Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind is a realistic fiction novel by Sharon Draper that focuses on a girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy.  The novel is a New York Times bestseller and has also won many other awards. Sharon Draper is the 1997 National Teacher of the Year and has used that experience here in the hopes of helping others better understand children with unique needs. There is a sequel to the novel, Out of My Heart, which continues the story of Melody in the following year.  The novel is about 300 pages, but is also available in audio form. There are rumors a film is being made of the novel and could be released at the end of 2023 on Disney+. 

Melody is an incredibly smart girl who can memorize almost anything she sees and hears.  She cares deeply for others and notices the smallest of details in the world around her.  She loves music and loves to laugh.  But there are many things Melody cannot do because she has cerebral palsy: walk, feed herself, write, brush her teeth, and - most importantly - talk.  Melody has so many thoughts swirling in her head she longs to share with the people around her, but she is trapped in her own head.  Every day she fights a battle to communicate with the people that care for her most - her mom, her dad, and the next door neighbor, Ms. V. These people believe in her most and come the closest for seeing Melody for who she truly is, while having to prove herself to doctors and even teachers that she is so much more inside the body she is trapped in.  She longs to be free of the limitations her body sets for her and just be "normal." Then one day Melody's world flips upside down. She and her school aid, Catherine, discover the Medi-Talker, a communication machine that will allow Melody to share her thoughts with others.  Suddenly Melody's world is open to new possibilities unlike she has ever had before. With her school beginning inclusion classes, Melody is even able to go into the classroom at her school for class with other kids who do not have the struggles Melody does. But this new-found freedom brings its own challenges. Making friends and fitting in are hard enough without having the struggles Melody has, but with the support of her parents, Ms. V, and Catherine, she is determined to be as "normal" as possible. 

Out of My Mind is a MUST read for all, no matter the age or gender or where you live.  This is one of those novels that just makes you a better person for reading it.  Girls may gravitate to this novel a bit more; the narrator is female and she has a strong desire to "fit in" with her able-bodied classmates. However, this is a read that is valuable for all.  It doesn't have the action packed into other novels, but the events do move quickly. It is great for kids of all ages and completely appropriate for all, but probably the best suited for students in grades 5-7. Through the novel Melody shares her heart with the reader and speaks openly about her own struggles with her limitations, including how they make her feel.  The reader is able to learn how to be a better friend to those that have special needs and how we can help those with unique needs feel more included and empowered to be a part of life to the fullest.  This novel made me smile, cheer, cry, gasp, and everything in between.  

Once

Once is a historical fiction novel by Morris Gleitzman based on the events that took place during the Holocaust back in the 1940s.  Readers do not need to have a deep understanding of the events that took place in this tragic event, as the main character, Felix, is learning about them as well.  The novel is the first in a trilogy of stories about Felix, with Then being the second book in the series and Now being the third.  The novel is about 163 pages, so it is a shorter read that moves quickly. Once is a great introductory novel for readers learning about the Holocaust for the first time. 

Felix has a gift: he is a beautiful storyteller.  He can tell stories that captivate an audience, help him make friends, and sometimes even get him out of trouble. However, the same wild imagination that can spin these wild stories can also cause Felix to struggle in finding the truth in the world around him.  Felix is in a Catholic orphanage in Poland, where his parents have left him in the safe keeping of nun while they tend to their Jewish bookstore. But it has been over two years since Felix has seen them and he is becoming impatient.  Felix has been keeping the secret that he is not really an orphan, but simply a boy dropped off by his parents to the trusting care of Mother Minka. Suddenly one morning strange men show up to the orphanage in uniforms and begin burning books, and lots of them.  Felix's parents own a bookstore and he feels this is the push he needs to secretly set out for them and warn them of the dangers.  Sneaking out one morning while all the others are at breakfast, Felix begins to slowly see how the countryside of Poland has changed in the years he has been gone. He has heard nothing about the war but Father Ludwik speak of how wonderful Hitler and his Nazis are.  So when Felix begins to encounter soldiers scouring the country, going house-to-house in search of Jewish people, his big imagination takes over to guess at what they are doing amid their descruction. Until one night he stumbles upon a house being burned and notices a family just outside the home.  The parents have been shot and left for dead, but the small 6 year old is barely alive.  He commits to helping her and together they set off in search of Felix's parents.  However, as they travel, Felix realizes the stories he has been making up in his head about these soliders is far from the truth.  Once is a heart-wrenching tale of little Felix, who sees the world through naive eyes, refusing to believe there can be such hate and evil in the world.  He wants to use his stories to bring happiness and eventually hope to others who are searching for loved ones and clinging to hope themselves because it is one of the few things they have left.  

Once is a great novel for students beginning to learn about the Holocaust.  This novel focuses mostly on the Nazi search to identify the Jews and their move into ghettos until transportation to the death camps. Because of the nature of the content of the Holocaust, this book is better suited for middle school students.  While there are more graphic novels about the Holocaust, Felix still sees atrocities many younger readers may not be ready for in elementary school, especially until they have learned about the Holocaust.  Some of these scenes may be emotionally upsetting for younger readers. Both boys and girls alike would enjoy this read and see Felix as kind and caring and naive and hopeful.  The novel is a beautiful story of sacrifice and friendship and hope that should be shared with all.   

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot is a fiction novel by author and illustrator Peter Brown. The Wild Robot is the first in the series, with The Wild Robot Escapes as the second novel and The Wild Robot Protects as the third in the series, which is coming out in September of 2023.  The novel is about 270 pages, but is filled with beautiful illustrations throughout that make the book feel shorter than it really is. The chapters are short, so the reader moves through the novel faster than expected. The Wild Robot is a story of friendship and openess to new experiences and how to learn from others through those experiences.  

A hurricane sinks a cargo ship, but only a few boxes make it to the surface of the ocean and float toward a nearby island. Although these boxes survived the ship's sinking, only one box remains unharmed after crashing against the shore of the island.  From that crate emerges a robot, who comes to life after a curious otter accidentally flips the power switch, turning this mysterious creature on.  ROZZUM 7134, better known as "Roz" comes to life, surrounded by the only home she has ever known.  She knows no different than the island and knows little about herself and her capabilities, but she does know she is a fast learner and is good at observing the things around her and learning from her experiences.  As she learns more about the island and the various animals that inhabit it, she quickly finds out the creatures want nothing to do with her.  The animals view her as a "monster" and avoid her at all costs. It seems Roz is alone in the fight for survival until she realizes she needs to do what she does best: observe and collect data.  She camoflages herself to watch the island creatures and learn their language and their habits. In learning their life, she begins to understand them better and even help them in any way she can. One day there is a terrible accident and it forces Roz into a role she is not prepared for and doesn't have knowledge about. Even with this new role and new friends on the island, Roz cannot hide from her past. Someone knows she is missing and that she is on this island - and that person needs her back.  

The Wild Robot is a book my students have been begging me to read and it did not disappoint!  I think both boys and girls of all ages would enjoy this novel.  It is very appropriate for all ages, so this could be a great read for elementary school ages who can handle a longer chapter book, or a class read-aloud.  This is a beautiful story of friendship: how to make friends but also how to foster and develop a friendship with others that are not like ourselves.  It is a wonderful story of ignoring first impressions - not judging by the appearance on the outside, but to take the time to get to know the person (or robot) inside. The Wild Robot reminds the reader we all have unique strengths, and we depend on those strengths to support each other and better the place we live together. It is also a great story of companionship and how 2 very different beings can need each other in ways they never realized they would. This is a fabulous read for 4th - 6th graders with such strong, life-long themes that are great for all kids. The precious illustrations are just the icing on the cake to make this novel a MUST-read for all students!  However, I encourage you to make sure you have the sequel close by.  I was upset when I realized I was at the end of the story and would not find out what happened to Roz, so I will be heading to the library tomorrow to grab the sequel!    

Matilda

Matilda is a fictional novel by well-known author Roald Dahl, who has also written novels such as James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  The novel is about 240 pages, so it is an average length for a chapter book.  The chapters are sprinkled with illustrations, so the reader is able to get a good visual idea of who Matilda and Ms. Trunchbull and Miss Honey are as characters.  The story of Matilda is one of redemtion and hope - and revenge.  It is a childhood classic and little Matilda holds a unique power that all kids wish they had at some point in their lives.  

Matilda is a unique young lady.  Since she was very young, she has always been different than other children.  Matilda has taught herself how to read and do mathematics. She is often left alone by her parents and eventually she begins to visit the library, where she is opened up to the world through books.  Before beginning kindergarten, she is reading authors like Charles Dickens and Shakespeare.  She loves reading and learning about new people and places. However, her parents and older brother do NOT see value in reading.  They value two things most: money and the television.  Matilda doesn't fit in with her family and her parents definitely don't see how gifted Matilda is.  Her father owns a car dealership where he takes used cars and makes them like new again, but in many dishonest ways.  Her mother spends her days playing Bingo, hoping to strike it big one day.  They see Matilda's love for reading as strange and ridiculous and tease her constantly and cannot understand why she can't eat her dinner in front of the television every night with the rest of the family.  Matilda finally starts kindergarten, where she meets Miss Honey, a kind and sweet teacher who quickly sees how unique and talented Matilda really is.  But Matilda also meets Ms. Trunchbull, the principal of the school who hates children and rules by force and fear. Ms. Trunchbull immediately hates Matilda and many of her other classmates. But Matilda learns she is more unique than anyone realizes - she has a special power no one else has. It is an amazing, fatastic gift that Matilda figures out how to control and even develop. Matilda sets out to use her power to stop the mean, children-hating principal and teach her a lesson she deserves.  

Matilda is one of Roald Dahl's classics and is sure to be loved by both boys and girls, especially the ones that feel like they sometimes don't belong where they are.  Matlida feels like an outsider in her own family, but more accepted at school with her friends and teacher.  Matilda is certainly the underdog, the tiny, quiet, shy little girl that sits quietly on the side of the room and doesn't expect anything from anyone. I would recommend this book to anyone who can relate with feeling in those places at times. Matilda is a great read for 5th and 6th grade kids, as it does have some language that may not be appropriate for younger readers.  Roald Dahl is a British author, so there are some words that may be unfamiliar through cultural differences.  Our family read this novel aloud together at bedtime and I had to change a few words as I read to help my youngest understand, but also change some of the stronger language to make it more appropriate for my youngest and middle (my oldest was reading over my shoulder).  We did read the book aloud and then watched the movie together once we finished reading.  (Beware: the movie is different from the novel!)   

House Arrest

House Arrest is a realistic fiction novel by author K.A. Holt.  What makes this book very unique is that is a novel written in verse, so the structure of the writing on the pages is different from other novels.  The novel spans the course of a year: broken down into chapters by each week of the year.  While the novel is 296 pages, it does move extremely fast since the pages are not filled with paragraphs, but short lines of text.  House Arrest is a record of Timothy's court-mandated journal, telling the story of his year on probation while he is under a strict house arrest under the care of his mother.  Go ahead and have the sequel on-hand, Knock Out.  You are going to want to pick it up as soon as you turn the last page of House Arrest - trust me.  

Timothy is now considered a criminal at the age of 13.  His has been sentenced to house arrest, under the care of his mother (and sometimes neighbor when his mother has to work long hours).  He has to check in with his probation officer once a week.  He must see a therapist once a week.  He must write daily in a journal. For. A. Year.  All because he made one bad choice.  But that bad choice was not in an effort to get rich quick or hurt someone else.  It was a quick decision he made in the heat of a moment and now his year has changed. It shouldn't be too different than any other year because Timothy's life has always been a challenge. His baby brother, Levi, is very sick.  He isn't like other babies and requires constant care around the clock. Not wanting to deal with this, Timothy and Levi's dad has left town unexpectedly, leaving the boys and their mother without help and without answers.  His mother works long hours to try to pay the bills - normal bills and the extensive medical bills. It is a lot for any family to manage without a teenager under house arrest.  House Arrest is the story of Timothy's year following "That Day" and the decision that changed their live forever.  

House Arrest is one of those novels that I think every kid should have to read at some point (like Wonder).  It will be loved by boys and girls of all ages. I think this novel is best suited for 6th and 7th graders, but think 5th graders will enjoy it as well.  Language and content are appropriate for these age levels as well.  House Arrest is a story of loyalty and compassion and redemption.  I will confess: this is my first novel to make it through written in verse. I usually really struggle with novels written in verse because I get too distracted by the format and cannot understand why the author randomly decided to end the line of text at that point. (Much like I am still distracted why the "O"on the front cover is yellow while the other letters are white.) However, it completely fits this novel! I cannot imagine this book being as good if it were written with paragraphs! Written in verse, it is easy to read Timothy's emotion in each line and sounds just like a teen would talk.  House Arrest is a must-read for early middle schoolers, but be sure you have the sequel close by!   

Girl, Stolen

The novel Girl, Stolen is a realistic fiction novel by April Henry.  This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat, packed with thrilling action in each chapter.  The very first chapter is sure to hook in any reluctant reader! Relatively shorter than other novels, Girl, Stolen is just over 200 pages, so it is a fairly quick read.  The action moves fast and chapters are 5-8 pages each, so the reader moves quickly through the book.  While written from a first person point of view, the chapters alternate narrators, jumping between Cheyenne and Griffin, allowing the reader to hear from 2 very unique perspectives: the kidnapped and the kidnapper.  April Henry writes many other novels that thrill readers, so if readers who are a fan of Girl, Stolen can easily find another interesting read by this author!  

Cheyenne is a teenage girl who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Sick and sleepy, Cheyenne is laying down in the back of the family's Escalade drifting in and out of sleep while her stepmother quickly runs into the pharmacy to pick up her perscription before heading home.  Cheyenne hears someone jump in the car and start the engine and quickly realizes it is not her stepmom, Danielle, but instead, a thief looking to steal their SUV.  Too risky to let her out of the car, the kidnapper continues out of town until there is less traffic and more secluded areas to think.  He pulls the car over, panicked at the unexpected visitor in the car, only to discover that Cheyenne is blind.  Unsure of what to do, the kidnapper, Griffin, decides to drive the car on home to his father.  Cheyenne quickly learns stealing cars is not new for Griffin or his father and they run a business from their home of stealing cars and selling them for their parts.  But Cheyenne was NOT part of the plan and everyone is panicked - until they turn on the radio to hear a news report of Cheyenne's disappearance and find out who Cheyenne REALLY is: the daughter of a very wealthy well-known business.  This quickly changes things and the men suddenly see a ransom for Cheyenne as their chance to get rich quick. How could Cheyenne possibly make it out of this situation alive?

Girl, Stolen is a great read for both boys and girls, despite the narrator being female.  It is packed with action and the varying viewpoints allow the reader to see some events and incidents twice, but from different sides.  This novel is also great for readers who need a quick start, not an exposition that drags on for several chapters. The first chapter (3 pages) will have almost any reader hooked!  Through the course of the novel Cheyenne also shares her experience as someone living with a handicap, which I always love in any novel.  Learning how other people - people different from ourselves - live each day is a truly valuable experience.  She shares her struggles of living without sight and how she lives her life differently to overcome her setbacks in the efforts to live as normal a life as possible.  However, I do feel this novel is best suited for middle and high school readers for several reasons.  First, there is language that is not suited for an elementary child.  There is also violence in the book, which is to be expected in a book that begins with a car theft and kidnapping.  Finally, through the chapters Cheyenne narrates she shares her fears with the reader - all of them.  She shares fears of making it out alive, but also fears any female might have when being held captive by three men, especially a female without sight.   

Pax

Pax is a fiction novel by Sara Pennypacker that truly defines the relationship between a boy and his pet.  Pax is one of those books that catches your eye as it sits on the shelf: beautiful cover art, raw edges to the pages, and hand-drawn illustrations scattered throughout the novel.  It is about 275 pages long, so an average read for a chapter book. Through each chapter in the novel, the book alternates between the 2 main characters in the novel: Pax and Peter.  The reader is able to follow the adventures of each character, since they are divided by great distance.  If you love Pax, there is a sequel to the novel: Pax, Journey Home.

Pax and Peter have been the best of friends since Peter brought him home when Pax was just a tiny fox.  However, things have changed.  Peter's father has enlisted to fight in the war and is sending Peter to live with his grandfather.  The book begins with Peter's father driving far away from home, where they will release Pax into the wild, unable to continue to care for him. Peter is devastated and begs his father not to do this, but his father does not listen.  Peter is sent to live with his grandfather, since his mother passed away years before.  Peter realizes he cannot imagine his life without his fox - the most important thing in his life and possibly the only other being that truly understands Peter.  Peter packs a bag and sets out in the middle of the night to make the trek to find his fox, no matter what it takes.  Pax, on the other hand, is hurt and confused.  He doesn't understand why his boy has left him, but confident he will return to take him home.  Pax resolves to stay just where Peter's father left him: on the side of the road holding his green toy soldier tightly in his mouth.  But it is danger that will force Pax to leave his post and attempt life in the wilderness on his own.  He has never had to search for shelter or scavenge for food and Pax is overwhelmed by the new smells and sights and other animals. He finds a friend in another fox, Gray. Both Pax and Peter will have to depend on others to try to make it back to each other, despite the war and battle lines that are quickly approaching that bring more danger every day.  

Pax was a precious story that really highlights the deep relationship between a child and pet that can sometimes supercede other relationships in a person's life.  It is a beautiful tale of a fierce love and loyalty.  While I loved the novel and look forward to reading the sequel, I did not love the ending to this novel.  I was relieved to find there was a sequel, not knowing this when I began the novel.  I don't recommend this novel to readers below 5th grade and feel this novel is better suited for middle grade readers.  While some resources suggest this may be an appropriate read for a 4th grader based on Lexile level, the vocabulary in this novel is very advanced.  Sara Pennypacker's writing style is incredibly beautiful and also very detailed.  While the book may not seem like an "action" novel, there is a lot that happens in these pages, but some can be lost in the details.  The novel also shows the impact of war - on people, on families, but also on the animals and nature that have their homes invaded as well when war strikes.  Some of these harsh realities could be difficult for a younger reader.  However, the story of Pax the fox and determined Peter is incredibly beautiful and worth reading every page to understand how deep friendship can run - friendships that have lasted a lifetime, but also new friendships found in the most unusual places and unusual circumstances.