Textbook Assignment #5 Fantasy
by: Lisa Robinson
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
The Underneath exemplifies the evaluative criteria of setting and theme.
- Setting - Being underneath something plays an essential role in this book. Grandmother is underneath the tree in a jar, the cat family and Ranger are underneath the house, mother cat drowns underneath the river, and later brother cat hides underneath the same tree as grandmother.
- Theme - The entire story the reader worries that something will happen to Ranger and his cat family, but also hopeful that they finally have what they longed for. Each character's back story shows how they came to that area and provide hope for the reader that they will be able to fight against the evils that plague them and come out happy and safe.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book exemplifies the evaluative criteria of setting and theme.
- Setting - The graveyard plays an essential roll in this book, that of offering Nobody (Bod) Owens protection from the outside world. It provides him with special powers to conceal his location from the Jacks of All Trades. It also provides friends of those buried in the graveyard.
- Theme - Even though all he knows of the outside world is that people want to harm him, Bod still is brave enough to venture out into the world and live his life. Escaping from Ghulheim, running away from Abanazer Bolger, and, most difficult of all, defeating the Jacks help to prepare Bod for the outside world and the strength of character to face what ever comes his way.
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale
Rapunzel's Revenge exemplifies the evaluative criteria of theme and plot.
- Theme - Rapunzel was separated from her parents at a young age but never gives up hope of a reunion with her mother. She battles many enemies to stop the evil Mother Gothel and sacrifices her long hair to do so.
- Plot - Rapunzel begins a quest to battle villainous Mother Gothel. She uses her incredibly long hair as a weapon to save her real mother and all those who are tormented by Gothel's powerful growth magic.
Babymouse Heartbreaker by Jennifer L Holm & Matthew Holm
Babymouse Heartbreaker exemplifies the evaluative criteria of theme and character.
- Theme - Babymouse strives to find a date for the school dance. She tries waiting for someone to ask her, but soon becomes discouraged when this doesn't happen. She then takes the task upon herself and asks everyone she knows. She comes up short, but then meets and dances with her good friend Georgie who had feelings for her.
- Character -Babymouse is a character that young girls who feel awkward at school can relate to. She portrays the emotions young girls struggle with to fit in and can relate to Babymouse's embarrassment, uncertainty, and longing to be accepted.
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Skulduggery Pleasant exemplifies the evaluative criteria of character and plot.
- Character - Skulduggery and Stefanie are both lovable, intriguing, captivating characters. They evoke emotions from the reader in different ways but inspire loyalty and trust. They draw in the reader from the beginning and their actions cause the reader to worry for them and celebrate their victories.
- Plot - Skulduggery and Stefanie begin a quest to find out how her uncle was killed. Both do not believe he died of natural causes. Neither will rest until they have avenged his death and restored order in the world of magic.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
The Invention of Hugo Cabret exemplifies the evaluative criteria of setting and plot.
- Setting - Hugo spends almost the story in the train station in Paris. He maintains the clocks when his uncle goes missing. The tunnels he travels to maintain them plays a vital role in character development. The longer he spends out of the tunnels with other people the more he grows and develops as a character.
- Plot - The story is sequenced with both images and words to create a believable but fantastical world in a train station. The images help the reader to infer their own version of the story and piece it together, much as Hugo pieces the automaton together. This amazing tale of a boy who never gave up on what he held dear to help to restore hope to an old man shows that journeys of the heart are often the most difficult of all.
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta exemplifies the evaluative criteria of style and character.
- Style - The Lunch Lady is written in a style that from the beginning sweeps you up into her crime fighting adventures. She uses every day objects made into gadgets to help her fight and save those in need. The flow of the story never slows so that the reader is not bored while reading and creates a story line that is easy to follow but exciting and action packed.
- Character - The Lunch Lady herself is hilarious! She communicates on either a sprok phone or through hamburger headphones. Her secret layer is behind the fridge and comically solves mysteries in an apron and long cleaning gloves. She is funny, trustworthy, heroic, and brave in all she does. She shows her friends unending loyalty and is tenacious in all she does.
A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems
A Big Guy Took My Ball! exemplifies the evaluative criteria of plot and style.
- Plot - Piggy is very upset, as most children would be, when a big guy takes his ball. Gerald, being a big elephant, plans to avenge his friend and get the ball back. However this plan changes when he sees how big the big guy is. The story shows true friendship, and that we should not jump to conclusions before listening to all sides of a story.
- Style - Willems has a style that, no matter the age of the reader, engages and entertains. The reader is instantly upset for Piggy and wants to get his ball back for him with Gerald and in the end remorseful that we jumped to the conclusion that it was stolen along with Piggy. However through a style that spires loyalty and friendship, the reader is happy that the whale now has friends to play with as well.