IR Reading Project by Sara Stanley

“He’d fill every moment with the seasons he’d found in his heart: hopes like birds on a spring branch; happiness like a warm summer sun; magic like the rising mist of autumn. And best of all, love; love enough for a thousand Christmases” (Clive Barker 267)

ss1004580 — 2025-01-07 14:56:11 UTC

These quotes stood out to me because together, they show the different sides between good and evil. One side shows evil always being on top, and the other shows monsters running in fear, and the good being victorious. But this quote shows how when evil is defeated, love will shine through and become victorious. This quote teaches the lesson that by defeating evil, one makes room for more love and gratitude and appreciation for the little things in life.

“There are those who’d say that all the great powers in the world are blood suckers and soul stealers at heart. And we must serve them. All of us. Serve them to our dying day’” (Clive Barker 101).

ss1004580 — 2025-01-07 14:57:06 UTC

This quote stood out to me because in childrens lit, usually, the bad guys are always inferiors the good guys. To contrast, this quote shows how evil can be overpowering and can for a while, can seem to be above consuming (or sucking out) the good. I thought that in this case, evil was completely taking over this page in the book, and thought that it was so cool how the author implemented such a purre and powerful phrase of evil in a YA book.

“Cringing with fear, the monsters of Ignorance turned in flight and, with anguished cries too horrible to ever forget, returned to the damp, dark places from which they came. The Humbug sighed with relief, and Milo and the princesses prepared to greet their victorious army” (Norton Juster 244).

ss1004580 — 2025-01-07 14:57:19 UTC

This quote takes a completely different stand than the previous quote, and it shows how good will always overpower any evil, and all of the darkness in the world will be defeated. I also thought it was interesting how it says “the monsters of Ignorance” and even though Ignorance is a place in this book, it shows how the evill creatures of the book are ignorant of the good that will always rise above them, and will therefore have to succumb to the good.

ss1004580 — 2025-01-07 14:58:39 UTC

ss1004580 — 2025-01-07 14:59:18 UTC

Personal Statement

ss1004580 — 2025-01-07 15:01:13 UTC

I wanted to reread these books so that I can see how I view these books now versus how I viewed these books when I was in elementary school. As a kid (and still to this day) I would always imagine these books as a movie in my head, and due to all of the imagery, metaphors, and descriptions, it’s no wonder why I did this. These books truly fuel creativity in children, but also in young adults such as myself by making you visualize all of the chapters, and I think that this is also why books like Harry Potter are for all age groups; because they really spark a child-like creativity to make a movie in your head. It makes the books so enjoyable and easy to read.

Why does such a dark book, such as The Thief Of Always, continue to be read in elementary schools?

ss1004580 — 2025-01-09 15:23:12 UTC

Because of the detailed imagery and metaphors used throughout the book. For example, when Harvey called Mr Hood a vampire sucking the souls of the children that come into the house, he doesn’t mean that Mr Hood is actually a vampire, but rather like-vampire, as he is stealing innocent lives, and has the malicious intent of a vampire, and pure evilness of a supernatural creature like a vampire. Also due to the immense amount of imagery creating the world of The Holiday House, it makes the story easier to understand and more engaging and enjoyable to read, so that children in 5th grade can stay focused during the story.

Even though The Phantom Tollbooth is considered a classic, why is it no longer well known in my generation?

ss1004580 — 2025-01-09 15:23:56 UTC

This is because in some states and libraries, it is banned for talking about and alluding to too many social injustices. In Milo’s story, he travels across many lands, all of which have some sort of problem. One of the lands he comes across is full of people who are used to getting to one place or another, and they keep their heads down the whole time, making the town a literal shade of grey. This reminded me a lot of our world today, and how no one really takes time to acknowledge other people, because we are all so absorbed in our own lives. Another example is of the main kingdom, who has fallen completely silent, and only the king has the power to talk. This shows the main government having power over the people, and silencing them from freedoms, like the freedom of speech. Due to these, and many more allusions, the book has been banned and is part of the reason why not a lot of people in my generation know what The Phantom Tollbooth is.

What is the central message that the books are trying to convey?

ss1004580 — 2025-01-12 21:38:26 UTC

The central message that both of the books convey, is that evil and wrong doings can always be undone, because good and love will always rise above any evil. At the end of The Phantom Tollbooth, Milo is able to restore justice to the kingdom, and restore words to their initial glory. While in the end of The Thief Of Always, Harvey defeats Mr Hood and frees all of the imprisoned children that fell victim to Mr Hood’s illusions. At the end of both of the stories, both Milo and Harvey reflect on their journeys, and the lessons that they were taught along the way. Harvey is reminded to appreciate his time, and to never take love for granted, and Milo is reminded that journeys have power, and with the right amount of time, anything is possible. On both of their journey’s they defeat a greater evil, and are reminded that with the goodness they have in their hearts, anything is possible, as they look to the future with plenty of time to spare.

What is a critical lens that could be applied to these books?

ss1004580 — 2025-01-12 21:51:22 UTC

Socioeconomic lens can be used to view both of the books because both Milo and Harvey were underdogs who just wanted to escape their realities, but never intended to go on an adventure that would end up permanently changing their lives. They both started out innocent, with the evil in both of their worlds rising above them having complete control. But as they grew in their stories, they rose above their positions as the bystanders, and ended up going head to head with the villain of their stories, asserting their dominance, and changing their, as well as countless others fates.