Stuck In Neutral

Stuck In Neutral

Terry Trueman (2000)

A narrator with severe Cerebral Palsy describes what he sees, thinks, and longs for, and how he fears his father may end his life out of "mercy" -- not light themes, but lots of humor and personality. Similar to Out of My Mind but Shawn is much less functional, more "trapped" by his disability. The book, and narrator's fate, has one of those he did/did not endings, but there is a recent sequel out so that settles the cliff hanger.
Great review and discussion ideas here at TLT: Teen Librarian Toolbox and an interview with the author, whose son has CP, here at The Hub website.

Wonder & Out of My Mind

 Wonder 

by R. J. Palacio (2012)

Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper (2012)


Two good books with a similar message. Both feature 5th grade students, school and family issues, bullies, physical challenges, and both will probably cause a few tears to flow. Wonder has a male lead and more family/friend interaction while ...Mind is a female lead and mostly her inner voice. Both deal with preconceived ideas of mental and physical ability. Both made me wonder what hidden talents and abilities I missed in my students this year, and both would be great to read and discuss in a classroom.

Al Capone Stole My Post

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Gennifer Choldenko (2004)

Newbery Honor

One of Son #1's faves growing up, I think he still re-reads it once in awhile. Good brother/sister story as well as a family's struggle with struggling through the Depression and dealing with an autistic child.  Interesting supporting characters, realistic family dynamics/drama, but the star is Moose and his roller coaster of emotions as he deals with being the new kid at school and having a sister with special needs.  Humorous, quick paced, and can lead many ways in discussion.

Some of my students read this and became really interested in Alcatraz, insisting this was a gangster book. Ok. Capone and the prisoners are a part of the story, and if that's what piqued their interest I'll go with it. There is a sequel too, but it's still in the "Read Me" stack. And of course there's a website!

.....



Thought for sure I already read this one, but can't find a post here. Hmm. But it is one of the very first books in my very first Book Club so I'm checking around for stuff to go with it.

Kids love prisons, don't they?

Alcatrez Prison Virtual Tour

http://www.quia.com/hm/299947.html

Freak The Mighty

Freak the Mighty

by Rodman Philbrick  (1993)

This is another one of those books Son #2 has been recommending for several years.  He started reading it to #3 in the truck when we ran errands.  I really liked the "Live Audiobook" version, but we got home at a good part and I couldn't lock the boys in the car until they finished reading, so I finished it up myself.

Outcasts, one huge/quiet/parentally challenged (one dead, one in prison) and one small/loud/obsessed with quests, find each other and form a bond against bullies and criminals.  It's a sad story...

oops, powers running out.

Just asking, but which came first -- this book or John Irving's Prayer for Owen Meany?

Things Not Seen

Things Not Seen

by Andrew Clements (2002)

Boy wakes up invisible.  Boy does not use invisibility to play pranks or visit the girls' locker room.  Boy meets girl. Boy and girl work together to solve his failure to be visible.  Boy's parents almost go to jail for losing son. Boy learns to appreciate life and the ability to wear clothes.

Tangerine

Tangerine

by Edward Bloor (1997)

Kind of a strange book, several types of books blended together -- spooky in the beginning (I'm sure a zombie was mentioned) then a lot of sibling rivalry/jealous of the football star brother mixed with the new kid in school, then a good dose of racial/economic class confrontation, then wraps up with the evil brother terrorizing the neighborhood and dysfunctional family horrors from the past... that said, I liked it!

It's different, and covers a lot of ground, but it's exciting and moves quickly -- perfect for active boys that don't need one theme repeated and dwelt on for an entire book, gives 'em lots to think about and react to. The bad seed football star older brother was a little cartoonish, but the end result is quite dramatic.  The middle section revolving around the new school and the soccer season is the best part, and could actually be read apart from the rest of the book.  Good read.

why I picked it up:  Again, a recommendation from Son #2, plus I'm a big sports fan and do enjoy a cold glass of orange juice.
why I didn't put it down:  At first it was because I thought there would be zombies, then for the sports action, then to save the fruit trees, then to find out just how the heck he was going to wrap this whole thing up!  It's a gripping, involving read on several levels and I couldn't put it down until it was finished.
who I would give it to:  mystery fans, soccer players, new kids in school, underdogs.

King of the Wind

King of the Wind

by Marguerite Henry

Newbery Medal 1949

The story of a mute Moroccan boy and his horse traveling across Europe as their fortunes go down, up, down, up again, down further, slightly up, down and out, and finally up again for a happy ending. Especially for the horse, who becomes a very popular stud.

More of an animal story than a boy story, we never get to know too much of the boy or see him grow/change, except through the fortunes of the horse. But quick pace, some humor, and the underdogs come out on top in the end.

connections: ?

Timothy of the Cay

Timothy of the Cay

Theodore Taylor (1993)

The follow-up to The Cay alternates between Phillip's rescue and recovery and Timothy's past life from cabin boy to captain of his own ship. Phillip becomes quite independent and makes many important decisions, eventually going with his father back to the cay and Timothy's grave. Timothy's story is a quality portrayal of working hard to overcome fears and predjudice to become a strong, productive man.

connections: shipwrecks, survival, blindness; Hatchet, The Slave Dancer, Winter Danger, Follow My Leader

Follow My Leader

Follow My Leader

by James B. Garfield (1957)

This is a read-aloud book for my 3rd grade class, but I brought it home to read ahead so I wasn't surprised by anything. I'm normally biased against books published more than a few decades back, and the Eddie Haskell dialogue had me involuntarily rolling my eyes ("Golly, guys, dry up, would ya?") but it turns out to be a worthwhile read.

The hero's name is Jimmy Carter and he's the class president -- how weird is that? --before being blinded in a firecracker accident. He needs to learn Braille and how to work with a guide dog, as well as forgive the boy who caused the accident and prove to the fellows he can still be a good Scout. A lot of opportunities for additional learning: empathy for the blind, of course, and Braille, guide dogs, constellations, bats and radar, and telling time without gasp! a digital clock.

So what is the acceptable/preferred "label" these days, what do I file and tag this as? Handicap, disability, challenged... ???