Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan

Title: The Bitter Side of Sweet
Author: Tara Sullivan
Pages: 299
Finished: 4/19/17

First Sentence: I count the things that matter.

Summary: Amadou and his little brother Seydou work as child slaves on a cacao farm on the Ivory Coast. The work is hard, and the bosses are abusive, but the boys have no where to run. That is, until Khadija arrives. Khadija has no intention of being a slave, and even though she keeps getting kicked down, her spirit seeps into Amadou. Perhaps they can escape this hell they live in.

Thoughts: This is the type of book that I hate being on the Caudill list. The list is for 3rd to 8th graders, but this is really only appropriate for perhaps 7th grade and up? Boys get beat for not doing the work. A girl gets raped. It's tough to read. The only way I could continue with this book was by reading the last chapter and the epilogue. I had to know it ended up okay so I could get through the darkness. 

How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims


Title: How to Raise an Adult
Author: Julie Lythcott-Haims
Pages: 368
Finished: 4/17/17

First Sentence: This is a book about parents who are overinvolved in the lives of their kids.

Summary: Society constantly rags on Millennials. Millennials are entitled. Millennials have no work ethic. Millennials have no life skills. Millennials want recognition for trying hard even if they don't succeed. Julie Lythcott- Haims, a dean of freshmen students at Stanford talks about how this trend happened, why it hurts our kids, and how we can stop it. It's a call to action for a different and probably better way of parenting that seems all but lost in our society today.

Thoughts: First of all, I am a Millennial. I've ALWAYS hated being told all the problems with my generation as though they're all my fault. I never gave myself a trophy for trying. I never falsely built up my self esteem. I didn't put expectations of straight As in every subject so I could get into an amazing school on myself (at least until I was older.) But somehow I'm at fault. 

I'm also a mom of a toddler.

This book was just what I needed at this moment in time. I've told my husband time and again that I want my child to learn how to power through frustration. That I want her to learn from failure rather than fearing failure. That I want her learning life skills, and how to entertain herself. I want her to succeed in life. It's hard to parent that way when society tells you to do it differently. This book really helped confirm to me that I'm doing things right. 

As for how I'm doing as a Millennial, I can say that I was never as bad as many of the examples in this book, though I did have to learn to recognize things I struggled with and how to work through them. 

Ultimately, I think this book should be required reading for anyone who is or wants to be a parent, anyone who works with or wants to work with kids, and perhaps anyone who is a Millennial or is dealing with Millennials in the workforce.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Title: Goodbye Stranger
Author: Rebecca Stead
Pages: 287
Finished: 4/10/17

First Sentence: When she was eight years old, Bridget Barsamian woke up in a hospital, where a doctor told her she shouldn't be alive.

Summary: A book of intertwining stories. Bridge, Tab, and Em have been friends since fourth grade, but now they wonder if their friendship will survive the difficulties of middle school. Sherm writes letters that he never sends to his grandfather who walked out on them. And an unnamed high school student tries to figure out how to deal with how she betrayed her best friend.

Thoughts: This was better than I expected. Not great, but fine. I really liked the way they dealt with the double standards put on girls. Everyone felt age appropriate. Would definitely recommend to middle school kids.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Mercedes Lackey The Fairy Godmother
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Pages: 417
Finished: 4/4/17

First Sentence: This is not the way to spend a beautiful spring morning! Elena Klovis thought, as she peered around the pile of bandboxes in her arms.

Summary: Elena's story seems familiar. Young girl treated as a servant by her stepmother and two stepsisters. She was supposed to be the Kingdom's Cinderella, but the prince happens to be about 10 years younger than her. When her step family tries to outrun their debts leaving Elena behind, she finds herself apprenticed to her Fairy Godmother. And when she becomes a Godmother in turn, it's up to Elena to keep her kingdoms running smoothly even as she bucks Tradition-with-a-capital-T.

Thoughts: First and foremost, I dislike it when the author's name is more prominent than the title. It's the same on the spine. In fact, the sticker that labels this "Fic Lackey" from the library covers most of the title. 

Anyway.

I really loved the premise of the Tradition, i.e. a force that shapes people's lives. It explains the various fairy tales so well, and it's very interesting to see it showing up again and again across the Five Hundred Kingdoms. I also really liked the idea that, if people miss their story, they can become fairy godmothers. Actually, all the explanations worked for me. Overall the book was fine. I enjoyed it plenty. I'll probably check out the rest of the series at some point.

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John


Title: The Terrible Two
Author: Jory John and Mac Barnett
Pages: 217
Finished: 4/3/17

First Sentence: Welcome to Yawnee Valley, an idyllic place with rolling green hills that slope down to creeks, and cows as far as the eye can see.

Summary: Miles isn't happy about moving to the cow capital of the US. His only consolation is the fact that he plans on becoming the school's best prankster. That is, until he finds out the school already has a prankster. A prankster who might be better than Miles.

Thoughts: Fun pictures. Writing and storyline seem on par for 3rd to 5th grade. I particularly enjoyed the cow facts and the authors playing around with format. I also loved that Yawnee Valley's prankster had a code of honor.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate


Title: Crenshaw
Author: Katherine Applegate
Pages: 245
Finished: 4/3/17

First Sentence: I noticed several weird things about the surfboarding cat.

Summary: Last time Jackson saw his imaginary friend, the cat Crenshaw, his family was living in their minivan. A few years later, as the unmistakable signs of homelessness start showing up, so does Crenshaw. Will Crenshaw give him what he needs?

Thoughts: *Sigh* On the one hand, I appreciate that this book seemed pretty realistic in terms of what it's probably like to be a kid in a family stricken by poverty. And that it didn't end with everything magically being okay. 

On the other hand, I really didn't like this book. The dad refusing to take "handouts" by applying for government services really bugged me. Supporting your family and making sure your kids can eat is more important than your pride. I also hate it when adults in books keep the unhappy truths from their children which only ends up causing more anxiety. 

Sunday, April 2, 2017

April Reads



1. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate - Bluestem Challenge
2. The Bitter Side of Sweet by Zara Sullivan - Caudill Challenge
3. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett - Bluestem Challenge
4. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead - Caudill Challenge
5. How to Raise and Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims - for fun
6. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - Back to the Classics
7. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz Challenge
8. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey - Retellings Challenge/Personal Challenge

Full disclosure, I'm 300 pages into Fairy Godmother, so that won't be so difficult to finish. I've started breaking up my reading differently too. Since I am allowed to read children's literature while on the desk at work, I've started reading Bluestems/Caudills/Wizard of Oz books on the weekends and Monday when I work. Then Tuesday through Friday I read adult literature.

I'm most looking forward to How to Raise and Adult even though it's not something for my challenge list.

Gone With the Wind intimidates me a bit. I'm hoping it goes well, but I wonder if it'll take a little longer than just one month to finish.

The Caudills are the last two of the ones that I marked as not interested in reading, so hopefully they'll surprise me the way the other four did. I don't have much of an opinion on the Bluestems other than they should be fairly quick reads.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

2018 Bluestem List

Much like the Rebecca Caudill list, Illinois also has a list called the Bluestem list. We are encouraged to read the twenty books on the Bluestem Nominee List. A panel of teachers, librarians, and kids nominate books to appear on the Bluestem list. A committee narrows nominees to 20 books. Kids have to read a minimum of three books on the list and then vote for the one they want. Books are for kids in grades 3 to 5.

Books:
1. 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
2. A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel
3. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
4. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman
5. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
6. Crossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventures of the Great Blondin by Matt Tavares
7. Dash by Kirby Larson
8. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
9. Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick
10. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
11. Save me a Seat by Sara Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
12. Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
13. Soar by Joan Baur
14. Stick Dog by Tom Watson
15. The House that Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams
16. The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea by Brenda Z Guiberson
17. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
18. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
19. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
20. Who was Louis Braille by Margaret Frith