Game Changers - Mike Lupica

Publisher:  Scholastic Press (My 8, 2012)
Pages:  224
Source:  Review Copy from publisher
Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Sports

As a middle school teacher I consider it my job not only to teach my subject, but also to instill in every child that crosses my path, the belief that he or she can reach for their dreams.  Often times I see kids letting their dreams go for their parent's dream.  This is the story of "Game Changers".  Eleven year old Ben McBain loves football.  He is good.  his dream is to be the quarterback.  Unfortunately all anyone ever sees is his size.
Shawn O'Brien was the quarter back and the coaches son.  What happens when your dreams and desires clash with your fathers?  Shawn doesn't want to be quarterback.  He also doesn't want to let his father down.  He finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.  The conflict in  this book is one kids play out every day.  Sometimes it takes courage to stand up for your dreams.  This is another wonderful book by Mike Lupica.  I love having these on my shelves because of the lessons they offer my students.  I don't usually read a lot of sports, but Mike Lupica's books are definitely an exception.

Student Saturday: The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore

Publisher:  Harper Collins
Pages:  406
Reviewer:  Austin

The Power of Six was written by Pittacus Lore.  This book is a sequel to I Am Number Four.  The story starts out in Alabama at the point where the previous book ended.  Only six of the aliens that came to Earth on their mission remain alive.  The surviving aliens are allies that use their powers to each other.  John Smith (Four), Maren Elizabeth (Six), Sam and Bernie Kosar are running from the authorities and the Mogs.  Bernie Kosar is a chimera, a beast that can transform into anything.  The book is partially written from John's point of view as the three of them narrowly escape capture and death.

While on the run throughout the United States, John begins to miss his girlfriend Sarah who he had to leave behind in Paradise, Ohio.  After a while though he starts to develop feelings for for Six, which causes some tension between them.  They are continually in dangerous situations because of the Mogadorians.  Sam and John are on all the news reports on TV and in the papers, which broadcasts a high price for capturing them.  They are considered terrorists and they have to stay on high alert to keep form being killed or captured.

Meanwhile, the second point of view comes from a new character, seventeen year old Marina, also know as Seven.  She and Ella (Ten) are hidden away in Santa Teresa, Spain.  They both have been living in a convent for the past eleven years and their location is unknown to the Mogadorians.  Seven has constantly searched over the Internet for signs of the others during her time on Earth.  She finally managed to find John in America and tries to find out as much as she can about him.  She was receiving training for her mission on EArth but her trainer lost interest and she ends up on her own thinking she is no longer safe and may need ot move on.  Through her research she found out that Number One was killed in Malaysia, Number Two died in England, Number Three was killed in Kenya and Number Four was almost killed in Ohio, but narrowly escaped.  SEven and Ten are determined to help the six aliens still alive.

Six discovers a glowing orb in her treasure chest, which shows a picture of Santa Teresa.  She decides to go there and she finds Seven and Ten.  Seven discovers a glowing red orb in her treasure chest.  When she touches it she activates a tracking beacon which lets the Mogadorians discover her location.  The the Mogadorians blow up sections of the convent.  Seven and Ten treid to fight off the Mogs  and Six arrives just in time to help them.  Meanwhile, in a West Virginia cave, Sam and Four save Number Nine from the Mogadorians; base and take their stolen treasure chests back from the Mogs.

As a reader of science fiction, I found this one to be even more exciting than I Am Number Four.  I would recommend this book to anyone from preteen to adult and science fiction lovers because the story was packed full of action and suspense. I can't wait for The Rise of Nine to come out next!

The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History: 1939-1949 - Caver, Haulman, Ennels

Authors:  Joseph Caver, Daniel Haulman, Jerome Ennels

Publisher:  New South Books

Pages: 300

Source:  Review Copy from Publicist

Genre:  Illustrated History

From Amazon:

Many documentaries, museum exhibits, books, and movies have not treated what became know as the “Tuskegee Experiment” involving black piots who gained fame during World War II, as the Tuskegee Airmen.  Most of these works have focused on the training of America’s first black fighter pilots and their subsequent accomplishments during combat.  This publication goes further, using captioned photographs to trace the airmen through the stages of training, deployment, and combat actions in North Africa, Italy, and German in an attractive coffee table-book format.  Included for the first time are depictions of the critical support roles of doctors, urses, mechanics, navigators, weathermen, parachute riggers, and other personnel, all of whom contributed to help complete the establishement of the 477^th Composite Group.  The authors have told, in picture and words, the full story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the environments in which they lived, worked, played, fought, and sometimes died.

My Thoughts:

I was thrilled when the publicist asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing this book.  I had recently read and reviewed “A Rare Titanic Family”, published by NewSouth Books.  I knew very little about the Tuskegee Airmen, except that they were black pilots during World War II.  For that reason alone I wanted to read it.  Any time I can read a book and gain more knowledge I am thrilled.

From the very beginning of this book I found myself angry.  I was angry at a society that could think that the color of ones skin could affect the size of ones brain and their ability to learn.  Having been raised in a home where I was taught there was no difference between people of different colors I am always amazed at the worlds stupidity and  the resilience of those who don’t fit into those stupid little boxes. 

Joseph Caver and Jerome Ennels – archivists along with Daniel Haulman – a historian with the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB came together to create and present an account of the Tuskegee Airmen.  Before reading this book I knew they were black and they were considered an elite group of pilots who did not receive recognition for their service until many years later.  I was shocked to learn there were over 14,000 people in the various organizations.  I didn’t even know they had several different organizations.

It amazed me as I read the book to see the accomplishments of these people and how long it took for them to be recognized for their accomplishments.  With ignorance the country tried to hold back these airmen to the point they waited years to be recognized for their role in World War II.  Thank goodness we have men like these authors who are willing to get the information out there for people like me who thirst for knowledge but don’t always know where to find it.  I would like to say that I am keeping this book on my shelves.  However, a math teacher at my school saw I was reading it and wants it for his classroom to share with his students.  I am all for passing on books to other teachers of different subjects if they will promote reading.  Especially when he told me how he can use the book when talking about statistics. 

I whole-heartedly recommend this book to everyone who loves history.  It doesn’t have to be a particular era of history you love to enjoy this book.