Reading Abounds

Title: The Poet's Dog Author: Patricia MacLachlan Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 127678 Description:   An abandoned dog, able to speak only to poets and children, rescues a pair of young children stranded in the forest. Together, they find a way to overcome their losses. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It: Poetry and Dogs... what more can I say.  Notes: This is one of those novels that I absolutely love.  It is written for a younger audience but there are deeper aspects to the story that are very appealing to an adult reader.   The story is encapsulated within 88 pages, and spells out the story of Teddy, the poet's dog, whose master has passed away, and Flora and Nickel, two children he finds lost in a blizzard.   The children are left in a car by their mother as she goes to look for help after getting stuck in the snow.  The children get scared and leave the vehicle and get lost in the woods where they are found by T...

Title:  Echo Echo Reverso Poems about Greek Myths Author:  Marilyn Singer Illustrator:  Josée Masse Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 112980 Description:  This collection of reversible poems helps readers gain new perspectives on ancient Greek myths. Curriculum Links:  Art: Mirror Images, Graphic Design Character Education: Courage Language Arts: Tales, Myths and Legends Reading: Poetry Social Studies: Early Civilizations Science: Earth and Space (Constellations and the Night Sky) Writing: Voice and Perspective Notes:  This is a lovely poetry book.  I was struck by the colourful illustrations that are designed as mirror images to highlight the myths in the poems.  I particularly like the art portrayed on the cover that is inverted and found with the first poem -  An Age of Marvellous Myths .  The poems are reversos - a poetry form the author has invented - the poem is read first top to bottom, it is then reprinted in...

Title: A Time to Dance Author: Padma Venkatraman Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 82094 Description: In India, a girl who excels a Bharatanatyam dance refuses to give up after losing a leg in an accident. Rubric Rating: Love 4 - Love It! Why I Read It: I read Climbing the Stairs by this same author and liked it so decided to read another selection by her. Lori's Notes: I was surprised when I opened the book to find the chapters written in verse rather than prose.  However, after the first couple of chapters the novel felt not like a book in verse but a book in song.  A song that made you see and feel Veda's dancing.  Veda lives with her ma, pa and Paati (grandmother).  While her mother wants Veda to become an engineer, Veda loves to dance.  And she is excited to learn that has been invited to compete in the Bharatanatyam dance competition.  Veda wins because of her amazing control over her body.  However, her greatest achievement is short lived....

Title: Crossed Series: Matched Trilogy Author: Ally Condie Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 70022 Description: Seventeen-year-old Cassia sacrifices everything and heads to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, where she is confronted with shocking revelations about Society and the promise of rebellion. Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It. Why I Read It: Continuing on with this series.  I do quite like the covers on these books. Lori's Notes: Cassia has made her choice.  She's going to find Ky in the Outer Provinces.  But she is still matched with Xander and when he visits her on one of her last work details he giver her a gift - an opportunity she doesn't expect.  When the society sends a plane to take some of the Aberrations (people who aren't citizens) to the outer villages, Cassia boards as well.  If the aberrations can survive for six months they'll regain their "Citizen" status, but the the Society isn't taking the Aberrations to the outer vil...

Title: T4 Author: Ann Clare LeZotte Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 31755 Description: When the Nazi party takes control of Germany, thirteen-year-old Paula, who is deaf, finds her world-as-she-knows-it turned upside down, as she is taken into hiding to protect her from the new law nicknamed T4. Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud It Why I Read It:  I'm interested in reading war stories and I'd not heard of the T4 laws.  I was also intrigued by the sign language on the cover. Lori's Notes:   A story written through poetry and a very fast read.  Anyone who is interested in WWII novels should take a look at this book.  13-year old Paula is deaf.  It is this fact, and this fact alone, that puts her in danger.  Once the Nazi party institutes the T4 laws, and rumours begin to circulate of people disappearing, Paula's family decides that she must go into hiding.   And many others must do the same.  I love that the title of the book is spelled i...

Title: Stuck in Neutral Author: Terry Trueman Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 289114 Description: Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy, relates his perceptions of his life, his family, and his condition, which makes him believe his father is planning to kill him. 2001 Michael L. Printz Honour Book Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud it Why I Read It: I was looking for a quick read and this book was small with a low page count. Lori's Notes:   Shawn is profoundly disabled.  He is unable to speak, move, or interact with those around him.  However, he remembers absolutely everything that he hears.  So when his father talks about "ending his pain" Shawn knows that his father, a Pulitzer-Prize winning author, is planning to kill him.  Shawn's father feels his son is in agony as a result of the cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder that causes Shawn to have multiple seizures daily. However, Shawn loves his seizures, they allow him...

Title: Egghead Author: Caroline Pignat Perma-Bound Cat#: 33352 Description: Three teens struggle to find their way through life with a bully. ***Canadian*** Rubric Rating: Love 4: Love it. Why I Read It: I was looking for some books with Bullying as the main theme and this was by a Canadian. Lori's Notes: Freshman year in high school is not easy for anybody - but it's even worse when you have to put up with a bully, or you're best friends with a bully, or you stand up to a bully.  Devan is Shane's best friend and Shane is a bully.  Devan understands the difficult home life Shane has and knows that he needs a friend to tell him right from wrong.  William is the kid who's just a little bit odd, nicknamed "egghead" by Shane, William just tries to get through school without getting in anybody's way.  And then there's Katie, she likes Devan but doesn't know how he can be friends with someone like Shane.  She's friends with Will...