Archive for the ‘Reading level: age 8 and up’ Category
Thursday, July 6th, 2006
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| Author: | Jerry Spinelli |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 8 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 1990 |
Modern day tall tale, beautifully written by Jerry Spinelli, whose Stargirl we also loved.
Maniac's athletic gifts and personal fortitude give him entree behind the window curtains of many homes in his small Pennsylvania town, where he is privileged to share meals and experiences with old and young, black and white, humans and zoo animals. Maniac re-pays the kindness of strangers by helping to bridge, although not heal, the town's racial divide. |
Winner, 1991 Newbery Medal |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Maniac Magee |
Posted in Baseball, Conceptual: 8 and up, Culture, Dealing with bullies, Death is a central theme, Dickensian, Fairy tales, Fiction, Gifted, Reading level: age 8 and up, Sports | Comments Closed
Monday, July 3rd, 2006
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| Author: | Nancy Farmer |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 12 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 1996 |
1997 Newbery Honor book. First person account of how a gifted Mozambiquen girl orphan survives and forges families -- with baboons, scientists, and her own kin -- for herself during a harrowing trip through the South African wilderness. Nhamo, the girl, must use all that she knows -- which foods to eat, what happens when the seasons change; how to consult/appease her spirit guardians -- to survive on her own on her long trek.
A lovely, interesting, intense survival story. |
The first few chapters are stomach-churners, as the girl's aunt and other relatives consign her to the control of an evil witch-doctor. Similar to, but more graphic, than the treatment of Cinderella.
Subsequent chapters are fascinating and, while Nhamo does face danger at many junctures, it is thrilling to observe her making mostly good decisions and learning from her few, scary mistakes. |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Girl Named Disaster, A |
Posted in Animals, Conceptual: age 12 and up, Culture, Fairy tales, Female protagonist, Fiction, Gifted, History, Reading level: age 8 and up | Comments Closed
Saturday, June 17th, 2006
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| Author: | Lynne Rae Perkins |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 12 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction |
| Year of publication: | 2005 |
Newbury-award winning novel. Each chapters unfolds from within the consciousness of a different young person in a group of young teens. It certainly is -- interesting.
One thing that's weird, though. Is that when you are always INSIDE the brains of the characters, it's hard to always keep track of what's actually happening to whom and/or whose brain you are inhabiting, even if it says so right at the beginning of the chapter. Not to mention that, once the novel is over, you still have no idea what the characters look like. |
This is not one of those books that's big on plot, either. So, I guess that means that it's not such a big deal when you realize that you have no idea what's actually going on.
Which isn't to say that we didn't like this book. It certainly is quite creatively written. What it's not is pull-you-in-and-never-let-up exciting.
-- Emily |
If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Criss Cross |
Posted in Conceptual: age 12 and up, Female protagonist, Fiction, Reading level: age 8 and up | Comments Closed
Tuesday, June 6th, 2006
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| Author: | E.L. Konigsburg |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 12 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | fiction, historical |
| Year of publication: | 1973 |
Eleanor of Aquitaine and some of her friends hang out in heaven and discuss Eleanor's life and loves.
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Fascinating discussions about the Crusades, British and French history, religion, architecture, and the role of women in Medieval royalty ensue.
Illustrations, by the author, in the form of "miniatures" are lovely and fascinating.
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If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver |
Posted in Biography, Conceptual: age 12 and up, Culture, Death is a central theme, Female protagonist, Gifted, History, Reading level: age 8 and up | Comments Closed
Tuesday, June 6th, 2006
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| Author: | John D. Fitzgerald |
| Illustrator: | Mercer Mayer |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 8 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | biographical |
| Year of publication: | 1969 |
Second volume in the first person series of one of three Catholic brothers growing up in turn of the century Mormon Utah.
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We were amazed at the similarities and differences between then and now. My 9 year old loved this collection of stories at least as much as she loved the first installment. |
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If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: More Adventures of the Great Brain |
Posted in Biography, Conceptual: 8 and up, Culture, Dealing with bullies, Death is a central theme, Fiction, Gifted, History, Reading level: age 8 and up | Comments Closed
Tuesday, June 6th, 2006
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| Author: | John D. Fitzgerald |
| Illustrator: | Mercer Mayer |
| Reading Level (Conceptual): | Children 12 and up |
| Reading Level (Vocabulary): | Children 8 and up |
| Genre: | biographical |
| Year of publication: | 1967 |
First person story of one of three Catholic brothers growing up in turn of the century Mormon Utah.
Warning: Each book in this series veers broadly from (usually) a very cheerful first few chapters, in which the happy life of the narrator's family is depicted to subsequent harrowing chapters in which death, danger, and/or permanent dismemberment often occurs. The books usually resolve relatively pleasantly, but my daughter had difficulty sleeping after reading some chapters. (Although she always insists on getting the next book in the series.) |
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If you found this review helpful and/or interesting, consider supporting our book habit: Buy this book!: Me and My Little Brain |
Posted in Biography, Conceptual: age 12 and up, Culture, Dealing with bullies, Death is a central theme, Fiction, Gifted, History, Reading level: age 8 and up | Comments Closed
