realistic fiction | Mrs. McGriff's Reading Blog

November 13, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Theodore Boone by John Grisham

I just finished two more books in the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham. If you missed the first book in the series, let me introduce you to Theodore Boone, a kid who is already well on his way to being a lawyer. He even takes on cases to defend in Animal Court (where no law degree or bar exam is required). In fact, the Animal Court scenes are some of my favorites in these books.

In Theodore Boone: Abduction (Dutton Juvenile 2011), Theo’s best friend April disappears one night, and Theo is probably the last person who talked with her. While the town searches the streets, an escaped convict (and distant cousin of April) is the number one suspect. While the police pursue false leads, Theo and his Uncle Ike try to track down April themselves. Will they find her before it’s too late?

The tables are turned in Theodore Boone: The Accused (Dutton Juvenile 2012). Some one is after Theo. He finds his bike tires repeatedly slashed. Then the police find stolen computer tablets in his locker. The final straw is a picture sent out over the Internet of Theo leaving the police station after being questioned. Theo knows he is innocent, but even he can see that all the evidence is pointing right at him. Can he figure out who robbed the computer store and framed him for the crime? If not, he may get to experience the courtroom from a different side.

Readers looking for a smart kid detective who knows the law will enjoy these mysteries.

October 25, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Red Thread Sisters by Carol Antoinette Peacock

Eleven year old Wen has grown up in a Chinese orphanage. The aunties there care for the children but there is never enough of anything to go around–love, food, clothes. She and her best friend Shu Ling long to be adopted, and they promise each other that whoever is adopted first will find a family for the one left behind so that they can be together again.

One day Wen is chosen by an American family. Even though she has gotten what she has always dreamed of, Wen is shocked by how hard it is to adjust to America. She can barely speak English–not enough to make friends or even tell her new family what she is thinking. The sights and sounds and choices are overwhelming, and she feels guilty for leaving Shu Ling behind. More than anything else, she is afraid. What if she makes a mistake and her new family sends her back to the orphanage in China? What if loving her new little sister lessens her love for Shu Ling, who always looked out for her? What if she can’t find anyone to adopt Shu Ling?

I love the image of a red thread that weaves through Red Thread Sisters by Carol Antoinette Peacock from an old Chinese legend. The legend says that an invisible red thread connects those people who are destined to meet. The thread may stretch or tangle across time and space, but it will never break. Wen learns the strength of the thread that connects her with Shu Ling, but she also learns that she can connect with her new family and friends without giving up the old ones. The thread will still hold.

The topic of international adoption is close to me since I have family who have gone through the process with younger children. Peacock writes a heartwarming story that portrays both the joys and struggles that come with adopting older children, especially across cultures. I can’t imagine trying to start my life over with such a drastic change, but now I have a glimpse of what it might be like and am richer for it.

October 19, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

Once I picked up April Henry’s The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die, I had a hard time putting it down. The fast-paced action starts with the first scene and doesn’t let up until the last page. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to give you whiplash and keep you guessing.

The girl from the title wakes up lying and the floor of a cabin. She doesn’t know who she is or where she is or much of anything else. She hears two men talking about her and realizes that they want to kill her. She has know idea why, but she knows she must get out of there. As she desperately tries to escape, she uses the clues around her to figure out who she is. She remembers how to drive a car, so she must be at least 16. She knows how to attack someone and leave them injured. What kind of person knows how to do that? She finds a family photo with her picture in it. Who are these people with her?

She does not know who she can trust–not the security guard who threatens to return her to a mental hospital. Is she crazy? She can’t even trust her own memories, which are mostly missing. The news reports share information that can’t be true, or can it? She finally gives in to accept help from Ty, the teenager closing up the McDonald’s where she eats and then falls asleep at her table. I’m not sure how believable it is for Ty to get involved with a stranger who is in such desperate circumstances, but I’m willing to go along with the reasons given that he doesn’t quite believe it at first (would you?) and that he wants to pass along the help he received during rough times.

I can’t wait to share this one with my students. Several have already read Henry’s earlier book, Girl, Stolen, and are clamoring for this one.

October 18, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet by Tom Angleberger

The Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger is an ever-popular reading selection for my middle school students, and I love them as much as they do. The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet may be my favorite yet.

Dwight has returned to McQuarrie Middle School, but trouble looms on the horizon with the introduction of Fun Time. If this evil is to be eliminated, Tommy, Sara, Dwight, Harvey and the rest of the gang must form a Rebel Alliance. Will it be enough?

All the things I love about the first books are back: Kellen’s drawings, Harvey’s comments, multiple voices, and much middle school drama. This time the stakes are higher: Angleberger takes a direct hit on the push for ever-higher test scores and the resulting loss for education. I hope that students will take notice and fight back for the education they deserve like the students at McQuarrie do.

October 17, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Skinny by Donna Cooner

Ever Davies is a lot like many of the students I teach. She is smart and talented, but she cannot see or believe it. All she can hear is the voice in her head that tells her all the awful things her classmates are thinking about her. She calls the voice Skinny, and it dominates her life. She also can’t see past the weight she has gained since her mother’s death. Because of Skinny’s insidious whispers and the over 300 pounds that she carries around, Ever is sure that no one will ever love her and that she will never sing again.

Finally desperate for change, Ever decides to have bariatric surgery to shed the unwanted pounds and make positive changes in her life. Even as the pounds comes off, Ever finds it difficult to change on the inside. But she learns she doesn’t have to do it alone. She is supported every step of the way by her best friend, Rat. She finds unlikely support with her stepsister Briella and the super-popular classmate Whitney.

One of the things I loved about this book is the references to Cinderella. The different sections of the book are titled with allusions to the fairy tale. The high school musical that provides part of Ever’s inspiration (and her favorite) is Cinderella. The step mother and step sisters aren’t evil, though Ever would like to think so.

The transformation of Ever is much more powerful than any a fairy godmother could give. Ever works for the changes that reveal her beauty and talent. More importantly, Ever learns her own strength and the value of her friends and family.

I can’t wait to share Skinny by Donna Cooner with my students who have not yet discovered it.

October 16, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Outlaw by Stephen Davies

Now that I am teaching 7th grade (where Social Studies explores world geography and civilizations), I am on the lookout for books that take readers to other times and places that connect to their curriculum. I have found an action-packed adventure with Outlaw by Stephen Davies. This thriller explodes with desperate outlaws, high-tech surveillance, high-speed chases, and murderous double-crossers.

Jake Knight longs to live a life filled with adventure, but he has to create his own excitement at his stuffy British boarding school. When one of his pranks goes too far for the headmaster, he is sent to his parents in Burkina Faso. There he encounters kidnapping, terrorism, and the beauty of danger of the Sahara Desert. As he and his little sister Kas struggle to survive, they encounter Yakuuba Sor, the most wanted outlaw in the Sahara Desert, but just who is the Chameleon?

I enjoyed Jake’s antics throughout the book. After all, he mastered the art of walking up walls and lives for adventure, but he is smart enough to admit that being kidnapped by a notorious terrorist is more excitement than he really wants. As he travels with Yakuuba Sor, he learns that life is much more than just adventure and adrenaline. In the end he is willing to make a choice to stand up for what is right.

My favorite character, though, is Yakuuba Sor. This outlaw is more Robin Hood than terrorrist. He is a master of disguise and trickery (hence his nickname the Chameleon) who uses his skills to right wrongs against the poor. Doing so often puts him at odds with the police, who supplement their poor salaries with bribes and corruption. I know in the real world that not all–or even most–outlaws are such good guys, but I love stories where they are.

October 13, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is one of the most inspiring and heart-wrenching books I’ve read in a while. There are so many things I love about it. In addition to winning the Schneider Family Book Award (awarded to three books each year for the artistic expression of the disability experience for children or teens), this book has a a whole list of reasons why you will love it, too.

Jessica is devastated by the accident that causes her to lose a leg. Since she is no longer a runner, she’s not sure who she is. Yes, she is strong and determined and inspiring, but she is also whiny and impatient and angry.
Fiona is the best friend everyone should have. She is bossy and organized and simply will not let Jessica waste away in despair for too long. Not to mention, she can through an awesome party!
Rosa is a math wiz who rescues Jessica from certain failure in her toughest class. Not only is she smart at math, but she is also wise and funny. At first Jessica has a hard time seeing past Rosa’s disabilities from cerebral palsy, but once she does, she wants the rest of the world to see Rosa, too.
Romance is in the air, but not too much. Jessica has long had a crush on Gavin, the popular, good-looking student body president. Is he paying attention to her now out of pity, or might there be something more?
A bad guy (or in this case girl) who you can love to cheer against. This racer from another school is such a sore loser that she blames her loss on Jessica’s presence at at a track meet. Can you believe the nerve of blaming a lost race on someone who just lost a leg? It
I love orphan stories (especially those involving magic), but it is refreshing to see parents in YA who are believable. Mom and Dad love Jessica and want what’s best for her, but they are struggling with her accident as much as she is. My favorite scene is when Mom comes home and finds Jessica upstairs by herself.
Teachers and coaches who can be tough and fair and even surprise their students every once in a while.
An amazing dog named Sherlock stays loyal to Jessica even when they can’t go on their morning run together any more. Hey, every good story needs a good dog.
I’m glad to find a book that focuses on a different sport–track. There are track meets to win and even a 10-mile race to complete.
The structure of the book seems backwards at first, but it fits perfectly. The story begins at the finish line and works its way backwards through the stages of a track event until it ends at the starting line. It works.

October 12, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Hidden by Helen Frost

I cannot wait to introduce Hidden to my seventh graders. There are so many things I loved about it–the innovative poetic structures, the multi-layered tension, and most of all the two girls whose lives intersect in unbelievable ways.

The premise of this book gripped me from the front cover. Two girls–Wren and Darra–meet in Cabin 8 at Camp Oakwood. Even though they have never seen each other, they recognize each other from a life-changing moment in their past six years earlier. Darra’s father had stolen a car, not knowing Wren was hiding in the back. Wren hid for days in their garage, desperately seeking a way out. Darra guessed the truth and left food and water out for Wren, but she was devastated by her father’s eventual arrest.

Now that their paths have crossed again, will they be able to confront–and forgive–their shared history?

I wish I had read the Helen Frost’s note on the poetic structure first because as soon as I did read it, I had to go back and reread the book again to experience another level to the story. On second thought, it was totally worth reading again. Part I is in free verse poetry from Wren’s voice. Once the girls arrive at camp, Darra and Wren alternate telling the story. In the form Frost created for Darra, the end words in the long lines create new sentences that reveal Darra’s hidden thoughts. Part II shares her memories of her dad before the kidnapping. Part III reveals her thoughts during Wren’s kidnapping.

October 7, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Game Changers by Mike Lupica

Game Changers starts a new series by Mike Lupica, one that sports fans will enjoy. Several of my seventh grade students saw me reading it and have been clamoring to get their hands on it. I’m glad I can tell them that this story doesn’t end with championship football game and that they can follow Ben and his friends right into basketball season.

I enjoyed this story, but I might have enjoyed it more if it hadn’t seemed quite so comfortable and familiar. Ben McBain is small for his age, but he has big dreams. Even though no coach can see past his small size, he knows he is destined to be a great quarterback just like his hero, Doug Flutie (who even gave a blurb on the back of the book). Ben knows the game of football because he is constantly either watching or playing the game. He can read the field and go in at any position. And above all, he is a good teammate, even when being a good teammate means helping the coach’s son improve at being quarterback.

Ben is surrounded by supportive parents and good friends. Where would he be without Lily, the smart, athletic girl who knows just what to say and when to say it. Sam and Coop will have his back even when they don’t see eye to eye. What will happen when Ben finally gets his chance to prove himself at the position he’s always dreamed of?

Football fans will love that the book is packed with action on the field. They may even be inspired to look up the game-changing plays that Ben watches on You Tube. Everyone can enjoy that the pages are also packed with friendship and perseverance. I always love it when the underdog wins!

August 9, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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On the Read Again…Part 2

After taking a red-eye flight home from Phoenix, I had just about twenty-four hours to unpack, do laundry, and repack for the annual vacation with my husband’s family. Who needs sleep? Saturday morning we loaded up the car and headed to the Wisconsin Dells. We had a great time hiking at Devil’s Lake State Park, touring Circus World, playing at a water park, seeing the sights on a Duck Tour, playing miniature golf, and eating lots of good food. (My absolutely favorite part was watching my nephews perform a magic show for the family every evening. These guys have a future in show business.)

No trip in my life is complete without books. Since I didn’t have to deal with the carry on restrictions from the airlines, I could stuff my bag full of good reads. My husband was horrified at the number of books I took (and bought), but I read six of out seven of the books I packed and three of the six books I bought in Wisconsin. Here are the highlights of my vacation reading.

Dog Gone by Cynthia Chapman Willis (Feiwell and Friends 2008)

Dill is desperately trying to hang onto life as she knows it. Her mom is gone, and her dad seems to grow more distant every day. Now her dog Dead End won’t stay home, and there are reports of a pack of wild dogs attacking livestock. Dill refuses to believe that Dead End could be involved. Even the help of her best friend Cub and the support of her grandfather may not be enough for Dill to face the truth. Yes, this is one dog story that will make you cry. At least I needed to keep the tissues handy while reading.

Deck Z by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon (Scholastic 2012)

We all know that the boat sinks, but did you know the Titanic carried a terrible secret to her watery grave? Theodor Weiss, a German scientist, is fleeing the German military who wants to use the zombie-causing virus he discovered as a weapon. Despite his best efforts, the virus escapes and infects both passengers and crew. In this scenario, it’s a good thing the boat sank before it reached shore. I’m not a huge zombie fan, but those readers who adore the brain-eating monsters will eat up this story. I did like the portrayal of Captain Smith as a sword-fighting expert and true hero. How could he keep the ship from hitting an iceberg when he was down below slashing off the heads of zombies?

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (Scholastic 2012)

I am so glad to have another good mystery to add to my bookshelves. I’m not the only one who thinks this is a good book since it won a Newbery Honor this year. Miss Moses LoBeau is the perfect combination of endearing (to those who love this lucky girl), infuriating (to the detective trying to solve a murder), curious (to those who have something to hide), and exuberant (to everyone). Throw in a whole cast of quirky characters, a cold-blooded murder, and a brewing hurricane and you have the makings of a great read.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Harper Collins 2012)

Not only did I read a Newbery Honor book, I also read the book that won the latest Newbery. After hearing all my Nerdy Book Club friends rave about Ivan, now I get it. This is a mind-blowing book. Ivan is a gorilla who lives in a cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Even though his domain is small, his heart is larger than any cage. He listens to the stories of Stella the elephant and shelters Bob the stray dog. When Ruby, a baby elephant, joins the motley group, Ivan is determined to find a way to save them all.

Rotten by Michael Northrup (Scholastic 2013)

One of my students last year bought this book at the book fair and read it before school ended. He assured me that it was one of the best reads ever. He was right. It’s another dog story full of heart. JD is looking for a second chance when he comes home after spending the summer away. No one believes his story about visiting an aunt. When he walks in the door, he does not expect to be surprised by a giant Rottweiler with neurotic problems of his own that JD names Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Will JD and Johnny get a second chance, or will one snap of Johnny’s teeth bring it all to an end?

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz (Scholastic 2013)

Six years. Ten concentration camps. Unimaginable horror and loss. Yanek Gruener survives the impossible as a Jewish boy growing up in Poland after the Nazi invasion. Somehow–through a combination of luck, wits, and determination–Yanek survives when everyone around him is dying. This gripping account is based on the true story of Ruth and Jack Gruener. I could not forget that as I read. The courage and inspiration I found in Gruener’s story will stay with me for a long time.

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