Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Recommended for anyone who enjoys Wonder by R.J. Palacio, enjoys reading about those who overcome obstacles and persevere through tough times, feels that they are different and have a difficult time fitting in with their peers

Look out, Readers!  There's a new hero in town, and her name is Aven.  Seriously, I am in love with this character.  Aven, who was born without arms, has always attended the same school, so all of her peers know and understand her and the way she gets through her daily life.  When her unemployed father takes a job managing an amusement park in Arizona, Aven must attend a new school where she is met with curious stares and some not so accepting peers.

As Aven gets settled into her new surroundings, she befriends Connor who has Tourette's Syndrome and Zion who hides from his peers due to his weight problem.  With Aven's optimistic outlook and great sense of humor, these three become a perfect team.  Along the way, they uncover a mystery that involves tarantulas, a locked desk, and a turquoise necklace.  The unraveling of the mystery touched my heart and made me sob like a baby.

Told with humor, optimism, and empathy, this story is one of those that creates windows for many and mirrors for those who really need to know that they are not alone.

Dusti Bowling--You should be extremely proud of what you have accomplished here!  I already have a list of students waiting for me to turn the story over to them.  I can't wait to put it into their hands and hearts.

Lemons by Melissa Savage

Recommended for those who enjoy reading about adventure, family, and friendship

I had not heard of this book when I saw it in the children's section of Barnes & Noble; however, I was immediately drawn in by the cover.  I am so glad that I decided to purchase it.

When Lemonade Liberty Witt's mother passes away, she finds herself removed from everyone and everything she has ever known.  Placed with a grandfather she didn't even know existed, Lem tries to find her way and her place.  Along the way, she becomes friends with Tobin Sky, the CEO of Bigfoot Detectives Inc. This friendship will lead Lem to discover many things about herself, her life, and those around her.

What a wonderful story of friendship, love, and loss Melissa Savage has created!  I laughed out loud, I cried tears of sorrow, and I fell in love with these characters.  I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us!

On a side note:  I have quite a list of fourth graders waiting to read this!

Refugee by Alan Gratz

While I usually start off by listing for whom I would recommend a book, I can only say that everyone--EVERYONE-- needs to read this book.

Words that resonated with me:  

"...We should have waited.  Things change.  They always change."
"But do they ever get better?"  Ivan asked.

They only see us when we do something they don't want us to do...

"...But a funny thing happened while I was waiting for the world to change, Chabela:  It didn't. Because I didn't change it..."

Whether you were visible or invisible, it was all about how other people reacted to you.  Good things happened either way.  If you were invisible, the bad people couldn't hurt you, that was true.  But the good people couldn't help you, either.  If you stayed invisible here, did everything you were supposed to and never made waves, you would disappear from the minds of all the good people out there who could help you get your life back.

It was better to be visible.  To stand up.  To stand out.

(This last one is absolutely breathtaking to me.)

In a time of political turmoil, in a time in which our politicians don't always keep humanity in mind,  I rank Alan Gratz's Refugee as one of the most important reads of our time.  It is the story of three different refugee families from three different countries in three different time periods. At the center of each of the refugee families is a child as the main character of each family's story.  In chapters that rotate through the different experiences of each child, we are shown the heartbreaking and hauntingly realistic journey of each family.  

While this is most definitely a story of loss, tragedy, and unfairness, it is also a story of resilience, acceptance, and perseverance.  Anyone who travels with Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud will never be the same--thank you, Alan Gratz, for writing this oh, so important novel.  Thank you for showing the real stories behind the faces we see on the news.  You have quite possibly saved lives by opening the hearts and minds of your readers.

A portion of Alan Gratz's proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF.
www.unicefusa.org

www.savethechildren.org

The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius

Recommended for students who love animals, adventure, and mystery.  I would also recommend this to anyone who enjoyed reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.

I feel as if I have just returned from traveling the world!  What a lovely tale Jakob Wegelius has created in The Murderer's Ape.  The story follows Sally Jones as she works to clear the name of her most beloved friend, the Chief, who has been accused of murder.  Throughout the story, Sally Jones meets a rainbow of characters and visits a multitude of foreign lands.  Not everyone she meets is supportive of her efforts as she perseveres through her mission, but Sally Jones' strength and courage serve her well.

Not only is the story captivating, but the illustrations are absolutely mesmerizing.  From the cast of characters featured at the beginning of the book to the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, each image helps bring the story to life.

The Murderer's Ape is 589 pages long; however, the short chapters help to break up the book and make it seem to go by too quickly.  I can't wait to get this into the hands of my fourth grade readers.

I have not heard of Jakob Wegelius before, but I have done some research and discovered his website:  jakobwegelius.com.  After visiting his website, I am hoping to get my hands on more of his books.

OCDaniel by Wesley King

Recommended for anyone who has ever felt alone or unseen, anyone who enjoys reading about friendship and perseverance

I, personally, wish that every person in the world who throws around the term OCD to describe their need for organization or to casually name their quirks be required to read this book.  As a teacher, I hear this term used so many times by people who have NO CLUE what it means to deal with OCD on a daily basis.  It does not mean that you like things a certain way, it does not mean that you work best when your world is nice and tidy.  It means so much more than most people could ever imagine.

In Wesley King's OCDaniel, Daniel doesn't understand why he gets "zapped", why he spends hours on his routines that take other people a matter of minutes.  When he receives an anonymous note asking for his help, a relationship is opened up to him that is life changing for him and the writer of the note.  

With a tender sense of humor, Wesley King has written a novel that will be a mirror for many students--it just has to be put into the right hands.  It will also serve as a window to offer a sense of understanding for people who have no idea how truly debilitating this disorder can be.

I wish I had this book when I was a child.  It would have saved me much confusion.  I am so happy that this book is in the world.  Thank you, Wesley King, for sharing your insights and your own struggles with the rest of us.

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Recommended for students who enjoyed reading Wolf Hollow, who enjoy stories of family, history, adventure, and mystery

When I purchased Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk, I did not even make the connection that she was also the author of Wolf Hollow (http://thetalesofareader.blogspot.com/2016/10/wolf-hollow-by-lauren-wolk.html).  After reading it, however, I am beginning to understand her as an author.  While the stories are VERY different from each other, many of the characters resemble each other.  Crow is very much like Annabelle in that she is strong, loving, pure, and adventurous.  Osh is very much like Tobey in that he is secretive, strong, brave, and has moved on from a previous life.  Along with Miss Maggie, this trio makes a charming group who belong together in so many ways.

This book held an extra special interest to me due to the historical fiction aspect of Penikese. Many years ago, I read and fell in love with Alan Brennert's novels of the leprosy colonies of Hawaii.  Beyond the Bright Sea reconnected me with that interest, so I plan to do more research and reading about the island of Penikese.

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson

Recommended for readers of graphic novels, artistic students, and those students who feel that no one sees them

I read this whole book, Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson, with one particular student in mind. To me, that is a true testament to the honesty of this book.  This is the story of Emmie who is quiet, shy, and artistic, and Katie who is well liked, well known, and confident.  When the paths of these two cross due to an embarrassing note, we begin to see different sides of each girl as they discover more about who they really are and who they really want to be.

This book will appeal to so many of my fourth graders, both boys and girls, not only for its entertainment value, but also for its lessons in surviving school.  With its comic strips, funny graphics, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid style writing, I can't wait to share it.