Review of The Crossover by Kwame AlexanderBest book ever! By the way, it is not a poetry book. It is a novel, that happens to be written in verse. Usually I don't start off book suggestions with three word sentences. However, the book is as smooth as Allen Iverson's crossover so I thought it deserved 3 words, like Iverson's number. Meanwhile the whole first paragraph was 23 words like the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan. The book The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is not about basketball. It is about a young man, Filthy McNasty, who struggles with loss. He sees success on the basketball court, but he struggles to keep it together off the basketball court. My poem, inspired by Kwame Alexander, summarizes The Crossover in one word: sensational. Sensational senˈsāSH(ə)n(ə)l adjective: (of an event, a person, or a piece of information) causing great public interest and excitement. As in, I couldn't put the book down, my eyes leapt from page to page, zig zagging, tongue waging, like MJ in Madison Square Garden where ballers put up or shut up. As in, you must read this to understand that words have power and meaning because they create change within students, in teachers and in every reader. As in, readers get swept away with emotion the way Kwame sets you up with a soft cross and then hits hard with the real filthy crossover McNasty style.
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Massachusetts Children's Book Award 2016
https://www.salemstate.edu/assets/images/ACA_soe/2016_MCBA_Master_List_and_Grade_Level_Guide.pdf
One of my favorite books I read last year was The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. It was a book that I happened to stumble upon and since then, I've recommended it to anyone who enjoys magic and unique magical systems. Callum "Call" Hunt is the main character in The Iron Trial. It's hard not to believe in Call and want to see him succeed against all odds. My top ten reasons to root for Call:
Regardless of all those reasons that make Call so complex, the book is wonderfully written. When characters are so dynamic, it is hard to miss the big idea of a book. So here goes before I continue with my bro-mance of Call, the big idea I took from The Iron Trial was there is no free lunch. Each character in the book has some reason or another why people should cater to them or give them a break. Whether they come from a wealthy family, they look the part of an exceptional mage, or they have an incredible past that sets them apart, they are still expected to survive on what they've learned. Once they put their differences aside, once they move past looking for sympathy, and once they begin to trust each other and work together, they forge a new bond stronger than any alchemy. I totally recommend The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. It was one of my favorite reads last school year. It was so good, I pre-ordered The Copper Gauntlet (book 2 in the series) once I finished. I am sure you'll love the book too. Brufftopian's Book Trailer for the Iron TrialWhat a story! If you haven't read any of Rick Riordan's books, you're a little late to the demigod party. Better late than never, right? For those who need a crash course in all things demigods, demigods are the children of the Greek and Roman deities (Zeus/Jupiter, Poseidon/Neptune, Ares/Mars). The Greek and Roman gods do not interfere in mortal affairs so the demigods (their children) are tasked with saving the world. Some famous demigods include: Hercules, who is known for the 12 labors, Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War, Dionysus, who was raised to a god & the modern day heart throb, loyal friend, and in every sense of the word, a true hero, Percy Jackson. The Mark of Athena is the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series. It's easy to get lost in the fast paced action and quest the characters embark on. However, it is important to realize Percy Jackson along with his demigod friends (heroes as they're called in the book) have to work together and overcome their own internal struggles to save the world. Rick Riordan shows us that need to have more than incredible powers or being gifted. Using your brain instead of braun, working together to solve a problem and trust are the things that truly matters. Link to request the book through Cary Memorial Library. Other similar titles worth reading in case you've already read The Mark of Athena.
To get more information about The Mark of Athena, check out Rick Riordan's website. Remember, Brufftopians prevail with a growth mindset. Book I am Really Looking Forward to Reading I am pumped up, excited, and thrilled about an upcoming book. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rock Riordan is due to hit shelves on October 6th. After being persuaded to read Percy Jackson by a student I haven't been able to put any of Rick Riordan's book down. I began following Rick Riordan on Goodreads.com and I received an email today about his upcoming book being published. Check out the email below. So, I've been waiting for this book to come out for a long time. The. Wait. Is. Almost. Over!!! I follow Rick Riordan on Goodreads.com. Finding the an email about Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard was almost more than I could handle. Check out the email below. Dear Chris, So this book is easily one of my favorite books. Not because I have a sense of humor, but because the book goes deeper than the jokes into Bobby's difficult family life. To be totally transparent, I picked up the book a couple of years ago when I was looking for a quick read aloud for my fourth grade class at the beginning of the school year. I didn't have many expectations other than, "Elizabeth Levy better have me laughing on every page is this book is about a comedian."
After opening the book and reading the first chapter, I howled, I cracked up laughing, I got hooked into Bobby's plight and before you knew it, I was rooting for Bobby to go all the way. It was so good once I finished the book, I couldn't believe I read it in one sitting. Yup, it was that good. Link to request book through Cary Memorial Library. Other similar titles worth reading in case you've already read My Life as a Fifth-Grade Comedian
Below is the official summary for the book My Life as a Fifth-Grade Comedian by Elizabeth Levy. Remember, Brufftopians prevail with a growth mindset. In this coming of age tale, we see Tarlan, Elodie, and Algulphus more often referred to as Gulph fulfill a prophecy. After being whisked into safety they all have their own harrowing tales of survival. One's a prisoner in plain sight, another is a glorified gypsy (traveling minstrel), and another grows up in the frozen wastes of a long forgotten realm. The story quickly moves along and we are thrown into each characters POV and where they are in the world. As Tarlan, Elodie and Gulph follow their destiny, each has their world turned upside down. Relax, I won't put in any spoilers. Let's just say the rug gets pulled out from each of them and their eyes are open to the world and they are faced to make big decisions that will impact the future of Toronia. Overall, I thought Crown of Three was a good book. It was refreshing to see a thirteen year old actually act as the gullible thirteen year old that they are. It was even better to see that they weren't awesome at everything just because they are fulfilling a prophecy. Too often in children's fantasy novels, the main characters are experts with the sword, the bow, leading people, they rarely make mistakes and leave the battlefield unscathed. So it was nice to see characters struggle, it seemed realistic and it kept me reading. Link to request book through Cary Memorial Library Other similar titles worth reading in case you've already read Crown of Three.
Below is the official summary for the book Crown of Three by J.D. Rinehart. Keep up the summer reading. Remember, Brufftopians prevail when they work hard.
I am currently reading the book Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. This book has many amazing things about it. First, the book is written in verse. In case you unsure what verse means, it's a poetry book. Let's get excited! Secondly, the book has won a ton of awards. See the list below. Finally, the book reveals her raw emotions and teaches the value of sticking through things that are difficult. Difficulties Jacqueline Woodson faced in the 1960s and 1970s related to me growing up in the 1990s. Those same difficulties still relate to children around the world today. She and I experienced difficulty reading. So far, I've been impressed discovering how Jaqueline Woodson did not let those roadblocks stop her. Throughout the book, you'll read how she overcame obstacles and became a successful writer. Try Brown Girl Dreaming if you are in between summer reading books or if you haven't started an independent reading a book yet. Link to request book through Cary Memorial Library. Other similar titles worth reading in case you've already read Brown Girl Dreaming:
Awards Brown Girl Dream has won: (Clicking on the links will take you to Goodreads.com. It will give you other books that have won the same award. Not a bad way to find other good books.) National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2014), Newbery Honor (2015), Sibert Honor (2015), Coretta Scott King Award for Author (2015), Claudia Lewis Award for Older Readers (2015) Below is a summary of the book Brown Girl Dreaming. Keep up the summer reading. Remember, Brufftopians prevail when they work hard. Official Blurb National Book Award Winner Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. Praise for Jacqueline Woodson: Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story . . . but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery.”--The New York Times Book Review |
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