Another Great Book

I recently finished reading The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani.  This is a historical fiction book that takes place in 1947, during the time when India was freed from British rule and separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The division creates tension between the Hindus and Muslims, and this divide plays itself out in the story that is told by the main character, Nisha.

Nisha tells the story through letters to her mother, who died while giving birth to her.  This is the story of Nisha's search for a new home and future.  Thank you to Lane who loaned me this amazing story.

This is why I love historical fiction!!!

I recently finished reading Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.  This historical fiction book was shared with me by Nina, one of my former students.  The main character in the story, Annabelle, lives a quiet life in her small Pennsylvania town.  One day, a new student named Betty walks into her class, and her life changes, but not in a good way.  Betty is mean and seems to focus her bullying on Annabelle, until a reclusive member of the community, Toby, becomes the target of her attacks.  As the story progresses, Annabelle has to find the courage to stand up for what is right and save her friend. If you like historical fiction with strong female characters, you would love Wolf Hollow.

It's Been A Long Time...

Looks like I was so busy reading last year that I forgot to blog about all the amazing books I've read.  I could go on and on, but I want to focus on my favorite book of the 2016-2017 school year, The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  This wonderful historical fiction book was recommended to me by one of my students, Julia Garrido.
The time period of the book is World War II and the main character is ten-year-old Ada who has never left her one-room apartment.  Ada's mother is embarrassed by her disabled daughter and refuses to let her outside.  In the story, her little brother is shipped out of the city to escape the war and Ada sneaks out to join him.  The rest of the book starts a life-changing adventure for Ada, her brother, and Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to become their guardian. 

I've been reading- I just haven't been blogging...

I recently finished a realistic fiction book called Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman.

The main character is a twelve-year-old girl named Emily.  Her family is on a quest to live in all fifty states and as the story begins they have moved to San Francisco, California.  For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it's the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game.  If you want to know more, you have to read Book Scavenger.

Happy reading :-)

What a GREAT book!

I just finished reading Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.  This book is realistic fiction told from a dog's perspective.  In this story we meet Enzo, a lovable dog that doesn't like chasing cars, but instead likes racing them.  If you love reading about dogs and families, and you aren't afraid to shed a tear or two, then this might be the book for you!  As of right now we don't have this book in the JES library, so if you'd like to read it you should go to the Jenkintown Borough library, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.  Happy reading!

Guest blogger- Liam D'Arcy Brooks

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944

If you like historical fiction, then you'll like this book.  In the story, two kids named Max and Zena are living in Poland, but the Nazi's are after them.  Read the book if you want to find out more!

Another Great Book!

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

Cynthia Lord is the author of one of my favorite books that some of you may choose to read later this year during, Rules.  Because I love Rules so much I decided to try this story.  The main character in the story is Lily, and her best friend is her blind dog, Lucky.  The setting of the book is Maine, one of my most favorite places on the planet.  The theme of the book is friendship, and it is developed through the unlikely friendship that develops between Lily and a migrant farm worker that comes to Lily's town for the summer with her family to pick blueberries.  If you like stories about animals and friendship you will enjoy this realistic fiction book.