Illustrator: John Porcellino
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----------------------------------- Recipient of Peach’s Picks Award Top Ten Favorite Books Summer 2011 |
Peach’s Picks Rating:
Year of publication: 2008
City of publication: New York
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0038-6
Author website: http://www.king-cat.net/
Illustrator website: See “Author website” entry
Media used for illustrations: Drawings that are digitally manipulated
Annotation: A graphic novel based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau that relates the story of his two years living at Walden Pond and the philosophical insights he gained during his stay.
Personal reaction to the book: This graphic novel makes the work of Henry David Thoreau accessible. This is a brilliant use of Thoreau’s work that paints a picture of his life during his two years at Walden Pond. The author manages to create a story though Thoreau’s essays that blend passages from four different writings by Thoreau. Thoreau’s quotations are not offered in chronological order. Instead they are constructed to provide a story of his life during the time he lived in the cabin on Walden Pond. In order to fully understand the graphic novel, it is necessary for the reader to read the introduction, afterword, and the panel discussions. The prologue found on page 97 offers extensive notes concerning the provenance of the quotations. The illustrations are drawings printed in brown and black ink. At first glance they seem too simplistic for the philosophical ponderings of Thoreau’s words. However, the reader quickly appreciates the care taken by the illustrator to emphasize and clarify important ideas. I highly recommend this book for use by everyone, especially secondary school students studying Thoreau.
General curricular connections:
- Henry David Thoreau
- Philosophy
- Graphic novels
Specific example of curricular connection matched to State Standards:
Subject: Language Arts / Literature
Grade level: 11
Subject: Language Arts / Literature
Grade level: 11
Standards:
California’s Common Core Content Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
Standard 10: Range, Quality, and Complexity of Student Reading 6-12
Text Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, and Range of Student Reading 6-12
Informational Texts: Literary Nonfiction
Grades 11-CCR
Walden by Henry David Thoreau (1854)
Recommended grade levels:
School Library Journal recommends this book for use with grades 7 and up
Booklist recommends this book for use with grades 8-12
Peach’s Picks recommends this book for use with grades 8 and up
Awards/Recognitions:
Kirkus Review starred review
Note: This book was selected from "The Top Ten Favorites List / Summer Session 2009", San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, LIBR 271A, Genres & Topics in Youth Literature, Professor Partington. This book applies to the assignment criteria – nonfiction graphic novel.
Use of sophisticated language:
Page 60; “I had this advantage, at least, in my mode of life, over those who were obliged to look abroad for amusement, to society and the theatre…That my life itself was become my amusement and never ceased to be novel…Many a forenoon have I stolen away, preferring to spend thus the most valued part of the day, for I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days…”
Page 67; “I was not born to be forced…I will breathe after my own fashion. They only can force me who obey a higher law than I…If one listens to the faintest but constant suggestions of his genius , which are certainly true, he sees not to what extremes , or even insanity, it might lead him…and yet that way, as he grows more resolute and faithful, his road lies.
Page 76; “October answers to that period in the life of man when he is no longer dependent on his transient moods. When all his experience ripens into wisdom, but every root, branch, leaf of him glows with maturity…What he has been and done in his spring and summer appears…He bears his fruit…”
Book cover picture retrieved from http://www.king-cat.net/catalog_other.html
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