Unsettled by Reem Faruqi

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi is a 2023 RICBA nominee. Unsettled is about a young girl named Nurah. She moves to the United States from Pakistan and is a Muslim. It is hard for her to feel like she fits in in Georgia, where there are very few people who look like her. But in the water, on the swim team, she hopes to be the best. She admires her big brother, who is a star swimmer. Until... something happens that throws both Nurah and her brother into the deep end of trouble.

This story deals with some difficult issues, such as bullying, sibling rivalry and betrayal. Everyone can relate to feeling different, alone, and unsettled. The story is told through simple, heart breaking poems.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro
 

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein has poems and rhymes.  You’ll have a good time when you read this book. There are  a lot of poems. I read a lot of them, but I did not get close to reading all of them.

I like Shel Silverstein books because they are funny. The writing and pictures are hilarious. My favorite poem is “Ickle me pickle me tickle me too”. 
I like this book because it’s funny.

7SEVENSEVEN7

Another Day As Emily by Eileen Spinelli

Another Day As Emily by Eileen Spinelli is a sweet little book for third grade and up. We are introduced to Suzy and her family through Spinelli's use of simple poetic language. Much of the book is filled with the day to day happenings of a young girl in a small town. Suzy loves to read, she loves to ride her bike and she loves baseball. But of course a book isn't a story unless there is a problem, so when Suzy feels left out and jealous of her little brother Parker she attempts to grab the attention of her friends and family in an unusual way. Teachers please note, this book would serve as a great introduction to poetry and is a 2016 RICBA nominee.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is about twins whose whole lives revolve around basketball. The older twin, Filthy MCnasty, and JB, his younger brother are both basketball stars. Their dad went to the world championships when he was younger and when he was doing a slam dunk, he hurt his knee. He could have had surgery for the injury but he decided not to. That was the end of his career and he never competed again. Skip foward years now and he is teaching his twins to be basketball prodigies.

One day in school JB finds a new girl walking in the cafeteria, and she is a basketball player too. Filthy MCnasty doesn’t approve of “Miss Sweet Tea”, the new girl, aka JB’s girlfriend. He starts spending all his time with her and he starts skipping practices and games. Meanwhile, the twins dad starts getting sick and he won't do anything about it. Will the twins make up and go to the championships? Is their dad going to be ok? What will happen to Miss Sweet Tea?

This book is both intense and caring. I give this book four and a half stars because the detail is AMAZING and you can feel the tense times the character goes through. You feel and live what is written on these pages. I like this book because it reminds me of the hard times but you will make it on the other side eventually, because life gets better.

-amazinga142

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is the well deserved winner of the 2015 Newbery Award.   Wow, what a great book!  Told in poetry that is bold and powerful, this book sings!  The author tells the story of twin brothers who are basketball stars on their school team.  Lots of fast action on the court will thrill basketball fans.  The book goes deeper than basketball, because what is happening on the court reflects the complications of life off court.  Drive toward the hoop with this heart hammering winner of a book.  I finished it in a single reading.  Could not put it down!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson

I am reading my way through the 2015 Award books.  The first one I am reviewing is a Newbery Honor book by Jaqueline Woodson, called Brown Girl Dreaming.  I have always loved Ms. Woodson's books and her writing style.  Some of my fiction favorites are Locomotion and Feathers, and a picture book entitled, The Other Side.  She is an extremely gifted poet and with minimal, beautiful text she takes complex situations and makes you see them and understand her point of view.  Brown Girl Dreaming is Ms. Woodson's memoir, so it will be found in the biography section of the library.  In the book, Jacqueline describes her life as a little girl.  She introduces you to the events and important family members that loved her and shaped the person she became.  She does all of this through powerful poetry.

This would be a great read aloud for teachers that want to discuss poetry, memoirs, and race relations in the United States.  You will be impressed by the beautiful style of Woodson's writing, and who knows, maybe your students will be inspired too!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Do you know what it means when your teacher tells you your writing has "voice"?  He or she is letting you know that they can hear your personality shining through your words.  It is as if the writer is speaking directly to the reader.  With Home of the Brave, Katherine Applegate speaks with the clear, heartwarming voice of her character Kek.  He is a young boy chased from his home in Africa by men "with their knives and their guns and their mysterious hate."  But despite all Kek has to be sad about, (he doesn't even know if his mother is still alive), he struggles to fit in to his new life in the cold winter of Minnesota and never gives up hope.  This is a "must read" book!  First you must read it, and second you must tell me if you loved it as much as I did!  And if you still need convincing, it's a fast read, written in short unrhymed poems.  K.A. Applegate is also the author of The One and Only Ivan and the Animorph series.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Do you like to read poetry? Well if you do, you should read Love That Dog by Sharon Creech.  This book has a lot of poetry and it is an awesome book to read.   If you’re interested in this book, then read on and I will tell you something about this good book.  In this book Jack is really close to his dog, and then all of a sudden something happens to the dog.  This book reminds me of when I had a dog named Buddy and he ended up dying one day and I had to get used to it.  It was very hard for me.  After what happened to Jack, I know how he feels because his pal died.  This whole story is told through poems.

Reviewed by angrybird12