Intelluctual Freedom: Jump Ship to Freedom

Jump Ship to Freedom is Volume 2 of the Arabus Family History. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Collier is about Young Daniel Arabus and his mother who are slaves in the house of Captain Ivers of Stratford, Connecticut. By law they should be free, since Daniel's father fought in the Revolutionary army and earned enough in soldiers' notes to buy his family's freedom. However, now Daniel's father is dead, and Mrs. Ivers has taken the notes from his mother. When Daniel bravely steals the notes back, a furious Captain Ivers forces him aboard a ship bound for the West Indies and certain slavery. Even if Daniel can manage to jump ship in New York the long and dangerous road to freedom is still ahead of him. He must use his wits and his courage, plus call his father's memory to mind in order to combat his harsh master, a string of bad luck and his own poor judgment. This is an exciting book which will captivate the reader while teaching about America's past and the struggles its citizens experienced. This book would be great for grades 5-8. I thought this is a great book that teaches perseverance and courage as well. It also exposes students to the issues surrounding the rights of minorities during this time.

Historical Fiction: No Hero for the Kaiser

The book No Hero for the Kaiser by Rudolf Frank is about a fourteen-year-old Jan Kubitsky, the only survivor after the Russian and German troops raze his small Polish town in September 1914. He is adopted as a mascot by the German unit. Although his own father is fighting for the Russians, Jan soon feels loyalty and affection for his German friends, and again and again he manages to save them so that they begin to see him as an almost superhuman. Jan is witness to all of the horrors of war as he travels with the battery to both fronts. When the men conceive a plan to reward Jan by making him a German citizen, the idea is eagerly seized upon as good publicity by the high command. Jan, however, does not wish to be a symbol for the German army, and he quietly disappears. Frank's novel, originally published in 1931, banned by the Nazis and reissued in Germany in 1979, is an antiwar novel.The message of the author is steer clear of war. The author discusses the repercussions of war and the affects it has on the people. The book would be appropriate for Grades six through nine. I liked this book because I am Polish and my family has had personal experience with World War I and II. My grandparents were in concentration camps and I thought this story really brought out the terrible affects war has on its people.

Realistic Fiction: It Started With a Dare

The book, It Started With a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech is about a girl, CG Silverman, who moves to a new school and reinvents herself. Self-proclaimed nobody CG Silverman sees her move to an upscale new school as her chance to be somebody different.Her devil-may-care attitude attracts the in-clique, and before CG realizes it, a routine game of truth or dare launches her to iconic status.She struggles with juggling boys and friendships which propel her into a web of new and bigger lies until she’s in way over her head.This book does contain Adult language and underage drinking which may make this book a cautionary tale. The cover of this book goes very well with the book itself because the book is flirty and fun.This book is a quick and fun read. This book reminded me of the popular movie Mean Girls because it had similar plot. The main character, CG, is a character that is definitely relatable. The book itself is a little predictable but there were a lot of things that made me think about my younger days and smile. Overall I could see young adult females reading this book and it could be used to teach life lesson. It would also be great book to demonstrate that there are consequences for our actions.

Fantasy(Adventure): Halo

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto is a Science fiction novel about three angels that are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.The characters are complex and the plot is a roller coaster that keeps you guessing. The writing is so intricate yet it is easy to read. Students who enjoy the Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events would most likely like this new Australian series as well. This book received the IRA Young Adult Choice Award and according to research more young adults are reading fantasy especially boys. Fantasy books also provide a way for young adults to look at the codes of behavior and the human psyche without being too scary.

Informational Book: Our Kingdom: Our Lives with Animals

The book One Kingdom: Our Lives with Animals is a nonfiction science book and it would be appropriate for students in grades 6-10 (depending on reading level). This is a great book for students who love animals. It is also a great book to introduce a lesson on animals. The book could also be used in a debate. The students could debate whether or not animals should be kept in zoos. Noyes discusses myth, legend, history, and some science in this book. However the story is more about the bond humans and animals share. The book includes amazing close-up, black-and-white photos of the animals. The pictures really are beautiful and they draw you in. The pictures could be used to discuss the art of photography as well. Also the book includes interesting facts and stories about animals, zoos, and how humans have related to animals over time. The author devotes a significant discussion to conservation and the ethics of keeping animals in captivity, including a lengthy debate about zoos. As a young adult I loved reading books about animals because I lived on a farm growing up and I really loved working with animals. As I read this book it really brought me back to when I was a kid.

Georgia Children’s Book Awards

The Georgia Children’s Book Awards were created in the late 1960s by an education professor, Dr. Sheldon Root, at the University of Georgia. The Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia sponsors this award. The awards are given in two categories – picture books and middle grades novels. Nominations for the awards are submitted by teachers and media specialists across Georgia. Next, a committee chooses the final list of nominees. Throughout the school year, teachers and media specialists promote the nominee books by encouraging students to read them at school and at home, reading them aloud, and connecting them to the curriculum. In March, students vote on a book they believe should win the award for that category. The winners are revealed at the annual Georgia Children’s Book Awards Conference in March of each year.

Coretta Scott King Award

The Coretta Scott King Award is an annual award presented by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table which is part of the American Library Association (ALA). This award is given to African American authors and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award tries to promote understanding and appreciation for all culture and people.