Author: Peg Kehret
Main Characters: Jonathan, Moose (the dog), and Abby
The family goes on a family vacation to Magpie Island. It is basically roughing it but with a camper. This particular day they go to the lake nearby. While at the lake, Jonathan's mother slips and breaks her ankle. Because his sister is using a walker, she had an accident that left her partially paralyzed, they decided it would be faster for his dad to take his mom across the bridge and to the nearest hospital, leaving Jonathan to watch his sister for a few hours. Little did they know that a terrible earthquake would hit while they were gone. Jonathan must contend with a paralyzed six year old and a faithful dog during this tumultuous time. They return to the camper to find it has been crushed completely by a fallen redwood. They have no supplies: no food, no drinkable water, no shelter, and no Raggedy doll for Abby. Jonathan goes out in search of a way to signal people from the edge of the lake when he realizes that the lake has overflowed its bank! They were going to drown for sure if he didn't do something quickly. This was a really interesting read. I liked the reality it gave: no sugar-coating anything. This was a good read for my middle school students and a great science book. I am definitely adding this to my science book list.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Volcano Disaster
Author: Peg Kehret
Main Characters: Warren Spalding and Betsy Tyler
The story is about a 6th grader that has lost his father in a car accident. His mother has decided to go back to school so she asks his grandmother to watch him for a few months until she finishes. Apparently, the woman lives in the same district so he can continue in the same school. His grades and attitude are suffering as one would expect for a teenage boy with so much going on in his life. He is assigned a school project with a girl named Betsy. At first he is not happy about having her as his partner, but he quickly learns what a great partner she really is. He discovers that his grandfather had been working on an invention that would make commuting much faster and easier and Warren decides to try to continue working on the invention in his spare time. He had it all together and ready to try when Betsy comes over with some information about Mount St. Helen, the project they were to work on. He accidentally hits the probe on a picture in the book and is quickly transported not only to the volcano, but back to the time of the eruption. Betsy only has one hour to figure what happened and try to save him. It was a really good story. It was not on my list of science books, but it will be now! My students will enjoy reading this book almost as much as I have.
Main Characters: Warren Spalding and Betsy Tyler
The story is about a 6th grader that has lost his father in a car accident. His mother has decided to go back to school so she asks his grandmother to watch him for a few months until she finishes. Apparently, the woman lives in the same district so he can continue in the same school. His grades and attitude are suffering as one would expect for a teenage boy with so much going on in his life. He is assigned a school project with a girl named Betsy. At first he is not happy about having her as his partner, but he quickly learns what a great partner she really is. He discovers that his grandfather had been working on an invention that would make commuting much faster and easier and Warren decides to try to continue working on the invention in his spare time. He had it all together and ready to try when Betsy comes over with some information about Mount St. Helen, the project they were to work on. He accidentally hits the probe on a picture in the book and is quickly transported not only to the volcano, but back to the time of the eruption. Betsy only has one hour to figure what happened and try to save him. It was a really good story. It was not on my list of science books, but it will be now! My students will enjoy reading this book almost as much as I have.
The Twenty-One Balloons
Author: William Pene du Bois
Main character: Professor William Waterman Sherman
The book was written about the mid 1860's. The professor had been dreaming of a quiet, alone time for the last couple of years of his work with students. He was a teacher for over 40 years and longed for some peace and quiet. He conceived of a balloon that would take him up and away for a long time, a year he hoped. He had a very large balloon built along with a small basket apartment as the basket for his journey. He set off with only four of friends looking on and came back with the whole country watching. He had made a trip around the world in just 40 days, half the time of the record that currently stood. He told of his adventure flying over the Pacific Ocean and happening upon the island of Krakatoa. There were people living secretly on the island that he met and enjoyed. Soon after his arrival a terrible eruption took place and they hurriedly escaped from the island. As luck would have it, he didn't spend much time alone or on his trip. In all, I enjoyed the description of the island and its people. It was a good book for middle school aged students to read. It was not on my original list, but I could put it on and be fine with it.
Main character: Professor William Waterman Sherman
The book was written about the mid 1860's. The professor had been dreaming of a quiet, alone time for the last couple of years of his work with students. He was a teacher for over 40 years and longed for some peace and quiet. He conceived of a balloon that would take him up and away for a long time, a year he hoped. He had a very large balloon built along with a small basket apartment as the basket for his journey. He set off with only four of friends looking on and came back with the whole country watching. He had made a trip around the world in just 40 days, half the time of the record that currently stood. He told of his adventure flying over the Pacific Ocean and happening upon the island of Krakatoa. There were people living secretly on the island that he met and enjoyed. Soon after his arrival a terrible eruption took place and they hurriedly escaped from the island. As luck would have it, he didn't spend much time alone or on his trip. In all, I enjoyed the description of the island and its people. It was a good book for middle school aged students to read. It was not on my original list, but I could put it on and be fine with it.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Edisto: A Sea Island Principality
Author: Clara Childs Puckette
This book gives a lot of history of the island and some great stories. I like the pictures, there are some really good ones. This book actually delves into the recent history of the island as well as the old. Again I am scouring all the books I can find to gain some insight into the Whaley family. I really have enjoyed reading them. I am still finding great books to read.
This book gives a lot of history of the island and some great stories. I like the pictures, there are some really good ones. This book actually delves into the recent history of the island as well as the old. Again I am scouring all the books I can find to gain some insight into the Whaley family. I really have enjoyed reading them. I am still finding great books to read.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulsen
Main Character: Brian Robeson
Brian is thirteen. Along with all the other angst of being a teen, he has to deal with the fact that he saw his mom cheating on his dad. They are in the middle of a divorce and he is angry that he has this secret. He struggles with wanting to tell his dad and not wanting to tell him the terrible secret. The story opens with Brian in a plane on his way to visit his dad from New York to the Canadian Wilderness. While en route, the pilot has a heart attack and dies leaving alone and frightened. Brian panics and decides to fly the plane until it runs out of fuel. He has no idea of where he is heading, or if he is on the right original path. He ends up crashing mercifully through some trees and into a lake. He survives the crash with injuries and brings himself up on the beach. Once he comes to, he begins his fight for survival. Through the experiences he has along the lake, he grows from an insecure boy to self-sufficient man...in only two months. This is a riveting story that I could not stop reading. I really enjoyed the story line, but I most enjoyed getting to know Brian on the inside. This book was one on the Science book list. My students will really enjoy the book. I definitely recommend the book for middle school kids to read.
Main Character: Brian Robeson
Brian is thirteen. Along with all the other angst of being a teen, he has to deal with the fact that he saw his mom cheating on his dad. They are in the middle of a divorce and he is angry that he has this secret. He struggles with wanting to tell his dad and not wanting to tell him the terrible secret. The story opens with Brian in a plane on his way to visit his dad from New York to the Canadian Wilderness. While en route, the pilot has a heart attack and dies leaving alone and frightened. Brian panics and decides to fly the plane until it runs out of fuel. He has no idea of where he is heading, or if he is on the right original path. He ends up crashing mercifully through some trees and into a lake. He survives the crash with injuries and brings himself up on the beach. Once he comes to, he begins his fight for survival. Through the experiences he has along the lake, he grows from an insecure boy to self-sufficient man...in only two months. This is a riveting story that I could not stop reading. I really enjoyed the story line, but I most enjoyed getting to know Brian on the inside. This book was one on the Science book list. My students will really enjoy the book. I definitely recommend the book for middle school kids to read.
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