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Monday, July 27, 2015

That Girl Lucy Moon by Amy Timberlake

Interest Level: 5-8 grade
Reading Level: 5.4 grade
Lexile: 830
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Currently on pg. 56, chapter 5

I choose to read this book because I read "One Came Home" by Amy Timberlake. I liked Timberlake's writing. I wasn't doing back-flips over "One Came Home" but I thought that it might have been the story-line. So, I wanted to give another book by Timberlake a try.

Lucy Moon is new to junior high/middle school and trying to find her place. In elementary school, she was an activist that fought for the rights of animals and workers around the world. She struggles to find her place. When two students get "arrested" for sledding on Wiggins hill, Lucy finds a cause. She is back!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Brotherhood by A.B. Westrick

Finished the book


In chapter 27; Shad, Jeremiah, and their mother have a discussion regarding slavery and the war.

On page 262, Mama sighed. "Shadrach, Lord knows slavery was wrong. But that war - it wasn't about slavery."

On page 263, "Now Shad," said Mama, "no one thought slavery was right. We all agree on that. But what we don't agree on - what the war changed - was how things get decided. Now Washington has more power than it ought to have."

Although this may be what the Weaver family believes, it is not true. The Civil War was about slavery. The author did not come out and say that the Weavers were wrong. The book did not have the Disney ending that I love but it was a believable ending. The story was realistic. I routed for Shad and wanted him to get the happy-ever-after. I recommend this book.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Brotherhood by A.B. Westrick

Currently on pg. 270, chapter 28

Shad's family believe that he is a simpleton that he can not learn to read. He makes a deal with a young black girl about his age. He will teach sewing at the black school and they will teach him to read. He badly wants to learn to read but has been unable to learn due to a learning disability. His family are members of the Klu Klux Klan. He has been taught the beliefs of the Klan. This book is about Shad's struggle, the struggle between what he is discovering on his own and what his family and the Klan have taught and are teaching him.

Page 233 has an example of the inter-conflict that Shad is experiencing. It shows the negative voice of the Klan that rings in his ears.

"Then he thought about what he was doing, and the thought made him dizzy. What he was doing was wrong. It was exactly what the Klan feared. He was teaching skills to coloreds. If Kitty learned to gather, and if he taught her collars and cuffs and buttonholes, her skills would be in demand. Some highfalutin lady might even hire Kitty-why, she'd only pay Kitty half what she'd pay Weaver's Fine Tailoring (his grandfather's business) for a dress."

Earlier in the book Shad's brother, Jeremiah, is complaining about how he can't get any work because the foreman always hired the colored people because they will work for less. Shad then thinks of how the foreman would pick the colored men over his brother because they work hard and they are respectful. Those are two things Jeremiah is not, hard-working and respectful.


Friday, July 17, 2015

Brotherhood by A.B. Westrick

Interest Level: 5-8 grade
Reading Level: 4.7 grade
Lexile: 720
Genre: Historical Fiction

Currently on pg. 90, chapter 12

The 6th page of this book, and I do mean the 6th page of this book, is A Note to the Reader. I am not talking the numbered pages. Once you open the cover there is a synopsis of the story, then Other Books You May Enjoy, the title page, copyright page, dedication page, a blank page, another title page, and then the next two pages are an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' map of Richmond, VA from 1867. Then on the 6th page A Note to the Reader the author says, "My intention in writing this story was not to justify his (a 14 year old boy whose point of view reflects his time and place) view, but to draw readers so closely into his world that they experience his emerging capacity to question his circumstances."

This book is an Oregon Readers Choice Award nominee for 2016. The list of nominee came out prior to the latest events involving the confederate flag. I have followed the news stories regarding this issue. I find the historian's view points and factual reports the most interesting. Below is a link to one such report:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/07/01/why-do-people-believe-myths-about-the-confederacy-because-our-textbooks-and-monuments-are-wrong/

Thank you Jeff Stirling for this link.

I am hopeful that this book, Brotherhood, will be a good aid in perhaps discussing the issues involving the confederate flag at the middle school level. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Finished the book

Alright my prediction was not correct. Still I think Timberlake wrote a good ending for the story. I thought a lot of my brother-in-law, Dave, during this book. Not that he is an untrustworthy pigeoner (because he is an amazing guy and SO trustworthy) but that I thought he could have spoke to the authenticity to some of the behaviors of the birds.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I would have given it 4 stars but the book did not appeal to me personally. I think readers that like Gary Paulsen and Will Hobbs will love this book. SPOILER ALERT - I did appreciate that the author tied up all of the characters' story-lines. I HATE cliffhangers. I have requested Timberlake's book That Girl Lucy Moon from the public library. I liked her writing.

Now onto the last Oregon Readers Choice Award nominee. So far, Counting by 7's is still my leading candidate for my vote for the 2016 ORCA award in the intermediate category.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Currently on pg. 160, chapter 15

Georgie and Billy continue to follow the leads as to what happened to Georgie's sister, Agatha. POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT - The title of this book now has me wondering. Will they find Agatha and Billy (who loves Agatha) will stay with her. I may have just ruined the book for you. My daughters hate it when I do that while we are watching TV.

When Georgie comes to the realization that in fact Agatha might actually be dead, Timberlake writes "From here on out, I'd have to keep my own company, Trouble was, I didn't like myself much (p.137)." I like this. I can relate. Aren't there times that we all can relate with that?

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

Interest Level: 5-8 grade
Reading Level: 4.8 grade
Lexile: 690
Genre: Historical Fiction

Currently on pg. 87, chapter 9

In 1871 Wisconsin, thirteen-year-old Georgia sets out to find her sister Agatha, presumed dead when remains are found wearing the dress she was last seen in. Georgia and Billy, Agatha's love interest, are on the trail of the pigeoners and hopefully Agatha. I am still waiting for the action to start.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson

Finished book

I am a fan of historical fiction. I was concerned with the seriousness of the topic. Although there were many deaths, there was a fair share of joy. SPOILER ALERT - Hopkinson did write a happy ending for the main character, Eel. I do have one complaint. The author never told us Eel's real name. Not that his name is important but I was curious. I enjoyed this book but it did not take over Counting By 7's as my choice for the Oregon Readers Choice Award.