Knock Out

By K.A. Holt 

     This book is a treasure for readers of all ages.  I love this book, it was highly entertaining from the first page all the way through to the end; page turning action, drama and a direct pulse into young readers.  Levi is getting ready to enter Middle School, but he is no normal kid.  Levi is smaller than most and has been sickly most of his life.  He has to travel to Cincinnati a couple of times a year, just to check on his airways.  Levi has been able to develop by an overly protective mother and brother, who keep him sheltered from everything.  His best friend Tam, helps him get through the days.  As Levi enters the  middle school things will change and secrets begin to mount. 

     Levi wants to be the class clown and will do just about anything to get a laugh out of his classmates, even becoming a secret alternative mascot for the school.  He loves hearing all of the laughter! Tam even convinces Levi to join chess club, neither of them enjoyed that.  During a visit with his dad, a kernel of an idea is thrust into his head, Levi should try a sport, any sport, Mom does not need to know, his Dad will even foot the bill.  Levi has never been athletic because of his breathing issues, what sport could he ever do?  On a "joke" he says hey I want to try boxing.  Dad loves the idea and signs Levi up for gym time at a local ring.  On days that Levi is supposed to be at Chess club he either hangs out in his tree of his dad takes him to the gym.  Levi loves the energy and the focus that concentrating on his footing and hitting gives him.  He is small, quick and mighty.  

     Of course when lies start to build, at some point  they all come tumbling down.  Will all of Levi's secretive freedom be lost, or will his jailers see that he needs more freedom.  Of course  a couple of health problems stumble upon Levi and another trip to Cincinnati may give him his dreams.  Things are changing and Levi is coming of age right before your eyes.  

     What is the most impressive about this book is the complexity of the story told through poetic verse  The descriptive tone of the book, the reader is transported with Levi as he develops and grows and hurts.  Some of the verse is very evocative and thought provoking.  I am definitely giving this book a 5 out of 5 starts and believe that any reader 5th grade and up would enjoy this tale.  If you have the opportunity pick up your copy today.  

Links

Author K.A. Holt

Boxing Boarding School

Airway obstruction - causes

Where She Fell

Kaitln Ward 

     An interesting tale of growth and change.  Eliza is a shy anxious girl, who has a limited number of close friends.  Her two best pals are constantly getting her in trouble, but she is always following their demands in an effort to keep them happy.  When they challenge her to enter the dangerous swamp near her home, she anxiously steps foot on the forbidden ground.  The swamp is known for taking people, and they are never seen again.  Eliza falls into a sinkhole and is swallowed by the forbidden swamp.  

     Eliza who loves caves finds herself in a dark abyss.  Thankfully, she has her backpack with some supplies to keep her safe.  She moves silently in her blackened world, looking for a path out.  There is no light and no path to the known world.  She wanders and is chased by a feral beast.  Finally, she stumbles upon a community of other lost people that work together for their own safety.  This small group of people have made a cavern into a collective work environment, with rules and work groups.  Many of the residents have been under ground for several years, and are considered the leaders of the weary group.  Days are filled with hunting and gathering in an effort to sustain life.  Eliza discovers through the resident scientist, Mary that the cave system is large and is home to many different life forms, including humanoid.  

     In a chance meeting with a luminescent, and their death.  Eliza and her friends decide that it is time for them to hunt down an escape route.  The collective is angry that they are trying to leave and contain them.  Eliza and her friends decide to break out and escape into the caverns.  They run free and straight into dangerous situations.  After the death of one of her companions and their capture by a group of  luminescent, Eliza is convinced that they are doomed.  Is Eliza and her friends going to be able to break out and find their freedom?  

     I don't want to spoil to much of this book, so I am leaving a great deal out.  Unfortunately, the nature of the tale means a  great deal of back story, which does seem to drag on a great deal.  The book was very hard to dig into wholly.  With that being said the last half of the book is great.  The rising action and climax leaves the reader on the edge of their seat.  I am giving this book a 3 out of five stars and believe that it is appropriate for students at least in middle school (Eliza does have a romantic interest!).  It is an interesting tale and bearing witness to the blossoming of Eliza is rewarding.  This book does a great job of describing a world that many are not familiar and it felt very realistic.  I would definitely say that this is an interesting read! 

Links 

Sinkholes in Mighigan 

What causes a sinkhole? 

Creatures that live in caves 

Destined to Live

By Ruth Gruener 

     This book packs a powerful punch!  Although it is a fairly short read it is full of intense situations and detail!  The book had me celebrating each triumph and afraid of each near death experience.  Ruth and her family were definitely very fortunate to not fall into the German's hands, but how they survived is inspirational.  What moved me most was the occasional addition of wise words of wisdom, for instance "We never know how the way we behave toward another person may come back to affect us at a different time."  A seemingly small act of kindness is what kept Ruth and her family out of the German clutches.  

     Ruth begins the story explaining that she was very young at the beginning of the holocaust, that her family was rather wealthy as the owners of a local candy store.  As the German's insidious power invaded Poland, Ruth and her family slowly began to loose much of their freedom.  They had to give up all of their wealth, their furniture and their apartment, finally being forced to move into the ghetto.  Her father was able to find work outside the ghetto, which is how he convinced a friend to hide Ruth for many months.  When things became to dangerous for that family, Ruth was reunited with her parents and hid with the Oyafs until the end of the war.  That is not the only remarkable aspect of their story, how they found their way to America and all of the steps they had to make in order to make it here, wow!  

     I enjoyed this book, it flowed nicely and was very powerful.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.  My biggest criticism is that the book was broken into rather large chunks that were hard to break up, for smaller quick reads.  I think smaller chapters over parts would have been better.  I feel that this book would be good for 4th thru 8th grade and would be enjoyed by boys and girls.  This is a very good book and would be a good addition to a class library and a entertaining read for anybody.  

Links 

Ruth Gruener - Author

Lvov during the Holocaust

Holocaust Survivors

The Girl Who Was Supposed To Die

By April Henry

     Another dark and thought provoking tale by April Henry.  This one is a new twist, still in the Portland Oregon area, but a whole new cast of heroes.  Meet Katie (Cady) who comes to and does not know anything, not even her name.  She quickly comes to the realization that she is being held against her wishes and the gentlemen who have her want her gone.  One of her captors leave and one large man is supposed to dispose of her.  But Katie, moving on instinct evades and injures her guard.  She returns to the cabin, to seek clues as to her identity and grab supplies.  She leaves in the unknown mans car, just hoping to get away from the cabin.  Will she be able to figure out who she is, why they want her dead or just what is going on?  

     What follows is a daring escapade, where Cady, with help from a new friend, discovers her identity.  But dare she believe all of the news stories is she a crazed drug addict who wants to end her own life?  That is the image that the internet is putting out there.  Even when all fingers are pointing at Cady for killing Officer Dillow, Ty sticks by her side, just knowing that she is lost and is in desperate need of help.  Ty sticks by her side even when another adult appears to want to help Cady.  He wants to finish what he began and make sure that Cady is safe and no longer in danger.  The surprising twists in this book will keep you guessing and turning the page!  

     This is a fairly quick and entertaining read, with a lot of cliff hangers and interesting plot twists.  It really highlights how much dependence we put on the internet and how tenuous our health could be.  We always hear about possible epidemics or pandemics, but when you are the one that can stop it would you be able to step up and save the day, especially with out your memory?  I am giving this book a 4 out of 5, it is a little mature and dark, and would say it is appropriate for ages eighth grade and up.  

Links

Author - April Henry

CDC

Hantairus

Virologist

 

Beneath

By Roland Smith 

     This is a fast and fantastic read. This is a very interesting tale of two brothers with an incredible bond.  Would you go to the ends of the Earth if you thought your sibling was in danger, would you be able to face your biggest fears?  This story illustrates what extreme lengths people will go to in order to protect or save someone they love.  

     Meet Pat, a young man that is missing his older brother, Coop.  Their home has fractured and Coop has left Pat to his own defenses.  Their parents seem disinterested and have moved beyond their relationship, into what they think they want in a family.  Pat is struggling in this new reality, that is until he receives a communication from his quirky brother.  What follows is a string of recorder conversations, that end abruptly.  When Pat does not hear from Coop, he begins to panic and finally decides to follow Coops clues and help his brother.  Since his parents are inattentive, he just has to wait for an opportunity to get to New York.  

     As Christmas break approaches, Pat heads to New York, to find his brother who has gone under.  To an individual who has claustrophobia, going under seems terrifying.  The only definitive clue he has is a PO Box, which he keeps under surveillance.  He quickly discovers that someone is emptying the PO Box that is not Coop.  Pat has to follow him and convince him to help him find his brother.  The man is Posty, and he lives a double life:  one a banker, the other is a member of the community.  The Community is a group of individuals that live under the streets, by their own rules.  Coop has been there, but has gone farther under the city into the Deep.  Does Pat dare to follow him into the depth of New York underground?  Does he need to be saved?  Will they come out alive after meeting the LOD, and venturing into the POD?  The only way to find out is to read the book.  

     This was a very interesting book, I am going to give it a four out of five stars.  Just because it is a little unbelievable, at least out of the realm of what I believe is plausible.  I do believe that anybody in fourth grade up through eighth grade would find this a very enjoyable book.  It has a little bitter of everything!  

Links 

Author - Roland Smith

Beneath New York City

In the Shadow of the Sun

By Anne Sibley O'Brien 

     This book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence.  It is a very intriguing and thought provoking tale.  The author does a remarkable job of transporting the reader into a different time, culture and environment.  Really, makes one wonder what would they do if it was them, would you be able to survive and stay ahead of the soldiers.  Would you be a Mia, Simon or their father?  

     Mark Andrews takes his two children with him on a trip into North Korea.  They are forewarned and given a long list of rules.  Mr. Andrews has traveled here before as a food relief worker and somehow embroils himself in a faction power struggle.  Unknown to them they are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.  Mark is arrested as Mia and Simon find incriminating images on a gifted cell phone.  They know that the only way to help their dad is to get the images out of the country.  They endeavor to allude the North Koreans on a harrowing escape across the country towards China.  This proves to be very difficult since Simon is a tall blond American while Mia, who is adopted, is from South Korea.  With little knowledge of the language, next to no money, no food how are they supposed to travel the distance to safety without being seen and captured?  It takes some luck, ingenuity and a lot of courage plus a little bit of help from surprise sources.  

     This was an excellent story, I loved the information given at the beginning of the book, very helpful in reading the tale.  Giving the background knowledge led to more understanding and a better appreciation of the dangers.  What I did not get 100% was some of the North Korean view point, it did not always connect to Simon and Mia.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5, just for the disconnect.  I did really enjoy this book, it made me question what happened to some of the supporting characters.  This book is good for 5th grade students and up and encourage anybody to buy their copy today.  

links

Author - Anne Sibley O'Brien

Current guidelines to travel into North Korea

History of North Korea

Hidden Figures

By Margot Lee Shetterly

     After I heard about this group of courageous women I could not wait to read the book or watch the movie.  I am sad to say that the book is rather dry and reads like informative text.  These beautiful, brave women fought long and hard.  This book spent a lot of time dwelling on the news of the time of WWII and Civil Rights, and rarely gave one a glimpse into the lives of these women.  

     Hidden Figures follows four women and how they became part of Langley and computers for the United States.  Their drive and determination to  be recognized and productive members of NACA and NASA is noteworthy.  It is very eye opening that they even had the opportunity, especially when Civil Rights had not occurred.  I was surprised by a lot of the historical information,  but sorely missed some of the personal details about their day to day lives.  These women were incredible, mothers, wives and mathematicians.  It totally blows my mind they were able to make these extraordinary difficult computations, no matter they race or gender.  Not only that but the day to day struggle proving that they were capable, so inspirational.  

     Although I appreciated this book, I wish it would have a little more personal detail.  It was a fairly simple read and think that anybody over fifth grade would enjoy the information.  I am giving this book a 3 out of 5 stars.  If you are someone that enjoys history and would like a window into the home front during and after WWII, pick up your copy!

Links

Margot Lee Shetterly - author

Langley

Real computers