The Girl Who Drank the Moon

The Girl Who Drank the Moon
By Kelly Barnhill

Genre: Fantasy
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Reading Level: T
Where to find this book: Winship School Library

Every year on the Day of Sacrifice a baby is left alone in the woods for the witch. The sacrificed baby, say the Elders, pacifies the witch and keeps her from attacking the village or Protectorate. Most of the sacrificed babies' families are numb to this annual reality and do not fight to save the children. A cloud of sorrow perpetually hovers over the Protectorate. But not every family is giving up their baby without a fight. One mother defiantly takes her daughter in her arms and evades the soldier-like Sisters of the Tower who have come to take her baby away. But only for a brief time. The Sisters forcefully take the baby, who has a crescent-shaped birthmark on her forehead, for the sacrifice and lock the mother up in a Tower prison cell.

The people of the Protectorate do not know that the witch who lives in the woods is a kind, gentle witch named Xan. Xan discovers the babies in the forest each year and locates new families for them in the Free Cities on the other side of the forest. The witch does not know why the babies are left in the forest each year--she just rescues the babies when they appear. But if the witch is not demanding an annual sacrifice from the Protectorate, then who is?! The evil Elders who govern the Protectorate use the Day of Sacrifice to control the people and maintain their power. The Elders are backed by a much darker magical being called the Sorrow Eater, someone who feeds on people's sadness as if it were food. The people are kept perpetually sad in order to feed the Sorrow Eater.

Xan discovers the baby with the crescent-shaped birthmark and decides to raise the girl, who she names Luna, as her own granddaughter. But while caring for Luna on the journey home, she runs out of milk and decides to let the girl drink the light of the stars and moon. She accidentally gives Luna too much moonlight, which is full of magic. Luna acquires a destiny as a witch. Xan carefully trains Luna in how to use her magic to help people, not hurt them. Despite Xan's kindness in raising Luna and giving her a home, Luna has dreams and vague memories about her mother and her roots in the Protectorate. As Luna subconsciously explores her Protectorate origins, she confronts the reasons why she became a Day of Sacrifice baby. Can Luna and her grandmother Xan free the Protectorate from the terrible cloud of sorrow that blocks even the sun from shining on their village?

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a full-fledged fantasy with magic, dragons, witches, and a magical force of love that rules the world. If you liked Harry Potter, I'm pretty sure you'll like this Newbery Award-winning book too!

Nothing But the Truth

Nothing But the Truth
By Avi

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Reading Level: P
Where to find this book: Boston Public Library

Phil Malloy is nearly failing his 9th grade English class. The explanation for the grade is of course that his English teacher, Miss Narwin, doesn't like him. Or so Phil says. It has nothing to do with the fact that he goofs off in class or that instead of writing an essay on his last test, he wrote a joke making fun of the book The Call of the Wild. The poor grade is a big problem because the coach of the track team will not allow Phil to run with the team unless he improves his English grade.

Phil's solution is to lay a trap for Ms. Narwin. If he can get her into trouble with the principal, then maybe the principal will switch him to a different English class. When Miss Narwin corrects him one morning for loudly humming or singing while the national anthem is being played over the school's sound system, Phil seizes the opportunity. Never mind that making any sounds during the national anthem is against the school rules and is considered disrespectful. Phil tells his parents that Miss Narwin will not let him sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at school. Phil's parents tell a local politician running for school board, who tells a newspaper reporter, who tells the superintendent of schools. Soon everyone in Harrison, New Hampshire and even in the whole state is wondering why a boy is not allowed to sing the national anthem in school.

Why shouldn't kids be allowed to sing the national anthem in school? Of course, most people don't know the real story. But the consequences that come from Phil's plan are out of control. Phil may not only get his wish of being transferred out of Miss Narwin's class; he also puts Miss Narwin in danger of losing her job. Will Phil lose control of this whole situation? Will he be allowed to join the track team? Will Miss Narwin be fired? Read Nothing But the Truth to find out the answers to these questions!

If you like realistic stories about problems in high school, then you'll want to read Nothing But the Truth. 

The Crossover

The Crossover
By Kwame Alexander

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Reading Level: Q
Where to find this book: Winship School Library, Boston Public Library

Dribbling

At the top of the key, I'm

  MOVING & GROOVING,

POPping and ROCKING--

Why you BUMPING?

  Why you LOCKING?

Man, take this THUMPING.

Be careful though, 

'cause now I'm CRUNKing

  CrissCROSSING

FLOSSING

flipping

and my dipping will leave you

S

 L

  I

    P

     P

      I

       N

        G on the floor, while I

SWOOP in

to the finish with a fierce finger roll...

Straight in the hole:

Swoooooooooooosh.

Crossover, a novel in poetry by Kwame Alexander, begins with this poem. It perfectly captures the athletic and emotional energy of this story of Josh and Jordan Bell, 13 year-old identical twins who are the stars of their junior high basketball team. Narrated in the first person by Josh, the story has plenty of confident basketball trash talk. But the reader also peeks into Josh's thoughts and feelings as he transitions from child to teenager. In this book, Josh and Jordan mature as basketball players under the coaching of their father, ex-pro player Chuck Bell. But their father teaches them much more than that. Josh learns from his father how to deal with the "loss" of his brother to a girl--when Jordan begins dating a new girl at school, Josh is for the first time left to eat lunch alone, walk home alone, and study alone. As if this weren't enough, Josh's father begins to have health problems that increase the stress level of the whole family. Although it is not easy, Josh brings the same strength and confidence that he uses on the basketball court to cope with the other difficulties in his life. Josh emerges from these trials as a victorious, but changed and matured, teenager. 

If you are an 11 to 13 year old boy who loves basketball, you will LOVE this book! There are lots of comparisons in this book between basketball and wisdom about living a good life. At the end of this excellent book, Josh is able to reflect on Basketball Rule #10: 

"A loss is inevitable, 

like snow in winter. 

True champions

learn

to dance

through

the storm."

The Fighting Ground

The Fighting Ground
By Avi

Genre: Historical Fiction
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Reading Level: V
Where to find this book: Boston Public Library

Did you ever hope and dream about something you wanted, only to discover when your dream came true that it was not what you expected? This is an insight that frames The Fighting Ground. The novel begins with 13 year-old Jonathan imagining Revolutionary War battlefields as sites of glory and heroism. When militia members in his New Jersey farming community are called to respond to British aggression on April 3, 1778, Jonathan eagerly joins them. He soon discovers the dark underside of war: pain, fear, death, and a blurring of right and wrong.

The entire novel takes place in the span of one 24-hour period. Jonathan joins his local militia in fending off a party of thirty Hessian soldiers. (Hessians were German mercenaries hired by the British army.) The two groups encounter one another on a rural road. Jonathan is positioned by his corporal among the first line of soldiers to fire upon the Hessians. In the heat of battle, with smoke filling the air and bullets flying, Jonathan.. runs. The confusion of battle, a badly injured follow soldier next to him, and his difficulty in handling and loading a heavy musket that is taller than him proves to be too much for him to handle. Jonathan is eventually taken prisoner by the Hessians. And that event only marks the beginning of his adventures as a Revolutionary soldier.

I recommend this book because it portrays the Revolutionary War in a way that many people do not consider. We often think of the War in a flippant manner. We minimize the impact of the War on the real lives of Americans. It is too easy for us to state which side--Patriot or Loyalist--we would have taken if we lived at the time. We dehumanize British soldiers and Loyalists. The Fighting Ground provides us with the story of an American teenager who discovers the horrors of war and eventually finds it difficult to say whose side he is on.

I have not always liked Avi's books. I read Nothing But the Truth many years ago and disliked it so much that I didn't read another of his books for another decade or so. It was my loss! Two years ago, I read Crispin: Cross of Lead and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. I could not put these books down. My eyes were glued to the pages! The adventure and intensity of the stories were top-notch--right up there with Harry Potter. If you're looking for an adventure of historical fiction, The Fighting Ground will not disappoint you!

Jenny and the Cat Club

Jenny and the Cat Club
Written & illustrated by Esther Averill

Genre: Fantasy
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: S
Where to find this book: Boston Public Library

Jenny Linsky is a shy cat who lives with Captain Tinker in New York City. Jenny was an orphan until the Captain rescued her one day from a dog who was chasing her in the street. Captain Tinker brought her home to live with him. He made a special red scarf. When Jenny wears the scarf, she feels courageous.

Jenny needs plenty of courage when she decides to join the Cat Club. The Cat Club is a group of city cats. Every cat in the club has a special talent. For example, Macaroni can dance on two feet, Concertina sings beautifully, and Solomon reads lots of books. Jenny has to demonstrate her special talent in order to be elected into the Cat Club. When Captain Tinker makes her a set of ice skates, Jenny discovers that she is a wonderful ice skater!

This book tells five different stories about Jenny. "The Cat Club" tells us how Jenny discovers her talent and joins the Cat Club. "Jenny's First Party" is about how Jenny attends a party with her two friends Florio and Pickles, the Fire Cat. When it is time to dance, Jenny is at first embarrassed because she doesn't know how to dance like the other cats. But with her red scarf on, Jenny finds the courage to dance in her own style.

"When Jenny Lost Her Scarf" is a story about when Jenny has her red scarf stolen by mean dogs. You should read this book to find out how Jenny gets her scarf back. "Jenny's Adopted Brothers" is about Jenny finds two cat orphans, Romulus and Remus, and asks Captain Tinker if he can help them to find a home. The final story is "How the Brothers Joined the Cat Club." This story is about how Romulus and Remus are voted into the Cat Club by performing their own special talents.

You would like this book if you love cats. You would also like this book if you are interested in New York City. I like this book because it shows us that each person has a special talent, even if they have not discovered it yet. Every person (and cat) is special in his or her own way. In a club, a school, or any community, we can appreciate and enjoy the talents of each person (or cat). That's one thing that Jenny and Cat Club teaches us!

Old Ramon

Old Ramon
by Jack Schaefer
illustrated by Harold West

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Reading Level: S
Where to find this book: Boston Public Library

Old Ramon is a shepherd with a crooked nose (it was probably broken at some point) and a knife cut scar on one edge of his mouth. He has clearly learned some hard lessons throughout his long life. He has learned about true friendship, the (lack of) intelligence of sheep,  the value of a smart sheep dog, and his connection to the natural world of the Mojave Desert. He has cared for many herds of sheep in his long life.

In this book, Old Ramon and a boy drive a herd of sheep across the desert toward the fertile mountains beyond. The sheep are owned by the boy's father, for whom Old Ramon works. During their journey, Ramon shares with the boy his wisdom about life, nature, and sheep. Several sheep nearly drown while crossing a river, only to be rescued by Ramon. They encounter rattlesnakes, wolves, and a blinding sandstorm before reaching the mountain pastures.

The main reason I liked this book was its descriptions of the natural scenery of the Mojave Desert in California and the ways that Ramon and the boy had to accommodate themselves and the sheep to it. One of my favorite quotes from the book is Old Ramon speaking: "I do not see how a man can be lonely when the good God's world is open around him, when there is the sun that shines by day and the stars that look down by night and the wind that blows and the mountains that watch all and everything and the grass that grows, when there are the sheep that need him to care for them and the dogs to help him and Don Coyote to call him names and the owl to ask him questions from hidden places..." That quote perfectly captures the mood of this book. I recommend Old Ramon for readers who enjoy reading about nature, dogs, and friendship.

Anne Hutchinson's Way

Anne Hutchinson's Way
by Jeannine Atkins
Illustrated by Michael Dooling

Genre: Historical Fiction
Interest Level: K-3
Reading Level: Q
Where to find this book: Winship School Library

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in Boston 382 years ago? Anne Hutchinson's Way is a picture book that shows us not only what Boston looked like so long ago, but also gives us an idea of what it felt like to live here. In 1634, Boston was a small town of Puritans. Puritans were people who moved to America from England because they wanted to worship God in ways that were not accepted by the Church of England. Puritans arranged their whole lives in Boston, from their churches to their laws to their work, around a very strict interpretation of the Bible.

In Boston today, we have all kinds of different people. There are people of different races, from different countries, who speak different languages, and who have different religious beliefs. Boston was not like this in 1634. Puritans believed that in order to have a good community, everyone needed to be similar to one another. Everyone was from England, spoke the English language, and had the same religious beliefs. Except Anne Hutchinson. Anne Hutchinson had her own beliefs about God. She also had the courage to tell others in Boston about what she believed. The Puritans in Boston's government did not agree with Anne Hutchinson's beliefs. They did not think that people should have the freedom to decide their own beliefs about God. What would happen to Anne Hutchinson? Would she and her family be able to stay in Boston? Or would the Puritans force her to move away forever? Read Anne Hutchinson's Way to find out!

Anne Hutchinson's Way is a story told from the perspective of Anne's daughter, Susanna. I enjoyed reading about Puritan Boston from the viewpoint of children. In one illustration, Susanna is playing tag with the children of Governor John Winthrop. The illustrations also helped me to imagine more clearly what the streets of Boston looked like in the 1630s. This is not such an easy thing to do because the city was so very different back then.

I recommend that you read Anne Hutchinson's Way, but only after you have learned about the Puritans in class. If you have already learned about the Puritans, it is easier to understand Anne's experience in Boston.