![]() Last school year my reading intervention students and I read Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, and although it did not hold the attention of every students, the vast majority of them loved the book. The book is told from the perspective of Max who is a very large 7th grade boy who has gone through some trauma in his life (the death of his mother). As the story unfolds, the reader learns that Max has been labeled as having a "learning disability" and he has very little confidence in his abilities. Max lives in his grandparents basement and leads a somewhat uneventful adolescence until he gets some new neighbors. His neighbor turns out to be Kevin who is also in the 7th grade and has some challenges of his own. Kevin has Morquio Syndrome which causes him to be small in stature and wear leg braces; however, the reader soon learns that Kevin is a genius. As Kevin and Max become friends, Freak the Mighty is born. This book has a little of everything - friendship, adventure, overcoming obstacles, and dealing with loss. There are some harrowing scenes as Max's father comes back into the picture. There are some topics within this book that may not be suitable for everyone. Max's father is in jail for killing Max's mother (something the reader and Max do not know until later in the book) and there are some "unsavory characters" Max's father pals around with. There are mentions of beer, smoking, and criminal activity so be forewarned. Approximate Reading Level - the reading level of the book would be suitable for students as early as 4th grade; however, I would not suggest it for students under 6th grade simply because of the content. My suggestion would be 6th-8th grade for this one.
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![]() Jocelyn Wu has to figure out a way to save her family's Chinese restaurant from impending bankruptcy if she does not want her family to move. She devises a plan to save the restaurant and gets her dad's approval. The first step is to hire someone to assist her. Enter Will Domenici who is hired to assist with their social media marketing, website development, and anything else that needs to be done. Jocelyn and Will hit it off and develop feelings for each other. Everything seems to going well until Will's anxiety and Jocelyn's depression get in the way. This is my Brain on Love is narrated from Jocelyn and Will's perspectives so the reader gets to see how each of the characters deal with their mental illness. Both characters are caring, intelligent, and a little quirky, but they find a common spirit in the other. The characters seem a little more mature than a many of the high schoolers I have encountered, but they are still believable, and I think students will be able to relate to them and find them endearing. The storyline includes some problem-solving, some fun, and a little romance. There are some cuss words interspersed and some light sexual talk, so be forewarned for those of you who might be concerned. Approximate Reading Level: 7th-9th grade (the content would be enjoyed at higher grade levels as well). ![]() Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte is inspired by a true story of a deaf community on Martha’s Vineyards in the 19th century, and through Mary and the other character’s eyes, this community comes to life to the reader. The reader is presented with a community where everyone speaks sign language and being deaf is not seen as a deficit. I do not think I have ever read a book with a deaf protagonist before, and I am glad that I read this one and was presented with such a strong and capable young woman. I believe through Mary, LeZotte creates a strong protagonist which can serve as a mirror for students who may also be dealing with deafness and how it impacts their life. Mary is a positive role model with strength, intellect, and some spunk who both hearing and non-hearing students will be able to connect with. In the story, Mary does not see anything “wrong” with herself and neither do any of the other members in the community; unfortunately, Mary’s sheltered life is disturbed as an outsider comes to the island to study the deaf. Through his treatment and belittling discussions with the townspeople, Mary begins to question her abilities and why others view deaf people as being less smart or incapable of the same tasks as a hearing person. Through her inner-dialogue and her conversations with other characters, LeZotte introduces the idea of deafness not being a hindrance to intellect and ability. Lezotte also weaves threads in the storyline about dealing with family loss, the effects of Colonialism, racism, ableism, and religion. In the novel, LeZotte acknowledges the racial tensions among the English, black, and Wampanoag residents of the community through Mary’s interactions. The reader is introduced to the problems and Mary questions them, but there is no easy fix. The reader is not left with a cute, storybook ending, but a realistic one. While reading this book, I definitely gained a window into a world I knew very little about. I was able to connect to Mary and envision the frustration and hurt you would feel when being looked upon as “less than” simply because you can’t hear. Through Mary, LeZotte creates a window to time and place in history, I would like to further explore and share with my students. Approximate Reading Level: 5th-7th grades |
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