Follow the story of Mary Call as she tries to keep her family together as they struggle with life in the Appalachia Mountains. This is a great read for seventh and eighth graders.
Do you think that Mary Call made the right decision in letting Devola marry Kiser? Why or why not?
Find out more about the Appalachia Mountains by visiting Discover Appalachia
A Season of Gifts
I have just finished reading my first book of the summer, A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck. Peck has written over 30 novels for young adults. You may be most familiar with A Long Way From Chicago that you read in fifth grade. He is a great author and always writes entertaining stories.
A Season of Gifts is a companion book to A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago. The story is centered on the Barnhart family and their year in a small Illinois town. The son, Bob, tells the story and you will enjoy reading about his adventures and learning about the family's neighbor, Mrs. Dowdel. The book does end with the Christmas season and certainly has a strong author's message. The book is a quick read and I think you will enjoy it.
Legend of the Animal Healer Series
The White Giraffe, Dolphin Song, and The Last Leopard by Lauren St. John
I have just finished reading the first three books in this series and they are all WONDERFUL!! Martine is eleven years old when her parents die in a house fire. She must now go to South Africa, where she will live with her grandmother on a wildlife game reserve. It is there that she finds the rare white giraffe. They form a special bond and she is actually able to ride him!
The second book, Dolphin Song, is my favorite. It is about a class field trip to study marine life off the coast of Mozambique. Only problem is there is a storm and the boat sinks! Martine and several of her classmates end up on an island. It is a great story, sharing how they get along and about the role of the dolphins in their life. This could be a read-aloud this year.
The third book, The Last Leopard, is the story of Martine, her friend Ben and her grandmother's trip to Zimbabwe. This book is more of a mystery and by the title, you know that it involves leopards.
I will put the fourth book, The Elephant's Tale, on the library book order. This is a great series. It is easy to read and very entertaining.
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins Criss Cross, by Lynne Rae Perkins, has been sitting on my shelf for quite awhile now. It won the Newbery Award in 2006 and for some reason, I just never read it. So, I decided this summer was the time. This is one of those books that I question why it won the Newbery? The story was good, but not as intriguing as most award winners are. It is about a number of teenagers and their experiences over a period of time. The chapters switch back and forth, each featuring one of the characters. That was sometimes confusing. Once I was able to put the story together, it was OK, but not one of my favorites. The experiences of the teens however, is very realistic and all practical. That part did keep the story going. Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?
Edward's Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan
Whether it be a picture book or a novel, Patricia MacLachlan never seems to disappoint her readers. Edward's Eyes is no exception. Although the print in this book indicates that it is a possible third or fourth grade read, the content tells me it is for grades five and up. Therefore, it can be a quick read.
Edward is one of of a large family. He and his siblings are very close and share a special relationship. I don't want to give away the whole story, but I will say that there is an accident and the story then focuses on organ and tissue donation. Although the story begins with a very different style for MacLachlan that is sometimes difficult to follow, the book is very well written and it is a wonderful story. I have a good friend who volunteers for LifeChoice and this story is a great promotion for the work that they do regarding organ and tissue donations. I think that many of you will enjoy this story. It is new to our collection, so watch for it in September.
Well, I must admit that this book started out a little slow for me and I wasn't sure I was going to finish it. Then, it became very interesting and I couldn't wait to see what happened!!
Homer P. Figg and his brother Harold have had a difficult childhood and now Harold has been illegally "sold" to the Union Army. Homer finds out about the "transaction" and is determined to find his brother and save him from the Civil War. The story begins in Maine and takes you to Gettysburg. It is full of adventure and also has many facts about the Civil War.
So, all in all, it was a good book and it should be a good read for many of you.
When the Mountain Meets the Moon
Some of you may remember author Grace Lin who wrote the Nutmeg nominee a year or two ago, The Year of the Dog. Well, her latest book is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. It was a 2010 Newbery Honor book and I was able to finish reading it this week. What a great story! Minli is the main character and she goes on an adventure that will keep all of you involved in her story. Woven in with her story, are a variety of Chinese fairy tales. The text is interesting and one that many of you will enjoy. I would recommend this book for grades four through six.
Masterpiece by Elise Broach
If you love fantasy as well as a mystery, this is the book for you! Elise Broach (author of Shakespeare's Secret) does a wonderful job of telling the story of a young boy and a beetle that lives in the walls of his home. The story involves a piece of artwork and also the theft of some very expensive pieces from an art museum. The story is definitely "fast-paced" and is exciting enough that you will not want to put it down. You know that I am not one to read many mysteries, but this was a good one! Masterpiece is the winner of the E.B.White Read Aloud Award.
