Serafina and the Black Cloak

By Robert Beatty

     This entertaining tale will leave you guessing.  Meet a young Serafina, hidden in the basement of the Biltmore Estate.  Her Pa is the chief mechanic and repairs all of the machines at the house. They live secretly in the basement, and Serafina makes a point of not being seen.  At night she wanders the halls of the mansion, finding, capturing and ridding the house of rats.  She is unnaturally fast and adept at seeing these horrible rodents.  One night during her inspection she hears and sees something that frightens her, a figure in a black coat.  

     The next day it is discovered that the children from Biltmore and the surrounding area are disappearing, Serafina knows that the mysterious figure in the cloak is the culprit.  The problem is that Serafina needs to remain a secret so how can she let the residents know that they are in danger.  Finally, she approaches the young master, Braeden Vanderbilt.  The two children form a bond and endeavor to figure out who the person is in the black cloak.  As more children disappear and after a harrowing night in the dark forest, Serafina knows that she has no other solution but to become the bait in a trap and to lead towards a sure battle with a mountain lion.  

     Will Serafina's plan work, will she be able to draw the evil away from Biltmore Manor and away from Braeden?  By the end of the story Serafina discovers her dubious beginnings, makes a frightening trek through a dangerous forest, meets her mother and fights her own demons, but will she to retain her friendship with Braeden and will she be accepted by everyone at Biltmore?  

     This is a very interesting story.  Interesting in that it combines two genres of literature.  It has aspects of a historical fiction, while it dwells into the supernatural world.  I feel that this book would be great in fourth grade and up to seventh or eighth grade.  This book was a definite page turner and I am giving it a 4 out of 5 stars.  

Links

Author - Robert Beatty

Biltmore Estate history

Vanderbilt history

Ghost stories from the Blue Ridge mountains

Auggie & Me three wonder stories

By R.J.Palacio

    I broke one of my personal rules, I read a series book out of order.  This is an extension of the book "Wonder", the story of Auggie Pullman.  Auggie was born with facial deformation and has had a rough beginning to his life.  He has had several surgeries, and is home schooled for the first several years, finally, he is able to go to school for fifth grade.  In this book you meet some people that meet Auggie and read how they react to Auggie as a classmate or friend. 

     The first person we meet is Julian, an attractive young man that will be going into Beecher Prep with Auggie.  Julian is very popular and is considered a leader among his classmates.  He is asked by the school's principal to be Auggie's welcome buddy, so he meets him before the beginning of the school year.  Julian, however, has issues with Auggie's appearance.  In typical bully mode Julian makes it his personal mission to make Auggie's life miserable.  Julian's parents, who donate a lot of time and money to the school, see nothing wrong with his actions.  In fact justify and place blame on everyone but themselves and Julian.  They end up pulling Julian from Beecher Prep, because they are unable to accept Auggie.  Over summer vacation, Julian visits his grandmother and has a change of heart and finally apologizes to Auggie and accepts responsibility for his actions.  Julian matures through his association with Auggie.
     Next, you will meet Christopher, Auggies oldest and best friend.  Christopher has moved away from Auggie and attends school elsewhere.  Christopher, or Pluto, has the ability to see beyond the surface and sees the wonderful, intelligent and funny kid.  He is not perfect, however, and acknowledges that being friends with Auggie can be hard.  Especially, when his new friends make fun of Auggie's appearance.  This short story encompanses one short day, but is rife with flashbacks into their long friendship.  Christopher discovers that even through distance, friendships can endure and that true friends are there for you whenever and however they are needed.
     Finally, you meet Charlotte a classmate at Beecher Prep.  She is struggling with her own drama and tries to remain neutral in the boy battle.  Charlotte loses her longest and best friend to the popular group of girls.  As the boy battle wages on, she is selected to perform in a dance trio with one of the popular girls and Summer.  Summer is incredibly nice young lady, who has befriended Auggie on her own.  As the girls practice over a couple of months they form a unique bond that transcends school social strata.  The lasting lesson is that as kids mature they may form new interests and friendships and although they may retain some of these bonds it's okay to change.  It shows how difficult it can be for people to maintain neutrality when they have friends on both sides of drama.
     Even though these are short stories there is so much content and teachable life lessons throughout each!  All of these are wonderful stories and should be shared with grades fourth and up.  I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars, totally enjoyed this quick read and will keep a personal copy with me for years to come.

Links

Author, R.J. Palacio

Childhood facial deformities

Flying Lessons & Other Short Stories

Various Authors 

     This is an awesome selection of some of this generations best authors.  The stories that were brought into this anthology all celebrate some unique aspect.  They give a voice to many different cultures and minorities; I love that they included handicaps and Native Americans into the mix.  

     In today's world of tension among various cultural groups it is vital that we learn that we must work together and celebrate our differences in order to be successful.  We can no longer be bias towards other cultures we have to learn to coexist with everyone.  The growing global community and the ease of instant communication is requiring a new understanding.  Those individuals that can and do work well with everyone will be the ones that thrive.  This book and other books are needed for that reason alone.      Ellen Oh, reached out to some of today's best authors and collected short stories for your pleasure, they are short in nature and can easily be read with in a class period.  These tales are quick reads, but the depth of emotion and the details are flawless.  Readers will enjoy a quick tale about a tall Mexican American youth that decides to improve his basketball over the summer, running with the big dogs at a different gym.  He is going into high school and really wants to make the varsity team.  The lessons he learns sharing sweat with the older men reach far beyond the basketball court.  

     You will meet one young lady who befriends the new girl, who happens to be African American, Of course the predominant white town, frowns upon the friendship and she looses all of her friends  Celeste only stays in town for a year and they two girls vow to meet up again in New York when the turn 18, The reason this short sticks in my mind, is that the main character goes against her classmates and other adults to befriend the girl, she trusts her own judgement and finds a lasting friendship.  She willingly decided to break out of the mold of racism and is better for this bravery.  I feel that a lot of the angst towards many cultures has eased, but new minorities have taken their place.  Keeping an open mind and befriending those around you benefits everyone.  

     A third tale relays a grandmother and her grandson as they have a marvelous adventure in Europe.  The grandson is an incredible student but is being caged and stifled.  His grandmother takes him on this journey to bring life and freedom into his life.  Although he is an awesome student, he needs to learn how to fly.  We all need to learn that not all of the lessons that are worth living are not always taught in the classroom.  

     My final story that i am sharing has a Native American flavor.  Even though the story that is shared with the children, is entertaining, what is learned beyond the story is the most important.  Uncle Kenneth brings his culture into an important lesson.  This out of all of the tales really celebrates the unique culture of a Native American tribe.  

     This is a very versatile story, and I want to thank a wonderful teacher for encouraging me to read this book, thanks Kate!  I found these stories information, diverse and enjoyable.  I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars and encourage everyone to check this out.  This book is absolutely appropriate for anybody over 3rd grade.  

Links

Wheelchair Basketball

Native American Stories

Compiler / Author - Ellen Oh

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom

By Lynda Blackmon Lowery 

     A nice story about democracy in action.  I really enjoyed this fast read which relays how young people can have a huge impact on the world around them.  This is a personal narrative on how one teenage student reached and marched against oppression in the early 1960's.  This is a primary source of information from a view point that is seldom heard.  

     A young Lynda was brought up by a loving father and her grandmother, her mother had passed away when Lynda was young.  They lived in Selma Alabama, under the governance of Wallace and their world is highly segregated.  The white folks held all of the power and wealth and the ability to vote.  It was believed that the power to vote could change their world.  Dr. Martin Luther King was a solid proponent of "Steady, loving confrontation", that is to say non violent protest.  Why then is Lynda marching when she is still in school.  In Selma, if someone tried to vote, march or oppose those in power they could loose their job or housing.  Therefor, the adults could not stand up, but their children could and did.  

     Lynda and her friends were very industrious in circumventing those in power.  They even had a system for homework and taking tests.  That did not stop them  from being jailed, in fact many of these enterprising youngsters were jailed multiple times.  Most of these adventures were peaceful and Lynda and friends were quickly released from jail, on one occasion they spent 6 days in a camp, but on most of these occasions family and friends would come rescue the youngsters.  In large part this rebellion was peaceful until Jimmy Lee Jackson was shot, which was then followed by Bloody Sunday.  Bloody Sunday was broadcast around the nation, and brought support for the black community.  Then when Dr. Martin Luther King called for a large march to Mobile, the community was mobilized.  

     Lynda marched towards Alabama the youngest of the crowd.  She felt the need to march to show Governor Wallace, that she would not back down even with the stitches in her head from Bloody Sunday.  The march ended up being very peaceful, with national guardsmen protecting the group, as they neared Mobile the crowd increased and numbered into the thousands.  

     What I enjoyed the most about this text was the first person narrative and the direct connection to a troubling time in the United States.  I am going to give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The only thing I am marking it down for is I wish that there was a little more detail.  I find this book very pertinent and important to read especially if you are studying the civil rights movement in the United States.  Today's hyper sensitivity to race and religion makes this book important and think any student fourth grade and up would enjoy this story.  

Links

Author - Lynda Blackmon Lowery

Selma Freedom March

Recordings of the freedom songs

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.