Reading Between the Lines

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha My rating: 5 of 5 stars Almost American Girl by Robin Ha is a must read graphic novel memoir of Chuna, a 14 year old Korean girl, who has a strong mother striving for the best for both her and her daughter. When a vacation to America becomes a move to Alabama, Chuna’s life is turned upside down. She has been uprooted without goodbyes, but she looks for the positives, finds an American name, Robin, and meets her new family. She begins school and ventures through days and days of trying to understand English, make friends, and connect. Although trying to remain positive for mom, while finding solace with her art, she cannot help missing her friends from home, her comics, and her favorite foods. Will Robin ever find America to be home? Is Alabama and her new step-father good for Robin? What will Robin’s future hold? Robin Ha shares her life story and I am so happy she shared it with the reader. Her...

Birdie and Me by J.M.M. Nuanez My rating: 0 of 5 stars View all my reviews

How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj My rating: 5 of 5 stars Excellent read about acceptance and empathy! View all my reviews

White Bird by R.J. Palacio My rating: 5 of 5 stars White Bird is a touching graphic novel Wonder Story. Julian is interviewing his grandmother about her life as a Jewish person living in France during WWII. Sara loves to doodle and often draws birds. Her father would swing her in circles and throw her into the air. She felt as if she was flying and free. Sara is told to wear her boots to school one day by her father, but she removes her boots before going into school, as her red dress shoes looked better with her dress. She soon finds out why her father wanted her to wear the boots. The soldiers come to school to collect the Jewish children. Sara leaves the group and hides, but will this be enough? Will Sara survive? Will she reunite with her parents? I could not put this graphic novel down until finished. This is such a beautiful story of friendship, bravery, acceptance, and integrity. I would love to add White Bird to literature circles for my 7th ...

I'm Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

American Royals by Katharine McGee My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei My rating: 5 of 5 stars George Takei's memoir in graphic novel format is absolutely a must read! A fellow teacher recommended I read this and I am so glad I did. I will add this memoir as an option for my 7th grade literature circle reads. It is amazing to me the way anyone of Japanese descent were forced into internment camps, which essentially was incarceration, even though they were American citizens. As a child, George and his family were moved from their home to a horse stall, small quarters, and then the camps lined with barbed wire. They were tagged like cattle on their way to the camps and treated unfairly. George grew up behind the barbed wire, watched his father and mother struggle for the family, and observed more that he ever should have as a child. As an adult, George took a stand for his people and the disgrace they suffered, he found his acting career, and a better life in the place that should ...

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book! Specifically, I enjoyed the relationship between Grams and Freddie and felt for him when she passed away. Mom passed away years ago, so dad and Grams was all that was left of family for Freddie. Freddie is trying to occupy his mind and begin searching online. He finds a fact about mothers that he did not know previously: "Babies' DNA has been found knitted into their mother's brain, bone, and heart tissue" (p.18). This fact only makes Freddie feel worse about losing mom and Grams, especially when he finds out who his real dad is... Freddie needs to find him! He knows his biological father is only his father through DNA, but he needs to know him. Freddie and his friends decide to sneak out on this awesome adventure to find his dad in Wales. The boys have a wonderful time and I loved the way Pearson wrote of the boys' hijinks ...

Game Change by Joseph Monninger My rating: 4 of 5 stars Imagine playing on a football team, practicing daily, but come game day sitting on the bench. Jeb's football days looked this way, until the star quarterback is injured and out for the rest of the season with only the state championship game left. Jeb is pulled up to starting quarterback and a college recruiter wants to check him out. Will Jeb fail under the pressure or advance his football career? A YA novel with football excitement. View all my reviews

Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu My rating: 5 of 5 stars Eventown is an incredible read. Corey Ann Haydu brings the reader into the lives of twins, Elodee and Naomi, who are entering 6th grade. The family seems to be struggling with something deep that leads to them moving. Throughout the reading, I found myself trying to figure out what happened to uproot the family, which is only revealed as questions begin to be answered. Elodee references the need to be the “before” Elodee as Naomi feels the same need. But why are they not the “before” of themselves? They pack up and move to Eventown, which does not have television or the internet. Mom is going to work at the tourism Welcome Center and the family rosebush is replanted at their new home. Dad talks about the importance of the family rosebush and how critical it is to care for the roots, but this confuses Elodee, why do they need to uproot themselves if roots are so important? Eventown is beautiful, but ...

Divan of Shah by Shah Asad Rizvi My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of Divan of Shah from the author in exchange for my honest review. Shah Asad Rizvi alternates the pages of his poetry book with a short quote and then the poem. Poetry is an area of writing that requires a strength as you are opening your heart’s thoughts to a world of strangers. Although I have never met the author, I finished the book feeling a connection to the lines upon the pages. Rizvi’s poetry explores themes of love, loss, hope, and spirituality. The first poem immediately pulled me in as the poem is simply titled Mother. As a mom and as an adult who may not see my mom daily, I connected to each line. I especially liked the line “There is not heaven like a mother’s presence” (p. 8). Just being in the room with my own mom, is a peaceful essence of safety, love, and acceptance. Throughout poems dance is connected to the movement of life. The poem Let Us Dance includes th...

Goddess Power: A Kids' Book of Greek and Roman Mythology: 10 Empowering Tales of Legendary Women by Yung In Chae PhD My rating: 5 of 5 stars Excellent resource for the classroom during the Mythology unit! View all my reviews

Chirp by Kate Messner My rating: 5 of 5 stars I am so grateful to have received an ARC of Chirp by Kate Messner from Netgalley. Kate Messner is one of the gurus of teaching ELA that I respect, follow, and incorporate her ideas into my lessons. Her summer writing camp for teachers encourages us as educators to explore our own writing and try new techniques. Chirp is an amazing and touching story of Mia, who is struggling with secrets and hurt. Mia spends the summer in Vermont at her Gram’s cricket farm. She hopes to rest and snack her summer away, but soon changes directions as she joins Warrior Camp and Launch Camp. Launch Camp is similar to Shark Tank and Warrior Camp is a gymnastics camp. Mia loved gymnastics, until she suffered an injury to her arm, but also her mindset. At Warrior Camp, Mia makes friends and becomes detective when Gram’s cricket farm is suffering from surprising controversial events happening. Launch Camp is an amazing opportunit...

White Rose by Kip Wilson My rating: 5 of 5 stars White Rose is a historical novel written in verse based on the life of Sophie Scholl. Kip Wilson researched and then wrote this book to honor those who stood up for their beliefs and ultimately gave their lives. Each page takes us deeper into the nonviolent resistance group, White Rose, which consists of a group of Germans who disagree with Hitler’s ideals and reign. These young college students pass out pamphlets resisting following and trying to open other German’s eyes. Sophie and their group are so courageous and stand strong in every aspect of their resistance in order to make a difference. I could not put down White Rose and learned of it from a trusted colleague who recommended this read. My heart hurt with the ignorance and unfair decisions. Sophie and the White Rose group should not be forgotten for they were leaders amongst blinded followers. I will never forget my high school history teacher...

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern My rating: 0 of 5 stars The Starless Sea was a read unlike any other. You must read slowly or you will miss the beauty of the tale. I have not read Night Circus, but will add it to my TBR list. Erin Morgenstern takes the reader from Zacary reading book pages to falling into the book all while seeking but also hiding from what he and the characters he meets along the way may find behind the next door. Read slowly and intentionally, as you will need to keep track of character changes and story twists. I found myself a bit scattered at times and rereading to keep track of the venture. Be sure to follow the significance of the bee, key, and sword. At times, the humor made me grin, such as when Mirabel sarcastically replies to Zachary, “...I hatched from an egg that a Norwegian forest cat sat on for eighteen moons. That cat still hates me.”(p152). She then reveals the truth of her existence. The doors and stories brin...

Truman by Jean Reidy My rating: 5 of 5 stars Truman is a touching story of the connection between beings, love, and the bravery to reach outside of your comfort zone to reach your goals. View all my reviews

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus My rating: 5 of 5 stars One of Us is Next did not fall short of my expectations! Karen McManus is an author I can always count on to challenge my thoughts and emotions throughout the plot. Of course, I like to think of myself as quite the solver of crimes, but the twists and turns take you on an adventure you did not expect with suspects and underlying stories twisting together to create this crazy guessing game. After One of Us is Lying and Simon’s death, I was convinced Bayview High would have learned some lessons about technology use and gossip forums, but this is not the fact of the matter, as a Truth or Dare game enters into the student body social media connections and just like “lemmings” the students latch on and do not let go. Simon’s revenge forum ignites with students waiting for the truth or dare, secretly interested in what they may find out and enjoying the dare task completion. The principal is in ...

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall My rating: 5 of 5 stars Beautiful book with rich text giving warm feels. The loneliness felt in the beginning replaced with partnership, family, and new adventures. A Caldecott medalist and agree the illustrations are absolutely beautiful with the watercolors, light, circle of life, etc. My students and I enjoyed this book and added it to our classroom library for future 7th graders to analyze engage with a beautifully told and illustrated artistic gem. View all my reviews