Let the Battle Begin!

I have about 30 kids signed up for Battle of the Books this year, and they are all busily working their way through the 20 titles on the Battle list.  So far, my favorites would be Restart  by Gordon Korman and Front Desk by Kelly Yang.  They both feature strong main characters and strong narrative voices.  In Restart, a popular school athlete suffers from amnesia due to head trauma, and discovers, as he struggles to re-learn his life, that he may have been popular, but he as definitely not well-liked or kind.  In fact, he was a bully.  The conflict between who he was and who he is becoming makes a really good read.  In Front Desk,  the main character is the daughter of immigrants, struggling to find a safe place to rebuild their lives.  How she helps her family make a place for themselves in an often hostile world is the basis of this novel.  Both provide plenty of opportunities for readers to deal with complex issues through entertaining stories.

It's That Time Again

Where has the time gone?  A new Battle of the Books season is approaching, and the first snow has fallen.  Since I last posted, I earned some grant money to start a makerspace next to the LMC and started flexible scheduling with half of my teachers.  We are always busy here!  I just finished Front Desk  by Kelly Yang and re-read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.  While both stories include Asian culture, they are vastly different in tone and style.  Yang focuses on the more modern issues of leaving your homeland and learning to live in a new culture -- the United States.  Ling steeps her story in ancient tales and wisdom.  Both are wonderful to read and deserve their spot on this year's Battle of the Books list.

Battle of the Books

I have been busily reading the 20 titles on this year's Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association's (WEMTA) Battle of the Books list.  You can find the list here:  Book lists.  I have a strong group of both 4th and 5th graders vying for a spot on the final team, so it has been quite a job keeping up with them!  By far, my favorite picture book on the list is Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins.  If you are looking for a laugh-out-loud story to share as a filler for a few minutes in the classroom or just a nice book to share at home, this one will work.  Bruce is a bear who finds some eggs, which he thinks he will eat.  However, they hatch before he can decide how to prepare them.  What happens after that makes one of the most entertaining picture books I have read all year.  Take a few minutes and enjoy this one!

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

I think we can all agree that Katherine Applegate is an amazing author of books for children, tweens and teens.  In Crenshaw, she manages to weave stark reality with fantasy to create a heart-touching tale of a family that has fallen on hard times and a boy who struggles to have some control of his life.  Jackson's family can no longer afford rent, so they are living in their van -- again.  Jackson remembers the last time this happened, so he cannot accept it as an adventure, which is how his parents are coping with it.  Instead, his imaginary friend, a giant cat named Crenshaw, starts to reappear in Jackson's life.  As he tries to cope with Crenshaw and his family's struggles, Jackson learns that even imaginary friends can help when times are hard.  To find out just how Crenshaw helps Jackson and his family, read the book! 

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

The epic fantasy begun in Eragon sees its conclusion in this final volume of the cycle.  All loose ends get tied up.  Saphira and Eragon must confront the evil Galbatorix, but where and when?  Despite heartbreaking odds, they must continue fighting, for if they cannot defeat him, then all hope is lost.  As the army Eragon has helped create marches to confront Galbatorix, he and his dragon move forward with their plan of attack.  Will they succeed?  What will be the cost? Most importan of all, perhaps, what does the future hold for the dragons and their riders?  A very long read leads to a most satisfying end of this saga.

Almost Home by Joan Bauer

What happens when the adults who are supposed to keep you safe lose everything and breakdown?  That is what happens in Almost Home.  After her mother loses their house and her job, Sugar finds herself homeless and hopeless far away from her home and her beloved teacher.  Her mother has slipped into a severe depression and needs to be hospitalized.  Sugar winds up in foster care, where, with the help of some quirky neighbors and her dog, Shush, she learns the true meaning of home.

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

Wendy Mass is fast becoming a favorite in the Meadowview Intermediate LMC, and Every Soul a Star continues that trend.  Three very different voices combine to create a unique and interesting story.  Ally, Bree, and Jack form an unusual friendship when circumstances beyond their control bring them all to the remote Moon Shadow campground to view a total eclipse of the sun.  Despite their differences, they manage to help each other find their place.  A very good read.