Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans

Disclaimer:  I am more than a little obsessed with Chicken House Books.  I may have been known to go to bookstores and look for any book with the Chicken House logo on it to purchase. After all, the company was started by the man who gave J.K, Rowling her break--Barry Cunningham.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys traditional literature, fantasy, mythology, and/or Rick Riordan

From Beetle Boy to The Girl of Ink and Stars, there are some amazing works coming from this publisher.  Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans definitely is no exception.  From reading the blurb, I knew this was going to be a humorous book, but I didn't expect it to also be a touching book about family and friendship.

Elliot Hooper is trying his best to hold down his school work, his family farm, and his mom who is struggling with reality.  When Virgo, a 1,964 year old immortal girl, lands at Elliot's family farm to complete a simple mission that quickly becomes not so simple, the adventure begins.  With a group of ragtag Gods, Elliot learns that he is braver, stronger, more capable, and more important than he ever imagined.

With the lines between specific genres becoming more and more blurred, this book is a wonderful example of traditional literature mixed with fantasy.

Oh, one more thing:  best and worst cliffhanger EVER!  Best because it truly left me hanging and worst because it truly left me hanging.  I guess I should be thankful that the sequel will be released on August 3, 2017.  I must pre-order now!

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Memorable Quotes: 

"...the idea that there was a person and in the beginning this person had an idea and this person wrote it down, and that led to this day..."

"...two things happening in any situation:  What we see, and what we don't see.  But what we don't see we can feel--if we are paying attention."

"Mrs. Chang says that you are judged often in life before you're ready.  She's not talking about spelling tests, but I understand."

"He sees a different me than other people.'
"I grew this summer.  Not on the outside, but on the inside.  And that's the only place where growing really matters."

Recommended for students who enjoy realistic fiction, who do not always feel that they "fit in", and/or feel that they are different from their peers

First of all, can I just say how much I want Julia, the main character of Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan, to be a student in my fourth grade classroom?  I have fallen in love with this character and didn't want the story to end.  I want to know what happens not only in the immediate future but throughout her life.

Julia is a little person who is forced to audition for a local production of "The Wizard of Oz" because her younger brother wants to do so.  Not only does Julia get a role in the play, she also begins to figure out her role in life.  

In a world where tolerance is no longer enough, where our differences must be celebrated, Short gives us insight into Julia's world.  Her hopes, her fears, her goals, her dreams belong to all of us. 

With only four days remaining in this school year, I can not wait to share this with my students next year.