Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel by Ruth McNally Barshaw

YES! YES! YES! Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel by Ruth Barshaw is just what I have been looking for! It is a mix between a journal, diary, and possibly graphic novel (?) might be stretching it). It is JUST RIGHT for my readers who aren't quite sure of themselves as readers and maybe not sure they even really like books.
The quick read was funny without being goofy, and serious without being annoying.
The main character, Ellie, is sent on a trip with her younger brother, three cousins, and her aunt and uncle. She is less than thrilled to be trapped in a car with the group, and even less thrilled to be "camping" with them. Ellie records all of this in her journal with blow-by-blow commentary and drawings. Her cousin Eric is forever trying to get his hands on her journal, and finally succeeds. Ellie eventually finds out she has more in common with the rest of the family than she originally expected.
What I most liked about this book was the humor. It was not "potty" humor, it was not "dumbed down" humor, and it was not "over the heads of children" humor. This is the very thing that bugs me about books aimed at this level of reading experience. Notice I didn't say age, because I think the age could vary from 3rd to 5th grade depending upon their reading experience. (Of course that being more experienced 3rd grade to less experienced 5th grade readers.) And I don't care what age or sex your talking about, all kids love books with funny pictures. Especially appealing to my students is any book that does not take very long to read.
For a first children's book, Ruth McNally Barshaw really knows what she is doing. She has pegged her target audience perfectly! What will Ellie's next adventure be? It is soon to be announced right here!
Other reviews:
A Year of Reading
Becky's Book Reviews
and
Ellie McDoodle's own blog!

kidlitosphere

The Book of One Hundred Truths by Julie Schumacher

I am mad this book has gotten past me this long, The Book of One Hundred Truths by Julie Schumacher. I am so glad I found it. The book is perfect for 5th-7th grade students. The main character, Thea, is just like any troubled 13 year-old. She is holding on to a dark secret and using lies to help her along the way. It is summer and she is off to spend time at her grandma and grandpa's house at the beach. As she is ready to take off, her mother gives her a notebook and asks that she try writing down some truths in it. (Obviously the mother has seen through her lying ways) When Thea gets to her Nenna and Granda (Her names for grandma and grandpa) she finds she is not alone. In fact the house is full for the summer and Thea is struggling with this.
The plot to this book is so multi-layered. I thought the author did a wonderful job creating each of the characters with all of their layers. It was my favorite type of book because I could not stop reading. Every page, I had to know. There is a suspenseful situation to the story and I know it will hook in any reader. The "truths" Thea writes in her notebook build the suspense of the story, yet there is so much else going on as well.
Check it out! I feel you won't be disappointed. I plan to look at other books by this author.

My Life in Flashcards by Charise Mericle Harper

I know it seemed as though I had vanished again, but if you notice I am taking breaks on the weekend. As the summer moves along, my book reading is moving slower and slower. I apologize for that.
So this weekend I read My Life in Flashcards by Charise Mericle Harper. I thought this was bar none the cutest teen book I have read all summer. For the most part I keep finding myself reading books about boys, so it was good to get into one where the main character was a girl. Again we are reading along with a middle-schooler who is going through all those middle school things (boys, friends, parents, school, etc.) Something that makes this book a little different is the main character, Emily, received a set of flashcards from someone she calls Aunt Chester (not really her aunt or named Chester). The flashcards have labels on one side such as: Friends, Kiss, Hate, Embarrassment, Food, Love, Clothes, etc. and on the other side you are suppose to write or draw pictures about yourself and those topics. Is that not a cool idea? I wonder if it really exists? I am sure someone has thought of it. I loved how there were lots of drawings, check lists, and diagrams that look to be made by the main character, Emily. It helped to make the book flow and seem very realistic as if a teen were telling the story herself. I noticed the author, Charise Mericle Harper had also written a graphic novel.
I would not be able to read this book to a fifth grade class, it had some subjects that were very much middle school but not so much fifth grade. Again, and I feel like I am starting to sound like a prude, there were some cuss words I wouldn't be comfortable reading aloud. I have never felt this way about books, but what is up with using a word like -- the "B" word in a children's book. I know it is realistic and teens use it and hear it, but that totally ruined me suggesting the book to any fifth grader in my class. Although I will for sure put it on my shelf and hope someone picks it to read anyway. I guarantee this is not the end of Emily. This book lent itself perfectly for a second one.