Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
Jeff Kinney, 2010

Greg heads back to school, except this time he's without his best friend Rowley after a serious falling out. Now he's dealing with the pressures of growing up, boy/girl parties, the strangeness of family and a housekeeper who refuses to work - and he's all on his own.

Despite their popularity this was the first Wimpy Kid book I've read. These books have usually been owned by students in my class and passed around that way, so I've never needed to buy them for the classroom. But with the main fans heading off to high school, I realise I'll need to fill that gap.

This was a highly enjoyable read - one I didn't want to put down. Greg is an engaging narrator, and you can easily understand his embarrassments and annoyances - even if you aren't a wimpy kid yourself. My only quibble is that this book was 'Australianised' - Greg is in High School, not middle school and some of the language has been changed. It does a real disservice to Australian kids who have been watching US shows and reading US books for years and understand that this is an American book (a movie kind of keys you in to that) - especially when a really Australian word (like lollies) pops up and throws you out of the text.

I'd connect this book with Totally Joe and The Misfits, Dork Diaries (which seems to be enjoyed by both girls and boys), Amelia Rules and Mail Order Ninja.


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Book: Pastures of the Blue Crane

Pastures of the Blue Crane
H. F. Brinsmead, 1964
(Reread)

I got this book from my aunt and uncle as a 9th birthday present, so there's no telling how many times I've reread it. And with so many books that you read first as a child and later as an adult, there are many layers that you keep peeling back everytime you read.

It tells the story of Ryl, the lonely but aloof 16 year old girl whose spent most of her life in boarding schools in Melbourne while her father worked in Papua New Guinea. After her father's death, she discovers that she has a grandfather she never knew about, as well as a property in northern New South Wales. Ryl doesn't take to her grandfather, Dusty, immediately, but when they discover that the property was where Dusty was born, they grudgingly decide to go and check it out.

This begins a strange set of relationships for Ryl - between herself and Dusty, the ramshackle house, the view, the neighbours, the local 'surfy' kids, the taxi driver descended from Australia's slave population and even the strange bird who visits the pink pastures. Soon Ryl is learning more about herself and the people around her than she ever thought possible.

This is, in many ways, a book of its time. Some of the language is cringe-worthy to us now, even though a book which place people of non-European background as 'just like us' was revolutionary for its time. It pays to remember that this was still a time of the White Australia Policy, and even non-English European immigrants were treated with derision and bigotry. The book also delves into the history of slavery in Australia. There was a time period when 'blackbirding' - taking slaves from the Pacific Islands to work on farms in Australia occured. It's a period of Australian history pretty much forgotten by all and sundry, but well described in this book.

The reason I keep coming back to this book is the layers in the characters. No one's all good or all bad. They interact with each other in very human ways. Ryl in in some ways a grown woman at 16, and in others still a little girl. It's a really lovely book and one that's well worth reading.

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Book: Shakespeare: His Work and His World

Shakespeare: His Work and His World
Michael Rosen, Robert Ingpen (Ills), 2001

This was one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It's an informational book about Shakespeare, the times that he lived in and the plays that he wrote. Throughout the book the author is very careful to mention that we don't have a lot of real information on Shakespeare, that a lot of what we 'know' comes from inferences from the sources we do have, and his plays. This would certainly lead to some interesting discussions on sources and history. There's also a brief look at four of the plays and the language, as well as quotes throughout the book.

On its own, the writing would be excellent. But then it is paired with Robert Ingpen's stunning artwork. Throughout the book his paintings are used to explain, illustrate and add to the writing. My favourite is at the beginning, when Shakespeare's work is being introduced and there's an illustration with so many Shakespearian moments that you feel like you're looking at an incredibly well constructed Where's Wally scene.

I bought this one to go with the Shakespeare we're going to learn next year, but I would highly, highly recommend it for any classroom or any one from around 10 up. It's a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare and you'll find yourself wanting to look at the pictures again and again and again.

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Book: T. Rex vs Robo Dog 3000

T Rex Vs Robo Dog 3000
Scott Nickel, 2009

Another poorly written graphic novel, obviously aimed as a 'high interest reader'. Something to do with robots and things that help you go back in time. The art work was substantially better than in Billions of Bats - much easier to follow the panels across the page - but the story was once again predictable and basically boring.

How can you use graphic novels as high interest readers? Well a well written graphic novel is something that students will persist with, even if it is nominally above their 'reading level'. I had one student from a neighbouring class borrow the brilliant Babymouse series from me. The books took her the best part of a week to read, but she was reading them so well that she could write an extensive recall of them. Babymouse, Lunch Lady and the brilliant Owly (no words, but lots of story) are all great for capturing interest, and I know there are plenty of others that I don't even know about. We don't need to dumb down graphic novels; students are bright enough to be interested in them for their own sake.

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Book: Billions of Bats

Billions of Bats
Scott Nickel, 2007

Ugh. I've been dreading this review. This book reminds me very much of a book that I had the misfortune to pick up this year. You see, I watched a collegue's class for half an hour and his class were finishing a class book. It was a 'science literature' book, which basically meant the author was shooting for Magic School Bus in a short novel. It was the most horrendous piece of writing I think I have ever read. This book reminds me of that.

I've made a big effort to include graphic novels in my classroom over the last year and there have been some beauties from Smile, to Kat and Mouse to Amulet. This will not be one of the good ones. To begin with, it's not sure if it's a reader (you know, those awful books they use to 'teach' children how to read) or a science book in disguise. As a science book there's almost no science in it, and you're scrambling to figure out what the science might be. As a reader it's demeaning and boring. Some students might pick it up; I'm doubtful any will remember it.

The art was also dubious. A good comic draws your eyes in the right direction across the page. Several times this comic drew my eyes to panels that were not next in the sequence. I noted that this series came with advisers. My advice would be to dump the advice and concentrate on telling a good story. I'd put this one aside in favour of Magic School Bus or Max Axiom books for interesting books on science.

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Book: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late
Mo Willems, 2006

Have you met the pigeon yet? If not, get one of these books NOW! A friend of mine had been telling me about the pigeon for a couple of years now, but it was only this year that I finally got my hands on Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. It was honestly hilarious, my students loved it, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on another Pigeon book.

The idea of the book is simple. Right in the beginning, before the book 'properly' begins, we are asked not to let the Pigeon stay up late. Then the Pigeon appears and addressing us directly, he tries to convince us that he's not tired, really not tired and he should be able to stay up late. All accompanied with simple illustrations of the Pigeon.

The joy in this book is that it seems so simple up front, and it's very funny. Then you get your teacher hat on and you realise that you could use it to look at facial expressions, to look at persuasive speech (the Pigeon can be very presuasive) to look at direct speech and speech bubbles. I'd also connect it to the other Pigeon books and Neil Gaiman's The Day I Swapped My Dad for 2 Goldfish.


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Book: The 4 Powers of Daren Saner

The 4 Powers of Daren Saner
Michael Oehley , 2010

This book is a little sad for me because the author came to visit my school and talked to my students and I was unfortunately sick that day :( Nevertheless, our librarian was able to get me a signed copy which made it better.

Daren is a bit of an outcast on the starship Superia - he's the child of a high ranking mother and a clone father who wasn't supposed to be able to have children, so he doesn't really fit in. He's also got an eye for trouble, along with some of his closer friends. It all culminates one day when they manage to sneak into a highly secure area of the starship and Daren retrieves a stone. Soon after he wakes up, no longer aboard Superia and no longer himself, and no longer in his own time. Instead he finds that he is in the past, the forbidden child, with four magical powers. He must use those powers to save the world he's found himself in and his own world on Superia.

This is a really lovely first novel which dips into both fantasy and science fiction. Daren is a particularly strong character, both when he's himself and when he's 'someone else'. There are a number of other strong characters as well, but I particularly liked Kara who helped Daren in the other world and Hawk-Eye, the old sailor. It's a very strongly built world, though I would like to see more of it to really get into the details.

I would connect this book to the Gregor the Overlander books by Suzanne Collins, with the different worlds, the quests and the use of riddles. I'd also connect it to Philip Reeves' Larklight - although the ships are very different, both authors create very strong worlds.

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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: Stargirl

Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli, 2000
(Reread)

Here's my first reread of the holidays. It's the story of Mica High, a normal school in a relatively normal town where everyone acts . . . appropriately. Then Stargirl turns up one day and no one knows what to make of her. They don't understand her long dresses or theme based clothing, they don't understand her singing at lunch time, they don't understand her pet rat. They're not even sure if they love her or hate her. And Leo doesn't know what part he plays in all of this.

This is a relatively easy book to read, and even though the characters are older (Leo's in 11th grade) it's appropriate to put in the hands of younger children. You almost feel washed along by the events of the book, sometimes you see what's going to happen, sometimes you don't, but there's nothing you can do to stop it so you just buckle up for the ride. But it is a book that stays with you afterwards, and one that I've come back to reread a couple of times. I particularly like the way it's narrated by Leo rather than Stargirl, I think we see the reactions of others and Stargirl's bewilderment better from there.

I would connect this book with Schooled by Gordon Korman, as well as other books about characters walking their own paths like The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and A View from Saturday.

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Book: Getting Near To Baby

Getting Near to Baby
Audrey Couloumbis, 1999

Willa Jo and Little Sister are sitting on their aunt's roof, much to the dismay of their aunt and the amusement and shock of the neighbours. It's all been terribly confusing for the two girls, what with Aunt Patty coming to take them away and pushing them into a world of camp shorts and leather sandals. Willa Jo and her sister just can't seem to do anything right.

This is a really sweet and sad story about losing part of yourself and dealing with the reactions of people around you, while still trying to deal with your own feelings. There was a lovely mood throughout the book which would lead me to connect it with Love, Aubrey or Olive's Ocean.


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Book: The Schwa Was Here

The Schwa Was Here
Neal Shusterman, 2004

The Schwa isn't like other boys that Antsy Bonano knows. For one thing, he's barely there most of the time in the invisible sense. But after a series of tests - and dares - Antsy discovers that the Schwa might be a friend - even if he is easy to forget and hard to see.

While on a massive dare with the Schwa, Antsy meets Old Man Crawly, the cantankerous, rich, agoraphobic dog lover, who in turn introduces him to Lexie, his blind, persuasive grand daughter. Through his experiences with them and the Schwa, Antsy realises there's more to seeing and being seen.

This is a really fabulous book, that was kind of surprising. It was about perception, but it was also a mystery. It was about families and friendships. And I always adore books where young people are guided in the most unusual ways. I would connect it to books like Noah's Law and the Parfizz Pitch, just for its mystery elements and the way the kids get out and do things.

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Book: Mississippi Trial, 1955

Mississippi Trial, 1955
Chris Crowe, 2002

Hiram is a 16 year old boy who is constantly at odds with his father, who is in turn at odds with his own father, Hiram's grandfather. Hiram, who spent several years growing up with his grandparents in Mississippi, returns to spend part of the summer holidays. Without knowing it, he is returning to a world that is at the same time different and the same to how he remembers. And a world which is about to be embroiled in a horrific crime.

There's a really steamy feel to the book - which might be because where I live we're experiencing high humidity. But the warm, slightly damp feel that the writing provokes carries the book along - like under tha slow, never-changing pace of the town there is a real sense of menace.

This book connects beautifully to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, along with other books I mentioned there.

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Book: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Mildred D Taylor, 1976

This is a powerful book set in rural Mississipi in the 1930s. Cassie and her family may not have a lot and they might work hard, but at least they have their land. Their family farm cotton on the land, except that taxes and mortgage are beginning to bite and the cotton payments aren't as good as they used to be. So their father is forced to work away. This could be the worst time for this to happen as tensions between the African American and white communities are continuing to rise.

This book has so much heart and soul in it, that it's almost hard to read. You really go along with Cassie through the book, feeling her fear and her indignation. It's a really rich and contradictory world that she lives in, and none of it is watered down for the younger audience. There was a lot in here I didn't really know about before, like the issues confronting share-farmers in the south during this time.

At some points in the book, I actually had to put it down and walk away, because I was so angry with the circumstances that Cassie and the other characters were forced into. My sense of justice, of right and wrong, was really riled up when I was reading, particularly when reading about the differences in education. I know this would be a powerful book for students who have similar ideals of right and wrong.

I would connect this book to Mississippi Trial, 1955, The Rock and the River and One Crazy Summer for the simple fact that this is just one story in a much bigger narrative. I would also connect it to books like Digger J Jones and Who am I? from the Australian My Story series, to point out that injustice is not limited to any one part of the world.

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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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Book: Jacob Have I Loved

Jacob Have I Loved
Katherine Paterson, 1980

Hmm. I know this is a much loved book, written by an author who I enjoy very much. But although it wasn't a bad read, it wasn't a 'stick with you for ages afterwards' read. This might have something to do with the other books I read on the same day, but I just don't feel like it had the emotional punches I was expecting.

The title takes its name from the rivalry between twins. Louise is the elder, and in her mind at least, the least liked twin. Caroline is prettier and more talented and knows how to talk to people. Together with their parents and their increasingly abrasive grandmother, they live on a tiny Chesapeake island called Rass. The book is primarily set during the early 1940s, but other than the boys heading off to war, and a few shortages, there are much more important things in Louise's life than the second world war.

The writing itself is beautiful, you get a really good understanding of the area, leading me to connect it with Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman books, even though they're set at completely different times. But I started to get a little annoyed with the self-centered-ness of Louise. I almost wanted to shake her and tell her to get over herself. When she finally began to move forward in her life was when I started to like her more - unfortunately, that was probably the shortest part of the book.

An enjoyable read, but not as good as Terebithia or Gilly Hopkins.

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Book: No Such Thing As Dragons

No Such Thing As Dragons

Philip Reeve, 2009

Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror are the hardest books for me to read. Often I end up enjoying them once I've begun, but I very rarely feel compelled to read in those genres. Of course, these are big genres in the classroom, so over the past couple of years I've read more and more excellent fantasy and science fiction books (horror is still a little hard to find), and I've developed some favourite authors.

One of those is Philip Reeve, and you only need to read the first page of No Such Thing As Dragons to understand why.

So they went north, the man and the boy, and the roads narrowed, and big slate-headed mountains reared up ready to eat the sky.

 I think I must have read and reread that first line over and over and over again.

The story is actually fairly simple. A boy who became mute after his mother's death is apprenticed to a famed dragon hunter. As they make their ay into the steep mountains, Ansel begins to learn the secrets of his master's success - there is no such thing as dragons. Or is there . . . ?

This is what I would call traditional fantasy, with interesting debates on educated vs. uneducated, real vs myth and right vs. wrong. What makes the book special is the amazing writing, which fills your mind with imagery. I'd love to compare it to other books with dragons, including The Hobbit, Rowan of Rin and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

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Book: Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen

Catherine Gilbert Murdock, 2006

DJ pretty much gave up everything to take on the family farm. There wasn't much choice really, her older brothers left after The Fight, her father is recovering from surgery and her mother is juggling two jobs at once. And who needs basketball. Or a passing grade in English?

Then one day Brian, the quarterback of the opposing high school football team (do the words mortal enemies mean anything) turns up to 'help'. Before she knows what's happening, DJ is training him, and talking with him. Then she decides she wants more in life than cows.

This is an incredibly multi-layered, complex book. There's the outer layer - DJ runs the farm, DJ helps Brian, DJ decides to try out for the football team. But underneath there's relationships between parents and children, relationships between brothers and sisters, finding out who you are in a place which isn't always open to that, forgiveness, talking - so many different levels to peel back and think about. A really great read, and probably good to pair with Joan Bauer or Sarah Dessen books.

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Book: Conspiracy 365: March

Conspiracy 365: March
Gabrielle Lord, 2010

Once again, a quick reminder that there might be spoilers for earlier books in this review. It's a little unavoidable.

Interestingly, although Cal began the year almost completely alone in the world (literally at one point where he's in the water, with only sharks for company), as the year goes on he's collecting a bunch of people who can help him out as he tries to solve his father's mystery (and avoid being killed). March keeps him in contact with Boges (becoming more and more a Q like figure) and the might be helpful/might be trying to betray him Winter, but also introduces Repro - the man who lives off lost and abandoned property, the mysterious Jennifer Smith with her never-ending rotation of jobs and the kindly ute driver who's more than willing to participate in a high speed car chase.

The chase is, of course, just one of the dangers. We also have police officers closing in, and (in one of the most hideous scenes I've ever read) deadly snakes. Will Cal survive and will he keep his humanity intact as he does so? (Interesting to see him struggling with looking after others and right and wrong).

One of the things I'm quite enjoying about the series is the Australian-ness of it. It's not overtly in-your-face, but it feels like an Australian story set in Australian locations. Hopefully the younger authors also feel that.

Some more books that might connect to the series include John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War began series - particularly in the ways Cal/Marsden's characters use anything to keep themselves safe.

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Book: Conspiracy 365: February

Conspiracy 365: February
Gabrielle Lord, 2010

After I read the first Conspiracy 365 book (reviewed here), it was inevitable I would have to move on to the next one. After all, the first one left on a cliff hanger (which I fear will be a constant through the 12 books). Also, I promised my students I would.

Just a fair warning - obviously it'll be hard not to spoil little plot points from previous books. I'm trying not to give any more away than is on the back cover. However, if you're really spoiler phobic, I recommend going and reading the books themselves.

So, Cal's year of horror is continuing, as he escapes from the sump oil well (ugh) of January and launches into February. We soon meet a new friend (or is she?) in the floaty girl, Winter. Meanwhile, Cal's best friend Boges is still managing to be indispensable, despite the fact that school is returning.

These books definitely reside on the other side of reality. Cal, Boges and Winter are all Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu ish - able to leap tall buildings with a single bound (or break in to houses, zoos and other places where they shouldn't be). The events can be rather unrealistic too. Yet the build and release of suspense seems to work in this case, along with the 'how on earth can it get worse for Cal' wondering. (This book includes flooded drains, a lion and a battle with a train).

I think this book series would go well with other adventure types, including CHERUB, Percy Jackson and the Alex Rider series.


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Book: The Defense of Thaddeus A Ledbetter

The Defense of Thaddeus A Ledbetter
John Gosselink, 2010

I have a bit of a soft spot for smart kids who are all kinds of smart but don't always 'get' people. Probably because I was a bit like that myself. And I tend to teach a lot of kids like that. So it was inevitable that I would like Thaddeus A Ledbetter.

Thaddeus is in a bit of trouble. Actually, he's in a lot of trouble, serving a solitary in-school suspension for the rest of the school year. While he's there, he decides to make his case. Through his defense notes, notes his principal makes, emails to his uncle and letters from friends (snuck in by the lunch lady) we learn more about Thaddeus and why he does what he does.

This book reminded me a lot of books like the Betrayal of Bindy Mackenzie, A View from Saturday and Loving Richard Feynman - all full of sweet, smart kids who don't really understand the world around them - mostly because it just doesn't seem to make sense. I'm really looking forward to putting it into students' hands next year.

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