Timmy Failure 2

Now Look What You've Done

Stephan Pastis (2014)

Actually haven't finished it yet, but really enjoy it so far. I don't think there's any other book character I've wanted to give a hug to more than Timmy, but I doubt he'd accept one. "Mendacity!"

Not as sad as the first one, but the Calvin and Hobbes-esque (totally a compliment) detective duo is still frustrated in their efforts at Greatness. And solving any case.

The Young Man and the Sea

The Young Man and the Sea

by Rodman Philbrick (2004)

A boy and his father deal with loss, the dad stuck on the couch and the boy out at sea after the tuna that can help turn their lives around. The hero is brave and resourceful and we pull for him immediately.

Deeper levels: geography of story, fish/lobsters.

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z 

Kate Messner (2009)

"One can do worse than be a swinger of birches."

A lot going on in this book, seems like a good one to take your time on with a class. The pretty and popular girl bully angle, mother/daughter communication and understanding, procrastination on school projects, art brain vs over organized brain (also the mother/daughter deal), grandparents dealing with old age and possible Alzheimer's, funerals, running track, young romance, the poetry of Robert Frost, plus lots and lots of trees.

Personally I'm going to try to get my 6th grade boy to read it, although the only hook for him may be the electronic genius friend (sorry son, no dragons, robots, or time travel). But my father does suffer from cognitive issues and this might be a way to see if he has questions about that. It's not all serious stuff, it's an entertaining story with good characters and some humor.

4/5 stars

I Have Lived A Thousand Years

I Have Lived A Thousand Years: 
Growing Up In the Holocaust

by Livia Bitton-Jackson (1997)


Not an easy book to read.  And they all shouldn't be easy, should they?  A 13 year old Jewish girl and her family are forced into ghettos, labor camps, and concentration camps under Nazi Germany.  The point is made very clear that it is a daily miracle any of them survived the inhumane treatment.  Strong story of will, of family, of caring for others and not allowing oneself to be changed or beaten by a terrible ordeal.

The degrading violence and personal humiliations are not white washed, the facts of daily conditions in the camps are clearly presented.  Great opportunities for a variety of lessons across the curriculum.  I remember visiting a camp, Dachau I think, when I was 11 or 12, and the strongest memory I have is how small and cramped the sleeping areas were, how little room there was between the bunk levels. Still very clear to me 30+ years later.

While I think it's important for children to be aware of the Holocaust and of similar historical and current events, I don't think I'd introduce a book this frank and real until 6 or 7th grade.  Having the students/readers the same age as the author when she lived through these horrors could be more personal and powerful.

And now I want to go read The Book Thief again.

The Great Gilly Hopkins

by Katherine Paterson (1978)

Newbery Honor

Several of my students have read this book but all they could tell me,  in hushed, conspiratorial and slightly shocked tones, was that she, Gilly Hopkins used bad words! Being a concerned and responsible adult in charge of their proper education, I had to check this out for myself.

And dammit if she doesn't! Hell, that girl is right sassy and big for her britches, and deserved a resounding thwack on her backside, if you ask me.  She's also in the foster care system, steeling herself for another rejection and desperate to escape and return to the flower child mother who abandoned her.

I wasn't too sure about this one at first but by the end I loved it.  Family is where you find it and make it, and as Trotter says, Life is tough.  It's not a Disney happy ending, and it's probably a little dated unless you're not old enough to know it's dated.

Hereville

... How Mirka Got Her Sword

Barry Deutsch (2010)

Entertaining and Educational! Learn numerous Yiddish phrases and all about the Sabbath while enjoying a cute story of a rebel girl and a magic pig.  And a troll. Who knits.

The website has interesting looks at the creative process as Deutsch readies the next book of Minka's adventures, including sketches and rough drafts.

Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck

by Brian Selznick (2011)

Just in time to go watch Hugo Cabaret on the big screen I got to read Selznick's new magical combo of words and illustrations.  There is a lot going on, the two stories in words and pictures across different time periods are not always the smoothest to follow, but it all wraps up cleanly and clearly in the end. The pencil drawings are incredible, telling a beautiful and emotional story all on their own.

 Set both in the 1920s and 1977, the stories follow a boy and a girl each searching for a parent and running away from an unhappy home situation. It's not light-hearted -- one mom dies, the other leaves the family and rejects her child -- but there are elements of mystery, searching, danger and adventure, not to mention wolves!, that will keep readers interested. I would be curious to see how a child reads just the drawing pages all the way through first, just to see how much or what story they make from it.

Lots of connections -- museums, collections, sign language, Deaf community/school, that Basil Frankenriter (?) book about kids running away and living in the museum...

Slam

Slam

by Nick Hornby (2007)

actually not quite finished with it yet, but almost. It's good and highly recommendable so far but you know how a bad ending can mess up a perfectly good book...

Ok, finished!

Unlike most teen pregnancy stories/books, especially from the male POV, this one doesn't just end in a scare or something to get the guy off the hook -- whew! that was close! This one touches on many of the dire consequences of sex: diapers, in-laws, what she looks like after having the kid, and the dreaded "is it mine?" all with humor, honesty, and the magic of Tony Hawk.

The book started slow for me, too generic, but then came an ill-fated attempt to run away from life's troubles and "magic" leaps into the future which kept me interested. It ended well so I'm glad I stuck with it.  I certainly related to poor Sam, always saying wrong things at the worst time and being totally confused with the whole pregnancy/birth/baby deal. I will make my 16 year old son read it, and recommend it to any teens.

Sex? Yes, no details but obviously they have it. A few f-bombs get strewn about as well, but appropriately.

The Crossroads

The Crossroads

by Chris Grabenstein* (2008)

Sons 2 & 3 are into spooky books and scary stories; of course #3 usually invades our bed at night because 1 & 2 try to freak him out, which is why I try to hide the scary books he checks out as soon as we're home from the library... anyway, I picked this one up for #2 but he'd already read it, so I gave it a try.  About 1:15 am I was wishing I hadn't started it after the sun went down...

Traditional ghost story, the dead at unrest, the past attempting to control the future, bad people deserve their painful fate... almost too many characters here, especially in the beginning, we don't know who's minor or major, dead or alive, past or present... but they're all connected and it all sorts out.  The dead mother was a bit much, didn't add to the story and/or could have been a story all it's own. Some minor characters are very well done and I'd read more of (Davey the farm-boy ghost and the Librarian).
Overall, good read.




*really? Grabenstein? Chris Grab-en-stein writes spooky books? that's perfect...

The Matchlock Gun

The Matchlock Gun

by Walter D. Edmonds

Newbery Medal 1942

A boy must help his mother protect the family while his father is away during the French and Indian War; bravery, responsibility, self-sacrifice, following instructions and remaining cool under fire (figuratively and literally). Probably not 21st century PC depiction of the Native Americans, but it wasn't derogatory either.

connections: the Little House books (is it the art?), Johnny Tremain, Winter Danger

My Mom the Pirate

My Mom the Pirate

by Jackie French (2003)

cute, funny, good for beginning of school year or new students

Yolanda's Genius

Yolanda's Genius

by Carol Fenner (1995)

Newbery Honor Book

Very nice story, a lot going on -- moving from city to suburbs, plus-size females, musical talent, making friends, missing father, drug dealers, etc. etc... -- the book could've been twice as long, but it focused the last 3rd and ended interestingly. The same book could be written from Yolanda's brother Andrew's POV.

I really like the cover art also; sometimes I don't look twice at a cover, but I kept glancing back at this one...

connections: Chicago blues music, The Sound and the Fury

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Sarah, Plain and Tall

by Patricia MacLachlan

Newbery Medal 1986

a quick read, short and simple, very sweet... ayuh, I liked this one a lot, not just as a children's story...

Hatchet

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen (1987) -- Newbery Honor

A tale of survival, a boy becoming a man by battling wildlife, the elements, and his own fears... fast-paced, exciting, interesting details... strange little extra on the divorced parents plotline involving catching mom having an affair...

connections: The Cay, Call It Courage

The Anybodies

The Anybodies

by N. E. Bode/Julianna Baggott (2004)

The entire story was worth the house made of books (which I'm sure is cheaper than the prices here in SoCal)... lots of references to classic children's lit, clever and humorous comments from the "author", nice family connections, a sweet and strong lead character... I really liked this one!

update: I saw on the author's website there are 39 books and their characters, from Charlotte & Fern to the Bible, referenced in this book... can you find them all?

101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher

101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher

by Lee Wardlaw (2004)

Y'know how you go to make an omelet and start tossing in whatever is there in the fridge, but realize you went too far and added too much when the spaghetti and orange chicken clash unappetizingly, so you have a bowl of Cap'n Crunch instead?

I don't think I can remember all the issues blended in to this scramble -- surprise pregnancy of mom, laid off dad, overly mean teacher, freshly deceased mother/dad dating again (and dating the mean teach, but that's just syrup on the eggs), rebellion of good student, crush on girl, too smart for grade level, never giving up on your dreams, mysterious illness/best friend in hospital, Egyptian burial traditions -- the list goes on...

***

having been shown my critique and the comment from this book's author (see "comments") , Guest Reviewer/Son #2 decided to air his opinion as well, and come to the defense of the author and her work --

Dear Ms. Wardlaw,

I really like this book, 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher, the
funny thing is that it wasn't given to my classroom as a gift but the teacher bought it from the book fair! It's a pretty good book but I think that in 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher you should have put more info on the other teachers instead of only on Fierce (my teacher is not nearly as bad as Fierce) also I was wondering if the book is based on a real thing or if its a made up story. I can't wait until when 101 Ways to Bug Your Friends and Enemies comes out in 2009.

Sincerely, Kasey

p.s. I think that Sneeze should invent an automatic fish feeder.

Coraline

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman (2002)
Ooooo, spooooky... a little ghost story, clever and imaginative and humorous in the expected excellence of Gaiman's style. A girl in a big house with quirky neighbors and a mysterious door to nowhere...

Eggs

Eggs

by Jerry Spinelli (2007)

Misfit, emotionally stressed, parentless kids argue and bond and help each other... they argued a bit much for me, but maybe that's because I have my own that I usually refuse to let bicker/fight/insult (unless it's clever) with each other. A deceased mom, a wacky mom, missing and rarely there dads, a clueless Grandmother that lets her 9 yr old roam the streets all night (?), and a teen girl with issues (the book on her would be a J Frey/C. Love memoir) all connect for a too easy ending, but lots of issues to discuss with kids -- grief, growing up/personal responsibilty, connecting with others...