Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

"Here in this neighborhood, we're better than this...We don't threaten people here. We welcome them."

Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Lexile Measure: 590 (Grade 4.2)
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; First Edition edition (September 26, 2017)'
Rating: 5 out of 4

Summary:
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree." People write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood.

This story is told by an oak tree who tells about the animals that live in his tree and the people he has known in the hundreds of years he has lived as a wishtree.  The tree doesn't talk to people but one day the tree breaks this rule and speaks to children who he wants to help form a friendship. The story also weaves in a story about immigration and newcomers who live  in this  neighborhood that usually welcomes them.

The storytelling is wonderful, the illustrations are adorable, the conclusion is satisfying, and the message is important. I can see this book becoming a Newbery winner for 2018.  It is also a great read aloud for elementary classrooms!

Watch this amazing book trailer by the book publisher:

The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson

"I want to be like the angels that Abby described in her letter. And since it is Christmastime, I want to start doing it now!"

• Hardcover: 176 pages

• Publisher: Revell (August 30, 2016)

• Language: English

• My Rating:  4 out 4

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• Summary:

• Four friends deal with the grief of the death of their book club member by doing service projects at Christmas to honor their friend and find a new hope in their own lives.

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• I have decided to add some of the adult books I read to my blog this year. I love reading Christmas novellas.  They are short and usually either funny or inspirational and perfect for a December which is a month when I love to read a seasonal story.  
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• The Christmas Angel Project is a quick read....I read it on Christmas Day and really enjoyed the transformational theme of the story. Each woman in this story has much to offer but they have been bogged down by something. Finding a personal service project which fits their gifts and talents  gets them to think about others and share their lives. In return it helps them to live richer lives even though they find the loss of their friend during Christmas to be difficult. 

• Melody Carlson usually has a good book each Christmas season. I will have to look for the 2017 book! 

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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

"He's really going to make us move right after Christmas?" 

Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 – 5
Lexile Measure: 810 (4th or 5th grade)
Series: The Vanderbeekers (Book 1)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (October 3, 2017)

• My Rating:  4 out 4
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• Summary:
  
  Told that they will have to move out of their Harlem brownstone just after Christmas, the five Vanderbeeker children, ages four to twelve, decide to change their reclusive landlord's mind.
  
  
  I read a review on a blog post and thought this book sounded just perfect for December reading and it was! It is a delightful family story set in Harlem, NY where a family of seven live in a close community. When they discover that they are going to have to move because their landlord doesn't want them living below them anymore, they set out to change his mind. They involve the neighbors, work together as siblings, and do things on their own be allowed to stay. They have never even met the landlord but they are convinced that they can make him love their family and ask them to stay. Some of their ideas are bombs, some unusual, and of course something might just work.
  
  This book, even though set at Christmas, could be read at anytime. The cover is lovely but not a Christmas design.  I loved how the family and neighbors really cared for each other.  The book is probably going to be a series as I see Amazon has already given it a series name of The Vanderbeekers.  Great read aloud and good for all elementary kids. 

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Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Genre: Graphic Novel
Grade Level: 5-9
Reading Level: 2.3 (.1 points) 240 pages
Publisher: GRAPHIX (September 1, 2012)
My Rating: 2 out of 4
Readability: For Middle School
MHL Division: Division 2

Summary: 
Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle-school production of MOON OVER MISSISSIPPI as various relationships start and end and others never quite get going.

This story is about the drama of putting on a play in a middle school and the drama of starting to date and finding attraction from the opposite sex or same sex. Lots of teenage angst!

I am going to let this book fall apart and not get replaced in our library.  It is really for middle school students since it deals quite heavily about dating, kissing, and a gay student. Younger elementary students are in over their heads with this one. Most of the younger students want to check this one out since it is an appealing graphic novel presentation. 

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm

Genre: Graphic Novel
Grade Level: 3-7
Reading Level: 2.4 (.5 points) 224 pages
Publisher: Graphix (August 25, 2015)
My Rating: 4 out of 4
Readability: Easy to Read
MHL Division: Crossover

Summary: 
Sunny spends the summer with her grandfather at his retirement home, not because she wants to, but because her older brother's behavior has thrown the family into chaos.
This graphic novel is about a girl who spends some time in Florida with her grandfather at a retirement home. Of course this provides some funny moments because of the contrast in lifestyle from what she is used to. Her immediate family is dealing with an older brother who has some issues with drugs, drinking and abuse and have decided to let Sunny have some time away while they deal with him. 

Younger kids always want to read these graphic novels but the audience is intended for upper elementary and middle school students.  This is not like an "Archie" comic book where it was all in fun and serious issues are not part of the plot.  For older kids, the issues are not addressed in depth but address the fact that some families have members of their family who struggle with drugs.  

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

New Book 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade Level: 4-7
Reading Level: 3.7 (9 points) 400 pages
Publisher: Dial Books (October 3, 2017)
My Rating: 4 out of 4
Readability: Great Sequel but little sad.
MHL Division: Division 2

Summary: 
As the frightening impact of World War II creeps closer and closer to her door, 11-year-old Ada learns to manage life on the homefront.

This is the sequel to The War That Saved My Life and concludes the story. When you read this book, you knew another had to be in the works.  I would have loved to have read it back to back because I did forget some of the details and the momentum of the story.  I adored the first book and recommended it many adults to read. Now with the sequel out, I would hand them both books at the same time. 

The book starts out with Ada having surgery to correct her clubfoot. Since the setting is World War II England, the story gives much insight to the suffering, difficulties, and sadness that people endured during this time. The book hints at the psychological issues that many of the characters had to manage and struggle with since they had much brokenness in their lives.  

I am so grateful for the good life I have lived and know that reading books like this which tell of how difficult life has been for some during war times especially helps us to count our blessings. 

Escape from Baxters' Barn by Rebecca Bond

MHL 2018-19 List

Genre: Animal Story

Grade Level: 2-5

Reading Level: 5.4 (4 points) 256 pages

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (July 7, 2015)

My Rating: 3 out of 4

Readability: Great Illustrations to support text and a classic read.

MHL Division: Division 1

Summary: 

When Burdock, a young barn cat, sneaks into the house to get warm, he hears the farmer, Dewey Baxter, has terrible plans that will endanger all the animals. Burdock leads them in an attempt to escape before it is too late.

This book has beautiful illustrations by the author and reminds you of the writing of Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.  The animals in this story find out that they are in danger and work together to figure out a way to save themselves. They all use their abilities to come up with a solution. The final solution provides a very satisfying conclusion. 

I rated this book a 3 because I had a tendency to put it down or even doze off as I read it. I think it would be a fun book for younger readers with good reading abilities. It also should be a great read aloud and read alike book for fans of Charlotte's Web.  

Christmas Novellas

Like a lot of my friends, we love Hallmark Christmas movies. I also love Christmas novellas too. They are shorter than your regular book which is so smart since time is limited in December and they usually make you feel good like those Hallmark movies do.  I read two this month.

Restoring Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

I read that there are some Instagram accounts who take lovely pictures featuring the book they read.  So, here is my try at taking a photo with my book.  It was fun to try. Maybe you will see more in the future. 

I love Cynthia Ruchti books. This year her Christmas novella is about an interior designer who is trying to restore an old farmhouse for a television contest. Her client isn't excited about her restoration ideas and her videographer hurt his back and has been replaced by his son. Faith, romance, and restoration of more than just homes is 

the theme of this book.

 

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Liz Curtis Higgs writes funny Bible studies and her fiction is usually more serious in tone. I am always amused by this. She has a love for Scottish Historical Victorian fiction and this Christmas novella is set in Stirling, Scotland. 

A young teacher has left her family on Christmas Eve day because of a disagreement with her brother and is planning on returning to her house in Edinburgh. However the train gets stopped by snow. She meets a man whom she invites back to her home in Stirling when it appears they have to walk back and stay in Stirling until the snow can be removed from the tracks. This man has a connection to the family that causes quite a stir of emotions and conflict because of an incident from the past. Faith, forgiveness, and restitution is the theme of this book. 

Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel by Natasha Lowe

MHL 2018-19 List

Genre: Fantasy

Grade Level: 4-7

Reading Level: 5.6 (8 points) 288 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (August 30, 2016)

My Rating: 4 out of 4

Readability: Fun to read

MHL Division: Division 1

Summary: 

When young Mabel Ratcliff goes to study magic at Ruthersfield Academy, she discovers not only that being a proper witch is harder than she thought, but also that she is adopted. Book #3

This is a third book in a series of books called “Poppy Pendle”. It felt like a standalone book and you would not need to read the others to enjoy this one.

Mabel was left in a flowerpot under a leaf on the doorstep of widow named Nora Ratcliff.  She raises her as her own but discovers that Mabel has magical gifts and is a witch. She is sent to a school to learn how to become a proper witch. Mabel has a great mind and imagination and rebels at being tied to the home and not able to invent and create and push the boundaries of her calling. The story parallels the suffrage movement for women. This story takes place in 1881.

I loved Mabel. She was spunky and smart and compassionate. I would recommend this book but I imagine it would be received better by girls since there are not any boy characters in this book.  

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

MHL 2018-19 List

Genre: Sports Fiction

Grade Level: 5-9

Reading Level: 4.6 (6 points) 192 pages

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books; First Edition edition (August 30, 2016)

My Rating: 4 out of 4

Readability: Fast Read

MHL Division: Division 2

Summary: 

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle-school track team, but his past is slowing him down. The plot contains violence and drug dealing. 

This is a great book for reluctant readers because it is short, about boys and sports. However, It is also about an African American boy who has a tough life and accidently finds himself on a city track team. But he messes up and fortunately, a caring adult gives him some tough love and lots of support to move forward. This book is the first book in a planned series of books about the same track team. 

Restart by Gordon Korman

2017 Copyright MG

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 3-7

Reading Level: 5.1 (9 points) 256 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press (May 30, 2017)

My Rating: 5 out of 4

Readability: Fun and great story!

MHL Division: Crossover

Summary: 

Chase Ambrose forgets everything after falling off a roof and losing consciousness. He forgets his name. He forgets his parents. He forgets what he was doing up there on that roof. And he forgets that he's the biggest bully at Hiawassee Middle School.

I have heard lots of great reviews on this book and I agree! Chase is a big middle school bully who falls off the roof of his house, hits his head, and gets amnesia. He can't remember anything about his life. He discovers that he was the biggest bully in his school and yet his new outlook on life is so much the opposite. Lots of twists and turns in this book make you keep wanting to read more. The characters were well developed and the plot is makes this book a page turner.  I highly recommend this book!

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

2017 Copyright MG

Genre: Graphic Novel - Memoir

Grade Level: 3-7

Reading Level: 2.6 (1 point) 224 pages

Publisher: First Second (May 2, 2017)

My Rating: 4 out of 4

Readability: Graphic Novel - easy and fast!

MHL Division: Crossover

Summary: 

This graphic memoir follows Shannon's life from kindergarten through fifth grade, during which she experiences the joy of making first friends while navigating the tricky waters of cliques, bullies, and the popular crowd.

This story is a memoir of author Shannon Hale's life making friendships in elementary school. She details the turns she had in friendships as well as the anxiety she experiences finding her place in her family and in her school community.  She experienced heart breaking friendship problems and was always trying to figure out how to make and keep a friend. She tells in a note at the end of the book how she used her diaries to help her write this book although not all the names and situations are exact. I highly recommend this to parents and teachers to read and then pass on to girls who are having trouble with friends.  Shannon gives comfort in showing that they are not alone. 

Maxi's Secrets by Lynn Plourde

2018-2019 Maud Hart Lovelace Nomination List

Genre: Animal Story

Grade Level: 4th – 6th

Reading Level: 4.1 (7 points) 272 pages

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (August 23, 2016)

My Rating: 5 out of 4

Readability: Heartwarming, funny, sad, and a fast read!

MHL Division: Crossover

Summary: 

When a big, lovable, does-it-her-way dog wiggles her way into the heart of a loudmouth pipsqueak of a boy, wonderful things happen that allow the boy to become a bigger, better person.

This is one of the best dog stories I have read in a long time. It is also about middle school and dealing with our differences and handicaps as you try to fit in.  Maxi is a great Pyrenees dog which is one of those big white fluffy dogs that Timminy adopts when they move to a new town where his father will be the new assistant principal. Turns out that Maxi, his new puppy is deaf. Timminy also has difficulty at his new school because of bullies who actually stuff him in his locker. Eventually, he meets his next door neighbor who also goes to his school and they become fast friends.  She happens to be blind. 

Along the way Timminy learns lessons from his dog that helps him in his life.

Animals are sometimes a real gift and this dog is an example of that concept.

I plan on buying this book for my library and I hope kids will love it as much as I did. 

The Littlest Bigfoot by Jennifer Weiner

 2018-2019 Maud Hart Lovelace Nomination List

Genre:  Fantasy

Grade Level: 4th – 6th

Reading Level: 6.4 (10 points) 352 pages

Publisher: Aladdin (September 13, 2016)

My Rating: 4out of 4

Readability: Funny and a fast read despite being a longer story. 

MHL Division: Crossover

Summary: 

Twelve-year-old Alice, a misfit who is ignored by her own family, is shipped off to boarding school. One day, she rescues mysterious Millie Maximus from drowning in a lake. Millie, it turns out, is a Bigfoot, part of a clan that lives deep in the woods.

Alice feels like a misfit and never can figure out why no one really seems to befriend or like her.  Even her parents don't seem to have a bond with her and just keep sending her away to new boarding schools. Alice feels rejected by all. Yet, as the  reader, I befriended her and rooted for Alice along the way. The last school she is sent to is really very wacky but Alice seems to be sorta fitting in until a girl shows us who is the best meanest girl around. Trouble starts all over again. 

Meanwhile, deep in the forest near this school is a Bigfoot clan who is carefully watching this school, making sure that they are not discovered. But, there is a little bigfoot girl who doesn't feel like she fits in either. She has aspirations of becoming a singing star and going to New York City or at least just getting out of the clan's home. As the reader I found that Millie, this little bigfoot, has a loving family, and a really nice life of friendship and community, health and value. 

One day Millie goes too far in her explorations and is rescued by Alice. They begin to discover that they have problems because others know about the bigfoot clan and they set out to make people think it is all a hoax. 

There is a great combination of comedy, heartfelt preteen angst and fantasy in this book. The sequel just came out October 2017. From the title, it looks like MIllie makes it to New York City. 

Book Trailers By Staff

I have a new page on my school library website for book trailers that staff have created. All of the videos are created with Adobe Spark Video.  Check out our trailers!

Book Trailers by Staff

The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye

2017-2018 MHL Nominee

Genre:  Realistic

Grade Level: 3^rd – 6th

Reading Level: 4.6 (5 points) 320 pages

Publisher: Greenwillow Books (August 26, 2014)

My Rating: 3 out of 4

Readability: Easy to read but might need to look up background of Oman.

MHL Division: Crossover

Summary: 

When Aref, a third-grader who lives in Oman, refuses to pack his suitcase for his family's move to Michigan, his mother asks for help from his grandfather, who takes Aref around the country to create memories he can carry with him to a new home.

This book was a slow read for me. It was easy to put down and therefore took me awhile to finish. I think my favorite was when the grandfather took his grandson to the camp called The Night With a Thousand Stars. It sounded like a beautiful place. The story is about a boy who is moving to Michigan from Oman and is resistant to the move. The mother asks the grandfather to spend the week before they leave with his grandson.  They go to many places around Oman and pile up good memories as well as spending quality time together. Gradually Aref accepts the fact that he will have to say goodbye for a time from Oman and his grandfather. 

The book is very poetic and quiet. It also is about a country which is relatively unknown to most kids in the United States. So, this is one of those books that lends itself to a bit of googling for background knowledge.  I think the reader's guide is fabulous at the end and this would make a good book club book in a classroom.