Whirligig

Whirligig

by Paul Fleischman (1999)

I wasn't sure about this one during the first chapter -- teen alcohol, hormone and suicide issues -- but then it got much better. Alternating chapters between a boy seeking redemption for mistakes and the people whose lives are touched by his actions and art, it's interesting and thought-provoking.

Whoa! Just checked the published date: 1920?!?!?!? Need to double-check that, or re-read the book, 'cause that doesn't make sense... UPDATE: no, of course it wasn't written in 1920 -- that's what I get for trusting anything on the Internet for viable information!

Horns & Wrinkles

Horns & Wrinkles

by Joseph Helgerson (2006)

Loved it! Trolls and magic, bullies and crickets...

Thanks, Wrighty (as in Wrighty's Reads), but you don't really want page 56 from any of the piles of books surrounding me -- they're either phonics lessons, subtraction problems, or delights such as:

"Qualitative and quantitative purpose statements address similar content, but to express the assumptions of a qualitative paradigm..."

let's just stop there, before things get out of control...

on the nightstand: Judy Moody saves the world & Whiligig (sp?)

update: that Judy Moody is a hoot! felt like I should know some of the characters better, so I either accidentally skipped a chapter or need to pick up earlier books in the series...

Whirligig starts with a drunk teenager killing someone, but seems to be getting better 1/2 way through...

The Whipping Boy

by Sid Fleischman

Newbery Medal 1987

The poor servant teaches the rich royalty how to escape kidnappers and appreciate life... got off to a slow start for me, not very likeable characters, but once they got out and on the run it picked up.

Good for study w/ history or social studies...


p.s. post #100 -- whoo hoo!

Jack and the Giant

Jack and the Giant A Story Full of Beans

by Jim Harris (1997)

Jack and his beanstalk, cowboy style... not my usual type of book to list here, but it gets special consideration since it was the star of my first official lesson plan assignment.

Brian's Winter

Brian's Winter

by Gary Paulsen (1996)

The hero of Hatchet gets a re-imagined adventure of not being rescued before winter... mostly deals with hunting, the cold, and survival techniques, but doesn't go very deep and personal as in the previous book. The ending seems quickly added once a certain number of were hit.