Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing, outstanding, WONDERful! This book will end up with medals on its cover. This is a nice clean book that middle school
and upper elementary students should read. It is the story of a 5th grade boy's courage to attend school for the first time after having several operations to his abnormal face. I have one concern when I consider this book for its passing the test of time, a lot of modern day mentions like facebook.

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The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a winner! Deza Malone is such a wonderful character. I laughed and cried and then cried some more. The story takes place first in Gary, Indiana during the Great Depression. Deza's father has been looking for a job but gives up. He leaves his wife, son, and daughter hoping for better luck in Flint, Michigan where he grew up. After not hearing any thing and not able to afford the rent on their house, the family is forced to follow him. After a brief stay in the shanty town outside Flint, Mrs. Malone finds work and Jimmie, Deza's brother, pursues his dream of singing. Deza continues to visit the post office until one day...

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The Humming Room

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this tribute to The Secret Garden, Ellen Potter, updates the story for a new generation of readers. I think students will really like this book. I recently finished reading The Secret Garden and felt the language may be too difficult for today's students. With this book, students will be able to enjoy the story of two young cousins that find each other in a big house. Both characters have had a difficult life and don't like to be around people. Roo, the young lady, and Phillip must hide their secret room at first while their caretakers are in awe at how much their personalities have improved. Just like with the Secret Garden, a young boy who seemingly can talk to the animals, helps the young cousins with bringing back to life a garden that Phillip's father had tried to destroy.

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