The Crossover

Alexander, K. (2014). The Crossover. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

This an excellent novel of the ups and down that family goes through life. The 12-year-old twins love to play basketball just as his father. Their parents were both involved in sports, the father was for European League basketball player and mother was an assistant principal. The twins, Josh and JB, got along well until a girlfriend came between them. Anger and jealousy reign and they quickly began to grow apart. Their father became very ill and even suffered two major heart attacks. The rivalry between the brothers did not sit well with their father. One of the major heart attacks took his father’s life and soon the bothers realize that they only had each other. Overall they mend with each other and never forget how much they love each other. 

The author uses free verse and narrative poems; this novel could be used as mentor text in English Language Arts. Excellent way to portray feelings between brothers and express their love. This book brings connections to those persons that have been involved in similar situations, but cannot let others get in the way of family.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppfOEp73H3s

Additional Resources: https://library.ohio.gov/wpcontent/uploads/Crossover_book_kit.pdfv

Hitler's Youth

Bartoletti, S. C. (2005). Hitler's Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow. New York, NY: Scholastic. 

This book focuses on the Hitler Youth group and how Hitler manage to mold them to create a new world. He believed that the older people were not good material for his plans. The photographs in this book are very telling of the situation at hand and how children were recruited. Many times, the young kids would be drawn into the group by offering night camp fires, excitement, and a way on how to disagree with their parents. Once in the youth group, it seemed that many of them were like under a Hitler spell. They followed his ideas and worshiped him like he was a god. The cruelty they endured was portrayed through the photographs. 

The author does a great job of making sure all of the information in this book, is factual. As a historical nonfiction book, the photographs really captive the reader with bringing them into the Hitler era. Excellent resource for any research and/or presentation of the Holocaust, dictatorship, or Hitler studies.

Author read aloud: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/asset/susan-campbell-bartoletti-reads-hitler-youth

Additional Resources: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/hitleryouth/hj-prelude.htm

Spiders

 Bishop, N. (2007). Spiders. New York, NY: Scholastic. 

Very informative book! I was engaged and trapped into this book. The more I read the more I wanted to keep on reading. Excellent information about the sizes, parts, and how they drink their prey. Although spiders have eight eyes, their vision is not very clear. Did you know that spiders don’t have any bones inside their bodies? Amazing! Spiders have a life span of one to two years, but tarantulas can live up thirty years. They become more dangerous they are looking for their mate. Many female spiders tend to bigger than males. Males often have to fight or chase other male spiders away from their mate. Spiders can lay between a handful of eggs to about 2,000 eggs.

Excellent nonfiction book. The factual information is phenomenal and the photographs of the spiders captures the real essence of a spider. The photographs sometimes take the whole pages, which I thought was exciting and it was a create way to demonstrate to the readers the real size of the largest known spider.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj6OeYmxAZA

Additional Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spiders-by-Nic-Bishop-Group-Summarizing-Reading-Strategy-572278

How they Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

Bragg, G. (2011). How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous. New York, NY: Walker & Company. 

This book entails nineteen gruesome death of famous persons. From King Tut, George Washington, Albert Einstein, to Edgar Allen Poe. Death is something inevitable and we can only do as much as the Science available permits you to do, but there are certain diseases that are now curable, but not back then. I like how the book mentions a little bit about how the person was versus just how they died. The details are quite gruesome and not easy to read if you have a weak stomach.  The Science methods or curing abilities were quite different back in the day compared to what we have available now a day. This books uncovers many myths and mysteries of how this famous people died.

A gut wrenching and gory details of how famous people died. Great way to attract the readers and it had me wanting to read more. Not recommended for people with a weak stomach. This book could be used in any subject area due to have scientists, poets, presidents, etc.  

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWz19-LxQks

Dear Mr. Henshaw

 Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York, NY: W. Morrow. 

Leigh Botts started writing to Mr. Henshaw since he was in second grade. It all begun with Leigh writing to his favorite author because his teacher had assign it as an assignment. He continued writing throughout the year and Mr. Henshaw would respond to him. As the years passed by Liegh never realized that he was unconsciously writing to Mr. Henshaw about his own problems. His parents had divorced when he was in sixth grade and had a lot of trouble going through that difficult time. He went on to live with his mother and even moved to a new town. So, when the teacher assigned another assignment about writing to their favorite author, he could only think about writing to Mr. Henshaw. It was a good way to dismiss all the anger he had toward his father. He was even upset because his father was not responsible in sending the child support payment. Mr. Henshaw suggested for him to begin his own personal diary as a way of him expressing his feelings. At the end, he realized that he couldn’t control the situation with his father, but rather be happy for his life and time with his mother. 

Very relatable topic with students now a days. The format of the book is conducive and could be used as a mentor text for journal writing. It is also great to promote students to write and show them how writing helps them express themselves.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuEQKFc6NqQ

Teaching Guide: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/dear-mr-henshaw-teaching-plan and https://app.box.com/s/919q21vinxqk0qvw31ihwd22vek4updf

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963

 Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. New York, NY: Delacorte. 

Kenny Watson is a ten-year-old who lives in Flint, Michigan. He has an older brother, Bryon, and a younger sister, Joetta along with his mother and father. Bryon usually defended Kenny from other bullies because Bryon was large built. Kenny developed a friendship with Ruffus until he laughs at him with others in front of him. Rufus decided not hang around with him anymore. Bryon was spinning out of control, so his parents decided to take to his grandmother’s house in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents believe that people in the South respect their parents compared to the North. Bullying occurred a lot in this book. The Civil Rights Movement was in full force during their era. 

Excellent resource for a Civil Rights Movement lesson. This book highlights what many African Americans had to endure during that time. Their hardships should not go hidden, and the author sure ties everything in. It also shows how a family struggles with a rebellious child and finds liable solutions in their capabilities.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os0EtGKVZK0

Teaching Guide: http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385321754&view=tg

Martina, The Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C. A. (2007). Martina, The Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. 

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach was turning 21 days and in a Cuban family, that only meant she was ready to look for a husband. Her aunt gave a peineta, mother gave her a mantilla, and her grandmother gave the most shocking advice. She said that the only way to truly meet the one, was quick difficult. So, she told her that when she met someone, to throw coffee and their feet and wait for their reaction. Their reaction and how they handled themselves would truly show how they would treat her after marriage. Martina followed her grandmother advice and went along with several suitors. The rooster, pig, and lizard couldn’t contain themselves and showed their true colors. So, Martina decided not to accept their offer to marriage. However, she met a mouse at the end that played the trick on her because he also had a Cuban grandmother. They both found each other to be adorable and married. 

The author portrays the Cuban culture and customs. I really liked how the author used several Spanish words throughout the book, to have readers exposed to the native language of the Cuban. Overall illustrations are quite captivating and breathe taking. Excellent book to use for Hispanic Heritage Month and to promote Latino writers.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x24kj8FwLBQ

Additional Resources: https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/YHBA/Martina.pdf