Don't worry, I will keep this up going, but with just some changes

Life gets interesting at times, and this is one of them. I created this years ago to help keep Renton Junior High students reading while I was at the other 2 schools I was over at the district. Then 6 years ago, I was pulled from Renton completely to be at those 2 elementary schools instead, so I keep this up to help the students until money could be found to put me back there. Both students and teachers there use this.

Now do to more budget decisions by central office, the school district will not even have a librarian in it. Money for STEM was needed so something has to go. In Michigan, that usually means the librarian. Many schools in Michigan don't even have a librarian or even a room that can be called a library. Hard to believe if you don't live here, but yes that is the way it has been for years. I was lucky to be able to serve Huron students as long as I did.

So this will be changing some to met the needs of the students in the new library I will work. I am not sure right now where that will be, but I hope that books I will add will find their way to the original school library for students to use. I have been told how useful this blog is and seen how it is used so widely. Too much work has been put into this to stop now. I will still add only about 6 books a years so it doesn't become too big to use easily. 

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Ivan seems to only remember his life being in a circus style mall. But when the owner buys a baby elephant, he starts to remember his youth of freedom before he became an attraction for humans. He has his animal friends, Bob a homeless dog that likes it that way and Stella the old elephant who is there with him. But it is a promise he makes to Stella that starts him on a journey that will forever change his life and those around him. Can he really trust some humans to help? Julia, the janitor's little girl seems to want to help. Can other humans be trusted? What is really a happy ending if you are just a captive animal far from your natural home? Why do books use something sad as the needed push so the main character will work for that happy ending? Maybe that is the question will let you in on the secret of how to find the happy ending in your life.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckmister Boy by Gary Schmidt

Sometimes you find a book that makes you angry at the beginning and keep giving you reasons for that anger to grow. Turner, the new minister's son, finds many reasons to hate his father's new job in a small town on the coast of Maine. Between the bullies and the older people who are quick to judge you when you are a minister's son, he finds little support. But then he meets Lizzie while on the beach alone, he finally gets a friend and a friendly place - the island colony that was founded by freed slaves where she lives with her grandfather. She is also an outsider since she looked down upon because of her race. It seems no matter what he does, nothing will get better. But sometimes you have to stand up for what is right, no matter the costs. The costs are high, maybe too high. Price is always paid when you take on the powers of both small towns and people's racism. But sometimes you find a few bright lights no matter how dark life becomes. Too many will relate to Turner and maybe his courage will help those who do.