Alone Book Review

 

I kept hearing about this one on Twitter--a novel written in verse about a tween girl’s survival with only a dog as a companion in Colorado. Survival stories are one of my favorites and anything with a dog elevates it. NetGalley provided me an e-ARC yesterday and I started reading it last night. Within 20 minutes, I was completely hooked! I put on my pajamas and went straight to bed to spend the evening cuddled up with this touching story. What a treat!

Maddie plans a sleepover with some friends, but they are all keeping their plans secret from their parents. In the end, Maddie ends up by herself and in the middle of the night her entire town is hastily evacuated. Each of Maddie’s parents think that she was evacuated with the other parent. Communications are non-existent with no cell service. At first she has electricity and water, but they are soon shut off. Luckily, Maddie discovers her neighbor’s dog, George, and they become close companions.

Maddie tries to follow her dad’s advice about staying put and prepares to survive the winter on her own with George. Her bravery is inspirational, but there were a couple of disturbing parts--looters, the brutal killing of a kitten, and the wrath of Mother Nature. These make me cautious about having students below the fifth grade read this one. However, I will highly recommend this to students that want fast-paced adventure/survival stories. The only criticism I have was I wanted a little more detail/information about the mass evacuation which left Maddie behind and even the ending really didn’t provide answers.

5 Stars

Unplugged Book Review

 My students and I are huge fans of middle grade author Gordon Korman. I preorder his books with absolutely no hesitations knowing they will be entertaining, timely, and appropriate. When NetGalley had his upcoming book, Unplugged, available I jumped at the chance to request it and was awarded a copy of the eARC.

It is the story of Jett Baranov, son of a tech billionaire, who is shipped off to a wellness, growth mindset retreat in the backwoods of Arkansas. Jett is constantly getting himself into major trouble and was named the most spoiled child in Silicon Valley. Oasis, the rural retreat, is anything but a sanctuary for Jett and many of the kids there. All of their electronics are confiscated upon arrival and all food is healthy vegetarian fare, no candy or sugar allowed. Needless to say, Jett does not adjust very well. Thanks to the discovery of a strange lizard, Needles, Jett and the other kids bond over its care. Jett manages to actually establish some friendships as he rebels against the retreat’s philosophies and gets himself into trouble.

I flew through this book and I know my students will too. Kids will enjoy the multiple perspectives with chapters being told by different characters. They will also relate to the difficulties of being banned from their electronics. Students may also connect with how having a project or task with a team leads to empathy and understanding. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this one and get some feedback from kids.

5 Stars

Cleo Porter and the Body Electric Review

This one captured my attention immediately. Cleo lives about 50 years in the future from 2020 and there has been a terrible, deadly flu pandemic that has forced people to live in isolation only with their immediate family members--sounds familiar right? Cleo lives with her parents in an apartment in a large apartment building where all of their supplies are delivered via drone and they cannot leave--she has never been outside. All of her experiences outside of their apartment and interactions with friends are via a simulator and both of her parents work from their home. She is preparing for an exam to begin studying to be a surgeon like her mother.

When a package of important medicine arrives down their chute, Cleo becomes concerned. It seems to have been wrongly delivered and she is consumed about the patient not receiving their life-saving drugs. Her parents leave her to problem-solve and she opts to escape with the medicine via their chute in order to transport the medication. On her brave adventure, Cleo learns about the workings of the drones and the apartment building. She also makes it outside where she gets to feel grass and sunshine for the first time…

I really enjoyed this book! It got a little slow in the middle, but it picked up when Cleo made it out of the building and then had to figure out how to get back in. I think many of my 4th and 5th grade students will really enjoy this especially with the pandemic parallels to 2020--I am planning to begin the school year with it as my read aloud!

4 Stars

My Life in the Fish Tank Review

Zinny is a seventh grader whose life begins to fall apart when her brother Gabriel is in an accident at college. Gabriel is diagnosed bipolar and is sent to a residential treatment facility and the family struggles to keep it together. Zinny and her siblings are directed by their parents to not tell anyone about Gabriel’s hospitalization and struggles. Zinny’s friendships suffer because of secret keeping.

This story is so important for middle grade students because it deals with the stigma associated with mental illness and how difficult it is for families to cope. Our students need to be informed about these issues to gain empathy and understanding. I think Barbara Dee did an amazing job humanizing both Zinny and Gabriel and portraying their family’s predicament. I look forward to getting feedback from my students on this one.

4 Stars

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez Review

This book was a pleasant surprise. I tend to enjoy mostly realistic fiction because that is what I grew up with. There are many realistic parts in this one, but there is also enough fantasy to attract my students who really prefer to stay away from stories based in the real world. Nestor is an army kid who has been all over the country as his father was sent from base to base. His mother and he move to a small town in Texas to join his Abuela while his father is deployed to Afghanistan.

Nestor does not even bother to unpack because he figures their stay New Haven will be short. He is rather jaded about moving around and developing friendships, after all he has had ten first days of school and he is only in the sixth grade. Despite his apprehension of making friends, he ends up becoming close with some classmates. There also are some mysterious happenings in the woods behind Abuela’s house and many pets from the town have gone missing. Most of the town is suspicious about Abuela’s involvement in the animal disappearances. Nestor also has a unique ability that he hides from everyone--he can talk to animals and they talk back! Without giving too much away, the animals and humans take on an evil witch.

This novel was fast paced and heartfelt. I have students that move often and have military parents, so they will be able to relate to Nestor and his life. Many of my kids will love the fantasy aspects of the story and who doesn’t love a battle with good versus evil? 

5 Stars

One Time Review

I was so excited to be able to review this ARC from Netgalley because Sharon Creech is one of my favorite middle grade authors. Unfortunately, this is probably my least favorite book I have ever read from her. It did not feel like the plot even developed until three quarters of the way through and even then there was not that much substance. Gina is an imaginative only child and when Antonio moves in next door and is in her same class you would think the story begins, but not much develops. When Antonio is not coming to school there is little information or plot development. My students will enjoy the short chapters, but other than that there is not much to appeal to them. I don’t even plan on buying this for my classroom; it was a miss.

2 Stars

Closer to Home Review

Cal is living with his aunt’s family because his mother died of cancer and his father is in and out of prison. This means being in the same classroom with his cousin, Hannah, and feeling as if he is intruding into their family. He also suffers from PTSD due to the time he lived with his father which means he sometimes has explosive outbursts.

Ellen Hopkins has written many young adult novels in verse as Close to Nowhere is. She is so talented at capturing her character’s voices and struggles. I am quite pleased that she has finally moved into the middle grade realm with this thoughtful story.

4 Stars