Booked

                                                     By Kwame Alexander 

     Middle school is a tremendous time of growth and maturity.  A time of new interests, old friends new friends and romance.  Nick has a highly developed lexicon due to a father that is a professor of linguistics.  In fact, his father has even written a dictionary of interesting words.  Nick loves to play soccer, hang out with his best friend Coby, he is shy around the girl of his dreams, has a great relationship with his mother and friction with his father.  He has a marvelous mentor in the school's librarian, former rapper Mac. Nick seems to be muddling through his 8th grade year pretty well until strife between his parents makes his home life strained and until the class bullies come back to school.  One of the twins likes Nick's dream girl, which leads to even more turmoil.  

     When Nick's parents openly disagree and dad ends up sleeping on the couch, his life really starts shifting to a new normal.  Nick's mother decides to have a trial separation and moves out of state to further her career has a horse trainer.  This leaves Nick with an exacting father with extremely high expectations.  Nick's father forces him to read his dictionary daily and Nick hates to read even though his romantic interest is in the school's book club.  Nick's love of soccer and his best friend Coby are really his saving grace and they are looking forward to a large tournament with college scouts, but in a rival soccer match, when Coby is on the opposing team. Nick is injured and he suffers a burst appendix.  The tournament is out and Nick is devastated.  When Nick is injured his mom returns home and thinks seems to return to normal, until she packs to return to Kentucky.  Nick learns that the written word is his life-save; a new activity, book club, communicating with his mother and using his words to avoid confrontation.  Nick does return to health and his life has changed. 

     I absolutely love this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.  It was amusing fast paced and highly entertaining.  I think that it is very appropriate for any student 5th grade and higher.  I could not put this book down and will be one of those books that I will keep for a long time.  I especially liked the thought  that was put into the the font size, the footnotes and the care for the total package.  I never knew that poetry could be this incredible!  This book is awesome! 

Links

Kwame Alexander

Soccer rules

What to do if you are bullied.

Doll Bones

                                                                         By Holly Black 

     This book is ingenious and entertaining.  Welcome to the world of make believe where three friends spend all of their spare time in a created game from their own creative minds.  They have played the game for years, but those around the three friends do not understand their enjoyment and attachment to each other.  Zach, Poppy and Alice are in middle school and things are going to change.  When Zach's dad moves back in with them and throws all of the action figures away, Zach has no choice.  He can no longer participate in the game and is devastated.  Instead of explaining his dilemma to his best friends he lies and claims that he no longer wants to play.  

     Poppy and Alice are left without their hero and the game falls apart until Poppy rescues the queen from her tower (a display case) and begins to have nightmares.  She is told that she must  return the queen to her home.  She convinces Alice and Zach that they must help her and of course the three of them rush to do the queen's bidding.  The problem is that they must catch a bus in the middle of the night and they leave with out telling any adults.  Their quest becomes fraught with danger as they spend the night outside and learn to sail a boat on their route to East Liverpool.  When they are caught in the library, they all believe that the quest is doomed, but they have a small window to find Eleanor's burial spot and put the queen to rest.  

     I really enjoyed this coming of age book.  The tale is very well crafted and ripe with symbolism.  I am giving this book a 4.75 out of 5 and believe it is appropriate for all students fifth grade and higher.  It really is a book about learning to grow and find new interests and that sometimes it is okay to still play and things never stay the same forever!  Definitely worth the read! 

Links

Author - Holly Black

Bone China

East Liverpool OH

Just Listen

                                                                                  By Sarah Dessen 

     This is an incredibly powerful and well-crafted story.  Sarah Dessen approaches a current often hidden aspect of life unfortunately for many women.  Anabel appears to have everything that most teens crave, but one night her life crumbles and she did not know how to deal with her new reality.  Left to begin the upcoming school year with no friends and hated by Sophie, she tries to become invisible.  An unlikely friendship with the school's "bad boy", assists Anabel in dealing with her anger and remaining honest with herself and those around her.  

     Not until Anabel is confronted with  her own memories and another victim, and Owen asks for an explanation that she is not ready to give, does Anabel learn to just listen.  Anabel's friendship with Owen is in a shambles and she finally decides to listen to the CD's that he made for her.  Then a confrontation with an old friend forces Anabel to tell Owen the whole truth, all of her secrets. His understanding and encouragement has Anabel calling the detective and telling her family, what happened.  Finally, Anabel has righted her life and discovered that the truth has set her free that and the power of music.  

     I really enjoyed this story but feel that it is very mature in its content.  It is beautifully crafted and the character development is excellent.  I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and would say it is appropriate for girls in high school.  This was a nice departure for my reading and I would encourage you to read it.  

Links 

Author: Sarah Dessen

Bullying

No means no

Anger Management

Summerlost

                                                                                                By Allie Condie

     This is a poignant tale of heartbreak and the resilient spirit of an individual to overcome the loss of not only her father but a young sibling as well.  Cedar comes to terms with her father and younger brother's death.  Ben had been autistic, but Cedar was able to understand and loved him.  It has been a year and her mother has decided to buy a summer home Iron Creek, near her family.  It should be good for them to be surrounded by loved ones while they learn to handle their new normal.  They quickly settle into a routine, but Cedar notices a young man riding by her home in a costume, and one day decides to follow to see where he goes.
     His destination is the local Shakespear in the park festival where he works doing concessions.  Even though Cedar is young, she is found a job at the festival and quickly becomes friends with Leo.  In an effort to make as much money as possible that summer Leo has concocted a scheme and asks if Cedar would like to be his partner.  The scheme is to give festival attendees a celebrity walk of Iron Creek's famed Lisette Chamberlain.  Of course, this is accomplished without any of the adults being aware of their activity.  Leo and Cedar are eventually caught and lose their jobs at the concession, yet Cedar continues to volunteer her time in the wardrobe department, where she has befriended Lisette's old friend.  In the end, Cedar and her family have decided to commemorate the loss of their loved ones by keeping and collecting items that Ben would have kept near at hand... a toothbrush, a screwdriver etc.
     This is a very enjoyable read, well crafted with some very strong figurative speech especially metaphor for example, "Sometimes I thought of the three of us as pencils with the erasers scrubbed down to the end, and the next swipe across the paper would tear through the page and make a scree sound" (Condie, 11).  I am going to only give this book a 3.5 out of 5.  Somehow the book fell flat and was anti-climatic, the developed story was not the conflict.  If you are looking for a light easy read, however, this is a good book to pick up.

Links

Michigan's Shakespeare in the Park

William Shakespeare

Allie Condie

Under a Painted Sky

                                                                                               by Stacey Lee 


     An unlikely tale of friendship, hardship and love.  This is a historical fiction set in the old west of the United States in the year 1849.  Two unlikely girls are forced to become companions on their escape trek along the trail towards California.  Annamae (Andy) is an escaped slave that is trying to meet up with her brother at Harp Falls and Samantha is a young Chinese woman who killed her attacker and must flee to avoid the hangman's noose.  After Annamae helps Samantha, they decide to flee together under the disguise of young boys, not women.
     In the process of cooking a snake, Andy and Sammy attract a small group of cowboys.  They make a deal with the group to share their meal for a ride on their horses.  This deal works well for the next day, but Andy and Sammy conclude that they can travel faster and safer with the boys.  Sammy gambles it all on who can catch a fish faster.  The girls barely win and avoid having to sing naked in the cold water.  The deal is that they will travel with the ramada, Andy will cook and Sammy will give the boys lessons in french and play her violin and the boys will give them their protection and rides on the horses.
     This arrangement works fairly well and improves as they pass through Fort Kearney and the boys acquire supplies for the journey.  Along the path, the group stops a stampede, meets up with other settlers and are gifted with a mule, avoid death by drowning, contract cholera, run into the dangerous broken hand gang and fall in love.   Their journey is fraught with danger, compassion, and friendship.
Do the boys figure out their secret? Can Andy and Sammy trust the boys with their lives, or is it safer for them to maintain their disguises?  All I can tell you is that "Under a Painted Sky" all sorts of things can happen!
     This is a very interesting read and a time frame that I have never really read a lot about.  There is the recurring theme that life and death situations can have people react and do incredible things.  I am going to give this a 4 out of 5 stars.  It was not 100% believable, for me.  Sammy was born in New York and was moving west with her father during a time when most Chinese were entering the west from California, it seemed far fetched for Sammy to be coming from New York.  I give the author credit however, for a very entertaining read!

Link 

Chinese Migration to the United States

California Gold Rush

The Oregon Trail

Author: Stacey Lee

The Body in the Woods

By April Henry       

     This is a murder mystery set in the Pacific Northwest and our heroes are three intrepid teenagers that are new members of the local Search and Rescue team.  Alexis, Ruby, and Nick have their own reasons for deciding to volunteer for this group, but they never considered that they would discover a dead body on this first mission.  Or that the body would be a young homeless girl that had been murdered and of course the inadvertently have encountered the villain.  The teenagers are embroiled in the mystery as the murderer has discovered his next victim and has his eyes on one of our heroes.  

     Alexis is mature beyond her years as she cares for her mentally unstable mother and dreams of going to college.  Nick is a fatherless young man who dreams of being a hero like his dead father.  Finally, Ruby is a very intelligent and observant young lady whose parents are not happy with her involvement in SAR.  It is Ruby that is convinced that there is more to the murdered young girl and she tries to get Detective Harriman to listen to her doubts.  Of course, he is convinced he knows who the perpetrator is and ignores the teens.  The three bond in their attempt to oust the real killer, with a few mishaps along the way.  Will they be able to find the murderer before he turns his attention to his next victim or will they be able to put a stop to the death?  

     This is a very entertaining read and I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.  The subject matter of the book requires it to be mature and for mature readers, I would not suggest it for anybody younger than 8th grade.  The characters are in high school and there is some romance but I honestly do not feel that most readers would be interested in this book until high school.  The characters are well written and very recognizable.  The relationships feel genuine and plausible, it is very well written just not subject matter for middle school children.  

Links 

Parks of the city of Portland

SAR

Birds of the Pacific Northwest

On the hunt for serial killers in Portland

              

  

Black Duck

                                              By Janet Taylor Lisle 

     This is a historical fiction novel set on the East Coast of the United States during prohibition, a time of bootlegging, people trying to make money outside the law by bringing alcohol into the United States.
     One young man is an aspiring reporter he is trying to make a name for himself by looking back into the areas' nefarious past.  He finds articles of a famed rum runner by the name of Black Duck and discovers that one elderly gentleman is still alive and might be willing to share some of his knowledge of the past. ,Ruben is not willing to divulge the whole story right oft the bat, so the interview lasts several days one summer.  Our young reporter, David, is being pressured to work in the family business, but he wants something more with his life and continues to question Ruben about the occurrences leading up to the fateful December 29th, when the Black Duck was attacked by the Coast Guard and most of its crew murdered.
     Ruben begins the story with a tale of finding a dead body on the beach while he and his best friend, Jeddy, were searching for lobster traps.  By the end of the summer, David hears the whole sad story of what happened to the Black Duck, its fearless crew, the coming of the mob, Jeddy and Marina.  What happens when two best friends, Jeddy and Ruben, end up on opposite sides of the law, can their friendship ever survive?
     This is a multifaceted story and a very enjoyable read.  I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.  I enjoyed the characters and felt true empathy for some of the situations they were in and how they resolved their conflicts.  I think that this would be an extraordinary book for both genders and would encourage it for fourth grade through eighth grade.  It definitely left me wanting to know more about the history of the area, the rum rummers and prohibition.

links

The real Black Duck

History of Prohibition

Organized Crime during Prohibition

History of the "Rum War"

A Lucky Child

                                                                    By Thomas Buergenthal

     I was prepared for this to be another heartwrenching story of the Jewish Holocaust, instead, I was inspired and surprised.  This is a memoir of a young boy that survived and he is still not sure how.  Through some sort of divine intervention he was able to stay in a ghetto with his family much longer than many others, when he was forced to Auschwitz there was no selection.  Normally, when most children reached Auschwitz, they were selected out and immediately sent to the gas chambers, instead, he was able to stay with his father where he was protected.  

     Through happenstance and incidences of bravery, he was able to fall under the influence of those in power and was fed more than most and was not forced into hard labor.  He worked as an errand boy or in a children's ward as a trash collector. Somehow, he avoided illnesses that caused his bunkmates to pass away.  

      Even when the Nazis decided to liquidate Auschwitz and march the inmates to Germany, Thomas was able to avoid the death that most of the other children endured.  During the dreaded death march, Thomas did contract a serious case of frostbite, which caused him to have some of his toes amputated when he reached the next camp.  In this hospital, he was cared for and met his friend and author Odd Nanson.  Odd was able to give Thomas treats and bribe the hospital staff to keep Thomas safe.  

     Thomas' luck did not run out when he was liberated from the German's.  He met up with the Polish army and became their mascot.  He was made a miniature uniform, fed well, and given gifts by the servicemen.  He was even given a pony and horse.  Eventually, however, one soldier decided that the army was no place for an 11-year-old boy and helped Thomas relocate into a Jewish orphanage.  Through the orphanage and its connections within the Jewish community around the world, Thomas was eventually reunited with his mother.  With her loving care, Thomas was finally educated and eventually made it to the United States to pursue an education in law.  Before he left Europe he did reacquaintance himself with his savior Odd Nanson, who wrote a memoir of his time in a German concentration camp and mentioned Thomas.  

     The incredible aspect of Thomas Buergenthal is the fact that yes he survived the Jewish Holocaust, but what he did with his experience and how he used it to drive him into international law is the impressive part.  He became in incredible voice for human rights and served on several courts that brought human rights cases forward.  I was very inspired by how he took something that could have been very negative into a definite positive.  

     I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars and believe it is appropriate for anybody 7th grade and up.  It is very well written and I love the addition of the pictures.  I think everyone has struggles and how we react to them is important, to know that something horrifying could be turned around into something pretty great is inspiring.  Definitely well worth the read!  

Links 

Biographical information on Thomas Buergenthal

Odd Nansen

International Court of Justice

Death March Information

Esperanza Rising

                                                                     by Pam Munoz Ryan 

     A coming of age historical fiction, a tale of never giving up and making the most of a bad set of events.  Meet Esperanza, a young wealthy girl in Mexico, she is the apple of her parents' eyes.  An only child, Esperanza loves spending time with her father, loves the ranch and can not envision ever leaving.  She is reared to be the lady of the manor and never does any manual labor.  On the eve of her birthday, her father is viciously attacked and killed.  The events that follow have Esperanza and her Mother escaping from her Uncles and running to the United States with their former servants.  

     When they reach the company camp that is to become their new home Esperanza is expected to learn how to work for her living,  Her mother and the other women go to the sheds and help pack the produce out for shipment.  Esperanza remains at the camp tending the babies and doing small jobs.  At first, she can barely do these common household tasks.  She is ridiculed when she attempts to sweep the platform, the first time, but it is the first time she has held a broom.  The first time that she is left alone with the twin babies, she feeds them plums and they end up with horrible diarrhea and stomach cramps.  Over time, however, she begins to find her way. This is hurried along when her mother becomes deathly ill and Esperanza needs to learn how to work in the sheds.  

     Concurrent with her arrival in the United States, there is an uprising among the migrant workers and a demand for fair wages and better housing.  The other workers at her camp just want to make money to feed their family and want nothing to do with the strike, but others camps in the area are in a turmoil.  The strikers try to incite Esperanza and others to join their cause since there is power in numbers.  Initially, Esperanza just wants to continue making money in order to pay for her mother's medical bills.  But when she witnesses a round up when immigration officers herd all of the strikers into busses to return to Mexico, whether or not they are citizens, she slowly begins to change her mind.  Especially when she hears how "Okie" are coming to her camp and getting better housing and a pool, that she can use only on Friday afternoon, before it is cleaned.  She is upset with the disparity and is vocal about her displeasure.  Finally, she accepts her new reality and no longer dwells on her past wealthy life.  

     I'm giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars.  I think that this is a very good book and I enjoyed it, but in writing this blog I realized that it left parts of the story unresolved.  There is no conclusion to the drama with the striking and disparity; when Abuelita, Esperanza's Grandmother, gets to the camp all of the problems seem to fade away and Esperanza is content.  I do feel that this is a remarkable read for anybody fourth grade and up and it is a good representation of a time and place in United States History.  Enjoy your copy today!  

Links 

Author - Pam Munoz Ryan

Migration workers in the 1930's

The Dust Bowl - Why Okies were migrant

Mexican Migration workers

History of Mexican Migration

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

                                                                                 By Lisa Schroeder 

     This is a heartbreaking and haunting book.  Some say that your first love will stay with one forever!  The story is told in a poetic fashion and tells the tale of love between two high school students.  Ava and Jackson are in love and do everything together, they are best friends! One of their ongoing games is "Dare", and one dare goes deadly awry, leaving Ava without her Jackson.  The dare that leads to Jackson's death brings a crushing guilt to Ava and she can not let go.  Jackson returns and helps her release her guilt and continue on with life.
     Everyone around Ava is concerned about her and try to get her to get back into her normal routine.  Nothing helps until a family trip to the beach, where Jackson can not follow and a chance meeting with a guy at the waterfront.  When Ava returns, she begins to research the paranormal, and question why Jackson is still haunting her.  She comes to the conclusion that this is not who and what she is, she wants a return to normalcy.  She gets the courage to tell Jackson that he needs to move on!
     This book resonated on a couple of levels.  First of all, there are people that I have lost that I've always wanted to see, or talk to one more time.  I do believe that hindsight is twenty-twenty.  I think when somebody dies unexpectedly, some may always question, if....  I know when my son passed in an automobile accident, I wondered if I had called Tim earlier to come get me from work if I had called off work that day... and the list goes on.  The possibility of having the guilt absolved, fascinating!
     I am giving this book a 3 out of 5.  I do feel that it is a very good book but mature.  This book is for high school students or a mature eighth grader.  This is a love story and skews towards the feminine gender.  Happy reading!

Links 

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Coping with the death of a teen friend

Other books about Teen Death

Signs from a deceased loved one....????

Cake Pop Crush

                                                                        By Suzanne Nelson 

     This story transfers the reader to North Western United States and a small traditional community.  You are introduced to three best friends Ali and her cohorts Gwen and Tansy.  They are returning to school after Winter break;  Ali shows up with a treat Cake pops.  Everyone that gets a taste of this yummy treat is lucky.  Everyone is appreciative, except the new boy, Dane, who throws the cake pop in the trash.  Ali's day gets even worse when she discovers that the big chain Perk Up has opened a branch down the street from the family bakery.  Her father is furious, and Ali discovers that they may have to close the shop, especially with the competition down the street.  

     Ali, finally, convinces her father to try out her cake pops in the bakery and he grudgingly allows the sweet treat!  Thinks begin to look up as the bakery begins to draw customers from Perk Up.  The Perk Up's baker, Dane, discovers what is drawing customers away and fights back with a promotion of his own.  Ali is downcast and her world is in a downward spiral.  Ali does incredibly well dealing with the stress of her family and the bakery along with handling normal middle school drama.  Not getting along with the school queen bee, boys and bakeoffs.  

     After one disastrous at resurrecting the bakery, her father finally crumbles and decides to close the business.  Ali's last hope is a bake off against Dane, but Ali does not bake without a recipe, that is until Dane comes and teachers her to bake with her senses.  Ali is surprised but decides to trust Dane and work on their friendship.  After the bakeoff, information comes to light that changes the whole story.  

     This is a feel good book, nice simple read, appropriate for students in middle school., although, I would think that it would be more attractive to young ladies.  I  give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.  It did have some message and I love that my copy had recipes from the story in the back of the book.  

Links

Author - Suzanne Nelson

Authentic Mexican Baking - breads

Impact of large chain stores on small business

How to make a cake pop - recipes

A Single Shard

                                         by Linda Sue Park 

     A wonderful work of historical fiction that takes one back to Korea in the 1200's.  Ms. Park is inspired by a beautiful piece of celadon pottery, the Thousand Cranes Vase.  She takes this beautiful piece of pottery and weaves a masterful tale as to its creation.  I was immersed in the tale of the orphan Tree Ear and his companion/caretaker Crane Man.  Crane Man has taken Tree Ear under his wing from an early age and raised him to be self-reliant.  They subsist on what they can gather themselves, out of rubbish heaps, from the forest and from the leftovers that no one else wants.  Although they are poor, Crane Man has instilled a sense of right and wrong in Tree Ear and a sense of self-worth.  So when Tree Ear accidently ruins some of Min's work, he knows he must make it right.  Tree Ear has to work 10 days for Min to absolve the debt.  After the 10 days of back breaking work, he offers to continue to work for the aging Min.  Even as the lowliest of low servant Tree Ear is awarded a mid-day meal, he works hard at preserving half of this meal, in order to take it back to the bridge and Crane Man for their evening meal.  Amiga, Min's wife, discovers Tree Ears plans and adds to the bowl.  

     Crane Man and Tree Ear are eating better than they ever have.  Amiga even gifts Tree Ear with a warm outfit, that Tree Ear shares with his companion.  One day Tree Ear notices one of the other potters behaving oddly.  He decides to pay very close attention to Kang, to try to discover why he is being so secretive.  Kang is devising a method in which to inlay the pottery with other colors of slip, to enhance the pottery.  Kang shows his new ability to a royal emissary that enters the village looking for new royal potters.  Although Min has far superior quality in his pieces, the new technique holds the day.  Min is forced to try to embrace the new skill and attempts to make his own inlaid piece.  His first batch does not fire well and he loses his opportunity to impress the emissary, but if  he is able to get one of his pieces with the inlay to the capital than he would be almost guaranteed a commission.  Alas Min is a very old man and there is no way for him to make a journey of that length.  

     Tree Ear overhears the conversation and convinces Min that he would be willing to make the journey for him.  This brings new hope to the potter.  Min works tirelessly to devise a beautiful piece of work when his second batch of inlaid work comes out there are two beautiful vases.  Crane Man helps Tree Ear prepare for his trek by devising a straw carrying pack and promises to continue to help Amiga, Min's wife.  Tree Ear than set out in trepidation to carry his precious cargo to the palace.  Things go perfectly until he is jumped by bandits.  The bandits thought that he was carrying a bunch of rice and in their disappointment toss the beautiful pottery off of a cliff to crash on the ground below.  In despair and as a last hope, he cradles a single shard to the palace.  The royal emissary, who is well aware of Min's ability grants the commission on the single shard, proof of his technique on inlay.  

     Tree Ear arrives back in the village a conquering hero, only to discover Crane Man has passed away in a freak accident and he is to be alone until Amiga and Min offer Tree Ear to live with them in their home.  Tree Ear is given a new name and something that he has been dreaming of... Min is willing to teach him how to make pottery.  

     I enjoyed this story immensely! I like that it was inspired by a real piece of art and that the author kept it historically accurate, it read very authentic to me.  I am going to give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and would encourage  any reader 5th grade on up to enjoy this book.  

Links 

Author: Linda Sue Park

A thousand cranes vase - Image

Celadon Pottery

     

I so don't do mysteries

By Barrie Summy                                   

     This is a very entertaining, light and easy read.  What would you do if you dead mother contacted you and needed help solving a mystery?  Would you help her, even if it forced you to do things that are completely out of your comfort zone?  7th-grade student, Sherry, is confronted with the quest of solving the questions at the rhino exhibit in San Diego.  She has her best friend, Junie, and a cute boy as help, but can she save the rhinos in time to save her mother?
     The wacky caper and all of the crazy situations that happen make this a fun read.  A stealthy super sleuth Sherry is not, but her heart is in the right place and she wants to help her Mom and the rhinos.  Sherry bumbles her way through the mystery, making a couple of bad guesses along the way.  She does discover that the rhinos are in danger due to a heinous chef that would like to serve the animals up at his next exotic meat meal.  When it is important, Sherry is willing to do almost anything to help the rhinos and retain a contact with her mother.
     This is an easy read and would encourage 4th thru 7th graders to enjoy the story.  I would give this a 2.5 to a 3-star rating, for the fun of the piece.  This is definitely, comedic and full of situational comedy and slapstick humor.

Links

Author: Barrie Summy

Exotic meat planning

San Diego Wild Animal Park

The Silent Boy

                                                                                           By Lois Lowry 


     Another great story by award-winning author Lois Lowry. This work of fiction is  told in retrospect, as an aging Docky or Katy looks back to a defining moment in her long life.  Katy remembers when she met her house maid and her brother, Jacob.  The siblings grew up on a poor farm and Peggy is coming to help her family.  Jacob is her special brother that has an infinity for animals but has been "touched".  That is to say, he does not communicate orally.  Jacob is allowed to roam the countryside after he has performed his chores on the farm, so Katy sees him in her family barn and on her father's rounds.  She develops a friendship with Jacob, simply because she can tell him everything.  This friendship is solidified as she learns more about this quiet boy, especially when she visits the family farm the day that her sister is born.
     Katy's best friend Austin lives next door, and as luck would have it their housemaid is Peggy's sister, Nellie.  The two sister are polar opposites both are good hard workers, but Nellie is boisterous with bright red hair and Peggy is quieter.  Nellie has her head in the clouds and wants to become a famous movie star.  Katy discovers that Nellie and Austin's older brother, Paul, are sweet on each other.  This is definitely not acceptable, for the aspiring lawyer to be and the house girl to have a relationship.  Nellie falls for Paul, yet he sees her as easy pickings.  Nellie is forced to return to her parent's farm and Paul is sent to boarding school.  What follows is the night that Katy can not forget.  The event changes everyone's lives and lands Jacob in the local asylum.
     I enjoyed this story for its glimpse into a different time, a different way of life;  the beginning of the phone, the advent of automobiles and when the United States had a definitive class system.  A lot of the rules that governed behavior where more unspoken, acceptable and unacceptable actions.  Many of these have faded from the daily fabric of our lives.  This book is an excellent read for fifth grade and up and appropriate for either gender.  Since this is one of my favorite books by Lois Lowry I give it a 5 out of 5 stars.  By the way, educators, my copy of "The Silent Boy" came with discussion questions and an interview, Happy reading!

Links 

Author: Lois Lowry 

History of Autism

History of Mental Illness - Asylum

History of treatment for autism

Al Capone Does My Shirts

                                                                                           By Gennifer Choldenko 

     This is a great historical fiction novel.  Moving and finding new friends can be difficult, but think how they would multiply if you move to Alcatraz Island with an autistic sister.  Moose is a young man in middle school that is very unhappy with his parents' decision to move to Alcatraz Island for his dad's new job.  He just wants to return home to his home and friends, but he is forced to fit in and make new friends.  The family has moved in an effort to get Moose's autistic sister, Natalie, into a special school.  The first person he meets is Theresa a young personable girl.  She fills him in on his initial tour of the island and introduces him to Pepper, the warden's daughter.  Pepper is very attractive but Moose knows she is going to be trouble.  After meeting with the warden, he is positive that she is evil.  Moose unknowingly promises the warden that he will aid Pepper on her school projects.  This becomes increasingly difficult since Pepper expects him to break the warden's rules and help with a money making scheme.  Of course, they all get in trouble and Moose vows to never enable Pepper in the future.  

     The family's future on the island is tenuous since Moose got in trouble, his father could get fired and they would loose their island apartment.  Moose finds out that this would not land them back at home but homeless.  and he promises to toe the line and help out with Natalie.  Natalie's first attempt at admission into the special school is thwarted because she is too old to be helped, or so the experts believe.  With the help of a special tutor, Ms. Kelley, Natalie is prepared into a second attempt at admission.  But again she is denied and Moose's mother is devastated.  Moose comes up with a plan that could get him in a lot of trouble, but he feels that it is worth the effort.  So he asks Pepper help in getting a letter into the prison asking none other than Al Capone for help with Natalie.  Shortly, thereafter the school decides to open a second branch for older children, did Moose get through to Al?  All he knows is that he has learned to fit into this new world and has made new friends.  A cryptic message in his laundry one day leaves one wondering.  

     Although, this is a work of fiction Choldenko did a great job of melding fact and fiction.  The story seems totally plausible and entertaining.  I believe that this coming of age tale is appropriate for 5th grade and up and would give this tale a 4.5 out of 5 stars.  I enjoyed the writing and the story, pick up your copy! 

Links

Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Al Capone

History of Alcatraz

Children of Alcatraz

Savvy

                                                              By Ingrid Law 

     Savvy is an entertaining fantasy tale by Ingrid Law.  She really hit a note, I know I wanted to be unique and believe that my family was special at one time in my youth.  This was followed by a strong desire to fit in and have friends.  Young Mibs is a very identifiable character and lovable character.  This is a great "What if" story and answers my own what if?
     Mibs is a young girl quickly approaching her 13th birthday.  For many this is a time of joy and excitement, but Mibs is worried.  She is worried about what form her Savvy will manifest and she is worried about her injured father.  She misreads her Savvy initially, which leads to an unexpected adventure and new friends.  Mibs concocts a plan to stow away on a pink bus to try to reach her father in Salina but the bus heads the wrong way.  Mibs and the rest of the stowaways are stuck and try to convince the bus driver, Lester, to help them reach Salina.  Mibs is joined by Will and Bobbie, the preachers children and her brothers Fish and Samson.  Mibs savvy reveals itself en route and her special skill that she thought would help her father, now she wonders if it will be beneficial at all, but she has no other choice since the children are now considered as missing.
     This bus trip is like no other, especially with two Beaumont's and their volatile savvy's!  Somehow they avoid detection until they reach Carlene's.  She recognizes the five kids from television bulletins and immediately calls the police.  When the cops arrive, mass confusion occurs especially since Samson is missing and Carlene has hidden him from the rest of the Beaumonts.  The police, of course, suspect, Lester and Lil of kidnapping and won't listen to the kids explanation until Big Bill shows up to unravel the mess.  He listens and finally gets everyone back on the road to Salina.  Does Mibs Savvy help her father?  What happens to the kids?  What exactly is Mibs savvy? You are going to have to read the book to find out
     I enjoyed this book immensely and would encourage this for fourth grade and up.   This story is appropriate and enjoyable for everyone.  I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Links 

Author: Ingrid Law

Lesson Plans

Literature Unit

The Night Parade

By Kathryn Tanquary

     What an interesting read this book became.  This is a very unexpected and enjoyable story with content and subject matter that I am not very familiar with.  This story begins with a young lady in middle school being forced into the mountains with her family to celebrate the feast of Obon.  She is very reluctant and feels no ties to her past, folk tales or tradition.  She just knows that she has very poor cell phone reception and her friends from home are upset with her inability to communicate.  Saki is convinced that her world is about to end without reception, and does not want to spend the time in her grandmother's old home without any conveniences.  Her younger brother Jun is able to charm his way out of most of the hard work and her parents are very displeased with Sake's behavior and attitude.  Saki's Grandfather, who used to care for the mountain shrine, passed away a few years ago, and Saki immediately can see the neglect around the shrine.  

     Saki is lax in her observation of certain protocol on the first day of Obon, but by the end of the tale, she is a firm believer in tradition and the thin veil between the human and the spirit realm.  She meets three very distinct guides in her quest to release the death curse, yet only an unselfish, pure act can undo the curse.  Saki finds an inner strength and blossoms during the days of Obon, she learns faith and a belief in self and hope.  She even comes to realize who her true friends are and who not to trust.  

     This was a very good read, although it was a bit difficult to get into the story.  After the initial back- ground, the tale picks up and becomes one of those books you don't want to put down.  I am going to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars, only marking down for the length of the introduction. I believe this book is appropriate for 4th grade and up. The author did a lot of research on Japanese Spirits and the festival of Obon, so it read very true to the culture.  

Links 

Obon

The Bon Dance

What is a Yukata

Kathryn Tanquary

License to Spill

By Lisi Harrison                               

     The second installment from Ms. Harrison continues the story of the Phoenix Five from "The Pretenders."  All of the cliffhangers from the first story are answered, yet the year is not complete so who knows what is to happen to Sheridan, Jagger, Lily, Duffy or Vanessa.  Harrison continues with the journalling of Phoenix Five.  So all of their inner thoughts, concerns and troubles are known to the reader.  

     You will discover Jagger's big secret, but does he spill it by the end of this book?  Everyone's favorite drama queen, Sheridan, continues as Octavia's understudy, and her aspirations of becoming a professional actress.  Will she be able to regain her best friend Audry?  The Stalker, Lily, is she arrested? does she continue at Noble High School? what about her friendship with Blake?  Duffy, the young promising basketball player, what is to become of his budding relationship with Sheridan? does he continue on the path of fashion sales? Finally, what is to become of the Overachiever, Vanessa?  All of these questions are answered in the book, but I refuse to divulge too much because you need to read it!  

     I totally enjoyed this quick read book!  The charm is that I know my own school's version of these characters.  I may have been one of these.  It really does give one an inside glimpse of what many would believe are exemplary role models, yet they struggle like many, they have their own doubts concerns and problems!  I would give this installment a 5 out of 5 stars and would keep it for 6th grade up, just because of some of the mature content.  

Links

Lisi Harrison

Teen Outreach

Teenage Stalking

Teenage Stardom?

     

The Face on the Milk Carton

By Caroline B. Cooney 

     This is one of those what if books.  Could this really happen?  How would you react?  This is a very believable tale in which one young girl, Jane Johnson, happens to recognize herself on the side of a milk carton that illustrates abducted children.  Jane lives in a small town on the east coast of the United States, and by all accounts is a happy and beloved daughter of doting parents.  She has a great group of friends and an older neighbor boy for company.  But the image on the milk carton begins to haunt her.  

     Haunt her to the point that she begins to have daymares aka memories.  Jane could never imagine her loving parents kidnapping a child, so is torn on how to proceed.  She finally, fesses up to her neighbor, Reeve, her worries.  But Reeve has other things on his mind, as he is emotionally attracted to Jane and wants to begin a relationship.  Jane goes to extreme lengths to discover the truth, even skipping school and traveling to New Jersey in search of the Spring family.  She immediately recognizes her siblings but has Reeve drive away, not sure how to proceed.  

     Jane confronts her parents about missing pictures of a young Jane, birth certificate etc. and they explain how Jane came to be with them.  Their daughter Hannah had brought Jane to them, with a story about Jane being their Grandaughter.  She believes them until the evidence continues to pile up against their story.  Reeve calls his older sister, who is studying to be a lawyer and they eventually confront Jane's parents, and decide that their daughter Hannah had abducted a young Jenny Spring.  The story ends on a cliffhanger as to what becomes of Jane.  

     This is a very entertaining tale, gives a great deal of insight told from the perspective of a young, confused girl.  I would rate this story a 4 out of 5 and encourage anybody fifth grade up to pick up a copy.  

Links

About the Movie

Author - Caroline B. Cooney

Child abduction

Facts

The Pretenders

                                                                                    by Lisi Harrison


     This was a very enjoyable quick read.  The author gives incredible insight into 5 young adults lives and innermost thoughts as they enter into Noble Nigh School.  Their teacher has given all of the students in ninth grade the task of journaling at least one page a day for the entire school year.  You are to write your feelings or innermost thoughts.  The journals will never be read and will be locked in a cabinet.  The assignment initially terrifies the students, but they eventually warm up to the concept and quickly pour their feelings and secrets into their journals.  How are we reading these journals?  One of the students has broken into the cabinet and has published the journals, in order to show everyone the truth about the Phoenix 5.  Not everyone is who they appear to be, everyone puts on some sort of front or show, everybody has secrets, including these 3 girls and 2 boys.
     The Phoenix 5 is the most notable of the freshman each year at Noble High School.  These students have been selected and voted by their classmates as having something special.  Meet Sheridan, she is a prima donna drama queen.  She lives for the theater and enjoys a very rich imagination.  She has been the lead character in all of the plays.  She has a best friend Aubrie, they are sole mates.  Aubrie is always the understudy to Sheridan's lead, that is until Aubrie meets Octavia at summer camp.  Sheridan's family is very wealthy, her father owns the local BMW dealership and Sheridan does not lack material things.
     Next meet Jasper, he has had a hard life.  His parents are sitting on death row, for helping stop a bully.  He has been emancipated and cares for himself.  He lives in the back room of a local pet shop, he pays the rent by feeding the animals at night.  He is a loner with no friends.  He catches the eye of Aubrie and they become close.  He has his own secrets, not to be disclosed.  Then there is Vanessa.  She is a straight A student and very academically oriented. She has a troubled home life and views this assignment as non-productive, that is to say, she puts other school work before her journal.  Her parents constantly fight, her brother is constantly in trouble or losing a job and the only peace is at a local restaurant.  Beni's is a place that the family goes to celebrate, good grades, new jobs etc. - no fighting is ever allowed at Beni's.
     Our next two characters are Lilly and Duffy, they are neighbors.  Lilly has had a crush on Duffy for a while and convinces her parents to allow her to attend public school so that she may see more of him.  Duffy and his buddies play basketball all of the time.  He lives for basketball and dreams of making the varsity team.  Lilly and her best friend Blake have been homeschooled forever and try to fit into life at Noble.  Blake, who is naturally very attractive, immediately catches Vanessa's eye.  Only Lilly knows that he is gay and the relationship and her friendship with Vanessa is doomed for failure.
     Where these relationships will end up and the choices that these students make are very believable and entertaining.  I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.  It is a very quick read and enjoyable.  The ending leaves one wanting more.  Which is why I will be reading "License to Spill" very soon.

Link 

Author: Lisi Harrison

Dealing with teen peer pressure - wanting to fit in.

Teen Journaling

Teen Help line
   

Unbroken

                                                                                 By Laura Hillenbrand


     Wow! Unbroken is an extremely well-crafted story of the unbreakable spirit of Louis Zamperini.  One is introduced to Louis as a young man growing up and getting into trouble.  That is until he finds a passion and love of running.  He quickly becomes one of the fastest runners in the United States, attends USC and earns a berth on the United States Olympic Team.  Louis attends the 1936 Berlin Olympics for the United States and his future looks bright, but sparks are flying in Europe and World War II begins.
     Louis enters into the armed services as an airman. Being an airman in the Pacific is full of danger.  Crashes are commonplace and surviving is rare.  Louis has several harrowing experiences that he and his crew pull through.  Through the luck of God, and indomitable spirit he perseveres.  That is until the fateful day that they are forced to fly an unfamiliar and ill-equipped "Green Hornet" on a search mission.  When the airplane lands in the Pacific only 3 of its passengers survive.  Louis is one of them.  Their survival gear has been picked clean and they do not have half of their supplies.  Their survival candy is stolen by one of the survivors and the men are left to their own devices.  Louis uses cunning and is able to collect water from rain and catch the occasional bird to help sustain their lives.  The candy thief succumbs along the way, and Louis and Allen eventually are captured by the Japanese.
     Of course being "saved" by the Japanese is kind of like going from the pot into the fire.  Each camp that Louis enters brings about new challenges and new dangers.  There are varying degrees of brutality among the guards.  Few are kind, most are brutal and some are deadly.  Louis runs into his personal demon in one "Bird".  The Bird is extremely lethal and very unpredictable.  He  makes it his personal goal in life to break Louis.  Each day brings beatings and degradation.  Louis gets a reprieve when the Bird is transferred to a new camp.  As the Americans come closer to Japan, tensions heighten between the jubilant prisoners and their guardsmen.  The massive B-29 has the Japanese quaking in their boots.  As the American begin bombing Japan, Louis is transferred to another camp and into the waiting arms of the Bird.  As the bird becomes more erratic and dangerous a plot is hatched to end his existence, but before the men could overpower the tyrant, he disappears into the mountains and Japan surrenders.
     Louis eagerly awaits going home, but this is a process.  His family knows that he is safe and on his way home, yet eagerly await his return.  Louis engorges his life with food and alcohol.  He is sought after by the press, because of his fame and his harrowing experience.  He eventually, returns home to his families relief but is not the same Louis.  The time in the Japanese Camps has left internal scars that are not readily visible.  Louis is at a lost as to what to do with his life, he does meet his future wife in Florida but begins to drink heavily to escape his waking and sleeping nightmares.  His life is spiralling out of control when his wife forces him to a tent revival with Billy Graham.  After leaving abruptly the first time, Louis returns and has an epiphany.  He had promised God one night on the raft that he would do  the Lord's work if he was saved.  Louis has a remarkable change and cleans up his life.  He opens his heart to doing good and becomes a motivational speaker and runs a camp for troubled young men.
     This story was very difficult to read at times.  The brutality and degradation along with the density of the information made this a slow read, although I enjoyed immensely.  I could only take the content in brief reads.  I am giving "Unbroken" a 4.5 out of 5.  This story needs to be told and read.  I would keep this book for at least 8th grade as the content is brutal.

Links 

Author: Laura Hillenbrand

Japanese Prisoners of War

Biography of Louis Zamperini

WWII Pacific Theater

     

The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963

                                                 by Christopher Paul Curtis

     This is a beautifully crafted historical fiction story told with a great deal of humor and insight.  One is introduced to "the Weird Watsons" as they sit bundled together on the couch, in the freezing cold Flint winter.  Kenny, the narrator, is a very intelligent child who is bullied by everyone at school, even his older brother Byron.  Byron is a bully that is constantly getting in trouble at home. Their little sister Joetta, is loved by everyone and is very religious.  Their parents Wilona (Mom) and Daniel (Dad),  met in Alabama and moved to Flint MI, where Daniel worked in the automotive industry.
     Kenny is very cautious around his brother Byron, because he is constanly getting in trouble or bullying Kenny.  Byron's cohort and buddy is Buphead a neighboring boy who encourages and helps By's bad behavior.  In one chapter Byron charges a bunch of food at the local market and engorges himself on cookies.  He tries to embroil Kenny in the fiasco, by sharing his misgotten goods.  In another chapter, Byron, who likes to catch things on fire, is caught, lighting things on fire in the bathroom.  Finally, however when he gets a conk, Mom and Dad decide it is time for some drastic measures.  It is decided that they will deliver Byron to Grandma Sands in Alabama.  Mom and Dad devise and plan their way through a long car trip.  Daniel getting the family car ready for the trip, and mom making lists and borrowing coolers etc. from neighbors.  It is decided that they are ready when Daniel purchases a car record player, that will allow the Watsons to listen to their own music through the south.
     The trip that Mom thought they should be able to finish in 3 days, Daniel decides he will drive straight through without stops.  The family shows up to Alabama, very excited to meet Grandma Sands.  All of the Watsons are amazed by the heat in Alabama, the children even try to go swimming, but Kenny almost drowns when he swims where he does not belong, near a whirl pool.  Surprisingly enough, his savior is non other than Byron.  Joetta, continues to go to church and attends Grandma Sands church with neighbors.  On one fateful Sunday, the church is bombed and many children are killed or injured.  Joetta is saved, however, because she follows someoone that she claims is Kenny.  Kenny is permanently damaged by the atrocity of seeing the results of the bombing and this horrendous example of racisim.  To protect their children and to avoid, having to discuss the hatred around Birmingham, the Watsons return to Flint.  Kenny is once again saved by Bryon's interference, when By tells him to get on with life and move on, instead of wallowing in the magical Pet Hospital.
     Initially I read this book becuase I live close to Flint, MI, but I really enjoyed this book, the story telling and the humor that was used made the tale very entertaining.  I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars and encourage it for fourth grade on up.

Links 

Alabama Church Bombing -

American Civil Rights Movement

History of Flint MI

Christopher Paul Curtis