Jana's Books: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Heros of Olympus

by Rick Riordan

After going through the Titan War, Percy was ready to relax and settle into a teenagers life. He tries to be convinced that the "Prophesy of Seven will not come about in his lifetime. The first book of this series doesn't even have Percy in it, except for some mentions. It is about Jason who wakes up to find himself holding hands with a girl he's never seen before. Because of the Mist, he has two best friends (Piper and Leo) that mean nothing to him, but they seem to care a lot about him. When things go south and monsters attack Jason realizes that he is a trained warrior. He doesn't remember any training or battles, but he does know exactly how to handle the situation. When the faun (I mean saytar) helps him get back to Camp Halfblood Jason remembers that he is a son of Jupiter (Zeus?) and for some reason he's been put in this position by Juno/Hera. The situation is complicated by the fact that they need to deal with the Roman gods as well as the Greek. All the same people are in both sets, but what you can be sure to expect from Ares is foreign to Mars. Where Hephaestus may be a sideline character, Vulcan has a temper and then some. Jason, Piper and Leo set off. It's obvious that Hera is using both Jason and the others at Camp Half-Blood as pawns in some game, but what's the game?

Audience
Same as Percy Jackson, maybe a year higher in reading level

What I Love About These Books
1) Riordan's character development is superb. I was invested in each character and they all have their own story.
2) I love the nuance of difference between the Greek and Roman gods, and the difference between the Greek and Roman way of life. It was exciting to see that two things I thought were exactly the same are really kind of opposite.
3) I'm gonna say it again, I am invested in each character. I love the title characters, and I dearly love a certain goddess that only gets a single chapter. They all have a part to play and they are all just doing their best.
4) I was impressed that certain characters from the original series were brought back and developed

Cautions
1) The first book is all about Jason with only passing mention of Percy. The second book is Percy's story with Jason's name cropping up here and there. I missed the characters of the first book in the second. As of yet their has been no crossover between the two
2) This series will not be finished for another year. That means we will be waiting for everyone to live happily ever after (or just live period) and not know for quite a while.

Series
The Lost Hero
The Son of Neptune
The Mark of Athena
The Doors of Death (To be released fall of 2013)
1 Undisclosed Title

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Artemis Fowl

This book deserves a big picture on the blog

by Eoin Colfer
Okay, I confess, I've fallen in love with this kid. At the start of the series Artemis Fowl II is 12 and concerned about the future of his family. His father disappeared 2 years ago in a failed business venture. His mother has retreated into herself, leaving Artemis to handle the family fortune. Being Irish, he comes up with a plan-separate a leprechaun from it's gold. What Artemis realizes shortly after researching his plan is that leprechon comes from LEPrecon- an elite division of the Lower Elements Police. The Lower Elements are the fantasy creatures humans have driven under the earth. Their civilization predates humans to the extent that humans are referred to as "mud people." Artemis soon learns all he needs to know, and with his trusty guard (and butler) Butler at his side, he sets it in motion. He ends up kidnapping Captain Holly Short, the first ever female LEPrecon officer, much to his detriment. Holly is spunky, independent, and likable, so her commanding officer and the LEP technology consultant will spare nothing to get her back. With Artemis, Butler, and house servant Juliet on one side, and Holly, Commander Root, and tech savvy Foaly on the other, the battle of wits and weapons is epic

Audience

This is geared toward teenage boys and has a Shrek-esque humor. The reading level would be late 5th grade at the earliest. I've heard the book described as "die hard with fairies" but the pace is slower than that. It involves a lot of planning and plotting, plenty of banter, and a fair amount of bathroom humor.

What I Love About These Books
Where do I start?
1) Artemis. He is intelligent and sharp tongued, but with a heart he is afraid to acknowledge. Sometimes we are left to guess how much is his plan and how much is an accident.
2) Holly. I love how she can be spunky and strong, yet still have a sweet side
3) The witty repartee between the characters-I was giggling a lot in this series with the one liners.

4) Butler. I have a protectors personality, and I could relate to Butler's feelings and struggles with Artemis, and also his conflicting role to protect Juliet

5) Mulch Diggums. Almost all the bathroom humor centers around this single character, and I laughed myself silly. Yes, I know that puts my maturity level at about 7, but I don't care. It was funny.

6) For all the humor I found my heartstrings pretty well pulled at certain points
7) Artemis' speech on his name at the end of The Eternity Code gave me goosebumps, big time.

Cautions

1) Yes, Artemis is a criminal mastermind, and yes, you are supposed to root for him to win. That's the reason it's specifically labled as young adult, rather than general children's. The first time I read the book I didn't like him, but now that his character makes sense to me I absolutely love it.

2) The scenes with Mulch and his bodily functions are integral to the story. Again, I found it funny and I don't usually find that kind of thing funny.

3) The action is not as fast as other descriptions might lead you to believe. If you don't enjoy the banter and planning, the action scenes won't be enough to get you through the book.
4) However, there are action scenes, and they're graphic for a childrens/young adult book. It talks about spines being shattered, and at one point someone has a finger removed.
5) The first book is somewhat of an introduction. The character of Artemis is only minimally developed. This is because his development is the overarching point of the series-you might be better off to start with book 2
6) The Atlantis Complex is a pretty weak story, but the others are fabulous-especially the last one

Series
Artemis Fowl
The Artic Incident
The Eternity Code
The Opal Deception
The Lost Colony
The Time Paradox
The Atlantis Complex
The Last Guardian

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Book of A Thousand Days

by Shannon Hale

Dashti finds work her first day in the capitol city. She is lady's maid to Lady Saren, and starts work now, on the eve of Saren being locked up in a tower for seven years to "reflect on her wrongs" in offending powerful ruler Kahn Tegus by refusing his marriage proposal. Dashti does her best to serve Saren, but Saren is not able to handle the situation, leaving Dashti to deal with most of the problems without so much as encouragement. Saren's current betrothed comes to visit, but she is too scared to talk to him, so Dashti speaks in her place. One night wolves attack the tower, and Saren's fear leaves her wholly unable to cope. Dashti improvises a solution to save the both of them, praying her strength will be enough to save the both of them.

Audience

This is a pretty faithful adaptation of the Grimm's fairytale The Maid of Maleen and deals with trauma and mental illness. I feel it is wholly inappropriate for children, but wonderful for those who can handle a dark story. The reading level is a little less than halfway through fifth grade, but I couldn't imagine being ready for it before 7th. Maybe that's just me.

What I Love About This Book

Dashti is so strong and kind. Many have criticized her as too perfect, but I felt she was merely naive most of the book. Saren's character was believable and by the end I was rooting for her. The romantic hero was one that made me happy, again the kind I as a person could fall in love with. For a young adult book, I liked the brutally honest treatment of their recover from different ordeals

Cautions

1) It's dark. No, really, it's the darkest of all the Grimms fairy tales I've ever read and I have read most of the original fairy tales.

2) There is a lot of classism in the story, in fact it's a central plot. Dashti believes that it is the will of the gods that she is in a lower class, and sees herself as less of a person because of that.

3) The beginning is hard to follow because the narrator is from a completely different culture(medieval Mongolian.) Terms like Mucker and the way they tell time are left for the reader to infer.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch

by Eileen Spinelli

Mr. Hatch is a very unpleasent person. No one likes him because he doesn't like any of them. Then on Valentines day he gets a package delivered to him. It is a box of chocolates and a HUGE paper heart saying "somebody loves you." Mr. Hatch can't believe it, somebody loves him! He walks on the street and makes sure to smile at everyone. He wants to thank the person who loves him. He goes to work and talks to all his coworkers. After all, one of them might love him. He starts coming out on the porch with lemonade and brownies for the neigbors, because one of his neighbors might love him. After a while he becomes an important part of the community. Everyone knows how great Mr. Hatch is. He does nothing but help and lift others. Then the postman comes back and apologizes for the mistake. The note and chocolates were ment for someone else. Mr. Hatch says the cocolates are gone, but he still has the note. After giving the note back, he withdraws into himself again, because he thinks that nobody really loves him. The neighborhood notices. They get togeher and ask him to come out of the house for a minute. The town has gathered for a party and hoisted a banner over the town square saying "Everybody Love You Mr. Hatch" Mr. Hatch unobtrusively wipes away a tear and vounteers to bring the lemonade.

Audience
1st on up. It's geared 1st through 5th-the reading level is late 1st early 2nd

What I Love About This Book
I love the idea of the influence of a single person. I also love the idea that attitude changes everything. This book could easily be used to teach the ripple effect of positive actions. If you are looking for positive books for a child's repitoire, this one teaches so many good things without ever being preachy.

Daughter of a King

by Rachel Ann Nunes

I gave this book to all my nieces one year. It is a poweful allegory of a couple who have a little girl. They teach her that she is the daughter of the King, and one day it will be time to return home to him. We follow this little girl through her life as she learns how to be a princess to the king, in being honest, kind, and hardworking. She learns that not everyone does know of the king. She marries a man that wants to return home to the palace and they are very happy together as they raise their son. When the time comes, they do begin the trek to the palace of the king and find it difficult. Just when they are sure they can go no further, they find themselves at the gates. Our princess finds herself hesitant to go inside because she is ragged and does not feel like a princess. The king steps forward and embraces her, welcoming his daughter home.

Audience
4 on up. I love it and I reread it when life gets a little harder

What I Love About This Book
The illustrations are wonderful, and the storytelling is sensitive and beautiful. I love this child-friendly outline to the purpose of life.

Cautions
This book is unashamedly religious. If you don't want that, look elsewhere

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsberg

This book was influencial in my childhood. If you are familiar with the movie, know that the book is not the same experience. The movie added so much that was not in the book. The Polar Express is simple and beautiful. The storytelling is intentionally minimalist with Allsberg's traditional genius illustrations. It is the story of a boy who gets the honor of riding the Polar Express to the north pole on Christmas eve and is selected of all the children there to recieve the first gift of Christmas.

Audience

I think you would need to be about 2nd grade to really enjoy this one.

What I Love
The last page. I'm not gonna say any more than that.

Oh, the Places You'll Go

by Dr. Suess

This book is a narrative of a young person's life. As they set out on their journey they will begin to make choices and this gives perspective to ups and downs and eventual success.

Audience

Anyone from kindergarten upward who is at a starting point in their life

What I Love About This Book
I love that it gives some attention and focus to the downs of life. This book talks a lot about the hard things ahead, such as being in a slump, of having a falling out, of being lonely, and it does so with the assurance that these hard times will pass. The book promises that if you keep on keeping on you will overcome all trials and that the happiness (both at the end of the journey and the journey itself) will outweigh the trials. With a guarantee of success(98 3/4%), this book sends you out to climb your mountain today.

The Colors of Us

by Karen Katz

A young girl has a grandmother for an artist, and the grandmother helps this girl understand color. This book is a young girl describing the skin color of her friends. She does so in beautiful poetic language that celebrates each ethnicity

Audience
I used it in a kindergarten class, and I loved it when I did

What I Love About this Book

It never once uses the colors "white" or "black." Some are almond, some are butter and cream, some are cinnamon. The author does not use PC cop-outs, rather brings out the beauty in each individual.

Cautions

If the premise makes you uncomfortable, preview it before using it.

You Are Special

by Max Lucado

This is the story of the Wemmicks, the wooden people, and one in particular- Punchinello. Wemmicks give each other stickers. Good wemmicks get stars, bad wemmicks get dots. Punchinello has no stars, but he does have a lot of dots. He's not fast or smart or pretty, not outstanding in any way. One way he meets Lucia. No stickers stick on her, and Punchinello decides he wants to be that way too. To figure out how, he goes to Eli, the maker of the wemmicks. Eli tells Punchinello that he is special. Eli promises Punchinello that he made him the way he is on purpose, and for that reason, he is loved the way he is. As Punchinello walks out thinking that he does not understand, one dot falls to the ground.

Audience

I don't think I'd go younger than 6 on this and 8 seems ideal. As an adult I get misty eyed at the end.

What I Love About These Books

I think they are very pertinent. The attitudes Punchinello is overcoming through the series are very real. The character of Eli is also powerful to me. Every time I read one of these I get a little choked up when he reminds Punchinello of his perfect love.

Cautions

The religious themes are strong. If you don't want to go that direction in class you could say Eli is a parent or teacher, but I grantee my third graders would pick up on Eli being like God, at least a few of them would.

Series
You Are Special

Because I Love You

Just for You
If Only I Had a Green Nose

Pink and Say

by Patricia Polacco

This is the story of a young soldier (Say) who is shot in the stomach and saved by a black soldier his own age days later. The black soldier Pinkus, or Pink, takes Say to his own home to recover. Say recovers physically, he is terrified to go into battle again. Moe, Pink's mom, assures Say that this is natural and he is not a coward. Before he is faced with the final choice the house is attacked. Say is wounded again, though not as bad this time, and Pink is taken to a POW camp, supposedly as he is never heard from after that. The author's note at the end says that Say was her own great-great-grandfather. The book is dedicated to Pink for his selfless sacrifice.

Audience
Not for little kids. I would only read this with my 3rd graders if I was there to talk to them about it and help them understand. Palacco writes for older children, more of the 5th grade and up variety.

What I Love About This Book
It shows two people bonding over shared pain. Though the boys are from opposing sides of a war, we get to see that they are both good

Cautions
Again, not for young children. This book has violence, and even though it is not graphic I think some aspects of war would need to be explained

Stellaluna

by Janell Cannon

I think most people I know are familiar with this gorgeous book. It is the story of a baby bat that get separated from her mother. Exhausted, she falls into a nest full of baby birds. The mother bird allows Stellaluna to stay, provided she acts like a good little bird. Stellaluna tries, she really does, but she can't. She can't eat any more worms. Even though she promised not to hang by her feet, she can't get comfortable any other way. One day she leave the birds and finds other animals like her. Stellaluna goes home with the bats and finds her mother at last. She returns to show the birds her new home and they are happy to remain close friends.

Audience
Anyone old enough to handle a paper book. The illustrations are engrossing and the story of finding parents is one any child will relate to. I think adults will be touched by it as well

Cautions

None that I can think of

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Why We Need Stories

This isn't a book review, it's just some thoughts by me. I heard someone say recently that we learn to read and write to do science, to learn about our world. I agree with that wholeheartedly. As a teacher I want my students to contribute to the world in productive ways. However I think reading for fun is one of the most productive things we can do. This kind of reading fuels the imagination. Without fiction, we would never contemplate the impossible. We would never come up with new ideas to explore if we couldn't dream them.

Fiction also has characters, people whose minds you can read. I told a student recently that books can become your friends. She is testing this one, and I'm cheering for her to succeed in making friends out of printed pages. There is nothing so comforting to me as to open a book to see the same characters speaking the same words and going on the same adventures that have brought me so much joy in the past. I find my younger self in the pages when I reread books.

There is also a study showing that kids who read are more confident. There are many reasons for this, I'm sure. But I think one big one is that kids who read believe in happily ever after. If you read a lot you see it happen all the time. That's something I want for my kids.

My experience is that children want nonfiction, which is wonderful. Their desire to understand the world around them is one thing I love about what I do. On the other hand, nothing brings me more understanding of myself and the people around me than looking through the eyes of a fictional character and feeling their emotions and growth. I hope all children get a steady diet of both fiction and nonfiction.

Warriors

by Erin Hunter
Rusty, a domestic kitten, knows he was destined for greater things. He sits on the fence and stares into the woods. Cats are hunters, why is he fed his food in a bowl? One day Bluestar, the clan leader of one of the 4 great cat clans of the forest gives Rusty a chance to leave all that behind and become a clan cat. Rusty, now Firepaw, begins training as an apprentice warrior of ThunderClan. He kills his prey and brings food to the clans, he does patrols with his mentor. This life is his dream, but clan life is not so simple. There are four clans in the forest, ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. They are watched over by the ancestors that have left them and joined StarClan. The ambition and bitterness of some members will tear the clans apart, if someone doesn't make the clans see the truth. But that may be beyond even StarClan's power

Audience
The reading level is recorded as middle school, but I've known 8 year olds to get into these. Possibly high fifth grade. It gets dark, but no worse then Harry Potter #3 (The Prisoner of Azkaban),

Why I Love These Books
I've never looked at a cat the same way since reading these. These stories are nothing new, but the journey is delightful. The plot never really surprised me, but I loved it nonetheless. I love that there are many strong female characters who are fully fleshed out and have an integral role in the plot. This is a series I'd recommend to reluctant readers if it falls in their interest. If you can get a kid into these, they'll have a rich supply. Lots of books here.

Cautions
1) It does get dark. There are some intense scenes
2) This is one of those stories with an Emperor Palpitine type villain. The villain seems good, but is manipulative and heartless. And just creepy
3) I've heard people say the characters are hard to keep track of. I'll admit to using the chart in the front of the book

Series
Into the Wild
Fire and Ice
Forest of Secrets
Rising Storm
A Dangerous Path
Darkest Hour

Stand Alone Books (Caveat-I haven't read any outside the original series, so I can't recommend them)
Firestar's Quest
Bluestar's Prophesy

SkyClan's Destiny

Crookedstar's Promise

Warriors: The New Prophesy
Midnight
Moonrise
Dawn
Starlight
Twilight

Sunset

Warriors: The Power of Three
The Sight
Dark River
Outcast
Eclipse
Long Shadows

Warriors: Omen of Stars
The Fourth Apprentice

Fading Echos

Night Whispers

Sign of the Moon

The Forgotten Warrior
The Last Hope-to be released next year

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Anne of Green Gables

by L. M. Montgomery

I grew up with this series, both the movies and the books. I love the movies, but they leave out a few characters from the books, and I love her more each time I come in contact with her. Anne is an orphan accidentally adopted by Mathew and Marilla Cuthbert. They were expecting a boy and got a girl that was certainly one of a kind. This book follows a turn of the century Canadian redhead through the ups and downs of her life. From being the new girl to challenges in friendships, to first dances and everything in between I love it all. I love how ordinary the facts of Anne's life are. If I were to spell it out, it would be typical of the time period and not rare today. What makes this story special is the world Anne creates around her. Like Pollyanna, she takes the grumpy, ordinary world around her and makes it into her dream, bringing others with her.

Audience
Girls 8 and up should understand the story. The reading level is quite high, around 8th grade, but I would recommend reading it aloud to younger children if you have the chance

What I Love About These Books
I love Anne. She is so spunky and funny. I relate to her, being both a talker and a dreamer myself. I also feel my mother is similar to Marilla Cuthbert in a lot of ways. I love all the enchanting people she loves, and I love getting to know the less enchanting people she learns to love. Her adventures keep me in stitches and warm my heart. I also want to marry someone like Gilbert Blythe. Just a handsome doctor who has adored me for years, is that too much to ask?

Cautions
Just that this book is hard to read. It was written over 100 years ago in Eastern Canada, so the language is slightly different. The rest is entirely appropriate

Series
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island
Anne of Windy Poplars
Anne's House of Dreams
Anne of Ingleside

The Pinballs

by Betsy Byars

I first read this book in 4th grade. I didn't really connect with it then, but I did later. It's about 3 children removed from various homes and placed together in a foster home. As Carlie states, they are pinballs. No one asks where they want to go, they just put the quarter in and send the kids off. The two boys in the home with her are not her brothers, nor are they her friends, they are just two other balls that happened to settle in the same nook. Carlie is right, to a point. All these children are being hurt by forces and people beyond their control, and they can't stop it. In the end they realize that the only thing they can choose is who they will be. Each can make whatever life they choose, no matter where they are sent.

Audience

Some of my 3rd graders have read this book. The language is simple, yet vivid. It deals with abuse and abandonment, though not as harshly as it could.

What I Love About This Book

This author always gets some tears from me, and this book is no exception. I love the nuances of the characters and their situations, and I love hoe Carlie, Harvey, and Thomas J all find they have what they need to be happy, regardless of the choices of others. I also like the wise adult included in this book. The foster mother is a minor, but pivotal character

Cautions
Two of the characters come from abusive homes. There is some swearing in this book

Howl's Moving Castle

by Dianna Wynne Jones

When I started this book I intended to like it. I did not intend to fall completely in love with it, but I did anyway. In a land where fairy tales are seen as true, it cannot be denied that the oldest is doomed to fail. Sophie has resigned herself to the fact and plans to work her life away in her fathers hat shop after his death. Then one day the horrible Witch of the Waste comes and puts a curse on her, instantly turning her into a 90 year old woman. Sophie knows she can't stay where she is, so she makes her way elsewhere. She ends up at Howl's moving castle (hence the title) and presents herself as a cleaning lady. Upon entering the castle she meets the fire demon, Calcifer, who agrees to break the spell on her in return for her breaking the spell that binds him to Howl. Sophie meets the "Heartless Howl" and is unimpressed by the childish man. As time goes on she begins to see how many wonderful things he does without a word. As she starts to see him better, she wonders what he might see in her

Audience

I think it's appropriate for almost anyone. Besides the stray swear word or two there is nothing objectionable. I could see a high 5th grader going for this one. I don't see any gender specificity

What I Love About This Book

One thing Howl say has had me thinking ever since I first read it. After you know the ending send me a message and I'll tell you what it is. I also love the characters. Every one is understandable and every single one is quirky in the extreme. But even with their quirkiness I felt I could relate to each of them in turn. The love story captured my heart and made me want to experience the book all over again

Cautions

This is a trilogy series, but I haven't read the other two. I'm not going to recommend this as a series until I do

The Little Princess

by Francis Hodgeson Burnett

This has been a favorite of mine since before I can remember. Sara Crew is her father's darling, but now that he is off to war, they must leave their home in India and Sara must start at boarding school. Even at her young age, she sees the injustice of her having so much and does her best to remedy it. She sees the good in everyone and draws all kind people to her. She imagines a better world and does her best to tell her friends about it, and to live in it as much as she can. Then one day she learns that her father is dead and she is destitute. In one moment she goes from being the parlour boarder to being a scullery maid. Now she must draw on all her powers of imagination to survive. Now she really can see if she has the ability to imagine a better place.

Audience
I'd recomend the audio to 3rd graders and the book to 4th graders. This is definetly a girls book

What I Love About This Book

I always wanted to be like Sara, but more than that I wanted a friend like her. I could relate to Sara more in poverty than in the beginning, but I have always had a place in my heart for Ermingaurde and Lottie. This story gives me hope in trials and makes me happy. I love how Sara grows and I love how everyone else becomes better just for being around her

Cautions

The descriptions of child mistreatment and of deprivation are fairly graphic. Also, if you are used to the Liesel Mathews movie, this does not end the same. The movie ending is happier and tidier, but I still like the ending of the book because it seemed more real to me.

Wringer

by Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli's works are generally hard hitting and this is no exception. In the rural town where he lives, Palmer knows on his 9th birthday he will assume the role of a "wringer." When there are pigeon shooting parties, he finds the wounded ones and puts them out of their misery. It's what you do, and the cool kids do it best. Palmer wants very much to be accepted and will do anything to get it, even turn his back on his childhood friend Dorothy. But one day a pigeon flies into his room and he adopts it as a pet. Dorothy is the only one who can help him care for his friend, whom he named Nipper. The problem is that the pigeon festival is coming up fast, and he needs a way to keep his friend safe, but is it even possible? And what if the secret comes out?

Audience
The coming of age themes make it hard for me to see anyone under the age of 12 understanding this book. Then again, where I teach, my children are already facing these coming of age problems at 8. The vocabulary lends itself to a 6th grade reading level

What I Love About This Book

I think a lot of people, especially boys, are still forced into a mold in society. I also think no one truly fits those molds. This story is incredibly relevant to anyone that realizes their desires do not match what others expect of them. This book is poignant at every turn, and the ending is one I thought about for days after I'd finished the book

Cautions

This story is emotionally very intense. If you want a light read, go somewhere else. Also, hazing is talked about as being a part of life.

Extra Credit

by Andrew Clements

Abby Carson gets a note sent home that she is in serious danger of failing 6th grade. The only way she can save herself is to get high scores for the rest of the year, do all her homework, and do an extra credit project. The project she chooses is to find a pen pal from another culture and create a bulletin board in her classroom from what she learns about their culture. She chooses Afghanistan because she hears about it on the news and knows that they have mountains there, unlike her home in Illinois

When the village elders in Afghanistan get the request for a pen pal they know the only person fluent enough to write back would be Sadeed Bayat. Unfortunately it is unacceptable for a boy to correspond with a girl in this way, so Sadeed's sister is given the chance to write Abby, with Sadeed's help. Abby and Sadeed are both shocked at the thoughts and culture of the other, and changed in ways they did not expect to be.

Audience

I'd say 4-7 of either gender.

What I Love About This Book

I just found the whole story very sweet. It shows problems in both societies, but it shows how positive changes happen. I also love Clement's theme of teacher smart enough to manipulate students into growth situations

Cautions
The end is not entirely satisfying. It left me dreaming about the future for those two children. The story is not graphic, but there is prejudice and violence.

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

Danish Annemarie and her friend Ellen are racing home one day when stopped by a German soldier. They are on all the street corners these days, the Nazi occupation of Denmark, so the girls think it's no big deal. Their parents feel otherwise, especially when they are told a few days later that the Jewish Ellen must go into hiding with Annemarie's family. They will take her to their Grandpa's farm on the coast, and from there get her to safety in Sweden. Annemarie now has to become aware of the courage of her family and the evils of the soldiers occupying her land. The courage of one little girl may not be much in the big war, but it can be enough to save her friend.

Audience

I read it in 7th grade and loved it. My friend read it in 3rd and loved it. I really do think that 5th might be the best option, especially since that is the age of the heroine.

What I Love About This Book
This book doesn't even touch on concentration camps. It is the triumph of the Danish people in choosing the safety of their Jewish people over their pride as a country. It's the courage of the resistance fighters in persevering through danger and tragedy to save so many lives

Cautions
The end of this book is bittersweet. Some characters live to the end of the story, some do not. It is an accurate representation of the challenges in occupied Denmark through the eyes of a child.

The Little Prince

by Antoine de St. Exupery

It's common to use this classic as a read aloud in a 3rd grade class. The story told by a pilot. As a little boy he wanted to draw, but no adult understood his drawings. Reluctantly he let go of the imagination of childhood and set into a career. When he crashes in the middle of the Sahara desert he finds a strange boy dressed as a prince. This boy has a single request "Please, will you draw me a sheep?" After some tries, the pilot does so, only for the boy to realize that sheep eat flowers. The boy is heartbroken that the flowers are being killed by the sheep and insists he needs a way to protect them. The pilot thinks this is foolish and says so. Over the course of the book the pilot learns of the boys love for his flower, and comes to see how love changes the core of who we are.

Audience
I think 3rd grade is the youngest I'd go with this one, but in 3rd grade they would need adult guidance. I read this story when I was in college and it changed me as a person. I think every human being should read it.

What I Love About This Book

This one deals with a very adult theme of how one can show love. It remains an innocent story, but it challenges us to reevaluate our thinking and feeling. As we adventure through the Sahara with the Pilot and as the Prince recounts his adventures of traveling through space to find how to love someone, we start to contemplate what it means to love. I'm not sure I can give an apt description of this book, but it challenged a few of my perceptions. The theme is that when you truly love someone (remember we aren't even talking about romantic love here) it changes the whole world for you.

Cautions
I can't spoil the ending, it's too beautiful. Suffice it to say, if you have moral issues with the book "The Giving Tree" this is not the book for you. Also, the personality of the rose is that of a fickle woman in some ways, but the theme is loving those who are imperfect.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Igraine the Brave

by Cornelia Funke

Igraine is the daughter of two magicians. Her older brother is a magician in training, and a good one at that. Igraine could be good, but she's rather be a knight! Who wants to be inside reading all day when you could be fighting the bad men? Her parents will not let her set out as a 10 year old knight errant, so she's stuck. Until the day life gets exciting. Her parents make a slight mistake with a spell and accidentally turn themselves into pigs. That same day the next door castle is taken over by an evil sorcerer and his knight. The parents know how to reverse the swine spell, but they are out of the red giant hairs, so someone needs to go get them. The most logical choice is for the brother (being the better magician) to stay and defend the castle and Igraine to go get the hairs. On her way to the giant she meets the Sorrowful Knight of the Mount of Tears. He is a disgraced knight, having failed in his charge to protect some other girls. He is afraid of failing again, but knows Igraine should not be out on her own. In spite of his doubts he sets out beside her, hoping this time will be different.

Audience

This is for younger girls. The characters are simple and likable, with clearly drawn lines. The humor would have my third graders in stitches.

What I Love About This Book
I love Igraine's simple loving nature. I also relate to the Sorrowful Knight. This is a fun story that made me laugh and was a breath of fresh air

Cautions
None I can think of

Jenifer Murdley's Toad

by Bruce Coville

This book is about the girl in the plain brown wrapper, Jennifer Murdley. At least on good days, she's the one no one notices. On bad days she knows she's ugly but tries to avoid facing it. When assigned to do a report on a pet, she ends up in Mr. Elives Pet Shop. He sells her a toad named Bufo. Upon getting home Jennifer finds out the toad can speak. She soon finds there is more to the story and the toad that meets the eye. Someone would be willing to give Jennifer anything to get something Bufo has. They could even make her beautiful. As she delves deeper in to Bufo, Jennifer learns there is also much more to herself than meets the eye.

Audience

This book has an end of fifth grade stamp for the reading level, but any girl/child that feels unattractive would relate with the main character (note: this is definitely written for children, not teens.)

Why I Love This Book
I really like Jennifer's journey of discovery. We all need to learn to like ourselves at some point. I really enjoy seeing Jennifer decide her priorities. I really like Bufo. He's hilarious and a loyal friend, he and Jennifer are lucky to have each other. The love story also tears at my heart, but saying more would be a spoiler

Cautions
Other than the theme of beauty and bullying I can't think of anything. This book is used in 4/5 classrooms as a class reading book.

Chronicles of Narnia

by C.S. Lewis

This series is my favorite of all time. It starts with the children being brought into the magical world of Narnia via wardrobe. It is beautiful and enchanted. The children soon find out it is not enchanted for the better. An evil White Witch makes it always winter, but never Christmas. Now these children are being put forward as the ones to end the Witches reign, under the direction of the King, Aslan. Aslan is the Lion, the Son of the Emperor across the sea. He is not tame, but He is good. This is the hook for the 1st book (as far as I'm concerned) but the whole series is beautiful. My favorite is the book Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I want to say that I thought the movie was fairly accurate, but entirely missed the spirit of the book.

Audience

I'd say 3rd grade on up. It will appeal more to girls than boys but I think both will like it. It is written so that I could love it as a child and yet I still understand it a little more every time I read it.

What I Love About These Books

Whenever I can't sleep I pull up one of these books. I've read them so many times that when I listen to abridged versions, I can tell what they left out. And yet, I still find new wisdom in them every time I read. I love the allegory of Aslan being Christ and I have come to know my Savior better through spending time with Aslan. The writing is so poetic, but it also strikes close because I can feel the truth of what he's saying. C.S. Lewis also has a tongue in cheek narration style that keeps me chuckling. The first line of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader may be one of the most brilliant in history-"There was a boy named Eustace Clarance Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."

Cautions

The 7th book seemed strange and creepy to me. There are a lot of very good things in it, but I needed to see the allegory to appreciate it. The book deals with the signs of the last days and the second coming. Maybe it was just me though.

Series (2 orders)
Publication order (my preference)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Horse and His Boy
The Magicians Nephew
The Last Battle

Chronological Order
The Magicians Nephew
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle

Animorphs

by Ann M. Martin

Five kids were hanging out at the mall one night. They knew each other from school, but weren't friends, they just happened to be at the mall. As they were walking home they met this alien that was like a centaur, exept he was blue, had 4 eyes, a knife on his tail, and no mouth. He spoke in their thoughts. He was dying. An alien force was attacking earth and someone needed to fight it. No one knows because they are silent invaders. They are little slugs that come in your ear and wrap around you brain. Only this alien race, the Andelites, have the power to fight them. He gave the kids this power. It was the power to morph into other animals, so long as they could aquire their DNA. The catch is that they can only stay in animal form for 2 hours. If they stay longer than that, they are trapped in that body forever. He dies after giving them the power and the information, leaving them to figure out what to do with the knowledge and the rest of their lives.

Audience

Scholastic says they are for grades 4-7 but I distinctly remember loving them in 3rd grade. The vocab level is grades 3 and 4. The content level is probably not above middle school

What I Love About These Books

I enjoyed the thrill of the chase as a kid. These are action packed books with animal facts sprinkled through. The characters are allowed to grow and develop and change through the books. The circle of five expands to include others eventually. The kids that barely knew each other that first night become good friends, the kind that feel safe in fighting with each other sometimes. The books get darker as you go, but it's not graphic, so you will find as much darkness as you bring to it. I also like that there's a quick summary at the beginning of each book. It's better to start with the first one, but not strictly necessary

Cautions

I don't know what to say here. If the plot summary offended you or made you uncomfortable this is not for you. If you were okay with it, then you'll probably like the books. I will say that they are formulaic. This is annoying for older readers, but sometimes it's good to know what will be in your book when you open the front cover.

Series

Little Women

by Louisa Mayy Alcott

This book is part of our consiousness. Every person should at least have heard of it. The plot is very simple. It is how four sisters grow from childhood to adulthood. Most of all it focuses on Jo, whose dreams seem too big for her realities. She wants to be a writer, an actor, something creative that will make the worls notice her. Under the loving care of a watchful Marmee, all the girls learn who they really are and how to find what they want in life.

What I Love About this Book

There are so many coming of age stories out there, but what makes this one special is that it is 4 girls coming of age. I think every girl can latch onto one or two of the main characters. The sisters are so different and want entirely different lives, yet are bound together in love. I think the fact that Louisa May Alcot wrote from her own life gives this book power. I found myself in these pages constantly and still do sometimes. There is humor and there is tragedy. I love that every crisis is met with faith and love. This book doesn't pull punches on how hard life can be, it just reminds us of the light at the end of the tunnel

Cautions

This book was writen during Civil War times. The war is alluded to, but never really discussed. Transendentalism and temperence are also mentioned and it's helpful to have a knowledge of those concepts. The book does not focus on religion, but it does mention it in a positive light, showing both Protestent and Catholic faith at its' heart

Tuck Everlasting

by Natalie Babbitt

Winnie Foster runs to the woods to escape her oppressive life around the turn of the century. She finds a Jesse Tuck in her woods drinking from a stream and starts questioning him. When she cannot be deflected from her curiosity she is kidnapped by the Tuck family, who is more sorry about her kidnapping than she is. She learns the secret of the Tucks-they have been immortal ever since they drank from the spring. Now she has the choice to follow in their footsteps and some time to decide. She examines each member of the family and their different views on life. Jesse very much wants her to drink the water when she gets older. Ma Tuck is so happy just to have a girl in her life once again. Miles and Pa Tuck share the broken hearts they've had because of their immortality. Winnie finds friendship and freedom for the first time with the Tucks, but is that worth giving up one's place in the cycle of the world?

Audience3rd-5th grade

What I Love About This Book

After reading so many sensational novels, it was a breath of fresh air to read this sweet little story about choices and belonging. This is a gently paced book with a special sweetness I haven't found very often. The moral is something to think about. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this book.

Cautions

SPOILER!!!! The moral is that life is valuable because it is so short. Death is presented as being necessary to life. Immortality is portrayed as a misery.

Bailey School Kids

by Debbie Dadey and Marcia T. Jones

Liza, Melody, Howie, and Eddie are normal grade school kids. There lives are slightly more complicated in that they see supernatural creatures everywhere. It's impossible that the bus driver could be a gargoyle, isn't it? And there is no way the track teacher could be a mermaid.

Audience

This is geared toward younger children. We did it as a read aloud in 1st grade.

What I Love About These Books
I love that the 4 children have different characters and we see the way they settle differences. All the books are pretty much the same, which appeals to children because they know exactly what they're getting in each book

Cautions
They are formulaic-meaning they repeat themselves. The books are pretty much the same, but if they are a winner the first 5 times, they will probably be a winner every time. They are very Scooby-Dooish but geared to younger kids.

Series

Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots
Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp
Santa Claus Doesn't Mop Floors
Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball
Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
Frankenstein Doesn't Plant Petunias
Aliens Don't Wear Braces
Genies Don't Ride Bicycles
Pirates Don't Wear Pink Sunglasses
Witches Don't Do Back Flips
Skeletons Don't Play Tubas
Cupid Doesn't Flip Hamburgers
Gremlins Don't Chew Bubble Gum
Monsters Don't Scuba Dive
Zombies Don't Play Soccer
Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade
Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats
Martians Don't Take Temperatures
Gargoyles Don't Drive School Buses
Wizards Don't Need Computers
Mummies Don't Coach Softball
Cyclops Doesn't Roller-Skate
Angels Don't Know Karate
Dragons Don't Cook Pizza
Bigfoot Doesn't Square Dance
Mermaids Don't Run Track
Bogeymen Don't Play Football
Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides
Knights Don't Teach Piano
Hercules Doesn't Pull Teeth
Ghouls Don't Scoop Ice Cream
Phantoms Don't Drive Sports Cars
Giants Don't Go Snowboarding
Frankenstein Doesn't Slam Hockey Pucks
Trolls Don't Ride Roller Coasters
Wolfmen Don't Hula Dance
Goblins Don't Play Video Games
Ninjas Don't Bake Pumpkin Pie
Dracula Doesn't Rock and Roll
Sea Monsters Don't Ride Motorcycles
The Bride of Frankenstein Doesn't Bake Cookies
Robots Don't Catch Chicken Pox
Vikings Don't Wear Wrestling Belts
Ghosts Don't Ride Wild Horses
Wizards Don't Wear Graduation Gowns
Sea Serpents Don't Juggle Water Balloons
Frankenstein Doesn't Start Food Fights
Dracula Doesn't Play Kickball
Werewolves Don't Run For President
The Abominable Snowman Doesn't Roast Marshmallows
Dragons Don't Throw Snowballs
Beasts Don't Read Magazines

Jr. Chapter Books Series

Ghosts DO Splash In Puddles
Reindeer DO Wear Striped Underwear
Cupid DOES Eat Chocolate-Covered Snails
Pirates DO Ride Scooters
Dragons DO Eat Homework
Wizards DO Roast Turkeys
Vampires DO Hunt Marshmallow Bunnies
Cavemen DO Drive School Buses
Snow Monsters DO Drink Hot Chocolate

Special Editions

SE Swamp Monsters Don't Chase Wild Turkeys [Thanksgiving]
SE Aliens Don't Carve Jack-O-Lanterns [Halloween]
SE Mrs. Claus Doesn't Climb Telephone Poles [Christmas]
SE Leprechauns Don't play fetch [St. Patrick's Day]
SE Ogres Don't Hunt Easter Eggs [Easter]

Super Specials

SS Mrs. Jeepers Is Missing
SS Mrs. Jeepers' Batty Vacation
SS Mrs. Jeepers' Secret Cave
SS Mrs. Jeepers In Outer Space
SS Mrs. Jeepers' Monster Class Trip
SS Mrs. Jeepers On Vampire Island
SS Mrs. Jeepers' Scariest Halloween... EVER!
SS Mrs. Jeepers' Creepy Christmas