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.