Marcelo in the Real World

Marcelo in the Real World

Fransisco X. Stork

Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009

Fiction

ISBN: 0545054745

320 pages

Synopsis

Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear–part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify–and he’s always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm’s mailroom in order to experience “the real world.” There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm.

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Posted in 2009, Best Of, Classroom, English/Reading, Fiction (non-fantasy), Geography/Culture, Recommended, Religious/Mythology, Reviews, Social Commentary | No Comments »

The Hobbit – Reviewing Classics

Overall Rating: ☆ Rating:0 Fraction:0☆ Rating:0 Fraction:0☆ Rating:0 Fraction:0☆ Rating:0 Fraction:0☆ Rating:0 Fraction:00%
The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkein
George Allen & Unwin, 1937
Fantasy
ISBN: 0618968636
320 pages

Synopsis

Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort of cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon and rather unwanted. So when the wizard Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy dwarves, he’s not entirely thrilled. Encountering ruthless trolls, beastly orcs, gigantic spiders, and hungry wolves, Bilbo discovers within himself astonishing strength and courage. And at the ultimate confrontation with the fearsome dragon Smaug, the hobbit will brave the dangers of dark and dragon fire alone and unaided.

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Posted in Award Winners, Best Of, Classics, Classroom, English/Reading, Fantasy/Science Fiction, Recommended, Religious/Mythology, Reviews, Series | No Comments »

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma

Overall Rating: ★ Rating:77 Fullstar:3 Star Piece:0.85 Fraction:3.85★ Rating:77 Fullstar:3 Star Piece:0.85 Fraction:3.85★ Rating:77 Fullstar:3 Star Piece:0.85 Fraction:3.85½ Rating:77 Star Piece:0.85 Fraction:3.85☆ Rating:77 Fraction:3.8577%
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s DilemmaTrenton Lee Stewart

Little, Brown Young Readers, 2009

Fantasy Fiction

ISBN: 0316045527

400 pages

Synopsis

Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before.

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Posted in 2009, Best Of, Classroom, English/Reading, Recommended, Reviews, Series | No Comments »

A Thousand Never Evers – Update

Overall Rating: ★ Rating:83 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.15 Fraction:4.15★ Rating:83 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.15 Fraction:4.15★ Rating:83 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.15 Fraction:4.15★ Rating:83 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.15 Fraction:4.15½ Rating:83 Star Piece:0.15 Fraction:4.1583%
A Thousand Never Evers
Shana Burg
Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2008
Historical Fiction
ISBN-10: 0385734700
320 pages

Synopsis

I was recently able to connect with Shana Burg, and she mentioned that she has just updated her website with more tools for educators. I thought I would post an update in case any teachers or librarians are looking for tools. Enjoy! http://www.shanaburg.com/educators.php.

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Posted in 2008, Best Of, Classroom, English/Reading, Historical Fiction, History/Period, Recommended, Reviews | No Comments »

Boys Without Names

Overall Rating: ★ Rating:94 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.7 Fraction:4.7★ Rating:94 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.7 Fraction:4.7★ Rating:94 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.7 Fraction:4.7★ Rating:94 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0.7 Fraction:4.7½ Rating:94 Star Piece:0.7 Fraction:4.794%
Boys Without Names
Kashmira Sheth
Balzer + Bray, 2010
Fiction
ISBN: 0061857602
320 pages

Synopsis

For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. With the darkness of night as cover, they flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family until school starts, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.

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Posted in 2010, Best Of, Classroom, English/Reading, Fiction (non-fantasy), Geography/Culture, Recommended, Reviews, Social Commentary | No Comments »

Emily The Strange – Stranger and Stranger

Overall Rating: ★ Rating:71 Fullstar:3 Star Piece:0.55 Fraction:3.55★ Rating:71 Fullstar:3 Star Piece:0.55 Fraction:3.55★ Rating:71 Fullstar:3 Star Piece:0.55 Fraction:3.55½ Rating:71 Star Piece:0.55 Fraction:3.55☆ Rating:71 Fraction:3.5571%
Emily The Strange: Stranger & Stranger
Rob Reger, Jessica Gruner & Buzz Parker (Illustrator)
HarperCollins, 2010
Fantasy
ISBN: 0061452327
272 pages

Synopsis

Emily is working on a new invention, a machine that duplicates people in order to pull off the greatest prank ever in her current dull town. However, it’s time to pick up and move, yet again. She spends most of her time procrastinating, but eventually gets packed. In the new town, she again resumes the quest for the new invention and the greatest prank ever, but ends up only duplicating herself before breaking the machine. Can the world possibly handle two Emilys?

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Posted in Art, Best Of, Classroom, English/Reading, Graphic Novels, Reviews | No Comments »

The Magical Ms. Plum

Overall Rating: ★ Rating:80 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0 Fraction:4★ Rating:80 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0 Fraction:4★ Rating:80 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0 Fraction:4★ Rating:80 Fullstar:4 Star Piece:0 Fraction:4☆ Rating:80 Fraction:480%
The Magical Ms. Plum
Bonny Becker
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2009
Fantasy Fiction
ISBN: 0375856374
112 pages

Synopsis

Ms. Plum is the magical teacher every schoolkid wishes for!

Everybody wants to be in Ms. Plum’s class. It’s not just that she teaches the usual things in unusual ways. There’s something more, something about Ms. Plum herself—and her mysterious supply closet. Whenever she asks her students to get her an eraser or a pencil or some paper clips, they come back with something . . . unusual. Who’d have thought a pinky-sized alligator, a big-mouth parrot, or a tiny wolf could teach kids a thing or two about life? Each year, Ms. Plum is certain she’s had her best class ever. And it looks like this year . . . she’s right!

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