Nutmeg BOOKS
1/24/21
I love a good mystery! If you like spooky stories, you should read The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street. Tessa and her family have just moved into a new house in Chicago. Strange things start to happen and Tessa seems to be the only one to notice. You can imagine what Tessa is going through-new house, new school and possibly a ghost? After making some new friends, she tells them what's been going on. The kids work together to get to the bottom of the scary things happening in Tessa's haunted house. What will they find out and how can they make it stop?
👻 Ms. Kosh
6/15/20
Most of you know I am not a huge fan of graphic novels, but I know you love them! This is one graphic novel that couldn't have come out at a better time. Jordan is not going to his neighborhood school anymore. He is starting middle school at a private school. There are very few people of color at this private school and Jordan is not sure how he fits in. Some characters seem to stereotype certain students, but everything is not what it seems. Jordan learns that skin color is not as important as honesty and kindness when it comes to making friends. The New Kid is a great graphic novel, especially now!
👏 Ms. Kosh
stereotype-a mistaken idea about a person, or group of people, based on how they look
6/1/20
I'm starting to notice that so many books about bullying, give lots of details on how to bully. Have you noticed that, too? Chase Ambrose is an eighth grade football star. After falling off his roof, he wakes up in the hospital and doesn't remember anything about his life. When he returns to school and sees the way his friends treat him like a hero, but most of the other kids fear him, he realizes he has been a bully! In fact, he was so mean to one boy, Joel Weber, that Joel switched middle schools! Chase doesn't like who he used to be, will he be able to "restart"? One of the challenges of this book is that the point of view changes from chapter to chapter. Now that you know that, you can look out for which character is narrating. Warning: Don't try any of these bullying stunts!! 😉 Ms. Kosh
5/24/20
Rainy days are perfect for reading suspenseful mysteries like Framed! Florian has a special skill he calls T.O.A.S.T. I will let you find out about that in the book. He teaches it to his new best friend, Margaret. While practicing T.O.A.S.T., they make some discoveries about a man at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. When 3 very expensive works of art go missing, Florian and Margaret have information that will help the FBI. This book is hard to put down and it ends with a hint to a sequel. I need to see if I can borrow Vanished! next! 😎 Ms. Kosh!
5/23/20
I started reading this book on the Kindle App on my iPhone. I almost stopped reading it because of all the images that were hard to see in this format. I'm so glad I stuck with it but, I would recommend reading this in print! Winnie's parents are going to extremes to make sure they each get equal time with Winnie after their divorce. Since there are 7 days in a week and 7, as you know, is not an even number, Winnie spends Wednesdays in her treehouse. Her parents' attempts to outdo each other on their nights with Winnie, begin to create a problem for her grades. Her friends, The Tulip Street Ten, band together to help Winnie and get what they want. I think we can all imagine what it would be like to live in our own treehouse and make our own rules. This story was filled with humor and just the right amount of tenderness. Exactly the kind of story I like! ♥ Ms. Kosh
4/21/20
I read this Nutmeg nominee over the April break, before I even knew it would be nominated! I heard people talking about it and decided to give it a try. Mia Tang is a lot like author, Kelly Yang. She is a child living in a motel, working the front desk, and keeping it a secret. There are some serious themes in this book: the way people of different races treat one another and the challenges facing immigrants. Mia's character is inspiring in the way she chooses to deal with the events that take place at the Calavista Motel. Can Mia's dream of becoming a writer help her family take over the motel? Find out when you read Front Desk! ♥ Ms. Kosh
6/19/19
I just finished reading my first book of the summer! I am trying to read as many of the 2020 Nutmegs as I can. Save Me a Seat was a great way to kick off my plan. It is about a few fifth graders and some typical problems that kids face in school. Ravi has just moved from India and is trying to fit in. Joe has some learning challenges and also struggles to fit in. Of course there is a bully, Dillon. The book is told from two perspectives, Joe's and Ravi's. Their experiences will remind us all not to make assumptions about people-things are not always as they seem! I hope you will read this book, too and think about your classmates! ♥ Ms. Kosh
6/20/19
Okay, I finished a second book, but that was only because I couldn't put this one down! Twelve year-olds, Art and Camille find themselves in the middle of a mystery involving a long lost masterpiece. Art is suffering from amnesia, as he and Camille try to figure out why they are being chased by some villainous characters. The Van Gogh Deception is filled with suspense! This book is for readers who are up for a challenge. As I said, it is a mystery, so you have to read like a detective, paying close attention to the clues along the way. To add to this book's appeal-there are QR codes throughout. Scan the QR code and find out about another famous work of art! Very clever! 😎 Ms. Kosh
6/24/19
This was a cute story! Bat, whose real name is Bixby Alexander Tam, is a third grade boy. His mom is a veterinarian. When she brings home a newborn skunk, Bat wants to be the best skunk caretaker in the world. But how long can you keep a baby skunk in your house? Bat will learn about that and much more as the little kit helps Bat make new friends. The author even included the name and website of an actual skunk expert! Sweet story! 😊 Ms. Kosh
Elementary winner! 2020
8/19/19
So, I took a little time off to visit friends and family and I am now back to my Nutmeg reading! This is a book I would recommend to more mature audiences. The characters really are in the Witness Protection Program to escape the threats of a violent crime family. Nicki, a girl who has been in and out of foster care, has been asked to help disguise this family as a family of four rather than three. Her streets smarts are just what they all need. I was crying in the end because I really grew attached to Nicki and her new family. I won't give the end away. You'll have to read to find out! 😢 Ms. Kosh
8/21/19
Did you know that many books that sit on our library shelves have been banned in this past? That means there is something about the book that some people have disapproved of and decided others shouldn't read it. Amy Anne Ollinger finds out about book banning when she goes to her school library to get her favorite book From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and it is no longer available to check out. Ban This Book confronts censorship and shows us that we can all take a stand for what we believe in just like Amy Anne and her friends. 🙌 Ms. Kosh
INTERMEDIATE WINNER! 2020
8/23/19
This Caribbean fairy tale is pretty scary. The author, Tracey Baptiste, wanted this to be the kind of book that makes you want to sleep with the lights on. I think she was successful! Corrine La Mer doesn't believe in The Jumbies until one appears in her own home and seems to have cast a spell on her father. Can Corrine and her friends take on the jumbies and all the other creatures of the forest to save her family? Find out what advantage Corrine has in her power during this fantastical battle. 😬 Ms. Kosh