The Giver

The Giver
by Lois Lowry

Last fall at the National Book Festival, I had the honor of attending a talk by the writer Lois Lowry.  She was at the festival promoting her newest book, Son.  It is a continuation of the story she began 11 years ago with her Newbery Award winning novel, The Giver.  If you have middle school aged children, this title may be familiar to you.  The Giver was added to the required reading list of most middle schools in America once it became so acclaimed.  It was added because it met two major hurdles: it is loved by 11-13 year old readers, and it fulfills the science fiction requirements in my state's English standards.

Son will be out in paperback soon and inevitably onto my 8th grade book club lists, so I decided to listen to The Giver this week.  I must admit I also listened to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  I've read it before but enjoyed listening to it again all the same.  If you want to know the details about this book, check out my post.  It was wonderful listening to The Giver.  I read it when it was published, and don't remember liking it as much as I did this time.

In the future, as described by Lois Lowry, every member of the community has a specific job that is assigned to them at the Ceremony of Twelve.  The jobs are assigned to children after years of being observed by the adults of the community.  Once you are given a job, it is yours for a lifetime.  Twelve year old Jonas is assigned the job of receiver.  There is only one receiver in the community at a time.  He is the only member of the community who holds memories.  Once Jonas is chosen, the past receiver becomes the giver and begins passing all of his memories to Jonas.  At first, the process seems delightful to Jonas, but in short order, the pain of difficult memories begins to weigh on Jonas.  The more he learns, the more he begins to distrust his society.

There are four stories that evolve around this futuristic society.  According to Lowry, she only meant to write one story.  She received so many inquiries about the characters of her novel she began adding other novels: Gathering Blue, Messenger and now Son.   I must say, listening and reading these novels is worth your time.

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte

As I mentioned last week, my son made his way to camp this week.  It is in a remote location.  At the camp, electronics aren't allowed and there is no internet or cell service.  Luckily, he is a reader, so a good old fashioned book, a book light and flashlights were on the list of things to bring, and they will help fill any down time.

In preparation for his departure, we made our way to Barnes & Noble to find the perfect book.  We looked around for about thirty minutes and he had trouble deciding on anything.  I can assure you that none of the books on the "Summer Reading" tables were in his stack.  I poured over the tables and quickly realized that the chances of him, or any child, picking one of these classic books was slim to none, unless it was because of some required list from school.  The covers were just so blah!

Because he could settle on nothing in particular, we made our way to a local resale shop, and he picked a Dan Brown novel, Deception Point, that I was able to purchase for $2.99.  Resale is my go to if I can't get the book at the library.  In this case, I was reluctant to send a library book along.  Still, I couldn't get those wonderful stories, trapped in stunningly lame covers, off my mind.  So, I headed to my local book seller.

There I found my favorite shelf of classic literature and was reminded that Penguin Classic Deluxe Editions is putting quite a bit of effort into attracting new readers.  Just look at this cover for Wuthering Heights.  It thrilled my 8th grade girls' book club enough for them to give the novel a try.  In this age of dark male leads and tortured female characters, who wouldn't want to give Heathcliff and Cathy a go.  As a lover of English and American Classics, I totally support Penguin's efforts to give the stories a new life with our young adult readers.  Just google "Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition" and you will find the extensive list of newly designed covers, by fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo, that are carefully protecting some of our best stories.

This Wuthering Heights cover is part of the couture collection.  Here is how Penguin describes the new covers:

Couture Deluxe Editions

READ ICONIC NOVELS DRESSED IN A FIERCE DESIGN BY ACCLAIMED FASHION ILLUSTRATOR RUBEN TOLEDO. COLLECT ALL SIX TITLES IN THE COUTURE-INSPIRED COLLECTION.

Summer Mystery Series

I was wandering around the stacks at Fletcher Library Monday and string of bright blue book spines jumped out at me. Upon closer examination, I realized they were the Hardy Boys series. I must tell you I am not sure I ever read a Hardy Boys novel, but my husband loved them as a kid. His other favorite was Encyclopedia Brown, another great series of mystery books for kids. With the Hardy Boys located, I went searching for the Nancy Drew books. This is a girl I knew and loved well as a child. I didn’t know the author’s name – originally Caroline Keene as it turns out – and so I just walked the stacks looking for other collections of common spines until I found her.  Read More

Surviving the Applewhites

By Stephanie Tolan

These days it seems like every newly published book for middle readers (4^th-6^th grade) I pick up is fantasy and in first person.  I must admit, I long for the days of Ramona Quimby, from Beverely Cleary’s Ramona series and Peter Hatcher, of Judy Blume’s Fudge books.  These wildly funny, realistic fiction novels shed light on the lives of young people in the way fantasy just can’t.   The mishaps that bring on the laugher and the tears are the same stunts our children are up to, and I think, for a newly capable reader, easier to interpret and identify with.

I recently read Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan.  It was published in 2003, after my time.  And, my son is as obsessed as his peers with fantasy, so it never found its way to my house until now.  I have to say it was a hoot.  I can see why it won Newbery Honors and made its way onto the New York Times bestsellers list.

We are first introduced to Jake Semple, a kid who has used up all his chances.  He has been kicked out of every school his has ever attended.  He was even blamed for burning one of them down.  Because his parents are in jail, he recently moved to North Carolina to live with his grandfather for a fresh start, but in just a few short weeks is expelled from yet another school.

As a last effort, Jake’s grandfather approaches the Appleswhites for help.  The Applewhites are family of artist who has created an Academy in their home to educate the four children.  They all work independently and pursue their own interests.  Once they decide, in a family meeting, to take on Jake, he is paired with the third daughter, to learn the ropes.

I must say, this story is not only funny, but has an inspirational theme:  that we all have a gift, if only we can find the courage to employee it.  If you and your reader are looking for a break from fantasy, you should give this story a try.

The Sign of the Beaver

The Sign of the Beaver
by  Elizabeth George Speare

When I think back to my childhood, I can picture my box set of the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The books were light yellow and paperback.  They fit perfectly into a light yellow cardboard box, with only 5 sides, creating a mini bookshelf for the books.  I didn't like all of the stories.  The Long Winter and Little House on Plum Creek were my favorites.  Over time, the spines bulged with overuse, making it nearly impossible to fit the entire collection into their bookshelf box.

When my son started going to school, his primary Montessori teacher read Little House in the Big Woods to him and his classmates.  He loved Pa, with his gun and his sense of adventure.  I thought this would mark the beginning of our sharing the rest of the stories.  So, continuing on the boy theme, I read Farmer Boy to him.  He only thought it was fine.  Not to be discouraged, I proceeded to the Long Winter, and he completely detested it.  Sadly, I began to ponder how he would ever experience America's move into the wilderness.  I tried a few of the other books on the theme, but finally moved on.

In the first grade, he brought home a book I had never heard of, The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare.  His reading assignment was to read it aloud to me for 30 minutes each night.  As the story began, I met a father and his son, Matt, heading out into the wilderness to start a new life for the family.  Yeah, I cheered inside, a trip to the west, at last.  Matt and his father built a cabin for the family.  Once it was complete, Matt's father equipped him with a gun and the other necessary supplies for survival, so he could guard the new home while he traveled back East to get Matt's mother and sister.

Now Matt was only thirteen, but if you've read much about the migration West, this was old enough to entrust with such a task.  In short order, a man ambushes Matt in his home and steals his gun.  Matt is left with no protection and no simple way to hunt for food.  Understanding that it would be some time before his family would return, if they returned, Matt began to create a system for survival.  I have to tell you it is slow going until he meets a Native American boy named Attean from the Beaver Clan.

With Attean's help, Matt survives life and its adventures in the West.  They become close friends and Matt is increasingly able to care for himself while he awaits his family.  You and your reader will need to read it yourself to find out whether or not Matt's family makes their way back to the cabin and what happens to the unlikely friendship between Matt and Attean.

If you are thinking of this as an independent read for your child, they should be quite capable readers.  It is suggested for children 10-14.  If, on the other hand, you plan on reading it with her, get started when ever the themes fit your reader's interest. 

Ballet Shoes

Ballet Shoes
by Noel Streatfeild


My niece was recently cast as the parrot in her school production of Aladdin.  Needless to say, she is thrilled.  In this role, she gets to sing and make jokes.  A perfect part!  To mark the occasion, I wanted to send along a book with the perfect note inscribed on the inside cover.  When I went searching for a title I was reminded of the books about shoes written by Noel Streatfeild.  Because I have never read any of the stories, I started with Ballet Shoes.  It gets a remarkable recommendation by the online reading community and teachers.

I must say I agree with the critics.  The language is challenging for a middle reader, which I like, and the lessons in hard work and determination are well explored.

The novel concerns three orphans who are adopted by an explorer and collector.  While he is away on a rather lengthy voyage, his great niece is left to raise the girls.  All is well, until the money begins to run out.  Uncle Gum has been away too  long.  To raise money, and as it turns out the girls, the house is opened to boarders.  Each boarder has a special quality or talent that they impress upon the girls.  It is nice to read how this "village" comes together to sacrifice to improve the children's lives.The last thing you should know is that the girls claim one another as sisters and invent a surname of their very own- Fossil...you will have to read the novel to find out why.  With the knowledge that they are the only Fossils around, they vow to make the name famous. 

You should know that I did get Ballet Shoes for my niece, but as a prequel to Theater Shoes, the novel I will give to her on opening night! 

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Boy: Tales of Childhood
by Roald Dahl

I find that you always have to be on the look out for a book suggestion.  If you are reading this, I hope you have found some good recommendations here.  I must admit that I can find a book title everywhere.  The other afternoon, while flipping channels, I came across the movie, You've Got Mail.  They were at the scene where Tom Hanks takes his aunt and brother into Meg Ryan's bookstore for story hour.  With an eye on the book Ryan was reading, I noticed the name Roald Dahl under the title Boy.  Now, I was sure I had read every book written by the man, so this intrigued me.

I turned off the t.v., got out my computer, opened up our library's web site, and searched for the book.  I found it in the Biography section.  Yeah!  Requesting it, I only had to wait a day or two and it was then mine to borrow and read.  (I LOVE the lending library!)

I was so delighted by the stories of this man's boyhood.  The tales he shares in this volume stretch from birth to age 20.  I have been doing research on my grandfather, lately, and was delighted to find that they were born in the same year, 1916.  After all of my reading about the depression in America, it was nice to learn a little about what was happening on the other side of the pond.  Not to mention that it just fueled my longing for the next installment of Downton Abbey.

If your young reader isn't a fan of fiction, you ought to let them try this biography.  As usual, Dahl paints dramatic and hilarious portraits, and in this case they are real.  They will also be granted some insight into the seeds of some of his famous novels.  If you find that they have an appetite for the book, there are a few other  volumes:  D is for Dahl, facts and trivia about the author, and Going Solo, about his time in the Royal Air Force during WWII.  And as ever, his novels are without compare.  Reading his biography might the just the thing to persuade your young reader to give his novels a try!

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451
By Ray Bradbury

In celebration of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Simon & Schuster hosted a contest to design a new cover for this iconic classic.This is the new cover art for the novel, annouced just a few days ago.  Not only is it AWESOME, the winner of the contest is from my home town, Little Rock, AR.

Congrats, Matthew Owen!

Lately, I have been thinking about books about books. So, what does Fahrenheit 451 have to do with books? It is the temperature at which a book burns. Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, firemen start fires. They burn books and the houses that contain them...Read More.

Gone Away Lake

Gone Away Lake
by Elizabeth Enright

Here we have another Newbery Book.  I went in search of Thimble Summer, by the same author, because I loved her book The Saturdays so much and it was her Newbery Medal Winner.  It was not on the shelf at my branch library, so I pick up her Newbery Honor Book, Gone Away Lake instead.

I have a slight memory of my son reading this book when he was in 1st or 2nd grade. After reading it, I can see why his wonderful Early Elementary teacher recommended it for him. My son loves nature and natural history, still.  This book makes note of every bird and plant that the long list of characters encounters as they play and work in the woods and fields.  In my readers notebook, yes I keep notes as I read books, I have a sample list of some of the birds:  scarlet taninger, mourning dove, owl, finch, crow and woodpecker.  As my son, currently in 6th grade, has ornithological veterinarian on his short list of occupation, it is no wonder this book was a success with him.  When he saw that I was reading it he said, "Isn't that the one where the kids find the old village near a swamp?"

Indeed it is!  11 year old Portia Blake and her six year old brother, Foster, take the train, alone, to spend the summer with their Aunt, Uncle and cousin, Julian for the summer.  Portia and Julian are constant companions and soon find there way to the "village" my son mentioned.  Julian is a collector of natural specimens and the long walks they take for discovery, often lead them to some unknown location.  As the children approach the run down houses, they hear a noise.  Though a bit frighten, they cautiously approach the house from which the sound rang.  Within moments a women, dressed as if she came from a long forgotten time, stepped out through the door.  With startled introductions, they learn that the mistress of the antique home is Minniehaha and that she and her brother,  Pin each live in one of the abandon homes.

This is a tale of young discovery.  The children live in a time where adult supervision is not constant, like it is today, so their explorations are deep and rewarding.  They do find themselves in a bind from time to time, but with the help of the adults they enlist to help, they always find their way. Enright lived from 1909-1968 and her books reflect the time of her own childhood.  I have a romantic notion that we might one day get back to a time when our children can roam free and discover the world and themselves independently.  Until that day, I suggest we share novels like Enright's with them, so they will know what supplies they will need to take along on the journey when it come along.

Doctor Dolittle

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

by Hugh Lofting

Well, between a Christmas Break filled with family and a trip homeward wondering if we would have power upon our return, I would say the last few weeks have been filled with adventures.  I apologize for my lengthy absence, but “The Great Snow of 2012,” has left my family without power for 7 days.  The one advantage is that books require no electricity, so I have had plenty to do.

In 2013, it is my plan to make my way through some of the Newbery Winners and Honors books.  Some of them I read during my childhood; others I missed entirely.  The award was first given in 1922 to The Story of Mankind by (Liveright) Hendrik Willem van Loon.  The award is given annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

After considering the books that won the award in the 1920s, I decided to start with The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.  The novel won the award in 1923.  I am not sure if I read it as a child.  I do remember seeing the film with Rex Harrison as the doctor himself.  I loved the wondrous creatures in the movie, especially the pushme-pullyou and the great snail.

Making my way through the novel, that was revised and republished by Dell in 1988 to soften some language that could be considered insensitive, my imagination was immediately captured by the narrator Tommy Stubbins.  His love for the Doctor and the animals he cares for and communicates with makes him irresistible.  The doctor of the novel clashed with my mental image of Rex Harrison in the role.  He is small and round and indifferent to his surroundings, depending entirely on the animals in his life to keep him on track.  These dependable friends include Polynesia the parrot, Dab-Dab the duck, Jip the dog, and Chee-Chee the monkey.  They stand by him until the end when they convince him to give up his kingdom and spirit away in the coils of the Giant Snail, back to his home and life work in Puddle-by-the-Marsh, England.

This book should be read and shared with the animal loving and imaginative readers in your life.

Why not read a cook book?

      For the past few days, I have been cooking treats for Christmas.  I am not much of a cook, to tell the truth, but I do have a few favorite recipes.  This year, I prepared these cookies I invented, with the help of a cookbook, and my grandmother's peanut butter fudge.  The recipe for the fudge is a treasure, as it is in her handwriting.  I read it this year, thinking of her energy and willingness to use anything as a teachable moment. Every time I find myself reading in the course of the day, I hear her voice reminding me to point it out to my son.  This would reinforce that reading is meant to do more than simply entertain.

      This all leads me to my point- When people stop and ask me how to help their child become a better reader, I tell them to be a reading role model.    Never stop reading.  You may not be the kind of person who enjoys fiction, but I bet you read something every day.  Are you a lover of current events?  Then, share an interesting article from a newspaper or magazine with your toddler.   Are you a cook?  Show your children the recipes from which you work.  Teach them to read the specialized format.  If you need to read reports for work, make time to do it in front of your children, no matter what their age.  They will see that reading is something that will sustain them into adulthood.  

     

      Finally, be sure to read in front of them and not just the books you are reading aloud to them.  They will believe you when you say reading is important if they see you making it important for yourself.  So, this winter break, pick up something with words that you need/want to read and share it with your reader.

 

The Magic Finger

The Magic Finger
by Roald Dahl

Today, I met with one of my third grade book clubs.   They are my youngest readers and we are still getting to know each other, not to mention how to approach book club.  One of my goals with the readers in my groups is to help them learn to "read between the lines."  It doesn't take my readers long to figure out that when I ask them, "What is the book about?"  I am not interested in plot points.  Because I work with 3-8th graders, we do begin with the plot, but the older the reader, the faster they can move to what a book is really about.

Roald Dahl's novels are a great training ground.  Think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Even if you didn't get explicit information about the moral from the umpa lumpa's songs, you can come to understand the life lessons contained on its pages by the actions and attitudes of the children.  Mikey loves TV so much he finds his way into the TV.  Augustus loves food so much he falls into the river of chocolate.  That darned gum chewer, Violet Beauregarde, just blows herself up!  Now, I would guess, that these particular habits of children drove Mr. Dahl mad.  But, I would further assert that he is reminding us that too much of anything is not great.

The Magic Finger, also by Dahl, teaches the lesson of empathy.  The plot points go a bit like this:

1. Girl with a magic finger gets mad at her duck hunting neighbors.
2. Girl points said finger at the neighbors, making them trade places with the ducks.
3. Neighbors shrink and grow wings.
4. Ducks grow and get guns.
5. Ducks throw the humans out of the house and begin to hunt them down.

The spell wears off in time and the characters are returned to their original bodies.  Though they all look the same on the outside, they are changed on the inside.  The Gregg family, the duck hunters, change their name to Egg and become advocates for ducks.

When first asked what Roald Dahl means for us to learn from this novel, my youngest readers usually say, "He is against duck hunting!"  Though this is possible, I have know idea what his ideas about hunting are, with a little pushing, it doesn't take them long to understand a bigger theme: we ought to think about how others feel.  Or, Learn to walk in another mans shoes.

As with all of his novel, The Magic Finger offers the reader many new ways to think of themselves and new ways to live life.  I highly recommend this book.  It is only 64 pages and a great place for a new reader to discover this masterful writer on their own.

Winnie the Pooh

Winnie-the-Pooh
by A.A. Milne

Today, I found myself alone in my house on a rainy afternoon.  As I sat down to contemplate what books would be worth discussing today, Christopher Robin, dressed in raincoat and hat, moved into my mind and refused to budge.  Now, I realize that many of you know Pooh, Christopher Robin and the rest of the gang, but do you remember the details of the original story's chapters?  The more I focused on Christopher, outfitted for the rain, the more the wheels of my memory set to work and finally, I was delighted to remember the boy and the bear floating down the creek in an up turned umbrella on their way to save Piglet.

With this memory in tact, I headed to the bookshelf.  From it, I pulled my childhood copy of Winnie-the-Pooh and began to read; both book and story are treasures to me.  I smiled as I reconnected to the love shared between all of A.A. Milne's characters.  My heart sang as the memories of time spent with my son, sitting on my lap as we rediscovered Pooh day after day, came rushing back to me.

So, for today, no matter how old your reader is, or the kind of weather you are having, I challenge you to step carefully into Christopher Robin's umbrella and help he and Pooh rescue Piglet.  I think we just might read aloud chapter nine of Winnie-the-Pooh,  "In which Piglet is entirely surrounded by water," tonight. Hopefully it will act as a time machine and transport us back to our days of snuggling and reading.

The Long Winter

The Long Winter
by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I got in my car this morning to find a little frost and a ton of leaves on the windshield.  I wasn't in a rush, so I decided to let the defroster handle the ice.  As I sat in the car, listening to NPR's Morning Edition, a story about the super storm Sandy began to play.  Waiting for my frost to melt, I couldn't help worrying about all of those families, struggling with no heat as winter continues its slow march toward us all.

Now, I live in the south, so we will have many more days of no frost before we settle into winter for good.  Our winters tease us, and, quite truthfully, rarely cause a big fuss.  But for the Ingalls family in South Dakota, the teasing blizzards quickly turned into the long winter that is described in this book from Laura Ingalls Wilder.

This enduring collection of novels has allowed many children to understand America's Westward expansion.  Laura makes the life seem romantic.   She reminds us of a time long past, while giving us clues about the social realities of the time.   This novel is particularly poignant in that it speaks to the isolation found in the newly-forming communities of the West.  I also like this book for children because it gives their imaginations a chance to work.  This novel is not set in the town of Walnut Grove, which is described in detail in the television show.  Often, children will give this book a chance because they believe it to be a new look at Laura's life.  I just reread it myself with a class of adults, and its lessons about interpersonal relationships made for a lively discussion.  I recommend this classic novel to anyone who is interested in the growth of America, child or adult.

Don't forget the boot giveaway. Click here for the details.

The House of Dies Drear

The House of Dies Drear
by  Virginia Hamilton

Tonight is Halloween.  We are headed to a party and have all of the costumes planned.  My husband and I will be Superman and Jimmy Oslen-(I thought Jimmy's footwear would be more comfortable than Lois Lane's.)  My son is planning some type of ancient warrior.  The month takes us over and begs for us to make room for the hauntings and mysteries that can be conjured up in the mind.  Sticking with the theme of the month, one of my fifth grade book clubs choose The House of Dies Drear  by Virginia Hamilton for our next discussion.  I am no mystery writer so I will let the book cover sell it:

"The house held secrets, Thomas knew, even before he first saw it looming gray and massive on its ledge of rock. It had a century-old legend — two fugitive slaves had been killed by bounty hunters after leaving its passageways, and Dies Drear himself, the abolitionist who had made the house into a station on the Underground Railroad, had been murdered there. The ghosts of the three were said to walk its rooms...."

The pace is just right for the 4th-6th grade readers.  The suspense is thrilling, but not too scary.  The mysteries and the truths behind them are handled with great care.  This all adds up to a haunting tale that will let your child get a good nights sleep.  Though the writing far exceeds that of a Scooby Doo cartoon, the story is woven and unwoven in a similar way.  To my mind it makes for a perfect introduction to the genre of mystery-that it sheds light on the Underground Railroad just adds to its charm.  Encourage your young reader to give it a try and let me know what they think.  If they have also read Betty Ren Wright, let me know how it compares.

Danny and the Dinosaur

Danny and the Dinosaur
by Syd Hoff


I am having a sentimental week.  My only child will be turning 12 tomorrow.  He is quite the reader.  As a matter of fact, he is currently reading the Iliad for his independent reading.  But, last night when I went to tell him good night, I noticed his copy of Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff on his bed side table.  I asked, " What's this doing here?"  He replied simply, "Oh, I was just reading it."  That is all that was said, but I could not help thinking that he, too, is feeling a little nostalgic.

What a delight this little reader is!  And, Danny is my son all over.  At that age, Miller was just like Danny.  He loved museums with their Indians, bears, Eskimos, guns and swords.  Most of all he loved the dinosaurs.  I thought he might lose his mind the first time he saw Sue, the T-Rex, at the Field Museum in Chicago.  It is also easy for me to imagine that one of his many imaginary friends was a dinosaur that accompanied him through the neighborhood, visiting school, the park and even the zoo.

If you have a new reader, ready to tackle a book filled with simple sentences, I suggest you give this classic a try.  It will not disappoint!

The Dollhouse Muders

The Dollhouse Murders
by Betty Ren Wright

If I am not reading, I usually have the radio tuned to our local public radio station for some entertainment to accompany me as I do my other work.  I learned today, during my 5th grade book club, that my dedication to KUAR has kept me from the excitement of Thriller Thursday.  This is a segment on a different local radio station.  From the sound of it, it is both creepy and engaging.  All of the kids in the group were familiar with the program.  The enthusiasm they expressed as they retold the stories told me I had hit the bull's eye when I recommended we read Betty Ren Wright and her novel The Doll House Murders.

This is a story with two layers. The first is a frightening tale of a family murder.  The other is a touching story of how two sisters with different abilities come to know and appreciate each other.

Amy has a sister with special needs.  We are not told exactly what, but it is clear that she is developmentally delayed and needs a considerable amount of care to make it through the day unharmed.  Amy is often given this task and is resentful and angry about her life.  The mystery begins when 12 year old Amy and her mother have a fight that ends with many hurt feelings.  The result of the fight is that Amy goes to spend some time with her aunt, who is living in Amy's great-grandparents' house.  In the attic, Amy finds a dollhouse that is an exact replica of her new home.  At first, she loves the dollhouse, until it comes to life along with the dolls that live in it.  I told you it was creepy.  As it turns out, Amy's great-grandparents were murdered in the house and the haunted dollhouse will help solve the murder.

The story will keep any readers hooked until the end.  It is at the end of the story that Amy is able to successfully resolve her feelings about her family and their situation with her sister.  The kids in my grouped summed it up this way, "Amy learned that fair doesn't mean equal, it means getting what you need to thrive."  So they were kept on the edge of their seats, while learning a remarkable lesson.  Thanks, Mrs. Wright for your worthy piece of work.

The Outsiders

The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton

Yes, The Outsiders again!  We just can't get enough of it at our house.  It seems we have been living in 1965 Tulsa around here lately.  My son had to read The Outsiders as a companion piece to his required reading book this past nine weeks.  He loved the book.  He has now chosen to use it as the subject of a book talk and a literary essay. He has read it twice in the last month.  And, with every page turned, he has some new insight to share with me.  This book, written over 40 years ago by a 15 year old girl, has changed by son's view on people and how they can be judged.

If you haven't read this book, I would say it is a must.  My memory tells me I read it as a youngster, but it is possible I just saw the movie, which was released in 1983.  (We watched it last night.  The actors, the best looking boys of my youth, looked like babies.  Was I ever that young?)  I did read it this past month with my son and I was struck by the beauty of its simple prose.  I love that a boy is so sensitive and aware.  I love even more that, because of Ponyboy, my son now feels he has permission to be just as sensitive and aware.  The arc of each of the characters tells young people that we are all able to change dramatically, no matter what our circimstances.  It also reminds us that we are all people first.  Labels like "soc" and "greaser" come later and have little to do with who we are on the inside.

If you are living with an 11 year old or better, I must recommend this novel to you.  I am sure you will dig out lessons that we have yet to find.  Please let me know what you think.

The Great Brain

The Great Brain
by John D. Fitzgerald

I have been frantically reading this week, preparing for my first book club meetings.  We have had great success this fall, with nearly 200 kids registered and preparing to join together for fun as they eat a meal and discuss a just-read book.  I took a break from the pace to have lunch with a fellow reader and library lover.  We were discussing an upcoming meeting with the director of our local library system.  We are getting a children's library! And, I am trying to find a spot for my "reading just for fun" advocacy.  So, please pardon me if I give the Central Arkansas Library System a shout out and a big thank you for its support of children.

Anyway, at lunch my friend mentioned that she has had to stop listening to the radio and the news because of all of the political chatter.  I told her, "I can appreciate your point of view, but I just can't tear myself away." I keep hoping that one day they will be discussing policy and not the Mormon faith.  But, I guess this might mean I have something to learn.  This point was driven home when I picked up the book selection for 4th grade, The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, and discovered on page 1 this line--"Adenville had a population of 2500 people, of which about 2000 were Mormons and the rest Catholics and Protestants."  Please do not misunderstand, this is not a religious book, it was just a strange coincidence, and I found it fascinating.  

This book is a delightful look at the turn of the last century.  It takes place in Adenville, UT in 1896.  In my experience, children of 2012 are amazed to find that most people can't imagine having a toilet indoors, that ice cream can not be purchased in a store, and that most toys were homemade.  These historic realities unfold as John's older brother Tom puts his "great brain" to work to con the children and the adults in the community out of their last penny.  It is simply told through chapters that read like short stories and is filled with many life lessons.  Among them, be kind to all, the importance of family, and that the adults in a child's life can be depended on to help in a crisis.  I will let you know how it plays with this current brood of readers.  If you've read it yourself, let me know what you think of it.

A Friend I Someone Who Likes You

A Friend is Someone Who Likes You
by Joan Walsh Anglund

My multiple lives were bound to collide at some point.  Moment One-I have an assignment in my writing class to bring a Non-Fiction picture book to class.  We are preparing to create our own for our first project.  Moment Two- I received a handwritten note from my roommate at the Arkansas Women Blogger Conference.  In it, she expressed her thanks for the ride to the mountains and for the fun we shared.  I was reminded of how great it is to have close friends that love you just because.  Add them together and you get this lovely little book by Joan Walsh Anglund, A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You.

Written in 1958 this little primer about friendship is a must on every child's book shelf.  The prose lets the reader know that everyone has the friends they need.  It launched Joan Walsh Anglund's career.  She went on to write and illustrate more than 120 books, which have been translated into 17 languages.  The titles include fiction, non-fiction and poetry.  Another of my favorites is Childhood is a Time of Innocence.  Each of these books contains her signature children whose faces only had two eyes.

Not only did we have the books when I was a child, but I had a small doll that looked just like Anglund's characters. Here she is. She still guards my books and reminds me that everyone has at least one friend.  "Where did you find yours?"