It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, R. (2009). It's perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: This book on "changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health," answers many questions on a very sensitive.  It divides the book into an introduction and six separate parts: What is Sex?, Our Bodies, Puberty, Families and Babies, Decisions, and Staying Healthy.  Each of these six parts are also divided into many subdivisions which total to twenty eight. It contains a table of contents, a thank you page (which contains sources for the book), and an index. The cover states the book is for ages 10 and up.  This book also contains illustrations involving puberty, sex, and different body types.  It covers heterosexuality and homosexuality, pregnancy, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual abuse, and abortion. This is a well researched and large source of information on the various topics.  It states the facts and does not give a bias opinion on controversial topics.  Personally, I don't believe I would give all this information to my 10 year old daughter at once. This information would probably be more useful over a period of time.  However, each child is different and can handle this information at different times.

Other useful books:

It's so Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families by Robie H. Harris.

It's NOT the Stork!  by Robie H. Harris

Goodbye Stranger

Stead, R. (2015). Goodbye stranger. NY: Random House.

Recommended age: 4th and up

Summary: Bridget Barsamian is a seventh grade girl, who survived a horrific accident that almost took her life when she was 8 years old.  Bridge, as she is called after the accident, has two best friends Tab and Emily.  The three of them made a pact to never fight, and to always be friends.  As they enter middle school things begin to change. They remain friends, but each of the girls have new interests and other friends.  The three of the girls along with Tab's older sister, Celeste, and Bridge's new friend, Sherman face many dramas and work to discover who they really are as people.  The book is left open in the end.  We know that two years later Sherm and Bridge are dating, that Sherm has started communicating with his estranged grandfather, and Celeste has let go of the grip that her old friend, Vinny once had on her.  Overall, it was a good book.  There are many reviews that feel that it should get some awards.  I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't draw me in and have me emerged in the characters. 

Resources:

http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/search-results/?ts=rebecca+stead

*This site has a school counselor's guide and an educator's guide for classroom use.

 

Origami Yoda

Angleberger, T. (2010). The strange case of Origami Yoda. NY:Abrams.

Recommended Age: 4th and up

Summary: Six grade students have a very interesting phenomenon going on at their campus.  A strange student named Dwight started wearing a origami finger puppet he made everyday.  The puppet began giving advice / predicting the future for the students who asked him questions. Tommy, his friend, decides to investigate the strange occurrences to determine if it is true or if Dwight is making it all up. He needs to know, because he is unsure if he should follow Origami Yoda's advice about a girl he likes.  In the end, all of Origami Yoda's advice paid off.  The students had a great time at the dance, and Tommy danced with the girl that he liked.  This is an interesting story.  I can see how upper elementary grade would enjoy this book and it's storyline.  Student will enjoy the instructions on how to personally make their own Origami Yoda.   

Younger students in the young adult age range (4th -6th) will be able to understand the inner workings of the school and the social circles that it discusses.  Every school has cliques or groups that young adult readers can understand.

Resources: http://origamiyoda.com/

Recommendations for follow up reading all by Tom Angleberger:
Art2-D2's Guide to Folding and Doodling: An Origami Yoda Activity Book
The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett: An Origami Yoda Book
Darth Paper Strikes Back:An Origami Yoda Book
Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue!: An Origami Yoda Book
Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus (Origami Yoda)
The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee (Origami Yoda)

The Great American Dust Bowl (Great Graphic Novels for Teens)

Brown, D. (2013). The great American dust bowl. NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Recommended Age: 4th grade +

Summary:  The nonfiction graphic novel tells the story of the Dark Thirties, a time in history were there were many struggles.  People over farmed the plains, which caused damage to the land.  Nothing would grow.  For years, the wind carried the dust and dirt across the country.  Many people and animals died due to suffocation or dirt in their lungs. After years of punishment, people began to recuperate.  Grass and trees were planted to hold down the top soil and stop the wind erosion.  

This book contain actual picture that were taken during this time in history.  It also contains a "Selected Bibliography" and "Source Notes" section at the end of the book.  This historical fiction gives readers an idea what living through this disaster felt like.

Resources:

http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ilfonline.org/resource/resmgr/2015-16_Intermediate_Grade_Resources/GreatAm.DustBowl-Final.pdf

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XpaJBMWd-8GaPmMBPHjHL7yPUjJbVIU7UMBEnUf8i-Q/edit

Period 8 by Chris Crutcher

(Spoiler Alert)

Crutcher, C. (2013). Period 8.  NY: Harper Collins.

Recommended age: 14+

Summary: Paul Baum is a long distance swimmer.  He is honest to a fault.  He admits to his girlfriend that he cheated.  There is much more to the story, but she doesn't want to hear it.  Paulie struggles with his actions, because his dad is a perpetual cheat.  He knows that he is nothing like his father.  He is full of guilt about the whole situation.   Mr. Logsdon is his teacher for Period 8, his mentor, and his swim practice partner.  Period 8 any conversation goes, but what is discussed in Period 8 stays in there.  However, everything is not how is seems.  An upstanding student named Mary goes missing.  Mary is the one that forced herself on to Paulie.  Then the student body president begins to act even more unusual.  In the end, it is uncovered that the student body president, Arnie, some people in high places in town, and even a local police officer were running a sex ring using vulnerable high school girls.  With the help of Mr. Logsdon, Paulie is able to save his girlfriend and take down the sex ring.  

Response: Due to the topic and the language of this book, it could easily be challenged if used in the classroom.  It is very well written.  I was drawn in to the mystery and the action.  Usually, I can figure out where the author is taking the story.  This book was not the case.  I couldn't figure out all the twists in the plot until Crutcher unraveled them for me.  This book takes on the idea of telling the truth and the theory that hormones/biology trump good intentions. It shows that there are really good people out there who can get into some bad situations.  Also, Mr. Logsdon is an example of an archetype.

Gabi, A girl in pieces

(Spoiler Alert)

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos.

Recommended age: 14+

Summary: Gabi Hernandez is a senior in high school.  As a Mexican American girl, she struggles with her relationship with her mother and who her mother and her culture tells her she should be.  Gabi has so many things going on in her life.  Her father is a meth addict, who is in and out of her family's home.  He even overdoses (dies), and Gabi finds him. Gabi has weight issues, but loves food. Her two best friends also bring in major issues.  One is raped and gets pregnant.  The other is gay.  He comes out to his family and is kicked out of his home. Gabi faces her own ideas of sexuality and relationships.  She wants to go to college, but doesn't believe she is good enough.  Her poetry and friendship/relationships help her to gain confidence in the end.  At the end of the book, she has been accepted to the college of her choice, Berkeley.  She is in love with a wonderful guy, who she loses her virginity to on prom night. Gabi is finally hopeful for her future and has gained self confidence.

Response: This book holds nothing back.  It hits just about every controversial issue it can: teen pregnancy, rape, drug addiction, being gay, abortion, relationships (boy/girl, boy/boy, mother/daughter, friend/friend), family dynamics, religion, being overweight, self esteem... It also shows how writing, poetry in particular, can be an outlet for the stress and struggles of growing up.  This book would be useful to see the perception of a Mexican American teen.  It would also be useful in the classroom to tie in poetry, journal entries, and fiction stories together for a unit of study.

Resources: http://www.cincopuntos.com/files/gabi_a-girl-in-pieces_teachers_guide.pdf

https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.wordpress.com/september-2015-gabi-a-girl-in-pieces/

Doll Bones by Holly Black

(Spoiler Alert)

Black, H (2013). Doll bones. NY: Simon & Schuster.

Recommended age: 4th grade +

Summary: Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever. They play imaginative games using dolls/action figures.  These games center around a bone china doll they call "The Queen."  She resides in a cabinet, and the children are not allowed to touch her at all.  As they enter middle school, Zach's father decides that he is too old for toys.  He throws all of Zach's loved toys in to the trash, ending the game forever, or so he thought.  Poppy begins having dreams about the doll and realizes that the doll is possessed. The doll was made with the bones of a young girl who died.  Inside the doll are the ashes of her remains.  Poppy and her friend go on an adventure to a near by town to bury the doll. Their quick over night trip turns into an adventure that they will never forget.  In the end, the three are able to bury the doll in her empty grave next to her father in the cemetery, and hold on to their long time friendship.

Response;  This book was a decent book, but not one of my favorites.  It didn't hold my attention as well as many of the others I have recently read.  However, it was a bit creepy and one my older elementary students would enjoy. It is full of action and mystery.  It leaves you wondering until the very end if the doll is truly possessed or if Poppy is making it all up.
This book would be good to use as a demonstration of plot in a story.

Similar books:
Coraline by Neil Gaiman, The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken
The Doll in the Garden, by Mary Downing Hanh
The House with a Clock in its Walls, by John Bellairs
Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh

There is a link on Holly Black's website for reading guides for her books.  At the time of my posting this, the link was down.  http://blackholly.com/for-booksellers/reading-guides/