Schooled
By Gordan Korman
Do you ever wonder what it would be like for a homeschool student to be suddenly thrust into the hairy, scary world of public school? What if that homeschool student wasn't just homeschooled, but homeschooled on a commune that maintained all the free spirited ideals of the 1960s? Gordon Korman explores that very idea in Schooled ...
Summary
Capricorn Anderson is anything but your normal teenager. Having been raised and educated by his grandmother, Rain, on a 1960s-era commune that is now home to just the pair of them, he knows nothing of the modern world. So when Rain falls out of a tree and needs several weeks of hospital care, leaving her grandson in the care of a social worker, poor Cap thinks he’s practically landed on another planet. While his long hair, tie-dyed shirts, and corn husk shoes were perfectly acceptable at the Garland Farm, Cap’s new middle school classmates take one look at him and decide they have a perfect new target for torture.
But while the eighth graders at Claverage Middle School do their best to let Cap know they think he’s the weirdest thing ever, Cap isn’t fazed. In fact, he takes the opportunity to observe all the social interactions and behaviors he’s read about but never seen. He takes it all in stride, and never fights back (because “violence is not the answer”). And at some point, some of the students start to appreciate his resilience and decide to see what it would be like to do some of the things Cap does. Is Claverage ready for Tai Chi and The Beatles?
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Good Night’s Sleep
Okay, I liked this book. I thought the concept was hilarious, and I’m totally intrigued by homeschooling and the questions of socialization that it raises. However, I had a few issues with this book. I think the main thing I didn’t like about it was the fact that Korman uses multiple narrators. Each chapter is narrated by a different character (I think there were about five total), and it was a little hard to follow sometimes. I liked getting the different viewpoints, but sometimes I had to stop and remind myself who was talking. I also felt that the middle school environment Korman created was a little too sophisticated (football, pep rallies, and dances), and that clashed a bit with the personalities of his characters.
On a positive note, I loved Cap’s easy-going nature and the way he took every opportunity – whether he was observing other people or being teased by them – to learn something new. He never wore down, and was inspirational in his patience and observations of society. Overall, a fun read, and an interesting situation to consider.
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Ducks Don’t Wear Socks
By John Nedwidek
Illustrated by Lee White
Picture book time! Silly animals make for fun stories!
Summary
Adorable little Emily is quite the serious girl. When we meet her, she’s reading The Big Book of Serious Things. So when she meets Duck outside one day and notices he’s wearing socks (while riding a unicycle and juggling, no less), she points out to him that ducks don’t wear socks. But Duck just says he has cold feet and rides off!
Emily continues to encounter Duck around town, always observing him in a new item of clothing. Duck always has a reason for his attire. After a few of these meetings, Emily begins to feel a smile creep up her face, her serious demeanor wavering. And by the end of the book, Emily surprises Duck with an unusual outfit of her own!
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up ‘Till Dawn
Duck is just the guy to make you smile. His responses to Emily's "Ducks don't ..." comments cracked me up, and I loved his adventurous nature. Kids and adults alike will be curious to see what Duck will show up wearing next, and the conclusion of the book is just perfect.
Recommended for all ages! For extra enjoyment, wear a pair of silly socks while reading!
Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature
By Robin Brande
I had heard about this title previously and when I saw it on the shelf the other day, I decided it was high time to check it out!
Summary
Mena Reece is starting high school on a low note. She’s recently been kicked out of her church and has brought about lawsuits against the pastor and multiple people in the congregation. All because she saw something she thought was wrong and decided to say something about it. As her entire world has revolved around Paradise Christian until now, this has put quite a damper on her social life. Throw in the fact that her parents are barely speaking to her and Mena might as well be invisible.
But while the first day of school proves torturous in many ways – from insults hissed in her ear to getting “accidentally” hip-checked by angry ex-friends – there is an unexpected bright spot. Mena’s biology teacher, Ms. Shepard, who is funky, dynamic, passionate about science, and just all-around intriguing. Ms. Shepard soon begins a unit on evolution, and while Mena would have previously been part of the “back turners” – the group of kids from her church who demand to be taught intelligent design and turn their chairs around in protest of the teaching of evolution – she finds herself really thinking about Ms. Shepard’s lessons, and begins to think about things on her own for change.
The events that occur during the evolution unit become bigger than anyone could have anticipated, and Mena finds herself facing questions about the co-existence of science and religion. In the end, she must decide what truths are those that are most comfortable to her, and find her own path to accepting what she knows is best for herself.
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up ‘Til Dawn
Oh wow. If you are at all interested in a fiction story that sinks its teeth into some controversial real-life issues, get out and read this book. Yes, there are plenty of teen books out there that deal with topics like sex, drugs, bad parenting, etc., but I can’t think of one I’ve read that tackles religion like this one did. I love that Brande decided to tell the story from the point of view of a girl who maintained her own faith, but wasn’t afraid to question things she saw, thought, and felt. Some of the situations and questions Mena encounters are delicate (she’s never seen Lord of the Rings, because her parents believe it contains witchcraft), but Brande skillfully portrays Mena’s sheltered existence and the countering beliefs of her new friends with grace and respect for all parties. In the end, Mena makes decisions that are comfortable for her while simultaneously learning to open her mind to new ideas and ways of thinking.
Recommended for ages 13 and up.
Sylvie
By Jennifer Sattler
An adorable pink flamingo named Sylvie. How could I not read this book and share it with you?
Summary
Sylvie appears to be the baby among her flock of flamingoes. After observing her pink relatives and realizing that everyone and everything else at the beach doesn’t have just one color, she asks her mom what makes them pink. Shrimp! Flamingoes eat pink shrimp, so they are, therefore, pink! Sylvie then decides to experiment a little and try eating different colored things. She has a fun day changing colors, but toward the end of her experiment, her tummy begins to get a little full … maybe being just pink is okay for her after all.
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up ‘Til Dawn
One look at adorable Sylvie and you won’t be able to resist flipping open this book and devouring it whole (and considering it’s a picture book, you won’t be all that tired in the morning!). Sattler’s illustrations are adorable, and Sylvie’s curious nature is entertaining and fun. I imagine any child would think the same thing as Sylvie – “if I’m pink because I eat shrimp, then I bet different colored foods will make me different colors, too!” Sylvie’s experiment is great fun to watch unfold, and our heroine even learns a little lesson by the end of the story (don’t eat too much or you’ll get a tummy ache!), though she manages to keep a little extra color in her diet in addition to the shrimp!
Recommended for all ages!
Jinx
By Meg Cabot
As usual, I found this as I was perusing the library shelves in the teen section. I loved the cover, and I felt it was high time to delve into another Meg Cabot book!
Summary
Sixteen-year-old Jean “Jinx” Honeychurch earned her nickname at birth. Wherever she goes, bad luck or little accidents seem to occur. Jinx bumps into things, people forget important information when she’s supposed to meet them, etc. Nothing horrible, but a number of little misfortunes can add up to a great deal of annoyance for anyone. She’s also supposed to be the descendant of a witch, Branwen, and is one of two daughters born to the current generation of her family who is destined to have Branwen’s powers. The other daughter is her cousin, Tory, whose family Jinx just happens to be moving in with in New York. But where Jinx doesn’t want anything to do with magic or witchcraft, given a failed spell in the past, Tory is determined to prove her power as a witch, and will stop at nothing to do so, including using black magic to win the heart of the boy she and Jinx are both crushing on.
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up ‘Til Dawn
If you could have seen me yesterday, you’d have noticed the bags under my eyes that I earned by reading this book waaaay beyond the time I intended to go to sleep. But it was worth it! This was my second non-Princess Diaries Meg Cabot book and I loved it! Jinx is such an endearing character and I fell in love with her right away. I loved her innocence and friendly nature, and I thought she was a great example of a teen that didn’t have to be wild, complicated, or extremely unusual. Okay, yes, she might have some witch powers, but she didn’t flaunt them, and was quite educated about the whole religion of witchcraft.
This story could easily have been hokey. Witchcraft, voodoo dolls, spells to make boys fall in love with you. But Cabot did an excellent job of making the story accessible, fun, and yes, informative. And as she did with her descriptions of Washington, D.C. in All American Girl, Cabot did a perfect job of evoking the feel of New York City in Jinx. I love it when an author really knows the characteristics of a setting and can make you feel like you’re right there with the characters.
Enthusiastically recommended for ages 14 and up!
The Tooth Fairy
By Peter Collington
A wordless picture book! I love these! I feel like my interest in and appreciation of these books has increased since I started exploring graphic novels. There are so many ways to tell a story, and words are not always necessary. A coworker who shares my love of Flotsam handed this book to me this morning and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.
Summary
As indicated by its title, The Tooth Fairy is about the little lady who collects our lost teeth when we sleep, leaving money in their place. However, the process is much more than just taking a tooth and leaving a coin. The young girl we meet on the first page loses her tooth as she gets into bed, and dutifully places it under her pillow before turning in. In the tree-filled landscape outside her house, a tiny fairy clad in white emerges from a doorway in a tree, and flies into the night. But rather than going straight to the tooth, she goes into a secret tree, where she mines for silver and smelts a coin by hand!
(Can we take a moment to celebrate the awesome Tooth Fairy girl power here? She mines silver and smelts it! Smelts! How cool is the Tooth Fairy?)
After smelting the coin, the Tooth Fairy goes and collects the tooth, leaving her handmade treasure behind. When she gets back to her cute little tree home, she sets up shop again, this time working with the tooth. She cuts strips from it and makes a key for a piano, and the view of her house shows that she has made countless objects from the teeth she has picked up.
As the sun rises, we see the girl find her coin, and the Tooth Fairy is contentedly playing her now complete piano.
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up 'Till Dawn
This was an insanely imaginative book and I loved going through the images to discover all the tiny details hidden within. Collington did a great job taking a well-known legend and putting his own spin on it.
I do have to say, I was a little creeped out by all the things the Tooth Fairy made with the teeth. I saw a picture frame, drawer pulls, and an umbrella handle all made of teeth. As much as I support recycling and favor the use of non-ivory products, there was a little bit of a gross-out factor for me. But, to each her own!
Recommended for all ages, especially those with wiggly teeth.
Have you noticed them yet? The subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) changes that mean school will be starting soon? I sure have. Children who are bored with everything and increasingly prone to fits of whining and crying at the drop of a hat; elementary parents and high school students rushing to the library with required summer reading that was forgotten until the last minute; and my personal favorite, the back to school section at Target!
In honor of a new school year starting, I thought I’d recommend a few of the books I remember reading and loving when I was in elementary school. Fit these in when you need a break from shopping for new clothes, planning what lunches to pack, or just want to sit under the fan and cool off (anyone else still suffering 100+ temperatures?).
Happy reading and happy new school year!
Bunnicula, by James Howe
When I was in elementary school, I went through a phase where the start of a new school week made me slightly nervous. So Sunday afternoons were my time to relax and ease into the new week. For awhile, I remember always reaching for a book from the Bunnicula series. They always transported me to a fun and new place, and totally calmed my worries and put me in a good state of mind.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst
A classic that every kid should read! Whether you’re having a bad day or not, everyone can relate to Alexander at some point in his or her life!
Kristen Learns a Lesson: A School Story (American Girls series), by Janet Beeler Shaw
I read the American Girl books when there were only a handful of them. I had the whole set of books about Kristen, and I loved reading about her life on a country farm and the things she learned as an immigrant to America. In this book, she meets an Indian girl from a local tribe on her way to school, and learns a lot about a way of life different from her own.
The Magic Schoolbus Inside the Human Body, by Joanna Cole
For some reason, this particular Magic School Bus stands out in my mind above the others. I distinctly remember the picture of the bus among the blood cells, and there’s something with the stomach and digestion … possibly involving Cheetos, if memory serves me correctly. Such an imaginative and informative book!
I'm really tired right now. Yes, I was up late last night (not reading amazingly, but seeing the awesome Matisyahu in concert!), but I am also coming off a long week of activity that included a trip to the beach, the birth of a best friend's baby, and, oh yeah, MY GRADUATION!
That's right, I am now officially a master's degree holder. M.S. in Library and Information Sciences. What a great feeling. The last two years flew by and I still can't totally get my head around the fact that I don't have to study, read, research, and post discussion comments every day and night. However, as I was straightening up the shelves at the library this morning, I realized that I have time to read whatever I want! I immediately grabbed two books to take home, and acquired another shortly after. Reviews to come!
Oh yes, and the photo is me with my favorite reading buddy on graduation morning. I think the dress and mortorboard really rocked, though I broke down and wore the polyester robe for the ceremony.
Cancer Vixen
by Marisa Acocella Marchetto
All right ladies, listen up, because this one’s for you. Normally I try to reserve my personal opinions until after I summarize the book, but this is different. This book performs the magical task of making you laugh, cry, think, and wonder, all at once. Not just about your body and the “what ifs” of breast cancer, but about your strengths as a woman. So read on, because I think Cancer Vixen is a book that should cross the hands of every woman.
Summary
Marisa Acocella Marchetto has such a cool life. She’s a cartoonist who lives in Manhattan, she’s engaged to an Italian restaurateur who feeds her delicious food every day, and she gets to do awesome research for her cartoons that often leads to free haircuts, meals, products, etc. And then one day, she finds a lump in her breast. It turns out to be cancerous, and Marchetto must dive headfirst into surgery, chemo, and radiation therapy. Luckily for us, she chronicles her experience the best way she knows how – in cartoons – and Cancer Vixen is her story. Her writing and illustrations are honest and fun, and she holds nothing back, a quality that makes for some hilarious and insightful statements and images.
Marchetto’s story is not unusually heroic or noteworthy, but her willingness to share her experience in so much detail is unique, and the knowledge and insights she presents will open the eyes any reader, male or female.
Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up ‘Till Dawn
I absolutely loved this book! The title immediately caught my attention, and the cover holds the image of a strong, fun, independent woman who I immediately wanted to get to know. Marchetto is honest and funny, and isn’t embarrassed to share the nitty gritty details that come with cancer treatment.
Perhaps one of the things that stuck with me most after reading Cancer Vixen was how much I learned about the ins and outs of cancer treatment. While cancer is a widely-discussed topic in current health news, this was the first time I had read such a personal story in such an accessible format. When I finished the last page, I was left with a dozen things to think about, and every time I’ve had the chance to talk about the book with people, I can’t stop raving. So go out and read it!
Recommended for any and all women, ages 14 and up. And the men in our lives could do with reading this, too, as it might give them a little insight into a highly important and personal topic we all need to be aware of!
Schooled
