Sara and the Search for Normal Review

This is a prequel to OCDaniel--I have not read it, but I just ordered it because I have to know more about Sara and Daniel. I have been a teacher for many years and have dealt with students suffering from anxiety disorders, depression, trichotillomania, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and more. Wesley King explores several of these adversities through Sara’s perspective. The story is thoughtful and authentic as Sara tries to manage her thoughts and to achieve “normalcy.”

Unfortunately, there are not many middle grade books that deal with mental illness. I am so pleased to be able to share this book with my students. As a seventh grader, Sara attends public school, but is not mainstreamed due to her many issues. Most of the students refer to her as “Psycho Sara.” Sara wants nothing more than to be “normal.” She is medicated, attends weekly sessions with her psychiatrist, has supportive parents, and keeps a list of rules for being “normal.” She joins a weekly group therapy and makes a friend, Erin. Erin also suffers from anxiety disorders along with trichotillomania. While their friendship progresses, Sara gets to experience many life events including going to a birthday party, going to the movies with a friend, etc. Erin has a secret and Sara has to decide whether to risk their friendship by disclosing it and saving Erin…This book will resonate with many of my students and help them to understand and empathize with themselves and others.

5 Stars

Dress Coded Review

I am so impressed with this debut middle grade novel. To begin, this book is current and timely with strong female characters that protest the injustices of their middle school’s inequitable dress code. Firestone incorporates podcasts, short-titled sections/chapters, and bullet lists to tell Molly’s story--this format will appeal to many readers and gives the book a modern feel. 

Molly is terribly bothered by the fact the many students (mostly female) are openly embarrassed and disciplined in the hallway of their middle school by their principal and dean, “Fingertips.” She is named “Fingertips” because most of her time is spent in the hallways questioning the length of the shorts worn--her actual name is not disclosed until the very end. Molly interviews students that have suffered because they are “dress coded” to publicly explain the situation and the emotional turmoil that results. She posts the interviews online as podcasts and documents dress code infractions on Instagram. Her podcasts and Instagrams gain followers and encourage others to speak up.

This book is progressive with some controversial topics intertwined including: same-sex crushes, tampons, bullying by students and school administrators, racism, vaping, addiction, etc. Although these themes are mature, they are handled expertly and are not explored graphically. This book will definitely appeal to many of my fifth graders who are starting to develop their own cultural and societal views and are looking for inspiration and encouragement in how to express them.

5 Stars

Stink & the Hairy Scary Spider Book Review

I have always been a fan of the Stink book series--I actually prefer Judy Moody’s little brother over her! Although the Stink books are below most of my student’s reading levels, I always make sure to have some on my shelf because they are quick reads and can build some reading confidence for my reluctant readers.

Stink suffers from arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. However, when he discovers a wayward tarantula in his backyard, he gets help from Webster to overcome his fear and rescue the tarantula. I think my students will appreciate the spider facts that are included and the origami especially the included instructions on how to make a creature or two.

4 Stars

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer Review

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer

By K. A. Holt

There was far more substance to this book that the title and format implies. BenBee along with a small group of “divergent learners” are stuck in summer school preparing for the FRAAT (aka FART) state exam retake. They are all reluctant readers and dread reading aloud as well as the upcoming state exam retake. Each chapter is told from a different character’s point of view and they each have a variety of formats--prose, chat, paragraphs, cartoons, etc. I wish the character names had been more varied because even I struggled to keep the characters straight because of their similar names and this may frustrate some readers. This formatting will appeal to reluctant readers and may grab some graphic novel fans. 

Each character is struggling with parent pressure, learning disabilities, family deaths, etc. With the help of their understanding and amazing teacher, Mrs. J, they become friends and learn to appreciate their “divergent” needs. This will appeal to many of my students who see themselves as “different” and who enjoy quick, but meaningful reads.

4 Stars