When Friendship Followed Me Home is a story about friendship and growing up. Ben Coffin spent many years in the foster care system. Finally finding a home to call his own, his life progresses steadily. He mostly keeps to himself and enjoys spending time at the local library. Books are his friends; the library his domain. The librarian knows his reading preferences and suggests books to check out. One day, a small dog follows Ben into the library and then home. On that same day, Ben meets the most amazing girl he has ever met, Halley – like the comet. A friendship blooms and a creative partnership is born. Together Ben and Halley embark on a journey to write a story. Then, when life is progressing smoothly, Ben’s adoptive mother dies, Ben and his four-legged friend, Flip, find themselves living with his aunt and her husband. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal situation as Leo doesn’t have the temperament to be a father. Halley’s family ends up opening their home and hearts to Ben and Flip.The relationship that develops between Ben and Halley’s family is heartwarming. Halley is sick, and the Lorentz’ are struggling with Halley’s physical decline. Ben learns that unlike writing a story, you cannot write a new ending to life. You can, however, choose your path and the people you call family. This was a touching story that is a great choice for realistic fiction lovers.
Tag Archives: friendship
Willows vs. Wolverines
Izzy and Mackenzie have been best friends since they were little kids, and they have spent every summer together at camp. This summer the two girls go to a new camp where they have to make all new friends. On top of that, they are each assigned to different cabins. Izzy wants to fit in and be popular. She worries about Mackenzie but is more worried about being noticed by her new friends. Izzy soon learns that her cabin is in a time honored prank war with the Wolverine cabin. Izzy has a history of being a prank master, but none of her new cabin-mates are interested in her ideas. Then Izzy tells a small lie to gain the trust and respect of the rest of her cabin.This lie does the job, but it grows day by day and becomes a black cloud that, predictably, comes between both her new friendships and the long standing friendship with Mackenzie. Izzy learns an important lesson about trust and friendship. The plot is simple, characters are reflective of the age group represented, and the resolution is predictable. Readers who compare the cover image to the story will be disappointed – while the scene comes from the story, the accuracy of details is a miss.
Revenge of the Green Banana
Revenge of the Green Banana reads like a memoir and many aspects of the fictional tale are true, but the book is considered a work of fiction – historical, humorous, and realistic. The story begins in 1958 with Jim Murphy beginning the sixth grade. He is determined that this year will be different than all of the others. This year, he will change his ways and become a serious student who is dedicated to academic excellence. Unfortunately, the teachers at St. Stephen’s Catholic School are not privy to Jim’s transformation. Jim finds himself a student in Sister Angelica’s class. Jim soon learns that Sister Angelica has a file on him and a chip on her shoulder. Jim’s journey into academic and social excellence is short lived and quickly transforms into a revenge plot to destroy his new teacher. Along the journey of revenge, Jim learns important life lessons both in and out of school. He soon questions his desire to destroy this new teacher and isn’t sure how to change the course of action. Kids will get a nice chuckle out of this book.
Truth or Dare
This coming-of-age story is funny and realistic, and it deals with issues that tween girls face today.
Lia Rollins’ mother was killed in a car accident. The other driver was busy texting when he collided with her mother’s car. Lia is still grieving her mother and refuses to use a cell phone. Lia is part of a group of friends who have known each other since childhood. All of the girls are growing up and hitting puberty at different times. The changes – physical and emotional – take their toll on this once tightly knit group of friends.There is a lot of talk about getting your period, cramps, and wearing a bra. The girls are starting to notice boys, too. Most of Lia’s friends are starting summer vacation by attending the same camp. Lia chooses not to go, but to stay with her aunt Shelby, her mother’s sister, instead of attending summer camp with her friends. When summer is over and the girls return to school, there is tension in the air. The girls are growing up and going their separate ways based on interest and, in some cases, based on poor treatment of one another. Identities are being discovered and shaped, girls are pushing each other’s buttons, and their once strong friendship is fragmenting. Lia is at a crossroads with her friends and her feelings about herself, growing up and letting go. Lia’s family turns out to be a stronger support system than she realized, Lia discovers the meaning of friendship, and Lia learns that bodies change on their own schedule. Lia finally decides to get a cell phone and discovers that moving on doesn’t necessarily mean letting go.
The IT Girl
Anna Huntley wakes up one day to find her entire world changed because her dad is dating the super famous actress, Helena Montaine. Anna is thrust into the celebrity world as an IT girl. Unfortunately for Anna, she is not a typical IT girl. She lacks the refinement, grace, and fashion sense of her to-be 17-year-old step sister, Marianne. In this humorous first installment, Anna must learn to be an IT girl. She learns that the image doesn’t make the person and she discovers the true meaning of friendship. This quirky character will bring a smile to your face. Readers who enjoy The IT Girl will easily slip into the humorous world of Louise Rennison’s Confessions of Georgia Nicolson Series.
Team Awkward
Anna Huntley, Britain’s newest IT Girl, continues her zany adventure in this second installment of The IT Girl series. Anna continues to amuse and delight with her dog, DOG, her soon to be blended family, and her BFFs, Jess and Danny. The story picks up after spring break with Anna trying to prove that she is a girl of substance to her love interest, her classmates, and the world. Anna has an unexpected and unfortunate experience that lands her in a plant pot which happens to go viral on social media. Jess and Danny convince Anna that leading the school Puffin team to victory in track and field is just what she needs to restore her reputation and win Connor’s affection. Readers will laugh with Anna as she attempts to become a “sporty” person and sympathize with her when Connor starts spending time with the new girl, Stephanie.
The Dragon, The Phoenix and the Beautiful Pearl: A Chinese Dragon Spirit Myth
Story adapted from the Chinese folktale: The Bright Pearl
Even though they see each other every morning, Dragon and Phoenix are not friends. This changes when one day an island arises out of the Celestial River. Together the two explore the island and find an unusual rock. They decide to clean the rock and soon discover it’s amazing, one-of-a-kind beauty. The rock is really a pearl that shines brighter than the moon and sun. It has magical powers to help plants grow and to never die. Goddess Xi Wang Mu sees the pearl from afar and decides she must have it. She steals it from Dragon and Phoenix. In the scuffle to get the pearl back, it falls from the heavens to the earth. When it hits the earth it becomes a shimmering green lake. Phoenix and Dragon change into mountains (one on each side of the lake) to guard it. The two friends are there to this day.
Full color illustrations with text boxes on each page. The story is sometimes choppy leaving the reader wondering what happened in between. The small size of the book (6in x 8in) may get lost on library shelves. An introduction page gives history and meaning to the images and story.
The Complete Adventures of Johnny Mutton
A fun graphic novel that early elementary will enjoy.
Johnny Mutton is a sheep who was raised as a boy because Momma had “weak eyes and a warm heart” so she didn’t even notice. Johnny has a spunky, positive, can-do attitude. Lessons on kindness and making friends are subtly slipped into the story lines. The Complete Adventures of Johnny Mutton is three books with five short stories in each. Young readers will enjoy how each book is wrapped up with a section titled “where are they now”. Also included in the book are two extras, a Q & A with the author (James Proimos) and a section titled “I Believe” with some cute and silly statements written by Johnny ( I believe….. bees sting out of love …. mittens run away from home…if you bow after you say something people will applaud…). Body humor, colorful kid-like drawings and silliness will appeal to both boys and girls. And perhaps the messages on kindness, friendship and just being a good person (or sheep) will sink in as well.
Mischief at Midnight
This is a story of mystery and friendship, old and new. Loyalties are tested when Edie Wilson returns to the boarding school, Knight’s Haddon, and has to bunk with new girl, Janet. Edie’s best friend, Anastasia Stolonov, is moved to a different room. Anastasia is jealous of Janet’s burgeoning friendship with Edie and the time Edie spends with Janet. Meanwhile, tension erupts at Knight’s Haddon and in the local town due to the sale of a piece of property that is adjacent to the school grounds. Locals are leading a political activism campaign to save the trees from being bulldozed. As Janet secretly becomes involved in the campaign, Edie and Anastasia spy on her to try and figure out why she is behaving so mysteriously. Anastasia has a secret of her own and hopes to keep her family’s role in the sale of the land under wraps for fear of being treated badly by the other students at Knight’s Hadden. Schoolgirl antics, jealousy, and mysterious behavior fill the pages as the girls’ lives intersect.
This book is a companion to The Girl with the Glass Bird. It can stand alone, but reading the books in order would help frame the setting and provide background information on characters and relationships. Additional purchase, especially if the library already contains the first book.
Out of Tune Gail Nall
Maya Mae is a typical pre-teen. She is obsessed with her friends, her phone, and her hobby. In Maya’s case, her hobby doubles as her dream – she wants to be a famous country singer. She is well on her way when the reality TV show, “Dueling Duets” announces an audition in Nashville, Maya’s hometown. Maya is doubly delighted when she has a plan to audition and her crush, the cute and talented, Jack, asks her to be his partner. Then, without warning, her life changes as her parents announce that they are selling the family home and moving into an RV to travel the country. In an instant, Maya’s life is turned upside down. The book focuses on Maya’s repeated attempts to get home to Nashville in time for her tryout. Along the road, new friends are made and her resolve is tested. Will Maya make it back in time for her audition or will she embrace a new life of adventure and memory making with her family? Will Maya’s parents realize the importance of Maya’s dream?
Each chapter starts with a countdown to audition day. Maya tells the story and paints an accurate picture of the emotional pain of leaving friends and dreams behind. In the end, Maya demonstrates a love for her family and capacity for compassion when she realizes that she has a lifetime to pursue her dream and she puts the needs and desires of others before her own. Meanwhile the parents’ ability to understand the immensity of the impact such a decision would have on their children is downplayed. This story is told through Maya’s eyes – a girl without a choice in her family’s decision to pick up roots, a girl who tries to be obedient but doesn’t know how to confront her parents about such a drastic move, a girl who is desperately holding on to a dream of her own and trying to balance her wants and desires with those of her family. At times funny, sad, and frustrating, Maya takes the reader on a journey of growing up.