Sunflower Award for 2014 and 2015

Hello!

I will culminate my Sunflower Award posts this week with a list of books previously read for our Sunflower Award. I’ll try to refrain from too many comments and instead just give you the titles of the books.

In 2014 the list included:
Almost Home by Joan Bauer – foster home, Joan Bauer is a favorite author
Same Sun Here by Silas House
A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami Dechristofano – nonfiction, science
Chickadee by Louise Erdich
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt – foster home, great author
The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin - nonfiction
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson – anything by this author is going to be good
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan
Above Average by Andrew Clements
Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – Winner for 2014
Dumpling Days by Grace Lin – Asian family and culture

In 2015 the list included:
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin – Winner for 2015 – I have read books by Ann Martin and chose the book because of the Asperger’s which I thought would help readers learn more about what it is like to have this, but in reading it we found that there is a place where the father (who is not too supportive of the daughter) takes the Lord’s name in vain. However, the story was so powerful, we decided to choose it for our favorite and I put a disclaimer in the front of the book. We hesitated and discussed this a lot, but finally came to this conclusion that works for our school.
All Four Stars by Tara Dairman – a girl loves to cook and becomes a food critic, slightly unbelievable, but fun
Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince – true story of a Somalian refugee who becomes a ballerina
Half a World Away by Cynthis Kadohata – story of adoption/ dealing with being adopted
Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald – Art mystery, great story, was a contender for the award
Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick – story about surviving Hurricane Katrina
Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord – girl moves to a beach town, befriends the neighbors, enters a photography contest, one neighbor has Alzheimer’s
Skink – No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen – Bought this because of the author, but it isn’t appropriate after all. We have others by this author, so I assumed it would be OK. Wrong assumption.
Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli
Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamina - story about surviving Hurricane Katrina
Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera
Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

I kept all the titles in so you could see that I have made a few mistakes in choosing books for the library. I have decided to buy them ahead of time now and read them or have a trusted parent read for me to assess them BEFORE I put them on the Sunflower list. I won’t make those mistakes again.

I have also tried to find books that are interesting to read, and have some kind of lesson to learn or information to learn from the book.

If you read something that you would recommend, please let me know and I will promote it here on this blog.
Have a great week and happy reading.


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