“Sam’s Dream: The sails flapped overhead….He looked up and up, and saw….a castle surrounded by trees, with more towers than he could count….windows reflecting water….Footsteps. Whose footsteps? His own?” p. 75
Reader's Annotation
11-year-old Sam MacKenzie may just have uncovered something about his past: some papers in the attic may indicate that he is adopted. However, as he has difficulty reading, Sam enlists the help of a new classmate, Caroline, to help him solve this mystery.
About the Author
As a child, Patricia Reilly Giff loved reading, in particular Little Women, The Secret Garden, and the Nancy Drew series, among others. She has earned a Master of Arts, a Professional Diploma in Reading, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters, and has worked as a reading teacher and an educational consultant for publishers. She began writing, without any training, in a workspace that her husband fashioned from two adjacent closets, and has now written more than 60 books for children. She and her husband live in Connecticut, and have three children and five grandchildren. In 1990, Giff and her family opened a children's bookstore, and she also instructs aspiring writers.
Genre
Mystery, realistic fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age
9-11 years
Plot Summary
Sam MacKenzie is an eleven year-old who, while searching for where his birthday presents might be hidden, discovers some papers in his attic which may indicate that he is adopted. This worries him greatly, as it makes him wonder where he belongs in this world, and if Mack, the man whom he has thought to be his grandfather all these years, is really a relative at all. As Sam has difficulty reading, he decides he must find someone to help him understand the papers and work with him to solve the mystery. Feeling that his male friends would not be very understanding, he chooses to ask Caroline, a new classmate whom their teacher has assigned to work with him on a project for their medieval studies unit. Caroline, who is lonely and at first withdrawn because she’s had to change schools so often due to her dad’s work as an artist, agrees to help, and the two develop a strong bond during their investigation. At home, Sam and Mack live above Mack’s carpentry shop, where Sam has become very competent with woodworking himself. Anima and Onji, their next-door neighbors, and owners of an Indian restaurant and a deli, respectively, are additional adult role models who care deeply about Sam’s happiness. In addition to the puzzling papers in the attic, Sam has also begun to have strange dreams containing images of a boat, a castle, and the number eleven. He and Caroline must work quickly to solve the mystery of Sam, before Caroline has to move again.
Critical Evaluation
What I love most about this novel is how Giff gives us access to Sam’s inner thoughts, and how realistic his joys and fears are for his age. However, these moments of thought appear in manageable chunks, interspersed throughout the action and dialogue, so that the text is not too introspective for young readers. The tone of the novel is quite suspenseful at times, balanced with much description of Sam’s daily life with Mack, Anima, and Onji. It is very positive that Sam often finds himself remembering advice that one of these role models, or his classroom and reading teachers, has given him – I have not seen this as often in other tween novels I’ve read, and Giff does it in a way that is not preachy. The mystery involved in this story is actually quite interesting, and includes a good number of clues, some of which can be interpreted in more than one way, keeping the reader guessing. The only critique I have is that while Sam’s embarrassment at the idea of being seen getting off the school bus with a girl is realistic, Caroline’s calm and understanding reaction to this seems a little too wise for her years. However, it is possible that she is hiding her disappointment due to wanting to hold on to the one friend she has at her new school. But this is a small matter in what is one of the most moving tween novels I have read this semester. Two final notes I must add: this would of course be a great book for reluctant readers, especially as a read-aloud; and Sam’s woodworking skills show excellently how success in one area can empower a tween to take on additional challenges.
Booktalking Ideas
• Give a character booktalk as Sam, thinking aloud about the mysterious images in his dreams.
• Give a character booktalk as Caroline, sharing her feelings about moving from school to school, and sizing Sam up as he asks for her help.
• Give an episode booktalk about Sam and Caroline’s secret trip to the attic to view the papers which may indicate that Sam is adopted.
Curriculum Ideas
• Social Science: Students each research a learning challenge or special need, and present this information to the class. Teacher facilitates small-group discussion about students’ attitudes toward children with such challenges, encouraging empathetic response.
• Literature: Like Anima in the novel, students take turns reading their favorite stories to the class. This could be combined with a potluck, reminiscent of the shared meals in the novel.
• Research skills: Like Sam and Caroline, students practice researching different topics via newspaper and other periodical databases, and the Internet.
Potential Challenge Issue & Defense
I do not foresee any challenges to this book, but if any were to arise, the following steps could be taken in defense:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
I chose to read this book because I loved the idea of a tween discovering a mystery about himself in his own attic, as well as Sam's reading challenges being a major aspect of the story.
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