Sail Away on my Silver Dream

A great fifth grade review

Sail Away on my Silver Dream by J Guenther follows a boy named David whose mother is very sick with cancer.  When he meets Sharon and learns that her father is an Alcoholic they bond by sailing away on their imaginary boat.

This is a great book that fifth grade reviewer loved.  While this book isn't one that you speed through it never bores readers.  The characters were funny responsible and entertaining even though they were dealing with a lot in their lives.  The problem/solution worked out perfectly making for a satisfying ending.  My reviewers only criticism of the book is that she didn't like the the texture of the cover.

Appropriateness:  The book deals with domestic abuse and has violent situations with Sharon's abusive father.  There is a bit of romance but not enough to turn off readers.  I recommend this book to readers 11-14

Review copy provided by the author.

Mila 2.0

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza begins with Mila finding out that she's not the human teenager that she thought she was.  After finding out that she's an android her life gets crazy.  First she's on the run from those who want to capture her and then she must fight for her own existance from those who want to destroy her.

I wasn't expecting much when I started this book but I really loved it.  It was filled with enough suspense and action to keep me on the edge of my seat.  I appreciated the lack of romantic angst and the theme of what makes you human.  I sped though the book finishing it in a few days.

Appropriateness:  While there is a lot of action movie type violence in this book there is no other adult content.  I would recommend it for readers 13+ but it would be fine for younger readers.

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

A Field Guide to Aliens: Intergalactic Worrywarts, Bubblonauts, Sliver-Slurpers, and Other Extraterrestrials

A Field Guide to Aliens: Intergalactic Worrywarts, Bubblonauts, Sliver-Slurpers, and Other Extraterrestrials by Johan Olander is a fantastic illustrated book that gives kids descriptions and pictures of several common aliens.

I gave my daughter this book while she was sitting in a waiting room and she not only devoured it there (not needing anything else to distract her) but read it in the car to me.  This picture book sized field guide is filled with pictures and descriptions with the addition of great difficult vocabulary words.

I would recommend this book to readers 9-12 (and younger advanced readers).  It's a great buy for reluctant readers.

Review Copy Provided by Amazon Vine.

Little Red Hot

Little Red Hot by Eric A. Kimmel is a fantastic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a spicy hot twist. This little red loves hot peppers, the hotter the better. When she finds out that grandma is sick she cooks the hottest hot pepper pie to take to her.

I loved this book. It's funny and has a great surprise ending while keeping in the spirit of the original little red story. I would recommend this to readers 5-8.

The Menagerie

The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland follows Logan as he discovers a young griffin hiding under his bed.  This griffin leads him to The Menagerie a wonderful place where magical creatures are kept which is run by his new friend Zoe's family.  The two along with another friend Blue must find all the missing griffins to save the Menagerie.

I loved this book.  It's cute and sweet and funny and the world that the Sutherlands have developed is truly magical.  The characters from the individual animals to the kids are all well crafted and have distinct personalities.  I suspect this will be a book to win awards.  I sped through the book and can't wait for the sequel.  This is a book I will purchase for others.

Appropriateness: There is no adult content in this book and no violence or romance (although there is talk of a bit of a crush).  The book will appeal equally to boys and girls ages 8-14 and it will work well as a read aloud to younger students.

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

The Center of Everything

The Center of Everything by Linda Urban stars Ruby Pepperdine who is elected anomously by the librarian to be the essay girl.  This creates some big problems.

This is a good book.  The characters do a great job fitting into the story and the setting is very situation.  The plot sometimes switches making it difficult for readers to follow.  However the book does have a great hook making readers want to know what will happen and is interesting enough to keep readers interested although it is not a super fast read and it has a fantastic ending.

Appropriateness:  This book has no adult content and no romance.  It would be enjoyed by 5-7th graders.

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine.  Review completed with help from a great fifth grader.

The Voyage of Lucy P Simmons

The Voyage of Lucy P Simmons by Barbara A Mariconda follows Lucy P Simmons through her adventure of living with her uncle and aunt.  Her uncle sends her off to a boarding school and there they find out that her uncle plans to sell the house.  What will happen next and can her "boarding school" teacher save everything with a bit of magic.

This book was terrific.  The characters were amazing and the magical setting is wonderful.  The book was a very fast book that keeps the reader asking for more.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book and it is only a bit scary.  I would reccomend this book to readers 9-13

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine 

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a Little Lamb by Isa Trampani is a wonderful folk song book that kids will love.  The book starts with the traditional first verse and then the next verses follow the lamb throughout the farm (and into some trouble) during her day while maintaining the singability of the original story.  My students loved this one and laughed as the lamb got into trouble and even tried to keep up with the song.

This book is appropriate for ages 4-8 and works perfectly as a sing-a-loud

Patalosh: The Time Travelers

Another student review:

Patalosh, The Time Travelers by Z. Altug and Tracy Gensler is a good book about magic, Time Traveling, Portals and more.

This is a fantastic book that was greatly enjoyed by my reviewer.  So much so that he wanted to read the book again before handing it back to me (I told him he could keep it).  It's great and full of futuristic time traveling and great characters with varied abilities and traits.  My reviewer thought it would have been a bit better if they'd explained some of the scientific terms.

Appropriateness:  This book is great for middle grade readers 9-14.  It is creepy and has some fighting but no adult content.

Review Copy Provided by Amazon Vine

Running out of Time

Running out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix follows Jessie who lives in a frontier village in the year 1840.  At least that's what she's grown up believing.  When a massive Diphtheria outbreak hits her village she learns the truth from her mother.  She has been living in a tourist attraction and the year is actually 1996.  She must escape from the village and expose the problems so that she can get help for the sick in her village.

This is a terrific story of a girl leaving everything she's known to get help.  Modern life is a mystery to Jessie and everything is new and scary.  The book is an adventure from beginning to end and I couldn't put it down.

Appropriateness:  There is no adult content in this book.  There are a few scary moments but nothing that would terrify older elementary students.  Jessie is a strong girl and a good role model and there is enough action in the story to keep boys engaged.  There is no romantic subplot.  I would recommend this book to readers 10-14.

The Lady With the Alligator Purse

The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Nadine Bernard Westcott is a picture book adaptation of the traditional childrens song.  I have shared this with my students for years.  The pictures are clear enough that they can follow along with the song after hearing it once and they always delight in seeing the lady with the alligator purse who brings Pizza for the sick baby.

I would recommend this book for readers 3-8, it is a perfect sing-a-long book.

Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook

Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook tells the story of two girls separated during world war two though a beautiful scrapbook and letters. The pictures are real looking enough that I would touch the pages expecting them to be raised and the friendship between the two girls tells a story of what it was like to be in their positions during the war. I hope the author produces more of these and they become a series.

When I handed this book to a fifth grader (and a boy at that) he didn't want to give it back to me and told me he'd return it at the end of the day after he was finished. I would recommend this book to readers 9-13 and it's a must for elementary and middle school libraries.

Review copy provided by Amazon Vine