Dancing to the Flute by Manisha Amin

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads

“Kalu picked up the flute by his side and started to play. The sound was deep and full, as if he were translating his thoughts into music. It stayed in the air like dust floating on the sunlight, and each note held the promise of something not quite spoken but maybe heard in the darkness of a dream.” 

 Abandoned as a young child, Kalu, a cheeky street kid, has carved out a life for himself in rural India. In the quiet village of Hastinapore, Kalu has also found friends: Bal, the solitary boy who tends the local buffaloes, and Malti, a gentle servant girl, who with her mistress, Ganga Ba, has watched over Kalu since he first wandered into the small town. 

One day, perched high in the branches of a banyan tree, Kalu chooses a leaf, rolls it tightly, and as he’s done for as long as he can remember, blows through it. His pure, simple notes dance through the air and attract a traveling healer, whose interest will change Kalu’s life forever, setting him on a path he would never have dreamt possible and testing his belief in himself and his sense of identity. 

Rich in texture and atmosphere, Dancing to the Flute is a heartwarming story of a community’s joys and sorrows, the transformative powers of music, the many faces of friendship, and a boy’s journey, against all odds, to become a man

 My Thoughts

Take a trip through rural India. Learn about it culture and especially its classical music. Meet Kalu, a young boy who lives on the streets. To survive he runs errands.  It was hard to imagine that there could be anyone worse off than he was. Kalu has a friend named Bal.  I was sickened to learn his family sold him.  He had even less than Kalu had. Kalu had a talent that helped him improve his life.  He was gifted at playing the flute.  This ability  gets him noticed. It also is what helps him get an education.  As he travels we are shown the sights and sounds of life in rural India.  The descriptions are so vivid you get the image in your head and it stays with you. Just because he is discovered doesn’t mean trust comes easily to him.  Hope is something he tries to hang onto, but it is difficult when there has been so much pain in a small life. A great book from many aspects, learning about India and its classical music, learning about the lives of those who are on the lost rung of the caste system. I’ve heard stories from some of my Indian students, but this book brought it so much clearer.  A great book to read and learn from.  I recommend you read the book to see just how his life was changed and who it was that helped bring about that change.

Slow - Digonta Bordoloi

Source:  I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion

From Goodreads:
Slow is the story of a boy who preferred to walk when the world around him was gearing up to run.

Baba is born in a remote corner, sheltered from modern development. His father's job takes the family from town to town, and with each move, Baba comes to terms with his new life. He spends an idyllic childhood doing things at his own pace, bending the rules whenever he can. And then the unthinkable happens...

My thoughts:
This book started out extremely slow.  I believe it was done to give us a feel for the main character Baba.  He takes life slow.  He examines everything around him and really lives in the moment.  My only problem with the first half of the book was that it jumped around from character to character and often I didn't know who the narrator was.  I felt that the first half of  the book would have been a little easier to read if we would have had some indication as to who was doing the talking.  About half way through the book a major incident happens.  Baba's life is changed in an instant.  From that point on in the book time speeds up.  However, Baba still sees life through his own pace and uses that lens to help his friends and family.
There was always this underlying message that we need to slow down. We need to redefine our goals as we progress through life.  We need to look at life and re-evaluate everything around us.  This is something we can only do if we take the time to slow down.  Baba helps his friends through memories and gentle nudgings to do just that.

This was definitely a most unique books.  It gave me a little peek into life in different parts of India.  The reader gets to look at the different cultures, traditions, foods and language of this country.  It shows that no matter where you are a kid is a kid and and adult is an adult.  They think some of the same thoughts and have some of the same ideas no matter what country they live in.  I have to say honestly, if the author had not contacted me, this probably would not have been a book I would have searched out on my own.  The blurb was interesting enough but didn't leave me with enough information that would have stood out in the crowd.  For that reason I am glad the author did contact me because I can honestly say I could not stop reading the book.  I read it from cover to cover.

Just Breeze – Beverly Stowe McClure

Publisher: 4RV Publishing, 
LLC Pages: 196 
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade
Source: Copy from author in exchange for my honest opinion

 I loved the name Breeze Brannigan. I would have loved to be in the author’s head when she decided on this name for her character. The author was spot on with her characterization. As a middle school teacher I could see several “Breezes” in my classrooms. I know middle school is a difficult time for them. Their body begins to change, or not change. I was like Breeze in the bra category. I wore one in eighth grade even though I really didn’t need it. I went to school with a girl who referred to her feet as canoes. They grew faster than the rest of her body and she was very tall. Outside of the hair color Beverly McClure could have been writing about this girl. She had wild honey colored curls that she tried to keep back from her face with headbands. We tried to put part of it up or put it in a hair tie. She looked like she had a puffball on the back of her head. I loved the way Breeze’s description brought back memories of my own middle school years. It seems like we always have a best friend who feels the need to “help” us with our problem areas, just like Breeze did. I identified with Breeze when she tried out for cheerleading. For me it was a cousin who was captain of the cheerleading squad. I didn’t land wrong and sprain an ankle; instead I pulled a thigh muscle when I came down into the splits. I too had to be helped out. I have a musically talented younger sister that I was compared to. It didn’t help out that my father was a gospel singer and I didn’t fit into their world. Like Breeze, I felt I didn’t fit in any place. It took one boy to see me differently for me to gain the confidence in myself. Those friendships in middle school are so important. I can’t wait to put this in the tray of my white board and talk about it on Monday. It is a book I will recommend to everyone. I feel this book is so important that I am making sure the counselors and psychologists at school know about this book so that they have something to recommend to girls who fit this category. Happy Reading.

Student Saturday: The Family Under the Bridge - Natalie Savage Carlso

Publisher:  HarperCollins
Pages:  128
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

This review is by my student Evan.  These are his words so please be kind.

In Paris, France in abut the 1930's it was all normal for Armand Pouly until he found 3 kids and their dog.  He wanted them to live with him so they did.  The kids were talking to Armand about how they had always wanted a house for Christmas.  He took them to Father Christmas the next morning and he thought they meant a doll house!  After that the children were very sad.  Armand had an idea though.  Nothing to do with the house but a way to get money.  He told the kids to sing and soon enough they started to get a lot of money.  Then he had the money for some breakfast.  When they all came out of the cafe, Madame Calcet (The three kid;s mother) was upset because she didn't want to look like a beggar.  That night two ladies noticed the kids under the bridge and went to  all the police.  They all hurried away from there fast.  When they came to a fence over it were some gypsies.  Armand knew one of the gypsies so the family was welcome to stay.  Paul, Suzy, and Evelyn all noticed the house on wheels and then they reeeeeeeally wanted one of those for Christmas.  ON Christmas Eve one of the gypsies was telling them about the Christmas Eve party for hoboes.  Madame Calcet took this as an opportunity for the kids to get the "House on wheels" thing out of their heads.  Sadly it didn't.  Armand had no choice but he had to tell the kids that Father Christmas wasn't bringing them a house on wheels for Christmas.  Surely enough, they didn't get one next morning.  So, after they all opened other gifts a police officer came asking for a Nikki.  All of the gypsies were worried that he was going to jail.  So at that moment they all decided to move to Provence.  When they were all gone the Calcets and Monsieur Armand were still at the campsite.  Then at that moment the same police officer that came not too long ago came again.  This time he had a wallet.  he said that Nikki left it at a cafe and he was there to return it.  But since he wasn't there the police officer just left.  Armand then heard that there was a job opening at the Louvre so he went.  A man there named Monsieur Brunot included an apartment room for the job. so at the exact moment Monsieur Armand said "yes", he was no longer a hobo anymore.  This book reminded me of a place called Rossi Park down here in Florida.  Me, my dad, and my brother usually go down there to feed the homeless every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  We always had a blast and while I was reading this book, it brought back the memory of each and every one of those faces.  I would definitely recommend this book because it has a great plot and it is good for all ages.  I would give this book 8 out of 10 stars.

Storm Runners – Roland Smith

Scholastic Press (March 1, 2011)

Pages:  160

Source:  Purchased

Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

From the back of the book:

Chase Masters and His Father are storm runners racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.  Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind.  Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in a classroom.  But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined.

My Review:

Roland Smith definitely has a winner with this book.  Of course that is just my opinion.  Chase is a very likable character.  He has lost his mother and sister.  We don't find out how until later in the book.  This loss has definitely caused some tension between chase and his father.  But life as he knew it the day his father was struck by lightning.  Now they and their friend Tomas chase storms across the country.  That is how Chase ends up in Florida.  A hurricane is headed their way and his father wants to help prepare people and then be there to help them clean up.  But weather is a difficult thing to predict.  When the category five hurricane changes directions and Chase and a couple of classmates are caught in the mess he will need everything he has to survive.  Since I live in Florida and have gone through several hurricanes I really connected with this book.  It shows kids that they have the ability to make a difference no matter how small it may seem.  The book ends with a big cliff hanger and I will eagerly await the sequel "Surge" which I believe will be out around August.

Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth - Sandra Dutton

Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Books
Pages:  144
Source:  Purchased
Genre:  Middle Grade realistic fiction

 From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7 Mary Mae has always accepted the conservative, religious teachings of her family, including a very literal interpretation of the Bible. However, the arrival of her granny and a new teacher cause the 10-year-old to question everything she has ever known. When Miss Sizemore starts to teach the class about fossils, Mary Mae begins asking questions of the adults in her life, and her mother decides it would be better for Mary Mae to be homeschooled. At no point in the story does the child ever question the existence of God she only sees God doing things in a different way. While her mother chooses to see science as an enemy to her beliefs, Mary Mae sees it as an extension of God's work. Miss Sizemore opens her up to a new world, where inquisitiveness is not only valued, but is key. Here the relationship with Granny is also crucial to the story she is always there to listen to Mary Mae and does not discourage her. This simple act of support gives the child the confidence she needs to not give up her quest for knowledge. This is a great story with valuable lessons. Told in an Appalachian dialect, it not only depicts real feelings about religion, but also shows the people behind them as good. It is both a lovely coming-of-age story and a lesson in respect between religion and science.

My Review:This story really resonated with me.  Growing up we didn't go to church until I was five years old.  Then my mom became a Christian and everything changed.  It is difficult to understand where science and the Bible meet.  A lot of people say that you can't have both but I believe the Bible backs up science.  In the story I felt like Mary Mae when so many people were telling me one thing and my mind was always asking questions.  I remember my own son asking our pastor when the dinosaurs were on earth.  I personally like my husband answer to the problem that the earth can't be as old as scientist say it is.  My husband says God could have made it as certain age to start with.  This was a fun look at how strong some people feel in their religious beliefs.  I was never offended  because it was never a put down.  Well written and a book I look forward to putting on my shelves at school.

Because of Mr. Terupt - Rob Buyea

Publisher:  Delacorte Books
Pages:  288
Source:  purchased
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction
Every teacher wants to make a difference in the lives of their students and Mr. Terupt is no different. He hopes to teach them lessons that go beyond the regular classroom. His methods are somewhat unconventional and don't always have the desired outcome. However, his love and patience for his students is shown when he is accidently injured at school and the students and parents must put aside all of their differences to come together for the teacher they all love. This was a great story told from the perspective of the different students in the class. I thought it was authentic in many ways. This was a book that I read as a panelist for CYBILS and one I highly recommend.


The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panelists

Cybils Reading Marathon Day 2

Once again I started off early this morning.  I can't write a review for every book I read for Cybils.  I tried that and it put me behind on the reading end.  The books I have highlighted below are followed by a review.

Elite Ambition - Jessica Burkhart
Zora and Me - Bond & T.R. Simon
Me and Rolly Maloo - Janet S. Wong
I Emma Freke - Elizabeth Atkinson
River Odyssey - Philip Roy
Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) - Lisa Yee
The Devil's Door - Paul B. Thompson
It's Raining Cupcakes - Lisa Shroeder
Shooting Kabul - N.H. Senzai
The Healing Spell - Kimberly Griffiths Little
Pies & Prejudice - Heather Vogel Frederick
A Million Shades of Gray - Cynthia Kadohata
Julia Gillian and the Dream of the Dog - Alison McGhee

Me and Rolly Maloo - Janet S. Wong
Publisher:  Charlesbridge           Pages:  128
Source:  Review Copy from publisher     Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

I sat reading part of this book to my husband this morning when he finally got up.  I told him that no book this simple should bring up such strong emotions in me, but it did.  Let me start by saying it struck a nerve with me because I am a 6th grade teacher.  I see bullying and unfair treatment of teachers and unfair parents all the time.
Jenna is a poor girl who wears second hand clothes, Molly and Patsy are the two popular girls whose mothers are in charge of the PTO.  The district test is coming up and and the winner usually competes in the county competition.  That is usually Jenna.  Molly and Patsy decide to get Jenna to help them cheat.  When they call and invite her over, her mother tells her no.  She mistakenly thinks they want to be her friend.  The next day they toss a note to her asking for an answer and she helps them knowing it is wrong.  Then a second balled up note flies across the room and she is caught.  She doesn't tell on the girls and that is where the trouble for me began.  The guilty girls mothers gossiped about the situation not knowing the whole story.  By the time the story had gotten around school and finally back to the principal at home, Innocent people had been pulled in and the teacher had been called and chewed out.
I kept seeing the injustice being done to students and the teacher because some thought themselves better than others.  I loved the underlying story of taking kids out of PE, Art and Music to put them in a second math class instead of bringing in a tutor to help them.  In our district we call that remedial math.  Anyway, I loved this book.

I, Emma Freke - Elizabeth Atkinson
Publisher - Carolrhoda Books         Pages:  234
Source:  Review copy from publisher        Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

What if you found yourself in sixth grade more advanced than the other students, and much taller than them?  Fitting in would be difficult.  All of these problems plague the main character.  Add to this her dysfunctional family and her name Emma Freke and you have the set up for a funny book.  I felt sorry for Emma.  I wanted someone to take her in and care for her.  Then I realized she'd been taking care of herself for quite some time.  This is one of those books I know many kids and adult will relate to.  Even through dysfuction family is family.

It's Raining Cupcakes - Lisa Schroeder
Publisher:  Aladdin          Pages:  208
Source:  Review copy from publisher       Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

I seem to be reading a lot of books about food lately.  Last week I read an Amish fiction book that I will post a review of in about 3 weeks.  It had wonderful recipes in it.  For Cybils I've read a book about ice cream, pancakes, pies and now cupcakes.    This book reminded me of one I read for Cybils last year, Angel Cke by Cathy Cassidy.  In this book Isabel the main character would love to travel.  Then she learns about a cupcake contest.  She enters hoping to win a trip to New York.  At the same time her mother is opening a bakery and going through her own problems.  I enjoyed the book very much.  My favorite part were the recipes.  My husband and daughter have been working on getting a bakery started.  Our house is always full of the smells of things baking so I added these recipes to his collection.

Shooting Kabul - N.H. Senzai
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster     Pages:  272
Source:  Review copy from publisher    Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Okay, get your box of tissues ready.  From the minute I opened this book I could not put it down.  The opening situation was such I had to read to find out how it ended.  Usually I will skip to the ending then go back and fill in the details.  This one I read straight through.  I could not imagine what this family went through trying to escape the Taliban.  My heart broke for Fadi when he realized he had messed up and lost the one thing he was responsible for, his six year old sister  Mariam, how scared she must have been.  As a mother if it had been me leaving my child behind I would have been inconsolable.  Fadi and his family are trying to figure out how to return to find her when September 11 happens.  Now Fadi faces extreme prejudice at school.  He joins the photography club and learns of a contest that might take him to India if he wins.  After all, he reasons, India is close enough to Afghanistan that he could have a better chance of finding his sister.  This is a must read and I have the perfect student picked out to read it first.

The Healing Spell - Kimberly Griffiths Little
Publisher:  Scholastic         Pages:  368
Source:  Review copy from publisher         Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

I have wanted to read this since I first saw the cover.  Usually that is not what draws me in.  However, when I learned it was set in the bayous of Louisiana, that was another reason to read it.  I have a wonderful friend from Louisiana that I will be lending this book to.
Livie's mother has been brought home from the hospital in a comotose state.  The family is going to care for her.  Livie can't seem to go near her mom.  She hides a secret about her mom's accident and feels so guilty that it is eating her up.  She decides she has to find a way to help her mother and to heal her so she seeks out a voodoo priestess to get a healing spell.  This story was wonderful and all about forgiveness.  I believe it will touch your heart the way it touched mine.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Two Must Reads

Stolen Child - Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Publisher:  Scholastic Canada          Pages 161
Source:  Review Copy from publisher    
Genre:  Middle Grade Historical Fiction

Imagine coming to a new country with someone who tells you to claim she is your mother.  After all she did save your life.  Imagine you don't really know who you are.  Nadia is in Canada with Marusia and Ivan pretending to be their daughter.  Her nightmares lead her to believe she is a Nazi.  How does she find out the truth?  This was a wonderful book.  I'd not heard of the Lebensborn children so now I can look for more information on this subject.  This is a book I will definitely recommend to my students.  I think it should be on our 8th grade reading list.

Island Sting - Bonnie J. Doerr
Publisher:  Leap Books         Pages:  280
Source:  Received review copy from publisher       Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Kenzie has only been in the Keys a few hours when she finds herself in a canal rescuing what turns out to be a deer.  Her rescuer turns out to be the good looking Angelo.  She learns that someone is killing the key deer, an endangered species that live in the Florida Keys.  She and her new friends set out to clean up the environment and secretly try to find the poacher responsible for the butchered deer.  This book reminded me of Carl Hiaasen's "Hoot"  and "Flush".  I was please to read the first chapter of the next book at the end of this one.  This is a book to be placed on my shelf.  Since we just finished reading Flush as a class I am sure this one will be quickly picked up.

(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Weekend Reading Marathon

I came home from work last night and immediately after dinner began to read.  I figured I could fit two or three books in before bed.  I also figured I would sleep in until 7 AM and then start again.  This had all been planned in advance and my family was made aware it was a reading marathon day for me.  Little did I know I would be rudely awakened by my cat at 5:30 AM.  He saw another cat in our backyard, went berserk trying to track the other cat.  The neighbor's cat likes to jump on our hot tub and walk along the edges.  Said hot tub sits outside my office window.  My cat jumped up on my desk, slipping and sliding around on the books that cover it and began knocking things off of the desk as he desperately tried to get through my now broken blinds to get to the cat on the other side of the window.  Everyone slept through this except me.  I was unable to go back to sleep and so I began my reading marathon shortly thereafter.  Here are four reviews for books I have read so far this morning.

Big Nate:  In a Class By Himself - Lincoln Pierce
Publisher:  HarperCollins     Pages:   224
Source:  Purchased               Genre:  Middle Grade Humor

This is another book along the lines of the Wimpy Kids Series.  A lot of kids will identify with Nate.  He is kind of squirrely, (I can think of one student like him right now), constantly finding himself unprepared and often in trouble.  Nate things he's going to have a really great day but it turns out you can't always trust what is on that little slip of paper in a fortune cookie.  I've been teaching my students about foreshadowing.  I believe the beginning of this book would be great for teaching that concept.

Orphan - John Weber
Publisher:  Westside Books           Pages:  266
Source:  Review Copy from publisher           Genre:  Middle Grade Historical Fiction

It is the 1930's and on his 13th birthday Homer learns he was adopted.  He and his best friend Jamie set out to find his "real" family in New York.  They mode of travel is to hop aboard a train and travel like the hobo's.  They quickly learn how dangerous this can be.  They are taken under the Wing of Smiling Jack, a hobo and taught all about the code and culture of the hobo.  In my opinion, although I was not born during that time this was a very accurate depiction of the 1930's.  I believe this will be a great addition to my library at school and a book I will definitely promote.  However, having said this I believe that parents should be warned there is some violence and references to sexual content so I would not give it to an upper elementary kid.

The Dog in the Wood - Monika Schroeder
Publisher:  Front Street             Pages: 162
Source:  Received review copy from publisher       Genre:  Middle Grade Historical Fiction

Based on events in the life of the author's grandfather, "The dog in the Wood" is just one story of what happened after the Russians occupied Eastern Germany.  This is a topic most students know little about. Fritz his mother and sister live on his grandparents farm.  The grandparents take their own lives after learning the Nazis have lost because they were strong supporters of the Nazis.  When the Russians come, they take what they want including the farm.  Then the mother is accused of a crime and hauled off.  The courage Fritz finds to help his mother is amazing.  I have several students who have recently worked on research projects about the events that took place after WWII in Germany.  I believe they will enjoy this book as much as I have.  Not all of my students will understand it.   It is definitely not a book for those who are very sensitive.

Milo:  Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze - Alan Silberberg
Publisher:  Aladdin            Pages:  288
Source:  Received review copy from publisher         Genre:  Realistic Fiction

How does a kid come to grips with the death of their mother?  That is exactly what this book is about.  The fact the author has found a humorous way to help deal with the tough topic of the death of a parent is amazing in itself.  This book is a creative look through Milo's eyes at his life since his mother's death.  The added benefits of reading this book, its healing effects are just gravy on top.  I think with the recent death of one of our teachers this may give some students still dealing with that a little better perspective.

(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye - Bonnie Shimko

Publisher:  Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages:  234
Source:  Borrowed from library
Genre:  Middle Grade Realist Fiction
Amelia has had a hard life.  It seems her mother didn't really want her.  Her Grandpa Thomas loved her and took care of her.  Amelia is a loner and the reason is  because her mother dresses her in her older sisters old clothes.  Everyone make fun of her, that is until Fancy comes to town.  Fancy is the only colored girl in her class. She has learned how to stand up for herself and immediately sees inside of Amelia and becomes her friend.  Amelia loves Fancy's life and would like luck to shine down on her just a little.  As her friendship with Fancy grows she discovers a lot of things about her family she'd never known before.  She also learns what real love from a mother is.  I didn't think I was going to like this book at first but found I really did enjoy it.  It made me look at Amelia's family and think that hidden inside the mess was something that people on the outside couldn't see.  Maybe it is that way with some of my students who live in just as big a mess and so therefore maybe there is hope for happiness for them too.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Student Saturday: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Publisher:  Amulet Books, 2009
Pages:  224
Genre:  Middle Grades, Realistic Fiction

Todays review is by my student Adan.  It is posted as he wrote it.

One of the books I read for my summer project was, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw.  It is an interesting book to read.  It's about a boy that is trying to get through middle school.  His mom is making him do his own laundry.  Luckily he got clothes for Christmas.  Will it be enough to last the whole school year?  This book is an interesting book to read.  One connection I had with the book is that all I got was clothes for Christmas.  I would recommend this book to my cousin Oneida.  This book is mostly about a kid  who is trying to get through the school year like me.

Only One Year - Andrea Cheng

Publisher:  Lee and Low
Source:  Review copy from publisher
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

In this story Sharon and Mary learn their parents are going to send their baby brother to China to live with his grandparents for one year.  In this way he will be immersed in the Chinese culture.  This decision creates many different feelings in not only the children but also in the adults.  As I read this from a mother's perspective, I kept wondering how these parents could make that decision.  I understand wanting them to be immersed in their culture but it would be so difficult.  I did enjoy the book as it gave me a look at a different culture.  I believe my students will be interested in it as we have added Chinese this year to our curriculum and they are learning a lot about the culture from our Chinese teacher who is here for this year.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Finn Reeder Flu Fighter - Eric Stevens

Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Pages: 80
Source: Received copy from publisher
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Middle Grades


When the flu hits Flynn's school and the news announces there is a Flu pandemic, Finn's father panics. He makes Flynn wear a mask to school. He buys hasmat suits for them. When Finn's mother gets sick he is totally isolated. His father leaves his food outside the door and refuses to let him out except to go to school. The question you had to ask yourself was if all of this preparation would really protect Finn. I laughed at the father's antics and at the same time felt so sorry for Finn. I really enjoyed this book.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Nuts - Kacy Cook

Publisher:  Marshall Cavendish Children
Pages:  155
Source:  Review copy from publisher
Genre:  Middle Grades Realistic Fiction

This is a story all animal lovers will enjoy.  Eleven year old Nell and her two brothers rescue two squirrels who have somehow managed to fall from their nests.  Nell's mom and dad agree to let them keep them for a while so they can gain strength and learn to fend for themselves.  Nell contacts someone named Libby online.  Libby tells Nell she should take them to a wildlife rehabilitator.  Nell tells a few lies about why she can't do that and that she needs to leave her parents out of it.  We are taken on a journey of help and healing.  The first thing I was reminded of was a day when a baby screech owl fell from his nest hitting my son on the shoulder before he hit the ground.  We placed him back in the nest where a group of blue jays immediately attacked him and he once again fell from his nest.  At this point we picked him up with a towel and placed him in a box and called the bird sanctuary.  They came and got him and we were able to visit him at the sanctuary and watch his progress.  I hope that the students who read this will learn to love nature a little more and also learn they need to seek professional help in the event something like this happens.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

My Life as a Book -Janet Tashjian

Publisher:  Henry Holt and co.
Pates:  224
Source:  Purchased
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

As a Language ARts and Reading teacher, my number one goal has always been to get students who think they don't like to read, to discover they do like to read.  Often it is because they have no say in what they read.  Other times it is because it is too difficult for them.

Derek is like this, he likes to read but not what others think he should read.  He has been given a summer reading assignment.  He is doing everything he can to avoid it.  He stumbles across an old trunk in the attic with a newspaper article about a girl drowning at Martha's Vineyard.  When he asks his mom about it she brushes the topic aside.  Derek won't let it go until he finds out the absolute truth.  Along the way to the truth he learns some tricks that will help him along the path to reading.  I loved the way the book was set up and the little tips and tricks in there.  I know a lot of reluctant readers who will really enjoy this book.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Rocky Road - Rose Kent

Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf
Pages:  304
Source:  Review copy from The Picnic Basket
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

I was able to identify with Tess so much.  I have a sister and niece both with bi-polar disorder.  For a short time my sister and her children lived with me.  One minute my sister would be fine and the next she wasn't.  The roller coaster ride was horrible.  I felt so sorry for Tess and Jordan as they were drug along on their mother's ride.  This book showed there was hope out there.  So often these kinds of stories make you feel like all is lost.  When Tess's mom decides to move them to New York from Texas, Tess is afraid this is another bad idea that will take off and then one bad day all will fall apart.  However, Tess learns that friends can be very powerful and all is not lost.  I really enjoyed this and can't wait to put it on my shelves for my students.  I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.
  
(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Avalanche Dance by Ellen Schwartz

Publisher: Tundra Books
Pages: 192
Source: Review Copy from LibraryThing
Genre: Middle Grade Realistic Fiction


Gwen and Molly have been best friends forever. Then Molly starts hanging with the party crowd and they are no longer best friends. They've gone down two different paths. Gwen is involved in her dance. Suddenly she has the opportunity to attend 3 weeks of a wonderfully grueling workshop at the University of British Columbia. Because it is expensive she knows her mom will say no, so she decides to work on her dad first. Gwen never expected the argument with her father about the cost of the workshop, nor did she expect the avalanche they were both caught in. Molly had been partying with her "friends" until a freak accident caught a building owned by Gwen's parents on fire. Molly learned these kids were not her friends when they ran off and left her to get caught. Now she has to work for Gwen's parents for community service. This gives both girls an opportunity to re-examine their former friendship. This is a quick read and very engaging. I thought of my own daughter when she started dance in seventh grade. We started her with one class. Her instructor approached me about classes for the next year. Suddenly she wanted her in eight different classes. My daughter went to her dad and asked him to talk to me because she really wanted to be a dancer. I could so relate to some of the things Gwen did and said. I'm passing this to my daughter to read because I know she will enjoy this.

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes

Publisher:  Chronicle Books
Pages:  224 pages
Source:  Library
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Izzy has just gotten settled into yet another new home.  While unpacking she comes across a baseball that had belonged to her father.  It has the words because...magic on it.  When she asks her mom about it her mom takes it away and puts it up.  Izzy gets the ball back out and then learns the next morning that her mother has received a grant to finish up her studies in Costa Rica.  She is sending Izzy to New Mexico to stay with her nana.  She is not thrilled about this.  However when she arrives she feels like she has stepped out of a time capsule into her nana's village.  During her stay there she learns to make tortillas while she learns about the father she never met and her mother won't talk about.  Her time there teachers her what family is all about and how love endures even when someone is gone.  This was a wonderful book and one I am proud to recommend to my school and have on my shelves.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Childrens
Pages:  304
Source:  Library
Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Twelve year old Teddy Fitzroy has grown up around animals all his life.  His parents worked with animals in the Congo until the war got so bad they feared for their son's life.  Now they work for the new internationally know zoo, FunJungle.  Teddy is constantly having problems with security.  It is no wonder he finds himself in trouble when the zoo's mascot, Henry the Hippo is found dead in his pool.  He sneaks into the autopsy room and finds out that Henry was murdered.  He doesn't know who to trust so he tries to tell the police.  They think it is a prank call.  Now he must find out who is behind all of this and why before they find him and try to eliminate him.  I loved this book.  I originally had checked it out from my local library but found it so good that I purchased a copy for my shelves at school.  It has several good lessons about the problems facing animals in the jungle and the diamond/emerald trade.


(The opinions expressed here are mine and not those of the other panalists)