Our Only May Amelia

    Hook: 

     
        "Outside the window the sky is black and the stars are winking at me . I watch the fireflies dancing in the field and realize my birthday is nearly over, and I haven't made my secret birthday wish yet.  Mamma says that a wish made on a birthday always comes true.  I don't know about that, though.  Last year I wished for Kaarlo to stop being so mean to me all the time, but he's still the same mean old Kaarlo.
Still, it can't hurt to try.  I think hard but it's an easy wish. I can't tell anyone, not even Wilbert and he's my very best brother.  I can't tell him because he'll never understand what it is to be me May Amelia Jackson, the only Jackson girl, and the only girl in Nasel.
I squeeze my eyes tight and wish with my heart that Mamma has a little baby girl so that I can have a sister.
I just made my birthday wish, I tell whisper.  But Wilbert and Wendell aren't listening to me.  They're to busy snoring."  (page 19)
   
        " Everybody knows that I was the first girl to be born here on the Nasel, all the other mammas had boys including my own mamma who had six of them.
         Mamma says, I swear to you May Amelia there is something in the very water that breeds boys, you are Simply A Miracle.
         My grandmother does not think that I am A Miracle.  That is, Pappa's mother, Grandmother Patience.
         At breakfast, Pappa says, Your Grandmother Patience will be coming to live with us on account of her getting on in years.
         I swear I don't rightly understand why Pappa's letting her live with us, she's fit as can be, I say to Wilbert.
         None of us children likes Grandmother patience 'cause she's real mean and doesn't care for children.  I don't know why she even had Pappa and Aunt Feenie and Uncle Aarno and Aunt Aili.  She always says that children are nothing but devils and demons.
         She has a silver-tipped cane that she uses to walk and one tine she whacked Wendell so hard that he had a bruise on his cheek for a whole week and all he'd done was talk back to her.  I haven't seen sight of her since I was eight years old even though she only lives in Astoria.  That time she yelled at Mamma, said she was no kind of wife to my pappa, didn't know how to do anything right let alone raise seven boys and one scrawny girl, and then she took Mamma's favorite dish which Pappa had brought all the way from Finland and threw it at her and smashed it against the wall.  After that Grandmother and pappa had a real big fight and Grandmother Patience hasn't come back until now.
         Wilbert tells me Grandmother Patience was poorly named."    (page 91 and 92)

Recommendation:
     
        Have you ever been annoyed by anyone in you family?  Well, May Amelia was the first girl to be born in the Nasel- a real miracle, everyone says.  A lot of times May forgets that she is a girl, living with seven brothers, like when she wears overalls, or helps Wilbert (her best brother) with his fishing.  But sometimes her family does treat her like a miracle, and it's just plain maddening, like when Pappa yells at her for staying at the logging camp or keeping her in the house because there's a real live murder on the loose.  What May thinks will be the greatest miracle of all is if the baby in Mamma's belly turns out to be a girl.  Will May always be their only miracle in the Jackson family, or will the new baby be the little sister she's been hoping for?

       May's brothers:  Matti is eighteen.  Kaarlo is seventeen and a half and is really May's cousin but I guess he is sort of a brother.  Isaiah is sixteen.  Wendell is fifteen.  Alvin is fourteen.  Ivan is fourteen too. He is Alvin's twin and they look as alike as two summer blackberries.  Only May and Wilbert can tell them apart, even Mamma has trouble telling them apart.  Wilbert is thirteen and he is May's best brother.

                                       If you don't go, you can't return.
                                                 -Finnish proverb
                             
                               
                      

     Title: Our Only May Amelia
   
     Author: Jennifer L. Holm
   
     Genre: Historical Fiction
   
     Blog by: Michelle D.
          
           

                 

   

     

White Star

Hook:

" No other ships pulled into New York harbor carrying survivors. No more heartfelt reunions unfolded on the docks between the rescued and their waiting families. All that was left was names on a list.
Sam Harris                             saved
Ann Isham                              lost
Buckthorn Kingsbury 111      lost
Webb Kingsbury                     lost
Phineas MacDougal                lost "
(page 118 and 119)




Recommendation:
Does history appeal to you?  Do you like the heartbreaking story of the Titanic?  Well if you do this might be just the right book for you! In this book you will find a young boy heading to New York, a dog who is adventurous and could never let one of his friends be forgotten, and a trust worthy best friend who would just love to fix the Titanics flaws.  In this book you will get to see how people on the Titanic had to give up there companions and by companions I mean there dogs and their family.

                     WARNING: SOME PEOPLE DIE IN THIS BOOK...BE PREPARED.

Book:White Star
Author:Marty Crisp
Genre:Historical Fiction
Blogger:Stephanie

Happy Birthday Sophie Hartley

Hook

“The idea was a little confusing, even to Sophie, but she kept at it. Her mother wouldn’t be able to resist when Sophie told her that gorillas didn’t scratch furniture or dig holes, and that Sophie was going to be able to write notes to her gorilla telling it what not to do. ‘Patience? Who’re you kidding?’ Sophie’s older sister, Nora, had made her entrance. She tossed her backpack on the couch and made for the family computer. ‘Number one, you don’t know what patience is, Sophie, ‘she said scornfully. ‘And number two, Maura’s still a baby.’  (pgs. 4 and 6)  

 

Recommendation   

Have you ever had this crazy idea you wanted a gorilla?  Well, in this book Sophie Hartley has always wanted a gorilla for her birthday.  Her sister Maura always is bothering her and getting in the way of what Sophie is doing to practice if she ever gets a gorilla.  Nora, her other sister is just always being a brat to Sophie. When Sophie’s birthday final came her friends Jenna and Alice bring a big box to Sophie’s house. Sophie thought it was a gorilla, but it wasn’t. Read to find out if she gets what she wants.

Title: Happy Birthday Sophie Hartley

Author: Stephanie Green

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Blog by: Jenna J

Esperanza Rising

Hook:

“Miguel eventually caught her arm and pulled her around.  'What is the matter with you?'  'Is this the better life that you left Mexico for?  Is it?  Nothing is right here!  Isabel will certainly not be queen no matter how badly she wants it because she is Mexican.  You cannot work on engines because you are Mexican.  We have gone to work through angry crouds of our own people who threw rocks at us, and I'm afraid they might have been right!  They send people back to Mexico even if they don't belong there, just for speaking up.  We live in a horse stall.  And none of this bothers you?  Have you heard they are building a new camp for Okies, with a swimming pool?  The Mexicans can only swim in it on the afternoon they clean it!  Have you heard they will be given inside toilets and hot water?  Why is that, Miguel?  Is it because they are the fairest in the land?  Is this life really better  then being a servant in Mexico?"(Page 221-222)

 Recommendation:

Has your world ever flipped upside down?  Well a 13 year old girl’s life did.  Her name is Esperanza.  She went from “riches to rags.”  Once her father died everything went downhill.  Her house caught on fire (not on accident), and then she moved to America to be a migrant worker.  Things might be tough in her new life but she’ll work around them.  Read the book to find out how she works around these puzzling issues and family problems.

Title: Esperanza Rising

Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blogger: Grace B.

The Trouble with May Amelia

         :

   Hook:
         
            " You Fell In Again?!  Miss McEwing says when I walk into the schoolhouse,dripping wet.
              But Miss McEwing, I say.  I was trying to get Wendell's cap.
              She just shakes her head and says, I swear you spend more time in the water than on the water than on the boat, child.  Go and get something from the Dunking Box  before you catch a chill.
              The Dunking Box is a box of old clothes that Miss McEwing keeps in a corner in times like these.  They are all boys' clothes, of course,since there are all boys in the schoolhouse except for me, but that doesn't bother me on account that I wear overalls myself.  My Aunt Alice gave me a pretty new dress, but it's hard to climb a tree in a dress.
              The little potbelly stove is burning so that the schoolhouse is toasty, although it smells like the inside of a barn.  Most of the children must do the milking before school in the morning, including us.  If you close your eyes, you can almost hear the cows lowing along to Miss McEwing's lessons.
              Good Morning, Children, Miss McEwing says loudly.
              Good Morning, Miss McEwing, we say back.
              Miss McEwing is the sweetest teacher we ever had and she is also the prettiest one.  Eligible bachelors from all over the valley are always showing up at the schoolhouse hoping for a chance with her.  Wilbert says it will be a sad day when some man steals our teacher away, for married women aren't permitted to teach.
              The schoolhouse door opens and a little boy with blond hair in a bowl cut is shoved through.  He tries to run back but his mother shakes her head.
               Sina Menet kouluun!  She says in Finn which means You Go To School!
              The door shuts and the boy stands there with a belligerent look on his face.  Poor Charles Hasalm hates going to the schoolhouse because he doesn't know a lick of English and refuses to learn."    ( pages 17 and 18)
   
           Recommendation:
           
              Do you know what it's like to have seven brothers?  Well, poor May has to deal with seven naughty, mischievous brothers after her only sister, Amy dies of the bitter winter weather.  May has a lot to live up to.  May's teacher is Miss McEwing, and she is the prettiest and nicest teacher May has ever had.  When Papa invests for a gentleman, the gentleman steals all of their invested money and runs away.  So, now May has to make it right.  For a twelve year old, May's got more sisu- that's Finnish for "guts" than all seven boys put together.  The Trouble with May Amelia is a wonderful book, and I think you will find that May is a lot like you!

                                      If nothing is dropped, nothing will be found.
                                                     -Finnish proverb            

FYI: This book contains no quotation marks but has dialogue!

 

            Title:  The Trouble with May Amelia
            Author: Jennifer L. Holm
            Genre: Historical Fiction
            Blog by: Michelle D.
         
 

A Mango-Shaped Space

     
Hook:
    
     "By eleven o'clock Saturday morning, Mom and I are sitting in Jerry's surrounded by strange machines that hum and beep.  I didn't return Jenna's three phone calls last night; I'm not just ready to share what I've learned about myself just yet.  I almost feel as if she doesn't deserve to know, after what she did.  Jerry introduces us to his assistant- a perky graduate student named Debbie, who is wearing rainbow-striped overalls the likes of which I haven't seen since old Brady Bunch reruns.  She pumps my hand hello and seems very happy to meet me. Jerry asks me about my colors, what shapes I see, what textures, etc. I explain that some letters are shiny, some are gauzy, some are grainy like wood, and some are even fuzzy.  Debbie writes everything down.

    ' How do I compare with other people who have this? '  I ask Jerry. 'Other synes... synesthetes? '  It's still a hard word to say.

    ' When we first started testing people, we assumed all synesthetes would see the same color and shapes for the same sounds,' Jerry says. ' The initial theory was that is some people, like you, can see a color when they hear a sound, that must mean that that the sound actually has color, but only a rare few people can see it.  But we quickly found out in reality it doesn't seem to happen that way.  People's colors seem to be unique to them. The geometric shapes are much more similar.  Not that they appear at the same sounds, but the general shapes that synesthetes see don't differ too much.  For people who have colored alphabets, there are wide color variations, although many people seem to associate light colors to vowels'

    'So to another synesthetes my name could be purple with orange stripes when to me it's candy-apple red with a hint of avocado green?'

'Exactly'"  (pages 87 and 88)

Recommendation:

    Do you know a person who has colored touch and hearing?  Well, in this book, Mia has synesthesia (colored sight, hearing,touch, or taste).  She thinks that she is the "normal one" in her family. Zach, her younger brother, keeps a chart of all the hamburgers he's eaten in his life, and Beth, Mia's older sister, dyes her hair a different color every day (Mia assumes that Beth is a witch).  But when she finds out about her synesthesia, she has to endure with taunts at school, math, people who don't believe her, and dirty looks. When she meets a little boy who also has synestheia at the grocery store, she tries to tell his mom, but she just won't listen.  And then her cat, Mango, dies. Why is this happening to her?  In this story, Mia finds out who she is in a very unusual way.  You will have to get this book out to find out if she can cope with her condition, or if she will always be "the girl who sees the colors."

Title: A Mango-Shaped Space

Author: Wendy Mass

Genre: Realistic-Fiction

Blog by: Michelle D.

Ripley's Believe it or Not Extreme Earth

Hook:   “ Rain forests contain a bigger range of animals and plants than anywhere else on Earth! Just one acre might contain up to 120 different types of trees. The rain forest floor is so dark because the trees have tall, straight trunks so their upper branches can reach the sunlight and create a canopy 150 feet high.” (Page 42)

   “Grass is one of nature’s top success stories- it’s almost indestructible! This hardy plant can survive wildfires, and being grazed, mown, frozen, scorched, trampled, and blasted by high winds.” (Page 38)

Recommendation:   Have you ever wanted to learn about natural disasters, fun facts, and wonderfully insane information that you will never forget? If you read Extreme Earth by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, you can have what you wanted! I absolutely recommend this book because it’s interesting, funny, and creative!

Blog By: Julieta F.

Title: Extreme Earth

Author: Ripley's Believe it or Not
Genre: Non-Fiction

The Watsons go to Birmingham- 1963

    

 Hook:

   “Dad turned the radio down a little more. He looked like he was thinking whether or not he should tell me something. He was looking straight at me, and even though it was real hard, I looked right back at him.

   I tried to look real intelligent and I guess it worked ‘cause finally Dad said, ‘Kenny, we’ve put a lot of thought into this. I know you’ve seen it on the news what’s happening in some parts of the South, right?’

   We’d seen the pictures of a bunch of really mad white people with twisted-up faces screaming and giving dirty finger signs to some little black kids who were trying to go to school. I’d seen the pictures but I didn’t really know how these white people could hate some kids so much.

   ‘I’ve seen it.’ I didn’t have to tell Dad I didn’t understand.

   ‘Well, a lot of times that’s going to be the way of the world for you kids. Byron is getting old enough to have to understand that his time for playing is running out fast, he’s got to realize the world doesn’t have a lot of jokes waiting for him. He’s got to be ready.” (pages 112 and 123)

Recommendation:

   Have you ever thought something was unfair and not right? Well, Kenny experienced this all his life because being a black child in the 1960’s is not a great idea. If you have some background knowledge about Alabama in the 1960’s you would know that African Americans were not treated fairly for a number of rude, improper reasons. This is a story of Kenny and his family who live in the North go to visit their Grandma in the South. Things drastically change in Kenny’s life. Find out more by reading this book and find out if Kenny’s life turns upside down or if he makes it in a world where he’s not welcome.

Title: The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blog by: Michelle D. and Julieta F.

Dork Diaries

Hook:
 "She took a few sips of her energy drink, stared at me all seriouslike, and whispered 'Sweetie, when life presents you with challenges, you can be either a CHICKEN or a CHAMPION. The choice is YOURS!'
Then she started humming 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' really loud."
(page 43)

"Then, suddenly I had an epiphany and I TOTALLY understood what my grandma meant when she said, 'you can be a CHICKEN or a CHAMPION. The choice is yours.' So I gathered all my strengh and determination, took a deep breath, and musterd the courage to decide right there on the spot which one I was: A BIG FAT CHICKEN!"(47 and 48)


Recommendation:
Are you the new kid in school? Do you have an annoying little sister who is afraid of the tooth fairy? Or a dad who is a extermanator?  Nikki does. She is the new kid, too. She has no friends yet  but she already has a mean girl, Mackenzie.
Mackenzie is always being mean to Nikki, and calling her a dork  because she has a diary.
Nikki refers to Mackenzie as the Fashion Police because she goes around judging girls and of course Nikkis locker is right next to Mackenzie's.


This is a great book for 5th greaders. If you like humor, this could be the book for you. Its not a book for boys because it is about a girl who goes through teen drama like love, loving boys, boys, boys, and even more boys. And...some crazy friends.

Blogged By: Victoria and Stephanie
Book: Dork Diaries
Author: Rachel Renee Russle
Genre: Graphic Novel

100 people who changed america

HOOK:
 "The first rock-and-roll superstar. He sold more than one billion records, had 149 songs on billboards 'hot 100' pop chart, starred in 33 movies, and is in the rock and roll, country music, and gospel music hall of fame." [Pg 42]


RECOMMENDATION:
Have you ever wanted to learn about famous people from the past and present, such as Elvis Presley? If so, this book is for you. I recommend this book to grades 3-5. Some famous people in this book are Sandra Day O' Connor who was the first women to work on the Supreme Court, Walt Disney who was the man who founded Disney world,Steven Jobs who was the creator of Apple, Oprah Winfrey who encouraged Americans to eat right and has informed America for 20 years, and more.I hope you enjoy reading this book.


BOOK: 100 People who Changed America
BLOGGER: Alexia S.
AUTHOR: Russell Freedman
GENRE: Non-Fiction

The Courage of Sarah Noble

Hook:

"We shall see, her mother said.  But if you are to be a teacher, you will have to start again with your reading and writing.  And,  Sarah, it is time for bed.  There had been nights when Sarah had not liked to hear the words time for bed.  Now she loved the sound of her mother's voice saying them.  That night Sarah slept warm under the quilts.  On a peg near by hung her cloak-and she did not need it.  She had kept up her courage and it was somthing that would be always with her.  Always-even when the cloak was all worn out.  Tonight the pictures in her mind were comfortable ones-home  -family-the fireside and a door securely fastened.  The light from the fire made pleasant patterns in the darkness.  Sarah lay quietly, and the wing in the trees sang her to sleep"(last page)





Recommendation:

Are you brave like Sarah Noble?  In this book at the time 1707, a young girl named Sarah Noble and her father John Noble went on a very long journey to find a place to live. Along the way, they met a family of five but they had to leave the next day. Sarah was nervous when they found a place to live. There were Indians that lived down the path from Sarah and John. The Indians from the North scared Sarah most of all.  Sarah had pleanty of friends now. The Indian children seemed very nice and soon they became friends. Towards the end John Noble had to leave Sarah with the Indians while he walk through the wilderness and get the rest of the family. All along John Noble told Sarah to keep up her courage.

Book- The Courage of Sarah Noble
Author- Alice Dalgliesh
Genre-Historcial Fiction
Blogger- Joanna

The BFG

Hook:

"The ping-pong table was carried in.  Unscrew its legs and take them away Mr.Tibbs whispered.  This was done.  Now place the ping-pong table on top of the four grandfather clocks Mr.Tibbs whispered.  To manage this, the footmen had to stand on stepladders.  Mr Tibbs stood back to survey the new furniture.  None of it is in the calssic style he whispered.  But it will have to do. He gave orders that a damask table-cloth should be draped over the ping-pong table, and in the end it looked really quite  elegant after all. At this point, Mr Tibbs was seen to hesitate.  The foot-men all stared at him, aghast.  Butlers never hesitate, not even when they are faced with the most impossable prolbems.  It is their job to be totally decisive at all times.  Knives and forks and spoons Mr Tibbs was heard to mutter.  Our cutlery will be like little pins in his hands.  Mr Tibbs did not hesitate for long. Tell the head gardner he whispered, that I require immediately a brand new unused garden fork also a spade.  And for a knife  we shall use the great sword hanging on the wall in the morning-room.  But clean the sword well first.  It was last used to cut off the head of King Charles the First and there may still be a little dry blood on the blade."(pages 164-165)



Recommendation

Do you belive in giants? In this book a young orphan Sophie  gets  kidnapped by a giant. You might be thinking a mean, human eating giant but Sophie got captured by a very kind giant called The BFG. Altho, the BFG is a runt meaning the smallest giant. Sophie has gotten in touch with the mean, human eating giants before but the BFG has saved her before. The Queen of England gets to know Sophie and The BFG (my hook)! Some other mean, human eating giants are the: The Bonecruncher, The Childchewer, The Butcher Boy, The Fleshlumpeater and more discusting names! Have fun reading!

Book-The BFG
Author- Roald Dahl
Genre- Fantasy
Blogger-Joanna

 

 

Hook:

 

“Mrs. Treski disappeared upstairs.  Jessie turned to Evan at the sink. ‘Let’s make a bet,’ she said. ‘Whoever earns a hundred dollars wins.  And the loser has to give all their earnings to the winner.’  Evan shook his head.  ‘Not fair,’ he said.  ‘You’ve already got money saved up.’  ‘That money doesn’t count,’ said Jessie.  ‘We’ll start with today’s earnings. And it’s all got to be from selling lemonade.  No mowing lawns or sweeping out the garage or anything else.’  ‘Aw, what if neither one of us makes a hundred?’ said Evan, not liking the sound of this deal.  ‘Then whoever makes the closest to a hundred wins.  And even if we both make over a hundred, whoever makes the most money wins the bet.’  ‘When do we count up the money?’ asked Evan.  Jessie thought about that.  ‘Sunday night.  Right before the fireworks.’  She looked straight at Evan.  ‘Huh?  Whaddya  say?” (Pg. 65- 66)

 

Recommendation:

Have you ever got mad at a family member and went a little too far?  Well this book is about a boy named Evan and a girl named Jessie who decide to have a lemonade war.  But not for the fun of it, for both of them to prove to the one another that they are better.  Also the winner gets all the money the loser made.  Now you might ask how did it come to this, between the two siblings who adored each other?  Well I guess you’ll have to read to find out how it happened, who will win, and if they ever forgive each other.

Title: The Lemonade War

Author: Jacqueline Davies

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Blogger: Grace B.

News For Dogs

Hook

"Well, too late now, he told himself, going back downstairs and out through the kitchen door, locking it carefully behind him.  Then her crossed the yard to the doghouse and took  a series of pictures.  Finally, when he was satisfied that he had a sufficient evidence to support his claim that the note was taped to the doghouse, he peeled it from the roof, once again being careful to touch only the edges.  His blood ran cold as as he read the message: The first installment of the ransom has been received. The second installment is now due. Leave  and additional $276 in a copy of WHITE FANG  at the Elmwood Library.  Once again, be warned not to go to the police .  If you do, you won't get your dog back, ONLY HIS EARS!
His ears! The vision of Red's beautiful floppy ears , flying behind him like long red streamers when they went on runs, was enough to fill Bruce with anger and fury.Where was he going to find another $276?"( page 169 -170)



Recommendation

Do you like dogs? If you do this is the book for you.  In this book, Bruce bought a dog from his horrible  enemy Jerry. Jerry's cousin came for the summer. He was very nice. He was not like Jerry at all. Andi, Bruce and  Debbie   had a newspaper for dogs. Shortly after Jerry and  his cousin Conner started a newspaper for dogs also. Bruce and Andi's parents went on a trip when everything happened.  Theres a bad situation...a case of dog napping.  Bruce, Andi, Debbie and Aunt Alice are all trying to find out who it is. Andi has a dog Bebe and Friday.  Aunt Alice is allergic to dogs but they shaved Friday and turned her into Lola. I will tell you that when they arrived but  there  was still bad news ahead. If you want to know what the suspicious people did and had to do to get their dogs back I suggest you stop watching TV and get reading!






Book: News For Dogs
Author: Lois Duncan
genre: Realistic fiction/ mystery
Blogger: Joanna