January 2014 – Unleashing Readers

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil (Kellee’s Review)

April 11, 2015January 31, 2014 by Kellee

Life in Outer Space
Author: Melissa Keil
Published August 1st, 2013 by Peachtree Publishers

Goodreads Summary: Sam is a geek movie-buff with a ragtag group of loser friends who have been taking abuse from the popular kids for years. But when the super-cool Camilla moves to town, she surprises everyone by choosing to spend time with Sam’s group. Suddenly they go from geek to chic, and find that not everything boils down to us and them. With their social lives in flux, Sam and Camilla spend more and more time together. They become the best of friends, and Sam finds that he’s happier and more comfortable in his own skin than ever before. But eventually Sam must admit to himself that he’s fallen in love. If he confesses his true feelings to Camilla, will everything change again?

My Review: Loved this book. A perfect combination of Spinelli’s Stargirl, a John Green book, and a rom-com. Loved the voice, quirks, characters, and plot. A sleeper title from 2013 that you should read.

A couple things I really loved about this book:

The characters are such good people. Although they evolve, they never were kids I wouldn’t want my son to hang out with.
A romance-y book from a boy’s point of view!
Camilla is so cool yet so uncool and just shows how the labels and cliques and such of high school are just so stupid. Oh, and that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
The writing, music, and movie references. Just a bit of geeky, but not too much.

Ricki’s Review: Can be viewed here.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: I think first and foremost, this book needs to be in libraries so that kids (and adults!) can get their hands on it. In the classroom, it can definitely be used as for a mentor text. I think it is perfect for an example of character development and voice. The characters in this book are so strong and there are lines and passages throughout that show the characters’ personality. There are also parts that deal with writing poetry/music and would be great passages to talk about writing with students.

Discussion Questions: How does Camilla change the dynamic at Sam’s school? And how did she change Sam and his friends?; (During) Why do you think Mike quit karate?; How does Melissa Keil use music and movies to help move the plot? Show character’s personalities?; How is Sam’s parents’ issues affecting him?;

We Flagged: “She is wearing a yellow dress that looks like it belongs to a 1950s housewife, and a pair of flat red boots. Her hair is longer than I’d imagine would be practical; it’s parted in the middle and hangs in brown waves almost to her waist. She peers around the room impassively. She doesn’t look terrified. She doesn’t look insanely overconfident, like Adrian that time in year seven when he performed a song as his book report for The Outsiders. Mike and I mark that event as ground zero for the downward social spiral of our group.” (p. 11)

Read This If You Loved: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, Paper Towns by John Green, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Recommended For:

The Living by Matt de la Peña

July 27, 2015January 30, 2014 by Ricki

The Living
Author: Matt de la Peña
Published: November 12th, 2013 by Delacorte

GoodReads Summary: Shy took the summer job to make some money. In a few months on a luxury cruise liner, he’ll rake in the tips and be able to help his mom and sister out with the bills. And how bad can it be? Bikinis, free food, maybe even a girl or two—every cruise has different passengers, after all.

But everything changes when the Big One hits. Shy’s only weeks out at sea when an earthquake more massive than ever before recorded hits California, and his life is forever changed.

The earthquake is only the first disaster. Suddenly it’s a fight to survive for those left living.

Review: It is difficult to review this book without giving any spoilers! It is a thrilling, action-packed text that is sure to keep readers on their toes. I loved how it kept me guessing, and I found it to be utterly unpredictable. By the end, I was surprised when I realized there would be a sequel! I fell in love with Shy’s honest voice, and he reminded me of many teens I know. Matt de la Peña proves, once again, that he can write books that are incredibly different from each other. His character development truly shines in this title.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This would make a great literature circle text. I loved all of the directions that the plot took, and it would be interesting to have students map the plot in a diagram. This book proves that all books don’t fit a perfect mold, and I think students could have a lot of fun trying to capture the different turns the plot took. I would also use this text to have students make predictions.

Discussion Questions: How does the author develop Shy’s voice? What defines Shy, as a character?; Which genres can this book fit into? If a librarian assigns this book to one of these genres, how might it be limiting?; How does Shy’s family influence his decisions?

Read This If You Loved: We Were Here by Matt de la Peña, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Maze Runner by James Dashner

Recommended For:

litcirclesbuttonsmall

Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson

January 29, 2014 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

Frog Song
Author: Brenda Z. Guiberson
Illustrator: Gennady Spirin
Published February 5th, 2013 by Henry Holt and Co.

Goodreads Summary: Since the time of the dinosaurs, frogs have added their birrups and bellows to the music of the earth. Frogs are astonishing in their variety and crucial to ecosystems. Onomatopoeic text and stunning illustrations introduce young readers to these fascinating and important creatures, from Chile to Nepal to Australia.

Review and Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: I must admit–I am not a fan of frogs. They actually scare me quite a bit. They are so sporadic and unpredictable–one even jumped on my head at a party once! However, animals of all kind fascinate me and this is a book full of amazing facts about these slimy, jumpy creatures. The book is set up so that it is easy to navigate with quick interesting facts about 11 different frogs (& toads) with extra information in the back. I also liked the information given in the back about the trouble that frogs are in because of human activity. I think this book would be a great asset in any science classroom studying biology or ecology (would also be wonderful in a reading class or even a geography lesson because of the different places the frogs came from). Another wonderful way this book could be used in a reading class is because of all of the onomatopoeias within the book. I would love to hear the actual sounds of the frogs and then see the onomatopoeia that the author chose.

Discussion Questions: Which frog fact fascinates you the most? Do extra research about this frog and find other interesting facts about the animal.; Compare and contrast two of the frogs.; Write a fact book about animals like Frog Songs and include the sounds the animals make.

We Flagged: “In Chile, the Darwin’s frog sings in the beech forest. CHIRP-CHWEEET! The male guards 30 eggs in the damp leaves for three weeks. when the tadpoles wiggle, he scoops them into his mouth. SLURP! They slither into his vocal sacs, where he keeps them safe and moist for seven weeks. Then he gives a big yawn, and the little froglets pop out.” (p. 16)

Read This If You Loved: Lifetime by Lola Schaefer, Actual Size by Steve Jenkins, Island by Jason Chin, Seabird in the Forest by Joan Dunning, Slap, Squeak, and Scatter by Steve Jenkins

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters We’d NEVER Trade Places With

January 28, 2014 by Kellee

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Characters We’d Never Want To Trade Places With

Let them live their own miserable life.

Ricki

1. Lakshmi from Sold by Patricia McCormick

I can’t imagine the betrayal and sadness that Lakshmi felt after she was sold into slavery. Her situation makes me feel very emotional because it is the sad reality for too many children in our world.

2. Katniss from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

As much as I am a strong person, I would just sit down and cry. I would make a terrible tribute.

3. Gray from Endgame by Nancy Garden

When I read this book, I couldn’t help but feel beaten down right along with Gray. He is relentlessly bullied, and I wouldn’t ever want to experience the pain he felt.

4. Felix from Once by Morris Gleitzman

I could think of a lot of characters living through genocide that I wouldn’t want to trade places with. My heart races when I read the books in this series because I am so terrified for Felix.

5. Charlie from Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

This is actually the first book that came to my mind. I remember reading this book in eighth grade and feeling very frustrated right along with Charlie as he struggled to understand the world. To be honest, I should probably reread it before I include it on my TTT lists because I haven’t read it in about 17 years and I might be remembering it incorrectly.

Kellee

At first I wanted to pick all characters who had an untimely death, but decided that was an easy way out. Here are my choices because, well, it would suck/be sad/be miserable to be them.

1. Hazel from The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I couldn’t imagine going through everything she’s gone through, survived, and then had to deal with Gus.

2. Rory from girlchild by Tupelo Hassman

I cannot imagine being born into Rory’s home life. Deep poverty, in general, scares me because I know how hard it is to get out of it and Rory is stuck. That terrifies me.

3. Cathy from Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Um…. A dead dad, a horrible mother, an evil grandmother, a sibling’s death, and incest…. No thank you!

4. Laine from Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

Laine has much to deal with. I cannot imagine the years of emotional abuse she lived through and she has not even started recovering yet.

5. Brian Stutts from This Is Not A Drill by Beck McDowell

PTSD + losing his son + a very bad decision = losing his son for a very long time. I think that what Brian is dealing with may be one of the hardest things. He made a horrible choice and now has to deal with that as well. I would not want to be him.

Who would you never trade places with?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/27/14

July 27, 2015January 27, 2014 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Mostly this week I have been working on a graphic novel project and have reread a bunch of graphic novels (including a new reading of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: Big Bad Ironclad & Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood) and it has just reminded me how much I really enjoy graphic novels. I also read Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan and was quite impressed with the format of this novel–very unique and clever.

Ricki: I had a great reading week! I divided them into categories below!

Professional Development: I finished Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. It was dense, but a historically important book that is still applicable today. I’ve always wanted to read Freire, so I was glad to get this one under my belt.
YA: I finished Winger by Andrew Smith. With each page, I loved this book more and more. By the end, I couldn’t put it down!
Children’s Books: I read two classics to my son: Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina and Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. My friend just sent me You Mean the World to Me by Bayne Gibby. I think every mother will appreciate this beautiful book. I read Billy Crystal’s I Already Know I Love You. I wasn’t in love with it, but it was a nice book. Lastly, I read an AWESOME book that many of you probably know about (and I missed!): Press Here by Hervé Tullet. My two-month-old cannot follow the instructions of this text (pressing, wiggling, shaking, etc.) but I cannot WAIT until he is old enough to play with this interactive text. What a gem! This is going to be my go-to book to give to friends who are having babies. 🙂

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening to Courage Has No Color by Tanya Lee Stone. I didn’t get very much read as I car pooled a lot this week (and it was a short week), but I hope to finish this week as I am not car pooling 3 days. I also plan on reading Far Far Away by Tom McNeal which has received really wonderful reviews.

Ricki: This week, I want to read Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education by Nel Noddings, a professional development text I have heard referenced quite often. I also want to read The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. Of course, I will select some children’s books to read to my son, too!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Unleashing Readers and Kid Lit Frenzy 2014 Mock Sibert Award Winner!

January 25, 2014January 24, 2014 by Kellee

It is just days until we learn what book takes home the coveted Sibert Award, but today is the day here on Unleashing Readers and over on Kid Lit Frenzy where we find out who won our Mock Sibert Award!!!

*drum roll*

AND THE WINNER IS…..

What a phenomenal choice!
Now we just have to wait until Monday to find out if the Sibert committee agrees.

We are also happy to announce our giveaway winner. Congratulations to LYNNE EICHEL who chose Brave Girl as her prize.

I had such a blast hosting the Mock Sibert with Alyson!
Thank you to all who participated and cannot wait to see who wins on Monday!

The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson (Ricki’s Review)

July 27, 2015January 23, 2014 by Ricki

The Man with the Violin
Author: Kathy Stinson
Illustrator: Dusan Petricic
Published August 8th, 2013 by Annick Press

Goodreads Summary: This gorgeous picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, the renowned American violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen for more than a minute. In The Man With the Violin, bestselling author Kathy Stinson has woven a heart-warming story that reminds us all to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn’t. So try as he might, Dylan can’t get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. But Dylan is swept away by the soaring and swooping notes that fill the air as crowds of oblivious people rush by. With the beautiful music in his head all day long, Dylan can’t forget the violinist, and finally succeeds in making his mother stop and listen, too.

Vividly imagined text combined with illustrations that pulse with energy and movement expertly demonstrate the transformative power of music. With an afterword explaining Joshua Bell’s story, and a postscript by Joshua Bell himself.

Review: My aunt bought my son this book when she heard people raving about it in the bookstore. It is an absolutely wonderful story. People pay hundreds of dollars to hear Joshua Bell play his violin, yet few stopped to listen when he played in the subway. It begs the question—just what are we missing each day, as we pass through our lives bustling about, blind to the beauty in the world around us? I can’t wait until my son is a bit older, as I think this would be a fantastic book to read together and then head out into the world, stopping and noticing.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This would be a great book to read before a field trip or an outdoor walk. I also love that the author turned a news article into a picture book. It would be really fun for students to choose a news article to transform.

Discussion Questions: Just what are we missing each day?; Why do you think children noticed Joshua Bell more often? What does this say about people, in general?

We Flagged: “Who is playing that beautiful music in the subway? And why is nobody listening?”

Read This If You Loved: Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Little Bobo by Serena Romanelli, Little Rat Makes Music by Monika Bang-Campbell

Recommended For: