Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt

Title: Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Historical Fiction (Primary Level)

Sweet Clara is a wonderful book about a young slave girl who is separated from her family and is taken to work in the fields of a planation. She soon discovers that fieldwork is not for her, and is permitted to work in the house, helping with the sewing and mending. She then begin to hear about others who have escaped their plight, and comes up with a brilliant idea. She uses the left over scraps of cloth from her sewing to begin to make her own quilt, this is a map that will lead her to her family and then ultimately to freedom.

This book is a great book for children to read for when their learning about slavery and freedom. I really enjoyed reading this book and I recommend that every teacher should use this book in their classroom. The style of this book is very creative and interesting.

Morning Girl

Title: Morning Girl

Author: Michael Dorris
Historical Fiction (Intermediate Level)

This book is a beautiful and powerful book that makes a distant culture familiar and its loss quietly devastating. This story is told through a lyric feel, with an ending that is incredible.

Morning Girl and her brother, Star Boy may not always get along but, when it counts they stand by each other. This book takes place in the 1400s. Morning Girl, and Star Boy's life is going to change forever. This book is told by alternating each chapter between siblings. Telling the story about their life and family living on a Bahamian island. At the end of the book Morning Girl meets a group of strangers.

I would recommend this book be read. This is because I believe that everyone can take from this book.

Indian Shoes

Title: Guy Time
Author: Sarah Weeks
Contemporary Realistic Fiction (Intermediate Level)

This book is about a thirteen year old, Guy Strang. Guy's life seems to have turned totally upside down. He parents are divorced. Guy is asked out by a girl, and for some reasons he just doesn't understand.Guy answers the question with a maybe and that is when the trouble really begin.

This book was a fun book to read because of the humor and the troubles that Guy gets into. I would recommend this book for all ages. This book really reminds me of the book, " The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian", this is because his best friend Buzz, will desert his forever if he goes soft. This book is a great story and everyone should read it.

My Name Is Yoon

Title: My Name Is Yoon
Author: Helen Recorvitz
Contemporary Realistic Fiction (Primary Level)

My Name Is Yoon is a story about a Korean girl who moves to the United States. The story is told through the perspective of Yoon. Her name in Korean means "Shining Wisdom," and Yoon absolutely loves how her name looks when written in Korean. Now that she is going to school in America, her father tells her that she has to learn how to learn her name in English. When her father teaches her how she becomes upset. She then tells how much more she likes to write her name in Korean because all of the lines in the character "dance together." Instead of writing her actual name on her papers, she wants to write other words that she learns because they make her happy.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it is a very creative and imaginative book. It is wonderful to see how the Yoon feels about her name when it is written in two different languages. I would recommend this book for all ages because it will teach everyone an important lesson.

CInderella

Title: Cinderella
Author: Barbara McClintock
Fantasy (Primary Level)

This book is a remake of Cinderella. Poor, Cinderella, who is relegated to a dirty room by her horrible stepmother and nasty stepsister, who never gives into hostility or revenge. Instead, Cinderella remains loyal to her kind and gentle ways. This tale of virtue rewarded as charming and rich as any prince.

This book is a good book for little children to read because everyone knows the story of Cinderella and this book is a little different and this could help them make connections. This book was a delight to read.

Twilight

Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Fantasy (Intermediate Level)

This book I believe to be is an amazing book. It is a fun fantasy and romance combined. This book takes place in Arizona which then progresses to Forks, Washington. This is where Bella Swan moves to. When Bella moves to Forks, she believe it is going to be boring but she moved here because of her mother, her mother and her boyfriend went to Florida to pursue the boyfriends dream in playing in the majors. Bella is now living with her father. When Bella meets the mysterious and shimmering Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes an adventurous and terrifying turn. This book has girls dream about their prince charming and guys hating Edward for being so dreamy just in words.

I believe this book to be an amazing book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It has a mix of Beauty and The Beast and Dracula. This book was really easy to read and to imagine what is happening to the characters. The only down side to this story is that part with it makes guys look hopeless and there is no one good out there.

The Glory Field

Title: The Glory Field
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Multicultural/ International #3

This book is a great book to read. This story is about one family. A family whose history saw its first ancestor captured, shackled, and brought to this country from Africa. A family who can still see remnants of the shackles that held some of its members captive. This story shows the pride of a family and determination, struggle and love.

This book really hit home for me, this is because I really can't believe that this happened to people in the past and I feel horrible that it was my ancestors who did this. This family had to struggle for their lives and I feel that they deserve a better life.

I would suggest that third graders or above read this book because I feel that they can get the most out of what is happening. I would suggest this book to other people and teachers to read.