Off to Class – Susan Hughes

Publisher:  Owlkids Books

Pages:  64

Source:  I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Genre:   All Ages, Non-fiction

This book made its way through several of the teachers at my school before I got it back to review.  We are an IB World School, so the other teachers thought they should read this book to share with their students how lucky they are to be able to have an education that comes so easy.  It was eye opening to see how these kids live and how much they value an education.  This is a block that definitely will go on my shelves.  My students need to realize how good they have it. 

For me the most interesting thing was the Platform schools.  Kids are free to cme and go,  or bring younger siblings.  This eliminates many problems they may have.

I personally would love to hold school in a tree house.  I think Ill share this book with my students at the beginning of next school year.  Maybe then they will appreciate the free educational chances they have.

Eutopia – Kathy Motlagh

Publisher:  Think Virtues

Pages:  121

Source:  I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Genre:  Children’s Fantasy

Goodreads:

Eutopia, (which means the perfect place as oppose to Utopia which means a perfection beyond attainment) is a fantasy fiction story of two boys who stumble across another world named Eutopia. As they arrive in this land, they come to realize that it has been destroyed by vice and greed. The boys must practice their virtues in order to awaken the guardians of Eutopia and restore this once perfect place. Through reading this series, children will feel empowered and see that they can make a positive difference in the world through practicing virtues.

My Thoughts:

This is one of those rare gems that come around every once in a while.  Every parent and teacher should have a copy of this book in his or her home or classroom.

When Kyle and Kamron fall through a hole into another world they not only find an adventure, but also learn about the virtues.  The world has been destroyed by vice and greed.  The boys with the help of their cousin must find the virtue stones to re-awaken the creatures associated with the virtues.  To find the stones they must practice the virtues.  As they find each stone the world begins to get back its beauty. 

This wasn’t just a beautifully written and illustrated book.  From a teacher’s perspective it was a wonderful book to have on my shelves.  It started conversations with my sixth graders who didn’t know what virtues were.  It seems they are no longer taught in elementary schools and many parents don’t teach them either.

Check out the Think Virtues website for Virtue Question Cards and more information

About the Author:

Kathy Motlagh is the writer and creative force behind the Eutopia book series and products, and managing director of Think Virtues.  Motlagh, a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, has taught art at the Montessori School of North Hoffman for the past twelve years and been an active board member of the school since its inception twenty years ago.  Motlagh’s business experience includes eighteen years in the mortgage banking industry, where she has been featured in business publications as one of the top female financiers in the country.  Motlagh resides in Chicago and involve her family, including her six and seen-year-old sons in community service and fund raising activities for many non-profit organizations and causes.

Swipe – Evan Angler

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Pages:  288

Source: Review copy from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review

Genre:  Middle Grade, Dystopian

Book Description

Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong?

Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship.

The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back.

My Thoughts

I loved this book.  I am purchasing it for my school bookshelves.  I think this will appeal to people of all ages.  As an adult I can see our society headed this way.   I can only imagine the fear Logan felt when his sister didn’t return from her trip to get the Mark.  I was concerned in the beginning of the book that he was just being paranoid that he was being watched and followed.

Erin’s move to Spokie made me wonder why her mother did not come with them.  Her father can stop a question from anyone; just by telling them he works for the government.  Any government that is this secretive and deceptive can’t be that great. 

This book did have something unique that stuck with me.  In the beginning of the book Evan’s house was describe.  Most of the houses are vertical.  This means there is one room per floor.  I thought this would seem very strange as a living situation.  You couldn’t just walk across the hall to your sister’s room.  You would need to go up or down a floor to see them.

This book has enough suspense to hopefully hold the reader until the second book comes out in September.  It is called Sneak, and will hopefully answer many questions that are left unanswered. 
I am grateful to Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program for allowing me to read and review this book.  It is one I will promote to my students next year.