Life as we knew it

When we think of catastrophic events caused from outer space, our first thoughts are generally about a comet or meteor hitting Earth directly.  But what would happen if our moon suddenly shifted?  Are we ready for the problems that might occur or would it effect us at all?  

This is the premise behind the book, Life as we knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer and she weaves a stunning tale revolving around Miranda and her family.  No one knew what would happen when an asteroid hit the moon one night but very few people expected the disasters that ensued.  Earthquakes, tsunamis, strange weather, abnormal amounts of precipitation and disease start occurring within hours of the supposedly harmless event.  What will happen to Miranda and her family? 

Soon life is thrown back about 50 years or so.  Phones don't work, technology is dead, and basic survival is the best everyone can work towards.   Miranda and her family are struggling to stay healthy and somewhat happy in a world that has drastically changed overnight.  Life slowly begins to revolve around the very basics- food, warmth and safety. 

Miranda struggles to keep a journal and not think about all the family and friends she can no longer contact.  Are they safe?  Are they even a live?   How can she find out?

This book provides profound look at how drastically life can change in a very short time.  Well written from a teens point of view, Ms. Pfeffer has created a masterpiece of suspense, tragedy and struggle.

Age Range: 12 to adult

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. Life As We Knew It. New York City: Harcourt Paperbacks. 2008.

The Landry News

Andrew Clements does it again with a delightful but thought provoking book about one little classroom paper and the trouble it causes.  Learning will occur whether a student believes it or not and that is often the most exciting way to learn.

Our heroine is Cara Landry, a 4th grader in Mr. Larson's class who enjoys his unconventional methods of teaching.  But numerous parents do NOT like the laid back approach that Mr. Larson takes and every year there are a flurry of letters from parents requesting that their students have nothing to do with Mr. Larson the next year.   Is Mr. Larson really a bad guy or is he simply burned out? Will this year go along as the previous ones or will Mr. Larson gain some new confidence?

Cara Landry has had a rough few years with a divorce between her parents, her father's remarriage and a move.  These problems have left her a little critical about every aspect of life including her teacher and his strange way of teaching.  So when she writes her weekly, handwritten newspaper editorial and hangs it on the class bulletin board, she isn't quite ready for the changes it brings.  

Mr. Larson knows people do not like his method of teaching but he honestly does not worry about it much until he sees the editorial.  What can he do?  Should he do anything?

In the end, everyone in the class and the school learn some valuable lessons about education, journalism and the effects of our words on others.

Truly a funny but thought provoking book that will grab the reader from the very first page.

Age Range: 9 to 13

Clements, Andrew. The Landry News. New York: Aladdin, 2000.

Life in the medieval Muslim World: Faith

One of several books on Muslim life during the medieval times, this book by Kathryn Hinds looks at the how the Muslim faith was founded and then practiced during the medieval period in history.  While not a particularly fun book, it is very interesting and provides a basic description of Mohammad, his visitation from Allah, the work he did to bring together many of the smaller tribes and forge a strong cohesive group while he was alive. 

chapters in the book cover areas such as the Prophets life, the hows and whys of Mosques, clear explanations of the creation and expansion of the Qu'ran and the divisions of the different sects of the Islamic religion that we now have on earth.

Mohammad did not preach hate and war as many people thing these days, rather he worked hard to change traditions of fighting, stealing and butchery into a more tolerant tradition.  He also received revelation from Allah regarding the rights of women which had here to fore been absolutely zero.   Unfortunately for Mohammad, not everyone saw things his way or wanted to convert to Islam.  This lead to fights and problems, including his exodus from Mecca with most of his supporters.  

Mosques are also covered in the book and everyone can learn something from what is presented.  Mosques have several different divisions within them and a few are considered very holy.  But unlike some churches or religions, Mosques do not have to be identical providing options for individuality to fit each area or region.  Mosques are places of worship but also places for teaching, gathering together for discussions on anything and a place for the poor to come and seek assistance from others.  

Another chapter covers the Five Pillars of Islam.  These five rules are the fundamentals of the Islamic religion and are not really any different than what many Christians believe.  In not particular order, the 5 pillars include: helping others, putting God/Allah first above all else, daily prayers, a pilgrimage to Mecca and purification through fasting (especially during the month of Ramadan).

Overall, this book provides a great basic understanding of a religion that most people hear about but don't honestly KNOW much about.  It is probably not a book that most tweens would just pick up, but as they study other cultures and peoples, this selection would be a wonderful addition to any course.

Age Range: 10 to 14

Hinds, K. (2008). Faith (Life in the Medieval Muslim World) (1 ed.). New York: Benchmark Books (Ny).

Touchblue by Cynthia Lord

This wonderful new novel by Newbery Honor award winner, Cynthia Lord is a fascinating tale of triumph over some terrible circumstances.   Set in coastal Maine on the island of Bethsaida, Tess and Aaron are the main characters who each strive to overcome their fears during a summer of growth.  Tess is afraid of having to move to the mainland with her family if the state closes their village school.  But Aaron faces bigger fears and some of his results may directly affect Tess and her family.

As a foster child, Aaron has been bounced from home to home for the last several years.  With the threat of losing their school, several islanders decide to take in foster children and Aaron arrives to live with Tess and her family.  An accomplished trumpet player and pianist, Aaron is a tall skinny teenager who struggles to fit in to island life.  All he truly wants is to go live with his mom again although he knows the state has severed her parental ties.  Somewhere deep inside, he knows the reality but hangs on to hope that it will all work out.

Tess's world, in the meantime, is spinning out of her control.   Her best friend moved, the local school may close, her family may have to move because of the school situation and now the family has taken in this tall skinny, red head who comes to her family with problems to which she can not relate.  Summer is short enough without all this extra stress in her life.  

Follow Tess, Aaron, her sister, and the people of Bethsaida as they struggle to accept each other and find the best answers and solutions for every one's troubles. 

Age range: 10 to 14

Lord, C. (2010). Touchblue. New York: Scholastic.

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

What happens when you mix an efficiency expert, his lovely wife and twelve rambunctious children?  You have just encountered the Gilbreth family and life may never be the same.   While most people may think that the movie, Cheaper by the Dozen is just fiction, it is actually based on the book of the same name.  And the book is based on the life of the real Gilbreth family from the early 20th century and their antics. 

A dozen children may not be cheap in any day and age but they certainly are energetic.   For Papa Gilbreth, training and attempted control tried to keep a lid on some of the energy but was rarely truly successful.  But then, was Papa really, truly trying to be the stern disciplinarian? 

Every reader will find a Gilbreth to relate to in this story.  Whether it is Ernestine, Anne, Frank Jr., Lillian, Matt, Bill or another Gilbreth, there is a personality for everyone. Bill is the clown of the family, usually in trouble and often the one brave or foolish enough to play tricks on father.   Anne and Ernestine are the oldest sisters and help run the roost.  They are responsible for helping the younger ones with chores, dressing, etc. but also long for normal teen things like dates, clothes, dances and going to higher education. 

This classic is a must read for everyone.  Laughs, crying and everything in between will result! 

Gilbreth, F. B., & Carey, E. G. (1948). Cheaper by the dozen . New York: T.Y. Crowell Co..

Julie Tells Her Story by Megan McDonald

For Julie, her new school assignment to write about her life is exciting until she finds out that part of it includes a chapter on the worst thing that has happened in your life.   For most of her friends, it probably isn't anything that bad but Julie's parents are divorced and that is a terrible thing.  What else could she possibly claim as the worst thing in her life?  

As she struggles to determine how to write a chapter about the divorce without hurting her parents or her sister, her life is also revolving around her sisters boy troubles, basketball problems and the normal  troubles with scheduling issues between her dad's job as a pilot and their weekends together.  

Life for American Girl, Julie Albright, in 1974 San Francisco was great and exciting until her parents divorced.   This dramatic change means more changes such as moving to an apartment with her mom, leaving her dad and rabbit in their house, living above her mom's shop and moving away from her best friend, Ivy.   Ms. McDonald writes a series of 6 books for American Girl focused on Julie and her life as a changes from a 2 parent family to living with her mom, seeing her dad, and dealing with juggled schedules and so on.  

American Girl provides not only historical stories for girls but also stories that focus on issues that affect tween aged girls today.  Divorce is something that plays a part in almost every child's life today.  Whether it be divorced parents, a friend's divorced parents or other family members each child knows someone who is dealing with divorce.  Reading about Julie dealing with her families issues can provide an outlet for tween girls to help them.

Age range: 8 to 12

McDonald, M., Hunt, R., & McAliley, S. (2007). Julie tells her story . Middleton, WI: American Girl Pub..

Plain Girl by Virginia Sorenson

Have you ever felt completely out of place?  What about at school? 

Welcome to Esther's world.  The only Amish child her age in the neighborhood, she is forced to attend the public school with all the strange children.   Even worse, her father faces jail time if he does not send her, whether she likes it or not. Esther would rather stay at home on the farm, helping with the gardens, chickens, housework and doing her lessons with Aunt Rachel.   But the state of Pennsylvania has other ideas and Esther must obey her parents.  

Once in her new school, Esther finds children who wear colorful clothes, are mean to each other, discuss bad topics and all manner of other terrible things in her world.   Standing out as she does, she knows she won't make any friends and after the experiences of her older brother, Dan, she isn't sure she wants to make English friends.  

But as most children know, fitting in can be ever so important.   So, as Esther struggles to find herself, she sees sides of the English world that do not seem so bad.  Will her beliefs be deeply challenged or will she find out who she is without being forced to make serious changes to fit in?  

Helping Esther through her trials at home and at school are her parents, her Aunt Rachel who lives with them, and her new friend Mary who is learning to accept Esther for who she is. 

A great story with a message of acceptance, responsibility, obedience and tolerance.  

Age 8 to 12

Sorenson, V. (1955). Plain Girl.  New York: Odyssey Classics/Harcourt Publishing, Inc.

William S and the Great Escape by Zilpha Keatly Snyder

What happens when you are a thoughtful young boy in a family of rough and tumble bullies?  Well, for William the time comes when he decides to run away.  As he saves his money and strives to stay out of the way during all the fights, he thinks of the day when he can live with his aunt and be himself.  

Unfortunately for William, he was born in the Baggett family.  Known for fist fights, stealing, drinking and generally causing problems, the family subsists on help from the government during the depression while William and his sister, Jancy struggle to go to school.  Believing his fathers interest in him and his three younger siblings stems from the money they bring in, William plans to leave as soon as he can.

One day, however, Jancy demands that they leave as soon as possible and take their littlest siblings with them.  Shocked to find out that Jancy knew what he was planning, William initially says no but is soon persuaded to agree with Jancy's plan.   A logistical nightmare, the two pack up what they can and start off on their adventure.  The twists and turns of running away with smaller kids add suspense and panic to what William and Jancy hoped would be a safe and quick trip to their aunt Fiona's. 

Spellbinding and completely engrossing, this book is a masterpiece of story telling.  All tweens will relate with one of the characters as will many parents if they think back to their childhood days.

Age range: 8 to 14

Snyder, Z.K. (2009). William S. and the great escape. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

All-of-a-kind-family Downtown by Sydney Taylor

Sydney Taylor first introduced the world to the five stair step girls in All-of-a-kind-family, the story of 5 Jewish girls living in New York City in the early 1900s.  Now, in this delightful sequel, the girls are growing up and finding themselves as older sisters to a lovable little brother.   The baby changed the dynamics in the family at the end of the first book and his antics continue throughout this book.  

While learning to care for their baby brother, the sisters experience the business sense of Henny, the second oldest.  She decides to charge her friends a penny to watch baby Charlie get his bath one afternoon.  Unfortunately, Mama is not real fond of a huge audience so only tolerates it for a little while.  Charlie, of course, loves the audience splashing and giggling his way through the bath and into the crib for nap time.   Henny tries to hide her "business" but the sisters find out and the sparks fly. 

The girls enjoy meeting new people but one friend, Guido, has more problems than a normal tween age boy.  He is busy trying to find work to support his sick mama but worries constantly about finding enough money for food and heat.   Lucky for him and his mama, Ella decides to play detective which leads to help for the little family down on their luck.

Tweens will enjoy seeing life in New York City in the early 1900s and learn lessons that are timeless.  Definitely a great read.

Age range: 8 to 12
Taylor, S. (1972). All-of-a-kind-family downtown. New York: Dell Publishing.

Belle Prater's Boy by Ruth White

What happens when an odd ball cousin comes to live in Granny and Grampy's home?  Why a mystery unfolds, of course.   Poor Woodrow Prater comes to live with his grandparents after his mother disappears from their home in the hollow and his life completely changes.  So does the life of his cousin, Gypsy Arbutus Leemaster.  

Gypsy's life is somewhat uncomplicated before Woodrow arrives next door but she has her own problems to deal with.  Her step father drives her crazy, her mother won't let her cut her hair and Granny, her piano teacher, wants her to put on a recital.  It is all so much to handle while also showing Woodrow the town and helping him get settled at school. 

Using these two strong characters, Ruth White weaves a story of cousins who each must deal with disappointments early in their lives.  Set in a small Virginia coal town, this story of growing up amid gossip, turmoil and family problems will appeal to tweens of either gender.  Each of the main characters is relateable, and the list of issues the two deal with reads like something set in 2010.   But just when the reader "knows" how the story will end, Ms. White throws in a surprise ending that adds another dimension to both characters.

Truly an enjoyable story.

Age range: 9 -12

White, R. (1998). Belle Prater's Boy. New York: Yearling.