MARCH 21, 2011
Stand Straight, Ella Kate by Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise
This book is a true “tall” tale. It is the story of the life of Ella Kate Ewing. Ella was born in 1872 on a farm in Missouri. She was tiny like any baby. As she grew, she grew very tall early and continued until she was 8 feet 4 inches tall. Ella had an endocrine disorder that is known as gigantism. During this period of time not much was known about this disorder and so no early intervention was available for her. Ella Kate was teased and hurtfully made fun of in public. Her parents decided to keep her at home and educated her there. However, at age 18, Ella herself wanted to venture out into public and not hide any longer. Ella was given a great sense of self esteem from her parents. They would always tell her to “stand straight Ella Kate” and Ella did. Ella wanted to pay her parents back for the love and support they gave her. Against their wishes, Ella earned money as a museum exhibit in Chicago. Ella had to have special clothing and furniture made for herself. She earned enough money to pay for her own home with high ceilings that she designed. She was very happy to pay off the mortgage on her parent’s farm. Ella’s life is an informative look at being different and not letting that stop a person from succeeding. This book is most suitable for readers in grades 2-5.
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MARCH 18, 2011
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
It is 1935, and the United States is in the midst of the Great Depression. Jobs are scarce, and Shirley Temple is "America's Little Darling," as she sings and dances her way across the screen. Turtle and her mom, Sadiebelle, do not live a Hollywood lifestyle as they clean houses for a living. Unfortunately, Sadiebelle's latest employer doesn't allow children, so Turtle is being shipped off to Key West, Florida to stay with an aunt she has never met. Turtle arrives at her aunt's house and discovers that she has several cousins. Aunt Minnie is surprised by Turtle's appearance, as Sadiebelle's letter has not arrived.
Turtle quickly adjusts to life on the Keys, as she hangs around with "The Diaper Gang," the #1 babysitting service, learns to eat all kinds of fresh fruit and is introduced to the grandmother she never knew she had. She also goes sponge fishing and meets many local characters,including writer, Ernest Hemingway.
When Turtle and her friends are on an island, and find pirate gold, they all think their lives will have a happy Hollywood ending. Suddenly, a hurricane starts up and their boat has floated away. Will they be rescued? Will it be a happy ending? Will Turtle's dreams of a family come true? Read this Newbery Honor winning story to find out. Recommended for grades 4-6.
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MARCH 9, 2011
Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
This novel is based on true events that took place between the years 1938 to 1942. In the story twelve-year-old Edith leaves her tiny German town of Stockstadt and travels many miles to a foreign place (to her) known as Chicago, Illinois. Her parents can’t get permission to leave. Her parents promise they will come and join her later. Edith has challenges in the school she attends and even living with her Aunt Mildred in Chicago. The ending is rather sad but a realistic one given the historical time period. However, the tenacity of the character, Edith, shows the survival of the human spirit to live and hold on to hope.
About twelve hundred children were actually rescued from the Holocaust by Americans as part of a humanitarian project known as One Thousand Children Project. Children younger and older than Edith left all that they had known, family, community, language and were sent with adults to America by ship without their parents. For most of those children, this was their only hope. However, upon arriving in this new place of freedom some children found discrimination and isolation which became a new challenge to overcome. This story is based on events from the life of the author’s mother and is sensitively written to help us not forget what some have endured in the past.
This historical fiction book is most suitable for readers in grades 5-8.
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MARCH 2, 2011
Storyteller by Patricia Reilly Giff
Elizabeth is a shy, awkward girl who feels like she doesn't fit in. The only daughter of her widowed father, Elizabeth is sent to stay with her Aunt Libby, while her father goes to Australia to work. Elizabeth barely knows her Aunt Libby, but she is going there to get to know her mother's family. At her aunt's house, Elizabeth discovers an antique drawing of a girl who looks exactly like her! Eliza, or Zee as she is known, is the girl in the drawing and she is an ancestor to Elizabeth. Libby and Elizabeth become close friends as they do more research on Zee.
Through Zee's diaries, and history books, they learn of Zee's struggles and triumphs before and during the Revolutionary War. Told in alternating voices of 21st century Elizabeth and 18th century Zee, we find these two girls are very similar. Both have lost their mothers and both are strong-willed! Zee and Elizabeth are also survivors and storytellers. Throughout Zee's story, we learn of the horrors of war, and of the battles that are fought to save our country. Good characterization of both girls makes the reader feel connected to them. Based on historical events that took place in upstate New York, this is an excellent historical fiction read. Recommended for grades 4-7.
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