Review: Touch

Touch by Francine Prose
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Ugh...I cannot get the time back that I took to read this book!

A story that dragged on longer than it should have. Masie has been best friends with Kevin, Chris and Shakes since pre-school. Her eighth grade school year she decides to leave and go live with her mother and step-father in Wisconsin to escape her evil step-mother, step-brother and father.

She realizes this is a mistake as her step-father is even worse than her step-mother and returns back to her father's home for the start of her 9th grade year. She's so excited to see her friends again, but Masie has changed and her friends notice it too.

Since Masie has developed and her chest seems to be more of a focal point than her friendship, things just aren't the same with her and the boys. As her and Shakes become closer her other friends Chris & Kevin want to become "close" to. That's when an incident happens on the bus involving the boys touching Masie. Then a potential lawsuit. All the while, Masie can't seem to really remember how things happened.

The book attempts to look at sexual harassment, bullying and how these things deeply affect a child, but it never gets deep enough. Topics that should be taken seriously only ended up sounding fictional and not creating a serious enough story.

This book will not be available in the LV IMC.

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Review: Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Salt to the Sea is told through multiple perspectives by character Joanna, Florian, Emilia & Alfred. Joanna is a young and beautiful Lituanian trying to make her way to boats to escape the Germans and Russians during World War II. Florian, a Prussian, and Emilia a young pregnant Polish girl end up joining Emilia and her group of refugees by accident. Together this group survive through harsh conditions and finally arrive upon the Wilhem Gusthoff. While their story is being told, Alfred's letters to his beloved Hannahlore are intermingled. The group finally make way to the ship and they meet Alfred the German soldier.

I enjoyed this book because I haven't read anything like it involving people from different countries all striving for the same thing. I also wasn't aware of the Wilhelm Gusthoff being one of the greatest boat tragedies.

This book is available in the LV IMC.

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Review: Positive: A Memoir

Positive: A Memoir by Paige Rawl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent memoir for junior high and high school students! Paige Rawl was born HIV positive which she didn't know a life any different. Through daily medications, Paige lived a completely normal life. Through her innocence she told her best friend she was HIV positive in 6th grade. At that point, everything in Paige's life changed for the worse. Bullying, harassment, isolation, and unsupported administration which led to depression, stress induced seizures and an attempted suicide.

A book which students in grades 7+ should read. In order to understand the consequences of bullying as well as how students can empower each other and raise one another up rather than break each other down.

Paige's memoir shows how one person can rise up during what can be the hardest school years for some children, and how she currently continues to help others.

*Some language in the book, but used in context during conversations that took place.

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Review: The Sound of Gravel

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An emotional journey of Ruth Wariner's childhood. She grew up in a polygamist community where her mother was wife #2 of 4. Ruth being one of the older children was tasked with caring for her siblings as well as being caretaker while her mother would take trips with her stepfather for work. As a child, Ruth was sexually abused by her stepfather. Even though her mother knew of the abuse she did not leave her husband. An interesting look at polygamist views as well as this particular group believed that some day the United States would be gone forever and made their home in a small village in Mexico with no running water or electricity for much of Ruth's life. The family moved around a lot, but always seemed to end up back in Mexico in a house with no heat, a dusty floor and no locks.

This book definitely read better than The Glass Castle which I thought was darker. Ruth's writing still highlights what points in her life were fun as well as the support and love between her and her siblings. The book is inspiring to see how she has risen from where she once was.

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Review: Trouble Is a Friend of Mine

Trouble Is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun book filled with mystery and extremely likable characters! Zoe recently moved from NYC to upstate New York with her recently divorced mother. Quickly she meets Phillip Digby and her life is forever changed. A book review called Digby a modern day Ferris Bueller! I couldn't have said it better myself. Stephanie Tromly incorporates wicked humor, sarcasm and fun during Digby and Zoe's adventures - nothing that she ever plans on doing! The book is fast paced and fun. Unfortunately I cannot put it in LV IMC due to some mature topics about drugs, alcohol but a high school students would surely enjoy this. If you don't understand my Ferris Bueller's reference than you are missing out on one of the top 80's movies that is a must watch!

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Review: Finger Knitting Fun: 28 Cute, Clever, and Creative Projects for Kids

Finger Knitting Fun: 28 Cute, Clever, and Creative Projects for Kids by Vickie Howell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great books for students who aren't sure they are ready try knitting with needles! Try finger knitting! The book easily explains the how to finger knit followed by 28 different types of projects designed for children to create. Each project is labeled easily with a 1, 2 or 3 in range of difficulty. Looking forward to seeing what our students create!

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Review: Words to Live by

Words to Live by by Dawn Nicole Warnaar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Students will get a lot of inspiration from this book! What a great way for students to use watercolor, sharpies and scrap materials to create inspiring art, bookmarks and posters! This book will be available in the LV IMC Makerspace soon!

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Review: Sharpie Art Workshop: Techniques and Ideas for Transforming Your World

Sharpie Art Workshop: Techniques and Ideas for Transforming Your World by Timothy Goodman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book because it will be added to my makerspace in our school library. Not a huge amount of information provided within the book itself, but beautiful visuals. Who knew sharpies could be used for so much! I hope the pages inspire students to go beyond the basics to create fantastic Sharpie Art using paper, canvas, post-it notes and more!

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Review: Spork

Spork by Kyo Maclear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an adorable books sending a positive message to be who you are and not to change for anyone else. Spork, born from a fork and spoon family, just wants to fit in. He doesn't feel right with the forks or the spoons. One day a mess appears and nobody can stop it! Will Spork be able to fix the mess? Read it to find out.

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Review: We Were Liars

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting, intriguing book that will keep reader's interest through the whole book. The Sinclair family has their own private island off the east coast. There are many houses where each of the families stay for the summer. This story is about the 'Liars,' the eldest of the cousins from the 3 Sinclair families.

The book is fast paced with short chapters weaving in and out of Cadence's story about her summer's spent on the island. The majority of the book is during summer 17 when Cadence finally returns to the island for 4 weeks. During summer 15, Cadence is in an accident. The reader and Cadence spend time trying to understand what happened that night on the island and why she can't remember. Cadence suffers form migraines and amnesia in which doctors don't want anyone to push her or tell what took place that night.

Coming soon to LV IMC!!!

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