A Season of Gifts
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling
Bloodwater Mysteries
The first two books written by Pete Hautman are in our library. Snatched is the first one and then Skullduggery. Doppelganger completes the series. I would say these books are for grade six and up.
One-Handed Catch by MJ Auch
The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy
The Adventures of Ordinary Boy is about the town of Superopolis and everybody has power—but one. Ordinary boy has no powers. But powers don't always help when you need to find your identity. Read the book found in the library.--Jacob S. gr 5
This book by William Boniface is the first one in a three book series. This one is titled The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 1: The Hero Revealed. The next one is The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 2: The Return of Meteor Boy? and third in the series is The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 3: The Great Powers Outage.
Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn
Do you like mysteries? Then this book is for you. The main character in the book is spending the summer with her aunt taking care of her little niece while her aunt works on her art. But they are visited by a mysterious child who Emma thinks is her friend. Not my idea of a friend though. Who is she? And where does she live?
A Crooked Kind of Perfect
Linda Urban tells this tale in the voice of ten-year-old Zoe who would just LOVE a piano but her father bought her an organ. Despite that let-down, she does practice the organ and is even going to compete in a weekend organ competition. Many unusual circumstances add to the funny predicaments in her life, such as a father who doesn't like to go out in public and a mother who works too much. And how would you like it, if a boy who picked on you in school started coming over to your house after school?
Coastwatcher by Elise Weston
This historical fiction takes place in South Carolina during World War ll. Eleven year-old Hugh and his family and cousin Tom are staying on the coast to be far-away from an epidemic of polio going around their town. As the title and cover suggest, Hugh spends his time watching the coast and he actually sees what he thinks is a periscope of a German submarine. His dad must leave for awhile doing a Civil Defense job and tells Hugh to keep a log of what he observes and finds washed up on the shore. Hugh's vacation home is near a Navel Base and the family sees German Prisoners of War taking a swim. The book has factual information about the war and information about what life was like during that time period.
How To Save Your Tail
Bob is a rat after my own heart. Bob is a Book Rat. While immersed in a book, he gets caught by the castle cats. Preferring not to get eaten, he distracts the cats with his stories. You will be amazed how he can whip up a tale and you will have fun figuring out which tale is which.
Found : Book One of The Missing
Imagine that you are adopted and you want to find out more about your birth parents. Thirteen year old Jonah asks his parents a few questions and because they've read every parenting book on adoption and believe in being cooperative and truthful, they start the process of inquiry. This leads to more than they bargained for. Mysterious letters come in the mail and people appear and disappear. Jonah's friend Chip finds out he too is adopted. Even Katherine, Jonah's younger sister gets involved in the puzzle, and she is successful in getting some names of other adopted children. Where did the babies come from? Each chapter deals with a new predicament and I found myself glued to the pages. I think this science fiction novel is a great choice for a Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee.
NO Talking! by Andrew Clements
Do you think your class could be quiet for a whole day? Could you be quiet for the whole day? I liked this book, not only because the class in the book is trying not to talk, but because one of the fifth graders, Dave, reads a book about Gandhi for his report on India. (Hooray!- Fifth graders at SJV learn about Gandhi too) The idea of not talking, something Gandhi did for his own spiritual development interested Dave. In a verbal fight with a classmate, Dave challenges her to keep quiet. Suddenly, a contest develops and spreads to all the fifth graders, where the contestants are the boys against the girls. I enjoyed the clever three-word exceptions that were made when teachers needed to hear from their students. Yes, this is another great Andrew Clements novel and a Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee for 2010-11.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Hot summer days. Drinking cold, refreshing lemonade. Have you ever had a lemonade stand? When I was younger we would have a Kool-Aid stand. We never took it to the level that Jessie did in The Lemonade War though. Things escalated between her and her slightly older brother Evan when they found out they'd be in the same fourth grade class next year. They both reacted differently to the news and their brother/sister friendship is turning competitive over the sale of lemonade. Reading this book will give you good ideas about selling lemonade but also insights on friendships, brothers and sisters and economics. Our library has a copy of the Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee for 2010-11.
Mudshark by Gary Paulsen
Can you think of any student in your school that the principal goes to for help? Lyle Williams, mostly known as Mudshark is the go-to-person for lots of people. Mudshark solves lots of problems and locates missing items. But as the story unfolds, his incredible ability is being out shined by a psychic parrot kept in the library. Can Mudshark gain the students' respect back? And solve the school's biggest mystery? Where are all the erasers?This very short crazy Gary Paulsen story is not like his outdoor adventurous Hacket novels but if you want a quick-make-you-laugh book, this is it.
The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had
I hope Kristin Levine keeps writing more books! The Best Bad Luck is her first novel and the best one I've read this summer. I was so captured by this story that I almost read it all in one sitting. I didn't even think about perspective or first or third person or settings, and characters. I just enjoyed the book. Twelve year old "Dit" tells the story that takes place in 1917 in Alabama. It follows the developing of his friendship with Emma, the daughter of the Negro family from Boston that moves in across the street. While Dit's family has no problem with the fact that the family is black, many in Moundville outwardly do. Do Dit's friends tease him about about Emma because she's a girl or because she is a Negro? This book will give you a closer look at what life was like in the early 1900s in the south. What do you think kids did during their summer vacation back in 1917? Do you think your doctor would teach you how to drive a car (at age 12) so you can help him with picking up supplies? How would you react if you witnessed discrimination? This book tackles more than you can shake a stick at. Be prepared for the killing of animals, fighting, a murder and an influenza outbreak too. Pick up this book at your public library and let me know what you think.
Faith, Hope, and Ivy June
I chose this book to bring along on my recent road trip through Kentucky and Tennessee. It was fun to read a book where the action takes place in the town and state you are driving through. I should have gone to the swamps near the Florida Keyes last week! We stopped in Lexington, and while I couldn't find Thunder Creek, I saw many places that could have been the Mosley's tucked out of sight in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Shiloh) is such a good writer, I would have never believed she didn't actually live in the eastern hills of Kentucky. (Though what does a midwesterner like me know?) Catherine and Ivy June are two seventh grade students from different parts of Kentucky who are in an exchange program. Their lives are very different and they discover a lot about themselves and their stereotypes while spending time in each other's world. They are to keep a journal to help them convey the experience. The journal keeping of the two students was interspersed with the action of the story in between. I recommend this book to all of my students (4th and up), though I see girls more likely to check this one out because of the personal connections girls have with each other. This is a good, realistic novel about friendship and family.
The Pirates of Crocodile Swamp
How do you know if a crocodile has just eaten? Which snakes are poisonous? Sandy and Jack are learning how to survive in the swamps of this remote wilderness of the Florida keyes. The brothers' home-life is tragic and they escape but they encounter various creatures and people that make their survival scary and possible. Jim Arnosky's awesome black pen drawings are sprinkled throughout this short fast paced novel.
Owly: Flying Lessons
I picked up this third book of Andy Runton's Owly series because it looked cute and simple. It wasn't until I got home that I realized this graphic novel didn't have any words. It was a good exersize for me to "read" the pictures very carefully. The story is very cute but also profound. Owly and his friend, Worm want to be friends with another creature of the forest. Not a likely candidate for friendship, but a turn of events results in a happily ever after. If you haven't read a graphic novel yet, pick one up and tell us about it.
Bobby Vs. Girls (Accidentally)
What grade do a boy and a girl who have been friends since they were born, stop being best friends? Bobby and Holly were born on the same day and have been friends their whole lives. But now they are in fourth grade and things are different, now Holly is a girl! I know she always was but it didn't matter before, well, Bobby never noticed before. Lisa Yee writes a good novel replicating the classroom and lives of a fourth grader, but I think third and fifth graders will enjoy the book, too. Let me know what you think.
The Sloppy Copy Slipup by DyAnne DiSalvo
What if you didn't have your "sloppy copy" ready to hand in?. Brian has many narrow escapes to handing one in. Luckily Brian is able to "tell" his story to his teacher and the class because he doesn't have his sloppy copy written out. His reason for not having it done is also his "story". Brian is a great storyteller and he comes up with quite the explanation as to why he doesn't have his work done. Journal writers, future authors, middle children and musicians will all relate to Brian. This book has been in our library for awhile, maybe you have already read it. What did you think of this book?
Eleven by Patricia Reiley Giff
Why is this book titled eleven? It didn't take long to read this gem of a book. I really enjoyed the relationships the protagonist had with the elders in his life. His grandfather and the other neighbors in his building truly care about each other. This story will get you thinking about who is family and why. I also found myself trying to figure out Mack's relationship to Sam. Caroline, Sam's new classmate and friend, doesn't care that Sam can't read but she is the motivating force behind his commitment to learn. Do we have people in our lives who motivate us to do unpleasant or difficult tasks? I was glad when Sam finally showed others his talent because it is so important for someone who struggles with one aspect of their lives to be able to shine in another way. I recommend this Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee even if you aren't eleven.
Heartbeat by Sharon Creech
Heartbeat is written in free-verse, much like Creech's Love That Dog book. I like how this type of writing moves the story steadily forward, in a rhythm. When you are running or jogging, you get into a rhythm too, just like Max and Annie. Their friendship is based on their love of running. But the story's main theme isn't their friendship or running but life changes that Annie observes around her. Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is aging and becoming forgetful and even Annie's favorite pastime takes on some changes as she determines what is important to her. By the end of the novel, readers may agree that the apple is a great picture for the cover of this novel.
True Green Kids: 100 things you can do to save the planet Published by National Geographic
I found this book just in time to talk about Earth Day, but as everyone says nowadays, "Everyday is Earth Day". First conceived in 1969 in preparation for a national day of rallies and teach-ins, the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. Much good came out of that period of time but we still need to be vigilant and this book gives kids (all of us) 100 ideas! Sure, there are same old ones like: turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, and turn off the lights when leaving a room, and recycle your cans and bottles. I know we already do those things. But how about number 22? Fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and leaves make up nearly 40% of household waste. By starting your own worm farm, you can recycle all your green waste at home to produce a fantastic natural fertilizer that will improve your garden. Put a separate container in your kitchen for compost scraps.Let's work on this next year at SJV. Waste reduction. YAY!! I can't wait. Check back here for more information. Or how about number 34?
Have you heard the saying "The pen is mightier than the sword?" If there is something you think your local town council, state government, or even the federal government isn't doing or could do better, why not write a letter or email?Representative Rick Hansen from South St Paul— start looking for letters from SJV students with their ideas and suggestions. By the way, thank you Rep. Hansen for your email updates.
SJV kids tell me one of your favorite ideas from the book, and I will post it here.
Boys Are Dogs by Leslie Margolis
When I book talked this book to the sixth graders, the boys' first reaction to this book was —what about the "Girls Are Cats" book?Annabelle is in sixth grade and she is going through a lot of changes in her life: new school, new friends, new town, new house and a new puppy (named Pepper!). She had always gone to an all girls school, so attending a school with boys was quite the change for Annabelle. Kicking her chair during class, annoying in the lunchroom, calling her an unwanted nickname, those boys are hard to handle, just like her new puppy. Could her new dog training skills work with the boys?
Don't worry SJV boys, Leslie Margolis' next book is titled Girls Acting Catty.
Harriet Beecher Stowe: Author and Abolitionist
Biographies are a great way to learn, learn not only about a particular person but a period of time in history. For some reason I checked out Harriet Beecher Stowe from our library. You probably haven't seen her on television or in the newspaper because she was born in 1811. She had many brothers who were ministers and family conversations revolved around political and social issues. Owning slaves and the laws concerning the people in the northern states who help free slaves was a passionate topic. Stowe was a writer and she wanted to do something to change things. so she wrote. Her most famous book was Uncle Tom's Cabin, which educated people about the realities of slavery. We have other books in our American Women of Achievement series, be sure to take a look in the biography section for your next book!
Space Station Science
People live in outer space on a space station. I read the book because I like space science. Someday I may want to live in outer space like the scientists in the book. About six men and women live at the space station and conduct experiments.By Mickey gr 5
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Yes, I finally read the book. The book, the one everyone is reading. I resisted. Did I want to read about a middle school boy's thoughts during a typical day? I am a little surprised at myself, I made it through the whole book. What kept me reading was.....when is it going to get to the climax? What is the plot? I asked the students in my classes.....they said there wasn't one. They were honest. Not my type of book, but I did make it through and it was harmless. The one thing that surprised me—it was actually written by an adult!—I was totally thinking I was reading a diary (opps, I mean journal) of a twelve year old boy. Watch out for the cheese!
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
I just finished this year's Newbery Medal winner and now I'd like to reread A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’ Engle. A Wrinkle in Time was also a Newbery Medal winner back in 1963 and shares the concept of time travel. The main character in When You Reach Me has an immense fondness for A Wrinkle in Time and is carrying the book around and rereading it herself. There may be other similarities. Miranda, the protagonist in When You Reach Me has received several notes and the anonymous letter writer conveys things that haven't happened yet and knows things that make Miranda uncomfortable and a little afraid. When and how did the person leave the notes? Who is this person?Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat
The first thing that caught my attention was the great drawing of the rat on every page so as you flip through the pages it looks as though the rat is falling out of the tree.Emmy's classroom rat speaks and Emmy can hear him. Good thing because no one in her class notices her. As Emmy befriends the rat and discovers a classmate who can also hear the rat they work together to solve their own problems using the magical powers that have been used against Emmy and her parents.
Many unusual and ratty characters in this book make for a very entertaining story and who would have thought that the rodents would be the good guys?
This Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee is written by Minneapolis author Lynne Jonell. Check out her web site.
The Homework Machine
Lots of interesting things take place in this Maud Hart Lovelace nominee. I like the first-person entries written by the different students in the class. The entries are mostly by the four kids whose desks are arranged together in Ms. Rasmussen's fifth grade class. Four very different students, unlikely to end up friends begin to spend time together. Each one has a unique story and outlook on the homework machine and their relationship with Brenton (the creator of the machine) and each other. A moral dilemma arises. How would you deal with this? Read this book and let's talk about your reaction to Mr. Milner, the police who get involved and the new teacher at the school—Ms. Rasmussen.
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
I read this book to myself in one sitting and I felt as I was reading it that I should be reading it aloud. It has lots of quirky and bizarre characters whose voices needed to be heard. A very different book from DiCamillo's other books, very haunting and dark. Everyone in the book had losses and needs. I felt frustrated with the caretaker of 10 year old Peter Augustus Duchene, who didn't have his best interests at heart. But the magic and poetry of the writing and the possibilities of Peter being reunited with his "dead" sister kept me enchanted until the end.
Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration
Have you read the poem by Emma Lazarus a the foot of the Statue of Liberty? The last line says " I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" This book published by National Geographic and written by Ann Bausum is powerfully written and full of unbelievable injustices. True stories of people you will meet are: Herb Karliner, age 12 and his Jewish family, escaping Germany's concentration camps being denied entry into the U.S.; Mary Matsuda, a 16 year old Chinese-American teenager and her family and neighbors, rounded up, given a number and detained at Tule Lake Relocation camp. Though camp is a flowery word for what really was a prison. Chinese and Mexican workers, deported when their services are no longer needed. Even a law forbidding Chinese Americans from becoming citizens. Throughout this 112 page book there is archival photos and a six page detailed time line, resource guide and bibliography are in the back. This book will have you thinking about the United States being a land of opportunity. Arguments for and against immigration tend to repeat themselves, maybe looking at our past, we can learn from our mistakes.
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