The Trap

This very moving story of life in the Alaskan wilderness alternates each chapter between the grandfather and the grandson and the very different struggles that each goes through during the four days that pass during the course of the story.

Albert Least-Weasel is an old, very stubborn man, he has lived his whole life in the cold Alaskan wilderness and insists on continuing to live his life on his own terms. He checks his own fur trapping line alone--even though most men his age had given that up long ago. He set out as usual to check his traps, but that day turned out to be anything but usual. He accidently caught himself in his own trap. The story weaves back and forth between Albert stuck out in the open in the freezing wilderness and his grandson Johnny back in the village. Albert's fight for survival is well-presented as is Johnny's plight caught between his worry about his grandfather and others feeling he should wait and his own commitments.

Nice segueway for 6 graders as they should have had US History covering Alaska and Canada as part of their 5th grade social studies. Great boy book as an upper grade next step from Paulsen's work.

An area of concern is the mention of the pervasive alcoholism of the tribal peoples while not glamorized, it is not ignored either.

Grades 6-12

I have a copy of my own if anyone needs to read it.

Lucy Rose: Busy Like You Can't Believe, by Katy Kelly

Illus. by Adam Rex.

Entering fourth grade, an irrepressible Lucy Rose chronicles her experiences eavesdropping, trying out for Annie in the school play, relationships with friends, the not so friendly Ashley, grandparents, and divorced parents. The telling is practically breathless, funny, and true. Her collection of new words and palindromes gives readers access to a sophisticated vocabulary within the comfort of a series character and style.

Grades 3-5

Penny from Heaven, by Jennifer L. Holm

Eleven year old Penny lives with her mother and her maternal grandparents following the death of her father. She also spends a lot of time with her father's extended Italian family including several uncles who dote on her, a cousin Frankie who is always in trouble and a grandmother, Nonny who always dresses in black. It's the summer of 1953; polio keeps her from the swimming pool; her mother is dating the milkman; and the two families barely speak to each other. Filled with humor, drama and some suspense about her father and how he died, this is great storytelling with characters it's a pleasure to spend time with.

Grades 5-8

I Lost My Tooth in Africa, by Penda Diakite

Based on a true family story. When Amina visits her family in Mali, she loses her tooth, places it under a calabash and receives, in accordance with Mali custom, a chicken and a rooster. The child's excitement and anticipation are very real and the vivid ceramic tile illustration give a feeling and visual picture of Mali.


illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite

K-2

A Dog for Life

John Hawkins and his older brother Tom come up with a scheme to save their dog, Mouse from being sent to a shelter after Tom was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Their mother was afraid that Mouse would bring in germs. However, Tom felt that he couldn’t survive without this special dog who shared the brothers’ gift of communicating with each other by reading each other’s thoughts. That’s how John and Mouse’s adventure begins. In spite of a naively created plan and a few unexpected, strange, and sometimes disturbing challenges, John and Mouse remain determined to reach their destination. Recommend this one to students who request adventure or family stories. Booklist starred review.

Grade 4-8

Counting on Grace, by Elizabeth Winthrop

A story just like this one could have taken place in any mill town in North Carolina. It is a gripping narrative of a spunky heroine named Grace Forcier. She lives in a textile mill town in Vermont and works with her mom as a doffer in the spinning room. The author describes the many hardships of the textile workers while weaving Grace's story of self-discovery and growth all the while. She and her friend Arthur are the best readers in school and Miss Lesley their teacher wants to keep them out of the dangerous mill. She is fired for her meddling and Grace is given the substitute teaching position. The Lewis Hine photo on the dusk jacket is of a real mill rat from 1910 - an "anemic little spinner in North Pownal Cotton Mill." In this book Grace writes a letter to Mr. Hine about working conditions for children in the mill and he arrives and takes pictures to document the terrible conditions . You will remember Grace long after you put this book down - she is the star among many wonderfully drawn characters. This book will be an excellent companion to Bread and Roses by Katherine Paterson and of course, Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor. SLJ starred review.

Grades 5 - 8

Weedflower, by Cynthia Kadohata

A powerful story of a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Before Pearl Harbor Sumiko works with her uncle's family on a flower farm in southern California and dreams of owning her own flower shop. When the war starts Sumiko's family is split apart and she is moved to a camp in Arizona - a camp located on a Mojave reservation. There she works with a neighbor, Mr. Moto, to grow an award-winning garden and she befriends Frank, a young Mojave. Through her friendship with Frank, she sees the injustices perpetrated on the Native Americans and tries to reason out the very difficult decisions her family has to make. Students will relate to and understand Sumiko's feelings at each step of her amazing story. The author's father was interred at the Poston camp and she writes a moving and well written testimony to the courage and perseverance of Japanese Americans during this dark period in American history. SLJ starred review.

Grades 5 - 8

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

Here is a great new book for fans of Junie B., Amber Brown and Judy Moody. Large font and lots of humorous black and white illustrations will appeal to students wanting to move from easy readers to chapter books. Ivy and Bean are seven year old neighbors who dislike each other even though they have never spoken. When they finally do meet, they team up to cast a "witches spell" which sends Bean's bossy older sister into a wormy mud hole and makes them friends forever. This is a fun book to read which also reinforces the lesson that you shouldn't prejudge others.

Use with grades 1-3.

Bringing Asha Home by Uma Krishnaswami

Eight-year-old Arun is delighted when his parents tell him they are adopting a baby girl, Asha, from Dad's native India; but the paperwork and procedures require a long wait, during which Arun pretends his paper airplanes are bringing Asha from India. Krishnaswami (say Krish-na-swa-mee) uses the North Indian Hindu Rakhi Day (Rakshabandhan), which celebrates the bond between sisters and brothers, to frame the story. Arun explains the custom to his best friend, and Asha arrives clutching a rakhi (bracelet) for her brother. Jamel Akib's warm, realistic illustrations in soft colors enhance the text: Mom is white, family and friends are diverse, home life and activities are inviting.
Loving preparations for adoption, a less well-known but very special Hindu tradition, and subtle diversity make this book an excellent choice for all elementary collections. An author's note provides more information on Rakhi Day and adoption. Hindi words (such as "rakhi") are explained above the CIP information.
Grades K-3.