Monday Reading - Great Books!

                

        Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow! I need to share that these four books, varied in style and story, as well as imagined types of readers, are fabulous! 

         Sometimes, I hope it's enough to write a review that brings readers to know that it's a book that must not be missed! Lois Lowry, among all her other books to love, has written another one. It's amusing that it has to do with memory because this is one I imagine few will forget! Sophie Gershotitz and Sophie Winslow live next door to each other in what seems like an ordinary New Hampshire neighborhood. However, the people we get to know from Lois Lowry's new book are not so ordinary. They have stories to tell! Sophie G. is 88, and Sophie W. is 11, and they are best friends. The younger one tells this story of their enduring, special friendship and the recent rumblings that Sophie G. needs a little help with memory. Her son, Aaron, the young Sophie tells, is coming for a visit to take his mother to get tested, to see just what's going on. In the voices of those Sophies, we feel love and care, even when the young Sophie tries to help by letting the older Sophie practice some memory tests. What comes is more than ever imagined, connections to history that are more than dates, and secrets are revealed. Lowry never fails to make all the characters interesting, too, as she has here, with young Sophie's friends, Ralphie and Oliver, and her parents, who are realtors. Oliver's mom plays a little part, too. In other words, we readers start caring and connecting to everyone, even Mr. Katz, Sophie G.'s cat! Don't miss this story!

            Leslie Helakoski's poetic language shows how people come together to help when a natural disaster comes, this time "When The Rain Came Down." Illustrations fill the pages with beautiful collaged art showing people helping amid the terrifying destruction from, this time, flooding. "The water went down/and hope rose up. . ./meals were passed/and children slept." shows a double-page spread filled with what we've all seen during these kinds of times– people, dogs, too, all in cots, away from their homes: "hands were held/and nurses wept/come over! come over!" – a call for help! 

             An author's note adds more information, including hope and suggestions for how we can all "help" avoid these in the future! 

          The dictionary defines 'anthem' as "a rousing and uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause. This is indeed an 'anthem' for Asian America. We Who Produce Pearls, written by Joanna Ho, feels like music, the words illuminated in glorious colors by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. Its few words are filled with many references I know I didn't understand, but I did recognize a few, like "We are the water that coaxed spring shoots from the soil," referring to the work done in irrigation and agriculture in California, also references to laying railroad tracks across the country which I've read about in other histories. I realize I am woefully ignorant of this history and there is a wealth of information in the back matter, several pages of questions, background historical references, lists of important names to know, varied areas of colonialism effects, and much more! 

         Kate DiCamillo never fails to tell a great story. With Carmen Mok's illlustrations that show the emotions and fright, the decisions to be made by "a good and noble choice," a tale of a possible friendship emerges through stories! One thing that gave me a big smile was Orris, the rat, using the phrase, "For the love of Pete." I haven't thought of those words in a long time - perfect! From the ending, I think we readers can look forward to more, a wonderful thing!
 

Next Up!  The Kid by Jeff Schill