First let me say that I wouldn't have requested this book if I had known it was a sequel - arg. I guess it could stand alone in a way but I was really confused for the first few chapters until enough of the back story was revealed and I still feel like there where things I was missing. If I had read the first one I think I would have liked it and this one as well. I do like time travely, sci fi type books.
Tom and Eddie are twins but are living on separate Earths - one in 2012 and one in 1958. Oh...and their father has been kidnapped by aliens called the Primary People and they want to destroy the Earths because the humans are ruining them. Tom and Eddie are trying to figure out who the good guys are, who the bad guys are, and how to use their powers because they happen to be 1/2 aliens themselves.
It was interesting but without the first book in the sequel...
Zombies are definitely popular right now. I actually have a special place just for zombie books. While the title mentions zombies it isn't so much about Mr. Katz as it is about J.D and his ability to talk with ghosts. During a run in with a ghost named Harry J.D ended up with a book of spells. When his friend read one of the spells out loud it caused Mr. Katz, their teacher to become a zombie. The rest of the book is about hiding Mr. Katz and trying to figure out how to change him back. There was some zombie ick but probably not enough for the true zombie fan.
Ashley Bryan is a beloved Maine poet and author. This book is a compilation of puppets he has made from recycled materials and items that have washed up on the beach and poems that go alone with them. It is a very interesting book. I will be curious to see how my students react to it.
I am not going to lie...this is really not my kind of book because of my upbringing and my personal beliefs. That being said...it was very well done and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. On the surface it may look like it is just about a boy who struggles with feeling like he should have been a girl. Underneath that however is a more powerful message about identity and acceptance. Because the main character is several years older than the students at my school I would hesitate about purchasing the book for my school library but would recommend the book to others.
I get it...bullies are everywhere and I know that even though schools, parents, etc try to prevent and educate students about bullying that it still happens. In theory I even like some of what this book encourages - standing up to it, working together to fight against it
But...the main character in this book is a 4th grader. I can buy the tech part..there are some really bright, tech kids out there. I can even accept that the language is probably also more prevalent than I want to admit but does that mean I want to see it in books that I hand to my students? Am I comfortable having a book with WTF (yes it is only the abbreviation but they know what it stands for) and asshole being used by 4th graders throughout the book? Sorry nope....
Ashley has just recently found out that her best friend is moving away. She has always relied on her friend Lucy because she suffers from face blindness - she can't recognize people. To make matters worse she is stuck babysitting a 7 year old girl while Lucy is away at camp.
Then Ashley discovers a wishing jar full of old wishes and what is truly amazing is that the wishes transport her in time. In her time travels she witnesses episodes in the life of another Ashley and her friend Shue. Ashley tries to piece together the mystery of the two girls from the past while also trying to figure out how they fit in with her own life.
I really enjoyed this book. I love time travel type books and I felt like the plot came together well. I figured out a few things early on but the intended readers would probably be more surprised. I can definitely see this as a purchase for the library.
I know I have read Elijah of Buxton but beyond remembering that I liked it I don't remember much about it. This book stands alone because although Elijah is in the book it is really not necessary at all to have read Elijah of Buxton to read this.
In this book Benji from Buxton befriends Red from a nearby town. The book is told from the 2 perspectives and the boys don't even meet until part 2. Benji wants to be a newspaper reporter, Red wants to be a scientist. Benji comes from a slave heritage, Red comes from Irish immigrants. While very different they strike up a friendship that breaks down barriers and also helps mend old wounds.
I found this book to be very good. Historical fiction can be a hard sell but I have teachers who use Christopher Paul Curtis' other books and I can use that to promote this one.
