A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Middle School

Good Books to Read

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So I’ve spent the last four days battling a nasty cold.  I spent Friday sleeping.  Saturday reading,  Sunday dozing off and on, reading, and finding an appetite returning, and today I’ve just been VERY grumpy and blowing my nose a lot.  I know WAY too much information eh?

The biggest benefit of being sick is the uninterrupted time to just read.  No feeling guilty, just needed time to heal and read.  It’s good that!

Do I like the headaches and being only to read in small doses?  Not really.  I’d rather just read all day long, but headaches from head colds precluded that.  All that preamble to say I found some good books to read.

We are all Greta

we are all greta

I have a review coming for We are All Greta which is why I read it.  I have to say I read it with a fair bit of skepticism. I still feel a bit skeptical about it all, but she does make a person think a bit about the state of the earth we live on.  This book isn’t written by Greta but is based on her passion for climate change.  The author wants us to think about how we can save the world in a large number of ways.  She is thought-provoking, but not really answer giving.  Stay tuned for the full review. 

Salvation in Death

Salvation in death

I am not actually finished Salvation in Death. I’m currently about 1/2 way through.  I am a fan of J.D. Robb.  Her writing style connects with me.  A touch of romance, with a huge mystery works well for me.  This book has sat on my shelf for the past year begging to be read but I never really had the opportunity.  Our short camping trip earlier this year wasn’t long enough for me to get to it!    Priest gets murdered, and the hunt is on for the killer.   Lieutenant Eve Dallas is a fascinating detective, and her hubby well.. yum!  Not too scary, with not too gruesome of details, just an excellent murder mystery fit for a Sunday afternoon. 

The Revolt

The Revolt

My son was gifted this book by his gramma and read it last year.  When he was finished he said “Mom, you should read this book, it’s interesting.”  Since it was sitting at the top of my “read for fun pile” it was the first I grabbed up.  

I recalled when my lad started The Revolt, he said it was hard to read at first.  Once he got about 1/3 of the way through he started to talk about how he was enjoying it.  I had the same reaction.  Took me a while to get past the authors’ style of writing, he gave it a real Old English feel, I started to enjoy the story.  Learning about John Wycliffe’s early life as a scholar and teacher.  Understanding why the time was right for the Reformation to occur.   Politics, disease and abuse all set the scene.  Recommeded reading for anyone interested in the early years of the Protestant church.

Another Quest for Celeste

Another Quest for Celeste

I admittedly, as does my son, remember with fondness A Nest for Celeste.   We so enjoyed this book, it was so good.  I eagerly awaited readaing Another Quest for Celeste.  It was a good read, it wasn’t as good as the first book.  The involvement of Abe Lincoln didn’t happen until at least half-way through, and honestly could have been the story of any boy back in the day. 

BUT it was the story of Abe Lincoln, having to deal with a difficult father.  Abe Lincoln with a step-mom who pushed him to learn to read and write, who encouraged his academic endeavors.   It was Abe Lincoln, who as a child, walked miles to borrow books from anyone around.   

And through Celeste we see the beauty and danger of river boat travel, and the majesty of the forests with their abundant wildlife, and different modes of transport.   Read this book if only to see the beautiful drawings within.  

The Raging Storm

The Raging Storm by Erin Hunter

Book 6 in the “A Vision of Shadows”series by Erin Hunter, The Raging Storm is a good read.  Thoroughly enjoyed this read. The lad and I have enjoyed the Warrior Cat series from the very start.  There have been odd bits that haven’t worked well, but overall, it’s a good series with a fairly predictable pattern. The cats have learned and grown over the course of the series. 

In this particular book the cats have to learn to work together not only as individual clans but also as a joined unit. Can they put aside their squabbles to work with each other so they can save everyone?  Read the book and find out!  🙂

Prairie Lotus

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Do you love Little House on the Prairie?  The love of the old west, the life and stories of the people who lived there that comes to life?  Prairie Lotus, the book I’m reviewing today is a lovely book in the likeness of the life of Laura Ingalls.   Linda Sue Park introduces us to Hanna, the Prairie Lotus. 

Prairie Lotus Review

What I am Reviewing

Prairie Lotus.
Linda Sue Park.
Clarion Books.
Houghton Miffin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.
Ages 10-12, Grades 5-7.
272 pages.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Old West, Asian American, Native American, History, Children’s books, Upper Elementary, Country, American history, Chinese American,

A powerful, touching, multi-layered book about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father’s shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America’s heartland, in 1880. Hanna’s adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople’s almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story. Narrated by Hanna, the novel has poignant moments yet sparkles with humor, introducing a captivating heroine whose wry, observant voice will resonate with readers.

Prairie Lotus

The Details of Prairie Lotus

Oh, what can I tell you about Prairie Lotus?  It’s a lovely book.  Hanna is a delightful, but determined girl. I loved how Ms. Park developed Hanna’s character. Hanna has her fears, which are very real with distinct elements of danger. At the same time, she knows what she wants and pushes to get them.  Navigating hostile waters, she manages to make a friend and get an education.  It’s so interesting to watch how it all develops.

With a similar theme to the Little House on the Prairie books, Prairie Lotus touches on a situation that the Ingalls never approached.  The fear and bigotry against Asian immigrants and Asian Americans.  This was a prevalent part of the early days of Canada and the United States.   

We get to see the varied reactions to the Native Americans, the working through of the legal requirements of the law, but mostly…. we get to see history in action.  A living book that adds a great dimension to the Little house on the prairie books.  Read both, and see history better. 

Prairie Lotus

Thoughts/Recommendations

I grew up reading Little House on the Prairie.  I immersed myself into Laura’s world.  When the TV show came out … I watched in.  I know the Ingall’s family well.   If Prairie Lotus had been out at that time I would have read it as well and been enthralled with Hanna and her life.  It wasn’t easy, but she persevered.

I loved seeing her determination to see things through.  Watching people pull together (for good or for ill) gave excellent insight into group dynamics.   This was such an interesting book. I urge you to let your Ingall’s fans read this book.  

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King of the Mole People

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I was struggling with how to write this review for King of the Mole People.   It’s a book I didn’t particularly enjoy reading but it has some redeeming qualities.   Knowing that didn’t make it any easier for me to figure out how to write it.  As I was taking a break, reading through the list of words for the Write 31 Days Challenge I saw the word Accept…and like a light bulb I knew how to write this review.  

A big part of King of the Mole People is Doug Underbelly needs to learn to accept himself for who he is. Many of the people in his life also need to learn this truth. You are who you are.  Do not pretend to be someone else.

King of the mole people

What I am Reviewing

King of the Mole People (Book 1).
Paul Gilligan.
Christy Ottaviano Books. Henry Holt & Company.
272 pages, hardcover, 8-12 years.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Humour, Upper Elementary, Middle School

Doug Underbelly is doing his best to be normal. It’s not easy: he’s bad at jokes, he’s lousy at sports, and he lives in a creaky old mansion surrounded by gravestones. Also Magda, the weird girl at school, won’t leave him alone. And if that weren’t enough, he recently got crowned King of an underground race of Mole People.

Doug didn’t ask to be king – it’s a job he can’t really avoid, like the eel sandwiches his dad makes for him (with love). If he thought dealing with seventh grade was tricky, it’s nothing compared to navigating the feud between Mole People, Slug People, Mushroom Folk and Stone Goons, not to mention preventing giant worms from rising up and destroying everything. How will Doug restore order? It’s all a matter of diplomacy!

King of the mole people

The Details for King of the Mole People

If you like Captain Underpants and books along that line (or have children who do) King of the Mole People will be highly entertaining for them.   Similar humour, images and writing style.

King of the mole people

Doug Underbelly wants so desperately to fit in, to that end he gets into a whole lot of different situations.  In the midst of all that is Doug’s role as King of the Mole people. I know…go figure…. the mole people?  But they are a real part of this book along with many others who dwell below. 

Can Doug manage the pressures of life above and life below?  You’ll have to read the book to find out.

King of the mole people

As Doug figures things you’ll meet all the characters in simple black/white drawings. I would have to say that 3/4’s of the pages have illustrations on them.  I love the illustrator portrayed Magda.  Such a quirky character.  I liked her from the start.   She was mostly comfortable in her own skin and just needed to learn a bit more.  🙂

Accept

Thoughts/Recommendations

Growth in characters across the board make King of the Mole People a winner. While I am not a fan of the genre, I am a fan of how it all comes together in the end.  One even learns some good science!

I loved how Doug learned to accept himself and work within his own abilities, even learning to use the skills he learned trying to be someone else. 

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The Other Half of Happy

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The word in the Write 31 days challenge is strong.   I was trying to think of something I could do with this word and then I thought of this review book, The Other Half of Happy.  Strength is something this family needed, and though it didn’t always seem apparent, it was something they possessed. 

The Other Half of Happy review

What I am Reviewing

The Other Half of Happy.
Rebecca Balcarcell.
Chronicle Books.
8-12 years, Grades 5-8, 332 pages, hardcover with fly.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

middle school, fiction, prejudice, racism, death, family tension, Special needs, Latin America, Cross-cultural, Latino, 

Quijana is a girl in pieces. One-half Guatemalan, one-half American : When Quijana’s Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn’t know more about her family’s heritage. One-half crush, one-half buddy : When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she’s found true friends. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for Jayden. One-half kid, one-half grown-up : Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what’s going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother. In the course of this immersive and beautifully written novel, Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole.

The Other Half of happy

The Details of The Other Half of Happy

I have to admit, I was surprised. Much of this book I thoroughly enjoyed, I really did.  Good characters, I could see the struggles that Quijana had.  Being a young teen, learning to hold to her preferences, struggling to understand parental concerns, and trying to be a good sister to a younger brother. 

I didn’t expect the bullying she needed to endure over cross-cultural issues. This issue was a surprise to me.  I wasn’t expecting native language use (or lack thereof) to be a concern among Latino Americans. 

The Other Half of happy

The characters were well-developed.  I feel like I could meet Quijana and her friends and know what to expect from them.  Jayden and Zuri became real people in my mind, good people for Quijana to hang out with. 

I loved the closeness between Quijana and her gramma.  The attention of teachers who noticed struggles.  

This middle school book was an easy read.  The only struggle I was with the bits of Spanish, and some of the Latino names.  

The Other Half of happy

Comments

A good book. Enjoyed reading for the most part.  There was a lot thrown into this book.  Homosexuality, what I think is autism, cross-cultural issues. the death of a family member, and a girl coming to understand herself. 

Family tension was a very solid part of this book.  I saw strength in parenting, strength in Quijana holding to what is solid part of who she was despite familial pressure, and growing strength as she realized more was going on in the world then what she was going through herself.   This story, in and of itself would have been enough.  Watching her mature, even in small ways, was wonderful.

I disliked the need to throw a homosexual character into an already divisive book.  Like seriously, what was the real need to do so?  There was so much going on in The Other Half of Happy already, adding this extra element just seemed pointless.

The focus should have remained on Quijana and the cross-cultural issues she was already dealing with.  Internal strength is a part of this book.

strong
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Spies, Lies, and Disguise

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HA!  I like this one.  The word in the Write 31 days challenge is avoid.  My book is Spies, Lies and Disguise.  What do spies want to avoid having done to them?   Being captured!   Today we get to learn how spies worked to avoid being captured in World War Two. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise review

Spies, Lies, and Disguise: The Daring Tricks and deeds that won World War II.
Jennifer Swanson.
Kevin O’Malley (illustrator).
Bloomsbury Press
160 pages, 9-12 years, grade 5-8.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

World War Two, history, spies, disguise, military, Europe,

In the late 1930s, times were desperate. The world found itself at war again, less than twenty years after the first World War had ended. No one could quite believe it. And no one wanted it. The leaders of every country involved were left with no choice. They had to try to end the war as fast as possible, using whatever means they could.

That meant coming up with secret operations meant to deceive, deflect, and confuse their enemies. …… These were all real tactics attempted with the ultimate goal of defeating Hitler. In this off-center look at history, readers will be captivated by the classified and covert efforts made by each side as they tried to gain the upper hand and win the war. Restricted access is lifted to give the reader a peek into the top secret operations of the daring men and women who fought the war under a cloak of secrecy.

Spies, Lies and Disguise

The Details of Spies, Lies, and Disguise

What a fun read.  I know, might not sound like a fun read but I thought it was GREAT.  Not fun as in ha ha joke, but fun because I learned so much!  It was also written in an “invite you in style”.  Not a dry read but quick moving, draw you in, causing you want to know what job comes next. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise

Each chapter started with a wanted poster. Stating what sort of people were wanted, and then an intriguing title.  Like seriously…wouldn’t you want to know what type of spy a night witch would be?

Spies, Lies and disguise

We are then walked into a scenario, the need for smart people with a particular skill set.    Actual case scenarios are explained and laid out.  This one made me laugh.  The idea that skipping stones could be a useful skill and then discovering that indeed it was!  I was so surprised that I blurted out “it worked!  Skipping bombs worked!”  This of course got my lad’s interest so over he came where I showed him the picture of how the bombs were used.  He was suitably impressed but demanded I don’t tell him anything more so he could read this book on his own.   No spoilers allowed.

spies, lies and disguise

Many of the chapters closed with a short vignette of a helpful spy or a helpful science scoop that directly connected with the chapter.  Occasionally images would be included like this one of the boats.

spies, lies and disguise

Recommendation

If you have any interest in being a spy, in covert activities, code-making, or world war 2… get Spies, Lies, and Disguise.  It is a fascinating look into the world of being a spy.  Whether it be as a look out, or to set a misleading trail, spies were busy confounding the enemy.   It’s approachable style makes it an easy read, with nothing too complicated to understand.   

Some day I will teach (I hope) from this book  in a co-op class.  I think it would a hoot to engage teenagers in how they could do the work of a spy themselves and avoid being captured in the process. 

avoid
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Time Sight by Lynne Jonell

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Time Travel with a twist, Time Sight is an interesting romp back through history using the Scottish gift of second sight.   In this review, I will tell you about a curious book by Lynne Jonell called Time Sight.   Mind, you don’t need to scared to read a time travel book!  🙂  Yes, scared is the word prompt for today’s Write 31 day challenge. 

Time Sight Review

What I am Reviewing

Raincoast BooksTime Sightn.
Lynne Jonell.
Christy Ottaviano Books.
Henry Holt & Company Books.
416 pages, 9-12 years, trade paperback
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Middle school, history, medieval, time travel, fiction, Europe, Scotland, mystery, upper elementary,

Will’s mother is in danger overseas, and his father must find her, so Will and his little brother are packed off to relatives in Scotland. Will feels useless. He can’t save his mother. He can’t help his father. And when he tries to amuse his brother on the plane ride, he can’t even locate the images in Jamie’s book – the hidden pictures that everyone else can see. Once at the family’s ancestral castle, though, Will tries again. And as he delicately adjusts his focus, suddenly his eyes tune in to a different visual frequency – the past.
Looking back five hundred years is interesting . . . at first. But when Jamie impulsively leaps through the opening in time, Will and his cousin Nan must follow, into a past so dangerous that Will isn’t sure how he will get everyone safely home.

The Details about Time Sight

You know those books where there is a picture hidden inside a picture?  Where to find the second picture you need to look into and yet beyond the existing picture?  Take that idea, add in the Scottish belief in second sight, and voila.. a story is born. 

Time sight

You’ll find maps and other interesting line drawings.  They bring great definition to the story. Some were full page, others just partial, but they all fit the story perfectly. I really liked these drawings and found them so well done. Can’t you just see the fear in the lad running from the cook?  🙂

Time Sight

The characters are believable.  Real kids struggling to understand what is happening.  Real kids wanting to be helpful, making some mistakes, but managing to find their way through.   

Time sight by Lynne Jonell

Thoughts/Recommendations

Initially I was not particularly impressed with this middle school read.  It took until I was about 1/3 the way through before I was hooked. Suddenly the story took an interesting twist.  Could Will control his abilities?  Would he be able to save the day?  What about Nan…. could she help at all?

All these questions were answered as I quickly finished this book.  Would I recommend it?  For sure!  Mystery combined with time travel and a willingness to think outside the box… makes for a good read for most anyone. 

If you were doing a study on Scotland and learning about the belief in second sight, this book might make for a fun interpretation of that ability. 

Don’t be scared by unusual gifts.  Use them for good like Nan and Will did. 

scared
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The Flag Book

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If you don’t know by now I LOVE Lonely Planet Books.  I am currently reviewing The Flag Book and let me tell you… It is SOLIDLY well-done! Flags from everywhere in the world including provinces, states and regions.  It’s flag bonanza! 

The Flag Book

What I am Reviewing

The Flag Book: The amazing stories behind the world’s flags.
Lonely Planet Kids.
184 pages, Ages 9-12 years, hardcover

Geography, Reference book, Explore the World, Flags, Countries of the World, History, Middle school

Reviewed for Raincoast Books. 

In The Flag Book, Lonely Planet Kids introduces you to the flags of every country in the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and tells you what their design, colors, and images represent, along with lots of other incredible facts.
What’s the only country that doesn’t have a rectangular flag? Why does Hawaii’s state flag feature the UK’s Union Jack in one corner? And what do the 13 stripes of the USA’s Star Spangled Banner represent? You’ll find out the answer to all these and much, much more.

And then we’ll show you the other fascinating ways flags are used throughout the world. Learn the International Code of Flag Symbols to communicate with ships at sea; read about flags used in sports, like Formula 1’s checkered flag; marvel at flags commemorating world records and incredible human achievements; and peer with a microscope at the planet’s smallest flag, which is no wider than a human hair.

The Flag book by lonely Planet cover
The Flag Book

The Details of The Flag Book

Reviewing this book brought to mind one of my favourite clips from The Big Bang Theory.

Though not quite as exciting as Sheldon’s fun with flags gig, The Flag book is a cornucopia of flag information.   I learned about pirate flags, country and state flags, flags used in sporting events and more.  Flags are used for so many things.   Flags for ships at sea, flags for racing, international flags, flag record holders, old flags, new flags, this hardcover tome has them all.   

The only thing I didn’t see (and I could simply have missed it in the volume of information) was how flags are used in moving equipment like airplanes from one place to another. 

The flag book

Country pages are about what you’d expect.  Information about the country and then information about each section of the country’s flags.  So for Canada (as pictured above) you have the Canadian flag and then each province’s flag. 

The Flag Book

I love that frequently, full colour images are interspersed among the country pages.  Seeing the vibrancy of those images. brings those countries into sharper relief.  

The Flag Book

Learning about flags, beyond the normal country and state flags was fascinating. Do you know the oldest flag?  What about which country has two flags?   How about the biggest flag underwater?  You get to learn all sorts of information like this in The Flag Book. 

The Flag Book

Thoughts/Recommendations

Such a great book!  The Flag Book is one that I will be keeping around for a few years yet.  At 14 years old I am sure that my lad will be finding a good use for it over the next while.  I am fascinated enough to want to read it through cover to cover.

For instance, did you know that Lesotho is known as the “kingdom of the sky” and this is referenced in their flag.  Isn’t that a wonderful piece of history?  I love this kind of stuff!  🙂  Don’t you?

Intrigue your children, your students today with The Flag Book!

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