Tag Archives: Anne G.

Anne’s Summer Reading Hits

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This summer I have been keeping busy reading juvenile fiction. These are my top four selections:

#1: Restart
by Gordon Korman

This is a MUST read – my favorite book of the year!!!

A boy wakes up after falling off a roof with amnesia to find out that he was a real jerk. How does he “restart” his new life?

 

#2 Superstar
by Mandy Davis

A homeschooled boy on the autism spectrum must attend public school so his mom can go back to work after the death of his astronaut father. This book has many Indiana references.

 

 

#3 End of the Wild
by Nicole Helget

This book touches on so many topics with balance and sensitivity: death, poverty, fracking, environment, forgiveness and PTSD. A poignant read!

 

 

#4 Mr. Gedrick and Me
by Patrick Carmen

A modern day Mary Poppins! Since Stanley’s father died his household is a disaster, until Mr. Gedrick appears one day and sets things back in order. Delightful read!

 

 

Review: Superstar

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Superstar
 by Mandy Davis
5 stars

Moving back to Indiana where his late astronaut father attended Purdue University, Lester has a difficult time transitioning from home schooling to attending a 5th grade classroom.  As mom returns to work as a librarian it becomes apparent that Lester has sensory issues and is an undiagnosed autism spectrum student. The book gives Lester and his classmates authentic voices and is a heart-felt read.  I LOVED IT!

 

 

Read-alikes

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Review: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

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Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
by Jessica Townsend
5 stars

Anyone who loves Harry Potter should give this new series a try!

This delightful story centers on poor Morrigan Crowe – a cursed child born on Eventide who is doomed to die midnight on her 11th birthday. In her city Morrigan is the scapegoat for any and everyone’s misfortune. Her cold indifferent family seems to even look forward to her demise. On the evening of her impending death an unlikely man shows up to save her and spirits her away to a secret and magical city where she is entered into a series of quests to join the Wundrous Society. Listen to the audio book – IT’S AMAZING!

 

Read-alikes

Miss Ellicott’s School for the Magically Minded by Sage Blackwood

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Review: Restart

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Restart
by Gordon Korman
5 stars

Chase is a junior high athlete who falls off a roof one day and wakes up with total amnesia. He doesn’t even recognize his own mother. As he learns to navigate his “new” circumstances he gradually finds out that he is a bully and a jerk. He sees the terror in the eyes of his 4 yr. old sister and in the faces of his classmates.

This book has universal appeal! I had a 5th grade boy come up to the desk when I was talking about it to give his enthusiastic recommendation! I couldn’t put it down!

 

Read-alikes

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson

Fast Break by Mike Lupica

Review: Jacky Ha-Ha

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Jacky Ha-Ha
by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein
4 stars

An actress mother on her way to the Oscars narrates the story of her life at 12 when she lived on the Jersey Shore in 1990. She is one of seven sisters who live with their life guard father while military Mom serves in Desert Storm. Jacky is the class clown (who also suffers with a stutter) and doesn’t have any idea of when to stop her wise cracking ways – especially toward her teachers. She starts the year with numerous detentions while trying to laugh her problems away. Her salvation is a new English teacher who involves her in a play and channels her need to perform in a positive way.

 

Read-alikes

The Marvels by Brian Selznick

Someone I Wanted to Be by Aurelia Wills

Here’s Hank: Bookmarks are People Too by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver