By: Richard Peck
Published by:
Ages: 9-12
Pages: 144
Published by: Puffin
This is a story about a girl named Mary Alice, who goes to live with her grandmother till her parents can get back on their feet during the great depression. Her grandma is crazy! She is always threatening someone, or causing trouble. Mary Alice manages to survive the winter with her grandmother and actually starts to like it there. In the spring, Grandma takes in a New York artist as a boarder and Mary Alice invites Royce (a cute boy in her class) over for a study-date. Mary Alice survives her first tornado, and the school year ends with a hayride that finds Royce and Mary Alice promsing to write letters. Mary Alice returns from Chicago to tie the knot with Royce McNabb on Grandma's front porch awhile later.
Who I would recommends this to? Anyone who wants a good laugh, this is a good novel.
Any problems/conflicts? Possibly the violent grandmother, or the fact Mary Alice's parents sent her away because they didn't have enough money, this could give them the wrong idea.
My reaction: I really enjoyed this book, it was one of my favorite assigned novels. It made me laugh a lot. 4 stars ****
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Lincoln- A photobiography
By: Russell Freedman
Published by: Sandpiper
Pages: 160
Ages: 9-12
This is a book of the boyhood, marriage, and young professional life of Abraham Lincoln includes his presidential years and also reflects on the latest scholarly thoughts about our Civil War president. It shows the true side of Abraham Lincoln.
Who I would recommend this to? Kids who enjoy learning about presidents.
Possible conflicts/problems? There are some graphic pictures.
My reaction: I really enjoyed learning about Abe Lincoln (even though he doesn't like being called that) It showed his true colors. 4 stars ****
Published by: Sandpiper
Pages: 160
Ages: 9-12
This is a book of the boyhood, marriage, and young professional life of Abraham Lincoln includes his presidential years and also reflects on the latest scholarly thoughts about our Civil War president. It shows the true side of Abraham Lincoln.
Who I would recommend this to? Kids who enjoy learning about presidents.
Possible conflicts/problems? There are some graphic pictures.
My reaction: I really enjoyed learning about Abe Lincoln (even though he doesn't like being called that) It showed his true colors. 4 stars ****
Love that Dog
By:Creech Sharon
Published by: Scholastic Trade
Ages: young adult
Pages: 86
Love that Dog is the story of a young boy named Jack. The story develops as Jack responds to his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, over the course of the school year. She tries to get him to start writing but Jack keeps saying "I can't" or "i won't". But as the teacher begins to feed him inspiration, Jack finds that he has a lot to say and many ways to say it. All year long, Jack tries to talk about his teacher, his favorite dog Sky, and his life in more in-depth ways. One day, Sky dies because he is hit by a truck. Jack uses poetry and his new joy in writing to cope with this loss.
Who I would recommend this to? Kids who enjoy poetry
Possible problems/conflicts? None that I see
My reaction: This was a cute, fun way to inroduce poetry to kids. 4 stars ****
Published by: Scholastic Trade
Ages: young adult
Pages: 86
Love that Dog is the story of a young boy named Jack. The story develops as Jack responds to his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, over the course of the school year. She tries to get him to start writing but Jack keeps saying "I can't" or "i won't". But as the teacher begins to feed him inspiration, Jack finds that he has a lot to say and many ways to say it. All year long, Jack tries to talk about his teacher, his favorite dog Sky, and his life in more in-depth ways. One day, Sky dies because he is hit by a truck. Jack uses poetry and his new joy in writing to cope with this loss.
Who I would recommend this to? Kids who enjoy poetry
Possible problems/conflicts? None that I see
My reaction: This was a cute, fun way to inroduce poetry to kids. 4 stars ****
A Single Shard
By: Linda Sue Park
Published by: Oxford University Press
Pages: 176
Ages: 9-12
Tree Ear is a young boy growing up in Korea, and he is facinating by this guy named Min, who makes beautiful pottery. One day he is trying to sneak a look at Min's pottery, and ends up breaking one. He starts working for Min to pay off the debt. He collects clay from the rivers. One day the emissary's assistant came to find someone to make pottery for the emissary. But none of Min's pottery turns out. So a few months later Tree Ear took a long journey to take Min's pottery to the emissary. He got robbed and the pottery was broken. So he took a single shard to the emissary, and they loved it and hired Min. :) But when Tree-ear returns home his guardian has died, and so Min and his wife take Tree Ear in and make them their son.
Who I would recommend this to? Kids interested in historical fiction.
Possible problems/conflicts? Tree ear comes from a homeless situation, this might be a problem for kid's to read.
My reaction: I didn't really care for this book, I thought it was boring, and slow. 2 stars **
Published by: Oxford University Press
Pages: 176
Ages: 9-12
Tree Ear is a young boy growing up in Korea, and he is facinating by this guy named Min, who makes beautiful pottery. One day he is trying to sneak a look at Min's pottery, and ends up breaking one. He starts working for Min to pay off the debt. He collects clay from the rivers. One day the emissary's assistant came to find someone to make pottery for the emissary. But none of Min's pottery turns out. So a few months later Tree Ear took a long journey to take Min's pottery to the emissary. He got robbed and the pottery was broken. So he took a single shard to the emissary, and they loved it and hired Min. :) But when Tree-ear returns home his guardian has died, and so Min and his wife take Tree Ear in and make them their son.
Who I would recommend this to? Kids interested in historical fiction.
Possible problems/conflicts? Tree ear comes from a homeless situation, this might be a problem for kid's to read.
My reaction: I didn't really care for this book, I thought it was boring, and slow. 2 stars **
Star Girl
By: Jerry Spinelli
Published by: Random House Childrens Books
Pages:208
Ages: Young Adult
It is Leo Borlock's junior year at Mica Area High School a a new girl named Stargirl moves in. Stargirl is the most unusual student ever to attend at Mica High. Despite being intrigued by her at first, the students turn on her due to her cheering on opposing basketball teams as well as the Mica High team and come to despise her antics. She spends more and more time with Leo, who is deeply in love with her but wants her to act like a normal student. Stargirl gives in to Leo to please him and seeks to blend in with her peers (going by her birth name "Susan," and dressing less exotically). The school rejects her and Leo can't overcome peer pressure to continue their relationship in the way it was before. The book's final appearance of Stargirl shows her at the Ocotillo ball, bunny hopping with her classmates and leaving after ungrudgingly forgiving her most vicious detractor (who had just slapped her across the face). She moves away before the next school year, but, years later, Leo receives a necktie similar to the one that she made for him in high school, suggesting that she still remembers, and has feelings for, him.
Who would I recommend this to? Every child, has a good moral.
Possible problems/conflicts? Stargirl is a little different, and may oppose some peoples view of life.
My reaction: I wasn't in love with this book, but I wasn't in hate either. I was pretty neutral. 3 stars ***
Published by: Random House Childrens Books
Pages:208
Ages: Young Adult
It is Leo Borlock's junior year at Mica Area High School a a new girl named Stargirl moves in. Stargirl is the most unusual student ever to attend at Mica High. Despite being intrigued by her at first, the students turn on her due to her cheering on opposing basketball teams as well as the Mica High team and come to despise her antics. She spends more and more time with Leo, who is deeply in love with her but wants her to act like a normal student. Stargirl gives in to Leo to please him and seeks to blend in with her peers (going by her birth name "Susan," and dressing less exotically). The school rejects her and Leo can't overcome peer pressure to continue their relationship in the way it was before. The book's final appearance of Stargirl shows her at the Ocotillo ball, bunny hopping with her classmates and leaving after ungrudgingly forgiving her most vicious detractor (who had just slapped her across the face). She moves away before the next school year, but, years later, Leo receives a necktie similar to the one that she made for him in high school, suggesting that she still remembers, and has feelings for, him.
Who would I recommend this to? Every child, has a good moral.
Possible problems/conflicts? Stargirl is a little different, and may oppose some peoples view of life.
My reaction: I wasn't in love with this book, but I wasn't in hate either. I was pretty neutral. 3 stars ***
Giant John
By: Arnold Lobel
Published by: Henry Holt and Co.
Ages: 4-8
Pages: 32
Giant John needs to make money to feed himself and his mother so he goes to the king and helps out by holding his umbrella over the castle during the rain, giving the kiddos horsey rides and other useful tasks. Unfortunately, some mischievous fairies come along and make things difficult for the whole kingdom.The faires play music, and Giant John starts to dance. He crushes the castle, but luckily he gets it put back together and gets paid for his work. He returns hoem to his mother and is able to buy food.
Who would I recommend this book to? Young children, it teaches good work ethic.
Possible problems/conflicts? None
My reaction: This was a book from my mom's childhood, so I really enjoyed reading it. Good , fun book! 4 stars ****
Published by: Henry Holt and Co.
Ages: 4-8
Pages: 32
Giant John needs to make money to feed himself and his mother so he goes to the king and helps out by holding his umbrella over the castle during the rain, giving the kiddos horsey rides and other useful tasks. Unfortunately, some mischievous fairies come along and make things difficult for the whole kingdom.The faires play music, and Giant John starts to dance. He crushes the castle, but luckily he gets it put back together and gets paid for his work. He returns hoem to his mother and is able to buy food.
Who would I recommend this book to? Young children, it teaches good work ethic.
Possible problems/conflicts? None
My reaction: This was a book from my mom's childhood, so I really enjoyed reading it. Good , fun book! 4 stars ****
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O
By: Shel Silverstein
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 104
Ages: 9-12
THe missing piece is looking for someone who is missing a missing piece. He meets many on his journey but cannot find the right one. He one day meets someone who tells him that he can be his own piece that isnt missing and he can roll like rest. so he tries and finally achieves what hes been looking for this whole time.
Who I would recommend this book to? children who are seeming to have a harder time fitting in.
Possible problems conflicts? None that I found
My reaction: I thought this was a cute book, a fun self esteem builder. 4 stars ****
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 104
Ages: 9-12
THe missing piece is looking for someone who is missing a missing piece. He meets many on his journey but cannot find the right one. He one day meets someone who tells him that he can be his own piece that isnt missing and he can roll like rest. so he tries and finally achieves what hes been looking for this whole time.
Who I would recommend this book to? children who are seeming to have a harder time fitting in.
Possible problems conflicts? None that I found
My reaction: I thought this was a cute book, a fun self esteem builder. 4 stars ****
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