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Ian
Emily

 


bookThree Bird Summer

by Sara St Antoine

Anyone who likes to spend time in Northern Minnesota will enjoy this light-hearted and quiet young adult book. We follow 12 year old Adam to his grandmother’s cabin on Three Bird Lake, only this summer it will be much quieter. Normally he spends the summer with all of his uncles, aunts and cousins but this summer with his parent’s recent divorce he travels with just his mom. The story follows the three months of cabin life including canoeing, lake golf, adventure hikes and a girl next door. At first Adam wants nothing to do with her but when they find letters written from his grandma mistakenly placed in his room, they use them to find a hidden secret of his grandmother’s past. When grandma becomes ill the relationships on Three Bird Lake become tested and Adam will have to rely on Alice, the girl next door to help him muddle through. A delightful and relatable book for Minnesotans. I loved it. 


As a teacher, I am always looking for children’s authors and books that reflect the diversity in my classroom. In books by Mike Huber, who was recently at the store for Author Fest, diversity is ever prevalent in the pages but not the focus of the story. Student of diverse racial backgrounds, physical conditions, and unique situations are all displayed in the pages of the book, allowing students to see themselves. But the books are not about their differences. It’s simply about day to day activities, routines and lessons we learn in our early childhood years. I have since recommended these books to my teacher friends and am appreciative of an author writing children’s books incorporating “mirrors” for our students.
Among my favorite books:

  • bookAll in One Day
    It's another day in Mr. Walter's classroom, and Ari and Blaine hatch a plan to put on a show. Throughout the day, their classmates join the fun and contribute new ideas. Finally, it's show timeā€”and just in time for a special audience! This story showcases the routine of the day in one group-care setting. The book contains a page of information to help you connect the story to children's experiences, which makes it a great teaching tool for your classroom or child care setting.

  • bookThe Amazing Eric
    Sometimes when children are sad, it can be difficult for them to imagine ever feeling happy again. Playing at the water table is fun. But Erik thinks getting splashed is not fun. When his sleeve gets wet, Erik gets sad, and he can't imagine ever being happy again. Then, with a classmate by his side, Erik becomes absorbed by a new idea: to make the water disappear. As it vanishes, Erik discovers his happiness has reappeared, like magic.


   
Cascade's reviews
Cascade
Cascade
       

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A Little Princess
by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This children’s classic was written in 1905 by the same author who wrote The Secret Garden.  Sara Crewe was born and raised in India by her widowed father.  At a certain age, her father decides Sara must attend a boarding school in London.  Due to her money and good temperament she has been treated like a little princess until her father dies.  Sara, penniless and orphaned, becomes a servant in the boarding house.  For two years, she makes the best of her situation until she comes back into good fortune.

 
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Audacity
by Melanie Crowder

Clara Lemlich and her family are persecuted by Christians in Russia due to their Jewish heritage. They immigrate to America where they face many hardships, including one of her brothers being held back at Coney Island due to illness, and the extreme poverty they face living in a new country. Clara is forced to work long hours in various garment shops under poor working conditions. She becomes involved in establishing a union for this industry and gives up her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. This historical fiction YA novel is written in free verse and based on a true story.


 
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The Cure For Dreaming
by Cat Winters

When Olivia Mead goes to Henri Reverie’s show on October 31st, her birthday, she is called up to be hypnotized. Upon hearing of Henri’s incredible hypnotic powers, her father hires him to erase Olivia’s rebellious thoughts; but Henri instead gives her the gift of seeing people as they truly are. This ability lets her see who is trustworthy and who is a threat. When she gets really upset and tries to argue, the only words that will come out of her mouth are “all is well.” This book is set in Portland, Oregon at the turn of the 20th century and involves suffragists and those that try to silence them.

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We All Looked Up
by Tommy Wallach

This book is written from the varying perspectives of four students, each a different high school stereotype (athlete, slut, slacker, overachiever).  The athlete’s name is Peter; he is questioning his goal to become a famous athlete. The slut’s name is Eliza; she is a photographer who is kissed by Peter (who is already in a relationship); a girl walks in on them and spreads a vicious rumor that Eliza is a slut even though Peter kissed Eliza, so she is wrongly accused. The slacker’s name is Andy; his parents are out of the picture and he has fallen in with the wrong crowd which drinks and does drugs. The overachiever’s name is Anita; she has overbearing parents who control her entire life; Anita’s passion is to sing, but her parents won’t let her pursue this interest. All four of their lives are intertwined with love, hatred, and friendship while an asteroid named Ardor threatens to decimate Earth.

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UnCaged
by John Sandford & Michele Cook

This book is the first one in the Singular Menace series. Shay Remby runs away from her foster parents’ home; she is trying to find her brother, Odin who is slightly autistic. He has run away with a group of animal rights activists as their hacker and has helped them break into a Singular Corp research lab in Eugene, Oregon. Odin escaped with important flash drives and a dog which had been experimented on. Shay makes her way to Hollywood and teams up with Twist, a streetwise male who owns an apartment building available free to homeless teens. Together they go to find her brother.

 

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