Review - Starfish

 

Summary (from Amazon.com) - Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules—like “no making waves,” “avoid eating in public,” and “don’t move so fast that your body jiggles.” And she’s found her safe space—her swimming pool—where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It’s also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life—by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.

My Review - I can't say enough about this book.  Having been bullied as a child for my weight, I could instantly relate to Ellie, although I didn't have a mother who was as brutal to me as she does.  Ellie's pain is beautifully captured in the verses of the poetry, but equally beautifully-captured is her empowerment and growth into a confident young woman who loves herself as she is.

This book is a must-read for anyone, young to older.  It is a poignant look into the mind of a bullied child, and should be instructive for people who don't understand because they didn't experience such bullying themselves.  It's also incredibly inspiring for those who are trying to heal from this deep, cutting pain.  In short, as insipid as it sounds to write "there's something in this for everyone," it really is true in this book.

Review - Meet the Bigfeet (The Yeti Files #1)

 

Meet the Bigfeet (The Yeti Files #1) - Kevin Sherry, author/illustrator

Summary (from Goodreads):
Blizz Richards is a great guy, a caring boss, and a loyal friend. Oh, yeah...he's also a yeti! He's made it his life's mission to study cryptids like him, hidden animals who have taken a powerful oath to never be seen by the outside world.

So when a photo of Cousin Brian becomes a media sensation, Brian can't handle the guilt and disappears. But it's time for the annual Bigfoot family reunion, and it won't be the same without him. Luckily, Blizz and his devoted team are on the case. Can they find their furry friend before their secret gets out for good?

My Review:
This book is fast paced to the point of frenetic; the pace made me fairly anxious, if I'm honest. The varied print sizes and weight make the text very exciting-looking for some readers; struggling readers or dyslexic readers will probably have a hard time with just the visual aspects, let alone the strange characters and plot.  The characters are goofy and fairly amusing, and there is a bit of a mystery element, which some readers may find interesting.  Apparently there are more books in this series, but the visuals in this are so overwhelming to me that I probably won't seek out the next few for my classroom library unless students specifically request them.

Review - The Drinking Gourd: A Story of the Underground Railroad

 

The Drinking Gourd - F. N. Monjo, author.  Fred Brenner, illustrator

Summary (from Goodreads):

The stars of the Big Dipper have led a runaway slave family to Deacon Fuller's house, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Will Tommy Fuller be able to hide the runaways from a search party—or will the secret passengers be discovered and their hope for freedom destroyed?

My Review:

I thought this story was a good high-level introduction to the Underground Railroad for beginning readers.  The main character, Tommy, is a mischievous boy who is generally relatable for kids.  Students from non-Christian backgrounds may need additional explanation about the church service setting, and readers may require previous instruction on the meaning of slavery, but this would be a good addition to a leveled text set about the Underground Railroad and antebellum South.

Review - The War That Saved My Life

 

The War That Saved My Life - Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author

Summary (from Goodreads):

Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.
 
So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

My Review:

I couldn't put this book down.  It packs so much into the story - childhood abuse and neglect, along with the emotional and psychological ramifications of mistreatment, disability and the stigma of being born different, and starting life over in a new place.  This book is heart-wrenching at times, and heart-warming at others.  Ada's experience with war - her own personal war, not just the external situation of WWII - is vivid and understandable for readers.  This would be an excellent readaloud book, or it could be a good small group study, especially in conjunction with a unit on World War II.  Students may find the context confusing if they lack the background in the history of the war, but they should find Ada a relatable and recognizable reluctant heroine.

Review - Time of the Witches

 

Time of the Witches - Anna Myers, author

Summary (from Goodreads): Orphaned at the age of four, Drucilla finally has a place she can call home with her new family, the Putnams, of Salem Village. But when a new reverend and his family move into town with their servant Tituba, life takes a strange and dangerous turn as accusations of witchcraft swirl. Dru is overwhelmed by the fervor of lies and the power of groupthink among the other girls in town; reluctant to turn her back on the Putnams, she utters her own accusations. Only her best friend Gabe sees through the deceit, but it may be too late for Dru to protect the truth, and innocent people will pay the ultimate price. 

My Review: This book was thrilling to read; it gives an in-person description of the Salem Witch Trials.  Drucilla, the protagonist, is an active participant in the witch hysteria, despite her conscience urging her not to be absorbed by the times.  Her helplessness at the hands of Ann Putnam is very compelling; readers can definitely understand the dangerous position she is stuck in.  The ending is unexpected, but it is a stronger ending than what one would normally find, so I found it satisfying (and it set up the story for a sequel, although I'm not sure there is one).  This novel would be an excellent choice for a text set or lesson about the power of group thinking and suggestibility.

Review - Rules

Rules - Cynthia Lord, author

Summary (from Goodreads):
This Newbery Honor Book is a heartfelt and witty story about feeling different and finding acceptance--beyond the rules.

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules-from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"-in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?

My Review:
As a parent of two children with autism, I found this book to be both compelling and difficult to read.  I can absolutely relate to Catherine's struggles - I myself have wished at times that my children could think and behave the way their typically-developing peers do, not because I think there's anything wrong with them as they are, but just to make their lives easier.  This is a really good choice for a novel study or unit on tolerance and acceptance, and it would work equally well as a read-aloud or as a group book club book..  Struggling readers may have difficulty with the language used in the book, and students without any understanding of autism or disabilities may find the characters of David and Jason difficult to comprehend, so additional reference material may be necessary to help build schema.

Read: March 2022

Review - The Day the Goose Got Loose

 The Day the Goose Got Loose - Reeve Lindbergh, author.  Steven Kellogg, illustrator

Summary (from Goodreads):
Just how much havoc can one goose cause? Take a gander at the chaos that results when a long-necked mischief-maker flies the coop. Soon the bull's broken through the fence, and cows and horses are galloping all over town. The stampede will go on until dawn--and the laughter will last even longer.

My Review:
I adore this book.  The illustrations are big and bold and colorful, and the poetry is rollicking and humorous.  It's a great story, and also a really excellent introduction to rhyme schemes and poetic meter.  I used to read this to one of my preschool students, and the enormous smiles he would give me were so beautiful that I bought him a copy of it for himself when he graduated.  It's an excellent read-aloud just for fun and relaxation, or it could be a great addition to a poetry study for all levels.

Read: March 2022