Tag Archives: friendship

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Jamie Renton

This third book in the Charlie Joe Jackson series (Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading, 2011, and Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit, 2012) is a winner. Entertaining, substantive, and endearing, Charlie Joe, in a moment of weakness, … Continue reading →

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Jamie Renton

Applegate, Katherine.  The One and Only Ivan.  Patricia Castelao, illus. Harper, 2012. 305 p. $16.99, 978-0-06-199225-4 Grades 4-7 I was tempted to give this book 3.5 stars because the first half of the book was a little slow and predictable. The … Continue reading →

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Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Jamie Renton

Aman and his mother escape Afghanistan with the help of Shadow, an Army sniffer dog, to live in England.  After living in England for six years, they are denied asylum and have to go back to Afghanistan.  Aman’s best friend … Continue reading →

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Half-Brother by Kenneth Oppel

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jamie Renton

Can you imagine being a 13-year-old only child and having your parents tell you that you will soon have a new baby brother that’s an eight-day-old Chimpanzee ? How would you feel? Excited, angry? To make matters worse, your family … Continue reading →

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Waiting for Normal

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Jamie Renton

Connor, Leslie. Waiting For Normal. 290p. Harper Collins. 2008. ISBN:  978-0-06-089088-9.   Dear Addie, I’m pulling for you.  I liked you the moment I met you.  You are a 12-year-old girl who deserves normal.  Your Mom mostly drove me nuts-I … Continue reading →

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Lenny’s Space by Kate Banks

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Jamie Renton

Banks, Kate.  Lenny’s Space.  151 p.  Farrar, Straus and Giroux.  2007.  ISBN  978-0-374-34575-4. Think of how you feel when you don’t fit in.  It doesn’t feel good does it?  Think of how you feel when you don’t think someone else … Continue reading →

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Skeleton Creek: Ryan’s Journal

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Jamie Renton

Carman, Patrick.  Skeleton Creek: Ryan’s Journal. 185 p. Scholastic Press. 2009. ISBN 978-0-545-07566-4.  This book is scary.  What’s really cool about it is that it’s part book/part video.  Ryan and Sarah are teenage best friends who are no longer allowed … Continue reading →

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