My Mother The Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow has been on my reading radar for years. Published in 2007, this historical novel should be read and discussed.
Louise Collins is a typical teenage girl who doesn't believe anything exciting could happen in her quiet neighborhood, Ninth Ward, in New Orleans. She lives with her mom in the boardinghouse, Rooms on Desire. Most days are the same, taking care of Mr. Landroux, who has "spells" of forgetfulness with their housekeeper, Charlotte. She reads her favorite novels over and over to escape. Soon enough, Louise gets more excitement than she expected.
It is 1960 and her school is desegregating. Ruby Bridges, an African American 1st grader, has been allowed to come to her all-white school. Angry parents pull their children out of school, which is why Louise is allowed to work at her boardinghouse most days. Her mom is one of The Cheerleaders who heckle Ruby Bridges
For the first time they get a patron unlike any others who have stayed at Rooms on Desire. Morgan Miller reads, writes and listens to Louise with respect. Originally from New Orleans, Morgan now lives in New York City and has come to visit his estranged brother.
One afternoon Morgan decides to be a bystander, watching Ruby try to get into school.
Local people are not happy that he is there and decide to take revenge.
Louise knows what she has to do.
And her mother, eventually finds her own courage.
I would highly recommend this book to middle grades and up. The reading itself is not difficult, but the content is high. There is suggestion of sex, rape and violence. Strong language, but written according to the timeframe.
The War Within These Walls
It was September 1939 when the Germans invaded our country. A month later, they marched into Warsaw and took up residence as if they would never leave.
The war seemed to be over. But after the dust of the bombings had settled, a very different war began...a war against some of us.
Misha and his family are being harrassed by the Nazi's.
Eventually all Jews are required to wear a white armband with a blue star on their right sleeve, they must declare all their belongings and non-Jews are not allowed to shop in Jewish stories.
Misha is sad and angry.
He witnesses his mother dying from starvation.
His father is a doctor.
His sister follows him.
Misha wants to do something...something to change his reality, to make it right again.
This fictional story will take you on a short journey through Nazi's and the Ghetto. The illustrations interspersed throughout the book keep the reader engaged in this tragic history. As I read this book, I felt like it was the first time I was learning about this subject. I wanted to know what happens to Misha's family and would he be able to fight his way out of the Ghetto?
-Excellent story. Middle grades.
If you or a child you know has ever been told they are "too nice," then this will be a book you might be interested in.
Too Nice by Marjorie White Pellegrino
Amy has a problem.
She is too nice.
She doesn't want to make anyone upset and wants everyone to be her friend. It's the beginning of 4th grade and she wants life to be simple. But problems begin from the first page when she lets Micah have the ball she's playing with, when her friend, Kate, and her were supposed to be playing with the ball.
Problems begin to mount from there, from giving all her cookies away to giving up her seat on the bus. She doesn't know what to do.
But her Grandpa does.
He helps Amy set healthy boundaries by teaching her how to set up a 'good fence' around her. They act out different scenario's that Amy may encounter and practice saying the words until she feels comfortable.
She learns she can be nice, say what she wants to say and still have friends.
This book is geared towards lower grades, and would be very readable for 3-5th graders. With colored pictures on almost every page, the reader is visually engaged in the story. The reader has a clear understanding it isn't easy being too nice, even if other's may feel that way. The grandpa is the ideal character to help Amy set up her healthy boundaries. Bravo!
Could I Sit on a Cloud?
by Kay Barnham
The first page of both of these books answers the titles questions, leaving the reader to discover more answers to life's questions. Each page is simple, bright and asking questions most of us probably asked our own parents, like "Why aren't birds electrocuted when they sit on wire?" Or "Can you tickle yourself?"
Can You Like Your Own Elbow?
by Paul Mason
Though these books are geared towards younger readers, I am sure a 4th or 5th grader would be interested in the questions and answers. Sometimes learning needs to be simple and funny, and these books do a great job helping the reader have a good time.
Always My Grandpa
by Linda Scacco
Every summer Daniel and his mom visit Daniel's Grandpa, who is great fisherman and storyteller that lives by the sea.
On the way to their visit, Mom reminds Daniel that Grandpa will probably be different this summer. When Grandpa had begun to forget daily things, it was discovered by the doctor that he has the onset of Alzheimer's. But when they first arrive to Grandpa's, he seems like his old self, telling tall fishing stories and playing with Daniel.
After some time, Daniel begins to see how Grandpa is different. He left the stove on, which could have created a fire. He forgot who Daniel and his mom were once. He couldn't remember Daniel's friends name, even after being told numerous times. All of this together was very upsetting to Daniel, but his mom handles it very well.
By the end of the story, Mom has decided that Grandpa is moving back home with them. Though this may not happen so neatly in real life, it was a clean ending to the book. The reader feels the love of the family.
Written for a younger school audience, 1st-4th grade, this would be a great story for any family dealing with grandparents or older loved ones diagnosed with dementia or alzheimer's, whether as a read-aloud or read-alone. The soothing, watercolor sketch pictures offer an extra comfort to the story.
Big Bad Sheep
When a few sheep in the meadow overhear the Three Little Pigs yelling, "The Wolf is Dead! The Wolf is Dead!" two sheep friends, Karl and Locke, begin to wonder what The Big Bad Wolf was really like.
"What do you think he was like? Bad!"
"Really bad?"
"Of course." Karl knew what he was talking about. "That's the way wolves are."
As the conversation continues Karl realizes that The Big Bad Wolf was paid and his job is now officially open. Karl, the sheep, wants to be The Big Bad Wolf. He will apply for the job.
Karl and Locke walk to the Job Center, interviewed by the office manager, an official dwarf. After much convincing the dwarf hands over the wolf's clothing where Karl will be on probation for 2 days.
And the story only gets more silly, tongue-in-cheek, and laugh out loud funny from there. Keeping in line with traditional fairytales, there are a few moments of gruesome detail when Lockes's friend,Rene, has to deal with Locke's bullying and briefly gets eaten by the Big Bad Wolf.
If you enjoy fractured fairy tales, this story will not disappoint. The story reminded me of a different version of "A Tale Dark and Grimm" by Adam Gidwitz. I have booktalked that book for 4-6th graders. Like in that story, Big Bad Sheep is not afraid to make the reader squirm a little, drawing them into the story even further. This book is much shorter at 64 pages and has black and white sketches throughout. Geared to 3-5th grades, I believe boys would especially appreciate this story.
My Happy Life by Rose Lagercrantz
From the first page, I knew I was going to love this story.
"It was late, but Dani couldn't sleep. Some people counted sheep, but not her! Dani counted all the times she'd been happy."
And then you find the many ways Dani finds happiness, including beginning school. It takes Dani a few days to make a friend, but when she meets Ella - they become fast friends, making Dani happy at school and home.
Sadly though Ella's family moves and suddenly Dani isn't nearly as happy as she had been.
Things upset her that didn't bother her in the past. Dani must learn how to find her happy again.
This chapter book would appeal to grades 1-3. Dani is a strong girl character that does the "right" thing most of the time and has a great outlook on life, but with a healthy dose of realism that life isn't always as happy as we want it to be.
Almost every page has playful black and white sketches that keep the reader engaged in the story.
