This book is an
amazing story of Ben and Rose. Ben’s story it told with words while Roses’
story is told completely with illustrations and 50 years before Ben's. It is amazing how the two separate stories end up intertwining and eventually met up and become one story. This book will appeal to the readers who like to read mysteries or
books that have a lot of twists and turns and is similar to a puzzle that you
have to figure out. I would recommend this book to my students that are looking
for adventure but at the same time want a good heartwarming story to read also.
Selznick, B. (2007). Wonderstruck.
New York: Scholastic.
Love That Dog
This
is a very unusual book since it is written like a novel but in poetry form. It
is about a boy who thinks poetry is for girls but after having to write poems
for his class he figures out that it is not hard and that he actually likes it,
and is good at it. He writes several poems that the teacher asks to hang on the
wall. I think that this book would appeal to my students who like to read short
heartwarming stories. Even though it is written from the perspective of a
little boy I think that the girls in my class would find this book more
appealing. It would also appeal to the pet lovers in the class, although I was
expecting to hear more about his dog.
Creech, S. (2001). Love
That Dog. New York: Harper Collins
All pictures from amazon.com and videos from youtube.com
Gregor the Overlander This book takes the reader on a quest into the underworld with talking bugs and rodents. Eleven
year old Gregor has to try and rescue his missing father from the rats that are
holding him as a prisoner in the underground. There are villains that have to
be battled and things/bugs to overcome. As you read the story you can also get
a good mental picture of all the creatures and the smell of the underground. Collins, S. (2003). Gregor
the Overlander. New York: Scholastic.
The Graveyard Book The
characters in this novel are very extraordinary and belong in a fantasy book.
With ghosts, witches, werewolves, and other creatures from the dead, the
characters fit right into a fantasy book. A Family of ghosts takes in a small baby that wondered into the graveyard after crawling away from the house where his family had just been murdered. The ghost called him
“Nobody Owens” or Bod and decide to take care of him as he grows up and has to battle all the eveil "things" that threaten him. The Ghosts become very real after you get into the story and you
really care about them and forget that they are ghosts. They become very
believable characters. The author Neil Gaiman describes the graveyard with amazing
details that allow you to get a great understanding of the place and the
characters. I enjoyed the description of the tombs and headstones and the moss
coverings and I can really picture the hills, gates and all parts of this story. Gaiman, N. (2008). The
Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins.
Rapunzel's Revenge This is not
your typical Rapunzel! These characters will take the reader on a great adventure.
You will find yourself rooting for them as they right the wrongs created by the
evil Gothel while trying to save the people and her real mother. The theme of
good overcoming evil is seen through this book as well. There are battles and
victories as the characters work their way across the map and try to help
people. Rapunzel’s use of her long hair is also very enjoyable through this
story along with her partnership with Jack. A great fantasy story in graphic
novel form! Hale, S., & Hale, D.
(2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York: Bloomsburry Books for Young
Readers.
Comics Squad This is a collection of hilarious graphic novel style stories based around the idea of recess. Each of the stories in this book involve their own quest or
journey that make this a work of fantasy.
There area a total of eight stories in the book written by popular authors of very popular characters like baby mouse and lunch lady. Children will really enjoy reading these funny short stories of crazy adventures. Holm, J. (2014). Comics
Squad: Recess! New York: Random House.
Skulduggery Pleasant After the sudden death of Gordon Edgley's, his niece Stephanie is left with the mystery that is Skulduggery to figure out exactly what happened to her uncle. The
Character of Skulduggery Pleasant, a humorous detective who also happens to be
a skeleton, makes this novel what it is. The characters are very enjoyable and
extraordinary. You find yourself routing for them and wanting to go on the
crazy adventure with him and Stephanie. The dialog between Skulduggery and
Stephanie is an example of the author’s style that also makes the story
enjoyable.The quick wittiness of
Skulduggery is something that stays with you after you have finished the book. Landy, D. (2007). Skulduggery
Pleasant. New York: Harper Collins.
All pictures are from amazon.com and videos from youtube.com
This historical fiction story about a family’s ups and downs
is set right in the height of the Civil Rights era in 1963. The reader can
follow the journey through Kenny’s eyes, a very smart, ten year old boy. He is
a great reader and gets bullied because of it and most of it comes at the hands
and words of his older brother Byron. He has to watch as Bryon gets into
trouble and follows the wrong crowd which results in their family trip back to
the south to Mrs. Watson’s hometown. While in Birmingham Kenny experiences some
traumatic events that change him and the relationship between his brother Byron
and himself. Kenny wants to find out what the “Wool Pool” is about and if it is
true and ends up getting sucked into the whirlpool and has to be saved by his
brother. After that he becomes distant and suffers from some hallucinations
which actually leads to Kenny saving his younger sister Joey from a church
bombing. The language combined with the author’s style and word choice give the
reader a good understanding of life as an African American family in the
1960’s.
Paul Curtis, C. (1995). The
Watsons go to Birmingham 1963. New York: A Yearling Book.
Good Masters, Sweet Ladies
Lord’s nephew, shepherdess, pilgrims, mud slingers,
merchant’s daughters, and knight’s sons are all found in this book of medieval
times. The book consists of nineteen monologues and two dialogues with each one
telling the story of a child between the age of ten and fifteen from this
medieval time period. Mixed in with the monologues are pages of background
information to help the reader further understand and comprehend the
monologues. Each monologue describes a life event for that child that makes a
big impact and describes the social status of that child. Even though the story
is told through several different characters the reader can learn a lot of
factual information from this book of fiction. The author includes footnotes to
go along with each monologue to inform/teach the reader and help them
understand the story.The author
explains medieval life through different levels of wealth, jobs and
experiences. Even though the medieval times is hard for people of this time
period to picture, the author does a good job of using the appropriate language
to give the reader a good understanding of the time period.
Amy Schlitz, L. (2007). Good
Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village. Massachusetts:
Candlewick Press
pictures from amazon.com and video from youtube.com
As you read the book you
go on an emotional journey with Leigh Botts, because of the way the book is
written. You get to really experience his every thought since the book is written in letter format. A lot of children are coming from homes with parents separated which makes the home setting something that the readers can most likely relate and connect to. It is very believable. The way this book is written, also allows the reader to get inside Leigh’s head to see what he is thinking, feeling and wondering about. Great book!
Cleary, B. (1983). Dear
Mr. Henshaw. New York: Harper Trophy.
Out of My Mind
This is a book about a 10 year old with cerebral palsy and her issues
with school. She is super smart but can’t prove it because of her physical
limitations, until her family sets her up on a computer. Life is very
frustrating for her which is will make the readers be able to connect with her.
Even with Melody’s disabilities she still has to deal with the “normal” things
a ten year old girl goes through. It is a great book of
Melody’s journey of discovery, friendship, and finding her identity.
Draper, S. (2010). Out
of My Mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Rules
Catharine,
the main character, is just like any other young girl who has an annoying
little brother so she is easy to relate to for young girls who also have a
younger brother. Although Catherine’s younger brother is a little different
because he has autism. This story is told through Catherine’s perspective as a
young girl who has to take care of her younger brother. Girls can relate to her
because of the events such as a new girl next door, liking a boy and not sure
how your friends would react to him being in a wheel chair, and going to her first
dance. It is an engaging story that is very true to life. The rules she gives
her brother to help him in social and life situations make her seem real to the
reader. It’s a very cute story with a very deep character.
Lord, C. (2006). Rules.
New York: Scholastic.
A Crooked Kind of Perfect
Zoe dreams of becoming a piano prodigy but her parents give her The Perfectone D-60 instead and crush her dreams. She learns to adapt and actually learns that it is not so bad. The theme of building friendship and
relationships and perseverance also are seen in this story about a girl who many little girls will be able to relate to!
Urban, L. (2007). A
Crooked Kind of Perfect. Massachusetts: Sandpiper.
Timmy Failure
This
story will grab the reader’s attention on the very first page, even the cover,
with its hilarious character and the author’s style. With all kinds of
excitement, this book is hard to put down. The main character, Timmy, will be
very easy for kids to relate to because it is written in their language, the
way they talk and the way they feel about such things as school and parents.
Timmy will keep children entertained with detective business and his polar bear
sidekick Total. Similar to the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series this book
feels very current. Even the chapter titles will entertain the readers as they
read the book. I loved it! A new FAVORITE!!!!
Pastis, S. (2013). Timmy
Failure: Mistakes Were Made. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Bridge To Terabithia
This is the story of a young Jess Aarons. Jess wants to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade and we worked hard all summer to prepare but then everything changes when a family moves into the house next door. Leslie and her family decided to move away from the city and settle into the country house next door to Jess. After some hesitation in the beginning Jess and Leslie become great friends and invent an imaginary world. In this book
Jess Aarons’ has to deal with the traditional male roles in a farming family.
He has to do the chores and milk the cow while also struggling to fit in and
please his father. He also struggles with his love of drawing which is not a
stereotypical boy activity. Leslie
Burke does not fit the typical stereotypes for a young girl either which makes this book a fun read.
Paterso, K. (1987). Bridge
To Terabithia. New York: Harper Trophy.
