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