Under the Mambo Moon by Julia Durango

PUT on your poetic dancing shoes! My writing partner, and best pal, Julia Durango has a stunning new book out that combines lyrical poetry, latin music, and fascinating non-fiction. HOORAY, Julia!

Under the Mambo Moon
by Julia Durango
Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck

About the book:
On summer nights
Marisol helps Papi
at the music store.

For those who stop by,
Tia Pepa,
Gabriel,
Samuel,
Lilliana,
music’s more than just music.

It’s stories—
dreams and memories—
poems that
swivel
sway,
sizzle,
stamp!

With the rhythms of
merengue,
vallenatos,
salsa,
samba.

Papi says you can
read people’s souls
by the music
they listen to.

About the author:
On summer nights Julia Durango likes to salsa dance and drink limonada. Julia is a children’s librarian and the author of several books for young readers, including Sea of the Dad, The Walls of Cartagena, and Cha-Cha Chimps. She is also the coauthor with Linda Sue Park of Yum! Yuck! A Foldout Book of People Sounds. Julia has a degree in Latin American studies and travels to Colombia whenever she can. When she’s not traveling she lives with her family in Ottawa, Illinois. Visit her at www.juliadurango.com

About the illustrator:
Fabricio VandenBroeck is the illustrator of Uncle Rain Cloud, My Name is Jorge, Under the Breadfruit Tree, The Witch’s Face, My Shoes and I, and many other books for children. A former member of a rock band, he lives in Mexico City, where he creates his own sounds on the electric guitar. His musical tastes range from Latin jazz to world music to punk rock.

Author Interview:

1.       What first inspired Marisol’s story?

When I first travelled to Latin America as a teen, I immediately fell in love with the music.  Each type of Latin music that I encountered, from tango to salsa, merengue to mambo, seemed to tell a story about people transcending adversity and embracing life, with all of its pain and joy.  Marisol’s story is my thank you letter to an art form that has brought me so much pleasure through the years.

2.       How is writing poetry different from prose? What did it teach you as a writer?

Poetry is much like a song.  You have a brief amount of time (or words) to tell a story, evoke a feeling, or conjure an image.  It’s a small square of dark chocolate rather than a banana split, or a perfectly formed rosebud instead of a bouquet.  Writing poetry taught me to search for one delicious bite, one exquisite bloom in a forest of words.

3.       What can your fans look forward to next?

Another music-inspired offering!  My upcoming project, Dream Away, is both picture book and lullaby.  Illustrated by Robert Goldstrom and co-authored by songwriter Katie Belle Trupiano, Dream Away tells the story of a boy’s nighttime travels through the sea of constellations along with his father and crew.  You can read more about the book and listen to the song here: http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=436164.

Pre-reading:

What is your favorite kind of music? What types of instruments does it feature? Can you explain what you like best about it?

Discussion guide:

1.       Why do people come to the music store? What do they hope to find there? Why does music do more than just entertain us?

2.       What memory does Mrs. Garcia relive through music? What song takes you back to a great memory?

3.       What inspired João? How did he turn this longing into music?

4.       Explain how Dr. Solis feels young again. What takes him back to that time? Is there a song that you think makes your own parents feel young? How do you know?

5.       How does Catalina’s poem sound like the music it is talking about? Why do poets play with line breaks and the sounds of words?

6.       What event is Tia Pepa planning for?  What do you think will be the best part?

7.       Why is Tio Freddy like his accordion? What are you like?

8.       What instrument does Professor Soto like to listen to when he’s homesick? What is your favorite instrument? How would you describe its sound?

9.       What do you think the drums represented or symbolized to the people who played them in Uruguay?

10.   Describe Mr. And Mrs. Mayer while they dance. Describe how your own friends dance.

11.   What part of samba school would you like best?

12.   Explain why Susana’s  “whole body/sings?” When does yours?

13.   Where did the cumbia drums sound? Why were some people afraid of them? Does any modern music still scare others?

14.   How does dancing the salsa make Liliana feel? What makes you feel “like the whole world/will be okay?”

15.   How do Marisol and her own parents celebrate after a long day in the music store? What do you like to do under a “Mambo Moon?”

Projects:

Music:

Listen to the different types of music described in the book and rate them using the following chart:

Type of music:	I like the rhythms and beat:	I like the sounds of the instruments:	I need to explore this music more:
Andean
Bomba
Bossa nova
Candombé
Cha-cha-cha
Cumbia
Mambo
Mariachi
Merengue
Salsa
Samba
Son jarocho
Tango
Vallenato

Language Arts:

Inspired by Under the Mambo Moon, write a poem about your favorite type of music. Try to use at least one simile or metaphor like Julia did!

Drama:

Memorize (or read dramatically) the poems for a performance. Play the music in the background to give it an authentic flavor!

Art:

Inspired by the illustrator, create a piece of art that shows people dancing from your own cultural tradition.

History:

Through music, we are able to trace the influences of different cultures over time. Research how the traditions in the book intersected with each other and what resulted in history, music, and culture.

Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, children’s author and literacy specialist, created this guide.

Last Dance on Holladay Street

Last Dance on Holladay Street

by Elisa Carbone

About the book:

The year is 1878, and thirteen-year-old Eva Wilkins has lost all the family she’s ever known. With Mama Kate and Daddy Walter both gone now, Eva feels like an orphan- but she’s not. Sadie Lewis, the woman who gave her up at birth, is alive and well in Denver. And Eva sets out to find her, carrying only an address on a slip of paper.

But when she reaches 518 Holladay Street, she discovers Sadie Lewis’s shocking secret- a secret that lands Eva in a house of ill repute, forced to dance with strangers for her keep. In this rough new world, the necessities of life come at a price-but is it a price Eva is willing to pay?

About the author:

Elisa Carbone is the acclaimed author of several books for young readers, including Storm Warriors, the winner of the 2002 Jefferson Cup Award and an ALA Notable; Stealing Freedom, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Sarah and the Naked Truth; and The Pack. She normally lives in Maryland and West Virginia, but during the years she worked on Last Dance on Holladay Street she spent months in Colorado researching, writing, rock climbing, and skiing. For more information about Elisa Carbone and her work, visit her web site at www.elisacarbone.com

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions and projects appropriate for children’s book clubs, literature circles, and classroom discussions. It is intended to provoke thought and insight into the themes of this book which include parent relationships, freedom, defining one’s standards, friendship and meaningful work.

Pre-reading:

What do you know about the west during the late 1800’s? What were things like for women? For previous slaves? How did people earn their living? What do you think would be the most difficult aspect of surviving during this rough and tumble age?

Comprehension Check:

1.      Why must Eva leave her home and set out for Denver?

2.      Describe Denver in the 1870’s.

3.      Who comes to her aid in Denver? Why? What does he teach her?

4.      Compare Eva’s life on the farm to that on Holladay Street.

5.      In the end, how does Eva solve her problems?

Discussion Guide:

1.      How would you describe Eva? How has she been raised? What does Mama Kate expect of her? What does she expect of herself?

2.      When Eva learns the type of house that Holladay Street is what does she do? What would you have done? What choices did she have?

3.      How did Eva come to lose both Daddy Walter and Mama Kate?  What type of relationship did Eva have with them? How did she come to live with them?

4.      Who is Mrs. Santini? What does she teach Eva? How does this come to help her in the long run? What does she notice about her own and Mrs. Santini’s complexion? Why is this important to her?

5.      Throughout the rest of the novel Eva talks to Mama Kate, almost like a prayer. How does this help her? How does it influence her decisions?

6.      In what circumstances does Eva come to meet Mr. Stonewall? What do you think the stranger had in mind for Eva? Do you think this still happens today? How does Mr. Stonewall help Eva? Have you ever had an adult who was not your parent mentor you like Mr. Stonewall did for Eva? What does she learn from him?

7.      How does the economy of the brothel work? Why is this an important element in how it operates? Do you think it is a fair economy? Would you have felt indebted to Miss B like Eva did? Why is she being more than just honorable? What power does Miss B have?

8.      At first Eva is excited by the new clothes, abundance of food and the opportunity to learn how to dance. How is not what she expected? Is it a slippery slope toward working upstairs? Why or why not? Would you be willing to dance on Holladay Street (or want a sister to?)

9.      Many of the women and girls tell the story of how they came to work at 518 Holladay Street. What were some of their circumstances? Do you think they had other options that they didn’t consider? Are they simply making excuses or is there ever someone who simply must turn to prostitution to survive? Why or why not? Do you think these same issues apply to young women today?

10.  Would you describe Eva as having a strong self-esteem? Why or why not? What about Pearl and Sadie? Do you think a girl with a high self esteem would ever be convinced to work in a brothel? Why? How can a girl develop a strong sense of self? Do you think it is easier in modern times than it was back in Eva’s time or not? Defend your answer.

11.  Describe how Eva escapes. What is she wearing? Why? What options does she have? Would you have been so bold to act in this way? What would you have done?

12.  Why does Eva allow the Flanagan adults to believe she’s an immigrant? Why would she be put out on the street otherwise? How do they treat Eva? What do they do for her? What happens on the mountain? Why don’t they just let Eva stay permanently with them? Were you surprised by this?

13.  Would you have run from the orphanage representative too? Why or why not? What would life in the orphanage be like?

14.  Where are Sadie and Pearl when Eva gets back to Denver? Why? How does Eva get Miss B to bail them out? What do the three do to change their own circumstances?

15.   Read the author’s note at the end of the novel. What did you learn from the author that you were surprised of? Why do you think she decided to write this story more than others?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Showing how much you understand the character of Eva create at least five pieces of writing from the following time periods: Before the opening of the novel, before leaving home, after she learns about 518 Holladay Street, in the end, and two years after the close of the novel. You can write letters, poems, journal entries, even a scene from a play.

History:

Research one of the topics mentioned in the story. Create a PowerPoint presentation, web site design or pamphlet about what you learned. Some topics (or get one approved before starting):

Gold rush

consumption (tuberculosis)

lockjaw

mountain lions

brothels

train travel in the late 1800’s

orphanages

Visual Art:

Design a scene for the play adaptation of Last Dance on Holladay Street. You can use technology or old fashioned methods to bring your plan to life. Be as historically accurate as possible!