Freedom Crossing by Margaret Goff Clark

A book that I have recently finished is Freedom Crossing by Margaret Goff Clark. This book is set during the time of slavery in the United States. It starts out with Laura (protagonist) coming home from the South where she has been living for the past few years. Her brother and father have turned their house into a stop for the Underground Railroad a secret organization that helps slaves escape from down south. Over the course of the book Laura decides to help Martin, the escaped slave, even though it wasn’t her first thought.

When Martin first comes to stay Laura thinks about turning him in but doesn’t. Later in they story she starts to believe owning some one is wrong. Finally in the end of the story she will risk everything to get Martin to Canada. ‘“You’re right, Martin,’ she said slowly. ‘You’ll have to leave tonight, but you can’t go alone. You’d get lost and you’d never get to the house on the river in time. I’m going with you.’”(p.127) This quote shows that Laura will bring Martin to the boat even though she could get caught and arrested. She has changed a lot over the course of the book.

Even though we aren’t helping slaves escape to freedom we can all learn from Laura about keeping are minds open for change of opinion.   I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in The Underground Railroad and slavery.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling

The book that I have just finished is Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling. The book is the 4^th in the Harry Potter series. In this book Harry is unwillingly put into a highly dangerous wizard competition. This competition is between Hogwarts and two other magic schools. Hermione takes a liking to Viktor Krum-a contestant from another school- who also likes her. Ron is jealous of Krum because he is with Hermione.

     

Hermione is going to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum and when Ron finds out he is really mad. He says, “’Why don’t you go and find Vicky, he’ll be wondering where you are,”’ He says Vicky very sarcastically because he doesn’t like that Hermione is with Krum. After Ron says this Hermione storms off. Thought the rest of the book Krum is a topic of tension.

Even thought not all of us fight with our friends over boyfriends we can all learn from Ron’s mistake of not apologizing. You need to be kind and apologize to your friends so that nothing comes between you.

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

A book that I have recently finished is Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead. Georges has recently moved into an apartment building and his first friend is Safer. Safer is a spying, dog loving and coffee drinking kid. One thing you need to know about Safer is he is afraid to go outside. During the course of the story Georges and Safer spy on Mr. X a mysterious man who wears all black and keeps bring suitcases in out of the building. Safer and Georges over come they fears and learn to be honest. Safer over comes his fear of going outside with the help of Georges.

‘“To high school.’

‘School!’ I laugh. ‘How is that his fault?’

Safer looks at me. ‘What do you mean, how is it his fault? It’s completely his fault. He’s the one who asked to go.’

‘Wait-don’t you go to school?’

‘Of course not…”’ (p. 64) Here we see Georges start to understand that Safer really doesn’t leave the house. Georges doesn’t know yet that Safer is afraid to go outside but is starting to realize that if Safer doesn’t go to school when does he go outside other than to walk the dogs in the courtyard.

‘’’So the first part is that when I was a kid, I worried a lot.’

‘About what?’

‘About a lot of things.’

‘Like what?’

‘Bugs,’ Safer says. ‘Lighting. Elevators. Strangers. Airplanes. Green food. Buses. Germs. Blood. Losing teeth.’ …

‘I was afraid of the dark…’” (p. 161) Safer tells Georges about his fears. This explains some of his weird habits like always taking the stairs and why he never leaves his house. He stays inside because the whole word terrifies him.  

            “ Safer is considering school himself. He says that Candy is his scout, that if she reports that school is okay and confirms where all the exits are, he might start eighth grade with me and Bob in September.

            Or maybe ninth grade, he says, next September.” (p. 179) Georges is helping Safer get over his fears by taking it a step farther everyday. Safer is even considering starting school. Which is something he never would have though of before Georges.

            Even though we might not have ever left our homes we can learns from Safer that you need to trust your friends because they can help you get over you fears. I highly recommend this book to ages 10 and up.

           

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

The book I am currently reading is After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick. Jeffery a cancer survivor is starting 8^th grade, but people might know him better as Jeffery the 5 year old with cancer whose brother, Steven, would do anything for him. This is the sequel to Drums, Girls And Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick and Jeffery is know a teenager with out cancer whose brother is in Africa study drums. Jeffery learns to understand the fact that his father loves him even though he doesn’t always show it.

Jeffery’s dad always wanted him to be amazing at math but methotrexate, a drug he took while he had cancer, caused some brain damage, which makes school hard for him. “Whenever I brought home a math test, he’d say ‘Why don’t you just try a little harder, Jeffery?’” (p.27-28) Jeffery dreaded sharing anything with his dad about math because he was always disappointed in Jeffery. This led Jeffery to keep secrets from his dad.

My next quote is “I was screwed. I knew my dad would have a cow, and that as soon as he saw it, he’d start pushing math on me so hard that every time I sneezed, fractions would fly out of my nose. Fortunately for me, my father never thinks to look for the mail by taking apart the garbage disposal, so that’s where the letter went.”(p.29) Jeffery doesn’t want to tell his dad about the state test so much that he hides that letter from him. Jeffery thinks that if he tells his dad he won’t have a moment of peace because his dad will be forcing math facts on him.   

Jeffrey says, “‘My dad is thrilled. I told him it’s because of the question he helped me with on the night before the statewides. But he said, ‘No, buddy, we have your friend Tad to thank.”’(p.255-256) Jeffery’s dad finally is proud of his son because he got put into regular math, which Jeffery has never been in.

All parents can learn form Jeffery’s dad to accept their children’s problems. I highly recommend this book if you have already read Drums, Girls And Dangerous Pie. 

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is an original novel by Jordan Sonnenblick. Steven Alper is an 8th grade boy dealing with the challenges of growing up. On top of middle school stress Steven’s younger brother, Jeffrey, has cancer. Steven has to learn to deal with this added pressure. While finding his true self he becomes more aware of others by willingly making personal scarifies.

When Steven shaves his head it shows that he really cares about his brother. Jeffrey had thought that people couldn’t see the fact that his chemotherapy left him with no hair, until another kid told him he was bald. Steven see’s that Jeffrey is really upset about this so he shaves his head so that Jeffrey doesn’t have to be alone in his baldness. Steven cares enough about his brother to make a physical change to his appearance.

Steven has a very big crush on a girl named Renee Albert. She is coming over to tutor him in math. This is all he has ever wanted. But every since Jeffrey has gotten sick anyone with the tiniest hint of illness can’t be around him. When Renee comes over she is sniffling. Steven doesn’t let her even though it is his hearts desire because he puts his brother in danger. This shows that Steven is putting his brother before anything else.

Steven realizes that with his brothers medical bills are really high and that his parents are struggling financially. He decides that he will give up his drum lessons to help his family’s budget a little bit. Steven is seeing that his family is struggling so he willingly decides to help. This shows that Steven wants to help his family.

Through personal sacrifices Steven becomes more aware of others, which allows him to himself. Not everybody has a younger brother with cancer or is under the stress of 8^th grade but we can learn how to care for others through Steven.  Steven is a true role model.