Learning!

Some people don't like to read fiction because they feel like they want to "learn something" from a book so they just read nonfiction.  Okay.  Maybe it's just my aunt who feels this way.  But when she says it, I want to tell her about all of the things that I have learned from reading fiction books!  I mean, I love reading nonfiction, too!  But I do learn from fiction as well.

Which was one of things I didn't like about Why We Broke Up with it's completely fictional movie star.  I mean, what was the point.  When one could have learned something from it!

I learned about Ireland's Wishing Trees from Wishtree.  I did like Wishtree a lot!  I just didn't find it to be 5 star, but maybe 4.75 star.  I think because it was too short (I know, so weird for me, but I really did like the characters and wanted to know more!)  But I think it was realistic, the way that it ended, even though there is much up in the air.  I loved the ending, I did.  The "STAY" part.  Which isn't a spoiler, I don't, think, the way that I am writing about it and won't say anymore. 
By the way, I LOVED Tree's jokes!  LOVED THEM!  I don't know if this is good enough to be THE Newbery, but I wouldn't be mad if it is THE Newbery, but it seems more like an honor book, which is awesome enough and for sure deserved! 

Wow this book...

Crenshaw is a heart-melter of a book without being sappy.  It is lovely.  Just lovely.  It is written by Katherine Applegate who wrote The One and Only Ivan, which did win the Newbery, but was actually great!  That was another heart-melty book that wasn't sappy.   She wrote the Animorphs series.  I wonder what it was like changing from Animorphs to these books.  I have never read the Animorphs, so they might be awesome, too, though!  oooh...I just found that she wrote this one, too.  That looks good!  At least the cover looks good and the description seems interesting!  I think Crenshaw is certainly a Newbery contender.  It was recommended to me by a young patron, actually, who told me that everyone in her class was reading it on their own and loving it and recommending it.

Changing the Stars...

So after I read Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs, the first in the Roscoe Riley Rules series, I gave it four of five stars on goodreads.  Now that it has been awhile, I have changed it to five. I've talked about Roscoe before, and like I said, I just think he is a terrific kid.  This is a great first chapter book for boys or girls. Roscoe is in time out when he tells us the story.  I think that is the format of the series.  I loved it when he says at the end that best part of time out is the family hug at the end.  Squee!  

um yeah, it's sad!

 When I decided to read The Only and Only Ivan I asked my friend Dolores if the book was sad.  She said no!  She lied!  The book was super sad!  But how could I not think it would be sad because it is about one of those zoo-type attractions that don't care for their animals at all.  I mean, what was I thinking?!?!  Still, even though this was a tough-truth book was very beautiful and well worth the read and the sadness!  Ivan lives in a circus attraction off of a major highway with a stray dog, and an elephant named Stella.  He doesn't remember much about his life before captivity, but he does feel lonely sometimes.  Stella does remember her life before and longs to be free, but pretty much believes she never will be.  One day a baby elephant named Ruby comes to join the show.  Ruby is innocent and sweet and kind and Ivan and Stella are determined to help her not live the trapped life that they have.