Ricki – Page 62 – Unleashing Readers

Blog Tour and Author Guest Post!: “Stepping Back Into History: From 9/11 to the Cuban Crisis in the Second World War” by Sandy Brehl, Author of Bjorn’s Gift

September 11, 2016 by Ricki

“Stepping Back Into History: From 9/11 to the Cuban Crisis in the Second World War”

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of September 11, one of the most horrific days in the history of the United States.

Where were YOU that morning?

What were YOU doing when the planes hit the towers? Or the Pentagon? Or that field in Pennsylvania?

Those of us who can answer those questions likely do so with a catch in our throats and a twist in our guts. It’s hard to view events of intense personal significance as “history”, but that’s exactly what they are for our young learners.

History.

Middle grade students are too young to have direct memories of this day as a lived experience, and yet it shaped the world in which they live.

Donalyn Miller wrote a sensitive and insightful post about using picture books, novels, and nonfiction titles to provide young readers with visceral experiences that can make history come alive and lend some context to their current reality. If you missed her post on Nerdy Book Club on August 21, take the time to read it, please.

Link: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2016/08/21/its-a-wide-world-by-donalyn-miller/

Nonfiction and academic texts convey facts, but picture books and historical novels can serve as portals to the past, time machines that allow young people to step into a virtual/personal experience of events beyond their lives.

Established readers respond eagerly when picture books are read aloud, and the right book can provide an intense shared experience to launch further readings, even with difficult topics. Then literature groups can choose from a range of well-written historical novels, providing young learners with a deeper and wider world-view.

Such visceral engagement through books can transform history from dry facts into recognition of ourselves in other people’s lives and loves and longings. As Ricki noted in her August 11 review of The Memory of Things, by Gae Polisner, these are books “about being human.”

Books offer similar connection and impact even when the past is more distant. Events from history move beyond campaign rants or score-keeping video games when books create a virtually-lived memory.

During the current political campaign the phrase “finger on the button” as been used in discussing both presidential candidates’ suitability for office. Reading Gayle Rosengren’s Cold War on Maplewood Street allows readers to experience the minute-to-minute-terrifying threat of an all out nuclear war through the eyes of a young girl and her family. Today’s uncertainties may center on potential terrorist threats, but the internal processing of those equally real anxieties surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis are similar.

Picture books work well to introduce an even more distant era, World War II. The nonfiction picture book Irena’s Jar of Secrets written by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Ron Mazellan, depicts a remarkable woman, Irena Sendler. At only 29 years old she took daring risks in Polish ghettos, saving nearly 2,500 Jewish children from death camps and eventually reuniting them with surviving relatives after the war’s end.

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II, written and illustrated by Lita Judge, is a post-war story based on real events. It depicts a young American girl whose family worked to provide shoes for survivors and displaced persons in Europe when millions were facing destitute conditions. This might well spark projects by readers aimed at assisting modern refugees and displaced persons through a school-based project of some kind.

Novel study groups have many quality options but should certainly include Lois Lowry’s remarkable Number the Stars for those who have not yet read it. Its success has allowed obscure facts about brave Danes helping thousands of Jews escape to neutral Sweden to become more widely known.

The stories of the German occupation of Norway, despite its claim of neutrality, are even less well known. Snow Treasure, by Marie McSwigan, has remained in print since it released in 1942 and continues to be a popular read-aloud. Brave resistance and survival during those oppressive years in Norway are portrayed in Mary Cassanova’s The Klipfish Code and Margi Preuss’s Shadow on the Mountain.

After writing Odin’s Promise (2014), which is set in Norway during the first year of the long German occupation, I began hearing from readers who all but demanded a sequel to learn what happened to Mari and her family during the ensuing years until the war ended.

That’s exactly what historical fiction is meant to accomplish. Readers far removed from that time and place became invested in the history and the fictional characters. Even though it was written as a stand alone title, I had no choice but to dive back into research, interview people who had lived through those times, and explore what would be in store for Mari, her family, and her village. Their journey spanned four more years, so their stories became a trilogy.

And now book two, Bjorn’s Gift will release on October 5. In the second and third year of the occupation Mari confronts greater challenges and threats, many from escalating war but some from her own internal struggles. She faces timeless questions about why friends change, who can be trusted, and how to make choices when right and wrong no longer feel as clear cut as they have been in the past.

Whether it comes to recent events or ancient history, picture books and novel studies invite us to walk through open doorways to the past, allowing readers to view their own questions and experiences through the eyes of other times, places, and points of view. They remind us, as Ricki said, that we’re all human.

Cold War on Maplewood Street by Gayle Rosengren

Irena’s Jar of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan

One Thousand Tracings by Lita Judge

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

The Klipfish Code by Mary Casanova

Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preuss

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

Odin’s Promise by Sandy Brehl

Bjorn’s Gift by Sandy Brehl

About the Author: Sandy Brehl is a retired educator and active member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). When she’s not reading and writing, she enjoys gardening. She lives in the Milwaukee area and invites you to visit her website (www.SandyBrehl.com) to learn more about ODIN’S PROMISE and BJORN’S GIFT. Sign up for quarterly newsletters to stay informed about future releases (including MARI’S HOPE), and special events and offers. Twitter: @SandyBrehl, https://www.facebook.com/sandy.brehl

Contact: Sandy@sandybrehl.com

Sandy shares a blog about middle grade historical novels with three other authors: http://TheStoriedPast.org

Also blogs about picture books at http://UnpackingPictureBookPower.blogspot.com and @PBWorkshop on Twitter

About the Book: Bjorn’s Gift is the second book in the Odin’s Promise middle-grade historical novel trilogy set in Norway during World War II.

In Bjorn’s Gift, young teen Mari faces growing hardships and dangers in her small village in a western fjord during the second and third years of German occupation, as German troops and local Nazi supporters move closer into her family’s daily life, and her classmate Leif becomes active in the Norwegian Nazi youth party.

Mari struggles to live up to her brother Bjorn’s faith in her as she becomes more involved in risky resistance activities, trusting only her family and a few close friends.

Across Norway, oppressive laws are imposed in the months from Fall 1941 to early 1943, with dire local consequences.

Difficult decisions force Mari to admit that many things in life are not easily sorted into good or bad, and she is forced to wonder if Hitler will ever be defeated . . . and whether the occupation of Norway will ever end.

The series is ideal for dog lovers, for Norwegian Americans and other European-Americans whose ancestors were involved in resistance movements in World War II, and for all who enjoy reading stories about World War II history.

Bjorn’s Gift releases on October 5, 2016. Advance sales begin in September. Book three, the conclusion of the trilogy, is Mari’s Hope, scheduled to release in 2017.

Odin’s Promise, the first book in the series, was published in 2014.

Crispin Books, an imprint of Crickhollow

http://www.sandybrehl.com

Follow Bjorn’s Gift on the Tour!:

September 1 Interview with Todd Burleson at GROG blog: http://groggorg.blogspot.com

September 7 Review: Stephanie Lowden at golowd, a blog about teaching and books https://golowd.com

September 11 Guest post Unleashing Readers (Ricki and Kelley) https://www.unleashingreaders.com

September 14 Review by Erik at This Kid Reviews Books, https://thiskidreviewsbooks.com

September 19 Review, Suzanne Warr, at Tales from the Raven, for MMGM: http://suzannewarr.com

September 20 Olivia and Oscar- review of ODIN’S PROMISE at Kid Book Reviewer: http://www.kidbookreviewer.com

September 27 Olivia and Oscar- review of BJORN’S GIFT at Kid Book Reviewer: http://www.kidbookreviewer.com (reminder- giveaway ends Sept. 30.

September 29 Alex Baugh review at The Children’s War https://thechildrenswar.blogspot.com

October 3 Jenni Enzor MMGM with review and interview http://jennienzor.blogspot.com

October 5 MomReadIt- Review by Rosemary https://momreadit.wordpress.com

October 7 Trisha P at Mindjacked http://trishap00.blogspot.com

October 11 Guest post Rochelle Melander http://writenowcoach.com/blog/

Thank you, Sandy, for this wonderfully researched and insightful post!

and

Blog Tour with Review: Race Car Dreams by Sharon Chriscoe

September 18, 2016September 8, 2016 by Ricki

Race Car Dreams
Author: Sharon Chriscoe
Illustrator: Dave Mottram
Anticipated Published: September 13, 2016 by Running Press Kids

Goodreads Summary: After a day at the track of zipping and zooming, a race car is tired and ready for bed. He washes his rims, fills his tummy with oil, and chooses a book that is all about speed. All toasty and warm, he drifts off to sleep, he shifts into gear . . . and dreams of the race!

Ricki’s Review: I know I won’t be the only parent to say that my child cannot get enough cars. He eats, sleeps, and breathes cars, so I jumped at the chance to review this book. And boy, I wasn’t disappointed. The characterization within the text is engaging and fun, and I loved all of the integration of car parts/ideas in the race car’s preparation for bedtime. The race car comes to life, and I am grateful to have this book to read before bedtime. It engages my son while making him a sleepy boy! This charming book is going to be a story that parents read again and again.

Kellee’s Review: Any fan of Pixar cars or race cars in general is going to love the race car’s story. The personification of the car is adorable, I specifically like how his emotions can be read by looking at his eyes, and I love that the race car reads before bed! I would love to have students write their own stories of bedtime for vehicles (or other inanimate object) to see how school buses or tow trucks get ready for bed. In my life though, it is a bedtime story that my son loves to read.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: It would be really fun to compare and contrast this book to some of the texts listed below in the “Read This If You Love” section. As avid readers of vehicle books, we know that each book has a different angle, and these are nuances that kids recognize and appreciate. It would be interesting to capitalize on these comparisons and differences to talk about how authors craft stories creatively and uniquely.

Discussion Questions: What does the race car do to prepare for bed? How does this compare to your bedtime routine?; How does the author make the race car come alive with personification?; How does the author craft the story in ways that make you sleepy?

Flagged Passage: “The zooming has stopped. The sun’s almost set. / A race car is tired. He’s wringing with sweat. / His day has been filled with high octane fun. He’s hugged all the curves. He’s had a good run.”

Read This If You Love: Race Car Count by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by by Sherri Duskey Rinker; The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca, Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC by Debora Pearson, The Three Little Rigs by David Gordon, Ten Little School Cars by School Specialty Publishing

Follow the Tour!:

9/6 My Word Playground

9/7 MomReadIt

9/8 Unleashing Readers

9/9 Once Upon a Time…

9/10 Stacking Books

9/11 Geo Librarian

9/12 Flowering Minds

9/13 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books

9/14 Little Crooked Cottage

9/14 MamaBelly

9/15 #kidlit Book of the Day

9/16 Just Kidding

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Cassie for providing copies for review!**

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

September 7, 2016 by Ricki

Nonfiction 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!

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Author: Alison Bechdel
Published: June 5, 2007 by Mariner Books

Summary: In this graphic memoir, Alison Bechdel charts her fraught relationship with her late father.

Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the Fun Home. It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve.

Review: I don’t tend to read many adult books each year, but I kept seeing this book referenced. I noticed it was a 2007 publication, and when books are still being discussed frequently almost ten years later, you know they have to be good! I finally requested it from my library, and boy did I love it. I usually try to review only new books, but this book was too good not to share. I felt deeply connected with Alison and her life—despite the fact that it is nothing like mine. I was really drawn to the psychological themes she embedded and the phenomenal writing. She is incredibly smart, and this shines in her writing. The drawings are equally captivating. I am not surprised that young adults tend to read this book. It’s quite edgy and many sections made me blush, but I know this doesn’t stop teens. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: I am not a stranger to controversy, but I’d probably use this book for close reading because the images might be a bit uncomfortable for some (but not most!) of my students. There is a lot of nudity, and there are sexually explicit drawings. That said, I most certainly would have it in my classroom (nothing stops me, controversy-wise, if a book is really good and a great learning tool). A close reading of many of the beginning chapters would lead to fantastic conversations about family dynamics and psychology. There is so much to teach from this book: Tone, Author’s Perspective, Vocabulary, etc.

Discussion Questions: How does Alison navigate her childhood?; What is her response to her father’s death? Why might this be?; What role does the Fun Home play in her life? How does this graphic novel differ from others that you’ve read?; How is the author’s writing style similar to short vignettes? What scenes stand out to you? Why might this be?

Flagged Passage:

Source of Image

Read This If You Love: How the World Was: A California Childhood by Emmanuel Guibert; The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert; Alan’s War by Emmanuel Guibert; The Stranger by Albert Camus; The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Recommended For:

Top Ten Tuesday: Great Board Books According to Our Toddlers

September 6, 2016 by Ricki

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: Great Board Books According to Our Toddlers

Our boys have moved on to reading picture books, primarily, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t want to share their favorite board books of all time (their two years of life) with you!

Ricki

1. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

We’ve read this book a few hundred times (if not more). The rhythm of the book is undeniable, and it will be a forever favorite for both of us.

2. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

When Henry was a baby, I read this book to him over and over again. Recently, we’ve been pulling it out to read more often. He loves when I kiss his little nose three times at the end of the book.

3. Little Blue Truck and Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle

I absolutely adore the first book, and Henry loves the second book. I’ve memorized both of them, and he loves to read them over and over again!

4. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

It’s no secret that I love this book. I didn’t like this book very much as a child, but Henry’s insistence that I read it almost every night until he was about 20 months old made me fall in love with it. This was the theme of his first birthday party!

5. Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boynton

There is something truly special about Sandra Boynton’s books. He also loves The Bunny Rabbit Show, which comes with a high-energy, hysterical song that is free on the internet.

Kellee

1. Fifteen Animals! by Sandra Boynton

Sometimes I think I may like this one more than Trent, but I love the song, and the book is hilarious!
Check out the song at: http://www.workman.com/boynton/#songs

2. Llama Llama Zippity-Zoon by Anna Dewdney

This is one of the first books that Trent could read from front cover to back on his own.

3. The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems

Trent loves the Pigeon, and it is one of the only voices I do when reading aloud, and this is our favorite of the board books.

4. Friends by Eric Carle

I think the premise of this book is pretty sweet and Carle’s illustrations are as pretty as always!
(Though I do have trepidations that it promotes running away and the last line is super weird, but Trent loves it!)

5. Big Friend, Little Friend from the world of Eric Carle

Although Trent doesn’t read this one to us yet, he knows exactly when to push each button.

6. Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker

steam train

This is a new favorite of Trent’s. I didn’t want to put it in the top ten because it may not stick as a favorite, but right now, he loves the train, sleepy, and monkey noises.

7. Don’t Push the Button! by Bill Cotter

This one I am just breaking the rules on. I had just finished the post and was saving it, and I could not believe I forgot to put this one on there, so here it is. Trent and I love this book! It is interactive and funny, and I think Larry is one of my favorite monsters out there.

To see Trent’s favorite books, most of which are board books, from birth to two-years-old, check out my Trent’s Favorite Books posts:
One to Two Years Old
A First Year Full of Books
Nine to Twelve Months
Six to Nine Months
Three to Six Months
First Three Months

What board books do you, or your children, love?

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Kellee and Ricki’s #mustreadin2016 Fall Update!

September 3, 2016September 1, 2016 by Ricki

#MustReadIn2016 is hosted by Carrie Gelson at There Is A Book For That:

“For anyone out there with a To Be Read list that seems like it will never end, this challenge is for you! This is all about making your own personal list of books (5? 10? 20? 30? more?) that you commit to reading in 2016. Books can be published in any year, be from any genre, and be from any category (adult, YA, MG, Graphics, NF, etc.). As your TBR list grows, you promise you will get to the books on this list.”

Kellee

My plan was to read 5 books between each update, and I am right on track!

The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
Finished 6-23-16

Summary: Saving the school — one con at a time.

Jackson Greene has reformed. No, really he has. He became famous for the Shakedown at Shimmering Hills, and everyone still talks about the Blitz at the Fitz…. But after the disaster of the Mid-Day PDA, he swore off scheming and conning for good.

Then Keith Sinclair — loser of the Blitz — announces he’s running for school president, against Jackson’s former best friend Gaby de la Cruz. Gaby hasn’t talked to Jackson since the PDA, and he knows she won’t welcome his involvement. But he also knows Keith has “connections” to the principal, which could win him the election whatever the vote count.

So Jackson assembles a crack team to ensure the election is done right: Hashemi Larijani, tech genius. Victor Cho, bankroll. Megan Feldman, science goddess and cheerleader. Charlie de la Cruz, point man. Together they devise a plan that will bring Keith down once and for all. Yet as Jackson draws closer to Gaby again, he realizes the election isn’t the only thing he wants to win.

My Thoughts: I love heist books and movies because the characters are always so smart, and I can never figure out how they did what they did (i.e., Heist Society, Oceans 11, Unusual Suspects, etc.). The Great Greene Heist fits right into this category. Jackson Greene is a bit cocky but so easy to love! This book will keep you guessing and reading. To show you how much I liked it: As soon as I was done, I grabbed the sequel and devoured it too!

The Marvels by Brian Selznick
Finished 8-5-16

Summary: Caldecott Award winner and bookmaking trailblazer Brian Selznick once again plays with the form he invented and takes readers on a voyage!

Two seemingly unrelated stories–one in words, the other in pictures–come together. The illustrated story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, the lone survivor of a shipwreck, and charts the adventures of his family of actors over five generations. The prose story opens in 1990 and follows Joseph, who has run away from school to an estranged uncle’s puzzling house in London, where he, along with the reader, must piece together many mysteries.

My Thoughts: Brian Selznick is so brilliant! Each of his books are set up so cleverly (and differently), and The Marvels is no different. This one is set up with the first half in pictures telling a story of The Marvels, a family of actors, then it switches to Joseph’s story. The two stories then intertwine later in the book in a way you won’t see coming. This book definitely pulled on some heart strings!

Masterminds by Gordon Korman
Finished 5-11-16

Summary: From bestselling author Gordon Korman comes a thrilling new middle grade trilogy about a group of kids living in a Pleasantville-type town who discover a dark secret that connects them to some of the greatest criminal masterminds of their time.

Eli Frieden lives in the most boring town in the world: Serenity, New Mexico. Only thirty kids live in the idyllic town, where every lawn is perfectly manicured and everyone has a pool and a basketball hoop. Honesty and kindness are the backbone of the community. There is no crime in this utopia.

Eli has never left town…. Why would he ever want to? But everything changes the day he and his friend Randy bike to the edge of the city limits. Eli is suddenly struck with a paralyzing headache and collapses. Almost instantly, a crew of security—or “Purple People Eaters,” as the kids call them—descend via helicopter. Eli awakens in the hospital, and the next day, Randy and his family are gone.

As Eli convinces his friends Tori and Malik to help him investigate Randy’s disappearance, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems in Serenity. As the clues mount to reveal a shocking discovery, the kids realize they can trust no one—least of all their own parents. So they hatch a plan for what could be the greatest breakout in history—but will they survive? And if they do, where do they go from there?

This first book in a thrilling new series from the middle grade “mastermind” Gordon Korman is sure to be a hit with his myriad fans.

My Thoughts: I’m so glad Michele recommended this book to me! As soon as I finished, I had to go tell people about it because the concept is so crazy, I immediately had to share it with everyone I could find! And the end is such a cliffhanger (though satisfying also) that you will want to pick up the sequel right away because you are going to want to know what happens to Eli and his friends. And now I am just waiting for book #3 to come out!!

The Terrible Two by Jory John & Mac Barnett; Illustrated by Kevin Cornell
Finished 4-14-16

Summary: Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that’s famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town’s best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game.

It’s prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud.

In The Terrible Two, bestselling authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John have created a series that has its roots in classic middle-grade literature yet feels fresh and new at the same time.

My Thoughts: I am obviously not the audience for this book; however, while I was listening to the book, I could think of so many students that will love this book! Since I have read it, it has been borrowed permanently twice and read so many times. It is a perfect book for Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate fans as well as fans of books like The Great Greene Heist too!

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky
Finished 6-22-16

Summary: Alone at home, twelve-year-old Grayson Sender glows, immersed in beautiful thoughts and dreams. But at school, Grayson grasps at shadows, determined to fly under the radar. Because Grayson has been holding onto a secret for what seems like forever: “he” is a girl on the inside, stuck in the wrong gender’s body.

The weight of this secret is crushing, but leaving it behind would mean facing ridicule, scorn, and rejection. Despite these dangers, Grayson’s true self itches to break free. Strengthened by an unexpected friendship and a caring teacher who gives her a chance to step into the spotlight, Grayson might finally have the tools to let her inner light shine.

Debut author Ami Polonsky’s moving, beautifully-written novel shines with the strength of a young person’s spirit and the enduring power of acceptance.

My Thoughts: I love that there are books like Gracefully Grayon and George out there for my students to learn to emphasize or identify, depending on what they need, with transgendered students. I found it interesting how similar yet how different the two books are also. Both very much worth reading.

Ricki

I am following the motto that any progress on this list is good progress! I have read 6/15 books, and while I know I am a bit behind, many of the books I have left are shorter. (Cough. And there are a few denser ones in there. Cough.) I started a project to read Muslim literature, and it took up much of my time! However, I loved all three books that I read on my #mustreadin2016 list!

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Finished 4-25-16

Goodreads Summary: Rashad is absent again today.

That’s the sidewalk graffiti that started it all…

Well, no, actually, a lady tripping over Rashad at the store, making him drop a bag of chips, was what started it all. Because it didn’t matter what Rashad said next—that it was an accident, that he wasn’t stealing—the cop just kept pounding him. Over and over, pummeling him into the pavement. So then Rashad, an ROTC kid with mad art skills, was absent again…and again…stuck in a hospital room. Why? Because it looked like he was stealing. And he was a black kid in baggy clothes. So he must have been stealing.

And that’s how it started.

And that’s what Quinn, a white kid, saw. He saw his best friend’s older brother beating the daylights out of a classmate. At first Quinn doesn’t tell a soul…He’s not even sure he understands it. And does it matter? The whole thing was caught on camera, anyway. But when the school—and nation—start to divide on what happens, blame spreads like wildfire fed by ugly words like “racism” and “police brutality.” Quinn realizes he’sgot to understand it, because, bystander or not, he’s a part of history. He just has to figure out what side of history that will be.

Rashad and Quinn—one black, one white, both American—face the unspeakable truth that racism and prejudice didn’t die after the civil rights movement. There’s a future at stake, a future where no one else will have to be absent because of police brutality. They just have to risk everything to change the world.

Cuz that’s how it can end.

My Thoughts: I read this book a few months ago, and frankly, I can’t stop thinking about how important this story is. We read so many books in our lifetimes, and some just take our breath away. This is one of those books. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. I believe it belongs in every classroom. The strength of the two voices in this book is remarkable, and it makes for an excellent teaching tool—about heroism; about doing what is right and true; and about being a good, decent human being. The acts within this book are all-to-common, and I believe this book promotes genuine change. The book is literary at the same time that it is engaging. It will pull (and has pulled) readers of all ages and backgrounds. I typically don’t review books long after they have been published, but this book feels too important to leave out. If you haven’t read it already, I recommend it move to the top of your TBR list. It’s and incredible story.

The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Finished 6-5-16

Goodreads Summary: In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He’s got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day.

But in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from.

So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier–even if it’s the last thing he ever does.

The Honest Truth is a rare and extraordinary novel about big questions, small moments, and the incredible journey of the human spirit.

My Thoughts: In the introduction of the ARC, Dan Gemeinhart writes that this story was inspired by his friend Mark, who passed away from cancer. While the book is not about Mark, there are “smooth rocks of truth” within it. He wrote the story in hopes that Mark would enjoy reading it. With this in mind, I began the book already emotionally invested. Mark is a 12-year-old boy who has recently relapsed with cancer. He is tired of being sick, and he has set out with his dog and plans to go to Mt. Rainier to die. Much of the book is Mark’s journey to Rainier, and we slowly learn about his experiences with cancer throughout the story. Every other chapter is written by his best friend Jesse, and I found their friendship to be inspiring, particularly given the author’s introduction. This is a beautiful story that will leave a mark on readers’ hearts. I will be recommending it often.

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
Finished 6-17-16

Goodreads Summary: Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life. With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake caves, and each sacrifices a body part.

My Thoughts: What a neat, neat book! The second half really captured my attention, and I had difficulty leaving my car! I found myself listening to it while I played with my son on the floor. I only do this with audio books that I really enjoy! I loved the way this book mixed adventure with the gothic setting. I felt like I was wrapped up in Oppel’s words.

Stop by There Is A Book For That to see the updates of everyone’s #mustreadin2016 lists!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Back to School Picture Books

August 30, 2016 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Back to School Picture Books

Ricki

1. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

I’ve posted about this book a lot lately. My son is going into pre-k this fall, and I am so anxious! As a parent, I am eternally grateful to have this book to help him (and me!) with this transition.

2. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

I read this book on the first day with my pre-service teachers. It is such an incredible book to teach about the importance of kindness and its rippling effects.

3. My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison

In a way, this book is similar to the last. It emphasizes the importance of kindness. It also teaches the ways that friendships evolve and why we should stand up for each other in the face of adversity.

4. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

I love this book because of the ways it integrates culture. Unhei works hard to pick a new name that her peers can pronounce. It is difficult to be the new kid in school, and I think that students will really relate to Unhei’s story. It is a great book to share on the first day as students struggle with their anxiety and nervous jitters.

5. This School Year Will Be THE BEST! by Kay Winters

I love setting goals on the first day, and this is a great book to share to introduce an activity like this!

Kellee

I like to start my year talking about kindness and showing that we should all care for each other no matter what. I really like to try to make my classroom a community where everyone knows we are there for each other. Here are some books that help open up communication and understanding for each other.

1. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

I read this book to my students on the first day of school, and we make kindness statements sharing something we are going to try to do in the upcoming school year to be kind to others.

2. Normal Norman by Tara Lazar

I love the discussion of what is “normal” in this book. Just because someone doesn’t fit the description of “normal” doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome!

3. Red by Michael Hall

I know this books ends up on a lot of my TTT lists, but I think it is brilliant how Hall is able to talk about identity and labeling in a way that makes kids understand and talk about it without them even realizing it.

4. The Perfect Percival Priggs by Julie-Anne Graham

This book leads to amazing conversations about perfection, the unrealistic aspect of it, and the anxiety that may come with it.

5. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

This book is a bit different than the others. This book promotes innovation and not giving up. It starts conversations about creativity, working hard, and imagination.

Which picture books are your favorites to read on the first day of school?

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Author Guest Post!: “Courting the Reluctant Writer” by Michele Bacon, Author of Life Before

August 28, 2016 by Ricki

“Courting the Reluctant Writer”

Disclaimer: I am not a certified teacher. In fact, I am in awe of anyone who can teach classes of students every single day. I lack the patience, training, and wherewithal to do the work you do. Thank you!

I have the good luck to instruct young writers through workshops in schools, bookstores, libraries, and writing clinics. I love helping young writers discover their voices and tell their stories. To that end, I’ve collected a bag of tricks to help draw out reluctant writers. To help you court reluctant writers, I’m sharing three:

Spelling, grammar, and punctuation don’t matter.

Students with ADHD, ASD, dyslexia, and a slew of other challenges, often feel throttled by proper spelling and grammar. Take away the mechanics of grammar, and you’re left with story.

So let go. Not forever, but for now. Removing those restrictions lets students write freely. It helps them find their voices and the stories they’re eager to tell.

I know grammar is important. (Full disclosure: Grammar may be my first love.) But while I’m nurturing young writers, I tell them to forget that “stuff.” Ignore the mechanics. Save grammar for another week. Every writer needs a copyeditor, anyway.

Show—don’t tell—teens that their voices are unique.

I use this every time I host a writing workshop for teens or tweens. After talking a little about voice and perspective, I explain that talking about writing gets you nowhere. You have to write.

I assign a scene—the same scene—to every student. The exercise is short and sweet—7-8 minutes of writing—and I write along with them. When time’s up, students share, and I respond with positive comments about how each piece is unique.

Reluctant writers aren’t the first to share, but after three or four students read their scenes, everyone gets the picture: you are unique. No one can write from your perspective.

This is especially effective if I read my own piece and cite details students included but I neglected or forgot. Never underestimate the power of being wrong.

Fan fiction is your friend.

This is my very favorite trick. I preface this exercise with a disclaimer about plagiarism. Nothing—nothing—is more freeing to a reluctant writer than writing in a world he already loves.

Hogwarts is already a fully-imagined school, complete with hidden passages, secrets, and hundreds of interesting students. Imagine you, a muggle, woke up in Harry Potter’s dormitory and had to fake your way through potions with Snape.

What if you had boarded Eleanor & Park’s yellow school bus as a fellow student? Show me their relationship and your bus ride through your own eyes.

If you were Trunchbull, how would you next thwart Roald Dahl’s Matilda? (This is particularly fun for late elementary school writers.)

Instead of struggling to imagine a scene, students start with Hogwarts, Rainbow Rowell’s vivid characters, or the evil Trunchbull’s avarice. Fan fiction is freeing, because the hardest work is done. Using a scene, character, or setting from a beloved book, students also come to writing with passion.

I love working with students to build characters, find their stories, or strengthen their prose. But those workshops—all of them—are infinitely easier if students are passionate. If they’re bought in, they’re digging deeper, focused, and ready to tell the best versions of their stories.

And then, eventually, I ask them to do more.

The thing is, the Harry Potter saga is (mostly) over. Roald Dahl has been dead more than 25 years. Eleanor & Park are good to go…but who is this new character my student has created on Eleanor & Park’s bus? Why is he watching Park court Eleanor instead of focusing on his own interests? What’s happening at his house?

That student has created a new character, sparked by fan fiction. What’s more, the spark and the passion will stay with that student. Insert that new character in a new scene, and the passion is still there. What’s more: sharing their passions will ignite new passions in their peers—inside the classroom.

Everyone wins.

I’m on the lookout for more tricks, but these three consistently inspire students to write; I hope one of them resonates with you.

*with great thanks to Jo Rowling, Rainbow Rowell, and Roald Dahl

About the Author: Michele Bacon writes contemporary fiction for adults and young adults. Most of her stories begin as ideas scrawled on random scraps of paper, stuffed into pockets or joining her computer-bag detritus. Life Beforeis her debut novel. Michele lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and three small children.

Life Before

About the Book: Seventeen years is a long time to keep secrets, so Xander Fife is very good at it: everyone believes he has a normal family. If he can just get through this summer, he’ll start his real life in college with a clean slate–no risk, no drama, no fear.

Xander’s summer plans include pick-up soccer, regular hijinks with friends, an epic road trip, and—quite possibly— the company of his ideal girlfriend, the amazing Gretchen Taylor.

Instead of kicking off what had promised to be an amazing summer, however, graduation day brings terror. His family’s secrets are thrust out into the open, forcing Xander to confront his greatest fear. Or run from it.

Armed with a fake ID, cash, and a knife, Xander skips town and assumes a new identity. In danger hundreds of miles from home, one thing is clear: Xander’s real life is already in progress and just getting through it isn’t enough.

Thank you, Michele, for this post, and thank you, Cheryl, for connecting us with Michele!

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