Andrew Clements...No Talking

Andrew Clements has mastered writing for the third through fifth grade population. In each book he creates characters that kids can identify with. No Talking explores the power of words and the importance of listening. Oh sure, he throws in some cooties and boys are better than girls stuff along with a humorless principal but ultimately the message he delivers is - it's not always who wins but what we learn along the way.

From Fluff to Substance

My mind, partly mush from the fluff of last weekend, is now engaged in Sue Miller's latest, Lake Shore Limited. I've also downloaded Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years to my Kindle. Looking forward to reading some beautiful language and well woven family drama. (I think it's only a coincidence that a beach is on both covers.)

A Gas of a Book

I was a bit surprised when Mrs. Belmonte pulled Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder out of the box. I couldn't remember ordering it but am glad I did. While the story is light, the language funny, author Jo Nesbo has given the reader plenty to think about when it comes to being different and dealing with bullies. We all need friends like Lisa and Nilly.

Nutmeg Books

Every year the kids of Connecticut have an opportunity to vote for their favorite book from a list of ten novels. At North Mianus we celebrate with the 5th Grade Nutmeg Book Bowl. For a list of the 2011 nominees, click here.

My summer reading will include finishing up the Nutmeg books (I reviewed a couple in April). Yesterday I read The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff. Put simply, it is an incredibly sweet book about a fourth grade boy who is a dwarf and how he deals with his place in the world. And yet there are far more layers. What does it take to be a good friend? What will it take to be a good older brother? Are there conditions on the love his parents have for him based on his dwarfism? Good stuff all around.

Rivals by Tim Green

Just finished this book . Green creates a good 21st century baseball story* along with a little bit of mystery. Towards the end of the book I think I found a mistake. If you read Rivals and think there is a mistake also, email me. A little prize will go to the first student who discovers what I did. (I just emailed the author to see what might have happened. I'll let you know if I hear back.)

*I grew up on Matt Christopher.

Crunch by Leslie Connor

Leslie Connor has written a thoroughly delightful book titled Crunch. It is a story of family, friendship and bikes. Good stuff to discuss throughout.

Fluff for the Weekend!

I stocked up my Kindle with fluff - a perfect way to start summer vacation. My writing will be limited as typing with a ruptured disc is still a bit painful.

A Week's Worth of Books - Kids

On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer rips at your heart. Two friends go for a bike ride, a dare goes wrong and only one comes back. At what point should Joel tell the whole story and when he does will forgiveness follow?





The Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, graphic novel by Jarret Krosoczka is a whole lot of fun. Super hero lunch ladies, spatula helicopters and more. Part of a series that's bound to have many fans.





I finally read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson. Put simply, it is a gently told story of friendship and acceptance (although I did want to yell at the parents a few times).





MJ Auch's One Handed Catch, a 2011 Nutmeg Book Award nominee is a very enjoyable read. Friendship, family, resilience, and determination are all prominent pieces to this sports story. Times have changed since 1946 - I wonder how an 11 year old boy i 2010 would deal with the adversity of losing his hand to a meat grinder.

A Week's Worth of Books - Adults

In Anne Lamott's Imperfect Birds we catch up with Rosie, former teenage tennis phenom. At 17, Rosie is an A student and an accomplished liar who struggles with addictions of all kinds. Elizabeth, her flawed and recovering addict mother wants desperately to believe Rosie isn't as bad as she is, while her husband unsuccessfully tries to set boundaries (both because of his own limitations and because Rosie is a master manipulator). I love Anne Lamott's work and I found Imperfect Birds to be gut wrenchingly hopeful.



The Condition by Jennifer Haigh is an intense family drama. Every one of the characters is flawed - from the mother who desperately wants a perfect life to the workaholic husband to the three kids who flee as soon as they get the chance. I laughed, I yelled, I cried.





In Linda Fairstein's Hell Gate, Alex, Mike and Mercer are back on the job investigating human trafficking. Not a light subject but as usual, thoroughly researched. With Fairstein you get a tightly wound mystery, some New York City history and politics. Good stuff.




The Kids Are All Right, a memoir written in alternating voices by the Welch siblings of Westchester County tells the story of a family devastated by their father's accidental death in a car accident, a mother dying of cancer and their children who struggle unsuccessfully to remain together. It's not easy; it's not pretty. Somehow, though, there is hope.


The Usual Rules, a novel of September 11th by Joyce Maynard is a compelling story of how one blended family deals with the loss of their wife and mother. The last forty pages packed quite a punch.

Newbery Honor Book...Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

When a student tells you they've read a book 14 times because every time she goes back she sees something new, that's a pretty good recommendation. Today I finally read Newbery Honor Book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Wow. Lin is an incredible storyteller and because I fear I cannot do her book justice, checkout: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and go to the bottom. The reviewers from School Library Journal and Booklist did a far better job than I could ever do. And then - read the book.

Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

There are some authors who I've read for years - their characters familiar. When I saw Lisa Scottoline had a new book I waited for it it to appear on the shelves of Rowayton Library. Think Twice was there for the taking on Friday and I spent Saturday afternoon becoming reacquainted with lawyers, Mary, Bennie, and Judy. Is it great literature? No. Is the identical twin storyline believable? No. But it was fun catching up with some old friends.

For kids...

When I read a chapter book for kids the question I often ask myself is, "Would I want to be friends with the main character?" I found two books recently where the answer to that question was yes.

I'll be honest - I only picked up Dessert First by Hallie Durrand because of the title. Who wouldn't want dessert first? As it turns out, Dessert isn't just a food group, she's a young girl figuring out how the world works. She's helped along the way by her fondue restaurant owning parents and Mrs. Howdy Doody, her delightful third grade teacher. Put simply, this is a sweet but not too sugary story of one third grader's struggle with figuring out right from wrong.


How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills was recommended by my favorite children's librarian Kathy J and she was right on with this recommendation. Oliver's parents are the doting, over protective type. Wanting nothing more than for their son to succeed, they decide it's best for them to do his projects. As it turns out, Oliver wants something too - to do his own projects. Can the Olsons let go of their need to control? Can Oliver speak loud enough for his parents to hear and understand? Read How Oliver Olson Changed the World to find out.

For the Adults...

Someone mentioned the book Go Ask Alice recently. I remember reading it way back when and thinking it was a book my parents probably wouldn't approve of. Well I reread it and three things struck me - there is no way I understood what was happening within the pages of that book. I wish I could go back to that Amy and have a conversation. I was also struck by the parents love for their daughter, despite the choices she made, the parents were always there to help pick up the pieces. Lastly, being a teenager has always been hard - technology may hasten things but kids can be cruel.


Jodi Picoult's new book House Rules offers an engaging and compelling story. While I have not read all her books, I often find myself thinking, "I can't believe how predictable this story is," and then wham, I'm blindsided by a twist I never anticipated. So yes, there's a twist in House Rules. Is it as jaw dropping as My Sister's Keeper? No, but the character development is superb and Picoult does a masterful job of writing from five different perspectives, including that of 18 year old Jacob, a young man who has Asperger's Syndrome. It is a book you won't want to put down and you don't want to end.

It's Not That I haven't Been Reading....

I spent January and February weeding the fiction section at school. Inevitably as I scanned the shelves I'd find a book that caught my eye and put it aside to read. Unfortunately, none of them were great reads and some weren't appropriate for a K-5 school. That all being said, I did do some reading over February break and I have some ADULT recommendations along with a quick review of Harriet the Spy.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak is a book I've heard about for the last few years and finally read. After taking some time to adjust to Death as the narrator, I quickly realized what all the buzz was about. Leisel is a displaced nine year old foster child when the story begins in Germany in the early 1940s. I read in awe as she grew into a plucky teenager. Encouraged by her foster parents, her neighbors (in particular, Rudy) and a surprise visitor, Leisel realizes the power of words long before she can read. I felt much like I did after I read The Gurnesey Literary and Potato Peel Society - dumbfounded by complete disregard for human life and the desire for power.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is the story of Enzo, Denny and eventually Denny's wife and daughter. Enzo, the narrator, happens to be a dog. Denny is a semi-professional race car driver. Metaphors abound as Enzo explains life and observes the nice and not so nice people who populate this book. If you're a dog lover it's worth a read but be prepared to learn a whole lot about racing cars.




Luna by Julie Anne Peters, is fascinating. I debated about adding this to the list but decided to simply because if you've ever wondered what it's like to be transgendered; that is to say, to feel as if you were born in the wrong body, this book does a masterful job of explaining. Written for high school students, Peters gives the reader characters you alternately root for and against. Simply put, Luna is a celebration of self acceptance.




Undiscovered by Debra Winger. A meandering memoir celebrating Winger's various roles as daughter, mother, and actress.







Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Didn't read it as a kid; read it now because Suann has such fond memories of it. When I mentioned that Harriet was just plain mean Suann didn't remember that part, just thought it was cool Harriet figured out ways to spy on a bunch of different people. (And she had a notebook.) As I read I kept waiting for Harriet to see the light. I think she finally did on the last page but it was too late and too weak a resolution for me.

Newbery Winner - When You Reach Me

Author Rebecca Stead writes of family, friendship and time travel in this year's Newbery Award winning book, When You Reach Me. As readers, we need to be open to what we might have previously considered impossible. When You Reach Me takes place in NYC in 1979; the characters, led by 6th grader Miranda are flawed yet incredibly likable as they struggle to find their place in the world. Put your thinking caps on when you pick up this book - it's thoughtful and engaging.