Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett

From Goodreads,

"Before Mac Barnett was an author, he was a kid.
And while he was a kid, he was a spy.
Not just any spy.
But a spy...for the Queen of England.

James Bond meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid with this groundbreaking fully-illustrated chapter book series Mac B., Kid Spy. The precious Crown Jewels have been stolen, and there's only one person who can help the Queen of England: her newest secret agent, Mac B. Mac travels around the globe in search of the stolen treasure...but will he find it in time? 

From secret identities to Karate hijinks, this fast-paced, witty and historically inspired chapter book will keep readers guessing until the very last page. With full-color illustrations and fascinating historical facts masterfully sprinkled throughout, this series offers adventure, intrigue, absurdity, history and humor. Discover this totally smart and side-splittingly funny new series, and experience what it's really like to be a kid spy."

Goodreads - The Mac Undercover

At the beginning of this school year I applied to be a part of the Scholastic Insider program.  The program sends teachers a book each month for them to review and share with their students.  Surprisingly I was able to get accepted into the program and I received my first book yesterday.  I was absolutely excited and sat down to read my first book, Mac Undercover. 

This book is about a young boy named Mac who gets a phone call from the Queen of England about her missing spoon.  He flies to England and decides to become a spy to help the Queen find her spoon.  As the story unfolds we find that Mac tries to steal the Mona Lisa, but fails when someone else steals it from him.  The book comes to a hilarious end that left me begging for a second book. 

I absolutely loved that this book was packed with historical references and locations.  For example one of the references was the Louvre.  Mac talks about some of the things housed there and informs us of which of them have good names.  I think that this book is packed with so many references that it could be used as a springboard for a research project to study famous buildings and pieces of art.  Students could research the details of the topic and really connect it back to the book.  I think that many of my students will have their interest piqued by something in this book and they will have a strong desire to research and investigate. 

This book was packed with illustrations that went along with the story.  I had mixed feelings with the fact that only a few colors were selected and used to color the pictures, but I eventually got over it.  The illustrations really gave the story a different dimension and they were kind of funny.  It made the book seem more interesting because it has the comical pictures to go along and help the story. 

I am so excited about sharing this book with my students.  I think that many of my boys are going to absolutely love this book, and honestly some of my girls may love it too.  I give this 5 stars. 

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

From Goodreads,

"Join Joey and his sister Mary Alice as they spend nine unforgettable summers with the worst influence imaginable--their grandmother!"

Goodreads - A Long Way From Chicago

Awards and Nominations:

• National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature (1998)
• Newbery Medal Nominee (1999)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2000)

I remember checking this book out when I was in school.  I tried to read it, but found it boring.  So naturally I hadn't planned on reading this book.  But I had planned on reading A Year Down Yonder because it is the 2001 Newbery Medal Winner and I'm reading through the list.  But once I realized that A Year Down Yonder is the second book of this trilogy, I knew I had to read the first book.  

This book is narrated by Joey as he tells of the summers he spends with his sister Mary Alice and his grandmother, Mrs. Dowdel.  They first visit in 1929 and end up visiting every summer.  Each chapter is the story and adventures of what happened that summer. 

I read through this book in a few hours.  It was so good.  This book is set up in a unique format because each chapter is a different year and snapshot of the summer that Joey and Mary Alice spent with their grandma.  At first I thought that I was really going to dislike the format and lack of a storyline, but it really grew on me.  The grandmother is very quirky and interesting.  I think that the book being in short story format really allowed the grandmother to be interesting, but also give her some mystery because the kids never knew what she was going to do next. 

This book also had some strong messages that I really loved.  One of my favorites was the strength of women and their independence.  Mrs. Dowdel is very independent in this book and she is strong for being a woman in the 30s.  She does what she wants, when she wants.  The expectations of women during this time were for them to be a housewife and mother.  They were expected to be prim and proper, but Mrs. Dowdel broke all the rules.  She stood up for what was right.  In today's world we see women being overly sexualized and they are seen as objects.  I think that young girls need good role models in literature, and Mrs. Dowdel is an excellent role model for being strong and independent.  

This book is so unique and interesting.  I am so glad that I read it and I'm extremely excited to read A Year Down Yonder.  I think that many kids would enjoy this book as a read aloud.  I am definitely considering reading this to my class.  I give this book 5 stars.  

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

From Goodreads,

"Perfect for fans of Charlotte’s Web and The One and Only Ivan, Saving Winslow is an uplifting modern classic in the making about a young boy who befriends an ailing newborn donkey and nurses him back to health, from New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech.

Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army.

Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.

Written in the spirit of Creech favorites Moo and Love That Dog, this standout tale about love and friendship and letting go will tug at the heartstrings."

Goodreads - Saving Winslow

I ordered this book through Scholastic.  Upon receiving my box I realized that this book was missing.  They sent me an e-mail and said that the book was on back order and that they would send it as soon as they had more in stock.  After school started I received the book in the mail.  I had some spare time while my kids ate snack and decided to start reading it.  As I read, my students would sit staring at me, mesmerized as I read to them.  It was the most amazing spectacle to see a group of kids so focused and interested in a book.

Saving Winslow is about a baby donkey that is quite sickly after it is born on Uncle Pete's farm.  Uncle Pete takes the baby donkey to his nephew Louie who decides he is going to save the poor donkey.  Louie names the baby donkey Winslow and vows to make sure he survives.  While he is trying to keep the baby donkey alive he continues to miss his brother Gus who is in the Army.  As time progresses Louie continues to miss his brother, but he also gets to experience Winslow growing up and going through firsts.  The book comes to an exciting climax as neighbors start complaining about Winslow being in the neighborhood.

Not only is this book adorable, it has a wonderful message about hard work, determination, and perseverance.  Everyone told Louie that the baby donkey was going to die, but Louie was determined to make it live.  He wanted to make sure that the donkey thrived the same way that he had as a baby.  Everyone around him continued to tell him how hard it was going to be to raise a baby donkey, but Louie still persevered and put in the hard work.  I think this is a wonderful message for kids.  They need to learn that if they want something bad enough they just have to be determined, put in the hard work, and persevere when it gets hard.

One thing that I didn't like about this book is the mystery of Louie's brother Gus.  We know that he is away in the Army and that Louie misses him.  But we don't know if he is gone to training or if he is gone to war.  There was a lot of mystery surrounding him and I felt like we just lacked information about him.  I think that my students would have enjoyed this book more if Gus had come home at the end of the book instead of Louie just getting a letter saying he was coming home.  My students and I wanted more closure with Gus and Louie and their relationship. 

Overall, this was a wonderful book.  My students really enjoyed it and they were sad when it ended.  I passed it on to another class and hope that they take the time to read it.  I give this 5 stars and recommend this to young students and to teachers.

What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott

From Goodreads,

"It's a beautiful, sunny day. Callie Velasquez holds hands with her boyfriend Jeremy as they follow Callie's new BFFs Penelope and Lissa up the trail. The four friends are embarking on a camping trip -- a trip that immediately goes awry. They lose their way on the trail, and encounter a charismatic stranger with questionable motives. And when Callie stumbles upon a dead body, it becomes clear that the danger that lies in the woods is deadlier than she could have ever imagined. Tensions mount and friendships are tested as these teenagers try to survive the most sinister of circumstances."

Goodreads - What Waits in the Woods

Awards and Nominations:

• Missouri Truman Readers Award Nominee (2018)

It is finally October which means I can break out all the scary and spooky Halloween movies!  When I was younger I never wanted to watch the scary movies.  I was worried they would give me nightmares.  Then one day I walked in on my brother-in-law watching Saw and was hooked on the horror movie genre.  While I have always said I would read any book, I think I may have found a genre that I'm not a fan of: horror/thriller mystery.  While this was a good book, I had some mixed opinions on it. 

What Waits in the Woods starts with a recovery journal entry by an unknown person.  The story then quickly begins with four friends setting off for a five day hiking and camping trip in the woods.  The first night three of the seasoned campers tell Chicago native Callie that the skinner murdered some teenagers in the same woods they are in.  Callie is obviously freaked out, especially when they all start hearing creepy laughing in the woods.  Things go fine for a couple days, but then they veer of course and find themselves face to face with a stranger who says he has a cabin not too far away.  All of the teenagers just hope and pray they will all make it back to civilization in one piece.  

I did enjoy this book, but I really would have enjoyed it in movie format instead.  There are two problems I had with this book.  One is the author's fault and the other is my fault because of the author.  My first problem is that the book was slow.  Super slow.  The book started out calm enough, but there wasn't any escalating events throughout the book.  People weren't getting attacked and they weren't dying.  I was almost to the end of the book before the first death happened and an injury just moments after the dead body was discovered.  The book lacked fire and pizazz.  If this book was turned into a movie it would have to be really beefed up to make it scary.  I felt very bored through the first two-thirds of the book.  

My next problem is due to the book being slow.  I ruined the book for myself.  The book wasn't progressing with exciting events and horror, so I went to the internet.  I googled who the killer was and ruined the ending.  No one in the book was being attacked or murdered, and frankly there wasn't anyone to point the finger at.  I couldn't take it anymore because it was taking so long to form a suspect list, so I just found out who the killer was.  It of course made the ending disappointing and then I was looking for signs throughout the entire book, but a decision had to be made.  I was either going to stop reading the book or find out who the killer was thanks to Google. 

I honestly feel like I was more bored than thrilled with this book.  The slow progression was irritating.  I like horror movies because I feel like I'm racing to figure out the killer, but with a book it just isn't the same.  If you do decide to read this book, DON'T go look up who the killer is.  Just read the book and let it play out.  I give this 3 stars out of 5.  I won't be putting this in my classroom library, but would recommend it to teenagers and fans of the mystery/murder genre.  

That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

From Goodreads,

"It's been three years since the Virgil County High School Massacre. Three years since my best friend, Sarah, was killed in a bathroom stall during the mass shooting. Everyone knows Sarah's story--that she died proclaiming her faith. 

But it's not true. 

I know because I was with her when she died. I didn't say anything then, and people got hurt because of it. Now Sarah's parents are publishing a book about her, so this might be my last chance to set the record straight . . . but I'm not the only survivor with a story to tell about what did--and didn't--happen that day. 

Except Sarah's martyrdom is important to a lot of people, people who don't take kindly to what I'm trying to do. And the more I learn, the less certain I am about what's right. I don't know what will be worse: the guilt of staying silent or the consequences of speaking up . . ."

Goodreads - That's Not What Happened

One of my biggest fears as a teacher is that there will be a school shooting.  We have procedures in place and everyone knows what to do in the event of a lockdown.  Nonetheless, I am still terrified of it happening.  This book centers around a school shooting and the aftermath of the lies that spiraled out of control by hearsay and the media.

This book is told from the perspective of Lee, who is one of the survivors of the school shooting at Virgil County High School.  While there were many students who were in the building when the shooting happen, only six came face to face with the shooter and survived.  Each survivor has a piece of the story and a piece of the truth.  A lie spirals out of control about a victim of the shooting, and everyone believes it.  It is up to Lee to try to get the truth told and for each person to tell their piece of the story.

This story reminded me a lot of the book about Cassie Bernall who was a victim of the Columbine shooting.  The story went that Cassie was asked if she believed in God, and that she said yes and was shot.  I recall reading the book when I was in Junior High and I absolutely believed what I read.  However, after reading the book Columbine I realized it was far from the truth.  One student heard one thing, one heard another, and it came down to the fact that Cassie was actually never asked if she believed in God, that she in fact wasn't even asked a question.  This book reminded me so much of that same incident.  That's Not What Happened focuses on Sarah who was in the bathroom stall with Lee when the shooter came in.  The shooter did ask someone if they believed in God, but it wasn't Sarah.  Another student in the hall heard this and assumed it was Sarah responding.  While the stories were eerily similar, it also had an important message.  We can't believe everything we hear.  We need to get the facts straight from the people who were present, not the people who heard something in passing.  This is how gossip starts and snowballs.  One person says one thing, someone else passes it along with a little bit different information, and soon enough the story is out of control and far from the truth.  It is so important that we know the truth before we start running around and sharing information.  I think this could be a highly beneficial lesson to teach to students in middle school.

The format of this book was interesting the way it was written.  The first thing I noticed was that each chapter was labeled with XXX.  There were never any chapter numbers or titles.  I'm still not sure of the significance of the chapters the way they were.  I absolutely loved that throughout the book there were little informational pieces about each of the victims.  It was interesting to learn about them as a character in a book and not just a name on a plaque.  I also liked that the main character Lee asked for each of the survivors to write their story telling the truth of that day.  While some were reluctant, it honestly helped each one deal with the day and the demons they were harboring.  I've read other "school shooting" genre books and this is the first one that included the truth from the survivors and a small emphasis on the life of the victims.

This was a well written book by Keplinger.  While preparing this post I was shocked to find out that she wrote The DUFF.  I had no idea she was the mastermind behind that book. (I only watched the movie, but it was still really good!)  I think this would be a popular book with educators and with young adults.  The storyline of a school shooting is morbid, but it still has important messages.  Overall I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

From Goodreads,

"Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

With a forward by Markus Zusak, interviews with Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney, and four-color interior art throughout, this edition is perfect for fans and collectors alike."

Goodreads - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Awards and Nominations:

• National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2007)
• Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee (2008)
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction (2008)
• American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult Book (2008, Rescinded in 2018)
• Florida Teens Read Nominee (2009)
• The Inky Awards Nominee for Silver Inky (2009)
• Odyssey Award (2009)
• James Cook Book Award Nominee (2009)
• The Inky Awards Shortlist for Silver Inky (2009)
• California Young Readers Medal for Young Adult (2010)
• South Caroline Book Award Nominee for Young Adult Book Award (2010)
• Lincoln Award Nominee (2011)

This cover made me a little bit nostalgic.  The cowboy and indian figurine made me think of the times that I would play with my brother as a kid.  We had toy soldiers.  We had cowboys and indians.  We had a farm set with cows and fencing.  It really made me think of my childhood and the memories I have spending time with my brother.  However, the cowboy and indian on the cover of this book is there to represent Junior being an indian on the rez and a cowboy at school. 

This book is told by the main character Junior who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation.  He has spent his whole life on the reservation dealing with a lazy sister and drunk parents.  But one day he has had enough.  He decides he wants to go to the white school Rearden for a chance at a better life.  He soon realizes he is facing one of the of biggest challenges of his life and that he will have to find the strength to overcome them.

This book really surprised me.  I thought this was going to be a light hearted book until I realized how many awards it had.  While the book had its funny moments, it also had a strong message about perseverance and strength.  The book focuses on the hardships that Native Americans face.  Junior talks about how there are casinos that people work at, but that everyone is still broke and drunk.  One of the early turning points in the book is when Junior gets a book in school that has his mother's name in it.  He realizes that it isn't fair that he is being taught from the same materials that his mother was taught from over thirty years ago.  At this point he decides he wants to transfer schools so that he can have a better chance at life.  I think this is an important message for everyone.  We as a society seem to do what we have done for the past thirty years because that's just "how we do it".  I think we need to start branching out of our comfort zones and start looking for opportunities to better ourselves.  It's hard for me to take my own advice because I'm comfortable.  But I know there are better opportunities for me in my career and in my education.  I have yet to get my master's because I am scared I don't have the strength to finish it.  If we all work on persevering and finding strength in ourselves we honestly can accomplish anything we want to. 

While this book had a strong message about strength and perseverance, it was also very vulgar.  There were repeated cuss words throughout the book along with absolutely filthy jokes.  There were sexual references in the book and frankly I was taken aback just a little.  I will read absolutely anything, but I honestly read with a teacher mindset.  I read so I can put books into my classroom library and so that I can recommend books to students.  This was not a book that I would recommend to a fourth grader.  This book was full of vulgar language and references. 

This book was humorous and had a strong message, but it was also vulgar in my opinion.  If you can overlook the language and dirty jokes then you will definitely enjoy this book.  It definitely took me a few chapters to get over it, and even then there were times when I was still in shock that such words would be written in a young adult book.  I give this book 3 stars out of 5.  

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

From Goodreads,

"From the author of the critically acclaimed Wolf Hollow comes a moving story of identity and belonging.

Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift on a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow's only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.

Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn't until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger.

Vivid and heart wrenching, Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Seais a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family."

Goodreads - Beyond the Bright Sea

Awards and Nominations:

• Goodreads Choice Nominee for Middle Grades & Children's (2017)
• Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2018)
• Carnegie Medal Nominee (2018)

The past couple of reviews I have been extremely obsessed with the covers of books.  I've said before that the cover has to sell the book before the reader ever picks it up.  I like covers that are colorful and catch my attention.  While scrolling through Scholastic I stopped at this stunning book and immediately added it to my cart without reading the summary.  I felt that the cover told enough about the story.  I believed that it would be about someone going on a journey, where a feather played some important role since there was a feather hidden in the water and the sun.  I was so excited to finally dive into this book and go on the journey with the main characters. 

This book is told by a girl named Crow who is wondering who she is and where she comes from.  She does know that she was placed in a skiff as a new baby and sent to sea, only to wash up on the shore of a small island inhabited by a man named Osh.  Crow grew up happy and knowing nothing different, but she began to wonder where she came from.  Osh told her what little he knew and shared a pieced together half missing letter with her and a gold ring.  Crow was immediately set on finding out where she came from and along the way finding out who she was. 

I love books where people make a journey of some sort.  I really expected Crow to make a long distance solo journey to find herself, but she only traveled to nearby islands with someone usually with her.  This was a very subtle and slow journey, not a grueling one that is often seen in young adult books.  I love that Crow's journey was slow and that Osh made her think about her decisions before she acted upon them.  Osh gave her plenty of room to make her own decisions and to learn and fail.  I see so many people making decisions for their kids when they are perfectly able to make the decision themselves.  Kids need to learn to consider the options, pick one, and handle the consequences.  They need to learn how to fail.  As adults we make decisions for kids because it is so much easier to make a decision for them than to let them think, decide, and possibly fail.  We are all on a journey and we must all learn to make our own decisions.  I love that Wolk wrote Crow in this manner because she is a perfect model of how we should be living.  We need to take our time, think things through, be true to ourselves, and make our decisions.  Life is a journey and it is our journey to make. 

This book was wonderful and I am so glad that I read it.  I absolutely plan to use this in my classroom or to have it in my classroom library.  I love the historical aspect of this book and think that some kids would really invest in the history side of it.  I also love that there is a journey happening and it shows that it is okay to make a decision and it be the wrong one.  Mistakes happen, but we must learn to deal with it and move on.  I give this 5 stars and recommend this to anyone and everyone.