Comments on: ‘That Scrotum Book’ for Children: A Review of the 2007 Newbery Medal Winner, ‘The Higher Power of Lucky’ by Susan Patron http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/ Janice Harayda Reviews Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry for Adults and Children Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:28:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-4749 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:07:01 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-4749 What a great comment, especially your list at the end of books your students love. Many people may decide after reading my review or others that “The Higher Power of Lucky” isn’t for them. And they’ll appreciate your suggestions of other books.

On this site I tend to express strong views. But I also try to mention special concerns for schools and libraries if these might differ from mine. And I try to offer other services to schools and libraries, too, as putting up a readers’ guides to books like “The Higher Power of Lucky” if the publisher hasn’t.

It still amazes that Atheneum didn’t offer a guide to “Lucky” right after it won the Newbery. (If it posted one, it didn’t happen until a long time after publication.) What was Atheneum thinking?

Thanks so much for noticing my blog.
Jan

]]> By: arikherbert http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-4747 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:53:04 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-4747 I have to admit that I bought “The Higher Power of Lucky” so that I could read it before any of my students. I teach sixth grade in a school that encourages students to make their own literature selections. Often my students are reading books that I have not read. I had heard about the s word and was curious. I also did some reading on censorship this summer. As the ALA recommends, it seemed important to actually read the book myself, so that I would be prepared to respond to criticisms that the book might receive. I think that criticism of this book over the use of an accurate biological term is ridiculous. I liked the story. I thought the main character Lucky was a unique and interesting character. I especially liked that she was not an empty headed stereotypical girl. I did not notice the errors in the author’s use of the English language and I am sure I have made some within my comment. English is complex. Most of my students appreciate that. And many kids in middle school love the TTYL books, which I simply cannot bring myself to read. As far as “The HIgher Power of Lucky” moving around the classroom, it has not hit a stride. So here are some that they love – regardless of the awards. The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson and most things by Anthony Horowitz. Also Ida B – I am sorry I forget the author’s name.

I am glad that I found this blog.

]]> By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-463 Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:42:43 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-463 Mrs. K: It was great to have a teacher’s perspective on the book. The age questions you raise are exactly the ones I struggled with when reviewing “The Higher Power of Lucky” (and also struggle with when reviewing other children’s books).

You mentioned the abstract signs not resonating with 2nd/3rd/4th graders … I also wondered what that age group would think of some of the humor — for example, the jokes about “Slow Children.” It seemed to me that the “Slow Children” jokes would be much more likely to seem funny adults (and maybe some teenagers) than to third or fourth graders. But I don’t have children that age, so I wondered if maybe I was out of touch on that one. Thanks so much for bringing up these issues.
Jan

]]> By: Feeling Lucky « Readathon http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-459 Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:12:17 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-459 [...] Click here for another’ blogger’s thorough review.  [...]

]]> By: Mrs. K http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-458 Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:10:25 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-458 Great review. I just posted a review on my blog and will go back and add a link to yours. I suppose I liked the book — I certainly *wanted* to. But I think Patron missed her target audience. As a teacher in a K-8 school, I’m not sure who I’d recommend it to. Who would feel most connected to Lucky? A subsection of fifth grade readers, I suppose, but she might feel too young to some of them. The meandering search for Higher Power (and the rather abstract “signs”) just wouldn’t resonate with most 2nd/3rd/4th grade readers.

]]> By: kinderny http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-159 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:28:50 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-159 Hmm- interesting line of thought. I think the orphan motif is not uncommon because it allows the author to put a character in a different circumstance that allows for conflict. The librarian thing is interesing though- Rules, a middle school/YA title which is also getting attention, was written by a librarian, too (I think).

]]> By: 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-154 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:03:16 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-154 Glad to have the recommendations on “Kiki Strike” and “The Case of the Missing Marquess,” which I’ll try to take a look at soon. (I appreciate suggestions for all kinds of books but especially Y.A. novels, because they get so many fewer reviews than adult novels that it’s harder to find reliable information about them.) I’m hoping to review “A Drowned Maiden’s Hair” this Saturday or soon afterward.

I wonder if it’s a coincidence that “The Higher Power of Lucky” and “A Drowned Maiden’s Hair” about orphans? And by librarians? It’s fascinating to me how trends, whether in children’s or adult books, often seem to arise spontaneously …

]]> By: kinderny http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-153 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:52:33 +0000 http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/%e2%80%98that-scrotum-book-for-children-a-review-of-the-2007-newbery-medal-winner-%e2%80%98the-higher-power-of-lucky%e2%80%99-by-susan-patron/#comment-153 I have not read the Edward Tulane book but agree with you re Laura Amy Schlitz’s A Drowned Maiden’s Hair. As book titles for kids (that are not quite as full of literary merit but great fun nonetheless) I have been recommending Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller and The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer.

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