New STAR WARS REBELS titles

   

Star Wars Rebels is the latest Star Wars property, starting with a new TV show on Disney XD. These two books are part of the new story line which takes place between movies III and IV from the original six movies.

Star Wars A New Dawn
This story introduces Kanan and Hera (from the TV show) and tells how they ended up working together. It is an intricate story that starts with Kanan and the people in his life in a mining colony and Hera who seems to be doing reconnaissance for herself or for an unknown group. There is also an emissary from the Emperor who is there to see that the mining facility meets the ridiculously high quotas set by the Empire. There is a bomber and a security officer and a substitute ship's captain.  All of the different story lines converge in the main plot and action of the story.

This book gives some insight into what happened after the destruction of the Jedi. The Empire is represented by individuals who seek power and will go to any means in order to achieve it - not a surprise to anyone familiar with the movies. The book is long and it took a several chapters to find a rhythm, but once the action got moving, I enjoyed the story and it left me wanting more back story and more adventures with these characters.

4 out of 5 stars

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Edge of the Galaxy
Zane Leonis just wants to get through the next year at the Junior Academy for Applied Sciences so he can move on to the Imperial Academy and train to serve the Empire like his sister. But this one school year is going to challenge everything he believes about the Empire.

Of the two books, this was my favorite. Because it is written for kids, it is much shorter and the story is tighter. There's great action and it gives insight into how "regular folks" are interpreting the actions of the Empire early on and why they would support it. There isn't a direct connection with the characters on the TV show, but this is just the first book in a new series of original stories. This is a series I plan to keep up with.

4.5 out of 5 stars

TUESDAY: Squish, Power of the Parasite by Jennifer Holm

This third adventure for Squish, the amoeba. Squish is NOT excited about swim camp, but a new friend helps make it tolerable. At first, the hydra seems like a funny guy, but over time, Squish starts to think he's cruel. Squish will have to decide what's more important - his fear of facing swim camp alone or his conscience.

No AR rating yet

3 out of 5 stars. Another fun graphic novel series. My students don't all get the science-y things about amoebas and hydras, but the things Squish wrestles with are common to kids everywhere. (As someone who ditched swim lessons as a kid, I identified with Squish.)

MONDAY: Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes

The kids are sentenced to time with the math team for missing a field trip. They go up against the toughest team, but the Lunch Lady thinks there's something fishy with the super mathletes. The question is, can she figure it out in time?

AR level of 2.3

3 stars out of 5 - another fun outing for the Lunch Lady and her crew.

My students can't get enough if this series. I've had to buy two sets for the library to keep up with the demand! If you want to introduce your kids to graphic novels, try this series.

FRIDAY: The Maibox, Touch Blue

Two final Book Fair books:

Gabe was in foster care for years before being placed with his crusty old uncle, Vernon. It's not a perfect placement, but it has become home for Gabe. Then one day he comes home from school and discovers Vernon is dead. Gabe doesn't know what to do - and he doesn't want to go back into foster care. So he does nothing. The next day when Gabe gets home, Vernon's body is gone and cards start showing up in the mailbox. The cards are an encouragement and comfort to Gabe. As Gabe mourns his loss and worries about someone finding out, he remembers colorful moments from his life with Vernon and he learns some things about himself.

4 out of 5 stars

This was a beautiful story. I really liked Gabe's character and the glimpses the reader gets of Vernon. There are great supports in Gabe's life that he discovers through the story. This would be an interesting story to read to a class - maybe 5th or 6th graders - and discuss together.

Tess enjoys her life on an island off the coast of Maine. But that life is in jeopardy because the state says there are too few students to keep the school open. The townspeople decide to take in some foster children in order to build up the school's numbers, and to help some kids in need. Tess' family takes in a boy named Aaron, but Tess worries that he won't like them and won't want to stay and she'll lose everything precious to her.

4 out of 5 stars

This is another great story. Not as dark as The Mailbox, but with similar themes of family and belonging. The author does a great job with Tess - her eagerness to make Aaron like them and want to stay is portrayed well. If you need material to talk to kids about foster care, you might check this title out.

TUESDAY: Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth by Jane O'Connor

Summary Fancy Nancy is back with the first in a new chapter book series for her fans. Nancy loves reading Nancy Drew. She and her best friend, Bree, have decided to be detectives. The only problem is that they have no case to solve. But a missing momento from a classroom display is just the sort of case the detectives were looking for.

Review This is a great next step for Fancy Nancy fans who are ready to move on to chapter books. I am excited that it is going to be a series. I think series help kids stay connected to books and characters they like, and it keeps them reading. The only thing that made me sad with this book is that the illustrations are black and white. The color illustrations of the picture books are absolutely gorgeous, but I understand why they don't work in a chapter book.

My students saw me reading this and they can't wait for me to get it in the library. This is one I'll have trouble keeping on the shelves.

Four out of five stars

No AR quiz yet

Recommended for: early chapter book readers, fans of the picture book series

Cautions: none

BOOK FAIR Preview: Sound Bender by Lin Oliver

Summary
Leo's parents are dead, so he and his brother move in with their uncle, a wealthy and secretive business man. In the midst of his grief, Leo receives a birthday package from his father - an unusual disc - along with a story about Leo's birth. A story Leo has never heard before. The letter and the disc unleash a power in Leo; when touching an object, he hears things that took place around or related to the object. At first, it is simple stuff - a girl drops a pen and he hears her dad talking to her about the pen. He picks up a dropped backpack and hears the girl's mom tell her to grab her brother's backpack since she can't find her own. Then Leo touches an artifact in his uncle's warehouse and he hears a horrifying sound that he can't place but knows he has heard before. Leo is determined to track down that sound, no matter what.


Review
I originally read this book because it came in the preview pack for our book fair. I'm not sure I would have picked it up on my own, but I found it to be completely engrossing and delightful. The grief of the brothers is well portrayed without overpowering the rest of the story. Plenty of mystery surrounds the supporting cast, especially the uncle. I can recommend this wholeheartedly to my students who like adventure and fantasy stories.


4 out of 5 stars
AR level of 4.9


Recommended for: school, home and public libraries, fans of adventure and fantasy stories
Cautions: AR bookfinder says there is mild profanity in the book. Maybe I was too caught up in the story, but I did not catch any.

TUESDAY: Never Say Genius by Dan Gutman

Summary
Coke and Pepsi, and their parents, are still working their way across the country on their way to a family wedding in Washington DC. The McDonald's are still stopping at all sorts of unusual landmarks on their way from Wisconsin to DC. And someone is still trying to kill Coke and Pepsi.


Review
Another fast-moving adventure story for fans of the first book in the series (Mission Unstoppable). Plenty of geographical information as the family moves from state to state. Great cliffhanger at the end will have readers begging for the next story (which doesn't come out until January 2013).


4 out of 5 stars
No AR level established yet


Recommended for: fans of the first series. If you are a school librarian who routinely hears, "I want a book with action," steer your readers here.


Cautions: none.

TUESDAY: Listen to My Trumpet by Mo Willems

 

Summary

Piggie has a new trumpet she can't wait to show Gerald. But the stuff she plays isn't very "musical." How will Gerald tell his best friend he didn't like her concert?

Review

Another great Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems! I bought a copy for our school library last Tuesday when it released and by Friday I had read it to four of my classes. They all loved it - but it's a little hard to know if they loved the story or just loved hearing me try to read the trumpet sounds out loud!

4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: preschoolers and early readers. I think the whole series is a great one for early readers to get lots of basic reading practice (my Kindergarten students were reading along as I read this one).

Cautions: Adults need to be ready to read a lot of trumpet sounds!