Memoirs

 What is a Memoir?
A memoir is a unique type of autobiography.  This usually involves a public portion of the writers life and relates it back to a person, historic event, or thing.  The author explains his/her personal knowledge and/or experiences.  An autobiography covers the entire life of the author and is more likely to include details. A memoir should be true, and the author shouldn't stray from the truth when telling their story.  Memories can always be faulty, so in that sense, the authors get a little leeway.  However, the authors should still be honest and double check their facts to make sure that they are accurate.   A memoir includes events in the person's life that are meaningful and relative to the book that is being written.  The author reflects on the experience and has been enlightened by a new understanding or lesson that they have learned because of these events.  Usually, the events have changed the author's view of the world.
(http://www.barbaradoyen.com/writing-nonfiction/what-is-a-memoir-what-makes-a-memoir-different-from-an-autobiography-or-biography)
 There are many ways to use memoirs in the classroom.  Like the biographies and autobiographies, it is helpful for the the students to read about an author first-hand.  It would also be good for the students to write a memoir about themselves.  This would be a good beginning of the year or end of the year activity for students to do in order to express themselves and what they have experienced in life so far.  Scholastic (www.searchgol.com/?affID=119351&babsrc=NT_ss&mntrId=64AFAC81126F64C8) provides a list of memoirs written by students.   These would be helpful for the students to read as models for what their own memoirs might look like. 

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/through-my-eyes

Through My Eyes by Margo Lundell

ISBN-10: 0590189239

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Year: 1999

Grade Level Equivalency: 5.6

Lexile: 860L

Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Main Ideas and Themes:

• About 6 year old Ruby Bridges
• Story of her role in the desegregation of schools
• African Americans
• History
• Elementary School
• Civil Rights
• Courage, bravery, heroism

Qualities and Connections:

• It is written from the point of view of Ruby Bridges.  
• It has good emotional ties to the events.
• The pictures are very real and fitting for the book.  They are moving but yet are appropriate for the students who would be reading the book.
• A lot of global connections could be made to the book.  The question could be asked, have these issues been resolved?

Some background information of the Civil Rights Movement would be good for the students to have before reading this book.  The background information would make the text more meaningful to them.

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/drawing-memory

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say
ISBN-10: 0545176866
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year: 2011
Grade Level Equivalency: 3
Lexile: 560L
Interest Level: Grades 5-8



Main Ideas:

• Boy is shunned by his dad
• Dad doesn't want him to be an artist
• Boy wants to be an artist
•  Takes place during WWII
• True story about the authors journey
• Develops a mentor relationship with Noro Shinpei (Japan's famous cartoon artist)
• Worked hard to get to where he is today

Themes:

• Arts and Creativity
• World War II
• Individuality

Qualities and Connections:

• 2012 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor Book
• Part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history
• Presents a real-life relationship between a mentor and his student
• The book includes watercolor paintings, original cartoons, vintage photographs, and maps

In the Classroom...

• Great book to use in an author study
• Good for a different view of history and what people went through in WWII
• Also good for art class

http://www.amazon.com/My-Pig-Amarillo-Satomi-Ichikawa/dp/B0012NZNCE/
ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364401656&sr=1-1&keywords=my+pig+amarillo

My Pig Amarillo by Satomi Ichikawa
ISBN-10: 0399237682
Publisher: Philomel
Year: 2003
Age Range: 4-8 years old


Main Ideas:

• The pig and Pablito are best friends
• Pig is unusual because he is yellow
• Comes home one day and the pig is gone
• Pablito is devastated and doesn't know what to do
• Grandfather teaches him how he can write messages to Amarillo
• This helps him say good bye

Themes:

• Love
• Friendship
• Letting Go
• Saying Good Bye

Qualities and Connections:

• Many students have pets, so this book is easily relateable for them.
• Some students may use this grieving technique in their own lives 
• Good set up for good discussion about letting go of things

In the Classroom:

• Good if students have recently had an issue with the death of a pet
• I don't know if I would use it in the context of a person dying, but it might work out depending on how the book was used.