EXPLORE PREDATORS AND PREY

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

Future scientists can rejoice at this new title from Nomad Press. The 90 pages are filled with 25 projexplorepredatorsandprey_coverects, which could be used by homeschoolers, students in lower grades as an independent study, or by a teacher with his or her entire 3rd or 4th grade class.

The format is easy to follow with each chapter having a different focus:

  • Chapter 1–Hide and Seek!
  • Chapter 2–Tools of the Trade
  • Chapter 3–Eat It Up!
  • Chapter 4–Staying Safe
  • Chapter 5– Other Animal Eaters
  • Chapter 6– Living Together

Before you even begin, there’s an introduction describing the scientific method and showing young learners how to make a predator and prey journal. It will be their go to spot for recording everything learned in each investigation.

Every chapter begins with a question to help guide their explorations. Here’s an example from Chapter 5: If mosquitoes disappeared, what effect could that have on other animals and the ecosystem?

Next you read the chapter and  follow through with the projects, easily identified by their green background. The steps are laid out with easy to understand directions.

Support for learning extends to online with QR codes, where the user can use a tablet of phone to view a website or video. No problem if you don’t have access that way as the web addresses are listed in the glossary along with definitions of the scientific words used throughout the book.

Colorful illustrations break up the text and the fun, motivating projects will be sure to entice many new learners to list science as their favorite subject.

Visit Nomad Press and Amazon to see more of this wonderful learning resource.

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Have a Great Weekend! Relax, have fun , and READ!

 

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CLAYTON STONE SERIES for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

I read both books in the fun and exciting CLAYTON STONE series back to back. What an 9780823433896enjoyable time I had following Clayton’s adventures. They stand on their own if you decide to skip the first book, but it would be a choice you’d regret.  First up– my thoughts on CLAYTON STONE, AT YOUR SERVICE (2015) where Clayton is 12, soon to be 13.

It covers the seven days Clayton is enlisted as an undercover kid to catch a mall napper. His family’s history of secretive and dangerous  operations leads him to the role. I say dangerous because his parents were both killed in the line of duty and now Clayton is living with his grandma, who’s also in the business. Clayton doesn’t always know if he’s making the right decision, but it’s spot on how an adolescent would handle such a dangerous line of work. He has to juggle both his regular school responsibilities while keeping his other life a secret.

Awesome gadgets and a fast paced story line will keep readers glued. I was anxious to jump right into the next book.

FULL PLOT (From Holiday House) Twelve-year-old Clayton Stone is shocked when a top-secret government organization recruits him as a decoy in a kidnapping sting. Instantly, he gets drawn into the dangerous world of covert operations. Clayton’s new life is full of excitement, with elaborate disguises and classified debriefings, but soon enough there’s a gun against his neck.

Clayton’s transformation from middle-school lacrosse star to Special Service agent is full of suspense, humor and heart—a thrilling undercover debut!

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clayton_stone_facing_off_jkt_r-681x1024CLAYTON STONE, FACING OFF (2016) picks up just a few weeks later. How do you top his first adventure? You put Clayton in another school where he can shadow the President of the United State’s son who is acting rather strange of late. All does not start off well in this inclusive private school where students are often the offspring of famous politicians. Clayton would rather be at his old school where he played on the lacrosse team, but duty calls and he answers.

Clayton finds much more that just a president’s son to worry about. There’s the manipulative Otto, and James, a quiet boy who provides a mysterious presence. Girls won’t feel left out as Amber, a key to the first book, shows up as a student at the prestigious Sydney Brown School

The ending is a thrilling ride that will have your heart beating quicker as you flip the pages. It all works because of the heart Clayton brings to the story.  I can’t wait to see what Clayton Stone is up to next.

FULL PLOT (From Holiday House) Thirteen-year-old Clayton’s new assignment for the Special Service means adopting a new identity—indefinitely. He has to leave behind his friends and beloved lacrosse team to live as “Max Carrington,” a student at the Sydney Brown School, where the President’s son Kyle is a seventh grader. But Clayton isn’t the only new kid at school and there’s something odd about his fellow outsider, James Scott. Is James hiding something, and is he a threat to Kyle?

The chaos of undercover life keeps Clayton on his toes as he rushes from one crisis to the next, while a cutthroat school election brings out some strong personalities at Sydney Brown. To make matters worse, Clayton’s new lacrosse team is set to play Masters Academy in the in the most important game of the season. It looks like he will face off against his best friends and former teammates!

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: CLAYTON STONE  Series by Ena Jones

  1. You don’t see the game of lacrosse featured in MG books so its a perfect match to have this sport featured here. In my part of the world, lacrosse is hugely popular with the upper MG crowd and they’ll gravitate to Clayton for that reason alone.
  2. I don’t often rave about book covers but these are both winners.
  3. There is almost constant action from the sporting and undercover backdrop. Young readers will not have a chance to use the word “boring” because Clayton’s adventures will not allow it to happen.
  4. Plenty of conflict in Clayton’s life from his friends, Grandmother, and other adults entering his world. He also dearly misses his parents and granddad giving much depth to the storyline.
  5. My favorite character besides Clayton was his grandmother. No typecasting here, Gram is one tough lady who shows up in the most unexpected get-ups.

FAVORITE LINES:  Less than twenty four hours later, I’m in the underwear section at Macy’s. Shopping. Normally, I wouldn’t be caught dead here. Now I might be.

Caught dead, that is.

I lean over and mutter to my shoe, trying to act like bra-shopping with my fake mom is a regular day in the life of me. “Can you hear me? Over.”

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 Be sure to visit Ena’s author web site and Twitter for more insights.

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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SCIENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

scienceencyclopediaLet’s begin with some math. SCIENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA checks in at 9.5 inches by 12 inches and is a whopping 3.8 pounds. Eye-popping fantastic is the best description I could come up with for the cover and the 304 pages inside. It would make a great gift for the teacher or science loving kid in your life.

Opening the pages for the first time, I had to smile at how far encyclopedias have come. I remember as a kid having to do a report on the moon. I went to our book shelf at home where Funk And Wagnalls 26 volumes had its home. We only had 13 of the 26 at the time since my mom would wait for the weekly grocery store promotion–a new volume each week for $1.99. Fortunately the “M’ volume was a recent addition to our collection. I found a few paragraphs along with a fuzzy black and white image of the moon.

Fast forward to today. I flipped to the handy index in the back of SCIENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA and quickly found many pages referencing the moon, including a two page full color feature, filled with colorful sections containing information and images. There’s even a LOL! joke piece and a GEEK STREAK section delving deeper into facts about the moon’s future. With all this information, any present day student doing a moon report would put mine to shame.

National Geographic found a glowing panel of experts to review the information for accuracy. Everything is arranged in two parts in a splashy, enticing format.

First up are the Physical Sciences like chemistry and physics. The sections include MATTER, FORCES AND MACHINES, ENERGY, and ELECTRONICS. Each of these are loaded with information and pictures on various sub topics. Have an interest in Organic Chemistry, Bending Light, Satellites, or Gravity? You’ll find all of them here plus dozens more. I loved the TRY THIS! feature offered throughout, letting readers do a little experiment to gain further understanding of a concept.

Part 2 is devoted to the Life Sciences. Here you will find sections on THE UNIVERSE, LIFE ON EARTH, THE HUMAN BODY, AND PLANET EARTH. Look further and there are over 50 topics covered in detail. After completing my moon mission, I continued into other areas like Ocean Invertebrates, The Brain and Nervous System, and Volcanoes. I found  this encyclopedia hard to break away from with so much information presented in a colorful way. It’s perfect for today’s visual learners.

Get this classic for your classroom or your home. It is the most comprehensive, up to date, source on Science. What a great world we live in, and National Geographic is making sure we have a thorough understanding of all its wonders.

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Have a great weekend with family and friends, but be sure to find time to READ!

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THE BOY WITH 17 SENSES for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

This unusual and fun story features a boy with a neurological condition know as 51idg6STSRL._SX367_BO1,204,203,200_synesthesia. It’s estimated four percent of the population have this rare ability where two or mores senses combine. A person with synesthesia might not only hear my voice but also see it, taste it, or feel it. I had on the job learning a few years ago in my classroom when a student with synesthesia provided many interesting demonstrations.

Jaq is the boy in the story and although he lives on another planet (Yipsmix), he soon travels through a wormhole to earth. His purpose is one that brings heart and humor to the tale. There’s plenty of tension and some rather nasty critters who may have you itching while you read. Most of all you’ll enjoy a magical story which portrays a real way of thinking.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 256

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) Every resident of the planet Yipsmix has synesthesia—they don’t just hear sounds; they see and taste them, too. On this unusual planet, poor Jaq Rollop must save his family’s farm. To do so, Jaq is forced to sell his beloved pet and only friend. Trusting and naive, Jaq gets swindled into trading his pet for a seemingly worthless key. But then something very strange happens. The key leads Jaq through a wormhole to a terrifying and magical land full of riches, overwhelming sensations, and giants. The name of this frightening land? Earth.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BOY WITH 17 SENSES by SHEILA GRAU

  1. Wippers and freasels are the two creatures introduced from this planet. One is a pest and the other a friend. They combine to help bring a happy ending.
  2. The idea there is a planet where the inhabitants only come up to our mid-calf is a marvelous touch. Watch where you walk!
  3. A futuristic twist on Jack and the Beanstalk. Adventure with a fairy tale like quality.
  4. Jaq is an honest boy who tries his hardest to remain good and make things right. He’s a hero we should all try to be like.
  5. The 31 chapters are short enough to read out loud. You’ll also never look at chewed gum in the same way.

FAVORITE LINES:  Going though the wormhole was just as terrible as Jaq knew it would be. The pain in his head and the ripping-apart sensation were even worse this time. He landed on the soft Earth soil, unable to breathe. It felt like he’d gotten the wind knocked out of him, been trampled by a herd of gows, and then had every limb yanked to its breaking point. He hurt all over, and not just because he was covered in moaning wippers.

AUTHOR QUOTE: As a rhetorical device, writers use synesthesia when they describe one sense in terms of another. For example, when a voice is be described as “sweet as honey” we are using one sense (taste) to describe another (hearing). Colors don’t have a temperature, but we describe some as “cool,” using an adjective normally assigned to physical touch to describe something we see. When someone describes a “loud shirt,” we don’t picture a talking shirt, but one that has a vibrant, colorful pattern.  

For more about Sheila, her books, and a great video on Synesthesia visit her web site.

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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HOW THINGS WORK

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

how-things-workHOW THINGS WORK is a new title sure to engage young future scientists, and those of us a bit older. Even non-science lovers opening this hardback edition will soon be convinced just how cool the science and secrets are behind some of our greatest inventions.

The five chapters each have anywhere from four to seven science fiction inventions that are now science fact. Like the opening line says: “IT”S DANGEROUS. IT MIGHT MAKE YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.”

The discussion of the individual inventions are organized in a unique way. For those of us who just want a quick answer about how something works, you’ll find it on the “Just the Facts” page. This may be enough for some, but for those wishing to go further, turn the page and find a “Tell Me More” section. A perfect way to grab the attention of beginning and advanced scientists of the future. Here are my favorites from every chapter, but you’ll have more to choose from once you get your own copy of the book:

CHAPTER 1 BEAM ME UP So you thought the Invisibility Cloak was something only Harry Potter could enjoy. Scientists will change your mind in Now You See Me…

CHAPTER 2 HOME IS WHERE THE FRIDGE IS Ever wonder how the microwave really works? I thought I knew the real answer until reading Snack Zapper.

CHAPTER 3 SCHOOL OF COOL I’ve always taken the thermos for granted. I never will again after enjoying the science of how it keeps our food and drink cold or hot in Double Duty.

CHAPTER 4 EXTREME FUN  Roller Coasters. It’s either love them or hate them for most people. You don’t have to ride these, but you will become an expert on how they are designed in On A Roll.

CHAPTER 5 HERE TO THERE I can smile now going up or down an escalator because I’m one of the few riding who know how it all works. Keeping Step told me the whole story.

Also included in each chapter is a chance to meet the innovators behind these inventions. Names like Edwin Link (aviator and inventor), and Helen Greiner (engineer, computer scientist, and roboticist) are two I thoroughly enjoyed.

Another fascinating addition to each chapter is the “Tales from the Lab” feature. Here you will discover how some of these inventions came to be, and learn a few were caused by an accidental discovery. Each chapter ends with a “Try This!” challenge where those really wanting to dig deeper can invent, create, and explore on their own.

Eye-popping pictures make the journey through HOW THINGS WORK even more fulfilling. A great gift for a teacher, student, or anyone else like me whose nickname was “The Fiddler” growing up. I was always fiddling with some wired wonder or taking things apart. This book reassures me I wasn’t alone in my pursuit.

About the book from National Geographic for Kids:

How Things Work by T.J. Resler (November 2016, ages 7-10, $19.99) – Discover the secrets and science behind bounce houses, hovercraft, robotics and everything in between in this book that provides both the quick answers AND complete explanations for all things high tech, low tech and no tech (how DOES glue work???). Detailed diagrams, revealing photos, hands-on activities and and fascinating facts all help to demystify many common items — like how a microwave works, how an eraser makes pencil marks disappear and how an iPad or tablet can do so much —  and also delves into the more futuristic — but very real — inventions like bionics, invisible cloaks and  tractor beams.  “Tales from the Lab” and profiles of talented engineers, inventors and scientists provide plenty of inspiration and extensive back matter encourages curious kids to find out even more by providing a listing of additional websites, videos and other resources.  How Things Work is perfect for the kid who thinks “just because” isn’t a REAL answer.

Check out National Geographic on:  TWITTER    FACEBOOK

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Have a super weekend. Relax, have fun, and READ!

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IMPYRIUM for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

A nine year old looked in awe at my copy of Impyrium and said, “It’s bigger than the 51bb0sMVXGL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_Bible!” Yes, it’s quite hefty, but when you create a new world for readers it takes time and a great plot.

Throw in a few interesting characters like 12-year-old Hazel Faeregine and 13-year-old Hob, and you have a story worth your time.

The chapters are lengthy so teachers will shy away from reading it out loud, and those reluctant readers will only get as far as the intriguing cover. For anyone else, jump right in and immerse yourself into a fantasy world, the beginning of an epic series.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 592

FULL PLOT (From HarperCollins): In the first book of Henry H. Neff’s new high-stakes middle grade fantasy series, two unlikely allies confront a conspiracy that will shake the world of Impyrium to its core.

For over three thousand years, the Faeregine dynasty has ruled Impyrium. But the family’s magic has been fading, and with it their power over the empire. Whether it’s treachery from a rival house, the demon Lirlanders, or rebel forces, many believe the Faeregines are ripe to fall.

Hazel, the youngest member of the royal family, is happy to leave ruling to her sisters so that she can study her magic. But the empress has other plans for her granddaughter, dark and dangerous plans to exploit Hazel’s talents and rekindle the Faeregine mystique. Hob, a commoner from the remote provinces, has been sent to the city to serve the Faeregines—and to spy on them.

One wants to protect the dynasty. The other wants to destroy it. But when Hazel and Hob form an improbable friendship, their bond may save the realm as they know it…or end it for good.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: IMPYRIUM by Henry H. Neff

  1. These new worlds often confuse the heck out me, but this time I found a glossary in the back and read it first. The new words became less confusing as I read them in the opening chapters. Worked for me so give it a try when you take on the story.
  2. There is a lot of mystery going on here, but it’s fun changing your mind about a dozen times figuring out just who is bad and who is good. Infectious story telling!
  3. The pacing at first is slow as the world building is molded for readers, but by the end you’ll be gasping at every word.
  4. Hazel is the youngest of triplets and each of them have unique personalities often present in families. Hob though was my favorite. He’s brave, cocky at times, and oh so vulnerable. I’m anxious for him to succeed.
  5. Upper middle grade fantasy lovers finally have another series to embrace. Twists and unexpected surprises will have them clamoring for the continuation of this fantastic new series.

FAVORITE LINES:
“Good.” said Dàme Rascha. “This was your idea so you will come too. You can show Her Highness all the muirish things. And if anything goes amiss, you’ll be at hand so I can kill you.”

Hob smiled.

The vye did not

AUTHOR QUOTE (from Henry’s Web site):

“I was an artist before I was a writer. We had a big drawing board at the Neff house–a battered, scribbled-over panel of wood that I would lay out on the floor. With pencil, pen, crayon, or markers, I would create whole worlds–taped together panoramas of monsters and knights and smoldering ruins. I loved monsters–from Grendel lurking outside Hrothgar’s hall, to the Minotaur, to the motley host in Sendak’s, Where the Wild Things Are. If it had claws and teeth and malicious intent, I wanted to draw it. Still do.”

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Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2shannonI finally met our fearless leader at a book signing in nearby Boulder, CO last Friday night for Shannon’s new Keeper of the Lost Cities novel, LODESTAR . She spoke to a standing room only packed house at the Boulder Book Store. You are one huge rock star, Shannon!

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A Bright Place to Connect with Books: BRIGHTLY

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

Brightly is an ambitious project to help moms and dads raise lifelong readers.  Created by parents and avid bookworms, the effort is a partnership with Penguin Random House. The site is filled with book recommendations, reading tips, author essays and much more.

It’s easy to find what you want under the AGES AND STAGES menu where the categories range from Baby & Toddler through Teen. I focused on the TWEEN (9-12) category and found many helpful articles:

THE 50 BEST BOOKS FOR 9- AND 10-YEAR-OLDS

7 OF THE BEST BOOKS ABOUT BULLYING, ACCORDING TO KIDS

READING STRATEGIES AND BOOK SUGGESTIONS FOR STRUGGLING READERS

ONE STEP AT A TIME: 13 BOOKS ABOUT BLENDED FAMILIES

The information provided is helpful for parents, teachers and librarians. The team at Brightly will even take suggestions as to what you want to see on the site. You can also sign up with your email and receive weekly book recommendations, reading tips, and seasonal inspirations.

Take a look at Brightly, it will be time well spent.

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Have a great weekend… Take time for fun, family, and READING!

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SAVE ME A SEAT for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

If you enjoy a quiet story about friendship then look no further.

The only 25311520thing Joe and Ravi (rah-VEE) have in common is they’re both starting fifth grade.

Joe is labeled with an Auditory Processing Disorder. It means too many words can overwhelm him. He gets help from Miss Frost, the resource teacher, and would just keep to himself if it weren’t for his nemesis, Dillon the bully.

Ravi is new to Hamilton, New Jersey having moved there with his family from far away India. Back home he was popular, the top of his class, and in control. In America he is laughed at and misunderstood.

Told in short alternating view chapters, the two boys barely notice the other exists. Then the unkind ways of Dillon slowly bring them closer until a final epic event changes their understanding of each other. Brought forth clearly are the assumptions people will sometimes make about others based solely on a person looks or how they act. The ending though made me smile.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 240

FULL PLOT (From Amazon)  Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they’re both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.
Joe’s lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own.
Ravi’s family just moved to America from India, and he’s finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in.
Joe and Ravi don’t think they have anything in common — but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: SAVE ME A SEAT by Sarah Weeks & Gita Varadarajan

  1. The internal thoughts of Joe and Ravi put you solidly in their corner. They not only have problems at school but their protective families also provide them each with challenges.
  2. Learning about the culture of India–their customs and food. A great demonstration of how hard it would be for someone from another country so different from the USA to move and settle here.
  3. The post story part of the book includes a glossary of words Ravi and Joe each use. There are also two recipe’s for their favorite things to eat. For Joe it’s apple crisp and for Ravi we get Indian cookies known as Naan Khatais. The ingredients for each are delicious sounding and the dishes are easy to make.
  4. Great book for classrooms that may also be filled with diverse backgrounds. Read it out loud and savor the discussions that would follow.
  5. The five days in these boys life is set with the backdrop of the school lunch offering. A perfect structure for the telling of this peaceful story.

FAVORITE LINES:

I glance at my mother and quickly change the subject. “Most people at Albert Einstein Elementary School don’t bring their lunches from home,” I say. “They buy school lunch, which costs two dollars and fifty cents.”

“Is it vegetarian?” asks Amma.

“I wouldn’t take their word for it ,” Perimma interrupts before I can answer. “I hear their salad oil has lard in it.”

I decide not to tell them about the chicken fingers.

AUTHOR QUOTE (From Sarah’s web site):  One thing that I am especially proud of about our story, and one which I think sets it apart from others, is that over the course of five days, Joe and Ravi become friends without ever having exchanged a word.

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Make a comment below if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

I had a teacher once who read short stories from a paperback book filled with Arabian tales.arabian They were confusing at times but fast moving with action and mystery. This new book by Donna Jo Napoli, with gorgeous, whimsical illustrations by Christina Balit, is a stunning achievement.

I began reading not from the beginning but from the back where extras captured my attention. I found a detailed map of the Middle East pinpointing many of the locales in the stories. A helpful glossary gave me an idea of what was in store. Names like Aladin, Sinbad, and Ali Baba were familiar but there were others I hadn’t recalled. King Yuban & Sage Duban along with Maaruf the Cobbler caught my eye.

Turning to the front, a Table of Contents revealed more with titles of the 25 stories. Of course not every one of the original Arabian tales are here. The author had to make both selection and writing choices. She did a superb job. There is a natural flow to what she rewrote from the originals – many of which may have first surfaced before the 14th century.

This is a book for your lap or spread out on a table. I kept it close for a week. Every time I had the TV on I’d mute the commercials and delve into another chapter. The stories are intended not only for middle grade readers but also adults who want to escape into this magical time period.

THE OFFICIAL BLURB

Tales from the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love and Betrayal by Donna Jo Napoli (October 2016, ages 8-12) — Classic stories and dazzling illustrations of princesses, kings, sailors and genies come to life in a stunning retelling of the Arabian folk tales from One Thousand and One Nights and other collections, including those of Alladin, Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. In this beautiful, gift-worthy book, beloved author Donna Jo Napoli not only brings these timeless tales to life but also includes sidebars that connect the stories to history, culture and geography.

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Enjoy your weekend. Have fun, relax, and READ!

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THE BEST MAN for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Greg Pattridge

It’s hard to pull off the story telling technique used in THE BEST MAN. It’s the one where28251377 you begin a novel at the end and then fill in all the gaps until the end reappears in its normal place – at the end. In the hands of gifted author, Richard Peck, the results are sparkling. But that gets ahead of the story as the young main character, Archer Magill, likes to say.

The topic of gay marriage is a rarity in middle grade books. Archer is the perfect character to shine a bright light on his own understanding and many readers for sure. The story begins at the end of his sixth grade year with an important coming of age event for Archer.

Even though you will probably guess what has happened in this final scene, the story roars backwards five years when Archer was six. He accounts all of the major events in his life as he maneuvers through elementary school. It allows for meaning and understanding to the celebratory ending.

Heartwarming, funny, and just a great story. You’ll remember this one for a long time.

PUBLICATION DATE: 2016   PAGE COUNT: 240

FULL PLOT (From AMAZON) When Archer is in sixth grade, his beloved uncle Paul marries another man—Archer’s favorite student teacher. But that’s getting ahead of the story, and a wonderful story it is. In Archer’s sweetly naïve but observant voice, his life through elementary school is recounted: the outspoken, ever-loyal friends he makes, the teachers who blunder or inspire, and the family members who serve as his role models. From one exhilarating, unexpected episode to another, Archer’s story rolls along as he puzzles over the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become…and manages to help his uncle become his best self as well.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE BEST MAN by Richard Peck (A CYBILS MG Fiction nominee)

  1. Archer is an endearing character who comes off as clueless at times, but it’s his marvelous way of looking at the events in his life making him the smartest person in the story.
  2. The tale reaffirmed one of my beliefs: Every kid needs a hero. For Archer it’s his Dad, Uncle, and Grandpa. Along the way he loses one but adds another important one in Mr. McLeod.
  3. I love this kind of contemporary story where you just smile after you close it for the first time. Part of the smile is there because someday soon you’ll find the time to open it up again.
  4. Peck finds a way to make this a story about growing up rather than about gay marriage. It’s the relationships and interactions of Archer with his Mom, classmates, and sister that make it so real.
  5. The moments Archer has with his Dad and Uncle are special. Sporting events, car trips, and a very special wedding help form the man Archer is to become.

FAVORITE LINES: 

Mrs. Penfield resigned that June, but not because of us. She said standardized testing kept us from learning anything to be tested on. Her blood pressure was going through the ceiling, she said. We looked at the ceiling, and when we looked back, it seemed like she was gone.

ABOUT RICHARD PECK

Richard Peck has won almost every children’s fiction award, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the Newbery Medal, the Scott O’Dell Award, and the Edgar, and he has twice been nominated for a National Book Award. He was the first children’s author ever to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal. He lives in New York City.

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Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them. Click on the comments link below.

Check the links to other Middle Grade novels over at Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.

MMGM2

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