Hello!
Today I am continuing the post I started last week about new books. These are also books I will be using for our Sunflower Award this year. I believe I neglected to mention that these books are appropriate for readers in grades 5 – 8, or above. There isn’t anything inappropriate in them for the younger ones, but they (and the Newbery Award in general) are written for middle grades and upper elementary. Don’t worry, I’ll get to the younger children soon.
Fort by Cynthia DeFelice. (2015)
Two boys decide to build a fort in the woods one summer. Okay, it was near the edge of the woods, but it was in the woods. Sounds pretty perfect, right? Unfortunately, two bullies happen to find their fort and start to make trouble for Wyatt and Augie. Wyatt and Augie don’t want to fight, but they decide to stand up for themselves and the other boy, Gerard, that is being bullied because he is ‘retarded’ (the word used in the book.) They come up with a way to get even that even the adults approve of or at least, don’t disapprove. Adventure, comedy, and summer fun make this a great story for kids, and boys in particular.
Note: these are preteen boys and there are a couple of instances that one boy ogles the breasts of the other boy’s aunt. Example: “Her giant bosoms were poking out over the top of her V-neck shirt, right in front of my eyes. They looked like two soft pillows nestled in there.” Use your own judgment regarding this. For me, it was basically a one-liner, so I have opted to put the book in the library. I also really liked that Wyatt and Augie befriended Gerard, the boy who was mentally challenged and did not make fun of him, but included him in their activities.
Dear Hank Williams by Kimberly Willis Holt. (2015)
Tate Ellerbee needs a pen pal and chooses to write to Hank Williams, the country western singer since she listens to him on the radio every Saturday night with her great-aunt and great-uncle who are her guardians. Through her letters we learn about her family and the challenges she faces. There are some happy times and some poignant times, but for the most part Tate is an optimistic young girl just doing the best she can.
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. (2015)
Ally is smart. In fact, she is so smart, she has been able to hide from everyone including her teachers, the fact that she is unable to read. When she is in danger of being caught, she creates some kind of distraction, so has been branded a trouble-maker. But this new teacher happens to be smarter than Ally and he helps her shine by focusing on her gifts. He also helps her to be diagnosed with dyslexia and then encourages her to keep trying to read. This is a great story for children who have a learning disability to know that they aren’t alone and they CAN learn.
Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. (2014)
Willow Chance is a genius. She is strange and weird and she knows it. She doesn’t care. Early in the book, Willow’s adopted parents are killed in a car accident. She ends up staying temporarily at a classmate’s home until things get sorted out. Willow is a catalyst for change in the lives of both the classmate’s family situation and the school counselor’s life. So much is going on in the book, that it is really quite difficult to write a short review of this. Grab a copy and read it for yourself.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. (2015)
Ada was born with a club foot. Her mother is ashamed of her twisted foot and does not let Ada out of the apartment, so for ten years, Ada has been stuck there. War comes and the British children are being sent to the country to be safe. Ada’s younger brother Jamie is to go to the train station. Ada knows that her life is bad enough now with a mother who treats her cruelly, and without her brother, it will be worse, so she sneaks out and joins him. They are placed with Susan who does not seem to want them, but she does her duty to feed and clothe them and take care of them. Ada sees a pony in the pasture and learns to ride, so finally she is able to move like the wind rather than crawl around. Over time the children and Susan bond and learn to love each other.
Parts of this story are difficult to read since the children’s mother is really very cruel to Ada. Ada’s resourcefulness and grit help her get through it and the story ends well for the children.
I got a request from one of my readers to let you know which books win. Next week I will give you the titles we have used for the last two years and let you know which ones won our award.
I hope you have a great week.
Audrey
Currently reading:
Tangled Vines by Kay Bratt (Book 2 of The Scavenger’s Daughters)
Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill
Adventist Spirituality for Thinkers and Seekers (the Faith I Highly Recommend) by John Thomas McLarty
The Haystacks Church by Andy Nash
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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