Dear Opl by Shelly Sackier

 

Title:  Dear Opl
Author:  Shelly Sackier
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
ISBN:  9781492608592
Price:  $7.99 U.S. (paperback)
Publish Date:  August 4, 2015
Target Audience:  Middle Grade

Confession time. I am not an emotional person. At all. My husband sometimes says I have no soul because he cries during movies while I sit emotionless. Things affect me, but I don't outwardly show emotion  That being said, Dear Opl actually made me cry. It's that good. Opal is a preteen girl struggling with her weight. She starts spelling her name "Opl" to shrink her name since she cannot seem to shrink her body. Opal uses food to mask her feelings. Her father died and her mother is busy trying to start a new business. Her mother is concerned with Opal's weight, but in all the wrong ways. She buys her diet foods, and skinny jeans, leaves her not-so-encouraging notes in the pantry, and encourages her to start a blog about her journey.  Even the school cafeteria is transforming their lunches into healthier options.  Opal is not at all pleased and starts the blog.  The snarkiness in her blog posts are hilarious.  Her blog becomes an overnight success and Opal begins to gain a little self confidence.  In the meantime, Opal upsets her best friend Summer because of her negativity toward Alfie Adam, the "nude chef" who is leading the charge towards the lunch changes.  In an effort to improve her health and win back her best friend, Opal starts cooking and making healthier food choices.  Her transformation is not only on the outside, but also on the inside, as she makes friends with a homeless man and offers him work in exchange for her food in order to help her mother with the new business.  Opal's transformation eventually brings about change for her whole family.  Her mother sees the error of her ways when dealing with Opal and it is all very touching.  Hence, the tears.  

I loved so much about this book.  I love that it addresses food issues, emotional eating, and the hard transition to making healthier choices.  Opal's attitude was exactly as you expect any person making these changes, but her snarkiness in it all made it entertaining.  The book wasn't preachy but young people could learn a lot from Opal's journey.  Opal's mother had the best of intentions, but it didn't come across that way to Opal.  While I bring a mother's perspective to my reading, it was also very clear to see Opal's side as well.  As my children get older, it will be important to remember how my words will affect them, good intentions or not.

There is so much more I could say about this book, but I really think everyone needs to read it for themselves!  Reader Rach gives Dear Opl 5/5 stars.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

This book was chosen for the Global Read Aloud project for the fall of 2015.  I read this book in anticipation for the Global Read Aloud, as this is one of my favorite activities to do with my students each year.  In the past we have read The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.  I am so excited to share Fish in a Tree with next year's students!

The title, Fish in a Tree comes from the saying that "everyone is smart in their own way, but judging a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will live it's life believing that it is stupid."  In this book, Ally is the fish.  Ally has been able to "fake it" in school all the way up to the sixth grade.  She gets in trouble a lot, but it isn't until a substitute teacher comes to take over her class that it is determined why she's spending so much time in the office and outside of the classroom.

This book resonated with me so much as a teacher.  Passionate, kind, caring, and compassionate, Mr. Daniels is the teacher that all teachers hope to be.  When Ally figures out that he is not going to be sending her to the office for her behaviors, she quickly begins to trust him.  He recognized her strengths without highlighting her weaknesses.

I know many students that can relate to this books.  Having an inclusion class, my students all have varying ability levels in reading, but all have strengths in other areas, even if it is outside of the classroom.  This is an excellent book to teach understanding, tolerance, determination, and believing in oneself.  A little part of me wants to believe that Hunt wrote this book in response to policymakers who want all students to pass a cookie-cutter test that doesn't highlight their varying talents and abilities. :)

Reader Rach gives 5/5 stars to Fish in a Tree.

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White

Title: Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave
Author: Jen White
Publisher:  MacMillan Children's Publishing Group
ISBN:  9780374300845
Price:  $16.99 U.S. (hardcover)
Publish Date:  June 9, 2015
Target Audience:  Children/Middle Grades

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twelve-year-old Liberty has always had to look out for her sister Billie. She is put to the biggest test of her life when their mother dies and they find themselves abandoned by their estranged father at a gas station. An avid watcher of animal television shows, Liberty takes careful notes. She uses those animal survival strategies to help keep her sister and herself safe.

This book is one of the best middle grade books I have read recently. Liberty is a character that readers can look up to. She cares so deeply for her sister and will do anything to keep her safe. She is also very smart and resourceful. Billie is the typical little sister and readers with siblings will easily relate to the relationship that Liberty and Billie have. The adventure the girls set upon in an effort to return home will keep readers turning the pages. I highly recommend this book!

A debut novel from Jen White, I am excited to see what else she has in store for middle grade readers!  Reader Rach rating:  5 stars

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