Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - The World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Steve Sheinkin’s Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon is receiving many accolades including Newbery Honor Book and The Robert F. Sibert Informational Medal 2013. I gained so much new knowledge about World War II and espionage after reading this very informative book. Wow! I had no idea how close other countries were in developing the atomic bomb during that time period. Readers will learn the vital roles intelligent physicists played in the outcome of World War II. This nonfiction text at times read like a spy novel as the different methods of transferring private messages between secret agents were revealed. This is a must read – definitely going on my 8th grade reading list in the fall.

Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town

This amazing true story will touch your heart. It is about one person making a difference in the lives around her. It is about our nation which is made up of many diverse cultures. It is a story about how the sport of soccer brought boys from different war-torn countries together as a team and their Jordanian female coach who led them to victory. Outcasts United by Warren St. John takes readers to Clarkston, Georgia - a place for many refugees to relocate in the United States after suffering many horrible situations in their own country. Luma, a young woman from Jordan who loves soccer, decided to create a soccer team for youth in an at-risk area. Little did she know that these kids would need much more than just a soccer coach - they needed support for their families who spoke very little English, they needed extra academic help to catch up to their American classmates, and they needed discipline to become better athletes and better men. I appreciate that St. John told the players' stories - we need to be reminded of others' circumstances. This inspiring story will make you ask yourself - What can I do to make a difference for others?

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

I am so fortunate to have had one of my smart book club members (a 7th grader) who loves nonfiction tell me that I should read Sy Montgomery’s Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World. I learned so much about the amazing woman who gave the world answers to what it feels like to live in an autistic world. She, also, gave animals going to slaughter a comfortable end to their lives by designing systems that are cruelty-free. I appreciate the way Temple Grandin describes her connection to animals as a result of the way her brain processes information. She describes her mind as being made up of photographic images. I learned so much from this book and can’t wait to share it with my students. The video clip below is an introduction to the HBO movie of Temple Grandin’s life – many of the scenes are in this book.

A Girl Named Faithful Plum

Richard Bernstein describes his wife’s younger years in A Girl Named Faithful Plum: The True Story of a Dancer from China and How She Achieved Her Dream. In 1977, Zhongmei was an eleven-year-old growing up in a small farm town in China. She loved to dance and was determined to audition in the big city of Beijing for their elite dance company. Her family had to make huge sacrifices for her to travel days just to try out for this prestigious dance troupe. She quickly realizes the prejudices she must face because she is not a cultured city girl with connections. She works hard each and every day to learn how to be the best. She is forced to grow up quickly, just to fit in. The author does an excellent job of describing the government changes during that time period and how the big cities differed from the rural areas of China. I appreciate how far Zhongmei came from her humble beginnings with loving siblings to the exalted stage. I am placing this book on my 6th grade reading list next year – what a great tie in to World Cultures. Watch the video clip below to see Zhongmei’s dances.

A Girl Named Faithful Plum-Dance Excerpt from zhongmei li on Vimeo.

How They Croaked

I thought I would never get a chance to read How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley. Currently, I only have one copy and as soon as a student went to turn it in, a friend would be right behind him or her asking to check it out next. If you get a chance to read it, you will understand why. It is filled with information on how famous people in history died and includes little known trivia that pertains to the person discussed. This book is definitely not for the squeamish as it doesn't hold back in giving you the disgusting details involved with death. Thankfully, many of the diseases mentioned don't exist today thanks to antibiotics and vaccines. The big surprise at my school - the girls love reading it as much as the boys!