Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.

by David A. Adler

Illustrated by Susanna Natti

★★☆☆☆

After meeting Cam Jansen in book one Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, she and her co-detective Eric see lights floating in the air.  Eric uses his actual camera to snap a picture of them, while Cam uses her photographic memory, and reason to find out what is really happening.  They follow the lights to the source and are almost caught by the creators of the floating lights, and lets just stay they were "aliens" from a place not so far, far away.  

While this book is very predictable for older readers making it maybe not so exciting, it would be great for young developing readers because it is fast paced and at an easier reading level.  I would use these books for students with 2-3 grade reading levels.
There is a support website with pages both for kids and teachers.  On this Cam Jansen website there are check lists for all of David A. Adler's books, comprehension questions for readers, and fun quizzes that test your own memory like Cam Jansen is always doing. 

New cover of the book

David A. Adler talks about the inspiration for the character Cam Jansen. He says the reason the mystery moves so fast is that the books are meant for slow readers so that as they read events unfold more quickly to keep children engaged in his books!




Citation:
Adler, David A. Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.  Ill. Susanna Natti.  Viking Press, New York. 1980.


ISBN: 0-670-20041-7
AR reading level: 3.4

Roman Diary - The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini

Roman Diary - The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini, who was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Rome, AD 107

by Richard Platt & David Parkins

★★★★★

     This book is written as an illustrated journal of a young girl from a Greek Island, Mytilini, captured and enslaved in Rome.  It follows her journey of being captured, becoming a slave and learning her new position in life.  Because she is educated, she is given a position in a wealthy home helping to raise the children, but her younger brother is sent to work in the fields. The reading level is at about a sixth grade level and would be great for any middle schooler, or high schooler looking to learn more about Rome in it's height of power from a young slave's point of view.  

     I do have to warn that the content is a little hairy at times talking about ill-treatment of slaves, Gladiator tournaments, and war stories.  But it has a wealth of information, great vocabulary words and is a great history lesson in a relatively short book.  

Platt, Richard. Roman Diary - The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini, who was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Rome, AD 107. Ill. David Parkins.  Candlewick Press, MA. 2009. 

ISBN 978-0-7636-3480-3

AR reading level: 6.0

The Many Troubles of Andy Russell

The Many Troubles of Andy Russell
by David A. Adler

★ ★ ★ ☆☆

Andy Russell is a young boy with lots of troubles at home and at school.  Andy's best friend Tamika who lives in foster care might be forced to move away if he can't convince his parents to let her move in and share a room with his sister.  Before he has a chance to ask his parents seven of his gerbils escape and are running all over the house. Ms. Roman, his teacher, is always calling on him when he isn't paying attention in class.  Andy tries so hard, but he just can't seem to make things turn out the way he wants. 

I think that this is a good book, where the children in it are not purposefully causing trouble, but inconveniently things are always happening to them.   I would recommend this to kids in 1st-4th grades.  This book might be helpful for kids with ADHD symptoms to understand their situation better as Andy has a mind that wanders and he can't focus even when he really, really wants to.  

Adler, David A. The Many Troubles of Andy Russell. Ill. Will Hillenbrand. Gulliver Books, Harcourt Brace & Company.  San Diego, CA. 1998.  

ISBN: 0-15-201295-8

That Horse Whiskey

That Horse Whiskey
by C.S. Adler

★★★☆☆

Lainey is the youngest child and the only girl, with three older brothers who have left home.  Her father is a construction man, but hard times and no sales have left him unable to fulfill his birthday promise of a horse to his "little girl."  Lainey is determined not to be sheltered from the family's financial responsibilities and gets a job at Mr. Dodge's ranch taking care of some of the horses.  Over time, and with a lot of hard work, she gets Whiskey, a stubborn horse, to follow her direction.  

This is a good story of determination and hard work.  It is also wholesome as Lainey is a great kid and even gets permission from her parents before beginning to train Whiskey.   She is a good example to kids and I would recommend this book to kids in grades 5-8.

Adler, C.S. That Horse Whiskey!  Clarion Books, New York. 1994.

ISBN 0-395-68185-5

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
by David A. Adler, Illustrated by Susanna Natti

★★☆☆☆

This is the first book in the Cam Jansen book series with over 30 books in it as well as another 16 books in the Young Cam spin off series.  Cam is short for Camera, Jennifer's nick name, because she has a photographic memory.  In this book she and her friend Eric witness a man running from a jewelry store but when the police catch him he does not have the stolen diamonds.  Cam looks back at her mental picture that she took and now notices a man and woman walking away from the scene quietly.  She and Eric follow the suspects and after a bit of suspense, wind up heros.

While this book is very predictable for older readers making it maybe not so exciting it would be great for young developing readers.   I would use these books for students with 2-3 grade reading levels.

There is a support website with pages both for kids and teachers.  On this Cam Jansen website there are check lists for all of David A. Adler's books, comprehension questions for readers, and fun quizzes that test your own memory like Cam Jansen is always doing.  

David A. Adler talks about the inspiration for the character Cam Jansen. He says the reason the mystery moves so fast is that the books are meant for slow readers so that as they read events unfold more quickly to keep children engaged in his books.  

Reading Update

As to my quest, I am still in the "A" section but now on the second shelf, so I have a new boost of enthusiasm.  I am however behind in blogging about the books I have read.  And I've read several books not in the "A" section as I have a ton of young adult books at home that will one day be in my classroom.  I would really like some readers to respond or add more info to my posts, especially kiddos who have read some of these books, or that have ideas about books I should read. 

The No Place Cat

The No Place Cat
C.S. Adler (link to her webpage)

★★★★☆

I had never heard of this author before I began on this quest to read through the library and I have to say I'm falling in love with her.  She likes writing about different problems that real kids face in real life, like parents' rules, other kids, pets, responsibility, friendships etc.  I would recommend this book to any young reader grades 4-8.  


Tess, a young independent girl, has been trying to get used to her new stepfamily, but it just isn’t working.  When a school project gets ruined by her little stepsister, Tess has finally had it. She decides to run away and live with her mom on the other side of Tucson. The drive there didn't seem that long but the walk took two days.  While trekking through the park a cat begins to follow Tess adopting himself to her.  As she deals with the cat she is able to learn some difficult lessons about what is best for her and her parents.  It was a good lesson that what we want is not always what is best for us.  

A Storm Without Rain; A Novel in Time

A Storm Without Rain; A Novel in Time by Jan Adkins
My Rating:  ★★★★☆

This novel is a great mixture of historical, and science fiction.  is about a young boy, Jack Stone, who while minding his own business was transported back in time to the same place, Penikese Island, Massachusetts.  All he wanted to do was go home, but while he was trying to find his way back to his own time he came to appreciate his town and family in a whole new way.  He befriended his grandfather, who was 15 (the same age as Jack) and learned the family trade of boat making that would be virtually gone by Jack's time.

The author uses very rich language that allows the reader to really visualize and appreciate a simpler way of life and have some historical insights related to overfishing, habitat loss, society and family.  (This is my list, not the author's)  It makes me want to delve deeper into my own history and learn about Oregon (where I am from) 100 years ago!  A Storm Without Rain also talks in depth about fishing and boat making, making the subject relatable even to me, who knows virtually nothing about those subjects. 
I would definitely recommend this book to 6-9th graders.

The Author's Website: http://www.janadkins.com  
I found this website interesting as it has a great (short) bio of the author as well as some of the things he is currently working on. 

Citation: 
Adkins,  Jan. A Storm Without Rain; A Novel in Time. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1983.

The Bombed House

So I was planning on reading the Young Adults fiction section of the library from A-Z, but there were a group of kids in the "A" section so I went to the other side and now I'm reading from both sides and will meet somewhere in the middle many years from now.

The Bombed House by Jonny Zucker

This book is about the bombing of London during World War II.  Ned and Harry are two boys who are awaiting their relocation to the English countryside when they find a German solider hiding out in a bombed house.  They disobey their father and sneak out of the house to get a better look, but in the end they are treated like heroes.

I did not like this book at all.  It was very boring with not a lot of detail.  Almost every sentence was it's own paragraph set apart by a large space making the flow very difficult.  I would not recommend this to any of my students.

The Night Crossing

The Night Crossing by Karen Ackerman

This is a good introductory book for learning about the Holocaust for young readers.  The book is about a young girl named Clara and her family as they make preparations to journey from Austria to freedom in Switzerland.  The family wants to save a pair of candlesticks that are the only heirlooms they have left.  Clara is instrumental in keeping them safe from many people who would like the treasure by hiding them in her dolls. 

While this book alludes to the terrible exterminations of human life it does not talk about it directly, and everyone in Clara's family escapes unharmed, although there are some "close" calls to keep it exciting.

I would recommend this book for 2-4th grade students.  If you are studying WWII would make a good read aloud in a 2nd grade classroom.  

I give this book 2 stars out of 5

Ackerman, Karen. The Night Crossing. Alfred, A. Knopf. New York. 1994.

The Land of Elyon (series)

1. The Dark Hills Divide (2005)

2. Beyond the Valley of Thorns (2005)

3. The Tenth City (2006)

4. Into the Mist (2007)

5. Stargazer (2008)

I recommend reading this series in the order listed above, however, Patrick Carman says that Into the Mist can be read as a prequel to the trilogy.  Into the Mist explains some of the why, and back story of the first three books written, but I think it would spoil some of the magic of reading the books for the first time. 

Summary:

    The Land of Elyon has four cities that are walled-in keeping the "unknown"  (which of course is bad and scary) out and all of the people inside safe and sound.  The walls have done more than keep out the unknown though, they have also severed the magical link between the people and the animals in the Land of Elyon.  The Land of Elyon series follows a young girl named Alexa Daley who goes on many magical and mysterious journeys with several different friends, including a squirrel named Murphy and a giant named Armon.  She also has the help of many adults, such as the librarian, her father and some of his friends, although they don't always know they are helping.  
     Thomas and Roland Warvold are main characters that helped design the Land of Elyon as it changed over time.  Into the Mist tells of their childhood and how overcoming some early trials in an orphanage effected what they did over the course of their lifetimes. 

I would recommend this book for students who like fantasy and have about a 6th grade reading level. 

Carman, Patrick.  The Land of Elyon (book series). Scholastic Inc. New York.  2005-2008.

My Name is María Isabel

My Name is María Isabel

by Alma Flor Ada

This is a short story about a young girl named María Isabel Slazar Lopez, but her teacher shortened her name to Mary Lopez. María became depressed because she didn't even recognize her own name, and because she joined the class in the middle of the school year, she didn't have a part in the winter program.  After reading Charlotte's Web she writes a paper telling that her greatest wish is to be called by her given name. When her teacher realizes what has happened she gives her a special part in the winter pageant.  

What's in a name?  To some people, a name is everything.  This story reminds me that teachers should not shorten, or change names unless the child requests it.  This story would be good for use in a classroom to start a discussion about multiculturalism and a reminder of how we should all treat one another.     

 

This story is also found in grade 4, Theme 4 of the Houghton Mifflin Reading program.   

Ada, Alma Flor.  My Name is Maria Isabel. Illustrations, K. Dyble Thompson. Translation, Ana M. Cerro. Atheneum, New York. 1993.

How the Wizard Came to OZ

How the Wizard Came to OZ
By Donald Abbott

Ever wonder where the fraudulent Wizard in OZ hailed from?  Well this book will explain the history of the Wizard and many other things about the land of OZ.  This book talks of the two witches of the North and South, and the two bad witches of the East and West.  The Wizard, who has no magical powers, comes to OZ in a flying balloon and tries to improve the lives of the green loving Ozites.

How the Wizard Came to OZ is a good book if you love the book or movie The Wizard of OZ because it give some history and explains why certain things are how they are.  However the story line was hard to follow from chapter to chapter and the illustration are very antiquated.  I did not particularly enjoy this book, but found some parts of it interesting. 

Abbott, Donald. How the Wizard Came to OZ.  The Emerald City Press. New York, NY. 1991.

Firegirl

Tony Abbott. Firegirl. Little Brown and Company, New York. 2006.

A new girl, Jessica, joins Tom's class for just three weeks, but that time changes his life forever.  Jessica is the unfortunate victim of a terrible fire and is going through intense burn treatments.  The class is tense around her, not knowing quite what to say to her but Tom's few simple kindnesses reaching out to her make all the difference.

This was a great read about what it means to be "different" and how we should all react and live our lives when around those that are different from ourselves.

I would recommend this book for 5-8th grade students. 

Becoming Naomi León

Becoming Naomi León

By Pam Muñoz Ryan - Scholastic (2005) - Paperback - 272 pages - ISBN 0439269970

 Available in both English and Spanish!

León means lion, but Naomi doesn't feel like a lion. She is an excentric young girl who wears all hand made clothes and lives with her aging grandmother, Gram, and younger brother, Owen.  They all seem happy when one day their mother shows up and tries to befriend them but only wants to take Naomi home with her new boyfriend and leave Owen behind. They all go with some close neighbors in search of Naomi and Owens father in Mexico.  Naomi discovers her heritage and where her love of carving comes from as she gets to know her extended family and finally finds her father at an annual radish carving festival.  

I think that this book tells a great story about a non-traditional family and the struggles of a custody battle from the child's point of view.  It also uses rich language and inserts a lot of Spanish words in a way that explains the words.   

I would reccommend this book for 4-5th graders. 

Welcome

I am a teacher in Oregon.  For now I am a substitute teacher and as such I have plenty of time to read.  I believe that teachers should know what their students are reading so that they can relate to their students better, and also be able to converse about books to students.

I have read hundreds of young adult books, but after a while I tend to forget some of the details or combine plots of similar books in my head.  A few months ago I started writing book summaries/reviews so that I could quickly refresh my memory of a book.  Another thought is that I could put these summaries/reviews in a binder in my classroom (once I have one).  Then a friend suggested that I put the reviews online, so others could see and I could search them easily at a later point in time.  Also, others could also post their own thoughts and opinions about the books.  I want to make certain that people understand that what I'm writing is totally my opinion, and I welcome any additions or opinions that others might have.  

In an attempt to create some sort of order I went to my public library to find a good starting place.  After walking around a while I decided that I would just "start at the very beginning*" with "A" in the young adult section.  I am sticking with the plan, however I am also reading though my own young adult books, that are not in order by any means. 

* beginning of a song from The Sound of Music