The Penderwicks

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks is a National Book Award Winner and is a lovely story about four sisters who travel to the Berkshire Mountains with their father for a summer vacation.  The sisters have many adventures and run into many tricky situations which require a convening of the sisters in a meeting of the MOOPS.  The MOOPS must find solutions to some of their dilemmas including what to do about their friend Jeffrey who's mother insists upon sending him away to military school.  Read about the adventures the sisters have with Jeffrey, Cagney the gardener, Cagney's pet rabbits (one of whom almost dies), and the fearful Mrs. Tifton.  This is a great book for students in second grade and up.

the higher power of lucky

the higher power of lucky by Susan Patron

The higher power of lucky, a Newbury Award winner by Susan Patron is set in the dry west, deep in poverty.  Lucky is a ward and depends on Bridgitte to care for her but worries that Bridgitte is going to go back to France and abandon Lucky.  Bridgitte loves France.  It is her home and where her mother lives and because of Lucky, Bridgitte is living in a metal trailer amongst sand squalls.  Lucky eavesdrops on an Alcoholics Anonymous group and learns about seeking your higher power.  Throughout the entire book Lucky is trying to seek her higher power so that no matter what, she’ll be ok.  Then she decides to run away during a sand storm.  Carrying her mother’s ashes she finds herself content to take shelter in a small cave and survive on canned beans.  Lucky is a lovable and very real character.  Join her on her journey to seeking higher power.  This book is great for students in grades 4 and up.  

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, a Newbury Honor book by Jacqueline Kelly is a refreshing story about a young lady coming of age at the turn of the twentieth century.  She is expected to be prim and embody certain feminine qualities such as knitting socks and sewing.  However, Calpurnia would rather swim in the river and collect specimens to study with her grandfather.  One day she and her grandfather discover a new plant and send in required documents to the Smithsonian Institution to verify that it is indeed a new plant.  While the plant is being verified the pressure from Calpurnia’s parents becomes nearly unbearable as they seem to be molding her into a housewife rather than a scientist.  Do Calpurnia and her grandfather discover a new plant?  And can Calpurnia break through societal expectations to pave a new path for herself as a woman scientist?  Kelly’s writing is wonderful and the story is great for students in grades 4-8.