Themes: Coming of Age, Women’s Roles

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade /Reading Level: Grades 5-8

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

     ISBN:  0399155341

    Pages:  451

    Level:  Adult

    This is an excellent novel that gives us a glimpse into the lives of “the help”, the black women working in Mississippi for white families.  It focuses on a young white woman, Skeeter, who returns home to the South from college.  She is determined to become a writer and begins by writing a cleaning column for a local newspaper.  She enlists the assistance of one of her friend’s “help” and a relationship develops between them.  In Skeeter’s attempt to reach her goals, she decides to write a collection of interviews from various black maids and tries to encourage other maids to share their experiences with her as well.  As the story unfolds, we are privy to the life experiences of the “help”, as well as those of the families they work for.  The bigotry and social rules that were prevalent in the 1960′s are exposed and presented in a way that can’t help but touch the reader.  This story is heartwarming and heart wrenching, and I highly recommend this book.  This is an excellent follow up after reading The Book of Negroes.

"Haunting, mysterious and full of wonders" E. Bunce

  Themes: generosity, compassion, war

Genre: historical fiction

Grade /Reading Level: Junior/Intermediate

Interest Level: Grade 4+

 Summary:

In this touching tale, an American family tries to help ease the lives of Europeans who are starving during the aftermath of World War 11. Through the exchange of letters an outpouring of kindness helps families who are living across the world. Thousands of foot tracings are sent to America and one family enlists the help of those in their community to help provide shoes and food for many victims of the war. The story shows how one selfless act can become an event that leaves a lasting impression on thousands. An excellent book to use for character education, it will allow for discussion in junior and intermediate grades. The book contains photographs and clippings that were found in the attic of the author’s grandparents.  This story is based on actual events in the lives of the author’s grandparents.

Study Guide Links:

Link to Author’s Tracing page: http://tracings.litajudge.com/

Author Interview: http://wildgeeseguides.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-thousand-tracings.html

Questions: http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/curriculumguides/cgpages0910/onethousand.html

Podcast review: http://www.justonemorebook.com/2008/01/02/one-thousand-tracings-healing-the-wounds-of-world-war-ii/

Themes: Love of Reading, Inspiring Students to Read

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction

At first glance, I could have said there’s nothing new in this book.  Reading aloud and sharing my own passion for reading have always been the best tools in my toolbox as a language arts teacher.  Layne’s own teaching experience as well as his dogged determination to get every child in his classroom loving reading are the clear inspiration in sharing easy to implement and well thought out strategies that can immediately be used in the classroom.  Layne’s anecdotes about his own experiences in engaging reluctant readers, and at times reluctant parents or colleagues create an easy to read book with tonnes of ideas. 

Paperback: 184 pages

Publisher: Stenhouse Publishers (November 28, 2009)

ISBN-10: 1571103856

ISBN-13: 978-1571103857

Richardson starts off by explaining the Read/Write Web and the extraordinary changes that are occurring because of it. He cites great examples of how Web 2.0 has transformed many areas of our lives. He also writes about how to keep students safe and that is a must read section for educators!

Richardson has outlined how to use weblogs (blogs), wikis and podcasts in a direct manner. Included in this book are things like the following:

• Blogging Across the Curriculum
• Blogging with Students
• Blogging Safety
• Wikis in Schools
• Wiki Tools and Resources
• Podcasting
• RSS (what it is and how to use it)
• The Social Web

Richardson ends the book with a chapter entitled – What It all Means. This chapter includes New Literacies – which is crucial for educators to understand and implement, The Big Shifts – open content, many, many teachers and 24/7 learning as well as collaboration and what I think is the biggest shift – Teaching is Conversation, Not Lecture.

So, this entire book is recommended as a must read for educators. It really describes how education is changing, and how we, as educators, must change with it. It is a practical guide but also a “wake-up” call for those who have not explored the Web 2.0 tools and what they will do for learners.

Read it!

      ISBN:  978-1-84810-232-3

     Pages 48

     Author:  Miles Kelly

     Genre:  Non-Fiction

    Grade level:  4-7

     Summary:

     This non-fiction text explores various land features and discusses different types of natural disasters.  There are quick facts given on each type of feature, for example Fact 18 talks about the world’s longest river and Fact 44 tells us that deserts aren’t always hot.  There are little blurbs about each fact that would interest and engage young readers.  Real natural disasters that have occurred are presented in an educational manner.  Facts are enhanced through pictures, diagrams and cartoons.  There are inserts of quick quizzes and “I Don’t Believe It” boxes.  This text would be an excellent resource to illustrate the various text features associated with a non-fiction text.  It would be suitable for Grades 3 and 4 as a guided reading text or teacher directed activity, and would interest the older students from Grades 5 to 8 as an independent reading activity.  I would recommend this text as a resource in the junior/intermediate classroom.

Themes: Racism, Coming of Age, Trust, Family, Traditions, Bullying

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade /Reading Level: Grades 7 – 12

Fountas and Pinnell Level: N

Sami finds himself in a position that no one should find themselves in.  What do you do when you start to question the actions of those you trust the most?  Sami’s father enrolled him in a private school where he is the only Muslim student.  He is bullied at his school, but he does have two best friends who attend the local public school.  Sami is suspicious about his father’s motivations behind recent occurrances including the cancellation of a planned son-father weekend, and the accusation of stolen chemicals from his workplace.  Sami finds himself dragging his buddies along in trying to defend his father after he is arrested by the FBI.  The surprise ending was the selling point when sharing this story with my students and colleagues.

ISBN-10: 1554680832

ISBN-13: 978-1554680832

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (Feb 26 2010)

‘Disney’ ….. a word that is recognizable in what ever language and being an avid Disney fan, I naturally gravitated towards this book by Ridley Pearson.

This story ‘Disney after dark’, is the first in the series “Kingdom  Keepers”.  It is not a story that will  envoke the warm and fuzzy feeling that one usually associates with ‘Disney’!  Action, suspense, fantasy and threats taunt and plague the five young characters that are central in this story.  These five teens find themselves pitted against all the traditional and not so traditional villianous characters that inhabit Disney. Being that this is the 21st century, technology now plays a vital role for these protagonists,  but it ends up leaving them with unexpected side effects!

 If you never have had the opportunity of experiencing the Magic Kingdom…then you are in for a wonderful ‘magical ride’ in Ridley Pearson’s book   “The Kingdom Keepers.”

Genre: Fantasy/Thriller/ Suspense 

Interest Level: Grade 6 to 9

Book Weblink: http://www.thekingdomkeepers.com/

 Author Talk about the Book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb-X4uPjqnk&feature=youtu.be

You Tube Keepers Movie tr:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtQOdGj7A1g&NR=1

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npCAlQwiL_0&feature=related