Dwight is considered strange and weird by most of the kids in his sixth-grade class. One day Dwight decides to bring an origami finger puppet that is made to look like Yoda from Star Wars. Dwight uses his origami puppet to give words of wisdom and advice to those who otherwise would never talk to him. Seeing as how this puppet is saying things that are not normally said by Dwight, some of the kids in the class begin to believe that his finger puppet has a connection to the "Force" and possesses special powers. One of the popular boys in his class, Tommy, becomes intrigued with the Yoda and decides to set up a case against it to see if it really does have powers. Angleberger does a great job of developing the plot and the characters in this novel. Young adult readers get a good look at the many emotions that preteen boys go through as they encounter middle school life.Monday, April 4, 2016
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Angleberger, T. (2010). The strange case of origami yoda. NY: Amulet Books
Dwight is considered strange and weird by most of the kids in his sixth-grade class. One day Dwight decides to bring an origami finger puppet that is made to look like Yoda from Star Wars. Dwight uses his origami puppet to give words of wisdom and advice to those who otherwise would never talk to him. Seeing as how this puppet is saying things that are not normally said by Dwight, some of the kids in the class begin to believe that his finger puppet has a connection to the "Force" and possesses special powers. One of the popular boys in his class, Tommy, becomes intrigued with the Yoda and decides to set up a case against it to see if it really does have powers. Angleberger does a great job of developing the plot and the characters in this novel. Young adult readers get a good look at the many emotions that preteen boys go through as they encounter middle school life.
Dwight is considered strange and weird by most of the kids in his sixth-grade class. One day Dwight decides to bring an origami finger puppet that is made to look like Yoda from Star Wars. Dwight uses his origami puppet to give words of wisdom and advice to those who otherwise would never talk to him. Seeing as how this puppet is saying things that are not normally said by Dwight, some of the kids in the class begin to believe that his finger puppet has a connection to the "Force" and possesses special powers. One of the popular boys in his class, Tommy, becomes intrigued with the Yoda and decides to set up a case against it to see if it really does have powers. Angleberger does a great job of developing the plot and the characters in this novel. Young adult readers get a good look at the many emotions that preteen boys go through as they encounter middle school life.
Grasshopper Jungle
Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle. NY: Penguin
Andrew Smith holds back nothing in this novel as he addresses many topics such as homosexuality, sex, and drugs. This novel is narrated by the main character, Austin, who is having sexual thoughts and feelings about his best friend Robby, as well as his girlfriend Shannon. After Austin and Robby are attacked while skateboarding, they discover a vile of poisonous liquid that is shattered and mixes with some of Robby's blood on the concrete. Not thinking anything of it, the boys drive off, not realizing the scary changes this accident is going to have on everyone in their neighborhood. The boys and Shannon discover that the liquid is changing everyone into praying mantises, and the only way to stop them using Robby
's blood. Although the trio are very courageous in trying to battle these creatures, their efforts are not successful.
Andrew Smith holds back nothing in this novel as he addresses many topics such as homosexuality, sex, and drugs. This novel is narrated by the main character, Austin, who is having sexual thoughts and feelings about his best friend Robby, as well as his girlfriend Shannon. After Austin and Robby are attacked while skateboarding, they discover a vile of poisonous liquid that is shattered and mixes with some of Robby's blood on the concrete. Not thinking anything of it, the boys drive off, not realizing the scary changes this accident is going to have on everyone in their neighborhood. The boys and Shannon discover that the liquid is changing everyone into praying mantises, and the only way to stop them using Robby's blood. Although the trio are very courageous in trying to battle these creatures, their efforts are not successful.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Carrie
King, A.S. (1974). Carrie. NY: Random HouseCarrie White is a social outcast at her high school in Maine. Her mother is a devout Christian who believes sin is all around, and does not educate Carrie on the changes she will experience as a teenage girl. After being bullied by girls in her gym class, Carrie starts to realize that she has telepathic powers. At first she can not control the powers, but with more time and practice Carrie gets a good handle on her powers. Tired of hearing her mother constantly preach to her about sin, she decides to accept a popular boy's offer to take her to the prom, believing that this will be a new beginning for her. Carrie is having a good time at the prom, until one of her former bullies humiliates her in a horrible way. This sets off her telepathic powers, resulting in her killing most of the people at the dance, as well as destroy most of her town while on her way home. This young adult novel will definitely keep its audience's attention from beginning to end, as they are drawn in to the powerful and dramatic scenes that are throughout the book. This is a classic novel that will continue to be around for years to come.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Crutcher, C. (1993). Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. NY: Greenwillow Books
Eric and Sarah Byrnes have been friends for years, as both are seen as outcasts by their peers due to their outward appearances. Eric is overweight and Sarah has scars on her face and hands from an accident in which she was badly burned. Eric eventually starts to lose weight after joining the swim team at their high school. Afraid of losing his friendship, he continues to overeat in hopes of staying fat so that he stays an outcast with Sarah. Eric feels there is more to Sarah's past than he knows, and after learning the horrible truth of how she got burned, and the pain she is still enduring, he sets out on a plan to save his best friend. This novel is filled with many emotions: rejection, fear, love, and acceptance to name a few. Crutcher does an amazing job of telling the story of how two outcasts can come together to find their voices and have the courage to stand up for what is right. A great read for adolescents and adults.
Eric and Sarah Byrnes have been friends for years, as both are seen as outcasts by their peers due to their outward appearances. Eric is overweight and Sarah has scars on her face and hands from an accident in which she was badly burned. Eric eventually starts to lose weight after joining the swim team at their high school. Afraid of losing his friendship, he continues to overeat in hopes of staying fat so that he stays an outcast with Sarah. Eric feels there is more to Sarah's past than he knows, and after learning the horrible truth of how she got burned, and the pain she is still enduring, he sets out on a plan to save his best friend. This novel is filled with many emotions: rejection, fear, love, and acceptance to name a few. Crutcher does an amazing job of telling the story of how two outcasts can come together to find their voices and have the courage to stand up for what is right. A great read for adolescents and adults.Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Brown Girl Dreaming
Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. NY: Nancy Paulsen Books
Jacqueline Woodson allows readers into her personal life as she details for them what it was like to grow up during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Through the use of powerful and emotional poetry, Woodson describes living through the last years of the Jim Crow laws as well as the many changes her and her brothers went through while moving from city to city. Woodson was not a strong reader as a young girl, but she found a love for words and writing, which led to her writing her first book of haiku poems. This moving book would be a great read for students in middle school, especially for girls who are looking for ways of expressing themselves. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to find out what they want to contribute to this world.
Jacqueline Woodson allows readers into her personal life as she details for them what it was like to grow up during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Through the use of powerful and emotional poetry, Woodson describes living through the last years of the Jim Crow laws as well as the many changes her and her brothers went through while moving from city to city. Woodson was not a strong reader as a young girl, but she found a love for words and writing, which led to her writing her first book of haiku poems. This moving book would be a great read for students in middle school, especially for girls who are looking for ways of expressing themselves. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to find out what they want to contribute to this world.Monday, March 28, 2016
Persepolis
Satrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis. NY: Pantheon
Persepolis tells the story of author Marjane Satrapi's childhood through the use of black-and-white comic strips. Readers get a glimpse of Satrapi's life from ages six to fourteen, and get a chance to see what life was like for her in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Once living situations become too dangerous, Satrapi's parents send her to live in Austria. Although she does not want to leave her family, she understands that this is the best choice for her and her parents. Readers who have experienced love, loss, and separation will definitely be able to relate to this genuine and emotionally compelling novel.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Gabi: A Girl in Pieces
Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos
Gabi takes readers through her diary as she documents her senior year of high school, from the first day of school, all the way to graduation. Through her diary, Gabi expresses her true emotions on many of the situations that she is currently facing, like her friend's pregnancy, her other friend coming out, and her dad's meth habit. Gabi also writes poetry in her diary that shows how she feels about some of her past relationships with boys, as well as her views on sex before marriage, which is strictly looked down upon by her mother. Readers can easily relate to the characters in this novel, as well as the controversial issues that many of them might be facing as well. Young adult readers will find the struggles that Gabi encounters are some of the same ones they deal with every single day.
Gabi takes readers through her diary as she documents her senior year of high school, from the first day of school, all the way to graduation. Through her diary, Gabi expresses her true emotions on many of the situations that she is currently facing, like her friend's pregnancy, her other friend coming out, and her dad's meth habit. Gabi also writes poetry in her diary that shows how she feels about some of her past relationships with boys, as well as her views on sex before marriage, which is strictly looked down upon by her mother. Readers can easily relate to the characters in this novel, as well as the controversial issues that many of them might be facing as well. Young adult readers will find the struggles that Gabi encounters are some of the same ones they deal with every single day.
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