Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

On this chilly dreary day, let us think of something warm and sunny. How about Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli? After I read Where I Live by Spinelli, I thought I should try Summerhouse Time. It sounded, from reviews I read, to be the same type of book. It was.
Written as a mix of poetry and prose, the story follows the main character, Sophie, and her family on their annual visit to the summerhouse they share with other members of their family. Although the visit is usually the family's favorite part of the summer, there are many things that have changed this year. Even though it is not the same great time they usually have, all works out in the end and Sophie ends up having a wonderful time.
I love how the book is really just short poems put together as chapters. It makes the read go so fast. At first I thought it was just different poems about summer and I was a little bummed. But I should have known better.
This book is great for your inexperienced 4th and 5th grade students. It is an easy read, and not babyish what-so-ever. There is even a little bit of a love story involved. Although I don't think the book was meant for a specifically girls, I think it would appeal greatly to a girl compared to a boy. I really hope Spinelli continues on with this type of book. I LOVE IT and here are other's who did as well...
Comics in the Classroom
Welcome to My Tweendom
Bookworm Readers

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.

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

I know Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes is not a very new book or anything, but I just got to it. I am so glad I did! I really liked this book. I absolutely loved the way Henkes dealt with the subject of life and death and how fragile life is. I thought the young girl was so believable and so genuine. The book also taps in on a topic that I myself would have related to at Martha, the main character's, age. (Puppy love and the disappointment of an immature teenage boy's idea of fun) I thought the family of the book was realistic even though the father was a stay-at-home father, which is not the norm. I thought the dynamic of a father who was torn between following a dream or providing for a family, and the mother who was a little over-worked would ring true for many families today. The writing in this book is some of the best I have read this summer. Kevin Henkes has a wonderful way with verbs and drawing the reader into each and every sequence of the story.
That being said, I have to admit I felt the ending was a little abrupt and I would have liked to have seen more of the plot line resolved. I also felt the cussing in the book and some of the more risque topics might be a little too much for a fifth grade student. Although I would not hesitate to recommend it to some of my more mature readers.