Webster Bible Church and Webster Christian School Library Blog

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It’s 1958 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Twelve-year-old Marlee has found a  best friend at school–the new girl, Elizabeth. Then suddenly Liz changes schools, and the truth comes out– Liz was a light-skinned Negro pretending to be white.

The governor has ordered the high school closed rather than allow integration following the brave attempt by the Little Rock Nine the previous year. Marlee’s parents are at odds about school integration, and it’s dangerous for Marlee to continue her friendship with Liz. What can she do?

This book exposes the social upheaval that surrounded  school integration in Little Rock, Arkansas, and shows that it is important to speak up about what you believe.

We have selected this title to be part of the Battle of the Books competition for next year at Webster Christian School.

Recommended for grades 5-8.

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Scrub gets sent to spend the summer with his Grandmother who runs an intergalactic bed and breakfast for aliens who want to vacation on Earth.

Funny, whimsical and tender, this story is a great blend of fun and good advice. Even includes a touch of romance.

With the conversational cadence of a middle school boy,  Scrub’s first-person narrative voices the feelings and thoughts of a tween. Scrub just wants to be with his friends and not stick out.

Scrub appreciates it when his grandmother trusts him and asks for his help. In fact, his Grandma actually listens to him and goes so far as to apologize to him (a first from an adult in Scrub’s memory).

Scrub grows to admire his grandmother who does what she wants and doesn’t care what other people think–sometimes a great message for teens who are paralyzed by peer pressure.

On the one hand, evolution is mentioned in passing (p.127). On the other hand, the grandmother says, “thank the Creator.”

An entertaining, out-of-the-ordinary story.

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Fisher emerges from his birthing pod, dripping with gel, into a world of destruction. Although he was just born, his instincts tell him to flee as everything burns and crashes around him.

As Fisher explores the Ark where he has been in preservation for many years, he discovers he is the only human survivor. With a robot and a wooly mammoth as his companions, he searches for another Ark and other people.

The whole plot of this book is predicated on the concepts of evolution and environmental destruction by humans. Fisher uses profanity a lot (he finds it “useful for expressing frustration,” p.36), but the exact words are never stated in the text.

Although one book reviewer I read ahead of time used words like “brisk” and “suspenseful” to describe this book, I found the pace slow until about the middle. Click provided some comic relief. I don’t plan to buy a copy for our school library.

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The fourth-grade library class at Webster Christian School researches the great horned owl each fall.

After the class creates  a “Know/Want to Know” chart about the great horned owl, each  student chooses one question to research.Their questions and answers are listed below.

The project culminates with a visit from Krittr Kris (Kristin Forsythe) who brings 2 rehabilitated wild birds  (including a great horned owl and a turkey vulture) to the classroom for an hour-long presentation and question/answer time.

Krittr Kris with Great Horned Owl

Krittr Kris with Turkey Vulture

What are the wings like? (EE)

The Great Horned Owl has a great big wingspread. Its wingspread is 50 inches  long! They also have an edge on its wing to make it silent.

How do they interact with people? (JS)

The only large owl with ear tufts, it uses them like a dog. If the owl is upset, the ear tufts lie flat. If the owl is curious, the ear tufts stand up.

How strong are their talons? (JL)

Their talons are strong enough to pick up a skunk. It has forward and rear facing talons that lock like pincers. As soon as it’s prey goes into it’s claws it’s a goner.

How do they turn their heads around? (JS)

Owls have 14 neck bones. They actually twist their head around 270 degrees.

How do they get their prey? (NF)

They sneak up on their prey. They swoop down silently and kill their prey with their claws. It snatches their prey silently.

Why is their name the Great Horned Owl? (AT)

The Great Horned Owl got it’s name from it’s tufts of feathers on their head that look like a horn.

Where do they live? (LM)

The owls are found in deserts, fields and woods. Even in your back yard! They’re in America.

How do their eyes work? (PK)

The owls eyes can’t move they have to move their head. They can also see well at night. An owls eyes are in front of his head. It can turn it’s head half way around, to also see its prey. They can see in the morning. There eyes are 100% stronger than humans. Owls can blink like people. There eyes can see far and close. There eyes are able to get more light.

What hunts Great Horned Owls? (CH)

Nothing will eat them but crows will attack and pick at them.

How big is it? (GS)

It is about 18-25 inches. Weighs about 4 pounds.  There wings are a little bit bigger than 5 feet long.

What do they eat? (CH)

Owls eat rabbits, squirrels, gofers, mice, possums, and birds. Bigger owls hunt bigger animals. Smaller ones hunt smaller animals. They cough up bones and fur called pellets.

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Two seventh-grade Kentucky girls–one from a private school in Lexington and the other from a public school in the “hollows” of the Cumberland Gap–participate in a student exchange program.

As Ivy June and Catherine spend two weeks living with the other girl’s family and attending school along side of her, the differences in their cultures come to the surface. Yet, when the girls both face a family crisis, their friendship grows stronger through that common bond.

The author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, does an admirable job of not overstating the differences between the two families. She tactfully brings out some prejudices felt in each community towards the other, but mainly she focuses on differences between the families that could be true of families anywhere.

Ivy June notices that people in Catherine’s world are quick to affirm one another verbally, whereas in her family everyone is expected just to do their part. Catherine notices that Ivy June and her siblings need to do chores, work outside the home, or take care of family members in order to help their family survive. Conversely, Catherine’s parents don’t depend on their children in that way.

This is a gentle, true-to-life story that mainly gives insight into the lives of people located in remote communities. Includes many natural references to church, faith and prayer.

Recommended for grades 5-8.

Awards/Lists: Children’s Crown Award Nominee 2011-2012.