Johnson III, Sharon L.                                    Gilman, and Daniel c. Abel

Activity: Research an animal predator and tell us some fun facts about it.

The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus

 The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus

Bibliography

Bryant, Jen. 2014. THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780802853851

Plot Summary

The Right Word introduces the readers to Peter Roget, who created the most well known thesaurus. Jen Bryant describes his childhood and how his love of making lists led him to making lists of words that have similar meanings so that people can find "the right word" to use. Paired with Melissa Sweet's unique and eye-catching illustrations, this book shows children an important figure in literature, one they wouldn't expect.

Critical Analysis

Caldecott Honor Book, The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus, is a simple yet creative approach to sharing the life of Peter Roget with children.

Jen Bryant has done a great job of accurately depicting Roget's life, especially his younger years and how he began creating lists at a young age. This attention to detail and sticking to fact will help children to know the correct history of the man. Bryant organizes this book chronologically, starting at the beginning of Roget's life and going until he is an adult. Putting this story in that sequence makes the book easy for kids to follow. While this is a nonfiction book, Bryant adds her voice, making the language colorful and sprinkling in some imagery ("Peter carried this idea with him like a secret treasure"). 

What really helps to elevate this story is Melissa Sweet's unique art style. Colors fill the pages, with many different varieties of illustration. There are the simple, light illustrations of people and the big, popping thesaurus words. It's almost like we have stepped into the mind or notebook of Mr. Roget himself, which really draws the reader into the book. We can see his imagination and thought process. We can connect with him.

This is a great nonfiction book that doesn't read like a list of facts but is filled with whimsy, color, and heart.

Review Excerpts

Caldecott Honor Book 2015

Horn Book Guide Starred: "Apt language and ingenious imagery combine to tell the life story of Peter Mark Roget, creator of the thesaurus. Bryant's linear telling follows Peter closely, expressing his curiosity, sensitivity, and populist spirit in language both decorous and warm. Clever book design and visionary illustration add layers of meaning. Sweet embellishes her own gentle watercolors with all manner of clippings and realia."

New York Times- Notable Children's Books of 2014

Connections

More by Jen Bryant: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

                                 Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

                                Lucretia Mott: A Guiding Light

More Illustrated by Melissa Sweet: Moonlight the Halloween Cat by Cynthia Rylant

                                                         Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya

                                                        Spike, the Mixed Up Monster by Susan Hood

Activity: Students consider the cultural representation in the text with a Venn diagram. 

The Door of No Return

 The Door of No Return

Bibliography

Alexander, Kwame. 2022. THE DOOR OF NO RETURN. New York, NY: Little, Brown & Company. ISBN 9780316441865

Plot Summary

Kofi is a young boy that lives in a community in Africa. He lives his life dreaming of becoming a man, pining after his crush, Ama, playing with his friend, Ebo, and swimming in the Offin river. After tragedy strikes involving his brother at a yearly competition, those that were wronged take their revenge, and Kofi becomes a part of it. Taken from his home and everything he has ever known, Kofi has to face many hardships and learn what it means to be brave and to find the courage inside of him and take what he has learned from those in his life to fight to return home.

Critical Analysis

Kwame Alexander's harrowing and emotional free-verse book, The Door of No Return, places us in a small community in Africa where we are introduced to a young boy named Kofi Offin. He is just like every other young boy; he goes to school and has a crush on one of his classmates and he plays with his best friend and he has a rivalry with his cousin. These first few poems are innocent and playful, which any young reader could relate to. We see this young boy as endearing and want everything to go right for him. We cheer him on during his fight with his cousin and find ourselves encouraging him in his swims and to confess his love for Ama. These poems make us care for him, which makes what happens later in the story tragic.

Alexander's story takes an extremely dark turn and this is where Kofi and his feelings and reflections all change. These poems contain such graphic and vivid imagery and dramatic language and the reader cannot help but become engrossed. The trials that we now realize that Kofi will have to face can become personal to some readers. Alexander does an amazing job of building up the character of Kofi and making him not just relatable but someone we want to see survive and win and find his freedom. We see how his surrounding and how the people that he knows (Ama, Nana Mosi) and comes to know (Auntie Afua, Two Fish) influence his actions and thoughts and what he sees as bravery and family. 

The Door of No Return is a powerful read, and it is still not the end of Kofi's journey. Alexander is a masterful author and brilliant with poetry and emotion, so I am looking forward to reading more and seeing if Kofi finds his way back home. 

Review Excerpts

The New York Times: "Meanwhile, “The Door of No Return” gives us a boy’s adventure story that will no doubt translate well to an animated film, with descriptions of the African landscape, a love story, the tragic consequences of human cruelty and the magical power of self-esteem."

Kirkus Reviews: "A riveting, not-to-be-missed trilogy opener that will leave readers invested in what is to come."

The Horn Book: "Themes of conflict within and between cultures, and of war and peace, hate and love, despair and hope are deeply embedded throughout this gripping tale that forefronts the humanity of those who were forced into slavery."

Connections

More by Kwame Alexander: The Crossover

                                              Out of Wonder

                                             The Undefeated

More Historical Fiction by African Americans: Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson

                                                                            Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

                                                                            Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Activity: Read the poem, "I Wish" from the book. Write a poem in a similar style.

Words with Wings

 Words with Wings

Bibliography

Grimes, Nikki. 2013. WORDS WITH WINGS. Honesdale, PA: WordSong. ISBN 9781590789858

Plot Summary

Words with Wings is a short but memorable story about a young girl whose wild and imaginative daydreams help her to block out her parent's divorce and transfer to a new school. She comes to find just how valuable daydreams can be, not just in life but in how they can shape who you are as a person. Written in free verse, Words with Wings, shows us the importance of our imagination and the power words can have.

Critical Analysis

Nikki Grimes shows children and adults the importance of daydreaming in her Coretta Scott King honored book, Words with Wings. Readers are introduced to Gabby, a young girl who escapes into her own head go get away from the aftermath of her parent's divorce and the struggles of starting at a new school.

We are given two different types of free verse poems throughout the story: the ones that are about what Gabby is experiencing in the real world and the ones that are her daydreams. The real life poems follow Gabby through her troubles with her mother and with paying attention in class. They are usually simple and straightforward but written by a wise and colorful mind that just wants to break free. ("Dad is a dreamer and Mom is a maker. I've been thinking, maybe I can be both.") Gabby's daydream poems paint the pages with fantastical imagery that comes straight from a child's imagination. ("Say 'carousel' and pale painted ponies gallop past, I reach for the reins of one, swing up into the saddle, and race, standing still, wind whipping my braids as I fly.") 

Grimes uses these poems to teach a memorable lesson over how important it is not to suppress the imagination of a child. The acceptance of this by Gabby's teacher, Mr. Spicer, and her mother can teach adults how to cherish the art of daydreams and children that it is okay to share these dreams with others. Words with Wings is a book for all ages and for those that love to disappear into their mind for a little while.

Review Excerpts

Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor Book

Horn Book Guide: "Told in free verse, this is a very accessible story about an appealing child who transforms from introverted daydreamer to writer."

School Library Journal: "Most readers will recognize Gabby in someone they know, and this well-crafted tale should have wide appeal. With its focus on creative wordplay and imagination, it could also be an inspiring resource for creative-writing teachers."

Connections

More by Nikki Grimes: Bronx Masquerade

                                       Planet Middle School

                                       One Last Word

More Free Verse by African Americans: Jason Reynolds: Long Way Down, Ain't Burned All the Bright

                                                                 Gwendolyn Brooks: "the birth in the narrow room", "A                                                                                                                                     Bronzeville Mother"

                                                                 Langston Hughes: "The Weary Blues", "I, Too"

Activity" Find the figurative language in Gabby's poems. Look specifically for simile, personification, and imagery

Inside Out & Back Again

 Inside Out & Back Again

Bibliography

Lai, Thanhha. 2011. INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN. New York, NY: Harper. ISBN 9780061962783

Plot Summary

Thanhha Lai's Inside Out & Back Again, covers one year in young Ha's life when her family flees Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War and travels to America. Her journey is filled with confusion, wonder, heartbreak, strength, and self discovery. Told in free verse, this story based on Lai's own life shows a young girl's thoughts, emotions and reactions to the extreme changes to her family, her beliefs, her happiness and to her life.

Critical Analysis

A year in someone's life can bring lots of change, good and bad. Inside Out & Back Again shows the good and the bad that happens in the year of a young Vietnamese girl, Ha's, life, after her family's escape from Saigon in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Author Thanhha Lai expertly utilizes free verse poetry to capture the thoughts and reflections of Ha and her experiences with her new home and the memories of her old one.

Each poem is unique in its delivery; some are short and some are long, some are filled with happy and positive thoughts and some are confused and lost. Lai knows her audience; children that know what it feels like to be somewhere new and different like Ha; adults that might have lived through similar experiences dreaming of a better life for their children like Mother. Each word in each poem hold weight, no word is there to fill in.

What makes the story even more moving is how close it resembles Lai's life and the lives of other children displaced by war and conflict. Lai's book resonated then and still resonates now and is a work of literature that all should experience.

Review Excerpts

National Book Award for Young People's Literature 2011

Horn Book Guide: "Recounting events that resemble her own family's 1975 flight from Saigon, Lai pens a novel in vividly imagined verse... Spare language captures the sensory disorientation of changing cultures as well as a refugee's complex emotions and kaleidoscopic loyalties."

Publishers Weekly Starred: "Narrating in sparse free-verse poems, 10-year-old Ha brings a strong, memorable voice to the immigrant experience as her family moves from war-torn South Vietnam to Alabama in 1975... An incisive portrait of human resilience."

Connections

More by Thanhha Lai: Listen Slowly

                                     Butterfly Yellow

                                    Hundred Years of Happiness

Vietnamese Young Adult Authors: Loan Le- A Pho Love Story

                                                        Trang Thanh Tran: She Is A Haunting

                                                        Jamie Jo Hoang: My Father, the Panda Killer

Activity: In the book, Ha and her family try fried chicken for the first time! Write a free verse poem about an interesting and new experience you have had.

Brown Girl Dreaming

 Brown Girl Dreaming

Bibliography

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2014. BROWN GIRL DREAMING. New York, NY: Nancy Paulson Books. ISBN 9780399252518

Plot Summary

Award winning author Jacqueline Woodson writes about her times living in the South with her grandparents to moving up North with her mother and siblings. From being a Jehovah's witness to meeting new friends to wanting to become a writer, Woodson uses free verse to share her inspiring and heartfelt story, with her words and emotions filling the pages with love, laughter and friendship and her reflection on her experiences as an African American during and after the Civil Rights Movement.

Critical Analysis

Brown Girl Dreaming is a powerful story of identity and discovery seen through the eyes of a young black girl. Jacqueline Woodson recounts her early childhood through beautifully written free verse, with each poem taking us on a journey filled with emotion. The use of free verse is used perfectly to illustrate Woodson's scattered but insightful thoughts on her upbringing, the Civil Rights Movement, her family, both by blood and found (Maria), her religion, and her dream of becoming a writer and finding her place in the world. 

Children will be able to see even a little  of themselves in young Jackie, and adults will get a poignant glimpse of living during the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of a Black child. Woodson's descriptive language paints images of beauty (Hope's singing), and sadness (Roman's illness) and community (Daddy's neighborhood strolls), which wonderfully show the power of written word. Woodson's dream of being a writer has come to fruition, and we are extremely luckily and blessed to have gotten a front row seat.

Review Excerpts

Newbery Honor Book

Coretta Scott King Award

The New York Times: "Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic eloquent narrative that is not simply a story... but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery."

School Library Journal Starred: "A personal memoir and a child's eye view of the nascent civil rights movement, this work confirms Woodson's brilliance as a writer for children and for adults, too."

Connections

More by Jacqueline Woodson: I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This

                                                 After Tupac and D Foster

                                                 Miracle's Boys

Free Verse Novels: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

                                Rebound by Kwane Alexander

                                Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Activity: Students compose their own free verse poems and draw art work to go with it.