Something Like Home

I saw Something Like Home on the new book shelf at the library and recognized the author from a book I read earlier this year (Iveliz Explains It All) and loved. The book looked like one I'd enjoy, so I checked it out. This book description reads, "Laura Rodríguez Colón has a plan: no matter what the grown-ups say, she will live with her parents again. Can you blame her? It’s tough to make friends as the new kid at school. And while staying at her aunt’s house is okay, it just isn’t the same as being in her own space.
So when Laura finds a puppy, it seems like fate. If she can train the puppy to become a therapy dog, then maybe she’ll be allowed to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better and things will finally go back to the way they should be. After all, how do you explain to others that you’re technically a foster kid, even though you live with your aunt? And most importantly . . . how do you explain that you’re not where you belong, and you just want to go home?"

This was a great read. It was written in verse (which I love) and was a quick and engaging read. I loved Laura as a character and felt she was a well-developed, believable character. I also loved her friend Benson and her aunt. I thought the author did a great job helping the reader get into the mind of a child placed in foster care and all the emotions that experience might entail. This was a really good book--glad I read it. Passing it onto my 13-year-old next!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Game Changer

My daughter read Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald for her Battle of the Books club at school and was super into it and finished it in a day, so I decided to give it a read too. The book description says, "Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma, fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery—and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this the inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or did something more sinister happen on the field that day?"

This was a good read. It was a fun format (Amazon describes it as "an innovative multimedia format combining dialogue, texts, newspaper articles, interview transcripts, an online forum, and Teddy’s inner thoughts"), which made it a quick read. The story was definitely engaging and made you want to keep reading to see what was going on and get the truth. I was annoyed by some of the characters (like the parents constantly fighting), but I thought the book was thought-provoking and addressed some issues to be considered surrounding football and hazing.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Magical Imperfect

I saw The Magical Imperfect on the middle school list for Virginia's Readers' Choice and thought it looked like a book I'd enjoy. The book description reads, "Etan has stopped speaking since his mother left. His father and grandfather don’t know how to help him. His friends have given up on him. When Etan is asked to deliver a grocery order to the outskirts of town, he realizes he’s at the home of Malia Agbayani, also known as the Creature. Malia stopped going to school when her acute eczema spread to her face, and the bullying became too much. As the two become friends, other kids tease Etan for knowing the Creature. But he believes he might have a cure for Malia’s condition, if only he can convince his family and hers to believe it too. Even if it works, will these two outcasts find where they fit in?"

This was a nice read. I really liked the premise of the book and liked both main characters. It was cool how the book was based in real history (a World Series, earthquake, etc.) I also liked that the book introduced some important issues (mental health struggles, selective mutism, bullying, losing/finding faith during difficult times, etc.).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Wild Robot

I read The Wild Robot by Peter Brown aloud to my 6-year-old, so I figured I'd just document that briefly here and leave a link to my original post about this book. It was my son who brought the book to me and asked me to read it to him, and I kind of thought it was a little old for him, but it ended up being a great read with him. The short chapters made it very accessible (easy to stop for bedtime), and he was able to follow the story well. It took us a month or so to finish. Fun to read together!

Never Enough

Someone at book club recommends Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace, so I got it from the library on audiobook. The book description says, "In the ever more competitive race to secure the best possible future, today’s students face unprecedented pressure to succeed. They jam-pack their schedules with AP classes, fill every waking hour with resume-padding activities, and even sabotage relationships with friends to “get ahead.” Family incomes and schedules are stretched to the breaking point by tutoring fees and athletic schedules. Yet this drive to optimize performance has only resulted in skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and even self-harm in America’s highest achieving schools. Parents, educators, and community leaders are facing the same quandary: how can we teach our kids to strive towards excellence without crushing them? In Never Enough, award-winning reporter Jennifer Breheny Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture, and finds out what we must do to fight back. Drawing on interviews with families, educators, and an original survey of nearly 6,000 parents, she exposes how the pressure to perform is not a matter of parental choice but baked in to our larger society and spurred by increasing income inequality and dwindling opportunities. As a result, children are increasingly absorbing the message that they have no value outside of their accomplishments, a message that is reinforced by the media and greater culture at large. Through deep research and interviews with today’s leading child psychologists, Wallace shows what kids need from the adults in the room is not more pressure, but to feel like they matter, and have intrinsic self-worth not contingent upon external achievements. Parents and educators who adopt the language and values of mattering help children see themselves as a valuable contributor to a larger community. And in an ironic twist, kids who receive consistent feedback that they matter no matter what are more likely to have the resilience, self-confidence, and psychological security to thrive."

This was a great read. I already feel like the topic is something that's been important to me subconsciously for years as a parent, but I liked how this addressed it so directly. The premise of the book is the importance of children understanding that they matter--outside of achievement or success or anything else. They just matter. This is something that is emphasized in my religion as well, but I liked how the book gave lots of real-life examples and helped me see times I may unintentionally be putting pressure on my kids or making them feel like I care about their achievement too much. I think this is an important read, and I'm glad I read it before my daughter starts high school. (We live in a pretty competitive academic environment, so I think it was a good pre-high school read for that reason.) Highly recommended!

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Puppets of Spelhorst

I follow Kate DiCamillo on Facebook and saw she was writing a new book so was already in line on hold for The Puppets of Spelhorst when it came out this month. The book description says, "Shut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends—a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl—bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark. Individually, they dream of song and light, freedom and flight, purpose and glory, but they all agree they are part of a larger story, bound each to each by chance, bonded by the heart’s mysteries. When at last their shared fate arrives, landing them on a mantel in a blue room in the home of two little girls, the truth is more astonishing than any of them could have imagined."

This was a nice, quick read with well-developed characters (puppets) that made me chuckle. It was classic Kate DiCamillo with beautiful writing that somehow just puts you in the mood of the story by the words alone. The book overall wasn't super eventful or monumental but it was a sweet read that could be a good read aloud with my kids. It sounds like this is going to be a trilogy of Norendy Tales books, so I'll likely read the others when they come out too.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

One Book One School

I am part of a committee at my son's elementary school to select a book for a One Book, One School program. (Basically, every student/family gets a copy of one specific book and reads it over the course of a month, and the school does activities connected to the book throughout the month. It's a little bit of a process to choose the book because it needs to appeal to grades K-6, not be controversial in any way, be relatively short, etc.) So, in helping select the book, I read a bunch of our short list books and figured I'd document them here:

The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith

Book description: When eight-year-old Kirstie brings home a strange egg from the Scottish shore, her family never expects it to hatch. But the next day, Kirstie discovers a baby sea monster swimming in her bathtub! Part horse, part toad, part turtle, and part crocodile, he's the oddest-looking creature Kirstie's family has ever seen. Only Kirstie's grandfather knows what the beastie really is: a Water Horse! This lovable creature is the perfect pet. The only trouble is, he can't stop growing. He gets bigger. And Bigger. And BIGGER. Before long, he's outgrown every loch in sight. Will they ever find a home that's large enough for their Water Horse?

My thoughts: This book was super fun! I thought it would definitely appeal to all ages, and it was an engaging story. If this one isn't picked for the school, I'll read it aloud to my kids.

The Secret School by Avi

Book description: More than anything, Ida Bidson wants to become a teacher. To do that, she must finish eighth grade, then go on to high school. But her dream falters when the one-room school in her remote Colorado town shuts down. Her only hope is to keep the school open without anyone finding out. Yet even a secret school needs a teacher. Ida can't be it. . . . Or can she?

My thoughts: This was another great read. I didn't think it was as good for younger grades, but I thought Emmeline would have fun with this story. It was a great story.

Future Hero by Remi Blackwood

Book description: Jarell has never quite known where he belongs. He’s ignored at home and teased at school for wanting to draw instead of playing sports with the other boys. The only place he’s ever felt truly at ease is his local barbershop where the owner hangs Jarell’s art up on the walls. When Jarell discovers a hidden portal in the barbershop, he’s transported to a magical world that’s unlike anything he’s seen before. But it’s not just the powerful gods and dangerous creatures that makes this world different―it’s that everyone believes Jarell is the hero they’ve been waiting for.

My thoughts: This was a fun read. It was a super short fantasy book, which isn't something I've really read before. Like the book was short, but the authors packed a lot of action in there. It had a nice character arc as well. This one also didn't seem quite as good for younger grades (K/1).

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez

Book description: Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely. When a new boy arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Díaz has something to say!

My thoughts: I've read this book before, but it's been forever, and it must have been when I wasn't updating this blog. This is a sweet book and definitely a fun one for grades 2-4 (but I didn't think it would be a good fit for this one book program).

The Show Must Go On by Kate Klise

Book description: When Sir Sidney, a kindly old circus owner, becomes too tired to travel with his show, he places a Help Wanted ad in the newspaper. Enter Barnabas Brambles: “I have a degree in lion taming from the University of Piccadilly Circus.” But does Leo the lion need taming? Will Elsa the elephant still get her gourmet peanuts? And what will Brambles say when he discovers Bert and Gert--two mice who travel with the circus on popcorn cleanup patrol? Brambles has big plans: More cities! More shows! No more free popcorn. Soon he’s made a big mess of Sir Sidney’s Circus, but Leo, Elsa, Bert, Gert, and the rest of the performers agree: The Show Must Go On!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book and thought both my kids would have fun with it if we read it aloud together. Some others on the committee thought the book wasn't as good for the teacher read aloud videos and such since the book has a lot of pictures, so we're not going with this one. But I thought it was a really fun story that kids would enjoy.

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

Book description: You can learn a lot about life by observing another species. That’s what Humphrey was told when he was first brought to Room 26. And boy, is it true! In addition to having FUN-FUN-FUN in class, each weekend this amazing hamster gets to sleep over with a different student, like Lower-Your-Voice-A.J. and Speak-Up-Sayeh. Soon Humphrey learns to read, write, and even shoot rubber bands (only in self-defense, of course). With lots of friends to help, adventures to enjoy, and a cage with a lock-that-doesn’t- lock, Humphrey's life is almost perfect. If only the teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, wasn’t out to get him!

My thoughts: I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and engaging and sweet, and I definitely think Ollie would enjoy this one. I thought the story was clever--it kinda reminded me of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Fun read!

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Book description: When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

My thoughts: This is another one that I've read before, but it must have been when I wasn't updating the blog. But like all of Kate DiCamillo's books, this is a beautiful read. And while it's definitely "meant" for the older grades, I totally think younger kids could follow it and enjoy it--and adults will love it too. This is a great book.

American Nations

I read American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard for my book club. The book description says, "According to award-winning journalist and historian Colin Woodard, North America is made up of eleven distinct nations, each with its own unique historical roots. In American Nations he takes readers on a journey through the history of our fractured continent, offering a revolutionary and revelatory take on American identity, and how the conflicts between them have shaped our past and continue to mold our future. From the Deep South to the Far West, to Yankeedom to El Norte, Woodard reveals how each region continues to uphold its distinguishing ideals and identities today, with results that can be seen in the composition of the U.S. Congress or on the county-by-county election maps of any hotly contested election in our history."

This book was really not my type of book, and I knew that from the beginning. But I pushed through, alternating between reading and audiobook, and I managed to finish a few hours before book club. Phew! For me, the topic was just a little dry, and it wasn't super engaging. I did find some parts interesting (like the history of the Tidewater region, where I grew up), and the overall topic itself is kind of an interesting premise (like the history behind each region affects the behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of the people who live there even now). It was also a pretty good book to discuss at book club, especially with a group of women who grew up and have lived in different places. Overall, I'm proud of myself for reading it, but I probably would have been content with a 40 page summary on the topic. (But everyone else in book club seemed to love it, so if you're into this kind of thing, go for it.)

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)