Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a great story of loss, bullying, and ultimately the power of friendship. Three friends from England decide to "take" their dead friend's ashes from the family home and spread them in Ross, Scotland which Ross talked about constantly. Friends Blake, Sim and Kenny are best friends who feel that their friend Ross's funeral did not honor him as the great person he was in life. They go through adventures on trains, in taxis, on motorbikes, meeting girls, bungee jumping and confronting their own involvement in their departed friend's final days. Each of the three friends have to cajole, embarass and psyche each other throughout the book to do this one last act for their friend,Ross. The only problem I see is that this book is so English teens will not understand their grammar, slang, etc. and may not persevere which would be a shame because this is a rollicking good, funny, sad, and in the end, redemptive read.



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Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I enjoyed this third book in the Perfect Chemistry trilogy but the characterization of Luis Fuentes and Nikki Cruz seemed rushed. I didn't feel the depth of personality that developed slowly but surely with Alex and Brittany and Carlos and Kiera. There were not many adult figures that played a role model type role in the original two books and I would have liked to have seen more development of Officer Reyes instead of all three brothers believing he was trouble with no interest in their mother. Elkeles can still get the heat going with her descriptions of Luis and Nikki's yearnings or spurnings. Teens will enjoy this book, but it just didn't hit the mark of the first two with the human drama, drugs and gangs, it seemed too contrived, but I will be asking my students what they think as well.



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Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Such a good book, you will love Logan Witherspoon. He is such a great teen, angry, sensitive, and totally ambushed by his long time girlfriend; he is having a very difficult time getting over her cheating on him. Katcher does a great job of showing how very, very small Logan's hometown is, how his single mother's job is taking its toll on her and the stifling smallness of his trailer park home and high school where everyone knows everyone's business. And into this small town community, comes Sage Hendricks, tall and pretty with braces who seems to like Logan immediately (much to his surprise).As Logan and Sage learn more about each other, Logan finds Sage has almost no freedom to date, she was home schooled for much of her high school years. Logan finds himself becoming more and more attracted to Sage despite her limitations, until one kiss changes life for Logan as he knows it. It is then that Sage reveals why it is so important that she have a friend, one who will stand by her and understand her. Sage reveals her big secret--she is a boy. Now Logan has his own reasons for keeping this hideous secret; he doesn't want anyone to know he kissed a boy, he over-reacts and forbids Sage to tell anyone and that he can't be her friend anymore. There is so much about this book that you will love; Logan and Sage are characters you will relate to; they laugh, they cry, they endure. But I even liked Logan's friends, his mom, and his sister, Laura. Katcher definitely deserved to win the Stonewall Award for this book (he definitely gets the transgender issue, but he understands teens, high school and friendship and how important identity is in defining who we are; I highly recommend this for high school teens.



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Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After I returned from the ISTE Convention in Philadelphia, Vickie Cobb posted "We still believe that books, especially good books about the real world, are important for children. Visit: www.inkthinktank.com and sign up for our FREE database so that teachers can find out how award-winning nonfiction aligns with national standards. Check out INK Link: Authors on Call and see who is available to meet teachers and students via interactive videoconferencing. Subscribe to our blog Interesting Nonfiction for Kids where authors themselves share insights on how to present issues and content about the real world in ways to engage, inspire and inform kids on the subjects required by your curriculum. And ir you have any questions, please contact me: vicki@inkthinktank.com" and this led me to this pearl of a book! I am a dog lover, read the book,


and now Dorothy Hinshaw Patent has written a truly amazing book about one of the Vick dogs who was rescued and finally found his forever home! The photographs are breathtaking (especially the back cover, with Audie in pants--you have to read why!) and those involved in helping save these dogs, also save this puppy. Audie was lucky enough to find a permanent home, get surgery for bad knees and overcome his trust issues from being chained and kept isolated from important human and animal contact. This book will be enjoyed by our life skills students and I recommend it for all ages, especially if you are a dog lover!



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