Ask Mrs. B About…Out Of My Mind

Out Of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
“Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes--each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.
Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs….
But only in my head.
I have never spoken one single word. I am almost eleven years old.”

Melody is stuck in a class at Spaulding Street School where her days consist of easy alphabet lessons and nursery school songs. But Melody is capable of so much more! Even though she was born with Cerebral Palsy and can’t walk or talk, Melody is very bright. She might even be the smartest kid in school…but no one knows it. Her words and thoughts are trapped in her head and she’s going OUT OF HER MIND!

Melody enters fifth grade and her school starts inclusion classes. She is excited since this will be a great opportunity to be included with the so-called “normal” kids. Her wish for a gadget that shows Garfield-like speech bubbles over her head doesn’t come true, but Melody does get a special computer that allows her to speak for the first time. But even though the computer allows her to speak, that doesn’t mean she is always heard.

Melody’s story is full of many twists and turns and includes friends and family who love and support her, “mean girls” who are just plain rude, a quiz bowl competition and much more. If you’ve ever felt unheard or misunderstood, you’ll want to read Out Of My Mind. I guarantee you will cheer for Melody!

Ask Mrs. B About…Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to NOT Reading

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to NOT Reading by Tommy Greenwald, Illustrated by J.P. Coovert
To say that Charlie Joe Jackson didn’t like to read would be a huge understatement. He would do anything, at any cost, to avoid reading. (Sound like anyone you know?)
Charlie Joe managed to make it to middle school without ever having read an entire book.  He had a plan, and it worked for him…until now! His friend Timmy no longer was willing to accept ice cream sandwiches in exchange for telling Charlie Joe about the books he should have read.
You might think that Charlie Joe would realize it was time to start doing his own reading.  Yeah, right!  More scheming and plotting ensues.  Will he get through middle school with his non-reading record intact?
This is a fun, fast read that even Charlie Joe Jackson would enjoy if he weren’t so busy trying to NOT read!
Oh, and if you too are a non-reader and aren't convinced this book is worth picking up, you may want to read it just for the Tips for NOT reading that Charlie Joe provides throughout the book, starting with “If you have to read a book, make sure it has short chapters.”

Ask Mrs. B About…as if being 12 3/4 isn't bad enough, my mother is running for president!

as if being 12 3/4 isn't bad enough, my mother is running for president! by Donna Gephart

Well, the reviews are in…Natalie told me it was “really good!” and Kate said “it’s really exciting right up to the end!” Given the fabulous student reviews, I had to read this Donna Gephart book during Spring Break.

Natalie and Kate were right! Kudos (Kudos. K-U-D-O-S. Kudos.) to Gephart. This book is another winner.

As if Vanessa Rothrock doesn’t have enough to contend with already - Preparing for the upcoming spelling bee by  endlessly spelling out words; Worrying about tripping over her huge feet, while praying that her other body parts will catch up; Being followed everywhere by a huge bodyguard (and I mean EVERYWHERE!); Realizing that the cute boy she’s been crushing on is actually a neanderthal (Neanderthal.  N-E-A-N-D-E-R-T-H-A-L. Neanderthal.); Worst of all,  Vanessa is starting to feel like she has to make an appointment to see her mom, the one person she needs most of all.  Her mother has been busy dealing with her work as the Governor of Florida.  

And now her mother is running for President of the United States.  Not only does Vanessa worry that she’ll never see her mother again, what if something bad happens to her?  As Vanessa begins receiving threatening (Threatening. T-H-R-E-A-T-E-N-I-N-G. Threatening.) notes at school, it looks like her fears may prove to be very real!  Somebody has to do something, and it’s looking like that someone will have to be Vanessa.  But does she have the courage to do what needs to be done to protect her mother?  And will her mother understand and forgive her?   Well, you don’t expect me to tell you, do you?  You’ll have to read this book to find out.

Ask Mrs. B about…Wonder

Wonder by RJ. Palacio
This is the season of giving and I am excited to share with you the gift of Wonder by R.J. Palacio!  I think you will also want to share this book with others when you are done reading it.
August "Auggie" Pullman is an ordinary boy in many ways.  He likes to ride his bike, eat ice cream and play XBox, just like many of the students at Canonsburg Middle School.  Unfortunately, Auggie doesn't feel like a normal boy, especially when other kids stare at him or look at him and run away screaming.  All because he was unlucky enough to be born with a severe facial deformity.
Now after years of home-schooling, Auggie is about to enter the fifth grade at Beecher Prep. It’s hard enough being the new kid in middle school, but being the new kid in middle school who doesn’t look like anyone else…this was going to be a challenge!
It would be nice to think that everyone at Auggie’s new school will be welcoming and accepting, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. It rarely is. While some of the students are nice to him, others are just down-right mean. At one point, Auggie discovers that his class-mates are playing their own version of “The Cheese Touch” by spreading the rumor that you’ll get the “Plague” by touching Auggie.
So what do you think? Will the kids at Beecher Prep be up to the challenge? Will they choose to be cruel or kind? I dare you to read Wonder and not want to do your own part to make even just a small difference at Canonsburg Middle School. Are you ready to Choose to be Kind?