Accelerated Reader Smackdown Continues

The benefit to this is that I have neglected my reading deathmarch through the stacks, so I am finishing this off and plan to read (*gasp*) The Silmarillion over Thanksgiving. Apologies for the lack of new titles.

Taylor, Mildred. The Trees. In the 1930's south, an African American family's woods are threatened by white men who think they can take advantage of them. These shorter titles from Taylor are good for reluctant readers who need historical fiction. (Solid Gold Cadillac, The Friendship, The Well, etc.)

Tripp, Valerie. Samantha Saves the Day, Changes for Samantha. These American Girl titles actually have a lot of good historical information and are easy to get through. I would think that the interest level is more emergent readers, but again, if reluctant readers need historical fiction, these are great. I like Molly best.

Uchida, Yoshiko. Jar of Dreams. Rinko's aunt Waka visits from Japan for the summer, and the family is glad of her help during the difficult financial times of 1930s Berkeley. When Rinko's mother decides to start a home laundry, she enrages the bigoted owner of another nearby laundry, and the family must pull together to fight him.

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Shredderman: Attack of the Tagger, Meet the Gecko. Nelson has a Shredderman web site which he uses to expose evil doing in his school and town. These are fun, since this gives him a lot of power. He does start out as geeky, but he is just an ordinary kid who takes control of situations with a lot of thought. Mainly for reluctant middle schoolers or 3rd graders, but I enjoyed them.

Wallace, Rich. Double Fake. Calvin and Zero join a summer soccer league and learn to play the game, but struggle with being bested by two girls whom they find attractive. Complete listing of these titles on this blog on January 29, 2008. A must for any middle school library.

Bergen, Lara. Confessions of a Bitter Secret Santa. A Scholastic Candy Apple Book. Reviewed The Accidental Cheerleader on May 31, 2007. This one was okay, but not quite as good. These are my younger daughter's favorites and wildly popular with the 6th grade girls. I finally broke down and am shelving them all under Candy Apple.

After my upcoming winter break hiatus (slow internet connection at home), I promise more NEW titles.