Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a twin? Have you ever wondered what it's like to be different? Sundee T. Frazier explores both in her novel The Other Half of My Heart. Twins Keira and Minni are eleven years old - they are opposite in just about every way, including the color of their skin. Their mom is African American and their dad is white. Keira has her mother's skin color while Minni has her dad's. Minni thinks she knows what it's like to be different but it isn't until a summer vacation with their maternal grandmother preparing for the Miss Black Pearl Pageant that Minni truly understands.
Geronimo Stilton, mouse, newspaper editor and in this book, an unwilling student of karate, is a hit with kids. The pages are colorful and engaging, perfect for the eight year old set.
Much to the dismay of the third graders, I had never read a Judy Moody or Stink book. Now I have and I can see why the kids like them. Easy to follow stories of likable kids who make mistakes and then learn a lesson. Good old fashioned fun.
The Candymakers by Wendy Mass is a delightful read. Four twelve year olds meet up at the Life is Sweet Candy Factory as part of an annual contest. Over the course of a few days they are given all the help necessary to come up with the next great candy and will present it at the annual candy convention along with the 28 other winners. Logan, Miles, Daisy and Phillip are all there for different reasons, all are desperate to win. Each character is given a chance to narrate their story and it is through these various perspectives the parts become the whole.
When a book goes through two kids in the same family in one night it's a pretty good sign. The Stonekeeper (Amulet) is the first book of Kazu Kibuishi's graphic novel series tells the story of siblings Emily and Navin as they try and save their mom with the help of the magical amulet. While not a big fan of fantasy I do enjoy a well put together graphic novel - this was a perfect combination.
Unbearable Lightness by Portia deRossi is a powerful memoir about eating disorders and body image. If you can't hack the whole thing, read the epilogue...especially if you have a daughter (but know boys are also susceptible to anorexia and bulimia).
I debated about reading this book for a long time but when it appeared on a number of top ten lists I decided to give it a try. I've read (and liked) other books by Emma Donoghue but none were like this one. Jack and his mom just celebrated his fifth birthday...in the same room they celebrated his previous birthdays, in the same room his mother has been kept since she was abducted when she was nineteen. Room is told from Jack's perspective. It takes a while to get used to his uneven voice but it's worth sticking with it as his mother's heroic attempts to make life "normal" in an eleven by eleven room are awe-inspiring.
Though shelved in the self-help section of the book store, psychologist and researcher, Brene Brown would prefer her book, The Gifts of Imperfection be in the self-fulfillment section (if one existed). Her research on whole-hearted living is wonderful food for thought and her guideposts, gentle reminders that it's not about being perfect but about finding balance (checkout her engaging TED talk here).
