I have a pile of books to get through this summer (both adult and children) and I'm slowly making my way through them between swimming lessons, summer camps, and beach days!
I am THRILLED to have found this great new series, Fairy Tale Reform School, by Jen Calonita. I think elementary school students (especially girls) will really love it. The first in the series is Flunked. This is the story of Gilly, the poor shoemaker's daughter, who gets caught stealing items that she hopes will help feed her very poor and hungry family. Gilly gets sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School where all of the teachers are former villains. The headmistress is Cinderella's stepmother, the school therapist is the Evil Queen from Snow White, and there are several other now reformed famous villains teaching the students the error of their ways. Throughout her stay, Gilly learns there is a mysterious plot to destroy the school and she and her new friends try to get to the bottom if it. Are the royal princesses to blame? The Big Bad Wolf? A secret enemy from long ago?
This book is a lot of fun. There's magic, mystery and lots of enchanted items. I especially enjoyed all of the fairy tale references because I felt like I already knew so much about the recognizable characters (Rapunzel hair care products anyone?). The story moves quickly and the dialogue is very funny. It questions whether bad people can really change and just how much trust one can have in a former bad apple. Super enjoyable!
I've always been a HUGE Joan Bauer fan and have found I can never go wrong recommending her books to my students. Soar is no exception.
Jeremiah's life revolves around one thing- baseball. He lives and breathes it, but unfortunately, due to a serious heart condition, he can't play. Hillcrest, his new town, is known for baseball, so Jeremiah does the next best thing to playing- he starts coaching. Shortly after he arrives, the town is rocked by a scandal and the townspeople start to give up on baseball. It's up to Jeremiah to save the town and the team.
Jeremiah is a fantastic main character. His life is full of multiple struggles, yet he remains positive in the hopes that his can-do spirit will rub off on his team. He is courageous and funny and an extremely likable character. I found him to be incredibly inspiring. Jeremiah refuses to give up, and I actually cheered out loud a few times while I was reading. Even though it's a baseball story, I think both boys and girls will enjoy it.
Pax by Sara Pennypacker has been on my reading list for a while. It's critically acclaimed and in serious contention for major book awards.
Peter has been caring for his fox, Pax, since Pax was a kit. They are the best of friends. When his dad enlists in the army, Peter is forced to leave Pax on the side of the road on the way to live at his grandfather's house (no animals allowed). Peter lives one day without Pax and realizes that he can't spend his days without his beloved pet. He packs his school bag with essentials and begins a 300 mile trek back to his old home to find Pax. Meanwhile, Pax is confused by his new surroundings, but remains confident that Peter will come back for him some day.
This story is told with alternating narration between Peter and Pax. It was really fascinating to read Pax's chapters because I never really gave much thought as to what a fox might be thinking. He feels sad and betrayed to be left on the road, but he never gives up on his "human" Peter. I think Ms. Pennypacker wrote in beautiful detail what it must be like to be a domesticated wild animal now forced to survive on its own. Pax never knew how to be a true fox and must learn from others like him how to survive. Meanwhile, Peter's journey is interrupted by an injury and he is forced to spend time with a reclusive army veteran while he heals. This old woman, Vola, teaches Peter valuable lessons about life and grief and he teaches her a few things as well.
I'm not going to reveal if Peter ever finds his fox, but the ending is satisfying. I liked this book, but I'm not certain my students will fully appreciate it. It's emotional and there are some deep lessons throughout, but I'm not sure a young reader will pick up on them without a little help. Also, it's a bit slow at times, and I found myself skimming through some of the "Pax" chapters. There will definitely be some kids who really like it, and I will keep it front and center in the library come September in the hopes the right reader will give it a chance.
No comments:
Post a Comment