The Benefits of Being an Octopus by @annbradenbooks @skyponypress

The Benefits of Being an Octopus
Ann Braden
Sky Pony Press

Ann Braden's realistic portrayal of her protagonists' struggle to get through the day really helped me to remember that all of us find life challenging and that we need to remember to look for those in our classes that could use our belief and support in their abilities.  I immediately related to Zoey and wished I could help her as she seemed to have many more responsibilities placed on her then a grade 7 student should have to deal with.  Reading this novel has encouraged me to be more aware of the lives my students are leading and thinking about how to support them when they come to class.
This would make a great read aloud for grade 5+ as it would help to bring some interesting classroom discussions around social justice and poverty.  I couldn't help to think that Zoey's determination and perseverance reminded me a lot of Felix from Susin Nielsen's novel, No Fixed Address.  Although the protagonists of these two novels live in different countries, the complications of poverty are portrayed in a honest and empathetic way.  Both books would work well together in a class to help students see themselves and to perhaps see the lives of some of their classmates to further develop empathy among all of us.

Hawk by @JenniferDance1 @SCDSBreadaloud @dundurnpress

Hawk
Jennifer Dance
Dundurn Press

I really enjoyed the way Jennifer intertwined the story of an osprey's plight with the story of an indigenous teen from Fort McMurray.  I enjoyed learning more about the oil sands and their environmental impacts within the fictional story.  I thought the dynamics portrayed in Adam's family were realistic and reflected a lot of truth in the way some of our indigenous families struggle.  The topics of environmental impacts were handled with straight forward language and also presented how complicated the oil sands industry can be for those who live there.
This would be a great read aloud for grade 5+ as it would generate some great questions! The Teacher-Librarians in Simcoe County District School Board selected Hawk as their SCDSB read aloud selection for 2019.

Great Trilogy Finale by @EricRWalters

Will To Survive (Rule of Three #3)
Eric Walters
Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR)

I really enjoyed how Eric Walters kept my interest in this trilogy.  I was excited when the book became available at my library. I wanted to keep reading to find out how Adam and his family and friends navigate through the many twists and turns of the novel.  I loved the way Eric tied up the loose ends without providing a perfect ending for all of the characters.  This book gave me hope that many people would be able to work together if we had a disaster in real life.  I think that many students would also find this third novel appealing as there is a lot of action and a little romance to keep all readers in intermediate classrooms engaged.

Born With Erika & Gianni by @lornasn @ClockwisePress

Born With Erika & Gianni
Lorna Schultz Nicolson
Clockwise Press

The is the second novel in the One-2-One series by Lorna Schultz Nicolson and it does not disappoint!  Just like her Fragile Bones novel, this story revolves around another pair of students from the Best Buddies program in a fictional high school.  I really enjoyed how the novel alternated between the first hand experiences of Erika a student with Down Syndrome and Gianni a student struggling with his sexual identity.   The characters lead complicated but realistic lives and the supporting characters are also well developed.   I learned a lot more about adolescent life from these first person perspectives. I have more empathy and understanding about how it might feel to be a student in high school today.  This book portrayed teenage angst in a hopeful way and I hope there is a third book on the way!?
I feel this book should be on the shelves of all high schools to encourage inclusiveness and understanding for all.

Red Wolf by @JenniferDance1 @dundurnpress

Red Wolf
Jennifer Dance
Dundurn Press

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel because of the way Jennifer Dance introduced me to the plight of the wolf and the struggle students of Ontario residential schools faced at the end of the 19th Century.
Although I am not a wolf or a small child I quickly connected to the main characters within the first few chapters. I felt their sadness and helplessness as survivors in this novel because they come to realize that their family members had tried to protect them all along.
I developed a sense of empathy for the loss of family and disconnectedness that first nations children were forced to endure because of the Indian Act.
I appreciated how Jennifer added small factual details into the novel to engage the reader.  For example, I had never considered that parents would be not allowed to leave the reserve to collect their children. I know that the meager existence students faced in residential schools in this novel mirrored the collection of real life events.
I think this would make a great read aloud in a Grade 6-8 class as it demonstrates how poverty, lack of opportunity and loss of rights might be the reasons so many first nations people suffer from abuse, lack good jobs/status and struggle to find positive parental roles.
Although the novel is about a tragic story it is not without hope.  I feel that Red Wolf will survive and reconnect with his culture in time. I love that he made a positive choice at the end of the novel. I think this novel is a great way to introduce students to the Truth and Reconciliation-Call to Action items.

George by @lxgino @scholasticCDA

George
Alex Gino
Scholastic

I truly enjoyed the perspective of this novel because it helped me gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of a trans-gendered middle grade student. Alex Gino's characters come to life and the protagonist (George/Melissa) has a strong voice. I have a better understanding of some trans-gender issues among the tweens after reading this novel.  I now have a more questions to ask and it got me thinking about equity and inclusion in schools.

I also reflected back on my teaching and realized that I often grouped my students by gender out of convenience.  I had no idea that I might be making a student uncomfortable.  After reading this novel and reading the thoughts of George/Melissa I will now group my students differently to be more inclusive.
I sensed that this might be an honest depiction of what a trans-gendered person might feel.  So I asked my friend-a parent of a newly trans-gendered 8 year old- if she and her daughter would read the book.  Her feedback was all positive.   She and her mom decided to buy a copy of the book for their school library and as a gift for a relative.  They also thought that the book would be okay to read to a class to create more awareness and understanding of some transgender themes.
It is a warm and respectful book that shows a family's acceptance of their daughter and I think it is a great way to introduce and start the conversations of equity and inclusion in middle grade classrooms.

A Dose of Lucky by Marthe Jocelyn @scissorhouse @orcabook

A Dose of Lucky
Marthe Jocelyn
Orcabook

I really enjoyed Marthe's contribution to the Secrets series because she chose a very interesting topic to discuss.  This book takes place in small town Ontario in 1964. It follows the fictional character, Malou as she traces her family history.  She has the most unique beginnings of all of the seven books!  Malou discovers that she is part of a much bigger family when she learns about a secretive experiment.  I learned a lot by reading this novel.  It was interesting to think about the small town attitudes of 1964.  I feel that Grade 7 or 8 students will enjoy the genuine and realistic nature of the characters. Many great questions will percolate from the minds of the readers after reading this book.