A Snicker of Magic

A Snicker of Magic, by Natalie Lloyd, is a great work of art. All types of art are found in this story: word art (such as poetry), fine art (like painting), and the art of discovering depth of character in relationships. Felicity is a girl whose mom drags her and her sister around from city to city, as they travel from place to place. Her mom is trying to start a new life, only to find that each time something goes wrong. Felicity wants her family to stay planted so they can learn from their mistakes and not keep starting over each time. Throughout this intricately woven mix of characters in the small town of Midnight Gulch, Felicity and her friend Jonah learn about the history of the town and the magic there once was in it. It wasn't until the magic left the town and curses loomed behind, affecting the families decades after.

What I love most about this book was the character development. They all were at odds with each other and gradually found love to be the connecting piece to allow for healing to occur. Often we find ourselves so distant from one another, especially with social media disconnecting us from real authenticity, and this book was a great example of how being brave and working on going deep with one another can lead us to growth with our friends and families.


--Mr. Riedl
2017-06-09

Horizon

Horizon, by Scott Westerfeld, is high-quality science fiction. It's been a while since I have read a fantastic science fiction book. This story reminds me a lot of the show that Jen and I used to be addicted to called Lost. Basically, it starts out on an airplane, but this plane crash wasn't just any random group of survivors. It was only the kids on the plane! And this group of young survivors didn't just experience a "typical" plane crash, they witnessed some type of selection process that they were chosen for.

As you can imagine, this would be very traumatic for such a young group, but some of the leaders step up and I eventually got very attached to certain characters. This is a wonderfully mysterious book about common struggles that kids go through in everyday life, and on top of all that, they discover that they land in a tropical jungle when they're supposed to be in the Canadian Arctic. Strange things happen, like when they discover a device that turns off gravity! What a bunch of fun, and the author leaves us with a huge cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait for the second book, which will be released in September.


--Mr. Riedl
2017-05-18

The Door in the Wall

The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli, takes place during the Middle Ages, much like Crispin: The Cross of Lead. Crispin is much more suspenseful and adventurous, whereas this book's suspense and adventure seems to be at a calmer level. This story follows Robin, a boy who is supposed to grow up to be a knight, but becomes ill and loses the use of his legs. Since his parents are living far away from him, he has been looked after by priests in the church. Robin learns to appreciate his life and eventually saves his uncle's castle from invasion.

It's a pretty good book for one that has a setting in the Middle Ages (few novels take place at that time, unfortunately, since we teach a Middle Ages unit in Social Studies at our school. However, it is not the most exciting book in the world, since he's bedridden throughout the majority of the story. The best thing I took away from reading about the friar teaching Robin about how to persevere throughout his frustration of being ill was his encouragement to find "the door in the wall." This meant that to overcome a challenge, one must never give up in finding a way through a wall. This is great advice for all of us in the struggles in our lives.


--Mr. Riedl
2017-05-03

Woof

Woof, by Spencer Quinn, is the first book in the Bowser and Birdie series. This is a great book for dog lovers. The great thing is that even though I'm not a dog lover, I still love this book. This book is hilarious all because of the fact that it is from the dog's point of view. His short attention span, much like a typical dog, leads to many laughs throughout the story.

The main reason I loved this book is because the author did such a good job putting the reader inside the mind of the main character, Bowser, who is a Bernese/poodle/shepherd mutt. He just got adopted by a new owner, Birdie, an 11-year-old girl. She lives with her grandmother in Louisiana and are dealing with a local mystery. Bowser is integral in solving the mystery because he notices things that humans often overlook. The author captures the essence of what makes dogs wonderful and how they see the world differently than we do.

I also learned a lot about the deep south, like what it's like living by a bayou and the different culture down there. I'm excited to read the other books in the series, if not just for hearing Bowser be the silly dog that he is, but also because of the exciting story. This book was off the charts!


--Mr. Riedl
2017-04-22

Matilda

Matilda, by Roald Dahl, is a well-loved children's book about a girl with amazing intelligence and she is only starting Kindergarten. She is mistreated by her parents, as they would prefer she watches TV rather than read books. They don't appreciate her amazing brain power, and make fun of her. Because of it, Matilda decides to play pranks on her family. Her schoolteacher, Miss Honey, discovers her gift on the first day of school and seems to be the only one who realizes her potential. There are more conflicts as the story continues and Miss Honey discovers many amazing abilities Matilda can achieve as she tests her to see how intelligent she really is!

At first, I was disgusted by this book. The verbal abuse at the hand of Matilda's parents and the physical abuse at the hand of her headmistress at school was horrid. Absolutely horrid. However, I think that Roald Dahl was intentionally trying to make these actions over the top horrible in order to make a point. I believe that his purpose was to contrast Good vs Evil in such a way that would make it obvious to root for those who are put into difficult situations and family lifestyles like neglect and abuse. Although Matilda struggles with her own desire for revenge, in the end she uses her intelligence and her heart for compassion rather than selfish gain.

As a teacher, I am a mandatory reporter, which means I must report to the authorities if I see or suspect any children have been abused at any time or location. So, this book strikes a chord with me because I could have called to report MANY incidents in this book, so it is understandably difficult for me to read. However, he kindness and compassion we see in Matilda and Miss Honey make this book worth reading. They overcome Evil with Good and the ending is wonderful!


--Mr. Riedl
2017-03-27

Escaping the Giant Wave

Escaping the Giant Wave, by Peg Kehret, is great for those who love books about natural disasters. It is an exciting story about Kyle going on a vacation to the Oregon coast. They learn about tsunamis while visiting together, and of course they happen to experience one while they are there! His parents are out on a boat while Kyle leads his sister away from the hotel to safety. Being separated from their parents and dealing with such a horrific disaster definitely adds to the suspense.

I've never read a realistic fiction book about a tsunami before, so that was very interesting. Additionally, since I live in Portland so close to the coast, I have grown up going on beach day trips or weekend excursions. However, we have never worried about tsunamis because they are so rare. Maybe it's different for the people who live on the coast, but I don't ever remember even talking about tsunamis when I was a kid. Still, even though it was a bit predictable at times, it has a good storyline and character development with Kyle dealing with a bully in a positive way. It actually reminds me of myself when I was dealing with my own bully in elementary school. It was an enjoyable read!


--Mr. Riedl
2017-03-15

The Giver

The Giver, by Lois Lowry, is the first book in the Giver Quartet series. It is a story about a boy named Jonas, who lives in a community in the future that prides itself in how it has designed itself to be peaceful, efficient, and fair. At the age of 12, the children in the community are assigned a job to do for the rest of their lives. This is normally a good thing, since the elders usually pick a career that fits their interests and passions with what they would enjoy doing. However, Jonas is in an unusual situation because he sees things differently than everyone else, so they assign him to the job titled "Receiver of Memory." This is when the book gets really interesting, because we discover that the entire community, except for Receiver of Memory, has forgotten all of the memories of the history of the world. Their desire to forget pain, love, war, music, and all the other things that make life wonderful and yet horrible at the same time. The reader follows Jonas on this journey of realizing what makes life worth living.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I always cry when I read this book because of how beautiful life can be seen from the perspective of those who don't have the freedom of choice. Being able to make choices and have freedom to love and freedom to get hurt is what makes life worth living. If we try too hard to control our lives and control the pain, then we take away the joy of life. When Jonas discovers this as he learns about the memories of the human race, it helps me open my eyes and realize what is important. The realization that Jonas makes throughout this book is what we need to realize each time we talk to our family and friends and each time we make choices about how to treat each other. This book is a brilliant way two see the world and how to make it a better place.


--Mr. Riedl
2017-03-08

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio, by Peg Kehret, is a memoir she wrote about her personal struggle as a twelve-year-old girl diagnosed with three different kinds of polio. She describes her journey dealing with this infectious disease, and what was done for patients before the polio vaccine was developed. Her slow recovery takes her away from her parents, to hospital rooms, and allows her to befriend other children trying to survive with the same disease.

This was SUCH a fantastic book! It was an unbelievable story to experience it though her own eyes, as she described it chronologically when she first collapsed at school. Her thoughts, her fears, and her joys were all mixed together into a descriptive picture of what it would be like to be a teenage girl who becomes paralyzed. This story contains humor, science, music, teamwork, loyalty, healing, redemption, and most of all, hope. Hope that peg will walk again, hope that she'll reconnect with her friends at school, and hope that she will even survive at all. I always love books that remind me that life is precious and worth living to the fullest!


--Mr. Riedl
2017-01-15

A Long Way From Chicago

A Long Way From Chicago, by Richard Peck, is a great book about Joey and Mary Alice, brother and sister, who grow up visiting their wild and crazy grandma every summer. Each new chapter is the next summer with Grandma Dowdel, with another wacky story to tell about something she got them all into. In her small town in the middle of Illinois, she knows pretty much everything, good and bad, that goes on in the town. Since Grandma Dowdel is such an opinionated person with a witty attitude, Joey and Mary Alice come to expect an adventure every time they come visit.

This is one of those books where the main character brings a rich fullness to the storyline as if you were right there with that person. Grandma Dowdel, even though she breaks the rules and the stereotype of what a grandmother should be, is the heart of the book. She loves her grandchildren and she often does the right thing, but in a way that is not what you would expect. This is a fantastic book, all because of her humorous antics.


--Mr. Riedl
2016-11-29

Gregor the Overlander

Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins, is the first book in The Underland Chronicles. This book starts off as most would imagine a stereotypical adventure story beginning: By the main character falling into a hole in his house, which is actually a long dark bottomless pit! Well, actually, it's not bottomless, but it seems like it though. At the bottom, Gregor finds his sister, who also fell into the hole. They try to escape and return to the Overland, but encounter giant insects, rodents, and other creatures as well. They even find humans in the Underland, but these humans are different than you would expect. As Gregor leads his sister on a journey to reach the Overworld, they encounter some friends and foes as well as some drama among the groups of people (well, I guess you'd call giant talking insects "people") living in the Underland that they help to resolve.

This book's storyline is actually a lot deeper (pun intended) than most other adventure books I've read. Before they fell into the Underland, Gregor and his sister had also lost their father recently, and they begin to wonder if his fate was the same as theirs as they struggle to deal with their loss. I love the heart that Gregor has for his sister. I also love his willingness to be the leader the people need him to be, even though he doesn't want to. He steps up to do what he knows to be right. Great book!


--Mr. Riedl
2016-10-13

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians series)

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, is the first book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. We first learn about a boy named Percy Jackson, who has dyslexia and ADHD and keeps getting kicked out of school year after year. He discovers that he is a demigod because he is the son of the mortal Sally Jackson and the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. He discovers more about himself at Camp Half-Blood, and is eventually sent on a quest, with his "friends" Grover and Annabeth, to find Zeus's missing master lightning bolt. They encounter many mythological monsters and memorable situations that lead them through twists and turns in their journey.

Many of my students are enthralled in this series, so I just had to check out what all the fuss was... and I was certainly not disappointed! So much action and adventure was crammed into these pages that I have a hard time deciding what my favorite part was. One of the most memorable scenes was when they encountered Medusa, which reminded me of the scene from one of my favorite classic movies, Clash of the Titans. It makes perfect sense that since mythological gods live forever, then they would still be alive in present time. The combination of today's modern technology with history's mythological stories becomes a fresh new blend of genres and story lines. This was a magnificent beginning to a series I'm looking forward to continuing to dive deeper into!


--Mr. Riedl
2015-11-28

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling, is the first book in the Harry Potter series. The main character, Harry, is immediately the underdog of the story, as we learn in the first chapter that he is being raised by his abusive aunt and uncle. Upon learning that Harry is a wizard, just as his parents were, and that he is called to attend an infamous school for wizards, the story moves onto his adventures with his friends during his first year at the school.

Mr. Riedl's brief disclaimer: Many people love this book series, but I would not recommend that everyone read it. Those who have a hard time reading about fictional, juvenile forms of witchcraft would probably not enjoy this book. Additionally, there are other dark and creepy parts in the book that might be upsetting to some people. That being said, I absolutely loved this book, and when I read it I saw the heart of this story, which is a young hero learning how to be responsible with his newly discovered supernatural powers. (very similar to Spider-Man, actually!)

After reading about Harry's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I can't help but root for this kid. He has all of the makings of a great hero. He comes from humble beginnings, he is a loving, sensitive kid who makes good choices and wants to be a good person. Even though he is realizing that he is one of the most powerful wizards in history, he earnestly wants to be a good friend, a good student, and a good Quidditch player.

Throughout this first book in the series, he struggles with learning about doing the right thing in tough situations. I can't help comparing him to Peter Parker in Spider-Man because they are both young boys, both have an unexpected responsibility that comes with their powers, and both want to do the right thing to help others. As Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, discover secrets about some of the professors at the school, they eventually help prevent the evil Lord Voldemort from taking over the world. The best part about the book is how sacrificial love was what prevailed in the end against Voldemort. The evil archenemy of Harry Potter was unable to understand the power of love that his mother demonstrated by sacrificing her life to protect him.

Overall, it seems to me that this book is a pretty typical story of an underdog character who does not expect to be the hero, but makes good choices and ends up saving the day. Even though this is a stereotypical hero story, what makes this book unique is the setting and the unique situations that Harry and his friends find themselves in. The heart of the book is a hero who knows that sacrificial love is more powerful than anything else that stands against it. Mix up all these ingredients and we have a wonderful book!


--Mr. Riedl
2015-11-28

The Capture (Guardians of Ga'Hoole series)

The Capture, by Kathryn Lasky, is the first book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. The main character is a young owlet named Soren, who was separated from his family and taken to a mysterious school named St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. He and his friend Gylfie attempt to escape once they learn that this "school" is more of a prison where they are forced to stay. In their journey, they meet new friends and foes along the way and ultimately discover their deeper friendship and Soren's hope to find his family.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the character development, especially as Soren and Gylfie get to know each other better and meet other owls. By the end of the book, these owls, along with the others in their group, demonstrate the benefits of teamwork and learning how different people have different talents and abilities. Being able to depend on others rather than trying to do something on your own is a valuable skill to have. Overall, I enjoyed the book because of the mysterious world of owls, great sense of adventure, and a heavy calling on this group of owls to do something significant rather than just living a mediocre life. This has a wonderful connection to our own lives and how we should live a life that is worth living!


--Mr. Riedl
2015-11-29

Wonder

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, is a book about a ten year old boy goes into fifth grade at a new school after being homeschooled for his whole life. What makes it even more difficult is that he has a rare birth defect that affected his face, causing it to be deformed. The story follows him throughout his year in fifth grade, as well as all of the obstacles and accomplishments along the way. It is written from many different perspectives, as each chapter is written from a different character's point of view.

I absolutely loved this story for 3 reasons:

1) It takes place in the fifth grade, obviously, since I teach fifth grade, but also the fact that the story focuses more on the non-academic aspects of school life, which is often what teachers forget is the most important part. The social life of a pre-teenager at this time of their life can critically shape who they grow up to be and their outlook on life.

2) As a father, I really identified with the parents in the story, thinking about what I might do if one of my children was as noticeably different as August was. How would I raise and parent him? How would I handle those situations? What would I say? How would I encourage him as he becomes a man?

3) As a person with a physical deformity (see: Mr. Riedl Has Poland Syndrome), I could easily identify with August in wishing I was normal, but at the same time accepting it and understanding that it can be used for good if I choose to look on the bright side of life. God made me different for a reason, just like Auggie.

Additionally, an accompanying short book, The Julian Chapter, is a fantastic way to end the story. Julian is the bully throughout the entire story, and at the end of the book we are left without his perspective. The Julian Chapter shows how redemption can even occur in the life of a boy who seems hopelessly stubborn.

Great reads!


--Mr. Riedl
2015-08-11

Because of Mr. Terupt

Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea, is a book written from the perspectives of several students in the class of their brand new fifth grade teacher, Mr. Terupt. Each student is uniquely different from the other students at the beginning of the school year. As the school year progresses, the drama and conflict between the students increases. Throughout this entire time, due to the actions and words of Mr. Terupt, he earns their respect and admiration. In the winter, the students earn a free day, resulting in a serious accident which puts Mr. Terupt into the hospital. This results in the students coming together, accepting one another, and rallying around their beloved teacher.

Being a fifth grade teacher myself, I found myself laughing, tearing up, and unable to stop turning the pages as I connected with every single one of the students in this book. Connecting with the students is one of the biggest reasons I became a teacher, and I can tell that's why Mr. Terupt also became one as well. I admire Mr. Terupt's decisions to do certain classroom projects, like having his students spend time in the Collaborative Classroom with students with special needs. He also did some great projects in class, which I might even implement in my own classroom because I liked them so much.

Most importantly, this book is about the students. It is wonderful to see how the fifth graders grow closer together throughout the story. Fifth grade is a tough time for children this age because of the differences in families, growing maturity, and changes developmentally. This book was a great example of how all of those differences can work together to bond them together. Mr. Terupt is the centerpiece of that, but throughout the story, the students hint at a larger purpose of the reasons for why bad things happen in life. Sometimes God can work out bad situations for good!

Great book! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.


--Mr. Riedl
2014-06-26

Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Crispin: The Cross of Lead, by Avi, is the first book in the Crispin trilogy. Crispin is a 13-year old boy living in England during the 1300's. He grows up as a peasant with no friends other than his mother and the priest in their small village. His mother dies at the beginning of the story, and in his grief he runs into the forest to witness a secret conversation between his selfish master and a mysterious traveler. He barely escapes and is framed for a crime he did not commit. His only other friend, the priest, is murdered for trying to help him. Crispin ventures out from his small town on his own, risking his life to discover new mysteries, freedoms, and friendships.

At the beginning of the book, it was difficult to connect with the setting, as the culture of the 14th century is very different from today. As I kept reading, I identified with Crispin as he was feeling very sad, hopeless, and lost. From that point on, I couldn't put the book down because it was full of excitement, mystery, and fugitive-chasing suspense. This is a great story about Crispin's trust in God, his newly-formed friendships, and his developing confidence as a young man.


--Mr. Riedl
2012-07-25

The Cay

The Cay, by Theodore Taylor, is about an eleven-year-old American boy, Phillip, living in the Caribbean with his family. The story takes place during World War II, and the German U-Boats are threatening the island's oil refineries just off the shore. Phillip and his mother were traveling back to the United States, and their boat was torpedoed. An older man named Timothy saves Phillip's life by pulling him onto a life raft. The two, along with a cat, survive on an island and learn to appreciate each other.

What makes this book so good is the relationship between Phillip and Timothy. Phillip is young and inexperienced, while Timothy is old and wise. Phillip is white, Timothy is black (a big deal in WWII). Phillip is educated, Timothy is not. There are a lot of dichotomies in the book, and it is wonderful to see how they must depend on each other to survive. There are many things about this story that are memorable, and even Jen has told me that it was her favorite book when she was growing up. Great book!


--Mr. Riedl
2012-07-15

Number the Stars

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, is a book about two girls, Annemarie and Ellen, who are best friends during World War II. They are living in German-occupied Denmark, where food, clothing, and even electricity is regulated by the Nazi soldiers. Ellen's family is in danger when they begin hearing that Jewish families, like theirs, are being "relocated". Annemarie and her family go to extreme measures and risk their own lives to keep their friends out of the hands of the oppressive soldiers.

This is a great book that looks into what family life looked like in countries such as Denmark. The relationship between the girls in this story was a good enough reason to read this, but adding in the suspense and fright from the German soldiers made it even more exciting to read. For many years I looked at the cover of this book and thought it was about science fiction and some creepy little girl I though could control the stars or something. But in fact, this historical fiction depicted the tragic situations in World War II and the hope that God gave families like these to make it through the hard times. What a wonderful read!


--Mr. Riedl
2012-07-07

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney, is the first in a series of humorous books about Greg Heffley, the wimpy kid that the book is named after. The hilarious ordeals that Greg gets into seems like a typical middle schooler that is not the most popular guy in school. The book is just a journal of writings and pictures that Greg takes us through in his daily life. That's what is so hilarious about the book...every day ordinary awkward stuff.

Even though I thought it was a very funny book, I thought to myself at the end, wait...that's it? It seemed to me to have very few positive qualities that would make me want to recommend it. Greg is actually very selfish and justifies wrongful behavior in his mind to think he's doing good. So, I'm a bit undecided. I don't know if I'll read the next one or not. There are so many other books out there that are much more worth while, in my opinion.


--Mr. Riedl
2010-12-09

Hatchet

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, is the first book in the Hatchet series. It is about a boy named Brian who is struggling with his parents' divorce. The story begins with Brian in a small plane, just him with the pilot, heading to Canada to stay with his father for the summer. Unfortunately, the pilot has a heart attack, which leaves Brian alone. Alone. The plane goes down into a lake in the forested wilderness of northeastern United States, and all Brian has to survive is the hatchet that his mother gave him right before he left. Being a 13-year old from the city, he must learn how to stay alive by finding shelter, food, and hope.

I read this book when I was a boy, loved it, and still love it now. The nerve-wracking sense of suspense with the ups and downs that Brian learns throughout the story really helps the reader connect with him. I kept imagining what I would do if I was in Brian's situation. Sometimes I think it would be fun to be lost in the wilderness and see if I could survive, but Brian's adventure gives you a good idea about the harsh realities that come with being alone in the wild. Alone.

In addition to Brian surviving in the wilderness, it's also a very deep book because he deals with his parents' divorce. He also develops a sense of identity in his survival. He basically becomes a man in a span of two months and it is great fun to be a part of his journey.

P.S. - I watched the made-for-tv movie made called "A Cry in the Wild". In my opinion, it did not do the book justice and missed the character development that was the best part of the story.


--Mr. Riedl
2010-08-10