This Book Is More Than The Sum Of Its Parts

.…or I’ve Flipped for Flipped

Recommended for grades 6-9

I was so excited to find out that Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen had been made into a movie, which is odd because I’ve never read the book. But, like all good books, its reputation preceded itself—I knew I would get around to reading the story. I really wanted to see the movie, especially after watching the preview (not gonna lie, probably watched it upwards of five times that first time). I counted down the days till it would hit theaters. Then, I started searching all the internet movie sites determined to find what local theater it would be in…it was showing in ZELCH! Come on now!! Not even the independent theaters were showing it and trust me, I checked for several weeks, hoping that eventually it would make it to a theater near me. It never did.

Well, with that disappointment, I decided I would just be one of the first people to check it out from the library. I watched it this past week and loved every minute of that movie! The two young actors portraying Juli and Bryce were wonderful and so was the supporting cast. The movie guaranteed that I would be reading the book within a week’s time (library, here I come!). So, not only do I have to buy the movie because I liked it so much, I now have to buy the book because I liked it so much and want to be able to read it yearly. I just have to point out that I ONLY buy movies that are my favorites and will stand the test of time of me watching them over and over again.

Flipped is a coming of age story that ventures a little into first love (or crazy first crushes…we’ve all been there), but Van Draanen keeps the balance well, by alternating chapters between Bryce and Juli. The book begins the summer before Bryce and Juli go into second grade. Juli sees Bryce (who just moved into the neighborhood) and right away she’s “flipped” for “those blue eyes.” On the other hand, Bryce wants nothing to do with Juli. This continues for several years, but along the way you find out what a strong-spirited individual Juli is and what a confused individual Bryce turns out to be. They live right across the street from each other, but their families couldn’t be any more different—Bryce’s family is well-off, but not stable, whereas Juli’s family might not be rich, but they are close knit.

Then it happens, in eighth grade, Juli finally discovers what a “coward” Bryce can be and really wants nothing to do with him (for the most part), but at the same time Bryce finally opens his eyes and sees Juli, I mean really sees Juli and what do you know, he’s “flipped” for her…funny how the story’s title works on several levels. The reader knows that Bryce isn’t all that bad and the story ends on a sweet note with Bryce’s noble act and Juli thinking that maybe she and Bryce can be friends after all.

One of my favorite lines in the book comes from Chet, Bryce’s wise grandfather, who says, “Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss…But every once in a while you find someone who’s iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.” I feel the same way about books.

Van Draanen, W. (2001). Flipped. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

The Only Fun Part Of Holiday Shopping Is Shopping For Kids

I know, shocking, right?! But guess what I get the kids I know? Books! I only have three little kids I shop for, all under the age of four, and all celebrate Christmas (none of my Jewish friends have kids yet, including myself). But none-the-less, I went to Borders with my mom today and got my shoppin’ on! One highlight buy of my trip was a book called Bugs! The book is pretty cool—it comes with a storybook (that contains bug facts in the margins) and bug toys. The pages are thicker and made of board and foam—it’s a cute size too.

I bought Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer for the oldest girl, 3 and a half. FUNNIEST book of my week! I stood in the bookstore reading, cracking up the whole time. I know Olivia is funny, but this one goes the extra mile. There are scenes in the book, where not only does Olivia get tangled in the “twinkly” lights, her mom plugs them in to make it easier to detangle after. It gets better--Olivia decides to help set the table and her mom is impressed, especially with the little tree Olivia finds…until you unfold the one page spread and see that Olivia miraculously took the top off the family’s Christmas tree!

And one of my other favorite scenes is Christmas morning, when Olivia’s mom lets Olivia and her siblings (who can’t take their eyes off the presents even to eat) know that after they finish breakfast, they can open their presents…open the two page spread and all the kids ditched their food for the presents, even the baby—Olivia’s father makes the comment, “It looks like someone just learned to walk.” Oh Olivia, I have new found respect for you (or should I say Ian Falconer).

Back to the topic at hand--The littlest girl I know, who is one, I got a Sweet Sesame plush board book collection for her—four Sesame Street books, each with their own theme—Love, Kisses, Smiles and Hugs. It’s Sesame Street, can’t really go wrong with that one.

I know its a little last minute, but if you need book ideas for kids, just holler!

Alexander, H. (2010). Bugs! (Junior groovies). Norwalk, CT: Innovative Kids.

Falconer, I. (2007). Olivia helps with Christmas. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Softplay. (2004). Sweet sesame. Chicago, IL: Softplay, Inc.

All You Need Is Love, Humor, And Friendship

Recommended for grades 8-12

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg should be read by every high school girl--whether they are in a relationship, plan on it, or not. Humor, truth, friendship, The Beatles, and remaining true to yourself—this is one awesome and refreshing book!

The protagonist, Penny Lane (yes, she is named after the Beatles song), has decided she is fed up with high school boys and dating. During the summer before her junior year, she finally got to have a relationship with Nate, the boy she thought was the one. He said all the right things and made her feel special, but Penny catches him cheating—he blames her for it. Penny decides enough is enough!

Penny decides to start The Lonely Hearts Club, referencing the Beatles—she is the solo member. Pretty soon, Diane, who was Penny’s best friend up until 7^th grade, when she dropped everything (including Penny) to date Ryan, asks to join (Ryan secretly dumped her at the end of their sophomore year, but they remain friends). Soon after, Penny’s current loud-mouth, opinionated best friend, Tracy decides to join. Before you know it, more and more girls want to know about the club and join—a revolution has begun!

Club rules are established, meetings are held on Saturday nights, the girls eat lunch together at school, decide to go to Homecoming together (and are a HIT at Homecoming), and support each other through difficult decisions. Diane, Penny, and Tracy are the friends every high school girl should have—I would have loved being friends with them. The way the girls stand up for each other and problem solve, and support each other through many issues is incredible.

But what should Penny do when one of the nicest and not to mention cutest guys at school starts to show an interest? Is Penny in over her head? What’s a girl to do? Well, there’s no chance she will lose herself for a guy, she has plenty of friends to make sure that doesn’t happen.

What a great way to start my winter break from school!

Eulberg, E. (2009). The Lonely hearts club. New York City, NY: Scholastic Point.

A Peace of Paper Cranes

Recommended for grades 2-6 (but I think even adults should read this one)

This past week, Eleanor Coerr, author of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes passed away; she was 88. The story of Sadako should be well-known, if not in detail, at least by relation to WWII, Japan, and the atom bomb. The story centers on Sadako, born in Hiroshima, Japan. A natural-born runner, 11 year old Sadako loves to race and is on the relay team at her school. Sadako begins to have dizzy spells and one even lands her in the hospital. Heartbreakingly enough, Sadako finds out that she has leukemia from radiation caused by the atom bomb—that was detonated ten years earlier!

While in the hospital, Sadako questions the disease and why it took so long to surface, the use of the atom bomb, and if she will ever be able to run again. Her family visits often, one time bringing in all her favorite foods to try to coerce her into eating after she loses her appetite. Her best friend comes to visit her and that’s when she decides to make 1000 paper cranes because a Japanese legend says that if an ill person folds one thousand paper cranes, the gods will grant the person’s wish to be well again.

Sadako’s health flip-flops as she continues to fold paper cranes. She makes it to 644 cranes before she becomes too weak to fold anymore and soon after, she passes away. (Geez, I can’t even write this last part without tearing up!) As a tribute to Sadako, her friends folded the remaining cranes to total 1000 and buried them with her. Her friends and schoolmates held fundraisers to make enough for a statue to remember Sadako and all those who died because of the effects of the atom bomb—you can see the memorial in Hiroshima’s Peace Park. The plaque on the statue reads,

This is our cry. This is our pray. Peace in the world.

This book has meant a lot to me and I found its message so touching and necessary that it was a yearly read at the book club I facilitated for children at Borders. All the kids really enjoyed the book, even if it did make them sad. They really loved making paper cranes, which I then strung together and sent to the Peace Park in Japan so that they could be placed by Sadako’s statue. We even received a letter back thanking us for our contribution to peace.

I think this book should be required reading of every human being…and more than once!

Resources available for educators:

Hiroshima Peace Site

Sadako Lesson Plans

Coerr, E. (1999). Sadako and the thousand paper cranes. New York, NY: Putnam Penguin.