While reading through Facebook posts the other day, I noticed that it was Holocaust Remembrance Day. It struck me how coincidental that I had just started a book that features parts of the Holocaust, and then I realized that my son and I were reading a book that also talks about the Holocaust. Yesterday while substituting in a 9th grade English class, another wonderful book that happens during the Holocaust appeared. Listed below are these books as well as two more that are well worth reading and sharing with many people.
1.
This is my current read that I just started and already has me swept up in the characters. I love that Jodi Picoult takes on such challenging topics and ties them to current times.
2.
While reading this book, my son, Reid, a 13 year old, and I have had some interesting conversations about human nature and the choices that people make. I asked him what he would do if he saw people scaring and hurting people as the Nazis did. His reply, "Well, unfortunately, to some degree, this happens every day at Middle School and as hard as it is, I would stand by the person being harmed. If I don't, then who will?"
3.
Freshman in our school district are reading the first of the Night series. I would love to be a fly on the wall and hear the discussions that will occur from this thought-provoking novel.
4.
Lois Lowry rightfully won the Newbery for this incredible book.
5.
Author and illustrator extraordinaire, Patricia Polacco shares more of her rich family history in this masterpiece. I am so grateful for her gift of storytelling through words and art. I hope I can tell her in person someday.
I will bear witness and always remember so that those that lost their lives did not die in vain! Do you have any other must reads about the Holocaust?
This week's Friday Five Book Fix is all about our family's current reads. With Spring Break in full swing, we are enjoying some quality reading time.
Rae-the 11 year old
My daughter and I have enjoyed this sweet story about a sister and brother and their cat Zook. Their lives are told through the lives of their cat who is sick and staying at the veterinarian's office.
Goodreads Summary:
n this warmhearted middle-grade novel, Oona and her brother, Fred, love their cat Zook (short for Zucchini), but Zook is sick. As they conspire to break him out of the vet’s office, convinced he can only get better at home with them, Oona tells Fred the story of Zook’s previous lives, ranging in style from fairy tale to grand epic to slice of life. Each of Zook’s lives has echoes in Oona’s own family life, which is going through a transition she’s not yet ready to face. Her father died two years ago, and her mother has started a relationship with a man named Dylan—whom Oona secretly calls �the villain.” The truth about Dylan, and about Zook’s medical condition, drives the drama in this loving family story.
Reid, a 13 year old boy, is becoming more and more curious about history. We just finished Bomb, a nonfiction book about the building of the atomic bomb. I wanted to share a WW II fiction book, and Once was featured on a fellow school librarian/blogger blog, The Styling Librarian. I loved it with its depth and sense of humor while Reid wasn't as engaged. I hope to read the other books in the series.
Goodreads Summary:
Felix, a Jewish boy in Poland in 1942, is hiding from the Nazis in a Catholic orphanage. The only problem is that he doesn't know anything about the war, and thinks he's only in the orphanage while his parents travel and try to salvage their bookselling business. And when he thinks his parents are in danger, Felix sets off to warn them--straight into the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland. To Felix, everything is a story: Why did he get a whole carrot in his soup? It must be sign that his parents are coming to get him. Why are the Nazis burning books? They must be foreign librarians sent to clean out the orphanage's outdated library. But as Felix's journey gets increasingly dangerous, he begins to see horrors that not even stories can explain. Despite his grim surroundings, Felix never loses hope. Morris Gleitzman takes a painful subject and expertly turns it into a story filled with love, friendship, and even humor.
Have you ever mourned the end of a book? Wished it could continue for another 100 pages or so? I just finished this book and LOVED it...maybe it was the setting being in a neighboring state or the time period which was the beginning of the 20th century. It totally engaged me and is lingering in my mind throughout my busy day.
Goodreads Summary:
At the turn of the twentieth century, in a rural stretch of the Pacific Northwest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, a solitary orchardist named Talmadge carefully tends the grove of fruit trees he has cultivated for nearly half a century. A gentle, solitary man, he finds solace and purpose in the sweetness of the apples, apricots, and plums he grows, and in the quiet, beating heart of the land-the valley of yellow grass bordering a deep canyon that has been his home since he was nine years old. Everything he is and has known is tied to this patch of earth. It is where his widowed mother is buried, taken by illness when he was just thirteen, and where his only companion, his beloved teenaged sister Elsbeth, mysteriously disappeared. It is where the horse wranglers-native men, mostly Nez Perce-pass through each spring with their wild herds, setting up camp in the flowering meadows between the trees.
One day, while in town to sell his fruit at the market, two girls, barefoot and dirty, steal some apples. Later, they appear on his homestead, cautious yet curious about the man who gave them no chase. Feral, scared, and very pregnant, Jane and her sister Della take up on Talmadage's land and indulge in his deep reservoir of compassion. Yet just as the girls begin to trust him, brutal men with guns arrive in the orchard, and the shattering tragedy that follows sets Talmadge on an irrevocable course not only to save and protect them, putting himself between the girls and the world, but to reconcile the ghosts of his own troubled past.
I just enjoyed listening to this audiobook with a 12 year old girl. We laughed, cried, sat on the edge of our car seats and just enjoyed being transported into a crazy road trip told by one of my favorite authors, Gary Paulsen and his son.
Goodreads Summary:
Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them.
My daughter and my latest favorite picture book...yet another fractured fairy tale of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. This is a modern version with some charming pictures.
Goodreads Summary:
In this award-winning author/illustrator’s witty sequel to the traditional Goldilocks story, Little Bear is all grown up and Goldilocks is a distant memory. One day, Little Bear wanders out of the woods and finds himself lost in the Big City. Will he find the city too noisy? Too quiet? Or just right? And what are the chances of him bumping in to someone who remembers exactly how he likes his porridge?
Being a girl from the basketball frenzied state of North Carolina, I LOVE me some basketball. It was hard to not be brainwashed to love it when, in junior high, our classes were released to go to the media center to watch the ACC tournament and eat greasy chips and drink sugary-sweet RC Cola. I loved NC State when Jim Vallvano took them all the way. With the "Big Dance" just around the corner and my pickss already floating around in my mind, the focus this week is the sport with the big orange ball.
1.
Goodreads Summary:
Michael Jordan. The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams, all because he feared he'd never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That's when his mother and father stepped in and shared the invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a champion -- patience, determination, and hard work.
Deloris Jordan, mother of the basketball phenomenon, teams up with his sister Roslyn to tell this heartwarming and inspirational story that only the members of the Jordan family could tell. It's a tale about faith and hope and how any family working together can help a child make his or her dreams come true.
2.
Goodreads Summary:
Young fans and old will find nothing but net with Mark Braught's dynamic illustrations as their many questions are answered -- What was the role of Dr. James Naismith in developing the game? Why do referees sometimes place their palm on their head? And who scored more points than any other NBA player?
3.
Goodreads Summary:
There's a reason teammates call him "True." Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks--and with problems.
Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded--and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing.
In this age of street agents promising riches to kids barely out of elementary school and college programs being taken down because of recruiting violations, True Legend is a resonant and inspiring novel in the Lupica tradition.
4.
Goodreads Summary:
When you’re the smallest kid playing a big man’s game, the challenges never stop—especially when your name is Danny Walker. Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny’s leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he’s out of his element and maybe out of his league. The country’s best ballers are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his game if he wants to match up. But it won’t be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall
5.
Goodreads Summary:
What happens when the mightiest of mortals take on the greatest of gods in an apocalyptic basketball showdown?
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and the rest of the Gods' squad have all the powers of the universe at their disposal-which makes for a deadly defense and an unstoppable offense. But those "pesky Mortals" are always causing trouble, and with hunky Hercules at the top of his game and Achilles' heel healing nicely after his surgery, the Mortals manage to stay alive until halftime. Who knows what mythological magic the Gods will have to conjure up to win this Hellenic heart stopper?
Complete with toga-clad announcers and a halftime report on the wonders of ancient Greece, Kevin O'Malley's Mount Olympus Basketball makes learning about ancient Greek myths more exciting than March Madness.
As punishment for acting out in class, Kevin was often sent to the library for a "timeout". Resigned to his fate, he grudgingly started to leaf through a pile of picture books. There were pictures of cute little ponies, cute little puppies, and cute little children with smiling parents beaming behind them. Yuck, yuck, and double yuck! Then, just when he thought he would fall off his chair and die of cuteness, Kevin came upon a picture of a boy in a wolf suit who was threatening to eat his mother. In another picture he was chasing his dog with a fork. This was somebody Kevin could relate to. He kept reading as the boy cavorted through the forest with big hairy monsters. Kevin loved it! The book was, of course, Where the Wild Things Are. From then on, Kevin wanted to illustrate children's books. Not cute children's books, but books for kids like him.
FIVE BOOK FIX has a different topic every week and five books to fit it. The topic this week is Asperger Syndrome. Everyday my life is impacted by someone who has Asperger's whether it be a student, a family member, a neighbor or a complete stranger. Through the years, I have strove to stay updated through books and seminars. Fiction is a wonderful way "to get into the head of an Aspie" which is about the only way to do it ( :
1.
Goodreads Summary:
All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome takes a playful look at Asperger Syndrome (AS), drawing inspiration from the feline world in a way that will strike a chord with all those who are familiar with AS. Delightful color photographs bring to life the familiar characteristics of independent cats such as sensitive hearing, scampering at the first sign of being stroked, and particular eating habits. Touching, humorous and insightful, this book evokes the difficulties and joys of raising a child who is different and leaves the reader with a sense of the dignity, individuality, and potential of people with AS. This engaging book is an ideal, gentle introduction to the world of AS.
2.
Goodreads Summary:
SOLVING CRIME, ONE FACIAL EXPRESSION AT A TIME
Colin Fischer cannot stand to be touched. He does not like the color blue. He needs index cards to recognize facial expressions.
But when a gun is found in the school cafeteria, interrupting a female classmate's birthday celebration, Colin is the only for the investigation. It's up to him to prove that Wayne Connelly, the school bully and Colin's frequent tormenter, didn't bring the gun to school. After all, Wayne didn't have frosting on his hands, and there was white chocolate frosting found on the grip of the smoking gun...
Colin Fischer is a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, and his story--as told by the screenwriters of X-Men: First Class and Thor--is perfect for readers who have graduated from Encyclopedia Brown and who are ready to consider the greatest mystery of all: what other people are thinking and feeling
3.
Goodreads Summary:
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.
This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.
4.
Goodreads Summary:
Brother and sister, Ted and Kat, take their cousin Salim to see the London Eye, the city's gigantic Ferris wheel. While Ted and Kat watch, Salim gets into one of the glass pods, but thirty minutes later he doesn't get off. So the siblings set out to find their cousin. Complicating the situation, Ted's brain "runs on a different operating system" from other people's, which makes him a lot better at facts and figures than he is at reading people. Narrated in Ted's voice, this is a page-turner that brings London to life and takes readers inside a powerfully rational mind. The London Eye Mystery shows off kids' natural ingenuity and proves that difference can be a strength, as Ted and Kat work to solve the irresistible riddle of their cousin's disappearance.
5.
Goodreads Summary:
Today I moved to a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. I'm not the only kid who lives here. There's my sister, Natalie, except she doesn't count. And there are twenty-three other kids who live on the island because their dads work as guards or cook's or doctors or electricians for the prison, like my dad does. Plus, there are a ton of murderers, rapists, hit men, con men, stickup men, embezzlers, connivers, burglars, kidnappers and maybe even an innocent man or two, though I doubt it. The convicts we have are the kind other prisons don't want. I never knew prisons could be picky, but I guess they can. You get to Alcatraz by being the worst of the worst. Unless you're me. I came here because my mother said I had to.
AND One Film that the entire family can and should watch...
FAMILY FRIDAY Reading Fest is a weekly update showcasing the wide variety of books our family is reading. Due to our different ages and reading preferences, I hope blog readers will find something that interests them. Enjoy a dip into the Millis home of books!
RAE--THE ELEVEN-YEAR OLD REALISTIC FICTION READER
Bloomability by Sharon Creech
My husband and daughter started this book together about a girl who moves to Switzerland to attend an international school. There is a possibility that our family might be overseas next year and our daughter's top country to visit/move is ...you guessed it-SWITZERLAND!! And as you may remember from last week, Rae's favorite author is Sharon Creech.
Goodreads Summary:
When she is whisked away to an international school in Switzerland, Dinnie Doone discovers all the "bloomabilities" that life has to offer. From Newbery Award-winning author Sharon Creech is a story about everyday joys. bloomability
Heartbeat by Sharon Creech
Yep, Sharon Creech. again. I love that Rae is searching everywhere...public library, school library, bookstores, friend's bookshelves, thrift stores, crack in the sidewalk ( : for her favorite author's books. This is her read to self book which she is devouring like that hot chocolate we had at Timberline Lodge...rich hot chocolate topped with cascade of whipped cream, caramel and fudge sauce and broken bits of a toffee bar on top. Oh my!!
Goodreads Summary:
Newbery Medalist Creech ("Walk Two Moons") masterfully weaves this story, told in free verse, about a young girl finding her identity and learning how it fits within the many rhythms of life.
Run run run.
That's what twelve-year-old Annie loves to do. When she's barefoot and running, she can hear her heart beating . . . thump-THUMP, thump-THUMP. It's a rhythm that makes sense in a year when everything's shifting: Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is forgetful, and her best friend, Max, is always moody. Everything changes over time, just like the apple Annie's been assigned to draw. But as she watches and listens, Annie begins to understand the many rhythms of life, and how she fits within them.
Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant, her grandfather begins faltering, and her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant.
REID--THE 13-YEAR OLD SCIENCE FICTION FANATIC WITH A MOM FORCING A HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK
Fahrenheit 451 Graphic Novel by Tim Hamilton
Reid LOVES Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels...that's about it when it comes to books. So, while subbing at a middle school I came upon this fantastic combination. With To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hobbit and now this book, he is getting his Classic food oops book group also.
Goodreads Summary:
For Guy Montag, a career fireman for whom kerosene is perfume, this is not just an official slogan. It is a mantra, a duty, a way of life in a tightly monitored world where thinking is dangerous and books are forbidden.
In 1953, Ray Bradbury envisioned one of the world’s most unforgettable dystopian futures, and in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the artist Tim Hamilton translates this frightening modern masterpiece into a gorgeously imagined graphic novel. As could only occur with Bradbury’s full cooperation in this authorized adaptation, Hamilton has created a striking work of art that uniquely captures Montag’s awakening to the evil of government-controlled thought and the inestimable value of philosophy, theology, and literature.
The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan
The teacher and lover of history in me chose this one for our reading time. We are both enjoying traveling on the Oregon Trail in a higher level book. A few years ago, we read Westward to Home and Apples to Apples which inspired us to follow the trail through Oregon.
Goodreads Summary:
When orphans Aiden and Maddy Lynch first meet trailrider Jefferson J. Jackson in the spring of 1865, they’re struggling to survive on their family’s drought-ravaged Kansas farm. So when Jackson offers an escape—a 2000-mile journey across the roughest country in the world—Aiden knows it’s their only choice.
They say there are a hundred ways to die on the Oregon Trail, and the long wagon journey is broken only by catastrophe: wolf attacks, rattlesnakes, deadly river crossings, Indians, and the looming threat of smallpox, “the devil’s paint.” Through it all, Aiden and Maddy and a hundred fellow travelers move forward with a growing hope, and the promise of a new life in the Washington Territory. But one question haunts them: who will survive the journey?
ED--THE LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH ANOTHER ADVENTURER'S LIFE
In Search of Captain Zero by Allan Weisbecker
Our nonfiction reader is thoroughly enjoying the Outdoor Adventure book award choices. He reports that "they tell about an adventure with some soul and depth attached to it."
Goodreads Summary:
In 1996, Allan Weisbecker sold his home and his possessions, loaded his dog and surfboards into his truck, and set off in search of his long-time surfing companion, Patrick, who had vanished into the depths of Central America. In this rollicking memoir of his quest from Mexico to Costa Rica to unravel the circumstances of Patrick's disappearance, Weisbecker intimately describes the people he befriended, the bandits he evaded, the waves he caught and lost en route to finding his friend.
In Search of Captain Zero is, according to Outside magazine, "A subtly affecting tale of friendship and duty. [It] deserves a spot on the microbus dashboard as a hell of a cautionary tale about finding paradise and smoking it away."
AND ME--
Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker
I am trying to return to my former habits of reading a kid book and then an adult book. Pickle was a quick read about some middle schoolers who join together to perform pranks. Clever storyline...would have loved to have seen some recipes for the pickle and other preserved veggies.
Goodreads Summary:
This is the story of THE LEAGUE OF PICKLE MAKERS.
Ben: who began it all by sneaking in one night and filling homeroom with ball-pit balls.
Frank: who figured out that an official club, say a pickle making club, could receive funding from the PTA.
Oliver: who once convinced half of the class that his real parents had found him and he was going to live in a submarine.
Bean: who wasn't exactly invited, but her parents own a costume shop, which comes in handy if you want to dress up like a giant squirrel and try to scare people at the zoo.
TOGETHER, they are an unstoppable prank-pulling force, and Fountain Point Middle School will never be the same.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
I just started this book that has received tremendous reviews. I am hoping it will lead me to my serendipity!!
The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead “checking out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he’s embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what’s going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.
FAMILY FRIDAY is a weekly update showcasing the wide variety of books our family is reading. Due to our different ages and reading preferences, I hope blog readers will find something that interests them. Enjoy a dip into the Millis home of books!
My daughter...the Eleven year old Realistic Fiction Fanatic
Sharon Creech, have you heard of her? She is Rae's "absolute favorite author of all time"...that's her quote. She has written more than a dozen books for middle grade to high school children. Her latest book, The Great Unexpected, is a sequel to Walk Two Moons and was a hit for my husband and daughter. They are reading them backwards due to them starting with the most recent book. I suggested Absolutely Normal Chaos for Rae's solo reading time and she is loving every minute of it. If you are a fan of Sharon Creech and want to be part of her daily life, check out her blog, Sharon Creech blog
Goodreads Summary:
"How about a story? Spin us a yarn." Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could tell you an extensively strange story," I warned. "Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!" And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.
As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold — the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.
In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.
Goodreads Summary:
Mary Lou Finney is less than excited about her assignment to keep a journal over the summer. Boring! Then cousin Carl Ray comes to stay with her family, and what starts out as the dull dog days of summer quickly turns into the wildest roller coaster ride of all time. A wonderful story of contemporary teen life.
This is Rae and my read of the moment and we are enjoying the life of Teddy who lives at a zoo. It is a bit mystery, a tad adventure and throw in the animal story bit and you have a fun read.
Goodreads Summary:
12 year old Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Fitzroy has got a murder on his hands and trouble on his tail. Henry, the hippopatamus at the brand-new nationally known FunJungle, has gone belly up. Even though it's claimed he died of natural causes, Teddy smells something fishy and it sure ain't the polar bear's lunch. Dealing with the zoo's top brass proves to be nothing but a waste of time. They want to see any trace of Henry's death disappear like yesterday's paper. So Teddy sets out to find the truth. With the help of Summer McCraken, a fiesty girl with secrets of her own, the two narrow down their prime suspects. Is it Martin Del Gato, FunJungle's head of operations who dislikes kids and hates animals even more? Or J.J McCraken, the owner of FunJungle and Summer's father, who has more concern for the dough he's raking in than the animals in the zoo? As their investigation goes on, Teddy gets squeezed on all sides to quit asking questions-- or Henry won't be the only one to turn up dead. The deeper Teddy and Summer get, the more the danger mounts -- because when it comes to hippo homicide, the truth can't be kept in a cage!
My son, the 13-year-old Fantasy "Freak" whose parents are trying to expand his horizons
In case I haven't mentioned, Reid is a 7th grader reading at a college level, so I am challenged at finding high level books with appropriate content.
His current read, the classic, The Hitchhiker's Guide to theGalaxy is a suggestion from a few of his other high flyer friends. He is struggling to "get into it." We'll see if he can push through...
Goodreads Summary:
Seconds before the Earth is demolished for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is saved by Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised Guide. Together they stick out their thumbs to the stars and begin a wild journey through time and space.
My husband and Reid are enjoying a book that ties into our family's history. My husband and I are both from the South and have connections to this favorite classic. As books often do, nightly reading is leading to some interesting questions and discussions.
Goodreads Summary:
The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.
Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior—to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story, by a young Alabama woman, claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.
All I can say is WOW!! This is one of my top ten favorite books of 2012. THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL!! Adults will find it valuable as well.In my opinion, the messages of acceptance of others and the courage to withstand challenges were ones that every child should read. There are schools throughout the world who are teaching the message of "Choose Kind!"
Goodreads Summary:
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.
My husband, the memoir/nonfiction/adventure reader...
My usual non-reading husband is now reading due to us finding a book award for outdoor adventure books. The awards which can be found here, Outdoor Adventure and Nature Book Awards are for travel writing, guide books, children books, and some other outdoor-related books. I've printed out the list of past award winners and are requesting them through our public library. Have I told you how much I love the book reserve program?!?
This is the first award winner that Ed has read. Every night he goes to sleep dreaming of waking up on a tropical beach for a day of surfing perfect waves.
Goodreads Summary:
Author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Dog Stars, my next read
With grit, poetry, and humor, Peter Heller, acclaimed author of The Whale Warriors recounts his remarkable journey of discovery—of surfing, an entirely new challenge; of the ocean’s beauty and power; of the strange surf subculture; of love; and, most of all, of how to seek adventure while crafting a meaningful life.
Having resolved to master a big-hollow wave— that is, to go from kook (surfese for beginner) to shredder—in a single year, Heller travels from Southern California down the coast of Mexico in the company of his girlfriend and the eccentric surfers they meet. Exuberant and fearless, Heller explores the technique and science of surfing the secrets of its culture, and the environmental ravages to the stunning coastline he visits.
As Heller plumbs the working of his own heart and finds joy in both love and surfing, he affords readers vivid insight into this fascinating world, with all of its perils and pleasures, its absurdity and wonder. Exhilarating, entertaining, and moving, Kook is a love story between a man and his surfboard, a man and his girlfriend, a not-so-old man and the se
Me, the anything between two covers, paper or hardback...
When I started this book, I didn't realize it was about a son and mother book club during the final months of her life. This memoir is teaching me so much...about how to not only die, but live life, how to be present and treasure each moment, how to preserve those memories in written word and how to use books to open up difficult conversations. My hat is off to Will Schwalbe for his courage in sharing this meaningful story.
Goodreads Summary:
That’s the question Will Schwalbe asks his mother, Mary Anne, as they sit in the waiting room of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 2007, Mary Anne returned from a humanitarian trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan suffering from what her doctors believed was a rare type of hepatitis. Months later she was diagnosed with a form of advanced pancreatic cancer, which is almost always fatal, often in six months or less.
This is the inspiring true story of a son and his mother, who start a “book club” that brings them together as her life comes to a close. Over the next two years, Will and Mary Anne carry on conversations that are both wide-ranging and deeply personal, prompted by an eclectic array of books and a shared passion for reading. Their list jumps from classic to popular, from poetry to mysteries, from fantastic to spiritual. The issues they discuss include questions of faith and courage as well as everyday topics such as expressing gratitude and learning to listen. Throughout, they are constantly reminded of the power of books to comfort us, astonish us, teach us, and tell us what we need to do with our lives and in the world. Reading isn’t the opposite of doing; it’s the opposite of dying.
Will and Mary Anne share their hopes and concerns with each other—and rediscover their lives—through their favorite books. When they read, they aren’t a sick person and a well person, but a mother and a son taking a journey together. The result is a profoundly moving tale of loss that is also a joyful, and often humorous, celebration of life: Will’s love letter to his mother, and theirs to the printed page.
May you find your own reading treasure. I'll be back on Tuesday to share some Techie Tips.
It is a sad day when I look to the side of the bed and see an empty space devoid of books. Thanks to the following three web tools I can quickly find book read-alikes and books by the authors I or my loved ones adore. Then as fast as you can bake a pizza, I am to the library and back with some treasures to fill my mind and soul.
Last week, I had one of my former students' parent email me asking my opinion about the appropriateness of a book for her 5th grader. I gave her my opinion and steered her to the following, fabulous resource. In the overwhelming world of making good choices for children, this website and nonprofit gives ratings for books, games, videos, etc.
With the added activities during the month of December, it is easy to get disconnected from your kids. Our family has tried to devote time to reading together a book specially selected to fit with the winter holiday theme. NPR recently had a story sharing the tradition of a family reading treasured books together during the holiday season.
I have posted some of our favorites from through the years. Pick one up at a ...used book store...library...friend's bookshelf. Create a cuddly reading space..soft blannket required...warm cup of tea or cocoa also required...relax and enjoy the moment definitely required. Happy reading!!
Santa Paws by Nathaniel Edwards
Goodreads Summary-
When he performs miraculous rescues and other brave acts, a homeless puppy earns the name Santa Paws--and a new family to love. First published in book clubs, this heartwarming story is released in trade just in time for the holidays.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston, Pictures by Barbara Cooney
Children's Literature Network Summary-
Ruthie’s father hasn’t come home from the war yet, even though the Armistice has been declared, so Ruthie and her mother will find the perfect Christmas tree to donate to the their town. Ruthie and her mother set out to find the tree Ruthie’s father marked in the spring. Barbara Cooney’s wintry paintings, glowing with moonlight and lantern light, are an intrinsic part of this holiday story.
When Mindy Saved Hanukkah by Eric Kimmel
Goodreads Summary-
Little Mindy Klein lives with her tiny family behind the walls of the Eldridge Street Synagogue. When Mindy's father sprains his ankle right before Hanukkah, he is unable to bring home a candle for the menorah. So Mindy decides to set out and find the candle herself. But first she has to face off with an enormous, frightening cat. With a lot of bravery (and a little help from grandpa) Mindy manages to save Hanukkah just in time...and learns the true meaning behind the Festival of Lights.
Goodreads Summary-
Enjoy a multicultural celebration of the Christmas spirit with the renowned Jan Brett. This stellar volume holds seven of Jan Brett's gorgeous tales, all perfectly suited for the holiday. The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Hat, Christmas Trolls, and The Night Before Christmas all offer a warm retreat for family read-alouds and holiday gatherings. Brett's popularity stems from her talent for wonderfully depicting nature with precision and care. Match that with her attention to detail, powerful storytelling, and heartfelt appreciation of tradition, and it's easy to see why so many kids and adults can't get enough of this talented artist. Decorative borders fill each page of these tales, a charming detail that fans have come to expect. Offering a glorious frame for the exquisite illustrations, these borders draw young readers into a world of serenity. Every story is told with ease, with clear language and colorful characters. From the feisty trolls to the rambunctious forest animals, kids will giggle at the antics of these adorable creatures. From hedgehogs to hens, reindeer to rabbits, Jan Brett uses all the world's creatures to tell her classic stories. These timeless tales will warm the heart of every young reader.
One Candle by Eve Bunting
Goodreads Summary-
For one family the traditional Hanukkah celebration has a deeper meaning. Amidst the food and the festivities, Grandma and Great-Aunt Rose begin their story -- the one they tell each year. They pass on to each generation a tale of perseverance during the darkest hours of the Holocaust, and the strength it took to continue to honor Hanukkah in the only way they could. Their story reaffirms the values of tradition and family, but also shows us that by continuing to honor the tragedies and the triumphs of the past there will always be hope for the future.
And our reading for this year is...
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Goodreads Summary-
First published in 1956, this much sought-after autobiographical recollection of Truman Capote's rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic. We are proud to be reprinting this warm and delicately illustrated edition of A Christmas Memory--"a tiny gem of a holiday story" (School Library Journal, starred review). Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: "It's fruitcake weather!" Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls--one young and one old--and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.
