Colors of the Wind by J.L. Powers paintings by George Mendoza drawings by Hayley Morgan-Sanders**

 Purple House Press (where I first read about it) has republished this book. What an amazing story and man! 

At age fifteen, George became legally blind with a rare form of blindness, fundus flavimaculatus. It destroys the person's central vision. Even with his blindness, he pursued running (set world record for the mile by a blind runner-4:28!) and painting. His vision causes him to view explosive colors, which he paints. This book contains his paintings.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL but I ordered it to own I liked it so much!

I just read online that a screenplay is being developed based on his life.

Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt*

 Mr. Schmidt develops characters so well. As a reader you are drawn to them and care about them. Jupiter Rising is a sequel to Orbiting Jupiter. I recommend reading the books in order. I loved this book. I also enjoy seeing characters from previous Schmidt novels pop up in other ones (Doug Swietek's brother, who is now a Coach and PE teacher,appears in this book). 

Jack loves Jupiter, Joseph's three-year-old daughter. Jack's parents are in the process of adopting her when Jupiter's grandparents (Madeleine's parents) decide that they want her. Jack cannot take losing another person he loves. But it looks like the law will side with the grandparents. Then Jack's running buddy Jay is hit by a truck while he is running. How much more can an eighth grade boy handle?

I love how Mr. Schmidt advocates the sanctity of life through these two novels. He does not shield the reader from the pain and suffering involved with teens having a baby, with foster care, and with the adoption process. I also love the supportive, wise adults that influence the young people. 

*Highly recommend for mature junior highers or older. See warnings/considerations.

Warnings/considerations: Jupiter is the result of a teen pregnancy, both of her parents died in the previous novel, swearing, hit/run accident, neglectful parents (BUT, Jack's parents are wonderful-a realistic portrayal of families-some wonderful, some horrible/selfish), the grandfather smokes

-Borrowed from the library.

The Puffin Keeper by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Benji Davies*

 Such a sweet, uplifting story! 

Benjamin Postlethwaite, a lighthouse keeper, rescues Allen, his mother and twenty-some other people when their schooner begins to sink. Memories of that evening in the lighthouse bouyed Allen through difficult times at his grandparents' home and then at boarding school. Determined to return to Benjamin, Allen journeys there after completing high school and finds a home with Benjamin.

A beautiful story of friendship and family.

*Highly recommend. I want more stories like this one! 

Something to consider: Reluctant readers will appreciate the illustrations and short chapters. The themes, however,  may be a bit mature for these readers. My junior high son would enjoy the story but may not pick it up because the length and illustrations would make him erroneously conclude it was too "babyish" for him.

-Borrowed from the library.

Run Fast. Eat Slow. recipe books by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky

Healthy recipes to nourish active bodies.  

Advice from Ms.Flanagan  & Ms.Kopecky is woven throughout the books.

I tried the superhero muffins and a snack mix recipe.  Since the books are due and I cannot renew them, I copied a few to try in the future.

-Borrowed from the library.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr paintings by Ronald Himler

Recently we had homeschool friends over to present topics that interest them.  One of my youngest son's friend summarized this book and demonstrated how to fold a paper crane.  He allowed my son (and me!) to borrow this book.  

Sadako is determined to make the junior high running team.  As she trains, she begins to feel dizzy after her workouts.  She does not tell anyone until she falls over at school.  Her parents admit her into a hospital where it is discovered she has the "atom bomb disease", leukemia.  To bring her hope, her friend Chizuko makes her a paper crane, reminding her of the old story that if a sick person makes a thousand the cranes, the gods will heal her.  Sadako begins to make paper cranes out of any paper she can find. Unfortunately, she does die months later.

Based on a true story.  Step-by-step directions how to fold a paper crane are included in the back of the book.

A short but powerful book with admirable characters.  Readers will be exposed to Japan's culture.

Points to discuss: Japanese culture, WWII & the atom bomb/Hiroshima, worshipping ancestors/gods, relying on "good luck", death of a young girl, leukemia

-Borrowed from a young friend. 

Unbroken-DVD*

 Rated - PG-13

To support our study of World War II, my fourteen-year-old read the young adult version of the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  He found Louis Zamperini's life story amazing and inspiring. 

He and I watched the movie together (I have not read the book.).  I could not believe all that Louie endured and actually survived!!  An absolutely incredible story. He was a remarkable human being.  The movie ends when Louie returns to the United States and is reunited with his family.  After his return, Louie struggled with alchoholism.  Attending a Billy Graham crusade, he accepts Christ as his Savior and lives a full life, serving God and others until his death at age of ninety-seven years.  The movie does share some of these later life events in a few sentences at the end of the movie.

 My son thought the book was more graphic in its description of the abuse Louie experienced as a POW.  He also liked the book better because it revealed a lot more details about each part of Louie's life.  

*Highly recommend. (see warnings)

Warnings: war violence, death, some language, Louie tries to look up a woman's dress at a track meet, cruelty and abuse at POW camps

-Borrowed from the library 

Book we own-

Girl Running by Annette Bay Pimentel illustrated by Micha Archer

 Bobbi loves to run.  When she arrives home from school, she sheds her dress, dons pants and sneakers and runs!  The Boston Marathon runs through a nearby town.  As she watches the runners, she decides to train for it.  One problem.  Females are not permitted to run it because at the time people believed women were not "physiologically" able to do so!  Bobbi knows this is incorrect and sets out to prove this theory wrong.

The collages and art in the illustrations is impressive. 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Vanderbeekers -Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser**

 Since Ms. Glaser's newest Vanderbeeker book usually is released mid-September, it has become a tradition to give my youngest son the book as a gift.  I read aloud this newest one in the series to him, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  Experiencing life with the Vanderbeekers is exciting, humorous and uplifting. 

Someone is sleeping in the garden's shed.  The Vanderbeekers supply food and drink for the individual.  Almost immediately the reader discovers that the person is Orlando, Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet's grand-nephew.  Apparently, Orlando's mom was behind in the rent and was evicted. She abandoned Orlando.  Of course, the Vanderbeekers throw themselves into helping him . . . . not even asking what kind of help he desires.  Can they convince him to stay in Harlem with Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet?  

A myriad of obstacles present themselves, but nothing can withstand the Vanderbeeker's love, loyalty and friendship.

Although "finding Orlando a home" is the main problem of the story, other "problems" arise.  Mr. Jeet's health is failing (warning-I cried.  My boys have never seen me cry over a book!  I had a difficult time reading aloud for a bit.) . Benny, Isa's "boy", seems to be hanging out with another girl all-the-time and is taking this girl to the homecoming dance! Hyacinth's friends have moved away and is having a difficult time making new friends in her third grade class.   

Once again Ms. Glaser has created a wholesome yet realistic story about an admirable family.  

**Highly, highly recommend.

-My son owns this book.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli*

-Award-winning-Newbery Medal

Jeffrey Lionel Magee is an orphan.  He runs away from loveless aunt and uncle and settles into a small town which is racially divided.  As he interacts with the different families from both "sides", he realizes the similarities, not the differences.  Using his incredible abilities, he brings people together.  

This book will encourage lots of discussion.

Pair with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (discuss similarities). 

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Points to discuss/warnings: racial issues, violence, swearing, underage drinking, child neglect

 

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt*

Award winner-Newbery Honor
In the year 1967, on Wednesday afternoons,  Holling Hoodhood's classmates are dismissed from school to  either go to Catechism or Hebrew school, but Holling, being a Presbyterian,  must stay behind with his seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Baker.  It seems like Mrs. Baker hates him.  Her hatred toward him is confirmed as she has him clap all the teachers' erasers, clean out the rats' cage (which escape into the school's walls!) and then ultimately, read Shakespeare assignments on Wednesday afternoons.
As he endures junior high teasing and a selfish, cold father, Holling begins to realize that a person comprises more than just what one sees initially. 
Readers will laugh out at the situations Holling finds himself in and also admire how he develops into a considerate and confident young man.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Topics to discuss: Vietnam War, prejudice, Jew and Catholicism, the 1960's, Shakespeare's writings/plays, his sister runs away with an older boy for a bit, the father is distant and selfish.
Library categorizes this book as "young adult".
**Pair with Okay for Now by Gary. D. Schmidt.

Side Tracked by Diana Harmon Asher*

Joseph has ADD and finds solace in the resource room with his teacher Mrs. T.  For all of his life his peers have made fun of him.  As far as friends, he has none.  Little does he know how pivotal his decision to join the cross country team is.  Not only does he toughen up physically, but also mentally and emotionally.  He also finds his first friend.  Heather.
A beautiful story about friendship and perseverance.
Ms. Asher has developed a very likable character.  She permits us to perceive life from a person with ADD.  Humor abounds too!  I also loved how Ms. Asher integrates the grandfather and how he helps Joseph.  The grandfather has more of a role than Joseph's parents.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Track #3 -Sunny by Jason Reynolds*

The day Sunny is born, his mother dies (amniotic embolism).  His father, whom he calls Daryl-never, ever dad-has been a stone wall.  The bright spots in his life are his homeschool teacher Aurelia and track.  Track, however, has become boring.  He runs the 1600 m and wins every time.  Boring.  So to spice up the meet one day, he walks and loses.  This choice commences some events which are painful yet beneficial.  One change is his relationship with his father and another change is in the event he trains for at track.
Sunny's personality comes alive on the pages as he writes in his diary.  This book brought some tears.
*Highly recommend. Love this series!  Not many books about track/field.
-Borrowed from the library.

Auma's Long Run by Eucabeth Odhiambo*

Auma's dream is to receive a track scholarship so she may attend high school and then pursue a medical doctor degree.  Most girls in her small Kenyan village, however, marry after year eight of school.  Auma does not have time for boys as she studies, attends track practice and helps at home. 
Auma and her siblings' world is devastated when her father returns unexpectedly from Nairobi where he works and is very ill.  He dies from AIDS and has infected his wife.  Soon Auma and her siblings are orphans trying to survive and still attend school. Are Auma's dreams of being a track star and doctor -just that-dreams?
This book really reveals how traumatizing and devastating the AIDS epidemic was in Africa.  Ms. Odhiambo grew up in Kenya in the 1980's and 1990's so she was able to write a compelling story that immerses the reader in the culture and the epidemic.
A necessary book to broaden readers' worldview. 
*Highly recommend for older readers (see warnings/points to discuss).
Warnings/points to discuss: Auma begins her menstruation cycle; Her father had a mistress in the city which was how he became infected; older men in the village try to prey on virgin/younger girls to have sexual relations; death from AIDS  *The library has this book categorized as "young adult" fiction.
-Borrowed from the library.

Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong with Mark Tabb*

When Lopez was six years old, rebel soldiers kidnapped him and a bunch of other boys one Sunday morning where the families were worshiping.  He became one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan".  Miraculously, he survived the rebel boot camp from which three teenagers helped him escape.  For ten years he lived in a Kenyan refugee camp, running 18 miles around its border to dull the hunger and emotional pains.  Finally at sixteen years old, a couple from New York state adopted him and gave him the opportunity to live the American dream-an education and  . . . . hope.
In this book, Mr. Lomong describes the hardship Sudanese children experience, his adjustments to the U.S., the thrills of being an Olympic athlete and the challenges he faced while earning his degree.  Through it all, he sees God's provision and grace, and gives Him the glory.
He also shares his passion to help other children in Sudan through his nonprofit organization, 4 Sudan Vision (partnership with World Vision).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Every Body Matters by Gary Thomas*

Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul
Mr. Thomas' emphasizes throughout his book the importance of maintaining a fit body to better serve the Lord.  According to Apostle Paul we are all called to be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful for the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Our bodies are instruments for the Lord.  If we are overweight and out of shape, we cannot serve to the fullest capacity.
Being physical fit and tough will also help us be endure trials and  persecution.
pg. 45 "Protecting your health is the same thing as protecting the vehicle through which God wants to change the world."
pg. 49 Dr. Yphantides says "Being unhealthy is being selfish.  Being healthy is being loving."
 pg. 101 "Laziness is the great spiritual assassin of our time. . . an attitude that undercuts our sense of duty to God and our obligation to our neighbor, and an attitude that wastes our lives."
pg.106 "Laziness is like pride-we can't turn it on and off.  It becomes part of who we are."
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

Ghost -Track #1 by Jason Reynolds*

Castle Cranshaw can run but does not for a team.  One night in a drunken rage, his dad tries to shoot him and his mother.  They run for their lives, hiding in Mr. Charles' store's stock room.  Even though his dad is in jail, he sleeps on the living room floor to protect his mom and so he can run out the door at a moment's notice.  At school he endures cruel taunts about his too big clothes and where he lives (Glass Manor).  He rarely experiences a day without an altercation at school.
Then one day he observes a track team practicing running (he never knew running was a sport!), and the coach offers him the opportunity to be part of the team.  If only he can stay out of trouble, he may begin to see that running can actually help him heal and deal with his circumstances.
I like Coach's advice on pg. 155 ". . . you can't run away from who you are, but what you can do is run toward who you want to be."
I loved reading a book that exalts running and track/field (very rare!) and the benefits of being part of a team.  Readers will want to know more about each track/field member's story and realize each person has a story and depth.
This book reveals the hardship lower income families and inner city children face on a regular basis.
Castle (aka Ghost) tells his story so the grammar and sentence structure is how he would say it so grammar nazis will cringe.  The voice is very authentic and effective.
*Highly recommend for older, mature readers (see warnings).
-Borrowed from the library.
Warnings: violence (his father tries to shoot him and his mother), lying, shop lifting, bullies, drug dealers are mentioned and the fact there are drug deals going on is treated as normal (which is authentic to the setting).

The Wildest Race Ever by Meghan McCarthy

The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon
As usual Ms. McCarthy makes history come alive with her engaging tone and ability to present facts/history in an interesting way.
She describes the course, the athletes and the situations that arose during the race.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller illustrated by Frank Morrisono

Alta is the "fastest kid in Clarksville" but then Charmaine moves into town and gives Alta some competition.  When Wilma Rudolph returns to Clarksville, her home town, for a parade to honor her, the girls put aside their differences.
Told in first person narrative.
The author shares a few facts about Wilma Rudolph at the end.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Great Race by Kevin O'Malley*

Nate Tortoise is sick and tired of hearing people rave about Lever Lapin, the hare who has won many races.  When Nate is kicked out of his favorite table at his favorite restaurant, it is the last straw.  He challenges the arrogant lapin to a race.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.
Warning: insults, name calling

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen*

Award winner: 2012 Schneider Family Book Award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

On the way home from a track meet where she broke her 400 m. record, Jessica's  track team's bus is in an accident.  One teammate dies and Jessica loses part of her leg, BK (below the knee).  As Jessica tries to grapple with the fact she will never run again on two legs, she learns to look beyond herself and her struggles and befriends Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy.
Ms. Van Draanen handles and writes about tough subjects with finesse.
As a runner I can honestly say she captures how a person who loves to run, lives to run would feel if that skill and ability was snatched away instantly.
Very admirable main characters whom the reader will like instantly.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: X (6th grade and older)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.7
Pair this book with: Rules by Cynthia Lord and/or Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.
Warning/point to discuss: Jessica has a crush on a boy in her class and her "obsession" is mentioned throughout the book.  The book, however,  is certainly not focused on her  love interest.     In the end the two share a kiss.  Nothing inappropriate is ever mentioned or described.
This book is labeled "YA" (young adult) in our county's library system.