Ghost of heroes past by Charles Reid

Vancouver, BC: Ronsdale Press, 2010.
168 pp., pbk., $10.95.
ISBN 978-1-55380-102-3.

Grades 5-9 / Ages 10-14.

 One of the reasons that I picked up this title is that I know of a number of reluctant male readers who are keen to read about anything that has to do with war.

Reid’s central character is Johnny Anders,  who exhibits much of the similiar sentiments that teens today display about Remembrance Day. This is evident on the opening page when he states to his father  that “it’s all old stuff that happened a long time ago. What’s it have to do with me?”

Through a series of events presented in a time-travel format, Johnny is taken to various points in history where a unknown ghost in the guise of a soldier acts has his guide. First confusion fills him  as to these ‘ghost’ visits, and then as the nightly treks continue to different war-torn locals, Johnny’s many unanswered questions nudge him to seek some sort of explanations by using the resources in his school library.  Here he stumbles into an odd sort of friendship with another new student like himself, only this is a girl and her name is Casey.

Their shared interest in history allows Johnny to divulge to Casey about his nocturnal soldier-ghost visits and the various journeys he has been taken on. As Johnny is given the priviledge of ‘seeing’ what roles the men and women during war played, he and Casey are inspired to continue their research in locating information on notibale heroes such as Bill Chong, Joan Bamford Fletcher and fighter-pilot Raymond Collishaw.

By the conclusion of the story we see how Johnny’s time-travel adventure have impacted and changed his preceptions of meaning of Remembrance Day and that the ”old stuff  that happened long ago” really does have significance for all generations.

 Easy read…. recommended for Boys!

Interest level: Grade 6 to 8

Reading Level: Grade 5 to 7

Genre: Historical fiction; War; Remembrance Day

 

Who would like this book?  ANy boy who is interested in war; First Nations soldiers;

Furthur Information on Canadian War Heroes:

Bill Chong: 

Canadian Weblink:http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/hr_cdnchinese

YouTube link for Bill Chong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n88YwntKXvY

Raymond Collishaw weblink:http://www.earlyaviators.com/ecollish.htm

Joan Fletcher Bamford: http://www.tiltcreative.com/rogues/heroesandrogues.htm

Tommy Prince (First Nations War Hero):http://firstnationsdrum.com/2002/09/thomas-prince-canadas-forgotten-aboriginal-war-hero-2/

Genre: Historical fiction; War; Remembrance Day

Author Weblink:

http://www.cbc.ca/books/booksandauthors/2010/11/ghost-of-heroes-past.html

End of Days by Max Turner

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (September 28, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0312592523

ISBN-13: 978-0312592523

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Turner’s runaway hit Nightrunner is followed by this action-packed sequel and enough of the first novel is intertwined and disclosed within these pages that this title can be read as a stand alone book.This book continues where the first left off, with Zach Thompson and his two friends, Charlie and Luna all trying to come to terms with being  vampires and all the changes and implications that this transformation has brought into their lives. After attending a rave-like dance, Zach and Charlie become part of an altercation and have to run for their lives. It is while they are on the run that they witness a strange wolf-like creature making short work of the vampire that was chasing them.  It is this mysterious creature that begins a systematic dismantling of the network of support that enables Charlie and others like him to survive, which throws the “underground” into chaos. As the turmoil around them increases , Zach and Charlie are forced to hide, and stumble upon an ancient prophecy that hints at the “End of Days”. Zach takes it upon himself to find out answers and with the help and courage of his friends begins on this path of good at a time when it seems only the ruthless can survive.I truly like the plotline of this story and found that the characters were well developed and that the relationship between Zach and Luna was also blooming.  The reaction of Charlie to his transformation into a vampire was also different…much more human in his anger, resentment and rebellion at being a vampire…just realizing what he has lost in becoming a vampire. This is an action-packed urban thriller that I think will appeal to young adult readers!

Reading  ability:  Grade 7,8, 9

Genre: Supernatural urban-fantasy thriller

Who would like this book?

Readers of books like: The Darkest Powers series by Kelly Armstrong;  Deception by Lee Nichols;  Angel ( Maxium Ride 7 ) by James Patterson

http://us.macmillan.com/BookCustomPage.aspx?isbn=9780312592523&m_type=6#widget

Skeleton Key: The Graphic Novel by Antony Johnston and Anthony Horowitz

Grade Level: 6 – 8

Fountas and Pinnell Level: O

Theme:  Adventure, Good and Evil

Genre: Science Fiction, Action

Alex Rider is hired by the CIA to divert attention from his “mom and dad” spies.  He, however, sees himself as more of an accomplice until the real spies are killed, and he willingly takes over.  This action-packed graphic novel comes filled with everything from atomic bombs to James Bond gadgets such as expanding chewing gum. 

This was actually the first graphic novel I’d ever read.  I found it a very quick and enjoyable read, although it took me a little while to get used to “reading” the pictures as well as the text.  My students enjoyed the action of this book, and very few of them abandoned this great story.

ISBN-13: 978-0399254185

Mummies & their mysteries by Charlotte Wilcox

This informational text tied in very well with the ancient civilization unit in junior social studies.  The boys in my 5/6 class really enjoyed this text, even the most reluctant readers.  By breaking the book into chapters, the boys were able to work on creating a summary which they then shared with the rest of the group.  The book allowed for excellent discussion on informational text features easily lending itself to social studies or literacy.

  Reading ability: Soar to Success, Level 8

 Genre: informational/ non-fiction

Theme: history, ancient civilizations, Egypt

 Who would like this book:reluctant readers, boys, those interested in history or ancient civilizations

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Fountas and Pinnell Reading Level: R

Grade Level: 5 – 7

Genre: Adventure

Theme: Survival/Coming of Age

Torak, a preadolescent boy, travels through the forest to fulfil a promise to his father to rid the forest of a demon-possessed bear.  He meets various challenges: human and personified, and slowly becomes aware of special gifts he has to help him.

The characters, well-developed setting and a touch of magic in this book lead to a plot which grabbed me from the beginning.  I was unable to stop!  The grade 7 boys in the group loved the adventure and non-stop action.  I was able to guide excellent discussions about strength of character and connection with nature at an age-appropriate level.

- 2004

- ISBN # 1 84255 170 1, 234 pp