Posted

Posted
by John David Anderson

From the publisher:
"From John David Anderson, author of the acclaimed Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, comes a humorous, poignant, and original contemporary story about bullying, broken friendships, and the failures of communication between kids.

In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.

When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.

In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same."

When I started this book, my main thought was how happy I was to read a book about a middle school boy that didn't contain stick figure drawings. Then I was disappointed because words were used that I could have lived without (not cussing, just vulgarities), and I started writing a rant in my head that went something like, "No! Don't tell me boys will be boys! They can be whatever we train them or teach them to be!". (I have 7 grandsons - I have very strong feelings about this topic :) .) However, those were the last negative feelings I had about this book because not long after that, you discover that the main character is a closet poet and that he loves Robert Frost. Eric Voss, you have unsuspected depth! He's smart, he's loyal, he's dealing with issues at home, and he is just trying to make it through life. And the unsuspected depth of other characters is revealed as time goes on as well. This book is REAL. We have all been there, middle school is tough. I tried to keep as low a profile as possible in junior high. Walking into the lunch room was the biggest stress of my day, with the exception of PE and showers. I had my "tribe" and they were all I needed. Everyone will see themselves in this book - the mean girls, the jocks, the nerds, the outsiders..... As a public school employee, I hate it when books portray bullying in schools and the teachers and administrators are either idiots who turn a blind eye, or completely callous. This book didn't do that. The administrators and teachers were actively involved in trying to fix and heal situations. Well done, Mr. John David Anderson. I will definitely be book talking this one and encouraging student's to read it. Aside from the unsuspected depth it is entertaining, funny and touching.

Areas of concern:
*Above-mentioned vulgarities, but they don't appear often at all.
*Maybe 2 swear words.
*Dysfunctional parents of varying degrees.
*Bullying. One of the main characters is accused of being gay several times throughout the book and is tormented for no reason at all. Other characters are trapped in the restroom and physically bullied.
I'm really reaching for those concerns - I would recommend this to one and all.

Suggested Ages:
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 10-14
School Library Journal - Grades 5-8

A Path Begins (The Thickety, #1)

A Path Begins
The Thickey, #1
by J.A. White

From the publisher:
"The Thickety: A Path Begins is a spellbinding tale about a girl, the Thickety, and the power of magic. Fans of Neil Gaiman will love this thrilling new world.

When Kara Westfall was five years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic…except, perhaps, the mysterious forest that covers nearly the entire island. It has many names, this place. Sometimes it is called the Dark Wood, or Sordyr's Realm. But mostly it's called the Thickety.

The villagers live in fear of the Thickety and the terrible creatures that live there. But when an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers. A book that might have belonged to her mother.

And that is just the beginning of the story."

This book was way too dark for me. It was thrilling, exciting, and definitely held your interest, but yikes, there was a lot of dark stuff going on. For instance - kidnapping, horrible beasts that do horrible things to people, a mother being killed in front of her 5 year old, intense bullying, lack of good adults, dark witchcraft, a terrifying forest, people being brought back to life and then killed again, addiction to dark magic..... I could go on and on. Early on, I chose not to get this for the Blevins Library, but I had several kids tell me it was an awesome series, so I purchased the whole set. One of my students told me that the first book was the darkest of the 4, so I'm hoping things improve in the other books. I won't be reading them. I you have sensitive kids, have them steer clear of this book. 

Areas of concern:
*See above - massive violence and disturbing, morbid things going on. 
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12  (Wow, I very much disagree!)
School Library Journal - Grades 5-8

Suggested Ages: