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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
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... ???
Max
Johnny Tremain
by Esther Forbes
Newbery Medal 1944
Coming-of-age during the American Revolution, a poor but selfish/arrogant boy finds himself and a greater purpose during the birth of our nation.
I heard a lot of negative comments about this one on LibraryThing, mostly within the "books kids are forced to read" threads, but I enjoyed it; as a 6th grader I* may have felt it was long and therefore boring. Who has time in a classroom to have kids read novels anyway? There is some awkward prose, choppy almost fragmented sentences, possibly due to when it was written (?)...
I think there are several movie versions, anyone recommend a particular one?
connections: Paul Revere, colonial/revolutionary America, My Brother Sam is Dead , the Dear America series
*"I" as in a broad, generalized assumption of 6th graders-- I personally probably would have loved it, and I'm surprised I'd missed it way back then...
Winter Danger
William O. Steele (1954)
A boy and his father live the "woodsy" life, sleeping in hollow trees and hunting for food, until a extremely hard winter forces the father to leave the boy with relatives; the solitary, independent boy learns about family, community, depending on and helping others. Plus he has a cool battle with wolves.
connections: LHontheP, Hatchet
Guts: The True Stories Behind "Hatchet" and the Brian Books
by Gary Paulsen (2002)
Paulsen's childhood and adult adventures in the wilderness, focused mainly on hunting and flying; interesting, and good for students to see how real (and dangerous) some seemingly fun "adventures" can be, and also to point how important it can be to "write what you know" -- inspiration for those that can't think of anything to write...
Possible compare/contrast the true accounts and the fictionalized versions from his books.
While reading it, I did feel a little guilty whining when our temps here dropped below 60... brrrrr!
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
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
by Joseph Helgerson (2006)
Loved it! Trolls and magic, bullies and crickets...
"Qualitative and quantitative purpose statements address similar content, but to express the assumptions of a qualitative paradigm..."
The Whipping Boy
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
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.
The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs
by Betty G.* Birney (2005)
A boy who wants to travel and see the world, or at least get off the farm and ride a train, looks around his small town for "wonders" and finds how special his family and neighbors really are. Well done characters, humor, strength of family and community, but also following your dreams, looking out into the wide world.
*are there a lot of other Betty Birneys out there she might get confused with?
Thimble Summer
by Elizabeth Enright
Newbery Medal 1938
Whoa, didn't realize this one was from so long ago... I've been trying to avoid some of the older books, (unnecessarily?) worrying about relevance and dated references, etc.... tales of a farm girl's constant mishaps -- she seems quite disrespectful, running off quite often with no apparent disciplinary consequences, but in the end she learns a little lesson...
connections: Little House...; Sarah, Plain and Tall; farm life
Missing May
by Cynthia Rylant
Newbery Medal 1993
coupled with Sarah, Plain and Tall -- what a great hour of reading! Funny, sensitive, respectful of life and death, strength and importance of family, quirky characters... I'd recommend this to any adult as well...
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...
A Single Shard
by Linda Sue Park
Newbery Medal 2002
actually just started it... I'll get back to ya...
Airman
by Eoin Colfer (2008)
kings and revolutions, swords and the dawn of flight, honor and loyalty and a good old fashion swashbuckling tale... I know there can, and prob will be, further adventures of the young hero, but I was glad this book ended, as in ended without "look for book 2 in this continuing series, coming soon!"
Yellow Star
by Jennifer Roy (2006)
Historical fiction account of one of the few children to survive in a ghetto during WWII... similar tone w/ Number the Stars, written in almost a free verse from the young girl's pov...
The Middle of Somewhere
by J.B. Cheaney
a girl and her adhd little brother travel through Kansas with a grandfather who has not been around very much and doesn't seem to like children: misadventures soon abound... very nice book, young teen protag shows insight and responsibility, all learn appreciation for others as they are... funny, fast-paced, and entertaining...
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie (2007)
A venture into YA lit from one of my favorite authors... a gifted student from the Indian reservation attempts to change his life by going to an outside/white school, and deals with betraying his friends/making new ones, poverty, alcohol, girls, and basketball...
lots of humor to deal with lots of pain, not the deepest story despite some heavy subjects, very Hollywood-like endings... strength of family, following your heart and being true and brave for yourself...
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
Dobry
by Monica Shannon
Newbery Medal 1935
I usually stay away from the older books, but I must not have caught the year on this one until it was too late... not only that, but the writing style is a bit different, almost as if translated by a non-english speaker in some places -- but despite it all, I enjoyed the story!
Set in Bulgaria and with a lot of winter, it's totally different from our part of the world, but the joy and appreciation for nature and life, even of hard work and simple surroundings, make this a quality, recommended read.
connections: Little House in the Big Woods?
George's Secret Key to the Universe
Lucy & Stephen Hawking (2007)
How to get kids interested in black holes and the depths of space... pages from a science text subliminally placed inside a story about a secret super computer that can get you a ride on a comet, with reminders to care for the earth and solve our wasteful ways before it's too late...
Quick, light story but not predictable... great to accompany space/science lessons
The Nobodies
by N.E. Bode (2007)
I liked the first one better (The Anybodies) but still an excellent book; very Potter-ish, with a dash of Jumanji as well...
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?
