The Thing About Georgie

Is there something about you that makes you different from everyone else in your class? Are you well known for this distinguishable trait? The thing about Georgie is that he is a dwarf. It is hard not to notice. But being a fourth grader has its other factors that occupy Georgie's life, such as having a best friend who wants to include another person in their duo dog walking business, or an annoying girl who calls him nasty names is his partner on a project for school, or finding out your parents are having another child, all these concerns just as any fourth grader would have regardless of having body issues. You learn about what being a dwarf is like but the novel also focuses on the part of being a kid that everyone hopes— that they can be appreciated by others and themselves for a variety of skills and interests. This Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee by Lisa Graff is the author's first book and I hope she writes many more.

The Wright 3

Several years ago, a student recommended that I read all the books by the author Blue Balliett. I only read one of her books, Chasing Vermeer, which I really enjoyed. Recently my women's book club read Loving Frank, about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and I remembered another of Balliett's books, The Wright 3 about the famous architect.

Calder and Petra (the sleuths who uncover the Vermeer in her previous book) are working together again along with Tommy who returns to Chicago and resumes his friendship with Calder. The three of them are inspired by their sixth grade teacher to care about and possibly save the historic Robie House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright which is scheduled for demolition soon. But while they are admiring its unusual characteristics, the windows and shadows and certain people begin to be more than just a coincidence as they follow up on clues which propel them to do some dangerous spying. This fast moving 314 page book is filled with illustrations by Brett Helquist who visited the Robie House to accurately create the drawings.