The Boy Who Dared

I had no idea what this book was about before I picked it up. I couldn't wait to find out what this boy "dared" to do. It was quite shocking what he really did do, and this novel is based upon a true story.

Helmuth Hubener was a real boy, who did this real thing; he stood up against the Nazi's lies. This boy was courageous, and religious. He wasn't Jewish, therefore he was able to keep practicing his religion. What he believed through and through was amazing. I would be proud to call Helmuth my own son. Given this was during World War II, that his adopted father was a Nazi police officer, and that he secretly listened to the radio he was very daring.

Throughout the whole story, Helmuth is in jail. This novel is told through flashbacks. He tells you briefly about what happens in jail, but the rest of the story is all of his memories of how things led up to him being convicted.

I'm glad the author included some author's notes and pictures because it helps connect the story with the real people this happened to.

Of course I strongly urge you to read this book because it was good, it is historical fiction, and it kept you on the edge of your chair wondering what Helmuth had done that was so horrible that as a teenager he was on death row.

Here is a photo of Helmuth.

This is a really good one, I read it years ago and still remember it!

The Palmer family is on a camping trip when Mom breaks her ankle. As Mom and Dad Palmer leave for the hospital, Jonathan, his disabled sister Abbey, and their dog Moose begin the walk back to their camper. On the way an earthquake strikes. Now the surrounding trees are destroyed, their camper is smashed, along with Abbey’s walker. Jonathan is faced with making difficult survival decisions.

Earthquake Terror is a suspenseful family adventure story which portrays how a family bond can strengthen when faced with disaster and survival.


Does this synopsis have you interested in this book? It should, it's really a GREAT book. I have totally had this book in the back of my mind for years. It even shocked me when I read it, and that's been years ago. I read this book when I was student teaching. I was surprised at how it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to keep reading. I had forgotten the title, but this needs to be a definite addition to my classroom library!

I forgot about this really good book

Well, it's more like reading the main character's journal. She's dealing with the problem that her dad lost his job. Lots of us can connect with that lately. The problem is that her parents have to sell their beautiful house she loves. She deals with all of the typical problems that all youngsters deal with when they have to move. I did when I was young. It's hard! So how does she deal with everything? Does it get better? Read it and find out!



Oh yeah, it's also a Bluestem book.

I've been reading about dogs lately

First I read Hachiko Waits. When I picked up that book from the library, I also picked up 5 other books. One was Kenny and the Dragon. The others were How to Steal a Dog, The Great Wide Sea, The Boy Who Dared, and The Year of the Dog.



A nice story about a young girl who in 4th or 5th grade thinks she needs to "find herself" because it's the year of the dog. Supposedly, the year of the dog means that it's good luck and it helps you find out what you're good at.

This story helps a Tawaiian-American girl figure out who she is. It goes through a year of her life, and her experiences in school and at home. It was another Bluestem book nominee. I think a lot of girls will like this book and can understand and connect with the things that happen.

Like the last 3 books I've read, I didn't want to put it down. It's a fast read, you learn a lot about her family and the stories that have been told through the generations of things that help make this family who they are today.

I think it is always important to expose children to literature that lets them see what it might be like to be in another culture or nationality. This book does that.

Enjoy!

This will tear at your heart strings

An adorable dog with such loyality and love for his owner. Hachiko Waits is a timeless story, which is evident since its true historical setting is 1924. What I didn't know before reading this book, was that it is historical fiction. It's based on a true story. This dog was famous in Japan.



This was another good read that I didn't want to put down. This is one reason I enjoy children's literature; I can read a large volume of books over the summer, which then some of the best are either purchased for my classroom library, or they turn into classroom read alouds. This one is possibly going to be both; a read aloud and a purchase.

What was surprising to me was that while doing some images research, that this book and historical information has been turned into a movie staring Richard Gere. I don't think this was ever released into theaters in my area, but it is for sale from Amazon.




And here is an image of the statue that was built because of Hachiko's loyality and determination to find his owner.

New Reads

I've been trying to read the books from the 2011 Rebecca Caudill book list, but Illinois has a new book award: The Blue Stem awards. I really like that there is a focus for students in grades 3-5. Some of the Caudill books are way too advanced for this level reader, unless I read them aloud to my students. I've found some good books on the new Bluestem list.

Here is a link to the Bluestem 2011 list.

I've recently read Kenny & the Dragon.


This book is written by the author of the Spiderwick Cronicles, which I've never read, but many kids enjoy. Anyway, this book is about a cute, litte rabbit who is quite unliked by his classmates because he loves to read and knows a lot about non-fiction things. He'd rather have a book than play sports.

This book is set back in the times of kings. It is a small town that thinks dragons are bad. As I was reading, I thought the first chapter was quite comical. The narrator doesn't understand how you can be "upon time" like you can be upon a horse or upon a farm, so he feels he can't start the book with the traditional fairy tale beginning Once upon a time.

Also having seen the original St. George and the Dragon sculpture, this reminded me a lot of that. I know the author was probably connecting to that, but I think that might have been written more for the adult reader.

I enjoyed this book, it was a fast read. I loved the pencil illustrations that helped extend the story for the reader. I thought this might be a class read aloud, but I've recently found one I think I like a bit better. Stay tuned, that will be my next blog post!

A Definite Read Aloud

Each year, I struggle to find a really good book with a strong, yet low drama queen, main character. I think I've found it. It's A Friendship for Today.





This book has a strong, female character. She's a black girl who is one of 5 students that go to a white school as soon as segregation ends. She works hard to keep up and fight the sterotypes they had in the south in the 1950's. You know that teacher who segregated the students by their eye color? Well that happens in this book. It has a lot of lessons to teach students, and all people alike.

If you picked one book from this list, so far, this would be the one!