The Flip Side by Shawn Johnson

From Goodreads,

"Charlie Ryland has a secret.

She may seem like your average high school sophomore—but she’s just really good at pretending.

Because outside of school Charlie spends all her waking hours training to become one of the best gymnasts in the world. And it’s not easy flying under the radar when you’re aiming for Olympic gold…especially when an irresistible guy comes along and threatens to throw your whole world off balance."


Goodreads - The Flip Side

I've always wanted to be able to fly and glide through the air with no hesitations or fears.  I never took gymnastics, although I wish I had learned how to at least do a cartwheel.  I remember following Shawn Johnson during her time at the summer Olympics in 2008.  When she published her first book, Winning Balance: What I've Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams I was beyond excited to get my hands on it and read about this Olympian.  I enjoyed the book, and when I heard she had published a fiction book about gymnastics I was even more excited than when her first book was published.

This book follows Charlie and her dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast.  Charlie made the decision to live a normal life that was completely separate from her gymnastics life.  She had different circles of friends, kept her schedules separate, and even went by two different names.  The book was based on the premise of Charlie trying to juggle her hectic normal life and her prestigious gymnastics life.

It took a lot for me to really get into this book.  I found it hard to fall in love with Charlie/Charlotte.  I had nothing in common with the main character, and I think that was part of my disconnection with Charlie.  I did like that Charlie/Charlotte was willing to do whatever it took to make both of her lives work.  She juggled boys and her classwork and she juggled her elite training schedule.  I think that she really showed determination and the desire to reach her goals.  I think a lot of girls, especially gymnasts, would look up to Charlie because she tries to balance both aspects of her life to stay as normal as possible and to still reach her Olympic goals.  Her hectic schedule also allowed us to see what kind of time and dedication is put into being an Olympic gymnast.  Charlie gave us a really good look into what gymnastics is like.

I didn't like how the book ended with the epilogue.  I wanted (and still want) there to be a second book that continues Charlie's journey and how she managed to continue juggling with everything on her plate.  I just felt that Shawn Johnson left room for a second book to be written if she truly desired...which I would love.

The book wasn't as good as her first book, but it was still good.  This book didn't grab my attention and hold me which makes me give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.  It would have earned 4 stars if I wouldn't have had to force myself to sit down and finish it.

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

From Goodreads,

"A story about small acts of courage from the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect.

Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing. Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she’ll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie’s plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true."

Goodreads - Hound Dog True

I try to read a good amount of books that might interest my fourth graders.  I want to be able to tell them a good book if they come asking for a mystery or one that will make them laugh.  I saw this book on Scholastic, but didn't want to spend the money on the book.  Instead I was able to purchase this book at a thrift store for a couple of dollars.  I finished reading this book while I was at school working at our after school program.  My kids that were in the room at that time were inquiring about what the book was about and if they would like it.  What started as a simple conversation ended up with me trying to get each of my students set up with a book that I thought would interest them.

This book is about Mattie Breen who has moved from place to place thanks to her mother and her saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."  She finally finds herself living in her mother's childhood home alongside her Uncle Potluck and a neighbor.  She tries to learn how to manage a new school, new friends, a new home, and all the other challenges that come with being in the fifth grade.

I didn't really enjoy this book, but it did have an important message of the value of friendship and trust.  Mattie always seemed to lack friends due to their constant moving around.  I think it was very important for Mattie to find a friend that she could laugh and have fun with.  In the story Mattie didn't want to be friends with Quincy Sweet because she thought she lacked important friend qualities.  Throughout the book Mattie learns to trust Quincy.  It is important for students to understand that there are lots of people around them who are friendship material and that they can trust these people.

Other than the friendship and trust quality, this book was very bland to me.  There wasn't a lot going on in the book and the book itself lacked excitement and depth.  I enjoy dimensional books that keep me engaged and turning the pages.  I understand that it may have lacked depth because it is geared toward younger students.  Students might not be able to understand a book with such depth, but they also may not enjoy a book that lacks excitement.

I recommended this book to one of my students.  She was excited to read it, which means that my enjoyment of books is being passed on to my students.  She did ask what I thought of the book, to which I told her that I didn't really like it all that much, but I wanted her to read it so we could discuss it.  I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.  This book was boring and I felt like the chapters kept dragging on and on.  Hopefully my student will enjoy this book and will give it a fair review.

Save Me A Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan

From Goodreads,

"Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.

Joe's lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own.

Ravi's family just moved to America from India, and he's finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in.

Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common -- but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week."

Goodreads - Save Me A Seat

I will plead guilty and state that I absolutely judge books by their covers.  I mean, the cover has at least something to do with the story itself, so why not go ahead and judge it just a little.  I thought this book would be about two boys who become friends due to sitting at lunch together and they eventually start using the phrase, "Save me a seat."  This was not the case.  This book is about two boys, Joe and Ravi, who are stuck in predicaments during the first week of school.  Their lives are totally different from one another, but they have a common denominator in their life: Dillon the bully.  Both boys are dealing with the bully who is tormenting their lives.  As the book progresses we see how their lives are starting to intertwine with each other and how they will eventually work together to outwit Dillon.

I really enjoyed the way this book was written.  The authors each took a character in the book and they took turns writing back and forth.  This gave each character his own unique voice in the story.  I loved how this book was set up with the day progressions marked by what was on the lunch menu for the day.  It really showed how this took place in a weeks span and not over the course of a month.  I also loved how both students came to find themselves throughout the book and that they were able to showcase this at school through an assignment.  The class was supposed to bring an item that represented them and they were supposed to write a sentence on a notecard that went along with their item.  I think this is a brilliant way to get to know your students and get to know what is important or valuable to them.  By the end of the book both students had found out who they were, what they stood for, and what kind of friend they wanted to be.

While this book was amazing, it did have the downfall of the teacher.  I'm a teacher myself and I judged the teacher in this book hardcore.  She mispronounced Ravi's name at the beginning and brushed it off like it was no big deal.  I would be furious if someone mispronounced my name and didn't take the time to try to make an effort to pronounce it correctly.  She could have shown a little more try in that situation.  Also, she couldn't understand Ravi so she just sent him to resource.  I felt like she didn't want to deal with it so she just said he had problems understanding and speaking so he could go to resource.  When I get a new student I want them to be in my room for a solid week or two so that I can get to know them and how they function in my class.  That is crucial time for me to see what they are capable of doing and if they are going to need additional help such as resource or if they are beyond capable and need to be in an enriched learning program.  That teacher also didn't handle the bullying situation as she should have.  The trend of teachers not handling bullying has been something I've seen in a LOT of books over the past few months and it is very unsettling.  Authors make it seem that teachers NEVER do anything about bullying, and that isn't the case.  Teachers work hard to make sure each child is safe, secure, and happy.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  I thought the book was very good and interesting.  It had just enough chapters that weren't too short or too long.  I think middle school students would really enjoy this book.

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

From Goodreads,

"“Lily and the Octopus is the dog book you must read this summer…a profound experience.” —The Washington Post

Combining the emotional depth of The Art of Racing in the Rainwith the magical spirit of The Life of Pi, Lily and the Octopus is an epic adventure of the heart.

When you sit down with Lily and the Octopus, you will be taken on an unforgettable ride.

The magic of this novel is in the read, and we don’t want to spoil it by giving away too many details.

We can tell you that this is a story about that special someone: the one you trust, the one you can’t live without.

For Ted Flask, that someone special is his aging companion Lily, who happens to be a dog.

Lily and the Octopus reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.

Remember the last book you told someone they had to read?

Lily and the Octopus is the next one."

Goodreads - Lily and the Octopus

The hardest part of living on campus during college was having to leave my dog behind.  It was also very difficult for me to officially move out of my parents house and into my own house because I knew that I would be seeing George, our English Bulldog, less and less.  This of course is heartbreaking to me because I know he is well into his golden years and he is considered old for an English Bulldog.  So naturally when I saw this book and realized it was about a man and his relationship with his dog, I was sold on reading it.  I kept putting it off because I knew this book would more than likely be sad.  I eventually worked up the time and courage to read this book, no matter the emotional roller coaster I would go on.

This book is about Ted Flask and his dog named Lily.  One day he notices that Lily has a bump on her head, and he soon dubs this bump as an octopus.  Throughout the book we see Ted struggle to accept what Lily's fate is and what he must eventually do.  Ted shares all of his adventures and stories that Lily has helped shape and create.  We learn how they met, how they bonded, all the little names he calls her, and the strength of their relationship.

This book was a pure work of art.  It was amazing to read a fictional story of a man and his dog and the strength of their relationship.  Nobody will ever understand the bond that exists between a dog and its owner.  This book allowed a glimpse into what the joys of having a dog are.  This book made my heart ache for my own dog, and every time I read this book I wanted to rush to my parents house so I could hold him.  I loved how real the book was and the emotions that were present throughout.  From the beginning I knew what the ending would be, but I was still just as heartbroken and upset when the time finally came for Ted to make the final decision with Lily.  My fourth graders kept inquiring if I had finished the book (I keep a poster in my room that states what book I'm reading.)  I finally told them I would finish it over the weekend.  I sat down and read the rest of the book.  It was about 4 AM when I finally reached the saddest part of the book.  I sat in my bed, drinking chocolate milk, crying like a baby.  I cried for a good 15 minutes before I was able to pull my life together and finish reading.  This was such a heart wrenching book that will tug at all your heartstrings.

The only downfall I had with this book is that Rowley gave Lily a voice.  I didn't like that Lily, the dog, would share her thoughts and excitement about things.  It made the book a little less realistic, and made Ted seem a little bit crazy for thinking his dog was talking to him.  My students wanted me to read this to them, but it is not suitable for children.  It has some choice language and makes multiple references to Ted and his boyfriends of past.

I really connected with this book because my dog George has a knot on his head that has been there since he was a puppy.  Recently his knot has gotten a little bigger and developed two smaller ones next to it.  I now constantly refer to his knots as his octopus.  This book deserves 5 stars even though it made me bawl like a baby.  If you have a dog, I recommend you read this.  It will make you love your dog just a little bit more than you already do.

Connect The Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

From Goodreads,

"From Saving Lucas Biggs authors Marisa de los Santos and David Teague comes another heartwarming middle grade adventure about two misfits who discover the importance of just being themselves.

When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole. 

Luminous and clever, Connect the Stars has Marisa de los Santos and David Teague’s trademark beautiful prose, delicate humor, swooping emotions, and keen middle grade friendships. This novel takes on the hefty topics of the day—bullying, understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure kids will love!"

Goodreads - Connect The Stars

I purchased this book through Scholastic and the brief summary that was given was a little misleading.  I expected this book to be about kids who went camping in the woods, got lost, and had to use their brains to figure out how to survive.  That was not the case.  This book is about Audrey and Aaron who both have "super powers".  Audrey is able to tell when someone is lying and Aaron is able to recall any piece of information that he has ever read, seen, or heard.  Both of these kids get into a bit of a pickle at the beginning of the book and they in turn are sent to a survival camp in the middle of the desert.  While they are simply trying to survive, they come to find friends that will help them make it through the summer.

This book was amazing.  I loved that there were two main characters with lots of supporting characters.  I felt that I was able to stay connected and relate to at least one of the characters throughout the book.  I connected with Audrey because I hate liars and I hate when people lie to me, even if they do lie just to spare my feelings.  I also connected with Randolph a little bit in the fact that he was just trying to fit in with the group and trying to be liked.  I sometimes feel that way myself when I'm around people I don't really know.  The characters had enough complexity to them to make them seem realistic, but they also didn't have extremely elaborate back stories.  I also really enjoyed that the characters grew throughout the book.  I enjoyed seeing them conquer their fears and troubles.  This has a huge theme of finding yourself and accepting what you can't change.  This book definitely sends the message that we can't all be perfect and that it takes all kinds to make the world go round.  If a student was in a tough spot in life or having some trouble at home, I would highly recommend this book.

I do however, wish that there had been dates or timestamps included.  With life and death on the line, I enjoy seeing the timeline progress as the campers worked to survive the wilderness.  I also felt that there could have been a little more of a transition at the beginning when the kids went from home to camp and a little more transition at the end when the kids left camp and returned home.  I felt like the authors knew they had to conclude the book in a certain amount of pages and they had to cut the ending short.  The only other downfall (and the reason I can't put it in my 4th grade classroom) is that there were a few choice words throughout the book.  I would definitely read it before sticking it in my school or classroom library.

I would love to known if Marisa de los Santos and David Teague took turns writing the chapters.  I definitely got that feeling, which gave the characters their own voice and their own personalities.  This was an excellent book that would be good for junior high or high school students.  I honestly feel that some of my 4th graders would enjoy this book, but as mentioned above, it has some choice language in it.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and definitely recommend it if you are looking for a good adventure book.

Lawn Boy and Lawn Boy Returns by Gary Paulsen

From Goodreads,

"One day I was 12 years old and broke. Then Grandma gave me Grandpa's old riding lawnmower. I set out to mow some lawns. More people wanted me to mow their lawns. And more and more. . . . One client was Arnold the stockbroker, who offered to teach me about "the beauty of capitalism. Supply and Demand. Diversify labor. Distribute the wealth." "Wealth?" I said. "It's groovy, man," said Arnold.

If I'd known what was coming, I might have climbed on my mower and putted all the way home to hide in my room. But the lawn business grew and grew. So did my profits, which Arnold invested in many things. And one of them was Joey Pow the prizefighter. That's when my 12th summer got really interesting."

Goodreads - Lawn Boy

Awards:

• Oklahoma Sequoyah Award for Children (2010)

I bought this book at a resale shop and figured that it would go perfectly in my author tub labeled "Gary Paulsen" that is located in my classroom library.  I had heard about the book from a fellow teacher.  When school was out I packed some books up that I wanted to read over the summer.  I took it home, left it in the crate, and totally forgot about it.  I'm not sure what made me dig this book out, but I did.  I figured I should get it read and get it back into my classroom library so my students could get their hands on the book.

This book is about Lawn Boy who receives a riding lawnmower from his grandmother for his birthday.  He then goes and mows a yard or two, and then some more neighbors ask for their yard to be mowed, and the next thing he knows he owns a business.  Arnold helps him invest his money and they watch it pile up as he climbs the ladder to success.  Of course there are a few hiccups along the way to success, and Lawn Boy has to figure out how to deal with them.

This book was loaded with economic information.  This book would be perfect to do an economic unit with.  Students could learn how to manage and handle money in real life, and they could also learn that a little dream can turn into something big.  I like how it broke some of the tough economic language down into kid friendly terms so that they  understood what the words meant.

The book was fairly short and speedy.  It definitely didn't waste time getting down to business.  I wish that it had elaborated just a tad more on the economic business of things, but I do understand that everything happened very fast in the book and therefore there wasn't tons of time to elaborate.


From Goodreads,

"Gary Paulsen’s funny follow-up to Lawn Boy is full of big surprises and big laughs.

Lawn Boy says: The summer I was twelve, mowing lawns with Grandpa’s old riding mower turned into big business. With advice from Arnold the stockbroker, I learned all about making money.

Six weeks and hundred of thousands of dollars later, life got more complicated. You see, the prizefighter I sponsor, Joey Pow, won a big fight. And a TV interview made me famous. As Arnold says, “Capitalism plus publicity equals monster commerce.” Even my best friends wanted a piece of the action. Meanwhile, some scary guys showed up at Joey’s gym. . . ."

Goodreads - Lawn Boy Returns

This is the sequel to Lawn Boy.  I again found this at a resale shop for a dollar and purchased it so that my kids could read the two books back to back if they desired.

This book picks up shortly after where the first book left off.  While the first book talks about the rise of Lawn Boy and how he earned and multiplied his fortunes, this one really talks about the downfalls.  Lawn Boy is really trying to get out of the business so that he can be a regular kid for the rest of the summer instead of trying to run a business and sponsor a prizefighter.

I liked how this book focused on the downside of economics instead of just making and multiplying money.  I think it is good for kids to be exposed to both ends of the economic spectrum and for it to be explained in kid terms.  I also really liked how they tried to shut down the entire operation so that Lawn Boy could be a kid again, but instead they reinvested the money elsewhere so that they didn't lose everything they had put into the business.

Overall, these two books were pretty good.  They had lots of economic information in both of them that could be highly beneficial when teaching students about economics.  However, I'm not a big fan of economics and all that surrounds it, so these books were a little off from what I would typically read.  I do think that students would like these books and that it could inspire them to think about economics in their own life and how to start a business.  I give both of the books 3.5 out of 5 stars.  These would be perfect for younger students or boys who are needing a "funny" book to read.

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

From Goodreads,

"Pictures of Hollis Woods In this Newbery Honor Book, a troublesome 12-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her. "

Goodreads - Pictures of Hollis Woods

Awards:

• Newberry Honor - 2003

When I was interning I got to see a lot of amazing learning take place.  One of the amazing moments was learning that the fourth grade class was reading Pictures of Hollis Woods.  I asked the teacher what the book was about and she was shocked that I had never read it or heard of it before.  She also informed me that there is a movie version of the book.  It wasn't that big of a deal and I didn't have any desire to read the book until I started teaching 4th grade.  I figured it wouldn't hurt me to read the book, see what it is all about, and then make a decision on if we should read it together in class.  

The book bounces between the story that is taking place and the story in the past which is indicated by the pictures by Hollis chapters.  Throughout the book we learn where Hollis came from, how she became the way she is, and her talent for drawing.  This entire book is about Hollis, who is in foster care, and how her life is influenced by those around her and how she tries to find a place to fit in.  

From an educator standpoint, this book would be a great book to involve visualizing.  I would have the students illustrate the photos that Hollis draws.  It would be a good way for students to see in their head what they are reading, and then put it on paper.  This book is very visual and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.  The book also kept me guessing as to what happened at her previous foster house and why she left.  The past foster house story is weaved into the current story, which made it drag on for the entire book (which I didn't like).  

The downfall of this book, again from an educator standpoint, is that so many of my students live in situations similar, if not worse, situations than what Hollis lives/has lived in.  I would worry about this book reigniting questions or feelings that students have learned to cope with and manage because they have been shuffled from house to house.  Another thing that I didn't like was the going back and forth from present day story to past story.  That was so confusing to keep up with, mainly because I don't read chapter titles unless I'm reading to someone.  I wished I would have been given a chunk of the past and then told the present for a while and then given another big chunk.  It was just such a pain to keep up with which storyline was taking place and if we were reading present or past events.  I worry that students wouldn't pay attention to the two different writing styles and they would mix the entire book together.  

This book didn't meet my expectations and I really didn't want to finish reading the book because it wasn't interesting enough for me.  I give this 2.5 out of 3 stars.  I just expected there to be more to the story, especially since it is a Newberry Honor book.  I personally wouldn't use this in my class.  So many of my kids experience life worse than Hollis's life and I think my students need a new and refreshing look on stories and experiences in literature. 

The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson

From Goodreads,
"Based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson.

Steven Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York, which means he only cares about one thing-the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve.

But then Steve hears a rumor that an African American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It's 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. His hero, Jackie Robinson, broke the color barrier in baseball the year before.

Then it happens--Steve's new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can't wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero?"

Goodreads - The Hero Two Doors Down

I bought this book to put into my classroom library in hopes that some boy, or maybe some girl, in love with baseball would find the courage to pick it up and read it.  I took it home over the summer to read and it kept getting shuffled around and pushed aside.  The next thing I knew school was closing in and I was frantically trying to get my room finished and get ready for a new set of kiddos to enter my room for a year of fun filled learning.  The second week of school I was knocked down by severe sinus pressure and I eventually gave in and went to the doctor.  He told me to take at least a day off, but he recommended taking the rest of the week.  I don't think he realized he was talking to a stubborn teacher who knew she had a job to do and knew that her students expected her to be at school.  I ended up taking a day and left notes for all my kids so they knew that I loved them.  My goal was to get as much rest as possible on my sick day.  I woke up at 6:30 and wanted to get ready to go teach my little chickens.  I couldn't go back to bed, so I started reading The Hero Two Doors Down and couldn't stop.  An hour and a half later I was finally tired enough to go back to sleep.  I ended up finishing the book that same day while I was wondering how my kids were behaving and what they should be doing in class at that particular time.

This book is about a Stephen, a young Dodgers baseball fan who is in the third grade.  He is in love with Jackie Robinson and his parents try to help him understand discrimination that is happening in the world at that time.  Soon Stephen finds out that a negro family is moving in two doors down.  He isn't interested until he finds out that a Dodgers baseball player will be living in the upstairs of the house.  Stephen continues to hope that it will be Jackie Robinson, and to his luck it is.  This book is a tale of friendship between a boy and his hero, Jackie Robinson.

I really enjoyed this book because it is based on a true story and because Sharon Robinson made it so real.  I felt like the characters were very dimensional (which technically they are since they are based on real people).  I could tell that Jackie was a loving husband and father as well as being calm and collected while being a MLB player.  And Stephen or Steve as he goes by in the book, is a typical nine year old who is causing trouble at school, spending as much time bonding with his father, and falling in love with the game of baseball.  Sharon, the author and Jackie's daughter, wasn't born when everything happened on Tilden Avenue.  She wasn't around when Steve met Jackie for the first time or when Jackie gave Steve a Christmas tree at Christmas without realizing that they celebrated Hanukkah.  However, she did an amazing job at capturing each person's character.  I also enjoyed the fact that their families still keep in touch and that she often visits Steve at his ranch in Florida.

I really wish that there had been more pictures included in this book.  I think that more students would find the book more appealing if there were more pictures of the actual people involved in the story instead of just a few black and white photographs.  Photos of key moments such as the Christmas tree incident would have made the book more realistic to students because they would be able to visually look at evidence from that day.

This book was wonderful and luckily one of my 4th grade boys took an interest and read it.  I spoke to the student and asked him what he thought.  He said the book was really good and that if he could give it more than 5 stars he would.  I give this book 5 stars as well.  I'm glad that Sharon Robinson decided to write and publish this book based on the friendship that formed between a boy and his hero.  This book really showed how inspiring Jackie was on and off the field.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

From Goodreads,

"Doomed to—or blessed with—eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing that it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune."

Goodreads - Tuck Everlasting

Awards:

• Christopher Award for Books for Young People - 1976
• Lewis Carroll Shelf Award - 1978
• Phoenix Honor - 1995
• Children's Choice Book Award

A friend of mine read this book with her fourth grade class as part of a large novel study they were doing.  She had talked about it periodically and I figured I should give the book a shot.  I'm not going to lie, I started this book at like 4 in the morning during the summer.  I started reading it, and was so into the book that I stayed up until 5:45 in the morning and then quickly realized that the sun was starting to come up.  I put the book down for a few hours and resumed it as soon as possible.  I finished it later that night and loved every second of it.  I wanted a second book so badly, but unfortunately one doesn't exist that I'm aware of.

The book tells the tale of the Tuck family who have unearthed a spring on accident that allows them to live forever.  They never age and they can't die.  They meet Winifred, or Winnie, who finds out about the spring.  They end up having to take Winnie in hopes she will keep the secret of the Tucks.

This book was so intriguing to me.  The idea that you could drink from a spring and live forever is mind boggling.  The Tucks insisted that Winnie not tell their secret and that she not drink from the spring.  They didn't want her to live with the curse and inability to die because of the water from the spring.  However, Jesse Tuck was trying to convince Winnie to drink some water when she was older so that she could stay the same age as Jesse for the rest of their lives.  I think this book was so interesting to me because I feel like the idea of living forever plays in everyone's mind.  To be able to be fearless and live life because you know you can't die is just a crazy thought.  I'm absolutely terrified of dying and what it feels like.  I feel that living forever would allow me to never face that, but I would also never find out what it is like to die.  This book has a strong thread of life and death that will lead to discussions with anyone.

I think my favorite part of this book was at the end when Winnie poured spring water on the toad.  The toad was present at the beginning of the book and was mentioned a few times throughout.  She ends up pouring some spring water on the toad and allows him to live forever.  I think that Winnie did this because the toad was always free and she wasn't.  I think that she saw this as a freeing act for both her and the toad.  She knew that she would forever have obligations and people watching over her, which meant that she could never really be free.  The toad obviously got to live forever as free as ever, and I like that that was Winnie's way of living forever, without actually living forever.

I really wish that there was a second book to this novel.  I'm not sure what it would even be about, but I just felt so at peace when I was reading about the Tucks and their life.  I would even be happy with a book that followed either of the Tuck boys throughout their life.  I give this book 5 stars and I'm so glad that I read it.  I'm currently searching for the Disney version of this book, but have yet to find a copy.  I'll update this post once I watch the movie.

Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton

From Goodreads,

"When a boy finds himself drawn into an empty house one cold night, he enters a room in which twelve unusual-looking people sit around a table. And the thirteenth chair is pulled out for him.

One by one, each of those assembled tells their own
ghost story: tales of doom and death; of ghostly creatures and malevolent spirits; of revenge and reward. It is only at the end of the night that the boy starts to understand what story he must tell . . ."

Goodreads - Thirteen Chairs

This story starts with Jack entering a room with 12 other people seated around a table.  There are candles lit in front of each person and they all stare at him as he enters.  Each person takes a turn telling a ghost story.  After they tell their story, they blow out their candle.  Jack becomes more and more unsettled as the night goes on.

I decided to read this story because it was close to Halloween and I figured my students would enjoy getting to hear a review of a spooky book.  I did not expect this to be a collection of ghost stories, and was quite taken aback when I realized the format in which this book was written.  I really enjoyed how the ghost stories seemed to get scarier and creepier as the book progressed.  Some were set in present day with technology, while some were more of the old school ghost stories.  I enjoyed that balance because it is hard to find ghost stories that are set in the technology era, which people can relate to.

I didn't care for the ending.  I expected there to be a big finale of an ending.  It didn't really happen.  The book ended in a way that allowed the reader to interpret it in whatever way they felt fit.  I personally took the ending as Jack was consumed by darkness and died on that night, but there is also a part of me that feels that he lived to tell the story to others.  I really dislike having to interpret the ending and making my own decision on what happened.  I really wanted the people at the table to tell Jack that he was dead and that that was why he was there.  I wanted him to have to come to terms with being dead and dealing with moving on to the other side.  I think it would have been a good plot twist and surprise ending.

This would be a good spooky read to read around Halloween.  There were a few mentions of alcohol in the beginning, and there are some graphic moments such as talking about slitting throats and blood.  I probably won't put it in my classroom library, simply because of the mature content that is in the book.  I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.  I would have given it 4 stars, but I wasn't fond of having to interpret the ending.  I think middle school students would find this book perfectly creepy.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

From Goodreads,

"Captured by a giant! The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater, the Bonecruncher, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast. 
When Sophie hears that they are flush-bunking off in England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!"

Goodreads - The BFG

Awards:

• Red House Children's Book Award (1983)
• Zilveren Griffel Award (1984)
• West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Young Readers (1985)
• Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Kinderbuch (1985)
• Books I Loved Best Yearly (BILBY) Award for Read Aloud and Read Alone (1991)

I initially purchased this book because the movie version was going to be released this year.  A couple of the other fourth grade classes read it during our all day read in at the end of year, while my class read Stone Fox.  I finally sat down and decided I needed to read it, and it was definitely worth my time.

The book is about orphan Sophie being snatched out of her bed after she sees a giant outside her window.  The giant happens to be the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) who soon befriends her and explains that he doesn't eat humans like the other giants.  Sophie gets to experience life in giant land and eventually decides that her and the BFG should make a plan to stop the other giants from gobbling up children in England.

This book was an obvious work of Roald Dahl.  It had so many of his infamous words such as "scrumdiddlyumptious", which was used more than once in the book.  I really enjoyed the character of Sophie and her ability to have confidence to face the BFG.  I also really enjoyed that Sophie didn't argue with the BFG about words and their pronunciation, but she accepted his way of speaking and learned the new things with open eyes and ears.  She also taught the BFG some things about living in human land.  She was a wonderful example of a child is willing to listen, learn, and grow.

I really enjoyed the chapter about dreams.  It stated that the BFG had dreams for girls and dreams for boys because they dream entirely different things.  I don't know why, but I've never thought about what a boy dreams about.  I'm sure they don't dream about the same things that a girl dreams about, but the thought never crossed my mind that we dream different.  It was also interesting to see the fearlessness that existed in boys dreams and that girls tended to dream about school related things.  This is an interesting observation because I feel like most boys do dream about more dare-devil things, while girls dream of rainbows and lollipops.  It was just an interesting observation that Dahl made prominent in the book.  Dahl really showed how girls have the role of being proper students and that boys have the role of being fearless and courageous.  I also liked that Sophie was interested in seeing the dreams for boys because obviously they were dreams that she would never really have.

It took me a little bit to really get into this book, because the whole giant theme just didn't interest me.  Once I really sat down and started reading though, I got so interested in the BFG and his mannerisms.  I think this book would be a great read for a classroom.  There were a lot of different parts in the book that would allow for measurement to take place.  They could measure how tall the BFG was, and then measure how they would compare to the BFG.  They could also measure the various things such as the jars or the other giants.  It would be a great book to incorporate math.  Geography could also be incorporated since it the book included so much involving locations such as Panama, New Jersey, Wellington, etc.  The students could also create their own map of giant land.

I enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.  I haven't seen the movie yet, but plan to see it as soon as possible.  I'll try to remember to give an update as soon as I see it!

SOS Titanic by Eve Bunting

From Goodreads, 

"Fifteen-year-old Barry O'Neill, traveling from Ireland to America on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, finds his life endangered when the ship hits an iceberg and begins to sink."

Goodreads - SOS Titanic 

Awards:

• Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award for Senior - 1999

I love the Titanic and all things that pertain to it.  My best friend and I fell in love with a Titanic book in second grade... you could say it was the start of a wonderful friendship.  So naturally when I saw this book I knew I had to buy it and put it in my Titanic collection that is in my classroom.  I wanted to read the book beforehand to make sure it was suitable to put in a 4th grade classroom.  While I love the Titanic, this book was a little bit of a letdown.

The book follows Barry O'Neill as he boards the Titanic to travel to America to live with his parents.  Barry's enemies, the Flynns, are also boarding the boat, but as third class passengers.  Throughout the book Barry is trying to stay out of trouble and keep from getting thrown overboard by the two Flynn boys.  However, Barry does start to enjoy the company of Pegeen Flynn and he tries to see her as often as possible without being caught fraternizing with third class passengers.  Barry gets in a few scuffs throughout the book and at the end has to fight to survive the sinking.

This book really lacked a good storyline.  The entire book focused on Barry trying to avoid running into Frank and Jonnie Flynn, while also trying to make eyes at Pegeen Flynn.  There weren't many exciting moments in the book, and there definitely wasn't a solid storyline to follow.  I knew the entire book was leading up to the moment of the ship sinking.  That was probably the most exciting moment in the book because there was so much chaos going on.  It was also predictable at the end because I knew that Barry was going to focus on finding Pegeen and saving her.  The entire book kind of gave me the sense of reading the novel version of the movie Titanic.  Just the way that it was all laid out and presented really gave me the feeling that it was along the same storylines as the movie.

I did however enjoy the fact that Eve Bunting focused on trying to include factual information.  She did include names of people who were on the ship such as Mr.Andrews and Mr.Murdoch.  I thought that she paid attention to detail in that aspect.  I enjoy learning about the facts and events of what really happened, and I'm glad that she tried to incorporate them the best she could.

I will still add this book to my Titanic collection in my classroom, but I'm unsure if any kids will find it interesting enough to read it.  I give this book 2.5 stars out of 5.  It just didn't excite me the way that I thought it was going to.  I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Titanic.  

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

From Goodreads,

"From award-winning author Sharon Draper comes Out of My Mind, the story of a brilliant girl who cannot speak or write.

"If there is one book teens and parents (and everyone else) should read this year, Out of My Mind should be it." (Denver Post).

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom - the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she's determined to let everyone know it - somehow.

In this breakthrough story, reminiscent of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, from multiple Coretta Scott King Award-winner Sharon Draper, readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability."

Goodreads - Out of My Mind

Awards:

• Josette Frank Award in 2011
• Buckeye Children's Book Award for 6-8 in 2011
• Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Grades 6-8 in 2013
• New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award for Young Adult in 2013
• Washington State Sasquatch Award in 2013
• Intermediate Nutmeg Book Award in 2014

This book was one of the most profoundly moving books I have ever read as an educator.  The story follows a young girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy, wheelchair bound with the only full control of her thumbs, and is unable to speak.  Everyone from the doctors to her classmates think that Melody is mentally incompetent.  Melody's parents believe that she isn't and has so much to give the world and their neighbor and good friend Mrs.V believes the same.  It is soon noticeable that Melody is a very gifted student who has so much to say, but is unable to.  She finally receives a device that allows her to share her voice with the world in the best way possible.  Melody lets her brilliance shine and we see her grow and become the beautiful flower that she is meant to be.  There are various obstacles and downfalls throughout the book, but Melody learns to overcome them and not care what people think.  There were more than a few events that made my mouth drop from what was happening.  There is also a little twist at the end that I absolutely loved, but I'll let you read the book and discover that yourself!

This book was extraordinary.  I will admit that it took a little bit for me to fall in love with Melody's character and her perspective of things, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down.  Melody really tells what it is like to be a student with special needs.  She shares what it is like to be in the special education class.  She talks about the other kids in the room and what they are each like.  She talks about the snowman that they decorate year after year at Christmas.  She notices that the teacher gives them green snowflakes, which makes no sense to Melody.  She even shares her love for the teacher who let her listen to books on tape throughout the school year and she shares her dislike for the teachers who teach the alphabet over and over and treat the kids like they are dumb.  I think this really takes a look at what it is like to be in a special education classroom.  There are people out there who are absolutely destined to work with students with special needs, and there are some who aren't.  This book really shows how some people are meant for students like Melody, and some aren't.  Melody's perspective also allowed us to see that most people thought she was mentally incompetent and shows how so many people treat people with disabilities.  Some people don't mean to stare or act the way the do, it just happens.  I understand that.  But it shouldn't be happening.  Just because someone is different, doesn't mean that we should judge them and deem them as stupid.  We shouldn't treat anyone like they are dumb, because they may just be the brightest person in the room, like in Melody's case.

This brings me to my next point.  Melody had stored so much information in her head and she has been unable to share it.  When she finally gets Elvira, her talking device, she is able to communicate with others and participate as a normal student.  Melody ends up making it on the Whiz Kids Team and she gets to show off her ability to retain information.  She gets to be a part of a team, which is something she never thought was possible.  The kids however, decided to be snobby kids and they treated Melody like an outcast.  She was glad to be a part of something so important, but she didn't feel welcome with the other kids on the team.  This sends such a powerful message, because so many kids judge the students who are in special education or are pulled for special classes.  This book has a big anti-bullying message.  At first, Melody gets so frustrated with how the kids are treating her, but she learns to overcome it at the end of the book.  She learns that kids are going to be mean and she will always be the bigger person.  Her teammates feel bad about what happened and someone Melody called a friend is the one who was behind the big ordeal.  The kids feel awful about what the did and I think that that is progressive because so many books don't really care or finish addressing the bullying issue.  Kids need to be taught that bullying is not okay and will never be okay.  They need to be taught that staring at someone who is different is almost just as painful as being bullied.  They need to be taught that making jokes and talking about someone is bullying.  Sometimes adults are just as bad as the kids with the bullying issue, which is what we find with the Whiz Kids coach.  We need to learn that no one is more superior that someone else.  We are all equals.  It doesn't matter if you walk with your legs, roll in a wheelchair, use a walker, or any other form of movement.  It doesn't matter if you can talk or if you can't.  It doesn't matter if you are short or tall.  It doesn't matter if you are dumb or smart.  We are equals.  We have to learn to love ourselves and learn to love others.

I loved this book for so many reasons that I just can't seem to put it all into words.  I loved the viewpoint of Melody and I loved the anti-bullying/love the disabilities message that was sent.  I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to any and every educator.  I highly recommend it to teachers who work with special needs students, because I can almost guarantee it will change the way you look at your students.  

Lucy in the Sky by Anonymous

From Goodreads:

"A riveting first-person tale of addiction, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and Jay’s Journal.

The author of this diary began journaling on her sixteenth birthday. She lived in an upper middle class neighborhood in Santa Monica with her mom, dad, and Berkeley-bound older brother. She was a good girl, living a good life...but one party changed everything. One party, where she took one taste—and liked it. Really liked it.
Social drinking and drugging lead to more, faster, harder... She convinced herself that she was no different from anyone else who liked to party. But the evidence indicates otherwise: Soon she was she hanging out with an edgy crowd, blowing off school and everything she used to care about, all to find her next high.
But what goes up must come down, and everything—from her first swig, to her last breath—is chronicled in the diary she left behind."

Goodreads - Lucy in the Sky

I read the book Go Ask Alice at the beginning of the year and had a lot of mixed feelings about it.  It took place in the late 60s and early 70s.  I didn't connect with the book because I didn't grow up in the 60s and 70s and there were references I didn't understand.  After finishing the book I passed it on to a friend for her to read.  I knew that there were other books written in the same format by Anonymous and I was unsure if I wanted to read another one.  I was well aware that the book would be in the same diary format and that the conclusion would probably have a coroner's report or a news report.  I enjoyed the book Lucy in the Sky a little more than I enjoyed Go Ask Alice, however it is hard to enjoy either considering the content of the books.

The book Lucy in the Sky follows a girl, who is nameless by the way, as she embarks into her 16th year of life.  She starts a journal and decides to keep it as up to date as possible.  She falls in love with any boy who will show her attention.  She meets Ross who she thinks likes her and decides to take a hit off of a joint in hopes that he will like her more.  "Lucy" ends up making friends with the wrong people and she falls into more trouble than she ever expected.  Throughout the book she drinks cosmos constantly, smokes weed incessantly, and then gets into severe drug use by using and abusing cocaine, LSD, meth, and heroin.  Throughout her entire drug usage her brother is aware of her abusing, but continues to hide it from his parents until one night she got a DUI and he spilled all the beans.  She started to clean herself up and then decided to try meth.  The night she tried meth she also apparently tried heroin.  The dosage was too much and they had to call an ambulance.  She died while they were taking her to the hospital, but the medics were able to bring her back.  Her parents promptly checked her into a rehab facility where she pulled her life together, met Amy who became her AA sponsor, and she gets clean.  While the reader thinks that our drug addict is clean and has pulled her act together, we find the ending is a news report that is reporting the death of a 16 year old girl who died of an accidental meth and heroin overdose.

I have a few issues with this book.  First off is the fact of this being a "diary".  The book is listed as being written by Anonymous.  There was a lot of debate over Go Ask Alice because it was claimed to be based on a diary by a true addict in the 70s.  Psychologist Beatrice Sparks ended up stating that the book was based off of a diary that a patient of hers wrote.  She basically fluffed it and published it.  The fact that people had to question if that was true made me question if any other books by "Anonymous" are true or at least based on true facts.  All of the books that have the same diary format are published as fiction.  It would just be good to know if this is based on someone's diary or if this is purely out of the mind of someone who thought they should do an updated remake of Go Ask Alice.  The back cover of the book makes it seem as if the book is based off of a girl's diary.  The back cover states, "Read her story in her own words, in the diary she left behind."  I just feel that if it were my child that had gone through this and ended up overdosing, I wouldn't really want to publish her diaries that shared every little drink she had and every drug she tried.  I feel that that is personal and I wouldn't want to share it with the world.  That being said, I'm still upset that the book cover portrays this as being the work of an actual drug addict, while the copyright page in the book states it is a work of fiction.

My next issue with this book is the fact that it is written in diary style by a 16 year old girl.  She writes OMG a bajillion times like IT. IS. OVERKILL!  The style was so annoying that I really wanted to slap the main character because she sounded so immature.  But at the same time someone did a really good job at making the character seem like an immature 16 year old.  I know that at probably 14 or 15 I wrote annoyingly like the main character.  I was naive and was just a kid, exactly like the main character was.  She was just extremely annoying with her usage of capital letters and punctuation in the middle of a sentence.  I just feel that if this girl really did become an addict who was trying to fit in, that she would have at least tried to seem mature in her writing and in her life, but this wasn't the case.  It was really hard to like "Lucy".

"Lucy" has an older brother named Cam who does drink and smokes weed periodically.  He is the typical older brother who is looking out for his younger sister.  He comes to her rescue  and covers for her more than once.  I was so baffled that her brother loved her as much as he did, but he didn't love her enough to tell their parents.  I kept waiting for him to tell his parents because he loved "Lucy" and didn't want to see her overdose, but he doesn't tell until she gets a DUI and he feels that he has to tell.  Of course his parents are disappointed in him and everyone cries, but I was disappointed in the character Cam.  He was kind of making it a double standard that he was allowed to drink and smoke pot, but he didn't want "Lucy" doing it.  If you tell your sister she shouldn't, then you probably shouldn't be doing it either.  I felt that there was a lot of potential for Cam to do the right thing for someone he loved, but the author apparently didn't think he should do the right thing until she was really hooked on drugs and in some serious trouble.  I wanted there to be one knight in shining armor that would help rescue "Lucy" from her downward spiral.  I felt like Cam wanted to be that cool older brother that kept secrets, but he also struggled with doing the right thing.  I would love to read a "diary" from Cam's side of things.  I would love to know if there was something that was pulling his focus that allowed him to keep his sister's drug problem a secret.

The biggest issue I had was "Lucy" glamorizing drug use.  She was so excited every time she tried a new drug and she wrote about how it felt.  She made using drugs seem like the best choice she ever made in life.  I understand that this is from the viewpoint of "Lucy" and this is her diary and she was just writing what she felt. I just feel that if a junior high or high school student were to read this that they would think it was totally okay to do drugs because it will take you on the trip of a lifetime and you will feel AMAZING.  Whoever really wrote and published this should be ashamed of themselves for making drugs sound so appealing.  I think it was great that they admitted our main character into rehab at the end of the book, but it doesn't correct the problem.  It would have been a better ending if "Lucy" hadn't overdosed.  I feel that the ending would have sent a better message if the rehab helped heal "Lucy" of her drug abuse issues.  But instead this book just showed everyone that drugs are fantastic and that even rehab can't save you.

This book was very similar to Go Ask Alice and that was kind of a let down.  I did however enjoy this book taking place in modern age where people have cell phones.  I give the book 2 stars out of 5 because it glamorized drug use and was written in such an immature tone.  I would only recommend this book to mature adults who are able to handle the content in the book.  I have four other books that are written in the same diary format.  I'm somewhat excited to read those because they have different focal points than Lucy in the Sky and Go Ask Alice. 

Ruby Lee & Me by Shannon Hitchcock

From Goodreads:

"When a segregated North Carolina town gets its first black teacher, two girls--one black, one white--come face-to-face with how prejudice affects their friendship.

Everything's changing for Sarah Beth Willis. After Robin's tragic accident, everyone seems different somehow. Days on the farm aren't the same, and the simple fun of riding a bike or playing outside can be scary. And there's talk in town about the new sixth-grade teacher at Shady Creek. Word is spreading quickly--Mrs. Smyre is like no other teacher anyone has ever seen around these parts. She's the first African American teacher. It's 1969, and while black folks and white folks are cordial, having a black teacher at an all-white school is a strange new happening. For Sarah Beth, there are so many unanswered questions. What is all this talk about Freedom Riders and school integration? Why can't she and Ruby become best friends? And who says school isn't for anybody who wants to learn--or teach? In a world filled with uncertainty, one very special teacher shows her young students and the adults in their lives that change invites unexpected possibilities."

Goodreads - Ruby Lee & Me

I have a serious reading problem... I can't stop!!!  I finished this book in about 12 hours and it was absolutely adorable!

The book starts off with a high climactic event when Sarah's younger sister Robin gets hit by a car.  Sarah then has to go stay with her grandparents as Robin is in the hospital in a coma.  She struggles to tell the truth about what happened, which is that she thought the accident was her fault.  We meet Ruby Lee, who is an African American girl the same age as Sarah, who comes with her grandmother to help pick berries at the farm.  We quickly learn that Ruby and Sarah are friends, but have been feeling distant lately especially with the talk of segregation and integration of the schools.  Robin eventually wakes up and Sarah has to learn how to help Robin deal with her injuries.  Various events happen throughout the book that shift between being serious, being sentimental and kind, and being humorous.  The book concludes with Sarah telling her parents that she thought it was her fault and Ruby Lee and Sarah making up and becoming friends again even though they weren't supposed to be.

One of the bigger themes in this book is segregation in 1969.  While the book isn't necessarily focused and centered around segregation, it is mentioned multiple times throughout.  We quickly learn that Ruby Lee is African American and Sarah isn't.  This causes a strain in their friendship at one point in the book.  There is also a mention of Emmett Till in the book and the librarian states that Sarah will have to come back with her parents to read about him.  Sarah is a typical child who is curious as to what segregation is all about and why it is happening.  I think this explains a lot of the curiosity that was taking place at that time with children.  Parents were teaching their children not to be friends with blacks or not to be friends with whites.  The children didn't notice skin color, but they did know friendship.  I think this is also a theme that could be applied today.  People are constantly judging people based on their skin color, their religion, their clothes, etc.  This would be a really good point to bring up to kids to not judge anyone, because they may just be your next best friend.

Friendship is my next point in this book.  Things were definitely changing in 1969 and Sarah and Ruby Lee knew it.  They knew that schools were being integrated with other schools, which meant that whites and blacks would go to school together.  They knew that only whites could eat at Bubba's Grill and swim in the pool.  This meant that even though Ruby Lee and Sarah were friends, they couldn't eat at the same place or go swimming together.  Even though everyone was telling them they couldn't be friends, they were able to overcome the hate in people's hearts.  They had a little tiff in the middle of the book where Sarah called Ruby Lee a very bad name.  Their friendship was off for a little while and it made Sarah really sad.  They ended up making up again and they decided to try to make their friendship work, even though all the grown-ups were frowning upon it.  I love the friendship message that is in this book.  Both girls decided that their friendship was more important than what other people thought of them.  It would be great to talk about peer pressure with this book and how some people will pressure you to be friends with someone or not to be friends with them.  I would really hone in on the value of having a close friend.

I loved this book!  I'm considering reading this book to my 4th graders this year as a class read aloud.  I think there are a lot of good messages that are in the book that we could talk about.  I give this book 5 stars!

Escape From Asylum by Madeleine Roux

From Goodreads:

"The nightmare is just beginning…

Ricky Desmond doesn’t belong in the Brookline asylum. His parents sent him here because they think he’s a deviant—and that he can be cured—but Ricky knows there’s no cure for what he has.

Soon after he arrives, Ricky learns that being locked up against his will is only the beginning of his problems. Rumor has it that the Brookline warden authorizes treatments that aren’t entirely…humane. That he’s a butcher, a monster. And if the screams Ricky hears coming from the basement are any indication, the rumors are an understatement. Now, with the help of a nurse who feels just as trapped in Brookline as he does, Ricky must escape before the asylum claims his sanity—or his life."

Goodreads - Escape From Asylum

When I purchased this book I had just finished Asylum and was getting ready to start Sanctum.  I considered reading this book before I finished the series, but ultimately decided that I should read all three books and then see if this book answered any questions I still had.

This book takes place when Brookline was still an operating and functioning asylum.  Our main character in this book is Ricky.  Ricky is admitted to Brookline because of his anger issues and the more under the radar fact that he is gay.  We also meet Kay who befriends Ricky.  Kay is a male who feels that he is a female, thus making him transgender.  Throughout the book we also meet Warden Crawford and we get to see his "normal" demeanor and behavior with people.  We get a glimpse into what life was like at Brookline while the Warden was still in control.  We also meet some people who have connections to the other books in the Asylum series such as, Dennis, Nurse Ash, Lucy, and the Warden's brother who isn't named, but the reader can only speculate it is Marcus.

This book was a good prequel even though I read it after I had finished the trilogy.  I'm still not sure if I would advise someone to read this before reading the three main books or if I would advise them to read it after like I did.  If you read it before reading Asylum, Sanctum, and Catacomb then there will be a lot that doesn't make sense.  However, if you read it after like I did then a lot of questions will be answered as to what happened at Brookline.  The book had the same photo integration that the other books had.  I felt like the pictures in this book were creepier than the others, and the storyline was darker than the other storylines.  That put a different spin on things because there were some pretty sinister things taking place, and some of them were described in detail with sound descriptions included.

I did not feel that the title fit the book very well.  I was really expecting Ricky to literally escape from Brookline, not someone come and check him out.  I wanted the suspense of him sneaking around without getting caught and then helping his fellow friends out.  It would have been really exciting to see him sneak in and out a couple of times without the Warden knowing, but we all know that the Warden was strict and ran a VERY tight asylum, which hindered Ricky's ability to sneak around.

I also felt like the book ended rather abruptly and that left so many holes and questions for me.  Sure we know that Kay got out and that Ricky moved to New York.  I felt like they were trying to have a relationship of some sort and I thought that was so weird because they had been friends in the asylum.  The book ended so quickly that we didn't really find out what the deal was between Kay and Ricky.  Also Ricky stated that his mother wouldn't be coming to visit him for a long time... why?  Why won't she be visiting?  Also I want to know what the deal was with the warden's brother showing up at the end of the book.  It says that his brother shows up with his son Daniel.  The warden mentions that Daniel is named after him and the Warden reassures his brother that this is what should be done.  I'm going to assume that the boy was Daniel Crawford who we meet in Asylum.  This book takes place in the 60s, which means that Daniel Crawford should be in his 50s when Asylum, Sanctum, and Catacomb take place.  This leads me to wonder if the Warden was able to hypnotize Daniel and finally figured out how to use mind control.  Did the Warden use Daniel as a turning point in the Scarlets?  Was Daniel involved in the Scarlets?  Did the Warden finally figure out how to ensure that people don't age and they stay young forever?  I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!  Plus, how is Nurse Ash related to Daniel's mother since her maiden name was Ash?  What happened with Dennis after he went on his rampage in the basement?  How did Dennis, the Sculptor, become the one that the Warden operated on for the last time?

I will give Roux props for including LGBTQ characters in this book.  I think that it is great that she decided to incorporate bi-sexual and transgender tendencies into her characters and the reasons why they were at Brookline.  She also was able to shed some light as to what life was like in the 60s for people who were members of the LGBTQ community.  It was a cruel world, and people didn't agree with that lifestyle.  While it is heartbreaking to read of what would take place to people who were members of this community, it is also good to see that we have made some improvement in our society.  While members of the LGBTQ community are still suffering day to day, it is good to know that we aren't administering shock treatment or lobotomies anymore.

After I wrote this I was searching for answers to the questions and holes that were left open in the book.  I got to searching and found the official Tumblr of Madeleine Roux.  She has it set up where people can ask questions about anything and everything.  I went ahead and inquired about the Daniel that arrived at the asylum at the end of Escape From Asylum.  I wanted to know if the young Daniel that arrived was the same Daniel in Asylum, Sanctum, and Catacomb.  Roux replied with a very confusing answer and said no that the young Daniel that arrived was the Warden's nephew, making him the Warden's brother's son.  She never replied which brother.  She never explained the storyline there.  It was probably one of the most frustrating encounters I've had with an author.  I, as a fan, was just wanting an answer as to who, what, and why he was there.  Her short and snarky remark kind of irritated me.  It just left a really bad taste in my mouth.

This book left me with more questions that the other three combined.  There are other books that come in between each of the main novels, and I'm very torn between reading them and just leaving my unanswered questions unanswered.  But after the run in with Roux on her Tumblr I will not be reading any more of her books.  When people want answers you should give some or refer them to a book that WILL answer the questions.  Her inability to really answer the question leads me to believe that there are some MAJOR plot holes in this entire storyline.  I was going to give this book 4 stars, but I'm bumping it down to 3.

Exit, Pursued By A Bear by E.K. Johnston

From Goodreads:
"Veronica Mars meets William Shakespeare in E.K. Johnston’s latest brave and unforgettable heroine. 

Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. The team's summer training camp is Hermione's last and marks the beginning of the end of…she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.

In every class, there's a star cheerleader and a pariah pregnant girl. They're never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she's always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The assault wasn't the beginning of Hermione Winter's story and she's not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale."

Goodreads - Exit, Pursued By A Bear

I was never a cheerleader in high school.  I always thought it would be fun to be tiny and fly through the air while doing stunts and tumbling passes.  I've been around cheerleading for more than a few years since my niece was a competitive cheerleader for nine years and my sister used to own a elite cheer gym.  I think that is why I initially picked up this book.  The cheerleader on the front caught my eye and I figured it had a strong cheerleading storyline.  While cheerleading was an important factor in this book, there was a bigger storyline at work.

This book starts off with a flash forward.  We meet our main character Hermione and she goes to speak with a reverend.  We then immediately jump back to where the story starts.  A team of cheerleaders are on their way to cheer camp for two weeks.  It is Hermione's senior year which means that this will be her last year at camp and she plans to make it the best alongside her best friend Polly.  Camp is almost over when everyone attends a mixer in the cafeteria at camp.  Hermione remembers taking a cup from someone, drinking it, becoming very tired, and she starts looking for a trash can...then she blacks out.  She wakes up in the hospital and Polly is with her.  She becomes a victim of rape.  Hermione then has to deal with doing what is necessary to catch the guy that raped her.  She finds that her friendship with Polly is stronger than ever and that her relationship with Leo was never a good relationship.  Hermione learns how to get over what has happened and how to not feel like the victim she is.

This book was phenomenal.  It took a few chapters for me to get into it, but once I committed to the book I sat down and immediately finished reading it.  The book is broken into four parts or seasons as I'm going to call them.  They also mimic Hermione's attitude throughout the book to an extent.  In the fall she was warm and happy, winter she was cold from what had happened, in spring she was starting to warm back up and find a normal in her life, and summer finally allows her to find some happiness and accept everything.  The chapters in this book were the perfect length, not too long and not too short.  The book has a few words that are not typically found in common usage, but I googled the few I didn't know and went on reading.

I honestly thought the main focus of this book would be cheerleading and everything that goes with it, but I was very wrong.  This book is about rape and I expect it could be a trigger for someone who has been sexually assaulted.  The entire book doesn't focus necessarily on the rape and the media following it.  It focuses on Hermione and her learning how to cope and deal with the fact that she is a victim of rape.  There is a brief mention of the story being covered in the media, but that isn't the focus.  The book also doesn't really focus on the kids at school talking and spreading rumors about what happened.  There are a few encounters where we read about the kids at school discussing what happened.  The biggest focus though is that Hermione constantly feels like she isn't a victim even though she is.  She often finds herself forgetting that it happened unless someone mentions it.  She managed to handle the entire situation really well unless she was triggered by the pine smell or by the song that was playing.  We typically see the vulnerable side of the victim because of the fact that they were raped, but Hermione showed her vulnerable side when she discussed the fact that she would have to testify against her attacker.  She knew that her memory was spotty and she was scared to testify.  After Hermione and Polly spoke with the reporter Hermione got angry that people thought that it was her fault that she was raped.  She knew it was no one's fault except the guy who raped her, but she was still angry and upset that people could and would say that.

This book really encompasses what today's society is like with the rape culture.  People always blame the victim.  It is always the victims fault that they were raped.  Most victims are intoxicated or drugged to the point of unconsciousness and they can't give consent, which was the case with Hermione.  Some victims are perfectly capable of giving consent and saying yes, but they say no and they still get raped.  Rape isn't something that should be taken lightly and we shouldn't be giving them month long sentences so that it doesn't ruin their life (Yes, I'm talking about the Stanford rape).  Victims are victims and they shouldn't be belittled, mocked, or told that it was their fault.  Their lives have been forever changed too.  They will have intimacy issues and will struggle to trust people, as well as having triggers in their life that make them recall the time they became a victim.  Some victims not only become victims, but become mothers because they were raped.  And some of those victims who become mothers have to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy because they don't want a child or a reminder that someone took advantage of them.

This book was a great read that gave a different perspective than is typically given in books about rape.  This was well written and E.K. Johnston successfully executed an attack on rape culture in today's society.  I give this book 5 stars.  I would enjoy reading a follow up book that chronicles what Hermione is facing as charges are filed against her attacker.  I want to see Hermione go to college and find someone who does really love her and someone she can love.  I just feel there is so much room for a second book, even if it has a main storyline of the trial against her attacker.