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50 views18 pagesAnderson Chapter 6
Teacher guide
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
412. PART I: Entering the World of Chiron’ Literature
charac
the maj
tales, pourquoi cales, cumulat
‘The final subgenre of teaditi
icy tales ace folk narratives, typi
ly about ordinary people. Among
ories trickster tales, simpleton
Mother Goose; however, traditional raymes exist in
MyEducationKit™
‘Be sce no visit che MyEducaiaaKic(avwimyeductionkcom) fr this text where you can:
eres from sore ofthe bescloved and mos:enduring
tee devoted to exemplary authors and ills.
erature connections, and literature awards.
Sica Se st
peste
| PART I: The Bounds Wald of ton
oe CHAPTER 6: Modern fantasy 115
For high fantasy:
‘Is the main character truly hes
‘+ Are ll the charac theie own setsings?
is the secondary world well developed?
the quest purposed
For science fiction:
the technology convincing?
Are purposeful questions about the future raised?
“This the fis of fourchaper on fiction This chapter wl exp
on, This chapter wl explore moder fantasy
aes 7, sil ay, Chap 5,contemoray aio ad apes 1,
isorical fon, All con books, rgaces of gence, ace typtaly located in the
The Beginnings of Fiction and Modem Fantasy
Inthe late 1400s, che development of the printing press using movable metal type
made the mass publication and cizculation of literature possible. Once reading ma-
fesials were readily available, more people became literate. When people could read
‘and telling stories became less important, and the ancient are of
ished. Had it not been for the efforvs of the early compil-
the tales might have been
sv era—such as Perrault,
3. Their published st i
‘han was possible in the oral tradition. The new literate population clamored for
their own tales, albeit scl with
sytelers deviated from t
‘their subject martes and.
-ginnings of children’s fiction
lees ofthe nuh and bath aze shelved alphabetically by
Fantasy was the inevitable offspring of traditional literature, Today, because both,
corral share so any ctents, we dsngush them by refering 9 hem a te
Aitional fantasy stories and modern fantasy stories. What is it that makes fantasy £0
different from other forms of fiction? Fantasy contains some «ype of unreality or ene
bane css all magi. Te ory cements break the ntl ys
laws ofour world without explanation. When you were child or maybe even an ad)
did you pretend your pets could tak ot your toys came to life? Did you ever pretend you
cul fy or become ivisible? Did you wish you ad a fry godmother who wonle take
you to wonderful places, or that you lived with both parents happily eve after? Di you
ever wish you could acquire great riches (ike win te lowery? In fantasy peopl cea lve
cur thei desis, enjoy fantasy, readers must suspend their disbelief ofthe
impossible and accept that anything is posible wihiathe covers ofa ook
stories were the ea
writing styles. These uni
and modera fantasy.
Hans Christian Andersen
ans Christan Andersen was boon in 1805 in Odense, Denmark, the som of poor
‘cobbler who died when Christian {as his mother called him) was 11 years old. An-
SErsen neve showed any inerest in shoemakings his desire wat to bea peeformer.
‘evan unvay to Copenhagen when he was 14 andl nealy starved trying to work a8
singer, dances, Tide succesy—before realizing his alent was for
saaitg. Jonas Collin, decor ofthe Royal Taeater, recognized Andersen's potential
eee eet a royal acolarehip for him, which permed him ro contiaue his sud
ies for may years.
sclera began his career 2s a storyteller, sctling traditional sales that were
fashioned with ha own creatie wit, However, che bulk of his published works aze
SSbinal sores that did noc exist in the orl tradition. Andersen published the fist
Sis 210 chor stories ina series Of parapets in 1835 and continued vo waite und
bis death in 1875.
sluating Modern Fanta
. ry well developed?
: Ito the story?
‘+ Does the author's characterization allow readers to suspend disbelief?
Is the story logical and consistent within its chosen format?
Does the author use appropriate language that is believable and consistent
with the story? CHAPTER 6: VoderFanty 117
also had success publishing novels, plays, poems son
and nonfiction works, Howeve his enchasing shor ned btn sre
‘own experience as a gangly and homely young ran) to teach ch
de of toryellers, nce and humility. The following excerpt exemplifies these truths:
ethan simply eazy fey “Then he fel quite ashamed, and hid bis head under his wings forbe did net know what
to do, hewas 20 happy, and yet nt tall proud, Fie had bees persecoed and despised
for bis ugliness, and now he sn say he was the mst beautilul ofall che birds.
Bventhe agony of death is discussed in some of Andersen’s most beloved tales. This
is where Andersen's style departs dramatically from traditional stories and literacy fry
tulss, wbich always have a happy ending for the protagonist. Consider the following
ndings of some of his mote popslar stories. In “The Litle Mermaid,” the protagonist
throws herself {com the ship into the sea, and her body dissolves into foam. Tn “The
alt boy throws the tin soldier into the stove, and he melts away. In
evitable.
in have serious saoral implications.
ending, and that des
expressed in chese tales
Haas Christian Andersen wrote with wisdom that reinforces kindness and sym-
pathetic understanding. Yet, he also wrote with a deliberate simplicity that sired
"For more than seventeen decades, these endearing qualities have
appealed to children and adules throughout the world. For a complete col
his tales with contemporary translations by Ecic Christian Maugaat
is Chyistian Andersen: The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories. Many of Andersen's
notably The Little Match
ples in each subgenre section inhi ch
for the writecs of fiction who followed
the pen name of Lewis odgson published the fist entertaining novel for
children in England in "s Adventures ix Wonderland, which ushered in
Allegory of Andeses ov fe experience of being spurned
her ens later with her sband. Te story conclude:
od about is old ove fr that soon did away. When the be
tet has nfo five Yasin gues, an hasbeen drenched hcp no oe coet
‘to know her again on meeting her in a dust-bin, eee
fantasy is vast. When I seed teaching liceravure, fantasy was
to preschool and primacy-grade childcen (and this is still true for
"which is covered in the next chapter). However, since J. K. Rowling CHAPTER 6: Mode fertay 119
been stolen by the Moor fairies, and in her plact a haltfary, balf-human baby had
sheen lefta changeling. Saaské grows into a child who is eonsidered a freak because of
ter unusual appearance and strange behaviors, not the east of which is her ability to
stunting melodies onthe bagpipes without instruction. Her memory and percep”
Hay Folk gradually return. Aker being driven from the village, Saaski and
rnd, Tam the goatherd boy, embark on a quest. They attempt to find her
“child~-for which she was exchanged—and to return the child to them.
la learned the traditional story of Strega Nona
The story of the Grandma Witch and ber noodle-head
‘popular that dePaola followed i with several original
have broken fantasy in several groups to make it easier to seady:
+ Animal fantasy
+ Literary fairytale
explain nanural phenomena or the way things are. The cares ending tales were pub
Iished by Rudyard Kipling in Just So tories in 1902. Influenced by the
India, be wrowe a collection of tale that expla certain animals’ features
\dcen that when you look through
es, about half of the books have
iy with children, Thave devoted all
fantasy animal c} 18. Because
of the next chapter to animal fantasy. oe
eee eee an Problem,” The author's humor
‘print on te copyright page he
‘hone saughe telling these fairly sropd tales will be vsied, in
A literary fairy tale follows the patcems set by the oral tradition of folklore but is
guest 0 find the Old Man
may all have enough to eat. (They all roil daly, bur the valley of the
Tisle) Mini's joumey was inspired by the craditional
ther told her each night. She is betrended by a Hightless dragon
Ea Sines interesting creatuces. After many interesting incidents, she retam with the
ragon's peal, which bring: great prosperity to er family and the entze village,
today some authors choose this ie
“The most enchanting and absorbing i
ocbing literary fairy t
‘F The Moor by Hl Janis MeGra,Stin medieval ine, thi noel opens with,
‘Zev Ol Beste Wise Woman of the vilag wh fst speed that he aby a
ughter’s house was changeling”(p. 3). Old Bess granddaughter ad indeed ‘who sprouts feathery wings. Eventually, Akmed is able to set
er wntil he can make a
Tale (Napoli) takes place in Bam, Iran. After ¢
finds she is the lone survivor in 2 world of wild
CHAPTER 6: Moser Fortasy 121
Anlmated Object Fartssy
“When you were a child, did you talk ro your dolls or seffed animals? If so, did they
nswes? Many young children fantasize that their dolls and toys are real. Usually chile
Gren do the talking for both themselves
chia: inen by Carlo Lorenzi
of Carlo Collodi. The book was based on a traditional story Lorenzini heard while
rowing up in the village of Collodi, Ia. Pisocchio is a wooden puppet who is
erGnstakingly carved by a Kindly old man named Gepperco. The puppet comes to life;
he wants 0 bea real flesh-and-blood boy. Because
‘experiences many sabappy adventures, chough the
constantly dishonest, and his nose grows
honest, genezous, and a hard worker,
‘boy.
‘The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
"as a Chistmas gift, and the rabbit eventually
Tile boy’s constant companion. The sted rabbit can understand what
‘bag with contaminated s
‘Ar his point readers fear
sexs lite fir cree—but mursery magic
Leo Lionni presents 2 beautiful
anda toy one named Willy
‘makes fciends with Willy,
fox Alexander finds che roy tions i a box of trash; Willy had been discarded when
‘he hid goc new toys for her birthday. Alexander rushes back to the lizard witard
to as if che magic can be used to make Willy into a real mouse instead.
AA A Mine's clasie book Winnie-the.Poob began as bedtime stories for Milae's
soa, Christopher Robin. Christopher and the staffed animals in is bedroom were the
seory characters Wonnie-the-Pooh (a naive but loving sued bear), Piles, Kanga, Roo,
Pojdae Tiger Rabbit and Ow. The book and is sequel, The House at Pook Comer,
cota episod chapters that centee on the antics of the stuffed animals. They live in
he Flundeed Asre Wood and act mc like teal animals. For example, Rabbit ies in
hole in the ground (though it does have furinze), and Winnie loves co eat honey. 422. PART Hi The Boundless Word of Fition
ae when Lib ys btn with the money fom be
td ses on hs lot button eo
‘Asa child, did you own a cop)
sou i 08 uffy the Tugboat (Crampton)? (My mother
: zn and Hs Stam Shovel and nang
Choo Cho: The Sor of Li a ey ener edn
Silverstein gives life to a lovely apple
nothing left of her but
10 more contented
this story. Though
(Aleer, 1995) dha
sea deo Huai ls the sory of Lite Ble and le Yellow, Mab of clos ht
are best fiends, Tey ie with thr papas and mamas who are Biggs Hob), They
sy frends to play games with, and they goto blob school together. One day,
‘Yellow hug too hard, they cura green, and neither set of
: 4]
Puppets Yourairen sud be enone tre forte noon in eon
net Agony os up soe aes hs rien ah
Sal pacer unc bags hay decorate with consvtion pape ard ayn davings, Wt he
Seat ance Yl eyo ere es wh specs De theces
* wave (Paz 8 Cowan}. On a boy’s fist trip to the seash
CHAPTER 6: Mosem forteny 123
Human with Fantasy Coaracter
Some fantasy books have an ordinary human and a fantasy creature as main chai-
aoe ethe fantasy ezeatore can be a monster, a strange beast, or even an element
Fae re One of Andersen's best loved stories, "The Little Mermaid,” fa
Shs category with the mythical and memorable mermaid and a human p
main character
Soplie discovers a most unusual creature ia The BFG (Dab when a Big Feen
Giant sansches her from her bed and carries her off in the middle of the
Cant [and Though his brothers eat Human Beans, the BFG ears oly sx
Teer he BEG joins forces with Sophie to stop the other giants from running off to
Pngland to “guzzle and swallomp a few nice litde chiddlers.”
ene song boy finds hinsell facing & monster in The Teacber from the Black
Lagook (Tales) The tt sa spoof on the old movie The Creature from she Black
secon The teacher in this book doesnot come from a lagoon; sates, se shows
he rool as Mas Green, the boy's aw reaches. She's a eal monster
green snowt and tal. Undoubtedly, his isthe fumiest pierre
Teese, ie may not be appropriate fr very young childsen, a
Poe Green ie prone to munching children for discipline! This book i a gre
ere era the Bast day of schoo. (fe makes children wonder whst your dsc
program will be.)
in Flossie & the Fox (McKissack} 1 caries a basket of fresh eges
to Mar Viola's and she encounters a sly old fox along the way. Because Fosse has
ae awa ose she insists on proof that he is what he says. Flossie skips all ehe way
Teteagh the woods wale the fox tries to convince her that bee a fox and she should
eKiseack beautifelly capnaces the language ofthe pre-Cisil War
Dlogae: "Flossie stopped. Then she curned and say ‘Tne never seen
Sa. ny should I be seared of you and I don’t even-now know you 8
fact"
vs the fantasy creature is aa element of nature, as in My Life wi
sa wave breaks away
ee eee ad oins him. The boy takes the wave home fora liquid pet, and she
floods the house. At frst the wave eventually her mood
changes. With the onset of winter st
shang) statue the boy and his father etum her tothe sea, Long afer you finish
rein dhe mergaing illstratons can Keep you engrossed seasching forthe many
Kaun ggures and ioages Careful observers will find 2 very small mouse in cach
eee seeder characters and images to search for include a cat, dog, 2 whee,
sind s sea horge, each of which can be found ia most ofthe ilusteanons,
“Pas ind aad ocker natural clements can be fantasy characters. nM
Brother Wied (MoKissack), catch Brother Wind so he
parraer inthe junior eakewalk, bu he skilflly cludes bes,
“Aithough mone books in che category of human wit fantasy character are plete
vos ths category i becoming increasing popular for novels x well The Spidervick
Chansislec a series of ive shore aovels by Tony DiTerlzi and Hilly Black—feature
be 2 PART I The Bounds: Word of Fcion
several humans and many fantasy cr
three Grace children and their mother go
ing. The children no: bigger my
with the disappearance of Arthur Spiderwick, Great-Aunt Lucinda’s father, so many
Extraordinary Person
Not all fantasy books contain fantasy creatures. Somerimes the characters are hu-
‘mans who are preposterous or extraordinary in some way, for example, possessing
steange powers or uns
Christian Andersen was one ofthe esriest ition s
‘Mary Norton's The Borrowers and its sequels,
eal decades. Bod, Homily, and Arretty Clock
tal. They live beneath the loorboards of a quiet country hovse ia
England, and they outfit ther living quarters as well as mect their other needs by
“borrowing” ehings drom the big people. The Bo quite cesourceful in
the way they recycle trinkets and bits of household objects into clothing, tool
ung, Oe day the Boy ofthe ous sow Ari, ade lc e's
advenrures begin.
In George Shrinks (Joyce), George’s parents leave the house
is stil asleep, he dreams he is very finds iis tue! De-
his size, George comically tres to take care of his “litle” brother and complete
all the tasks his pacents have asigned him for the day. When be unwraps a package
CHAPTER 6: Modem Fantesy 125
in the mail and finds a toy airplane, he fies ie over the house and through his bed-
oom window, The family cet swipes the airplane wing, causing it o crash land on
ssess extraordinary powers,
‘young children, who often
is feeding a flock of birds in
her up and she ean
rad they fly over and azound New York City.
is found in Tar Beach (Ringgold), which takes place
old git can fly whea she thinks about “somewhere
.er way.” From the tar rooftop of her Harlem apart-
1 buildings of New York City. She especially likes
her own.
wuld talk? The abilicy
‘who fluently speaks
Voyages of Doctor .
jdemic among the monkeys
‘monkey Island ia the tropicals
‘Karen Hlsse creates a memorable character in 14-year-old Mila in The Music of
Dolphins. A feral child is discovered on an unpopulated island, where she has spent
th the dolphins who saved her after a wreck at soa. Mila
iphin family, and she greatly prefers her life among the
iences living among humans.
‘antasy characters possess many other exteaordinary abil-
Ida (Dahl) uses elelenesis and her genius intellet to annoy
tnd scare off people who are unkind to the schoolchildren
‘Another unforgetable character from Roald Dab is che eccentic Willy Wonka
in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Charlie and other childcen meet Wily Wonks,
vreator ofthe famous snd magical chocolate factory that produces the world’s greatest
“However, teat perils await undeserving children who enter the fact
Tuck Everlasting eaves readers pondering if chey would w:
‘Tuck family unknowingly deanke water from a spring th
im ever growing older. Every ten years, the family of four meets
‘In che 18808 they ate observed by 10-year-old
woods near ber house, She leas about heir
tenrble secret, so they prevent her from zetarning to her home, fearing the ill that
‘would come to the world if anyone else drank from the magic spring. 126
PART Il: The Boundess Word of Feton
‘Michael Buckley's NERDS ( Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Soci
ough some absurd technology, six (ne
ee ee
who can detect danger end dishonesty, a boy who con
vty give him super speed and
Sucugi 4 wheect whose alee cable he fy and Wan ence, anda
‘wth braces containing tay nanobyescapuble of morphing ito any object. Thee
assignment iso save the world ve
Some extraordinary powers are passed down from parents to children for gen-
touching a gamete
narks on a quest to find a m
‘whom he learned about from a ph
‘om a photograph,
All the Beaumonts are imbued with a supernatural power when they tusn 13 ia,
is to hear tattoos talk about the person who
stele Mas rr 13 her fathers nin ate acer
{and two of thie church members) b
5s) cow away on a bus they chink s going tothe
‘hece hes parents are However they Bnd theasel Sereng elrecion
hes er pee ae Howe hey Bd hemes beaded wren deson
in The Song of the Whales (Orlex), 11-year-old Mikh'el an
st moved fom New York to Jrcslea to tater Tere Mae
devedopsa wonderful elaceship wih hs gadis deae
the ro grow closer, his grandfather shares a very
ae esa very special gift withthe boy, whi
wa in Ht yin ie Mo deme
1 have many adventures in thei sleep, although nor all of chem are good. Some
ny ey che doc alo en ee Soe
another incredible deeam sequence. Milh'el is
the dreams of others.
, which stare with The Giver, takes place in
have been lege destroyed though
ies, which are governed independent)
and are icolated from one another. The frst book could be of science
. The first book could be considered science
Foyt the ther oo books cle magia defintely ave ne sivaeal
logy. The main character in each novel has some extraordinary abiligy—to
see beyond the immediate sarroun
setbepond the immed dings, to embroider scenes from the furure, and
emer antiques dealer. AS
CHAPTER 6: Modemfantesy 127
In The Giver, Jonas lives in a society of “sameness” that has learned how to
contzel everything memory, emotion, occupation, marriage, weather, propagation,
sor inhe is allowed to live or die. Waen Jonas turns 12, he is appointed as the next
Receiver of Memary and is apprenticed £9 tent Receiver, who then becomes
memory). This person alone ‘memories of the tras pain and
" pecause generations ago, the people had all memories (beyond their
ce generation) removed from the peop’s consciousness and transferred to the
See eer This included memories of such horrors as war and famine. Along with the
nomories, they gave up strong emotions such as love, feat, and pein.
‘Dav Vikey ereated a hilarious character in The Adventures of Captain Under:
1 thinking he is a
superhero: Captain der a spell, he tears off all his
Sietkes except his bref, yanks off his toupee, ties a ced curtain around his neck, and
vt the school window singing “Tra-la-laaaa!”—his battle cry as be goes ont
ght ev forces such asthe nefarious Dr. Diaper or che voracious Talking T
nny experience, do not shovr this book to a psincipal; ee will wa
a
if out the school window!
Enchanted Journey
«classic fantasy stores are enchanted journeys. The story begins in the seal
Joon transported to another world, which is often
eg ceaim, The characters enter the fantasy world by some type of magic.
‘Re che end of the story, the protagonist usually retums to ehe real isnot
by the same manner in which she or he left. In
The Snow Queen,” Kai is dragged into aa icy, magical realm whe
‘and enticing Snow Queen seigas when his sled is pulled there by the
Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is
Journey to Fantasyland. 4
mey to a fantasyland.
ppethaps the cadliest example of a
‘Alice is sitting on the riverbank wi i ohen a big white rabbit rons past,
auiking to hisoel, When he pops dovrn a acge rabbit hole, lic follows him end
Bone own a long passageway to Wonderland, She experiences many bizar
seg changing sizes and swimming i ber own wears, and she meets equally
Hane Se iisscters including the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hares, the Mock Tuetle, the
CRESS of Flea and the dec of eards that comes co life. Alice etans tothe ee
‘world when her older sister awakens hex
epear Boum's The Wonderful Wieard of Oz was the first modern fantasy
novel for children that was wztten by an Ametican It begins in Kansas when Dovos
Tec house is ied into the air by a cyclone (tornado). When it lands, Dorothy and
wey og, Toto, ind themssives in the Land of Oz. She desperately wants corer
tee oe erly. The lite munchkins advise her o find the great wizasd i the
aoe i Emerald City of Oz. Along her way, she meets the braless Scarestoms
Te He Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. Though the wizard tarns out to be 2 128 PART: The Eoundles Wore of Fcion
humbug, the goo inda tells Dorothy she ean retarn home by clicking the
her silver slippers and saying, “Take-me home to Aunt Em!” Dorothy finds
six Lost Boys. Daring
il pirate Captain Hook, a hungry crocodile,
Lost Boys beg Wendy to stay and be their
Galloran helps them under-
fay home to Earth will be to save Lyzian, a world
doing laundry in the basement of their apartment building, Boots disappears down
an air chuse and Gregor dives in after her. After gently falling for some time, the
CHAPTER 6: ModenFontay 129
wi
thinking his enchanted journey was a dream, Maurice Sendak shows the
time by the moon first seen through the bedroom window. When Max le
‘quarter moon; when
ming, the boy finds
bout only those who truly
Story Boxes A concrete vay ry box (Tompkins &
look at the cor pee
ready read the book, tey sould be able to racall the story by Yooking
at the verious objects,
tn another Van Allsburg book, Jumanji, Judy and Peter experience a reverse
enchanted journey. Playing 2 mystical board find ia the park resclss in
‘heir house being wensformed into an exotic jungle that includes a roaring ion, de~
‘Sauctive monkeys, and an erupting volcano. Eack turn of play plunges them from 130
‘one perilous pr
their house to normal,
Journey to the Hist
ing a long Seder ceremony in her grandfather's apartment, she is asked to perform
of opening the door for Elijah. When she does, she has opened a door in
e middle of a small Jewish
ertable story.
1e has created a zany series of books called the
.—Joe, Sam, and Fred—trevel both back and
by means agical blue book. The mixture of adventure,
comedy, and hocas-pocus makes for fast reading. In the first book, Knights of
the boys end up in King Arthue’s court with a fire-breat
dragon, a belligerent knight, and 2 vile-sm ate the magi
cal blue book befoze ehey can be transported back to their own time. Scieszka
does much research for each boo! ies, so in addition to being bilarious,
the books include historical details, interesting facts, and even some basic math
and physics
‘The Emerald Atlas (Stephens gs Kate, Michael, and Emma
swho have beea in one orphanage after another for the past ten years. They were
fed from their parents as babies and hidden to protect them from a devastating
power. Their lat jpidated mansion in the desolate
‘of Cambridge Falls—is quite odd: They are its only wards, and their caregiver
‘a magician, When they explore the house, they find
1 powerful enchanted emerald atlas that whisks the children back fifteen years in
Cambridge Falls. In , the mansion was beautiful and the land was ruled by
aired Countess (witch) and her army of soulless Screechers.
up to them
ings righ,
22 (Bell) is a most unusual book: a historical fantasy book that in-
cludes journeys to the historical past. Twelve-year-old Nick Melver, son of a light-
on Greybeard Island off the coast of Great Brirain in 1939. Nick
finds a sea cheet containing a mysterious glowing globe, later
‘machine built by kes Nick back and forth through tin
fighting captain Billy Blood’s pirates, Napoleon's navel forces in 1805, and Nazi
spies pateolling the waters in an experimental U-boat. Nick meets his ancestor,
;, who was a captain in Lord Nelson’
nach Me (Stead), sicchegrader Miranda lives in 1978 New York
Cy with her mother. he begins receiving puzzling notes from someone who claims to
want to save her friend’ life, and she comes to believe the notes are from someone who
knows the furare. Miranda spends considerable time observing a zaving vagrant on
CHAPTER 6: VodemFortsy 134
the corner, who her mother calls the laughing rian, while trying to find the connection
potweon the notes and her daily life. Gradually, Miranda devermines that someone she
[ows from school has traveled from the future to prevent a terible tragedy.
Oke Responding to Uerature,
Dialogue Response Journals Ore oy
the journal Decomes an esse exam, To achieve maxi
‘grammar and el inwich cil
they sound, should be encourages. Ct
selves to words they can spel correct. Respor
High Fantasy
Coloeful adventure, enchantment, and heroism are the hallmarks of bigh fantasy. The
protagonist in high fantasy ergages in a monurneatal strugele against a powerful ev)
Force in the ageless struggle of good and evil. Like enchanted journeys, they
the real world (primary world), but che major seting in high fantasy is « self-contained
fesional world hats inabied by imaginary creatures an that has fe ov Ss fae,
‘These seuings are called secondary worlds. The setting typcelly has an aura of modicrs
ines because writers have often drawn from mythology and legends for their char-
Sures and settings. In high fantasy books the author develops the secondary word in
derail, describing the history, dress, housing, lifestyles, languages, and occupations of
‘he inhabitants, Creators of high fanrasy, such as those I feanare here, oypically
ies of books ia order to develop the secondary worlds and ther inhabitants in depth,
‘Although no shor story could coorain all the complex elements of high fantasy novels
Hans Christen Andexsen’s “The Wild Swans” is lengthy tale chat employs a quest into
‘a secondary world, both of which are centeal to easy novels.
Tolkien and The Lard ofthe Rings. J.R.R. Telken she wrt of Bh
LR ote a mic wes inh fel ar measure The secondary word
a ta Midst has bes weds onctatone forall who wre
A ert A polar at Oxford Universe in England, peciing
pales “a Gulostip nents in esr of fnasy
eo ee rol tee sone Tole lds cen. Tis bool
books The Hob eo the ei ta followed st te the sn for Tle
Tes eee Lord of "Bo logya mptnssredcomplexenie
Fo ehingt more sural for adolescents inthe United Kingdon 2 132
‘an adventurous quest set in Middle-earth, which is inhabited by mythical crea,
tres such as hobbits, dwarves, elves, trolls, goblins, the wizard Gandalf, che dragon
the disgusting creature Gollum. The protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, isa tpi
bout three feet tall. Like other hobbies in the Shire, be is plump and has
very large and hairy fect that do not require shoes. Bilbo embarks on a quest to help
the dwarves, and he confronts the great dragon Smaug—the terror ofthe coantyside’
ha wondrous magic ing that makes the wearer invisible.
CS, Lewis and The Chronicles of Narr
3. C. S, Lewis weate his Narnia secies
specifically for children, although adult readers likely understand more of the Chris-
fan synboli into the books. The land of Narnia gets its magic from,
the majestic lo
lan, who isthe Lord of the Wood and son of the great Empesor
5 the pica heroes of high fantasy, the protagonists ofthese
ake the crossing between out
Sea,
world and the secondsry world of Narnia by Ast
3 The lest book co be published was The Lion, the
meanwhile, the majestic Aslan is drawing near, causing the spell to weaker
lowed by the melcing of snow and ice. However, Ed-
‘ofthe White Witch. By the law of the Deep Magic,
the White Witch has the right to ill him, bur Aslan forgives Edmund and takes on
his cruel punishment. The children are despondent when Aslan dies—but che next
‘morning, by the working of the Deeper Magic Before the Daven of Time, he is resur-
rected, and the White Witch is defeated.
logical order. If you plan to read them
in the order of Namnian chronology, rather than the order in which they were pub-
lished. The proper sequence follows:
‘The Magician's Nephew
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Hor
Prince Caspian
‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
‘The Silver Chair
‘The Last Batlle
Notice that The Magician's Nephew is the prequel (book chat takes place at
2 time before the action of the preexisting work) to The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe. Ic tells how Narnia came to be and howe the evil
CHAPTER 6: Modem fortayy 133
and why the
explains why the wacdcobe was a pascageay fom Barth to Nasa and why
a crumpled by the cidce's story Teeven explains the presence of
mppot inthe mile of the Wood
reno boo in
bin Mckile andthe Blu Sor. Tough she won ovo
Rein Metin or ata kn cesta a noel ial
seein a rl tube by ce secrete ad maga ok te
ee a olvaeasinyandtoecpteng ards Wha kes
Moe ee orbs hate hoes of et boks ae young Women
craig lanay i Te Her ed
Jed and zerurn the
sg" Thee i 2 considerable span of yeas between The Hero and the Crow: and
fue Su roine of the second book is Hari Creve, an orphaned ado
‘The Blue Sword. The heroine ofthe second sed ar
‘th enoetiting tod pra
Sword Gontuan, whi 20 oman bas eodary Lat Actin He
aoe oer ore than matic and the powefl Ble Soc to df
(age the ath human Nonerness wo tices not ony #e Hl
er bro's county 08
1c owtng ane Harry Poe. Hogns Shel o Wish an Ward nd
Heeger oquneade rake up ose ofthe secondary word of Hay
aa oho have many rail experience, both good and bad. Rowing
‘wanted to depict the ambiguities of a society where bigs
rif the Bott
cer eer beoa (2006 0.2)
Fach bugan wits Harry Potter and the Soesrer' Sons
Ge Tangges and penta decade onthe New York Time
Tera ote seven bask have xcended 300 millon—a8 unprecedented ees
se tng bins! Hower zat contoveray surrounds this series ec
of its positive portrayal of witchcraft. “According to Schneider (2002),
‘Aig cise (and ada
7 the books ha
ver wold eal ino ih he Hay
: fe sible and wide
cavof Haury Post: beaks dea! with god
fo Tagie snd sdvetare. Consequently, although ey
2 Gey ce smlancoly te target of S008 134
PART Its Th Bours Wot Fon
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when Hacry tras 1, be is in
a ee eee ener bed a acar wc ashehad berg |
by his wretched muggle (nonmagicall aunt and uncle, Harry's mother was 2 witch
and his father a wizard. Both were mardezed by a sorcerer of such evil magaitud
that his name cannot be spoken; however, at an ivfane, Harry suvived the atc
Harry is called to Hogwarts School of Wicehcraft and Wizardry to receive his
tual waining. Neatly al of the wizard masters and wizardsin-raning are in awe of
Harry, because he is the only person ever to survive an attack by the unspeakable
Lord Voldemort, master ofthe Dark Ars, However, there are enemies atthe schogl
swho want Harry to fal
"the las Hazry Potter book, do you cemember Hermione reading 2 collection
s Dumbledore’s pati
to her, and she fe Nolin
could be defeated last book in the series, J. K. Rowling wrote
hd published the collection with Dumbledore’s commentary on each of the five
{ales Ifyou fished the series and were saddened by the professor's death, this is a
sway to reconnect with the character.
Christopher Paolini and Inheritance. Paolini began writing the series’ frst book,
, Eragon, is a young farm boy who finds a
marvelous blue stone (egg) in a mystical mountain clearing ia the secondary world
called Alagaésia. The egg hatches inco 2 beautiful sapphie-blue dragon, whom
Eragon nurtures and names Saphira. As the dragon matures, Eragon learns that not
conly can she speak, bat the two can communicate telepathically. With the belp of
the mysterious storyteller Brom, who gives him a powerful ancient sword, Eragon
Teacns that he is the last of the Dragon Ridecs. Eragon is pressed to side with the
inamans, elves, and dwatves in the irapending war with the cruel King Galbatorix,
‘who is aided by the diabolical Shades and their nonhuman minions the Urgalls. Ia
‘ook, the boy and dragon grow in magical powers and in understanding of
theic relationship and the complex political world into which they lave been thru:
Eragon wants only to avenge Galbatorix’s brutal murder of his uncle by the maraud~
ing Ra'zac, but fate will require much more of bin
Supernatural Fantasy
Supernatural fantasy explores the possibilities offered by che supemnacural—for ex
ample, by beings that exist outside the narural woeld (such as ghosts) or by powers
that go beyond natural fozces (such as telepathy). An early example of supernatusal
fen it Hans Ciisian Andere’ "The Lite Mac Selle, on of ls mos
poignant stories. Inthe tale, an impoverished litle gir! sees a number of apparitions,
including the spit of her deceased grandmother, who comes in the middle of freez-
ing night to take the child to Heaven.
Lisa Desimini (2010) once said, “When a book does not follow a trend, it just
‘may start one” (p. 221). When I began my study of children’s literature more than
CHAPTER 6: Modem fartay 435
forty yeacs ago, sew very few intsiguing trends in cildsen’s literature, In fact, che
ffose nowable trcadsetting secies was Hasey Potter by J, K. Rowling. Did you notice
the multizade of mediocre books about wizards that followed? Among other supe-
flor wendsettere—whick inspired books (often mediocre) about the same subjects—
‘Stephanie Meyer (vampires), and Rick Riordan
jan has two outstanding series, one a spinoff of
in The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, 12-year-old New Yorker Percy Jackson
has always had difficulty focusing on his schoolwork and controlling his temper. A&
a resule, he has atzended six different schools in as many years. After a ncar fatality
‘islet school,Dere’s mother tells him about the father he has never known. Then
Jed by # Minotaue before his mother manages to get him 0 the
safety of Camp Hal Blood (located on Long Island) a sumimer camp for demig
‘whose he learns ehat his father is Paseidon, God ofthe Sea. (That explains his ability
To control water, including swimming underwater with no need to breathe.) Soon
Posey is sent to Califomnia on a quese with two frends: one a disguised satyr and
the other the demigod daughter of Athena. They reach the gates of the Underworld
{located in a Hollywood secording seadi) and attempt to rectify a feud beoween the
thee majoe gods: Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon,
‘The Lost Horo isthe fist book io Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus serie, &
spinoff from his firs series, Perey Jackson and the Olympians, This book has the
Taine setting, Camp Half-Blood, but a new hero, Jason, The bock opens with Jason
Waking on 2 school bus with total amnesia. He soon learas that e, like the others
Tike camp, isa demigod with one human and one god/goddesspareat, Everyone
is shocked when Jason is claimed by Zeus (Jupiter), Lord ofthe Sky, because Zeus
fhas ro other children at the camp. This parentage explains Jason's ability to move
in the aie and to sammon powerful lighting, In addition, what makes Jason even
thore differents that al the other campers are children ofthe Greek gods and can
vend and speak ancient Greek; in contrast, Jason knows the gods by their Roman
ames, and he can ead and speak Latin, (This mystecy is the crux of the series.)
‘Soon Jason is sent on 2 quest with to other campers and an anthropomorphic
bronze dragon.
‘Tacn amazed that Riordan can intcoduce to new secs in the same yeast The
‘Red Pyramid is the fist bookcin the Kene Chronicles. Carter and Sadie Kane are the
quain characters, bat the plot of this series revolves around Egyprian gods. ix yearé
Mer che mothers death, ther facher, a enowned Egyptologist, cakes Carter and
Sedie on 2 special si to the British Museum. There, he invokes a special incanta~
tion, which accidentally results in breaking the Rosetta Stone and with his seeding
Places with a dangerous god. After escaping danger, the children's mision is 0
Rescue ther father, Along the way, tke childsen bepit to understand cheir hidden
‘Ravieal powers asthe descendant ofthe pharaoks. Before rescuing thei father, they
snus ake oa the ancieat forces beat on destroying humankind
Tn The Name of This Book Is Secret (Bosch), readers meet Cass, an adventuris,
and talkative Max-Ernest, who is driven by logic. They find a box in an antiques yet achieved immortality,
th. For readers who wanta
to jail, and their pare
tance becomes apparent
accused of being a wire
bursts into flames wt
They can carn people into creatures, con)
is escape t0 a bombed:
the Mountains of Rain
4k on the kingdom, and Will
serious and compelling
rejected, and expelled
house. Maggie frequently visits the dol
ever locked
CHAPTER 6: Moser fontsy 137
to realize is an angel who had saved Hannah's
farmer whos
‘a 4-year-old boy from Jerusalem, who is the you
re homesick for Earth, and he finds the eansition from boy
‘kingdom a difficult one. He tres to fit in and do what is expected of
cms to fail at every attempt, When he is called before the Underscanding
he pours out his heart and says he would not be so sad if only he could bave
ssions from home: a golden butterfly, a sky-blue egg, two
gift Therefore, he adds his precious box to the pile of glorious gifts but worries it is
t00 lowly. However, God is pleased because the Littlest Anget gave what he 3
35 the box into the brilianty shining star of Bethlehem.
most, and God transi
‘Sclence Fiction
‘When magic is replaced by advanced technological wonders, a fantasy story is called
science fiion, Incredible and inconceivable characters and evens ae given rational
Scientific sounding explanations, which a good scence fiction writer makes quit plas-
Sible. The time setting in science fiction stories does not have tobe the frre, Ieean be
the present dey with some typeof szxee advanced technology, ord you read books
that were published some dae ago—the seting ean even be in the past. For example,
Hans Cretan Andersen published “Thousands of,
science fison tale, busy Americans see Europe in ing over it
Science fiction is based on scientific extra
developments and discover
opments by starting with what
farther. For example, todey su
happen when they teansplantb
‘wheat will happen when humans are cloned?
1g to
technical nature ofthis genre, very few science fiction books
sme books for younger children do
ouch very little on technology, if at
» The Li pen).
Science fiction plots often center on how science and technology affect human
life, portraying technology's potential for both good and aders are drawn to
‘examine the social consequences of technology, and some writers depict a very bleak
picrure of furare societies. 138
matical proces. In the same manner,
king ther lost father, travel to several destinations in space inhabited by
Sd who &
fr gold, He kidnaps a fairy and demands ransom. Unfoctunately, the
Short of the LEPrecon {Lower Element Police.
2 determined elf
sop at nothing to get Holly back, including ssing his arsenal of bigh-
tech weapon.
's Lost im Cyberspace is a story of Aaron, a
himself into cyberspace through cellular reorganization. (He explains
fe and his friend Josh must deal with unexpected
the programming of
to grant wishes
1a and Josh, so they are transported through time and space to some
ed places.
far the most popular type of science fiction for elementary
a picture book narrated by an
kes an unscheduled stop on Earth,
«a combination ssience fiction, mystery,
and adventure story. The seting is a small community chat was built as 2 ast sef
nge forthe human race before the great apocalypse. Except fo
ast a yellowish glow during daytime hours, the city of Ember exists in co
Garkness—no sun, moon, oF stats ligt che sky. The inhabitants have no portable
lights (Hlasblights, candles, or fre}—only the lights run by the ancient underground
generator that is poweced by a swift lowing rive. Beyond Ember is only the pitch
black Unknown Regions, which no one has ever explored. For 240 years, the people
verything io the vast storerooms.
‘Now there are shoreages, and some the generator fa
Lina Mayfiee sem cob
ions for Egress,
gotten, unt Lina found them, but only after
sper! Lina and Doon work together to decipher
the message before the lights go out forever.
CHAPTER 6: Mose
ize a 14-year-old James Bond, and you have Alex Rider, the
teevage British spy in Anthoay Horowitz's Stormbreaker, w!
.gthy series. When his guardian and uncle
‘spy for the Special Oper
y lke over his
igating Sayle Enterprises, che makers of a revolutionary
led Stormbreaker. The company plans to donate one to every school
ions, Alex is first given hig
jen of weapons}, such 68 4 metal-melting cream and a Game Boy that
ices, Then, posing a5 a teenage computer whiz who won a Storm
tcaker promotional contest, Alex enters the Sayle factory and immediately finds
dues fom his uncle. Alex’s daring allovrs him to solve the case i
lunbelievably dangerous adventures. The second novel, Point Blan
exciting than the first. The high-tech gadgets are even more incredible, and some
of the characters are clones!
Uglies by Score Westerfe
lieves its citizens are ugly until age
thot changes them into pleasure-s -
was ane doing more than an extreme makeover.) Anticipating this transforma-
ith Shay, another female ugiy. While enjoying
vgcther, Shay confides to Tally that she disdains
the programmed conformity of their society and plans to run away to The Smoke,
f distant rebel settlement of simple-Living uglies. When Shay goes missing, « cruel
{gent from the Depactment of Special Ciscumstances coerees Tally to find Shsy o=
forever remain an ugly. Tally sets off on the dangerous
finally reaching The Smoke (outside the
city), she bas a change of heart when her new
behind becoming 2 pretey.
. J, Haacema’a Virus on Orbis 1 is a0
his twelve years aboard Renaissance, a seed
‘on the spaceship perished long ago.) When the spaceship artives oa
‘Obi 1, the 198 orphans aboard learn they will be forced to work as slaves to
ris dead parents’ debt for theie passage. JT is immediately identified as a
Pfewire, someone able to communicate telepathically with computers. When
central computer of Orbis 1 (a world made up of four rings orbiting a wormb
begins to malfunction, JT must solve the mystery of the mechanical failures before
“The opening setting of Patrick Carman’s Atherton: The House of Power is pas-
oral, with adults and children working in 2 fig grove to musture the tees and reap
the harvess. Oddly, the world consists of three distinct layers stacked atop each
‘the top is the beautifal Highlands, where the rich and oppressive ruling
=. The midale layer is the Flatlands, populated by Athertos’s subservient
high-tech society that be-
xgo a compulsory oper:
jowever, the government
sad David reveals the sinister secret
tion. JT spent all of
the Rings of Orbis.
svorking clase, including the protagonist Edgar. The bortom layer is the vast Waste
[ind where dangerous monsters hurk (although they do eat all the trash). When the 140
1 Bourdlese Werl ef Feton
1explicably begin co collapse into each other, Edgar teaches himself
the Highlands. On the cliff face, he finds the book his father lek
‘manufactured by a madman,
Dack Planet ftom which its original
its orbit always makes it face away
inhabitants came.
T have saved the best science fictioa book for last. After reading thousands of
books, I find that most follow predictable tre: rare to ead a book so unique
‘predict the ending, In Catherine Fisher's Incarceran, L could not
‘the secting! The story takes place in @ prison where inmates live in
dilapideted cities, and unbounded wilderness, but where the prison
‘he action takes place are indiscernible. Finn is » 17-year-old prisoner of
Tncarcecon. His memories begin and end there, He knows nothing about his pas
cexcept lor a few vague memories. Fina is determined to escape the prison, which he
later learns was fashioned centuries ago as a solution to the chaos created by too
«living, sentient being. Ics technologically advanced (albe
; prisoners are born there and they die there. Oaly one person ever
ique, and Finn is determined to how. In the outside world,
‘Claudia, the prison warden’s daughter, lives en isolated life in a castle surrounded
by servants. Claudia longs for escape from an austere father who has betrothed her
toa dull-witted prince, Both Finn and Clauala, in their respective worlds, discover a
crystal key and are amazed to find that they can communicate with each other. They.
develop deep trast, end they vow to help one another. Inthe process, they learn that
Tnearceron is not an immense undergzownd labyrinth. To discover what and where
the prison is, you mast, of course, read the book.
‘Nearly all the juvenile novels in this chapter are the first ies. Because
of the cost, time, and space involved in reading and reviewing books, I rarely read
past the first book: in a series unless the story is truly outstanding and I think I msust
onow what happens next, Soin the case of Iucarceron, I read the sequel, Sapphiquet
(hope you will too.)
‘Unlikely Station
fantasy books there is no magic, ad none of the characters is a talking
/, monster, ghost, or other unearthly creature. A book may have all
human characters and 2 ; however, the characters engay
totally unrealistic sin
‘Hans Christian Andersen's “Tae Emperor's New Suit
there is no magic or supechuman character. Rat
‘walking naked through his kingdom.
In The Mysterious Benedict Society by Tt
Reynie Muldoon answers a newspaper ad aski
for
challenging tests. In the end,
Kate, Constance, and Sti
azlatans dupe the emperor into
1a Lee Stewart, 11-year-old
‘smans on Earth. Now Incarceron is self suseaining and self-perpetuating, and
CHAPTER 6: Modem ony 141
swvorld’s leader.
‘The Miss Nelson books by Harry Allard are also good examples ofthis subcat~
‘andthe
ds out what they have done, The Swamp returns
once more in Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, when the Horace B. Smedley School bas
the worst football team in the state. As their new coach, The Swamp whips them
into shape while Miss Nelson looks on. Wichin the last couple of pages of each book,
Allacd reveals who the real Viola Swamp is.
In Dr. Seuss fi four books, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry
Street, Marco's father ito observe cazefully what he encounters on the way
home from school. The boy sees only a horse and wagon on the street, but his imagi-
nation builds as he progressively envisions what could be on Mulberry Street: an
elephant, giraffes, 2 wagoa ful 5, a magician, and more.
‘A hardworking but simple maid goes to work for the Rogers family in Amelia
Bedelia (Parish). She is great at baking, but she takes her household chores quite
id to dust the furninute, she pats dusting powder on everything.
Jats out, she hangs al the light bulbs on che clothesline for
some fresh air. When told to dress the chicken, she sews some green pants and socks
to put on it. Peggy Parish has vrriren 2 number of popular books about the zany
‘The Maze of Bones isthe firs
was mapped out by Rick Riordan, Riordan wrote the first book, bus oth
Known authors wrote the other nine books, Amy (14 years old} and D:
their beloved Aunt Grace Cabill, the wealthy matriarch of a large
spread over the globe, A multitude of unknown relatives show up for the funeral
and the reading of the will, which tums out to require a perilous treasure bunt!
‘The children learn that Cahill have determined the course of history for centuries,
and this quest’s outcome will bring the victors such power could affect all
humankind. Amy and Dan, orphaned for many years, accept the challenge and
‘convince their college-age au pair to join them. They are pitted agai
Chill teams to find and decipher thirty-nine clues—the first of which
en Franklin. The siblings and theic guardian travel the world to solve the p\
‘and they meet grave dangers with each one. What makes this series uniqy
dition to being written by a varieey of authors) is thatthe readers can partici
the treasure hunt by collecting ine clue cards
playing the online game {srww.the39clues.com), for which the publisher offered
over $100,000 in prizes. 142
J. K. Rowling's Biography
ietpvivwn. biogrephy.com/peoplafkcrowing 40988
+ The Life of Hans Chistian Andersen
orl ture.convhans_chiien_anderson
‘+ The 80 Greatest Science Fiction Books for Kids
worn onlinacallegesanduniverses.nevbiog201 Vthe-Bo-greatestscence-
ficton-bocksforkids
‘Ways to Make Puppets
ssn. nay. oF sTYC_VBNS_ Pures. pdt
+ Top 10 Best Children’s Fantasy Books
worn bestizntasyoooks.com/best-
