Book:Flygirl

Flygirl
Sherri L Smith, 2008

Ida Mae Jones was taught how to fly a plane by her father. Of course, in 1941 not too many people want to see a woman flying, let along one with coloured skin. But as World War Two progresses, Ida Mae discovers that they are looking for female pilots for the WASP. She's perfect for it, except for the fact that she'll have to pass as white to do so.

This was a really quiet book, which is funny considering how much action goes on within it. It was immensly powerful, with themes of identity and determination throughout. But there is also romance and passion and friendship and the rights of women and sacrifice. You really feel for the characters throughout the book, and you're left kind of devestated when it finishes because there's so much more you want to know. I absolutely adored this book, and would highly recommend it.

I would connect this book to other books about strong women including Almost Astronauts.


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Book: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters
Barack Obama, Loren Long (Ills), 2010

This is an absolutely lovely book that I know I'll probably read through again and again and again. It's a very simple premise - the President writes a letter to his daughters. Throughout it, Barack Obama weaves in an introduction to some of the great people and achievements of the United States - including academics, artists, sportspeople, explorers and leaders. But the absolute winner here is the art - the main pictures, the ones that accompany each persons' story are stunning to begin with. Then on the side we have an image of the two girls, which grows each time as a 'child version' of the important American joins them.

I know my students tend to be very interested in American presidents, but particularly interested in their children, so this book would immediately appeal to them. It would also be an excellent book to get students thinking about positive traits and achievement. I'd love students to think about what an Australian equivelant might be.

Connecting wise I would connect this with First Kids and Amelia to Zora.

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Book: Sticks

Sticks
Joan Bauer, 1996

Ten year old Mickey Vernon has pool in his blood. His grandmother runs the pool hall in their slightly run down New Jersey town, which his father was a champion before he died of cancer. Mickey, who's in the fifth grade, is determined to win the 10-13 year old 9 ball championship, and determined to beat the bully, Buck.

Like a lot of the best books I've been reading lately, this isn't a one-topic book. It's about pool, that's for sure (and I love how good authors can make me care about games/sports I really don't care for), but it's also about redemption when Mickey's father's old friend - Joseph returns to town. And it's about mathematics and tree houses and memory and pigs and magic and dreams and dealing with disappointments. And yet all the topics seem to weave together beautifully.

As I read it, I thought of tonnes of connectible books. There's the teachers who make things interesting connections - like The Cat Ate My Gymsuit or Operation Yes. There's the maths in real life connection - like the brilliant Sugar and Ice which I just finished. Then there's the boys achieving big things - like Stand Tall and Travel Team.

This would be an easy sell to the students. After all, they already enjoy many of Joan Bauer's books. Also it has the bonus of moments of fifth-grade solidarity - and that's one of the best things to 'sell' to a group of 5th graders.

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