Alan Cole Is Not A Coward
By Eric Bell Get ready to be entertained, surprised, and inspired by Eric Bell's debut novel. The main character and narrator, Alan, is masterfully portrayed as an unpopular yet likable and relatable middle-schooler. Although plagued by self-doubt, coming-out fears, and family issues he rises above all challenges and finds the courage to stay true to himself, and the people and ideas he believes in. The secondary characters such as Alan's brother (Nathan) and Alan's friend (Zack) are equally memorable. And the depiction of middle school life is faultless. This book will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions, but it will be worth it for the hope and happiness you will feel in your heart at the conclusion. Suitable for middle-school readers and up.
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By Erin Entrada Kelly This book is sure to become a classroom staple. The portrayal of middle school daily life is spot on and the characters are well crafted. The chapters alternate between 12-year-old Charlotte and her online Scrabble opponent 11-year-old Ben. Both are navigating social isolation at school and family difficulties. The emotions Charlotte experiences after her Dad has a heart attack and requires emergency surgery and the emotions Ben experiences after his parents announce their divorce are explored realistically and honestly. In addition to the fully fleshed out main characters and secondary characters, other points of interest throughout the story include the ongoing scrabble words played and the many random facts the main characters reflect on and share from the anatomy of a starfish to statistics about commuting to work. This is a quiet book full of heart that will appeal to a broad range of middle school readers. Enjoy! Stu Truly By Dan Richards
(On sale date: 7/3/18) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. In this hilarious middle-grade novel a sixth-grader’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of a new girl. Stu is a video game loving, meat-eating guy who has never paid attention to girls. The arrival of vegetarian Becca changes everything. Suddenly Stu finds himself doing crazy things like stapling his finger, eating raw Brussel sprouts, pretending he is vegetarian, and spending a great deal of time lost for words with his heart thumping and stomach twisting. His best friend, Ben, is also distracted by a girl— Becca’s friend, Kirsten. By day, Stu finds himself helping Becca plan a protest to encourage more vegetarian lunch options at school. By night- he gets pulled into his father’s plans to create a float for the annual town parade, promoting meat consumption and his butcher shop. As expected, tension rises to a laugh-out-loud level. A perfect book for middle-schoolers navigating first crushes and anyone wanting some comic relief in their life. Fast paced and delightfully witty. Enjoy! @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit @kidlitexchange #partner #bookstagram #kidlitexchange #kidlit
Jasmine Toguchi: Drummer Girl By Debbi Michiko Florence (pictures by Elizabet Vukovic) Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This is the third book in the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series, which features a third-generation Japanese American girl, and it’s a wowee zowee winner! Jasmine is a third grader at Drake Elementary and it is nearly time for the school talent show. Jasmine’s close friends all have talents to demonstrate in the show, so does the overly perfect Maggie Milsap. But Jasmine’s talents— making collages, tree climbing, and pounding mocha —aren’t exactly stage material. Luckily, Jasmine’s mother introduces her to taiko aka Japanese drumming. Learning taiko with her mother’s taiko-playing friend makes Jasmine feel strong and happy. She instantly falls in love with her newly acquired skill and is convinced she is gifted with natural drumming ability. But the talent show is looming and Jasmine will have to realize the importance of hard work and practice if she is to stand a chance at outshining Maggie Milsap and performing well in the big event. This chapter book is ideal for readers aged 6-9. It uses simple language and short sentences and is a page-turning read. It also includes an author’s note on the history of taiko and instructions on how to make a hachi-maki headband, a popular accessory for taiko players. Best enjoyed with a big plate of mouth-watering sushi! Oh, and keep an eye out for the next title to come in the series, Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper, which will no doubt be just as appealing. Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Patrice Barton
(Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.) From Maria Gianferrari, author of Coyote Moon, comes this delightful tale of a wheel-chair-bound girl and her doting dog. A must-read for animal lovers! Zara is a sweet girl, so sweet that her dog, Moose, wants to be by her side all the time, including while she is at school. Moose is all about the warm hugs and love that accompany "hello," "goodbyes" on the other hand, are a struggle. We follow Moose through these "hello" highs and "goodbye" lows. Finally, reaching an ending that is...all smiles! An author’s note about therapy dogs is an informative inclusion. With beautiful illustrations, by Patrice Barton, and a heart-warming portrayal of the bond between a girl and her dog, this story will quickly become a "read-again" favorite. |
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