Jana's Books

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