Romeo and Juliet

Graphic Novel

         The graphic novel "Romeo and Juliet" adapted by Gaerth Hinds is a take on William Shakespear's play. The graphic novel has great illustrations. The pictures are so bold and vibrant that it draws you to the story. The story is true to how it was intended to be told.
          This novel is not for the struggling reader. I wish it could be but definitely would not recommend. The story line is still the same, but the language used is that from Shakespear. There is not a translation of phrases and words to help readers understand the book. I am so disappointed in this, but I would definitely recommend to older students who are avid readers.
         As a teacher, I would not give this to my students. I would do it as a read aloud and break it down with my students. I do love this book and story.

Graphic Novels.... Coraline

Coraline (Graphic Novel)

By Neil Gaiman

       Coraline the Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman has got to be one of the best graphic novels every. I am not a fan of graphic novels, but reading Coraline has changed my mind. This novel has kept me glued to the book until I found out what exactly happened.

       Coraline is about a young girl and her family moving into a flat. The flat has several characters living there too. The reader finds out that the house is a little odd. Coraline complains about being bored a lot and has to go out to explore her new environment. On her exploring trip she realizes things are a little different. She soon finds out things aren't the way they seem and must find a way to get things back to normal. She learns that she really is brave.

        This is a great book for struggling readers. It is lexiled at 710, and the pictures in the story helps for readers to visualize the story. Coraline is a wonderful book for those students who would never pick up the non graphic novel version. I can't wait to read the non graphic novel version. I would give this book 5 stars and have already shared this with some of my students who are avid graphic novel readers.

Destined to Live: A True Story of a Child in the Holocaust by Ruth Gruener

Destined to Live: A True Story of a Child in the  Holocaust

By Ruth Gruener

             The author Ruth Gruener does a wonderful job of recounting her time in Poland during World War II. Her given name is Aurelia Gamzer and she is a proud Jewish girl. Before the German's occupied Poland Aurelia who would be called Luncia. Her parents were hard workers in their candy shop. However, the occupation changed everything for the family. The moved out of their spacious beautiful home to the ghetto as they called it. She would live on very little and have to deal with living in hiding. She eventually will get to America but will realize what she went through was not as bad as her other friends who were Jewish too.

        I usually don't read books about the Holocaust or the Nazi invasion. It is history, but to read about so many people dying because they were not what Hitler saw fit as a human being makes me sad. I hate to read about children being hurt, tortured or killed. I decided to break down and read this book. To tell you the truth I am so glad I did. It was a true account of a young girls life. I was so interested to see what she went through and her thoughts. I am not sure how she did it, but she overcame all this to survive. Loved this book.

     As for students reading this........ I think this is a must for those who enjoy reading about WWII and the Holocaust. The story has a happy ending and everyone loves to have a happy ending. The language in the  book is very understandable. There are a few words that are either German or Polish to describe a few things, but the context clues help you understand what is being said. I would definitely recommend this book. It is a short read and quick too. I would love hear comments about this story from others. A must read for any teacher and student. 

Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

Backlash

By Sarah Darer Littman

       

            Backlash  by Sarah Darer Littman has to be the best book I have read all summer. I have to say that says a lot considering I am only half way through summer reading for my classes. This is the book that I would definitely recommend to anyone. I would even suggest parents read this book. Love, love, love.

         The story centers around social media and how young people can be cruel to one another. The story is about a high school student name Lara who tries to kill herself after a Facebook posting of horrible awful things. The comments have depressed Lara that she feels the only way out is to overdose on pills. The comments come from a boy name Christian. As the story continues Lara's younger sister can't understand why their council woman mother and father don't see the drama that is always surrounding Lara. Sydney has her issue with being put to the side.

        Lara's former friend Bree is glad they are no longer friends. She just couldn't take the craziness of Lara and her whining. She takes a picture and posts it on social media about Lara. She is torn about things that are going on. Bree can't seem to understand how the two families were once close and no longer associated with one another. 

      This one incident will cause much backlash and feelings to be hurt. Lara will have to deal with the consequence. Syd will have to figure out how to be noticed in her family. Bree will have to live up to her mom's overbearing ways. Liam, Bree's brother, will have to figure out how he got caught in a situation that doesn't even include him. 

     The story Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman is a true to life story that we could read in the papers or see on television and movies. Today's young people are into social media and don't understand the consequences it brings when they post things online. Littman does a great job of writing a story that many young people could probably relate to. She shows the evil of social media and how it only takes one person to set a chain reaction.

    I would definitely recommend this story to all readers. As mentioned earlier I really think parents would get a wake up call in reading this about the evils of social media. I am planning on pushing this book to be read by my students. I would hope that the story would make them see how Facebook could effect others. Great book.

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

Gracefully Grayson

By: Ami Polonsky

            The story Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky is a great story. As an adult reader it is a great story as a young struggling reader depending on their interest will make this boring or great. The author did a great job of telling this story of young Grayson.

  

          The story is about a young boy named Grayson Sender in the 6th grade. He is in middle school and lives with his Uncle Evan and Aunt Sally. He has been sent to live with them due to the fact that his parents were killed in a car accident while he was at daycare. He has two cousins that are there at the apartment too. He doesn't seem to get along with Jack or I should say Jack doesn't get along with Grayson. Jack thinks he is a freak. Now younger Brett sees nothing but his cousin. 

          Grayson must try to figure out who he is. He daydreams about wearing outfits that appeal to girls. He has no idea why but hides who he really feels he is. He has really no friends at school and is befriend by Amelia for a short time. However, he seems to find something inside him to try out for a play being directed by his Humanities teacher Mr. Finn. He is unsure what part he wants to try out for until he auditions. He says Persephone. Now he must deal with the repercussion from schoolmates and his family.

        As the story continues on we learn some interesting facts about Grayson from letters him mother wrote to his grandmother Alice who is currently living in a nursey home. Grayson is very isolated and doesn't seem to socialize well with anyon. These letters are the key to finding out who he is.

      The story reminds me of the Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner story. Well not to the same extreme, but is current to what is going on in the news. I really enjoyed this story about Grayson. It would be a great little story for students who are trying to find themselves to read. I would definitely recommend it to my students and others. 

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Hate That Cat

By:Sharon Creech

             Hate That Cat  by Sharon Creech is the sequel to Love That Dog. I don't really have to read the first one, but it would be wise to understand Jack the main character in the story. Sharon writes the two books in verse. It is an easy read for students who are trying to find a book to read. 

              The book is about a young boy name Jack who is trying to find his poet voice. He has lost his dog and now has no pets. However, he knows he hates cats. The black cat that scratched him at the bus stop is to thank for that. Unknown to him that every poet he hears about writes about cats. He is baffled by this. He can't understand their love when he literally hates cats. He communicates through this book with his teacher about his poems and trying to be a poet. We also find out about his mom. 

              I would recommend this book if you like verse. I think it was a fairly good book. I wouldn't say the best, but it kept my interest enough to finish it. I would definitely give this to a struggling reader to read. The book is a quick read and the reader will learn about poetry throughout the story.

I Survived Series

I Survived Series

By: Lauren Tarshis

            This has to be one of my all time favorite series of books. Lauren Tarshis does a great job of hooking readers into reading her books. These short little novels are about major events in history, but coming from the eyes of characters who could of possibly been there, but weren't. Historical fiction as reader teachers call it.

    

          Tarshis has a book for the following events: Titanic, Chicago Fire, The Great Shark Attack, Pearl Harbor, Nazi Invasion, Sept 11, Japanese Tsunami, The Battle of Gettysburg, Pompeii, Hurricane Katrina, and San Francisco Earthquake. The events of the story are true to fact, but the characters are people readers can possibly relate to. The stories are quick reads and very interesting. If you are interested in history than this is the series for you. You find yourself going to find a new book in the series. I can say that this year I had more students read these books than ever before. I was very excited.

          I would highly recommend these books to all readers. I hope Lauren Tarshis comes up with more books about events in history in this format. I hope you enjoy the book trailer for I Survived the Attack of Pearl Harbor, 1941.

,