Guts

The True Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books

While this book is a narrative nonfiction, it certainly differs from others recently covered.  Why?  A couple of summers ago I bought Hatchet for my son to read.  He was NOT interested.  So I let it be as we were really encouraging him to find his path to a love of reading.  Fast forward and he now loves to read. The other day he pulled Hatchet off the shelf and decided to 'give it a go'.  And...he liked it!  So when I saw this book that Gary Paulsen wrote about his life experiences that guided him in writing the Hatchet I wanted to read it and see if I could 'sell it' to my son for a nonfiction reading experience. 

As an adult in the end, I'll say I'm neutral on the book.  I will encourage my son to read it as soon as he finishes his current fantasy action fiction.  I'm intrigued to see what he will say.  

But back to the book, Paulsen accounts for many personal experiences in the woods, most in Minnesota and Alaska, and how he drew upon those experiences as he wrote Hatchet. If you have read Hatchet you will be intrigued to read about his life experiences. However, I feel he shared those experiences in a non cohesive timeline making it difficult for the reader. 

The title is Guts, and it does describe some experiences that some readers might find upsetting, but he covers those points because they were a valuable part of his experiences and how he wrote them in Hatchet.  

My hope with my son is that this book will help to bridge the gap between reading fiction and nonfiction.  I think this book should be paired with Hatchet because together they can help encourage fiction readers to try nonfiction and vice versa. It could also pair with his other fiction books such as The River and Brian's Winter.  It can also pair with other adventure books for boys and girls alike.  Books such as The Dangerous Book for Boys, The Outdoor Book for Adventurous Boys: Essential Skills and Activities for Boys of All Ages, The Daring Book for Girls, and Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival.  These books and others like them can encourage learning and active outdoor play instead of inside play with video games!  I think these books would make a good addition to a children's library.

I was disappointed that Paulson only included four real life pictures in this book, although it is understandable that he wouldn't have had images of his lone hunting and camping adventurous, there could have been pictures of his experiences as an adult in the military, mushing dogs and learning to fly.  

When you read this book you will find that each chapter begins with a brief introduction- using parts of Hatchet.  For example, chapter two is labeled "Moose Attacks"..."he saw a brown wall of fur detach itself from the forest to his rear and come down on him like a run-away truck.  He just had time to see that it was a moose...when it hit him." (p. 30) Or in the example below he starts is chapter call the Joy of Cooking with a part of Hatchet that describes Brian's first hunt for survival.

While Guts hasn't won any awards it is noteworthy that Paulsen is a 3 time Newbery Honor Awards as well as Parents Choice Awards and several books have been on the ALA Best Books for Young Adults list.  

Paulsen, G. (2001). Guts: The true stories behind hatchet and the brian books. New York: NY, Delacorte Press.

Lexile Reading Level: 1230, grades 7-9

Brown Girl Dreaming

"A small gift from the universe waiting to be discovered"

p. 233

Jacqueline Woodson uses verse to tell the story of her childhood while highlighting social and racial challenges as well as her own struggles with learning.  Knowing that, it could be used to open discussion on civil rights, but I think it is a beautifully written story to inspire children to believe in themselves and strive for their dreams.  She knew she learned differently, did she realize it as a child or later as an adult writing the story? As a child growing up in the 60's and 70's she most likely didn't receive support or understanding as the term 'learning disability' was first used in 1963. 

This is a recollection of her own childhood memories including leaving Ohio and her father behind,  whom we learn she doesn't reconnect with until she is 14, and being raised for some time by her grandparents and their move to New York City.  She learns about Jim Crow law, civil rights, and later the beginning of Black Panther.  Her religious up bringing is guided by her grandmother as a Jehovah Witness.  Her best friend is from Puerto Rico.  Along with her 3 siblings she is raised by a single mother.  And until her grandfather, whom she calls Daddy, dies her world is split between life in the north and in the south, learning the nuances of both.  

Woodson recalls her frustrations as a child when she started school.  Being a year younger than sister Odella was hard as teachers instantly compared Jacqueline to Odella.  She recalls hearing Odella is bright, she is gifted.  Woodson thought, "I am not gifted. When I read, the words twist twirl across the page. When they settle, it is too late.  The class has already moved on" (p169). Woodson recalls her Uncle coming to visit and describes the earrings he gives Odella for being smart and how she (Woodson) wishes  someone would give her "silver and gold just because my brain clicks into thinking whenever it needs to but I'm not smart like Dell", (p 171-172).  I expected to her describe gifts she or her brothers received, but whatever she was given I think was overshadowed by how the gift to Odella was presented.  The impression that her Uncle does leave on her is how he believes in her, and maybe that was more important than the gifts.  She (Woodson) is telling a story and encouraged by her Uncle Robert.  "But my mother accuses me of lying, If you lie, she says, one day you'll steal." 

"It's hard to understand 

the way my brain works - so different

from everybody around me.

How each new story

I'm told becomes a thing 

that happens,

in some other way

to me...!" (p 176)

Woodson who once struggled in school, who felt inferior to her older sister goes on to be come an award winning author.  Who encouraged and inspired her?  Her uncle Robert and her grandfather are mentioned several times as encouraging and enjoying her stories.  Finally when she shares a poem in class she hears,   

"Brilliant! my teacher says, smiling.
Jackie, that was absolutely beautiful."

"And I know now
words are my Tingalayo. Words are my brilliance" (p 248).

Her story is one of resilience. How words of encouragement inspired her to keep writing her stories, to dream her dreams. Woodson has been the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the recipient of three Newbery Honors, the Coretta Scott King Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

                                          

Woodson helps readers connect with her and her family by adding family trees and pictures of the Woodsons of Ohio and the Irbys of South Carolina.  I also enjoyed her Author notes about how she approached her memories, the family members that were able to help fill in the gaps and how this bittersweet walk down memory lane helped her understand herself as a writer.

Readers who like this book might also enjoy Words with Wings by Niki Grimes.  It is another story told in short poems or verse that highlights trouble in school and home with day dreaming and how writing her day dreams is the key to her success. 

Additional books on learning and living with different disabilities that would pair well are:
Educating Tigers by Wendy Sand Eckel
Sounds Like Home: Growing up Black and Deaf in the South by Mary Herring Wright
Reversals: A Personal Account of Victory over Dyslexia

Woodson, J. (2014).  Brown girl dreaming. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.

Lexile Level 990. Reading age 10-14

http://www.ldonline.org/article/11244/