Countdown by Deborah Wiles

Franny is 11 years old and wants the impossible: peace.

Her best friend is mad at her, her big sister is busy in college and her little brother is perfect.  Her mom is overwhelmed and her dad is in the military.  It is 1962 and the United States is worried about the Cuban missile crisis.  Plus, her teacher has skipped over 3 times to read aloud...she is sure she is invisible.

With life happening all around her, Franny doesn't stand in the background, she leads a true adventure.


 This book was directly handed to me by a middle school patron who told me the week before how much she loved it.  She told me I NEEDED to read it.  They had read it for their school bookclub.  The next time she was at the library she got the book, walked over to me, asked if I had read it yet (sadly no), and told me to read it.

So, I did.
And I am glad I did read it.
Not only does it teach you the history of what was going on in 1962, it gives you the details of how it is to be a tween/teen growing up with a family during that time.  There was hardly TV, let alone electronics.  These kids did their chores and then went outside to play, finding adventure wherever it may lead them.  The concerns that Franny had with her friends are the same concerns that kids have now.  Will you get invited to a party?  Is your best friend still mad at you?  Does that boy know you are alive?  Plus the family dynamics speak to the time, yet current times too.  Sisters and brothers will always play a certain way in our lives and this book tells that story to the reader.

Thank you to the young reader who recommended this to me...and I highly recommend it to 6-8th grade. 

 

Movie Monday

     

 

Whacha doing this afternoon?

 

Drop in with your friends and family, watch a couple of movies for FREE plus munch on popcorn.

 

 

Goonies will play at 12pm.

 

Ferris Bueller will play at 2pm.

 

 

Mary Walker Wears the Pants

Mary Walker Wears the Pants
by Cheryl Harness



Mary Walker was born into a United States when women did not have the same rights as men.  Not only were woman not allowed to vote, but it was not accepted that they should be able to wear pants.  It was thought to be natural and proper that women only wear skirts.  It was also believe women should not be doctors or govern.  Mary disagreed.

In 1855 she became one of the first female physicians.

She believed in equal rights for women, men and opposed slavery.

She spent her life working towards that goal, going to war and doctoring the sick.  She didn't take sides when it came to taking care of the sick.  She would heal the Confederate soldiers also.  Unfortunately she was jailed by the Confederacy because they thought she was a spy.  Months later she was released in an equal exchange.

Mary Walker didn't live to see women vote, but she fought for equality and lived as a true individual.

 This book is a great reminder of the length women have come in the past 100 years.  It is hard to imagine not being able to vote, wear my favorite jeans or be told which profession I could or could not do.  Not only could this book inspire a young girl, but a young boy also to help both see the great strides both men and women have come. This would be a good biography for a 2nd-4th grader.  It read easily and the pictures carried the story well.   

Teen Reads

Today I get to go to the Middle School and share some
awesome books.

Take a look at the link and discover what Teen Read kids are learning about today.

Enjoy!

Third Grade Baby by Jenny Meyerhoff

DIY Holiday Crafternoon

 

We love crafting almost as much as we love reading.

 

This Saturday afternoon a bunch of tweens and teens hung out

to make holiday gifts for friends and family!

Below we are making earrings from bike innertube tires, button bracelets and beaded bookmarks.

 

 

Smile, you're making a stuffed snowman

 

One of the cutest gifts ever-- a game and ornament all rolled into one.  Notice the punch holes in the card.  There are pearls(or you could use beads) in the box that you want to get in the holes.  Hours of frustrating fun :)

Where Do Presidents Come From?

Where Do Presidents Come From ?
By Michael Townsends

With election season upon us, this book is a refreshing look at
how government works for middle school to high school. 
Written in graphic novel format, the colorful, cartoonish pictures could
even bring a smile to those who are not history loving fans...like my younger self.

The white spaces on the page are full of facts leading the reader to the pictures depicting other possibilities that may or may not work with government.  I found myself smiling while reading this book, thinking this may lead to learning about the President and government.  An example is Chapter 3, How Does the President Get Elected?  Through facts and pictures we learn that aliens, sea turtles, robots, bunnies, dogs and other various animals can not be elected president because of the 3 requirements to become president of the United States. 

The three requirements are:
1) You must be at least 35 years old (bunnies and dogs don't live to be that old)
2) You must have been born a United States Citizen (This robot was made in Japan)
3) You must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years (Sea Turtles and Aliens are out of luck)

Enjoyable and educational for middle to high school ages.