I Was Here by Gayle Forman

From Goodreads,

"When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss."

Goodreads - I Was Here

I had a conversation a while back with a friend about what types of books we like to read and the themes we tend to gravitate to.  I've come to realize that I tend to gravitate to books that have cancer or suicide themes.  I'm not sure why, but I do.  Death and dying absolutely terrifies me.  It's easily my number one fear.  Maybe I'm just trying to get over my fear of dying by reading about it.

In this book we are introduced to Cody who is coming to terms to the fact that Meg has committed suicide.  She is asked to travel to town where Meg was going to college and clean out her room.  Once she gets to the university she finds that there is a lot she didn't know about her best friend and she makes it her goal to figure out what happened.

I connected with Cody and Meg in this book because I saw some of my own friendships in these two characters.  Meg was obviously suffering from depression, but she always put on a good face.  She always made it seem like everything was okay and that life was great, while behind closed doors she was drowning.  I think that a lot of people my age will admit that they have felt like they were honestly drowning in life before.  I had a conversation with a friend one day and we talked about college and the struggles we had dealt with.  We both realized we had faced different battles, but yet we both had faced some things that put us in depressed states.  Neither of us ever had the courage or the will to reach out to the other and say "Hey.  I'm struggling with life right now and I need help."  But somehow we both were able to get through what was going on.  This same friend actually told me that she had considered taking her own life because she couldn't handle it all anymore.  I was devastated that she didn't feel comfortable coming to me for help or talking to me about what was going on.  I had no idea that she had had those thoughts.  Depression is a serious issue in today's society, but many people in their 20s don't seek the help they need.  There is so much pressure to maintain a social life and a job and get an education and get plenty of sleep and be healthy and so on.  Gayle Forman addressed depression and I love that she tied it back to one of the main reasons that Meg took her life.  Society needs to be exposed to the fact that depression can lead to suicide and that not everyone exhibits typical depression symptoms.

Something I absolutely hated in this book was the attempt at romance between Cody and Ben.  Ben happens to be a guy who knew and dated Meg.  After Meg dies and Cody goes to clean out the room, Ben turns his attention to her.  It was one of the most bothersome things I've ever encountered in a book with a best friend committing suicide.  Spoiler alert: Cody ends up with Ben.  All girls know that you don't hook up with your best friends ex.  I just felt like Cody wasn't respecting her dead best friend.  I somewhat understand that Forman wrote it in so that the reader would understand how Meg fell for Ben, but at the same time I feel like Forman could have given Cody the strength and ability to resist Ben.  There would have been a better storyline if Cody had insisted that she respect Meg and moved on.  I'm a HUGE fan of friendship in books.  I feel like thanks to this romance storyline, the friendship that Meg and Cody had was completely thrown out the window.

Overall, I have to give this book 4 stars.  It was better than I expected.  The only downfall was the romance storyline between Cody and Ben.  This is a topic sensitive book and I recommend this only to mature readers who can handle the content included.  I can see this book being on shelves in high schools and being read by twenty somethings.

Worthy by Donna Cooner

From Goodreads,

"Download the app. Be the judge.

Everyone at Linden's high school is obsessed with Worthy. It's this new app that posts pictures of couples, and asks: Is the girl worthy of the guy? 

Suddenly, relationships implode as the votes climb and the comments get real ugly real fast. 

At first, Linden is focused on other things. Like cute Alex Rivera. Prom committee. Her writing. But soon she's intrigued by Worthy. Who's posting the pictures? Who's voting? And what will happen when the spotlight turns... on Linden?"

Goodreads - Worthy

This book follows Linden, a student in high school who falls under the scrutiny of an app called Worthy.  Worthy is an app that lets the public decide if the girl is worthy of the guy she is dating.  But not only does it let the people vote, it allows them to make comments about the couple.  Couples in the school are critiqued on Worthy, but the true question is will the relationships and friendships be able to withstand the public judging them?

This book is very relevant in today's world.  We are a society that is centered and focused on our phones.  I think that in this aspect this book would be very popular with young adults.  I really enjoyed how the book was separated by what was being posted on the app.  As the couples were being judged there was information or comments that were included that separated the book up.  There were also things that were posted by the app moderator that helped create a more immersive experience that made it feel like I was experiencing the app.  I feel like that was a nice touch to help better incorporate the reader into the story.

This book had the potential to have a big message about cyberbullying, but it didn't.  Cooner really missed the opportunity on this.  We live in a world where everyone is glued to their phones, and instead of students being mean face to face, most do it through a computer or phone screen.  I think that Cooner should have really tried harder to incorporate an anti-cyberbullying message into this book.  Most students have experienced some form of cyberbullying, and I think this book would have been more relatable if she had taken this route.  I'm a teacher and we all preach that bullying of any kind is not tolerated.  But then we have books like this where cyberbullying is happening, the app was published in the school newspaper, but yet nobody did anything to investigate or stop what was happening.  It's books like this that give teachers a bad reputation.  A parent or teacher could have and should have found out about the app and put a stop to it.  There should have also been a consequence for the student who created the app, or at least given us the satisfaction that someone punched him because he was causing drama in their relationship.  He gave students the perfect outlet to critique, judge, and comment on others and tell why they were or were not worthy of the person they were dating.  I just find it a very unbelievable situation that no adults knew about the app and that there wasn't any kind of consequence for the student who started all of this.  Cooner missed opportunities for this book to have a huge message and make a huge impact.

I give this book 2 stars.  This book was very much a teenage book with high school drama.  There were plenty of opportunities for this book to have an important message, but unfortunately it didn't.  I would recommend this to junior high or high school students.

This Life I Live: One Man's Extraordinary Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed It Forever by Rory Feek

From Goodreads,

"The Love Story that Captured a Nation’s Heart

Joey and Rory Feek were enjoying a steadily growing fan base in country music when Joey was diagnosed unexpectedly with a rapidly spreading cancer. This vibrant and beautiful young woman would soon be on a unique journey for which no one is ever fully prepared. Her husband, Rory, and children, Heidi, Hopie, and Indiana, were beside her each step of the way. Rory, a prolific songwriter, entrepreneur, farmer, and overall tender man, has seen God bless his life in countless unexpected ways and had started a blog, thislifeilive.com, not really knowing its purpose other than he needed to write. That purpose soon became clearer when Joey’s cancer battle hit.

By inviting so many into the final months of Joey’s life, this astounding couple captured the hearts of millions with their powerful love story, the manner in which they were handling the diagnosis, and the inspiring simple way they had chosen to live their lives.

In this vulnerable book, Rory takes us into his own challenging life story and shows what can happen when God brings both his presence and the right companion into our lives. He also gives never-before-revealed details on what he calls “the long goodbye,” the blessing of being able to know that life is going to end and taking advantage of it. Feek shows how we all are actually there already and how we can learn to live that way every day. He then goes into detail toward the end of the book on what it’s like to try to move on with your life once you’ve “had it all.”"

Goodreads - This Life I Live

This book is the story of Joey and Rory Feek's love and how they both got to where they are in life.  It tells of the struggles that Rory faced and how he found Joey which turned his life around and gave him a whole new purpose.  All of the happy moments, and the sad, are chronicled in this book, and it gives the reader a new perspective on love and how life should be lived.

I remember watching Joey and Rory on Can You Duet?.  My mom absolutely fell in love with them.  She followed their music and their story.  She was absolutely excited when they announced they would have their own TV show, and even more excited when they announced they were expecting a baby.  At that point I joined in the fun and started following their story and their journey.  My mom and I were devastated when we found out that Joey had cancer.  I would update my mom when Rory posted on his blog.  We were both heartbroken when we heard the news of Joey's passing.  I remember where I was when I read the news article.  There was a lot of information shared of Joey and Rory's journey, but this book really gave all the details, good and bad.  I love how raw and real this book was.  Rory shared all the bad things that had happened to him, and how he wasn't the best person when he was younger.  He shared all of the troubles he and Joey faced, as well as all the love they shared.  I always saw Joey and Rory as a couple who had a perfect life with no troubles or heartaches.  I now understand that just like everyone else, they had their own battles they were facing or had faced.  This book really has helped me in my own relationship to understand that neither of us are perfect, our relationship isn't perfect, life isn't perfect, and that is absolutely okay.  Joey and Rory loved unconditionally, even through the bad times.  They worked their problems out instead of throwing in the towel and calling it quits.  I took a lot away from Joey and Rory's relationship with each other, but I honestly wish there was a separate book that focused just on their relationship with each other instead of having all the back story of Rory's life.

I only had two complaints about this book.  The first was that the chapters were very, very short.  The chapters were so short it was hard to keep me hooked.  I would read a couple chapters, feel like I hadn't read very much, get discouraged, and not pick up the book for a couple weeks.  It took me three months to read this book.  My other complaint, as I mentioned above, was that in this book was there was a LOT of back story on Rory, as in I felt like there was more back story than there was story of Joey and Rory.  I understand that Rory had to set the scene for how he was with relationships in his past.  This was very crucial because it showed how Joey had changed and transformed him into something amazing.  But at the same time, I was wanting more stories of Joey and Rory.  I was wanting to read the funny stories of them together or the sad moments they shared.  I felt like it was very quick at the end.  They got married, they disagreed on babies, they had a baby, she got cancer, the end.  I really wanted more on their relationship and their story.  What was shared in this book really spoke to me about my relationships with my boyfriend, friends, and family.  I would love to see another book that is really focused on their relationship together and how they relied on each other and helped each other grow.  I just need more than what was given to me in this book.

Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  I think if I had sat down and read the book straight through I would have given it 5 stars, but I really lost interest while reading it.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has followed Joey and Rory, and to anyone who is looking for a good book that is based on relationships and faith.

Columbine by Dave Cullen

From Goodreads,

"The tragedies keep coming. As we reel from the latest horror . . . " So begins a new epilogue, illustrating how Columbine became the template for nearly two decades of "spectacle murders." It is a false script, seized upon by a generation of new killers. In the wake of Newtown, Aurora, and Virginia Tech, the imperative to understand the crime that sparked this plague grows more urgent every year.

What really happened April 20, 1999? The horror left an indelible stamp on the American psyche, but most of what we "know" is wrong. It wasn't about jocks, Goths, or the Trench Coat Mafia. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, and spent ten years on this book-widely recognized as the definitive account. With a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen, he draws on mountains of evidence, insight from the world's leading forensic psychologists, and the killers' own words and drawings-several reproduced in a new appendix. Cullen paints raw portraits of two polar opposite killers. They contrast starkly with the flashes of resilience and redemption among the survivors.

Goodreads - Columbine

Awards:

• Audie Award Nominee for Best Nonfiction (2009)
• Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Current Interest (2009)
• Goodreads Choice Award for Nonfiction (2009)
• Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime (2010)
• Lincoln Award Nominee (2012)

Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on the scene of the Columbine shooting.  He spent 10 years researching, studying, and examining the events, evidence, and people from Columbine High School.  This book is a work of nonfiction that gives an analysis of what happened before, during, and after the Columbine shooting.

It took me exactly two weeks to read this book.  This book had so much information about Columbine and there were times when I had to stop reading because the content was very heavy.  I loved that this book broke down the shooting from before, during, and the weeks, months, and years after.  There was a lot that happened in the walls of Columbine that was reported incorrectly.  Dave Cullen found the truth in what happened and the stories that were reported.  One of the things that I definitely recall being cleared up was the story of a girl saying yes she believed in God.  It was reported that Cassie Bernall was asked if she believed in God by one of the shooters.  Her response was yes, and then she was shot and killed.  However, the truth in this was that Valeen Schnurr received shrapnel from a shot and started praying.  One of the shooters turned around and asked her if she believed in God.  She said yes and he reloaded his gun, but he got distracted and walked away.  Another boy in the library, Craig Bernall heard this exchange and thought it was his sister.  From there the story was told by Craig that Cassie had said yes when asked if she believed in God.  Her mother wrote a book and the world was captivated by the story of the martyr.  Dave Cullen was sure to check all evidence, get the facts, and set the story straight.  Cullen also took the time to study the shooters to give the public a better understanding of what types of people they were.  He studied their journals and videos to try to find some kind of understanding as to why they did what they did.

The one thing that I didn't like about this book was there were absolutely no pictures in it.  I understand that Cullen didn't include pictures because he wanted people to read the facts and information instead of this being a book where you gawk at the pictures.  It did allow me to really process the information, but there were times when I needed to see photo evidence of what they were talking about.  I would then stop and go search for the photo so that I understood what Cullen was referencing or to understand the events better.  He did include some journal scans and diagrams, which was nice to have, but there were definitely times when photos were desired. 

As a teacher this book was interesting to read because this was a real shooting, and one of the first of its kind, and it allowed me to see what was done correctly and incorrectly, and even things to watch for in students.  I recommended this book to our school resource officer and he said it was a book he had been wanting to read for a while.  While this book didn't have pictures, it was still wonderfully written and was full of evidence, information, and the truth.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Ms.Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson

From Goodreads,

"Everyone knows there are different kinds of teachers. The good ones. The not-so-good ones. The boring ones, the mean ones, the ones who try too hard. The ones you’ll never remember, and the ones you want to forget. But Ms. Bixby is none of these. She’s the sort of teacher who makes you feel like the indignity of school is worthwhile. Who makes the idea of growing up less terrifying. Who you never want to disappoint. What Ms. Bixby is, is one of a kind.

Topher, Brand, and Steve know this better than anyone. And so when Ms. Bixby unexpectedly announces that she is very sick and won’t be able to finish the school year, they come up with a plan. Through the three very different stories they tell, we begin to understand just what Ms. Bixby means to Topher, Brand, and Steve—and what they are willing to go to such great lengths to tell her.

John David Anderson, the acclaimed author of Sidekicked, returns with a story of three kids, a very special teacher, and one day that none of them will ever forget."

Goodreads - Ms.Bixby's Last Day

This book is about three students who find out that their favorite teacher, Ms.Bixby, has cancer.  They decide to give her the best day ever and skip school to make it happen.  The book is told through the eyes of each boy and it tells of the people and obstacles the boys encounter while trying to make Ms.Bixby's best day happen.

As a teacher, this is the kind of book that moves me.  I hope that I have impacted students' lives the way that Ms.Bixby has impacted students.  I loved that the three boys each had some special connection with Ms.Bixby.  I also liked that John David Anderson took his time giving the information about the connection each boy had with Ms.Bixby.  I felt that having each of the boys have a little bit of a different story and connection made the book more relatable.  There were definitely teachers that I had that believed in me, and I remember those teachers.  I remember the teacher that bought me an ornament at Christmas because my dad was deployed.  That small gesture meant to much to me, and now every Christmas I think of her when I put the ornament on the tree.  It's the smallest things that can make an impact on a student.  I'm a teacher and sometimes I forget that even the smallest gesture can change a child's life.  I personally connected with this book on that level because it really reminded me what a difference I'm making. 

I absolutely adored this book, but I had some serious mixed feelings about the alcohol references in the book.  One of the things that the boys were determined to get was a bottle of wine for Ms.Bixby.  They ended up having to ask a guy for help buying the alcohol because obviously the kids were underage.  The guy seemed to be a real criminal and was drinking alcohol on the bus.  This book was far more mature than it had to be.  I felt like to an extent it was promoting underage purchasing of alcohol, drinking, and illegal activity.  However, it also reminded me that teachers do have lives outside of school and sometimes their perfect day includes having a glass of wine.

I loved this book and would recommend it for all teachers.  It's good to remember why you are teaching and what a difference you are making.  The chapters tended to be a little length, but I still give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Bubble World by Carol Snow

From Goodreads,

"Freesia's life is perfect. She lives on the beautiful tropical island of Agalinas, surrounded by idyllic weather, fancy dress shops, and peacocks who sing her favorite song to wake her up in the morning. She has so many outfits she could wear a different one every day for a year and not run out.

Lately things on the island may have been a bit flippy: sudden blackouts, students disappearing, even Freesia's reflection looking slightly . . . off. But in Freesia's experience, it's better not to think about things like that too much.

Unfortunately for her, these signs are more than random blips in the universe. In Bubble World by Carol Snow, Freesia's perfect bubble is about to pop."

Goodreads - Bubble World

Freesia lives in a world where everything is perfect.  She looks perfect, her friends are perfect, the island she lives on has perfect weather.  Freesia lives in Bubble World, a place where she goes to cultural immersion class and goes to her make up classes.  Everything is exactly as it should be until blackouts start happening and she suddenly wakes up.  She soon realizes she has been living in a virtual reality world and she is nowhere near being perfect.  Slowly Freesia realizes the truth behind everything and she is left with the decision to choose between the two worlds.

When I started this book I was sure it was going to be awful.  Bubble World had a language of its own and it made all the characters seem annoying, immature, and shallow.  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it through the book.  After a few chapters I really started to getting into the book and continued to wonder where it was headed.  I really enjoyed the utopian setting with this book.  It seems that a lot of books written these days are more dystopian themed.  This book was set in a perfect world where everything was exactly as it should be.  The weather, the water, the food and drinks, the clothes, and even the people were... perfect.  While perfect gets old, it was interesting to read a book that wasn't about the world ending or about how the government has destroyed us.

Even though I enjoyed the utopian setting, this book had lots of downfalls.  There was a lot of potential for this book to address some big issues, but all the messages kind of fizzled out.  First on my list of problems is Freesia and her parents.  I just want to know what kind of parents are okay with signing their child up to participate in a virtual reality school.  Freesia sounded like she was a difficult kid who was awkward and found it hard to make friends.  (We later find out that her best friend betrayed her to be friends with another girl.)  I felt like Freesia's parents enrolled her in Bubble World so they wouldn't have to put up with her emotional, friendless state.  In the book they stated that they enrolled her because they thought it was best for her, but I feel like they enrolled her because they were tired of dealing with her.  I feel like it would have been easier to homeschool her than sign her up for an education program where you really didn't know what your child was seeing, doing, or learning.  I just felt like the whole, "signing my kid up for a virtual reality world" was kind of far fetched.

This leads to my next point concerning the message that big corporations are corrupt.  Part of the reason Freesia's parents agreed to Bubble World was because Freesia's mother would get a job out of the whole deal by posting vlogs about Freesia in Bubble World.  Todd, the creator of Bubble World, convinced Freesia's parents to support Bubble World.  As the book progressed we find out that Todd wasn't really in the business to create geniuses, but to really just make money (shocking).  I definitely felt like there was a message about corporations being corrupt and that we should stop buying into them.  But the message never really progressed or turned into a big turning point in the book.  Freesia's parents still allowed her to go back to Bubble World even though the corporation was obviously corrupt.

This book was definitely different than any other book I've read.  I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that has the virtual reality technology theme.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

From Goodreads,

"Kate Weston can piece together most of the bash at John Doone’s house: shots with Stacey Stallard, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early—the feeling that maybe he’s becoming more than just the guy she’s known since they were kids.

But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills’s shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn’t have all the details. When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate’s classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can’t be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same question: Where was Ben when a terrible crime was committed?

This story—inspired by real events—from debut novelist Aaron Hartzler takes an unflinching look at silence as a form of complicity. It’s a book about the high stakes of speaking up, and the razor thin line between guilt and innocence that so often gets blurred, one hundred and forty characters at a time."

Goodreads - What We Saw

This book starts off with a flashback to when Kate Weston was just a kid playing soccer.  We soon realie her love for soccer and her best friend Ben Cody.  Then we quickly return to the present and find out that Kate is now in her bedroom with a killer hangover.  She starts to piece the night back together and finds that she didn't drive her truck home (thankfully), but that her great man friend Ben took care of her and brought her home.  As the day progresses so do things between Kate and Ben (more on that later).  At school on Monday the cops show up and arrest some of the star basketball players because they have been accused of raping a girl at the party.  Kate starts to piece things together and realizes that things aren't what they seem.

While I was reading this book I had to continually remind myself that this was based on true events from the Steubenville, Ohio case.  We live in a world where we hear about cases of rape, but we are only exposed to what the media shares with us.  This book really shares the real details and not just the media's take on things.  I like how this was from the perspective of a girl who was at the party and was also intoxicated.  She really struggled to put the pieces together and do the right thing by reporting what she knew.  It was definitely a struggle of doing what was right and doing what everyone wanted her to do.  Kate also states multiple times that she was drunk too and it could have been her in that situation instead of Stacey.  I think this is an important message because anyone can end up in a similar situation.  This book also addressed consent.  It stated that just because she was drunk and unconscious doesn't mean she gave consent.  Consent is where it seems all rape cases lead back to.  This book really addressed the big issues of making the right decision, consent, and blaming the victim.

I really hated Kate and her relationship with Ben throughout this book.  The book starts out with us finding out that Kate and Ben were once best friends who played soccer together.  Kate accidentally injured Ben and left a long scar behind his ear.  They ended up falling out of touch.  They reconnected a year before the book takes place because they were in the same geology class.  At this point they seem to be just civil friends who say hi in the hall... nothing more.  The next thing we know Kate is leaving the party drunk and wakes up the next morning absolutely swooning over Ben.  Their friendship went from zero to 100 overnight all because he took care of her when she was drunk.  As the book progresses we see Kate doing whatever Ben wants because she is "in love" with him.  I just feel like Kate and Ben's relationship was very unrealistic.  Their relationship just progressed very quickly and I hated that.  I felt like Kate and Ben's cheesy high school relationship started to overshadow the bigger topic here of consent and victim blaming.  I just wish that the book hadn't incorporated the relationship as much as it did as a part of the storyline.

This book does have a trigger warning for rape, however I think more women need to read this, especially teenagers.  This book is based on a real event that happened.  This isn't a work of fiction.  It isn't something that someone made up to make some money.  This really happened.  I think that young girls need to be aware of rape culture and what consent means.  I would recommend this to high school students or young adults.  This was a tough book to read because of the content of the book.  I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

All The Answers by Kate Messner

From Goodreads,

"What if your pencil had all the answers? Would you ace every test? Would you know what your teachers were thinking? When Ava Anderson finds a scratched up pencil she doodles like she would with any other pencil. But when she writes a question in the margin of her math quiz, she hears a clear answer in a voice no one else seems to hear.

With the help of her friend Sophie, Ava figures out that the pencil will answer factual questions only – those with definite right or wrong answers – but won’t predict the future. Ava and Sophie discover all kinds of uses for the pencil, and Ava's confidence grows with each answer. But it's getting shorter with every sharpening, and when the pencil reveals a scary truth about Ava's family, she realizes that sometimes the bravest people are the ones who live without all the answers..."

Goodreads - All The Answers

This book begins with Ava Anderson grabbing a pencil out of a drawer the morning of her math test.  Once she makes it to school, she starts the test, only to realize she doesn't know the answer.  She writes down the question in hopes that it will jog her memory.  Instead, a voice tells her the answer.  Eventually, Ava finds that this pencil will tell her the answer to factual questions only.  The book continues as Ava tries to get answers to burning questions and manage her anxiety, but in turn has to deal with some of the answers to those questions.

I absolutely loved this book.  The idea of having a pencil that could tell you answers is so amazing.  While I was reading this I was constantly asking myself what questions I would ask the pencil.  There would be the ever popular questions about religion or about relationships.  I would of course ask questions like, "Who shot JFK?" or "Who killed Jon Benet Ramsey?"  But eventually, just like in the book, the pencil would grow shorter and shorter.  I'm not sure if the pencil would make me more or less anxious.  I struggle with wanting to control and know the future.  I really connected with Ava in that aspect.  Ava clearly struggled with anxiety in the book and I could see so much of myself in this character.

I have no complaints about this book.  I loved every word on every page.  It was well written and very thought out.  I would give this book 6 stars, but my scale only goes to 5, so 5 stars it is.  I would recommend this book to anyone 4th grade and up.

Fallout by Todd Strasser

From Goodreads,

"What if the bomb had actually been dropped? What if your family was the only one with a shelter?

In the summer of 1962, the possibility of nuclear war is all anyone talks about. But Scott’s dad is the only one in the neighborhood who actually prepares for the worst. As the neighbors scoff, he builds a bomb shelter to hold his family and stocks it with just enough supplies to keep the four of them alive for two critical weeks. In the middle of the night in late October, when the unthinkable happens, those same neighbors force their way into the shelter before Scott’s dad can shut the door. With not enough room, not enough food, and not enough air, life inside the shelter is filthy, physically draining, and emotionally fraught. But even worse is the question of what will -- and won’t -- remain when the door is opened again. Internationally best-selling author Todd Strasser has written his most impressive and personal novel to date, ruthlessly yet sensitively exploring the terrifying what-ifs of one of the most explosive moments in human history."

Goodreads - Fallout

This book is told by Scott whose father decides to build a bomb shelter just in case something happens.  The neighbors all think he is crazy and overreacting.  They all think this until the sirens go off and they too are in need of a shelter.  As Scott and his family try to get in the shelter and seal the door, people start forcing their way in.  By the time the door is sealed someone is seriously injured, parts of families are left outside the shelter, and too many people are locked inside the shelter.

This book was both phenomenal and horrible at the same time.  Starting with the great things in this book is an easy task.  There are a lot of historical references in this book, which I enjoyed from a teacher's perspective, especially since I've never been a history buff.  I loved the whole suspense of a fictional bomb being dropped in the United States and families having to seek shelter.  This was something that was a real fear back in the early 60s, and I think it is great that Strasser took his childhood fears and twisted them into a book.  I think even today, this is becoming more of a fear that someone will get angry at the United States and will bomb us.  That made it a more plausible and realistic book.

The entire time I was reading this, (which I read in just a few short hours), I was hanging on the edge waiting to see what would happen with everyone locked in the shelter.  I was secretly hoping that everyone had just been overacting and that a bomb hadn't been dropped at all, but indeed I was wrong.  I'm a big over thinker and a huge fan of "what ifs" and this book kept me saying, "Well, what if this happened now?" and "What if this happened back in the 60s, how would life be different now?"  I love to play out the possibilities of what could have been and what could still be, and this book definitely allowed me to do that.

On the flip side of this book being great in the historical fiction sense, it had some content that I was very unhappy with.  When I purchase books from Scholastic I always hope that I'll be able to put them into my classroom library so that students can read it and we can discuss it.  Unfortunately, this book had some VERY inappropriate content.  The children in this book are just 11 or 12 years old, but they were very aware of adult content and happenings.  For example, one of the father's allowed Scott to have some wine (more than once) at their house, where on one occasion he got drunk.  Scott and his friend also talked about Playboys and looking at women, both of which I do NOT condone.  I was so disappointed in this content, because I know that some of my students would have absolutely loved this book.

Also, I felt like all the characters were poorly developed in this book.  I didn't feel like I really learned anything about any of the characters on a deep, emotional level.  They were all trapped in the shelter and I feel that in that situation they would have had a deeper connection and emotional state than what they all did.  Nobody really spoke to each other, unless they were yelling about what they should do.  I honestly feel that people would have talked to each other just to have something to do.  Just like the characters, the ending was poorly written.  The book ended quickly and didn't give any comment as to what happened months or years after the incident.  I would have liked some kind of closure to conclude the book and let me know that everyone was okay who was in the shelter.

This would be a good book for high school kids or anyone looking for a historical fiction novel.  I would have given this book 5 stars if it hadn't had the adult content, but because of that I'm dropping my rating to a 3.5.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

From Goodreads,

"For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family."

Goodreads - Inside Out & Back Again


Awards:

• National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2011)
• Newberry Honor (2012)

This book is about Hà and her life in Saigon during the Vietnam War.  Her father has been gone for years and every year they pray that he will return or is somewhere safe.  As the war progresses Hà and her family decide to flee Saigon and board a boat in hopes of finding a new and better life for them all.  After moving, Hà has to learn how to fit in while staying true to who she is. 

I read this book in hopes that it would be a good fit for my 4th graders and the book club they wanted to start.  This was a very quick read being that it is written in verse.  I really liked how real Hà was.  Her feelings about moving and about living in a new and foreign place was so genuine and raw.  I felt like a lot of kids could connect with her if they had moved around the world or even across the country.  A lot of kids know what it is like to be that "new kid" and Hà embodied the "new kid" character well.  Her character also gave me some insight into what it is like to be the "new kid", especially since that was something I never experienced while in elementary, middle, or high school.  

Something that left me a little unsettled was when the teacher called on Hà to read the alphabet and she did so successfully.  The teacher had the class clap and commend her for being able to say the alphabet.  I have very mixed feelings about this.  Some will think that the teacher underestimated the child and some will say that she was mocking the child by having the class clap.  No teacher sets out to humiliate or mock a child.  I don't think the clapping was called for, but I also have to remember that this was a totally different time period than now.  This part in the book is the prime reason teachers should evaluate and assess a child before having them do any work on a board or reading orally.  You don't want to humiliate the child if they can't read, but you don't want to underestimate their abilities either.  

I enjoyed this book and how short it was.  While it was an excellent book, my 4th graders will not be reading it for book club.  I feel like many of the students would lose interest in the book and they would find it boring and the wording difficult.  I give this 5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read with some historical ties in it.

The Edge by Roland Smith

From Goodreads,

"Fifteen-year-old Peak Marcello hasn’t climbed since intentionally failing to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He’s been enjoying life at sea level, spending his time with the Two Peas—his younger twin sisters—and being a regular, law-abiding teenager. But then his old climbing buddies, JR, Will, and Jack, show up with an offer Peak may not be able to refuse: the International Peace Ascent. The billionaire Sebastian Plank is recruiting a global team of young climbers to make an inspiring, world-uniting documentary. Peak’s been chosen as the U.S. representative. A part of him wants to stay home and out of the spotlight. But another part is itching to get back out there. In the end, the itch has got to be scratched, and Peak, along with his mom, is helicoptered in to a remote base camp in the Hindu Kush Mountains.

But the trip quickly goes from good time to nightmare. Attacked by an unknown and unseen enemy, some of the climbers are kidnapped—including Peak’s mom.

Peak has no choice but to go after them."

Goodreads - The Edge

This book is a sequel to the book Peak.  In this book Peak has returned home and is trying to return to a normal life by spending lots of time with his sisters the Peas.  Peak returns to his mother's shop and finds the film crew who followed him on Everest.  He talks with them and quickly realizes he has been recruited to be a part of a Peace Summit.  He is very reluctant to join, but eventually decides to.  His mom tags along and they embark on a journey to Afghanistan.  Peak finds that Zopa is the climb master and that Zopa has an off feeling about the entire trip.  Things go awry and Peak and his friends must fight to survive the Peace Summit.

After I read Peak, I got excited after finding there was a second book.  I promptly found the book on Amazon and had it shipped as soon as possible.  I really expected this book to be about Peak making a second attempt at Everest.  It ended up that a Peace Summit is taking place and Peak has been recruited, along with his mother.  I really liked that this book forged more of a relationship between Peak and his mother, especially since Peak was with his father primarily in the first book.  We didn't see or hear a lot about Peak's mother, and it was good to have her truly incorporated into this book.  I really enjoyed that Peak and his mother went on this climb and encountered an enemy who was out to hurt them.  I felt like the enemy really created more of a bond between Peak and his mom.  I also loved the irony of the Peace Summit, but there was no peace on this climb.

A few parts of this book were very thrilling and exciting, but at others it was very dull.  I felt like this book lacked the pizazz that Peak did.  The book was very dull and boring at the beginning.  There was absolutely nothing exciting happening except for everyone meeting for the climb.  I found it hard to adjust from reading about snow capped mountains to reading about Peak climbing in the desert.  I felt like the most exciting part was when Peak and Ethan realized that people had been murdered.  The rest of this book was very dull and lacked any sort of enthusiasm.  I didn't feel like this sequel did the first book justice, and I wish that Peak had been a stand alone book.

I give this book 3 stars out of 5.  I would recommend this to anyone that has read the first book.  My brother in law is currently reading this book, so I'm excited to talk to him about his thoughts on the book.

Zero Day by Jan Gangsei

From Goodreads,

"Eight years ago, Addie Webster was the victim of the most notorious kidnapping of the decade. Addie vanished—and her high-profile parents were forced to move on.

Mark Webster is now president of the United States, fighting to keep the Oval Office after a tumultuous first term. Then, the unthinkable happens: the president’s daughter resurfaces. Addie is brought back into her family’s fold…but who is this sixteen-year-old girl with a quiet, burning intelligence now living in the White House? There are those in the administration who find her timely return suspicious.

When a national security advisor approaches Darrow Fergusson, Addie’s childhood best friend and the son of the president’s chief of staff, he doesn’t know what to think. How could the girl he’s missed for all these years be a threat to the United States? Still, at the risk of having his own secrets exposed, Darrow agrees to spy on Addie.

He soon realizes that his old friend is much more than the traumatized victim of a political fringe group. Addie has come with a mission…but will she choose to complete it?"

Goodreads - Zero Day

Addie was kidnapped as a young child, but returns eight years later.  Her return comes as a shock to her family and the media, especially since her father is the president preparing to run for a second term.  Everyone tries to adjust to Addie being home and Addie tries to adjust to life back in the spotlight.  While everyone is focused on helping Addie get better, Addie is focused on something and someone else entirely, which proves to be a risk to herself and those around her.

This book was so realistic and in sync with what is happening in today's world.  I feel like there is constantly an attack happening on someone, somewhere.  On top of the attacks, there seems to always be a group who is taking credit for what happened.  This book stayed aligned with the idea of a group plotting and carrying out attacks.  There were multiple terrorist groups that were in the book, which really stays true to what is happening in today's world.  I felt like this suspense of who would make the next move kept me turning the pages and reading.  I was constantly trying to piece everything together to figure out what Addie had in connection with Cerberus.  This realistic aspect and the suspense kept me moving forward to solve the mystery before the book ended.

I didn't care for the ending of the book or the way the chapters were written.  I really wish that the chapters had been labeled with who was "writing" the chapter and telling that particular part of the story.  It would have been a much easier way to keep up with characters in the book than having to remember and recall everybody's story and place in the bigger picture.  As for the ending of the book it ended so abruptly that I didn't know what happened to the "bad guys".  I was so frustrated that I didn't get a good closing with them.  The book was definitely written as a stand alone, but was also left with an open ending that could allow for a second book to be written.

This book was tough to read at the beginning.  I really had to push myself to power through the first third of the book.  Once I got past a certain point it really started to take off and get interesting.  The cliffhanger ending really dropped my rating.  I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.  I would recommend this to anyone wanting a political suspense book.

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

From Goodreads,

"Everyone says that middle school is awful, but Trent knows nothing could be worse than the year he had in fifth grade, when a freak accident on Cedar Lake left one kid dead, and Trent with a brain full of terrible thoughts he can't get rid of. Trent’s pretty positive the entire disaster was his fault, so for him middle school feels like a fresh start, a chance to prove to everyone that he's not the horrible screw-up they seem to think he is. 
If only Trent could make that fresh start happen.
It isn’t until Trent gets caught up in the whirlwind that is Fallon Little—the girl with the mysterious scar across her face—that things begin to change. Because fresh starts aren’t always easy. Even in baseball, when a fly ball gets lost in the sun, you have to remember to shift your position to find it."

Goodreads - Lost in the Sun

Trent was the one who caused a freak accident that left a kid dead.  Trent carries this burden around with him constantly and he feels that it was his fault.  Trent's personality changes with everyone and he starts to realize that he's pushing his friends away because of this freak accident.  One day, Fallon Little comes to his rescue and befriends Trent.  While Trent doesn't want to be friends with the girl with the scar on her face, he realizes she isn't giving him much choice.  They find common interests of movies and baseball, and they eventually learn to find who they are in the big world.

One of my favorite things in this book was the relationship that was built between Trent and his homeroom teacher.  He had a bad attitude about everything and his teacher was well aware of this.  She eventually gave him an out by asking him to water the plants for her.  They slowly built a silent relationship where Trent was able to do something for someone and be at peace.  I think he needed the calm that the teacher offered.   I just like seeing teachers portrayed in this light in books, because there are honestly some amazing teachers out there who can make a difference in a student's life.

This book definitely wasn't one of my favorites.  I felt that it was written in a chaotic manner.  Trent's personality was so unpleasant throughout the entire book.  He was constantly complaining, sulking, and yelling at people.  He clearly needed to be in counseling and I was furious that he wasn't in legitimate counseling throughout the book.  As a teacher, I would have referred him for counseling as soon as possible, just based on the fact that he was involved in a freak accident where a kid died.  I don't feel that a journal was really doing any damage on the counseling front.  I felt like that was all a very inaccurate portrayal because any kid who was involved in an accident on that level, who was also having anger problems, would need to be in counseling as soon as possible.

I would recommend this book to middle school students.  It definitely wasn't one of my favorite books, and I only give it 2 stars.  It just didn't have the magic I was expecting.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

From Goodreads,

"Join Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell, and a cast of other familiar characters on a fantastical journey in the Word Cloud Classics’ Peter Pan. Included in this volume are the famous novel — Peter and Wendy (1911) — about the “boy who never grew up” and his adventures in Neverland, as well as a lesser-known prequel entitled Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), which tells the story of Pan’s early years in London. This lively volume weaves a tale that is universally relatable and wildly popular for adults and children alike."

Goodreads - Peter Pan

This is the book/story that the Disney movie Peter Pan is based on.  It begins with the typical story of the Darling children going to bed while the parents prepare for a party.  Soon Peter arrives to retrieve his shadow.  The typical story takes off from there and the children soon find themselves flying through the night air to Neverland.

I was so excited to read this classic tale that inspired the Disney movie Peter Pan.  I love comparing the books to the movies so I can see how similar they are.  I loved how similar this was to the movie.  A lot of the same characters were present in both the book and the movies.  There were a few settings that were different than in the movie.  A lot of the book took place in Peter Pan and the Lost Boys' home.  Also, I don't feel that the Indians and Tiger Lily played such a prominent role in the book as they did in the movie.  I remember watching the live action version of Peter Pan in 2003, and I feel that if Disney Peter Pan and 2003 Peter Pan were mashed together it would be almost an exact match to the book.

I didn't like that this was written in an old English style.  The book was written in 1904, so naturally it has the same language from that time.  I found it very difficult to read because there have been so many changes in our language and the meanings of words.  I had a few students who were interested in read this book, but I knew there were multiple words that today hold a different meaning than it did in 1904.  I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it had been written in an updated text.  Also, in the second part of this book, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens I was very lost and confused while reading it.  The story just seemed to be rambling and talking about Peter as a child.  I was so lost while reading it and really wanted to just stop because I was so confused.  I definitely wouldn't recommend reading the second section.

At times this book was completely and utterly confusing.  The language made it difficult to follow and the second part was a complete nightmare to read.  I give this 1 star simply because it was so difficult to read and follow.  If you enjoy reading older books then I highly recommend this to you.

The Book of David by Anonymous

From Goodreads,

"His secret is his downfall. A riveting, first-person tale in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and Lucy in the Sky.
The author of this fictional diary began writing for a class assignment, but soon it became much more to him. As the star player of his high school football team, he faces a lot of pressure and expectation. Not to mention the secret that he’s harboring inside. The secret that could change everything.

And as David quickly learns, nothing stays secret forever.

His innermost thoughts and feelings are chronicled in the diary he left behind."

From Goodreads - The Book of David

This book is written in diary format by a nameless male, which I will refer to as David based on the title.  David is required to start a journal for his English class.  This book takes place in Arkansas and centers around small town football.  As the story progresses we notice that David is having more and more tendencies and instances of attraction to a fellow male classmate.  David ends up becoming a football star after a football injury puts his best friend out of the game.  David struggles to accept who he is in the small town where being gay isn't an option.

This book is written in the same format as Go Ask Alice and Lucy in the Sky, both of which I had a lot of mixed feelings about.  I read this book and definitely enjoyed it more than the other two.  There was no drug use like in the other books similar to this.  This book seemed more "real" in my opinion and I think it is because it takes place in a small town in Arkansas, which is where I grew up and currently live.  There are so many people I know who were in the same position of David.  They were in high school and liked the opposite sex, but had to keep it a secret because of where we lived.  I read a lot of reviews of this book on Goodreads and they were very shocking to me.  People acted like teenagers aren't living in a situation where they can't come out because it isn't socially acceptable in the town they live in.  I think this book was a pretty fair representation of how people are and how they think regarding LGBT in the bible belt.

The only thing I disliked about this book is that it was very predictable.  I knew the format in which the book was going to end, and I knew that eventually all secrets would be exposed.  After a couple of these books the format just gets really monotonous and boring.  The language that was used in this was also kind of out of date as far as texting.  Most teenagers and young people text using full words and all letters.  No one uses "C U L8TR".  Instead we just type, "See you later".  I think that the author could have used full words instead of text slang.

This book would be a good read for high school kids, but I think some librarians might think twice before putting this in their library.  The only downfall was content and the fact that alcohol was openly used by minors.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Peak by Roland Smith

From Goodreads,

"The only thing you’ll find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below. – Peak Marcello

After fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father's renewed interest in him has strings attached. Big strings. As owner of Peak Expeditions, he wants his son to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit--and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime. But it's also one that could cost him his life.

Roland Smith has created an action-packed adventure about friendship, sacrifice, family, and the drive to take on Everest, despite the incredible risk. The story of Peak’s dangerous ascent—told in his own words—is suspenseful, immediate, and impossible to put down."

Goodreads - Peak

Awards:

• National Book Award
• Booklist Editors' Choice

This book is about a troubled teen named Peak who gets caught scaling a skyscraper.  In a rush to keep him out of juvie his father rushes in and whisks him away on the climbing adventure of a lifetime.  His father quickly tells him his plan to make Peak the youngest person to reach the Everest summit.  This book progresses as Peak meets friends who will carry him to the top and as he finds who he really is.  

I read this book when I was in high school and I really enjoyed it.  I found the book at a thrift store and decided to go ahead and purchase it to reread and possibly put in my classroom.  I love the thrill this book has.  There is so much excitement and adrenaline packed in this book that it makes me feel as if I could climb Mt. Everest.  Peak was a fabulous main character and I loved his transformation.  At the beginning of the book he was troubled and acted very similar to his father in the sense that he did what he wanted when he wanted.  As the book progresses and Peak starts to focus on the summit, he starts to change.  He realizes that family and friends are more important than thinking only about yourself.  His full transformation is realized as he sees the summit in sight.  (I don't want to ruin the ending, so I'll just leave you hanging....)  

While I loved Peak and his transformation, I really disliked the way the secondary characters were written in the book.  They weren't ever important and I never kept their names straight.  I just felt like there wasn't a lot of connection with secondary characters in the book.  I think this could have been done so that the reader only felt focus on Peak.  Peak didn't care much about those around him, and I do think that the lack of connection with secondary characters was done so that the focus stayed on Peak and Peak only.  It just made Peak seem lonely, which is probably what it felt like while climbing Everest.  

I give this book 4 stars.  I recently found out there is a second book titled Edge.  I look forward to reading it and giving a follow up review to see how the two books connect.  I would recommend this to adventurous students probably in middle or high school.  

Strudel's Forever Home by Martha Freeman

From Goodreads,

"Middle-grade readers will get a dog's eye view as an irrepressible dachshund narrates this touching story of a dog who needed a family, and a struggling family who needed a dog.

Strudel, a homeless dachshund, loves listening to Jake read from Chief, Dog of the Old West at the animal shelter. When Jake decides to adopt him, Strudel vows to be as brave and loyal as Chief. Only trying to fend off danger in his new home leads to trouble when Strudel makes mistakes such as shredding a "rattlesnake" that is actually a garden hose. But despite Strudel's humorous miscalculations, his instincts are mostly correct. He knows who is really a member of his pack, and that Mom's boyfriend Arnie can't be trusted."

Goodreads - Strudel's Forever Home

This book is told from the perspective of Strudel the dog.  At the beginning of the book he runs away for reasons unknown to the reader.  He ends up at a shelter where a young boy comes daily to read to him.  Eventually, the boy and his mother adopt the puppy and name him Strudel.  Strudel makes it his goal to take care of the boy and defend the home that he now lives in.  The story continues to a climax when the boy makes a bad decision and then has to pay the price.

This book was sent to me as a free book from Scholastic.  I figured this would be a quick read, but I really struggled with this book.  The text was minuscule and difficult to read.  I didn't like how this book was told from the point of view of the dog.  I've read a couple of books from a dog's point of view and I've enjoyed them.  These dogs always have a very strong voice and a very strong connection with their owner.  Strudel didn't have a strong connection with Jake and honestly had a very bland personality.  I found it hard to have any connection with any of the characters.  All the characters were poorly developed and lacked personality.

There wasn't much in this book that I enjoyed.  I give this 1 star.  I don't expect any of my students will want to pick up this book and read it.  It was poorly developed and poorly written.

George by Alex Gino

From Goodreads,

"BE WHO YOU ARE.

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy.  

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all."

Goodreads - George

Awards:

• California Book Award Gold Medal for Juvenile (2015)
• Stonewall Book Award for Children's (2016)

This book is about a boy who deep down feels that he is a girl.  George struggles to identify as a girl because on the outside she is physically a boy.  She cries at the end of Charlotte's Web and is picked on because of it.  The class has to prepare for a play of Charlotte's Web, and with the help of a loving and true friend, George is able to come to terms with herself and find her voice both on and off stage. 

This is not a book I would typically read, but I know I need to start branching out from my typical book genres.  This book was so interesting to read because the narrator is a boy,  but refers to herself as she.  I thought this was a really small detail the author paid attention to.  I enjoyed seeing George grow and come to accept who she was.  I felt like I went on this journey with George as she and everyone else worked to accept her.  I thought it was extremely realistic with how her mom reacted and how everyone just assumed she was simply gay.  I feel like so many transgender people deal with others thinking they are just gay.  This opened my eyes as to what life is like for some transgender people.  

The only downfall I had with this book is the topic of the book.  This is a very diverse book and in a small town, you really have to watch what books you put in your library.  I can absolutely think of kids who would enjoy reading this book because it is different.  Kids need to be exposed to different, but I don't think the book would be accepted very well by parents and other educators.  I hope that this book can break some barriers and allow doors to be opened for students who are in positions similar to George's.  

I think that transgender students would find this book really good, and they would really connect with it.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

From Goodreads,

"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood.


Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family."

Goodreads - The Crossover

Awards:

• Newberry Medal (2015)
• Coretta Scott King Award for Author Honor (2015)
• Charlotte Huck Honor Book (2015)

This book was recommended to me by a student.  He told me it was amazing and the ending would be a huge surprise.  This book is about two brothers, Josh and Jordan, who are both basketball superstars.  Their father was also a basketball superstar and ended up losing his big shot due to an injury.  Josh tells the story of his family in verse.  He tells of the relationship with his brother and his brother's girlfriend, as well as the relationships with his mom and dad. 

This book was a very quick read due to it being in verse form.  This isn't a book I would initially pick up and read, but as I said before, a student recommended this book to me.  He said it was an amazing book and I just had to read it.  When a student recommends a book you kind of have to do your teacher duties and read it.  I read this book and enjoyed it a fair amount.  The book is a quick read thanks to it being written in verse form.  I feel that this is a book that everyone can connect to in some way or form.  For me it was the dad having heart problems.  My dad has had the same signs and symptoms as the dad in the book and I understood that worry and concern that was present in the book.  I liked having the connection because it really allowed me to enjoy the book a little bit more.  

The student that recommended this book to me told me that I would be surprised by the ending.  While reading I saw the subtle signs throughout the book of what was going to happen.  I guess for that aspect it was a little bit of a let down because I was expecting a big phenomenal ending.  There were a few moments of questionable content with the parents.  There were also a few times where the kids called each other names.  

I'm glad my student recommended this book, and I hope that some of my other students take the time to read this book.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  

El Deafo by Cece Bell

From Goodreads,

"Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful--and very awkward--hearing aid.

The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become "El Deafo, Listener for All." And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world and find the friend she's longed for."

Goodreads - El Deafo

Awards:

• Newberry Honor (2015)
• Charlotte Huck Honor Book (2015)
• Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Publication for Kids (ages 8-12) (2015)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2016)
• Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Grades 3-6 (2016)

This book is a graphic novel that tells the childhood tell of Cece Bell.  This memoir is about how she felt different because she couldn't hear.  The reader quickly learns what happened to Cece for her to lose her hearing, and how she managed to handle being deaf.  Throughout the book Cece also struggles to make and keep friends.  This is a profoundly moving book.

A student recommended this book to me, so I took the time and money and ordered the book.  I finally sat down one weekend to read it.  Needless to say, I read this book in about 2-3 hours.  This book is written in a graphic novel format, which makes it a fairly quick read.  I loved how honest and pure this book was about life without hearing.  The book mentions that many people talk slow or talk extremely loud because they think it will help the hearing impaired person understand better, when in all reality, it is easier if you just talk normally.  This book had lots of interesting tidbits about the hearing impaired that I wasn't aware of.  But most importantly, this book painted a vivid picture of what life is like when you are hearing impaired.  Cece struggled to make and keep friends because she was hearing impaired.  I think that many kids, even those who aren't hearing impaired, can relate to this because they have been in a similar situation before.  I just felt like this book was very raw and relatable.  I expect that students will truly enjoy this book.

The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that it said the word "he**" and it mentioned teachers making questionable choices such as smoking in the teacher's lounge and leaving children unattended.  It also mentioned hearing the teacher's going to the bathroom.  I may find it inappropriate, but most students would find it comical to know what the teacher is doing at all times when they aren't in the classroom.

I give this book 5 stars.  I hope that some of my other students will pick up this book and give it a chance, especially since it is a graphic novel, and students consider graphic novels "quick reads".  

The Girl in the Well is Me by Karen Rivers

From Goodreads,

"Longing to be one of the popular girls in her new town, Kammie Summers has fallen into a well during a (fake) initiation into their club. Now Kammie’s trapped in the dark, counting the hours, waiting to be rescued. (The Girls have gone for help, haven’t they?)

As hours pass, Kammie’s real-life predicament mixes with memories of the best and worst moments of her life so far, including the awful reasons her family moved to this new town in the first place. And as she begins to feel hungry and thirsty and light-headed, Kammie starts to imagine she has company, including a French-speaking coyote and goats that just might be zombies.

Karen Rivers has created a unique narrator with an authentic, sympathetic, sharp, funny voice who will have readers laughing and crying and laugh-crying over the course of physically and emotionally suspenseful, utterly believable events."

Goodreads - The Girl in the Well is Me

This book is about a girl that is trying to fit in after her dad disrupts life for the family.  Kammie wants to fit in with "The Girls" at her new school, but they tell her she must go through initiation first.  She proceeds to try to fit in with these girls, and does everything they say, until she falls into a well.  They quickly abandon her and she has to hope and pray that someone will rescue her.

The idea of someone being stuck in a well made me think of the baby Jessica ordeal that happened back in the 80s.  It is a very unique setting for a book to take place.  However, there wasn't a whole lot that I really enjoyed about this book.  I did come across a quote that I really liked.  It says, "He says that it doesn't matter what you listen to, as long as it moves you inside, that it's not about being cool or doing what everyone else is doing, it's about what makes you feel.  He says that music is poetry that has a tune that you hear with your soul."  I love music and can name a wide variety of songs that hold some sort of significance in my life.  So many people just listen to music to be listening, when really there is a message in most songs.  This quote was probably the most exciting thing in the entire book.  I connected with it on a personal level because of my love for music.

This book has ridiculously long chapters.  They just kept going and going.  And Kammie just kept rambling and rambling in these chapters.  I understand that this was done so that we understood that time seemed to stretch on and on, and that she was lonely and was thinking of anything and everything she could think of.  I dislike long chapters because they don't hold my attention and they seem to stretch on for a lifetime.  This book put me to sleep because of the dragging on and rambling.  I'm afraid that my 4th graders will find this book dull and exhausting, much like I did.

This book just wasn't interesting enough for me, and it seemed to drag on.  I give this book 2 stars.  I wasn't a fan of the imaginary creatures and the ongoing dull thoughts that were going through Kammie's head.  I expect my students to say the same thing about it just going on and on.  I don't think they will find it very intriguing and interesting once they get into the book.  I will try to update once I get a review from a student.

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

From Goodreads,

"From award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes, a powerful novel set fifteen years after the 9/11 attacks.

When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Deja can't help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?

Award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes tells a powerful story about young people who weren't alive to witness this defining moment in history, but begin to realize how much it colors their every day."

Goodreads - Towers Falling

This book follows 5th grade student, Deja, who is trying to fit in at a new school, while trying to hide her home life.  Her father is always coughing and upset about something, and deep down it bothers Deja how her life is.  At school she makes two new friends, Ben and Sabeen, who along with the rest of the class, go on a journey to learn about the Twin Towers and what happened on 9/11.

This book would be a wonderful piece to use while teaching and discussing the Twin Towers.  The students today weren't even born when 9/11 happened, and they honestly believe that it has had no impact on their lives.  I like how this book addressed how students today feel that 9/11 doesn't affect them.  The truth is that all of us have some sort of connection back to 9/11.  For example, my connection is that the events eventually led to the deployment of soldiers, which in turn impacted my life when my Dad and brother were deployed.  I think it is important for students to learn about 9/11 and what happened.  I also liked how this book addressed the racism that now takes place because of 9/11.  I think it is important for everyone to know that first off racism is not okay, and second blanket racism is not okay.  Blaming all whites or blacks or muslims or whoever because of the actions of a few is ridiculous and not okay.  This generation has the power to turn things around and learn to love each other for who they are and not for their religion or the color of their skin or anything else.

This book had many excellent teaching points, but it was unfortunately slow.  The book seemed to carry on and the ending became more and more clear.  I felt like the ending was supposed to be an unexpected ending, but it was very much obvious from the wheezing, coughing, and PTSD that her father was experiencing.

This book has a lot of teachable material and would be excellent to use in a middle school classroom.  I give this book 3 stars.  I will update this review as soon as I get some feedback from one of my students.