Counting by 7s

Written by: Holly Goldberg Sloan

AR Level: 5.6 (worth 10pts)
Lexile Level: 770
Interest Level: Grades 5-8

Book Summary: Twelve-year old Willow is a "highly gifted" girl who loves nature, studying diseases, and counting by 7s. "Almost everything interests me," she says. She has no friends and starts middle school outside her district to get a fresh start. Things are not going well at Sequoia Middle. Willow earns a perfect score on a standardized test and is accused of cheating. Instead of worrying her parents, she takes the punishment, which includes counseling every week. Dell Duke, the school counselor is unprofessional and unfit for his job. He knows it. Willow knows it, too. At counseling she meets Mai, the sister of a Quang Ha who is a fellow counselee. Just when things are looking up, everything falls apart. Willow's loving and supportive parents suddenly die in a car accident. She has no next of kin. Mai begs her mother to take Willow in. Mai's mother, Pattie, reluctantly agrees but insists its only temporary until the state can find suitable foster parents for Willow. Stunned and empty, Willow wades through the grief and getting back to a new normal. She no longer counts by 7s or focuses on the dangers of germs and disease. Willow's living situation could change at any second, but while she waits for a foster family, she makes the best of an uncomfortable situation. 

Book Review: Though 378 pages, Counting by 7s is a quick read. The story moves rapidly and readers will get invested in the interesting and mysterious characters. The tragedy and sadness experienced by the main character, Willow, are dealt with in a tasteful and appropriate way. Counting by 7s depicts an unlikely family (a single mom, her two teens, an inept school counselor, and a heartbroken, orphaned tween) who, whether they realize it or not, somehow make each others lives better.

Profanity: None

Potentially Inappropriate Behaviors:
Willow keeps secrets from her parents.
Willow runs away.
Dell and Quang Ha channel surf for shows with violence ("a cartoon man gets stabbed in the eye with an ice pick") or "appealing females" a.k.a. "hot girls."


Potentially Inappropriate References: None

Parental Concern:
1 out of 5

Ribbit Book Review

Written by: Rodrigo Folgueira

Illustrated by: Poly Bernatene

Book Summary: A family of frogs find a pig in their pond who only says, "Ribbit," so they seek the advice of a wise old beetle who suggests that maybe the pig wants to be friends.

Book Review: When a large family of frogs wake to find a "surprise visitor" in their pond, they are confused. Their confusion grows when they try to speak to the pig, but pig's only reply is, "Ribbit!" Forest friends find the situation funny, but the frogs are feeling angry. The chief frog steps in and exclaims, "We're not getting anywhere by fighting! We must go and find the wise old beetle. He'll know what to do." The wise old beetle helps the frogs see the solution is simple and leaves it up to them to fix their pig problem. Ribbit is rich in engaging dialogue and uses varying font sizes to convey the emotions of the characters. The watercolor illustrations in Ribbit are colorful and fresh. The background of each page is filled with Earth tones and a texture similar to a woven blanket. Pay special attention to the forests animals, whose eyes and mouths are perfectly expressive and humorous.

Interest Level: Grades Pre-K-2
AR Level: 2.1 (worth .5 pts.)
Lexile Level: AD500L

Profanity:
None

Potentially Inappropriate Behavior:
None

Potentially Inappropriate References:
None

Parental Concern Rating:
0 out of 5

The War that Saved My Life

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

AR Level: 4.1 (worth 9 pts.)
Lexile Level: 500
Interest Level: Grades 6-8


Book Summary: Ada has never left the London flat where she lives with her mother and brother, Jamie. Ada is not allowed to leave; her abusive mother doesn't want anyone to see her "crippled" daughter. In the summer of 1939, when World War II could begin at any second, parents are sending their kids to the English countryside to escape the impending bombing of city. Jamie is going, but Ada's mother, Mam, refuses to let Ada go. "They're sending kids to live with nice people. Who'd want you? Nobody, that's who. Nice people don't want to look at that foot," says her mother. Ada's will is stronger than her disability and on the morning her brother is to leave, she sneaks out early with him, boards the train and rides off into a new life. Things are better with Susan, their reluctant guardian, but even though Ada has escaped her mother, she can't escape the trauma of her past.

Book Review: Bradley weaves fascinating historical facts into an already engaging story of an abused girl who shows herself and the world that she is as valuable as any "normal person." Readers will find Ada relatable and inspiring. Though some of the details of Ada's life with her "mam" are disturbing, the author moves passed the rough subjects quickly and appropriately.

Awards and Recognitions:
Newberry Honor Book
Sunshine State Young Readers Award 2017-2018

Profanity:
Slut
Hell (written in dialect as "'ell")

Potentially Inappropriate References:
None

Potentially Inappropriate Behaviors:
Mam slaps Ada
Mam locks Ada in a cupboard
Ada ties up Jamie briefly, but immediately feels sorry.
Mam is emotionally, verbally, and physically abusive.
A teacher ties Jamie's left hand to his chair (he's left handed and the teacher insists he write with his right hand).

Parental Concern: 2 out of 5