What does a dead hippo, Asperger’s syndrome, a nuclear power plant, homelessness, pirates, and war in the Middle East have in common?
My summer reading list for kids! I have spent the last week at Pender Island with my family, reading and previewing exciting new books for my reading program this year. There are some great reads.
1. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
A girl who as Asperger's and must deal with the loss of her brother who was killed in a school shooting. Cailtin must have "closure" around this tragedy and move forward in her life. The book really gets into the social reality of a child with Asperger's. Also, the book makes reference to the famous "To Kill a Mockingbird" novel and movie and draws parallels. From a teacher's perspective, I loved this book and was crying through many parts. This is not an action packed book, but rather one that gets into the "head" of the main character and the reader feels the experience deeply. An exceptional and moving book.
2. Island of the Unknowns by Benedict Carey
A very different book; a mystery that needs to be solved using math. The main characters live on an island called Folsom Adjacent that houses a nuclear power plant; people go missing, and Lady Di Smith and Tom Jones must solve the mystery. I enjoyed it because I liked how the author brought math into the story line, and students who are passionate about math will enjoy this aspect of the book. I liked the characters, and enjoyed how they were "misfits". A great deal of the story took place with the main characters crawling around underground, and I found this quite suspenseful. The math is high level, and there is a great activity guide at the back that explains the math concepts: pythagorean theorem, and the magic of pi to be exact!
3. Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs
A fun mystery and a good read; the main character, Teddy, lives at Funjungle - a super duper zoo theme park! The main attraction, a hippo, dies, and Teddy finds out he is murdered, and the adventure begins. I liked the characters and pace and the way Funjungle was presented as a mirror to theme parks that exist today. I would use this book as a discussion point about the value of zoos and whether or not it is right to have animals in captivity. I would also discuss the value of theme parks (money making ventures?) and whether or not they have any value in our world (think Disneyland and all of THAT).
4. How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor
Is it ever right to steal something that is not yours? I liked this book because the main character makes a big decision in order to help her family. Is it the right decision? Georgina plans to steal a dog to make money so that she and her brother and mother can rent a home and not live in their car - a temporary situation after their father leaves and they can no longer pay the rent. I found this book well written and this would make a fantastic read aloud to kids, at home and at school. There was a fantastic quote in this book that I though was very powerful "Sometimes the the trail you leave behind you is more important than the path ahead of you" and it made me think about the importance of treating others well. A profound novel about homeless, love, and caring for others.
5. Camel Rider by Prue Mason
What I liked about this book was two boys coming together from very different backgrounds to work together to survive. I liked how the book was written from each boy's perspective. A good book to use to discuss different cultural values. The book takes place in Abudai, a fictional city, which is typical of "many oil-rich states in the Arabian Gulf" states the author. I enjoyed how the main character begins the novel as a "compound kid" who only cares about surfing - he is self absorbed and spoiled ex-pat. Through the course of the novel, he changes, and comes out the other end as a more thoughtful person.
I would also use this book with the fantastic Breadwinner series by Deborah Ellis which I thought was far more powerful and brilliant! You could have a great literature circle theme around war and the aftermath and destruction it causes.
6. The Dagger Quick by Brian Eames
This is an adventure book, and is great for boys and girls who love pirates. I enjoyed the adventures, the pirate lingo, and the story overall. The main character has to overcome many obstacles, and is considered an outsider because of his club foot. However, he shows bravery and courage and determination! The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I am hopefully there will be second book.
These books are suitable for readers grade 4 or 5 and up, depending on the child, reading ability, and maturity.
Happy reading.....
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