Review: Like Bug Juice on a Burger

Title: Like Bug Juice on a Burger
Author: Julie Sternberg
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 165
Review Copy: Netgalley & library copy
Available: On shelves now

Summary: I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn't. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed "Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie," Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she's excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can't seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops. -- Cover image and summary via IndieBound

Review: I am always happy to find early chapter books that are fun and engaging. Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a great book for those early readers who want to start chapter books, but are still intimidated by lots of words on the page. There is a lot of white space on these pages. The addition of Matthew Cordell's refreshing illustrations also keeps this chapter book entertaining and friendly during a transition from picture books.

Whether children have experienced summer camp or not, this is a book that most can connect with as all children have dealt with fear of new situations. Eleanor runs into difficulties, but nothing that she truly can't handle. She rises up to meet the challenges in spite of her fears.

I did wonder about the formatting of the text. There are no traditional paragraphs, but there are breaks and many short lines. I thought that the author may have chosen to avoid paragraphing for easy reading. It truly did not seem like it was written in verse though the text was sometimes lyrical. Because I was wondering about the formatting and whether or not it was a novel in verse, I was happy to find this interview from the International Reading Association. The book is not exactly a novel in verse, though some refer to it that way, but I believe that the formatting she used, definitely benefits struggling and beginning readers.

For anyone looking to stock up on early chapter books, this is definitely something to purchase. It would make a nice read aloud in primary classes and would be great for reading alone when students are venturing into the chapter book realm.

**There is an Activity Kit available through Julie's website

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Jen Vincent over at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye from Unleashing Readers decided to put a children's and YA spin on it and they invite anyone with an interest to join in. You can participate by creating your post then visit one of their sites to add your site. Finally, visit at least three participant blogs and comment to spread the love.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

The Past Week

Picture Books

Deep in the Sahara was the definite winner of the three. I reviewed it on Saturday. It is a beautiful story of faith and community. Daisy Gets Lost was a fun companion to A Ball for Daisy. I also liked When Lions Roar because it would be a good way to discuss fear.

Middle Grade

Rump was a ton of fun. I seek out re-tellings and this one didn't disappoint. The Year of Billy Miller and Like Bug Juice on a Burger were great realistic books about the challenges of growing up. They were both fun. I think Billy Miller would be a great read aloud because the text would be challenging for a second grader, but the content is perfect for them. Bug Juice was a fun follow up to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. I will be writing up a review later this week. I am still not sure why it is in verse format. It read like straight prose, so I actually was confused initially. I thought maybe the author had just decided not to use paragraphing. I had forgotten that the first one was like that too. Gone Fishing was such fun. I loved the mix of many poetry styles and the interactions between the brother and sister. The poetry explanations in the back were great too.

Non-fiction

I enjoyed learning about the library in Egypt through Hands Around the Library. I liked the Minnesota Bug Hunt too. The pictures were great. Locomotive was the one that stood out though. The layout, text features, and beautiful illustrations really supported the facts and made it fantastically engaging. I know teachers will love using it to demonstrate author's craft.

The Coming Week:

I have started reading a digital ARC of Chitchat a book about language, but the ARC is acting funny. I will try to finish it, if it will open. Otherwise, I will be reading books from the Nerdy Award Finalists list as quickly as I can. There are about 40 that I haven't read. I've requested 15 books through the library and I will read them as they arrive. I have a few at school too. I am about to begin Mr. Lemoncello's Library today and then it will all depend on what I can get into my hands. What will you be reading?

#Nerdlution

I caught a glimpse of the #nerdlution conversation on Twitter the other day and had to wonder what new adventure was in the works. Franki Sibberson explains #Nerdlution well in this blogpost. Everyone involved will be working toward fulfilling a daily goal and we will have a place to find support and encouragement through the Twitter hashtag.

After seeing what other people will be doing, I think I want to try to aim for exercising and writing every day. After finishing National Novel Writing Month, it would be very tempting to stop writing, but one of the main reasons for #NaNoWriMo is to create that habit of writing so I want to try to keep it going. Also, I like to run, but I tend to let that slide in the winter since I am not into freezing. I don't always do anything else though. I am hoping to go to more Zumba classes. I also  want to check out some of the other opportunities since we have a YMCA membership. I have a backup plan here at the house in case I run out of time or don't want to go out too. We have Just Dance for the Wii. My daughter and I gave it a run through last night and it was quite a workout.

I love being a part of something like this and am hoping to see great results. All are welcome! Join up if you are interested.

Review: Deep in the Sahara

Title: Deep in the Sahara 

Author: Kelly Cunnane

Illustrator: Hoda Hadadi

Publisher: Schwarz & Wade Books

Pages: 40

Review Copy: Digital ARC from Edelweiss & a library copy

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: Lalla lives in the Muslim country of Mauritania, and more than anything, she wants to wear a malafa, the colorful cloth Mauritanian women, like her mama and big sister, wear to cover their heads and clothes in public. But it is not until Lalla realizes that a malafa is not just worn to show a woman's beauty and mystery or to honor tradition—a malafa for faith—that Lalla's mother agrees to slip a long cloth as blue as the ink in the Koran over Lalla's head, under her arm, and round and round her body. Then together, they pray. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Review: Deep in the Sahara is a beautiful book in more ways than one. The text is lyrical and almost sings.  "Trees of red flowers bloom with heat. Acacia pods rattle, and fruit bats sleep." My fifteen year old picked it up and started reading silently, but then decided it needed to be read aloud. I loved that she read it to me. We agreed that it sounds like poetry even if it isn't labeled that way. The illustrations are fantastic too. The endpapers look like cloth and the rest of the book is filled with wonderful scenes created with collage. The colors are vibrant and the patterns are interesting, but not so busy that they are distracting. Each character in the story is unique and I loved seeing the individual women. The video below introduces the artist and shows a bit of her technique.

The story itself is also beautiful as we see a young girl yearning to be like the women around her with their lovely malafas. This is a coming of age story and it is a story of women. I loved that the entire book is showing how the women in the community support a young girl. Lalla is finding out about wearing the malafa from the many women in her life. In the author's note at the end, Cunnane explains that she lived in Mauritania for a time and the people there taught her about the Muslim faith and how they lived it. She wanted to write this book to share what she had learned especially since before she lived there, she had believed that the veil was repressive to women and after sharing in their lives, her opinion had changed.

Cunnane was writing as an outsider, but she has been traveling, teaching, and living among many cultures for years and writes carefully with much research and seems to have worked closely with the people she is representing. The book appears to be done very respectfully and in a spirit that celebrates the culture.

I am looking forward to sharing this with my students and will likely pair it with Time to Pray by Maha Addasi and/or The Swirling Hijab by Na'ima B. Robert, two books that also touch on the subject of Muslim prayer from a female perspective.

Today I'm Thankful

1. I have been waiting to post that video all month. I am thankful that I finished National Novel Writing Month this afternoon. Whew! I enjoy participating, but it is also a huge relief when it is over and I am thankful that I am still alive.

2. I am also thankful to have my son home from college so we could all be here for the holiday. I love having time with all of us sitting around talking and laughing together.

3. Of course, I am thankful for books. I have read and interacted with so many great new books this year. Here are some of my favorites:

4. I am also thankful for the many wonderful professionals that I work with at my school everyday and the many additional people in my online professional learning network who inspire me and help me become a better teacher and person every day.

I have many more things to be thankful for and would likely write more if I sat here longer, but after 50,000+ words this month, I am a bit tired of typing. Have a wonderful weekend!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Jen Vincent over at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye from Unleashing Readers decided to put a children's and YA spin on it and they invite anyone with an interest to join in. You can participate by creating your post then visit one of their sites to add your site. Finally, visit at least three participant blogs and comment to spread the love.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

I am still in the midst of #NaNoWriMo and that cuts into my reading time a lot. I didn't read much this week, but they were all five star books.

The Past Week

Picture Book

I loved the original Marisol McDonald book and this one was equally fun. I am looking forward to sharing both with my students and then having a Clash Bash of our own.

Non-fiction 

This is a fascinating story of how one person can make change happen in the world. Kate Sessions managed to changed the whole look of San Diego. The illustrations were great and since I have been to San Diego it was interesting to see how it came to be the way I know it now.

Middle Grade Novel

I was very excited to have the chance to read Seven Stories Up through NetGalley. I will write a review later, but it was a fantastic look at family interactions. Like Bigger than a Breadbox, this too has elements of the fantastical within everyday situations. Loved it.

The Coming Week:

I started reading a non-fiction digital ARC called Chitchat which is a book about languages, but my ARC won't let me back in. If it does, I will finish it. The other book I know I will be reading is Diverse Energies. That will be a re-read for me. I originally read it as an ARC, but did not review it at the time. Now I have purchased it and will review it for Rich in Color later this week. Otherwise, I am looking forward to finishing NaNoWriMo at the end of the week so I can have plenty of time to read the Nerdy Book Club Award Nominees next week. What will you be reading?

Review: If I Ever Get Out of Here

Title: If I Ever Get Out of Here
Author: Eric Gansworth
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 368
Available: On shelves now
Review Copy: Netgalley and Library Copy

Summary: Lewis "Shoe" Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games, the snow blowing through his roof. What he's not used to is white people being nice to him -- people like George Haddonfield, whose family recently moved to town with the Air Force. As the boys connect through their mutual passion for music, especially the Beatles, Lewis has to lie more and more to hide the reality of his family's poverty from George. He also has to deal with the vicious Evan Reininger, who makes Lewis the special target of his wrath. But when everyone else is on Evan's side, how can he be defeated? And if George finds out the truth about Lewis's home -- will he still be his friend? -- cover image and summary via Goodreads

My Thoughts: I had really been looking forward to reading this book after reading the review from Debbie Reese at American Indians in Children's Literature. Whenever she raves about a book, I know I will love it or at the very least find something that makes me think. I was not disappointed. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more. If I Ever Get Out of Here is a look into the life of a boy as he's coming of age. Like many young people, Lewis is searching for his identity. He thought he knew who he was, but as he comes into more contact and closer relationships with people outside his reservation, he questions himself. He straddles that line of embracing his home culture and feeling the need to distance himself from it so he can fit in with the mainstream culture of his classmates.

Gansworth has crafted an intriguing story that will appeal to a wide variety of young people with music, humor, fights, friendship, and romance. He wove the music of the Beatles and Paul McCartney throughout using songs as chapter titles and within the storyline too. Music is something that can connect people across age, gender, and even culture lines. We don't have to share the same background to share an enjoyment of music. 

I loved the subtle and not so subtle moments of humor in the story. Lewis and his friends and relatives hassle each other as part of their way of bonding with rather rude nicknames like Stinkpot. Often though, the humor is just his matter of fact rather deadpan style like the exchange with his mother after he had someone cut off his braid.
     "You look like a Welfare Indian."
     "I am a Welfare Indian," I said.
     "You don't need to look the part," she said.
Another example is way back in the acknowledgments. Even there Gansworth is still cracking jokes. He begins, "If you're reading this book for class, you can skip this page. There will surely not be a quiz on any of this information."

Along with humor, Gansworth has included quite a few heavy topics. Bullying and how to fight or not fight takes up a good deal of the book. More importantly, friendship is examined. Friendship across cultural lines can be an amazing thing, but it can also be difficult and Gansworth reveals this over and over again.

Another aspect of this book mentioned within the first five pages is the history of the Indian boarding schools and the long-term damage that they caused. The effect of the Indian boarding schools is far reaching and is being brought to light in more and more works of children's literature (there are a few titles for older readers in this list also).

The boys start navigating the waters of dating before too long. This brings up the complications of dating and marrying non-Indians. If a man married a non-Indian, their children wouldn't have legal status as an Indian. That is some heavy stuff to think about as a middle-schooler and being the kid that he is, Lewis is thinking about it.

I would highly recommend this book to any young adult. Lewis and George come alive in the book and there are so many fabulous personalities. Lewis's Uncle Albert and George's father add great voices to the story. I am going to be sharing this title with many people because these characters should not be missed. 

Extras: 
Discography - Gansworth provides a YouTube playlist that goes with the book
Excellent interview with Gansworth by Edi Campbell on her blog Crazy QuiltEdi