The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The following quote is from the author on the jacket of the book:
“Usually we give some clues about the book on the jacket, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about. If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn’t a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence.”

This was a great book - another intriguing story about the World War II Holocaust. There is now a movie based on this book, and I am looking forward to seeing it.
Reviewed by Mrs. Dunaski

President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

This image is a visual representation or Wordle "word cloud" of President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address. You can see that the predominant theme of his historic address is America: New Nation.



Image created with Wordle.

Guys Write For Guys Read and Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka is a very funny, irreverent writer. His well-loved books have made children laugh for several years. You may remember the Time Warp Trio series, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs from your younger days. He is such a prolific author and is always thinking about you and hoping you'll fall in love with reading just as he did.

To write Guys Write For Guys Read, Jon asked over 80 authors and illustrators to tell him about their life and reading. Included are Brian Jacques author of the Redwall series, Anthony Horowitz author of the Alex Rider adventures, Eoin Colfer author of the Artemis Fowl books and many more. The proceeds from the sale of this book support Jon Scieszka's website he created just for boys - Guys Read. The website is also funny like Jon and let's guys find books that guys like to read, no matter your age. Check it out!

Recently, Jon published Knucklehead : Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka. You guessed it, this is another very funny, irreverent book. He has five brothers, Jon is the second oldest and they grew up in Flint, Michigan. I recently saw Jon at the 2008 National Book Festival in Washington, D. C. where he read from this book. He had the audience in stitches! Imagine growing up with all those brothers, no sisters, and the fun or trouble you could have. That was his life.


In this photo that I took of Jon at the 2008 National Book Festival, you can see that he is wearing a red, white, and blue ribbon with a medal around his neck. That weekend he had been presented with the very first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by the Library of Congress! Congratulations Jon! Keep writing those wonderfully funny books we love to read.
Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Ten year old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend, Ellen Rosen, live in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is 1943 and the Nazis have occupied Copenhagen. Life as they once knew it has changed for all Danish people - there are armed soldiers everywhere, food shortages, lack of clothing and electricity, and restrictions on all aspects of daily life. When the Nazis start rounding up all Jews, Annemarie knows that she must try to help Ellen, who is Jewish. Annemarie and her mother work to smuggle Ellen out of Denmark. This is a story of tremendous courage in the face of terror, all told from a child’s point of view. I am drawn to stories about the Holocaust - they always make me realize what a far-reaching effect that had on people throughout the world right up to the present time.
Reviewed by Mrs. Dunaski

Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen

This memoir follows the author, a Vietnamese refugee, as her family struggles to establish a new life in Grand Rapids, Michigan following the fall of Saigon in 1975. We learn how difficult it was for Nguyen to be accepted by American children yet keep the traditions of her Buddhist family. Interestingly, the author cleverly uses the various foods she eats to highlight the cultural differences. All the food talk was a bit bothersome for me to read. American, Mexican, and Vietnamese food are all included. I didn't expect to read a cookbook when I chose this title. I'm drawn to memoirs so I can learn about families and cultures but this emphasis on the food, some of it things I would never want to taste, was annoying. You'll have to judge for yourself, afterall, this book has won a PEN literary award in 2005.
Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Bobby is a restless 16 year old boy living in New York City - his days are full of fun and pranks with his buddies. When Bobby learns that his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant his world is truly rocked. Bobby and Nia have caring parents who are full of good, practical advice about the soon-to-be-born baby. When an unexpected turn of events takes place Bobby decides to raise the baby, a daughter, whom he names Feather. Bobby’s love for Feather grows with each passing day, but he soon realizes the sacrifices and changes he must make in order to be a good father. The book alternates chapters between “Now” and “Then.” “Now” is after Feather’s birth, “then” is during Nia’s pregnancy. The story is told in the first person by Bobby - from the perspective of a teenage father. You can truly feel how conflicted and tired Bobby is as he struggles to do the right thing.
Reviewed by Mrs. Dunaski