Your Name: Rachael Doyle

Date: Week 9

Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction

Literary Analysis
Bibliographic Information:
Kelly, K. (2009). Melonhead. New York: Delacorte Press Random House Inc.
Plot:
Children Enjoyment/Action

I never would have thought to pick up this book, Im glad I did! I think children will thoroughly
enjoy this book because of the twists and turns that Adam Melon (aka Melonhead) gets himself
into and out of, and sometimes brings his friends along for the ride.
Plausible and Credible

Everything that happens in this book seems very possible to happen in any nine year olds life.
There are many examples such as participating in science competitions, hiding animals from
your parents, and getting in trouble.
Setting:
Location

The story takes place in Washington D.C., the neighborhood surrounding Capitol Hill. It
involved Melonheads house, school, and his friends houses, downtown shops, on top of roofs
and in trees!
Setting Affecting Action/Characters/Theme

The setting affects the characters because Melonheads dad works in the Capitol building.
Melonhead makes a remark that he also seems to get in trouble when the voting light in Capitol
Hill is on. So, his dad is never around when the trouble happens.
Theme:
Does Story Have A Theme

Melonhead has a variety of themes including family life, friendships, community and humor.
Stated Obvious

This is a book that will most likely be read for pleasure and I think that children can easily grasp
the themes above themselves. There is family influence throughout the book, whether it be
Melonheads parents or others. Friendship is obvious through Melonhead and Sams crazy
schemes and adventures. Everyone seems to know each other which gives a sense of community
Melonheads mother is only a phone call away! Humor is also very prominent through the
antics and rhyming language that Melonhead and Sam converse with each other. For example,
youre smart, fart and So sorry, Mata Hari.
Characterization:
Character Development

There is most definitely character development in this story. Melonhead does things with good
intentions but everything doesnt always go as planned. For example, his mouse that was
supposed to be food for his pet snake (both which were hidden from his mother) escaped and got

lost in the house somewhere. So he thought that tying a piece of string to the snake and having
the snake find the mouse would be the perfect solution. But he thought wrong when the snake
slipped out of the string the under the stove. His babysitter tried helping him out but he realized
that through the many failed lessons of being honest and responsible, he should just come out
and tell his parents the truth.
Stereotypes

The main stereotype I see is the obviousness of gender differences. The two boys, Melonhead
and Sam, are the ones always thinking and inventing and in turn getting into trouble. Then their
two friends who are girls, Jonique and Lucy Rose, are the ones always trying to help them out
with suggestions. I believe that this group of friends display stereotyped gender behaviors
perfectly.
Style:
Dialogue

It seems the dialogue in this story is spot on. There is no vocabulary that the characters use that
would be seen as something over their or the readers head. The boys being silly with the rhyming
language is a perfect example of the dialogue that the characters are targeted towards using.
Straightforward

The style is very straightforward. There is no figurative language and the illustrations match the
text. I believe that if this story had figurative language, it would seem very out of place. This is a
story that shouldnt need any decoding or underlying message because its a book to be picked
up and read for fun.
Point of View:
Appropriateness/Change

The point of view is first person, revealing Melonheads thoughts in figuring out he and Sams
next new reinvention and his worries of anticipation of getting in trouble with his parents. (For
example, on page 155, At school I kept wondering about home. What if my mom was making a
horrible discovery right that minute? My mind was so full of that problem that I didnt hear Mr.
Santalices call on me until he was in front of my desk.). The point of view does not change.
Readers Horizon

I believe that the point of view enlarges the readers horizon because it shows Melonheads
thought process and the creativity that goes along with it. Creativity is a very important element
and I think that all children should get at least a glimpse of that.
Describe Characteristics of this text specific to the genre:
Realities of Life

This isnt a very emotional, heart-wrenching book. But I believe that the simple events that
actually do take place seem very realistic, such as getting in trouble by parents, spending time
with friends, and participating in school-wide science competitions.
Convincing and Credible

All of the characters are convincing and credible. Melonhead stays true to himself. What doesnt

seem credible is that the parents are home and they let their nine year old children run rampant
throughout Washington D.C.
Controversial Topics

There is no controversial topics being discussed in this book whatsoever.

Reflections:
I enjoyed reading this book very much. I dont see any educational value that could be attached
to this book. But I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and would love to have it in
my classroom library as a book to read for pleasure. I see this as being a great book for a reader
who is just starting getting into chapter books. The font size is a tad bit bigger than normal and
there are various illustrations strewn through the book.

Your Name: Rachael Doyle

Date: Week 9

Genre: Cont. Realistic Fiction

Literary Analysis
Bibliographic Information:
DiCamillo, K. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Cambridge: Candlewick Press.
Plot:
Children Enjoyment/Action

Even I enjoyed it and Im almost twenty one years old. I think children would love this book
because it tells a good story and it involves a dog. Animals in stories tend to pull at some heart
strings. For example, when Winn-Dixie ran away towards the end of the book, so many
questions started flying through my mind.
Climax

I would say the identifiable climax would be at the end of the story when the book comes full
circle. After the first few pages introduces the bayou, the cycle starts off with stating that There
are babies in the bayou with black and yellow tails and smiling mouths with rows of sharp white
teeth. Then the last page states Then the last few pages say She (talking about the mother
duck) shepherds them away from danger away from hungry mouths with rows of sharp white
teeth.
Setting:
Location

The story takes place in a small town of Naomi, Florida during the summer time.
Setting Affecting Action/Characters/Theme

The setting affects the characters and action because theyre living in Florida and in Florida,
especially in the summer, there is a tremendous amount of thunderstorms. If they were living in a
place with not a lot of thunderstorms, Opal and her dad never would have discovered WinnDixies fear and he never would have gotten lost towards the end of the book.
Theme:
Does Story Have A Theme

Because of Winn-Dixie has a good variety of themes including friendship, forgiveness and love.
Imparted To Children

All of these themes are good to discuss with students, especially in intermediate elementary
grades. Friendships are important, and its because of Winn-Dixie that Opal makes a ton of new
friends in her first summer in Naomi, Florida. Through one of her new friends, Ms. Gloria
Dump, she learns about forgiveness towards the Dewberry brothers and Otis. The love that
Winn-Dixie brings into Opals life is wonderful.
Characterization:
Strengths and Weaknesses

We see the strengths and weakness of Opal throughout the book. Opals weakness is her mother

and not knowing much about her or where she may be. Her strengths shine whenever WinnDixie is around. Opal has the courage to make new friends in a completely new town.
Development or Growth

We see growth in Opal mainly through how her thoughts change about her mother. At the
beginning of the book, she knows absolutely nothing about her other than fact that she left her
and her father. She starts learning more when Winn-Dixie encourages her to ask the preacher
about her mother. For a while she gets sad and wonders a lot about her mother. At the end of the
book, the preacher talks with Opal and regardless what happened and what will happen, theyll
always have each other.
Style:
Dialogue

A character that I noticed that their dialogue is very suited and natural for them would be
Sweetie Pie Thomas. Shes only five years old and the way she speaks to Winn-Dixie and Opal
is very precise. Her name fits her character very well.
Mood

The author creates the mod throughout the different actions happening in the story. For example,
the reader and Opals first hectic encounter with Winn Dixie at the grocery store. Then there is
the scene when Ms. Franny Block tells the story of Littmus Block, which creates the mood of
engagement and listening and an omniscient sense of one generation passing onto another.
Point of View:
Appropriateness

The point of view is first person, revealing all of Opals thoughts and feelings during the
happenings throughout her first summer in Naomi, Florida. The point of view does not change.
Authors Choice

I believe that the author chose this point of view because it was the best way to tell the story. If
Because of Winn-Dixie was written in third person, we would not truly know Opals internally
struggling thoughts concerning her mother and that plays a big role throughout the book.
Describe Characteristics of this text specific to the genre:
Realities of Life

The book depicts a lot of different scenarios that portray the realities of life for todays children.
One is divorce. It is probably even more prominent now than when the book was written.
Unfortunately, there are parents who walk out on families and dont give a reason for it which
makes the child think that they had something to do with it and it was their fault. Another one
being moving and making new friends. It isnt often that people stay in one spot for their whole
lifetime. The book highlights the struggles Opal has, and fortunately she has Winn-Dixie to give
her the extra boost she needs.
Convincing and Credible

For the most part I believe that all of the young characters are convincing and credible. The
Dewberry brothers portray the bullies in todays world. Pinched-faced Amanda shows that

everyone is struggling with something, regardless if people know about it or not. The only thing
that seems off would be that Opal decides to walk around town whenever she wants. I think that
for the time that the book was written in, it happened more often back then than it does now.
Parents are more cautious now, especially in big cities. In small towns its a bit different because
everyone knows everyone and they all take care of each other.
Controversial Topics

There is no sexual topics being conveyed in this book. The only sensitive subject for students
might be parents separating, depending on their familys background.
Reflections:
This was a very cute story, I loved reading every second of it. I would most definitely put this
story in my classroom. I can see this book being in a fifth grade classroom and it could be a class
book where students would get into literature discussion circles and each have an assigned job
for a weekly reading. I could also see this book bring about the discussion of having a class pet
in the classroom that the students take turns taking home and watching over them.