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
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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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