THE PROPHECY by Hilari Bell

 

Classic Fantasy, Dragons, Unicorns, Magic, Courage, Friendship, Fathers and Sons

194 pages

Description

"Can a bard, a sword, a unicorn-and a hopeless prince-save a kingdom? Fourteen-year-old Prince Perryn is teased for loving books more than swords. But Perryn's books are his best weapons to stop the dragon that is destroying his kingdom-and his one hope of earning his father's respect. When he unearths a prophecy on how to kill the dragon, Perryn sets out to find the three things needed to make it come true-a unicorn, a true bard, and a special sword. But, as everyone knows, the only thing more absurd than pursuing a prophecy is believing any of these legends might still be found. From acclaimed author Hilari Bell, The Prophecy unfolds with wit, wisdom, danger, and discovery, as any unforgettable adventure should." (Good Reads)

My Comments

A charming read! (Pun intended) This is a wonderful story in the classic style of fantasy. The plot moves quickly as the prince seeks to protect the kingdom, earn the respect of his father, and prove his worth all through a mysterious prophecy. This is perfect for elementary through grade 6, but keep in mind that people of all ages love stories about unicorns, dragons, and magic. I was disappointed to find that this book (2006) is out of print, but hope the publisher will think about bringing it back. A favorite!

ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL by Nora Baskin

 Realistic Fiction, Autism,  Families, Friendship, Literary Devices, Emotional & Social Intelligence, Writing

Book Description

School Library Journal (March 1, 2009)

Gr 4-7-Baskin writes in the voice of a high-functioning boy who identifies himself as having numerous disorders, most with labels that appear as alphabet soup. In the third grade, after yet another battery of tests, Jason receives the diagnosis of autism. Now in sixth grade, he relates how he does not fit in, even though he tries to follow the instructions of his therapists and helpers. He labels the rest of his classmates and teachers as neurotypicals, or NTs for short. While humor resonates throughout the book, the pathos of Jason's situation is never far from readers' consciousness. If only he could act on what he knows he needs to do, his life would be so much easier. Jason also shows himself to be a deep thinker and an excellent writer. Through his stories and thinly veiled fictional characters, Baskin reveals not only the obstacles that Jason faces, but also his fierce determination to be himself at all costs. Jason is a believable and empathetic character in spite of his idiosyncrasies. Baskin also does a superb job of developing his parents and younger brother as real people with real problems, bravely traversing their lives with a differently abled child without a road map, but with a great deal of love.-Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

My Comments

Five Stars! Jason's character portrays the confusion, intelligence, and emotions of an autistic child in this spare and heartbreaking story. It brings to life the day in the life of an autistic child. Young readers will be pulled into Jason's world in this short, readable story, allowing them to empathize with people who are struggling with disabilities. A book like this could greatly benefit the social culture of a classroom, encouraging kindness and patience. I enjoyed reading Jason's descriptions of the writing process and literary devices which could be helpful examples for ELA teachers.

FORGED BY FIRE by Sharon Draper

"Companion volume to: Tears of a tiger. Gerald, a teenager who has spent years protecting his fragile half-sister from their abusive father, must face the prospect of one final confrontation before the problem can be solved."Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

A compelling, dramatic story, this story conveys the importance of listening to your inner voice and following through with the right action. Gerald is a courageous hero and a strong role model for all teens. It's not easy standing up to evil when the evidence is not obvious or convenient to others. The writing is simplistic, but the storyline will carry teens to the gripping end.

INKHEART by Cornelia Funke

Fantasy, Book Arts

Horn Book Magazine (January/February, 2004)

Who hasn't dreamed of it--characters leaping from the pages of a book to interact with the reader? Or, better yet, the reader transported--quite literally--into the make-believe world of a novel? In this tale of adventure and fantasy by the author of The Thief Lord (rev. 11/02), twelve-year-old Meggie and her father Mo live in a house overflowing with "small piles of books, tall piles of books, books thick and thin, books old and new." But it's one particular book that brings a stranger named Dustfinger to their house one rainy spring night. Meggie learns that many years earlier, while Mo was reading aloud a novel called Inkheart, his voice somehow brought many of its characters--including Dustfinger and the evil despot Capricorn--"slipping out of their story like a bookmark forgotten by some reader between the pages." Now Dustfinger (who longs to return to his fictional origins) wants Mo to read him back into the book, while Capricorn (who likes it here just fine) wants Mo to use his powers to read gold and riches out of stories such as Treasure Island and summon a malevolent, immortal character called the Shadow from the pages of Inkheart. Thanks to Harry P., kids may not be scared off by this volume's heft, though they may wish the pacing wasn't quite so leisurely--even the novel's many chases and hostage-takings are related in a deliberate fashion. But bibliophiles will delight in a story that celebrates books (each chapter begins with a literary passage ranging from Shakespeare to Sendak), and the conclusion is especially satisfying.

My Comments

I have to mention both of these books as 'must-reads' for anyone who loves fantasy. I was completely pulled into the world of Inkheart and didn't want to come home!

THE RACE TO SAVE THE LORD GOD BIRD by Phillip Hoose

Nonfiction, Endangered Species, Birds

212 pages

Book Description

From Follett

Includes bibliographical references (pages 185-199) and index. Tells the story of the ivory-billed woodpecker's extinction in the United States, describing the encounters between this species and humans, and discussing what these encounters have taught us about preserving endangered creatures.

From the Publisher

The tragedy of extinction is explained through the dramatic story of a legendary bird, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and of those who tried to possess it, paint it, shoot it, sell it, and, in a last-ditch effort, save it. A powerful saga that sweeps through two hundred years of history, it introduces artists like John James Audubon, bird collectors like William Brewster, and finally a new breed of scientist in Cornell's Arthur A. "Doc" Allen and his young ornithology student, James Tanner, whose quest to save the Ivory-bill culminates in one of the first great conservation showdowns in U.S. history, an early round in what is now a worldwide effort to save species. As hope for the Ivory-bill fades in the United States, the bird is last spotted in Cuba in 1987, and Cuban scientists join in the race to save it.

All this, plus Mr. Hoose's wonderful story-telling skills, comes together to give us what David Allen Sibley, author ofThe Sibley Guide to Birds calls "the most thorough and readable account to date of the personalities, fashions, economics, and politics that combined to bring about the demise of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker."

The Race to Save the Lord God Bird is the winner of the 2005 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2005 Bank Street - Flora Stieglitz Award.

My Comments

This is a heart-wrenching, but hopeful story. A dark side of human history is told here, portraying the environmental destruction humans wreak in order to "collect" wildlife or to manufacture goods. This is a powerful book for all ages. Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ for the postscript to this story. There is some hope that this magnificent bird may still be around.