Illora

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//-PICTURE BOOKS- // ======

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// Every mother can attest to the incredible joys, trials and pains that stem from the wonderful task of raising a child. __Love You Forever__ is a sweet story that captures one mothers journey as she watches her baby grow from an infant, to a toddler, to a child, to a teenager and finally to a grown man. All through the story we see everything about the boy changing: his surroundings, activities and appearance. Yet one thing remains the same; and that is the love and feelings of a mother toward her baby. All through the story we see how her affections and love for her baby never waver. Although the boy made messes, acted strangely and sometimes even neglected his personal hygiene the mother still crept to his bedside and rocked him softly as she sang a song of how he would always be hers. She sang this sweet song until she could sing it no more, and then it was passed from one loving parent to the next. The once little baby went home after seeing his mother one last time, and crept to his baby's room where he sang a familiar sweet tune of love and longing. //======

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// As a new mother I can attest to the strong feelings of joy and sadness in watching one's child grow up. Through this story I felt the aggrivation of the never ending messes, the sadness in feeling that your child no longer needs or wants you as much and the love and longing experienced every night when she held that baby of hers while she rocked and sang. My baby is only five months old, but seems to be slipping away from me already! I have already cried over losing him to the girl God has for him to marry, and have already felt the stab of dread over the time when he will leave for school...yet I know that just as this mother did, I will love Emery always and he will never stop being my little baby. //======

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// One of the most adorable, and scary things about children is that they seem to be fascinated by all the things adults do, and strive to "do it too". If you know anything about kids it is that they want to do things just like us and do it all by themselves. "Just Me and My Dad" is a story from the Little Critter series about a father-son camping trip. On the first page the little critter admittedly states that there is something his dad can do, that he can not because he is too little; however, he spends the rest of the story trying to prove that he can do things all by himself. As we all know the "do it yourself" technique is not always best, and almost always ends up in some kind of disaster. Little critter finds himself surrounded by mishaps as he struggles through trying to do all the normal camping things such as, pitching a tent, catching a fish and going for a canoe ride. Throughout every unfortunate series of events the dad is always there to save the day. He always seems to have a back up plan and a bit of insight that helped the little critter along. //======

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// This was a favorite book of mine that I rediscovered while going through my baby's books. I really enjoyed this book because it brings me back to that place of childlike curiosity and innocence. I love the illustrations because they show how much the son wants to be like his dad. They wear the same kind of clothes, shoes and even have the same hair. As a girl I can not say that I always wanted to be just like my dad; but as a mom I can say that I want my son to be just like my husband. As crazy as it is, they are already so much alike and he is only 5 months. They seem to share the same quirky personality, taste in music and even sleeping positions! I definitely am enjoying watching them grow together, and I know someday Emery will say himself that he wants to be just like dad! //======

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// The first thing that drew me to this book was the unique illustrative style. "Before You Were Born" is a story in which the illustrations seem as though they were done with watercolors. The images are not very detailed and are somewhat smudgy and unfinished. Now as a new mom I assumed that this book would find a way to spin around the not so great things about the arrival of a newborn by finding a way to humorously appreciate them. However, I found that this book was not like that at all. I thought that the text was actually quite random and hard to follow. In the beginning it spoke of how the baby was formed by God (which I did like), then it proceeded to talk about different people and things and how they were before the baby arrived as opposed to afterward. I did not really enjoy the things that they included because as I mentioned above, it seemed very random and odd. However, in the end they did quote a scripture that I thought was a nice finish, and very inspiring. //======

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// "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" is a silly rhyming book about an old lady. The story, like the title suggests begins when the old lady swallows a fly. There is no seemingly logical reason why she did such a strange thing, and the oddity of the story only deepens as it goes on. In order to try and catch this fly she swallows something else, and then has to continue swallow bigger things in order to catch the last thing she swallowed. This cycle of swallowing larger animals to catch the last animal swallowed finally comes to and end when she swallows a horse, and as the book says "She died of course!" //======

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// This book received a Caldecott Honor, and I believe it was well deserved. Although the story itself was quite silly and meaningless, it included many elements that made it a great book. The thing that really caught my attention was the illustrations. The illustrations in this book made use of bright colors, layers and lots of variety. Through the illustrations we are able to visually follow what is going on in the story as the pages have holes in the stomach that show each thing she swallows. As she swallows larger and larger things we see her grow larger and larger until she just about takes up the whole page. //======

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// This clever little rhyming tale is written in similar fashion to that of the "Ten Little Monkeys" story. It goes through each number, 1 through 10, explaining what the little dinosaurs did. All of the things they did whether mischievous in nature or not seemed to lead to mischief. This book was very visually appealing. It had large "googly" eyes that showed through circular holes in each of the pages. These eyes served as the eyes for each of the dinosaurs shown doing their mischievous deeds. Although my son is only 5 months the eyes were large and moved as the book moved and he remained captivated by them. Along with that element of interest, the story also make great use of rhyming and would be useful in teaching about dinosaurs because it used their names. This makes it somewhat educational; however, definitely complicates the ease of reading for children unfamiliar with dinosaur names and spellings. //======

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// A shadow is simply an area untouched by direct light, generally because the light is inhibited by the object casting the shadow. By definition is is very simple and quite uninteresting. However, the book "Shadow" sees this untouched area as being so much more than that. It brings the shadow to life by giving it a character; one that has a routine, a robust personality and a home. The author describes the shadow as being both blind and mute. She describes the shadow as if it were a person by saying that it listens, dances and staggers. Throughout the story she "follows" the shadow as it goes about its usual business. It comes out during the day and lingers among the animals, the wildlife and the people. Then every night it always retreats when the last fire is put out to its home in the forest. //======

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// I was first interested in this book because the cover hints of its rich multi-cultural theme. When I began reading I was not disappointed. Although the author is talking about the shadow, which is universal, she chose to set the plot and her illustrations around the African culture. Because the story is about shadows the illustrations do use a lot of bright and dark contrasts. The backgrounds are generally very bright and have lots of texture to them. It looks like they were paintings that made use of sponge techniques or incorporated some finger painting. The illustrated scenes are those I would generally envision when thinking about Africa: the plains, wildlife, native people and vast areas of land in its natural beauty. I thought the author did a great job of incorporating another culture into a plot that really could be made universal. She did so without complicating the language, or detracting from the culture. //======

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// This story is a classic tale that speaks of greed, love and true happiness. In the story King Midas loves gold more than anything, except his daughter Aureila. His great affections once were held captive by roses, but now his attention was on gold. Through an act of kindness toward a trespassing old man King Midas obtains the ability to turn whatever he touches to gold. What starts out as a supposed blessing very quickly becomes a curse when Midas is unable to do even the simplest things. He is unable to eat and worries that he will starve; this is the least of his worries when he accidental turns his beloved daughter to gold. He then is miserable and is given a chance to take back what he has done. By pouring water from the river on all the things that had become gold the spell is broken and things return to the way they were before. //======

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// This is a good tale that teaches the importance of valuing those things that are most important to you. King Midas loved his daughter more than anything, but blinded by his desire to create a stock of gold for her he ends up turning the very thing he loves to gold. Through his misery the king comes to find that what he loves most is most important. //======

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// It is not difficult to find books that are written to help children deal with different things. I have read children’s books that deal with learning how to use the potty, or getting over fear of the dark; but never had I seen or read a book that deal with the fear of ones’ reflection, until now that is. __Little Raccoon’s Nighttime Adventure__ is a tale about little raccoon’s trip to the pond. He is running an error for his mother, and is sent to the pond to catch crayfish for dinner. On his way he receives warnings from other creatures that tell him to be careful of “it”. Little raccoon is determined to make it to the pond and bring back dinner to his mother no matter what; however, when it makes it to the pond he comes across “it” and finds it to be as terrifying as he was warned. When he growls “it” growls, when he threatens “it” with a stick it threatens right back. He finally runs home and is sent back by his mother. She tells him to smile at “it”, and to his delight “it” smiles back. Once back at home little raccoon’s mother tells him what “it” really was. //======

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// If you have ever been around a toddler who has recently learned how to talk you know that they are full of questions. Why seems to be their favorite word, and an answer is always preceded by another why. Little Raccoon was a very curious little tyke, and throughout the stories tries desperately to think of when it is that his mother loves him the most. He asks if it is when he is eating, playing or swimming; but his mother assures him that these are not the times she loves him the most. He exhausts himself mentally and physically trying to figure it out. Finally his mother lovingly lets him know that it was not any of those times because the special time she loves him is all the time. //======

// This is a sweet tale that really explores the loving heart of a mother through the natural curiosity of her young child. I thought it was an excellent story with great illustrations and a heartwarming story. This is one that I would like my little boy Emery to remember me reading and cherish forever. //

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// There is something built inside every person that drives us to seek after acceptance. Everyone longs for companionship and desires to belong. The ugly duckling wanted just that. Born later than all of the rest of his duck brothers and sisters, the ugly duckling was the odd ball from the get-go and encountered one misfortune after another. His only family rejected him, those in care of him mis-treated him and he was finally forced to survive the harsh winter all alone. All throughout his life he was picked on and pushed away because of his appearance; however, in the end of the story he finds that he was not a duck at all. He had become a beautiful swan! This is a classic tale which has lots of morals. It teaches the great lesson of accepting others and looks at how life’s obstacles cause growth and maturity. The “ugly duckling” at the end of the story realizes that all of his obstacles have kept him from being proud and does not scorn them or the people/animals that caused so much misery in his life. I really enjoyed reading this, but was somewhat taken back by the seemingly inappropriate aspects of this story. It was somewhat uncensored in that it spoke of hunting party that sounded like a massacre and was described as bloody; it also was very sad the way in which the duck was treated. It described him as being scorned, physically abused and neglected by his own mother. //======

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// If you are looking for a cross-curriculum book, look no farther! The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great book because not only is it entertaining and eye catching; it also includes materials from at least three different content areas: math, reading and science. This book can be stand alone as an excellent children’s’ book but can also be used for educational purposes. I personally used this story as the basis for a 10 lesson literacy unit; however, as mentioned above because this book crosses curriculum lines I was able to integrate much more than just literacy. //====== // The story itself is about a little caterpillar. It starts out with him being hatched and then follows him along as he eats and eats trying to get full. However, to his dismay he seems to remain hungry no matter what he eats. Finally he eats the right thing and stops being hungry. He then starts a new journey, one that will change his appearance, his name and his life! //

// Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter //
// “Masai and I” is a story told from the perspective of a young African American girl. While in school she learns about east Africa and a group of African people called Masai. As she goes throughout her everyday life she thinking about what her life is like in comparison with what her life would be like as part of the Masai people. The illustrations are very engaging because for the most part they show a side by side view of her life as is, and what her life would be like as a Masai. They show two completely different worlds. In reality this is a girl who lives in a large city, perhaps New York City. She lives in an apartment complex and enjoys all the luxuries of an urbanized society: running water, cars, etc. In her imagination she sees a world where simplicity reigns. She views the Masai people as being closely bonded with each other and with nature; and expresses that she would see it normal to travel long ways for water, walk 3 miles or see giraffes on an everyday basis. This is a great multi-cultural book that could definitely be used in teaching. It would be great to teach about other cultures, specifically the African culture. It gives great insight into some of the basic things that are similar and different about the African and the American culture. //

// Illustrator: Samuel Byrd //
// Although it is important for children to start learning about history right away, it is not always easy to introduce certain events because of the atrocities they entail. The issue of slavery is one of those that may be difficult to teach young children. The information is somewhat sensitive; therefore, it is a challenge to present the information in an age appropriate way without taking aware from the severity of the issue. This story, however, did just that. It provided accurate information about the issue of slavery, following the life of Harriet Tubman. Its use of text and illustrations were great because they painted an accurate picture of life and events without going into content that would be inappropriate for young children. This is a book I would definitely incorporate in teaching history to a younger class. //

// Author: Eric Carle //
// This is a very simple play and read book. It has a ball (cardboard disc) on a string that you can put through a hole in each page. The story begins with the seal throwing the ball to the elephant that misses. As the story goes on other animals try to catch the ball but are unable to. Finally in the end of the story the kangaroo catches it, and the ball (cardboard disc) can be placed in its pouch. Although this story is very simple it is cute and quite amusing. Eric Carle makes great use of rhyming and introduces animal names to the reader. It is definitely for younger children, perhaps who are just learning how to read. //

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// This is a great repetitious story about a family adventure. Three children and their father are going to find a bear. As they are on their way to find the bear they come to many different obstacles. Each time they are unable to go over, under or around the obstacle so they have to go through it. They trek through mud, water, a forest…you name it, and they went through it! Finally they do find the bear. They are quickly chased by the bear back through all the things they just came through and back into their house. They decide that they are never going to go on a bear hunt again! //======

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// The illustrations in this story were interesting because they switch back and forth from black and white to colored illustrations. On the pages that are in color the texts mainly deal with the sounds associated with what is going on in the adventure. On the black and white pages the text was just on the page with the illustrations and was repetitious. //======

// Illustrator: Felicia Bond //
// Often times it seems that children and their minds are on a “random” setting. They are easily distracted running here and there, making messes and driving you crazy! In this story the pig is that child. It begins with a little girl giving a pig a pancake and it is nonstop from there! After she gives the pig a pancake he needs syrup, gets messy, and needs a bath...on and on it goes. He runs this little girl around needing or wanting one thing or another. In the end he is reminded of syrup and is brought back to wanting a pancake. It is a silly nonsense story that is fast paced and full of activity from start to finish. //

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// The Babar books are old classics that many people are familiar with. This particular story follows the early story of Babar. It begins with his life in the jungle and tells the tale of how he made his way to the city, met a friend and came to live with her. Although he used to live in the jungle he very quickly becomes a “city elephant”. He starts wearing clothing, driving a car and sleeping in a bed. One day he runs into his cousins on the street and eventually makes his way back home. Upon returning home he gets engaged and immediately afterward is crowned king. The story ends with the whole jungle in celebration over his new marriage, and him and his bride sailing away to their honeymoon in a hot air balloon. //

// #18 //

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// As a future teacher I am always on the lookout for well written, well illustrated books that can be used for recreational reading and teaching. This is a great book for both! It introduces you to counting, a new culture and a new language. As the title mentions, the story takes place in Tanzania. It follows a group of adults and children that are going on a safari. As they go along they spot all different kinds of animals; a different child counts every time a new animal is encountered. They count all the way up until ten before they decide to call it a night. //======

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// This book is also great because it includes lots of extras in the back. It names all of the animals encountered on the safari both in English and Swahili (the native language) and includes a little bit of information about each one. It also lists all of the children’s names, the pronunciation and meaning as well as an explanation of the naming process in Tanzania. Along with facts about animals and names it includes a short excerpt about the country itself and includes a full page map. This book would be great to use in a classroom that is learning about either counting or different countries because it is very cross-curricular. It could be used for almost any elementary classroom because the content is simple enough for a kindergartener to understand, but does include larger vocabulary words and multi-cultural content that could cater to an older audience as well. //======

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// This is definitely a story that is geared toward teaching children to be kind toward others, and to be accepting of differences. It is a story about an anteater who unlike all the other anteaters, only likes to eat honey, berries and plants. He is made fun of because of his unusual eating habits and attempts to be like the other anteaters. However, despite his best efforts he is unable to eat an ant when he finally comes across one. He spits it out and says he can’t and won’t eat the little ant. The other anteaters decide that they are okay with this, and join him in feasting on honey, berries and plants. //======

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// The exterior of the book is very visually attractive. The anteater has large googly eyes and a sticky tongue with an ant on the end of it. The illustrations are very colorful and attractive as well. This book would probably be used best in teaching about social behavior for young children, perhaps pre-k or kindergarten. //======

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// To the untrained eye it seems that this is just another cute story to teach children about being unique and not caring about the opinion of others. However, anyone who is “religious minded” would very quickly catch on to the underlying Christian theme. Puchinello is a wooden Wemmick. These wooden creatures walked around with a box of stickers and gave them out as they saw fit. Pretty or talented Wemmicks got stars and everyone else got stars. Puchinello was nothing special. He could not do anything extraordinary, looked somewhat old and unkempt and often said the wrong thing. Because of his odd appearance and behavior the other Wemmicks would give him dots, only dots. This caused him to think he was no good. However, one day he meets a Wemmick with no dots or stars and she directs him to Eli, the creator. He goes up to visit Eli and is surprised to find that he knows him by name and has a solution to his “dot problem”. The story ends with the creator telling Puchinello that he is specially made and that as long as he believes that Eli’s opinion is the only one that matters the dots will fall off and soon will not stick; as Puchinello leaves he starts to believe and his first dot falls to the ground. //======

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// Everyone knows the tale of the three little pigs. We all know about how the big bad wolf came huffing and puffing blowing down their houses. What people may not know is what really happened. This is a tale of the three little pigs, from the perspective of the wolf. For anyone who knows the original story this is a very fun story because you are able to recall instances and then see them from a new perspective. According to the wolf his visit to the pig's houses was of innocent intention. He was baking a cake for his grandma and ran out of sugar. He went to get some from his pig neighbors but both times no one was home. The huffing and puffing came into play because of this terrible cold he had. He claimed that he did not intend to blow the house down, but did so because he could not hold in his sneeze. The real misunderstanding came into play when the cops showed up at the third pig's door. What they did not know was that this pig had insulted the wolf's granny, and that is the real reason why he was beating at the door. //======

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// This is a great story to go along with the original. I think it could be used for both entertainment and education. It is a great example of perspective. Reading this after the original Three Little Pigs story would show students how a change in character changes the entire story because of their perspective. //======

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//-INTERMEDIATE BOOKS- // ======

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// If you could see a person's deepest darkest secrest simply by looking into their eyes how far would you go to avoid their gaze? Dina is a 12 year old girl who has inherited her mother's gift of seeing all events that have caused shame, simply by looking into someone's eyes. Her mother is referred to as a shamer because of her gift and is often called upon to settle legal matters when innocence or guilt are in question. She simply need to look in the eyes of the person in question and she knows whether they have committed the crime or not. Although it is a gift Dina views it as a curse. Often being called the "witches daughter" she is without a friend and bitter about this power she posesses. However, despite her distain for her gift she becomes her mother's apprentice. Before any training can really begin her mother is summoned as the shamer to come and "interrogate" a man charged with a horrific crime. She leaves and does not return for a few days. Instead a man comes and summons Dina, saying her help is needed. Dina finds herself the victim of a malicious trap. She is taken to the city of Dunark and very quickly becomes tangled in a web of injustice. Having befriended the man charged with the crime Dina is faced with the overwhelming task of helping him escape, freeing her now imprisoned and condemned mother and getting back home. //======

// Author: Paula Danziger //
// Illustrator: Tony Ross & Jacqueline Rogers //

// Amber Brown is an ordinary third grade girl excited for her summer vacation. She is flying to England with her Aunt Pam, and is excited to visit her dad in France. Although she is super excited she can not help but be sad at the same time because seeing her dad reminds her that he is no longer living back home with her and her mom. Amber hopes that she can convince them to get back together, but it seems hopeless. They love her lots, but not each other anymore. //

// The vacation starts out great but soon is turned upside down when Amber gets the chicken pox! She recalls all of her friends getting them, and how a classmate thought he could eat his chicken pox. He thought they were candy dots. She writes a few people about her mishaps and is grossly reminded by her friend Justin that she, Amber Brown, can not eat her chicken pox! //

// #3 //

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// Although murder is murder and our hearts naturally cry out when we hear of it happening, there is something more seemingly devastating about the death, the murder, of a child. Imagine a world where murder is not simply done by criminals; a world where every single year your child is a possible candidate for murder not at the hands of a random criminal, but the hands of another child. Worse yet imagine that you and the rest of the world has to watch this take place as if it were some sort of reality entertainment. In the world of Panem this is not some horrible nightmare, or unpleasant thought, it is reality. Each year two children, a boy and a girl, are chosen from each district (12 in all) to fight to the death in what is known as the hunger games. This story is set in a post-millennium era where food is scarce and the people severely oppressed. The games are the government’s way of reminding the people that they are completely under their control. This story is centered on one girl from District 12 named Katniss and her struggle to stay alive in the hunger games. Having taken the place of her younger sister Prim, Katniss is thrown into a world where persuading and awing a crowd, killing other tributes (children in the games) and overcoming incredible obstacles are her only options if she wants to keep her life. This years games are very different from the others in many ways as the story twists and turns having unexpected changes and events all throughout. These twists keep me on my toes, and the story itself kept me deeply engrossed. It was an excellent book, and definitely ends with a cliff hanger, leaving you wanting more! //======

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// Encyclopedia Brown is an ordinary young boy with an extraordinary gift. He earned his nickname from his ability to use interesting facts about all types of things to help solve mysteries. He makes himself available as a detective, working for a quarter a case with his friend Sally. This story is actually a compilation of a number of very short stories about different cases that Encyclopedia Brown and Sally help solve. The beginning of the book is broken into small chapters that tell about the case. The actual solutions are found in the back. This unique set up, as well as the illustrations throughout make this a great book for someone who needs something to keep their attention, get them a little involved or just on the lookout for a little mystery! //======

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// This book is the sixth in a series about a girl named Addy. Having lived her early childhood as a slave on a plantation, Addy although only ten, has already seen many difficult times. Now living with her parents and older brother in Philadelphia, Addy dreams of having all of her family back together. He Uncle Solomon and Aunt Luna kept the youngest member of the family, Esther, with them when they ran away. Although the family has tried to locate them it has been to no avail. However, on her way home late one night Addy finds Aunt Luna and Esther. Sadly Uncle Solomon has passed away and soon after being re-united Aunt Luna passes away as well. Despite all of this hardship Addy holds on to the hope in her heart and rejoices because her family is back together. //======

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// I thought the message and content of this book was great. The information is very relevant to the time period without being graphic or inappropriate. I feel that talking about the atrocities of slavery can be a sensitive matter; however, the author does it in such a way that the reality is not dampened but the content is appropriate for younger audiences. It would be a great book in learning about the time period in which slavery was being abolished. //======

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// This book was set in the 1500’s in England. Meggy Swan is a young girl crippled from birth. She was lovingly cared for by her grandmother; however, upon her passing Meggy finds herself unwanted and alone. Sent away by her mother to live with a father she never knew, Meggy is forced to deal with the loss of her grandmother as well as adapt to a new life in London. Much to her dismay her father was expecting a son and was displeased not only with her gender but also her disability and even her presence. He ignores her and her needs, leaving her to fend for herself. Her despair deepens when he only friend, a goose named Louise, is banned from the home. Now feely truly alone Meggy feels she is as low as one can get. By mistake she overhears a conversation that reveals her father as a cheat and a murderer. He is in partnership with two men who are plotting to kill the Baron. Meggy is then faced with a great dilemma. Should she remain silent to protect the father who never wanted her and live with the baron’s blood on her hands, or should she seek out justice despite the cost? Her decision and its consequences conclude the story in a bittersweet ending. //======

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// I think this would be a bit of a difficult read for even an intermediate reader. The language was very unique and the vocabulary was quite difficult. Meggy often uses expressions like, “Fie upon” or “Ye toads and vipers”. If the reader does not know what these things mean they will easily become lost. The story itself was somewhat bland. It did not really seem to have a positive message or ending. It was quite mediocre. I would not necessarily recommend it. It was not terrible, but nothing great either. //======

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//-YOUNG ADULT BOOKS- // ======

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 * // As a disclaimer, I thought this book was __very inappropriate and odd__. It is a story about a relationship between two cousins that leads to incest. Although this in and of itself was disturbing, and the book does have some rather graphic language and sexual content, this was not the extent of inappropriate material. The two are also caught up in smoking, doing drugs, drinking, etc. There are lots of references to things of that nature, and they are done and projected as casual or normal, and basically harmless. The story also is lacking in that it did not have a real point to it. It did not seem that there was any purpose of resolve. It slowly went through their relationship, then shifted focus to their involvement in the arts and then in the last twenty pages flew threw decades of their lives mainly focusing on Maddy. //**======

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 * // This book tells the odd tale of two cousins, Maddy and Rogan, which are “secretly” in love. The true intimacy of their relationship is known only to them; however, the unnatural nature of it is painfully aware to everyone. No one knows enough about what the two really feel and do to prohibit them from seeing each other, but a mutual feeling of disapproval haunts their relationship. Rogan and Maddy feel they have something special, and magical. They both share a desire to pursue the lost passion of arts that runs through their blood. Rogan has a voice that brings tears to eyes and Maddy has her acting. Through a series of events the two are separated and they naturally grow apart. When they meet again they are reminded of their love for one another, but it is never quite the same. Maddy pursues her acting and Rogan tragically falls into drug addiction. The story ends with the two of them back in the same house their love grew in, looking at the same small paper theatre that was all their own back in each other’s same familiar arms. //**======

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// By reading the title and looking at the cover you would think this book would be inappropriate and probably somewhat predictable. Although the book does have a bit of content (some language, violence, sexuality, etc.) for the most part it does not go beyond what one would expect from a book talking about a girl’s home, and does not go into graphic detail. Obviously the girls are sent to this place because they are a little raw around the edges, and this comes out through the story. However, it is not predictable as the cover may suggest. The story begins normal with a girl in trouble, parents out of options and a school promising to “fix” her. As the story progresses it becomes very clear that this is not a typical behavior school. The methods used are impractical and very harsh. It seems that girls are disappearing right and left and the staff seems bent on creating division between those remaining together. As the numbers decrease the main character, Angela, finds herself placed in what is called the gold thread; a group of girls that are considered able to change and succeed. The rest of the girls are called the purple thread and seem to vanish. All questions about the purple thread are ignored and unanswered, treated with great hostility. As time goes on Angela stumbles across a number of clues that lead her to believe something terrible is happening at Hidden Oaks. She takes it upon herself to find out what is really going on, get evidence to shut down the school and break out of there. //======

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// The second book in the Hunger Games series, __Catching Fire__ is just as intense and intriguing as the original! This book was filled with all kinds of twists and turns that the first book gives no hint to. In the beginning it seems as though things are as back to normal as they will ever get for Katniss. She is back at home with her mother and sister in District 12; her façade of love with Peeta is a thing of the past, and her friendship with Gale is slowly healing. She struggles through sleepless nights, reliving the horrors of the hunger games. These horrors very soon become more than bad dreams when her deepest fears become reality. //======

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// The very thing that saved her life in the first hunger games has been haunting her ever since, and is the spark that causes an uprising in a district. This rebellion identifies her, the mockingjay, as its signal of hope. Therefore, in an attempt to remind the districts that no one is above the capitol President Snow announces that for the 25th anniversary of the games, former victors will return to the hunger games arena once again to battle for their lives. Through a series of unseemly events Katniss realizes that there is something very different about this arena and her “enemies”. She finds herself engulfed in an elaboration plan; a true act of defiance and rebellion, in which she is the spark. Katniss the girl on fire. //======