Also Known as Harper Lee by Ann Haywood Leal

Also Known As Harper by Ann Haywood Leal


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the book I have been waiting for this year! It is CLEAR that Leal used her background as teacher to craft this novel. From start to finish I could put names to the faces of the characters. Not the names that they are given in the novel, but the names of students I have encountered in my classroom over the last 11 years. It made me think more of those students and their lives. I smiled, laughed, and cried.

This book would be great for a literature circle or a situation where you could really sit and talk about it.


View all my reviews >>

A Crooked Kind Of Perfect by Linda Urban

I LURRRRRVED (A very special kind of love) the book A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban! It was an absolutely perfect type of book for a fifth grade student. For a first try novel, it rocked my socks. It has humor of the right type, a sensitive issue not too crazy or mushy, puppy love not overly emphasized, friendship problems specific to the age group of the main character, and parental angst that doesn't show disrespect.
The main character, Zoe, has always wanted to play a piano. She thinks her wish is coming true, but what she really ends up with is an organ. The story shows how Zoe can overcome a strange family environment, a waining friendship, a strange new addition to her everyday life, and learn to play her organ for an upcoming Perform-O-Rama. Somehow she makes it through with flying colors.
I would recommend this to most students in my class. Especially girls. There was nothing about the book that would steer me away from a recommendation to anyone. That is what makes it perfect for me. The only complaint I can think of was that maybe there were too many obstacles going on in this young girl's life. Then again, none were overly done so it stays perfectly balanced in my eyes. Oh yeah, and it is a super quick read.
Other reviews:
Jen Robinson's Book Page
Fuse #8 Production
The Children's Literature Book Club
Linda Urban's Live Journal Crooked Perfect
Linda Urban's Website

Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy

Deliciously wonderful! I don't know what made me remember the book Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy, but something told me... "Yes! Pick it up!" So I did, and my mind was right, it was a great idea.) Who am I kidding, it wasn't my idea, I got the idea from Franki at A Year of Reading, and I knew that all along.)
One of the main reasons I liked this book is because it is about something that I have heard of before, but never attended. Now I feel like I have actually been to the Circleville, OH Pumpkin Festival. (Really, check out the website, amazing!) The Pumpkin Festival in Pickaway County is not that far from where I live and I have heard so much about it. This book is set in that county and has to do with the festival. How exciting is that? (I even know someone who's mother was a Pumpkin Queen long, long ago)
This book is perfect for my students. It is fast paced, and innocent just like I think of my students. The main character is in the fifth grade and acts just like a typical fifth grade girl, except for the fact that she is obsessed with growing the perfect giant pumpkin. She is unlike some fifth grade girls because she is not obsessed with clothes or boys, which I personally feel is a great thing, but her Aunt does not.
Ever since Mildred, the main character's, mother passed away when she was 6, all Mildred could remember was how her mother loved the giant pumpkins at the Circleville Pumpkin Show. As a tribute to her mother Mildred would love nothing less than growing a giant pumpkin. It is hard work but Mildred is dedicated to the cause.
I thought it was awesome that this book was quite scientific. There are very specific directions for growing giant pumpkins intertwined through the book. I would love to recommend it to my students. Especially because their science teacher gave them pumpkin seeds at the end of last year to grow and journal about over the summer. This will be a perfect ending to that project. The ending of the book brought a little tear to my eye. I wasn't bawling or anything, and that is exactly how I like an ending. This book comes as perfect timing as well because the Pumpkin Festival is next weekend!