After being on hold for months at the library, I finally got the newest Wimpy Kid book by Jeff Kinney. These books were big when I taught elementary school, so I still read them for entertainment. This book follows Greg's accounts of the awkwardness of middle school and increased responsibility after his mom goes back to school.
This book had some entertaining parts--where I just laughed out loud because it was so random and funny. Unfortunately, I didn't think this one was quite as funny as the previous books in the series. But, since it's such a super quick read, I don't really mind that I didn't love it.
Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Out of My Mind
My cousin recommended Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper to my grandma, so I decided to read it as well. This book is from the point of view of Melody, a fifth grader with cerebral palsy. She is unable to talk and has a limited ability to communicate, but words and thoughts fill her brilliant mind. Melody deals with judgmental peers and teachers but a wonderfully supportive family and neighbor. When she finds a computer system that allows her to speak for the first time, Melody finds herself with new opportunities.
This was a really incredible story. The main character's experiences were very compelling and just made me really think about how I have reacted to people with her type of disabilities. I was touched by the kindness of some of the characters--and disappointed by the thoughtlessness of others. The book really captured so many emotions--had me laughing, crying, the whole gamut. It was very enlightening and touching.
Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)
This was a really incredible story. The main character's experiences were very compelling and just made me really think about how I have reacted to people with her type of disabilities. I was touched by the kindness of some of the characters--and disappointed by the thoughtlessness of others. The book really captured so many emotions--had me laughing, crying, the whole gamut. It was very enlightening and touching.
Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)
Science Fair
My husband and I saw Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson at the library and decided to check it out since we liked the Peter and the Starcatchers series they wrote. Science Fair is the story of Toby, an 8th grader, who keeps finding himself in trouble. First, to get money to buy himself a new computer, he sells his dad's original Star Wars blaster to a guy on ebay. This guy turns out to be a crazy guy who dresses as Darth Vader and comes to Toby's town to try to get more of Toby's dad's stuff. Then, Toby also discovers some of his classmates are cheating on the science fair AND involving top-secret military technology. Toby knows something is up and realizes that it's not just himself he should be worried about--it's the entire country's safety.
This book was okay. It was very odd and had several stories going on at the same time, all connecting to Toby. Parts of the book were funny, and some of the characters had entertaining idiosyncrasies. But, overall, the book seemed to drag on a little bit and just be a little too weird for me to truly enjoy. But, I'm also not always a science fiction fan, so maybe that's why. And the weirdness to me would probably strike other people as humor. So who knows.
* (1/3 = It was okay)
This book was okay. It was very odd and had several stories going on at the same time, all connecting to Toby. Parts of the book were funny, and some of the characters had entertaining idiosyncrasies. But, overall, the book seemed to drag on a little bit and just be a little too weird for me to truly enjoy. But, I'm also not always a science fiction fan, so maybe that's why. And the weirdness to me would probably strike other people as humor. So who knows.
* (1/3 = It was okay)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Mockingbird
I was reading Shannon Hale's blog and saw her recommendation of Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine. (Shannon Hale is one of my favorite authors.) The book looked good, so I decided to read it. It's the story of a 10-year-old girl named Caitlin who has Asperger's syndrome. After her brother is killed in a school shooting, Caitlin realizes she needs to find what she keeps hearing about--closure. The book is written from the point of view of Caitlin.
This book was awesome! There were times when I was half laughing, half crying just because the book just made me feel for Caitlin so much. It was extremely well written with completely understandable and lovable characters. I love books like this that tell the story from the point of view of a character with a disability because it just is so much more enlightening than if the story were told any other way. Caitlin's behaviors often reminded me of students I taught with Asperger's, and I just loved reading how she felt and seeing all the different characters' interactions with her.
Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)
This book was awesome! There were times when I was half laughing, half crying just because the book just made me feel for Caitlin so much. It was extremely well written with completely understandable and lovable characters. I love books like this that tell the story from the point of view of a character with a disability because it just is so much more enlightening than if the story were told any other way. Caitlin's behaviors often reminded me of students I taught with Asperger's, and I just loved reading how she felt and seeing all the different characters' interactions with her.
Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)
Turtle in Paradise
Turtle in Paradise is another Newbery Honor book for 2011, and the author, Jennifer L. Holm, also wrote a book I really enjoyed in the past (Penny from Heaven). Turtle in Paradise is about an 11-year-old girl named Turtle who lives with her mother during the Great Depression. When her mom gets a job as a housekeeper with a woman who won't allow children in the home, Turtle is sent to live with her aunt in Key West. She meets her cousins (all boys) and their friends and begins to have some great adventures in the town where her mother grew up.
This was a really fun book with lots of interesting characters. There were some entertaining parts (like the job her cousins have as a Diaper Gang, babysitting babies in return for candy). It really captured the atmosphere of life in the town during the 30s. I also found out in the Author's Note at the end that the author based the story on her ancestors who lived in Key West, which is kind of cool. The book was very well written but didn't quite reach the "love" level because I wasn't completely emotionally involved like I like to be in books.
Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)
This was a really fun book with lots of interesting characters. There were some entertaining parts (like the job her cousins have as a Diaper Gang, babysitting babies in return for candy). It really captured the atmosphere of life in the town during the 30s. I also found out in the Author's Note at the end that the author based the story on her ancestors who lived in Key West, which is kind of cool. The book was very well written but didn't quite reach the "love" level because I wasn't completely emotionally involved like I like to be in books.
Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)
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