I’ve used the young adult novel Hidden Talents as a read-aloud book to middle school students for about five years now. I’ve read it to sixth graders and eighth graders. In total, over 500 kids have heard me read this book, and I could count on one hand the number of kids who didn’t like […]
This book is sort of “dystopia before dystopia was cool.” Dystopian fiction has been quite popular during the last decade, from The Hunger Games trilogy to the Divergent trilogy (final come books out October 22!). However, authors have long been telling tales about not-too-distant futuristic times in which the world has the possibility of becoming […]
When the penultimate season of How I Met Your Mother aired last May, I blogged about how monumental a task the writers would have in order to make us fall in love with the woman Ted will marry. After watching the opening of the final season Monday night, I think the writers did some things […]
Although I usually stick with middle grade and YA books, I couldn’t resist sharing this gorgeous picture book that speaks to the book lovers out there. Title: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore Author: William Joyce Category: Picture book Synopsis: This book is really hard to describe. It’s about a bibliophile named Morris Lessmore, […]
Child labor in sweatshops was a common practice in America in the 1800s and early 1900s. Unfortunately, it still exists in some countries today. In her book Boys Without Names, Kashmira Sheth imagines the story of one eleven-year-old boy tricked into working in a sweatshop in India. Title: Boys Without Names Author: Kashmira Sheth Genre: […]
Fans of fantasy novels and Egyptian culture will enjoy this series. We use it as a summer reading book at my school since the students study ancient cultures (Egyptian and Greek) during sixth grade. Title: Children of the Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure Author: P.B. Kerr Genre: fantasy Age group: middle grade Synopsis: When twelve-year-old twins […]
As another school year gets underway, today seems like a good day to talk about Donna Gephart’s How to Survive Middle School. Not sure any of my students would actually learn any tips about surviving middle school from this book, but it is a fun story and who can resist such a cute cover? Title: […]
While searching for a gift for one of my younger nieces, I came across this New York Times bestselling book. Not sure what to expect, I was pleased to find a fun story that empowers girls to be all that they can be. Title: My Name is Not Isabella Author: Jennifer Fosberry Synopsis: Throughout the […]
I’ll admit I didn’t expect to like this book when I first picked it up. It’s on my school’s summer reading list and the 2014 Rebecca Caudill nominee list. However, I must admit it was a pleasant surprise. I found myself caring for the characters far more than I thought I would, and the book […]
If you follow children’s books at all, you’ve probably heard of this one already, but just in case you haven’t, here’s a book for all you fantasy lovers out there. Title: Fablehaven Author: Brandon Mull Genre: fantasy Age group: middle grade Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Kendra and her eleven-year-old brother Seth are sent to stay at their […]
