ReadWonder: October 2020

Saturday, October 31, 2020

One Last Shot by John David Anderson

How I Heard About It:
*I am a HUGE fan of John David Anderson and his novels. I was so excited when I found out he had a new story out for 2020. With a high pile of TBR books, I didn't get to the novel as soon as I hoped to, but once I did, I was all in.

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The story centers around young Malcolm who is the only child of his two parents who don't always get along.

*As much as he would like to, Malcolm can't bring himself to enjoy baseball as much as his father would like him to.

*Once he quits baseball, Malcolm finds himself relieved and at peace. Then he and his dad discover "mini-golf" and Malcolm is back in the world of competition.

*Malcolm enjoys this new sport, but just wants to play for fun. His father has other plans.

*While "training" for a tournament, Malcolm meets a new coach, a new friend, and finds out new information about his parents and their family.

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:

*When I heard the story was about mini-golf, I wasn't so sure what I was in store for. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed EVERYTHING about the story.

*As a kid, I was never very good at sports, so I could relate to Malcolm and what he dealt with.

*The story is so much more than about sports. John David Anderson addresses family, friendship, secrets, and learning to love yourself. So many wonderful and touching life-lessons.

*I enjoyed Malcolm's relationship with both the coach and his new friend. They added greatly to the story.

*Even though issues with parents can be difficult, Anderson did a tremendous job of writing about Malcolm, his parents, and what they all had to deal with.

Who Should Read It:
*The novel would be perfect for a class read aloud. In fact, I'm thinking of using it this year in my fourth grade classroom. Individual readers in grades four through six would be ideal for the story. Middle-school readers would also find enjoyment and satisfaction with Malcolm and his journey. Happy Reading!

Rating: 5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Leaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome

How I Heard About It:
*After seeing many positive reviews about this middle-grade book, I decided to give it a try. It was an Audible listen for me and quite enjoyable. I hadn't read the "first" book, but not sure it made a difference with this companion story.

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The author brings the reader back to 1946 and the deep south.

*Lymon is a young boy who doesn't have the best reputation in town.

*Lymon's father is spending time in the "pen" and his mother hasn't been in his life.

*For most of his life, he has lived with his grandparents, but when he is forced to head north to live with his mother, Lymon's life is in upheaval.

*Once with his mother, Lymon must figure out who he is and what he wants to stand for.

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:

*I loved the narration.

*The start-up of the story was a bit slow and I began to have my doubts about the book.

*Once I got into the plot, I enjoyed getting to know Lymon and learning about life in the late 1940's.

*There were times when I thought it might have been helpful to have read the first book in the series, but overall everything made sense.

*My heart hurt for Lymon when he was with his mother and her new husband, but know it was an accurate picture for that time period.

Who Should Read It:
*Of course readers of Finding Langston will definitely want to continue the story of Lymon. Because of the pacing and quiet nature of the plot, I would recommend the novel for readers in grades five and above. Happy Reading!

Rating: 3 STARS out of 5 Stars

Lightfall #1 - The Girl & The Galdurian by Tim Probert

How I Heard About It:
*I received this graphic novel from the publisher. I knew nothing of the story, but was excited to have a new graphic novel to read. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and finished in one sitting.

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Bea is the "granddaughter" of the Pig Wizard.

*Cad is a member of the Galdurians, an ancient and well known group of "creatures".

*Bea has lived a relatively quite life with her grandfather until the day she ventures out into the forest.

*It is during this walk, she meets Cad and both of their lives are changed.

*Cad is on the search for his "people" and Bea thinks her grandfather can help, but when they return to her home, the Pig Wizard is gone.

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:

*I loved both the graphics and the story.

*The adventure was engaging and I kept thinking how much young readers would enjoy.

*The characters they met along the way were unique, thoughtful, and authentic.

*The plot was one of a kind, fun, and full of suspense.

*Once I finished the last page, I was left wanting more because there was a definite cliff-hanger.

Who Should Read It:
*I believe readers in grades three, four, and five would enjoy the adventure of Bea and Cad. Of course sixth and seventh grade children who enjoy graphic novels would also be an audience to consider for the book. Happy Reading!

Rating: 4 STARS out of 5 Stars

The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

How I Heard About It:
*A fellow "nerdy" reader recommend this novel to me. I had a stack of books to read, so I decided to listen to the story during my commute to and from work. Both the narration and the story were excellent.

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Alberta is a surfer who loves the water and the beach. She is also the only black girl in her small town.

*When Edie, another black girl, moves in across the street, Alberta couldn't be more thrilled.

*The two of them form a fast friendship.

*Alberta's best friend Laramie isn't sure how she feels about the new girl Edie and what their friendship means for her and Alberta.

*When Edie and Alberta find some old journals in the bed and breakfast in which Edie and her mother are living in, not only are their lives changed, but also those closely around them.

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:

*As I mentioned, the narration of the story was excellent and so easy to listen to.

*I enjoyed the story and getting to know the three main characters.

*As with any good middle-grade novel, the "mean" girl was portrayed with accuracy and grit.

*The historical fiction aspect of the plot added greatly to the present day story.

*While there was nothing new or out of the box about the "friendships", the story moved at a great pace, the characters were strong, and several life-lessons were presented.

Who Should Read It:
*In my opinion, this would be a perfect novel to put in the hands of a female reader in grades five through eight. I think they would be able to relate to all the female characters and what they had to deal with. Happy Reading!

Rating: 4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Wonder Wednesday #351 (CLOUDS)

Wonder Wednesday - Clouds (Zach Sobiech)

*So the other weekend, I sat down and watch the new Disney movie "Clouds".

*I had used the song in the past for a Music Monday selection.

*I always love sharing Zach's story and message of hope with my students.

*Zach grew up in the Twin Cities where I'm from. He story touched me in ways I can't describe in words.

*To me, Zach, his journey, and the way he decided to live out his final days are truly a WONDER.

*Here are some videos I shared with my students for Music Monday...

Monday, October 26, 2020

An Inside Look #150 (Author INTERVIEW)

An Inside Look with Shelley Pearsall

(Authors of Things Seen from Above)

*Welcome to my favorite feature of my blog.

*Season #ONE (June of 2016 to March of 2017)

*Season #TWO (Summer of 2017)

*Season #THREE (School Year 2017/2018)

*Season #FOUR (Summer/fall of 2018)

*Season #FIVE (School Year 2018/2019)

*Season #SIX (Summer 2019)

*Season #SEVEN (Fall 2019)

*Season #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

*I'm excited to be back for season #NINE with brand new interviews/authors.

*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the EIGHTH interview in which I'm calling Season #NINE.

*Thank you to Shelley for being the One-Hundred Fiftieth author I've had the pleasure of interviewing. I truly appreciate it.

*Here is my Review of the Novel...

Things Seen from Above Review

Things Seen From Above

by Shelley Pearsall

(February 4, 2020)

How did you come to know April?
By reaching back in my imagination (many years...) to talk to my very awkward sixth grade self -- and also by reaching forward to interview a group of current sixth graders who agreed to chat with me about their lives today. I was surprised that some things (like the Friday night football social drama) actually hadn't changed that much since I was a kid.

What do you think is her most admirable quality?
Persistence in searching for answers -- and empathy.

Is there anything you wish April would have changed or done differently in her story?
To be honest, I wish that she'd had the time to get to know Joey even better. I feel like she and Veena (another recess helper) really only scratched the surface of who he was, but that's the reality of life. It was the reality of who Joey preferred to be -- like his art, he was a fleeting presence.

Or maybe I was leaving room for a second book about Joey himself.

What do you think she can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?

I think April and Veena both demonstrate the values of empathy and compassion. Despite the fact that they weren't always treated with empathy by others, they persisted in reaching out to Joey. Their single-minded focus led them to discover a marvelously gifted person who ultimately changed their lives and community. That's the lesson -- reaching out to others may ultimately help you too.

How did you research April and the circumstances she found herself in?

The research for this book and its characters was really wide-ranging. In preparation, I read about Indian art and culture, crop circles, wild plants as foods, Kellogg's cereal, visual-spatial learners, dyslexia, Polaroid cameras -- you name it! I even visited Stonehenge in England (an example of land art) and interviewed a Welsh artist who creates spectacular designs on beaches.

Do you and April share any similarities?

Definitely. Like April and Joey, I was an outsider. (And yes, I'm still that way as an adult.) April and I share the same fierce persistence, curiosity, love of learning, and commitment to kindness.

What was the hardest scene to write about April?

Getting her perspectives to integrate and work together with Joey's. Joey sees the world through simple words and complex illustrations. April sees the world in a more personal, narrative way. Art vs. words, insider vs. outsider, looking down vs. looking up, little detail vs. big picture -- I wanted to show the variety.

But it was SO tough to get those perspectives to connect smoothly. I did a lot of rewrites and chapter shuffling. (I also don't have the same visual-spatial ability that Joey does, so sometimes I had to climb on ladders or make models to picture what he might be seeing.)

Who do you think was April’s biggest supporter and why?

Mr. Ulysses, the janitor. He's an ever-present background figure who notices all and doesn't judge -- and I love that about him...and about janitors in general.

Why do you think some young people, like April, are willing to go the extra mile to help a peer, when some, or most, other people look the other way and do nothing?

I think there is an innate ability among some young people to easily imagine or relate to someone else's life. Maybe that comes from upbringing, personality, or being in a similar position in the past. But I think it is a skill that can be taught and encouraged in all kids. That's a major reason why I write books with this theme.

What do you think April is doing as the present time?

I picture her being in the Peace Corps or volunteering on a service project somewhere in the world. She will always be a learner and a "giver" I think. I imagine Joey being just like Marc Treanor, the amazing beach artist I met in Wales. A gentle gifted soul "a rare bird" who is just creating art somewhere in the world for the sake of beauty, peace, and joy.

*Here are links to the One Hundred Forty-Nine interviews...

SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

Interview #1 with Elly Swartz (Author of Finding Perfect)

Interview #2 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Serpent King)

Interview #3 with Nora Raleigh Baskin (Author of Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story)

Interview #4 with Cammie McGovern (Author of Just My Luck)

Interview #5 with Kate Messner (Author of The Seventh Wish)

Interview #6 with Paul Griffin (Author of When Friendship Followed Me Home)

Interview #7 with K.A. Holt (Author of House Arrest)

Interview #8 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #9 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Counting Thyme)

Interview #10 with Claire Legrand (Author of Some Kind of Happiness)