NOVEMBER 30, 2009
Fire at the Triangle Factory by Holly Littlefield
14 year old girls today, do not need to worry about going to work six days a week. In the year 1911, many girls of that age (and younger) had to postpone school and help support their families working. This is the story of Tessa, a Catholic girl, and Minnie, a Jewish girl, who become friends at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. A shirtwaist is a special kind of blouse that was popular during that time.
The factory was not a safe place to work. Big barrels of oil were everywhere, highly flammable fabric was all over the floors and tables, and small fires were a common occurrence. In addition, the elevators only held about 10 people at a time, and the fire escape was old and rickety, and was two floors above ground.
This is the story of how Minnie and Tessa helped each other survive the big fire, and discover the true meaning of friendship. Recommended for students in grades 3-5, however, older students could benefit from it, as a good introduction to a social studies unit.
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NOVEMBER 27, 2009
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
This is a very unique and thought-provoking novel. It’s 1979, and 12 year old Miranda is helping to prepare her mother to appear on The $20,000 Pyramid television show. Miranda asks her mother all kinds of questions and categories that could appear on the show. In the midst of all this preparation, Miranda receives a mysterious note. It says, “I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own.” Miranda is totally puzzled by all of this. However, as a result of this note, and the others that follow, Miranda becomes more aware of the people and places around her. She becomes a better friend. “A Wrinkle in Time,”by Madeline L’Engle is Miranda’s favorite book. She wants to understand time travel. Somehow, she is able to connect the anonymous notes with events that happen in “A Wrinkle in Time.”
This is a mystery and science fiction story that will want to be read more than once, to understand the significance of the clues. This book received a starred review in School Library Journal. Highly recommended for grades 5-8.
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NOVEMBER 25, 2009
For the Duration: The War Years by Tomie de Paola
Author Tomie de Paola writes from his boyhood experiences of growing up during World War ll. Back in his neighborhood of 26 Fairmount Avenue, Tomie is learning very young the seriousness of a country at war. In this book Tomie has lost a cousin dear to him serving in this war. While all of this is going on, Tomie has the typical issues young sixth grade boys have in school. Tomie loves to dance and takes tap dance lessons. On one occasion he takes his tap shoes to school to go to a lesson right after school. Tomie is taunted and teased and his tap shoes taken from him. He is rescued by a sixth grade girl. She befriends him and the bullies leave Tomie alone. Tomie's brother, Buddy, is embarrassed by the whole situation.
In Tomie's hometown, many sacrifices are being made by the whole community. Gasoline and food rationing begin. These are always referred to as only "for the duration." Tomie is learning many things in life are only "for the duration."
This book is a sensitive view of childhood in a time past. It is most suitable for readers in grades 3-4.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2009
Closed for the Season: A Mystery Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Logan's family unknowingly move into the "murder house", where old Mrs. Donaldson was found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs of her ransacked house. Next-door neighbor Arthur wants to find out who not only killed her, but attacked her dog Bear as well. The middle-schoolers become fast friends and, while giving Logan a tour of the town and filling him in on everyone living there, the two begin to research the murder, which involves embezzlement of money from a recently closed amusement park. They may be on the right track, but must find a missing briefcase with the murderer's initials on it before bulldozers arrive to tear the amusement park down to build a shopping development. People are not always as they appear and friendships are tested in the fast-paced mystery. The characters of Logan and Arthur are well developed, and I have to love that they are avid readers and like to visit the library, but other characters are rather one-dimensional. Boys in grades 4-7 will enjoy this.
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NOVEMBER 3, 2009
The Magical Ms. Plum by Bonny Becker
Ms. Plum is an unusual teacher in gettering her concepts across to her students. Every year Ms. Plum believes she has the best class ever. In Ms. Plum's classroom is a closet. When she sends a student to get supplies from the closet, out follows something mysterious and intriguing. From out of this closet followed one student, a black bird who would not stop squawking "pig snout." Another student had a monkey riding a snowball come behind him as he left the closet. How do these creatures come out of the closet? There is magic in this classroom and in the presentation of the teacher. Each time a creature comes from the closet, a lesson can be learned for the whole class. Read and find out all the interesting things that come out of this classroom closet. See for yourself how interesting Ms. Plum's class can be. This book is a delightful fantasy most suitable for readers in grades 2-4.
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