Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Moses LoBeau (Mo for short) has lived most of her 11 years in the small town of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, ever since she washed ashore on a makeshift raft during one of the worst hurricanes on record. Luckily the colonel discovered Mo after he crashed his car during the terrible storm.  Unfortunately, the Colonel lost his memory due to the crash.  He does however remember finding Mo.

Mo has become a fixture in the community where she lives with her “guardians”, the Colonel and Miss Lana, and helps to run the Café, frequented by many of the towns residents on a daily basis. Nothing much exciting happens in Tupelo Landing until one day a detective shows up at the Café asking questions about a murder in a nearby town.  Unfortunately the Colonel has disappeared again, which casts suspicions his way.  Then the unthinkable happens, a murder takes place right in Tupelo Landing, and Mo’s best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, is the prime suspect!

In less than a week Mo’s summer has been turned upside down.  She is determined to clear both Dale and the Colonel as well as find the real murderer.  But with the detective, his creepy assistant, and a sudden unexpected kidnapping of someone close to her, it seems the cards are stacked against her.  Can a “rising sixth grader” solve the mystery and bring a murderer to justice, or will she be the next victim?

I can honestly say I loved this book.  The story just takes you in and you’re no longer sitting in your house reading a book.  You’re in Tupelo Landing, helping Mo run the Café, or riding a bike down a dusty dirt road with Mo and Dale looking for clues, or hiding in a deserted house as a murder suspect looks for you.  I certainly hope the author, Shelia Turnage, writes a sequel, as I’m not yet ready to leave Tupelo Landing.

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

Tommy and his friends are excited to start middle school.  Last year Origami Yoda made their lives better with all of his Star Wars wisdom. Sure, some people thought Origami Yoda wasn’t real. They thought Dwight just made the finger puppet to be annoying.  But then why did he always seem to have the answers to everyone’s’ problems?  Seventh grade was going to great!  Or so everyone thought until Harvey, Yoda’s biggest critic, came to school with an origami Darth Paper puppet on this finger.  Harvey promised to prove Yoda was a fake and lead everyone over to the Dark Side.

No one was too worried about Harvey’s threat until the unthinkable happens, Dwight and Origami Yoda, get kicked out of school.  Tommy and his friends have to think of a way to help Dwight before the principal convinces the school board to send him to CREF, a school for trouble youth.  The students set about to create a case file with stories of all the people Origami Yoda (and Dwight) have helped over the past year, while Harvey (and Darth Paper) do their best to introduce the Dark Side to the school.

Will the force be with Tommy and his friends?  Can they save Dwight from CREF?   Will the Dark Side prevail?  Is Dwight really a troubled kid that disturbs others, or is he just a brilliant but misunderstood student? You’ll have to read the story to find out.

**Note: This is the second book in a series, but don’t worry if you haven’t’ read the first book, everything is explained in this book.  

Visit the author's website for the inside scoop on his books, and directions on how to fold your own Origami Yoda and Darth Paper!
http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com

Plunked by Michael Northrop

     Have you ever picked up a book, wondered if you’d like it, read the cover, thought, “Hmm, this book doesn’t really sound like me”, and then read it anyway?  Well that’s what I did with Plunked, by Michael Northrop, and now I just can’t get the story or the characters out of my head.  Through this book I was able to visit a world, the realm of sixth grade sports, that I’ve only glimpsed before and NEVER would have been permitted access to when I was in sixth grade (who am I kidding, I would wear a dress on gym day so I wouldn’t have to play baseball!).

The story centers around Jack Moegens, a sixth grade student that lives for baseball.  He’s played for as long as he can remember, through the Little League minors and now into the Little League majors. Jack’s friends as just as die-hard fanatics as he is, so I’m not exaggerating when I say they all live, eat and breathe baseball!  Fans of baseball will love all the detail the author has included in the book.  I now have a good understanding of the different positions on the teams, pitching strategies, practice routines, and more.

Just when you think you have the book all figured out, ”it” happens.  Jack is injured (you’ll have to read the book to find out how) and his whole world turns upside down.  Is he still able to play baseball?  Physically yes, but mentally…..  that’s where the problem occurs.  I thought this part of the book was fascinating.  The complex emotions and feelings that Jack went through trying to find his way back to a game and life that had been his whole world for so many years really provide the reader with insights into the mind of a 12 year old athlete.  Jack wrestles with nightmares, his own fears, and the reactions of his parents, friends and the coaches.  The easy way would be to just walk away and never play baseball again.  But can he do that?  Is that what he truly wants?  You’ll have to read the book to discover how Jack figures it all out!

Happy reading!

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Have you ever gone to the zoo, watched the animals, and wondered what they would say if only they could talk?  Well here’s you chance!  The One and Only Ivan is the story of Ivan the gorilla, told by Ivan.  Ivan is a mighty silverback gorilla.  He was born in the wilds of Africa, captured as an infant, lived part of his early life in a human household, but was soon sent to live at the Big Top Mall.  This is where the story begins with Ivan, his friends Stella, a former circus elephant, and Bob, a stray dog that shares Ivan’s domain. Ivan has now lived at the mall for 27 years.

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla.  He doesn’t think much about his former life in the jungle.  His world consists mainly of his friends, Stella and Bob, his keeper Mack, and Julia, the daughter of the man who comes to clean the mall each night.  Ivan’s favorite past times are to watch TV and draw.  Ivan’s an artist.  The pictures he creates with crayons and paper are sold at the mall.  But Ivan’s world is about to change.

Attendance at the mall is dropping.  Mack needs to increase the attendance at the shows he does with the animals in order to bring in more money.  Suddenly Ruby, a baby elephant, arrives at the mall.  She quickly wins over both Stella and Ivan.  Like Ivan, Ruby was born in the wild but she still remembers her family and her capture.  Ruby loves listening to stories and sharing her own, but she doesn’t like performing in the shows.  Ivan begins to worry.  How can he help Ruby? Will Ruby spend the rest of her life in the mall like the other animals?  What will Mack do to her if she refuses to perform?  How can he help Ruby?

Book Trailer - Love That Dog

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

I brought this book home with me for the summer.  It's been on my "to read" list forever as Sharon Creech is one of my favorite authors.  The book did not disappoint!  In no way do I consider myself a poet, yet while reading this book I had an incredible urge to write in verse!  Below is my attempt at writing the book review this way:

Jack didn't want to write poems
Poems are for girls.
But his teacher
Miss Stretchberry
Likes poetry.
She reads the class
Poems
Jack doesn't understand.
He tries.
He writes in his notebook
Words
Short sentences
His thoughts.
Miss Stretchberry thinks
Jack is a poet.
He'll let his teacher
Hang them up
But without his name.
Then Jack reads a poem
That is about to change his life.....

This book will be one of the mentor texts I use this year when we study poetry!

It's Like This Cat by Emily Cheney Neville

I often share with my students that I enjoy reading because books can take you places.  It’s true.  Open a book and you can travel any where in the world, and still be snuggled up in your comfy chair in your living room.  This summer I’ve camped in the Everglades, (crashed an airboat in the process), escaped with Fadi and his family from war-torn Afghanistan to San Francisco, and experienced the heat of mid-summer in Mississippi with no pool to swim in!  All this and I never left the state!

In the Newbery Award winning book, It’s Like This Cat, I was able to travel back in time to visit New York City in the early 1960’s.  It’s a culture shock, but in a good way.  New York in the early 60’s is a big bustling city, but a much safer place for a kid to grow up in.  Dave Mitchell is 14 years old and lives in Manhattan with his mom and dad.  He’s your pretty typical teenager, likes to hang out with friends, frequently is at odds with his dad, but tries to keep his mom happy.  The story centers around Dave and “Cat”, a stray tom cat that Dave adopts to spite his father who thinks Dave should get a dog.  Gradually Dave and Cat form a strong bond as Cat leads Dave on new adventures and helps to bring important new people and relationships into his life.

Throughout the book the author uses language and some slang that may have been popular in the 60’s but is rarely, if ever, used today.  As I read the story I found it fun to compare lifestyles today to those of the early 60’s. 

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood

How would you feel if on one of the hottest days of summer, your town shuts down the city pool until further notice? In the book I just finished reading,Glory Be, it’s 1964 and some of the residents of the small town of Hanging Moss, Mississippi are having difficulty accepting the integration of their town. The President has passed a law that makes it illegal to have “whites only” swimming pools, drinking fountains, libraries,etc. Glory, who’ll be turning 12 this summer, can’t understand what all the fuss is about, she just wants everyone to get along. But others, including the town council, the high school football star, and nosy Mrs. Simpson are determined to keep the town the same,even if they have to resort to violence!

Check out Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood!

Building Stories by Isabel Hill

Cities are filled with beautiful, old historic buildings.  According to Building Stories, "Buildings are like books with stories that last.  They tell us about our present and also our past."   This book is a picture walk through New York City, filled with photographs of historic buildings, highlighting their intricate details.  Through pictures, the reader is able to "read" the buildings and learn about the characters and story lines of each building's past.

Reading this book immediately made me think about going into the city to take photographs of building with unusual details.  Students could have fun writing stories about what they imagine to be the history of the buildings.  A great combination of history and art!

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Oh my goodness, reading Chomp is like watching a movie in your head.  Realistically I know I’m sitting on my swing under the maple tree in my backyard, but in my head I’m in the Everglades in the middle of a thunderstorm.  I’m speeding through the swamp on an airboat with Wahoo, Tuna and Link while a crazed lunatic is chasing us.  The mosquitoes are swarming and biting…oh wait, that part’s real.  Seriously, I cannot put this book down; I will be highly recommending it to all my students this fall.  This story has it all:  action, adventure, lovable wild animals (wouldn’t you love to take a swim with Alice the alligator?), villains, good guys, and even a little romance thrown in just for fun.  Has anyone decided to make this into a movie yet?  If not, someone definitely needs to send a copy of the book to Disney or Pixar.

Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai

“It’s a perfect night to run away, thought Fadi…”

 

So begins the journey of Fadi and his family as they make their desperate attempt to flee Afghanistan in Shooting Kabul.  I had to keep reminding myself that this was a middle grade fiction book as I read the first few chapters.  The horrible and heart wrenching decisions that Fadi’s family had to make as they ran for their lives made we want to stop reading at times, but I reminded myself that for too many people this story is uncomfortably close to the truth.  In the midst of all this turmoil, Fadi’s six year old sister, Miriam, is accidently left behind in Afghanistan as the family escapes to Pakistan and later the United States.

While family and friends back in Pakistan and Afghanistan search for Miriam, Fadi and his family try to settle into their new lives in San Francisco.  Fadi’s thoughts are never far from Miriam, he blames himself for her being separated from the family.  His one goal: to return to Afghanistan and find Miriam.

This book is hard to put down; the readers easily become wrapped up in Fadi’s life as he tries to make friends, adjust to his new surroundings, and find Miriam.  Then it’s September 11, 2001, and Fadi’s world changes yet again.

As I read about the events of 9/11, many of the memories of that day came flooding back.  Who will ever forget where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news of the planes hitting the towers? The memories are so powerful, even so many years later.  In the story, Fadi’s family and community suddenly become targets as they struggle in the aftermath of the attacks.

It always amazes me every year when I have students that don’t know anything about 9/11.  They were only toddlers then.  I will be using this book as a read-aloud in the classroom to help spark some intelligent discussions and promote a culture of acceptance and understanding for all.

Wonder Book Trailer!

Just found this!  Book trailer for the book, Wonder.  I get chills just watching this.....

Teacher/Blogger on Vacation!

What makes for a perfect vacation? Warm weather (Ok, it's really hot), sun, the lake , family and of course time to read. Sayner, WI is perfect. It has all that plus a wonderful library full of great books and it's the local wifi hotspot!  I always bring great books to read with me up north, but there is something so magical about walking into this little northern library and finding my special "vacation" books!

Out of My MInd by Sharon M. Draper

 “I have never spoken one single word.  I am almost eleven years old.”

Melody Brooks has lived her life unable to speak, unable to write, unable to communicate in any meaningful way with her family, friends, classmates, and the world.  Melody was born with a body that she has little control over, but a mind that is sharper than most.  While cerebral palsy has left her a prisoner to her wheelchair, totally dependent on the help of others to get her through each day, she has a photographic memory.  She is eager to learn and has a brain that understands new concepts easily and quickly.  Blessed with parents and friends that love and care for her, as Melody gets older harsh reality hits – the world is full of people that judge others by what they see, never taking the time to look below the surface and find what’s truly there.  When Melody was five years old, a doctor, an “expert” on working with the disabled, informed Mrs. Brooks that Melody was “profoundly retarded” and recommended placing Melody in an institution since she was “at a perfect age for her to learn to adjust to a new environment.”    Fortunately, Melody’s parents have no use for “experts” so they enrolled Melody in public school.  Now Melody has to find a way to let everyone, her family, classmates, and teachers, find out what’s really going on inside of her head.

Told from the perspective of Melody herself, the reader is offered a rare glimpse inside the mind of someone who can hear and understand everything that is happening around her (including unkind words), but has no way to respond except with shrieks, grunts, and jerky body movements.  As a reader you’ll find your self totally immersed in Melody’s world, cheering her on as she refuses to let anyone keep her down!

I consider this book to be a must read.  It will forever ever change how you view anyone considered “different”, opening up new possibilities for all!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

     Look in the mirror.  What do you see?  Your face, right?  Now you might not think that’s extraordinary, but what if you were born without a face?  Or what if your face came out all mixed up?  Don’t think it can happen?  Then meet August Pullman.  Auggie (as his family calls him) was born with a rare combination of facial deformaties that placed his eyes too low on his face, basically no ears (just holes and a flap), a minuscule chin and scrambled teeth.  His deformities and the resulting surgeries prevented from attending school like other kids, until now. It’s time to start middle school (5th grade) and Auggie is ready to meet the world, or is he?

     The story starts out being told from the perspective of Auggie, but then shifts with chapters told from the point of view of his sister, her boyfriend, classmates, and others.  As a reader you are able to enter Auggie’s world, feel the sting of bullying and cheer as Auggie and others discover it is what’s on the inside of a person that truly matters.  How does this happen?  Does everyone magically change overnight?  Not hardly. But read the book and you’ll never judge anyone by their appearance again!

Ghost Buddy - Zero to Hero, by Winkler and Oliver

Ghost Buddy – Zero to Hero, Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

Many of you know how much I love the Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver.  So you can imagine how excited I was to find out that they are writing a new series featuring a main character who’s currently in sixth grade.  (Can we make a connection?)

A new stepfather, a new school, a new house, and no friends, just when Billy Broccoli feels life couldn’t get more difficult, in swoops the Hoove!  Hoover is a 99 year old teenage ghost who happens to be Billy’s new roommate.  Are you suitably freaked out yet?  Don’t be!  After reading this book you may just decide a ghost would be the perfect roommate.  Think about it, who’s going to pick on the kid that has a ghost on his side?

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

(From January 19, 2012)
What would you do if you were ten years old,  all alone in this world, and at the last foster home you were sent to, the grown-ups locked you in a hornet-infested shed at night?  That’s the decision facing Bud (“not Buddy”) at the beginning of this book.

I chose this book mainly because it’s one of the “Battle of the Books” books for this year.  But I had also been hearing from students that it was a good book and I noticed it had won a Newbery Award and a Coretta Scott King Award.  All good indications of a wonderful book.

I’m currently on page 180 and hope to finish it tonight.  On a scale of 1 to 5, I’d rate the book a 5 definitely!  The author does a great job of weaving history into the story and letting the reader know what life was really like during the Great Depression in the mid 1930′s.  The Jazz movement had taken hold of the country, the labor movement was born, and equal rights were still not a reality for many.  Even though it was the depression, the author still showed how everyday people went out of their way to help others.  I really liked those parts!

Savvy by Ingrid Law

(From January 9, 2012)

There are no other words to describe this book beside “captivating”!  After the shocking beginning, the story sucks you in and you’re off for a wild ride on the big pink Heartland Bible bus.  As I read the book I really did feel as if I was right there on the bus with Mibs, Fish, Samson, Will Jr., Bobbi, Lester and eventually Lill.   What kid hasn’t dreamed of running away (OK well they aren’t actually running away, but rather running to something) and going on a great adventure?!  And who better to take them on that adventure than Lester?  Good old, afraid of his shadow, Lester.  He was the perfect character to aid the kids in their quest to get to Salina.  I so hope this book becomes a movie someday, there’s something in it for the whole family to enjoy.  I went from laughing, to being scared, to relief, to crying.  Just when I though I knew what was going to happen, off went the bus in another direction!

I especially liked how the author helped us, the readers, to reflect on what we’ve atually learned though this story.  Mibs makes this realization in chapter 33:

“When something like that comes along, whether it’s an accident or a savvy or a very first kiss, life takes a turn and you can’t step back.  All you can do is keep moving forward and remember what you’ve learned.”   p.333

A Dog's Life, by Ann M. Martin

(From December 7, 2011)
The book I’m currently reading is A Dog’s Life by Ann Martin.  It is the story of a dog’s life told by the dog herself.  I was a little skeptical of this book (really what story could a dog possibly share?), but it is a Battle of the Books book for this year and several of my students recommended it, so I had to give it a try.  I’m happy to report, my students were absolutely right about this book, I’m hooked!  Currently I’m almost halfway through the book (p.87) and Squirrel has just managed to survive a horrible dog fight.  After reading this scene I want to go out, buy a huge bag of dog food, go looking for stray dogs and feed them (and I’ve always considered myself a cat person).  I can’t wait to read more...

Note:  Yes, I did finish this book.  While I have always considered myself more of a "cat" person, I now have a new appreciation for dogs and what they mean to us.  I also found it fascinating to view the world through a dog's eyes.  I'm one of those people that always tries to imagine what animals are thinking (OK, even insects sometimes).  This could be a really neat creative writing activity (no groans from the peanut gallery please)!  

New Reviews and an Update!!!

I've decided to re-energize this blog with the reviews I've posted over the school year on our classroom blog.  Unfortunately my Kidblog account can only be viewed by my classroom students as it is linked to the student blogs.  So therefore, I will now be posting all of my reviews on both the Kidblogs site and here!  feel free to leave comments and make suggestions!  I'm always searching for great new books to read and introduce to my students.