Reading Challenge

So I have entered into a reading challenge to read 6 books this year that I should have read in school.  Follow this blog site for more info.Reading Challenge

I already have a couple books in mind that I need to read including The Jungle Book, Wrinkle in Time, and the Chocolate War.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann

"Ye toads and vipers!" and so starts the story of  Meggy Swann in Alchemy and Meggy Swann (Clarion, 2010) by Karen Cushman.  Ms. Cushman seems to have cornered the market when it comes to historical fiction featuring young girls in hardships.  In this newest novel, Meggy Swann, a crippled young girl who has been raised by her grandmother, is sent to live with her father whom she has never met.  Her father was expecting a boy and certainly did not expect a young girl who uses walking sticks to get around.  Master Swann is an alchemist who is currently working on a "potion" for eternal life.  Meggy discovers that he has an evil plan that puts the Baron in great danger and Meggy sets out to try to save him and in turn keep her father's head attached to his body.  After listening to the audio version of this book, I realized that I am a much better visual learner.  Bravo to Ms. Katherine Kellgren who did an excellent job of using different voices for each of the characters in the story.  It was a pleasure to be told the story.  I would recommend reading the author's note in advance of reading the story.  I wished that I would have myself so some of the Elizabethan terms would have been better understood.  This book would be an excellent choice for students in grades 4-8.  I am somewhat concerned that the time period may not attract the attention of young readers.  This book could be used along with a discussion on Elizabethan customs.

Ship Breaker

Set in the future along the Gulf Coast, Ship Breaker (Little Brown, 2010) by Paolo Bacigalupi, is a fast-paced adventure for young adults.  In the future oil is scarce but the Gulf Coast beaches have been abandoned after years and years of off-shore oil drilling have destroyed the once beautiful shores.  Oil rigs and ships have been left to rot and to be scavenged for any and all parts.  Two of the main characters work on one of these scavenger ships on the light crew.  Pima and Nailer are still young and small enough to fit through the air ducts to scavenge enough for their daily quota.  It is a rough life with very little food and no real shelter.  Nailer's father has become a drunk and drug addict after the death of Nailer's mother.  Nailer's real family is with his crew.  When a "city killer" hurricane washes a clipper ship ashore, Pima and Nailer think their dreams have been realized with all the expensive items they can scavenge off the ship.  They didn't expect to find a rich girl clinging to life.  Nailer makes the decision to keep her alive and help return her to "her people."  He will have to live smart and lucky to survive all the adventure that will come along with it.  After being kept captive by Nailer's father, the two decide to escape and make a run to Orleans where Nita, the rich girl, believes people will be able to help her.   They must find work to survive while they wait in Orleans for the right ships to arrive. The ending leaves you wanting more.

While reading this Ship Breaker I thought of another book that is very similar.  I believe the fans of the Hunger Games trilogy will also enjoy this page-turner.  After last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I believe even more readers will find a relationship with this book.  I wonder though if some of the little details of the book will even be noticed by young people.  (Red Chinese money worth more than dollars, north pole has melted with the melt off changing the landscape of our country)  This book could be used with an Earth Science class and students could discuss the need to recycle.  Students should be aware of the consequences of what happens to our trash and how it affects the Earth's water.

Moon over Manifest

After finishing Moon over Manifest (Random House, 2010) by Claire Vanderpool, I feel like I need to read it over again.  I suppose that is a good sign, I want to read it over again, it's that good.  I have read a lot of Newbery Award winning books and this is very well deserving.  It's one of the best over the last several years.  When I started reading this book, it reminded me a lot of another recent Newbery Award winner, The Higher Power of Lucky, but once I finished I believe it is closer  related to Long Way from Chicago.  The ending is somewhat shocking.  (Spoiler Alert!!)  As I was reading, I had a pretty good feeling that the stories Miss Sadie were sharing about Jinx was going to end up being Abilene's father, Gideon.  I didn't guess how Miss Sadie was going to figure into the stories.
As I was reading I kept thinking about the title of the book and where it came from.  The title is revealed towards the end when Abilene is reading one of the letters from Ned, who is stationed in Europe during WWI.  Ned is writing to Jinx and asking him about the October moon.  Ned is comforted to know that even though he is half way around the globe, he is looking at the same moon.  This book was a true joy to read and will be easy to recommend to students in grades 4 and up.  There are no violent scenes, no questionable language and no sexual themes.

It's a Book

Another example of meta-fiction is It's a Book (Roaring Book Press, 2010) by Lane Smith.  A cute picture book that I consider more appropriate for adults than children, It's a Book has a little fun with the new techie versions of books that are now available.  A monkey and a donkey (jackass) are both reading books while donkey's is electronic and the monkey's is a real paper book.  Poor donkey doesn't understand the concept of a book and keeps asking monkey to explain.  I liked the book trailer over the actual book.  I'm not quite sure why Mr. Smith had to put the jackass word in it at the end, I suppose for shock value.  This one would be difficult for me to read-aloud to a class though I would make it available to all ages.

Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/WhUNyzYzBX0

The Freak Observer

As they say, don't judge a book by it's cover.  The Freak Observer (Carolrhoda, 2010) by Blythe Woolston will not be winning any book cover contests but the story inside has already been receiving the awards.  In her debut novel Ms. Woolston writes the story of sixteen year old Loa Lindgren who is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after her younger sister has died and now within the same year, her best friend Esther, has been killed.  Loa's once happy home life has taken a turn towards the worst and she is trying desperately to be invisible and not make anyone mad at her.  Fortunately the book does end on a happy note as Loa meets a new male friend who seems to make her laugh and forget about her other troubles.  One of my favorite parts is when her mother tells Loa and her brother that they can order pizza to be delivered.  This is the turning point in the story and after that, Loa's family starts to smile more. 

In a recent Wall Street Journal Article about Young Adult Fiction, Meghan Gurdon writes that YA Lit is full of dark themes and has become harmful to the young reader.  The Freak Observer could have been the target of her entire article.  The dark cover, the explicit language, the violence and abuse are all in this book that Mrs. Gurdon tries to condone.  I also believe that this book and the voice of Loa will help many young adult readers to get through a hard time they may be facing in their lives.  Not since Hunger Games have I been so affected by a book.

A Tale dark & Grimm

"Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome."  And so begins the "fractured" fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel in A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton, 2010)  The author takes two of the most famous characters from the Grimm fairy tales and puts them into other well-known fairy tales written by the Grimm brothers.  An example of a meta-fiction book, Gidwitz writes as a narrator that tries to stop the reader from reading something that may be too gruesome.  This is somewhat reminiscent of the Lemony Snicket, Unfortunate Events series.  Gidwitz suggests that parents are afraid to share the real Grimm tales because there is too much blood and gore.  I think this book is perfect for the middle grade readers.  This book could be used while discussing other fairy tales and I would highly recommend sharing the original stories with students as well.  It would not be necessary to read the original fairy tales first but students will be intrigued.

Interupting Chicken

David Ezra Stein earned the Caldecott Honor Award for Interupting Chicken (Candlewick, 2010) and it was most deserving.  Stein tells the story of the little red chicken listening to a bedtime story told by his Papa but everytime they get to the good part, the little red chicken can't control himself and interupts the story.  Finally Papa tells the little red chicken, to tell him a story instead.  While listening to the story Papa falls asleep and interupts the story with his snoring.  This book also represents an example of a meta-fiction book, with the book characters talking about the stories included.  This book is a great read-aloud for K - 2nd grade, I had so much fun with changing my voice to share this story.  It lends itself perfect for a great bed-time story as well.

The Dreamer

Pam Munoz Ryan writes a fictionalized story of the real-life Chilean poet, Neftali Reyes, in the book, The Dreamer (Scholastic, 2010).  It is a beautifully written story with equally beautiful illustrations by Peter Sis.  Reyes, more well-known as Pablo Neruda, was a shy boy growing up with an overbearing father.  His father wanted him to grow up to be a professional but Reyes dreams of being a writer.  We know that eventually he does become a successful poet.  Ryan weaves her own poem,  "I am poetry" throughout the book.  The use of blue ink through the book is also reminiscent of Reyes.

Countdown

"We are all about to die,"  states Franny Chapman in Deborah Wiles' book, Countdown  (Scholastic, 2010).  The story is set in the 1960's during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Franny suffers through the same conflicts as most pre-teens in our current time but Franny also must deal with the fact that everyone is afraid of what is going to happen with the missile build-up happening in Cuba, and the nuclear conflict with the U.S.S.R.  To help the younger readers, who have probably never heard of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Ms. Wiles has included real photographs and quotes used by real people from the time period, including Pres. Kennedy.  We read the story from Franny's point of view and her pre-teen attitude will make anyone laugh.  She must deal with her embarrassing family, trying to get a boy's attention, and the decaying friendship with her best friend.  This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and I can't wait for the next one!

Officer Buckle and Gloria

In the 1996 Caldecott winning book, Officer Buckle and Gloria (G.P. Putnam, 1995), Peggy Rathman introduces us to Safety Officer Buckle and his police dog, Gloria.  Officer Buckle has been doing the same safety speech to kids every year, but now, the police department has acquired a dog.  When Gloria starts to go along with Officer Buckle, she really livens up the speeches and brings excitement to the safety tips.  The kids are now paying attention.  Officer Buckle is really pleased with his new celebrity status and is unaware of the tricks Gloria has been performing behind his back.  One night, after watching himself and Gloria on the evening news, he decides that no one is really listening to him.  In his anger, he sends Gloria alone to Napville School by herself.  After the worst accident in Napville history, Officer Buckle shares his newest safety tip, "Always stick with your buddy!"  Be sure to share the safety tips on the end pages with your audience when reading this glorious book a-loud.