It's Monday, What are You Reading? (my first time to join in!)

Joining in for the first time on the "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" fun at Teach Mentor Texts.

I am "not working" today, so here is how I spent my morning!



Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff
Which readers? 8 and up

Two-time Newbery Honor winner Giff gives us this lovely novel about home, family, and finding a place to belong. Since the death of her parents when she was a baby, Jayna has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. After a brief and happy stay with her brother, she is forced to live with their landlady when her brother must ship out to serve in the Pacific Theater in WWII. Jayna remembers that her brother mentioned that there was a box on a high shelf that might hold some secrets about their family When news comes that her brother might not return, she decides to take her destiny in her own hands and find out if there is a place where she might really belong.

This is a fast read, and it involves a little bit of a ghost story. The ghost is friendly, and there is nothing here that will scare young readers. There are several little mysteries wrapped up in this story, and readers will enjoy unwrapping all the little puzzle pieces to find the whole picture. I think third grade and up, especially girls, will enjoy this heartwarming tale.


Unwholly by Neal Shusterman
Which readers? middle school and up

Eek, this awful picture after that sweet little title above! With only one John Green title left that I haven't read, I am waiting to read An Abundance of Katherines. I listened to Unwind by Shusterman last week, so this week I am reading Unwholly on the Ipad. I am enjoying it, so far, but I'm not devouring it as quickly as I did the first in the series. Perhaps the difference is because I am not listening to it. I also listened to Bruiser by Shusterman in the last couple of weeks. Although I had mixed feelings about the ending and some aspects of the story troubled me, I fell in love with Bruiser in spite of myself.

What's on deck? This is what's in my cart on Amazon and on hold at the library: (And I can't WAIT to read the next Bink and Gollie with my very favorite kindergartener!)

Flying the Dragon (Bluebonnets '13-'14 Highlights)

Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
Which readers? 4th grade and up

I have learned one thing about myself and writing about books through this blogging experience - I must write about them as soon as I finish reading, or I will procrastinate and procrastinate! I finished the BB list over Christmas, and this is one of my very favorites. I have turned it in, checked it back out, and now renewed it three times while putting off writing about it. I have 5 minutes until I pick my kids up from specials - so here goes!

This book was written by a very experienced ESL teacher, and this really comes through. It is about a Japanese family that is spread out between Japan and America, and the two sides do not really know each other because of a rift in the family. When the grandpa in Japan needs care in America, cousins from different cultures clash as they get to know each other.

I think this is the sleeper of the BB list behind Ivan and Wonder. I've already had a few kids mention it to me...all girls. I couldn't put it down, and I cried at the end. It is gripping and moving, and it would be a great read aloud for classes with ESL students (or any class, for that matter).

Time to pick up my kids (today!) from music. Loved this one! Can't wait to talk to more kids about it!

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett
Which readers? Strong third grade readers and up

The Pearl family doesn't have much in terms of material possessions, but they are incredibly wealthy in terms of love and devotion to each other. So when Dash Pearl, father and sole wage earner, disappears under mysterious circumstances, the family is left brokenhearted, totally baffled, and destitute. When they go to the police for help, they realize that not only are they unsympathetic, but that they suspect that Dash is a thief who may have had a hand in his own disappearance. With no means of income, no savings, AND a gang of criminals searching for them, the three members of the Pearl family end up having to navigate the new and quite scary world of homeless shelters and the bureaucracy of trying to work their way into the legal system to make someone listen to their story. Where IS Early's father? And how can they get anyone to help? Who can they trust?

The story is mostly told from fifth grader Early Pearl's point of view, and it fits in with the current trend of children having to deal with adult problems when their parents are not at their best. The Pearl family also fills their hours with reading and poetry, and the poems of Langston Hughes play almost a central character in the book as Early uses Hughes's words and her father's interpretations of them to keep herself grounded and focused as she reminds herself that he would want her to "Hold Fast" until they get through this crisis. The author also calls attention to the huge homeless population in our country and the obstacles they face. I thoroughly enjoyed how these characters might not have had material wealth, but they had dreams, determination, and used literature to both learn and create a support system for themselves.

Do I think kids will like it? I think they will be caught up in the mystery, and I think they will fall in love with this family. I couldn't put it down.

I wrote an issues paper in grad school in my public libraries class titled "Crime in Libraries," so from a purely personal point of view, I found that aspect of the story really interesting and unique! You don't come across library crime very often in children's lit!

Blue Balliett's website - I linked this to her bio page because as a working mom with two young children, I love the picture of her writing next to the huge laundry pile. "Here I am working on Chasing Vermeer; we stopped folding laundry a long time ago." As I type this, my husband is folding laundry and getting the kitchen/meals ready for the week - our new life now that mom is back to work outside the home! She also has a list of "big, controversial ideas" that she loves to explore in her writing and "hand over" to kids. I find that some of the best discussions in the classroom come about when these ideas are brought out in a literature discussion....and the kids realize that the teacher DOES NOT have the answer....and is willing to explore the topic WITH them, instead of telling them what to think. Love that.

Ghetto Cowboy (Bluebonnets '13-'14 Highlights)

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri; Ill. by Jesse Joshua Watson
Which Readers? Third grade +

This middle grade novel grabbed me from the very beginning. Cole has made bad choice after bad choice, and his mom has had absolutely all she can take. She takes him to the father he has never met in inner city Philly, and he is aghast when she just leaves him there. Cole's relationship with his distant father gets off to a rocky start, and he just wants to get back to his mom. But Cole's dad is part of a group of inner city cowboys, and Cole is soon drawn in by the horses and The Cowboy Way. When their stables are threatened by the city, Cole finds that he must take action.

This novel was inspired by an April 2005 Life magazine called "Street Riders" that profiled actual urban cowboys in Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

Yes, I really thought this was a great middle grade novel. But it has received highest honors at my house from my favorite little patron. My 10 year old son, Leo, picked up this novel, and it is now one of his favorite novels to date. Whenever he finds a book he really likes, he always comes up and down the stairs after bedtime so that he can tell me "here's what's happening now" in his book as he reads before he goes to sleep. This has only happened a few times - the first Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and maybe one more book . He was up and down the stairs at least six times with this book. He had questions about the dialect at first, and that offered a great point for discussion. In the days since he finished the book, he has asked me...."Do you think there will be a sequel?," "Has G. Neri written any other books?," and "Do you think they'll make a movie of Ghetto Cowboy?" THAT is a homerun novel for us.

Here are Leo's thoughts on the book:

i like the setting of the characters and the characteristics of each one. the way Cole acts like he dislikes Harper at first and then learns to like him, and the same thing happens to Harper. the way  the story starts out kind of tragic and then turns into a suspense novel. when i told myself, "are you sure you gonna like this book?", what was i thinking?

Laugh with the Moon (Bluebonnet '13-'14 Highlights)

I've read the Bluebonnet List for this year, and it is an excellent list. I do not say things like this lightly. The BB List has been weak for the last couple of years, in my opinion, and I am so very excited about this year's list! For the next few posts, I am going to highlight the books that I think are the cream of this very good crop. Books that I think kids will like, too!

(I am not going to review Wonder and The One and Only Ivan, which are both on the list. I think we can safely say that these have been adequately reviewed, they are amazing, and kids will love them! I love them, too!)



Laugh with the Moon by Shana Burg
Which readers? 4th Grade and up

"Grief isn't a tunnel you walk through and you're done," she says. "It waxes and wanes like the moon."

Clare is deep in the throes of grief after the passing of her mother when her father, a physician, decides that they will go to Malawi so that he can offer his help to a hospital in need. Things between Clare and her father are already strained, and this new adventure is the last thing she wants to do. She embarks on this journey against her will and with a determination to simply endure until she can get home. She is totally out of her element in a new country, new school, and completely different way of life. But the friends she makes and the events that happen on this life-changing trip will help Clare come to terms with her loss and look at the world with a whole new perspective.

This book is about dealing with grief, but the story line is not maudlin or overly sappy. It moves quickly, and does not get bogged down in too much introspection, which is where we can lose some young readers. Although Clare is working through her own feelings throughout the book, there is laughter, adventure, new friends, and healing. Author Shana Burg has been to Malawi and worked with the children there, and this authenticity comes through in her writing. There are events that are both touching and laugh-out-loud funny, and I think children will enjoy both the emotional impact of the book and also the adventures Clare experiences in this foreign land. I also think the book does a great job of driving home the (yes) sappy but oh so important concept of "we are all citizens of the Earth...love is the same in any language."

And the author lives in Austin! I love it when great books on The BB List are by Texas authors!

Author's Website

Book Trailer - Includes the author's pictures from Malawi! Great resource.

May B - a recent favorite...and some companions for a book talk

May B by Caroline Starr Rose
Which readers: Third grade and up

I read a wonderful novel written in verse over the winter school holiday, and it returns again and again to my mind. As a little girl in the 1980s, I read and reread the Little House books, and this has such a LHOTP feel to it. But it definitely stands on its own two feet, and May's straightforward words and the strength of her spirit will grab you from the beginning.

May's homesteading family experiences hard times out on the Kansas prairie in the 1870s, and May's Pa takes her to live with a young neighboring couple to help out the new bride and earn some money..."just till Christmas." When something completely unforeseen happens in May's new and temporary home, she must rely on her wits to survive when it becomes apparent that help is not coming any time soon.

(I want to type more of a summary, but I do not want to give any spoilers!!!)

The writing here is beautiful but sparse, and it transports the reader to cold and unforgiving life on the prairie. May's voice is plain and straightforward, and when the situation becomes dire, the rising panic in her words will echo in the reader's ears. I think third graders and up, and particularly girls, will enjoy this book. It reads quickly, and I could not put it down. The beautiful cover art also drew me into the story. That lonely little soddy seems beautiful but desolate, and I wanted to know what would happen there.

One important element of this story is that May is a struggling reader. She often talks about a teacher who was helpful and understanding of her need to not be forced to read in front of the class, and how she often learned better by hearing the lesson before reading it. She later deals with a teacher who treats her terribly because of her difficulties, and she still has the emotional scars from these encounters. I think many dyslexics and other struggling readers will connect strongly with May's words and feelings, and the verse style novel lends itself to the needs of these learners.

May ends up in a soddy in this book, and her surroundings are so important that they essentially become another character. In doing a book talk about this book, I would begin with this NF picture book that gives lots of information about sod houses, and so much of the information (leaks, dirt floors, vermin) coincides with May B's experiences.




For readers who enjoy May B, an obvious follow-up recommendation would be Karen Hesse's Newbery winner Out of the Dust. So many similarities since they are both written in verse and have female main characters, but this is another completely different and engrossing story of survival on the plains during very hard times.



And the nonfiction that I ALWAYS mention to go with Out of the Dust is Jerry Stanley's Children of the Dust Bowl. Jerry Stanley is one of my top 3 favorite NF children's authors, and I'm sure I'll do an entire post on his work at some point. The story of the school at Weedpatch Camp is so inspiring and moving, and my sixth graders were always amazed by their spirit and tenacity.

Titles for Black History Month - New and Old

There are a couple of new middle grade historical fiction stories that would be perfect for this month.



Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood
Bluebonnet Book 2013-2014
Which readers? 3rd grade and up

In the summer of 1964, Glory's hometown of Hanging Moss, MS decides to close the public pool rather than allow it to be desegregated. Civil Rights organizers from the North appear in town, and Glory becomes friends with the children of one of the visitors. Throughout this tense summer, Glory's friendship and family ties will be tested as the community goes through upheaval.

This is a title for the youngest readers on the Bluebonnet List (3rd grade), and it paints a picture of this time through the eyes of a young Southern white girl. Many of Glory's observations about the annoyances of the pool being closed are somewhat self-centered, but I think it is an accurate portrayal of what a twelve year old would experience at that time. This is a good choice for third or fourth grade.





The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
Which readers? Strong 4th grade readers and up

Set in Little Rock in 1958, this wonderful selection tells the story of two girls who decide to take great risks to keep their friendship alive. This story takes place just a year after the Little Rock Nine integrated Little Rock High School, and the high school has been closed for the year while the elementaries and middles schools remain open. Marlee is twelve, and she has difficulty speaking in public and making friends. When she returns to school in the fall, she is quickly befriended by Liz, the new girl at school. Liz even convinces her to participate in an oral presentation. Suddenly, Liz disappears from school, and the rumor is that she was a negro passing as a white person. Marlee is so thrilled to have finally made a friend that she puts both of them in great danger by seeking out Liz so that their friendship can continue.

This is one of my favorite books that I have read in the last few months. The characters are well-developed, there is tension but humor in the story, and Levine does a fanstastic job of weaving in both historical and narrative elements.

One little book nerd point of interest is how the publisher has chosen to change the cover of this book from the publication of the hardback to the recently released paper back. The top image is the hardback. The symbolism of the black and white doves soaring around the fence that surrounds Little Rock HS really appeals to me as an adult who has had many history classes, but I think the paperback cover with the interracial hand holding will get more kids to pick up this book.

For old times' sake, here are some of my favorite suggestions for Black History Month from years past.



This is an absolutely BREATHTAKING picture book from 2002. I think it would be an excellent read-aloud all the way through middle school. After reading the book, I would pull up footage of Marian Anderson singing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Oh, there are no other words except breathtaking. This book won an ALA Sibert Award and the 2003 NCTE Orbis Pictus.

For more advanced readers, Freedman's biography of Anderson is wonderful. This one was awarded the Sibert AND a Newbery Honor. Love this book.






MLK: Journey of a King by Bolden is the best MLK biography for kids I have ever read that is not a picture book. For younger readers, it could be excerpted with pictures shown to students. There are many pictures in this book, and they really bring MLK's life into the classroom. This book won the 2008 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award, which is my favorite nonfiction award for kids. There are so many fabulous titles on that list. It is a treasure trove.



I recommend Martin's Big Words for preschoolers and up. It won so many awards that I won't even list them all! This book brings King's vision alive through emphasizing his words without overwhelming children with the details of his life story.





The Story of Ruby Bridges (preschool and up) and Through My Eyes (3rd grade + ) are amazing selections for telling this woman's remarkable story.



Ruth and the Green Book  by Ramsey was on last year's Bluebonnet List, and this is a part of history that I did not know! It tells the story of a black family who needs to travel into the segregated South, and they find out that there is a "Green Book" that will tell them places along the way that will serve and sell to blacks. Fabulous story for all ages.

And, finally, I will come back to historical fiction for my final suggestion. When I taught sixth grade language arts, one of the highlights of my year was when we read Taylor's Newbery Medal winner, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. This book is timeless, and it gives middle grade readers lots to think about and discuss in the classroom.

This is what it looked like when I first read it in middle school years ago.



This book has had so many covers. This is what it looks like now. They have updated it recently to a textured mustard yellow with a brown strip at the bottom and no graphics. I think it gives it the "I'm a classic, and I don't have anything to prove." look.

Three-in-One

If I'm going to start a book blog, I might as well hit the ground running! Three books in the first post!

A popular theme in middle grade fiction right now is "children parenting the parents" or, in more detail, "child from a dysfunctional family ends up in a new, loving family temporarily due to a parent's poor decisions."  If the characters are well-developed, readers fall in love with the child and root for them as they try to navigate this tricky situation. In all three of these books, the children are separated from their parents as the parents try to get back on their feet for different reasons. All of the parents have made many bad choices, and this is usually revealed slowly to the reader through the course of the first half of the book. As the story unfolds, the constant underlying tension is...."Will the child stay in their "new" (temporary) home, or will they return to their parent? And will the situation be any better for him/her?"

I truly loved all three of these books. They are somewhat predictable to adults, but most children will be surprised by some of the twists and turns. These would all make excellent read-alouds.



One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Recommended age: 4th grade and up

Carly has had a rough life with a mom who often makes bad choices when it comes to men. She has a cynical outlook and has put up emotional walls to protect herself from the hard knocks of life. When she ends up in foster care with the Murphys, she finds a family where these walls are not necessary and a foster mom who won't give up on her.



Almost Home by Joan Bauer
Recommended age: 5th grade and up

Sugar's life has always revolved around her mom, her grandfather, and school. She has connected with her teacher this year, and her writing is starting to blossom. But after her grandfather dies and her gambler father offers no financial help yet again, Sugar and her mom suddenly find themselves homeless along with their brand new puppy, who has also had a rough start in life. Sugar continues to write to her teacher periodically as they scrape money together to move to Chicago, but the move proves to be catastrophic for her mom when it's just one more opportunity for life to kick her when she's down.





Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Clifton
(2013-2014 Bluebonnet Book)
Recommended age: 4th and up

When twelve-year-old Frankie Joe's mom ends up in jail, he is sent to live with the father he has never met. He is not happy to leave his small South Texas trailer park and friends. When he gets to his new home in Illinois, he finds that his father has a beautiful family that he has never heard about. He is determined not to like his 4 new stepbrothers, and the eldest stepbrother is not happy to now be second oldest. Frankie Joe decides that if his dad won't take him back to Texas, he'll figure out a way to get back on his own. He starts a pizza delivery business, but he can't help but begin to make friends as he interacts with his new customers. Slowly, he starts to like his dad's family and his new home in spite of himself. But his mom's release date is looming - what will happen to Frankie Joe?