It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

Genre: Realistic
AR level: 3.6
Grade appropriate: 2nd and up           

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5-- A sweet little book about a girl who's best friend has deserted her for another friend and she turns to reading to cope. She eventually learns that there is a lot going on in this girl's home life although it doesn't go into much detail.

Creativity: 3/5-- Very similar to many books about this age group, but I loved the way Anna read well-known and loved books.

Characters: 4/5-- I liked Anna and her sweet little family. I really liked Ray the crossing guard. This reminds me of my own son who has befriended the custodian at his school.

Engrossing: 3/5-- It's short and so it holds your attention.

Writing: 4/5

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- It's the kind of sweet little book that many 2nd-3rd grade girls really identify with.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none

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Genre: Science Fiction   

AR level: 5.9

Grade appropriate: 4th and up

In library? Yes! We have 4 copies and they are constantly checked out.

RATING BREAKDOWN:

Overall: 5/5-- I really did love this book. I was not really looking forward to it, but several of the kids had been telling me how great it was and it’s on the Bluebonnet list this year so I gave it a whirl. Was pleasantly surprised.

Creativity: 5/5-- It’s a dystopic book set under the ocean. Didn’t see that one coming!

Characters: 5/5-- I did truly like the characters. They were likable but still realistic with flaws and lots of mistakes.

Engrossing: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- Never on the shelf.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5-- A good way to judge this for me is “How many kids are turning this book in unfinished?” Answer: None.

CONTENT:

Language: none

Sexuality: mild-- The heroine gets kissed twice.

Violence: medium-- They do have to fight for their lives. A mother gets killed in the beginning trying to save her daughter and there is plenty of fighting against sea creatures looking for a good meal.

Drugs/Alcohol: none

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? visit Mentor Texts

 

Genre: historical

AR level: 4.1

Grade appropriate: 4th and up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5-- great introduction to the holocaust. Will get kids interested in the topic and they'll read more about it. Odette was sheltered from most of the horrors of WWII.
 

Creativity: 4/5-- this book is based on a true story but is a unique perspective.

Characters: 5/5-- I loved Odette & really connected with her. Her mother was wonderful in the beginning but as the war wore on she became bitter & less loving. I think that's probably pretty realistic.

Engrossing: 5/5-- it's an easy read & most kids can get through it quickly before their attention wanes.

Writing: 4/5

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- the kids in my library have really liked it. They come in requesting more about Jews in WWII.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: none


Sexuality: none


Violence: mild-- war is distant & not witnessed first hand. Odette does get mistreated by classmates because she's a Jew.


Drugs/Alcohol: mild-- Odette's godmother offers "drink" to German soldiers to distract them from looking for her. 

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Genre: Adventure
AR level: 5.2
Grade appropriate: 4th and up

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5-- I liked this book better than the first. (That seems to be the general conscientious from most other reviewers as well.) It's more exciting and the characters are coming into their own.

Creativity: 5/5-- I would not have been able to guess that Stuart Gibbs would take the kids to camp in the sequel to Spy School. Cool idea!

Characters: 5/5-- I like Ben a lot. He's a good guy who ultimately decides to do the right thing in most situations although it does not always come easy. He sometimes debates whether to do the right thing or the easy thing.

Engrossing: 4/5-- It's a quick read.

Writing: 4/5-- Funny and clever. A little cheese on the part of the bad guys.

Appeal to kids: 5/5-- Kids seem to be diggin this book. It's never on the shelf.

Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: none-- This book had no offensive language as opposed to the first in the series. Just goes to show it wasn't necessary.

Sexuality: none

Violence:  medium-- It reminds me a little of the TV show Chuck, but instead of the main character being the blunderer it's the CIA. Lots of cartoony violence. Nothing graphic. The most disturbing thing is when a bad guy is on a zip line and ends up falling into the ravine. They discuss how he's dead now, but don't go into graphic detail.

Drugs/Alcohol: none