Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel about the trials and tribulations of summer camp in the woods - the situations and illustrations are spot-on! As a former boy scout and camp cook, it brought back a lot of memories. The fact that Vera's camp happens to be Russian Orthodox makes it even more interesting! 4th grade + |
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Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth by Sheila O'Connor WOW! I was thoroughly drawn into the Vietnam-era history through the voices of the disparate main characters expressed through their daily notes and letters. The characters, settings and plot conflicts are all thoroughly plausible and recognizable, with the concerns and lessons as relevant today as in 1968. Themes of family, friendship, courage, forgiveness and thoughtfulness abound, presented without a heavy hand. I thought the ending was spectacular, pulling together threads in the narrative that I didn't even realize were loose! Highly recommended 5th grade + Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty A very entertaining story with lots of local connections for those who live near the Smoky Mountains. The book takes the historical context of the Cherokee and European settlement of the Smokies and blends in "Hobbit-like" Cherokee night spirits and magic. Throw in traces of "The Lorax" and "Oliver Twist" and you've got a story with strong environmental / diversity / friendship & loyalty themes without being "preachy". While this is apparently the first of a series, the book stands on its own and the ending resolves all important conflicts/questions. The Mad Wolf's Daughter by Diane Magras A fast-paced Scottish medieval adventure/quest with a young heathen heroin and the usual assortment of ruffians, villains, knights, witches, battles, escapes and rescues. A fun read that is clearly meant to be the first in a series ... while the story does have an ending of sorts, several important conflicts and questions are left unresolved. Grade 4+ Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard This book hit me hard because, like the main character's grandfather, my mother suffers with Alzheimer's. Themes of friendship, family, and understanding are revealed through the eyes and actions of a gritty and temperamental 10 year old girl, with a dash of auto maintenance and maple syrup making thrown in for good measure! 4th grade + Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages A well written and fun book centered around little league baseball in the 1950's, but the plot is really about equal rights, the early days of the Space Race, and strong females. Think a combination of "Hidden Figures", "A League of Their Own", and "Bad News Bears"! Grades 4+ Winterhouse by Bet Guterson A well-written and very entertaining story - wacky characters and a magical setting reminiscent of Roald Dahl, a mystery to solve full of codes, clues and word puzzles, and just a dash of magic that made me think of "Harry Potter". A long book at 370 pages, but well worth the time and I wouldn't have left anything out. Highly Recommended! Grades 4+ The Truth as told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor Wow! Fantastic story that reminded me of "Flowers for Algernon" and "Bridge to Terabithia". The characters are wonderful (Mason, Calvin & Ms. Blinny) and the themes of friendship, family, bullying and acceptance blend together in this wonderful story. Heart-wrenching and tear-jerking, but well worth the emotional roller coaster. This will join my repertoire of read-aloud books for my 4th grade class - Highly recommended 5th grade and up. The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd I was hooked by Natalie Lloyd's "A Snicker of Magic" and "The Key to Extraordinary" from the first page, but I had trouble getting into this book - an awful lot of surreal characters to keep track of and a wandering plot made it difficult to connect with the storyline. Things settled down and got better about halfway through, but I got frustrated again towards the end when it became apparent that there was no way this story would be worked out in one book - there are clearly (possibly multiple) sequels planned. Reminds me somewhat of "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Grades 4+ |
AuthorScott McIlquham Archives
October 2018
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