Tuesday, December 30, 2014

See You at Harry's, Jo Knowles. A book for more mature readers because of the content. The story revolves around Fern (Charlotte's Web), the third child of four. Charlie (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), her three-year old brother, lovingly hangs on her, much to her dismay. Her 14-year old brother, Holden (Catcher in the Rye), is coming to grips with his sexuality, while fighting off bullies and avoiding the topic with his family who have already guessed that he is gay. Sara (The Little Princess), the oldest has no time for her family that owns an ice cream restaurant keeping mom and dad much too busy. Tragedy strikes, leaving each family member to deal with it in his/her own way. Ran and Cassie, Fern's best friends remain by her side, when her mother is unable to do so. Slowly, as the family struggles through their tears and heartache, they find one another and hold on tight. Though, their lives will never be the same and all that is left is love, they learn to give it away again. Have a box of tissues handy, as it is an emotionally charged story that will have you feeling the pain right along with them.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Lincoln's Grave Robbers, Steve Sheinkin. A favorite non fiction writer, this award winning author of Bomb, writes a juicy story of the real account of the attempt to steal the body of Abraham Lincoln. Counterfeiting money was a common crime in the mid-late 1800's, and at that time, the main role of the Secret Service was to collar the bandits. When the best known counterfeiter, Ben Boyd was imprisoned, plans were put into place to steal the president's body, ask for a ransom and the release of Boyd and continue with their counterfeiting business. However, the clever police Chief Patrick Tyrrell, thwarts their plans and Lincoln's body is able to finally rest in peace. This is a page turner of a story, sure to keep readers engrossed until the end.
Counting by 7's, Holly Goldberg Sloan. A wonderful story of Willow Chance and her search for a new home, after her parents are killed in a car accident. She is on her way home after getting ice cream with her school counselor, Dell Duke, her new found friend, Mai and Mai's older brother, Quang-ha when they notice emergency vehicles in her driveway. Willow's world is immediately shattered.

Upon receiving the only perfect test score on the school state test, her teacher assumed she cheated and refers her to the school counselor, Dell Duke. Willow is actually a genius, but her interest in the natural world and counting by sevens comes to an abrupt halt after the death of her parents. Pattie, Mai and Quang-ha Nguyen, allow her to stay with them temporarily. Quang-ha finds her a nuisance, but Pattie and Mae warm to her instantly, as does Dell. Each character, including Jairo, the taxi driver, rally around Willow, forming a quirky and unconventional, family relationship. The day finally arrives; however, when Lenora Cole, the social worker, calls to tell her she has a court date for her to be placed with a foster family. The ending will delight readers, leaving warm fuzzies through and through.

Friday, December 26, 2014

The Book of Bad Things, Dan Poblocki. Cassidy Bean is spending her third summer with the Tremont family in Whitechapel. She and Joey are fast friends, but this summer, he is sullen and reserved. The previous year, his dog, Lucky, died a horrible death and she is convinced he blames her. Cassidy worries she is not welcome when Rose and Dennis Tremont forget to pick her up at the bus station. Almost as soon as she gets settled in, she sees the ghost of Ursula Chambers, the old grumpy hermit, outside her window. She quickly finds out that she, Joey and Ping, a new neighbor, all see ghosts of dead people, including Lucky. The house of dead Ursula seems to be calling to them, saying, "give it back," and they figure out that the greedy people coming to take things out of her house await a fate, sometimes ending in death. It is up to these three, along with Hal, that must save Whitechapel from itself. Cassidy's "book of bad things," a notebook of great personal value that she keeps to help her deal with her own past demons must be surrendered for the wandering ghosts to cease. And as they enter the haunted house of Ursula, they learn she may not have been the evil, wicked witch, the town came to know. A book sure to keep readers biting their nails and reading short chapter after short chapter to its chilling end.
Odette's Secrets, Maryann Macdonald. The true account of young Odette, a Jewish girl living in Paris, during the height of the Nazi regime. With her father joining the  French army and her mother the Resistance, she is sent away to the countryside to live with friends until better times bring them together again. Odette, forced to keep secrets and look like a normal Christian girl, questions her past but during this traumatic historical time, no answers are forthcoming. She makes friends and learns to live a new kind of life, at times, forgetting what her old life, including her father, were like.

This story, written in a series of short poetic chapters invites the reader to live along side Odette, as she struggles with living a lie, but a lie to save her life. A couple of scattered pictures throughout help the reader see her as a real girl, living in a horrific time.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

100 Cupboards, N.D. Wilson.  The first in a series of three books, this will delight young fans of the fantastical world of what lies on the other side of the doors - cupboard doors, that is. Young Henry, off to live with his Uncle Frank, Aunt Dotty and three cousins: Anastashia, Penelope and Henrietta, the one with whom he travels to other worlds, hears some thumps and bumps in the night. Henry pulls the wall apart in his room to find various sized cupboard doors, of different sizes and shapes that had been hidden for years. Some lead to goodness and others lead to evil. He and Henrietta, having found a journal, explore many of the doors, only to get lost, escape danger and pursue the mystery of their grandfather and how the cupboard doors came to be. This book was recommended to me by a student and this story is sure to win the hearts of many young readers.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

A Long Walk to Water, Linda Sue Park. A true story of Salva, a "lost boy"  of Southern Sudan, in 1985. Attending school one day, war came to his small village, changing his life forever. Told to run by his teacher: from his village, from his family, from everything he knew and he did. The story takes us with him, as he, along with others, trudge through deathly deserts toward Ethiopia and a hoped that things might be better. Along the way, he finds his uncle, the apparent leader of the refugees. His words of wisdom get him through many difficult times. After living in a refugee camp, the people are forced to flee yet again, forcing them to cross the crocodile infested Gilo River, back to Sudan. Death, desperation and despair surround him, yet hope is around the corner.

Paralleling Salvo's story is Nya, a young girl that must walk eight miles a day for water. Day in, day out, she walks. The year is 2008. How their stories connect is heart warming and unforgettable.

Linda Sue Park, author of A Single Shard, masterly tells an important story that kids ought to know. I highly recommend sharing this story with students, perhaps, as a read aloud. It is a slim book, sure to capture their attention.

Be sure to catch Linda Sue Park as she shares the importance of books and how they can change a life. It is definitely worth the 12 minutes.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Twerp, Mark Goldblatt. Julian, upon his suspension from sixth grade, takes up his teacher's invitation to keep a writing journal in place of other required writing assignments. Mr. Selkirk, recognizing Julian's writing talent, is hoping that he will share what really happened with Danley and the egg escapade. As the year moves along, Julian records major events in his life: causing an accident by dodging cars, writing a note to Jillian, the hottest girl in class, for his friend, Lonnie, being bested by a faster runner than himself, firecrackers in the abandoned Ponzi lot. We meet his close friends. We go on the humiliating date that he makes with Jillian when she doesn't believe that the note was not "really" from him. We feel the cold shoulder he gets from Lonnie when he finds out about the date. We meet Eduardo, the foster kid, that is so much faster than him. Through it all, he knows that Mr. Selkirk is waiting for the one entry that Julian needs to write. We, as readers, have to wait for it, but it does come and when it comes, it comes with a shudder.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

13 Treasures, Michelle Harrison. Tanya, a young girl visited by evil fairies that torture her, confounds her mother who does not see fairies, is sent to live with her hateful grandmother. One day, upon entering the vast forest behind her grandmother's house, and unable to find her way back out again, she comes across another young girl, Red, that appears to live in the forest. She proves to be an important character throughout the story. Tanya and Fabian, the groundskeeper's son, form a friendship that takes them back into the forest to learn the real secrets behind the "13 treasures" and the story behind them. Dwarves, trolls, fairies and witchery hide behind every corner of these pages. One morning, Tanya awakes to a room full of her own hair growing at such a rate that it fills the room. On a final journey into the woods, she and Fabian are confronted by the aged Morwenna Bloom, who reveals the secret of why Florence, Tanya's grandmother, has been so distant. About to be captured and exchanged for her youth, Fabian hightails it out of the forest and away from Tanya. Readers will be kept on the edge of their seats right there with Tanya, hoping that, against all odds, someone will come to her rescue.

This is a story sure to be enjoyed by your fans of the mystical and mysterious. Suspense, intrigue and curiosity await all that pick up this book.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Loot, Jude Watson. March McQuin and his father, Alfie are jewel thieves. After watching his father fall to his death, March soon learns that he has a twin sister, Jule and both are being sent away to an orphanage. However, they have no intention of staying. Carlotta Grimstone, a rich baronness wants March and Jules to find her seven stolen moonstones, return them to her and earn seven million dollars. She needs them before the next blue moon (two full moons within one month) to prevent her own death. With their new found friends, Izzy and Darius, they embark on a jewel heist of all heists. With hints from their dead father and their own skills, they come face to face with danger and a sliver amount of time remaining. A fast paced, thrilling story with likable characters, readers will find themselves rooting for the young thieves to outwit those out to stop them and continue the legacy of their father, Alfred March.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Because of Mr. Terupt, Rob Buyea. What a gem of a taIe I stumbled upon while visiting Amazon. Seven very different fifth graders face their new teacher, Mr. Terupt, feeling they will manipulate and walk over his inexperience and naivety. Throughout the book, the short chapters jump from student to student revealing each personal story that many will be able to relate to. They clash, they collide and they mistreat one another and only Mr. Terupt seems to see the goodness in each one. A tragic day awaits them when misbehavior gets the better of them and their beloved teacher pays the price. As teachers, we will nod our heads, seeing the actions of what we know to be true in growing minds. I started the book, planning to read a few pages and found myself not able to put it down. As a tribute to teachers, this story is sweet and sad, making for one memorable story.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, Kathy Appelt. Bingo and J'miah, the newest raccoon Sugar Man Swamp Scouts, are out to find the Sugar Man to save their homeland from impending doom - hogs. Chap, a young boy, is out to do the same thing because Jaeger Stitch has sights on turning the swamp into the Alligator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park. Although they don't know it, the raccoons and Chap are on the same mission - to save the swamp. Chap has no chance against Stitch and his money wallet and Bingo and J'miah are desperately trying to stay ahead of the loud and getting louder rumbling. This sweet story was a National Book Award Finalist. Many characters, human and animal, and story lines may be confusing for some readers. Chapters are very short, sometimes a half a page, and they alternate between story lines. The author brings it all together with a satisfying, sweet ending. This might be easier to share as a read aloud and keeping track of the different characters as a reference.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Word After Word After Word, Patricia MacLachlan. This delightful, quick little read is perfect to share with students to show them the delight one can take with words and writing. Ms. Mirabel, an author in residence, inspires the students to believe in themselves as writers and that writing helps us figure out what we are thinking. Even Mrs. Cash, the stodgy, traditional writing teacher finds her voice.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

The Boy on the Porch, Sharon Creech.This is an adorable book about John and Marta finding a young, sleeping boy on their porch one morning. The boy, Jacob, does not speak and cannot provide any background information. All they have is a note saying that Jacob is a good boy and they will be back soon. Days, weeks, months pass and no one in town knows anything and no one comes to claim him. The three form an unlikely family and the little boy fills the heart of John and Marta with joy and smiles. Indeed, one day, his father does come to claim him. The rest I'll leave for you to read. Is it sad? Yes, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Every Day After, Laura Golden. Lizzie's father, after losing his job, is gone. Ben's father is dead. The two become fast friends at the height of the Great Depression. For Lizzie, her world shattered when her dad left, leaving only a note and a locket to replace him. Her mother, living within her own silence, is unable to help. Things go from bad to worse when her enemy, Erin Sawyer, envious because of Lizzie's top grades and friendship with Ben, sets out to destroy everything for her: pushing into her, stealing Ben's friendship, faking an apology so that Lizzie will not enter the writing contest, letting Dr. Heimler know that her mother is "not in her right mind," hoping that Lizzie will be put into an orphanage. When a letter is handed to Lizzie, delivering the news that they are now defunct on several mortgage payments, she begins to lose hope. With Ben and his mother moving away for the same reason, she wonders if it will ever stop raining despair on her life. Making some tough decisions, she learns to let go of what she needs to let go of and hang on to what she needs to hang on to.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman. This is a deliciously creepy story about a young boy, named Bod, for Nobody Owens, who escapes being murdered at a very young age. The man Jack murders the boy's parents and older sister and is on his way to the nursery, only to find the crib empty and the toddler nowhere to be found. Thus begins the story of how Bod comes to live in the cemetery to be taken care of by ghosts, followed by many adventures that take him outside the graveyard among the living. This 2009 Newbery Medal book will be well received by young readers that enjoy the thrill of being on the edge. The few illustrations add the right amount of intrigue. Be sure to read the author's Newbery Medal acceptance speech at the back of the book, including this: "Reading is important. Books are important. Librarians are important. Children's fiction is the the most important fiction of all."

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina, Rodman Philbrick. After Zane's mother does some digging to learn that his late father has a grandmother in New Orleans, he and his dog, Bandy, fly down to stay with her. Zane warms to Grammy immediately and hopes to learn how his father died. But, Hurricane Katrina is fast approaching so they leave town on the preacher's bus. When Bandy jumps out the window, with Zane fast on his heels, they end back up at Grammy's house, with the storm licking at their heels. When water begins to drown the house, they must escape to the attic, with only a vent for hope. Along come Malvina and Tru in a canoe to rescue them. What follows is their harrowing experience through stink, filth, danger and death. Although familiar with the horrors of Hurricane Katrina, this story takes the reader to the heart of the devastation: poverty, race, drugs, crime.

Philbrick, author of Freak the Mighty, does not disappoint with his latest book. Prepare readers for a dialect for which they may not be familiar (truth = troot, that = dat, darling = dawlin).

Monday, August 18, 2014

Prisoner B-3087, Alan Gratz. "We are alive. We are alive, and that is all that matters. We cannot let them tear us from the pages of the world," said Yanek Gruener, or B-3087, to a young boy in the midst of the horrific Holocaust at Birkenau concentration camp. Watching the wall go up around Krakow, Poland, in 1939, to being separated from his family and knowing their fate, to the ten concentration camps that Yanek endured, his story is important. The author does acknowledge taking liberties, thus calling it a novel; however, Yanek (currently living in America and named Jack) is indeed real and the cruelty, starvation, brutality and hatred is very, very real. This story requires emotional stamina, because it is graphic, unimaginable and horrifying. Before suggesting this to a mature reader, I would recommend reading it first so you can prepare your reader for what lies ahead.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Revolver, Marcus Sedgwick. What a thrill of a read. The cover and title are enough to draw a reader into its fast turning pages. This was a "Chloe-you'll-have-to-wait-until-I-finish-this-book-before-our-walk" kind of story. It drew me in from the first two quotes, followed by the first line, "Even the dead tell stories." And those stories will arise from young Sig's dead father laying on the table only feet from him, who can't be buried because the ground in Giron, 68 Latitude North is just too frozen. The year is 1910 and hopes of gold brought Einar Andersson, his wife and two children north to the frigid temperatures. Stranded in this remote area, finding work as an Assayist (one who checks the purity of gold), Einar comes across Mr. Wolff, a giant of a man, demanding to have his gold tested. When told his gold is worthless, Wolff strikes a deal with Einar, only to be tricked and angered, setting off a ten year search for the constantly moving Andersson family. He finally finds him as Einar's chilling, decaying corpse lays on the table with Sig watching over him. demanding his share of the gold, of which Sig and his sister, Anna, know nothing. Their only hope of survival lives in a box in the pantry: an 1873 single action Army Colt revolver. But Wolff has his own gun. The ending has a satisfying twist that may surprise you.

I recommend reading this before suggesting it to mature readers, due to content that some may consider questionable. If this were a movie, it would probably be rated PG-13. This book earned the Prinz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, Chris Colfer. Alex and Connor are given a special fairy tale book from their grandmother after the passing of their father. Little do they know of the magic found within the pages, until one night they fall into the book and land among the familiar fairy tale characters that we all know and love. Upon entering the fairy kingdom, they first meet Froggy, a reappearing character, that helps them more than once in their quest to get back home. He explains that to return to their mother, they must gather several items, including a fairy's teardrop, Sleeping Beauty's spindle and a lock of Rapunzel's hair. Once collected, the Wishing Spell will grant one final wish. Not surprisingly, evil wolves and trolls slow them down while fairies and dwarves toss out their goodness. With a couple of items tucked away in their satchel, they learn that the Evil Queen is also desiring of the final wish and she has the powers to bring Alex and Connor down. When the brother and sister finally collect all the items, they are kidnapped and brought to the Evil Queen who tricks them to win the final wish. In Cinderella fashion, the Fairy Godmother makes an entrance and shares a surprising secret, bringing the story to a satisfying "happily ever after."

This is a fantastical story, bringing back fond memories of tales all children should have as friends. If not, perhaps, reading and visiting with the familiar fairy tales will provide the foundation. With over 400 pages, recommend this book for stronger readers and they will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

A Snicker of Magic, Natalie Lloyd. As soon as Felicity Pickle's mom feels it is time to leave, she ups and moves her and her sister, Frannie Jo, to a new place, a new house, a new school. Nowhere does she call home, until they venture into Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, a place once full of magic but also a curse that took it all away. Felicity collects words and keeps a blue book full of them where "lonely" seems to be a recurring theme. She meets Jonah, aka Beedle, who changes the lives of others, as well as her life in ways that she never expected. They strike up a deal that she will use her collection of words to write and read a poem at "the duel" forcing her artistic mother to hang around a bit longer. Not only does the poem touch a part of her mom's heart, it moves her to finally begin painting again. The small town holds many stories and tales and secrets that Felicity sorts through to learn more of her own background. But through it all, she finds a home and learns that Midnight Gulch still has a "snicker of magic."

This is a lighthearted story that would make a nice read aloud. It is one about loss and loneliness, hope and a home. It leaves you with a sense of contentment and happiness.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness. An unforgettable book and winner of multiple awards. Conor O'Malley's nightmare monster shows up night after night, at 12:07, just as his mother starts her unsuccessful treatments for cancer. Through a series of stories that the monster tells Conor, he is seeking for him to identify his own truth, which Conor is loathe to speak. Ness has written a beautiful story on behalf of Siobhan Dowd, herself an author, that lost her life too soon. It is about life and death, forgiveness and acceptance, love and anger, holding on and letting go. A lovely book to offer anyone struggling with a loss, or learning how to accept the unacceptable. I highly recommend this book, even if you read it only for yourself.
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Chris Grabenstein. Kyle Keeley is on a quest to earn the top prize by escaping from the newest library created and designed by none other than the Mr. Lemoncello, game wizard and book nerd, himself. In similar fashion of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, 12 contestants are allowed entry and slowly, many are tossed out due to selfish and greedy reasons. The contest begins in the library with 24 hours to find their way out of the library. With loads of mind games, puzzles and references to book titles, contestants must use their library knowledge, especially the Dewey Decimal System to come out on top. Holograms and game tactics, such as "ask a friend" and "shout out" can be utilized to further gain information. Soon, teams form and brains work together to solve the clues.

This is a fun book and would make a great read aloud. It smacks of "7 habits" because the two final teams clearly demonstrate how synergizing gets the job done, or not done, in the case of one team.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Comics Squad Recess! Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, et al. Kids are going to love this collection of comics from popular authors, such as Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants) and Raina Telgemeier (Drama, Smile). Pizza monsters, aliens, ninjas, cupcakes playing freeze tag, bratty girls, bad puns and poor spelling make this a fun addition to your classroom library. Illustrations will also grab the attention of your students with their bright orange pages. This is a perfect fit for struggling or unmotivated readers.
Keeping Safe the Stars, Sheila O'Connor. Pride, Nightingale and Baby Star, orphaned siblings, are taken under the wing of their grandfather, Old Finn. Chapter one begins with Old Finn, the small town hermit, taking himself to the local hospital, telling the kids to stay with Miss Addie until he returns. However, he does not return and Miss Addie is old and not able to provide any direction or support. The kids make the long trek to the hospital, only to learn that he was transported to the big city hospital for encephalitis. With no money, little food and the fear of being put into the foster system, they make signs advertising pony rides and selling cookies and souvenirs to raise money for the Greyhound tickets needed to get to him. Among their few customers are Nash, a journalist and his daughter, Sage, who keep coming back trying to get more information for his story; but the lies that Pride tells, just don't work for him. Searching for money, Pride comes across a stack of love letters to Old Finn from Justine, a painter, currently living in the city. Using their precious dimes for phone calls and the help of the local librarian, they track her down. She instantly comes to their aid.

This story, with a strong female protagonist shows the love and compassion for a grandfather, while desperately missing her mother. With little resources, Pride makes decisions that make her sister, Nightingale, uncomfortable because of the lies she tells. It is a story about family and opening ourselves up to others and allowing them to help in our time of need.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Beryl: A Pig's Tale, Jane Simmons. A cute story about Beryl and her brave escape from the slaughterhouse. When her Aunt Misery sticks a label on her meant for her fatter cousin, she is loaded onto the truck headed for the unknown. When the truck hits a rough patch, Beryl and the other pigs are bumped out of the truck, and she makes the quick decision to head for the forest. She soon meets Amber, a wild pig and her family. Beryl is not readily accepted by every member of the clan and several set off to form a new community, but not without a few trials and tribulations along the way and a deeper connection with Amber then she could have ever thought.

This is a lower level book, ideal for the struggling reader. Simpler vocabulary, many chapters and plenty of illustrations make this a story worth recommending.
Under the Egg, Laura Marx Fitzgerald. Times are tough for Theodora (Theo) Tenpenny and her mother, more obsessed with solving mathematical theorems, than being a mother. Theo's beloved grandfather, Jack, worked as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and she was a frequent visitor, becoming knowledgeable of famous pieces of art and their artists. Upon Jack's deathbed, he uttered these words to her, "It's under the egg. Look under the egg. There's . . . a letter. And a treasure." These few "misinterpreted" words, along with finding a painting in the house believed to be of significant value, leads Theo and her new friend, Bodhi, a famous, pampered movie star, on a hunt. With help from the local librarians, the Internet and primary resources, they learn that Jack was a POW during WWII and creatively hid a famous, unknown painting by Raphael. This leads to more questions about who her grandfather really was and how he came to have such a painting in his possession.

The author provides some background information on Raphael and his work, along with other famous painters. This is a great story; however, more for your sophisticated readers that are ready for an art history lesson, as well as Nazi Germany and the Monument Men.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, Karen Foxlee. Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard, a young cynic of anything beyond the ordinary, moves to a museum with her sister, Alice, and their father who takes the job as curator of swords. Upon exploring the seven floors of the museum which houses everything from stuffed elephants to crowns and tiaras, she comes across a boy trapped behind a door on the third floor. After accepting that he is real and needs her help to free him from the Snow Queen, she sets off on several adventures to obtain three keys necessary to open the door. She must endure talking ghosts, hungry birds and the watchful eye of Miss Kaminski. Throughout the story, she learns the story of how "the boy" came to lose his name and how he got trapped for hundreds of years behind the door.

This would make a great read aloud. I found it to be fun with just the right amount of intrigue to keep kids wanting more. Once the kids know the book, it would make a marvelous mentor text for how to use lists; they are prolific throughout.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Hattie Big Sky, Kirby Larson. The same author of my previous chat, has this Newbery Honor Book set three miles north and west of Vida, Montana during the height of WWI in 1918. Orphaned sixteen year old Hattie Inez Brooks is left 320 acres of land by her dying Uncle Chester. She, along with Mr. Whiskers, her cat for catching mice, decides to leave Aunt Ivy and Uncle Holt in Arlington, Iowa to stake her claim. Once there, she learns that she has to set 480 rods of fence and farm 40 acres within ten months. Hattie is hard working and determined to do all that is necessary to keep the land; however, lack of money, natural hardships and exhausting work make her task challenging. Perilee and Karl Mueller, with their three children and one on the way, become her steadfast friends. Leafie, Rooster Jim, Mr. Ebgard, the banker, also become important folk in her life. Then, there is charming, questionable Travis Martin, set on getting her land. Most chapters begin with a letter to Charlie, a childhood friend, off fighting the war in France, with whom she shares her life experiences. Never having been to Montana, Larson paints a lovely picture of this big sky country and its harsh beauty. For your historical fiction reader, this is a great read, with a strong female character sure to earn admirers.

Monday, July 14, 2014

The Friendship Doll, Kirby Larson. This sweet historical fiction story centers around Miss Kanagawa, one of 58 Japanese dolls sent to the United States in friendship. Miss Kanagawa, a beautiful doll with porcelain white skin, jet black human hair and red lips speaks to four different girls throughout the depression years spreading words of friendship and wisdom. Her first girl, Bunny Harnden of New York City in 1928, is angry because President Roosevelt's granddaughter is asked to speak at the doll presentation even though she is the better speaker. Wanting to play a trick on Belle, Miss Kanagawa steers her in a different direction. Next, Lous Brown of 1933, gets the chance to visit the Chicago's World Fair with her Aunt Eunice. She is given a quarter and wants desperately to fly high in the skies on The Sky Ride, but again, the Japanese doll steps in and guides her to a different decision. In 1937, Mrs. Weldon, an old lady hires Willie Mae Marcum to come and read to her, helping the family through tough times since her dad died. Along with Willie Mae, Miss Kanagawa helps lighten up the old lady's disposition, even if temporarily. Finally, she makes her way to Lucy Turner in 1939, when she and her dad leave Oklahoma for California, escaping the dust bowl and poverty.

For the girl with a soft spot for dolls this could be a perfect fit. Remind your reader that the font will change, along with an asterisk, indicating a voice change between the Japanese doll and the girls. A few pages in the back gives more history of how the story came to be.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Gollywhopper Games, Jody Feldman. Inspired by Roald Dahl's, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this is an adorable story that will surely entertain students and make a fun read aloud. Gil Goodson, along with thousands of children, enters into the Golly Toy &  Game Company's contest so that his dad will keep his promise and move he and his mom away from the scandal surrounding the family. Almost two years earlier, Charles Goodson, was fired from his role as vice-president at the Golly Toy & Game Company for embezzlement. Distraught from all the ridicule Gil endures from classmates, he begs his dad to move them far away. The competition starts with thousands; however, is soon whittled down to two teams of five with the winning team solving puzzles and performing stunts faster than the other. The five remaining contestants must now compete against one another, and naturally, one of the contestants is Rocky, the kid most merciless in his teasing of Gil. The ending has twists and turns and a redemption for Gil's dad. The mind games are clearly spelled out, making this a possible interactive book to see how well students can solve them.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, Steve Sheinkin. This fabulous Newbery Honor award nonfiction account of the building of the atomic bomb will keep you mesmerized and intrigued. I strongly encourage anyone to read this book who has any interest in how the making of the bomb came to be. Physicist, Robert Oppenheimer (think Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory) was the key man behind the Manhattan Project, while Charles Fuchs and Harry Gold were American spies meeting up on street corners and giving information to the Soviets. Trinity was the name given to the test done in a remote desert region in New Mexico, proving to be successful, thus . . . Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Real photographs help put faces to the many parties involved and short chapters allow the reader to read a bit at a time, set it done and come back to it.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

A Million Shades of Gray, Cynthia Kadohata. The year is 1975, the Americans have pulled out of Viet Nam and the Viet Cong have entered a small village in the Central Highlands, taking the villagers hostage; although, many of them were able to escape, including Y'Tin's parents and sisters. Thirteen-year old Y'Tin, the best elephant handler around, turned back toward the village because he thought he saw his little sister, Jujubee, sitting on the fence. He became one of the hostages forced to help dig the grave that would soon hold all those that perished at the hands of the North Vietnamese. Before the village was set ablaze, Y'Tin was able to escape and find his elephant, Lady,  in the jungle, along with childhood friends, soon to be ex-friends, Y'Juen and Tomas. Together, they forged ahead looking for their lost families, hoping to find them alive. They chance across a herd of wild elephants and Lady becomes agitated untl Y'Tin is able to win her back. The boys' families are found; however, Y'Tin learns that the commander wants to eat the expecting Lady and two other village elephants for sustenance. Y'Tin must make a decision to save her life.

Cynthia Kadohata is an award winning author (Kira Kira) and again writes a touching story that brings students in touch with another culture to see the devastation of a war torn country. It is a well written story that has you traveling with Y'Tin through the jungles of Viet Nam and gaining a fondness for Lady.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Doll Bones, by Holly Black. Middle schoolers Poppy, Zach and Alice are best friends and unashamedly use their imagination to play make believe using dolls as pirates, thieves and mermaids. The Great Queen, a China doll, rules from behind a locked cabinet inside Poppy's home. Tension arises, however, when Zach's dad, who has come back home after being absent for three years throws away all of Zach's action figures, hoping he will give up childish games and play basketball. Zach is devastated, and rather than tell the girls, he simply says he won't play the game anymore. The girls struggle with trying to determine the real reason for his sudden disinterest and yet keep their own secret from him. Poppy tells Zach and Alice of her dream requesting her to put the Great Queen in her rightful resting place, the cemetery in East Liverpool a couple of hours away. After some convincing by Poppy, they combine their money, along with backpacks full of necessities and head out for the bus that leaves in the wee hours of the morning. Many adventures await them, and strange things happen along the way, making Zach think that the Great Queen's ghost is real. Wanting to warm up, they sneak into a nearby library and accidentally fall asleep. The next morning, they are discovered by the librarian, who demands they each call their families. The quest is in jeopardy, until a final plan is put into place.

This Newbery Honor Book is a delightful story that would be a fun, juicy read aloud or to recommend to that student that likes a bit of spookiness but not too much to truly scare.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Radiance, by Alyson Noel. Twelve year old Riley Bloom has been dead for a year, along with her parents and beloved dog, Buttercup. Ever, her older and revered sister was left behind. Riley now lives in the Here & Now, where there is no time, other than "now." She struggles with being Here and not annoying her sister, whom she is sure is witnessing some awesome things. In the Here, she has an assignment to face Radiant Boy and bring across the bridge, a task no one has yet been able to do. Bodhi, a dorky looking boy, is assigned to be her teacher and because he has his doubts, he promises to teach her to fly to London if she can accomplish it. Not only does she accomplish it, but she helps him confront his own assignment . . . Whaling Woman, so that he can move to the next level.

This is a quick and simple read and one that many girls would enjoy. I found it to be a bit loose with a lack of deep character development. I would not recommend it as a read aloud, but for that specific girl that will not recognize its flaws, it could be enjoyed.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Welcome to Chapter Chat

Welcome to Cooper's Chapter Chat, where you can read and provide a book review, share an anecdote, a strategy, a skill, a lesson, ask a question, share your thoughts, or leave a comment. 

Flora & Ulysses, Kate DiCamillo. The crazy adventures for little, cynical Flora begin when her next door neighbor, Tootie Tickham, receives a Ulysses Super Suction, Multi-Terrain 2000X vacuum cleaner for her birthday and it sucks up a hungry, unassuming squirrel. Quick thinking from her go to comic book, The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto, she gives the squirrel CPR and names him Ulysses. Their friendship begins. Flora’s detached, divorced, cigarette smoking, romance novelist mother, Phyllis, finds her daughter to be too emotionally attached to the squirrel. She demands George, Flora’s father, to capture the “diseased” squirrel, hit him over the head and bury him, but when he won’t do it, Phyllis kidnaps him herself. Flora, Tootie and William Spiver (Tootie’s great nephew) set out to stop her mother, using her shepherdess lamp, named Mary Ann, as hostage whom Flora’s mother prefers over her.


The zaniness of the story would make this Newbery winner a fun read aloud. It could also be suggested for unmotivated, yet capable readers because of the many comic like illustrations. Kate DiCamillo also wrote The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, all award winning books.