Nathan Hales - Hazardous Tales

Kids, Students, and Life-Long Readers,

I have found my new favorite series for learning about history - Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.  My new task is to collect every copy for my personal library - here I come Amazon.

As I am sure you all know, Nathan Hale was an American spy during the Revolutionary War.  He is known for giving his life for our country and spoke the famous words, "I only regret that I have one life to give for my country."  The premise of each book is Hale is about to be executed by a British soldier and the hangman, but first, they want to hear a story.  This is where Nathan will tell them about a section of history.  I have read the Underground Railroad and World War 1.  Both have been outstanding!

The first reason I love this series is that fact that it is a graphic novel. Loving and understanding history starts with making it visual.  Kids will be drawn to the cartoon, and the comic book feels.  It won't seem like they are reading a history book.  The layout continues to change throughout the book, so it doesn't feel static or lack-luster.  The second reason is the attention to interesting details.  This will not give you a brief overview of the historical context.  Hazardous Tales will answer those questions that you were wondering, and provide the juicy or gross details that we all love.  The final reason is the humor aspect.  The back and forth between are three characters provide a bit of humor to break up the influx of historical context.  I often find myself laughing out loud as I am reading - which may seem odd to be laughing when I am reading about World War 1.

I encourage all readers to give one of these a try - you will not be disappointed, and you can learn a bit of history.

AUTHOR: ???

GENRE:  Nonfiction - Graphic Novel

GRADE LEVEL: 5-8

Teens at War (Student Book Talk)

Kids, students, and lifelong readers,

Sometimes we have sacrifices that we have to make for our country, friends, and family. This book explains about ten true stories about teenagers that sacrificed many things. 15-year-old Julian saves hundreds of people at Lee’s Mill while, 12-year-old Calvin lies about his age so he can get into war during World War ll. I would say that this book can get very sad but then there are those moments that you feel happy because you think about all the people that fought for our country. In this book, you really get that feeling. This book makes you want to read more nonfiction books. All the stories make your heart pound and pound and if you like this feeling this is the right book for you.

Lawn Boy (Student Book Talk)

What do you think is the highest paying job in the world? Perhaps, Professional NFL players, or the President. Maybe you will grow up one day making a lot of money for your job.

The main character (we couldn’t find his name) suddenly gets a chance at making money one morning. In only one day, he had made sixty dollars. It was only a matter of time before he had his own stockbroker, Arnold, who invests in money, and hired employees. And was even sponsoring a prizefighter…

But the main character doesn’t always constantly have good days. There are opponents that try to take over his business…

I really liked this book. I would usually not read these kinds of books, but this one really piqued my interest. The story wasn’t always happy, and there were challenges along the way. I can’t wait to read the sequel to the book, The Lawn Boy Returns!

Author: Gary Paulsen

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: 5-6

Stealing Home - The Story of Jackie Robinson (Student)

A life is not important except if it has impact on other lives.

I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.

Baseball is like a poker game. Nobody wants to quit when he's losing; nobody wants you to quit when you're ahead.

These phrases come from the iconic player Jackie Robinson so with Jackie Robinson Day coming up you can read this and know what he had to fight. All this fighting only because his skin color, this was one of the most important moments for the Civil Rights Movement.

- Jackie will have to show throughout his life that he is the best ball player in the field. Despite him being treated terrible by most players in the league. People will try to spike him and pitchers will try to hit him with the ball.

- With all of those things he will need to achieve he will have to biggest test with all the racial things happening how will he react? Will he blow up and attack the players, or will he be quiet and keep it to himself?

This book shows how was life as an African-American was before the Civil Rights Movement. The biggest thing in the book is obviously race. This shows to not judge people by skin color. This also shows to not think of yourself higher than someone because of a racial idea or if I am richer I am better. But overall to not judge people by small things about them but to be open minded.

AUTHOR: Barry Denenberg

GENRE: Non-Fiction

GRADES: 4-8

Hatter Madigan - Ghost in the HATBOX

Kids, students, and life-long readers,

Frank Beddor has finally released another book in his series The Looking Glass Wars.  Now before we get into this book, I highly recommend you give the previous series a read as what I refer to it as Alice in Wonderland on steroids.  I have been longingly waiting for another book, and the graphic novels that followed Hatter just didn't do it for me.

This side-series follow our beloved character and assassin Hatter Madigan a.k.a the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.  But now we have taken a trip back in time to learn the backstory and childhood of Hatter.  This book has a Harry Potter feel as Hatter is entering Wonderland's Millinery Academy to see if he has what it takes to make it as Spade, Club, Heart, or Diamond.  It will not be an easy road for Madigan. He struggles with finding the right friends that he can trust and will hold the same ideals. Can he live up to his brother Dalton's expectations while also trying to forge his path and not be stuck in his brother's footsteps.

But there is something amiss at the school as they are starting to mix technology and magic in the form of caterpillar string to form a new training ground - the HATBOX - but it is not as it appears. Can Hatter and his friends stop the evil plot before it is too late?

AUTHOR: Frank Beddor

GRADE: 6-8

GENRE: Fantasy