Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

There are not enough words in my heart or soul.  There are not enough tears to cry.  Do yourself and the world a favor.

READ THIS BOOK.

Endling The Last by Katherine Applegate

What a story Katherine Applegate has begun here!  When Byx finds herself to be the last of her pack and possibly her kind, she must remain courageous, brave, and determined in the face of adversity and enemies.  Having heard legends that there may be others like her, she follows a  childhood sketch of a map on a quest to see if the legends are true.  Along the way, Byx finds herself allied with humans and creatures that she could have never imagined meeting much less forming relationships on which her very live may depend.  She must figure out whom to trust, whom to follow, and whom she, herself, truly is.  In Byx, we have a new hero--a strong female character who is willing to sacrifice all for what is good, true, and right.

When I picked up this book, I had no idea that it was the first in a series.  All I can say is I hope it doesn't take too long for the second book to be released!

Katherine Applegate has done it again--as she always does--written a story to be loved in enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages.  

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Quotable Quote (and maybe one of my most favorite EVER):  Without books, what was there to look forward to?

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed tells the story of a young girl in Pakistan who loves reading and learning and dreams of becoming a teacher.  When she accidentally insults a ruling member of her village, she is forced into servitude to work at the estate of the man she insulted.  With promises from her family that it will only be for a short time, Amal quickly realizes that returning to her home may not be as simple as her family had hoped.  Faced with giving up on all of her own dreams, Amal must navigate this new world full of new people and new experiences.

I am so excited to share this story with my fourth graders next year.  As the world becomes a smaller and smaller place, it is very important that we provide more opportunities for ALL of our students to see themselves, their families, and their cultures represented in legitimate realistic ways.  Ms. Saeed has crafted a story of hope, forgiveness, perseverance, family, and honor--a story that will connect to all students no matter their culture.  What a perfect mirror and window this book is for readers of all ages! 

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Having discovered and fallen in love with The Wild Robot when it was first published in 2016, this school year marked the second time I began my year with it as a read aloud.  Just like last year, my students fell in love with Roz, Brightbill, Chitchat, and all the other characters from the story.  This year was a little different, however, because my students knew that a sequel would be released before the end of this school year.  I can't tell you how many times I was asked about the release date.  Countdowns were conducted, and I was made to promise that I would not read it beforehand, but, instead, experience it firsthand with them (Thank you, Peter Brown, for giving me the opportunity to show students my "ugly cry").

As Roz attempts to make her way back to her beloved "family" and island, we meet a cast of characters that help to create an adventure unlike any other--some characters want to help, some characters want to destroy, but all play a crucial role in this lovely story.  Any fan of The Wild Robot will definitely not be disappointed in The Wild Robot Escapes.

As one of my students said during the read aloud, "How can he make us feel so much about a robot and a goose?"  I don't know, I really don't know, but he does.  I found myself with tears rolling down my cheeks as we read the last few chapters.  I am touched and will hold this story dear to my heart.

Several students have asked me if I think there will be a sequel.  Many students say there doesn't need to be one.  If there is one, I will relish in the continued tale.  If there isn't, I'm good.

Thank you, Peter Brown, for making us feel so much about a robot and a goose.

Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart

                                                       

Quotable Quotes (too many to include all of them):  "...and you think you're alone, just for a few sleepy blinks, but then you realize that your mom is there, and she's looking at you, and she loves you, and you understand that you were never really alone at all?  That's what it feels like."
"He knew that sometimes just waiting and listening is the best kind of helping you can do."
"Because promises are funny things.  They stay the same, even when everything around them changes.  And when that happens, sometimes they get forgotten.  And a forgotten promise isn't exactly the same thing as a broken promise."
"Our souls don't just stay with us, _______.  They live in the ones we love, too.  And they live in the ones who love us."
"Here's what I don't get:  how the world can be so dark when there are hearts as heroic and souls as bright as Brodie's in it."

As I type the above quotes, I have tears rolling down my cheeks.  This book, this story, this experience...I didn't want it to end.  When Brodie finds himself in the afterlife, he can only think of one thing--getting back to the boy he left behind.  Through Brodie's courage, love, and devotion, we witness a truly "good dog" trying to return to earth to rescue his boy from danger.  As he makes his way back, he is joined by Tuck, a dog that himself was never able to move on, and Patsy, a cat with a dark secret.  These three will need to trust, sacrifice, and persevere to overcome what lies in their path.

If he is reading this blog, Dan Gemeinhart may be a little tired of me gushing about him this year; however, since reading Some Kind of Courage to them during the fall, my students have been obsessed with everything he has ever written .  They have been counting down the days until the release of Good Dog and have even mapped out our read alouds until the end of the year to make sure we read it--The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown, The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole by Michelle Cuevas, and Good Dog.  I am not at all sure that I can read this book aloud to them--I literally sat at my son's wrestling tournament today and sobbed as I finished the story!

Thank you once again, Dan Gemeinhart, for your wonderful storytelling.  You are a master of words, and it is my honor to share your work with my students. Now, will someone please pass me the tissues???