Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan was one of the 2003 Newbery Honor books.  At the start of school, a lot of students like to read books about school.  This book is about a boy from RI named Jake.  He has been kicked out of every school in the state because of his behavior.  His grandfather gets him into a school in North Carolina that is unlike any he has ever been in before.  Read this book and find out what happens when Jake meets the Applewhite family.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia is a Newbery Honor Book for 2010.  The story takes place in 1968 during a time in America's history when African Americans were demanding equal rights.  But the book is mostly about family.  Three young girls are put on a plane in New York by their father to go to California, where he wants them to get to know their mother.  She left them when they were very young and they have grown up without a mother.  Unfortunately when they get to California, their poet mother Cecile doesn't seem to have any interest in getting to know them.  She sends them off to a daily summer camp with Black Panthers, a revolutionary group that was active in the Civil Rights Movement.  You will have to read the book to find out how the summer brings about changes in the girls and their mother.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is the Newbery award book of 2011 about a young girl named Abilene who lived in Kansas during the great Depression.  But the book is less about the Depression or history, and more about a young girl who is living in a strange place, without the comforting presence of her father.  Abilene misses her dad and looks for signs of him in the town where he grew up.  The story line jumps back and forth between Abilene's experiences meeting new friends and her search for a mysterious ghost-like character called the "Rattler", and the story of the people who lived during the town's past when her father was just a boy.

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman is a sequel to Swindle, which I know some of you enjoyed a couple of years ago in 2007.  Here's a link to listen to Korman talking about Swindle and how he became a writer http://www.gordonkorman.com/.  In Zoobreak, the same children continue to take matters into their own hands.  Griffin, the planner of the group, jumps into action when his friend Savannah, spots her missing monkey at a sleazy small animal zoo.  I love how Griffin breaks down their problems and plans a solution.  Except of course, it's not that easy because the problems keep multiplying.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce is a story that mixes family, cars and art.  The main character's name is Dylan and he lives in a small town that could be called a dead-end.  His family runs a gas station, but they run into financial trouble because the people that live in the town are moving away for more excitement and opportunities elsewhere.  Dylan's family is falling apart and things are looking bleak until almost by accident, Dylan manages to rejuvenate the town.  Read the book to find out how he does it.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle in Paradise is one of the 2011 Newbery honor winners.  The author also wrote two other books that received Newbery honors, Our Only May Amelia and Penny from Heaven.  The setting for the book is Key West in Florida during the depression.  Turtle's mom is a housekeeper and when she gets a job with a woman who doesn't like children, she chooses to send her daughter Turtle to stay with her sister, Turtle's aunt. 

I think I liked this book because of Turtle's character.  She's a tough little girl, who lives in a tough world.  But true to her name, she has a soft inside.  This is really a book about family; cousins, aunts and uncles, grandmothers, mothers and fathers.  Turtle has to deal with all of them, and all of the complications that stem from family relationships.  Read this book and I guarantee you'll find yourself cheering for Turtle.

If you would like to listen to a short excerpt from this book, click on the link for my podcast Podcast of Turtle in Paradise  hosted at Podomatic.

Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

If you enjoyed Umbrella Summer, you should try this book.  Deborah Wiles develops great, quirky characters in this book set in Mississippi.  The main character's name is Comfort.  Comfort's family runs a funeral home and Comfort seems to be very good at dealing with death and grief.  But of course, every book has a problem, and Comfort gets hit with a few big ones in this book.  I can guarantee that you'll fall in love with her and her dog Dismay.  Give it a read, and let me know what you think.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

I know that some of my fourth graders are currently learning about immigration.  Well, here's a book that will bring you from the beautiful countryside of Mexico, to the hard reality of the migrant worker's life here in the United States.  Esperanza is forced to leave the land she loves and has to learn to be brave and strong through all the hard times ahead.  Follow along with her in her travels, you won't regret it!

I've included a link to the author's website, if you want to check out more books by Ms. Ryan.  Just click on the title of the book above.

Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

For a little book, with few words to a page, this one story packs power in every line.  Follow the true story of Jennifer Roy's aunt's childhood during the Holocaust in Poland at the start of World War II.  Both horrifying and fascinating, listen to history unfold through the eyes of a child.  The author's aunt really lived through the events told in this story and was one of only 12 children to survive the Lodz concentration camp in Poland by the war's end.

For any teachers following this blog.  I would mark this book a great read aloud that would lead to many great discussions.

For my students, read and be moved by this book.

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli is an older book.  It was printed in 1997.  But, it is a great book that you should consider reading.  It's about a boy named Palmer LaRue who is about to turn 10.  In the town where he lives all boys become "wringers" when they turn 10.  I don't want to spoil the book and tell you what a wringers job is, but I will tell you that I don't think any one of you would want this job either.  Palmer is going to have to stick up for himself and do something that no other 10 year old has done.  Read Wringer and tell me what you think...