Just finished, and just started

I just finished Against the Odds, by European author Marjolijn Hof.  This book may be short, but it is intense!  Kiki lives with her mom, dad, and really old dog, Mona.  Her dad is a doctor, but not the regular kind.  He goes to war zones to help take care of the people that need medical attention most.  Kiki always has a hard time when he father leaves, but this trip seems worse.  She begins to think about odds that he will not come back.  Once she starts thinking like this, she begins to do some pretty strange things.  Her behavior get worse as her fear grows.

I thought this would be a great book to read around Veteran's day, because although Kiki's father isn't a soldier, he is still putting his life at risk to help others.  That is truly heroic - even if Kiki doesn't always see it that way.  This book is definitely unique in its plot, as well as the way it's written.  So if you are interested in     trying something new, Against the Odds may be for you.


The next book I just started is very different from everything else I've been reading lately.  You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys, is a combination of poetry and short stories.  This book was written by Sharon Flake, who also wrote the amazing and very popular book The Skin I'm In.   I received an email a few months ago from Amazon let me know this was coming out, but then I was so excited to see it at our school book fair! I was very lucky to receive a copy from one of my generous students and his family.  Anyways, this books is great so far! I'm only about 30 pages in, but so far I really like that there are so many different stories being featured.  No one story can sum up the lives of all teenage boys.

I am also excited because in reading the authors biographical information, I saw that she wrote another book for girls called, "Who Am I Without Him?"  This also looks fantastic, and I can't wait to get that one for my class library as well!

Over the summer

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted my first blog.  Now that school is back, I need to get back to blogging and sharing the books that I've read.   Here are some of the highlights from the last few months:

Does My Head Look Big In This, by Randa Abdel-Fattah was an excellent book! Although it was a little long, and dealt with some pretty serious issues of race, religion, discrimination, bullying, I think many of my students would enjoy reading this book.  It is easy to connect with the main character, even if you aren't Muslim.  The protagonist, Amal, is a smart, funny, fashion conscious high school girl.  What sets her apart from others girls, is the traditional Muslim head covering she decides to start wearing all the time.  As the book develops, we see why this decision is difficult for Amal, her family, and her friends.  You also learn how Amal deals with some of the everyday problems that all teenagers face, such as liking a guy, fighting with your parents, and knowing how to help your friends when they have a big problem.   I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars! I enjoyed it, and think if you are interested in learning about a new culture, while also exploring the world of realistic teen fiction, this is the book for you!


Another great book I read this summer is for anyone who loves a story that mixes punk music, family drama, love, and the occasional crashing of motorcycles through glass windows.  Born to Rock, written by Gordon Korman, who also wrote the books Juvie 3  and Schooled, is realistic fiction that takes you on quite an adventure.  Leo Carraway always felt a little different.  One day he finds out why.  As much as he tries to ignore his past, as he grows up, this secret starts to eat away at him.  One day, it finally comes to a head and he finds out the WHOLE story that his mom has been keeping a secret.   Once he discovers who he really is, Leo goes on a journey to find out what that really means, and to hopefully resolve another problem concerning his academic future.

What I really liked about this book was that it was REAL!  People got upset at each other, lies were told, secrets were kept, but the characters were all real, and so were most of their situations.  Leo and his friends were just like any group of teenagers trying to figure themselves out, but often getting lost along the way.  I think anyone that was ever a teenagers, or still is, can understand that.  Just like in real life, not every aspect of this story was wrapped up in an ideal way.  Leo makes a discover near the end of the book that is somewhat disturbing, but he deals with it, because that's life.  4 out of 5 star for Born to Rock!

The Irresistible Henry House

I discovered this book while driving home from school and listening to NPR (National Public Radio) a few months ago.  Another author was reviewing this book and the plot sounded unlike anything I had ever heard before!  The story is set on a college campus in the late 1940's where children from orphanages are raised as "practice babies" by women in the Home Economics department.  After a few years of living in the practice house with 10 different mothers, the practice babies are either sent back to the orphanage or are adopted by a family.  Although this sounds completely made up, it is based on a true story! This happened at universities all over the country for many years.

Although I am less than a quarter through the book, I am hooked and can't wait to see what happens to Henry House as he grows up.  How will living in the practice house, with so many different mothers, and no real stability change him?