The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Fun Betta Fact of the Day:  We, as a species, are pretty territorial.  We like our space, don’t play well with other males, but are generally pretty cool with the ladies (although, will cannibalize our eggs if possible).  I found it interesting that Mrs. Edwards read this ‘classic’ book all about territorial groups of kids growing up in the 60’s.  The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is about some kid named Ponyboy, which I thought would sound much tougher if it was something like Sharkboy… but that’s a different movie.  She seems to think I can learn something about the value of life and how not to fight or something… I’m just a little fish swimming in a bowl, so I don’t really understand all that.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton was written in 1967 about very poignant issues that still plague our society.  Some may feel a disconnect at first as we learn about the protagonist, a 14 year old teen named Ponyboy, and his gang of Greasers, but Ponyboy and his friends are, in so many ways, just like the teens of today: struggling with being poor, having broken families or no adult in their lives, trying to take care of themselves the best way they can.  The Greasers (so called because of the amount of hair grease) are from the poor side of town.  Most of them come from broken or dysfunctional homes with little or no parental guidance, but they are loyal to each other and their territory.  The Socs (Socials) are from the wealthy part of town.  They are viewed as ‘privileged,’ drive hot cars, and act like they are entitled to do whatever they want including frequent bullying of the Greasers.

There is a constant battle between Greasers and Socs about who is allowed in certain areas of town or stores, as well as the constant harassment of one another’s gangs.  One day at a drive-in movie, Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dallas meet some Soc girls and end up walking them home.  Ponyboy shares the story of Johnny’s incident with some Socs with one of the girls named Cherry.  Later that night after Ponyboy has a fight with his older brother, he and Johnny find themselves in a violent and fatal fight with some Socs which puts the boys on the run.  During their hide-out, Ponyboy and Johnny become heroes helping a group of kids out of a burning church, but not without being seriously hurt themselves.  What will happen to Ponyboy and Johnny?

The Outsiders is an outstanding book with very powerful themes that so many students can benefit from reading.  I could easily see this book being used in conjunction with a tolerance or anti-bullying unit or with an At-Risk group of students.  Because of the connection with broken or dysfunctional homes, many of our students will be able to identify with the emotional pain the characters feel.  I can also connect the gang aspect with many of the gang and territorial issues we have in our county as well to draw students into the discussion of why and how lives matter.  

The Outsiders. http://theoutsiders.wikia.com/. (n.d.). JPEG file.

The Outsiders. (2015, Nov.6). Retrieved from <https://youtu.be/g9ADQIu2QzE>.

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

Mrs. Edwards has chosen Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery as one of her Battle of the Books books for this year’s competition.  I personally think that any book with a title that long should not be used for Battle of the Books, but she seems to think it’s a pretty amazing story.  So, I read this story, because it seemed inspirational and, you know, about an animal lover and all that, but it had this crazy twist!  I’m not going to begrudge people for their fondness for meat-based protein or anything, shoot I eat my fair share of bugs, but this Dr. Grandin is very concerned with the stress placed upon the animals that you people eat.  Her concern for the treatment of animals is quite admirable, but I’m just happy to be a fish (and a small one at that) that I don’t have to worry about being someone’s sushi meal.  

In the amazing biography Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery we learn the story of Dr. Temple Grandin.  Dr. Grandin was only three years old when her parents realized there was something a little different about their daughter.  We learn of Dr. Grandin’s struggles growing up with Autism, way before doctors and scientists had a name for this condition.  She struggled at a young age with noises, controlling anxiety, and finding clothes that didn’t itch her sensitive skin.  It wasn’t until she visited her family’s ranch, that she realized she could find peace.

Dr. Grandin grew up with farming in her life.  At an early age, she understood where food, including meat, came from.  One day, as she wandered around the animals, she understood why they made certain noises.  Sheep bleats, chicken clucks, and cow moos made sense to her like the cries of a baby may make sense to it’s mother.  As she grew older, she focused research on making livestock more comfortable during their final moments.  Through her studies, she helped develop humane, safe ways for large livestock ranches to slaughter and process their animals.  Having the animals calm and comfortable actually keeps more people safe and lessens open-wound injuries, which could negate use of the meat, to the animals.  Dr. Grandin found many of her tools and techniques not only comforting to the animals, but helpful in her own anxieties as well.  This is an amazing story of a woman who loved animals so much, that she wants them to be comfortable, literally, their entire lives.  

This is an amazing story and I love that I was able to find a trailer about Sy Montgomery the author and Dr. Grandin’s good friend.  Living here in the valley, I think this is an incredible and informative book for our high school FFA students to read.  Much of the livestock and poultry farms we have in our area have been impacted by Dr. Grandin’s inventions and guidance.  She makes very good points that if we are to continue to use animals as a food source, then it is only fair since they are dying to feed us, that we offer them some compassion to how they die.  On a side note, I was also very fortunate to have a Skype session with Dr. Grandin several months ago about being chosen for our Battle of the Books; it was a truly inspirational visit.

Sy Montgomery talks about Temple Grandin. (2012, June 11). Retrieved from <https://youtu.be/z8P1CPvg2a8>.

“Temple Grandin: How the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world.” grandin.com, 2012. JPEG file.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Mrs. Edwards chose this awesome book last year as one of her Battle of the Books picks.  Not only does she promote reading in classes, but also makes sure her BoB teams have amazing selections.  I have enjoyed listening to the conversation between the Library Ladies and some of the BoB students about the author’s choice to write a new series in the midst of finishing this one… they are dying for the next book to come out!

This fantasy-adventure series by Sarah J. Maas is titled Throne of Glass.  In Throne of Glass, we are thrust into a medieval-like world where we meet the beautiful Celaena.  Celaena, although breathtaking, is deadly... an assassin… a mercenary.  And is known and feared by everyone.  She lives in a land where magic has been forbidden and purged by the King; it’s existence so far removed that it’s now only known in tales and myth.  

Celaena has been imprisoned in the salt mines of Endovier, a prison known only for it’s death toll.  Until one day Chaol, Captain of the King’s Guard and best friend to Prince Dorian, comes for her.  She is offered a deal to gain her freedom by becoming the King’s Champion Assassin.  The biggest problem is: Celaena works for NO ONE… and despises the king.  Celaena finds herself at the palace, thrust into a violent tournament of champions with mercenaries from far and wide.  She proves herself, but not without stumbling across a deep-hidden mystery within the depths of the palace and finding friendship and love in the most unexpected of places.  Throne of Glass will keep you on the edge of your seat, hungry for the next book.

I love searching YouTube for book trailers.  Sometimes I find trailers that are so much like movies that I wonder if a movie hasn’t been done for the books.  Most of the trailers are done by students, so the quality is reflective of that.  This trailer is one of the more professional ones I’ve found; done by Bloomsbury Publishing.  I think this trailer is very effective in it’s simplistic text, clean images, and powerful music.  Students connect to things better with music involved, and it will be more impactful with the right songs.  This trailer sets up well to the intrigue and adventure of the story. I see this beek potentially being used by English teachers when looking at plot structure, characterization, sub-plots, and flashbacks. It is crafted masterfully with an ending that will leave the reader hungry for more.

Works Cited

Throne of Glass by Sarah J.Maas. (2012, July 26) . Retrieved from <https://youtu.be/j_t1kXaDtRQ>.

“Throne of Glass.” Wikia, 2013. JPEG file.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

I know I’m only a year old and a fish to boot, but I have heard the expression “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”  From a fish perspective, this could not be a more uninviting cover, I mean white background with simple black lettering, and a pair of shoes.  I don’t even have feet and especially don’t dream of running.  My dreams primarily consist of large fingers chasing me around my bowl or swimming in the ocean with sharks.  The Library Ladies got this book in the library not too long ago, and I think Mrs. Edwards promoted it as a California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) book at one point.  When she talks about it now, she often brings up the plain cover and even admits to judging books by the cover herself!!  But apparently after she read it, she really ‘connected’ with the story… whatever that means.  This is what she says about The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen.

Jessica is a junior in high school, and if someone asks her who she is, she will respond with, “I am a runner.”  Jessica isn’t just a runner though, she’s the best, and although she is only a junior, she has already captured the attention of several colleges.  On the way home from a huge meet at her school’s big rival, the bus is involved in a terrible accident.  A vehicle slammed into the side of the bus right where Jessica and one of her best friends was sitting.  Jessica woke up several days later to discover that she was missing a leg!  The accident not only left her an amputee, but she also found out that one of her teammates had been killed.

Jessica went into a shell; she didn’t want to talk to anyone and struggled to catch up in her classes.  She was even seated in ‘preferential’ places in her classes (the back of the room).  It was here that she gets to know Rosa, a girl in her math class who has cerebral palsy.  As Rosa and Jessica become friends, Jessica begins to realize that life isn’t all about running for her, and for some people it means something so much more.  Check out this incredible story of perseverance and friendship today!

This is a fantastic story to connect with any student who has something so important that it is part of their identity like sports, a hobby, playing music, creating art, or any number of things.  Students can connect because this story is so powerfully possible.  In addition to the empathy they may feel for the character at losing what defined her, students can also begin to have a greater understanding of the mental strain that people who face sudden amputations may have.  The author Wendelin Van Draanen also brings into the story cerebral palsy, which is a condition that very few students understand.  This trailer is one of the more powerful ones I have found; again, the music and connection to the book while providing just enough of a teaser for readers is well done.  

Works Cited

Book Trailer: The Running Dream. (2012, October 4). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/5uIAW8G3LCU.

“The Running Dream.” www.scholastic.com, 2012. JPEG file.

It's Friday in The Brary!!  I'm swimmin' with the big boys.  #bookfacefriday 

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Last year Mrs. Snyder suggested this book to Mrs. Edwards.  It’s called Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.  It sticks out in my mind, mostly because every time Mrs. Edwards brings it up, she reminds Mrs. Snyder of all the ‘cry moments’ from the story.  Apparently this was a pretty powerful novel, so I did a little Google research about it… which you can imagine is very difficult for me with the whole water versus computer thing, but I have skills!  Here’s what I found out:  From the 1850’s to early 1900’s, displaced or orphaned children were transported from New York across the Midwest United States.  These children were placed (auctioned off) with families, often being separated from their siblings or used in a servitude position.  It was intended to be a ‘Child Welfare Program,’ but with very few regulations and no oversight, children were sold for reasons far surpassing those of families who just wanted to love children.  

Orphan Train is an intriguing, suspenseful, emotional story of Molly who has been bouncing around through various foster homes and is close to ‘aging out’ of the program with no one to help her in life.  Molly doesn’t get along well with her current foster mother and spends a lot of time not at home.  She is visiting the library one day and decides to ‘keep’ a tattered copy of Jane Eyre, her favorite novel, but gets caught when the security system activates.  She is sentenced to community service and lands a cleaning job with Vivian, an elderly woman who needs assistance cleaning out her attic.  Although Molly really just wants to do what she must to get credit for her service hours, Vivian insists on pushing conversation and reminiscing about the things that Molly uncovers.  

We learn Vivian’s amazing tale of being a child on the Orphan Trains in the early 1900’s and Molly finds a deeper connection with Vivian than she ever could have imagined.  Read this incredible story of finding family after giving up all hope of looking!!

This is an excellent story for students living in foster homes or those who have been orphaned to identify and find hope.  It isn’t often that teenagers seek solace or understanding from the elderly, even their own grandparents, as they more often assume that these people lived in a too-far-removed time and simply don’t understand what dilemmas are happening to modern kids.  This story really exposes the universal theme of desolation, hope, and what family actually means to many kids.  The images above are taken of a real poster and orphan train headed across the Midwest.  I think this trailer does a great job of providing an intriguing taste of this excellent novel.

Works Cited

Book Trailer: Orphan Train. (2013, April 1). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/JmgbE6I9Hnw.

Kidder, Clark. “Homes Wanted for Children.” (2014). JPEG file.

“Orphan Train.” wcfcourier.com, 2013. JPEG file.

Wendinger, Renae. "The Orphan Trains and Newsboys of New York.”  (2013). JPEG file.

The Fenway Foul-up

Mrs. Edwards just got back from a two week long adventure with her sister and dad in Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia.  Among the places they visited, the ballparks of the cities were on her list.  Her husband and sons LOVE baseball.  The oldest and most iconic ballpark is Boston's Fenway Ballpark.  It opened it's doors in 1912 and has been the host of the Boston Red Sox since its premier.  Mrs. Edwards was able to visit this amazing ballpark, which reminded her of the very first chapter book series her son read when he was in second grade.  The series is called Ballpark Mysteries by David Kelly and each book is set at one of the big-league ballparks across the country.  The first book of the series is The Fenway Foul-up.

The Ballpark Mysteries series follows the adventures of two young cousins, Kate and Mike.  Kate's mom is a sports writer, so she travels all over the country chronicling baseball teams.  But, while Kate's mom is watching the players, Kate and Mike get to enjoy the games.  They get tickets to the game and behind-the-scenes passes, which works out well for them as there is usually some dastardly mystery occurring.  In The Fenway Foul-up, the Boston Red Sox's famous player Big D has 'lost' his favorite bat.  As Kate and Mike soon discover, Big D's bat was stolen!!  Now Kate and Mike must solve the mystery of Big D's stolen bat or he may never be able to hit again and the Red Sox could lose the big game!

This was such a fun book for Mrs. Edwards's son to read.  He currently has nine of them, and he is anxiously waiting for the next book to be published.  These are great books for early readers, girls or boys, and kids who like mysteries or baseball.  The author David Kelly even includes "Dugout Notes" about the ballparks and teams at the end of the book.

Ballpark Mysteries Book 1: The Fenway Foul-up by David A. Kelly
Copyright:  2011
ISBN 10:  0375867031
Where to find it:  F Kel
Lexile level:  590L

Using this book in a 2nd-3rd grade class to explore informational text and writing.  Although the story itself is fictional, the 'Dugout Notes' provided by the author are plain factual information.  This information could easily be a stepping stone for students to read and understand informational text, and perhaps expand into a research 'report.'  I use the term report loosely because I think there are so many more fun things for younger students to create information-based work such as:  a padlet, a movenote, a cahoot, an animoto, or a fun video to present their information.

Standards Covered:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2
Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.6
With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2
Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.