Rent a Third Grader is a really fabulous kids' book I discovered at the Lilly Library when no one showed up for my writing group one day. I read the entire thing 190 pages of big print and easy reading because it's designed for third graders. I read it on the bus route to Boston, I was sorry that I hadn't packed another for the ride back. It's not like I don't have plenty in my house, but I digress.
Rent a Third Grader is the story of Brad and his entire class. When they hear that the police horse is going to be sold to a pet food company, they decide to do something. They're class is studying communities and Partner, the horse has been really valuable to the community as a crossing guard horse. What can third graders do? They take on odd jobs which have some funny outcomes. They try to do several projects, none of which work out quite right. Eventually, they come together and get the job done. What I was most impressed by is that these kids just don't ask grown-ups to fix the problem for them. They have initiative. Of course, adults help them, but it never become the adults' project. I think this book is very valuable as a teaching tool for anyone who works with kids of this age, especially those trying to educate them about making a difference in the world, no matter what age they are.
I rate this book a 7.5 out of 10. I am sure I would have rated it much higher had I been 8 when I read it instead of 34.
Showing posts with label child's fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child's fiction. Show all posts
Friday, December 31, 2010
Book Review: Angela and the Broken Heart (Book 79 of 100)
This is the last Angela book. The author died, you see. So Angela is stuck at somewhere between 7 to 8. I'd love to update Angela. Turn her into an adult; she'd be a college freshman now, as she ages one year for every two. In my story freshman Angela would rediscover her beloved Eddie Bishop, who moved away in this book. I told you I'm a hopeless romantic.
Back to the story. In this book, Angela goes to second grade. Her brother Nathaniel (who has always had a way with girls) is in love with a girl who doesn't care about him. She annoyed by Luther, the new boy who aims to take the place the absent Eddie (fat chance).
I'd rate this book an 8.5. It was a fun read.
Back to the story. In this book, Angela goes to second grade. Her brother Nathaniel (who has always had a way with girls) is in love with a girl who doesn't care about him. She annoyed by Luther, the new boy who aims to take the place the absent Eddie (fat chance).
I'd rate this book an 8.5. It was a fun read.
Book Review: Faerie Wars (Book 72 of 100)
Henry is an adolescent whose world is falling apart. His mom is having an affair with his dad’s secretary. His only escape is his job cleaning Mr. Fogarty’s house. One day, the old man and Henry find a fairy. Suddenly the pair is helping Pyrgus, future leader of Faerie, get home after someone misdirected him when his father the Purple Emperor sent him into our world, or as fairies call it the “Analog World”.
So can a hurt/hurting adolescent and an old man, conspiracy theorist save a parallel world? Henry, Mr. Fogarty, and Prygus can only hope!
I rate this book a 7.7. I gained a new author; Herbie Brennan is neat. I wonder if he writes for adults. If so, I’m going to check his stuff. I’m going to follow up on the sequels on this book, if for no other purpose than to check on poor Henry (who, in addition having his home wrecked accidently saw Prygus’s sister the Princess Holly Blue naked). It’s not the best book ever. It’s not the worst. It’s an okay read.
Great for the beach, when all you want is nothing that serious, but great scenes (occasionally). I am sure this book would’ve been an 8.5 at least if Mr. Brennan would’ve had a better editor. As a writer that makes me.
So can a hurt/hurting adolescent and an old man, conspiracy theorist save a parallel world? Henry, Mr. Fogarty, and Prygus can only hope!
I rate this book a 7.7. I gained a new author; Herbie Brennan is neat. I wonder if he writes for adults. If so, I’m going to check his stuff. I’m going to follow up on the sequels on this book, if for no other purpose than to check on poor Henry (who, in addition having his home wrecked accidently saw Prygus’s sister the Princess Holly Blue naked). It’s not the best book ever. It’s not the worst. It’s an okay read.
Great for the beach, when all you want is nothing that serious, but great scenes (occasionally). I am sure this book would’ve been an 8.5 at least if Mr. Brennan would’ve had a better editor. As a writer that makes me.
Book Review: Angela, Private Citizen (Book 69 out of a100)
This is the third book in the Angela series. Angela is a first grader now and is entering prime mistake territory. Her first mistake using her parents 1040 form to send money to the government, not realizing that her mom and dad needed that form to file for themselves. She's convinced that the IRS is going to get her or her parents in trouble as a result of her mistake.
Then the poor kid is convinced that her brothers and sisters love their new camp charges (they are both counselors) more than her. Lastly, she sure her parents are going to leave her in the deep woods of Maine forever when they go on vacation while her brother and sister are at camp.
You'll like this Angela story. It's all about how things get just a little misconstrued and then get blown way out of proportion. Especially when you're only 6 and nobody thinks you understand anything, but you do.. sort of. I think that's way the book is so appealing to me, even as an adult. Every once in while, I misconstrue things, too, but I don't have the excuse of being 6. I rate this book 8.2 out of 10. It's a fun, quick read. I read in under 14 hours.
Then the poor kid is convinced that her brothers and sisters love their new camp charges (they are both counselors) more than her. Lastly, she sure her parents are going to leave her in the deep woods of Maine forever when they go on vacation while her brother and sister are at camp.
You'll like this Angela story. It's all about how things get just a little misconstrued and then get blown way out of proportion. Especially when you're only 6 and nobody thinks you understand anything, but you do.. sort of. I think that's way the book is so appealing to me, even as an adult. Every once in while, I misconstrue things, too, but I don't have the excuse of being 6. I rate this book 8.2 out of 10. It's a fun, quick read. I read in under 14 hours.
Book Review: Mom, You're Fired! (Book 64 of 100)
When I was a kid, I read a book called Oh, Honestly Angela! It was the cute story with an adorable six-year-old kid sister. I didn't know this was a series of 4 books at the time, or I would live read them at the time. The author, Nancy K. Robinson died at 51 in 1994. The year I went to college. I found out about the series when I was doing some research on library books to read. I don't even remember what I was looking up, but remembering how much I liked the original book, I ordered the series on inner library loan, even if they are for kids.
I what to write for kids one day. I still enjoy Ramona and Encyclopedia Brown at times. It's fun too read a good story for children every once in awhile. Tina (9), Nathaniel (11), and Angela (3) are normal kids with normal kid concerns. That is occasionally they fight with friends, are embarrassed by mom and dad, and lie. Of course, things occasionally blow up in their faces. Sometimes they also learn that what they thought was important isn't.
Mom, You're Fired is basically the middle child, Tina's, story. Her bratty, best friend Melissa's mom is perfect. Her own mom is unique and she feels, at times, "humiliated" as her elder brother says. At one point, it got so bad that she told her new and nicer friend Sarah that her mom is her babysitter.
I rate this book an 8, if I'd been an age appropriate reader it would have been rated an 8.6. It was a fun read, despite my adulthood. Get it for the kids in your life. They'll enjoy, as I still do, kids who act real rather than ideal.
I what to write for kids one day. I still enjoy Ramona and Encyclopedia Brown at times. It's fun too read a good story for children every once in awhile. Tina (9), Nathaniel (11), and Angela (3) are normal kids with normal kid concerns. That is occasionally they fight with friends, are embarrassed by mom and dad, and lie. Of course, things occasionally blow up in their faces. Sometimes they also learn that what they thought was important isn't.
Mom, You're Fired is basically the middle child, Tina's, story. Her bratty, best friend Melissa's mom is perfect. Her own mom is unique and she feels, at times, "humiliated" as her elder brother says. At one point, it got so bad that she told her new and nicer friend Sarah that her mom is her babysitter.
I rate this book an 8, if I'd been an age appropriate reader it would have been rated an 8.6. It was a fun read, despite my adulthood. Get it for the kids in your life. They'll enjoy, as I still do, kids who act real rather than ideal.
Book Review: The Wish (Book 40 out of 100)
Every 8th grader who is on the outside looking at the in crowd has wished to be “in”. Wilma, this book's main character, is no different than any other middle schooler in that regard. But the difference is that she actually gets her wish, only to discover that it’s maybe not all it’s cracked up to be.
Secondly, Wilma didn’t word her wish that well. She wished to be the most popular kid in her middle school. That means it will expire when she graduates in a few weeks!
Perhaps most importantly, Wilma learns that being popular isn’t everything. It can cause you to overlook some great people like Daphne and Jared, who like her just as she is. If magic is involved, how do you know who you real friends are, spell or no spell?
A version of this tale has been told and retold. There was a new version of it when I was in junior high, I’m sure although I can’t recall the name of book. I wrote a story like this myself. Something about Wilma feels unique and not cookie cutter, though. Even though the story is typical, she isn’t.
I rate this book 8.2/10. It may be a cliché. But it’s a fun read, especially if you read it along with a teen and talk about it with her. In fact, I might order a copy for my honorary niece. However, I feel the writing might be a bit advanced for her. Perhaps I’ll send her the book in audio format, which is how I enjoyed it. That way she’ll comprehend more easily, despite her literacy delays.
Secondly, Wilma didn’t word her wish that well. She wished to be the most popular kid in her middle school. That means it will expire when she graduates in a few weeks!
Perhaps most importantly, Wilma learns that being popular isn’t everything. It can cause you to overlook some great people like Daphne and Jared, who like her just as she is. If magic is involved, how do you know who you real friends are, spell or no spell?
A version of this tale has been told and retold. There was a new version of it when I was in junior high, I’m sure although I can’t recall the name of book. I wrote a story like this myself. Something about Wilma feels unique and not cookie cutter, though. Even though the story is typical, she isn’t.
I rate this book 8.2/10. It may be a cliché. But it’s a fun read, especially if you read it along with a teen and talk about it with her. In fact, I might order a copy for my honorary niece. However, I feel the writing might be a bit advanced for her. Perhaps I’ll send her the book in audio format, which is how I enjoyed it. That way she’ll comprehend more easily, despite her literacy delays.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)