Module 15: Lunch Money

Lunch Money

written by Andrew Clements

illustrated by Brian Selznick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2005

ISBN: 0689866836

Price: $15.95

Greg Kenton certainly has the ability to "turn over a buck." Lunch Money by Andrew Clements tells the story of a young entrepreneur who works hard, makes plans to make money, and has to solve the problem of product competition from his neighbor Maura Shaw who designs and sells her version of a mini comic book. One of my favorite descriptions of the characters in the story is the description of Mr. Z the math teacher. When Greg describes how much his favorite teacher Mr. Z loved math he states, "He lived math. His wife taught geometry at the high school, so you could even say that he had married math." Clements mixes humor with this money making adventure of two young people who finally decide to work together and share some of their profits with their school library. Use Lunch Money by Andrew Clements when teaching an economics unit in social studies!

Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews: "Clements weaves intriguing information about comic book illustration into this entertaining, smoothly written story. Selznick's accompanying black-and-white drawings have the appearance of sketches Greg might have made himself."

MacKay, Carolyn L. "Lunch Money." Kirkus Reviews 73, no. 12 (2005) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=17513539&site=ehost-live.

School Library Journal: Carol MacKay writes, "The characters are rich with interesting quirks and motivations, including M. Z, a blood-phobic math teacher."

MacKay, Carolyn L. "Lunch Money." School Library Journal 51, no. 8 (2005) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=17853792&site=ehost-live.

Module 14: The Edison Mystery

The Edison Mystery

written by Dan Gutman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Price: $5.99 (paperback)

Wouldn't it be great to travel backwards or forwards in time! I have always enjoyed reading books where time travel is possible, especially H.G. Wells', The Time Machine. But until then a reader can begin with Dan Gutman's, The Edison Mystery. Everyone needs an avenue to vent their frustrations and Qwerty Stevens' avenue is digging in the ground. When he digs up a strange box he realizes he has found something unusual. After all, it is not every day that you find something with Thomas Edison's name on it. Stories within the story will keep readers engaged in this suspenseful, humorous, tale with facts woven throughout this well written adventure of a brother and sister. Use The Edison Mystery to introduce your next unit on inventors.

Review:

School Library Journal: "Overall this is an entertaining novel that should draw fans of time-ravel stories, Gutman's other books, historical fiction, and light fiction. Pass it on to readers who are looking for something good and funny."

"The Edison Mystery." School Library Journal 47, no. 8 (2001) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=4975341&site=ehost-live.

Module 13: Abduction!

Abduction!

Written by Peg Kehret

Publisher: Dutton, 2004

ISBN: 0525472940

Price: $16.99

Every parents worst nightmare is that their child could be abducted. Peg Kehret weaves suspense and modern day vocabulary into this story that fortunately has a happy ending. Young Matt is kidnapped by his father (who he does not know) which is not so far from reality in today's world. The search ensues and all means are employed to find the missing child. This book is for older readers but could cause some to feel uneasy given the nature of the plot.

Reviews: 

School Library Journal: "Diana Pierce writes, "This novel has enough suspense to keep children interested, and it will also appeal to reluctant readers."

Pierce, Diana. "Abduction!." School Library Journal 50, no. 12 (2004) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=15396939&site=ehost-live.

Booklist: Kathleen Odean writes, "The fact that the characters are largely one dimensional, especially the villainous Denny, mutes the emotional angst readers might have felt, leaving them free to enjoy the plot-driven thriller with a happy ending."

Odean, Kathleen. "Abduction!." Booklist 101, no. 5 (2004) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=15089308&site=ehost-live.

Module 12: Otto's Orange Day

Otto's Orange Day

written by Jay Lynch

illustrated by Frank Cammuso

Publisher: Raw Junior, LLC

ISBN: 9780979923821

Price: $ 12.95

Children who love cartoons and magic and will get their fix with Otto's Orange Day. A special gift from Otto's Aunt Sally Lee turns everything in Otto's world his favorite color orange. Even Otto's food is orange and some things do not need to change, especially in regards to color. Otto learns his lesson and gets the genie to make things normal once again. While this book is designed for K-3 readers, younger readers will "read" from the pictures while the older readers will enjoy both illustrations and text.

Reviews:

School Library Journal: Joy Fleishhacker writes, "Clear chapter divisions, a clean graphic design, and large-size print make this title more appropriate for early readers than most comic-book offerings."

"Otto's Orange Day." School Library Journal 54, no. 5 (2008) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=31965747&site=ehost-live.

Kirkus Reviews: "Low on violence and high on production values, this comics-format "Toon Book" will leave emergent readers wishing for more."

"Otto's Orange Day." Kirkus Reviews 76, no. 9 (2008) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=32118602&site=ehost-live.

Module 11: Cirque Du Freak

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare

written by Darren Shan

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2001

ISBN: 0316603406

Price: $15.95

Looking for a good vampire story? This series may not "quench your thirst" but it will wet your appetite for the genre. Fans of the Twilight series might find this book interesting. There is enough suspense, gore, and the supernatural to get them hooked into the next book of this series. Coincidentally the main character and the author share the same name but hopefully not the truth. Twelve year-old Darren, trying to save the life of his friend, makes a pact with a vampire. Darren has to fake his own death and actually get buried in order to be able to be the vampire's (Mr. Crepsley) assistant.

Hopefully the characters will become more rounded as the series continues. Shan shares his feelings regarding his family and the scenes with the grieving family and friends are brief although sprinkled with a few intense moments. 

Reviews:

School Library Journal: Timothy Capehart writes, "The slowness of the plot in the beginning might turn some readers off, but once the supernatural enters, they will be hooked. The fun here is in the details and in the uniqueness of the non-evil vampire monster."

Capehart, Timothy. "Cirque Du Freak." School Library Journal 47, no. 5 (2001): 159. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=442967&site=ehost-live.

Publishers Weekly: "With strong sales overseas and a movie deal in the works, book one in The Saga of Darren Shan series is poised to capture a wide audience of series horror readers."

Zaleski, Jeff, Diane Roback, Jennifer M. Brown, and Jason Britton. "Cirque Du Freak." Publishers Weekly 248, no. 8 (2001): 92. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=4126230&site=ehost-live.

Module 10: The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux: 

Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

written by: Kate DiCamillo

illustrated by: Timothy Basil Ering

Publisher: Candlewick, 2003

Price: $17.99

Author Kate DiCamillo effectively weaves four stories within the life of a very tiny extraordinary mouse named Despereaux Tilling in her adventurous novel the Tale of Despereaux, winner of the 2004 Newbery Award. Readers will cautiously turn each page in anticipation of what lies in store for the tiny mouse who refuses to be "just an ordinary mouse" willing to expect nothing more out of life or others. More is what he gets and so does the reader of the tale.

Review:

School Library Journal: "With memorable characters, brief chapters, and inventive twists, this fast-paced romp is perfect for reading alone or sharing aloud."

"The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread." School Library Journal50 (2004): 28. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=12773960&site=ehost-live.

Booklist: Ilene Cooper writes, "Part of the charm comes from DiCamillo's deceptively simple style and short chapters in which the author addresses the reader: "Do you think rats do not have hearts? Wrong. All living things have a heart." 

Cooper, Ilene. "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread." Booklist99, no. 21 (2003) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=10407834&site=ehost-live.

Module 9: Harvesting Hope

Harvesting Hope: the Story of Cesar Chavez

written by: Kathleen Krull

illustrated by: Yuyi Morales

Publisher: Harcourt, 2003

ISBN: 0152014373

Price $17.00

Harvesting Hope received the 2004 Jane Addams Award and the illustrations from Harvesting Hope by Yuyi Morales received the Pura Belpre Award, 2004. How do you teach children they can make a difference? Share Harvesting Hope, the Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull. Krull vividly describes the young life of Cesar Chavez as happy, prosperous and full of family events until the drought of 1937. The family could no longer make a living on the land so they moved to California and became migrant workers. Hard work, little pay, no respect made Cesar realize something needed to change. Trying to honor his mother's teaching,  Cesar tried to create change with his words and not violence. He organized La Causa which became the National Farm Workers Association.

Review:

Book Links: 'The immense challenges farmworkers faced come through clearly, and Krull effectively puts Chavez's struggles and successes into context as he began a lifelong fight for fair and safe working conditions."

Tilottson, Laura. "Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez." Book Links 13, no. 3 (2004) http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=11866003&site=ehost-live.

The Reading Teacher: "This book would enrich study of the struggle for equal rights in the United States and be a valuable addition to biography and hero and heroine study."

Frerichs, Joy. "Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez." The Reading Teacher 58, no. 3 (2004): 268. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=15022084&site=ehost-live.