Rachel’s Recent Reads
Just wasn’t my cup of tea. Definitely for upper elementary, maybe grades 4-6? I appreciated the highly original story and while some parts were predictable, others weren’t. It will be a hard sell to my middle schoolers. Will put on displ…
A quick read, but a definite window book for me. I really liked that there were lots of things happening among the main character’s friend group, and with various outcomes. I’m struggling to get past the title since Jamie said they don’t…
Really, really good. Definitely more for high school than middle school. I figured out some parts, while others I didn’t see coming at all. Looking forward to the next one!
Absolutely incredible compilation of poetry about animals. I love that it is arranged by type of animal and there are some pages that have multiple poems about the same animal. There is a great resource in the back to help kids write the…
A great compilation of poems about interesting inventions. I would have liked to see more poems like the one about the straw, detailing how each was invented, rather than just a poem about the object. There is a lovely section at the end…
Seriously as powerful as the original. Will be purchasing a few copies for my MS library – a great companion when students read the original in class. Captivating.
Absolutely adorable. I love the idea of telling a story through a series of haikus. Great for elementary school libraries.
Cute! A super fun addition to middle and elementary school libraries.
Cute, silly poetry, great for upper elementary or lower middle school. A nice companion to Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky.
A great addition to poetry collections, spotlighting some of America’s famous places, with a lovely afterward containing more information about each of the places spotlighted. This would make a lovely mentor text for English classes or C…
Really liked it! I enjoyed reading about homelessness through an almost teenager’s eyes, and reminds the reader that there is so much happening to each person we meet. Although realistic, I could have done without the mini scene of the o…
Loved it. Great for all elementary libraries, this picture book shows various elements of life where Muslim women wear hijabs: in sports, outdoors, at the office, etc, while also showing the same characters without hijabs at home and wit…
Cute romance between two boys during the summer in NYC. I liked how the chapters alternated perspectives, and Ben’s friend Dylan was a hysterical sidekick. Enjoyable overall but forced at times. Will not purchase for my MS library – too …
Just okay – I liked the original story better. The illustrations and the side commentary from Wordy Birdy’s friends are the best parts. The encounter with Mr. Cougarpants was short and anticlimactic. I expected more. Will not purchase.
A haunting thriller. Told in alternating chapters of a podcast script and narrative, Sadie will stick with me for a while. Recommended for HS collections; too mature for my MS students. 4/5 stars – wished the ending was different.
Beautiful story of living with depression, trying to find your place in this world, and family relationships. I laughed with Darius and cried, too. Lovely and moving. For some mature situations, I would say hand to boys after the winter …
Equal parts ridiculous and wonderful. I’m glad I stuck it out to the end, but definitely too young for middle school readers.
Kinda dumb but kinda cute. Definitely not my usual type of reading, but it was a nice fluff book that is perfect for reluctant readers, especially boys. Already on my MS library shelves.
Adorable. Like the author was described my own cats. There’s no plot, but any cat owner will easily relate to the tale.
Really liked it. The storyline was original and the fantasy world was well developed. It takes skill to split a plot into two subplots and bring them back together – in a graphic novel. I kept hoping he would find his parents (the king a…
Completely gorgeous. Full of inclusion and diversity, this book helps children to see practical ways to help achieve equal rights and taking a stand for what you believe. Illustrations are beautiful and the language, while simple, is pow…
Cute. I love all the reasons frog gives – nice examples of persuasion and evidence. This book reminds me of Bear and Duck by Katy Hudson. Great for the theme of being yourself and seeing others’ perspective of you.
Fantastic! I never would have identified the killer, although my mind changed several times about possibilities. Intricately connected and full of action, I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. Mild profanity and adult situati…
Really enjoyed the subject matter and I learned a lot about how his upbringing and philosophy of children influenced everything he did. Was disappointed by editing issues with lots of repetition and I was distracted by the change in tens…
Cute. I appreciate that it fills a gap in the current books available for African American boys going through everyday life. The ending was a bit too neat and extremely preachy. Already on my MS library shelves.
Man oh man. Don Brown is at his finest in his latest work. Heart wrenching and powerful, this graphic novel brings to light the lengths, trials, and tribulations Syrian refugees faced when escaping from Assad’s regime. Would pair nicely …
Lovely and wonderful. Middle school drama here is SO real! Purchased a copy to add to my MS library’s shelves. A great message, story, and characters. Looking forward to the next one in the series!
Incredible memoir of growing up being raised by grandparents, having a heroin addicted mother, and finding survival through art. Definitely some profanity (fuck/shit/cunt/whore/goddammit), but everything is realistic. So many kids need t…
Lovely. Great for empathy. Each character is dealing with a common issue in today’s society – racism, deportation/immigration, incarcerated parents/living with other family members, etc. Will order for my MS library.
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Grover's Corner of the Library 