Ms. Bixby's Last Day

 

When the teacher who inspires you, challenges you, understands you, and maybe even SAVES you leaves unexpectedly, you have to say goodbye.  And it has to be meaningful and memorable, like she is.  Three friends skip school to make sure that happens in this realistic fiction story by John David Anderson.

War Stories

Gordon Korman's latest features a 12-yr-old boy named Trevor who loves war...war video games, posters and the topic in general.  His great-grandfather, GG, was one of the brave soldiers who liberated France in WWII.  But when GG is invited to France to honor him on the 75th anniversary of the victory, his war stories lose a bit of their shine when Trevor learns of the tragedies behind the glory.  I enjoyed this story, and more importantly, I am grateful for a story that highlights the error in glorifying war.  

Notations of Cooper Cameron

What a beautiful and heart-wrenching story this was.  Cooper is a boy who struggles with a disorder similar to autism.  He has OCD - or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  He believes unless he does certian things in certain ways, his family will perish.  The Father character in this book can not handle his son's uniqueness and those scenes are truly troubling.  I loved the back story of the loving grandfather, as well as the kind friend who looks past Cooper's sometimes-embarrassing behaviors and connects with him.  A few mild swearwords make this a book for older elementary students, but one that should not be missed.  (FIC ORE)

Resist

Since I have been reading Alan Gratz lately, I thought I would read this short story that continues Samira's story from Allies.  Samira and her mother are part of the Resistance in WWII, the group of people who secretly fight against the Nazis in Europe.  At the end of Allies, her mother is captured.  This short story picks up right after that, on the eve of D-Day with Samira's attempt to rescue her mom.  It was exciting and informative.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End

The latest in the series, Gregg and his family decide to get out of their grandmother's basement where they are living and go on a camping trip.  Of course, nothing goes right.  I don't see the appeal of these.  But since students love them and are reading them, I continue to buy them.  Whatever floats their boat!  (FIC KIN)