A Small White Scar by K.A. Nazum

Again... a story I believe I have not desire to read has shown me that I can't always tell a good book by its cover. This is a touching story about the love and animosity of twin brothers, and of a father and son. It is set in the 1940s in the west. It is going to be a favorite of horse and rodeo lovers. The description of the setting and the rodeo events is very detailed and captivating, the story of a strong bond between a man and his horse is heartwarming, but the story between the brothers is what caught my attention.

Denny and Will are twin brothers, but having the same birthday does not make them the same. Denny, born feeble minded, becomes Will's responsibility after the parents chose not to institutionalize him at birth, and their mother drowns in an accident. Will has learned to be a superb rodeo competitor and ranch hand is not really given the chance to do his thing at home as he Denny's stability and his dad pushes him to be the "nursemaid" rather than do a "man's job". After turning 18, Will decides he is going to leave the ranch and make his own life with the rodeo and another ranch. Unfortunately, Will's bond is too strong and Will follows him when he sneaks out.

Through the journey, Will continues to protect Denny, but can not talk him into returning to the ranch. There is a very dangerous river to cross ( a problem after mother drowning), a coyote scare, and a rattlesnake bite. The ending is not fully predictable, which makes the ending just unexpected enough that is enjoyable.

Have you read it? What do you think?

The Mozart Question

This is not one of the books I was looking forward to reading. Figured it wouldn't carry a lot of plot since it was so short. Sure glad I had a half hour to kill while waiting to leave on the field trip, because the story was great. I was very disappointed to read after the author note that is fictitious, as I truly wanted to believe it was a true story.



A young journalists gets the opportunity to interview Paolo Levi ( a famous violinist). The only requirement is that she can not ask the Mozart Question. No problem...maybe... She has no clue what the Mozart question is. The real story though is the story that Paolo tells her about how he first started to play the violin. It's a very heart warming story about Paolo's family secret and what they go through to survive through World War II.

Have a dictionary handy... For a short book, there are a lot new vocabulary.
Have you read it? What do you think?

The White Giraffe

This is another good story!!! Wow... so far this year's Rebecca Caudill Nominations are definitely earning their nominations. The White Giraffe is about a young girl who loses her parents when they die in a house fire. The 11 year old, Martine, is sent to live in Africa with her grandmother that she has never met. The two of them don't hit it off well, but nevertheless Martine has a strong sense that she belongs there. The Grandmother (Gwyn) is the director of an wild animal reserve and is helped by Tendai and Alex. Martine hears of a legend about a White Giraffe and begins to search for the animal even after her grandmother insists it to be legendary. Martine finds the white giraffe but realizes the importance of keeping the existence secret as she distrusts one of the helpers within her grandmother's reserve. Martine begins to understand many of the feelings she has been having after meeting Grace, medicine woman, and learning the reasons her family left Africa originally. The existence of the White Giraffe becomes known and it is captured by poachers. Only one person can save it! The question is... does Martine have the courage?

Have you read it? What do you think?

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

This an heartwarming story about Georgie, a dwarf, and the trials and tribulations he encounters at a school where he is the only dwarf in attendance. The author does a great job at the beginning of many chapters trying to get the reader to understand the difficulties Georgie faces everyday trying to live in a "normal size" environment. She has the reader try small activities that show how difficult things are to do when your body parts aren't the expected size.

Besides the physical challenges, Georgie encounters many of the everyday challenges that middle school students face such as trying to make and keep friendships, trying to overcome bullying and prejudices, and trying to accept change in family makeup. (Georgie's mom is expecting a baby... and there is no medical reason why the baby wouldn't be born with normal height expectancy. Not only does he have to share his mom and dad now, but he may have to share them with a "normal" child who can do all the normal things his parents want him to do.)

It's a great book. I felt that many of the characters I was disappointed in for letting Georgie down or miss treating him, found their way back into my heart. EVEN JEANIE THE MEANIE.

Have you read it? What do you think?

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

Readers.......


Would you be interested in performing a play for the seventh grade students at your school? You will be on the stage, reciting Shakespeare! Oh yeah.. you will be wearing yellow tights with white feathers on your backside.

Would you like to spend every Wednesday afternoon with your literature teacher? Just you and her reading and discussing Shakespeare?

How would you like to meet two of the most famous baseball players of your time? You could even play on the ball field with them after the game.

Want to take a camping trip with your classmates, your teacher and your principal? Would you agree even if you have to do all the dishes in the river?

Or.... How about getting chased by large rats, threatened by school bullies, missing the NY Yankees' opening game (first row seats), or losing your first girlfriend because your father is overtaking her father's business?
........................................................................
These are just a few of the events that you will find Holling Hoodhood encountering in the book The Wednesday Wars.

The story takes place during the Vietnam War and along with the normal events of a middle school student, the reader encounters fears of losing family members, fears of the dropping of the atomic bomb, the sadness of political assassinations, and the challenge overcoming racism within a classroom.

The story left me laughing, crying and growling at different points throughout. Characters that I was fond of during the beginning of the book leave me angry at the end. The characters that were what I considered "bad" at the beginning show me that first impressions are not always the right ones. ( Give Mrs. Baker a chance!)

Have you read it? What do you think?

Let's Talk Books

This is a beginner's effort to set up a means in which my friends, family, students, and I can share our ideas, feelings, and questions about books we've read. Currently, my students and I are concentrating on reading the 2009-2010 Rebecca Caudill Nominations.