Using books to deal with children's emotions and problems is a wonderful teaching tool. Books are also a fantastic way to open the classroom for discussion on topics that have meaning for every student. Some of the best writing can come from classroom discussions and the emotions that come from these discussions. Worry is a feeling that is universal. Big Universe.
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What a wonderful and sad book dealing with wartime, being students and becoming totally enthralled by your teacher's rendition of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and differences between people such as color, breeding and the horror that happens during war. It was such a visual novel, I loved Matilda, Mr. Watts and the simplicity of how they lived and hated what happened to all of them during this time. A Reading Olympic book for this year and I can't wait to see what the students say as they read and after they read this book.
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This is my 3rd book (even though this was written first!!!) and Lauren is a teen who can't believe she is dating the most perfect guy, Dave. He is kind, considerate and Lauren wonders, "what does he see in me" and everyone in school wonders the same thing too. Lauren cares about him, but she is not toally into Dave the way he is into her. Lauren's real estate dad is never around and if he is, he is usually distracted and unlucky in love. Her mom took off when she was six and since then, Lauren's dad moves women into their home so they can be one big happy family. Well, it never works and one time, Lauren's dad brought a woman with a son, Evan, to live with them. Lauren and Evan got along great, even though their parents did not. When they break up, Evan moves out and life goes on....until years later when Evan sits next to her in World History. What happens next is the conflict that Lauren feels about caring for the greatest guy in the world and wanting Evan. High school is at its most isolating and Lauren needs to decide what she really wants and how to deal with all the curve balls in her life. I loved this book but I will say My favorite book of ES is Perfect You, then Bloom and Something, Maybe. I have on order Living Dead Girl but I am a little afraid to read it....
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Gaston Giambanco, Jr., known as Gas by his family and friends is one of my favorite characters. Gas’ life before his dear mother was killed in a car accident was a happy one even though his dad held so many jobs because of his explosive temper and prejudice. Gas loved the memories of riding horses with his mom and dad at the stables where he worked. As a junior in high school, he was still the smallest in his class but when Gas was on a horses’ back, he didn’t feel the all consuming weight of being short. But life becomes more difficult when his mom dies and takes her love with her while his father’s drinking rages out of control because of his grief and anger at the illegal Mexican responsible for the accident. Gas now becomes the object of his father’s rage. Knowing his father will continue to drink and hit him, Gas takes money from his father and hits the road towards an unknown future. Accepting a ride on a flatbed truck, Gas is just another passenger stowing away with four other “beaners.” Gas has conflicting thoughts and feelings towards beaners because his father has always complained about illegal Mexicans taking his jobs. Arriving in Arkansas, Gas and the other Mexicans get jobs at the Pennington Racetrack. No one knows about Gas’s situation so he weaves lies and gets a job as a hot walker and his boss, Dag, continues Gas’ lies, giving his age as eighteen. But Gas quickly learns that Dag is downright dishonest and uses “milkshakes” on his horses to ensure their wins. When Gas meets Tammie, who rides and takes care of her grandfather’s horses, he is so conflicted about the beaners and Dag that he can’t think straight. When Dag promotes him to jockey, Gas has a washed up jockey, El Diablo, train him to ride. Gas begins to feel at home at the racetrack around the Mexicans, Tammie and her grandfather, but he needs to prove to himself and everyone else he can ride. He has enough heart to do it, but at what price to himself and his horses? Gas is a teen who aches to be part of a family but he also continues to suffer from his father’s lifelong nagging about Mexicans. But it is his mother’s kind heart and her belief in the goodness of others that Gas will need to succeed. Once again, Paul Volponi has written a book that is suspenseful and exciting. He has the power to draw you in and feel Gas’s tragedies and triumphs. Teen readers will totally enjoy this book about acceptance, abuse and the true meaning of family.
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This book was so compelling! It is about a 17 year old girl, Willow who has just lost both parents in a car accident AND SHE WAS DRIVING!!! So now that you have that horrible picture in your mind, Willow lives with her borther and his wife and baby and truly believes he blames her and hates her for the loss of their parents. Willow is a cutter and razor blades help her deal with the sick blame she heaps upon herself. But during the first days of school, she meets Guy, who is the most amazing, sympathetic person. He stumbles upon her secret and Willow swears him to secrecy and it is from here that the story of Willow's blame, hatred of herself, and longing to be loved and normal once again begins. I loved the characters, the way Willow perceives them (she is a little unreliable about some of them) and how she finds the strength in herself to confide in Guy all that she has kept in that really makes this a great read. Sad but well worth it!
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This is a searing account of the fateful day in April ten years ago when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 students, 1 teacher and maimed many others. Author Dave Cullen, an investigative reporter, who was there that day and he tells us he was one of the ones who gave false information that day. What he gives us is an absorbing, sickening account with the many truths that were withheld and still leaves us all to ask "why" because other than psycho Eric Harris and follower Dylan Klebold's rants, writings and obsessions, the reader doesn't find out why they did it, just that they planned it for 2 years and their parents never knew. Yes, there were signs, but you have to read this thoroughly researched book to begin to get a sense of what the shootings at Columbine HS have become in the last ten years. Highly recommended, but achingly sad for the many losses still felt today.
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Pictures have the power to turn books into a complete educational experience that involves both the right and left sides of the brain. Big UniverseRead more…
Remember the old saying, "you can't teach an old new tricks"? I beg to differ. I am looking forward to learning all sorts of new things from the people in this network, and I hope to share a few new things myself.
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