Kids Books - Family
Song for a Whale
By Lynne Kelly
Iris is loney. Being the only deaf girl at her school, many people ignore her or try to hard to do sign language like Nina. Her best friend Wellden goes to a school for the deaf that Iris wants to go to, except her mom doesn't want that for Iris. She thinks best when it's just her and the old radios Irish cleans up and repairs. So when is science, Iris learns about a whale, Blue 55, who is unlike the rest of his pod and is likely deaf. He doesn't fit in with anyone and probably doesn't even know his own parents. Iris's heart aches, her nose runs, and she thinks...that this is how she feels all the time too. Iris is destined to help Blue 55. Making a song for him and writing back and forth with a worker of Blue 55, Iris is more determined than ever to help him. Secretly booking a cruise with her lonely deaf grandmother to visit Blue 55 2,000 miles away, Iris is not only helping Blue 55, but herself and someone very close to her. Will Iris's plan work? Or will it just be another failed attempt? Get your tissues ready, for Song for a Whale is full of sign language, self discovery, and whales. Happy reading!
Little Women
By Louisa May Alcott
This is a wonderful book. It is about four sisters: the March sisters. Meg; the eldest and the prettiest, Jo; the tomboyish, author, Beth; the sweet, shy one, and Amy; the youngest and most self conscious artist. They and their wise mother have to face the brave of the war going on, with the hanging feeling that their soldier father might not come home. While so, they meet a young man named Laurie, who soon is like a part of the family. Later in the book, Laurie falls in love with Jo. Jo, however, does not feel the same way.When Laurie confesses, Jo breaks his heart. I for one, disagree with this. I feel Laurie and Jo would have made a lovely couple. Later on, Beth gets brushed with death once, but manages to survive. I was really sad when Beth died from scarlet fever, and I wish she didn't. When the girls grow up, each one goes to pursue their dreams except for Meg, who marries John Brooke, Laurie's old tutor. They have twins, and have a happy family. As for Amy, she heads off to Europe with grumpy old Aunt March to paint. While in Europe, she stumbles upon Laurie, who also tried to escape from home for a while to try to mend his heartbreak. Honestly, I think Laurie was being a little creepy. But of course, Amy and Laurie fall in love and get married. And for the last but best character, Jo, she escaped to New York City to study, and writes a book. While there, she falls in love with a college professor, and they later get married. It was a very good story. I recommend it to anyone looking for a relatable historical fiction with excellent vocabulary.
Mary Anne Saves the Day: Full-Color Edition (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix #3)
By Ann M. Martin
The main conflict is a little different for this story, the third book in The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series, because this time the problem is internal. The Baby-Sitters Club members have all turned on each other, because of a fight that none of them remembers anymore. Kristy is mad because Claudia accused her of being a job hog, and Mary Ann and Stacey called her bossy. Claudia is mad because Kristy, Stacey, and Mary Ann all called her a job hog too. Stacey is mad because everyone else is mad, but she truly wants everyone to make up and get over it. Mary Ann is especially mad because Stacey called her a shy baby and Kristy called her a crybaby. All because Kristy took a baby-sitting job without consulting the other members, because it was for Lucy, a newborn baby, I mean who can blame her, babies are cute! Mary Ann is also struggling with her overprotective father, because he won't let her wear cool clothes, wear her hair down instead of in braids, and stay out later so she can take more baby-sitting jobs. Mary Ann feel alone since Kristy, her former best friend isn't talking to her, so Mary Ann makes a new friend in Dawn, the new kid at school. Eventually the Baby-Sitters Club members come to their senses and make up, and they even get a new member for their club, but what happened in between is where the lesson really is. I would recommend this to kids who like easy reads or graphic novels.
Fallout
By Todd Strasser
The Boy at the top of the Mountain by John Boyne is a historical fiction book. Pierrot is a young boy who grew up in Paris and is sent to Bavaria which is a free state of Germany. Topics addressed in this book are Holocaust, family, racism, orphanage. The theme of this book is that one bad choice can affect your life greatly. A quote that stands out to me is one of the nazis saying “there is nothing to fear” showing that they had complete trust that Hitler and the higher up Nazis were in the right. I liked this book because it was super interesting to see how the author would portray a young boy and his life living at Hitler’s house. I would definitely recommend this book and would give it 4 out of 5 stars.
The Terrible Two
By Mac Barnett, Jory John
6 Reasons Why You Should Read THE TERRIBLE TWO 1) Ever pulled a great prank? The characters in this book may just have you beat. For example, in the first few pages someone pulls the ULTIMATE prank on the school principal. This book will make you want to become a member of the super secret pranking society known as the International Order of Disorder. 2) The book has really short chapters that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Be careful you don't stay up TOO late devouring chapter after chapter under the covers with your flashlight. (I'm a teacher. I had to say it.) 3) You'll meet two hilarious characters who will have you laughing out loud constantly. Miles and Niles will become so real to you that by the end you'll swear they're good friends of yours in real life. 4) Do you know what it feels like to be the new kid in town? Pretty tough, right? Well, you'll be able to understand exactly how Miles feels. He's forced to leave all his friends behind and move with his mom to a boring little cow town called Yawnee Valley. 5) Speaking of cows, you'll learn all sorts of funny, weird facts about these lovable bovine creatures. For example, "Cows have 360-degree panoramic vision. Want to sneak up on a cow? You can't. They see you." Crazy! 6) In this book, the drawings, hand written letters, photos, and cartoons are just as cool as the writing itself. If you're a fan of the Wimpy Kid Series or James Patterson's Middle School books, then you'll love The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Bonus: This book is brand new. Grab a copy ASAP to be one of the first kids to read it in 2015!
One of Us Is Lying
By Karen M. McManus
Karen M. McManus’ novel, One Of Us Is Lying follows the lives of five of Bayview High School’s students- Bronwyn: smart, factual, studious, and headed for Yale, Cooper: athletic, charming, confident, and the star player on Bayview’s baseball team, Addy: pampered, popular, sophisticated and one of the most envied girls at Bayview High, Nate: the highschool hoodlum, notorious drug dealer, and Juvenile Delinquent, and finally, Simon: the self-proclaimed omniscient narrator and the infamous creator of Bayview High’s gossip app About That. When they all end up in detention after school, only four of the five leave the room alive. Simon is dead- and Bronwyn, Cooper, Addy, & Nate are now prime suspects in Simon’s murder- and just before Simon was going to release a juicy About That update on every person in that room. With a rousing plotline full of twists and turns, One Of Us Is Lying is eloquently written, and an over-all brilliant book! I enjoyed the authentic characters and intrigue and would recommend it for middle school readers and up! Definitely one of the best Mystery/Suspense YA novels I’ve read in a while!
Froggy's Sleepover
By Jonathan London
This story is about two friends having a sleepover. They had a crazy night together. This is a fun story. My favorite part is the ending. I think you should read this book.
Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling, Margot Apple (Illustrator), Margo Apple (Illustrator)
By Margot Apple (Illustrator), Margo Apple (Illustrator) by Patrick Skene Catling
i like this book because they gave john a lesson; always listen to your parents. my favorite part was when john turn her mother into a big chocolate and then went with the store keeper that was my favorite part. I remember because I finish reading it just today a will recommend you to read it once you read a chapter you want to keep going! I read 3 chapters ahead in my school it was so interesting actually it was long because it had 12 chapters put in the end a was like what because i think there's a 2 book because at the end it only said "sold," that's what I think.
I Funny: A Middle School Story
By James Patterson
Jamie Grimm is a middle school student in a wheelchair who lives with the Smileys (his nickname for them since they don’t laugh or smile); his aunt, uncle and their three children who don’t have any sense of humor, and gets bullied by their older son. Jamie is on a mission; to be the greatest standup sitdown comedian in the world. He is a natural at joking; his brain is wired for it. After school and on the weekends, he goes to his Uncle Frankie’s Diner and practices his jokes on customers with a result of endless laughing. Then, his Uncle tells him about The Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic Contest. Without telling anyone, Jamie starts practicing jokes everywhere he can; with his friends Pierce: who has a vast knowledge, Gaynor: who has tattoos and a nose-piercing, Cool Girl: who thinks Jamie is a book-carrier, and are very close friends, and Gilda: the girl with the frizzy hair. He also practices with the Smileys and tries to make the un-laughable laugh. He wins first place for the city competition-but will he win the state? What I thought about the book: I Funny is very funny. Extremely funny. I laughed endlessly. James Patterson is a wonderful author. After I read his other middle school books, Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life and Middle School: Get Me Out Of Here!; I raced to get this from the library. His books are almost like middle school diaries. It’s almost like he was writing his experiences from middle school. He writes so well. The pictures (by the awesome Laura Park) are a great addition to the book. Beautifully inked, they help you understand the story way better. S if you want some great jokes, for example (I almost busted a gut with this one) : “Hey, have you heard about the kidnapping?” ”No.” ”Don’t worry, he’s still sleeping.”; read I Funny. And if that doesn’t make you read it, then I don’t know what will. Xander
Football Champ: A Football Genius Novel
By Tim Green
kingdumpster
Football Champ is a book about Troy White and his football genius gift. He is an offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, and a ball boy. Troy has never met his father but has a talent for football. With the help of his mom and Seth Hawlloway an Atlanta Falcon, he is able to become an offensive coordinator and quarterback for his football team. My favorite part of the book is how Troy overcome obstacles with the help of Seth, his mom, and the Atlanta Falcon's owner. I recommend this book to anyone who likes the Tim Green series, and adventure and football books, and lots of expression. I hope you like this book.









