Book Reviews from a Teacher's Perspective

Author:  Robert Beatty Themes:  Good vs. Evil Love conquers all The Power of Friendship Coming of Age Genres:  Fantasy Historical Fiction Recommended Age for Reading:  Depending on the reading level of the students, I'd recommend this book for upper elementary and middle grades.  There's nothing inappropriate for younger readers in the story, but the series gets a bit dark at times.  Overall the series is enjoyable for kids all the way through adulthood.  It would be a fun series to read as a family.  Plot: In "Serafina and the Black Cloak," the reader is introduced to a little girl who lives in the basement with her father.  Her father works as a maintenance man for the Biltomore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  At the beginning of the story, all we know about Serafina is that she's a "creature of the night."  No one knows that she and her father are living in the basement, and no ...

Author: Joseph Bruchac Themes: Coming of Age, Adventure, Family/Tradition Genre: Historical Fiction Recommended Age for Reading:  The reading level for this book is a 6.5, but the content is appropriate for students in lower grade levels.  For some of the gifted readers, students in grades 4-6 may enjoy this book.  There is some violence since the premise of the story is World War 2, but it isn't anything that isn't appropriate for students in the elementary grades. Plot:   This book tells the story of a young Navajo boy who begins his life on a Navajo reservation.  He speaks only Navajo until the age of 6 when he begins school.  His school is ran by white people who are trying to "educate" the Navajo.  Speaking Navajo is forbidden at this school because the white people think there is no purpose for Navajo boys and girls to keep their language.  The boy has a Navajo name, but when he starts school, the white people change his na...