Muller In the Middle

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks

2008-07-17T05:06:00.000-04:00

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks. Knopf, 2005 [0-375-83143-6]
One summer the summer the Penderwick family (a father, four girls and a dog) decide to rent a cottage in the Berkshires. To their surprise it is the cottage on a huge estate of a very wealthy and snobbish woman. Each of the gout girls are very different but the all interact well together and look out for each other's quirks. One day they discover a strange boy on the estate who is the son of the owner. What follows is a fun summer, fun of adventure with the girls, the rich boy and the son of gardener.This 262 page book is a fun, light story.

Schmidt, Gary D. The Wednesday wars

2008-07-16T18:32:00.001-04:00

Schmidt, Gary D. The Wednesday wars. Clarion, 2007 [978-0-618-72483-3//0-618-72483-4]

Through a quirk in scheduling, Holling Hoodhood, must spend the last period of every Wednesday with Mrs. Baker, who he is sure, is out to get him. She has him read Shakespeare. There are other sub-plots going on.. for one it is 1967 and the Vietnam War is always in the background, he has problems with his brother, the tights he must wear for his part in the Shakespeare play, rats living in the school, and the many other daily traumas a 7^th grade boy must deal with. This 264 page book fluctuates between humorous situations to very heavy scenes, providing a lot of variety for the reader. While Holling is dealing with his many challenges, Mrs. Baker is always in the background, providing quiet support.

Gardner, Sally. I, Corander

2008-07-16T18:29:00.000-04:00

Gardner, Sally. I, Coriander. Dial, 2005. [0-8037-3099-3]

It is London in the 1600s and Coriander’s mother has just died, leaving her with the magic she inherited. Suddenly Coriander starts traveling back and forth to from the real world to a magical world. Her father remarries and she has a cruel stepmother who tries to accuse her of witchcraft. While Coriander travels back and forth to the magical world, she becomes involved with a young man there who is having problems and meanwhile her stepmother gets meaner and meaner. Can Coriander use magic to help her real-world situation along with helping her new male friend in the magic world. With the traveling back and forth between the two worlds, this 280 page book reminded me a little of Funk’s Inkheart series. Although it took me a while to get into the book, at the end I found I had enjoyed it.

Abbott, Tony. Firegirl

2008-07-16T18:26:00.001-04:00

Abbott, Tony. Firegirl. Little, Brown, 2006 [0-316-01170-3//978-0-316-01170-9]

Everything is going well for Tom in seventh grade until the new girl shows up. She has been terribly disfigured by burns from a fire and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. Everyone at school is scared of the new girl, making up stories about her accident, and staying away from her. Tom develops a kind of standoffish friendship with her while still being leery of her, not wanting to be around her. Not until the close of this 145 page book does Tom realize what an impact his minor outreach to the girl has on her life. I was hoping that the book didn’t end with them being the best of friends… and it doesn’t. This is a powerful book which was recommended to me by a student.

Myers, Walter Dean. Game

2008-07-16T18:20:00.001-04:00

Myers, Walter Dean. Game. HarperTeen, 2008 [978-0-06-058295-1]

Drew is one of the leads on his Harlem High School basketball team. The game is his life and also his ticket to college. One day a white boy comes to school and becomes the coach’s pet and Drew is no longer where he wants to be in the game. This new boy is taking attention away from him when the scouts come to watch the games. Can Drew and this new team member resolve their conflict for the better of them both? This 218 page book got a little too wrapped up in the games… to the point where it started to lose me. It would be a great book for someone wrapped up in basketball.

McCaghrean, Geraldine. The white darkness

2008-07-16T18:16:00.001-04:00

McCaughrean, Geraldine. The white darkness. HarperTempest, 2007 [978-0-06-089035-3//0-06-089035-5]

Sym is a smart girl who is obsessed with Antarctica and everything available. In fact she even imagines conversations with the on the explorers, Titus Oates. Even more obsessed than she is, is her Uncle who wants to find Symme’s Hole, an opening there to the center of the Earth. Her Uncle spends his life fortune arranging a trip to Antarctica with Stephanie so he can trick people into going on a ill-fated trip to find Symme’s Hole. I found the first three quarters of this 373 page book to be very slow reading but the excitement picks up when they get out on the ice and have a hard fight against the harsh elements. The conditions of their survival make the book worth reading but I found Sym’s imagining so many conversations with her long-dead explorer “friend” a little tedious. He becomes a little to real to her for my taste.

Torrey, Michele. Voyage of midnight

2008-07-16T05:21:00.001-04:00

Torrey, Michele. Voyage of midnight. Knopf, 2006 [0-375-82382-4]
Philip thinks he is an orphan doomed to a hard life until his seafaring uncle shows up and then promptly disappears. Eventually Philip finds him in New Orleans and is taken on his ship as assistant to the surgeon. Soon after the voyage starts Philip figures out that his uncle is a slave trader and they are on their way to Africa to pick up a load of slaves. This 232 page book shows the harsh cruelty of the slave trade, the callous attitude of the white people toward their cargo and the terrible realities of life on a slave ship. The slaves on the ship begin to respect Philip, thinking he will save them from this horrible misery. There are historical notes at the end of the book in which the author describes how Philip is based a compilation of several true historical figures. While this is not a very long book, it is vivid, yet not overly so, in its depiction of the harsh realities of the slave trade.. an interesting contrast to Fox's "Slave Dancer."

Selznick, Brian. The invention of Hugo Cabret

2008-07-15T22:17:00.001-04:00

Szelznick, Brian. The invention of Hugo Cabret. Scholastic, 2007 [0-439-81378-5//978-0-439-81378-5

I was reluctant to purchase this Caldecott winner because I was confused about its format but I am glad I did purchase and read it. The book contains a good story, but more so, it is an incredible visual experience. The book’s introduction states, ”I want you to picture yourself sitting in the darkness, like the beginning of a movie.” What follows is a black and white movie in book form. Once the reader gets used to the format, it is a wonderfully unique experience. I fully understand why it won the Caldecott award. Hugo Cabret lives in the Paris train station in 1931 with his father who maintains all the clocks. After his father dies, Hugo tries to keep it a secret, maintaining all the clocks and also continuing to fix the automaton his father had. No only is Hugo mixed up in a mystery concerning this automaton, but also finds and “re-discovers” a director of early silent movies. You must have this book in your library… not only for the story, but for the literary experience which I am sure will be followed and expanded on by other authors.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a wimpy kid

2008-07-15T22:16:00.001-04:00

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a wimpy kid [Book 1]. Amulet Books, 2007. [0-8109-9313-9//978-0-8109-9313-6]

This is the entertaining diary (in handwritten font and hand drawn illustrations) of a middle school boy. He confronts the usual conflicts of a middle school boy at school, with friends, and home with his older brother. It is a VERY fun 217 pag book to read. You will need several copies in your library.

Wiles, Deborah. The Aurora County All-Stars

2008-07-15T22:15:00.001-04:00

Wiles, Deborah. The Aurora County All-Stars. Harcourt, 2007 [978-0-15-206068-8]

Twelve-year-old House Jackson lives in rural Mississippi, in a county too small for a Little League team. The next county also does not have one but they get together every Forth of July for a big game. This year, there is also a big county anniversary scheduled for the same day and everyone is to participate. This is a 242 page book of rural sports, friendship, family, and growing up. I enjoyed the story and the interaction between the characters…unfortunately I think the illustrated cover looks juvenile and may turn away some middle school readers.

Buckley, Sarah Masters. The stolen sapphire

2008-07-15T22:14:00.001-04:00

Buckley, Sarah Masters. The stolen sapphire [A Samantha mystery]. American Girl, 2006 [1-59369-099-1]

During the time of the great cruise ships, Samantha and her sister go on a cruise across the Atlantic with their rich grandparents. On the cruise they run into a snobbish rich family and a man with his nephew carrying a priceless gem which has bad luck associated with it. (Probably a take-off on the Hope Diamond.) One night at dinner, the lights sudden go out and the gem is missing! What follows is a mystery story where everyone has a reason to have stolen the gem. While I figured it how it was done, just after the heist happened, I am not sure kids will. For upper elementary students who like mysteries, this is good one. This 179 page book is a worthwhile to your collection. There are historical notes and a glossary at the end.

Hart, Alison. Gabriel's journey

2008-07-15T22:13:00.001-04:00

Hart, Alison. Gabriel’s journey [Racing to freedom trilogy #3]. 2007 [978-1-56145-442-6//1-15645-442-7]

Gabriel’s story continues. Now his mother has gone off to join his father. Gabriel misses them both terribly and decides to go off to join them at the camp with the blessings (and letter of recommendation) of his boss. Although Gabriel is too young to be a soldier, he is able to be a groom to the horses in his father’s black unit. Although not a soldier, as groom to the captain’s horse, Gabriel gets in the midst of it all. When the unit goes out to fight Gabriel (and the reader) learns the horrors of the war, especially for the black soldiers. Their treatment was poor by the Union soldiers, but was vicious by the Confederate soldiers. This final 166 page book in the trilogy brings the reader into the middle of battle and the wonder of “the glory” of fighting. There are historical notes at the end of the book.

Hart, Alison. Gabriel's triumph

2008-07-15T22:12:00.001-04:00

Hart, Alison. Gabriel’s triumph [Racing to freedom trilogy #2]. 2007 [978-1-15645-410-5//1-15645-410-9]

In Kentucky, Grabriel is a recently freed slave and is a jockey for his former master’s horses. He is getting quite a name for himself as a jockey in 1864. While the Civil War is ongoing, this is a story of life going on during the war as usual possible. Gabriel misses his father who has joined the Union Army. As a winning jockey, Gabriel is getting more responsibilities around the farm. I liked reading of a former slave during the Civil War in a society that was trying to function in spite of the Civil War. So many stories make us readers think that there was pre-war, then the war, and after-war. Many times readers do not get a picture that life continued even as the horrors of the war were going on. There are historical notes at the end. This 168 page book was a Junior Library Guild acquisition. Although it appears short, the type is close together and is more of a read than one expects. I will purchase book 1 and 3 now that I have read this one.

Gutman, Dan. Jim and Me

2008-07-15T22:11:00.001-04:00

Gutman, Dan. Jim and me. [A baseball card adventure]. HarperCollins, 2008 [978-0-06-059495-4]

Once again we meet Stosh who has the amazing gift to travel back in time by holding an old baseball card. This time his enemy as school convinces him to go back in time to the time when Jim Thorpe was popular. They try to go back into time to change the scandal in which Jim was involved. The reader meets Jim Thorpe and other players from that time in history and also learns about how loosely the rules were followed in that day. These books are good for upper elementary students. While they talk about time travel and being able to change history, it is a very shallow explanation about what may happen when one changes one little thing in future. This 194 page book is another in this series which start to sound a little similar but the author puts enough sub-plots to make them interesting. Upper elementary students who like the comfort of a similarly recurring plot and characters will enjoy this book along with the others.

Riodrdan, Rick. Battle of the Labyrinth [Percy Jackson #4]

2008-05-26T19:22:00.001-04:00

Riordan, Rick. Battle of the Labyrinth [Percy Jackson #4]. Hyperion, 2008 [978-142310146-8]
In book four of this exciting series, Percy and his friends must figure out the secrets of the Labyrinth so they can enter it to prevent the Evil Kronos and his minions from entering it to make an secret entrance to the Camp and defeat the Gods and demigods. Along the way they must locate his friend Grover. This fantasy series based on the characters of Greek mythology living today is very hot with my 8th grade boy readers. There was a long waiting list for this book when it first came out. Some were so impatient that they went out and purchased their own copies. Not only are the readers treated to a great story - classical fantasy quest - but they are learning about classical Greek Mythology. My books on mythology are now going out for independent reading. If you are in a middle school and HS, you must have this series.

Stewart, Paul and Chris Riddell. Clash of the Sky Galleons [Edge Chronicles #9]

2008-03-30T19:36:00.001-04:00

Stewart, Paul and Chris Riddell. Clash of the Sky Galleons [Edge Chronicles #9]. David Fickling, 2007 [978-0-375-83742-5]
Quint's father, the great Sky Pirate goes out on a mission to find and kill the person who burnt his estate, thus killing his whole family. The leagues have been planning for years to get rid of the sky pirates and when Quint and his father are away with his crew, the leagues make their final plans. This 412 page book ends with the big battle. Will the Wind Jackal (Quint's father) kill his enemy? Who will win the massive sky batter between the sky pirates and the leagues? Will Quint have to forget his studies and spend the rest of his life as a sky pirate? This is what appears to be a great wrap-up of the series (although it is not stated as such.) There is an epilogue at the end of the book which follows up on things years later which makes me think this is the end of this series. This series is an interesting and creative group of stories that has thoroughly engages a group of my students. I just LOVE the illustrations.

Prose, Francine. Bullyville

2008-03-30T19:07:00.002-04:00

Prose, Francine. Bullyville. HarperCollins, 2007 [978-0-06-057497-0]
Although they work in the same office, Bart's parents are separated in their marriage. One day Bart is sick so his mom stays home from work. That day is 9-11 and his dad dies in attack on the World Trade Center. Not only do Bart and his mom have to deal with the death of his father, they also have to deal with that his parents had separated. A local, exclusive private school offers a scholarship for Bart to attend. Around town the kids know Baileywell School as Bullyville. Bart does'nt want to go but his mom thinks it is a great opportunity. Sure enough Bart gets secretly bullied. How much can Bart take? If he acts out against the Bully, who will the school punish? When Bart volunteers at a hospital he gets very friendly with a young girl. Who is this girl? I had thought this 260 page novel would be a simple story of bullying but it is so much more. This is a wonderfully written, multi-dimensional novel.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a wimpy kid [#2]: Rodrick rules

2008-03-30T16:26:00.001-04:00

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a wimpy kid [#2]: Rodrick rules. Amulet, 2008 [978-08109-9473-7]
This is the second Diary of Greg in this series. In fun or silly story, Greg enters Middle School and has to deal with his older brother Rodrick and his baby Manny. He makes friends with Rowley at school (or rather Rowley makes friends with him.) This is a funny story printed on lined pages in handwriting like a diary with many simple line drawings. It is just a fun 216 page book and I can see why the first book diary (which I have on order) was such a big hit. We all need fun and silly books sometimes and this is one.

Lowry, Lois. Gossamer

2008-03-30T16:11:00.000-04:00

Lowry, Lois. Gossamer. Yearling, 2006 [[978-0-385-73416-5]
This 154 page book is a very comforting story. It tells the story of little creatures who provide nice dreams to people. They go around at night gathering memories from objects in the person's house by touching them. Then while the person is sleeping, they flutter up and bestow these memories on the sleeping person who then has pleasant dreams. This story centers around an elderly lady who takes in a foster child from a family with an abusive father. Of course there are also creatures which bestow bad memories to bestow on the people. The good dream creatures are always trying to outdo the nightmare-creating creatures. Although the beginning of the story is a little confusing until the reader figures out what is happening and who these creatures are, I found this story very pleasant.

Wukesm Deborah. Each little bird that sings.

2008-03-12T20:18:00.001-04:00

Wiles, Deborah. Each little bird that sings. Harcourt, 2005 [0-15-205113-9]
As as 10-year-old, Comfort Snowberger knows a lot about death because her family runs the only funeral home in her small southern town. First her grandfather dies, then her beloved great-great aunt dies soon after. Everyone loved Aunt Florentine so a big gathering is expected. Even though Comfort usually handles things well (she even write obituaries for the local paper), things aren't looking good Aunt Florentine's funeral. First she finds out she has to babysit her pain-in-the neck relative, Peach. Then her best friend starts acting weird and they have a fight. Then there is the big flood where her dog goes missing. This 247 page book is a heart-warming story about friendship and life in a small town. While it sounds depressing, the story is written in a lighthearted, friendly way. An enjoyable read.

Ibbotson, Eva. Not just a witch

2008-03-12T20:03:00.001-04:00

Ibbotson, Eva. Not just a witch. Puffin, 2003 [0-14-240232-x]
Once again Ibbotson has written a wonderfully enjoyable book about witches. Here we a an "Animal Witch" who can turn people into animals and a "Stone Witch" who can turn people into stone. They are the best of friends until one day they both show up wearing the same snake hat. This causes a riff which drives them apart and each is waiting to for the other to apologize. Meanwhile they are both seeking out evil people to turn into animals or stone respectively. One day a furrier show up who finds out about the "Animal Witch's" power and he need fur to make a fortune but the " "Animal Witch" is protective about the animals she creates. Eventually he finds out about the "Stone Witch" and pretend to court them both to help him with a diabolical plan. Will the two witches see through him? Will he succeed in getting his snow leopards? This enjoyable 185 page book also has cute black and which illustrations.

Collard, Sneed B. God sense

2008-03-09T16:16:00.000-04:00

Collard, Sneed B. God sense. Peachtree, 2005 [1-56145-351-x]
Guy is 13 when he and his mom move to Montana to move in with his Grandfather. Talk about culture shock.. Montana to California. Luke, a loner in school befriends Guy who eventually accepts his friendship. Meanwhile, the school bully, Brad is picking on them both, especially Luke. While Guy's grandfather is a little forgetful and is hard to get along with sometimes, he has lived in this town his whole life and he reads Guy well... giving him some advice. The who battle between Guy and Brad finally comes down to a Frisbee contest where there dog catches the Frisbee. Can Guy win the contest? Will Brad stop bullying them? This 176 page book is a tale about a school bully, friendship, grandparents, and single parent families, all wrapped in one.. it is also a good read.

Joseph, Frank S. To love mercy.

2008-03-09T16:01:00.000-04:00

Joseph, Frank S. To love mercy. Mid-Atlantic Highlands, 2006 [0-9744785-3-9]
This is a tale of two boys (one white and one African American) in the years following World War II in Chicago. Steve (a Jewish white boy from Hyde Park) and his family go to the ball park and get hassled by some African American kids and one of them (Sass) accidentally gets hurt and Steve's family drops him off at the hospital. Steve and Sass end up going on an adventure trying to find something Steve's grandfather lost. This 290 page book illustrates the racism of the late 1940's in Chicago. It is nice to see how the boys eventually become friends (although very reluctantly at first.) Sass never has left the black section of towns and knows his boundaries in society and he keeps having to remind Steve of this. I found the book difficult to read because the author did not use any quotation marks when people are speaking. This being said, it is a good period piece to read. I purchased this because a parent recommended it to me.

Westerfeld, Scott. Extras [Uglies #4]

2008-03-05T20:38:00.000-05:00

Westerfeld, Scott. Extras [Uglies #4]. Simon Pulse, 2007 [1-4169-5117-2//978-1-4169-5117-9]
After book 3 we skip ahead a few years to begin book four. Now the people live in a community where the economy is based on prestige. Everyone has a rank which changes constantly with cameras and everyone spying on everyone, especially the more famous people. (In today's terms.. the more people who watch videos of you on Youtube, the better rank you have.) The better rank you have the better place you have to live in and so on. Well Aya's rank is low until she meets a group of girls who do risky stunts. While secretly filming them she comes across a bigger story which has huge implications for the world. Suddenly Aya shoots the group of highest ranks. Just as this all happens, Tally, from the last book appears to "save the world" again. Aya, Tally, and the risk-taking girls all have different ideas about what is happening. Can any of them trust anyone? Who is right? Is anyone right? This 417 page book is a great addition to this popular series. I am not sure if it is the end. The author is about to publish a "Guide to the Uglies" which also might be a good purchase if this series is popular with your students.

Heldring, Thatcher. Toby Wheeler: Eighth-grade benchwarmer

2008-03-03T19:16:00.000-05:00

Heldring, Thatcher. Toby Wheeler: Eighth-grade benchwarmer. Delacorte, 2007 [978-0-385-73390-8]
Toby has always been happy (and pretty good at) picking up basketball games at the local rec center while his friend, JJ is on the school team. JJ says that Toby is not good enough to play "real" ball on a regular team with a coach. For a long time Toby resists these comments but finally decides to join the school team to become a better friend with JJ. Well, a tryouts Toby doesn't do too well and he ends up on the bench.. but he wants to stick it out to prove the to hard-nosed coach what he can do. After a while he feels the coach doesn't like him.. and to top it off...Toby has eyes on a girl at school. Before long he finds out that the girl is the coach's daughter. Can Toby get off the bench? Is it stupid to give his attentions to the coach's daughter? Will he ever get off the bench and prove to JJ and the coach what a good player he is? Read this 211 page book to find out. The story deals with friendship, sports, and coming of age.. something every boy at this age can relate to.