Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Title: Roller Girl
Author: Victoria Jamieson
Pages: 240
Publisher: Dial Books
ISBN: 9780525429678
Publication Date: March 10, 2015
AR Levels: Book Level - 3.2, Interest Level - 4th-8th, Points - 2.0
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23493697-roller-girl

In a nutshell: Best friends Astrid and Nicole were attached at the hip until the summer Astrid discovered a passion for roller derby that Nicole doesn't share. Feeling abandoned after Nicole signs up for summer dance camp, Astrid enrolls in a roller derby camp and quickly realizes her abilities don't quite live up to her passion. But Astrid throws herself into her new dream of being a derby star, and though there are bumps and bruises along the way (literally!), her summer is definitely a game-changer.

I'd recommend it to grades: 3 to 7

I'd recommend this book to: graphic novel readers and roller derby enthusiasts (obviously) but really anyone who's experienced a curve ball in a friendship or discovered a hobby you adore. Fans of Smile by Raina Telgemeier will also eat this up and so might Wimpy Kid readers.

What I liked most about this book: Sometimes it takes a whole lot of courage to try learning something new...especially when you're trying alone. Astrid discovers that if you are brave enough to stick with something that makes you happy even when none of your friends want to and even if you're not so great at it, you just might find some rocking new friends and develop some mad awesome skills too. It's a wonderful lesson that's taught with rainbow socks, roller skates, and blue hair, and the emotional depth may surprise you. It's my new favorite graphic novel.
 
Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): I can't say too much, but it takes Astrid a while to figure out what her roller derby name should be, and when she does, it's fantastic and perfect.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars

Jane, the Fox & Me by Fanny Britt

Title: Jane, the Fox & Me
Author: Fanny Britt (translated by Christine Morelli and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault)
Pages: 104
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Publication Date: September 1, 2013
AR Levels: Book Level - 4.1, Interest Level - K to 3rd (although I disagree), Points - 0.5
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17214302-jane-the-fox-and-me

In a nutshell: When Helene's friends turn their backs on her and begin to ruthlessly make fun of her, she escapes into Jane Eyre and finds hope and solace in its tale of an outcast like herself.

I'd recommend it for grades: 3 to 7

I'd recommend it to: tween girls, anyone who's ever used literature as an escape, and anyone who's ever felt like an outcast

What I liked most about this book: It's hard to find a book that deals with bullying, low self-esteem, and weight issues that's realistic and doesn't shy away from the issues while still being uplifting in a creative way. From page one, I could relate to Helene, and I enjoyed this immensely. The use of black and white and color is genius. In Helene's world, everything is black and white, and everything in Jane's world is in color, but as Helene begins to come out of her fog, color begins to bleed into her world, ushered in by a new friendship. It's beautiful.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): In one scene, Helene goes swimsuit shopping with her mother and sees herself as a sausage in a cute suit; the illustration is of a personified sausage in a bathing suit and not of Helene looking plump in any way, and by illustrating it that way, it shows what Helene is seeing and not what's really reflected in the mirror. It's an incredibly realistic scene that I completely related to, and I'm sure many other girls will too.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars

Period.8 by Chris Crutcher

Sorry for the delay in posting this; I actually finished it last week.  I can't lie--I saw this one in a bookstore and was intrigued by the cover.  It was a pretty good book, but it seemed disjointed at times.  It starts out angsty, gets mysterious in the middle, and then turns into a James Patterson novel by the end.

Title:  Period.8

Author:  Chris Crutcher

Pages:  320 pages

Publisher:  Harper Collins

ISBN:  9780061914805

Publication Date:  March 26, 2013 

AR Levels: Book Level-- 4.2; Interest Level-- 9-12; Points-- 7.0

Goodreads Link:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15789615-period-8

In a nutshell:  Paul Baum is a swimmer (like many of Crutcher's protagonists).  The story opens with Paul revealing to his girlfriend that he cheated on her.  Their relationship deteriorates quickly and she wants revenge.  Period.8 is a lunch club run by one of their teachers where students can go and share things in a safe environment.  Through the course of the book, all of the Period.8 members become entangled in activities that can best be described as as mysterious and shady.  Bad things are happening and one of their own might be causing it all.

I'd recommend it for grades:  10-12+.  Language and "romantic" content

I'd recommend it to:  Anyone who likes a good book that combines teen angst and suspense

What I liked most about this book:  I liked that it wasn't sappy or cheesy.  The conversations seemed authentic and could actually be said by teenagers.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y):  Mr. Logs is the teacher in charge of Period.8.  During one conversation with a student, he references Ferris Bueller AND quotes a very colorful former Louisiana governor.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars

Extreme Babymouse by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm

Title: Extreme Babymouse
Author: Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
Pages: 96
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780375970965
Publication Date: January 22, 2013
AR Levels: TBD
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642635-extreme-babymouse

In a nutshell: In this 17th book of the wildly popular Babymouse series, our heroine finds herself wanting to start a new hobby - snowboarding! Apparently it's what all the cool kids are doing, so of course Babymouse wants to learn! There's just one problem...she's not exactly good at it.

I'd recommend it for grades: 2nd to 7th grades

I'd recommend it to: fans of the series, graphic novel fans, and kids who like to pull for the underdog

What I liked most about this book: Babymouse books are always adorably hilarious, and this one is no different. What I especially liked about this book was the great lesson about standing up to negative peer pressure. It's presented in way that's funny and not preachy, but it still makes a great point.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): One of my favorite characters is Babymouse's troublesome locker, and I won't say much, but apparently it's not the only one of its kind. :)

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars

She Reads His Pick: Playground by 50 Cent

Chris and I thought it would be fun from time to time to pick a book for each other to read that we might not normally read. He picked this one for me, and I'll admit, I was skeptical, but I ended up liking it.

Title: Playground
Author: 50 Cent
Pages: 314
Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 9781595144348
Publication date: January 1, 2012
AR levels: Interest level: 6th and up, Book level: 5.4, Points: 7.0
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9754801-playground

In a nutshell: Butterball is sent to see a therapist after attacking a friend on the playground at his school. To the casual bystander, it appears to be an unprovoked act of violence, but through the eyes of this troubled teen, the reader begins to see just what lead to his actions, and it's anything but what one might think. Take a walk in Butterball's shoes, and you'll learn what it feels like to be a bully and to be bullied too. This is a book for anyone who's ever felt misunderstood or had a misunderstanding derail his or her life.

I'd recommend it for grades: 9 to 12 (There is a good deal of cursing, references to some mature themes, and off-screen drinking and violence.)

I'd recommend it to: future filmmakers (Butterball loves making movies and talks a lot about film), anyone who's ever felt bullied or been tempted to bully someone themselves, and professionals who work with tweens and teens

What I liked most about this book: My favorite thing about this book is that you get to see the horrors of bullying from both sides of the coin in one character. Butterball lashes out at others because of pain in his own life, and he also is a victim of bullying himself, finding himself eating lunch alone in the restroom many days. Yet, he finds a way to stop being the bully and stop being bullied. It'd be a great read for a kid who's bullying others or being bullied himself. Also, Butterball is just so loveable. You really feel for this kid. You hurt when he hurts. You cringe when he does something wrong. You cheer for him when he does something right. The relationship between him and his therapist is both emotionally charged and sweet too. There's lots of great character development in this book, and the writing style is melodic too. 50 Cent definitely has a way with words.

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): There's a moment when Butterball and his dad are shopping for new shoes when he sees the most beautiful pair of sneakers he's ever seen and he describes them, saying, "they were really incredibly beautiful - the way a sunset or the last shot of Planet of the Apes, the original I mean, not that remake..., the way it cuts from the beach to that wide shot of the Statue of Liberty" (111). At the beginning of this book, I was a bit worried I'd be able to relate to Butterball as a character, but by page 10 or so I was already feeling him. After this scene where he falls in love with some shoes, I was definitely understanding him because who hasn't done that? It's such an innocent and universal moment that quickly turns sour, but that's spoilers. ;)

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 3 stars

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Title: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Author: Tom Angleberger

Pages: 152

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

ISBN: 9780810984257

Publication date: March 1, 2010
AR Levels: Interest Level: 4th-8th, Book Level: 4.7, Points: 3.0

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7150174-the-strange-case-of-origami-yoda

In a nutshell: McQuarrie Middle School is just your typical middle school until the day quirky sixth-grader Dwight introduces his classmates to Origami Yoda, who as you may have guessed is an origami Yoda, but the crazy thing is that this origami Yoda seems to be alive and able to predict the future! Dwight's classmate and fellow lunch table sitter Tommy and his friends begin an investigation to find out whether or not Origami Yoda is real or just a way for Dwight to get attention, and things just get stranger and stranger. Before long every one wants to seek Origami Yoda's advice, and there's trouble for those who do not heed it.

I'd recommend it for grades: 4 to 8

I'd recommend it to: fans of Star Wars and/or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, boys, origami enthusiasts, reluctant readers (It's short and easy to read...and funny too!), and anyone looking for a good laugh

What I liked most about this book: The physical design of this book is excellent. The whole book reads like a case file journal of the class' encounters with Yoda, so the pages have a crumpled look to them with different fonts for different handwriting and doodles here and there of Star Wars characters and kids in the class. Plus, at the end there's instructions for making your own origami Yoda. I haven't tried it...yet! ;)

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): My favorite piece of advice that Yoda gives is to a boy who accidentally gets water on his pants in the bathroom and is mortified that people will think he peed in his pants. Wise Yoda says, "All of pants you must wet," and the boy just soaks the rest of his pants and shirt so it just looks like he got caught in the rain. Genius.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 3 stars (but it would easily be 5 stars for certain readers)

*If you like this one, check out the other two in the series: Darth Paper Strikes Back (book two) and The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee (book 3). 

Cracked by K.M. Walton

Okay, I have another heavy book for you, but I promise I’m not obsessed with dark and depressing things.  I wouldn’t exactly describe this next book that way anyway. . . timely, yes, but not depressing.  Cracked is the debut novel by K.M.Walton, and let’s just say that she doesn’t just ease her way onto the teen book scene. 

Title:  Cracked

Author: K.M. Walton

Pages:  311

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

ISBN:  9781442434424

Publication Date:  January 3, 2012
AR Levels:  Interest Level--9th to 12th; Book Level--4.1; Points--8.0

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9930875-cracked

In a Nutshell:  Sixteen-year old Victor Konig is definitely a loner; he doesn’t have a friend at school, he doesn’t have a friend at home (save for the family dog), and the local bully has an eye out for him.  Bull (the bully—aptly named) also has a terrible home life and doesn’t have much going for him at school either.  Their decisions to take matters into their own hands get them into the same psych ward.  There, they must tackle their own demons and try to make sense of their lives, but will having the enemy in the hospital bed next to you get in the way?

I’d Recommend It for Grades: 9^th-12^th.  Again, this is a high school book because it deals with topics like suicide, abuse, and depression, and it also features some strong language. 

I’d Recommend It To:  Anyone who’s ever felt isolated.  I’d also recommend it to educators and parents just so they can see what depression and suicidal thoughts can look like for teens.

What I Liked Most about This Book:  It’s realistic and not overly dramatic.  The characters in this book could be real people and the events of the book aren’t “Hollywood” storylines (with the exception of Victor and Bull ending up as roommates in the psych ward). 

Single Favorite Moment (without getting spoiler-y):  I’ll admit that I have a pretty quirky sense of humor, so I appreciated one activity that went on in the psych ward.  The people in the ward had a game they would play in which they would try to guess why a new person was admitted.

Star Rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious):  I’m going with 5 stars on this one.

*****NOTE:  If you ever have feelings like the characters in this book, talk to someone about it—a parent, a teacher, a counselor, someone! Or you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.*****

Our First Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Here it is! Our very first book review, and honestly, I (Stefanie) knew immediately which book I'd want to review. A book like R.J. Palacio's Wonder just begs for parents and educators to snatch it up for their tweens and teens, but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

Title: Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio

Pages: 313

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

ISBN: 9780375869020

Publication Date: February 14, 2012
AR Levels: Interest Level: 4th-8th, Book Level: 4.8, Points: 11.0 

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11387515-wonder

In a Nutshell: Auggie Pullman is just your normal fifth grader in every way...just not from the look of him. Auggie was born with a facial deformity, and up until now, he's been homeschooled. But now that he's entering middle school, his parents have decided he needs to go to regular school...because middle school is such an open, welcoming, and peaceful world, right? Wrong! Auggie is faced with the difficulty of not only adjusting to the trials of middle school but with trying to make his classmates see the boy behind the face for who he really is. Told in multiple alternating perspectives of his friends and family and Auggie himself, this book gives a fresh and, at times, funny take on bullying, friendship, and self awareness.

I'd Recommend It for Grades: 5-12+

I'd Recommend It To: Anyone who's ever felt misunderstood or left out or had (or is having!) a really rough time in middle school...which, I'm assuming, is anyone over the age of 10

What I Liked Most about This Book: What didn't I love about this book? I don't want you to get the wrong first impression and think that I always love everything I read, but this is seriously the best children's book I've read this year, the best bullying book I've ever read, and one of the most funny, gut-wrenching, and heartwarming books I've read in a long time. The best part is the character development. The characters feel completely real, and you feel completely sympathetic toward them. You'll find yourself cheering, crying, and laughing right along with them. The biggest compliments I can think to give it are that it has Newbery written all over it and that when you read it, it feels like John Green for younger kids. I adored it. 

Single Favorite Moment (without getting spoiler-y): Okay, I can't pick a single moment, but the sections narrated by Auggie's sister are my favorite. Her dilemma of growing up loving her brother and willing to do anything to protect him yet wanting some attention for herself as well is raw and honest and amazing. While Auggie's entering middle school, she's entering high school and having struggles of her own, and it brings a whole new dynamic to the plot.  

Star Rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): Wow. I would give this 10 stars if I could, but since I can't break my own rules, I'll give it a 5. :) Perfect little book. Just perfect.