Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby

From the publisher – “A science-class field trip to the Everglades is supposed to be fun, but Sarah’s new at Glades Academy, and her fellow freshmen aren’t exactly making her feel welcome. When an opportunity for an unauthorized side trip on an airboat presents itself, it seems like a perfect escape—an afternoon without feeling like a sore thumb. But one simple oversight turns a joyride into a race for survival across the river of grass. Sarah will have to count on her instincts—and a guy she barely knows—if they have any hope of making it back alive.”

I love Ginny Rorby books. My all-time favorite book has been Hurt Go Happy. Her newest book, Lost in the River of Grass is right up there with HGH. Lost in the River of Grass is actually based on real events that happened to her husband and his then girlfriend when they were lost in the Everglades.

Rorby writes vivid details of the scenery, flora and fauna; even the smells of the Everglades that make it all seems so real that you get lost in the reading because you are right in the middle of it all. The reader really gets the feel of the true account of nature’s kill or be killed. You feel sorry for the fish that is caught by the bird, and then you feel sorry for the bird that is caught by the alligator, and then you almost feel sorry for the alligator that is caught in the python’s mighty grip, but you think right along with the characters that it’s better that it’s not me, when just a paragraph ago you wished it wasn’t there scaring the characters and wondering if it is going to attack. It’s amazing how Rorby puts all these different emotions into her words.

Lost in the River of Grass would make a great read aloud for a classroom studying the different types of landforms. With the vivid descriptions of the scenery, students will get a feel of what the Everglades are truly like. Also great similes such as, “The gator’s whole head is inside the python’s. I can see the outline of the bulbous tip of its snout poking up through the snake’s skin like knuckles in a glove.”

One thing that did bother me through most of the book was why Sarah didn’t take more pictures. Her father jokes with her before leaving on the field trip and allowing her to borrow his 1952 Leica IIIf Red Dial camera, “…maybe this will launch your career as a National Geographic photographer.” Especially when they were watching the python attack the gator. I’m sure Sarah’s mind in the beginning was more about fear of her surroundings and just keeping her dad’s camera safe. Later on when Sarah is tired of being the scared city girl and begins to toughen up, I kept thinking she’d want to take pictures to help her recapture those moments when talking to her parents later. Maybe it’s just my sense of history that I wanted her to take more photos.

Overall, this is a great read for anyone and a must in any library collection; home, school, or public library. Ginny Rorby knows how to hook the reader in and keep them there until the very end.

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

TangledThe lives of four teens, Jena, Skye, Dakota, and Owen, are tangled together and they don’t realize just how connected they become. The best analogy I like to explain it is the ‘butterfly effect’. A butterfly flaps its wings in South America and it will affect the weather in New York City.  Jena goes on vacation with Skye, meets Dakota, and sees Owen, and it goes on from there.

The characters really evolve into their own skin in their own way. As each character is coming out of their own cocoon (no pun intended) and realizing who they truly want to be instead of being defined by some stereotypical title.

Tangled would make a great book club selection for high school students. Discussions about self esteem and treating each other with respect, as well as treating themselves with respect among other topics and show how each of us is connected together more than we realize. Tangled could be used as a read aloud book if you don’t mind all the swearing and other typical teen language.

Tangled is a great addition to any library collection and a must read. I don’t like to give too much of the plot away, but Mackler truly wrote a unique story of teens finding themselves.

Big Bouffant by Kate Hosford

Big BouffantAnnabelle’s first day of school was the same old thing, “ponytails and braids”. She wanted something new and different from everyone else. When she looks at her grandmother’s picture an idea forms and Annabelle is determined to have a big bouffant when she goes to school tomorrow!

Big Bouffant is a great picture book to cuddle together to read at home or for a classroom read aloud. I love Annabelle’s enthusiasm to be herself in a very unique way. I don’t think too many young people would even know what a bouffant is let alone want to wear one.

This story can be paired with Robert Munsch’s Stephanie’s Ponytail where everyone copied Stephanie’s daily new hair styles. I think Annabelle would have gotten along well with Stephanie since they both enjoy being individuals in a crowd. My daughter, who is now 12 years old, and I loved rereading Stephanie’s Ponytail. I can see Big Bouffant would have been a favorite too. It could also be paired with The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson, another fun story about hair.

Big Bouffant is a great picture book for classroom and at home discussions about not always having the “need” to follow the crowd. The book also shows how Annabelle didn’t care if other students laughed at her new hairdo and she was willing to share her new idea with others as well. Even a few of the boys came to school with “hair combed tall”. Annabelle is happy in her own skin which is a great message for any young (or older) person.

Big Bouffant is a must have fun rhyming book for any library collection. It is an entertaining way to show self esteem and individuality with rhyme and great illustrations.