Bird Nerd review

 

Thoughtful, nerdy fifth-grader Nyla sets out to win her school's bird watching competition, while balancing old friends with new in this heartfelt debut.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Fifth Grader Nyla Braun knows everything about birds and what better way to prove to her classmates that she is more than just a bird nerd than by winning the Spring Birding Tournament. It is a friendly competition arranged by her teacher between her school in Philadelphia (the City Birders) and another school in the suburbs (the Burb Birders).  She makes a bird feeding station, visits local parks and visits with her fellow bird watching grandfather for tips.  But Nyla finds it may not be as easy as she thinks to be the big winner. 

 

The first thing that captured my heart was Nyla's gaze of wonderment on the beautiful front cover.  But this heart-warming debut novel is more than just about bird watching.  It is about family and friendships, perseverance, belonging and self-discovery.   Middle grade readers will find Nyla and her classmates relatable as she tries to navigate friendships, the desire to be popular and being true to herself.  Her family is very supportive of her birding passion and it was wonderful how encouraging they were.  Her relationship with her best friend Tasha changes as the competition gets underway and there are many ups and downs of balancing new friends with old.  There are many bird facts included in the story that offers a wonderful learning opportunity for kids and maybe even spark a new hobby of bird watching.  There are detailed descriptions of various birds and behaviors that kids will recognize from their backyard and may just want to stop and watch for themselves after reading about Nyla's experience. I loved how she journaled and recorded her findings and sharing her passion with readers.   This is a quiet, gentle book that I found to be a fast-paced read.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.~

 

Title: Bird Nerd

Author: Jennifer Ann Richter

Pub. date: October 2024, Holiday House

Genre: middle grade fiction

Hardcover, 240 pgs.

 

 

 

 

Ferris review

 

The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

It is the summer before fifth grade and Emma Wilkey (aka Ferris) seems to have a lot happening all at once. Her younger sister Pinky thinks she's an outlaw, Uncle Ted moves into the basement determined to paint the history of the world, her father thinks raccoons are taking over their attic and grandmother Charisse is feeling poorly and recently started seeing a ghost in her bedroom doorway.   On top of this, she gets an unexpected new hairdo from her Aunt Shirley that does not suit her.  But Ferris keeps in mind Charisse's saying that "every good story is a love story" to keep her focused on what she needs to do. 

The minute Ferris arrived into this world she knew she was loved.  From the very first chapter, that is exactly what this heartwarming and moving new middle grade novel gives us.  This story has so many things to offer from family, friendships, love, humor, community and a sweet ghost story.  Ferris's six year old sister Pinky is a wild child.  She gets herself in trouble numerous times wanting to be an outlaw on a wanted poster. Uncle Ted is separated from his wife and does not want to give up on the marriage, so recruits Ferris to be a spy and report back her findings about her Aunt Shirley's feelings.  Charisse's visiting ghost requests that the chandelier in the dining room be lit by candles.  Before the chandelier could be hung, her husband went off to war and never returned. Lighting the candles now will help him find his way back to her.  Ferris and her best friend Billy Jackson are determined to do this for Charisse even though they cannot see the ghost for themselves.  Her dad is mild mannered and reads encyclopedias and her mom pastes stamps into the S&H Green Stamps book and seems to be the one to have to deal with Pinky and her shenanigans. Each character is its' own story within the story. The family and community is quirky but it all adds to the book and Ferris's relationship with each one.  

 

There are new vocabulary words with their meanings for kids to learn, funny moments and sad moments, loss and grief and a very exciting ending that kept me turning the pages to see what happens.  The short chapters help make this a fast-paced read.  There is a lot for Ferris to sort out for such a young age of ten but she handles the situations with smarts, calmness and determination all in the name of love.  There is a bit of a magical presence for Ferris that she discovers about herself as well.  I am never disappointed when I read a story by Kate DiCamillo. The thing I like best about this book is that it is written with tenderness of relatable family situations.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.~

 

Title:  Ferris

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Pub. date: March 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: middle grade, fiction

Hardcover, 226 pgs.

 

A Rover's Story review

 

 Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resilience (Res) is a robot that was built for a mission. He is learning about his anticipated journey to Mars as he collects and processes information from the NASA Scientists.  After landing on Mars he will explore the planet, take samples, send back photos and locate a missing Rover named Courage. It is very important that Res finds Courage so he can bring it back online to retrieve its collected data.  But in the meantime, Res is also learning about human emotions and storing that information into his system as well.  But having human-like feelings is not suppose to be a part of Resilience's mission or a part of being a robot.  Res is determined to live up to his name and make his humans proud of him by completing his mission and being the first robot to return to Earth.

This is definitely one of my favorite books that I have read this year!  The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Resilience and a 12 year old girl named Sophie.  Sophie is the daughter of Rania who is one of the Scientists that created Res.  She writes letters to him while he is on Mars and the time spans over 21 years. Res will never know about the letters but they are an important part of Sophie's character.  As Res navigates the Red Planet, he runs into many obstacles and adventures where his emotions and human-like feelings take hold.  His interactions with Fly, a drone along for the mission and Guardian, an orbiting satellite, have humor and tender moments of friendship that I forgot they were machines.  I found myself wanting to keep reading his adventure as Res meets danger and many perils during his exploration. He problem solves sometimes without the command center sending information making him seem to be thinking on his own.  The author did a wonderful job giving Res emotion, feelings and a unique personality that you can't help but fall in love with.  At one point he questions his purpose and existence and I felt the sadness. This is what great writing does and how it gives us that certain connection to our reading.   This would have been a great summer read to my kids when they were younger.  They would have loved the concept of the book! It is a beautiful middle grade story about strength, hope, perseverance, friendship, love, family and of course, outer space and the exploration of Mars.   I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

Title:  A Rover's Story

Author: Jasmine Warga

Pub. date: October 2022, Balzer & Bray

Genre: fiction, middle grade

Hardcover, 294 pgs

 

The Year Money Grew on Trees review

Jackson is a 13 year old boy living in New Mexico during the 1980's and is offered an unbelieveable opportunity.  If he succeeds at reviving a neglected apple orchard owned by an elderly neighbor into a healthy and prosperous one, she will give it to him for a price of $8,0000 and gets to keep any profits he makes.  This sounds better than working at the local junkyard which his dad is fixing for him to do for the summer.  Jackson and Mrs. Nelson sign an official agreement between the two and his challenge begins.  He knows nothing about farming, apple growing or what to begin with first. After searching out a book from his school library, he realizes he needs plenty of help and recruits his sisters and cousins by offering them a percentage of the profits for their hard work.  He does not tell them though of the agreement that he has with Mrs. Nelson.  Jackson needs to learn many things on his own while facing struggles along the way. Not too many adults are eager to be helpful or become involved either.  These parts made me sad but he was persistant enough to learn and accomplish them on his own.  He bounces with every up and down thrown at him and working out solutions to many problems he ran into. What a group of hard-working and dedicated kids...........

I thought this was a great book!  I found myself cheering them on and was eager to keep reading to see how it would end.  This book also taught me plenty about apple farming that I never knew. There were times when the kids had to figure out how much items cost or how much they needed to sell to make enough money. Several math equations were worked into the writing as well. The author also included various illustrations, for example specific farming equipment, that I felt offered great visualization to something unfamiliar to young readers.  The kids had so much determination and hard-work ethic that they make wonderful role models for readers and  send the message that in order to succeed, you should never give up. It may even inspire some future entrepeneurs this summer. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9 and up. ~

Title: The Year Money Grew on Trees
Author: Aaron Hawkins
Genre: Fiction
Pub. Date: November 2010, Houghton Mifflin
Hardcover, 293 pgs.

On Snowden Mountain review

Twelve-year-old Ellen learns the quiet strength of family when her mother's deep depression prompts her to ask an estranged aunt for help.(goodreads summary)






This heartfelt story set in early September of 1942 during WW II,  contains numerous themes such as; depression, poverty, alcoholism and domestic/child abuse.  Ellen is trying her best to take care of herself and her mother who is suffering from severe depression ever since her father volunteered for the War.  Food is running out, funds are low and because her mother is not getting better she decides to contact her Aunt Pearl for help.  Aunt Pearl is a stoic, gruff woman from the mountains of Virginia, who insists they move from Baltimore and go back to live in Snowden.  Moving to the country was unexpected for Ellen and she is having a hard time adjusting to the simple rustic life.  There is no electricity or running water and only an outhouse for facilities.  When she attends the local school, she finds it is not like her school in Baltimore.  There are no desks but only benches with limited supplies and books.  She also has a classmate who smells like skunks and even though he is 15 years old, sits up in the front row with the 6 year old's.   As Ellen gets to know Russell better, she learns that he cannot read or write and has an alcoholic abusive father that makes him trap skunks for pelts instead of attending school regularly.  She also witnesses Russell's abusive father towards him and his mother first hand after he asks Ellen for help when his mother is beaten.  This is the first step towards an unlikely friendship for the two.  Ellen secretly teaches Russell school work and in return he teaches her the beauty of the mountains and nature around them. As the fall season closes and winter begins, Ellen starts to see things with a different view, where she eventually comes to accept the community she must now consider as her home. 

There are many other characters in the story that help in Ellen's character development.  Besides Aunt Pearl. there is Moselle Toms who is a busy-body and town gossip and latches onto Ellen for her own gain.  Ellen soon discovers that how things look on the outside is not always the same on the inside.  I liked that even though Aunt Pearl knew of this, she let Ellen find this out by herself so she could make her own conclusions about a true self.  Ellen also has fears of someday having the same depressive disorder that consumes her mother.  Aunt Pearl finally opened up about her family history and she learns many things about her Aunt and mother that she never knew before.  When I saw the cover of this book I thought it was a nice, gentle historical fiction for the younger middle grade readers.  After I read it, I learned just as Ellen did,  that you cannot judge a book by its' cover.  I feel it would be better suited for the middle school aged because of the heavy themes.  The end wrapped up very quickly and left me wishing for a few more chapters because it  left me thinking with further questions about Ellen or Russell and his mother.   I could visualize Snowden, Virginia in 1942, the rustic mountain town, Ellen's one room schoolhouse and each character easily with the beautiful descriptive writing style.  I could also feel what Ellen was feeling and thinking as she tried to adapt to the uncertainty of her future.  For being such a short story, it will leave the reader thinking about the realities of the past.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 11-13.~ 


Title:  On Snowden Mountain
Author:  Jeri Watts
Pub. date:  September 2019, Candlewick Press
Genre:  historical fiction
Hardcover, 193 pgs.

The Fourteenth Goldfish review

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?


Eleven-year-old Ellie has many unexpected changes since the start of middle school.  Her mom is a high school drama teacher and her dad is an actor that travels. They both keep telling Ellie she needs to find a passion. Her best friend Brianna has found a new group with the volleyball team. Her babysitter suddenly quits one day and her scientist grandfather, Melvin, comes home with her mom looking like a 13 year old boy. Apparently, he thinks he has discovered the fountain of youth which he experimented on himself that turned him back into a teenage boy. At the current moment though, he is designated as Ellie's new babysitter after school. Unfortunately, he wants to break into his old laboratory with her help to retrieve his jellyfish T.melvinus, which was used to create a compound to reverse the aging process.  Grandpa Melvin plans to change the world with this discovery and win the Noble prize but at what cost.........

This story would not only connect with a reader who is a science enthusiast but others may enjoy the humor and message as well.  It has an unusual theme with several funny moments and leaves you thinking about the interesting topic of people never-aging.  The short chapters move along quickly and smoothly while keeping its' reader engaged for the final outcome in the end. It is funny that even though grandpa Melvin now has a body of a 13 year old boy, he still dresses and acts like a 76 year old man .  He wants a younger self but yet is he ready for the changes that come along with it? The characters of Ellie and her grandpa definitely learn from one another helping bridge the generation gap as well.  Ellie also senses that what her parents want her to be, may not be what she is best at. When she opens her mind to science, she discovers that it is worth the try, finding herself wondering and thinking about the "what ifs".   Ellie also connects with a new friend Raj and there are many character developments within the story for everyone. There are several references to real people who have made scientific impacts on our world such as; Marie Curie or Robert Oppenheimer offering many teaching moments throughout the book. I loved that the author encourages her readers to observe the world around us and find the scientist in themselves. Once the story got going it was simple, fast-paced and could be a good book report talk for a reluctant reader. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10-12.~


Title:  The Fourteenth Goldfish
Author:  Jennifer L. Holm
Pub. Date: August 2014, Random House for Young Readers
Genre: fiction
Hardcover, 195 pgs.

I Kill the Mockingbird review

When Lucy, Elena, and Michael receive their summer reading list, they are excited to see To Kill A Mockingbird. But not everyone in their class shares the same enthusiasm. So they hatch a plot to get the entire town talking about the well-known Harper Lee classic. They plan controversial ways to get people to read the book, including re-shelving copies of the book in bookstores so that people think they are missing and starting a website committed to “destroying the mockingbird.”


Lucy and her two best friends are excited about the summer before their freshman year of high school. Their new 8th grade English teacher gives them a summer reading list and Lucy's favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is among the recommended. Unfortunately, her fellow classmates are not as thrilled as she is about reading it. With the help of her friends, they come up with a plan that blossoms into something bigger than they ever imagined.  Soon their intentions get out of hand and as the demand increases for the popular book, it soon turns into an unexpected revolt.

This story has everyday modern teenagers using and learning about the power of social media. Lucy, Elena and Michael's anonymous campaign gets everyone talking about the book and wanting it more by making it unavailable. The plan was to re-shelve books at local bookstores and libraries while also making a website declaring the destruction of the book.  Unfortunately, their crusade takes a bad turn and quickly explodes outside of their small town unknowingly realizing the impact the Internet can have.  Of course they have serious damage control now and problem solving was a key to eventually fixing the monster they had created.  Among all of this, each character seemed real with individual stories of their own. Lucy was coming to terms with her mom's Cancer, Elena lived with her Uncle above his bookstore because her parents died in a car crash and Michael was a baseball superstar discouraged because he is not using his skills to full potential.  Lucy and Michael also have this attraction to each other that is uncertain.  The three attend a Catholic school and there is a lot of religious speak throughout the book. The characters are definitely a rare breed for their young age, being such big book nerds and declaring what they do "for the love of books." It is refreshing though to find a clean, witty coming-of-age story. The chapters are short and flow easily for a quick read. For kids who have read To Kill a Mockingbird already, there are many references that they will connect to. There are so many other mentions of book titles and authors that I felt myself  saying "oh yeah, I know about that." The kids do learn a big lesson and take ownership for their actions which I was happy to see. 

I read that this book is recommended for grades 5-8. Towards the end, the kids are discussing what is in To Kill a Mockingbird and one reference is that "the story has rape, murder, lynching and rabies."  In our school district To Kill a Mockingbird is the big freshman year reading book and that subject was a short topic of discussion before the kids read it.  They should understand the content first so I'm not sure how this would be a good fit for a 5th to 6th grader.  I feel it may be better suited for a mature reader instead.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 12-14. 

Title:  I Kill the Mockingbird
Author:  Paul Acampora 
Pub. Date: May 2014, Roaring Book Press
Genre: fiction, middle grade
Hardcover, 166 pgs.

Marty McGuire Digs Worms review

Marty McGuire's third-grade class has a special assignment: Save the Earth! Even more exciting, the best project wins a special award. Marty's pretty sure her classmates' ideas won't stand a chance against her plan to turn the garbage from the school cafeteria into fertilizer. All she needs is a little help from her teammate and best friend, Annie--and the worms in her grandma's garden.

When Marty arrives at school, there are three terrific things on the "Third-Grade Stars Today" list. First, it's Monday!  Next, Marty is the classroom helper for the week and lastly, a special assembly is scheduled before lunch. The students learn that the interesting person presenting is Amelia Ranidae, a woman who devotes her life to keeping the planet green. She has a special challenge for the school she calls the "Save the Earth Project". She encourages the students to each come up with a way to help the environment and will return in a few weeks to present an award for the best plan. Marty knows that she will have the best idea when she and Annie come up with a way to help reduce the amount of garbage thrown away in the cafeteria.  They set up a composting bin, with worms included, for the students food scraps. By observing daily, they will journal the progress they find. Unfortunately, it is turning out to be a longer process than Marty thought. She is trying hard to be patient but when a few things don't go as planned, Marty finds herself discouraged and wonders if this was the best idea for a project after all.

Marty Mcguire is a great character who doesn't mind rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty in this book! This was a wonderful story that has a lot of learning potential for its' readers. I liked that it teaches young kids about the importance of taking care of our environment and inspiring awareness to keep our planet green. It offered a wide variety of vocabulary words pertaining to nature such as; habitat, indigenous,inhospitable, observation and environment, just to name a few. It also instructs the reader about building a composting bin and how worms play an important role in the fertilization process. All the kids in Marty's classroom came up with some very creative and funny ways to help the planet that stays true to a third grade classroom experience.  I also like that Marty makes mistakes and she learns and grows from them. There are also some wonderful adult characters where each one adds wisdom, guidance and encouragement, something kids really need in their everyday life. This is a nice chapter book series where the author really captures the spirit of the character giving her a believable voice that kids will not only find likable but learn something new as well. There is an introductory book called Marty Mcguire that kids may want to read first. I am looking forward to a third book someday hoping Marty's adventures keep going strong.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-9 .~

Title: Marty Mcguire digs worms!
Author: Kate Messner
Pub. Date: April 2012,  Scholastic
Genre: realistic fiction, chapter book
Paperback, 161 pgs.

Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm review

Judy does seem to have the best luck ever lately. Especially since the lucky penny in her pocket came from the penny making machine.  It helps her win at the prize claw (not once but three times) and also win the highest score at bowling. She just knows it will get her the big spelling bee win for a trip to Washington D.C. to represent her classroom. But just as luck would have it, she mistakenly drops her penny in the worst imaginable place and all the magic seems to disappear.

Judy Moody is one of my favorite series for grades 2-4.  As always, one thing leads to another making this an entertaining and funny read.  Sometimes it is just nice to have a book to read that puts a humorous spin on things.  This story moves quickly along from having good luck to not having good luck, a trip to Washington D.C.  to babysit a pig, the realization of  a friendship and answers the question; does good luck really need to come from an object? It also offers a nice description of Washington D.C. for kids who have never been there and a wonderful connection for kids who may have. When Judy and her brother Stink babysit for Jessica's pig at the hotel, this makes for an entirely new adventure for the two to work out.  Just like in the other books, Judy's character is definitely spunky and has a bit of sass to her throughout the storyline. She does make for a lighthearted character full of spirit though.  The illustrations are just as fun and is an added touch to the story.  Kids will find a chuckle or two after reading another one of Judy's adventures. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-9.~

Title: Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm
Author: Megan McDonald , Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Genre: fiction, middle grade
Pub. Date: August 2012, Candlewick
Hardcover, 157 pgs.

Spy School review

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: C.I.A. or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science—but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior C.I.A. academy. Could the C.I.A. really want him?Actually, no. There’s been a case of mistaken identity—but that doesn’t stop Ben from trying to morph into a supercool undercover agent, the kind that always gets the girl. (goodreads summary)


Ben Ripley does the same thing everyday feeling that his life is not very interesting.  That is...until he arrives home from school one day and finds Alexander Hale, CIA Agent/Spy sitting in his kitchen. His life changes abruptly when he discovers he has been recruited to attend the Academy of Espionage of the CIA. Ben has dreamed of becoming a spy and chooses to leave his family and friends, who all think he will be attending a Science Academy because of his nerdiness and high math skills. He soon learns that he has been recruited for his cryptography skills and finds on his first day that there are others who also want him for various reasons as well.  He is thrown full force into the world of fighting ninjas, nonstop action and danger, assassins, secret tunnels, bombs, kidnapping and of course, Erica the pretty girl, who is also the daughter of Alexander Hale.  Ben and Erica team together in hot pursuit of exposing a mole at the Academy who is leaking information to a special secret agency about Ben's ability and a secret code he may have developed. With Ben's life on the line and danger at every turn,  he will soon know if he really has what it takes to be a special CIA agent or stay in his uninteresting life but only if he makes it through this adventure alive.

This book is definitely for the reader who loves action, adventure and anything spy related. It has twists and turns in every chapter and there were so many characters involved that it took awhile for the mole to be revealed. It was fun to try and figure out who I thought the mole was only to find that I was wrong more than once. The story was fast-paced and may attract the attention of reluctant readers. It is not only for boys who like spy novels but girls may find this likable as well. Erica is a strong main character and portrayed as a heroine in many instances as she saves Ben from danger on more than one occasion. She definitely has spy skills and intelligence and knows how to use them. The adults in the book though are quite clueless and the kids are definitely the ones who are written with all the smarts.  It does have a wide variety of good vocabulary giving kids an opportunity to find new words. I did find minor cursing starting about 25 pages in and a couple other times towards the end. The action and peril is ongoing throughout each chapter moving  you to the next one quickly. In such a short time, Ben does show character development and discovers that he is capable of more than he thought and what it really means to be a CIA agent. There is good indication that there is room for another book or two with Ben and his Espionage friends in the future. I think this is a "just right book" for grades 6-8.~

Title: Spy School
Author: Stuart Gibbs
Genre: fiction, adventure
Pub. date: March 2012, Simon & Schuster
Hardcover, 291 pages

Pie Review

When Alice's Aunt Polly passes away, she takes with her the secret to her world-famous pie-crust recipe. Or does she? In her will, Polly leaves the recipe to her extraordinarily surly cat Lardo . . . and then leaves Lardo in the care of Alice. Suddenly Alice is thrust into the center of a piestorm, with everyone in town trying to be the next pie-contest winner ... including Alice's mother and some of Alice's friends. The whole community is going pie-crazy . . . and it's up to Alice to discover the ingredients that really matter. Like family. And friendship. And enjoying what you do. (goodreads summary)


Alice's Aunt Polly is a very special person in her life. She spends time with her on Saturdays watching and learning her special tricks to making the perfect pie. Her Aunt has also won the Blueberry award 13 years in a row with these amazing pies. Although, she is very modest and humble when it came to her winnings. Aunt Polly also loved to share her pies so much with the community that she opened a shop called PIE. She does something surprising with her new business and instead of charging people, she gives the homemade pies away for free. The community decides to bring ingredients to Polly in exchange and everyone has their own special favorite that she makes just for them.  She is known by people from all over and has put the small town of Ipswitch, Pennsylvania on the map, since they come from just about everywhere for her delectable pies. One day, Aunt Polly unexpectedly passes away and in her Will she leaves her famous pie crust recipe to her cat Lardo and leaving him to the care of Alice. All the town residents, especially Alice's mother, is in shock as to why Polly would do such a thing and are determined to find out the secret to the pie crust recipe.  They want to become the next winner of the upcoming Blueberry contest and make the best pie ever! But when Lardo goes missing, Alice teams up with her friend Charlie and the two find there may be more to his disappearance than they thought.

What I liked best about this book was that it was a simple, good old-fashioned story.  It had a wonderful 1950's era based setting with humor, mystery and a wide variety of characters with personality.  Alice had a very special bond with her Aunt Polly who was very generous and kind.  She made pies "out of love and pleasure" as her reason for not charging for them when she opened the business.  When Polly passed away, the story touches gently on her death and depicts Alice's feelings of loss well.   Alice's mother was very jealous of Polly and her fame though. She was outspoken of her feelings towards her sister especially when the pie crust recipe was left to a cat. She was not very likable as a mother but I was glad to see that she did have some character development.  I did sense Alice's loneliness and the need of a better relationship with her mother, especially after Polly died.  But when Lardo the cat goes missing, it is up to Alice to find him and from there the story turns into a who-dunnit mystery.  It unravels with a surprising twist and the story sends a message about family, friendship and finding your own special talents.  I found it to be a cute heartwarming story that was quick-paced and easy-to-read. Every chapter also began with a pie recipe and a handwritten note of Polly's on it making the story feel realistic. The only thing missing was the recipe for the pie crust......I think this is a "just right book" for grades 4-6.~

Title: Pie
Author: Sarah Weeks
Pub. date: October 2011, Scholastic Press
Genre:  fiction
Hardcover, 180 pgs.

Hound Dog True review

Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing.  Custodial wisdom:   Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she'll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth-graders.  But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie's plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true. (goodreads summary)

Mattie's mom says "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going". Once again, Mattie will be moving and attending a new school.  The thought of starting over in a new classroom, lunchtime, recess and having to make friends is not easy for her. The only good thing is that she and her mom will be living with her Uncle Potluck. The week before school opens, she helps her Uncle who is the school custodian prepare for the new year.  Mattie carries a notebook, taking every important note she can about the job in the hopes he will allow her to become his Custodial Apprentice.  If she has busy work to do, then she just may be able to escape the lunch and recess times.  Meanwhile, a neighbor's niece is visiting and Mattie is not quite sure what to make of a new friendship situation either. Mattie is a gifted writer but a bad incident at her former school holds her back from expression and the comfort of a possible new friendship.  She does not want to let her guard down and not yet ready to trust someone new in her life just yet. 

This was such a wonderful middle grade story about a 5th grade girl who is extremely shy. The author has once again captured the realities of being a child through her writing.  I loved her debut book A Crooked Kind of Perfect  for that reason and this one displays the same gentle and heartwarming feeling.  Mattie could represent many children that have trouble opening up to others or being uncomfortable in new situations.  A betrayal by a classmate from her old school also contributes to Mattie's fears of getting close to others again and I liked that her feelings about the situation were expressed.  There are many memorable characters in this story other than just Mattie. For example, Uncle Potluck was unique and humorous and told the best stories declaring them "hound dog true".   When Quincy came into Mattie's life, she could tell she was easy going and free which gave her more than a few worries. Mattie found it difficult to connect mainly because of her social awkwardness and fears.  Eventually, she becomes an important role in helping Mattie find the courage to bring out her voice. I enjoyed the story written from Mattie's perspective and that it displayed actual difficulties that a child may go through when it comes to shyness and struggles about the social world. Many kids might see themselves in Mattie's shoes and may find the strength and courage to find the voice that is hidden for one reason or another.  Better yet, other readers may find themselves choosing to recognize that one shy person and help them blossom with some encouragement. It is a short read and it focuses on family, friendship and becoming brave enough to speak up when the time is right.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

Title: Hound Dog True
Author: Linda Urban
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Pub. Date: September 2011, Harcourt Children's Books
Hardcover. 152 pgs.

Calli Be Gold review

Eleven-year-old Calli Gold is the quiet third child in a family of loud overachievers. In fact, the family motto is Be Gold. Calli's sister is on an ice-skating team, and her brother's a basketball star. Her parents are sure she has a hidden gift for something. They just have to figure out what it is! But Calli has flopped at everything she's tried. She sure doesn't feel like a Gold.  Until a new person enters her life. Second grader Noah Zullo might seem strange to some people, but Calli can't help liking him, and they become partners in their school's Peer Helper Program. When they create a booth for the Friendship Fair, they fill it with secrets and surprises. And as Calli and Noah work and learn together, they even surprise themselves. (goodreads summary)

Calli is an average 5th grade girl growing up in a family of high achievers. Pressured by her family motto to "Be Gold" she is uncertain as to where she fits in with her family.  Her mom is highly scheduled with calendars and post-it notes keeping track of every activity claiming that their life would fall apart if it weren't for her organizational talents. When the family has dinner, her dad requests a status report from each child telling him of a daily accomplishment.  Unfortunately, Calli not only feels she has yet to find her proud moments but she is a disappointment to her parents as well. Her parents are pushing her to be successful at something but she just wants to be ordinary and feels that being quiet is okay in this family of louds. The family life is guided by be loud and get noticed and that being busy is a matter of importance.  When she meets Noah, who faces a few challenges himself, the two begin a very special and much needed friendship.

In a society today of constantly being on the go and over scheduling, this story could hit home with many readers.  Calli's family represents many today with hectic schedules and trying to balance out each child's activity, especially on the same day.   This dad is a type-A competitive parent who shouts from the stands at games and video tapes other team's practices so his son can be the best.  But Calli is not the only one trying to find a voice in the family. Her sister Becca does not tell her parents that her ice skating coach is threatening to replace her in the big competition with an alternate. She is afraid of what her dad will say of her not meeting the family expectations.  Alex feels there is more to life than basketball and mom would like to just sit in the front window and enjoy a coffee once. It seems that everyone has trouble expressing their true feelings to one another. Their lives are in such a rush that no one takes the time to listen. When Calli befriends Noah, she sees in him what no one else does.  An ordinary boy who just needs someone to understand his differences and help him try to fit into a world that makes him nervous. I loved the compassion and empathy displayed in Calli's determination to reach Noah in a way she saw that he needed. Noah in turn opened up and gave Calli the feeling of pride and accomplishment that she longed to find as well.  By the end of the book, there are a lot of good character developments among the family members. Many parents could read this story as well. It would gently remind us to sit back and take a look at our own family dynamics and what is truly important.  There is some talk of a girl wearing a bra and some boys in the class chanting "u-ter-us "and thinking this is quite funny when the teacher mentions an upcoming health class. Other than that, it is mild and mainly focuses on finding your sense of place, speaking up for yourself, compassion and remembering that rewards can come in small packages instead of an award or trophy.  I think this is a just right book for 6th grade and up.~

Title: Calli Be Gold
Author: Michelle Weber Hurwitz
Genre: fiction
Pub. Date: April 2011, Wendy Lamb Books
Hardcover, 198 pgs.

Fall into Reading -our end of summer tradition

It started out as an ordinary summer. But the minute thirteen-year-old Zinny covered the old, overgrown trail that ran through the woods behind her family's house, she realized that things were about to change.  Right from the start, Zinny knew that uncovering the trail would be more than just a summer project. It was her chance to finally make people notice her, and to have a place she could call her very own. But more than that, Zinny knew that the trail somehow held the key to all kinds of questions. 

 
 
As the days grow shorter in August, signaling the end of summer break is near, I choose a book to read to my kids every week until the first day of school begins.  I'm  amazed that even though my kids are now 15 and 11, they still look forward to our end of summer tradition asking me if I'm going to read to them tonight. We grab our pillows and blankets, along with popcorn and cozy in during the crisp, cool nights. This past week I chose to read Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech. She is such a talented writer and I cannot think of any of her books that we have not enjoyed. I love finding a book that pulls you in and keeps your interest right up to the end. Chasing Redbird definitely hooked us and will be added among our list of summertime favorite reads.  
 
This is a coming of age story about Zinny Taylor who lives in Bybanks, Kentucky. She is trying to process the guilt felt that she is responsible for the death of her cousin who died when they were four from catching whooping cough. Most recently, her beloved Aunt Jessie passes away and the family tries to cope with her loss. Zinny also carries the burden of her death as well. Her Uncle Nate seems to be going crazy and chasing his "Redbird", a name he had for Aunt Jessie, around the family farm and wooded area. When Zinny finds an overgrown abandoned trail that leads from her farm to a town named Chocton several miles away, she is determined to clear it from end-to-end and claiming it as her own.  She camps out for 10 days at a time along the trail while clearing it, alone with her thoughts and trying to find answers to the many questions that linger in her mind.  There are several characters in the story that add humor including Zinny and we had a good laugh at quite a few happenings along the way. She is also confused about a boy named Jake Boone who gives her presents to show his affection towards her. She encounters wilderness animals and further on down the trail finds a mysterious cabin that help give her the the much needed answers to what she has been seeking.  The story is about love, family, death and grief, determination and finding out where you belong in all of these.

We all really liked this book and it did make for a wonderful read-aloud.  It gave us opportunity to talk about many different parts and we found new words/phrases. I also threw out the question  "would you want to do something like this if you found an unknown trail?" My kids came back with the question to me "would you let us do something like this?"  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10 and up.

Title: Chasing Redbird
Author: Sharon Creech
Genre: Fiction
Pub. Date: March 1997, HarperCollins
Hardcover, 261 pgs.

Sparrow Road review

It's the summer before seventh grade, and twelve-year- old Raine O'Rourke's mother suddenly takes a job hours from home at mysterious Sparrow Road- a creepy, dilapidated mansion that houses an eccentric group of artists. As Raine tries to make sense of her new surroundings, she forges friendships with a cast of quirky characters including the outrageous and funky Josie. Together, Raine and Josie decide to solve the mysteries of Sparrow Road-from its haunting history as an orphanage to the secrets of its silent, brooding owner, Viktor. But it's an unexpected secret from Raine's own life that changes her forever. (goodreads summary)

The summary above is a wonderful description of Sparrow Road and I don't think I could add more to it without giving away some spoilers that are important to the story.  Raine is very puzzled by the recent summer move to this mysterious house but finds herself fitting in quite well. When she first arrives, there are many rules that she must follow. One, that is particulary unusual and does not like, is no talking during the week except on Sunday. Another rule is she must not bother the others so they can work in peace. When Raine meets the artists for the first time, she feels comfortable and they all seem to take her under their wing. They inspire her to use creativity and encouraged Raine to challenge her ownself through writings.  There is a wonderful sense of place among all the characters. One artist, Diego, leaves Raine pondering the question "what if, what was or what could be." The house is made for dreams and among the quiet and peacefullness each person is finding out who they are. There is also a history behind the house that the character Lillian plays a big part in.  Raine eventually finds out more about her past and how things are finally connecting as to why she came to Sparrow Road in the first place.  She finds a truth that is hard to accept but learns acceptance along the way. I really liked this book and think it would make a nice summer read. It focuses on family, love and forgiveness, and finding your own sense of place.  The chapters were short and the text easily flowed. I wish I had a Sparrow Road I could visit this summer but will just enjoy the book for now. I think this is a just right book for ages 11 and up.~

Title: Sparrow Road
Author: Sheila O'Connor
Genre: Fiction
Pub. Date:  May 2011, Putnam
Hardcover, 246 pgs.

Close to Famous review

Foster McFee dreams of having her own cooking show like her idol, celebrity chef Sonny Kroll. Macon Dillard's goal is to be a documentary filmmaker. Foster's mother Rayka longs to be a headliner instead of a back-up singer. And Miss Charleena plans a triumphant return to Hollywood. Everyone has a dream, but nobody is even close to famous in the little town of Culpepper. Until some unexpected events shake the town and its inhabitants and put their big ambitions to the test. Full of humor, unforgettable characters, surprises, and lots and lots of heart, this is Joan Bauer at her most engaging. (goodreads summary)

Twelve year old Foster and her mother live a life "making the best of it".  Foster lost her father in the Iraq War and her only memories she has left of him is a pillowcase of letters and his dog tags. One night they suddenly find themselves fleeing Memphis from her mother's abusive boyfriend and end up in the small town of Culpepper, West Virginia. Upon their arrival, they are welcomed by the many friendly citizens of the rural town.  The eclectic characters of the small town are plentiful and the two settle in for the time being. Foster also has a learning disability but she is extremely gifted in baking muffins, cupcakes and breads. She has a dream of having her own cooking show and "making the world a better place, one cupcake at a time."

I really enjoyed this heart warming story....I found Foster's character strong and independent despite her unstable lifestyle.  The many characters throughout the book added humor, support with open arms and their wisdom.  I sensed the closeness of the small town people. They are feeling the effects of a prison being built promising jobs and hope but has failed in delivering. Foster finds a variety of friends such as Macon, a boy her age who dreams of becoming a documentary film maker to the many unlikely adults like Miss Charleena, the reclusive movie actress with many issues of her own.  Although, Miss Charleena played an important role for Foster with acceptance of her learning disability and offering help she never seemed to receive from her previous school. Foster also finds she is not the only one that has big dreams among this community and she helps others as they help her.  Foster develops her cooking talents into a small business selling her muffins and cupcakes to the local Bar and Grill.   I liked the many subtle messages and life lessons I found throughout the book.  The story does touch on domestic abuse more than once. Foster's mother has a black eye and later meets up with the same ex-boyfriend again in Memphis and returns with a bruise. She tells Foster she has fallen but does not believe her mother and eventually confronts her for the truth.  This realistic fiction was touching and focuses mainly on following your dreams and finding a way to achieve them despite the things that get in the way.  I did find this book located in the Young Adult section of my library but I think this could be a "just right book" for ages 11 and up.~


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     Almost Home by Joan Bauer


Title: Close to Famous
Author: Joan Bauer
Genre: Realistic fiction
Pub. Date: February 2011, Viking Juvenile
Hardcover, 250 pgs.

What's Bugging Bailey Blecker review

Bailey is an ordinary 5th grade girl but seems to have many troubles happen to her at once.  She lives with her single mom who has never been married (but really wanted to have a baby anyway) and does not know her dad. She and her best friend Olivia were suppose to attend a new school together on the mainland for better educational opportunities. Just before school starts, Olivia's parents decide to keep her attending the Island school where they live. Olivia did not protest with this last minute decision either. However, Bailey stayed with her choice to try something new and go to Casco Elementary on her own. She's noticed things have not been the same between the two friends.  Attending a new school alone without a best friend was not easy. Especially when she caught an itchy case of head lice. She is excited about her upcoming birthday party. Unfortunately, since her new school is in the middle of an outbreak of head lice only a few classmates show up. To make the party worse, she looses her beloved pet parakeet that her Aunt gave her. During the course of the story, Bailey must also decide about cutting her long hair to help rid the lice. She is determined not to because she is growing it out to donate because her favorite Aunt is also fighting cancer. 

This story seems to have many plots going on at once but it was a simple and nice coming-of-age story.  Bailey realizes that her friendship with Olivia is different and she struggles with her mixed feelings. It is a very emotional time for her since she is unsure about being the new kid at school, the loss of a very special pet and having to cut her hair which she knows she's growing for a good cause.  Bailey handles each situation in a mature way and showed character development throughout the story.  This book reads quickly and even though it was going in many different directions, the story was easy to follow without getting lost along the way.  It had some good humor in spots and I also felt a connection to the realistic situations Bailey was going through because she was a likable character. I did learn a lot about head lice too. The story mainly focuses on change and old and new friendships which many kids do go through when they start reaching the upper grade levels. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-11.

Title: What's Bugging Bailey Blecker
Author:  Gail Donovan
Genre: Fiction - middle grade
Pub. Date:  February 2011, Dutton Juvenile
Hardcover, 194 pgs.

Favorite review

Angie Favorite was just eleven years old when her mother disappeared, leaving Angie and her brother Jason to be raised by their grandmother while their rock-star father hit the road with his band. Since that day, Angie has gone through the motions of everyday life. She thinks she has everyone fooled — until the summer morning when she’s abducted from a mall parking lot. She narrowly escapes and her attacker, Scott Bittner, is arrested, but the weirdness has just begun. When Angie receives a letter from Scott’s mother, entreating her to meet so that she can apologize for her son’s actions, the girl reluctantly agrees. But it is soon obvious that Scott’s attack wasn’t random at all and that there is more to the strange Mrs. Bittner than meets the eye. (goodreads summary)

Angie will never forget the feeling of loss from the sudden disappearance of their mother five years ago.  Angie's grandmother believes that her father had ruined her daughter's life by marrying him. But yet, Angie has hope that she will return to them someday because they were a very happy family once upon a time. While running errands one morning, Angie is attacked by a stranger named Scott Bittner.  Luckily, she escapes and he is arrested.  She soon finds that he took his own life before she could find out why he tried kidnapping her and leaving her with no closure on the attack.  Scott's mother writes Angie a letter asking for her forgiveness of her son and offering anything to help ease her suffering by opening up her heart and home.  Angie decides to make contact and after that moment the story twists and turns into a thriller. 

When Angie and her brother accept a dinner invitation, it turns into an abrupt weekend stay when she unexpectedly sprains her ankle.  It seemed a little to easy for Angie to get caught up with Mrs. Bittner, especially since she was traumatized by being attacked by her son.  Her thoughts and actions were a bit immature for a depicted age of sixteen but maybe there are teens who would think different.  Mrs. Bittner is a wealthy widow who uses her money to get what she wants.  She lives on a huge estate and has a son and grandson that live on the other side of the lake. She comes off as sweet but as the story unfolds she shows another side.  I had the feeling there was a mystery between Scott and the disappearance of Angie's mother.  As I kept reading, I found out things were not what I thought and actually became more thrilling. There were many surprises and twists with the characters in the story leaving me satisfied with the outcome.  At first, I wasn't sure how this book was going to turnout but I did like it. I read other reviews and they were not good so it left me wondering. I will say though that it had a beginning, suspenseful climax but the end seemed to wrap up too quickly. Then again, it may be perfect for a teen looking for a short and fast read.   It did keep my interest though and I found myself picking it up frequently because I wanted to finish and find out what was going to happen in the end.  I would read more books by this author to see how they would compare. I think this would be a "just right book" for ages 14 and up.~

Title:  Favorite
Author: Karen McQuestion
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pub. Date: April 2011, Amazon Encore
Paperback, 162 pgs.

Ruby Lu Star of the Show review

Ruby is starting third grade, and she can't wait! In third grade you get to join clubs, like for knitting and ballroom dancing and yoga. In third grade you get to sign up for a musical instrument (Ruby is convinced that she is destined to play the harp) and play in the orchestra. In third grade you also get to learn cursive...and that's only the beginning! But for Ruby Lu, third grade also means an especially big change: her father loses his job. When her mother goes to work to support the family, Ruby and Oscar have to adjust to her father's bizarre caretaking, which is definitely not all fun and games. And then there's the fact that money is tighter than ever. Ruby is determined to change things, though. (goodreads summary)

Ruby is looking forward to many new and exciting things in third grade.  The best thing she was looking forward to was taking her new dog Elvis to obedience school so he can learn normal dog tricks. Elvis does unusual stuff like balancing plates and balls on his head or doing yoga poses.  The last thing she was expecting was the loss of her dad's job and cutting back on expenses including the dog training classes.  Life is not the same around the house when her mom finds a job leaving her dad to stay home and fill in for the time being.  But with a little creativity and help with her friends,  Ruby thinks of ways she can contribute to the family's tight budget.

I have always enjoyed the Ruby Lu series for young readers and was delighted to come across another new book.  This story realistically touches on the unexpected loss of employment and the effect it can take on families.  Ruby devises some very funny plans to help with the tightened budget such as opening her own spa, the neighborhood kids photocopying money as payment for makeovers and starting doggy boot camp for Elvis so he can sign up to be an animal actor to help pay for his excessive eating habits.  Ruby later finds a wallet with money in it and thinks her troubles are over.  When her dad places an ad to track down the rightful owner, she learns a wonderful lesson about character and the spirit of giving to others in need. Towards the end of the story, she must also make a tough decision of her own when it comes to giving back herself.  The story is heart warming and humorous in many places and focuses on family love, friendship and giving to others in a time of need.  There are also many cute illustrations throughout and has a sweet ending for Ruby. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-10.

Title:  Ruby Lu Star of the Show
Author: Lenore Look
Genre: fiction
Pub. Date: February 2011,  Atheneum Books
Hardcover, 136 pgs.

Shimmer - A Riley Bloom Book review

Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy, Riley, Buttercup, and Bodhi are enjoying a well-deserved vacation. When Riley comes across a vicious black dog, against Bodhi’s advice, she decides to cross him over. While following the dog, she runs into a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca’s sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she’s not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, she is furious about being murdered during a slave revolt in 1733. Mired in her own anger, Rebecca is lashing out by keeping the ghosts who died along with her trapped in their worst memories. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive and forget without losing herself to her own nightmarish memories? (goodreads summary)

Riley is warned by Bodhi that any lingering spirits she finds are to be left alone and can only be assigned by the Council. Ignoring this, she insists on helping crossover a hellhound she runs into at the beach of St. John Island only to find more trouble attached to it.  Deciding to chase after the beast she meets Rebecca, a thirteen year old ghost filled with so much anger and hate that she keeps other souls from her time trapped in their own horrible memories and torment. Unfortunately, she also captures Bodhi and Buttercup in their own bubble of bad memory and it is up to Riley to find a way to free them from re-living their internal anguish. She meets a spirit of a Prince who knows Rebecca all to well and assists Riley with the knowledge she needs to help Rebecca free herself and the other souls from their imprisoned past.

Riley is once again a strong, spunky and brave character.  However, this book has taken a much darker and scarier turn than the last book Radiance.  I did like it, but I feel that the series has moved towards an older reading audience now.  It was well-written in a twelve year old girls voice and gave strong visualization in many parts.  We learn a little more about Bodhi while in his bad memory moment of a bullying incident involving another student. I felt heartbroken after learning his pain because it is something so true to life today.  Even Buttercup had a sad memory to tell.  The story was not light on the treatment of slaves on the plantation.  Riley viewed glimpses of their horrific lives with the help of Prince Kanta to better understand how Rebecca was tied to them and the revolt on the plantation owner.  Although sad and unthinkable, it plays an important part that led up to Rebecca's murder and how Riley must reach the souls to release them from her angry wrath. She also needs to encourage Rebecca towards a path of forgiveness before she too can crossover for a much better afterlife. There is alot of emotion depicted in this book and an underlying message that holding onto anger and hate can trap you.  The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving you thinking about Riley's adventure in the next book Dreamland due out in the fall of 2011. I did find the story interesting but felt that it was a little dark and dreary. Sensitive younger readers may not understand the full historical storyline and find more than they want to know in the details on how Rebecca dies.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 12 and up.

Title: Shimmer
Author: Alyson Noel
Genre: Fiction
Pub. Date: March 2011
Soft Cover, 196 pgs.