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Dooley, Sarah. FREE VERSE New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2016 IL 5-8 ISBN 0399165037 Sasha has suffered many loses in her short 13 years. First her mother left the family. Then her father was killed in a mining accident. Her brother Michael gave up his dream of leaving their small town to stay and take care of Sasha. But he too is gone. Michael has died in an accident and now Sasha is alone in the world. She is sent to live with Phyllis, a nice woman who takes in foster children. It isn't easy for Phyllis. Sasha is a handful. She runs away. She breaks things. She gets into fights. But through it all, Phyllis stays by Sasha's side. Sasha is drawn to 9-year-old Mikey who lives next door and has lots of issues of his own. When Sasha joins the school's poetry club, she finally finds something in her life that makes sense. Will poetry be Sasha's voice?
Friday, January 29, 2016
Today's podcast 01/29/2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Today's podcast 01/27/2016
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Brown, Don. DROWNED CITY : HURRICANE KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015 IL YA ISBN 054415777X On August 29, 2005, everything changed for the people of New Orleans. Everyone was watching Hurricane Katrina for days as it tracked towards the city. It was unthinkable that this could happen. But it did. The storm was massive and hit with such tremendous force that there was no escaping the fury. There were many mistakes made by the those in charge that made thinks worse. When the storm was finally over, more than 1,400 people had lost their lives and things would never be the same. Live the horrible event as it crashes into the city.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Today's podcast 01/22/2016
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Love Will See You Through by Angela Farris Watkins
Watkins, Angela Farris. LOVE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH : MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S SIX GUIDING BELIEFS (AS TOLD BY HIS NIECE) New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015. IL 3-6, RL 5.8 ISBN 1416986936 Martin Luther King was a major figure in the civil rights movement. He believed in non-violence and believed that equality could be gained in a peaceful way with sit-ins and conversation. His niece has written this book that shows how the Martin Luther King lived the values he spoke about. He believed that you should love your enemies, fight the problem not the people who caused it, and resist violence of any kind. To learn more about Martin Luther King and his teachings, pick up a copy of Love Will See You Through.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Today's podcast 01/21/2016
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Ticket to India by N. H. Senzai
Senzai, N. H. TICKET TO INDIA New York : Paula Wiseman Books, 2015 IL 3-5 ISBN 1481422588 Maya and her family have traveled to Karachi Pakistan after her grandfather passed away. While she is missing school, her teacher has asked her to keep a journal of her time. What starts out as a journey to the funeral of her beloved grandfather, turns into an adventure that Maya could never have even imagined. At the funeral, Maya overhears her grandmother making arrangements to secretly travel to India. Maya and her sister decide to go along to be sure that their grandmother is safe. It isn't easy to get visas into India but fortunately the family had plans to go before this happened. But what is so important for their grandmother to find. After all, she hasn't been back to India since she was a baby. Her family had escaped from India to Pakistan long ago. She is the only one who made it across the border. What could she possibly hope to find? And how will two girls from California ever hope to help her?
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Today's podcast 01/20/2016
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The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz — Adobe Voice
Schlitz, Laura Amy. THE HIRED GIRL Somerville, MA : Candlewick, 2015 IL YA ISBN 076367818X Fourteen year old Joan Scraggs sees a horrible future ahead of her. Her father has forced her to drop out of school to work around the farm. She loved school and her teacher who had encouraged her to read and learn. But since Joan's mother passed away, Joan is forced to do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry as well as looking after the chickens and the vegetable garden. He father shows her no affection and her brothers are slobs. Joan just can't imagine that she will be cooking and cleaning for these men for the rest of her life. So she does what she sees as her only hope. She runs away and heads to the city of Baltimore. Hired girls can cook and clean and get paid $6 a week. After a long train ride, Joan finds herself alone in the dark and not sure where to go after the train is delayed. What was she thinking? How did she think a dirty girl from a hardscrabble farm in Pennyslvania could ever hope to become a respectable educated girl in the city?
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Today's podcast 01/19/2016
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Robbins, Dean. TWO FRIENDS : SUSAN B. ANTHONY AND FREDERICK DOUGLAS New York : Orchard Books, 2016 IL K-3, RL 2.4 ISBN 0545399963 On a winter day in mid 1800s, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas sat down for tea and talk. The two had much in common. Susan grew up at a time when women couldn't have an education or own a house. Frederick grew up a slave and taught himself to read and eventually escaped to the north. They both gave speeches talking about rights. Some people had rights while others had none. Why shouldn't all people have rights? The two became friends and worked for the freedom of all.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Today's podcast 01/18/2016
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Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce
Pearce, Jackson. PIP BARTLETT'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES New York : Scholastic, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.7 ISBN 0545709261 Pip Bartlett loves, loves, loves animals. All kinds of animals. But particularly the magical kind of animals. Yes, they do exist. And Pip is going to spend all summer with her Aunt who is a magical animal vet!! Life couldn't get much better. Oh yea, did I forget to tell you that Pip can talk to the animals? Well, she can understand what they are saying and she is very surprised at what she learns. Teaming up with Tomas who is allergic to just about everything, Pip finds herself in a non-stop adventure with unicorns, HobGrackles, and an outbreak of Fuzzles that have a habit of bursting into flames at the most inconvenient times. Can they keep the dreadful government inspector from exterminating all the Fuzzles?
Friday, January 15, 2016
Today's podcast 01/15/2016
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A Death Struck Year by Makiia Lucier
Lucier, Makiia. A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0544164504 It is 1918 and the United States is involved in the First World War. In Portland, Oregon Cleo and her family believe they are too far west to be affected by the Spanish flu that is striking people on the east coast. They have heard about the devastation that this disease has played in Europe and in the soldiers returning from war. Cleo is told to stay at her boarding school until her family returns from a short trip but she decides that she will be better off at home than stuck at school so she sneaks off. Within one day, the influenza epidemic has found it's way to Portland and that 200 people are affected. At home, she learns that the Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help with the influenza epidemic. She musters up her courage and volunteers to help by going door to door to find those too sick to ask for help. This sounds like a noble cause until reality hits.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Today's podcast 01/13/2016
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Lindeen, Mary. HALLOWEEN Chicago : Norwood House, 2016 IL K-3, RL 1.5 ISBN 1599536897 Don't you just love Halloween? It is a holiday full of traditions and symbols. This book tells about pumpkin carving, costumes and other customs. What is your favorite part of the holiday?
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Today's podcast 01/12/2016
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Sheva, Emma. DREAM ON, AMBER Naperville, IL : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 6.0 ISBN 1492622508 Meet almost 12-year-old Amber Miyamoto. She is half Italian and half Japanese which makes her feel mixed up like a salad. Middle school is an adventure that she is trying to deal with. But other things are getting in the way including a phone that the cavemen probably used, liking a boy who has a locker near her, loving art but not feeling confident in it, and the bully she meets and accidentally beats up her brother. And then there is the fact that her Dad has walked out probably never to be seen again. Amber is trying to deal with that fact but her sister is having a worse time with it. But Amber has a genius idea. When her sister writes to Dad, Amber says she will mail the letter but what she is going to do is write back to Bella and pretend that it is from Dad. Surely nothing can go wrong! Right. Dream on, Amber.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Today's podcast 01/11/2016
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Smith, Roland. EDGE New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015. IL YA ISBN 0544341228 Peak Marcello made headlines for his attempt to be the youngest person to climb Mt. Everest. At the top, Peak decided that his sherpa deserved the honor more than he did. It has been awhile since that time and he has tried to live a normal life -- whatever that is. When one of the richest men in the world offers him a chance to be part of a massive climbing event, he and his mother decide to take part. Two hundred teens from all over the world will be taking part in the Peace Climb. They will be working in small groups and will be climbing different mountains but all are scheduled to summit the same day. Peak's group will be climbing in war-torn Afghanistan. Peak is not exactly thrilled at this idea but he is assured that they will be safe. He will be working with his old film crew from Everest as well as his Sherpa friend Zopa. There will be body guards along also. His team consists of four other teens -- one of which happens to be the daughter of an important French diplomat. Surely they wouldn't send her into a dangerous situation. Or would they? Climb along with Peak as he finds himself in a very different sort of danger.
Friday, January 08, 2016
Today's podcast 01/08/2016
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A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins
Jenkins, Emily. A FINE DESSERT New York : Schwartz and Wade Books, 2015 IL K-3, RL 4.1 ISBN 0375868321 Do you have traditions in your family that have been passed down through generations? What about some recipes? This book traces a recipe back through many years. Blackberry fool is a simple recipe and it has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. The book starts in 1710 with a mother and daughter picking the blackberries to make the delicious treat. Then we go forward learning about four different families who have enjoyed the treat.
Thursday, January 07, 2016
Today's podcast 01/07/2016
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Going, K. L. PIECES OF WHY New York : Kathy Dawson Books, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 4.9 ISBN 0803734743 Tia is a 12-year-old girl living in New Orleans. Her favorite thing to do is to sing. She is part of a gospel choir and she loves everything about the choir. Until it happens. One night as they are rehearsing, shots ring out near the church. A car jacking has led to a murder of a child. Tia is suddenly flooded with memories of her father. Her father who is in prison for the murder of a young girl. As much as Tia's mother has tried to protect her from this, Tia is wanting to know more. And the other members of the choir have learned about Tia's past.
Wednesday, January 06, 2016
Today's podcast 01/06/2016
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Make a Difference by Sarah Dillard
Dillard, Sarah. MAKE A DIFFERENCE New York : Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016 IL 3-6 ISBN 0385756054 After earning their first scouting badge with their vegetable garden, the girls are anxious to find out what their next badge will be. This time, Violet, Tigerlily and the other girls will be working to earn their Make a Difference badge. How can these small mice possibly make a difference? Maybe cleaning up the local park will qualify. What do you think?
Tuesday, January 05, 2016
Today's podcast 01/05/2016
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Dillard, Sarah. MOUSE SCOUTS New York : Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016 IL 3-6 ISBN 0385755996 The girls are really looking forward to becoming Mouse Scouts. Buttercups was fun but it was really just for baby mice. They are big girls now. The first meeting begins and the new scoutmaster drones on and on. Wow, Miss Poppy is one strict leader! But when the girls learn they are going to earn their first badge by creating a vegetable garden, they are so happy. But sometimes it is more fun to play than to take care of your responsibilities. Will the girls be able to earn their badge?
Monday, January 04, 2016
Today's podcast 01/04/2016
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The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt
Daywalt, Drew. THE DAY THE CRAYONS CAME HOME New York : Philomel Books, 2015 IL K-3, RL 4.1 ISBN 0399172750 OK, so the crayons quit. We all know that. But now they have come back. Well not all of them have come back. Some will need some help with that. And they write to Duncan in postcards to let him know that they need his help. Tan Crayon has been eaten by the dog and puked up on the rug. Neon Red was left behind on vacation when she was used to color a sunburn. Maroon Crayon has been lost in the couch after Duncan's father sat on him and broke him in half. And we don't even want to talk about what happened to the others. Will Duncan be able to help them come home?
Sunday, January 03, 2016
Today's podcast 01/03/2016
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The Case for Loving by Selina Alko
Alko, Selina. THE CASE FOR LOVING New York : Arthur A. Levine, 2015 IL K-3, RL 4.0 ISBN 0545478537 This is the true story of Mildred Jeter and Richard Perry. They were very much in love and wanted to get married. But there was a problem. It was 1958 and it was against the law for them to get married in Virginia. You see, Richard was white and Mildred was black. The two loved each other and went to nearby Washington DC to get married. They wanted to live happily ever after and raise a family. But when they went home to Virginia, they were arrested for breaking the law! Forced to leave their home, they settled in Washington DC and did raise their family but always wished they could go home. During the time when many people were demanding equal rights, the Loving's case went all the way to the Supreme Court. What do you think happened?