Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

From Goodreads, 

"When Marty Preston comes across a young beagle in the hills behind his home, it's love at first sight—and also big trouble. It turns out the dog, which Marty names Shiloh, belongs to Judd Travers who drinks too much and has a gun—and abuses his dogs. So when Shiloh runs away from Judd to Marty, Marty just has to hide him and protect him from Judd. But Marty's secret becomes too big for him to keep to himself, and it exposes his entire family to Judd's anger. How far will Marty have to go to make Shiloh his?"

Goodreads - Shiloh

Awards and Nominations:

• Newbery Medal (1992)
• Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Grades 6-8 (1993)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (1993)
• Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award for Youth (1994)
• Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (1994)
• Children's Choice Book Award (1994)
• New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award (1994)
• IRA-CBC Teacher's Choice, William Allen White Children's Book Award (1994)
• Oklahoma Sequoyah Award for Children (1994)
• Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (1994)
• Texas Bluebonnet Award (1994)
• Grand Canyon Reader Award for Intermediate Book (1994)
• Nene Award (1994)
• Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1994)
• Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (1994)
• Bluestem Book Award Nominee (2015)

I still remember vividly when my dad showed up in the middle of the day from work and he left a beagle in our yard.  He told my mom not to let my brother or I play with it until he got home and could really spend time with it.  At the time the movie Shiloh had just been released on VHS and we happened to have a copy.  I remember looking through our front door at the dog and saying he looked like Shiloh on the cover.  And just like that our new dog was named Shiloh.  And coincidentally had a very similar life to the Shiloh in the movie.

Shiloh is about a young boy named Marty and a beagle he finds near a bridge where he lives.  Marty feels a connection and pull to the dog and fears that his owner, Judd Travers, is not treating the dog right.  Marty knows that his parents will not let him have a dog, especially one that belongs to someone.  But the beagle, which Marty names Shiloh, shows up again and Marty decides to build a makeshift pen and hide Shiloh on the hill by their house.  Everything is fine until Shiloh is in an accident and Judd finds out that Marty has been hiding his dog.  

I actually watched the movie years before I read the book.  I first read it in college for a children's literature class I had to take.  It was a wonderful read and triggered a lot of happy thoughts and memories then.  Now that I'm reading through award lists I decided it was officially time for a reread.  I love that this book really focuses on the love and joy that a pet can bring to a family when they are treated well.  Shiloh was clearly being treated poorly by Judd.  Judd wouldn't feed them to teach them a lesson or he would kick them if they did something wrong.  His dogs were not named but were called whatever foul thing came out of his mouth.  Marty sensed that this dog needed help and wanted love, and Marty acted on that.  Marty worked hard to get Shiloh even though he knew his parents didn't have the money to afford a dog.  In turn, each and every member of his family fell madly in love with Shiloh.  His dad was seen letting Shiloh lick his plate after he had finished dinner.  This book has small moments that will make you reminisce about your favorite pet and the memories you have with them.

Unfortunately, I watched the movie before reading the book which means that I prefer the movie over the book.  There were a lot of things that were in the movie but weren't in the book.  One of the main things being Sam!  In the movie, Marty has a friend named Sam.  She lives in town and they talk about Shiloh and she gives advice about what to do.  Sam also clearly has a crush on Marty and it gives it a nice fluff to a story that is very much written with a boy in mind.  

This book is about so much more than a boy wanting a dog and saving one that is being abused.  It is about a boy setting a goal with himself and working to reach the goal to get what he wants.  I love when books have serious goal-setting in them where it takes grit and hard work to reach them.  I give this 5 stars.  At some point, I plan to read the rest of the books in this series.  

Deepfake by Sarah Darer Littman

From Goodreads, 

"What happens when anyone can make a video of you saying anything?

Dara Simons and Will Hochman have everything they've ever wanted. They are the rulers of Greenpoint High's geekdom, overachieving in every way, and it's intense competition to see who will be valedictorian. One the entire school is invested in. That is, until Rumor Has It, the anonymous gossip site, posts a video of Dara accusing Will of paying someone to take the SAT for him.

When the video goes viral, suddenly Will's being investigated, and everyone's wondering how he pulled off cheating on the SAT. But Dara swears that she didn't say any of those things, which seems a little hard to believe since it's her in the video.

Did Will cheat?

Is it Dara saying he did?

Who's lying, and who's telling the truth?

The answer is more shocking than anyone realizes ..."

Goodreads - Deepfake

Technology has progressed so much in my lifetime.  Some of it has been for the better and some has been for the worst.  As a teacher I see my students being affected by the technology and having EVERYTHING literally at their fingertips.  It is so easy for students to hack into someone else's account.  Cyberbullying is a much bigger issue today than it was years ago and kids are much smarter about it and can find ways to cover their tracks.  With all the technology we have, deepfakes intrigue me the most.  I recently watched a video and it was of a guy talking about editing software.  He explained how easy it was and then shared that his face wasn't even real and he proceeded to change his "face" two different times.  It left me wondering if any of them were the actual face of this guy.  Then I realized I had just watched a deepfake video.  A video of someone pretending to be someone else.  I am beyond excited to share my review of this newly released book. 

Deepfake is told by Will, Dara, and MJ in alternating points of view.  All three are in the top three spots in their graduating class and they are all trying to be valedictorian.  Will and Dara have been dating since summer when they worked together at a camp.  They have been keeping their relationship quiet because Dara doesn't want to hear the comments about her beating her boyfriend for valedictorian or vice versa.  Will studied all summer to raise his SAT score and has applied to his Dad's number one choice of Stanford.  MJ had a summer job, but every time she tried to hang out with her best friend Will he just blew her off.  MJ applied to Carnegie Mellon even though her parents told her not to and that she probably wouldn't get in.  Everything comes crashing together when a video is posted by the school rumor account.  The video is of Dara saying that Will cheated on his SATs.  Everything starts to blow up and fall apart as they try to figure out if Dara really did say those things, if Will did cheat, and if the video is even of Dara. 

Spoilers are ahead.  Read with caution. 

This book started off so strong, but as it progressed and the plot thickened I was questioning all decisions that were being made.  I absolutely love the idea of a book being about the "bad" of technology, and even more specifically, deepfakes.  This book had an extremely strong STEM storyline and it was weaved into so many aspects.  Dara was an EMT and wanted to be a doctor.  MJ wanted to go to Carnegie Mellon and really delve into technology.  Will's dad wanted him to go into business and near the end of the book he decided he wanted to go into cybersecurity.  Will, MJ, and many of their friends are in the robotics club at school.  All of the characters in this book are somehow exceptionally bright and are at the top of their class.  I loved that STEM was pushed in this book, but for me it made the whole mystery of who made the deepfake that much easier to solve.  It was portrayed that one must have a high tech and fast processing computer to make a deepfake video.  When in fact there are many apps that can be used to make a deepfake.  As soon as the computer which belonged to MJ's brother was introduced I immediately knew that MJ was the one who made the deepfake.  She was jealous when she found out that Will and Dara were dating and she didn't know about it.  She was upset she didn't get into her first pick college, while both Dara and Will got into theirs.  I think it would have been a more exciting turning point for it to have been Will's sister Sadie or one of their other friends who was just a secondary character.  There was just too much evidence that easily pointed to MJ. 

There were believable points in this book and there were some that made me scratch my head.  One of them was everyone's reaction when they found out who made the deepfake.  Will figured out it was MJ and was basically like "I'm mad, but we're totally still besties."  Like this chick almost ruined your chance at getting into college and you're okay with it?  I would have been DONE with that person if they had tried to ruin my future.  And when Will found out about the video he got super upset with Dara, which is understandable, but he lashed out at her without listening to her.  Of course after he figured out it wasn't her, he tried to suck up and make up with her.  The redeeming point in this book was that Dara was not taking him back after his reaction.  Dara did NOT need that negative and toxic energy in her life.  

This book sounded like it would be really cool, but it was kind of a drag.  The most exciting parts were probably in the first and last 50 pages.  The flashback in the middle of the book wasn't called for and it felt like it was more of a space filler than actually being part of the plot.  I think this book would hit home with some teenagers, but I think it lacks that piece that makes you connect and relate with a book.  I give this 2 stars.  

The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab

From Goodreads, 

"A heartwarming Christmas mystery and friendship story!

Every Christmas in the small town of Pine River, a tree appears in the town square--the Angel Tree. Some people tie wishes to the tree, while others make those wishes come true. Nobody's ever known where the tree comes from, but the mystery has always been part of the tradition's charm.

This year, however, four kids who have been helped--Lucy, Joe, Max, and Cami--are determined to solve the mystery and find out the true identity of the town's guardian angel, so that Pine River can finally thank the person who brought the Angel Tree to their town.

This is a heartwarming Christmas mystery, full of friendship, discovery, and loads of holiday cheer!"

Goodreads - The Angel Tree

Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I love putting up my Christmas trees (Yes, I have more than one.) and decorating them.  I love listening to Christmas music while making and baking sweets.  I love the cheesy Christmas movies along with all of the classics.  Christmas has always been a very happy time in my family.  As I got older I of course changed my Christmas wishlist from toys to electronics and then from electronics to necessities such as socks or having step rails put on my truck.  While in college I decided to give back.  I selected an angel off of the local angel tree and purchased clothes, shoes, a winter jacket, and toys for a child I didn't even know.  The happiness I felt that Christmas cannot be matched.  This book is the same concept, just tweaked a little bit for the small town of Pine River. 

In the town of Pine River, a tree always appears in the middle of the town at Christmas time.  People in the town write their wishes on a slip of paper and tie them on a branch.  The idea is that if you can help out you take the slip of paper and fulfill it for that person.  This is the Angel Tree.  But after 25 years of tradition, four kids who each have their own wish, decide that it is time to officially thank the person behind the Angel Tree.  

I absolutely love the concept of angel trees.  That people will put what they need on the tree and it gets filled.  Most of the time you see these in local grocery stores and they are to help families with children who can't give them a proper Christmas.  But I love the idea of having a tree that ANYONE can put their wish on it and those who can help out, do.  Obviously, in today's greedy world I can foresee this being a problem.  People would be asking for cars when they didn't even need one.  They would want huge flat-screen TVs when it isn't a necessity.  There wasn't a single wish that was presented in this book that was being greedy or luxurious.  Max's family had suffered a house fire just weeks prior and he asked for a house.  The town handymen and the secret person behind the angel tree stepped in to give this family something that they honestly and truly needed.  Lucy's guide dog was diagnosed with cancer, but her family was unable to pay to have the cancer removed and treated.  Lucy wished for her dog to be better and someone paid for the surgery and the cost of the medicine.  Joe is a newcomer to the town and just learned about the angel tree.  He decides to put his wish to have his mom home for Christmas since she is a marine.  Just a few days later Joe received a call that his mom would be home on leave for Christmas because someone had paid for her flight.  All of these seem to be large wishes (especially the house), but all were feasible.  I love that the entire town rallies around those who need help and help out in any way that they can.  I also love that the secret person behind it all makes sure that all the wishes are filled by Christmas.  The entire thing is just a feel-good story.  And it honestly led me to ask myself what I would put on an angel tree if such a thing existed.

While I loved the entire story of the angel tree, I absolutely despised the ending of this book.  As the book came to a close we find out who was behind it and that they are getting older and the bank account is dwindling which is making it harder and harder to fulfill all of the wishes.  I so badly wanted to know what happened the next year.  I want to know if they were able to continue the Angel Tree or if it all fell apart because there wasn't a large bank account to fill the wishes.  I felt like there were all of these loose ends that were never fully tied up properly.  I want to know if Lucy's dog made a full recovery and beat cancer.  I want to know if Joe was able to get into a better home than the one that he lived in.  I also want to know if Joe's mom made it home safely.  I want to know if Max and his family were able to move into their new home and how they furnished it since they lost everything in the fire.  Cami didn't have a big piece in the plot except for wanting to find out who was behind everything, so I'm not too upset over not hearing what happened after the fact with her.  I need answers and frankly would love to see a second book.  

This was a wonderfully cute story and I think it would be a wonderful story to read to my fifth graders around Christmas.  If we weren't already in the middle of a book I would definitely jump in with this one.  I give this 4 stars.  I love the idea of the angel tree, but I had some questions by the time it was all over.  This is a wonderful read that people of all ages will enjoy!

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

 From Goodreads, 

"In a debut historical novel about the Great Migration a boy discovers Chicago's postwar South Side and the poetry of Langston Hughes.

When 11-year-old Langston's mother dies in 1946, he and his father leave rural Alabama for Chicago's brown belt as a part of what came to be known as the Great Migration. It's lonely in the small apartment with just the two of them, and at school Langston is bullied. But his new home has one fantastic thing. Unlike the whites-only library in Alabama, the local public library welcomes everyone. There, hiding out after school, Langston discovers another Langston, a poet whom he learns inspired his mother enough to name her only son after him."

Goodreads - Finding Langston

Awards and Nominations:

• Coretta Scott King Book Award Nominee for Author (2019)

As a middle school teacher, I often observe what students are reading and even take suggestions from them.  After a visit to the library, students were introduced to the Charlie May Simon nominees for this school year.  Soon thereafter, many students were wielding books from the list.  I quickly looked on Scholastic to find as many from the list to get them in my library, but I came up short.  Only two of the nominated books were on Scholastic and at a reasonable price.  I quickly ordered Finding Langston and The Season of Styx Malone.  After a long and tiresome week at school, I decided I would cozy up with a short book that I could quickly and easily devour.  That book just so happened to be Finding Langston.  

Finding Langston is told by a young African American boy who leaves his home state of Alabama to move with his father to Chicago.  Langston doesn't like being the new kid because he doesn't fit in.  He doesn't like his new house.  And he definitely misses everything about his mom and Alabama.  Langston tries to cope with the loss of his mother, being the new kid and having the desire to read books even though his father doesn't want him to.  

I sat down and devoured this book in just a few hours.  Consuming it that quickly may have an impact on my overall review, but I also waited over three weeks before giving this a final and full review.  I loved that Lesa incorporated Langston Hughes into this story and even had the main character named after him thanks to his mother.   I think she missed the mark by not incorporating more of Langston Hughes' poetry in this book.  It would have been a wonderfully beautiful way to really pull history into this book.  As I mentioned earlier, the main character Langston was named by his mother.  I truly loved that he was able to learn a little more about his mother from finding books at the library and learning about Langston Hughes.  Langston was able to read a letter his father had and put pieces together to determine that his mother could read and enjoyed poetry by Langston Hughes.

I felt like there were a lot of small starts to big plot points in this story, but they didn't fully develop.  The entire time I kept waiting for Langston's dad and their neighbor to get together and start dating.  I kept waiting for his dad to find happiness with her, but that never really and truly happened.  I also felt like there was too much going on with the bullies at school and it didn't really fit into the overall theme and plot of Langston finding himself and being happy where he was.  It felt like the entire bully situation was added in just to possibly connect with kids today.  This book does take place in the past and I think that can and would be a deterrent or problem for some kids reading this.  The entire time that I read this I thought the book was taking place in the 60s or 70s and it was actually taking place in the 40s.  I wish there would have been more historical background on this time and why Langston and his dad moving to Chicago was such a big deal.  I think that having the historical significance and really incorporating life in Chicago in the mid-40s would have fit better in the overall theme and plot than the bullies at school.  

Overall, I don't think this book is a knock it out of the park award winner.  I felt like there was SOOOO much potential for this book and nothing ever really came to fruition.  There were a ton of historical things that could have easily been brought in and would have made this book a wonderful teaching tool to use in a classroom.  I give this three stars.  The story lacks a true plot and it honestly just plugs along until you reach the end with little to no excitement.  

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

From Goodreads, 

"In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human."

Goodreads - Rot & Ruin

Awards & Nominations: 

• Bram Stoker Award Nominee for Best Novel (2010)
• CYBILS Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2010)
• Missouri Gateway Readers Award (2013)
• Lincoln Award Nominee (2016)

We are just weeks after an election and things are still in constant turmoil.  While the election was going on a coworker and I joked that this would end in either a civil war, the purge, or maybe the rapture would happen.  With everything going on I felt like it was a good time to read a good old fashioned zombie book.  Who knows, we may be in a similar situation of life and death before too long. 

Rot & Ruin is the story of Benny and his older brother Tom who is a zombie bounty hunter.  Benny is 15 which means he must find a job or his rations will be cut in half.  After many failed job interviews and first days, Benny decides to take his brother Tom up on the offer to go into the family business - zombie hunter.  Benny soon learns that Tom isn't a coward that ran during First Night instead of helping their parents.  Tom and Benny end up in a bit of trouble as they must set out into the rot and ruin to find Benny's friend Nix and a mysterious and elusive girl known as "The Lost Girl".  

I'm was not looking forward to this book and it has sat on my shelf for over a year.  I'm not big in the zombies and brains genre, but knew that I had to eventually read this book since it is on the Missouri Gateway award list I'm reading.  Interestingly, this book lacked in the gore and brains and zombies aspect.  There was a larger focus on the relationship between Benny and Tom, and the relationship between Benny and Nix.  The author really spent this entire first book just laying the groundwork for the coming books and building fairly elaborate character profiles.  I think the relationship that unfolded between Benny and Nix was a long time coming but was really predictable.  The moment that it was mentioned that Benny's friend Morgie liked Nix I knew exactly how it would play out.  Benny had a fairly big character arc in this book as he grew up and changed due to all that he had seen and had to deal with.  I do however think it was a really BIG change in a very SMALL amount of time.  It was a little extreme in my opinion for Benny to be going day to day just enjoying hanging out with his friends to focusing on saving others and slaying the twisted humans and the walking zombies.  I've never seen a character make that kind of transition in such a short period of time.  

This book dragged on in the same slow manner that a zombie moves.  There were chapters that I was begging for something exciting to happen.  I think that Maberry focused too much on the characters, their stories, their relationships, and ultimately their character arc that he forgot to focus on telling the story.  Half of what was in this book focused on building a character profile.  I felt like I was given too much information about some of the characters that I honestly don't want to read the rest of the series because I can already predict how it is going to play out.  I expected way more brains and zombie scare scenes.  

As I said before, this isn't a book I would normally read.  It reminded me of a lot of the book Scythe.  I do not plan on reading the rest of the series.  This book dragged on and left me hoping it would end quickly so I could move on to something else.  Overall I have to give it 2 stars.  I think this would be a popular book for teen boys, especially those who are wanting a zombie-filled story.  

Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech

From Goodreads, 

"Laura Sobiech tells the amazing story of how God used her son’s battle with cancer to touch the lives of millions.

“Okay, Lord, you can have him. But if he must die, I want it to be for something big. I want someone’s life to be changed forever.”

This is what Laura Sobiech prayed when she found out her seventeen-year-old son had only one year to live. With this desperate prayer, she released her son to God’s will.

At that point, Zach Sobiech was just another teenager battling cancer. When his mother told him to think about writing good-bye letters to family and friends, he decided instead to write songs. One of them, “Clouds,” captured hearts and changed not one life but millions, making him an international sensation.

But Zach’s story is not just about music. It’s a testament to what can happen when you live as if each day might be your last. It’s a story about the human spirit. It’s about how God used a dying boy from a small town in Minnesota to touch the hearts of millions—including top executives in the music industry, major music artists, news anchors, talk show hosts, actors, priests and pastors, and school children across the globe.

Zach once said, “I want to be known as the kid who went down fighting, and didn’t really lose.” Fly a Little Higher is about how God used Zach to do something big."

Goodreads - Fly a Little Higher

I was in college when I first saw a video being posted on Facebook about a young boy named Zach Sobiech who had a cancer diagnosis.  I remember watching it and being captivated by his strength and his attitude knowing that death was right around the corner.  Fast forward a bit and I found this book on the shelf at Target.  There was no question that I had to read this book and get the full story of Zach Sobiech and his family. 

Fly a Little Higher is the story of the Sobiech family and how they relied on faith and each other to get through Zach's cancer diagnosis.  The book shares the high moments of happiness to the moment of Zach's passing.  It also shares the struggles that each family member faced, especially as they all planned for a wedding and for a funeral.  

Favorite quotes from Fly a Little Higher:

"But I do know that God is very, very close.  He will not abandon you.  Sometimes, when things are darkest, it is because God's hand is overshadowing you."

"They can talk about God and Jesus all they want, but it's how they live day-to-day and how they confront suffering that really tells the story." 

Can you imagine being in your teens and facing death?  At the age of 27, I cannot fathom having to accept that I was going to die.  I cannot imagine planning my funeral, how I wanted my last days to be, or how I was going to say goodbye to those I loved.  But Zach took it all in stride and truly believed that he was given cancer for a reason.  Zach's mother, Laura had the same belief that if he was going to die that God was using him for something much bigger than he understood.  Zach ended up writing goodbye songs for his loved ones and out of that came the song "Clouds".  It ended up being a ridiculously uplifting song for thousands of people around the world.  The song is catchy and has this tone that things will get better.  After rewatching SoulPancake's Last Days episode and reading this book, I found myself constantly humming the tune of "Clouds".  

This entire book and it's real-life characters are so positive in light of something so dark in their lives.  I would love to read a book from Zach's father's perspective or even his three siblings.  I felt like Alli had a pretty strong voice in the book.  I think that was because she was planning a wedding while Zach was nearing the end of his life.  There was a lot of turmoil for her and her parents as they had to decide what to do if it came down to Alli's wedding and Zach on his death bed.  I found it very interesting their logic to go to Alli's wedding if it came down to it because they knew Zach would understand and Alli would never forget they weren't there.  I thought that was very unselfish of Zach's parents to choose the day of joy for their living child than to be with another child while they took their last breath.  I don't know how they were ever able to come to that decision.  I personally would pretend that death wasn't lurking in the doorway and take the approach that we would handle that moment when we came to it.  Zach's other two siblings Grace and Sam were fairly quiet throughout the book.  I didn't feel they had a prominent voice like Laura and Alli did.  I would love to read a book from the perspective of Alli, Sam, and Grace.  I found it interesting that Grace didn't have a bigger role and voice in the book since she was so close to Zach.  

There was never a time in this book where I wished it would get on with the story.  It never lulled and flowed in such a way that I have never experienced a non-fiction book flowing.  I've actually had this book on my shelf for a few years.  But after seeing ads on Facebook for a new movie on Disney+ I knew I had to get this book finished so I could watch the movie.  As usual, I will give a review of the movie since I've finished the book.  The movie didn't even come close to the amazingness of this book.  I thought the movie was a bit of a disappointment and didn't do the book justice.  The way things happened in the movie didn't compare or line up with how they happened in the book.  I understand a lot of things had to be cut down because it is a movie, but there were some serious sequencing and events that I didn't feel were portrayed the same way as in the book. 

I absolutely loved the book.  The movie had a lot to desire.  I think I loved this book so much because the entire book centered around their faith, but it never felt pushy or preachy.  I give this book 5 big, fluffy clouds.  This book was absolutely amazing.  It's definitely a read for all adults.  

War Stories by Gordon Korman

 From Goodreads, 

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Restart, a story of telling truth from lies -- and finding out what being a hero really means.
There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America.

Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war -- from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there's more to the story than what he's heard his whole life, causing him to wonder about his great-grandfather's heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and importance of genuine valor."

Goodreads - War Stories

Last year I had a student who was obsessed with all things military-related.  It didn't matter what war or what branch, just as long as it had to do with the heroes of America.  I was constantly keeping an eye out for books that I thought he would enjoy so that I could make recommendations.  Even though this student has moved on to sixth grade, I still try to keep an eye out for books I think he would like. 

War Stories is a story that is intermingled in the past and the present.  The book rotates between telling the story of Jacob Firestone while he was stationed in France and telling the present-day story of Jacob Firestone, his grandson Daniel, and his great-grandson Trevor.  Jacob Firestone has been labeled as a hero for helping free a small French village and has been invited back to the village for an award.  Trevor thinks it is beyond awesome that his G.G. is a war hero, much like the video games he plays, and that he is receiving an award.  Daniel thinks G.G. is too old to be going back to Europe to retrace his path during the war and that Trevor idolizes war too much.  On the journey to the French village, each will learn something about themselves and each other, until the truth eventually comes out. 

I loved the alternating story format that Korman used in this book.  I felt like it really kept me interested in the story the entire time.  Since G.G. is making a journey back through Europe I think it was great to have the alternating timeline because it allowed us to have some insight as to what he was thinking about, as well as the stories that he was telling Daniel and Trevor.  There were times when Jacob's stories felt a little far stretched, but one can never truly understand or retell what happened during the war.  I do like that Jacob experienced loss during this book, but that he didn't paint an extremely gory picture.  He just reflected and made a passing remark that he wished he could unsee that.  Death in this book was very tastefully handled.  

While the alternating timeline format was a big plus in the book there was a very small thing that drove me insane THE. ENTIRE. BOOK.  The family name of "Firestone" was WAY overused.  It felt like every time Jacob's name was mentioned it was followed by Firestone.  I get it if it's a flashback and his buddies are all talking and call him Firestone.  But none of them did.  After the first few chapters of referring to him as "Jacob Firestone," it was pretty clear what his last name was and it was beyond unnecessary to keep mentioning it.  Also, I hated that we never got closure on Beau!  The entire time it was Jacob, Beau, Freddie, and Leland.  We know that Freddie and Leland "bought it" as they all called it and didn't make it home.  And we know that Beau was injured, but we never find out what happened with his life or if he stayed in touch with Jacob.  That was extremely frustrating to see the outcomes of the characters but to never find out what happened to Beau. 

Overall, this was a good book, but it doesn't make the top ten for books by Korman.  This war genre just doesn't seem like his genre and felt like he was grasping at information and straws to write this book.  I think middle school boys will find it interesting, but it wasn't a big hit with me.  I have to give it 2 stars.  If you like books by Korman or war-themed stories, this is definitely one to add to your "To-Read" list. 

Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

From Goodreads, 

"The story of an irrepressible girl with cerebral palsy whose life takes an unexpected turn when she moves to a new town.

Ellie’s a girl who tells it like it is. That surprises some people, who see a kid in a wheelchair and think she’s going to be all sunshine and cuddles. The thing is, Ellie has big dreams: She might be eating Stouffer’s for dinner, but one day she’s going to be a professional baker. If she’s not writing fan letters to her favorite celebrity chefs, she’s practicing recipes on her well-meaning, if overworked, mother.

But when Ellie and her mom move so they can help take care of her ailing grandpa, Ellie has to start all over again in a new town at a new school. Except she’s not just the new kid—she’s the new kid in the wheelchair who lives in the trailer park on the wrong side of town. It all feels like one challenge too many, until Ellie starts to make her first-ever friends. Now she just has to convince her mom that this town might just be the best thing that ever happened to them!"

Goodreads - Roll with It

I am constantly trying to add to my classroom library.  I try to find books that I think kids will want to read.  There's this fine line between it being a cheesy book or it being an amazing edge of your seat book.  I feel like this book fell a little more to the cheesy side, but it had a wonderful main character who is wheelchairbound due to cerebral palsy. 

Ellie has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair.  She is strong and independent and is constantly letting her mom and her aide at school know that.  But after Ellie's grandpa drives through the front of a grocery store in Oklahoma, Ellie and her mom decide to pack up and move to help her grandma.  Ellie is at first unhappy with the move, but she makes two new friends and an amazing teacher that pushes her to go the extra mile. 

I'm not going to sit here and lie... I read the reviews on Goodreads after finishing a book.  I always want to see how my thoughts and feelings toward a book compare with other peoples.  I had a lot of mixed feelings after looking through the reviews.  A LOT of people weren't happy with Sumner or this book.  People were ranting that able-bodied people don't need to write books from the perspective of a child who is disabled.  For the record, Sumner's son has cerebral palsy.  So she isn't completely lacking in knowledge about this.  And I can almost guarantee that after being with her child and having conversations with him, she was able to write a book on what he feels like and deals with.  I think that we need more books featuring disabled people.  And people also need to keep in mind that not all disabled people can sit down and just write a book.  Some may need additional help or even a voice to tell their story.  This isn't a true story.  It is fiction.  People need to calm down on the bashing fest of this book.

Now that I am stepping off my soapbox, I can share my thoughts on the book.  I thought this was an extremely cute book and that it probably does reflect the feelings of someone with cerebral palsy living in a wheelchair.  I know that if I had cerebral palsy and had been in a wheelchair my entire life, I probably wouldn't be rolling around saying "Oh!  Life is grand and fabulous!!"  It would suck to watch your friends be able to run and play.  It would suck to be treated differently all the time.  It would suck to not be able to do things yourself like going to the bathroom or taking a bath.  I think that Sumner portrayed those feelings and emotions much like I would if I were writing a book about a disabled child.  Disability books aren't always rainbows and sunshine.  We need to realize that life isn't always glamorous and that things don't always go as planned.  This book excellently executed that message. 

On the flip side of this book being straightforward, it was a little bit of a drag.  There were some low points in the book that I had to push myself to get through until something exciting happened.  It honestly lacked a plot.  I think Ellie's grandpa was the piece that kept the book moving.  It was heartbreaking at times to see him deteriorate and forget the people around him.  And it was terrifying that he would put himself in danger without even knowing it.  I think Sumner did a great job of portraying someone with dementia/Alzheimers.  

This was a cute book with a main character that is outside of the usual run of the mill characters.  She had an attitude and she was strong and independent despite her situation.  I think this is a perfect diverse novel to put in my classroom library.  I give this 3 stars.  

The Best Man by Richard Peck

 From Goodreads, 

"Newbery Medalist Richard Peck brings us this big-hearted novel about gay marriage from a kid’s endearing perspective.

When Archer is in sixth grade, his beloved uncle Paul marries another man—Archer’s favorite student teacher. But that’s getting ahead of the story, and a wonderful story it is. In Archer’s sweetly naïve but observant voice, his life through elementary school is recounted: the outspoken, ever-loyal friends he makes, the teachers who blunder or inspire, and the family members who serve as his role models. From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well."

Goodreads - The Best Man

The more I read middle school and young adult books, the more I find that I like certain authors.  Alan Gratz, Kwame Alexander, and Dan Gemeinhart all rank fairly high on my favorites list.  Richard Peck has slowly wormed his way into this list as well after I read A Long Way From Chicago.  I was surprised that he continued writing into his 80s before he passed away.  When I found this book on Scholastic Book Clubs it seemed like a good book that had a good message and good diversity. 

The Best Man is told by Archer who chronicles the time leading up to him being the best man at a wedding.  We learn of the mishaps throughout school and the friendships that were made and built along the way.  The entire book is a journey to turn archer into the best man he can be. 

I loved the LGBTQ+ support that was present in this book.  It was a bit of a subtle thing at the beginning.  And I honestly don't think that a middle school kid would easily pick up on the hints that were dropped throughout the book about Archer's uncle.  And the entire journey that all of the men in this book were going through is a wonderful example of growing up and being the best you.  Archer and his dad have to learn to cope with the loss of Archer's grandpa.  And his dad has to learn how to readjust that aspect in his life.  Archer and his dad both help his uncle realize what he needs and wants and how to get it.  They are able to convince him to be happy with Archer's previous student teacher.  The book also touches on changes that are happening at the middle school age and the differences that start to become present between boys and girls.  This book was a wonderful coming of age story.  

The story wasn't quite what I was expecting.  The summary led me on to believe that the book was going to be about him being the best man at a wedding.  The entire book focused around school and everything that went along with it.  The wedding didn't happen until the final chapter of the book and even then it was a very brushed over event.  

The title of this book is definitely a double meaning.  Archer gets to be the best man at his uncle's wedding, but the big point is that archer learns how to be the best man.  He looks up to his grandpa, his dad, his uncle, and even his student teacher.  He learns what makes them the best men they can be and what he can do to be like them.  This was a good book, especially for it being Peck's final book before his death in 2018.  I give this 3 stars.  I think this book has the perfect balance with nothing that is too in your face and overwhelming.  

The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate

 From Goodreads, 

"Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family."

Goodreads - The One and Only Bob

I was so excited to learn that Katherine Applegate was releasing a new companion book for the book The One and Only Ivan.  I read it six years ago and did a reread just recently.  (My reread review was posted last week!)

The One and Only Bob follows a wiry little dog named Bob who first appears in The One and Only Ivan.  Bob now lives with Julia and is pretty content with his comfortable life and bed.  But he soon feels that something is coming.  Julia and George both say that a hurricane is coming.  Julia decides to go with George to the zoo to see Stella and Ivan before the hurricane hits.  But soon everything is a mess because a tornado makes landfall right on top of the zoo.  Habitats are destroyed and animals are everywhere.  But Bob thinks he hears a familiar bark.  He thinks he hears his sister.  He soon takes off to try to save her and save the rest of the animals. 

This book had emotion like The One and Only Ivan, but it was a different kind of emotion.  Bob really talks about his past and the demons he faces with the decisions he's made.  He is presented as a rough and tough street dog in the first book, but he definitely morphs into a very caring dog in this book.  I loved that he talked about how he felt bad for leaving his siblings behind when he was just a puppy.  They were thrown out of the car while it was driving down the road.  He thought he heard a whimper, but he thought only about food and shelter, and ultimately only thought about himself.  He faces this and has to learn how to sort it out and even apologizes to his sister when he finds her.  I love that this was brought up and he had to learn how to forgive himself.  I think so many people have made similar decisions and they've struggled with the decision that they made because they were only thinking of themselves.  You have to learn to forgive and move on.  This is something that Bob has to learn to do, and he makes amends in the best way possible. 

This book had a much different feel to it than the first.  It had a more upbeat feeling even though a tornado and hurricane happen in the book just moments apart.  I enjoyed it and give it 4 stars.  It was missing something, but I can't put my finger on what.  If you've read the first book I absolutely advise you read this!

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

 From Goodreads, 

"Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope."

Goodreads - The One and Only Ivan

Awards and Nominations:

• California Book Award for Juvenile - Gold (2012)
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's (2012)
• SCBWI Crystal Kite Member Choice Award for California/Hawaii (2013)
• Newbery Medal (2013)
• Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Grades 3-6 (2014)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2014)
• Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Nominee (2015)
• Bluestem Book Award (2015)
• Oklahoma Sequoyah Award for Children (2015)
• Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2015)

I tend to jump on and off the reading list bandwagon.  I've been working on reading through multiple award-winning lists for a while now.  I figured it was time to jump back on for a book or two before I lead astray and read random books.  

The One and Only Ivan is told by a silverback gorilla named Ivan who lives at a mall right off of exit 8.  His best friends are an elephant named Stella, a wiry dog named Bob, and a girl and her dad who clean at night named Julia and George.  But one day a new animal arrives to hopefully become the star of the show.  A baby elephant named Ruby arrives.  Soon Ivan makes a vow to get her out of the big top mall by hopefully painting a sign asking for help.  

I absolutely love that this book is based on a true silverback who lived a very similar life to the Ivan in the book.  This book has an overall sad feel to it.  You can tell that Ivan isn't happy in his domain at the Big Top Mall.  He experienced tragedy very young when his twin sister died after they were captured.  I think the emotion in this book was such a big piece of the story.  After Stella dies Ivan is determined to get Ruby to the zoo so that she can be happy and safe.  Even when trying to get George and Julia to pay attention he had to be aggressive to get them to realize what all the paintings they had meant.  I find it so intriguing to read about animals who have emotions and feelings.  I've heard so many people say that animals don't have emotions or feelings, and I absolutely disagree.  This book is a great example, especially since it is based loosely on a true story. 

In August 2020 this book turned movie was released on Disney+.  I watched it and felt it was only fair to give a good review of it as well with this book review.  The movie and the book have very little in common.  Mack was portrayed in the book as being a terrible human who didn't care about his animals.  In the movie, Mack cared for them to an extent.  He never used the claw stick in the movie which was kind of a pivotal point in the book.  In the movie, the animals all made a grand escape to go live in the wild.  That never happened in the book.  While I was watching I was quite confused as to what was happening since it was a turning point in the movie.  The movie was cute and it was well put together, but the book was way better in my opinion.  

This is a wonderfully cute book that has a good story.  I'm excited to read the sequel to this book which is told by the wiry dog named Bob.  This would be a perfect read in a classroom.  Especially since students could go research the real Ivan and his story.  I give this 4 stars.  

Blind Rage: A True Story of Sin, Sex, and Murder in a Small Arkansas Town by Anita Paddock

 From Goodreads, 

"When Ruie Ann Park—a pillar of the Van Buren, Arkansas, community—was found beaten to death and lying in a pool of blood in her home, the police and local residents assumed the son was the murderer. But the years would uncover a more sinister story.

Up till that night, the Park family seemed to have it all. For fifty years they owned and published The Press Argus newspaper. Hugh was well-connected politically and his wife, Ruie Ann, was the local historian, journalist, and teacher. They had a brilliant son and a shy adopted daughter.

They built a beautiful home on top of Logtown Hill with a vista overlooking the Arkansas River, but their idyllic life ended with divorce. Ruie Ann stayed in the home, becoming more bitter and more demanding of the daughter who couldn't match up to her beloved son.

The son, Sam Hugh, had a promising legal career but his fondness for young boys, alcohol, and drugs doomed what should have been a successful law practice in his hometown. The daughter, Linda, graduated from college, married an attorney, and moved away to a small town near Little Rock.

The police were baffled. Who was smart enough to hide all evidence and pass the lie-detector test?

And who would want to bludgeon this mother to death?"

Goodreads - Blind Rage

Over the summer I participated in my local library's reading program.  All summer I logged the books I had read hoping to win a gift card to some local shop.  And all summer my name was never picked.  The reading program ended on a Friday and I had pretty much given up and forgotten about the prizes.  But then I got an email saying I had won a grand prize which was a Kindle Fire!  Now, I'm super hardcore about books only.  I like the concept of a Kindle, but I like being able to read a book and then either pass it to someone, sell it, or put it in my classroom library.  You can't do that with a Kindle.  So that night I updated everything and set up my accounts.  I ended up stumbling across this book in the free section.  I recalled that my mom had read it a while back.  I downloaded it and then proceeded to devour it. 

Ruie Ann Parks was a well-known woman in Van Buren, Arkansas.  She had one biological son and an adopted daughter.  One night someone went into her house and murdered her in cold blood.  All blame was put on the son who was drunk the night before.  The daughter lived in Cabot which was hours away.  Police tried to get a confession, but one never came.  Ruie's son died.  A few years passed and the killer was finally apprehended. 

Spoilers Below!!!

It was Linda, the adopted daughter, who murdered her mother.  It was a moment of blind rage, but I also feel that there was a lot of things that built up to her snapping.  It was definitely stated that Ruie was a woman not to be crossed.  She dressed her son Hugh up in dresses and he was in dance class.  Linda was outcasted and often criticized for choices she made or didn't make.  The night of Ruie's murder, Linda showed up with one of her three boys.  He was asleep in the car.  Linda went in and was talking to her mother about how unhappy she was and that her husband was upset over something.  Ruie said that Linda needed to get over it and go home.  Linda stated that she was going to leave, but Ruie started making up a bed for her and the little boy.  Ruie was basically running her mouth and Linda snapped.  I think there were a lot of things that happened in childhood that led to Linda being treated much differently than Hugh.  I think that led to some resentment.  The book needed way more details about the two kids' childhood in it.  It would have made for a fuller and more interesting story. 

As the book was beginning and events were unfolding I immediately pegged who the killer was.  I actually called my mom and was like "It's the daughter isn't it?"  She kept on that she couldn't tell me, but ended up coming clean that it was.  There were subtle things that were mentioned that were just too obvious in the first few chapters.  I quickly and easily put the pieces together.  I don't know what that says about me or the law enforcement that was working at the time.  The title of this book is also a little questionable.  The first part "Blind Rage" makes total sense.  But the "Sin and Sex" doesn't quite make sense.  Linda didn't murder because of sins or because of sex.  Sure, Linda sinned when she murdered, but the sex part I questioned as to why it was included.  

This book was definitely interesting.  It was dull at times because it was just evidence and telling the story.  There's no ridiculous flair to the story and there are parts that are extremely boring and drag on.  After a little dive online I was able to actually find where the house that Ruie was murdered in is at.  I found it quite intriguing that I have driven by it multiple times and never knew the history of the house.  I give this 3 stars.  It is definitely a good read if you are from this area or even remember this case when it was happening. 

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

 From Goodreads, 

"When Jack meets his new foster brother, he already knows three things about him:

Joseph almost killed a teacher.

He was incarcerated at a place called Stone Mountain.

He has a daughter. Her name is Jupiter. And he has never seen her.

What Jack doesn’t know, at first, is how desperate Joseph is to find his baby girl.

Or how urgently he, Jack, will want to help.

But the past can’t be shaken off. Even as new bonds form, old wounds reopen. The search for Jupiter demands more from Jack than he can imagine.

This tender, heartbreaking novel is Gary D. Schmidt at his best."

Goodreads - Orbiting Jupiter

Awards and Nominations: 

• Missouri Truman Readers Award Nominee (2018)
• Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2018)

I wasn't a crazy and wild teenager.  I was well behaved, had my moments of rebellion, but ultimately was a rule follower.  I think walking the straight and narrow (for the most part) has opened up this genre where I want to read about kids who are rebellious or have a troubled past.  I just live vicariously through them.  This book gave me all kinds of feels as I read it.

Joseph is just a regular boy.  Except that he is in foster care.  And that he just got out of juvie for almost killing a teacher.  And that he is a teen father.  Joseph goes to live with a nice family who has a son named Jack.  Joseph just wants to find his daughter and meet her, but he also has to learn how to cope and be a part of a family.  

Spoiler Alerts Below!!!

This book was a super slow and super weird start.  One chapter in I was questioning if I would be able to read this.  I love that this book touched on topics that are so common in the age that Joseph is, but are never talked about.  Joseph is a teen dad.  And by teen dad, I mean that he is 14 years old and has an infant daughter named Jupiter that he has never met.  Joseph was madly in love with Maddie (Jupiter's mother).  I think that Schmidt very tastefully painted their love for each other.  It was a classic Romeo and Juliet type situation.  Maddie was from a wealthy family, Joseph wasn't, and they were never to be.  But they felt such a connection and love with each other that they ended up having sex.  Schmidt kind of glazed over the entire event, but focused on the aftermath of that choice.  Maddie got pregnant at 13, Maddie gave birth, and Maddie died.  I know that if I had read that as a teen I would have been like "OMG I could die!"  Not all kids are going to think that way, but I think it's good to have realistic events in books.  Teenagers need to realize that doing these things can have serious consequences.  It's not all rainbows and butterflies.  

I had no complaints about this book, but the ending... guys I was legit freaking out.  This is a huge spoiler alert.  But Joseph ends up dying.  Joseph's dad ends up showing up at Jack's house and demands that Jack's parents let Joseph go with him.  Jack ends up walking up to the house and Joseph's dad grabs Jack instead.  He is threatening to kidnap him basically.  Joseph ends up agreeing to go so that Jack will be safe.  They drive off and end up wrecking and Joseph dies.  I was BEYOND shocked and devastated.  Joseph had made all this progress throughout the entire book and had learned the value of family.  He was open to hugging his foster parents and they were going to fight to get Jupiter so she could live with them.  AND THEN HE DIED!!!  I was so upset.  The moment Schmidt killed him off I knew how the book would end.  It was such a jaw-dropping moment.

The entire book was so well written.  I'm so excited to pass this book off to the 7th/8th grade ELA teacher in our building.  I think she is going to love this and I genuinely hope she puts it in her library.  I give this 5 stars.  This is a perfect book for 7th/8th grade and up.  

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

 From Goodreads, 

""Hope is the thing with feathers," starts the poem Frannie is reading in school. Frannie hasn't thought much about hope. There are so many other things to think about. Each day, her friend Samantha seems a bit more holy.” There is a new boy in class everyone is calling the Jesus Boy. And although the new boy looks like a white kid, he says he is not white. Who is he?

During a winter full of surprises, good and bad, Frannie starts seeing a lot of things in a new light: —her brother Sean's deafness, her mother's fear, the class bully's anger, her best friend's faith and her own desire for the thing with feathers.”

Jacqueline Woodson once again takes readers on a journey into a young girl's heart and reveals the pain and the joy of learning to look beneath the surface."

Goodreads - Feathers

Awards and Nominations: 

• Newbery Medal Nominee (2008)

Lately, I've been powering through books.  I wanted to continue on my reading goal to read 52 books, but I wanted a quick read.  I've been avoiding this book for a while now.  I decided over a year ago that I was going to read it because it was small.  I settled into bed, opened the book, read two pages, and passed out asleep.  I tried again the next night and the exact same thing happened.  So I shelved the book and decided I would move onto a different book at the time.  I've been trying to read through my young adult books to get them off my shelves at home and back into my classroom or another teacher's room.  Needless to say, it was finally time to settle in and get this book finished. 

Feathers is told by an African American girl with the nickname Frannie.  Frannie's real name is Abby, but her brother who is deaf can say Frannie, but not Abby.  Frannie's teacher reads a poem about feathers and hope.  This leads Frannie to think about hope.  But one day at school there is a new student who calls himself Jesus.  Kids and Frannie start calling him Jesus Boy.  He stands out because he is white, while everyone else at the school is black.  Frannie will eventually learn the true meaning of the poem and of having hope. 

This book is packed with important lessons, but they all felt very scattered and unfinished.  I felt like this book should have had more storyline and more substance to really hit the lessons that are so important.  The entire book is centered around having hope.  At one point Jesus Boy and Trevor start to fight.  Jesus Boy knocks Trevor down and Trevor just sits on the ground in shock.  Frannie ends up running over and helping Jesus Boy help Trevor up.  Eventually, it is discussed why Frannie helped him.  She said it felt like the thing to do.  Jesus Boy even states that he hopes that if he becomes the big bad bully that maybe Trevor will let go of all his anger.  I would have loved for this to have been a big character development for Trevor.  That Frannie and JB ar nice to Trevor and he ends up letting go of some of his anger and making friends instead of hating everyone.  This book had a lot of potential for moments like that and Woodson just let them slip by and simplified the book.  

Because of Woodson not "finishing the book" as I'll refer to it, I felt like this book was so very shallow.  I didn't feel like it really delved into any of the characters and we definitely didn't find out what happened with all the characters, their friendships, their future, etc.  I most definitely want to know if Sean ends up getting a girlfriend or if Frannie's mom has a healthy baby.  These are exciting points that would have honestly made this book 10 times better. 

I've read some of Woodson's books before and I've disliked them all so far.  I don't know if it is her writing style or I just feel disconnected from the topics she writes about.  I give this one star.  This is a quick read, but it is also a very dull read.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

From Goodreads, 

"Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, crisscrossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.

Coyote hasn’t been home in all that time, but when she learns the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished - the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box - she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.

Along the way, they'll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there's Gladys....

Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her “once upon a time” into a “happily ever after”."

Goodreads - The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Awards and Nominations: 

• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's (2019)

During my second year of teaching, I had the opportunity to go to a reading conference for teachers.  I remember going into the convention center's main room where they had vendors set up and authors you could talk to.  There was also a school bus parked in the room.  It had been renovated and completely remodeled inside and was a library on wheels.  I immediately fell in love with the idea of having a mobile library and thought it sounded like a load of fun.  When I realized this book had a school bus at the center, I immediately knew this book would be full of excitement. 

Coyote Sunrise lives on a school bus with her dad Rodeo.  For the last five years, they have been traveling across the country following their hearts and running from their past.  After her weekly phone call to her grandmother, she finds out that the park where she grew up is being destroyed.  This wouldn't be a big deal, except that Coyote, her mother, and her two sisters buried a time capsule in the park.  Coyote's mother and sisters were killed in a car wreck and Coyote quickly realizes that she has to somehow get Rodeo to go back home first the first time in five years because that box is the only thing she has left of them. 

Favorite quote from The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise:

"It's something to have someone who misses you when you're gone.  And it's something to have someone who fights to get you back."

Coyote was by far my favorite character in the book.  She had a wonderful character arc.  In the beginning, she was very much like Rodeo in that she would go with the flow and was very laid back.  She agreed to his rules of no-go topics and was okay with not returning home.  Once she found out about the park being demolished, she started to change.  She was secretive to get Rodeo back home and found her voice.  She started talking to people that would help her with her quest for the time capsule.  Near the end of the book, she had completely changed.  She finally opened up to Rodeo about how she was feeling and laid down the law about going home.  Coyote's arc was beyond necessary for Rodeo to finally start healing.  I would love to have another book that follows the next chapter in Coyote and Rodeo's life.  

There were a few curse words in the book.  I really wish that more details had been given about Coyote's mom and sisters' death.  All we are really told is that they were in a car crash and that they were compensated for the accident.  I really wish there had been some kind of explanation of what happened.  It wasn't a necessary detail in the story, but I'm nosy and wanted the information. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  There were always new people joining the crew on the bus or something crazy happening.  I think this is a fantastic young adult book and I'm surprised that it doesn't have more nominations or awards.  I give this 5 stars.

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other by Craig Grossi

From Goodreads, 

"A heartwarming story of a stray dog and a U.S. Marine who met under the unlikeliest circumstances in Afghanistan—and who changed each other’s lives forever.

As part of an elite team of Marines, Craig Grossi was sent on his most dangerous assignment to the Sangin District of Afghanistan. He expected to face harsh conditions and violence from Taliban fighters. What he didn’t expect was to meet a stray dog, with a big goofy head and little legs—a dog all on his own, filthy and covered in bugs, in a bomb-ridden district, but who carried himself with confidence. And even though the Marines have a rule against approaching strays, Craig couldn’t help but offer some food and a pat—and was shocked when the dog wagged his tail.

From that moment on, they were inseparable; whether out on missions or back at the base, the dog named Fred went along. When the time came for Craig to leave Afghanistan, he knew that Fred had to leave with him no matter what. And as Craig tried to get acclimated to civilian life, Fred was there for him.

This book tells the inspiring story of two friends who ultimately rescued each other and the stubborn positivity and love that continue to shape their world."

Goodreads - Craig & Fred

I have always grown up with pets, and can't honestly imagine a time that there wasn't a special dog in my life.  As a toddler, I remember our Rottweiler named Odie.  Right before I started kindergarten my Dad brought home a beagle that had been abused.  I named him Shiloh just like the dog from the movie.  In Junior High, my Dad got an English Bulldog and George became my dog and his.  He passed away in 2017 and for almost a year my parents didn't have a dog and neither did I.  My Dad moped around and seemed lost without George and my Mom ended up splurging and getting him a French Bulldog they named Mickey.  And even though I don't live with them, Mickey and I have a special bond.  Needless to say, dogs make me say "Awww!" and I am immediately sucked into anything that includes a dog.  So it was no question to get this book when a student pointed it out at the book fair at school. 

Craig was deployed to Afghanistan when a dog wandered into their compound.  Craig was immediately pulled to the dog and started feeding him and caring for him.  Before he knew it the dog had been named Fred and he was one of the Marines.  But Craig knew that having a dog in a war zone was dangerous and that Fred wouldn't definitely be shot if taken back to their main camp, as dogs were against the rules.  Craig, along with some friends, had to work quickly to try to smuggle Fred out and back to the United States.  Craig knew Fred was special, but wouldn't find out how special until he got back home. 

First off, good news, the dog doesn't die in the book!  But honestly, this book was about more than just Fred.  The first half of the book Craig tells Fred's story and you are really led to believe that this is all about Fred and Craig's adventure.  But then Fred gets sent to the United States and you are left wondering what is going to happen next.  And the next is rough.  The rest of the book is Craig learning how to talk and cope with everything he has been through.  We learn that Fred's story gives Craig an outlet to talk about his time in a warzone.  This edition is meant for young adults, and I think some of my students would read it and be intrigued by the dog part, but bored by the healing.  As an adult, the second half of the book was the most important.  I think it is so crucial for veterans to talk to someone about what they've been through.  Someone close to me refuses to seek therapy and they are a different person because of what they have been through.  And to me, it is heartbreaking because this is someone that I was close to for years and now they feel very far away.  Craig really pushes the message that it is okay to get help and it is okay to talk about your experiences.  I think this is good for anyone to hear, veteran or not. 

This is usually the paragraph where I would talk about something I disliked in the book or something I thought that should be different.  I have no complaints about this book.  In fact, I have another positive comment.  At the very end of the book, there is a Memorium section.  It is written by the parents of two soldiers that were killed in action with Craig.  I think it is absolutely wonderful that he opted to have them and their thoughts included in the book.  I think it really shows that they were human and had lives outside of being Marines.  They were no longer just a name in a story.  And that is so important. 

I absolutely loved this book.  I honestly wish that I had read the adult version, but it was good for me to read this since I will be placing it in my classroom library.  I loved Fred and all the special things about him.  Craig and Fred have an unbreakable bond that is evident throughout the book.  I give this 5 stars.  Everyone should read this.  It is such a good book!!