The Soda Bottle School

 

I have been waiting to read this ever since I heard about it last fall at AASL in Hartford.  It is the true story of how a teacher and her students used recycled soda bottles to build a school in Guatemala.  Having been to Guatemala several times I love how this solved an issue of trash and recycling and also helped build a school at the same time.  So cool.  It is also cool that the illustrator of the book lives in the town (Sanford, ME) that I work in.  If anyone is interested in more information about bottle schools check out http://hugitforward.org/

Painting the Rainbow

 

Holly and Ivy have always spent the summers with their grandparents at a lake in New Hampshire but the summer of 1965 seems different.  Holly and Ivy seem to be growing apart, there is unrest in the country over Vietnam, and now more than ever the girls want to know what happened to their Uncle Jesse.  How did he die and why won't anyone talk about it?  In the midst of sailing lessons, changing amily dynamics, and discovering who they are the girls also find letters and drawings that reveal what happened to Uncle Jesse and what a young Japanese man had to do with it.

I found the book to be interesting but historical fiction can be a hard sell.  This would require background knowledge not only into World War II and the Japanese camps but also Civil Rights events and Vietnam in the 60s.  For the right student this book is a gem.

The Graham Cracker Plot

Daisy believes her father is in jail for no reason and when he gets beat up she decides that she will break him out with her friend Graham.  With the help of a coin from 1919, a getaway car driven by a girl with a brain injury, and a miniature pony this is a madcap adventure.  This is told through Daisy's letters to the judge as her way of explaining what happened so you know all along that things did not turn out well.  It is a bit crazy but fun and Daisy certainly learns some things along the way. 

The Time of the Fireflies

 

A year ago Larissa almost died and is now embarrassed by her scar.  Her mom is expecting a baby and things aren't going well with the family business.  The old family home on a nearby island is falling apart and strange things are happening at the antique shop including things moving and unplugged, ancient phones are ringing.  In fact, when Larissa answers one of these phones a girl tells her to find the fireflies and to trust them.  When she does she finds herself spinning through various times in her family's past.  What is the connection?  Who is the voice on the phone?  Can she change a curse that seems to be following her family?

This book was a lot of fun...I love time travel and there was a good mystery and good scary bits.  I figured out who the girl on the phone was pretty early on but I am not sure the kids would.  The whole fireflies causing time travel was a bit weird but....Overall this was good.

Gabriel Finley & the Raven's Riddle

 

Long ago ravens and humans talked and were friends with each other.  That was before some ravens betrayed their friends and became valravens.  Gabriel's father has disappeared and when Gabriel finds his father's journals and realizes he can talk to and fly with a raven the adventure begins.  Gabriel sets out not only to find his father but find a magical torc and defeat his evil uncle. The book was long but it was a fun adventure.  The main problem was solved but there was a set up at the end for a sequel.

Hades Speaks

 

Coming on the heels of Rick Riordan's popular Percy Jackson series, this book is by Hades in an effort to set the record straight.  Hades takes us on a tour of the Underworld, introduces us to the many personalities down there, and goes over many of the myths surrounding his domain.  The book is humorous and has allusions to both Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.  I thought it was funny and for those kids who enjoy Percy Jackson and mythology in general this is a fun tie in.  My question is whether that ship has mostly sailed?  I know there is still a Percy Jackson book coming out but is it as popular as it once was???

The Fourteenth Goldfish

 

The story opens with the death of Ellie's goldfish.  She thinks it lived a very long life - turns out mom had been replacing them every time one died.  Ellie is going through typical pre-teen stuff - her parents are divorced, her best friend had found new friends, her grandfather has discovered a way to turen back the aging process and is now 13 and living with them... Wait What?  

This was a lot o fun.  The relationship between Ellie, her grandfather, and mother was interesting especially with the new dynamic of grandfather being 13.  There was some action and some good science tie ins.  I wish the tie in with the title had been a little stronger...I feel like a lot of readers will miss it.  

Overall a great book and one I am sure to purchase.