Shiloh

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a realistic fiction book told from the point of view of a young boy. While walking in the woods one day he comes across a small beagle dog he quickly calls Shiloh. (Shiloh is the name of the area)The story continues with Marty, the young boy, trying to figure out a way so that he can 1) hide the dog from his family and 2) hide the dog from his real owner. Marty tries to figure out a way he can convince the owner Judd Travers that he should take of the dog instead. Marty feels Judd is too mean to his dogs that he uses for hunting. Good moral values emerge naturally.

What can be bad about a book that's all about a boy and a dog? This book is perfect and I think it is a wise choice for the Newbery. Even though it was written in the 1980's, it is still a good choice for kids now. The story is timeless.

I enjoyed the cassette tape version of this book. The reader was very good with characterization. Soft music in-between each of the chapters was a nice transition.



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Sarah, Plain and Tall

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Winner of the 1985 Newbery Award, Patricia MacLachlan shares a beautifully written short historical fiction novel set in the nineteenth century. Anna and Caleb have been motherless since Caleb was born. Their father writes an advertisement for a mail-order bride to come be his wife and a mother for his children. They are delighted to learn there is a response from a young lady living in Maine. They return letters back and forth until finally it is set for her to come visit for one month. She describes herself as plain and tall. A great bond is developed but the children continue to fear she may miss the sea too much.



I think the cover is perfect for this story as it could have been a drawing done by Sarah.



This would be a great read-aloud to share with 3rd to 5th graders. A teaching extension idea would be for students to interview grandparents or older family friends about what it was like for them growing up. Sarah, Plain and Tall was the first book in a series which also includes, Skylark and Caleb's Story.



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The Whipping Boy

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a humorous fiction story that most closely falls into the fantasy genre. The story is one of a prince and a pauper theme. Jemmy, the whipping boy for the prince, has had enough of taking all the whacks every time the prince gets bored and comes up with a mischievious idea. Jemmy has learned to read and write while the prince has ignored his studies. Even for this Jemmy takes the abuse instead of dishonoring the Prince. Before Jemmy can get away, the prince comes one night and orders him to leave with him to go see the world. The boys meet two ruffians that try to collect a ransom for the prince but they are not sure which boy is the prince. The boys also meet a girl with a dancing bear and a hot potato salesman while on their adventure in the real world. The prince gradually is becoming a decent person especially after learning that the townspeople call him Prince Brat and worry about the day that he takes the throne.



This would be a good book for a read-aloud in fourth or fifth grade. The chapters are short for short attention spans. I also really liked the chapter titles, very humorous. As the 1987 Newbery winner I expected more. Looking at the other titles that were Newbery contenders that year I am surprised that this book was able to win. On My Honor by Marion Bauer would have been my pick over this one for that year.



A teaching extension would be for the students to write about other possible troublemaking scemes that Prince Brat could do around the castle.



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Walk Two Moons

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Winner of the 1995 Newbery Award



Themes: Grandparents and Storytelling



Sal is the main character that is telling the story about her friend Phoebe. Phoebe is her best friend. Sal is telling her grandparents about her as they travel from Kentucky to Idaho as they retrace Sal's mother's route. Underneath the stories being told is the fact that Sal and her family are American Indians, as they like to be called. The author, Sharon Creech, does a great job of not making this a big deal but helps us to understand Sal and her family better. Her heritage does not affect how easy it was for her to make friends.



At first it was hard for me to follow what story I was reading; the one Creech was telling or the story Sal was telling her grandparents. At points I found it hard to believe Sal would tell her grandparents everything she said. The book was an easy read once getting past the first 10 pages or so.



The ending was surprising, the author and teller left no clues but for most of the book the reader is trying to guess who "the lunatic" is and what part he/she plays in the story.



Before I began reading, a student told me another teacher cried while reading. I too cried at the end. I look forward to reading the next book, Absolutely Normal Chaos.



Walk Two Moons is about fourth grade reading level but fifth grade interest. A good read alound if you can control the tears.



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View from Saturday

The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A realistic fiction book for 5th to 8th grade. This book would be a good read-a-loud.



It is a story of four sixth graders who are all related in some way. Each section of the book is told from a different perspective. The sixth graders also have a unique teacher. She is a paraplegic. Most of the students respect her but when asked to choose 4 students for the quiz bowl she gives careful consideration to her choices. She could tell the 4 main characters would work hard and work well together.



Throughout the book she is asked why she chose these four that went on to the state championship, the first sixth grade team to get that far. We don't get her answer until the end.



This book could be used to show how people with special needs work in today's society. Also the trivia questions asked during the book could spark renewed interest in other ideas. The answers are given in the back. This book also deals with the friendships that are created among the team members and between the team and the teacher.



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Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In this third and final book of the Hunger Games trilogy Katniss Everdeen wakes in District 13 after being carried out of the Quell Games in Catching Fire. District 12, her home, has been destroyed. Katniss must decide if she will become the Mockingjay, the voice and face of the rebellion. Peeta has been taken hostage by President Snow and is seen in short propoganda video clips. Katniss agrees to be the Mockingjay but only if all the victors will be granted immunity. Katniss begins making her own propos and the rebellion is going strong. Eventually all the districts are under rebellion control. A group of star soldiers including Gale and Katniss are sent into the Capitol and believe they will see minimal fighting. They are instead thrown right in the middle of the fighting and Peacekeepers search to find them all. Katniss is determined to get to Snow and finish this war.



I waited some time to read this third book which may be why I didn't completely fall in love with this book. It took me some time to remember the stories behind the other victors. Unlike the first two books in the series, there are a lot of down times and the action doesn't really start until the end. The love triangle is strained and lacking. The ending was very unexpected on many levels.



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Sounder

Sounder by William H. Armstrong

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a historical fiction book written from the 3rd person perspective. It is about an African American share cropper family shortly after the civil war. We learn only the dog's name, Sounder, but not the boy's, the mother's or father's names. This was a very difficult story to get interested in. The writing is very descriptive. The writing is at a 5th -6th grade level. I believe the book would go well with a unit on oppression and pre-Civil Rights actions. There are a few illustrations included but I was not impressed. They were black and white and hard to visualize. I did not enjoy the book but believe it is an important book to read.



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Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Winner of the 1978 Newbery Medal, Paterson has done it again. It made me laugh and cry, and cry some more! An excellent book for a class set but be careful reading aloud. It was hard to put down.

The story centers around Jess, who we see develop from a shy boy to one of a creative man. Leslie is the new girl who moves in next door and is very different from any other girl he or his teachers or parents have met. She is a boyish girl whose parents have left the city for country life. The family is considered eccentric but no one but Jesse gets close enough to meet them. Leslie and Jess become King and Queen of a hidden land they call Terabitha. Jess and Leslie have adventures and crusades to rid themselves of the evil spells and creatures they imagine that live in Terabithia.



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