James Cross Giblin
"Awards are always affirmation of what one is doing, and this one came at a particularly good time for me," Jim Giblin says, after his biography, The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler (Clarion, 2002), won the third Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award. The annual award from the American Library Association is the most prestigious prize specifically for nonfiction children's literature. "It had been quite a while since a book of mine had won a major award, and I'd begun to feel somewhat taken for granted. The Sibert changed that. Then there was the pragmatic level: I knew the Sibert would mean increased sales for the book, and that would mean a bigger audience -- something every writer seeks."
In the quarter of a century that Giblin has been writing for children, his work has earned much recognition. He has had fourteen ALA Notable Children's books. Three of those books, Chimney Sweeps: Yesterday and Today (Crowell, 1982), Walls: Defenses Throughout History (Little, Brown, 1984), and Let There Be Light: A Book About Windows (Crowell, 1988), also won Golden Kite awards from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Charles A. Lindbergh: A Human Hero (Clarion, 1997) and The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin (Scholastic, 2000) were both named Orbis Pictus Award Honor Books by the National Council of Teachers of English. And the author's body of work was honored with a Washington Post Children's Book Guild Award for Nonfiction in 1996.
Giblin has written over two dozen books covering a variety of subjects such as scarecrows, skyscrapers, Santa Claus, milk, unicorns, chairs, plagues, and mammoth bones. The author explains how he decides on a subject. "First, the topic has to be something I want to explore deeply, and something I believe will hold my interest during the year or two it takes me to research and write a book. Then I think about the market potential for the idea: Will it be a topic that reviewers will take note of and that young readers will be interested in (or that will relate to what they're studying in school)? But above all it has to be a topic that intrigues me."
This explains Giblin's interest in Hitler, a man some people might think too horrific for a kid's book. "From boyhood on, I've been fascinated by Adolf Hitler. I grew up during World War II, when Hitler's name and face were everywhere-on recruiting posters for the armed forces, in ads urging people to buy war bonds, and in the movies, where he was usually seen raging at his generals or proclaiming that his Nazi regime would last forever. I had a yen to find out just who Hitler was and why he was doing all the terrible things he was accused of. Decades later, I set out in search of answers to my youthful questions by writing this biography."
No matter what the topic, Giblin's nonfiction books usually emphasize history. George Santayana's famous saying probably expresses it best, he explains: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." On a simpler level, I believe everyone -- especially young people -- need to know what's been done in the past before they can make significant contributions in the present, and the future. That means having at least a basic knowledge of history. Beyond that, history is a terrific story -- more involving, to me at least, than any work of fiction.
The author's writing accomplishments follow his long, successful career as an editor. He was the first editor-in-chief of Clarion Books, which began as an imprint of Seabury Press. Houghton Mifflin bought Clarion in 1979. After making the imprint one of the most respected names in children's publishing, Giblin took early retirement in 1989. He continues to work as a Clarion contributing editor, however. His list of authors includes such notables as Eve Bunting, Mary Downing Hahn, Eileen Christelow, and Marion Dane Bauer.
The sole "shy, bookish child" of a lawyer and a homemaker, James Cross Giblin grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He overcame his shyness as a teenager by embracing theater. Giblin acted in school plays and in professional summer stock. He attended Case Western University, majoring in theater arts. The aspiring playwright then earned a MFA at Columbia University in New York. While supporting himself as a temporary office worker in Manhattan, Giblin spent a year adapting William Styron's novel, Lie Down in Darkness, for the stage. The play, because of production problems, was never staged. In need of a regular paycheck, Giblin took a job in book publishing, first as a publicist and then as an editor.
The author still loves the stage, and he sees several plays a month in the many theaters near his Manhattan home. It's an interest, Giblin says, that has shaped his writing. "My experience as an actor and playwright has been especially helpful in the writing of my biographies. When you study a role as an actor, you look for the 'through line' of the character, the line of action the character follows in trying to achieve his or her main goals. The biographer's task is much the same - seeking to find, through research, the chief characteristics of the protagonist that helped to determine his or her actions."
Contributor: Michael Cooper
Cooper is the author of several award winning nonfiction books; among his most recent books are Slave Spirituals and Remembering Manzanar.
Further information about James Cross Giblin is available here
Reviews
911: The Book of Help
Edited by Michael Cart with Marc Aronson and Marianne Carus
This volume is filled with essays, poems, and remembrances sparked by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Divided into four sections--Healing, Searching for History, Asking Why? Why? Why?, and Reacting and Recovering--authors and illustrators of young adult literature provide personal insights and experiences. Katherine Paterson is reminded of the terrible floods and mudslides in Venezuela in 1999, her trip there in 1974, her own cancer diagnosis, and the loss of her son David's friend (which inspired her Newbery award-winning book Bridge to Teribithia). She speaks of worldwide suffering, but great hope. David Paterson tells of his own volunteer work at Ground Zero--a chilling, yet inspiring account of how one person can help others. Joan Bauer contributes a story about the importance of college essays, friends, and going on with life in the wake of 9-11-2001. Sonya Sones's poem, "Voices," reminds us that each person has a story and reinforces standing united as human beings. Jim Murphy remembers going with his uncle to the Twin Towers in 1970. James Cross Giblin and Susan Cooper remember World War II times. Avi tells of a time when he realized how few times we get second chances at life. Poems by Nikki Giovanni, Sharon Creech, and Susan Cooper provoke many emotions. These personal remembrances may provide helpful ways to broach the unspeakable with classes. We may never make sense of the tragedy, but this is one book that may help us cope AND hope. Nonfiction (810.8). 2002, Cricket Books, 178p, Grades 6 and up, $17.95. Reviewer: Tanya Tullos (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 1))
ISBN: 0-812626591
ISBN: 0-812626761
Best Books:
Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2003 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2002 ; Cahners; United States
National Council for the Social Studies NCSS, 2003
The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Michael Dooling
Benjamin Franklin was so inventive, practical and wise that no one since has rivaled his accomplishments. James Cross Giblin's The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin is a picture book biography that will inform and delight young readers as well as adults who are learning English. Dooling's paintings recreate the 18th century in costume and color. Noteworthy is the "artist's note" at the end, describing the difficulties in illustrating a life as rich and complex as Franklin's and alerting us to details we might otherwise miss in the paintings. Giblin provides an overview of the wisdom, the genius, the personal losses, the disappointments and the fortitude of this man for the ages. 2000, Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $17.95. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-590-48534-2
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Fanfare Honor List, 2000 ; Horn Book; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2001 ; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002 ; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, March 2000 ; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Ohioana Book Awards 2002 United States
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor Book 2001 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
South Carolina Book Awards, 2003 ; South Carolina
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2002 ; Utah
Charles A. Lindbergh: A Human Hero
James Cross Giblin
In this latest of the excellent Clarion series of biographies, Giblin does justice to both the series and his subject. Despite the length, this is a fast read. Barely past his childhood, Lindbergh is soaring through the skies, barnstorming in his beloved plane. Then he's off across the Atlantic to Paris and the history books. We soon learn that fame is not this shy young man's cup of tea. It's rather sad to watch this same fame become his downfall--first, in the disastrous kidnapping of his firstborn son, later in his naive acceptance of Hitler's Germany and the isolationism it leads him to espouse for America. The chapters on this latter period of Lindbergh's life are possibly the most interesting because they explain quite clearly for a new generation the politics involved in the U.S. entrance to World War II. This is a good tool for use in twentieth-century history classes. 1997, Clarion, Ages 10 up, $20.00. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-395-63389-3
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 1998; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Books in the Middle: Outstanding Books, 1997; Voice of Youth Advocates; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 1998; Children's Literature; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1997; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for Children, 1998; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Outstanding Nonfiction for Middle School Students, 1998 ; Voice of Youth Advocates; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, October 1997 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 1997; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 1997; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson;
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor Book 1998 United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Winner 1998 Social Studies - Novels, Grades 7 - 12 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 1999; Vermont
The Dwarf, the Giant, and the Unicorn: A Tale of King Arthur
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Claire Ewart
Giblin, acclaimed for his fine nonfiction books, takes on fiction for the first time in this retelling of a little known Arthurian tale. When the young King Arthur finds his ship grounded on a strange island, he goes off in search of strong help. The old dwarf he meets gives him aid through a curious story and the assistance of his unicorn-raised giant son. Ewart's watercolors add a hazy, dreamy tone to the story. 1996, Clarion, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-395-60520-2
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Ursula Arndt
As we gaze up at the red, white and blue fireworks overhead this 4th of July, it is an appropriate time to reflect upon this great nation and the freedom we enjoy. In his book, Giblin provides us with just such an opportunity by taking us back in time to the days leading up to and following the first 4th of July and the men and women who made it possible. Like the freedom we have come to expect, we also anticipate certain happenings and symbolism on the day we celebrate our independence. Giblin gives us fascinating details about the origins of such traditions. He follows the growth of our nation and its reflection in our flag. We learn of the first fireworks displays and follow their technological progress. We discover the stories behind the paintings that have inspired spirit and the music that has reflected America's patriotism over the centuries. President Lincoln once said of the Declaration of Independence that it "gave liberty not alone to the people of this country, but hope to all of the world for all future time." In this book, Giblin and Arndt remind us that liberty is not something we should take for granted, but something we should take the opportunity to savor. 2001, Clarion Books, Ages 9 to 14, $7.95. Reviewer: Leslie Verzi Julian
ISBN: 0-618-09654-X
From Hand To Mouth, or, How We Invented Knives, Forks, Spoons, and Chopsticks, & the Table Manners to Go With Them
James Cross Giblin
Giblin a master of taking the most commonplace items and creating a fascinating story offer a history of the eating utensils and table manners of various cultures from the stone age to the present day. Kids will enjoy reading about the lack of table manners by our ancestors and other gross practices that parents so assiduously try to discourage. 1987 Notable Children's Book. 1987, HarperCollins, $14.89. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0690046626
ISBN: 069004660X
From Hand To Mouth, or, How We Invented Knives, Forks, Spoons, and Chopsticks, & the Table Manners to Go With Them
James Cross Giblin
This is a non-fiction favorite. Giblin's table of contents gives some idea of the rich history he explores, with the first chapter entitled "Flint Knives and Fingers" and the final "Forks in Tokyo, Chopsticks in Chicago." And Giblin's humorous anecdotes and careful picture research make for a lively, enlightening look at the changing shape of utensils and the changing style of eating. 1987, Crowell/HarperCollins, $14.89. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0690046626
ISBN: 069004660X
Best Books:
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
George Washington: A Picture Book Biography
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Michael Dooling
The dramatic and formative events in the life of George Washington are highlighted by impassioned, full-page paintings and vital text in this thoughtful children's book. The bewigged man on the dollar bill was once a real boy, a fine soldier, and principled statesman. This book helps bring the hero to life. 1992, Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-590-42550-1
Best Books:
Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of the Social Studies, 1992 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler
James Cross Giblin
Perhaps no figure in modern history has generated more debate than Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler. Rising from middle class Austrian roots Hitler ascended the heights of power. A brave four-year veteran of the First World War, Hitler eventually was to spring into control of not only Germany, but also a global empire. Hitler's political shrewdness was counter-balanced by a blind hatred for Jews, Slavs, and non-Aryan people. In the end, this brutal prejudice combined with Hitler's unbalanced personality led Nazi Germany to a fiery destruction. Sadly, the human cost of Hitler's twelve years in power as the Fuhrer was staggering. Over fifty million people lost their lives in World War II and tens of millions more were injured, traumatized, or displaced. How could such events happen in an age that was purported to be civilized? In The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, James Cross Giblin addresses this critical question. The author presents Hitler as a human figure who rose from modest origins to the pinnacle of power. This is a wonderfully researched and carefully written work. Giblin has a strong feel for his subject matter and presents a thoughtful profile of the late Nazi ruler. This book also points toward the possible dangers of any future regimes that hold human life as cheaply as did Hitler's Nazi party. Readers will come away from this illustrated biography with a deeper understanding of one of the most amazing and evil men in recorded history. 2002, Clarion Books, Ages 12 up, $21.00. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck
ISBN: 0-395-90371-8
The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler
James Cross Giblin
James Cross Giblin's work of nonfiction is an in-depth study of the psyche of one of history's most notorious figures. The biography covers Hitler's life from birth to death and discusses his multi-faceted personality as well as his ideology. Giblin focuses on the means by which Hitler ascended to power and also his style as a leader. Hitler's interpersonal relationships are key as Giblin's discusses Hitler's life. This particular biography of Hitler is rare in that it is an exhaustive investigation into his life and mind written for a young adult audience without being dry. Giblin humanizes Hitler by adding bits of information about some of his idiosyncrasies; these are facts about Hitler not commonly found in historical texts. Although Giblin portrays Hitler humanistically, he in no way glorifies him. Hitler is depicted as an evil person; however, Giblin examines some of the events of his life that perhaps influenced his ideology. Because this book is a biography about one man, the historical context of the period within which he lived is not significantly examined. Some prior knowledge of Germany between WWI and WWII, the Holocaust, and WWII itself is required. Nonetheless, this is an excellent and engaging book about a very interesting man. 2002, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 12 up, $21.00. Reviewer: Molly Robertson
ISBN: 0-395-90371-8
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002 ; Children's Literature; United States
Capitol Choices, 2002 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Choices, 2003 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2002 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2003 ; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 1, 2002 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2002 ; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner 2003 United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2002 Social Studies-Grades 7-12 United States
The Mystery of the Mammoth Bones: And How it Was Solved
James Cross Giblin
Charles Wilson Peale was attracted to "curiosities," the word he used to describe unusual artifacts, many of which filled the rooms of his museum in Philadelphia. At the age of sixty, he learned from a friend about the discovery of mammoth bones in Newburgh, New York. He had to go and see for himself and that was the start of a major expedition to extract the bones of a mastodon from the marl pits. The details including costs, tools and drawings of the wheel-and-bucket device used to remove water from the pits and the manpower required are clearly and interestingly reported. The account relates how Peale assembled the bones and how his sons traveled with the skeleton to major cities in the US and Europe. The story, based on actual events and records, is exciting and readers will come away with some real insights into life during the early 1800s. The closing sections provide more information about the amazing Charles Wilson Peale and the fate of the now extinct mammoths and mastodons. Pairing this book with The Poison Place by Mary E. Lyons and several recent books about Mary Anning and her discoveries (Stone Girl, Bone Girl by Laurence Anholt and Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon by Jeannine Atkins) would lend itself to excellent discussion about extinction. Index, bibliography and source notes are included. 1999, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-06-027493-X
ISBN: 0-06-027494-8
The Mystery of the Mammoth Bones: And How it Was Solved
James Cross Giblin
Portrait painter Charles Willson Peale's 1801 excavation of giant bones in upstate New York began the long inquiry into prehistoric life from fossil evidence. Based on Peale's journals, Giblin's fascinating narrative reads like a mystery. Peale paid for the pile of bones of a huge unknown animal but even after assembling them in his museum back in Philadelphia, no one knew what it was. When his sons took the bones on an unsuccessful tour of England to raise money the British, who were annoyed with all things American, stayed away and the boys returned home. Finally, noted French scientist Georges Cuvier determined this was a unique species, giving the creature the name Mastodon for its domed teeth, a name that Peale accepted after seeking advice from his friend, Thomas Jefferson. While a decade later British inquirer Mary Anning uncovered a thirty-foot fossilized skeleton of Ichthyosaurus, it would be mid-century before the study of dinosaurs would begin. Giblin covers the scientific theories of extinction and history of the world at that time showing how Peale's work caused scientists to revise their thinking. Black and white illustrations are drawn from contemporary sources, museum photographs and illustrations, as well as from Peale's own journals and sketchbooks. Endmatter includes more about Peale, notes on the extinction of the mastodon, information about Giblins' sources, and an index. A wonderful read-aloud as well as a resource for middle school students studying the Federal period, this book also belongs with the many recent titles in which scientists use close observation to deduce what really happened in the past. 1999, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-06-027493-X
ISBN: 0-06-027494-8
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2000 ; Children's Literature; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2000 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 1999 ; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2002 ; Utah
The Riddle of The Rosetta Stone: Key to Ancient Egypt
James Cross Giblin
In 1799, one year after they invaded Egypt, Napoleon's solders discovered an eleven-inch-thick, roughly 2- x 3-foot slab of black basalt covered with writing in three different scripts, one Greek and two Egyptian--hieroglyphs and demotic. James Giblin has written an engrossing account of the unsuccessful attempts to translate hieroglyphs prior to the stone's unearthing and Jean-Francois Champollion's brilliant success in breaking The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone with the discovery that hieroglyphs represented both things and sounds. Ancient Egyptian writing was both ideographic and phonetic. Whether or this subject is on your agenda, the brilliant, persevering M. Champollion is someone youngsters should meet--particularly as introduced here by one of nonfiction's best storytellers. 1993 (orig. 1990), Crowell/HarperCollins, $13.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
ISBN: 0690047991
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Michael Dooling
This introduction to the life of Thomas Jefferson covers the brilliant man's life in basic terms that young children should be able to understand. Emphasis is placed on his plantation childhood, his love of learning, and the tragedies of his wife and children's deaths. An underlying theme throughout, however, is Jefferson's ambivalence toward slavery, which is hedged around in an attempt at political correctness for the junior set. Many of Dooling's oil paintings are evocative of time, place and mood. 1994, Scholastic, $16.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-590-44838-2
Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography
James Cross Giblin
Illustrated by Michael Dooling
Michael Dooling's large painterly oils are giving biographies of America's founding fathers a new look. They all but convince us that Thomas Jefferson is actually sitting before us, a lad of fourteen, absorbed in a book, or later a statesman bent with age. As he did for George Washington (Scholastic, 1992), Giblin has written a concise and flowing text that follows his subject from early childhood to death, stepping lightly over speculative matters and avoiding dubious labels. The highlights of Jefferson's public life are here--the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase--along with references to his lifelong anxiety at speaking in front of groups, his love of learning, his overspending, and his many personal losses. It's a well-rounded profile. Like all biographers, however, Giblin has had to make choices about his material. What to leave out, and what to put in? There is a fairly detailed description of Monticello, Jefferson's "outlet" and his home, in a lengthy endnote, but not much discussion of Jefferson's wide-ranging scientific interests. More noticeably, Giblin mentions Jefferson's slave Sally Hemings numerous times yet never comments on the nature of their relationship. A life as rich as Jefferson's is guaranteed to raise more questions than can be answered. This biography is notable for answering so many with such economy and poise. Reading it may motivate children to reach for such related books as Andrea Pinkney's Dear Benjamin Banneker (Harcourt, 1994) or Steven Kroll's Lewis and Clark (Holiday, 1994). 1994, Scholastic, 11-1/2 x 8-11/16, 48 pages, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10. Mary Lou Burket (The Five Owls, January/February 1995 (Vol. 9, No. 3))
ISBN: 0-590-44838-2
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1994 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Tomorrowland : Ten Stories About The Future
Compiled by Michael Cart
Teenagers on the cusp of adulthood and anticipating the future are sure to be interested in this compelling anthology of stories about how the past and the present affect what is to come. In response to the dawning of the new millennium, Michael Cart has solicited tales from nine well-known writers (among them Ron Koertge, Katherine Paterson, Jon Scieszka, Lois Lowry and Jacqueline Woodson) and has contributed a story himself to create a collection that reveal a heightened awareness of the future and its unpredictability. In one story, a monk holds the hand of a dying boy and ponders whether the plague, coming as it does in 1000 A.D., means the end of the world. In another, a group of boys discuss how E-mail and technology may--or may not--change the Spring Dance and their beloved baseball. In a third, two space-traveling brothers struggle to co-exist on Mars. Cart includes, as an addendum to each story, a brief explanation of the author's inspiration in creating the tale. This thought-provoking collection is sure to generate discussion among its readers. 1999, Scholastic Signature/Scholastic, Ages 12 up, $4.99 and $15.95. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green
ISBN: 0-590-37678-0
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2000 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Books in the Middle: Outstanding Books, 1999 ; Voice of Youth Advocates; United States
Lasting Connections, 1999 ; American Library Association; United States
Not Just for Children Any More, 2000 ; Children's Book Council; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2000 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 1999 ; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Fifteenth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS
James Cross Giblin
Woodcuts by David Frampton
A book about plagues? How macabre! But this page-turner is not just about people dying in droves. It is also about attempts to solve medical mysteries. It is also about how human nature has been quick to blame diseases on certain elements of the population, such as Jews and Asians (the bubonic plague), or gay men (AIDS). It is also about the social changes wrought by mass deaths. For example, after the bubonic plague struck, the powers of the church and the nobility were weakened: people no longer had as much faith in the church or in God, and because of the shortage of labor, the wages of the working class skyrocketed. One interesting tidbit: a precursor to vaccination was actually practiced by old women in Turkey, who rendered people immune to serious smallpox attacks by purposely "inoculating" them with a small amount of smallpox scab. This inoculation technique was widely promoted throughout the world and used until the smallpox vaccination, developed from cowpox, was discovered to be safer and cheaper. In the last section of the book, the AIDS epidemic is traced from the first death of a westerner from AIDS, through the race to identify the virus, to the present. A fascinating book. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $14.95, $14.89 and $6.95. Reviewer: Jyotsna Sreenivasan
ISBN: 0-06-025854-3
ISBN: 0-06-025864-0
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 1996 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 1996 ; Children's Literature; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1995 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Hungry Mind Finalists, 1995 ; Hungry Mind Review; United States
Notable Books for Children, 1995 ; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of the Social Studies, 1995 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Outstanding Non Fiction Choices, 1996 ; Language Arts; United States
Outstanding Nonfiction for Middle School Students, 1995 ; Voice of Youth Advocates; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 1995 ; Cahners; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002 ; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 1995 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 1995 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books for Young Adults, 1995 ; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Fifteenth Edition, 1997 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Tayshas High School Reading List, 1997-1998 ; Texas
Added 09/01/03
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