Oct
13

A Tale of Two Castles

By Yapha Posted in Adventure, Fantasy | No Comments »

A Tale of Two Castles
by Gail Carson Levine
grades 4-6

I was super excited to read Gail Carson Levine’s latest novel. I’m a big fan of fairy tales where the princess saves herself, and this one meets the task. Our plucky heroine is not a princess, though, she is a poor farm girl off to make her way in the big city. Ehlodie is clever and resourceful, willing to give others a chance instead of listening to gossip about them. After befriending a dragon and a shape-shifting ogre, she learns that people are rarely whom they seem to be. A satisfying story, with plenty of room for a sequel.

Jun
06

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

By Yapha Posted in Realistic Fiction | No Comments »

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger
grades 5-7

Dwight, one of the strangest kids in sixth grade, has created an origami Yoda finger puppet which he wears all the time and talks to. That’s not the strange part, though. This origami Yoda gives advice. Good advice. Much better advice than Dwight could ever give. Now Tommy has an important decision to make. He has consulted the Yoda, but wants to find out if it is real before following the advice. This book is Tommy’s analysis of all of the advice the Yoda has given in an attempt to figure out what to do next. A fun look at the trials and tribulations of middle school. And yes, it does have directions on making your own origami Yoda at the end.

Jun
03

Blood on the River

By Yapha Posted in Historical Fiction | No Comments »

Blood on the River: James Town, 1607
by Elisa Carbone
grades 5 & up

12-year-old Samuel, page to Captain John Smith, is one of the first group of settlers to James Town in the New World. James Town is nothing like Samuel expected — it is full of hardship and disease, not to mention the Native Americans. Samuel makes unexpected friends and learns a great deal about both himself and others.

This was recently added to our 5th grade curriculum, so I decided to read it as well. What a fabulous piece of historical fiction! It does a excellent job of making the history interesting and accessible. The characters were fabulous, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the story.

Jun
01

No Passengers Beyond This Point

By Yapha Posted in Fantasy | No Comments »

No Passengers Beyond this Point
by Gennifer Choldenko
grades 5 & up

I can’t really say too much about this book without giving away the ending. Which I definitely don’t want to do.  Finn, Mouse, & India’s mom gives them less than 24 hours notice that their house is being foreclosed on and they are all going to live with their Uncle Red in Colorado. The story alternates viewpoints as each of the kids processes this horrible news in different ways. When the plane lands somewhere that is not Denver, the three siblings must make some hard choices. Where they are and what they are going through doesn’t quite make sense as you read it, but when you get to the end it will. And then you’ll want to go back and read it again.

May
30

The Year Money Grew on Trees

By Yapha Posted in Historical Fiction | No Comments »

The Year Money Grew on Trees
by Aaron Hawkins
grades 4 & up

Jackson’s father wanted him to get a summer job. Jackson had to figure out something quickly, or get stuck working in the junkyard all summer. When his neighbor Mrs. Nelson offers him ownership of her overgrown apple orchard if he can turn a profit, Jackson ropes his sisters and cousins into helping him. It is more work than any of them imagined!

It’s hard to think of this book as historical fiction since it is set in the 1980s, but I guess technically it is! I worried throughout the book, since the kids were borrowing money against their crop. (I think I’ve read too many Little House on the Prairie books…) This was a great story with realistic characters, and I learned a lot about growing apples. All in all a good read!

May
27

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester

By Yapha Posted in Realistic Fiction | No Comments »

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
by Barbara O’Connor
grades 3-6

This is a summertime book of days gone by, when summers were long and playing outside was the only option. Owen spends weeks tracking down the biggest bullfrog in the pond. This is the biggest highlight of his summer, until the night he hears something fall from the train. Can he find the mystery object even after his two best friends give up? And can he do it without help from the pesky, know-it-all girl from next door?

May
25

Most Wanted

By Yapha Posted in Animal Stories, Historical Fiction | No Comments »

Most Wanted
by Kate Thompson
grades 2-4

Marcus, the baker’s son, finds himself with the most powerful horse in all of Rome. And the soldiers are looking for it everywhere. He can not abandon the horse, but he also does not want to put his family in danger. The ending is almost as crazy as the emperor! This was a quick read, and felt more like a short story than a whole novel. Unfortunately it is aimed at too young an audience for our sixth graders who study that time period.

Apr
28

Zora & Me

By Yapha Posted in Historical Fiction | No Comments »

Zora and MeZora and Me
by Victoria Bond
Grades 4-6

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting look at Zora Neale Hurston’s childhood in Eatonville, Florida, an all African-American town. Zora, Carrie, and Teddy become embroiled in the investigation of a murder. Zora, known for her truth-stretching stories is certain that she knows who killed him. But as they uncover the truth, it is far more complicated than any of them had ever thought. An interesting look at what it means to be comfortable in your own skin, why you shouldn’t judge others by their appearances.

 

Oct
04

Knucklehead

By Yapha Posted in Biographies | 1 Comment »

Knucklehead
by Jon Scieszka
grade 4 & up

I am hesitant to call this an autobiography, since that makes it sound like a dry summary of Jon Scieska’s life. What it is instead is an absolutely hysterical series of vignettes from Jon’s childhood. It is a wonderful book, laugh out loud funny, and provides a great deal of insight into how he became the writer he is today. Childhood pictures of Jon and his five brothers accompany the hilarious escapades of their youth. From Catholic school to a military boarding school, from their antics at home to the rest of their neighborhood, there is never a dull moment in this book! Recommend mostly for boys, but girls will enjoy it too. If you love his other book, you need to read this look at Jon Scieszka’s childhood.

Sep
21

The Maze Runner

By Yapha Posted in Adventure, Science Fiction | No Comments »

The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
grades 5 & up

This is one of those books that I had been meaning to read for awhile, but I kept pushing it aside. When I finally read it this past weekend, I was totally annoyed that I had waited so long! It was THAT good!

Thomas “wakes up” in a metal box, unable to remember anything except for his name. The box begins to move, and he finds himself in a clearing surrounded by other teenage boys. Barely understanding their slang, he begins to piece together information about where he is. The “glade” is a clearing in a center of a large maze. Each day, the boys send out runners to try to find a way out of the maze. They do not know why they are there or how they got there — each has had his memory wiped like Thomas. Their routine is predictable. Supplies come once a week, a new boy arrives once a month. Except after Thomas arrives, it all begins to change. Can they find a way out before it is too late?

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