Being Different
This is another book-from-childhood. It’s a great adventure in which an orphaned brother and sister, both with mysterious powers, run from a pursuer and toward those like them.
I was struck, rereading this as an adult, by the opportunity the author took to comment on various issues like gun control. It felt a little agenda-like to me but would not be noticed by children and did not detract from a compelling story.
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Winnie is excited to learn that a new family has moved into the neighborhood. Some of the other neighbors are not, however, because the new family is black. Winnie befriends the new kids, learning much about the hurtfulness of erroneous perceptions.
The story examines stereotypes and prejudice from a sixth grader’s point of view. Blume presents these complex ideas in a simplified, straightforward way that children can understand, while acknowledging that the issues are complex. For example, at one point, Winnie remarks that the new family can’t be that different if it uses the same brand of peanut butter.
Click for Discussion QuestionsThis book is another childhood favorite of mine. A seven-year-old, factory-made boy instructs his unintended, unconventional mother about the right way to raise a child. This odd switch makes for an entertaining book, particularly when the mistake is discovered and the factory wants him back.
Some of the ideas examined in this book are behavioral conventions set by society, i.e. what we are “supposed to” in society and the idea of being different from others. The book questions, in a very lighthearted way, doing things just because that is what society sees as acceptable.
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Louis the swan cannot speak like “normal” swans (note that the book comes from before the time of political correctness, and it shows). He uses his disability to his advantage, traveling outside the scope of the typical swan’s realm and having many adventures and opportunities as a result.
This engaging tale uses humor (I find the old cob’s mannerisms quite amusing) to tell the story of a “misfit” successfully making his own way. It is refreshing to see character and good intentions throughout the story.
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This is probably L’Engle’s most famous children’s book. The Murry father, a scientist working on a top-secret project, disappears. Through a series of out-of-this world (and solar system) events, which are (well and seriously done, some of the Murry children discover and rescue him, facing peril, adventure, and self-revelation along the way.
This book has elements that will appeal to a range of readers. There is science, time travel, family, an awkward teenager, and a mystery. There are some challenging and even confusing concepts, done purposefully, that do not have easy explanations.
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I just loved this book as a child. What fun to have the run of a huge museum at night! The story begins with 11-year-old Claudia, frustrated by the unfair circumstances at home, planning to run away in comfort. She chooses her brother Jamie to accompany her. After careful planning, they travel to New York and spend about a week living in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with several interesting outside-the-museum field trips as well.
While there is plenty of focus on the adventure, there is also exploration of the sibling relationship and each child’s self-awareness, plus Claudia’s emotional development. None of this is done in a burdensome way; it is all woven into the delightful story.
If you go to the Met, ask about the book at the information desk. They have some handouts that address it so you can find some of the things mentioned in the book.
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