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Django (2009)

by Bonnie Christensen(Favorite Author)

3.63 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1596434228 (ISBN13: 9781596434226)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Square Fish

review 1: Stephanie Rice- READ 6252 Informational Picture BooksBook Title: Django World’s Greatest Jazz GuitaristAuthor: Bonnie ChristensenShort Description of the Book: Django tells the story of one of the most accomplished Jazz guitarists in the history of music. Django is born in Belgium on January 23, 1910. He is part of a gypsy family that is constantly moving around across Europe. Django learns to play the guitar and his talent is continually enjoyed by all of the people in his traveling band. Django is involved in a wagon fire after one of his main performances in Paris and as a result he suffers severe burns on his left hand. Django’s doctors do not believe that he will ever be able to play the guitar again. Django is determined to continue pursuing his passion and after... more months of hard work he learns to play the gypsy jazz guitar once again. Historical Focus: The book is a biography of Jean Reinhardt, one of the greatest gypsy jazz guitarists in the early 1900’s. Django, as he was commonly known, traveled around Europe playing for large crowds of eager fans in large concert venues. He recorded for records and was an extremely popular artist of the time period. Focus:1.) Narrative Structure: Christensen structured the story as a compilation of different poems. Each page contains short, choppy sentences that allow the reader to detect a lyrical element of the words and phrases. For example the author wrote, “Music, sighing, wheeling, singing, laughing, breathing, reeling and spinning”. The paragraph allows readers to truly understand the powerful impact the Django’s musical talent had on his audience. The story is also set up in a timeline fashion centered on the major events in Django’s life. For example, in 1928 Django lives in Paris and is offered the opportunity to play with a well-known Parisian Jazz band. 2.) Historical Significance: Django can be used as an investigation into the development of music and musical expression throughout the 1900’s. The story is centered on Django’s early career and ends with him recovering from a crippling burn sustained during a wagon fire. As an extension assignment students would be asked to add to the biography and express how Django impacted the development of Jazz music and Jazz culture worldwide. An additional research extension created from the book is to have students investigate the traditions of gypsies in Europe in the 1900’s. TEACH: CCSS Connection- ELA- Literacy. RH.9-10.2 determine the central idea or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
review 2: Born into poverty and abandoned by his father Django finds escape through learning how to play the guitar. While traveling with his family Django listens and learns new skills for the guitar. He soon finds himself playing in the streets and jazz clubs of Paris. His skills are unmatched and may get him out of poverty but a delibilitating injury may prevent him from playing the guitar ever again. This biography is told in a sing song rhythm like the jazz music that was played by Django. It has great contrasting colors that are vibrant and come alive. I liked how fast paced the book was. (Scheinder, 2010) less

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