"The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti is set in the 1930's and 1940's during World War II. Helmuth is a young boy living in Germany when Hitler comes to power. At first, people are wary about Hitler and doubt that he is good for Germany, but Hitler soon controls the country with fear and the Gestapo. Young boys in Germany at this time were put into "Hitler Youth Groups" to learn how to be a "good German" and to prepare them for the military. Helmuth is placed in one of these groups but knows deep down what he is learning is wrong....very wrong...

We study WWII in 4th grade and read "Number the Stars" and "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes".

"The Boy Who Dared" is an amazing book about World War II but I'm not sure it is appropriate for 4th graders to read - the book's plot makes it more appropriate for 5th or 6th graders.

I really enjoyed this book and reading about another viewpoint on World War II.

This book might be the Caudill Winner...

"The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flannel" by Michael Scott was recommended to me by Dylan, one of my 4th grade students from last school year. I just finished reading this awesome book, which is also on the 2010-2011 Rebecca Caudill List. Sophie and Nick are two tennage twins whose lives change in the blink of an eye. They find themselves on the run with an strange man named Nicholas Flannel. They discover that Nicholas Flannel is an Alchemyst and holds pages to a coveted book.

I really don't want to give too many details away but the thing I loved most about this book is the incorporation of characters from myths, stories, fables, and religions of many cultures. My favorite character is Bastet, the Egyptian Cat Goddess!

If you liked "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief", you'll love "The Alchemyst"!!!!!

It's summer and you know what that means...Mrs. Kanas is busy reading the books on the new Rebecca Caudill list. Here is the list so you can read them too!

Happy Reading!

We just finished reading one of my favorite books...Number the Stars. I hope my students enjoyed the book as much as I did!

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!