This book was recommended by one of my students and once I started reading, I was hooked! The book is a great mix of Greek Mythology, adventure, and humor. Percy is always in trouble and his life takes an unexpected twist. I really enjoyed reading about the characters in Greek Mythology that Percy and his friends bump into!

I would definitely recommend this book to students who like fantasy books like Harry Potter & Peter and the Star Catchers. I can't wait to read the other books in this series and see the movie in 2010!

Another Rebecca Caudill 2010 Nominee and another awesome book. What a great list this year! This book was about Jeremy Fink and his 13th birthday. He receives a mysterious box that has no keys that supposedly holds "the mystery of life". He is supposed to open this box on his 13th birthday - the box was made for him by his dad before his death. With the help of his friend Lizzy, he starts a race against time to find the keys and solve the mystery of the box before his 13th birthday. Does he succeed? Read and find out!!!

Ok, in my last post I said that Crossing the Wire may win this year's award...but now there is another strong contender..."Home of the Brave". This heartwarming, beautifully written book is about a boy named Kek who comes to Minnesota aftering being in a refugee camp in war-torn Sudan. His life is turned upside down as he learns English, adjusts to our culture, and worries about his mother who is still missing...he does not know if she is dead or alive. The book is written in prose but the author, Katherine Applegate, is an amazing storyteller and the words seeme to dance off the page. This book is just a beautiful story and I really enjoyed reading it.

Some background info on Sudan for any students who are interested in this book:
Since 1956, there have only been 11 years peace in this nation. Over 2 million people have died in this horrible, civil war. Between 1998 and 2003, more than 27,000 young boys were orphaned. They were known as the "Lost Boys" and many came to the United States to start a new life.

Parents, teachers, students...everyone will love this book!

"Crossing the Wire" is one of the 2010 Rebecca Caudill Nominees and I read this book waiting in a 3 hour line to get Scott Posednik's (Chicago White Sox) autograph! The book was so good and I was so involved in the storyline that I didn't realize I was standing for 3 hours, in the heat...I just kept reading! "Crossing the Wire" is about a boy's journey to try to sneak over the U.S. border from Mexico. It proves not to be an easy task and he is faced with numerous challenges and obstacles. The story is also about friendship and growing up, but also leaves the reader thinking about U.S. policies and the desperation of the immigrants who try to cross the border illegally. It was wonderfully written and I truly enjoyed this book.

I wouldn't be surprised if this book was the winner of the 2010 Rebecca Caudill award!

Frankie is having a hard time adjusting...her dad has a girlfriend, her brothers are trouble-makers, and her best friend is mad at her! She gets tangled in a web of lies and has to find her way out. I loved "The Naked Mole Rat Letters" and really enjoyed the diary format. I also really liked how the diary entries are seperated by emails - the format was very different! The book was funny but also heartwarming - the underlying lesson being "don't judge a person before you meet them". I think all students would like reading "The Naked Mole Rat Letters" especially kids who like books that are funny!

"The Mozart Question" is a 2010 Rebecca Caudill Nominee and a story about a famous violinist's recollections about the Holocaust. A young reporter gets the once in a lifetime opportunity to interview the violinist but is told not to ask "the Mozart question". An untold story unfolds about the brutality of the Holocaust and I had never heard this aspect of the story before. I loved how the book had beautiful pictures that helped tell the story.

This was the second book on this year's Rebecca Caudill Nominee list that was focused on the Holocaust. Both books told of different groups who were targeted during this horrible part of history. I would definitely recommend both books to students. "The Mozart Question" was more appropriate for lower grades (3 - 5) and "Someone Named Eva" is more appropriate for higher graders (6+).

This book, written entirely in prose, is the reflections and struggles of a girl who loses her arm in a shark attack. The beautifully written poems talk about her grief about losing her arm, the struggle within herself to not give up, her sadness because she can't draw anymore, and her family's support to help her overcome this injury. It was a very interesting book and definitely would be a great read for students with emotional intelligence - that means if you are really good at tuning into to and understanding other people's feelings.

I absolutely loved this book. "Dragon Slippers" is a fantasy story about a girl who outsmarts a dragon but ends up with slippers that do nothing but cause trouble. This isn't your average Cinderella-like fairy tale. The heroine in the story is a bold, intelligent, brave girl. The story is exciting and full of wonderful characters. If you love fairy tales you'll love this book!

This book isn't a Rebecca Caudill nominee, but a teacher recommended this book to me and I loved it! It is about a mysterious mission that four gifted students find themselves mixed up in. The reader gets to try and figure out the mysteries and clues with the characters and the book is full of plot twists and turns. If you like books like Harry Potter, you will love this book! This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. It is the first book of a series so I am excited to start reading other books in the series. Here is the website if you are interested in learning more about the book or are up for some interesting challenges.

"Shooting the Moon" is a wonderful book written by Frances O'Rourke Dowell. This 2010 Rebecca Caudill Nominee takes place during the Vietnam War. Jamie, an army brat, finds herself second guessing her army mentality when her brother is sent off to Vietnam. Instead of writing her letters, Jamie's brother sends her rolls of film which she learns to develop. In doing so, she learns a lot about herself and the truth about the war in Vietnam.

Georgie has issues...he's a dwarf, he is going to be a big brother, he has friend trouble, and Meanie Jeanie won't leave him alone! Kids will be delightfully entertained by this hilarious book that features a heartwarming story. It was wonderful to read this book as a teacher because I truly appreciate the uniqueness of every student in my class! Definitely pick this one up - it's an easy read!

Will can see his future has a cowboy in front of him, but also realizes that he has to take care of his brother Denny, who has Downs Syndrome. Set in the 1940's, this book is a wonderful story of the bond between two brothers and one boy's dream of becoming a cowboy. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading and learning about the Old West and cowboys. I think many boys would like this book because of the action and some gross parts!

This was another great book about the Holocaust, written for middle-grade readers. What I really liked about this book, is that it told the story about another group of people who were effected by the Holocaust - the people of Czechoslovakia. I learned a lot by reading this book and it was eye-opening to see another part of the Nazi agenda. I would recommend this book to any student who is interested in World War II, especially if you liked "Number the Stars" and "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes".

It's summer and that means my favorite time to read! The new 2010 Rebecca Caudill list is out - click here to see the books on the list. If you read a book that I have read, please post your comments on the book! Happy reading!