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.