Recommended Reads By Holy Spirit Students

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Book Talk 3

Theme:Bullies On the Brain

Title: Home Truths     Author: Jill MacLean

Level: Grade 7 and up

Fiction, 2012 Red Maple Nominee
Genre: Realsitic Fiction, Social Issues, Bullying

Brick MackAvoy is a 14-year-old bully.  He bullies any kid that is smaller than him. Why? This is because he is being bullied as well. Not by any kid, but by his own father.  He plans to run away the second he turns sixteen. So until that time comes, he decides to save up as much money as he can so that when he does run, he will be well on his feet. However, when he starts to befriend the neighbours, his secrets start to become exposed. It gets even worse when he finds out his father even hits his younger sister who is only four years old. When troubles from the local gang come his way, Brick decides to learn karate so he will be able to protect himself and his sister at all times. Then he starts to wonder, will he use karate on his own father to protect himself?
(By Sabrina D.)

Home Truths is about a teenage boy named Brick who is having a rough time at home; his father is abusive and his mother doesn't care about him. However, there is one important person in his life that he cares about and that is his little sister, Cassie.  Brick needs to stop his father's abuse towards him or someone else that he loves will be next. Even though Brick is being bullied, it takes him a while to acknowledge that he himself is a bully toward his peers. Brick has a plan in mind to escape his father but as he becomes social with the neighbours he finds himself in deeper trouble and a reality hits him - his plan might not work.  Brick has to decide between staying and protecting his sister or running away.  Which one will he choose?
(By Julia D.)

 Title: Good-Bye Bully Machine   Authors: Debbie Fox and Allan L. Beane
Level: All Ages
Nonfiction

Have you ever been bullied? Are you a bully? Do you know someone who has been bullied?  Have you ever tried to understand bullying? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then this book is for you!
Debbie Fox and Allan Beane do a great job of explaining how and why bullying exists in our society, especially in schools.  They also give us great suggestions on what to do about this problem. Bullying is a very serious issue and we should all try to understand it because maybe one day we can help someone in trouble, including ourselves.

Title: Leaving Fletchville       Author: Rene Schmidt
Level: Grades 7 and up
Fiction, 2010 Red Maple Nominee

Can a bully really change?
Brandon, who had a reputation in the school for being a bully, experienced an unexpected transformation. This story presents the world from a bully's point of view.  And, if you're wondering what caused Brandon to change his behaviour and attitude, you'll find out in Leaving Fletchville. It takes a very unusual family, new to the school, to make him see the world in a different light. You'll be surprised!

Title: Stitches        Author: Glen Huser

Level: Grade 5 & Up!

Fiction!

Did you ever think bullying could go so far that it could almost end a life? Well, it can, and it did in the breathtaking story Stitches. In this book Travis and his best friend Chantelle, also known as ”the ugly baby,” are constantly being bullied.  Well, if that’s not enough, even his Aunt Kiatleen is being bullied by her spouse, Mike!  Find out how family, friends, and stitching puppets help Travis through these difficult times!

(By Valerie A.)

Title: Egghead             Author: Caroline Pignat

Level: Grade 7 & 8      Fiction, 2010 Red Maple Nominee

Bullying is painful for anyone, especially for Will Reid. In this story Egghead, Will is being bullied and can’t seem to do anything to stop it.  Will’s daily life involves verbal threats, physical harm, and embarrassment. His best friend Katie is always there to stand up for him, but lately it seems like she’s getting bullied herself. Then there’s Devan, one of the bullies who is struggling with the fact that maybe bullying is wrong. This book is an amazing in depth story that is told from all three perspectives; a bully, a bystander, and the innocent target. Readers will find this book an emotional and thoughtful experience.

(By Sabrina D.)

Book Talk 2

Themes: War, Conflict

We often see or hear talk of war by adults in faraway times and places. Sometimes we don't realize how close we really are to it in our own country, and in our present time on earth today. See and hear the voices of kids like you who experience war today in these books by Deborah Ellis.

Book 1: Off to War by Deborah Ellis
               Nonfiction, Canadian
               Junior, Intermediate

What do you think it's like having a parent in the military?
Deborah Ellis interviews children of different ages from families in which at least one parent is involved in the military, either from Canada or United States. Read about their experiences, worries, and challenges in this collection of stories and interviews.

Book 2: Children of War by Deborah Ellis
              Nonfiction, Canadian
              Junior, Intermediate

Can you imagine what your life would be like if your home was suddenly destroyed by an explosion? What would you do if your whole community fell apart? What if schools, stores, roads, libraries, hospitals, and churches had no access, or became very limited.  How would you cope? Where would you go? Find out how Iraqi children survived in Deborah Ellis' book, Children of War.  You will learn about the experiences of many Iraqi children of today told in their own words of what they experienced under these conditions.

To view an online interview with Deborah Ellis link to:  www.papertigers.org/interviews

  

Book Talk 1

Themes: Survival, Native People History
Surviving off the raw land means being able to get around without getting lost, knowing the dangers of the wild life, recognizing gifts of nature, finding food and shelter, and healing wounds and illnesses using its resources.  Did the European explorers, fur traders, and settlers know what they were really getting into when they came to North America? Does Bear, in the television show "Man vs. Wild" learn from the wisdom of the natives? Judge for yourself in The Sign of the Beaver and  Wisdom and Gifts.

Book 1: The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

              Fiction, Newbery Honour
              Junior, Intermediate

Twelve-year-old Matt is left to fend for himself in the wilderness of the north-eastern woodlands of North America with just a small cabin and a few supplies.  Will he survive the unexpected dangers of wild life, the mishaps, the diminishing food supply, the approaching winter, or even find his way around?
Matt knows he's not alone though. He's heard stories of conflicts between the settlers and the natives. Are they really dangerous? Should he fear them as well?  How will he protect himself?
Then Matt meets Attean, a native Indian boy who belongs to the Beaver tribe not too far from his cabin.  Attean's way of life has a great impact on Matt's survival and existence with nature. Tracking, hunting, fishing, navigating, and making clothes and tools are just a few skills Matt learns.
Would he ever have his old way of life back? Would he ever see his family again? Should he join the Beaver tribe forever? If you were Matt, would you?

Go to authorstream.com and search for The Sign of the Beaver for a summary and more information on this book.

Book 2: Wisdom and Gifts by Bobbie Kalman
              Non-fiction, Native North American Series
              Junior, Intermediate

Learn about the gifts given to us by the Native Peoples of North America in foods that we eat today, games we play, clothing that we wear, medicines we use, names of places and things we say, government systems, ecology and conservation ideas, and of course, stories and art we enjoy.
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***If you liked these books, check out the following for similar reads: The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter, I Am Raven by David Bouchard, and Life in a Longhouse by Bobbie Kalman.