Friday, July 18, 2014

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Carley Conners has always been self-sufficient with a mother who at times can be unreliable.  She never imagined, however, the events that would place her in foster care with the Murphy’s, a fun-loving family with three boys and a mother Carley never imagined existed.  As Carley lets down her guard and allows this family in, her mother recovers and Carley is faced with life-changing decisions.

Content Notes:                       
None J

Teacher Notes:
I absolutely loved this book.  It takes an honest look at how people are not always what they appear to be and I think that’s something everyone needs to be frequently reminded of!  This book is appropriate for all middle school students.

 Book Trailer:

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Jack knew upon waking that something was wrong.  While his mother had promised him a few days’ vacation camping at a national park, Jack wakes to discover he is all alone.  Not only alone, but all traces of his mother have vanished and she won’t answer her cell phone.  Jack must face the startling realization that his mother has abandoned him and as he begins his trek home, Jack must decide who to trust.

Content Notes:                       
A hungry child steals food and other items.

Teacher Notes:
I really enjoyed this story.  This story would be appropriate for any middle school student.

Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKgG3b0XDD0

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker

This nonfiction book chronicles the events that led to the largest man-made explosion prior to the detonation of the atomic bomb.  Filled with photographs and interviews, this griping non-fiction book entices the reader to become lost in the devastation of the explosion and how families recovered afterwards.

Content Notes:                       
This book discusses family members being killed as well as includes a picture of a makeshift morgue with bodies covered by sheets. 

Teacher Notes:
I normally have a really difficult time reading nonfiction books, and I absolutely loved this book.  For any kids who have a hard time reading non-fiction or who enjoy reading about disasters, they would love this book too!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch

Ella has been bred to be the perfect pet.  She is quiet, graceful, stays when told, and performs on command.  No need to clean up after her or feed her, she can clean up and feed herself.  She’s even potty trained.  The hitch?  Ella is human.  In a world where cloned humans can be bought, sold & treated as pets, Ella finds herself living with a rich family as a playmate for their only daughter.  But as Ella begins to have dangerous thoughts of her own, will she survive to live her life, or will she discover what is behind the red door?

Content Notes:                       
This book alludes to sexual content and is about human pets. 

Teacher Notes:
This was a book I had to seriously think about when I finished reading. I found it disturbing that a book would be written about human pets, which are essentially slaves.  Even though these pets were cloned, they were still human and I had a hard time with the concept & how the characters in the story justified this.  I honestly wouldn’t recommend this to a student to read.

Taken by Erin Bowman

As Gray Weathersby nears 18, he realizes he has two choices.  Face the Heist that takes all boys at the age of 18 or take his chances with the wall, a barrier built around his village that no one has survived crossing.  Contemplating his choices, a startling discovery makes him desire the truth even more.  What IS outside the wall?  How did they all get in the village and what happened to their memories of before?  The more Gray receives answers, the more questions he has.  What is really the truth, and can he survive it?

Content Notes:                       
This book has no bad language, but does allude to sexual content.  Younger readers may be unaware of what is alluded to, but older readers would be.  I would recommend this to Jr. High students and above.

Teacher Notes:
This was an interesting story that I thought was a little slow in spots.  This will be a trilogy but I won’t be pursuing the other books in this series.

Enders by Lissa Price

After bringing down Prime Destination (Starters), Callie wants life to just return to normal.  But when she begins to hear the Old Man in her head, she realizes that things are far from normal and answers must be found to protect the ones she loves.  Things take a startling spin when the identity of the Old Man is revealed and Callie struggles with who to trust….and who is trying to kill her.

Content Notes:
This book is appropriate for middle school readers.

Teacher Notes:
A great sequel to Starters!  I look forward to the third book in the series coming out. J