Archive for October 28, 2015

Out of Bounds

Written by Fred Bowen

Bowen came up with another gem in this novel about Nate, an eighth grade soccer player. Nate is a forward on the Strikers, a U14 team playing in a fall league at the local SoccerPlex. Last year, his team came in second, so they’re all determined to be better. The problem is, the first place team, the Monarchs, also appears to be better. Nate has a side rivalry with his young aunt, Lizzie, who plays in a women’s adult league. Bowen follows Nate through the entire season, noting the highlights and lowlights of each encounter, on and off the field. Nate learns from Lizzie that real sportsmen don’t like to win by treating others badly. So, he refuses to follow through on a goal in a crucial game when his opponent appears to be injured. Of course, one of his teammates gives him a hard time when they lose the game. Eventually, he finds that Lizzie was right all along. Good sportsmanship is highly valued by the elite.

Many of the game situations used in the book are straight from famous games played in the past several years. Fourth graders will learn about the history and rules of the game. It’s a fun and exciting way to see human relations in practice.

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  • Out of BoundsTitle: Out of Bounds
  • Author: Fred Bowen
  • Published: Peachtree Publishers, 2015
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 144 pages
  • Grade Level: 3 to 7
  • Genre: Sports, Family, Sportsmanship
  • ISBN: 978-1561458455
  • Extras: The Real Story, an author’s note

Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World

Written by Elizabeth Rusch
Illustrated by Oliver Dominguez

In this biography, re-published as part of the “Candlewick Biographies,” fourth graders learn about one of the dynamic personalities of the turn of the twentieth century. They also learn a little physics.

From the age of three, Nikola Tesla noticed things about electricity that no one else did. As a teen, he dreamed of harnessing the power of Niagara Falls. In college, he was unable to convince his professor that alternating current was a viable alternative to direct current. He had the same problem when seeking funding for projects, so he took many odd jobs before immigrating to the US. Thomas Edison refused to see his vision and even tried to sabotage his efforts. But he managed to convince Westinghouse of the practicability of AC and ended up lighting up the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. After that, he partnered with Westinghouse to build turbines at Niagara Falls and power Buffalo, NY.

A brief explanation of the difference between direct and alternating current and a more complete explanation of the workings of AC should help spark a student’s interest in this field. The wonderful illustrations help make that happen. Of course, a discussion of the dangers of electricity is also included.

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  • Electrical WizardTitle: Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World
  • Author: Elizabeth Rusch
  • Illustrator: Oliver Dominguez
  • Published: Candlewick, 2015
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 56 pages
  • Grade Level: 3 to 7
  • Genre: Biography, History, Science
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-7978-1
  • Extras: Scientific Notes, Timeline, Source Notes, Bibliography, Index, and more

Fuzzy Mud

Written by Louis Sachar

Chad is a bully. No reason, he just is. So when he challenges Marshall to a fight after school, Marshall has no choice but to find a different way home. Every day he and Tamaya walk to and from school together, not causing anyone any trouble. They follow the sidewalk until the day they are threatened. Then they cut through the woods.

Readers will be spell-bound by this mystery-thriller that tests the strength of friendship as well as the price for doing the right thing.

Their encounter with foul smelling, fuzzy mud twists the plot into the larger realm of bio-disaster. Factory runoff causing swelling, rashes and who knows what all, opens discussions of ecology, but not until this story is concluded.

Teachers, parents and librarians will enjoy reading this book and discussing it with classes from grade three readers beyond for months to come. The book will fulfill core curriculum standards in the areas of literature, science, and social studies. More importantly, it will give everyone a chance to think about friendships, bullies, doing the right thing, and taking ecology seriously. Be very careful about stepping into any fuzzy mud, my friends, very careful.

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  • Fuzzy MudTitle: Fuzzy Mud
  • Author: Louis Sachar
  • Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2015
  • Reviewer: Elizabeth Swartz
  • Format: Hardcover, 192 pages
  • ISBN: 978-0-385-74378-5
  • Genre: Realistic Fiction
  • Grade level: 3 up
  • Extras: area map