Disclosure: I was sent a copy of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
How is the school year going where you are? Hazel's private school started the Tuesday after Labor Day. They were doing great until last week. Hazel was learning remotely last week because she had a cut on the ball of her foot but apparently a student who had two negative tests got tested a third time and went to school before getting the results. The results were positive so the school we completely remote for three days, then the grades that were separated enough from the student were allowed back this week. All the other grades have to have a negative Covid test or wait fourteen days to come back. Hazel and I went to get tested this week. I got her negative results last night so she is finally back in school today after being home for almost two weeks. The local news here is full of public schools having issues--unions fighting with districts, outbreaks and more. So how is school where you are? Are you remote or in person or hybrid?
With school on the brain so much these days I thought I would share three chapter books involving school. These books are all recommended for ages 8 to 12, but some are for the younger readers or readers who struggle and others are for more advanced. The first book is Elvin Link, Please Report to the Principal's Office by Drew Dernavich.
In this book, fifth grader Elvin Link loves to doodle and draw. His art gets him in trouble since he often does not do it on paper. After changing his boring school desk into a rocket ship, he gets sent to the principal's office. Then something happens outside to a teacher and the witness can describe the person who did it, but they need a sketch artist. Since Elvin was with the principal when it happened he volunteers to try to draw from the witnesses description. He regrets that decision when he realizes the culprit is his own friend. But more things keep happening and Elvin is called upon again and again to draw to help solve mysteries as well as to help save field day.
Since Elvin is a doodler the book has sketches throughout it. Sometimes they are meant to be Elvin's sketches and other times they just illustrate the story. This book is perfect for the reluctant reader because of the pictures. The story is fun and interesting and easy to read. I read it in one day which I rarely do for chapter books. Kids who love mysteries will love this book but it is also just a fun book with lots of entertainment and more.
Our next book is The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf. This book is narrated by a 10-year-old boy in England. In the beginning of the year there is an empty seat in the classroom because one of the girls moved away. But one day it is filled by a mysterious boy who doesn't talk to anyone. The class learns he is a refugee. The narrator and his friends want to befriend the boy and make him feel welcome. Others however do not seem to want him there. The group of friends however want to help him and the more they learn about him the more they feel like he needs help.
This is an amazing book about friendship and helping others out. It teaches about refugees and gives a glimpse of what life as a refugee may be like. I love how the story flows. You learn about refugees and why they leave their homes. You learn about what they lose as well as what they gain. It is such an interesting way to teach kids about refugees. The book is a wonderful tale and the story flows so well. It has all the wonder of a 10-year-old boy in it.
Our final book is The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School by Kristin Mahoney. This book is about sixth grader Augusta (Gus) Reynolds writing to her younger sister about what middle school is like. After giving her sister, Louisa, short replies to the questions about middle school she finally sits down and writes her what it is like. Gus realizes for her middle school is about the different people she meets and she describes her life in the descriptions of the people. She is writing this during Thanksgiving break of her first year. Augusta's best friend is at a different middle school and has a very different experience there.
This book describes the struggles of many middle school students. There is how friendships change, people change and finding your own place in the world, so much of what middle school involves besides the academics. One of her teachers tells the kids the first day she hopes they find their village, meaning their people. This book shares how Gus does just that. Gus is also dealing with her parents recent divorce and the frustration and confusion that comes with it.
Gus and her friends' middle school experience is humorous as well as painful and feels so real. It reminds me of my own middle school days and she talks about so many of the people many of us had to deal with in middle school. It was a very easy read and I finished it within two days. It is entertaining and will help kids going through or about to go through the changes middle school brings--both the new school as well as the physical changes that occur at this age.
I hope you will check out all three of these great books. Each is an amazing story on its own and helps teach a bit about school and bring some fun into it.
