Earthquake Terror

Bibliographic information: 

Kehret, Peg.  Earthquake Terror.  Harcourt School Publishers, 2001.

Brief plot description:

The Palmer family goes camping every year on Magpie Island.  Their son, Jonathan, is twelve and their daughter, Abby, is six and has to use a walker.  They all go on a hike to the lake one day.  Mrs. Palmer is walking into the water and brakes her ankle.  She needs to get to a doctor soon and since Abby can’t move very quickly, they tell Jonathan and Abby to go back to the camper and wait for them to get back.  After their parents leave, Jonathan and Abby go back to the campground.  On their way back to the camper, a huge earthquake hits.  Trees are falling down all around them.  Abby’s walker gets crushed by a huge tree.  Jonathan gets Abby and their dog Moose and they all take shelter under a fallen tree.  Once the earthquake is over, they continue towards the camper.  Will they make it back and will they see their parents again?

Brief review:

This book is very interesting. Every time I turned the page it seems like something else was happening. It kept me on my toes and rooting for a happy ending. At one point I freaked out because I thought the dog was going to die. I think that fifth through seventh grade tweens would be best for this book. They could read it easily without getting bored. Really, any age would most likely enjoy this book. It also enforces many survival rules and teaches the reader to never give up. There are many good tips to remember from this story that could help you sometime in life. This was very well written and a good read.

Genre label:

Adventure, Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

5^th-7^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

The Guardians of Ga’Hoole Series by Kathryn Lasky

Survival by Gordon Korman

Holes

Bibliographic information: 

Sachar, Louis.  Holes.  New York: Scholastic Inc., 1998. 

Brief plot description:     

Stanley Yelnats had never been to summer camp before.  This summer he was sent to Camp Green Lake because he was accused of stealing a baseball star’s shoe.  Stanley didn’t do it, but he couldn’t prove it.  It was a camp for juvenile delinquents.  All his life Stanley had heard about the curse placed upon his family because of the actions of his great-great-grandfather.  When he got to camp he finds out that he is expected to dig a five foot by five foot hole every day.  The Warden tells him that if he finds anything unusual he is to give it to the guards.  One day Zero is being picked on by the Warden and Mr. Pendanski.  Zero hits Pendanski with his shovel and takes off into the desert. Stanley tries to steal the water truck and drive into the desert to find Zero.  Will Stanley find Zero and what will happen to them?

Brief review:      

This book would be good for 5^th graders through high school students.  It is a book that would appeal to boys.  It would spark discussion about the boys in the camp and how their nicknames reflect their personalities.  The author ties the family’s past history to the present with ease and hooks the reader.  The boys will like the adventure of being stranded in the desert and the mystery of why they are digging holes.    

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

5^th -8^th grade; maybe high school

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

Heartland Series by Lauren Brooke

Awards:

American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults

American Library Association Notable Children's Books

American Library Association Quick Picks for Young Adults

Boston Globe - Horn Book Award

New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year

National Book Awards - Winner

Newbery Medal Book

Christopher Awards - Winner

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Award

Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year

Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award

Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award

Jacob Have I Loved

Bibliographic information: 

Paterson, Katherine.  Jacob Have I Loved.  Scholastic, Inc, 1980, p.244.

Brief plot description:

Jacob Have I Loved is about Louise and her family who live on an island in the Chesapeake Bay.  The story starts in the summer of 1941 and continues for a few more years.  This story is about Louise and how she grows out of her twin sister, Caroline’s shadow.  When they were born Louise was strong and Caroline was weak and had to spend a good amount of time in the hospital while Louise was left at home. Louise’s best friend on the island is McCall Purnell who is fourteen years old. Caroline is musically gifted and Louise and her family help provided Caroline with the best music lessons possible. During Louise’s spring break a new man comes to the island.  The man moves into the Wallace house, and his name is Hiram Wallace. 

Louise and McCall become Hiram’s friends. Louise falls in love with Hiram. Does Louise marry Hiram and become independent?

Brief review:

I think that this book would be useful when talking to students about the changes one goes through as they grow up.  The story really shows how Louise grows up during her teenage years.  In the beginning she believes that she is hidden by her sister’s abilities and is not loved as much.  In the end Louise has discovered that she is loved by her parents, and she finds something in which she is talented. The story brings to life a small town in which everyone knows everyone and nothing gets past your neighbors. I believe that the book will help students look for the things that they are good at whether it is in school, church, sports, or other activities. An important lesson is that Louise learned to stand up for herself when she was not being treated fairly. I believe that most students will be able to relate to Louise in some way.   

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

6^th – 8^th grade; maybe high school

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Lizzie at Last by Claudia Mills

The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

Awards:

Newbery Medal

ALA Booklist “Best of the ‘80s”

New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year

Library of Congress Children’s Books

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice

Horn Book Fanfare

School Library Journal Best Book

ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults

ALA Notable Children’s Book

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Bibliographic information:

Johnson, Maureen.   13 Little Blue Envelopes.   New York: Harper Tempest, 2005.

Brief plot description:

13 Little Blue Envelopes is about a girl named Virginia “Ginny” Blackstone who is sent on a wonderful and mysterious mission by her Aunt Peg who has just recently passed away.  The book starts with a letter that arrives from her Aunt Peg.  In this letter Aunt Peg explains what she wants Ginny to do.  Aunt Peg explains the task very simply for Ginny to follow.  Her first task is to go to the old apartment in New York City to receive her next instructions.  From this first letter Ginny is sent to many different places that will give her excitement, adventure, and frustration.  On this adventure Ginny meets many different people.  The most important person that Ginny meets on her journey around the world is Richard.  What will Ginny learn on her journey?      

Brief review:

I would recommend this book for any student in junior high or high school.  It would be a great book for a student looking for an adventure.  It is also good for a student who is looking for answers about their own journey.  This book shows students how they can get through some of the hard times by continuing on their journey.  Ginny is a character that a majority of students could relate to in some way or another; whether it is having a close relative die or someone who likes to travel.  I think that more female students will read this book but I do believe that male students could also learn from the experiences of Ginny.  Some of the special features in this book include letters, meeting Maureen Johnson, Maureen’s take on writing the book, some questions and answers about the book, and a section from Keith Dobson. 

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

6^th-  8^th graders

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Sellout by Ebony Joy Wilkins

Robinson Crusoe: His Life and Strange Surprising Adventures by Daniel Defoe

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544

Awards:

ALA Teens’ Top Ten 2006

ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2005

New York Public Library “Books for the Teen Age 2006”

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2005

Fall 2005 Book Sense Pick

Tayshas 2006-2007 Book List

Finalist: 2008 Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award

Florida 2007-2008 Teens Read List

International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choices 2007

How to Fight a Girl

Bibliographic information: 

Rockwell, Thomas.  How to Fight a Girl.  Dell Yearling Book, 1987,  p. 112.

Brief plot description:

What happened to the How to Eat Fried Worms gang?  At the beginning of the book we see Alan, Billy, and Joe.  Alan really wants Billy’s trail bike because he is jealous, and they begin to fight over it until Billy’s mom stops them.  Billy must help around the house and can’t ride the book for four days.  Alan and Joe try to come up with a plot to get Billy back for the worms with the help of Rena.  Rena and Amy tell Joe and Alan that they were unable to trick Billy.  Billy needs to find someone to be on his side.  Billy takes Amy out to ride his bike, after she comes over to talk to him, and she gets dirty but Billy finds that she looks better than she did at the beginning.  Rena sees her and calls her a traitor.  What will happen between these two groups?

Brief review:

I really like this story because it describes the relationships between boys and girls during adolescents.  I think that this book could be used for fourth through sixth grade.  It could be used for discussing the differences between boys and girls.  I think that the main idea is that friends have problems some times, but that they can work them out.  That could be another way of using the book when a group of friends are not getting along after a fight.  The book is really good and a great ending to How to Eat Fried Worms.  There are some illustrations in the book and they are all in black and white.  The illustrations aren’t finely detailed. 

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

4^th-6^th grade

Character names:

Alan

Billy

Joe

Amy Miller

Rena- Joe’s sister

Emily

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

How to Get Fabulously Rich by Thomas Rockwell

The Boxcar Children by Gertude Chandler Warner

Snail Mail No More by Paula Danzinger and Ann M. Martin

Muggie, Maggie

Bibliographic information: 

Cleary, Beverly.  Muggie, Maggie.  Avon Books, 1990, illust. Life, Kay, p. 70.  

Brief plot description:

Did you learn cursive in elementary school and did you like it?  In this book Maggie Schultz, a third grader, is learning to write in cursive for the first time.  Maggie doesn’t want to learn to write in cursive because she believes it is dumb.  Maggie says that everything can be written in print.  The teacher begins to teach the children how to do cursive and says that it is like a roller coaster, so Maggie only does roller coasters.  Maggie’s other argument is that she has a computer that she can write on and doesn’t need to learn cursive.  Maggie tries cursive again but copies what her parents do which is untidy.  In school Maggie is asked to read something in cursive, but Maggie can’t.  What will happen to Maggie and her cursive? 

Brief review:

I like this book because it shows the difficulties of teaching a child how to write cursive and how a child will eventually change their mind.  I think that this book is for third through fifth grade students.  I think it could be used when talking about handwriting or about a child’s goal to achieve something.  The main idea is that Maggie’s teacher came up with a good idea to get her to write and read cursive and that Maggie once her mind was on writing and reading cursive she did it.  The book includes some illustrations, and they are in black and white and look like sketches.  There are also samples of Maggie’s handwriting and her parent’s handwriting.  These look like adult handwriting or child’s handwriting.

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

3^rd - 5^th grade

Character names/descriptions:

Maggie Schultz- 3^rd grader

Kisser – dog

Mrs. Leeper- teacher

Jo Ann- Maggie’s best friend

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements

Tales from a Not-So- Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell

Awards:

IRA/CBC Children’s Choice

Garden State Children’s Book Award (New Jersey)

Wait till Helen Comes

Bibliographic information: 

Hahn, Mary Downing.  Wait till Helen comes.  New York: Clarion Books, 1986, p.184.

Brief plot description:

Molly and Michael’s mother has just remarried, and they move into an old church.  Molly must share a room with Heather their stepsister.  The church comes with a graveyard that scares Molly, but Heather likes tombstone H.E.H.  One day Molly discovers Heather talking to someone named Helen, a ghost.  Heather finds an old house that is falling down with a pond near it.  While she is showing Michael the house they see Heather standing in the pond.  When Michael tries to get her out of the pond she fights with him.  Heather tells them that the girl's name is Helen Elizabeth Harper and she is her friend and their enemy.  What will happen to the family?  What will happen to Helen? 

Brief review:

This is a good ghost story that will appeal to students fourth through eighth grade. The suspense builds as one reads the story.  It would be a good individual read and also a good read aloud.  One of the things that is stressed is the value of families and how in a blended family the members must get to know each other and care for each other. 

Genre label:

Modern Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

4^th- 8^th grade

Character names/descriptions:

Molly

Michael

Heather- 5 year old stepsister

Helen- Ghost

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

Awards:

Rebecca Caudil Young Reader’s Book Award (Illinois)

Texas Bluebonnet Award

Iowa Children’s Choice Award

Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award (Minnesota)

Dorthy Canfield Fisher

Children’s Book Award (Vermont)

Volunteer State Book Award (Tennessee)

Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award

Young Hoosier Book Award (Indiana)

Golden Sower Award (Nebraska)

Virginia Young Readers And Beehive Award (Utah)