Eleven

Title: Eleven

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

Genre: Realistic Fiction

# of Pages: 164

Books Read: 7/50

From the cover illustration, I always thought this book was science fiction. Even the back cover summary makes it sound a little eerie and mysterious. And while this book is a mystery, it's a contemporary realistic fiction novel. I was reminded of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie by the dynamic between the two main characters. Sam and Caroline form a friendship because each needs the other, yet Sam in particular is reluctant to tell all his other friends, because well afterall, she's a girl. (haha) The other book I am reminded of is The Face on the Milk Carton, mostly in the beginning, when Sam first discovers that he might not belong in his family. 

Sam is a very real character, with very real weaknesses. He can't read, write, or spell, and doesn't know why. He has to get special help at school, but even that doesn't seem to open the door to reading for him. I feel so sorry for him, and can hardly imagine going through life not being able to decode all the things we read on a daily basis. Sam's gift is his ability to build things with wood. His grandfather is a skilled carpenter, and Sam shares his talent. 

I really liked this book; much more than I thought I might. I do need to catch up if I'm going to make my 50 book goal- it's hard to believe it's nearly July now! 

Dive Book One: The Discovery

Title: Dive Book One: The Discovery

Author: Gordon Korman

Genre: Fiction- Adventure

# of Pages: 141

Books Read: 6/50

Now that it is officially summer vacation, I'm finding more time to read, and also more time to do other things, like drink coffee and watch the morning news. This week I'm working on finishing up Dive, the first in a trilogy by Gordon Korman. I think that in order to fully understand the whole story, I would need to read the whole trilogy, but this is a great start! It was a fun book to read by the beach on my breaks from lifeguarding. 

Dive is set on the Caribbean island of Martinique. 4 kids have been chosen for a special summer internship, supposedly to help a scientific expedition. However, for most of the first half of the book, the ship captain keeps leaving them behind on shore! The book is a mystery; what are they really looking for underwater, and why are the 4 kids really there?

Kaz is a hockey player from Canada who recently injured another player and wants this summer to be an escape from the grief and guilt he's feeling. Dante is an incredible photographer, but isn't the greatest diver and seems to be having trouble with his vision. Adriana's rich parents needed something for her to keep busy with over the summer, and while that might not be the best start, Adriana's expertise in history and natural grace in the water prove to be an asset to the team. Star is the best diver among them, and is the first to tell you so. Her fiesty personality and determination are no match for her physical disability, due to her cerebral palsy, on land. The characters are a diverse group, and with so much diversity there's something for any reader to relate to. 

My favorite part of the book wasn't the main story, but rather in a side story interspersed between chapters. In the side story, we're taken back to a ship in 1665, where a young boy works as the captain's boy. Life at sea in the 1600's was very difficult, and the captain and crew lived by a very unjust social code. Samuel struggles with much more than the characters in the contemporary story, and the history is just so interesting.

Girl in Blue

Title: Girl in Blue

Author: Ann Rinaldi

Genre: Fiction- Historical Fiction

# of Pages: 310

Books Read: 5/50

First I was on an adventure-boy-hero kick, now it seems I'm reading a string of historical fiction novels with strong female main characters! It is my intent to read a wide variety of books this summer, so soon I'll have to look for some of the fantasy, mystery, or realistic fiction on my list! I also know that many of my students love humorous books, so I'll be sure to read some, too!

I really enjoyed reading Girl in Blue, but I would hesitate to recommend it for many of my students. The story and the tough issues addressed seem more fitting for middle school or even high school readers. 

Set during the Civil War, sixteen year old Sarah needs a plan to escape her father's farm in Flint, Michigan. Her father has promised her in marriage to a man over twice her age, which is the last straw for Sarah in a lifetime of abuse. She wants to serve her country, as many young people do during this time. Most girls however, would enlist as nurses, if at all. Sarah, however, is determined to enlist as a soldier, and in order to do so, must disguise herself as a man. 

Disguised as Neddy Compton, Sarah becomes a soldier and marches to Washington, D.C. Her duties include serving in the hospital, where she becomes good friends with Dr. Hammond, the surgeon there. She does go to battle, and does shoot and kill enemy soldiers. Later, her true identity is discovered, and she is in big trouble. With Dr. Hammond's help, Sarah becomes a spy! She's now helping "the cause" of the Union army in a new role, as a female spy. It is in this position that Sarah finds herself in the most danger. She even falls in love! Sarah is transformed from a stubborn girl into a skilled woman and a true heroine. 

A couple months ago, I read another book by the author, Ann Rinaldi, titled Numbering the Bones. This book also takes place around the same historical time period, but in a much different setting. Numbering the Bones is the story of a Southern plantation at the end of the Civil War. The young girl in this story also learns the price of war, and also finds freedom. I liked this book because it showed how slaves weren't automatically free at the end of the war. I think Ann Rinaldi does a great job showing the weaknesses in historical accounts. Often, the history we learn in school is glamorized to show only the triumphs. By reading about a character, I can make connections and see how today's world is different in many ways, and in other ways, very much the same.