White Picket Fences

White Picket Fences *****
by Amy Julia Becker

Overview: Becker explores the issue of privilege in this book. She talks about her upbringing in the south as a wealthy, well- educated, white woman. Later moving North, she begins to realize how much her views on race are shaped by her upbringing.

You can't help where you are born. So what do you do with privilege? She keeps exploring this issue as she becomes a parent. And especially thinks of privilege in a new way when her daughter is born with Down Syndrome. Her daughter is born NOT into privilege. From her birth, she is at a disadvantage. People makes judgement calls on her just by how she looks.

The book doesn't come to any real conclusions. Becker ends the book with a challenge to keep trying to love those around us. In getting to know and understand people who are different than us, we can begin to love them. And love conquers all.

Positive elements: well-written, nice story flow

Negative: It was a bit long. I think she could have made her point in a lot fewer chapters.

Conclusion: My main take-away from this book was to make sure I'm having my kids read books about people from all cultures. She pointed out how many of our classics and even Newberry Metal books are about white people. So, that's an easy, practical thing I can do give my kids a peek of a different way of life. She mentions a few books, but I do wish she had included a larger list. Perhaps there just aren't that many books...that's a sad reality.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

The Girls' Guide to Conquering Middle School

The Girls' Guide To Conquering Middle School *****
By Erica & Jonathan Catherman

Overview: This book is basically a guide to different topics in middle school. For example, there is one chapter about handwriting and one about gossip. They have a joke or quick pop quiz on the bottom of the page sometimes. Then they have a picture with a thumbs up and a thumbs down showing what you should do and what you shouldn't do. There are also some pages that refer a little more to public school. Like there's one that talks about riding the bus and another one about locker rooms.

Negative Elements: I does kind of talk about some of those things that start to happen in middle school like dating, boyfriends, swearing. Some of those kinds of things.

Positive Elements: It has some of those funny questions or pop quizzes at the bottom of some of the pages to make the page a little more fun. The pictures in them make it also a little more fun.

Conclusion: Depending on where you are in middle school, there might be pages that are more helpful than others. This book is pretty cool. I know about most of it, since my parents are great about helping me out with things in middle school, but some middle school girls might not. I think your middle school daughter should read this book. I gave it four stars.

Here's one of the pages from it:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpFWbxJV4AAbsmP.jpg




By: Summer Staples, 12


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

La La La

                                                                                                                                                *****

                                                                                       La La La: A Story of Hope

                                                            By Kate DiCamillo

                                                             Illustrated by Jamie Kim

                 

Overview: This book is a picture book, with basically with the girl saying, "La La La," and "La." Then she sleeps and it says, "zzz..." So besides those few couple words, it is just pictures. It illustrates that she's singing and no one is answering. Find out if anyone answers.

Negative Elements: None

                                                                          

 Positive Elements: It's a sweet story.

 Conclusion: I think you should read this sweet and 

                       colorful book. I gave this book five stars.                                                                                                                                                

By: Summer Staples, 12 

Raymie Nightingale

                                      *****
Raymie Nightingale
By Kate DiCamillo


Overview: Raymie Nightingale is a great story about a great friendship. Three girls start of in a baton twirling class trying to compete in Little Miss Central Florida Tire, a baton twirling competition. Raymie's father had run away with a dental hygienist, and she wanted to get her picture in the paper so her father would come back, but instead she begins to reveal a friendship with Beverly and Louisiana, the girls in her baton twirling class, they work together to accomplish many goals.


Negative Elements: An old lady dies that was Raymie's friend. The break into an animal shelter and take a dog while looking for Louisiana's cat, Archie.
Positive Elements: Raymie saves Louisiana from drowning in a pond. They have a very sweet friendship. It has a very sweet ending,too.
Conclusion: This was a very sweet and awesome book. I loved it! I really like Kate DiCamillo's books. I think this book deserves five stars.



By: Summer Staples, 12