Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this magical book. When Sophia's dad tells her they will spend the next day together to explore the island he had just purchased she was excited. Since her mother died she and her father spent very little time together.  I absolutely detested Sophia's dad because of his status attitude. Snobby is what you call it. Sophia spent most of her days at home with the housekeeper, even eating in her room alone. I was really hoping her that time on the island would help her and her dad bond.  When she chases a creature into the woods away from her dad and meets a light guardian her troubles begin. A dark guardian wants her dead. The quake on the island sends her dad running. She makes it to the beach in time to see her dad's boat fleeing.  She must make friends with strange creatures on the island if she is to survive. Loved the island, characters and how much Sophia changes and grows. Can't wait for my students to read this one. I'm sure they will enjoy this as much as I did.

Rodent by Lisa J. Lawrence

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

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

This story could have been pulled from the lives of many of the students I teach.  Like Isabelle, I have many students who have had to deal with an alcoholic parent. In Isabelle’s case, it is her mother.  I have many students who have had to take care, raise their younger siblings. Isabelle has a younger brother and sister to take care of.  On top of all of this, she has a part-time job and is going to school.  She is in a vicious cycle. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and she is afraid to try to remove that weight because of the consequences to the lives of her siblings. As I read this and saw her pain I wanted so much to take that pain from her.  It hit too close to home. I had a student, a young man who lived this life with his younger brother. His mom was a drug addict. He’d had enough teachers show support that he finally took a leap of faith, left his mom in another state and moved back to Florida with his younger brother. He arrived a few days before turning 18,  with the help of one of his high school teachers he was able to go to court to get custody of his brother.

Unlike my former student, Isabelle doesn’t want anyone knowing what is going on in her life and therefore, getting help for her and helping her deal with things is made more difficult. This is definitely a book I will recommend and it is a book I will put on my shelves at school. I see this as a book that may just help that one child who is like Isabelle and needs some encouragement to get help.  Well worth the read.

Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

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

This was such an emotional read. Robin and Emily have been best friends. One day Robin’s adventurous friend Emily decide to climb to the top of a theme park ride. Robin doesn’t really like heights.  The next thing Robin remembers is waking up in a hospital. She is told that she and Emily were found beside a Waffle House. Unfortunately her best friend has not awakened.  Imagine not knowing exactly what happened. Then you go back to school where you are tormented and teased and blamed for your friend’s condition. You can’t do anything about it because you don’t really remember what happened. Robin starts writing notes to herself as she remembers things.   Through this story line we see the same teen angst we would see in teens today.  That is what makes this story so believable and makes those connections to the reader.  This is so much more than a book about an accident. It is a book about finding answers. Yes we know Robin needs to know  what happened that night and why it happened.  One of the messages that came across reminded me of a time in my senior year in high school. I was admiring a student’s car. He had three vehicles. I told him I would love to have just one. His response was that he would love to have parents that he knew loved him.  Robin realizes that even though she has always seen Emily as so lucky and outgoing, she learns through her flashbacks that she and Emily really aren’t so different.   This is definitely a book I recommend. Once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down.