Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen

A: She has a crazy sense of humor and a mad talent for hula hooping.

Q: Who is author Donna Gephart?

A: This new book about a trivia obsessed girl arrives in bookstores Tuesday, March 13.

Q: What is Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen?


RUN! Don't walk. RUN to your nearest bookstore on Tuesday, March 13, and pick up a copy of Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen by Donna Gephart.

Why? Because it's Donna Gephart's new book, for goodness sake! You've read How to Survive Middle School. You've checked off As If Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President! on your TBR list. Now it's time to read another Gephart gem! It's Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen.

"Olivia Bean knows trivia. She watches Jeopardy! every night and usually beats at least one of the contestants. If she were better at geography, she would try out for the show's kids' week. Not only would she win bundles of money, she'd get to go to the taping in California, where her dad, who left two years ago and who Olivia misses like crazy, lives with his new family.

"One day Olivia's friend-turned-nemesis, Tucker, offers to help her bulk up her geography knowledge. Before Olivia knows it, she's getting help from all sorts of unexpected sources: her almost-stepdad, superannoying Neil; her genius little brother, Charlie; even her stressed-out mom."

Will Olivia's dream to appear on Jeopardy! come true? Will Olivia be supported by all the members of her family? Or will one family member disappoint her yet again?

I LOVED Olivia! I have so many students, boys and girls, who will love Olivia and her not-so-trivial story! I not only loved Olivia, I loved Olivia's younger brother, Charlie; he was such a sweetie. I loved his hankering for gross trivia. (Did you know there are 516,000 bacteria in each square inch of armpit? Charlie does!)

Even though it took Olivia some time to warm up to Neil, her mom's boyfriend, I knew from the moment that he belted out Aretha (not to mention the fact that he's a librarian) that he was going to be one of the good guys in the story.

I was impressed by Tucker and enjoyed him immensely. What a super 'frenemy'.

Donna wove pieces of herself into Olivia, and I loved loved loved what she did with the Hula-Hoop incident. I knew I had to keep reading to find out what that was all about and why it tortured Olivia. And then I read about the fifth grade talent show and how Tucker was waiting offstage and what he said and how he said it and how Olivia finally realized HOW he said it....Oh my! No spoilers here! You must read this one for yourself!

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen is a keeper! It has found a special place in my classroom library and has already been read by several students. Everyone who has read Olivia has loved their time spent with this special young lady.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up off the bookshelf and take it home with you!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

When Life Gives You O.J. / Hound Dog True

No school, you say? Looking to read a couple great books while you are on Christmas vacation? Do not fret! Run to your local library and check out these two fun reads...

When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica S. Perl

"The whole mess started with a note:

KID,

SEE ME IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU GET THIS. DO NOT SPEAK OF THIS TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN YOUR PARENTS OR YOUR BROTHER.

ACE
P.S. I HOPE YOU ARE READY FOR THIS."

Ten year-old Zelly Fried finds a note from her grandfather on her nightstand. It's the start of a master plan...convincing Zelly's parents that she is ready and responsible to take care of her own dog. That's all Zelly wants: a dog. Unfortunately, her parents are not in agreement.

Ace, Zelly's grandfather, has the answer: a 'dog' made out of an old orange juice jug. Zelly must demonstrate her ability to take care of a dog by walking her 'dog', feeding her 'dog', and even cleaning up after her 'dog'.

Will Zelly agree with this half-baked plan? How long will Zelly torture herself with the embarrassment of a tag-along plastic orange juice jug?

A fun read for middle school students, Erica S. Perl has convinced me that love sometimes is "the power to drive you crazy." Click HERE to watch the book trailer. Click HERE to visit Erica's website.


Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

"Mattie Breen has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she’ll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie’s plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true."

For a reader who can identify and sympathize with a shy protagonist, this is the story for you. Mattie is painfully shy. What a remarkable story Linda Urban has created to give readers a glimpse into a character like Mattie.

For an amazing interview of the author by fellow author Kate Messner, click HERE. For a visit to the author's website, click HERE.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Small as an Elephant

Wow.

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson was the perfect book to break the Summer Reading Slump I have been in the past couple weeks. After reading some great books, I've been on the hunt for something different, something that would break the Summer Doldrums of Reading. I certainly found it in this gentle giant of a book.

"Ever since Jack can remember, his mom has been unpredictable, sometimes loving and fun, other times caught in a whirlwind of energy and 'spinning' wildly until it's over. But Jack never thought his mom would take off during the night and leave him at a campground in Acadia National Park, with no way to reach her and barely enough money for food. Any other kid would report his mom gone, but Jack knows by now that he needs to figure things out for himself - starting with how to get from the backwoods of Maine to his home in Boston before Social Services catches on. With nothing but a small toy elephant to keep him company, Jack begins the long journey south, a journey that will test his wits and his loyalties - and his trust that he may be part of a larger herd after all."

This was a sit-down-and-read-the-whole-book-at-one-time kind of book. I immediately felt my heart go out to Jack and wanted to continue with him on his journey. I almost felt as if everything would turn out fine for Jack if only I stayed with him on his way.

I will definitely booktalk Small as an Elephant to my sixth graders in the fall. This story holds appeal for both boys and girls. A book filled with nonstop adventure, it is one that will grip readers from the start and leave them breathless as Jack races toward an ending as remarkable as his journey itself.

View the author's website HERE. Watch a book trailer HERE.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

I, Emma Freke

"Let's say you were the hands on a clock with the least popular time being one o'clock all the way up to the most popular time being twelve o'clock. What time would you be?"

Emma has a hard time answering this question posed to her by the school psychologist. But...

"There are five things Emma Freke does know,
1. Her mother didn't bother to say her name out loud before she signed the birth certificate.
2. That might not be such a big problem if she weren't almost six feet tall at age 12,
3. And if her mother would take a break from being a New Age weirdo and give her a straight answer about who her father is,
4. And if she didn't find it impossible to talk to anyone her own age.
5. There has to be a place somewhere where she fits in...doesn't there?"


When Emma gets a chance to attend a family reunion with her dad's side of the family she has never met, she wonders if she'll finally be accepted for who she is. Will Emma ever feel comfortable in her own skin? Or will Emma always be the "Freke" she thinks she is?

Middle school girls will enjoy reading Elizabeth Atkinson's newest book, I Emma Freke. Everyone has felt alone at one point or another, like they don't belong. Emma, unfortunately, feels like that every single day.

If you are a middle grade girl, I know you will connect with Emma. She is believable. She is honest. She is a "Freke". But honestly, a "Freke" may not be as bad as you think it is.

Visit Elizabeth Atkinson's website HERE.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Junonia

If you have a ten-year-old to shop for, a perfect gift may be Junonia by Kevin Henkes.

This gem tells the story of Alice who is turning ten years old while vacationing in Florida. Every year that Alice and her family visit Scallop, everything is the same. Alice looks forward to seeing the same friends, playing on the same beach, and looking for the elusive junonia shell.

But this year, one friend is snowed in and can't come. Aunt Kate (not Alice's 'real' aunt) is bringing her boyfriend and his daughter, Mallory. Mallory also brings someone new, her doll Munchkey.

Alice is determined to have the best birthday ever even if things have changed. After all, Alice is undergoing the biggest change herself...turning ten! Double digits!

Alice experiences a wide range of emotions in the book--from happiness and elation about her vacation and upcoming birthday--to hatred and jealousy of the newcomers to the beach--to resentment--to compassion. Readers will watch Alice undergo these emotions yet champion through each one of them with determination and gumption in a way only a ten-year-old can.

Be sure to look for Junonia on shelves May 24 , 2011.

Watch Kevin talk about Junonia HERE.

Kevin Henkes has written numerous books for middle grade readers including my favorites: Sun and Spoon, Protecting Marie, and Words of Stone. He has also written numerous picture books for younger readers. Check out my four-year-old daughter's favorites: Kitten's First Full Moon, A Good Day, and his newest Little White Rabbit.

Click HERE to visit his website.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Liar, Liar

"If you ask me, people who say honesty is the best policy are just terrible liars."

"Kevin has a big talent. Some might call it compulsive lying. He calls it common sense. Kev doesn't mean to cause trouble by lying all the time; he's just trying to make everything easier for everyone (and himself). And, of course, a few harmless, um, falsehoods are crucial to his plan to convince Tina that he's the perfect boyfriend for her."

In Gary Paulsen's new book, Kevin is a fourteen-year-old who is determined to become the boyfriend of Katrina Marina Zabinski (kah-TREE-nah mah-REE-nah zah-BIN-skee). Even her name sounds like music to Kevin's ears. Kevin devotes most of one week spinning lie after lie in order to move closer to Kevin-meets-Tina status.

However, as the week continues, things begin to unravel both at school and at home. Kevin's lies eventually get the better of him; Kevin needs to make amends and make them fast!

Can Kevin apologize to everyone harmed by his lies? Will everyone accept his apologies? Will Kevin learn any life lessons along the way?

In Liar, Liar, Gary Paulsen has written a book reminiscent of The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leach). See my review HERE. Both books are full of middle grade boy humor. Really. They. Are. Perfect for mature sixth graders and older middle school readers.

If Liar, Liar meets the bill, make sure to check out the companion book coming out in July called Flat Broke. Kevin is "back for another round of mayhem and misunderstandings in this financial comedy of errors."

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie

"Is there a story here?" That's the question Julie Sternberg asked herself as she and her husband drove their young girls around town after hearing news that their beloved babysitter was moving away. Everything that Julie and her husband suggested doing brought up memories of the cherished sitter. Reaching down into her bag, Julie pulled out notebook and pen and wrote the first pages of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. (Click HERE for a video of the author.)

I had a bad August.

A very bad August.

As bad as pickle juice on a cookie.
As bad as a spiderweb on your leg.
As bad as the black parts of a banana.
I hope your August was better.
I really do.

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie is a sweetly written book about a soon-to-be third grader named Eleanor. Eleanor is having a terrible August because she has learned that her babysitter, Bibi, is moving away to Florida to take care of her sick father. Bibi has been her babysitter for Eleanor's entire eight years.

Eleanor is having a tough time coping with this change in her life. Nothing seems to be much fun anymore. And everything reminds her of Bibi. Then Natalie, a new babysitter, arrives. Natalie spends time playing mancala, a marble game, with Eleanor. Natalie waits patiently with her for the mail carrier who never seems to have the greatly desired letter from Bibi that Eleanor anticipates. All of Natalie's kindness and understanding seem lost on Eleanor. Will Eleanor adapt to this change in her life? Will she accept Natalie and come to terms with Bibi's move?

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie is a great story for a young reader who might be experiencing a change in their own life. Whether a lost friendship, a move to a new school, or a greater loss of a parent or a family member, this book could help younger readers cope with their own feelings of bereavement.

Visit Julie's website HERE.

Let's not forget the wonderful illustrator of this book, Matthew Cordell. Visit his website HERE. You may recognize some of his other works. (And take a peek at Leap Back Home to Me...I must put my hands on this book! It looks fantastic!)

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze

"Lovable geek Milo Cruikshank finds reasons for frustration at every turn—like people who carve Halloween pumpkins way too soon in the season, or the fact that the girl of his dreams, Summer, barely acknowledges his existence while next-door neighbor Hilary won’t stop leaving notes in his locker.

"The truth is, ever since Milo’s mother died nothing has gone right. Now, instead of the kitchen being full of music, his whole house has been filled with fog. Nothing’s the same. Not his dad. Not his sister. And definitely not him." Through the help of a couple of true friends, Milo embarks on a mission to achieve healing.

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg is a gem of a book. I enjoyed the mix of illustrations and prose that told Milo’s story. It is a story that is funny but also serious and full of honest emotions.

Losing a loved one is unbearable. My mother passed away a year ago. I completely understand how Milo felt in a "fog" and can relate to Milo's desire to have "things" belonging to his mom. It is amazing how a book written for kids can still have an impact on someone much older like me!

I will be recommending this book to Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans, of course. But I feel that this book is so much more than a Greg Heffley story. Milo’s feelings are raw. Perhaps readers who have gone through their own personal loss might feel a sense of comfort after meeting Milo. I know I have.

Keep the tissues handy at the end of this book!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Sixth Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me

Sixth grade girls...here is a book for you! Ever feel like you are on top of the world with your best friend by your side...nothing can go wrong...best friends until the end of time? Right?

Only then you discover that the two of you don't seem to be hanging out as much. Your best friend discovers another friend. AGH! The world of ever-changing friendships!

As a sixth grade teacher, I see this dilemma played out time and time again. Each year, girls (and boys!) enter their new school year with established friendships that eventually twist and turn, changing monthly--weekly--sometimes daily--into a friendship drama-monster! I've been there...done that. Yet it is so hard to give advice. Perhaps this year, I can stick Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me by Lisa Papademetriou into the hands of those girls seeking help. Maybe reading about Allie's sixth grade year will provide some guidance for those trying to figure out friendship troubles.

From the book jacket..."Allie Kimball and her best friend, Tamara Thompson, have been looking forward to starting sixth grade all summer. But sixth grade isn't turning out to be what Allie expected at all. She discovers that middle school is a different world, requiring a whole new vocabulary. The halls of middle school are full of strange new beasts, like glommers--girls who never go anywhere alone--and norks--a combination of a nerd and a dork. Now Allie has to define herself before she gets lost in the jungle of sixth grade. The question is, where does Allie fit in?"

A believable read that I will surely recommend to my sixth-graders this year.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Firegirl

"This novel may be brief, but it leaves a big impact." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

I agree.

In Firegirl by Tony Abbott, seventh-grader Tom and his best friend Jeff are typical teens going through the hum-drum routine of school. Until Jessica Feeney arrives.

Jessica has been badly burned in an accident. Her "skin was all rough and uneven. It looked almost smeared and was stained all shades of pink and white and red. Her lips were swollen. They nearly filled the space between her nose and chin. Her eyes peeked out from behind skin that looked melted. Her hair was mostly short. Her arms were covered, except that the forearms were bare and blotchy. Her fingers were bent as if she were trying to grab something."

Even though Tom secretly wishes to catch the attention of another girl in class, Courtney, he finds himself thinking about Jessica. When Tom's teacher asks him to deliver some books and homework to Jessica's house, the unexpected chore turns into the beginning of a unique friendship between shy Tom and Jessica.

"Firegirl is a powerful book that shows readers that even the smallest of gestures can have a profound impact on someone's life."

I would certainly recommend this book. At only 149 pages, it is a quick read that won't soon be forgotten.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Out of My Mind

"Words.

I’m surrounded by thousands of words. Maybe millions.

Cathedral. Mayonnaise. Pomegranate.
Mississippi. Neapolitan. Hippopotamus.
Silky. Terrifying. Iridescent.
Tickle. Sneeze. Wish. Worry.

Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes—each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.

Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs.

From the time I was really little—maybe just a few months old—words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade. I could almost taste them. They made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance. My parents have always blanketed me with conversation. They chattered and babbled. They verbalized and vocalized. My father sang to me. My mother whispered her strength into my ear.

Every word my parents spoke to me or about me I absorbed and kept and remembered. All of them.

I have no idea how I untangled the complicated process of words and thought, but it happened quickly and naturally. By the time I was two, all my memories had words, and all my words had meaning.

But only in my head.

I have never spoken one single word.

I am almost eleven years old."

Melody might not be able to speak but she certainly has a lot to say. Melody has cerebral palsy and Sharon Draper has captured this eleven year-old's thoughts and feelings perfectly.

In Out of My Mind, Melody struggles to be "normal" like the "regular" kids. Her world changes when she is given a computer that can 'talk' for her...all Melody has to do is type what she wants to say or hit a few programmed buttons.

This new computer allows Melody to compete for a spot on the fifth and sixth grade quiz team. She shows the teacher and her classmates that she, indeed, has superior knowledge and becomes the team's 'secret weapon'. Will the team, with Melody's help, win the competition in Washington D.C., collect their trophy, and be interviewed by Good Morning America?

This book is heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. I nearly cried along with Melody and her parents in the ending...not how I imagined the story would end up but certainly worth the read. For more book information, click HERE.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Lawn Boy Returns

Happy Summer! There is no better way to start my summer reading! My first book this summer is Gary Paulsen's sequel to Lawn Boy...Lawn Boy Returns.

"The summer I was twelve, mowing lawns with Grandpa's old riding mower turned into big business. With advice from Arnold the stockbroker, I learned all about making money.

Six weeks and hundreds of thousands of dollars later, life got more complicated. You see, the prizefighter I sponsor, Joey Pow, won a big fight. And a TV interview made me famous. As Arnold says, "Capitalism plus publicity equals monster commerce." Even my best friends wanted a piece of the action. Meanwhile, some scary guys showed up at Joey's gym..."

Lawn Boy is a success! His business is growing and that creates a whole new set of problems for this twelve-year-old entrepreneur. Will Lawn Boy get control of his business empire or will it be the ruin of a young boy?

If you enjoyed Lawn Boy, you just can't pass up this short 101 page follow-up!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Gone From These Woods

What a riveting first chapter! Donny Bailey Seagraves had me hooked from the beginning with her debut novel about an eleven year-old boy named Daniel. In Gone From These Woods, Daniel is rabbit hunting with his uncle in the woods near his home. Daniel is not interested in shooting a rabbit. He is simply going hunting in order to spend time with his favorite uncle.

Tragically, a hunting accident claims Uncle Clay's life. Daniel is devastated and cannot overcome his guilt.

"Mom tries to hold the family together. Mrs. Hardy, Daniel’s guidance counselor, tries to help Daniel after he loses his role model and best friend. Daniel’s alcoholic father just makes the situation worse. The memory of that cold morning will stay with Daniel forever. But somehow, he must find a way to go on . . . for Uncle Clay . . . and most of all, for himself." (from Amazon)

After reading the first chapter, I was blown away...but I was also asking myself the question, "Now what?" Was I going to wade through the next one hundred pages growing tiresome of hearing about Daniel's feelings of guilt?

I need not have been worried. Not only did the author develop the conflict between Daniel and his father but the author also created an unexpected twist for Daniel himself.

Make sure you read the appendix which provides statistics on gun violence and a list of sources to contact for more information.

I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy the outdoors, who enjoy hunting, who are interested in reading a novel that explores a character's deepest emotions. This is one not to be missed.

(Click HERE to view the author's extensive website.)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Love, Aubrey

"I had everything I needed to run a household: a house, food, and a new family. From now on it would just be me and Sammy–the two of us, and no one else."

"A tragic accident has turned eleven-year-old Aubrey’s world upside down. Starting a new life all alone, Aubrey has everything she thinks she needs: SpaghettiOs and Sammy, her new pet fish. She cannot talk about what happened to her. Writing letters is the only thing that feels right to Aubrey, even if no one ever reads them."

I was amazed by Love, Aubrey. Suzanne LaFleur had me hooked in the first chapter. Aubrey's story was raw. It left my heart aching. But it was also a story of hope and humor and courageousness.

This read has been on my TBR list since I started to notice some of my favorite bloggers post their thoughts about it. Great recommendation! On my TBR list forever, this book did not let me down.

So far, two of my sixth graders have read it and have ranked it as one of their favorite books they have read this year! (And they have read a lot of books!)

Click HERE to visit Suzanne's website where you can both read and hear an excerpt from her book. You can also read some interesting facts about the author and read her writing tips for you.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Slob

This is a great book for middle-schoolers...Slob by Ellen Potter has been on my TBR list for a while. I was thrilled to see it arrive in our middle school library.

From the book jacket...

"Twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum is the fattest kid in school.

"But he's also a genius who invents cool contraptions--like a TV that can show the past. There is something that happened two years ago that he needs to see if he ever hopes to unravel a dreadful mystery.

"But genius or not, there is much Owen can't outthink. Like how his Oreos keep disappearing from his lunch. Or why his sister suddenly wants to be called by a boy's name. Or why a diabolical, scar-faced thug at school seems to be on a mission to destroy him. He's sure that if he can only get the TV to work, things will start to make sense. But it will take a revelation, not a cool contraption, for Owen to see that the answer's not in the past, but the present. That no matter how large he is on the outside, he doesn't have to feel small on the inside."

I enjoyed this book very much. There were times when it reminded me of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl and times when I felt like I was reading Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.

This is a very real realistic fiction novel. Ellen Potter tells Owen's story with such honesty that at times I was cringing wondering if students are really treated this way in school. Not only do Owen's classmates treat him poorly, but so does his gym teacher, Mr. Wooly ("Mr. Hates Unathletic Kids and Enjoys Seeing Them Suffer").

There is a mystery in this book...something Owen is remembering and dealing with that is not revealed until later in the book. Ellen Potter weaved this into her story so delicately that I was surprised when I read it.

This is a great read for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.

(By the way...Ellen Potter is sponsoring a writing contest. The deadline is June 15, 2010. Click HERE to view the details.)

Keep Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Boys Are Dogs

Boys Are Dogs. What a title, huh? It was the title that piqued my interest in reading this book.

It is about a sixth grader named Annabelle. While at summer camp, her mother moves in with her boyfriend. That means a move about thirty miles away from an apartment in the city to a house in the suburbs. It also means a move from her all-girls school to a new middle school with girls AND boys. And that means problems...

One good thing...her mom gets her a new puppy. Annabelle begins to train her new puppy by reading a How To manual that her mom purchased for her. While she is trying to train her new puppy, Annabelle realizes that many of the training rules might also apply to the boy problems she is having at her new school. The manual might just be the thing Annabelle needs to tame the wildest beast of all: the teenage boy!!

This is a cute novel that I think girls will relate to. It speaks to the girls about just how obnoxious boys can be sometimes (I said 'sometimes'!!!). From name-calling to mean pranks, I think author Leslie Margolis was realistic in how she wrote about girls and their feelings towards middle school boys...or not? Perhaps some of you girls should read this one and then let me know! (And you just might pick up on some tips on how to deal with obnoxious boys!!)

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Ways to Live Forever

Sam likes to write lists:
　
“LIST NO. 1—FIVE FACTS ABOUT ME
My name is Sam.
I am eleven years old.
I collect stories and fantastic facts.
I have leukemia.
By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.”
　
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls is “written” by eleven year-old Sam. He is living through the last stages of leukemia. He is determined to find answers to all of the questions nobody ever answers. Sam's story is a collection of journal entries, lists, questions, and pictures.

This book is definitely a Kleenex book—not filled with action but one that you will need at least one (or two) Kleenex to read.

Click HERE for a 'taste' of the book. Click HERE to visit the book's website

AND...A movie has been made of this fantastic book. Look for it coming out sometime 2010!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

How to Steal a Dog

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor is about Georgina Hayes. Her father has recently left her and her mother and younger brother. They are living out of their car. I thought the author wrote this very honestly and up front--living homeless. Georgina and her younger brother are doing poorly at school...they are unkempt...they struggle with trying not to let anyone know what is really going on in their lives.

One day, Georgina sees a reward poster on a telephone pole about a missing dog and a REWARD! She gets the idea to steal a dog in order to claim the reward money in the hopes of getting a real place to live. Throughout the book, Georgina writes in her sparkly purple notebook the rules for "How to Steal a Dog".

I liked this book very much and highly recommend it. It does get heartbreaking at certain points in the book if you stop and think about what Georgina and her younger brother, Toby, are going through. It might also make you feel sad when Willy, the dog, is stolen and what the two kids have to do to keep the dog hidden until it is time to claim their reward.

Definitely a worthwhile read! And click HERE to view Barbara O'Connor talking about her book and a little about the writing process as well...

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Tyo :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

Here is a good read for the girls! Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a touching story about two very different girls who find out they have a lot in common.

Ivy June lives in Thunder Creek, Kentucky, “up in the mountains with her grandparents, Mammaw and Papaw Mosley.” Her parents live just down the mountain in a small house with her older sister and three brothers. There just wasn’t enough room for everyone so Mammaw and Papaw took in Ivy June. “The Mosleys use an outhouse, drive rickety old cars, and wear hand-me-downs.”

Catherine Combs lives in Lexington, Kentucky, “with her close-knit family in a large, beautiful house with plenty of space for everyone. She has her own room with two beds and is driven to school every day.” There are five bathrooms in her house!

Ivy June and Catherine are taking part in the first-ever seventh-grade student exchange program. “Taking turns, each girl leaves home for two weeks to live and attend classes with the other, and each records her honest feeling about the experience in a journal. For both of them, it’s a chance to see how others live and to find out if what they’ve been told about each other’s lifestyles and beliefs is true.”

I enjoyed this story about Ivy June and Catherine and would recommend it to those of you who enjoy reading realistic fiction about friendship.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. Tyo :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Two Books and Autism

Rules by Cynthia Lord (Review from Amazon)...

“Catherine is twelve years-old and just wants a normal life. This is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"---in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors.

But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?”

I enjoyed this story very much. It was one of those books that after reading and reflecting, I could gleam many life lessons from. This story is told simply and honestly. No wonder it won a Newbery Honor!



Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin was a book recommended to me by one of my sixth graders last year.

Jason is twelve years-old and has autism. The book is written from his point of view. Jason gives the reader a glimpse of what life is like for him living in a world where other people are not accepting and/or educated about autism.

Jason is very involved in an online Storyboard site. He writes stories there and posts messages to other writers. He starts getting messages from PhoenixBird and thinks that perhaps this could be his chance to have one real true friend. Perhaps there will be a chance to meet this friend, but he is terrified that if they do meet, that perhaps PhoenixBird will see who he truly is.

Nora Raleigh Baskin does a great job of writing from the main character's viewpoint. I certainly learned a lot about what an autistic child may think and feel. I would recommend this book to a reader who is open to learning what goes on in the mind of others as well as to the reader who likes to write. There are many references to writing a story...character, plot, setting, conflict, etc. A good book.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!