![]() This is the first book I have read by TJ Klune. I picked it up after a recommendation by a colleague in one of my graduate classes. I am going to let you all know right now that this book is not going to be for everyone. There is an LGBTQ+ element in the book as well as some irreverence towards religion, so if these are deal-breakers for you, you can stop reading this review now. The basics of the story is that it is set on an island, and on the island is an "orphanage" where magical children live and are overseen by a caretaker. One of the children is a child of Lucifer and is referred to as the anti-Christ (which is where some of the jabs at religion come in). A worker for DICOMY which oversees the orphanages is sent to check in on the orphanage and the children to make sure they will not bring about the end of the world. There are some comical and endearing scenes that follow. I enjoyed the writing style of the author as well as the development of the characters. The author does an amazing job of helping the reader get to know each of the characters and developing the magical island where they live. There are also some great themes about inclusivity within the book Approximate Grade Level - 6th-8th (As previously mentioned, due to the inclusivity of a homosexual romantic relationship and some jabs taken at the Christian religion, this is not a selection I would recommend for everyone. I know these are controversial topics to many so just be aware before you read.)
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![]() Sometimes when I read a young adult book, I wonder why it is classified as young adult. This is one of those books. The characters in the book are teens to young adults, so I guess that is why it is classified as a YA novel, but I think it would be equally liked by adults. This book was recommended in one of the graduate classes I am taking, and I knew nothing about it other than that, but I must say, it was not what I expected. Within this book lies a pair of brothers - Finn and Sean who were abandoned by their family and only have each other to cling to until Roza comes along. Roza is a beautiful young woman from Poland who brings mysteries of her own, and the boys fall for her, until she disappears. This book includes a bit of everything - -obstacles that must be overcome, mystery, coming of age aspects, romance, a hero's journey, suspense, fantasy, and some magical realism. As I was reading the book, I couldn't pin down whether I was enjoying it or not, but I kept picking it up, and wanted to finish it. In the end, I enjoyed the book because of the characters and the writing style, but I am still not sure whether I liked the storyline. There are a few sexual scenes that border on racy, a really creepy character, and a young lady who is objectified and held against her will; add that to a somewhat convoluted writing style and storyline, and I would definitely not recommend this book for readers under the 10th grade. Approximate grade level - 10th grade + ![]() The Maze of Bones is the first book in the 39 Clues series which is a book series written by a collaboration of authors. Rick Riordan is the author of The Maze of Bones. The Maze of Bones sets forth the premise of the series which begins with the death of Grace Cahill and the reading of her will. The reading of her will sets forth a race where the various factions of the Cahills search for 39 Clues that will result in finding information that will lead to a serum to make someone the most powerful person in the world. Each of the books follows Amy and Dan as they travel around the world with their nanny and search for clues. Each book focuses on a historical character that ties into the clue; Ben Franklin is the historical figure investigated in The Maze of Bones. If you can get past the implausibility of the novel (two young orphans traveling the world with their nanny and a host of really wacky family members), you might enjoy this book and book series. The book is fun and the characters are quirky. I think younger students will enjoy the action and mystery within the novel. Approximate Grade Level - 4th-7th (There are some unsavory characters and situations in the book, but they are more comical than scary, so I think it would be appropriate for most audiences.) ![]() In The Rhino in Right Field, readers follow along with Nick as he chases his American dream of being a batboy for the local minor league baseball team. This is a fun story with likeable characters. Nick and his friends practice baseball in an unlikely area, the zoo in Central Park and have some unique run-ins with a rhinoceros named Tank. This book has a good storyline, characters, and overall, is fun to read. Approximate Reading Level - 3rd-7th grade ![]() We Hunt the Flame is the first book in the Sands of Arawiya duology by Hafsah Faizal. It is a young adult fantasy novel set in the fictional kingdom of Arawiya which is inspired by ancient Arabia. The novel is 480 pages in length and is geared towards high school level readers, and although the Lexile level is calculated around 750, I would not recommend this novel for middle school readers simply because of the complexity of the text and some of the content. The novel recounts the story of Zafira, a legendary hunter(ess) who cloaks herself in the guise of a man in order to provide for her town, as well as, Nasir who is the prince and sultan's assassin. The two collide on a journey as they travel deep into the Arz, which is slowly engulfing the kingdom. They are both on a quest to locate the Jarawat in order to bring magic back to the Arawiya and stop the spread of the Arz. Throughout the story, Faizal infuses Middle Eastern culture through the use of Arabic words and phrases as well as descriptions of food and culture. I am a fan of this book and plan to read the next in the duology. As I read, I was reminded of The Hunger Game series by Suzanne Collins as well as the Shadow and Bone Series by Leigh Bardugo; there are quite a few parallels that can be drawn between these books and We Hunt the Flame. I also enjoy the author’s writing style which tends to be descriptive but not overly ornate. I would recommend this book to students who enjoy fantasy books and learning about other cultures. Although this is a fictional story, readers can glean information about Middle Eastern customs and culture by reading the book and paying attention to the word choice and then researching the authenticity of the language and customs presented. The novel is well-written and the characters are very well developed. A wonderful example of character development can be seen on page 224 which contains one of my favorite scenes: “‘If you want me to be obedient, Prince, kill me and carry my corpse.’ Her voice echoed in the silence. Her mouth was crooked in rage, her eyes ablaze in a fire of ice. Nasir should have turned away. He should not have given in to the sensations of how she looked. Of how in one fell swoop, she had thrown the Prince of Death to the ground and trampled his existence with her words. But he did. So his traitor of a chest made him laugh.” If I had to convince my students to read this book, I would read them the above quote, and we would discuss what it tells us about the characters and have them make some predictions about the book. I would also share with them that the book contains action as well as some romantic tension; it has a little bit for everyone. I would have students discuss what makes someone a hero and a villain and draw parallels to the novel and the characters. One could have quite a philosophical discussion with the topic of heroes vs. villains within the context of this novel which I think students would enjoy. And finally, I would ask students who do not normally read fantasy, to give it a try to broaden their horizons. Approximate grade levels - 9th-12th grades due to complexity of the text as well as some dark scenes and romantic tensions ![]() 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. ![]() As I believe I have mentioned before, I am not a huge graphic novel fan, BUT I really enjoyed New Kid by Jerry Craft. It is well-written and the illustrations help tell the story instead of detract from it (which I feel happens with many graphic novels). In New Kid, Craft covers some themes many students will be able to relate to - changing schools and trying to fit in, pressure from parents, racial stereotyping, and just growing up in general. Seventh-grader, Jordan Banks is the the protagonist of the story, and he loves to draw so much so, that he would like to attend art school. His mother, however, wants him to attend Riverdale Academy Day School which is upscale and prestigious. Jordan must adjust to a much larger school, new friends, and friends who come from money, not to mention, he is one of only a few students of color at the campus. Don't let the fun illustrations fool you, this book is deeper than you might think upon first glance. Approximate Reading Level - The reading level would be appropriate for grades 3rd-6th; however, I think the content will be most relatable for students grades 5th - 8th. ![]() "Stick" is the nickname for talented, wide receiver Brett Patterson who both loves and hates football. Stick loves playing football but hates what it has become which is all about winning and not the love of the game. He is pressured by his coach and his father to be the best and he ends up quitting the team with a little advice from his quirky new friend Preston. But don't worry, things work out by the end of the book. Although this book is about football, it has a lot of layers and weaves in some lessons about acceptance, perseverance, making the right choices, standing up to bullies, and overcoming addiction. I ended up really enjoying this book and think students will as well. I will warn that there is quite a bit of profanity within the text and some abusive scenes as well as underage drinking and alcoholism, so make sure you are ready to encounter these throughout the pages. Approximate Reading Level - The reading level is probably close to 7th grade and up, but because of some of the language and content, I would steer it more towards high school students. ![]() Jude, a young Syrian girl, must leave her homeland and travel with her mother an unborn sister to Cincinnati to stay with family due to the turmoil in her hometown in Syria. Jude leaves behind her father and older brother. Other Words for Home tells Jude's story through poignantly written verse. Throughout the verses the reader discovers Jude's struggles with trying to fit in to middle school in America while also trying to hold fast to her family and heritage. Jude worries about her older brother and father back home and encounters racism when their is a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, and she must choose whether to wear her hijab or not when she becomes a woman. The book tells a story that students of varying nationalities and ethnic backgrounds can relate to. Approximate Reading Level - Grades 5th-7th ![]() In this novel which is reminiscent of Rick Riordan's mythology-based novels, Charlie Hernandez discovers some family secrets that lead him to his role in Latin American myths. Charlie's abuela raised him on Latin mythologies from Central and South American, and he has always loved them as stories, but over the course of this novel, Charlie learns that the monsters he loved learning about are true. Charlie has to use the knowledge his abuela gave him of these myths and monsters to save himself and his family. This is a fun book with an action-packed storyline. I enjoyed the Spanish words interspersed within the story as they add to the authenticity of the story and help build Charlie's character. This book is the first in a series. Some of the monster's Charlie faces are a little creepy, so be advised! Approximate Reading Level - Grades 5th-8th |
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