Confusion is Nothing New by Paul Acampora, was my first read of summer break. I immediately liked the narrator and heroine Ellie and her best friend Daniel. Both fourteen, both in their school's marching band, and both have always lived in the same town. But Ellie has been without a mother since she was a baby when her mother left to follow her dream to be a rock star. Ellie lives with her loving and dedicated father who would not answer questions about her mother. Then suddenly, Ellie gets a package of cassette tapes from her mother who dies of cancer right after sending the package. Ellie and a group of bright, and interesting friends and music lovers set out to help Ellie find out who her mother was and all about the music she loved and dedicated her life to. Funny, meaningful, a great read. Realistic fiction 5th grade and up. The Friendship War by Andrew Clements. Grace loves math, data and collecting unusual artifacts. She is thrilled when her grandfather lets her keep many boxes of buttons, potentially antique, that they find when exploring an old clothing mill he is going to renovate. After showing some of the unique buttons in her social studies class, she unwittingly starts a new fad in school, and suddenly everyone is finding, trading and collecting all kinds of buttons. Grace herself feels drawn into this fad and worse, realizes her best friend Ellie is now a source of competition. Or has Ellie always treated their friendship that way? As Grace navigates the school year, she begins to reexamine a friendship she thought was good and compare it to newer friendships. Grace begins to question if the old one is worth saving? Read this very real portrait of 5th grade relationships and fads! Realistic fiction, grades 3-5. The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris. Carter has had a very hard life, losing his parents when he was very young, he is raised by an uncle who does not really care for him but uses him as an assistant when he steals from and cons people. But his uncle and his parents were magicians and Carter is pretty magically talented too. That helps him escape from his uncle and try to survive on his own. He finds himself in a little town with a magic shop where he meets a generous magician, Mr. Vernon and his budding escape artist daughter. As Carter gets to know them and meet their friends he finds a special bond. Together, these "magical misfits" they solve a mystery and a big crime involving a special and rare diamond. Magic tricks included in the book too! Magical Realism, Grades 3-5. Supergifted by Gordon Korman. In this sequel to Gifted, Donovan is back! This time the story centers around his true genius friend Noah, when they are both enrolled in an ordinary middle school, though they still visit the Academy to work on their robot competition. But at school, Noah is tired of being the best at everything so he is determined and trying hard to be very ordinary and fit in. He fails miserably until Donovan performs a heroic and very impulsive act and in a strange set of circumstances it is Noah who takes the credit. Suddenly Noah goes from superdweeb to Superkid in everyones eyes. Will it change him forever? Will Donovan every get credit he deserves and get his friend back? And how will the robot compete? Read this funny fast paced story to find out! Realistic fiction, grades 3-5.
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December 2021
My Reading List!
AuthorI am the Library Media Center director at Patton School in Arlington Heights where I help students from kindergarten through 5th grade find terrific independent reading for enjoyment and information, and teach students the skills to use information and technology safely and productively and to connect, communicate and share with others. I have four grown children, a large black dog, (flat coat retriever) and a small striped cat. I am an obessive Chicago Cubs fan and I love to run. Patton LMC Summer Reading Blog |