Mrs. K's Book Blog

Dairy Queen

2007-07-30T21:01:00.001-05:00

Title: Dairy Queen
Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Recommended for: 8th grade and up

After her father is injured, DJ takes over almost all of the responsibilities on the family farm Then, to make matters worse, a family friend asks DJ to help train the big-headed quarterback from her school's rival football team. Growing up with a football coaching father and two brothers who played in college, DJ is more than capable of the task. Though the two have little respect for each other, training Brian forces DJ to re-evaluate what she wants out of her life. If you like sports, humor, or realistic fiction, then Dairy Queen might be the book for you.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-07-30T20:38:00.000-05:00

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: J.K. Rowling

Recommended for: Grades 5+

Well, after 10 years and 7 books, the Harry Potter series comes to a close. Did you pre-order your copy? Of course, Mrs. K. did and the book was well worth the wait. What did Harry's 7th year at Hogwarts bring? Considering He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is on the rise, not much studying Potions or games of Quidditch.

At the opening, Harry is about to turn 17 (Actually, tomorrow, July 31, is Harry Potter's birthday...as well as J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe...Happy Birthday!). Turning 17 means that now Harry can perform magi outside of Hogwarts, but it also means that the protective charm his mother put on the Dursley home will no longer be in effect. So, Harry is on the move. While most students are preparing to ride the Hogwarts Express for another term, Harry, Hermione, and Ron are on a mission from Dumbledore to find the rest of the Horcruxes belonging to Voldemort. Certainly not an easy task when they have no idea what they look like or where they are. Do Harry, Hermoine, and Ron find the Horcruxes? Will Harry ever destroy Voldemort for good or is Harry destined to die? You know I won't tell, so read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to close the final chapter in a series that created more readers than any other. Thank you, J.K. Rowling!

Heartbeat

2007-06-22T15:36:00.001-05:00

Title: Heartbeat
Author: Sharon Creech
Recommended for: Grades 3-7

Annie loves to run. Better yet, she loves to run barefoot alongside (or in front of :) her best friend Max. Max, however, just wishes Annie would join the track team or that he had enough money to by himself a pair of running shoes. Annie has some wishes herself. Mainly, that the baby that is growing inside of her Mom's belly isn't an alien, that she can draw the picture of an apple in a way that is special, or that her grandfather's health improves. This story, written in free verse by one of the best authors when it comes to voice and characterization, is one that everyone should take just a little time to read.

Project Mulberry

2007-06-20T11:22:00.000-05:00

Title: Project Mulberry

Author: Linda Sue Park

Recommended for: Grades 3-6

Julia and her best friend Patrick are in the Wiggle Club, which aims to teach kids about farming (something that fewer and fewer of us have experience with as generations pass). As Wiggle Club members, they have to create a project that, if good enough, gets to be entered into the state fair. Julia and Patrick end up deciding to raise silkworms, although Julia isn't a big fan of the idea. Through the project, they encounter many challenges: finding a way to raise the silkworms, disagreements both as friends and project partners, and also personal obstacles.

Will Project Mulberry be a success for Julia and Patrick? If you are a fan of science, learning about different cultures, stories about friendship, or realistic fiction, pick up this book by the Newbery-winning author Linda Sue Park.

Code Talker

2007-06-11T15:52:00.001-05:00

Title: Code Talker
Author: Joseph Bruchac
Recommended for: Grades 5-8

Until 1969, the United States military kept a vital component of its success during World War II a secret: the Navajo Code talkers. Joseph Bruchac brings to life the story of one Navajo man, Kii Yazhi, who grew up going to a boarding school which wouldn't allow him to speak his Navajo language. Ironically, Kii Yazhi's ability to hold onto this language made him an important asset to the Marines during World War II. Any military, whether American or not, needs a way to communicate information without it being intercepted by the other side. Since the Navajo language was spoken by so few and difficult to learn, it made the perfect communication tool for the U.S. Military.

As always, Bruchac gives the reader a perspective on Indian life that only he knows how. We can't help but be remorseful for the hurt delivered upon nations of indigenous people in our country's past and hope to find a way to celebrate the gifts that people such as the Navajos brought and continue to bring to the United States.

If you are interested in World War II, historical fiction, or Native American experiences, you will enjoy Code Talker.

Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083

2007-06-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

Title: Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083

Author: Andrea White

Recommended for: Grades 6-9

Science fiction, when well-written, is probably my favorite of all the genres of literature. Surviving Antarctica is definitely a well-written science fiction novel because it makes you wonder "What if?" and it seems like the situation that the characters find themselves in could potentially happen.

In Surviving Antarctica, the year is 2083 and public education is only available through government television. Anyone who wants a tradition high school and college education either has to have the money for it (which only the very rich do) or win through The Toss, and only a small percentage win The Toss. Robert, Polly, Billy, Andrew, and Grace didn't win their Toss, but they instead "won" a chance to get rich through being picked to participate in a new Historical Survivor game called Antarctic Survivor. The 5 will redo the failed voyage of Robert E. Scott's 1912 journey to the South Pole and hope for better results. If achieved, they will earn big money, and if voted MVP, even more riches.

Being a fan of the reality series Survivor, the book does an amazing job of bringing up some ethical issues of reality television as well as the government involvement in the entertainment industry. It's interesting to note that the author's husband is currently the Mayor of Houston, Texas. I'm sure that gives her an interesting perspective!

If you like adventure, survival, and a good page-turner, you MUST read Surviving Antarctica by Andrea White.

Check out more about the book and author at:

http://www.survivingantarctica.com/index_aw.html

http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/26088/Andrea_White/index.aspx

Crossing the Wire

2007-05-24T10:14:00.000-05:00

Title: Crossing the Wire
Author: Will Hobbs
Recommended for: Grades 5-8

Do you like adventure? Then, Crossing the Wire, or pretty much anything by Will Hobbs, is the book for you.

Victor Flores lives with his mother, brother, and sisters in Los Arboles, Mexico. Since his father's passing, family survival has been difficult with little opportunity for enough work to feed a family. After Victor's best friend Rico decides to head across the border for a better life in the United States, Victor and his mother decide that crossing the wire to find work might be the only way their family can survive. As difficult of a decision as that was for Victor, who doesn't much care for adventure, the actual journey itself is full of danger: border patrol, robbers, drug smugglers, wild animals, as well as the bitter cold and scorching heat the desert can bring.

Will Victor make it across the border alive? Will he find a way to help his family survive in Mexico? Read Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs to experience a human face to the controversial issue of illegal immigration.

To read more about Will Hobbs, visit his web site at: http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/

Double Identity

2007-05-04T14:46:00.001-05:00

Title: Double Identity
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Recommended for: Grades 5-8, especially fans of Haddix, science fiction, and adventure.

Today I finished reading Margaret Peterson Haddix's thriller, Double Identity. I'm in such awe of authors like Haddix and Shusterman who have incredible imaginations and always ask, "What if?" in their writing. In Double Identity, thirteen year old Bethany discovers that her parents had another daughter years before Bethany was born. Not only that, but Bethany holds an uncanny likeness to her sister Elizabeth from the color of their hair and eyes, all the way down to their love of strawberry oatmeal. Bethany's parents all but disappear, but leave her wondering, "What if I am Elizabeth's clone?" Not only is Bethany haunted by her likeness to Elizabeth and her parents' disappearance, but now a stranger is in the midst. Is Bethany a clone? Who is this strange man? And, what are Bethany's parents hiding from? You'll only know if you read Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Neal Shusterman

2007-05-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

Today I had the opportunity to meet one of the best young adult authors out there: Neal Shusterman. Shusterman received a Golden Sower Honor in 2001 for The Dark Side of Nowhere and again in 2006 for Full Tilt. In addition, The Schwa Was Here is nominated for the Golden Sower Award for the 2007-2008 school year. If you haven't read any Shusterman books, then you must. His books are adventure, mystery, science fiction, drama, sometimes a little romance, and a lot of imagination all rolled into one.

Shusterman began writing as a teenager and hasn't stopped since. Hopefully, someone reading this blog is about to begin his or her life as a writer. Could it be you?

Heat

2007-04-23T15:18:00.000-05:00

Title: Heat
Author: Mike Lupica
Recommended for: Grades 5-8, especially those with interests in brother/sister, immigration, baseball, or relationship stories.

Today I finished reading the book Heat. I try to read a book without any preconceived attitudes or ideas about the book or author. However, even though I had never read a book by Lupica, I did know him from his appearances on The Sports Reporters on ESPN. Unfortunately, I don't always agree with his opinions, so I wasn't sure if I would warm up to his writings. Well, I did! Heat tells the story of Michael Arroyo, a 12 year old baseball pitcher whose life on the baseball field is nothing like his life at home. On the baseball field, Michael experiences almost perfection every time he steps foot on the mound. At home, things are pretty much the opposite: after immigrating to the U.S. from Cuba, his father passes away, leaving Michael and his 17 year old brother Carlos trying to live on their own without Official Persons finding out, because that would potentially break their family up.

I don't think you have to like baseball as I do in order to enjoy this book. Everyone will want to cheer for Michael, both at home and on the field.

Want to know more?
Here is a link to more reviews from Kidsread.com:
http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0399243011.asp
Here is a link to information about the author from his publisher:
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000009423,00.html