Eight Keys

A student handed me a copy of Suzanne LaFleur's new book, Eight Keys, and said I think you should read this before me. I jumped right in while my students began their reading time. It was VERY GOOD! I love realistic fiction with multiple story lines and this one did not disappoint.


Elise lives with her aunt and uncle because both of her parents have passed away - so there is that story line. Elise is starting middle school  - story line, with a best friend who still "plays" - so that is another story line. Elise's cousin is coming to live with them with her baby - story line. All seems very traditional to the "middle school realistic fiction" plot until Elise celebrates a birthday and gets a mystery key that might unlock the mystery doors in her barn! As a teacher, there are some great lines in the story about telling one's own story that I have copied for writing lessons, this book is just fantastic! 5 of 5 stars for Eight Keys.

Oldie but Goodie!

When a new copy of a book just sits and sits and sits on the shelf with students passing it by day after day it makes me want to read it.....just out of curiosity to see if it is a good book or not.



Owl and in the Shower gives the reader a glimpse of the environmental impact of humans and logging on the population of owls, but in a very easy and narrative way. Borden, the son of an out of work logger, sets out on a mission one day to kill an owl as a way to comfort his father over the loss of his father's job. A job that was halted because of the owls living in the area who are struggling from the loss of trees. Instead of killing an owl, Borden returns home with an owl which he wants to raise in his house. The owlet has a chance of surviving Borden's father if he can win his heart! 

A reading Community

My students eventually learn the term "reading community" as I use this phrase often in my daily talks about books and my daily inquiries with them about what they are reading and who they are talking to about books. I want the answer to eventually be people other than me. Why? Well once they start relying on others, hopefully kids their age even with similar reading interests, they become REAL readers, not just readers for my class. I want my students to develop that internal need to read even without my influence. That sort of built in reading community, one without me at the helm is what will continue students on their own personal reading life, not letting it end because they don't see me everyday after June. Their ability to develop people in their lives to discuss, share and gain book ideas from is probably my number one goal as a teacher each year.
Each year the students in my class/classes become a valuable members of my reading community. Some are still members, as they stop me in the halls or even email me (that is still one of the best things I have had happen as a reading teacher) to suggest or ask for new titles. As the year ends we spend a great deal of time discussing what we want to read over the summer. Making a big deal out of a summer reading list, because "you know you will have all that extra reading time!!" I listen intently as they book talk and discuss great reads from their year in hopes that others will want to add those titles to their summer lists. Here is a book I heard repeated over and over again. I knew I needed to read it soon! I had it on my own list for months, but it was constantly checked out in my room. So popular in fact that kids were making their own bids for who would read it next and so on. I had trouble keeping up with who had it, it was that popular!
4 of 5 stars for Amulet book one The StoneKeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
This is a fantasy graphic novel and the illustrations are beautiful! The story opens with Emily loosing her father in a horrible car accident. This causes the remaining family to move back to an old creepy home that was once their grandfather's estate. Emily and her brother Navin stumble upon an amulet with secret powers and a secret world that pulls them in. They must dive into the secret world if they are to save their mom and possibly change their past....could this bring back their father too??



I love when my kids find a book before I do and draw me towards it! I know that my methods are working if it happens often!

Blackwater by Eve Bunting

4 out of 5 stars for Blackwater by Eve Bunting
Epilogue - "The Backwater River flows through our town. I've lived with that river for thirteen years, ever since I was born. I've seen it run gently and I've seen it angry and hateful. My parents taught me to respect the Blackwater. I always knew how terrible it could be, but I didn't know how, one summer, it would change my life. I didn't know there would be deaths, and disgrace and misery, and that the river would be to blame for it all. Or am I blaming the Blackwater when I should be blaming myself?"


A dark, but appropiate for 6th graders, novel from Eve Bunting begins with an ominous opening that draws readers into Brodie's troubled summer where he has to decide whether to tell the truth - his involvement in two deaths - or stay silent and be known as the hero....The choice is made harder because someone else saw what happened and they want Brodie to tell.

Better Than Charlotte's Web?

Earlier this year I stumbled upon http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/ and fell in love with the daily entries from various readers. This lead to my following of many of these educators and book lovers on Twitter. Twitter has become my new favorite way to find out about books. The best part? Its FAST! Writers can't go on and on and on about a book. They have a limited number of characters in which to review a book!
That's where I first heard about The One and Only Ivan. It was being read by many as an ARC.....well, I'm not on anyone's ARC list...yet! So, the weekend it was released I bought it! I don't usually do that, but everyone was raving about this novel. One writer even said this book will replace Charlotte's Web as the best 4th grade novel!! I have come to agree, but could include 6th graders in that comment too. The "read it next" list in my classroom for this book is the longest I have ever seen and not one of the 20 kids who have read it so far this year have been dissappointed.

5 of 5 stars for The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Ivan is a silverback gorilla living at a highway circus. He has a very limited life, but only comes to realize this when a baby elephant comes to live in the exhibit also. Ivan promises an elderly elephant that he will save Ruby...but how? Ivan now has a mission and a reason for a better life than his solitary glass enclosure. Told in short narrative chunks, each titled by subject, the book is easy for lower readers to digest but will also grab your more advanced readers with themes of friendship, loyalty, and animal cruelty.

Beginnings

I read often, TONS, if the book is good... I share these children/young adult/tween titles and opinions with my students almost on a daily basis. There have been many students and a few co-workers that have asked if I have a list or blog. My answer was always, "No, but I should start one!" Well, today I can change my answer! The goal I have is to start with my most recent reads and work backwards, adding a new title each day with a brief review. I am also a member on goodreads, so here is a review I wrote on there today.

5 of 5 stars for The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine
Narrative about a young white boy's life in the south who's perception of white and black people is tested when an African American family comes to town and the daughter might be his only chance at a friend for the summer. This is one of those historical fiction books that just stayed with me for days after finishing it! I wasn't really into the story as it began, but like all good books, I was quickly hooked. I LOVED the way the main character is tested and changed by friendship, as I think any person is when someone who is amazing comes into one's life. This story reminded me of Moon Over Manifest, which is another favorite of mine!

If you are not a member yet, I strongly recommend joining! I am really enjoying the recommendations page and connecting with my students who have accounts with parent permission. :)