Search Results for: blog great books for your 7th or 8th grader

And Number 1 on the Charts is…Al Capone?

Just the other day, I blogged about how Al Capone, Public Enemy #1, was brought down by the IRS. Now, it looks like as if the man who reportedly arranged the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 also had a tender side as well. Capone wrote a song titled “Madonna Mia” while he was incarcerated at Alcatraz. The song, more than 70 years after it was written, has been recorded by a group of musician and singers with the help of Rich Larsen, a Capone expert and the conceptual director of the documentary The Other Side of Capone. Larsen … Continue reading →

And Number 1 on the Charts is…Al Capone?

Just the other day, I blogged about how Al Capone, Public Enemy #1, was brought down by the IRS. Now, it looks like as if the man who reportedly arranged the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 also had a tender side as well. Capone wrote a song titled “Madonna Mia” while he was incarcerated at Alcatraz. The song, more than 70 years after it was written, has been recorded by a group of musician and singers with the help of Rich Larsen, a Capone expert and the conceptual director of the documentary The Other Side of Capone. Larsen … Continue reading →

And Number 1 on the Charts is…Al Capone?

Just the other day, I blogged about how Al Capone, Public Enemy #1, was brought down by the IRS. Now, it looks like as if the man who reportedly arranged the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 also had a tender side as well. Capone wrote a song titled “Madonna Mia” while he was incarcerated at Alcatraz. The song, more than 70 years after it was written, has been recorded by a group of musician and singers with the help of Rich Larsen, a Capone expert and the conceptual director of the documentary The Other Side of Capone. Larsen … Continue reading →

The Giver – Lois Lowry

“The Giver” is an absolutely fascinating science fiction novel written for the young adult market. I spent last night glued to it. Jonas lives in a community where everything is run and regulated by the Elders. Imagine for a moment that there is no freedom of choice – your mate, your occupation, your food is all chosen for you. You don’t have your own children – they are provided by birth mothers, and are assigned to you. You never have to feel pain – as soon as you begin to ache, you are injected with a strong drug that takes … Continue reading →

A Summer to Die – Lois Lowry

Meg is not as beautiful or popular as her older sister Molly. She has always envied her sister’s golden hair, perfect complexion, and the way all the boys look at her. Meg’s the smart one, she is told, but that doesn’t do a whole lot to boost Meg’s self-confidence when she feels like she’ll never be pretty. Meg’s father is asked to write a book. Unable to work in town, he moves his family out to a small house in the country, and Meg and Molly must share a room. This is hard on both girls – Molly wants her … Continue reading →

First Look Program from Harper Collins Books

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Do you have readers in your house? I grew up reading voraciously, spending every free moment in a book – when I wasn’t playing belle of the ball, that is. But between socializing times, I really did read a lot. We had the sort of household that had encyclopedia books in the bathroom. One where my mom would give us the choice between doing dishes and reading three chapters of a book she chose. So it was a little surprising to me to find out that only two of mine have that same appetite. So far. I’m still working on … Continue reading →

Teaching Learning Disabled Kids To Read

Trying to teach a learning disabled child to read can be a frustrating experience. When our oldest came to us, he was a poor student. His report card read D’s and F’s across the board. He detested reading and refused to even try to enjoy anything involving the printed word. A big part of Randy’s aversion was his discomfort in doing it. He felt inferior because he had poor reading skills. He didn’t have a good foundation to build on; no one read to him as a child and he was never encouraged to read. He was never taken on … Continue reading →

Great Books For Your 7th or 8th Grader

Take your young teen to your local library this summer and check out some of these great titles. Read my recent blog to learn about the importance of summer reading programs and how they can benefit your child. Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Tom Sawyer is a lovable rogue who is constantly getting into trouble. This book outlines his adventures with his best friend Huck as he runs away finds buried treasure, and even attends his own funeral. Every boy (and girl) will be able to relate to Tom. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko This … Continue reading →