Alexandria of Africa

Author:   Eric Walters Copyright Date: 2008

Alexandria of Africa is one of Eric Walters latest offerings.  Alexandria is a strong character and the story is told through her eyes.  This offers a first hand glimpse of her motivations and perspective.  She is not an attractive character to begin with and we are allowed to see inside her shallow and self-centered soul.  The plot that follows is unlikely but interesting.  The settings and characters are well described and detailed.  The plot offers possibility for the contrast of cultures and experiences from North to South.

The first chapter would make a good read aloud passage for introducing the character and setting to new readers.  It would allow for teaching of visualization and descriptive writing.

CM Review

Quill and Quire

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended)    #2 ✓  #3     #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade 7-9        Reading Level:  Grade 7+

Curriculum Area:  Social Studies, Language Arts, Health, Personal and Social Values

Theme(s) Topic(s):  Coming of age/growing up, wealth and poverty, making a difference, entitlement, change, consumer culture

This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.)

Snow Willow nominee 2009

Juvie Three

Title: Juvie Three
Author: Gordon Korman Copyright Date: 2008

Another book by Gordon Korman, again it is great fun. Three boys from Juvenile Detention are moved into a group home with an unconventional group leader. No one thinks it will work and one of the boys is determined to find trouble. The relationships and antics of this group make it well worth reading. Excellent character developments, well-told story, interesting sub-plots.  Recommend this one to your middle years boys. They will not be disappointed.

Many chapters would make great stand alone read alouds. Chapter Eight shows the introduction to one of the characters and would be particularly good on its own. The book offers possibilities for teaching predicting and inferring.

CM Review

Quill and Quire

School Library Journal

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended) ✓ #2 #3 #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level: Grade 7-9 Reading Level: Grade 7+

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Theme(s) Topic(s): Justice, Reform, Crime, Punishment, Honesty, Friendship, Change, Growing up, Realistic Fiction, Gangs

This book would be suitable for: ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.)

Snow Willow nominee 2009

The Nexus Ring

Title:    The Nexus Ring    Series: Veil of Magic Book 1
Author:  Maureen Bush Copyright Date: 2007

The Nexus Ring is a fun and fantasy story.  Maureen Bush explores the BC wilderness, family relationships and takes us to a parallel universe.  This story will appeal to children who are reading the Droon series and need something new.  An engaging read.

CM Review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended) ✓    #2        #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade 4-6        Reading Level:  Grade 5 +

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Theme(s) Topic(s):  Fantasy, Magic, Family

This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.)

Diamond Willow nominee 2009

Swindle

Author: Gordon Korman Copyright Date: 2008

Swindle is a fun and exuberant adventure.  Filled with humour, Gordon Korman adds another great read to the K-8 library.  Intelligent and believable characters takes us on an improbable but convincing chase for justice.  Gordon Korman knows his audience and I expect boys in particular will love this story.  I was a Korman fan at fourteen and this new offering is every bit as good as what I came to love then.

Chapter One makes a good introductory read aloud.  A good piece for discussing the nature of friendship, pulling stunts and the nature of the relationship between adults and kids.  The passage could lead to opportunities to teach inferencing and predicting.

CM Review

School Library Review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended) ✓    #2        #3         #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level:  Grade 4-6        Reading Level:  Grade 4+

Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Theme(s) Topic(s):  Adventure, Humour, Justice, Law, Friendship, Honesty

This book would be suitable for:    ✓ Lit Circles  ✓  Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.)

Diamond Willow nominee 2009

Egghead

Author: Caroline Pignat Copyright Date: 2008

Caroline Pignat has created a nuanced and vibrant story filled with lovable and detestable characters. She retells the age old story of bullying from the viewpoints of two bystanders; one close to the bully and one close to the bullied. She explores the emotions and motivations of all four characters the bystanders, the bully and that bullied. The bullied character interjects his point of view through free verse poems interspersed through the timeline of the plot. An excellent addition to the 6-9 library.

The first three short chapters would do an excellent job introducing the book and its themes. Poems in the book would make fine examples when introducing free verse poetry. A good story for teaching about point of view, descriptive writing and developing characters.

CM Review

Jane on Books review

Rating: #1(Highly Recommended) ✓ #2 #3 #4 (not acceptable)

Interest Level: Grade 7-8 Reading Level: Grade 7,8 +

Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Health and Social Studies

Theme(s) Topic(s): Bullying, Friendship, Survival

This book would be suitable for: ✓ Lit Circles ✓ Kit Materials ✓Read-Aloud (Gr.) 7,8

Snow Willow nominee 2009