Also known as Harper

Also known as Harper

by Ann Haywood Leal

IL: Grades 5-7

RL: 5+

Harper Lee Morgan is a 5th grader with a fondness for words. They settle themselves in her head until they just have to come out in the form of a poem or story. Her mama and teacher tell her she's quite a good writer, but she can't get rid of her daddy and his whiskey voice in her head telling her that her words are sloppy. Daddy left a year ago, but that doesn't stop Harper's 5 year old brother Hemingway from waiting by the road each night to welcome him home.

Unfortunately, even though Harper's mama sometimes works even 3 jobs at a time, she just can't seem to make ends meet. The family comes home to a final eviction notice and has to take up residence in a motel- just temporarily. Life takes some hard turns for Harper, Hem and their mama as they settle in to the motel, but they meet some interesting people and learn what it is to be a family.

This novel tackles some hard issues about homelessness and poverty, but does so in a way that it's approachable for its audience.Because of the vernacular I think it's easy to think this book is set in the 50s or 60s rather than contemporary. I'd recommend this to readers who liked Faith, hope and Ivy June.

Leal, A.H. (2009). Also Known as Harper. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

Notes from the dog

Notes from the dog

By Gary Paulsen

IL: Grades 6-9

RL: 4+

14 year old Finn has a goal this summer. His goal is to not speak to more than 12 people because talking to people stresses him out. He's happy to spend time with his one true friend, Matthew, who is staying with Finn and his dad for the summer as his parents settle into their new divorce.

Enter Johanna. Johanna is a graduate student (Library and Information Science, woohoo!) who is house sitting next door. We quickly learn that Johanna has breast cancer- is a survivor in her words because as she says, "In my book, if you live one split second after hearing news like that, you're a survivor."

There are lots of things growing in this story. The garden Finn is supposed to be growing for Johanna, which is quite a challenge since he seems to have a black thumb. But most importantly is the growing of relationships across many generations.

Notes from the dog is a story of  growth, of community, of caring, and of commitment. In a short 132 pages, Palusen does it again and weaves a story worth reading. 

Paulsen, G. (2009). Notes from the dog. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

Warriors

Warriors

By Catherine Bereton

IL: Grades 5-8

RL: 4+

This book has great shelf appeal. It opens from a magnet "lock" in the middle of the front cover and looks like a gamer kid type of book. The book showcases 10 warriors from different centuries, from the Spartans through the Zulu warriors. It then pairs them in 5 battles and declares a winner.

I seriously love this book. After each battle we learn about each warrior and their strengths. The role they played in their society is detailed and details about that society are provided as well. Photos and drawings are clear, crisp and appealing. They clearly let you know when a picture may be somewhat unrealistic, as in the case with a picture of a Gladiator, which has the caption, "This Gladiator from a movie in 2000 is unrealistic, but dramatic."

All of the details are broken up on the page, making it undaunting to read and perfect for reluctant readers. It includes an index as well as a glossary.

I can see some of my gamer kids really enjoying this. And to think it's actually an accurate book! This would be a perfect addition for any  6th or 7th grade classroom or a school library. 

Harpur, J. (2008). Warriors: all the truths, tactics, and triumphs of history's greatest fighters.  New York, NY: Atheneum.

Scored

Scored

By Lauren McLaughlin

240 p.

IL: Grades 7-9

RL: 5+

**This book is scheduled to be published October, 25, 2011. I borrowed the advance copy from a friend and did not receive any compensation for this review**

This novel is set in the future and is the story of Imani, a girl whose family has agreed to have her scored. Money is scarce, entrance to college is brutal and jobs depend on it. Enter the Score.

ScoreCorp has developed a computer program that they say will help level out the playing field and allow people who wouldn't otherwise be able to advance do so. So how does ScoreCorp score? Intelligent cameras that are nearly everywhere in town watch every move of those that they score. They record what  Imani and every other Scored. does. They know who Imani's with and the decisions she makes. And then score accordingly. It's almost as if the program can read her mind.

Forget having friends. The scored socialize according to their Score and are always looking for a way to move up in peer groups by increasing their score.

So what happens when a rogue teacher assigns a project where it benefits the Scored to work with the Unscored? What will Imani learn about ScoreCorp and the very nature of the score itself? This fast paced dystopian novel will grab more mature readers as they look at what it means to be recorded all the time.

McLaughlin, L. (2011). Scored. New York, NY: Random House.

Hatchet

Hatchet

By Gary Paulsen

195 p.

IL: 5-8 grade

RL: 5+

Thirteen year old Brian Robeson is on his way to Canada to visit his dad for the first time since his parent's divorce. When the pilot suddenly dies Brian finds himself alone and in the air with no experience flying a plane save for the few minutes the pilot let him use the controls. He tries communicating with control tower and is successful for only a few brief seconds. With no reception and no fuel Brian is forced to crash land the plain.

Alone in the wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back (even his windbreaker is in shreds) and the hatchet his mother gave him as a going away gift Brian must figure out how to survive. He quickly learns what all inhabitants of the forest know- that existence is all about food and about shelter from predators.  Brian learns how to build fires, catch fish, hunt land animals and stay alive. With every potential mistake a fatal one, will he ever be rescued? 

Gary Paulsen is a master story teller and readers who crave adventure will dig right in to this classic. Be prepared to have plenty of other Paulsen books at the ready because when they finish with this one they will most certainly be asking for more. For readalikes see authors such as Will Hobbs or Ben Mikaelson.

Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. 

Rapunzel's Revenge

Rapunzel's Revenge

By Shannon and Dean Hale

Illustrated by Nathan Hale

144 p.

IL: Grades 5-8

RL: 3+

Ok. I'll admit it. I don't usually pick up graphic novels. I know, I should be ashamed of myself, but I'm just not a huge fan of pictures and word bubble and all that. Rapunzel's Revenge, however, was quite an enjoyable read. If you're a California middle school teacher, you may want to share it with your students and cover the "Fractured Fairy Tale" portion of the state standards. Who knew learning the standards could be so much fun!

Just in case you've never heard of Rapunzel, here is a brief summary of the fairy tale. Rapunzel is the story of a poor peasant husband and his pregnant wife who live in the forest outside the garden of an evil enchantress named Dame Gothel. Mom-to-be is craving rapunzel, a lettuce like plant which just so happens to grow in the garden next door. Her poor husband sneaks in the garden to steal the leaves and satisfy his wife's craving and gets caught. He agrees to give Dame Gothel the baby upon her birth in exchange for his life. Gothel names the baby Rapunzel and raises her as her own. 

This version of Rapunzel's story has a Wild West setting and Rapunzel is quite a spunky character. I don't want to give too much away, but expect a surprise visit from anther fairy tale character- a young man named Jack who is very attached to his goose and a certain bean. Jack and Rapunzel travel across Gothel's land, determined to free the people from her tyranny using their wits and Rapunzel's braids. Will they be successful? Pick up this fun read and find out!

Hale, S. and Hale, D. (2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsbury.

Chains

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
316 p.
IL: Grades 7-9
RL: 5+

Laurie Halse Anderson does it again! Chains is set in Colonial America in 1776. Young Isabel is a slave girl whose master, Miss Finch, has recently died. While mourning her master’s death, Isabel’s attention is really focused on freedom. You see, Finch has told Isabel  that her will states that upon her death Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth- who she describes as simple- will be freed. Unfortunately,  Finch’s nephew has other ideas and the lawyer who drafted the will has left the area on business.

The girls are sold the the highest bidders- The Lockton’s who are Loyalists. The are taken from Rhode Island to New York where Isabel soon finds that her mistress is a very cruel lady. At the urging of a slave with Patriot ties Isabel soon begins to spy hoping that this will lead to her freedom. She soon finds that the road to freedom doesn’t lie with either the Patriots or the Loyalists and that she must seek it herself if she hopes to save herself and Ruth.

This book is painful to read at times as Anderson does not attempt to shield the reader from the brutalities of slavery. However, this story of hope and perseverance is one worth reading. I’m looking forward to Forge and the other installments in this series.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. (2008). Chains. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

You wouldn't want....

You wouldn’t want to be an Inca mummy
Written by: Colin Hynson
Illustrated by: David Antram

IL: Grades 4-7
RL: 5+
  










This series has 20+ titles and the format is especially appealing to the age group for whom they are written. They are factually correct and contain all the gory bits and details, accompanied by comical drawings that they really speak to their audience. 

These books are published by the Salariya Publishing Company, a company that seems to have figured out what they do well and continue to do it.

This particular volume appealed to me because it seems that there isn’t a lot of browsing/ quick read type material on the Ancient Incas,  which in California must be taught according to the State Standards. This would make a good addition to any middle school library or 7th grade classroom.

While reading ...Inca mummy I found myself learning things about the Inca Empire that I was clueless of. For instance, did you know that once the dead Sapa Inca (which means “only emperor”) dies all but his eldest son (the new Sapa Inca) had to parade the mummified body through all the empire for a year followed by mourners?

Each chapter is only 2 pages and contains a lot of illustrations, making them very accessible to all readers. The “Handy Hints” contained in each chapter alternate between hilarious, gruesome and just plain “eeew!” Even better, each contains a glossary and an index, which are sometimes missing in funner type non-fiction. 

Pick one up. I bet you’ll find yourself laughing, learning, groaning, and maybe even feeling squeamish all in one short read.

Hynson, Colin. (2008). You wouldn't want to be an Inca mummy. New York, NY: Franklin Watts.