Esperanza Rising

by Pam Munoz Ryan

I can't say it better than the back of the book, so I'm not even going to try. "Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico--she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances--Mama's life, and her own, depend on it."

Audience: 5th grade and up

What I Love:
1. All the characters are relateable
2. Debunking of stereotypes about Latinos (ie being uneducated)
3. A wonderful story about growing up

Cautions:
This book deals with grief and persecution of migrant workers

Follow the Drinking Gourd

by Jeanette Winter

The story of a family making their way to freedom from a slave plantation with the help of "Peg Leg Joe" and the underground railroad.  The one thing they need to remember is to "Follow the drinking gourd" or big dipper's north star.

Audience: anyone old enough to learn about the underground railroad

What I Love:
1. The historical concepts
2. The sheet music
3. The happy ending

Cautions: The music for "Follow the Drinking Gourd" was first published in 1928.  It's suspected such a song was used on the underground railroad, but the version in the book was not.

Wonderstruck

by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck starts out about a little boy in 1977 who has lost his mother.  Unsure how to cope living with relatives that seem to feel more obligation to take him in than actual love, he goes back to the house he and his mother shared.  He is on the phone when it is struck by lightning and becomes deaf.  As we are learning pieces of his story the prose (words) will stop and pictures will tell the story of a deaf girl in 1927 who feels very trapped, finding solace in following the career of actress Lilyan Mayhew.  I spent the whole book entranced by both characters and wondering how they could possibly be connected.  When I found out, I was delighted and touched.

Audience:
About 3rd grade.  It is a really thick book, but so much of the story is told with only pictures that reading it won't be a problem for younger children.

What I Love:
The title of this book is very fitting.  It comes in the text from Ben (the little boy) reading a book about how the purpose of museums is to leave someone 'wonderstruck' but expands to include the wonder of discovering the world and oneself.  It is about feeling lost and alone, then finding a friend and becoming part of something more than yourself.

I don't think I have any words for the pictures, they are gorgeous and they really are worth a thousand words each:

Cautions:
This story is meandering at best.  There are several ideas that aren't really tied together in the end-the idea of museums and the idea of reaching higher than oneself for instance.  I think the author purposely left out a few conclusions to allow the audience to decide what certain things mean.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

by Jean Lee Latham

Nat Bowditch is a little known American historical figure around the time of the Revolutionary War.  The book starts out with Nat as a child excited about school and especially about his best subject: Math.  Unfortunately Nat's career in school is short lived due to his family's poverty.  At 12 he is indentured to a Chandler (someone who sells everything a ship would need) and has to give up all dreams of further schooling.  In his job at the Chandlery Nat learns every thing he possibly can get his mind around on any and every subject.  Eventually Nat becomes a skilled navigator and spends most of his time teaching others the art.  Along the course of his teaching, Nat finds the charts they currently use are riddled with errors leading to the loss of ships and sets out to publish The New American Practical Navigator still known as the Sailor's Bible today.

Audience
5th and 6th grad boys will love it best.  This book will be perfect for anyone who loves Johnny Tremaine.

What I Love:
1) I love this book's view of education.  Nat was heartbroken about not returning to school, but educated himself to the extent that he was awarded an honorary Harvard degree.
2)I like that Nat took accountability for everything in his life and bettered his circumstance instead of complaining,
3) The title is taken from an oft repeated line by Nat's captain, Captain Price.  I love when adults are shown as wise and caring.  His support enabled Nat's legacy.

The Tale of Desperaux

by Kate DiCamillo



Desperaux is a very small mouse with very large ears.  He lives in the castle and is a complete failure at being a mouse.  He doesn't like hunting or eating books-he likes reading books.  His favorites are about the knights that save the princess.  Shortly thereafter he falls in love with Princess Pea and learns the truth of how powerful love really is.  Along the way he learns love for many others, including a serving girl, a prison guard, a rat, a brokenhearted king, and his own family.

Audience: 2nd Grade, Vocabulary 4th Grade

What I Love:
This story is about real love.  The characters are flawed and sometimes absurd.  They hurt each other and make mistakes, but they forgive and move forward.  I found countless priceless lines throughout the story.  The theme has to do with Light v. Dark and how we choose which one we will keep.  I feel every child and most adults need to read this book.

Caution:
Every single character comes from a broken family.

Charmed Life

by Dianna Wynne Jones

Cat doesn't mind living in Gwendolyn's shadow, she is the most powerful witch in the world after all.  When she is summoned to Chrestomanci Castle to train as the next Chrestomanci, she pitches a fit .  She doesn't want the current Chrestomanci anywhere near her.  She has a secret, one about both her and Cat, that she can't stand anyone finding out.

Audience:
Twelve and up for reading level, eight and up for content

What I Love:
All the characters are so clever and enjoyable.  They had me lauging out loud and rolling my eyes more than once.

Cautions:
This is a really slow moving novel.  Until it was at the climax I wasn't that in to it.  Howl's Moving Castle is still my favorite by far of all her books.

The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant

by Dianna Wynne Jones

Christopher Chant has very vivid dreams about going to other places, just like a lot of people.  Unlike a lot of people, when he gets back his clothes still have the dirt of the other places.  When his uncle finds out about this unique gift, he sends Christopher to all sorts of cool places to collect...something.  He doesn't know what he's getting, but he has lots of fun doing it.  And in this one place, there's this one girl that...enough said.  He meets lots of people and realizes the world is so much bigger than even he thought.

Audience:
Teen, mostly.  The book is too slow to hold the interest of children

What I Love:
Christopher is so charming.  All the characters are very real, even when they're kind of ridiculous   This is a fun light read.

Cautions:
1) This is not one I'd stay up all night reading, it's a lot slower than that
2) These books are not a series so much as companions.  There are recurring characters, but the main character is different in each book.

The Boggart

by Susan Cooper

This is a very cute children's book.  I expected it to be more adult considering that this is the author of The Dark is Rising but what I got was a charming children's story about a young girl and her adventures with a boggart.  His victim, Emily, turns out to be unscarable, but together they come up with a lot of fun ideas to scare the living daylights out of the community

Audience:
3rd-5th grade

What I Love:
The whole story is just charming.  I think it's the only children's story I've ever read (except Anne) that takes place in Canada.

Cautions:
This is one of the stories where the kids get away with murder.  There are some consequences, but overall their mischief is celebrated.  Also, there are some pretty dumb grown-ups

Harry Potter

by J. K. Rowling

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet.  Harry Potter learns on his 11th birthday that he is actually a wizard, and a famous one at that.  Apparently he killed the most powerful dark wizard that ever was as a mere infant on the night his parents were killed, so after a lifetime of neglect he is embraced by the wizarding world as their savior.  Harry quickly makes both friends and enemies at Hogwarts.  With natural talent in some areas, popularity in others, and good judgement in friends (if nothing else), Harry quickly finds his place at HogwartsIt's obvious not everything is as it seems, and as time goes on it becomes clear that the battle didn't end with Harry's miraculous night, and things are going to get worse before they get better

Audience:
The series starts when Harry is eleven and the content and reading level match his current age in each of the books.  These are at least as popular with adults as the intended audience

What I Love:
1) The characters are all very real.  The children are well developed and in character for their ages, and the adults are amazing as well.
2) You see the protagonists fail from time to time and choose how they are going to take it.
3) For such a serious story, this has plenty of humor

Cautions:
1) I'm always hesitant to recommend this to kids because you are ready to start the series at 11 but the content of the last book is inappropriate for anyone below 15- it deals with the effect of murder on the human soul.
2) Be warned, characters die.  Frequently.  And I'm not just talking about the bad guys either.

Series:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Philosophers Stone in the UK)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Princess Academy

by Shannon Hale

Miri gets word very suddenly that the Prince's bride will come from their rural area, so all the elegible young women are sent to a "Princess Academy."  Lifelong camaraderie is challenged when the girls find themselves in competition, but Miri is determined that the strength of the community can overcome anything, even this jealousy.  Add to this the untapped powers of the mountain they live on, and it's an epic coming of age fantasy.

Audience:
Girls about 3rd grade and up, but the reading level is around 5th grade

What I Love:
The girls are all so smart and strong, not to mention independent.  They are also about as awkward as teenagers.

Cautions:
This is written younger than her other books.  There are almost no male protagonists.

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

James lived a happy life until he was about 5.  Then his parents were killed by a stampeding rhinoceros and he had to live with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, who hate him.  They lived together for another 5 years until James was given something to make his "dreams come true."  Not understanding how to use it, he accidentally spends the magic wish making a Giant Peach on the Aunt's tree.  It doesn't take him long to recognize the peach as an escape, or to recognize that he isn't alone in the peach-the bugs are bigger too, just like the peach.  For the first time in his life, James has friends.  Together they cross the ocean, conquer all manner of challenges, and form life-long friendships.

Audience
I read it in 4th grade and that was a bit young.  I'd give it to 5th up to middle school.  I read it with some of my students and I love it even more as an adult

What I Love
It's funny and insightful.  The characters are easily lovable and all the problems are pretty funny.

Cautions
The grown-ups are the bad guys, as with everything Roald Dahl writes.  The problems are very fantasy oriented and suspension of disbelief will be hard if you're not prepared to swallow everything.

Brotherband Chronicles

by John Flanagan


Ahh memories, memories.  This is a continuation of the series that inspired this book.  Honestly, I love the Rangers Apprentice Series and I love this one even more.  It's about a group of boys in Scandia coming together for the Brotherband Games.  In Scandia this is how boys are trained for the tasks they will assume as Vikings (I mean Scandians.)  The main character, Hal, is half Araluen and half Scandian.  He rallies the misfits of the age bracket and figures out how to make them an unbreakable team.

Audience
These are written for middle grades (6-8) and should appeal to anyone ages 11-16.

What I Love:
These characters are so heartwarming and crazy at the same time.  I love that the boys are all different and have to work to overcome conflict.  Erak is a frequent character, and the adults of this series are as charming as the children.  I laugh out loud at some of the dialogue and I'm frequently holding my breath hoping the characters will make the right choice.  The writing in these is much improved from the Rangers Apprentice

Cautions:
The female characters, where they exist, are pretty minor.  The romance-don't read for that.  Read for fun and adventure.

Series
The Outcasts
The Hunters
The Invaders
More to Come...

Where the Sidewalk Ends

by Shel Silverstien

This isn't a story, it's a collection of poems.  I grew up reading his books and I love them to this day.  The longest poems cover two pages, but that's including the illustrations, but many are only 10 lines long.

Audience
As soon as children know what poetry is.

What I Love:
1) The pencil illustrations are so funny and charming
2) Most of the poems are funny and relateable to children (ie Sister for Sale)
3) There are quite a few serious poems, like the one posted at the bottom.

Cautions:
1) All the poems are stand-alone, they don't relate to anything else in the book
2) There is implied nudity in one or two of the drawings (always from the back, not showing anything)
3) Silverstien has an irreverent sense of humor about teachers and parents.  Sometimes (not often) the joke is at their expense.

Series
Where the Sidewalk Ends
A Light in the Attic
Falling Up
Everything On It
Don't be a Bump in the Glump

Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Matilda is an extraordinary girl in a less than ordinary family.  They don't understand Matilda, so she learns to shut up while they ignore her.  Matilda turns to books for solace and finds support there.  This works for everyone until Matilda starts school.  In Miss Honey's class all children learn and grow and blossom.  Unfortunately the school headmistress is Miss Trunchbull, who delights in torturing children.  Matilda finds the courage and strength to master her growing powers and stand against injustice.

Audience
This story is on the dark side.  Newly fluent readers-4th grade or so, will be able to read this one.

What I Love
1) Roald Dahl has a sarcastic sense of humor that leaves me chuckling.
2) This book is all about the power of the oppressed-what you can do when you stand up for yourself.
3) The ending makes me happy.

Cautions
1) This is a dark story, it could creep some kids out.
2) The adults are the bad guys.
3) There is some British speak. 

American Girl

Various Authors

This is another set that reads differently to children than adults.  They are all about pre-teen (9-11 year old) girls at different points in American history.  When I grew up there was just Felicity, Kristen, Molly, Addy, and Samantha.  I'll do my best to outline all the current ones here.

Addy-She and her mother escape slavery, leaving the other half of the family behind

Felicity-Lives with her grandmother in the American Colonies.  She must decide where she stands in regards to the war for independence

Molly-Molly is an irrepressible girl struggling on the homefront of World War II

Kristen-A Sweedish immigrant in the midwest during the 1800's

Samantha-A young Victorian lady who struggles between societal expectations and her own vivacious nature.

Josephina- A Mexican American girl during the Spanish American War who struggles to find her own culture

Kit- The trials of the Great Depression are the perfect place for Kit to stretch her imagination and see what she can do with the world around her

Caroline is afraid of being separated from her father during the War of 1812, but determines not to let it happen

Julie-in the face of her parent's divorce, Julie struggles to follow her dreams amid the sexism of the 1970s

Ivy Ling- an American Girl of the 1970s must decide how to incorporate the traditions from her rich past with her dreams of the future

Rebecca moved from Russia to the land of opportunity in 1914, but finds that being Jewish in America leads to other problems and unexpected joys for her and her family

Kaya, a Native American from the Naz Perez tribe loves her fast horse, but quickly learns that bragging will get in the way of everything she wants to do in life and in racing

Marie-Grace lives in 1853 New Orleans.  Amid the flurry of color and spectacle she dreams of being a singer, but how can she overcome her shyness and pursue a life on stage?

Audience
These are great first chapter books.  As soon as the child has mastered something like Frog and Toad are Friends or Magic Tree House is a great time to introduce your daughter/student to the American Girls

What I Love:
1) The stories feel genuine to me, very natural as opposed to feeling contrived or made up
2) The struggles of these girls pull at my heartstrings.  Things like trying to keep a family together and fear of an uncertain future
3) There's always a 'Looking Back' section at the end of each book to give a true picture of historical fact
4) The setting is pretty accurate to history without the Looking Back section

Cautions:
1) There are lots of pictures (appropriate for a first chapter book)
2) Each girl deals with real issues (i.e. slavery, child labor)
3) I've never known a little boy to get enthused about these.  Almost all the characters are girls.
4) There is a booming franchise of expensive dolls and doll accessories to go with every character, and your girl will almost definitely want them after reading the books.

All the girl's stories follow this same format:
Meet Addy: An American Girl
Addy Learns a Lesson: A School Story
Addy's Surprise: A School Story
Happy Birthday Addy: A Springtime Story
Addy Saves the Day: A Summer Story
Changes for Addy: A Winter Story

*Note: I've done one American Girl from each time period.  Now the series includes two girls from each period, one from a privileged class and one from the underclass of the day

The Witches

by Roald Dahl

Witches are a threat to global security.  They are out to destroy all the world's children, and they could soon succeed.  So why doesn't anyone know about them?  The grandma in this story does.  She tells her grandson they are easy to find if you know the signs-they're bald, so they all wear wigs.  Their feet are huge so it's painful for them to wear their high heels.  Grandma wants to teach him the signs so he can fight the witches with her.  Unfortunately, when Grandma gets pneumonia the boy gets in over his head.

Audience:
Any fluent reader.  My 4th graders love it, my 3rd graders would have too, if they'd read it.  Any child who is able to read this should be fine with it.

What I Love:
1) It's so funny.  Dahl is seriously sarcastic
2) I was genuinely surprised by how things turned out-I didn't see it coming

Cautions:
1) Adults are usually portrayed as the bad guys by this author, The Witches is no exception.
2) It's come under criticism for sexism-all witches are women.

Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

This is one of those classics that never gets old.  A young boy (10) decides he needs a dog.  Or, more specifically, two coon hounds.  He earns the money by doing odd jobs.  It takes him a year, but he keeps at it.  At last he gets the long awaited dogs.  Learning to love and care for his dogs helps Billy Coleman learn who he is and who he wants to be.

Audience

Age 12 or so should be fine.  This is for people who love animals and or tear jerkers in a modernish (1960's) context.

What I Love:

I love that the story is all about love.  Billy comes from a loving family, and he is excited to take care of his dogs. The crux of the story is about how the two dogs take care of each other.  And once again, we have smart adults.

Cautions:

It's a slow story, not action packed at all.  SPOILER!!!  It's a very sad story.  One of the dogs is attacked and the other dies trying to save his companion.  It's a sob story that will probably leave you wrung out.

Beast

by Donna Jo Napoli

Beauty and the Beast told from the Beast's side.  He was a Persian prince who was trying to convert to Islam.  He knowingly broke a sacred commandment, and this caused him to get turned into a beast, specifically a lion.  He tries to reach out to his family, but they don't know who he is.  With no where specific to go, he just starts heading west (Europe.)

Audience
I wouldn't go lower than 7th grade on this one, for content reasons

What I Love:
1) The story of the Beast is so touching.  I can see his flaws, and I can see how the punishment could be just.  In spite of everything, I still love him and wanted him to find joy.
2) The meshing of different cultures (Hindu, Islam, and European) was just plain fascinating.
3) This is a classic story of someone fighting their own worst self and winning

Cautions:
1) There is sexual content.  In his beast form, he cannot overcome the urge to mate.  This is one scene, but it's more graphic than I expected
2) The end left me unsatisfied.  I want to know more of the story, and I felt like it stopped at a bad place.
3) There are a lot of religious and cultural references.  Sometimes it was hard for me to keep up.

Magic School Bus

by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degan

This series is both fiction and nonfiction.  With the help of a remarkable teacher and a shape/size shifting bus, the students find themselves inside science concepts.  Their adventures take them anywhere science is to be had.

Audience
I started in first.  I think up through third grade would be excited about them.  After that, the students would pretend they were too cool for them, but still secretly love every minute of it.

Why I Love This Book
1)The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System is the book that got me hooked on reading.  I was in 1st grade and I spent the entire book holding my breath, because I knew there was no air in space.  Seriously, I was so lost in the book, I forgot to breathe
2) The illustrations are so fun.  Sometimes looking at them will give you parts of the story that aren't in the writing.
3) I like the thought bubles.  The kids are really smart aleck-y.  

Cautions
1) The words are sometimes hard to read against the backdrop of the illustrations.
2) In the original series there's lots of information on every page, with lots of sidebars.  Some kids find that a distracting challenge to read

The Original Series

1. The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks
2. The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth
3. The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body
4. The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
5. The Magic School Bus On the Ocean Floor
6. The Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs
7. The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
8. The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive
9. The Magic School Bus And the Electric Field Trip
10. The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses
11. The Magic School Bus And the Science Fair Expedition
12. The Magic School Bus And the Climate Challenge

[edit]Chapter Books

1. The Truth About Bats
2. The Search for the Missing Bones
3. The Wild Whale Watch
4. Space Explorers
5. Twister Trouble
6. The Giant Germ
7. The Great Shark Escape
8. Penguin Puzzle
9. Dinosaur Detectives
10. Expedition Down Under
11. Insect Invaders
12. Amazing Magnetism
13. Polar Bear Patrol
14. Electric Storm
15. Voyage to the Volcano
16. Butterfly Battle
17. Food Chain Frenzy
18. The Fishy Field Trip
19. Color Day Relay
20. Rocky Road Trip

[edit]Scholastic Reader Level 2

1. The Magic School Bus Has A Heart
2. The Magic School Bus Gets Caught In a Web
3. The Magic School Bus Gets Recycled
4. The Magic School Bus And the Missing Tooth
5. The Magic School Bus Fights Germs
6. The Magic School Bus Gets Crabby
7. The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Bugs
8. The Magic School Bus Weathers the Storm
9. The Magic School Bus At the First Thanksgiving
10. The Magic School Bus Arctic Adventure
11. The Magic School Bus Lost in Snow
12. The Magic School Bus and the Shark Adventure
13. The Magic School Bus Builds the Statue of Liberty
14. The Magic School Bus in a Bat Cave
15. The Magic School Bus Comes to Its Senses
16. The Magic School Bus and the Wild Leaf Ride
17. The Magic School Bus and the Butterfly Bunch
18. The Magic School Bus Rides Into Space
19. The Magic School Bus Rides the Wind
20. The Magic School Bus in the Rain Forest
21. The Magic School Bus Sleeps for the Winter
22. The Magic School Bus Explores the World of Animals
23. The Magic School Bus to the Rescue: Blizzard
24. The Magic School Bus to the Rescue: Forest Fire
25. The Magic School Bus to the Rescue: Earthquake
26. The Magic School Bus to the Rescue: Flash Flood
27. The Magic School Bus Inside Your Mouth
28. The Magic School Bus Explores the Ocean
29. The Magic School Bus Flies with Dinosaurs
30. The Magic School Bus Takes a Moonwalk
31. The Magic School Bus Flies From the Nest
32. The Magic School Bus Blasts Into Space
33. The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up

[edit]Science Readers

1. The Magic School Bus Gets Ants in its Pants
2. The Magic School Bus Going Batty
3. The Magic School Bus in the Haunted Museum
4. The Magic School Bus Gets all Dried Up
5. The Magic School Bus In the Arctic
6. The Magic School Bus Meets the Rot Squad
7. The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top
8. The Magic School Bus Answers Questions
9. The Magic School Bus Inside Ralphie
10. The Magic School Bus Gets Programmed
11. The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm
12. The Magic School Bus Plays Ball
13. The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds
14. The Magic School Bus Ups and Downs
15. The Magic School Bus Gets a Bright Idea
16. The Magic School Bus Butterfly and the Bog Beast
17. The Magic School Bus Makes a Rainbow
18. The Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake
19. The Magic School Bus Out of this World
20. The Magic School Bus Taking Flight
21. The Magic School Bus Takes a Dive
22. The Magic School Bus Gets Cold Feet
23. The Magic School Bus Shows and Tells
24. The Magic School Bus Spins a Web
25. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted
26. The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten
27. The Magic School Bus Wet All Over
28. The Magic School Bus Goes Upstream
29. The Magic School Bus In A Pickle
30. The Magic School Bus Hops Home
31. The Magic School Bus Sees Stars
32. The Magic School Bus Looking for Liz (sticker book)

Strega Nona

Tommy DePaola

These are the stories of an Italian Witch Grandma and her grandson Anthony.  Strega Nona is wise and kind (and a bit snarky) but Anthony is not always good at listening to her.  Anthony has adventures that end peacefully with his grandmother's guidance

Audience
I'd start reading it aloud to children in 1st or 2nd grade.  They will still be interesting to 4th/5th graders

What I Love About It
1) The pictures.  They are intracate and gorgeous.  Tommy DePaola is a genius.
2) Dialogue.  It's a little stitlted in places, but I always have reading it aloud.
3) The story is cute.  It makes me smile

Cautions
1) Anthony is pretty dumb
2) Strega Nona is portrayed as all knowing, a little flat

Series
Stega Nona
Strega Nona's Magic Lessons
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
Strega Nona's Harvest
Strega Nona Meets Her Match
Strega Nona Takes a Vacation
Strega Nona: Her Story