MrsK Books: Blue by Joyce Moyer Hostetter

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Blue by Joyce Moyer Hostetter

ISBN: 9781590788356

Publisher's Synopsis:

Ann Fay Honeycutt accepts the role of "man of the house" when her father leaves to fight Hitler because she wants to do her part for the war in this Parents' Choice Silver Honor Book. She's doing well with the extra responsibilities when a frightening polio epidemic strikes, crippling many local children. Her town of Hickory responds by creating an emergency hospital in three days. Ann Fay reads each issue of the newspaper for the latest news of the 1944 epidemic, but soon she discovers for herself just how devastating polio can be. As her challenges grow, so does her resourcefulness. In the face of tragedy, Ann Fay discovers her ability to move forward. She experiences the healing qualities of friendship and explores the depths of her own faithfulness to those she loves—even to one she never expected to love at all.

MrsK's Review:

Ann Fay Honeycutt a perfect name for a strong and courageous young lady. Around 1944, most children were not growing up in a season of playing and being disconnected to what was happening in the world. The war against Hitler was taking fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins from the homes. Food rationing meant life or starvation for everyone. Everyone was doing their part, and yet sometimes a sickness spreads and causing even deeper scars within the hearts of families.

Ann Fay will watch over her siblings while her mother is attending to Bobby's needs. She will long for her Daddy's return from the war. She will experience heartache when life can seem to be cruel. And she will learn to trust in the support of her neighbors, friendship, and a girl who isn't so different than she.

The epidemic of polio was sweeping the nation. Fortunately, for Ann Fay and her family the town had opened the Hickory Polio camp. Although this historical fiction novel is written with a child like perspective, the reality of life in a small town during the mid-forties is so much more. Ann Fay will be responsible. She will be facing tough decisions. She will need courage to move forward when her world is at a standstill. She will forge ahead in friendships that are supportive. She will learn to shut out the negative in order to accept the possibilities.

Every student in fourth grade (+) should experience Ann Fay's story. Every element of the Six-Traits is beautifully woven in a time in which town's were facing such a depression that went deeper than a lack of money. Either as a read-aloud or a sharing of certain passages, this is a story to be shared!

"I tell you what's the truth.

When I looked at that polio sign next to the blue star flag Momma

hung up there for Daddy being a soldier,

I felt like I was looking down a double-barrel shotgun...

and fixing to get blowed all to pieces."

A must read and share novel. Excellent for a class room read-aloud.

Needs to be added to every school library shelf.

Meet the Author:

Joyce Moyer Hostetter is the author of four historical novels, including Blue, winner of the International Reading Association Children’s Book Award, and its sequel, Comfort. She lives with her husband in North Carolina, close to her two adult children and nine grandchildren.

As a child, I was fascinated with family photos. At our house we had a red album with black pages. The pictures were tucked into little white corner tabs. But we also had a random collection of photos in a gray shoebox. I loved to scrounge through that box.
There were images of me at various younger stages in my life. And some of me with my siblings, all lined up in stairstep formation. (I was the second smallest girl.)
As I child I was:

a chatterbox
the only girl in class with pigtails (I just hated that!)
a bookworm and a dreamer
good with words – not so good with numbers
lover of creeks
master creator of playhouses in barns and sheds

Joyce's Blog

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)