Riding Freedom

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan is a not very compelling quick read with a good theme about being free to live your life the way you want, developing friendships, and persevering through difficult times. Despite the bland  writing, the story became more interesting to me when I discovered by reading ahead to the Afterword that it was based on the true story of a girl who pretended to be a boy during the mid-1800s in order to accomplish her goals.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman was recommended by my daughter Meredith on Instagram. So I downloaded it on my phone and got back into reading again over Christmas vacation! Bachman’s quirky characters and sagacious writing style make his books easy to read! I so enjoyed being immersed in the bizarre world of Elsa and her family, and I definitely want to move to a spunky country like Sweden. Interestingly, I have a fifth grade student this year with all the weirdly charming characteristics of Elsa. Ellie would be perfect for the role in a movie version of this insightful novel. Good choice, Meredith!

“Full of heart, hope, forgiveness, and the embracing of differences, Elsa’s story is one that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page.” (Library Journal)

Poppy (2)

Poppy by Avi is a classic that still engages fifth graders today, as it has for decades! It works wonderfully as a rea aloud and in literature groups. Contains vivid descriptions and powerful imagery as well as well-drawn out characters, albeit personified animals. An added bonus is the science connection to nature’s network of habitats and food chains and the circle of life.

The conflict between Poppy, the deer mouse and her nemesis Mr. Ocax, the great horned owl, plays out with the suspense and intensity of a horror film. To the delight of my students, I found myself embellishing my read alouds with extra bits like, “No Poppy, don’t go near that old log! Danger, danger, run Poppy, run!”

The cantankerous porcupine’s dialogue is punctuated with amusing alliterative phrases that capture the reader’s attention and reinforce the teaching of figurative language. The satisfying resolution not only ties together many plot strands for our heroine, Poppy, but also provides openings for several prequels and sequels to the story. I’m hoping this will inspire some of my reluctant readers  to continue to explore further adventures with the creatures of Dimwood Forest.

Sophia's War

This book has been on my list for a while and I finally found time to read it along with my first leveled reading group of girls from LAST school year. Another group of fifth grade girls learned a lot and enjoyed this selection again this past school year. I like Avi’s detailed writing style which incorporates characters thoughts and feelings while also painting a vivid picture of the living conditions during the early years of the American Revolution. The strong willed and sensitive fictional Sophia is insterted into the well known saga of the famous traitor Benedict Arnold and British major John Andres.

The plot parallels the story line of another historical fiction book for adults that was also made into a television mini-series, TURN: Washingron’s Spies.

The Road Back

I bought The Road Back for $20 at a Memorial Day cookout in Falmouth. The author, Kathleen Madden, is my friend Lisa’s cousin. I was called upon to attend the family get together at Jane and John’s because the crazy Ohio cousins were visiting for the Boston wedding of Steve Madden’s son. (Not THE Steve Madden!) The Ohio cousins are the kids of Lisa’s mother’s brother Phil. Kathy is the daughter of Lisa’s mother’s brother Hank.

It was a great party. Not only did I eat steamers, but I received an invite to another cousin’s son’s Charleston, SC wedding in the fall. And I was really impressed to meet Kathy, the published author of her own memoir. wickedlocal news

Update: I did indeed attend the wedding in November. I fell in love with Charleston, visited Fort Sumter, and had an adventure filled weekend — my first overnight trip — with my friend Lisa, who informed me that I’m the WORST snorer she has ever heard!

Hope's Revolutionary War Diary

 
A new reading unit inspired me to review  Five Smooth Stones: Hope's Revolutionary War Diary by Kristiana Gregory LEXILE 640. Many fifth grade girls enjoyed the book as an alternative to The Fighting Ground which I assigned to several boys. There is a newer version that is more appealing than the old-fashioned hardcover editions of the Dear America series. I also discovered two additional diaries that are sequels to the story: We Are Patriots and When Freedom Comes.

A Long Walk To Water

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park is a great book to help students comprehend the unequal distribution of clean drinking water throughout the world and the importance of water conservation. It’s easy for us to take for granted the abundance of fresh water that tumbles out of faucets in our homes in North America. Many other areas of the world do not share this good fortune, and by far, our continent ranks the highest in consumption of the world’s precious water supply.

🌊 The book’s complex plot structure incorporates two parallel stories in which a search for water plays a significant role. It details the heartbreaking journey of one of Sudan’s “lost boys” during the 1970s as well as the more contemporary plight of a young girl and her family dealing with the hardship of water shortages in their African village.

Rich language, phrasing, characterization, and thematic development make this book a worthwhile choice for all guided reading levels during our unit on the importance of water.