I requested this book from another library because someone had said it made a good readaloud. I looked over the book a few times and I would have to respectfully disagree. Oh well.

I liked this book quite a lot. I am always shocked to hear about libraries denying service to people who haven't done anything wrong, but I guess it used to happen. I find it amazing that one boy stood up to something that was so wrong. Ron McNair gew up to be an astronaut and sadly was one of the people killed in the Challenger explosion.

A pretty good winter readaloud.

I have not yet finished my song about this book, based on the tune "Tiny Dancer" but I thought that perhaps the library would like its book back. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I would classify it as similar in tone to "Army of Darkness," the third movie in the Evil Dead triology starring Bruce Campbell. Some disgusting and horrific moments, but mostly humorous. I thought at first I was going to have trouble reading from the mind of a teen boy but I got used to it as the story went on. I would recommend it for high schoolers, since there is a mild sex scene and some scary moments and dark subject matter. The end is slightly open, so I'm hoping there will be a sequel.

This was about a 2.5 book for me. A good set-up to a series, but it didn't really answer any questions that were raised! I think it will get better with the next book, but since it was a slow start, I wonder if kids will pick it up.

Newbery Honor 2010, Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2010-2011

I really liked this book, enough so that I plan on filling out a nomination sheet for next year's MSBA list. (It made it!)

Calpurnia Tate is 11 years old, and only has brothers: five of them. Girls at her time are supposed to be wives, possibly teachers. She is interested in nature and spends a lot of time with her grandfather, exploring the area around her Texas home. When her mother begins to notice, however, she feels that Calpurnia needs to concentrate more on her "womanly" skills, which Calpurnia hates. Over the course of 1899, Calpurnia struggles with going back and forth between the dreaded chores and what she really loves and eventually comes to a conclusion at the end of the book.