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Showing posts from September, 2021

The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell by Jordan Sonnenblick

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  This is a hilarious memoir of Jordan Sonnenblick. My students know that I have met and spoken with him on a regular basis. He is a wonderfully generous and caring man now, but this book chronicles his fourth grade school year as a regular kid who loved his snake, wanted to learn how to play drums, and hopefully survive a year in school.  This had to have been really fun to write because it was a lot of fun to read! I think many students will be able to relate to the emotions (uncertainty, excitement, anger, and giddiness among others). Students tend to see the author's name on a book cover and forget that they once were students just like them. This book serves as a good reminder! I loved it!

Frankie and Bug by Gayle Forman

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  This book is very timely. Bug's summer just might have been ruined if it hadn't been for the arrival of Frankie. She was supposed to go to the beach with her brother Danny, but Danny has said he needs more space this summer. So upon Frankie's arrival, there might be hope though even they are strangers. Frankie and Bug connect over something very serious- there's a serial killer attacking people around the city and they want to help stop him. Along the way, they get to know each other for who they truly are as Frankie reveals very personal information and Bug accepts him for who he is on the inside.  Set in Venice Beach, California in the 1980's, among the backdrop of a very diverse population of people, this book teaches the lessons of acceptance and tolerance and being your true self. I think a lot of my students will really connect to this book and I certainly plan on adding it to my classroom library! -TK