Title : True....(Sort of)
Author: Katherine Hannigan
Genre: Realistic Fiction / Social Issues (abuse, disabilities, differences)
Summary: True (...Sort Of) tells the story of Delly, a girl that gets in so much trouble she learns to believe she IS trouble, Ferris, a mute girl new to town that hates being touched, and Brud, a boy who wants to play basketball more than anything in the world. This book is about acceptance, understanding of differences, and the power of friendship.
Greats: True (...Sort Of) uses simple, yet beautiful language to show unique, realistic young people. The author does a wonderful job exploring the characters thoughts, fears, joys, and worries. The story is a roller coaster of emotions.
Gripes: I felt the ending was a little rushed, but overall, not much to "gripe" about with this one.
Rating: 9 out of 10 - This is a must read!
Title: Three Times Lucky
Author: Sheila Turnage
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery/Social Issues (adoption)
Summary: Mo LoBeau is a soon-to-be sixth grader in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC. Eleven years ago during a hurricane, she was sent down the river in a basket by her "upstream mother". She was found and taken in by two colorful characters, The Colonel and Miss Lana, who own the town's Cafe. Like every small town, everyone knows each other. Things take a dramatic turn when one of their own winds up being murdered. Mo must work with her best friend, Dale, to clear his name of the murder and find the real killer before the police.
Greats: Three Times Lucky is a good mystery with many twists and turns to the story. In the end, all of the pieces fit together. If you love mystery stories with unique characters, this is a great book for you. The story is perfect for upper elementary readers.
Gripes: Although the characters are very unique, I had a hard time picturing them in my mind. The setting was also difficult to picture as it takes place in a present-day southern small town. Some of the language and terms used will be a challenge for students that do not live in the south, but with strong visualization skills, this can be a great book for students who love a good mystery.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Title: The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate
Genre: Fiction / Social Issues (friendship, helping others)
Summary: The One and Only Ivan is a beautifully written novel of life, friendship, and love. It tells the story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla, Stella and Ruby, a pair of elephants, and Bob, a wild dog that live at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall. The Big Top Mall is going through tough times and fewer and fewer humans are coming to see Ivan and his friends. Will things change when a new animal joins the team?
The story is told through the voice of Ivan. He talks simply, in language anyone can understand making this book easy to read for many upper elementary age children. But, this book is not just for kids. It will make all who read it think how we treat animals, how we treat our friends, and how we treat ourselves.
Greats: The story is a fast-read, perfect for any animal lover. The writing is simple and makes you think about how humans treat animals and other humans. The characters are endearing, complex, and clearly written. The story is moving and emotional with an ending you might not see coming.
Gripes: Because of the simple language, I didn't feel like I got to know the characters as deeply as I wanted.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Title: Hello There, We've Been Waiting For You
Author: Laurie B. Arnold
Genre: Fantasy / Social Issues (death)
Summary: Madison, during her summer after fifth grade, moves in with her eccentric Grandmother, Florida, after losing her mother. Florida and Madison couldn't be more opposites. Magic arrives in the shape of a mysterious TV with a very special remote control. As Madison and Florida try to connect, the magical TV takes them on a life-changing adventure.
Greats: The book is a fast, fun read. It is equal parts fantasy and realistic fiction. If you have always wanted to be on your favorite TV show: iCarly, Home Shopping Network, or Survivor, this is the book for you!
Gripes: The book flips back and forth between fantasy and realistic fiction. It was missing the deep thoughts and feelings of the main character to be a great realistic fiction book and was missing the imagery I love in fantasy books.
Rating: 5 out of 10
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