Chris is an incredible ice skater: he's been taking figure skating lessons all his life. But figure skating isn't fun anymore, and Chris knows he's not good enough to become an Olympic athlete. When he notices hockey tryouts at the rink where he skates, he decides he'll give hockey a shot. It seems like everything's against him: Chris is small for his age, his mother thinks hockey is dangerous, and he's never played before. Will he make the team, or just embarrass himself? Does he have what it takes to be a hockey player?

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 8/18/2009

ISBN-10: 0316135208

ISBN-13: 9780316135207

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'Coolies' by Yin is an historical accounting of the Chinese contribution to the building of the transcontinental railroad in the United States of America in the mid-1800's. Beautifully told through the eyes of Shek and his little brother Wong, the author is able to describe the immense prejudice, (being called Coolies), the grueling and dangerous working conditions, and the poor pay that the Chinese workers were subjected to. Through the realistic illustrations of Chris Soentipiet, we are told the story of the enormous contribution and sacrifice made by many Chinese workmen in the building of a railroad and in the expansion of the United States.

Similar authors: Laurence Yep; Lila Perl; Karen Hesse, Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert; Eve Bunting; Shirin Yim Bridges

Similar books: The Transcontinental Railroad by John Perritano; Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep; To the Golden Mountain: The Story of the Chinese who Built the Transcontinental Railroad by Lila Perl; Pop's Bridge by Eve Bunting; Papa's Mark by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/27/2011

ISBN-10: 0399232273

ISBN-13: 9780399232275

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This is not your typical story about a kid who trades places with an adult. You know, where the adult is locked in a kid's body. Liam is twelve. He is a very mature twelve, and a tall kid with facial hair who is very often mistaken for an adult. But he is a kid, and a totally amazed kid when he wins a contest to ride on the out-of-this-world thrill rocket into space. That is when Liam concocts a plan to actually go on the trip without his parent's permission - he poses as his dad and brings along his best friend, Florida, as his daughter. An amazing journey unfolds as Liam and Florida take this once-in-a-lifetime thrill ride. You will be holding your breath as you turn the pages.

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 4/5/2011

ISBN-10: 0061836834

ISBN-13: 9780061836831

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The year 1962 comes alive with the lyrics, photos, commercials, speeches, drills, and cartoons of the time in this extremely well written book. It weaves Franny's story during the Cuban Missle Crisis with her Uncle Ott's WWII losses that are very much a part of his every day, with all the other day-to-day happenings in her family during this historic time. First in the Sixties Trilogy.

Awards nominated: 2013 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 3/21/2011

ISBN-10: 9780545106054

ISBN-13: 9780545106054

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Commenter: Valerie, grade 54

Cocky Seventh-grader, John 'Crash' Coogan, has been running over people since the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin flat on her backside. Shy, pacifist, Penn Webb, has been a favorite target for Crash's bullying for years. Through his grandfather's illness, Crash begins to see the value in things he had previously scorned, and he begins to see the importance of family and friendship.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/29/2009

ISBN-10: 0679979573

ISBN-13: 9780679979579

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