The Survival Guide for Money Smarts Book Review

The Survival Guide for Money Smarts

Earn, Save, Spend, Give

Eric Braun (Author)

Sandy Donovan (Author)

Free Spirit Publishing

Upper Elementary, Middle Grades, Nonfiction

Publication Date: August 17, 2016

The Survival Guide for Money Smarts is a great starting book for upper elementary and middle school students to build their knowledge of what money is, how to earn it, save it, spend it and donate it wisely. The book starts by helping kids define their short term, long term, and really long term goals and prioritize them. Then, the book dives into ways to make money, how to budget, tips for being a smart and mindful consumer, and how to understand banking, borrowing, saving, and investing.

The Survival Guide for Money Smarts builds a solid foundation of financial literacy skills that will serve kids well into their future.

If you’re interested in reading The Survival Guide for Money Smarts, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Get Coding!: Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript & Build a Website, App & Game Book Review

Get Coding!: Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript & Build a Website, App & Game

Young Rewired State

Candlewick

Children’s Nonfiction, Middle Grades, Young Adult

Publication Date: August 1, 2017

Get Coding! is an awesome book! Though it's geared toward kids, this book is a wealth of knowledge and an easy to follow manual for a want-to-be coder of any age. It teaches HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Through six missions, you can learn to build a website, an app, and a game!

Get Coding! is a great resource for kids who want to learn on their own, for teachers who want to learn a little more, for teachers who are new to teaching coding classes, or as a resource for makerspaces!

If you’re interested in reading Get Coding!: Learn HTML, CSS & JavaScript & Build a Website, App & Game, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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When Dreams Come True Book Review

When Dreams Come True

Rebecca Emin

Gingersnap Books

Fiction, Middle Grades, Young Adult

Publication Date: February 3, 2016

When Dreams Come True is a British coming-of-age novel about Charlie (Charlotte) who would rather be biking or palling around with her three best friends Toby, Max, and Allie. But as the new school year starts, her friends, especially Allie, seem to be more interested in the opposite sex. While Charlie doesn't understand this sudden change, she finds herself having some of the same feelings.

When her aunt becomes suddenly ill, Charlie ends up missing school as her parents take care of her aunt, but she's still able to catch up with her friends when they come to visit on the weekend.

Led by teenage emotions and coming-of-age confusions, When Dreams Come True is a good read for someone who wants a book that focuses on crushes and first kisses. Other parts of the plot, like Aunt Jenny's illness and some family drama, are not as well developed.

If you’re interested in reading When Dreams Come True, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Lost Girls Book Review

Lost Girls

Merrie Destefano (author)

Entangled: Teen

Young Adult, Thriller, Fiction

Publication Date: January 3, 2017

After being missing for two weeks Rachel wakes up in a ditch, crawling up to the road for help. And even though she's only been gone for a few days, she can't remember the last year of her life, a life that has changed drastically. A former Taylor Swift loving ballerina, Rachel is now popular, dating her long time crush, dresses in black, and knows how to fight.

As her memories come back and as she tries to navigate this new life she doesn't remember, Rachel starts to piece together how she went from a ballerina to a raver who loves to fight.

Lost Girls is the perfect teen read! Fast-paced and thrilling, it will keep you reading - can Rachel stay safe as she pieces together her past?

If you’re interested in reading Lost Girls, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett Book Review

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett

Chelsea Sedoti

Sourcebooks Fire

Young Adult, Fiction

Publication Date: January 3, 2017

Hawthorn has always been a little obsessed about Lizzie Lovett. In high school Lizzie was popular, the kind of girl all guys would want to date, but Hawthorn was not impressed. Or at least, she would never admit that she was impressed by Lizzie. And now, a few years after Lizzie graduated and Hawthorn is in high school, Lizzie is missing. She went camping with her boyfriend and *poof* she's gone.

In an attempt to find Lizzie, Hawthorn makes up her own theory about Lizzie's disappearance and begins to take on Lizzie's life getting a job at the dinner Lizzie worked at and spending a lot of time with Lizzie's boyfriend. As Hawthorn discovers more about Lizzie's life, she also learns more about herself.

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett is a coming of age story with a unique narrator. Hawthorn's theories and ideas may be a bit out there, but many young adult readers will identify with her feelings of angst and trouble fitting in.

If you’re interested in reading The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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The Amateurs Book Review

The Amateurs Book 1

Sara Shepard (Author)

Disney-Hyperion

Young Adult, Mystery

Publication Date: November 1, 2016

Seneca Frazier is a college freshman who loves true crime, and when high schooler Aerin Kelley posts a message on Case Not Closed for help solving her sister's infamous murder case, Seneca can't stop herself from volunteering. Teaming up with her friend Maddy from the board, Seneca and a few other teens band together as detectives to solve Helena Kelley's high-profile disappearance and murder.

The Amateurs is a plot driven novel with intrigue but not a lot of substance. I really wanted to like the novel, and it had potential, but the characters are not well developed and the writing is a bit flat.
Some teens might appreciate the lack of complexity within The Amateurs, but others will find it lacking.

If you’d like to give The Amateurs a try, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Small Great Things Book Review

Small Great Things

Jodi Picoult (Author)

Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Adult Fiction

Publication Date: October 11, 2016

Ruth Jefferson, a labor and delivery nurse for more than twenty years who is African American, is removed from caring for a newborn patient by his white supremacist parents. But, when the newborn goes into cardiac arrest and Ruth is the only nurse available to help, how should she react? Does she disobey orders and help the child, or does she abide by the directive given to her and not care for the patient? This incident sets into motion a lawsuit and a candid look at race and racism in America today.

While it's easy to point a finger at overt racism and racists (like the confederate flag and swastika tattooed father), Small Great Things dives deeper illuminating shades of racism from intentional to unintentional to well-intentioned ignorance.

As a white woman, Small Great Things was at times familiar at times eye opening and at times jarring. Small Great Things will make you think about race in America and how you fit into the wider discourse. When you read this book, I highly recommend also reading the Author's Note that explains why Jodi Picoult wrote it. It's important to understand perspectives outside of our own, and even though it is fiction, Small Great Things offers insight into a multitude of experiences Americans live every day.

If you’re interested in reading Small Great Things, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Bone Sparrow Review

The Bone Sparrow

Zana Fraillon (Author)

Disney-Hyperion

Kids Can Press

Middle Grades, Young Adult, Fiction

Publication Date: November 1, 2016

The Bone Sparrow is an enlightening but heartbreaking glimpse into life in a refugee detention center. Set in Australia, The Bone Sparrow follows Subhi, a refugee born inside the camp who has never experienced life "outside" and Jimmie an outsider who finds a way to sneak into the camp at night. As Subhi and Jimmie become fast friends, finding comfort and adventure in small things like hot chocolate and reading stories, the plight of those in the camp becomes more evident and tensions escalate.

While The Bone Sparrow is set in a permanent detention center in Australia for Rohingya refugees, the treatment and conditions these characters face are common to other refugees around the world.  For teachers, The Bone Sparrow is a great introduction for students to see what life is like in these camps–there is hardship and misery, but there is also family, love, and friendship. 

If you’re interested in reading The Bone Sparrow, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Eureka! 50 Scientists Who Shaped Human History Book Review

Eureka! 50 Scientists Who Shaped Human History

John Grant

Zest Books

Young Adult, Non-Fiction

Publication Date: August 2, 2016

From Pythagoras to Galileo to Newton to Hawking, Eureka! dives into the stories of fifty scientists that shaped human history. While some names are to be expected (Darwin, Einstein, Hubble) but others you may have trouble naming their contributions to science off the top of your head.  Regardless of if you're familiar with the scientist or not, Grant's interesting stories and facts will keep you reading. Since the book is divided into fifty sections-one for each scientist-it is easy to pick up and put down, though I found myself reading large chunks at a time.

Students, especially science lovers, will enjoy Eureka! and it will also make a great nonfiction tie-in for science or language arts teachers looking to build background information and give context for some of the greatest discoveries in human history.

If you’re interested in reading Eureka!, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Gallaudet Children's Dictionary of American Sign Language Book Review

The Gallaudet Children's Dictionary of American Sign Language

Editors of Gallaudet University Press

Gallaudet University Press

Nonfiction, Children-Adult

Publication Date: October 31, 2014

The Gallaudet Children's Dictionary of American Sign Language is a great resource for children and parents, students and teachers.  As a parent, it is a great reference for teaching my son fundamental signs. Plus as an elementary teacher, this dictionary is a great resource for introducing and utilizing sign language in the classroom. Students can avoid disrupting other students when asking to use the restroom, get a drink of water, etc. by using sign language when they need something.

This dictionary is an easy to use guide with fun illustrations for the meaning of words and clear illustrations for how to sign a word.

I highly recommend this resource for both parents and teachers!

If you’re interested in The Gallaudet Children's Dictionary of American Sign Language, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Enter Title Here Book Review

Enter Title Here

Rahul Kanakia

Disney Book Group

Young Adult

Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Reshma Kapoor has crafted her entire high school experience to be the best. The best is what she needs to be if she wants to get into Stanford. But even with her long list of AP classes, high GPA, and valedictorian spot, Stanford is not a sure bet.

Reshma needs something to set her apart from the perfects. She needs something that will make her stand out from all of the other overachieving valedictorians. She needs a hook.

When the opportunity to write a book comes along, Reshma jumps at the chance. How many high school students have a literary agent? Reshma writes herself as her protagonist - an overachiever who will learn that friendships are more important than striving for perfection.

But as Reshma beings checking items off her narrative to-do list (get a boyfriend, go to a party, make a friend) and as her place as valedictorian gets jeopardized, Reshma must decide how low she is willing to go to get what she wants.

If you’re interested in reading Enter Title Here, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Girl in the Well Is Me Book Review

The Girl in the Well Is Me

Karen Rivers

Algonquin Young Readers

Middle Grades, Young Adult, Middle School

Publication Date: March 15, 2016

Kammie wants to start fresh at her new school and fit in with the cool girls, but picking Mandy, Kandy, and Sandy as potential friends quickly goes awry when a faux initiation into their group ends with Kammie stuck in a well.

While in the well, Kammie tells her story of why her family moved to Texas, why she was hated at her last school, and why she wanted more than anything to start anew. 

The Girl in the Well Is Me is a well-written tale that middle school girls will want to read.

If you’re interested in reading The Girl in the Well Is Me, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.