2018-2019 Maud Hart Lovelace Reading List
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade Level: 5th
and up
Reading Level: 4.9 (10
points)
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers (July 14, 2015)
My Rating: 4 out of 4
Readability: Great
story, may need previous books to fully connect.
MHL Division: Division 2
Summary:
High-school freshman Kate promised her dying father to look after her older brother, who is just back from juvenile detention. This year, that seems to involve paying off the bullies at school by doing their schoolwork.
High-school freshman Kate promised her dying father to look after her older brother, who is just back from juvenile detention. This year, that seems to involve paying off the bullies at school by doing their schoolwork.
This
book has been getting good reviews from my reading group. They pointed out that
it was the sequel from the book The Red
Kayak which was a previous Maud Hart Lovelace nominee. I discovered that it is actually the third book
of a trilogy. A tragedy happens in the first novel that involves three friends and
The Red Kayak is from the point of
view of Brady. The Journey Back is
from the point of view of Digger and Cheating
for the Chicken Man is from the point of view of Kate who is JT’s sister. I do think this book benefits from at least
reading the first book to fully connect with the situations and issues.
However, if you read this one first, you will probably be looking for the other
titles to read.
There
are a lot of issues going on this book. It involves bullying, environmental
farm issues, ethical decisions, forgiveness, mental illness, grief and people
who are learning to live and do the right things. Lots of issues to think about
and discuss! Since it involves high school students, this book could also be
classified as young adult too.
In
this story, Kate tries to help her brother, JT, who has just come home from one
year in juvenile detention. JT’s former bullies are back tormenting him and
Kate takes things into her own hands.
She also tries to deal with family situations and farming issues they
have on their chicken farm on her own. Of course, without support, her ideas
fall apart on her. This story shows us how one mistake can have repercussions for
a long time. This is a type of book that teaches us more empathy for each other in our own lives.
Buy
all three books and read them one after another! Great realistic fiction.
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