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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I try to read YA and children's books from a variety of genres and topics so I have lots of ideas to share with students. When I came across Shelter by Christie Matheson, I knew I had to add it to my to-read list. The book is told from fifth grader, Maya's perspective, who has found herself living in a homeless shelter in San Francisco due to an accident her father is in as well as her mother's lack of employment. The story is well-written and although Maya has much to deal with, she does not become bitter or resentful. She begins to appreciate the house she saw as small before and realizes that even though she has no home, she has her family which is what is most important to her. The author weaves some lessons throughout the story especially with Maya's interaction with "mean girl" Sloane. Empathy and kindness is also woven in to the storyline as well through Maya's interaction with others and the lessons she learns along the way. I enjoyed this book, although I do think it glosses over the extent and severity of homelessness, but I suppose that is because of the book's intended audience. The book would certainly introduce the idea of homelessness to children and allow for a deeper discussion, and I think it would hold the attention of most young readers. Approximate grade level: 4th-6th grade A Boy Named Isamu is a beautifully illustrated children's book that is a tribute to Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. In a very short and sparsely word text, Yang conveys Noguchi as a reflective and introspective child who wanders away from his mother to find quiet spaces to view and reflect on natural elements like twigs, rocks, and bamboo stalks. The reader is given the idea that Noguchi, even as a child, was drawn to solitude and natural beauty and that these are perhaps the items that he draws from for his creativity. The book is a quick read and one gets the feeling of drifting through it. The storyline also seemed to drift a bit from object to object without a lot of cohesion. This book would probably be best enjoyed by a creative and reflective child who is interested in the arts. Approximate Grade Level: 1st-3rd 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 + In this collection of poems, the speaker tells a story of Gabby who struggles to focus in class because of her daydreams. The poems recount difficulties Gabby has with her mother as well as her feelings at the separation of her family. Gabby works hard to leave her daydreaming behind so she can be better accepted by her teachers, classmates, and mother. As the poems progress, the reader gets a glimpse into Gabby's thoughts and emotions. Eventually Gabby lands with a teacher who seems to understand her, and Gabby the dreamer begins to transition into Gabby the writer. The poems within the book are easily accessible by young adults who may connect with Gabby's thoughts and feelings. The poems are free verse in structure and are simple in vocabulary and poetry elements, but the collection as a whole tells a wonderful story about the importance of words and imagination Approximated Grade Level: 3rd-6th 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 I had high hopes for this book based on the acclaim it has received and the reviews I read; but unfortunately, I just did not love it. Apple is a memoir, so it is difficult for me to state that I did not enjoy the book, since it is someone's life experiences, but the writing style did not engage me. The memoir is written in verse which I normally enjoy, but this verse was not fluid and felt stilted to me. I simply never connected with the author's voice or his depiction of his life. That being said, I am very pleased this memoir was written and has received so much acclaim because it is important to hear from Native American perspectives since they are not highly represented in literature. Hearing a first person account is a bonus. This memoir recounts Gansworth's experiences being raised on a reservation and includes the history of some of his family members as well. I did enjoy seeing the photographs included within the memoir. This memoir has some high points, but it just did not engage me as highly as I had hoped. It might, however, be a great fit for you. Approximate Reading Level - 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 I chose this book because I had heard it is funny, but unfortunately, I did not find it to be all that humorous. The book is a reflection on Sara's upbringing in the United States as an undocumented immigrant from Iran. Sara does not realize she is undocumented until she is 13, and when she learns she can be deported at any time, her stress level rises. Sara's reflections are full of 80's and 90's references to television and film stars as well as teenage angst wrapped up with her anxiety and challenges of being an immigrant. Sara also shares some insights on Persian culture. The book contains some profanity as well as discussions of drugs, so this book might not be suitable for all readers. There are many positive reviews of this book, and it is apparently being developed into a television series for ABC. I just did not love it, but maybe you will. Approximate Grade Level: Although the reading level is not super high, content-wise I would not suggest for students under high school level. I would give it a 15+ rating |
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