Summer reading so far...

I 've started my yearly summer reading with some really good choices. Starting with the "youngest" read from my recent trip to the library, I found a great series to supplement an elementary social studies teacher's instruction. Jon Scieszak, author of a great retelling of the three little pigs from the big bad wolf's point of view, has penned several books in what is called "The Time Warp Trio." I picked up It's All Greek to Me  and deeply enjoyed Sciezak's mix of time travel, Greek mythology, and clever characters. The main characters in the series, Joe, Fred, and Sam are transported back in time as they are about to begin their school play about Greek Mythology. How they make it back is entertaining to say the least. This series, which also includes time warps back to King Arthur's court, ancient Egypt, and the Stone Age would be a great addition to any beginning chapter book collection.

My next to choices of books seem related to me, but I didn't really know it at the time. I had previous read Sold by Patricia McCormick and deeply enjoyed Purple Heart. This tale brought my husband's 7 deployments to light in a new way. Previously, he had complained about military politics, but the extent to which the head turning to avoid seeing what is happening in this text feels alarming to me. I would never give this text to a military child. The dangers the character faces, the feeling of being lost, as he searches for what really happened in an accident seems to real. I applaud McCormick for her honesty; it scared me a little bit. This book, as well as Everybody Sees the Ants, belong in high school libraries because they both have something important to say. Lucky Linderman faces bullying every day of his life, and the fact that his mother is a squid (won't stand up for herself and swims laps at the local pool for hours a day) and his father is a turtle (a chef who won't face family problems and the only activity he enjoys with his son is watching the Food Network in silence). No wonder he sees tiny ants as his cheerleaders and dreams of freeing his grandfather from a POW camp in Vietnam. This text gives students an opportunity to explore topics like bullying, family loss, and confronting fears that I am surprised it doesn't have a Printz Sticker on the front like A.S. King's other book
Please Ignore Vera Dietz.


My next read this summer was Boston Jane by Jennifer Holm. I am always a sucker for good historical fiction and something that is a quick read for me. I feel that girls in 4th though 7th grade would enjoy watching Jane Peck of Philadelphia become Boston Jane. We can all learn something from her, as she quickly learns that pioneers and Chinook Indians don't understand the importance of being a lady. Adjusting to her surroundings makes Jane a very admirable heroine. I am always surprised how much I enjoy a Jennifer Holm book, particularly Turtle in Paradise. I intend to pick up the next Boston Jane  book or Our Only Amelia during my nest trip to the library.