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ELEMENTARY
Dash
Author: Kirby Larson
Scholastic, 2014
ISBN: 9780545416351
Grades 4 - 7: This historical fiction story finds young Japanese American, Mitsi, caught up in the anti-Japanese prejudices that follow the recent bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII. Mitsi’s two best friends now completely ignore her and most of the kids at school are mean. Her teacher does her best to help temper the changing mood. Mitsi’s world is further rocked when her family is forced to move from their Seattle home to a relocation camp and she must leave her beloved dog, Dash, behind with a neighbor. Life in the camp is difficult but Dash’s frequent letters help make life bearable for her. Mitsi’s family does the best in can under the conditions and eventually Dash is allowed to join her in another camp. This heartfelt story will appeal to a wide audience. Another great story from Kirby Larson.
REVIEWER: Debby Iverson, Coweeman Middle School
A Poem in Your Pocket
Author: Margaret McNamara
Random House, 2015
ISBN: 9780307979476
Grades 1 - 6: This book is like an onion with multiple layers, and it’s available in time for Poetry Month in April. Although it is a picture book geared for older students, it has application for students all the way through high school. Elinor wants to prepare a poem for Poem in Your Pocket Day that she can share with a visiting poet, Emmy Crane. No matter how hard she tries, the perfect poem seems to elude her. She is able to contribute to academic discussions about poetry and identify forms of poetry, but she just can’t seem to pin down the right words for her own poem. After all of the students in Mr. Tiffin’s class present their poems, Elinor is left alone. With the help of Ms. Crane, she discovers the poetry that she already has inside of her. Information about literary devices is woven seamlessly into the plot and examples of different kinds of poems is delivered unobtrusively through examples of different kinds of poems written on Mr. Tiffin’s chalkboard by the students in his class. The final pages include Elinor’s Poetry Page which has four bullet points about poetry and Mr. Tiffin’s Pointers which provides a bulleted list about Poetry Moth, Poem in Your Pocket Day, and engaging others in the school in activities related to these two events. This is a title that is supported by Random House’s Teacher’s Guides at http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/PoemInPocket_Guide_WEB.pdf. The Teacher’s Guide provides a lesson plan that references the Common Core standards addressed, a list of activities, and a reproducible “My Poetry Checklist”
REVIEWER: Jodi Kruse, R. A. Long High School Librarian http://krusereviews.wordpress.com
The Scavengers
Author: Michael Perry
Harper, 2014
ISBN: 9780062026163
Grades 4 - 8: Twelve-year-old Maggie, aka Ford Falcon, is living outside of the government sponsored Bubble Cities with her family. She remembers times of plenty and not having to scavenger for a meager life. Her family lives off the grid, along with their new neighbors Toad and Arlinda. Maggie’s dad becomes more withdrawn as time passes. Zombie like beings, GrayDevils, are addicted to a corn-based drink and steal to trade for it. The families must be vigilant against their attacks. One rainy day Maggie spends the night with Toad and Arlinda only to return home and find her parents gone and Dookie injured. Maggie soon learns her dad’s secret (he turns into a GrayDevil) and learns her mom is being held in one of the Bubble Cities. Maggie wants to trade her dad for her mom and makes a deal with the leaders to find her dad. Toad helps Maggie as she unravels the mystery and together they fight the Bubble City leaders for her family. Maggie and her parents gain the upper hand and are able to choose their paths. Her parents decide to stay in the Bubble City and Maggie returns to their homestead under the care of Toad and Arlinda. This is a great dystopian adventure for younger readers. Maggie is a spunky, determined character that immediately draws reader in to her story. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. A must have for upper elementary and middle school readers.
REVIEWER: Debby Iverson, Coweeman Middle School
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
Author: Julia Sarcone-Roach
Alfred A. Knopf, 2015
ISBN: 9780375858604
Grades K - 3: If ever there was an unreliable narrator, the narrator of this tale is it! It all starts with an explanation involving a bear and “your” sandwich. The use of second person makes for a great introduction to point of view for significantly younger readers. Sarcone-Roach illustrated this intricate story with beautifully colored impressionistic paintings. The blamed/framed bear starts out being lured from its hibernation by the smell of delicious berries. His gluttonous indulgence leads to a nap and a ride in a truck from the forest to a “new” kind of urban forest, and ultimately to the sandwich in question. The urban illustrations feature humans who are completely ignorant of the bear in their midst which will provide ample opportunity for children to engage and comment. The revelation of the true culprit at the end is as endearing as the dark-skinned little girl to whom the story is being told.
REVIEWER: Jodi Kruse, R. A. Long High School, http://krusereviews.wordpress.com
SECONDARY
Taking Flight
Author: Michaela De Prince
Alfred A. Knopf, Borzoi Books, 2014
ISBN: 9780385755115
Grades 9 - 12: This book reads like a fairy tale, except all the wickedness and evil are real. Michaela is born as Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, in year seven of their civil war. She was an only child so her parents loved her in spite of a skin disease that gave her spots and superstitious people considered a curse. Her father taught her to read and write, a rarity for anyone in that country, but especially for a daughter. After her father was killed by the rebels and her mother died of a fever after being taken in Mabinty’s uncle, Mabinty/Michaela was given up to an orphanage. There she was beaten and starved, but her indomitable spirit prevailed and she survived to be adopted into an American family. In America she learned to dance ballet, a dream she had held since catching a magazine, tossed by the Saharan wind at her orphanage gate and finding a picture of a ballerina on point. Her journey and spirit are incredible and we can all learn from her resolve and courage in the face of discrimination, injury and loss. I am recommending this book to all of my high school students; to show them that dreams can be given by people who show compassion and lived by the people with the courage to dream.
Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Mark Morris High School
Death by Toilet Paper
Author: Donna Gephart
Delacorte Press, 2014
ISBN: 9780385743990
Grades 5 - 8: Twelve-year-old Ben is still spinning after his father’s death. His mom is working and studying to take her final phase of the CPA exam. Financially they are in dire need. They’re late in rent and threatened with eviction, have cut back on everything that is not an absolute necessity, and are still going deeper into debt. Ben enters every sweepstake he can in hopes of winning a big prize that will help them. When the Royal-T toilet paper company offers $10,000 for a winning slogan Ben jumps all over it. Ben comes up with all kinds of ways to help out but they still come up short. To make matter worse, his grandfather suddenly arrives on their doorstep and wants to live with them. Ben and his friend, Toothpick, enter a costume contest and the local museum and win! The prize money is enough to help cover the rent and Ben soon learns he won a prize in the slogan contest – a year’s supply of their toilet paper. This is a great read about the realities of poverty and hope and determination. Everyone will be rooting for Ben. A great book for upper elementary and middle school readers.
REVIEWER: Debby Iverson, Coweeman Middle School
Rites of Passage
Author: Joy N. Hensley
Harper Teen, 2014
ISBN: 9780062295194
Grades 9 - 12: No question about it, Rites of Passage is the fiction girl power book of the year, and it has gotten stellar reviews from the students who have read it. Sam McKenna is tough as nails without being hard, and it is that very quality that make readers cheer for her instead of roll their eyes and reach for the next book. Her father is an Army Ranger with a reputation that precedes her. One of her older brothers is the highest ranking student at the Denmark Military Academy (located in Virgina—not Denmark). Her oldest brother dared her to take on the hallowed halls of the previously male-only DMA just before he hung himself. Sam is one of five girls who enter during the school year, and is pushed physically and mentally to just leave. One by one, the girls who enter with her give up. Aided by a mentor and combat brothers who are willing to take on a secret society, Sam struggles to overcome hazing, hatred, and threats to her life. Hensley judiciously uses vile language to paint a startlingly graphic picture of the cost of being a woman in traditionally male-dominated locations and vocations. This is a book that both genders can appreciate with a protagonist and cast of supporting characters that make it well worth the read.
Sisters
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Scholastic, 2014
ISBN: 9780545540605
Grades 5 - 8: Companion to Smile. This paperback full color graphic novel depicts the author’s memories of a road trip she took with her siblings. Raina wished and wished for a sister, until she got one and Amara wasn’t quite what she was expecting. Then along came a brother, a cramped house and tension between her parents. Raina, her mom and siblings pile into the family’s van to head to a family reunion, where her dad will join them later. The ups and downs of the trip pull the sisters further apart until spending time in the broken down van helps bring them back together. Ms. Telgemeier is highly skilled at hitting the mark with students. There’s something in this story for all to relate to. This is another hilarious story from this author that will appeal to middle school students everywhere!
REVIEWER: Debby Iverson, Coweeman Middle School
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