Peaceful Reader

Al Capone shines my shoes by Gennifer Choldenko

What a lovely sequel to Al Capone does my shirts! I finished it this afternoon and when I knew it was coming to an end- I had only two chapters left- I stopped reading, on purpose to do some necessary household chores-just to make the book last a little longer and to contemplate the complexity of the story. After I finished some laundry and made a quick dinner I picked it back up and finished. Now I want to go back and read the first one again because I read it a few years ago. If you haven’t read the first one do so now so you’ll be ready for this second one coming in September!

I’m not going to give much away, but here is the story line: Moose lives on Alcatraz Island with his dad (a prison guard), his mom and his sister, Natalie. Natalie is autistic and Capone, while a prisoner, helps get her into a special school in San Fransisco. This story begins with Capone asking for repayment from Moose. Of course a mafia man like Al would want something in return! Moose is nervous about his note-passing relationship with Alcatraz’s most famous convict. His character is well-developed as the nice guy, the good and helpful young man, among the other families. At one point, just to appease, he even pretends to like needlepoint! When problems arise, as they do in all stories, Moose comes through for his friends and his family. The wives were more memorable to me than they were in Al Capone does my laundry and I wondered if this was the author’s intent.
Ms. Choldenko weaves together a fascinating historical fiction, teaching us about life on the island in 1935, with great characters and a very twisty and exciting plot! It’s fascinating how authors’ pick their topics and her idea of giving us a personalized tale of Alcatraz is her very special gift to readers.

Laura Resau's Red Glass

I finally finished this book (yeah!) and I say that with real happiness because I have been trying to finish it for the last three nights, excited for where the story was taking me. I’d get a few chapters read and be really ready for bed. Am I incapable of reading well-in-to-the-night as I have for the previous parts of my life!! Hmmmm.
Back to this wonderful book.

Red Glass is the story of Sophie and one summer of bravery and adventure and more bravery. She lives in Tuscon with her mom, step-dad, Juan and her mom’s crazy Bosnian great-aunt, Dika(an amazing character). Juan is in the import/export business and has also given refuge to Hispanic immigrants from time-to-time. When a young boy (Pablo) is brought in by border patrol they find Juan’s business card in Pablo’s pocket and telephone Juan. Pablo’s parents died trying to make it across the border and until decisions are made as to what to do with Pablo, Sophie’s family brings him home with them.

Sophie loves having a new little brother and showers him with attention, even sleeps outdoors next to the chicken coop with him. Sadness encompasses Pablo even thought Sophie and Dika try to bring joy to his life. Contact is made at some point with Pablo’s family in Mexico and the family plans a trip to return him home. The original plans fall through and Dika, her boyfriend Mr. Lorenzo, Mr. Lorenzo’s son, Angel and Sophie drive in an old VW bus (what else would you drive through Mexico in but a beloved bus) to take Pablo home to visit his Abuelita and his village. Pablo will be able to choose staying in Mexico or returning home to Sophie’s family.
Choosing to go with is a major accomplishment for Sophie because she is a girl with many concerns; she is a worrier and this trip will force her to go beyond her normal boundaries. She is worried about the bus going off the road, bandits, and germs. Everyone involved in this trip has experienced deep loss as refugees and Sophie has her own self-esteem hurdles to climb. It is this amazing journey Sophie takes that causes such life-changing moments for her. The relationships she builds with Angel, Dika and even Mr. Lorenzo create a stronger more confidant Sophie. The book is interspersed with Spanish language and thanks to the author’s time in “the Mixtec region of Oaxaca, Mexico” it has a deep truthfulness to it.
This is a lovely story; one in which I fell in love with the characters, admire the courage of Sophie and want to know more…how does Sophie’s journey affect her next year in school, what happens between Sophie and Angel?? Could there be a sequal? The author’s blog and website are wonderful-take a look! I highly recommend this book for middle/high school and adult readers! Check out these otherblog reviews about this magical book: Sarah’s Random Musings, Readergirlz, and Melissa Walker.

Just Read

After dance class tonight J. and I went around the corner to the public library and found the children’s librarian putting out brand-new books!! We were so excited we picked a few…so tonight we read:

Sally and the purple socks by Lisze Bechtold (2008)

Loudmouth George earns his allowance by Nancy Carlson (2007)

and

Oink, Oink, Benny by Barbro Lindgren and Olaf Landstrom (2008)

They left both of us smiling…

Sally is a duck and she mail orders a pair of incredible purple socks-the socks, which grow, are really quite versatile! The illustrations are simple allowing the socks to really shine.

Loudm

outh George is a typical Carlson character, who’s been given chores for the summer (great way to understand helping out around the house-might have to read it to my 14-year-old). George, of course, is busy enjoying the beginning of his summer with games, swimming, and building. His wise mother won’t let him go to the movies with Harriet until the chores are finished and he earns his allowance. The lesson is in how the chores are accomplished and we thought poor George learned his lesson for the summer!

Benny and his baby brother, cute pigs, head outdoors to play as the mom reminds them to not go to the mudhole. I asked J. for a little prediction here and naturally she answered uh, oh…they are heading to the mudhole. Oink, Oink (yes, yes) and while the pigs play with a few other cuddly creatures, they get muddy. Uh, oh! Luckily, Mother Nature saves them on the way home. I really liked the illustrations in this one, especially the little brother dressed in his diaper, Tibetan ski hat, pacifier as round as his nose and his what-looks-like an ugly monster doll with 3 large button

s. I also spied the three little pigs by the mudhole-naturally they would be where the mud is! Check out these other blog words on these titles!
Maya Reads

Pink Me

Now for myself I have to finish Red Glass by Laura Resau tonight so I can begin The Hunger Games and my brand-new ARC of Al Capone shines my shoes sent to me by Gennifer Choldenko!!! Thank you Gennifer!!

New trick-slide show of Indianapolis trip

http://widget-2f.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf

Slide show

Bedtime and stories just go together…

like popcorn and a good movie. J. and I have been doing a fair amount of bedtime reading even though I was consumed with reading The Help and left the weekend read-alouds to my dear mother-in-law!!! This week though we have finished two chapter books, Emmaline and the bunny by Katherine Hannigan (IA writer!-with NO website) and Milo and Jazz Mysteries; the case of the stinky socks by Lewis B. Montgomery. I loved Hannigan’s Ida B. so I was excited when she had a new book out. When I saw it at my one and only indie bookstore USB my first thought was this is a perfect chapter book to read with J.-it looked like a Velveteen Rabbit-looking chapter book, so, of course, I purchased it. It is a delightful read with all kinds of fun words like “scoot-skedaddle.”

The simple story begins with Emmaline wanting a bunny of her own and told no

because they are not neat-She lives in “Neatasapin” and the mayor has the great name of Orson Oliphant. Old Orson likes things neat and tidy and the grown-ups have just let him run the place but Emmaline is determined and finds a way to invite a bunny into her life! The language in the book is fun to say out-loud-lots of thump, thump, thumping and stomp,

stomp, stomping-and the plot is carefully constructed to give us a good message without weighing down the pure enjoyment. I loved Emmaline’s determination as well as the Earth Mother/Old One we meet in the middle of the story. Ms. Hannigan was asked to do

the drawings for this book herself and I am glad she tried because the illustrations match the feeling of the story perfectly.

The second chapter book we finished together this week was an ARC sent to me by The Kane Press , written by Lewis B. Montgomery and, well you really can’t go wrong with a book that has stinky socks in the title! J. loved both the boy and girl character and the easy drawings that accompanied the story.

J. likes things to be fair and real and it was cool for her to see Milo and Jazz work so well together to solve the case of the missing pair of lucky socks worn by the star baseball pitcher, Dylan. I know from reading their website that another Milo and Jazz mystery is out (The case of the Poisoned pig) and two more are coming soon. J. and I will be happy to put our Dash Marlowe detective hats back on and help Milo and Jazz solve more mysteries!!

We also read two fabulous pictures books last night and as tired as I was J. wanted both books to be reread again and again!! The first one w

as Belinda begins ballet by Amy Young (great author website!) and oh, what a great lesson Belinda

teaches, without being weird. Belinda, from birth, has had rather large feet!

How sad when the elementary teacher in charge of the talent show asks her to be a clown

because of her large size feet. I had a great time making a very grumpy teacher voice for her!

Belinda, sadly, unwillingly complies and learns the clown routine. Just by chance, though she puts herself in the right place, right time and happily, dreamily watches another student, Camille, practice her ballet for the show. Belinda shows us that her large feet can be just perfect for ballet as well!! Beautifully illustrated and very well-written, I know I will end up wearing the pages out on this one.

Our last book, Not a stick by Antoinette Portis (Not a box) was so well received by J

that we really did read it over several times…how can you resist those blinking sweet brown eyes and it helps that the book is a fast read!! While fast though the impression both of her books leave me with is so refreshing I think Ms. Portis probably never lets her kids watch television. The premise of both of these books is a simple object, used with imagination can be Anything You Want It To Be! The little pig character is so cute, so well-drawn and you feel his (my feeling is that it is a little boy pig)
progressive frustration “It is NOT NOT NOT a stick!” to the elaborate imagining of what the stick can be, remind me of the forest growing in Where the wild things are. These are classics in our midst, definetely.

And after several readings we were both ready for dreamland. Post note; I reread it again to my husband last night! He wanted to dramatize it, of course!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Happy May! Come on Spring!

My friend Tina nudged me several times to read this book and I happened to find it in the library’s 7-day loan right before we were leaving for Indianapolis! Road-trip and a highly-recommended book-I was set! I read it there, I read it back and many times in between during our trip. Thank heavens for husbands who are willing to drive the whole way! Tina was right-this book is so good! I rarely pick up adult books because kid lit satisfies my need for really good fiction but I am so glad I did not pass this one by.
This story, set in Jackson, MS in 1962 is about three brave women, and all women at the same time. Aibileen, Minny and Miss Skeeter trade sections of the book back and forth so we hear their stories of tension, trouble and joy between black and white during this extremely turbulent time in our history. Ms Stockett weaves the brutal news stories of the time (James Meridith, Medgar Evers) into her story so eloquently I had a difficult time remembering that Minny and Aibileen were not real.
The story is so interwoven and complicated in a good way that I’m not going to begin to retell it. I’m just not that kinda reviewer but I will say the power of the women’s stories was so uplifting and heart-wrenching at the same time. Many of the characters made me grit my teeth with anger at their outlook on their world (Miss Hilly, Miss Elizabeth) and cheer for others (Miss Skeeter and all of the maids). The truth of the story is it is hard to follow your own path, lose your friends for a higher good, against the rest of the world and they did it in the midst of real tragedies. I want all my friends to read this!!

The Help
Kathryn Stockett
Amy Einhorn Books/
Putnam
Hardcover, 464 pages
$24.95
ISBN 978-0399155345

If a tree falls at lunch period by Gennifer Choldenko

Gennifer Choldenko is coming to Iowa tomorrow (yeah!) and I hope to shake her hand and have her sign my copy of If a tree falls… I loved Al Capone does my shirts and gleefully await the second one Al Capone shines my shoes. I picked up If a tree falls, thinking it was more of a YA book but after reading I think I have several students that would enjoy it. I did! I thought the school story was good, characters were well-developed and the plot timely without being preachy.
The chapters flip back and forth between Kirsten and Walker, seventh graders at an elite private school. Kirsten is struggling with popularity, losing her best friend to a more popular clique of girls, her recent weight gain, and her parents constant fighting. This is exactly what middle school, high school is like for many students. It is more than one anxiety all the time. Hmmm, like my life now…
Kirsten’s character emerges through the course of the story to kinda figure some things out with out a big aha moment! I was so excited for her when she decided her ex-best friend, Rory was not the same person she used to be. It’s hard when friends change and make choices you never thought they would, especially at this age. Rory lies and follows her new friends places Kirsten just does not want to go in the name of popularity. She wants to be popular and to make her mom happy but who to trust is a difficult choice.
One new classmate in particular, Walker Jones seems able to give her advice that is mature and worthy. The two, as well as his friend Matteo, the “scholarship students”, treat her fairly and worry more about school than who’s butt is fatter.
Brianna is the resident popular girl bully and she plays it with flair. Lying, scheming, cheating all done to make her life easier; more painful for those around her. I’m not going to spoil what the big mystery is between Kirsten and Walk even though I figured it out pretty quickly-the major crisis does make the story intriguing and timely. I dig this author and if you haven’t read her picture book, Louder, Lili-you need too. Shy Lili learns that a loud voice is worth it at certain times in your life!!
Here’s a teen-ager’s view on If a tree falls at lunch period…Enjoy

April Showers bring May flowers…

I have been looking around at all the amazing books I have added to the library this year and I realize many of them are titles I heard about from the blogs on the right. (insert arrow—) I picked a few favorites just for you.

1. bees, snails, & peacock tails by betsy franco and steve jenkins(2008). I love the combination of math, shapes, patterns mixed into the natural world. The illustrations are amazing!! Here is another great look at this book by another blogger.
2. Flip, Float, Fly; seeds on the move by JoAnn Early Macken, ill. Pam Paparone (2008). I am astounded at how wonderful non-fiction has become and these first two books are perfect examples. Gone are the days of boring text mixed with simple photos of what becomes an uninspiring topic! When you have text like this: “a wild oat seed curls up in the sun like a comma. The seed straightens out when it rains. Wiggle! Jump!” and a perfect illustration to match. How great!
3. Helen Keller; the world in her heart by Lesa Cline-Ransome; ill. James Ransome (2008). Finally a great biography of Helen Keller that elementary students will get! Now if this team could do one on Anne Frank my students would really appreciate it. They have another biography (Young Pele; soccer’s first star) out which is also fantastic.
4. A River of words; the story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant; ill. Melissa Sweet (2008). This book is such a simple retelling of one man’s life; about dreams not realized in the usual way and hope for all artists. The illustrations are as-if-lifted right from his notebook; we get such a sense of being right there with him. Thank you for this book because we glimpse into this life and understand.
5. Cinderella by Max Eilenberg and Niamh Sharkey great blog 🙂(2008). I love fairy tales, all kinds of versions. This particular one I like because of its simplicity and because the father steps up (for once) and says His daughter should try on the glass slipper-yes, thanks for coming out of the fog, dear Dad! I am going to read it to students next week.
6. Beware of the frog by william bee (2008)-great name, great book…funny, funny book and children love it!
7. Our Library by Eve Bunting (2008)-I’ve already blogged about this one so here’s someone else’s thoughts on this great book that reminds us all of working together in our communities!
8. One boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (2008). My kindergarten students loved this book when I read it to them in the library. They said “will you read it again…”
9. The Beeman by Laurie Krebs and Valeria Cis (2008). My step-father is a beeman so maybe I like this one because I can relate but this book shows an unusual occupation/hobby that most kids wouldn’t even think about in an easy-to-read rhyming text!
10. Mrs. Claus explains it all by Elsbeth Claus; ill. David Wenzel (2008). I can’t wait for Christmas! This one offers great questions with wonderful answers! How does Santa get into your house if you don’t have a chimney??? This has a great format and beautiful illustrations. Age-0ld, priceless and brand-new, all in one!
I think 10 is a good number to stop at for today-I know there are more but these are the ones that have been stacking up on my desk; Read Me!! These are just the picture books…whew!

Beginning Reading Conference

Last Friday I was able to go to our local Reading Conference at UNI and it was a great day. I enjoyed talking with other adults about reading, looking at all the vendor stuff, and listening to knowledgeable professionals (some) talk about out craft. The guest author was Herman Parish, dressed neatly in a bow tie, and he had lots of good stories to tell. I remember reading the Amelia Bedelia books myself but have never really pushed them in the library and I’m rethinking this now because they are good word fun. They don’t get checked out much so I will have to read one aloud and talk them up. Mr. Parish has added to the 12 books his aunt, Peggy did and a new one is coming out this summer, showing Amelia as a child. I loved Herman’s slide show with old clips of his aunt carrying her purse (pocketbook) with her everywhere! I have memories of my grandmother having a death grip on her purse where ever we went.