Hope Was Here

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Book Genre: fiction
Publishing Info: Penguin Putnam Books, 186 pgs.
Awards or honors received: Newberry Honor Book

Summary: This book is about a girl who changed her name from Tulip to Hope, because her real mother did not want the responsibility of raising a child. She moves in with her Aunt Addie who lives in New York until one day she finds out that they have to move to Wisconsin because Addie had to get a new job. Throughout the book Hope and Addie have to learn to believe in themselves and to never give up. They face many struggles throughout their life but in the end they always had faith and overcame whatever obstacles they were faced with. When they get to Wisconsin they both get jobs working at the Welcome Stairways Diner. They meet a special man named GT Stoop that helps the girls out and becomes an important man in their lives. GT has lukemeia, which hurts his chances when he decides to run for major. Addie ends up falling in love with GT and Hope meets a young man named Braveman that she falls for and ends up going off to college with at the end of the book. I think the author shoud write a sequel that follows Hope's life to the next level.

Personal rating and reason for rating: Good book for middle school aged (especially girls)
Reading level: 5.3
Interest level: 5th-8th grade

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study (reading and writing across the curriculum): It would be neat to read this book around election time and hold a mock election, since that is a topic that is covered in the book. Also incorporating a math lesson dealing with menus, since the majority of the story takes place in a resturant. The students could design their menu and name their entree's then describe them and add prices. The students could figure out how much the bill would be and then add tax and tip.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Couple of curse words throughout that book, some slang words that may be difficult for the students to pronounce

The Lottery Rose

Book Title and Author: The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt

Book Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publishing Info. – Berkley Publishing Corp., 185 pages

Awards or honors received:

Summary:
The book is about a young boy who was abused both mentally and physically by his mother and her boyfriend. Growing up in an unstable home being raised by an alcoholic mother with no support or love, Georgie had few friends, did poorly in school and distrusted mostly everyone. He was able to hide his feelings and find comfort in a library book filled with beautiful gardens. He won a rosebush in a grocery store lottery given to him by a lady whom he trusted. He finally found his purpose in caring for and loving through the only thing he’d ever owned, his rosebush. After an abusive night when the rescue was called, Georgie was finally taken from his mom and sent to a home for boys where he learns for the first time to feel safe, trust in others and feel loved. He also learns to give and to receive love through his experiences, giving him hope for a future in society.

Personal rating and reason for rating:
It was a great book. You could witness the difference one can make in a person’s life by caring and giving of one’s time.

Reading level: 5th grade
Interest level: 5th grade – adult

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Reading/Comparison: the rosebush and Georgie’s life

Potential Problems or difficulties: subject content may be disturbing with child abuse and violence.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Book Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Random House Inc., 184 pages
Awards or Honors: Newberry Medal, Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, International Board on Books for Young People Honor List, several others

Summary: A young girl, Karana, gets stranded on an island off California's coast during the 1800s. She lives alone on the island for 18 years. While on the island, Karana must find shelter and food, survive a pack of wild dogs, and try to find a way off the island and back to her people. The story focuses on Karana's strength and courage, as well as her creative survival skills. Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on the story of a real girl who was stranded on an island for 18 years.

Personal Rating: **** Great- I love this story and so do my students. They cannot wait to see what is happening next. The students get into the emotions of the characters as well as the events that happen in the book. They have so many great questions to ask while reading the book, and this opens doors to several learning experiences.

Reading Level: 5.5
Interest Level: upper elementary to middle school

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Geography: Students can work on map reading skills as well as map making skills. They can study the islands off California's coast where the real girl was rescued, and then make a map of Karana's island using details from the book.
Science: Weather- students can study natural disasters after reading about the tsunami Karana survives. Force and motion- students can build a raft or boat for Karana to use to get off the island. They must use materials Karana could have found on the island.
Social Studies: Native Americans- Students learn lots of information about Karana's tribe at Ghalas-at. They can compare the native islanders to the Native Americans found in this area (language, food, customs, etc.)
Writing: Interviewing- Students pretend to be Karana or another character from the book. One student acts as a news reporter, asking questions of the other student. Students then switch roles.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Several words are used that have different meanings today (fag, thong, gay), Karana's "pet" dog dies in a dog fight