Towers Falling

What would you do if you had no clue why there was only one tower instead of two

and your dad's crazy? In the book Towers Falling by Jewell Rhodes,

Deja just moved to a new school and she is in fifth grade. At the time, it is also the

15 anniversary of September 11. Mrs. Garcia and Deja’s other teachers try to teach

her and her classmates about 9-11 very slowly. Mostly, everyone else knows about

the event except for her. I love the book Towers Falling because it focuses on a

character named Deja. I also think the book is like a big mystery.

Deja and her family live in Avalon which is not the nicest place to live. Also,

Deja's dad has been acting strange ever since they moved to Avalon. Her mom

has wanted her to know for a long time but her dad thought she was too young

to know about September 11. Her friend’s Sabeen and Ben both know about the

event and try to tell her. Also, Deja really wants to figure out what happened.

Will Deja ever find out what happened to her dad and New York City?

The copyright date is April 17, 2018. Also, the publisher is

Little, Brown Books for Young Reader.

-Landon P.

Wonder

by R.J. Palacio

Goodreads Summary:
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.


My Review:
As a rule, I avoid books that I think will make me sad, or worse cry. (Most of my students know that this means no books where animals are a major part, because, let's face it, they always die). Because of this, I didn't think I would read Wonder. After watching the preview below, and hearing how excited some students were to read it, I knew I had to suck it up and give it a try. I wasn't let down at all. In fact, I read it in one sitting.


Palacio does an expert job weaving a story that could be tragic and heart-breaking into one that makes the reader sad, but also shows the funny and quirky side to kids and the kindness that changes the world. Instead of tearing you down with sadness and pity, it takes those emotions and shows how being an everyday kid kind of rocks, but being different has its moments, too.

Kids should read this book. Adults should read this book. People in generally should read this book. It is genuine and heartfelt. You root for Auggie, but in a weird way you understand some of the people that aren't always kind to him. Heck, he understands the people that aren't always nice to him. And that is why you will love him.

I had to share one of my favorite quotes.

“There are always going to be jerks in the world, Auggie,” she said, looking at me. “But I really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other.” 

Crazy

by Han Nolan

Goodreads Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Jason has fallen upon bad times—his mother has died and his father has succumbed to mental illness. As he tries to hold his crazy father and their crumbling home together, Jason relies on a host of imaginary friends for guidance as he stumbles along trying not to draw attention to his father’s deteriorating condition. Both heartbreaking and funny, CRAZY lives up to the intense and compelling characters Han Nolan is praised for. As Jason himself teeters on the edge of insanity, Nolan uncovers the clever coping system he develops for himself and throws him a lifeline in the guise of friendship.


My Review:
This book is an interesting look at how what happens to parents (in this case, very extreme things) effects kids. It is sad; you know Jason is not a bad kid, but his life just gets more and more messed up as the story goes. At one pivotal point, I actually said "Really?" aloud!


It is frustrating at times, mainly because I found Jason a little hard to identify with. That is good for me since he is dealing with his mom's death, and his dad's break with reality in which he believes he is fighting in Greek myths. It seems so extreme that it makes Jason a character that you feel sorry for, but have a difficult connecting to. Overall, I can't really say I liked the book. How does one like a story about losing grip with reality? But I think it is a good read and it held my interest. I could see people who enjoyed Kissing Doorknobs by Hesser, You Don't Know Me by Klass, A Mango-Shaped Space by Mass, and A Child Called It by Pelzer, also interested in this story.

Where Things Come Back

by John Corey Whaley

Goodreads Summary:
Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . . 

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared. 

While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax. 

Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.


My Review:
I am not sure why I was so interested in reading this book. I came across it when I was reading about this year's Printz Award winners. The weaving of two story lines-an extinct bird and a missing kid-seemed impossible to make. Whaley does it flawlessly. It starts in a morgue, which does not seem like a place for a hopeful story. It turns into a story about persistence and hope, as well as what it means to be in that weird place where you aren't an adult, but not quite a kid either. 


I won't lie-I also like when Cullen starts daydreaming about the zombie apocalypse. Plus, when multiple story lines link together-it surprised me. I love books that take what you think is going to happen, and put it right in the trash. I really hope that this author doesn't end up as a "one-hit wonder". (Some mature content).

Here Lies Linc

by Delia Ray

Goodreads Summary:
When 12-year-old Linc Crenshaw decides he wants to go to public school, his professor mom isn't so happy with the idea. He's convinced it will be the ticket to a new social life. Instead, it's a disaster when his mom shows up at their field trip to the local cemetery to lecture them on gravestones, and Linc sees her through his fellow-students' eyes. He's convinced his chances at a social life are over until a cemetery-related project makes him sought-after by fellow students he's not so sure he wants as friends, helps him make a new, genuine friend, and brings to light some information about his family that upends his world.


My Review:

While the cover of this book may hint to a creepy fantasy story, this is a great realistic fiction read that gives us Linc, a great kid who is so unusual, but still relatable. He makes a lot of mistakes, including hurting his eccentric mom's feelings, but they lead him to figure out a lot about himself. 

I love that the setting for this story is Oakland Cemetary  (where my grandparents are both buried) in Iowa City, Iowa-right down the road. This is a special place for many people in the area because of the legend of the Black Angel, which is looked at closely in this story. 

Accomplice

by Eireann Corrigan

Goodreads Summary:
They've gotten good grades - but that's not good enough. They've spent hours on community service - but that's not good enough. Finn and Chloe's advisor says that colleges have enough kids with good grades and perfect attendance, so Chloe decides they'll have to attract attention another way. She and Finn will stage Chloe's disappearance, and then, when CNN is on their doorstep and the nation is riveted, Finn will find and save her. It seems like the perfect plan - until things start to go wrong. Very wrong.


My Review:

This book has an interesting premise, especially with all the pressure students feel to stand out, to be special or extraordinary. The quick fix these girls come up with has bad idea written all over it, and when things really start to get scary my gut was twisted in knots. There were a few slow parts, sections that seemed unnecessary to the main story, but the idea is so unique it makes it a fun read.

Smile

by Rainia Telgemeier

Goodreads Summary:
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book, even though I am not usually a fan of graphic novels. I could connect easily to Raina since I endured lots of work on my teeth-including braces for several years. I like how she used her tooth troubles as a way to describe how she became her own person. Since finding yourself- to use a cliche-is something that most middle school students can relate to, so I believe that many would like this story.

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

by James Patterson

Goodreads Summary:
Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class-5,000 points! Running in the hallway-10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm-50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

Review:
This story is funny and touching at the same time. Rafe's life isn't easy, and as a reader I realized that he was lonely and trying to do everything he could to fight it. It made me sympathetic to his character in a way that wasn't cheesy or sappy. For example, he cares a great deal about his sister, but still teases her like a brother would and tells her to get out of his room. There were even a few twists that kept the story from being stale. I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney
Greg is just starting middle school and decides to keep a journal (NOT a diary) of his life. He figures that it will make things much easier to hand over his writing when he is rich and famous then have to recount everything to all his adoring fans. Through his writings we meet Greg's best friend Rowley who he is often humiliated by; he's just so uncool. We also meet some of Greg's other friends, like Fregley who seems to just be from another planet. We learn about Greg's family, especially his older brother Roddrick who Greg seems to love-hate-worship-fear, all at the same time.

This series chronicles Greg's life from his point of view, and I find him pretty hard to like. He is selfish and looks down on a lot of his friends, but his redeeming quality is that he comes through in the end. I do enjoy the portrayl of the family and how they seem to have high hopes. I also enjoyed how sketches are included to make different points; they add authenticity to the story. I don't know how strongly I would recommend the series-I could take them or leave them-up till the 3rd book.  There were parts in The Last Straw where I laughed so hard I cried! Overall, they are an easy fun read.

Harriet the Spy

A classic from when I was a lot younger, Harriet the Spy is a book that could be truly called timeless. It is the story of Harriet, an 11-year-old girl who lives in the city. An only child, her best companions are books and her wish is to grow up and be  a writer. To practice, she is an observer. She watches everyone: her parents, the kids at school, and people on her 'spy route' that she walks daily. She records everything in her notebook.

Harriet's notebook is found by her classmates who subsequently read it. They are shocked and hurt by the observations she has recorded, which confuses Harriet. She doesn't understand why her writing has hurt everyone so much, why they think her comments about them come off as petty. They create a united front against her, and seek revenge. This makes Harriet, an already lonely observer, feel even more alone.

Don't judge this book because it is older, or on the Disney movie made on the general idea of it. The book is a classic, one that could not be outdated. It deals with the feelings that many people have when they try to understand the world they face. I remember reading this book, and even though sad things happened for Harriet, a part of me wanted to be her. Any book that can feel that real should be read by many.

Chelsey & the Green-Haired Kid

Every since she was a toddler, Chelsey has been confined to a wheelchair. Now 13, she strives for independence and uses the community bus service to get around. Because she doesn't fit into the bleachers at the high school to watch the basketball game with the rest of the fans, she has to sit behind them. This creates an unusual vantage point-not of the game, but of a murder. No one believes her, so she teams up with Jack, a misunderstood teenager with green hair, to try and figure out what happened. They discover that the murder goes deep into the town and the drug underworld.

I like this book for a few reasons. 1-It is a very quick read. The suspense in the story motivates the reader to continue until the end of the story. There is some predictability, but even the use of a drug ring in a small, Midwestern town is an interesting twist. 2-The author is from Iowa City, and the setting in the story is definitely influenced by this. One of the best scenes takes place on a steep hill that could only be the hill in downtown Iowa City. 3-Chelsey's disability is not a hindrance, or even a big deal. She deals with her chair in a matter-of-fact way, never pitying herself, instead being mature and realistic about it. Overall, this is a good, fun, mystery.

Mike Lupica

For the athletes who recognize that sports is life, Mike Lupica's books are for you. Lupica is an author of some very popular realistic fiction books and sports journalist for ESPN and other news outlets. His experience in the sports world definitely shows in his writing which rings realistic with each description, whether it is about baseball, football, or basketball. While showing the importance of athletics in each character's life, Lupica also weaves the life the characters live outside of the game they love into the story. He creates a whole person, not allowing his characters to be defined by sports, or any one thing. Summarized below are some of Lupica's most popular works. I will mention that The Big Field is my favorite.

The Big Field

For Hutch, shortstop has always been home. It's where his father once played professionally, before injuries relegated him to watching games on TV instead of playing them. And it's where Hutch himself has always played and starred. Until now. The arrival of Darryl "D-Will" Williams, the top shortstop prospect from Florida since A-Rod, means Hutch is displaced, in more ways than one. Second base feels like second fiddle, and when he sees his father giving fielding tips to D-Will—the same father who can't be bothered to show up to watch his son play—Hutch feels betrayed. With the summer league championship on the line, just how far is Hutch willing to bend to be a good teammate?

Heat

Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo lives in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, home of his heroes, but a place that might as well be on a different continent since he can't afford to see the inside. He also lives in the shadows of his Bronx neighborhood, hiding from the bill collectors and the officials who would separate him from his seventeen-year-old brother if they knew the two boys were living on their own. Baseball is Michael's only salvation, along with his dream of playing in the Little League World Series-until a rival accuses Michael of being older than the league limit. With no parents and a birth certificate that is stuck in his native Cuba, the shadows in Michael's life grow darker. But that is when heroes emerge, and for Michael, heroes don't come any bigger than the Yankees.

Travel Team

Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court—but don't tell him that. Because no one plays with more heart or court sense. But none of that matters when he is cut from his local travel team, the very same team his father led to national prominence as a boy. Danny's father, still smarting from his own troubles, knows Danny isn't the only kid who was cut for the wrong reason, and together, this washed-up former player and a bunch of never-say-die kids prove that the heart simply cannot be measured.

Miracle on 49th Street

Josh Cameron has it all: a World Championship ring with the Boston Celtics, an MVP award, a clean-cut image, and the adoration of millions. What he doesn't have is family. Until the day 12-year-old smartaleck Molly Parker confronts him in a parking lot and claims to be his daughter—the only daughter of Jen Parker, Josh's college sweetheart and the still the only girl he's ever loved. Trouble is, Jen Parker died last year, and now Molly has tracked down the father she never knew, the one her mother never wanted her to know about. Josh Cameron cares about two things only: himself, and basketball. The last thing this superstar wants or needs is a 12-year-old daughter. Yet this isn't just any 12-year-old. Mr. World Champion has finally met his match.

Million-Dollar Throw

What would you do with a million dollars, if you were thirteen? Nate Brodie is nicknamed "Brady" not only for his arm, but also because he's the biggest Tom Brady fan. He's even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he's never dreamed of—to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars.

Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is losing their home. It's no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Even worse, his best friend Abby is going blind, slowly losing her ability to do the one thing she loves most—paint. Yet Abby never complains, and she is Nate's inspiration. He knows she'll be there when he makes the throw of a lifetime.

Guys Write for Guys Read

Guys Write for Guys Read edited by Jon Scieszka

We read the short story, "My French Teacher Tried to Kill Me" by Anthony Horowitz. This story is from the book, Guys Write for Guys Read. If you hate long stories, but love an action book, this is the book for you.
The genre of this book is short story,and the subgenre is realistic fiction.
The setting of this story is a French teacher's classroom in the present day. The French teacher is actually an assassin stalking Anthony. Anthony has meddled in his affairs once too many times. Will Anthony survive when the French teacher takes this situation too far, or will the French teacher get his revenge?
This is an easy to read, but suspenseful short story. This is obviously a short story for a guy who likes action packed stories.

Recommended by Connor and Riley

Losing Is Not an Option

This book of short stories is definitely for those who can identify with athletes. From football stories to great track stories, Losing Is Not An Option by Rich Wallace will resonate with readers who have experienced the ups and downs of competing in the athletic world.
In the title story, "Losing is Not an Option", a High School Senior, Ron, is a school track star. He is a long distance runner, and has won honors in Cross Country, but now in the Spring, is competing in track events. Despite distractions, like girls, card games and separated parents, Ron devotes himself to pushing his body every day to increase its endurance and strength. He often recalls his domineering father's words that "losing is not an option," and steps up his efforts to be the best runner he can be. Ron is confident he can win each race he runs until he faces the big state tournament. Self doubts threaten to take control.
Ron wants more than anything to win that State title...will all of his hard work pay off?
The author of Losing is Not an Option, Rich Wallace, seems to know what it takes to make an outstanding athlete. This book is geared toward High School students, but Middle School teens will enjoy it as well. Readers will not be disappointed with the realistic tension created by the characters as they enter high stakes sports contests.

Sarah Dessen

I admit, I judge books based on their covers. I know that I am not supposed to, in theory, but I think everyone does to a certain degree. That is why it took so long for me to read any of Sarah Dessen's books. They just seemed so...girly. And I am not a girly girl. So I just bought them for my students who loved them, and didn't really think they were worth my time. Then, I had a student finally talk me into giving one a try- The Truth About Forever. While it isn't my favorite Dessen book, I really enjoyed it. Dessen keeps common themes through her stories, but makes them different enough that each is enjoyable. Each has a romance element, but the focus is more about the main character- a teenage female girl- who is struggling with a problem. The problems are often ones that many of us can identify with: divorce, body images, friends. Check out some of my favorite Dessen books below, and give one a try. I have read them all, and would reccommend most to lovers of realistic fiction.

Just Listen- My absolute favorite Dessen book because it combines a story with music. Annabel was "the girl who has everything; at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf 's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.


Keeping the Moon- A close second to Just Listen, this is my least favorite book cover. I like the story of individuality and weight issues. Probably some of Dessen's strongest characters are contained in this book...Fifteen-year-old Colie is spending the summer with her eccentric Aunt Mira while her mother travels. Formerly chubby and still insecure, Colie has built a shell around herself. But her summer with her aunt, her aunt's tenant Norman, and her friends at the Last Chance Diner & teaches her some important lessons about friendship and learning to love yourself.


Someone Like You-Maybe the most far-fetched of her stories, this is still a good read. Sad, but the focus on friendship is definitely a plus. Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Though their friendship may be tested by the strain, like a true friendship, it will endure.

Wendy Mass

I just finished my third book by Wendy Mass- A Mango-Shaped Space. Ms. Sauer recommended it to me, along with a number of students who read it. I have avoided it for the sole reason that I knew part of the plot dealt with the main character's cat Mango. And anyone who knows me as a reader knows I have a tough time handling books dealing with animals, especially because the animals often die, and that just breaks my heart.

I promise that I won't give anything away about Mango, but I will tell you that I have found out that Wendy Mass is a truly gifted author. She does an excellent job presenting characters that are different, but likable. There are no parts in her books where I might think to myself, "This is so not-likely. It almost seems fake." Instead, I catch myself surprised that she handles such odd situations, ones I have not and will not experience, by making them seem like they are everyday problems. Below are the reviews/summaries of three of Mass's books that I have read.

A Mango-Shaped Space: Mia's family, and life, are normal. She lives in a rural area and is the middle child. Her younger brother Zack is a little odd since he keeps track of all the McDonald's hamburgers he's eaten, but everyone loves him anyway. Her teenage sister Beth is kind of snotty, but sweet at heart. Mia, well, she has a secret. Whenever she hears sounds, she sees colors and shapes. For so long, Mia thought everyone was this way. Now she figures she is the only one, she hopes to keep that secret between her and her cat Mango.

I truly loved this story. It was not action-packed, but was very 'real'. While I could put this book down, I know it is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life: Jeremy is kind of a chicken. He is afraid to go farther than a few blocks from his house, and really hates surprises. His best friend Lizzie is almost the complete opposite. When Jeremy gets a box that claims to hold the meaning of life, he knows he is going to have to change in order to open it by his 13th birthday. He can not open it without the keys, which are missing, and must enlist Lizzie's help to discover a new side to himself, and find the keys.

I was surprised by how the twists in plot, intriguing themes, and interesting characters really drove this novel and made it an enjoyable read.

Every Soul a Star: Mass uses three very different characters to narrate the story of a total solar eclipse at Camp Moonshadow. Ally, whose family runs and lives at the camp has been preparing for this day for most of her life. Bree, whose family is moving to take over the camp, wants nothing to do with the eclipse. Jack is an underachiever, along for the ride to make up for failing science. These three start off in stereotypical roles, but soon the reader sees glimpses of their true characters.

I was impressed by the seemless plot, even though each chapter was narrated by a different character. I loved how, like all of us, Ally, Jack, and Bree seemed one way- but surprised everyone in the end. If you need one good reason to read this book, you have to get to the description of the eclipse. It is amazing.

Jerk, California