My son’s 5th grade class has a class blog. It’s private but he showed me his posts and I copied and pasted his two book reviews here.
I love the idea of a classroom blog. His teacher says it’s a sneaky way to get kids writing. They love blogging, apparently, and don’t realize that they are writing!
These two books, Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick and Holes by Louis Sachar were assigned reading group books.
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Soap, Vinegar, and Curry Powder
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
“That’s when Freak squeezes the trigger and sprays him right in the eyes.”
In my book group we read Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. The book is about two friends with disabilities and their adventures. One is big and named Max and the other is short and named Kevin. Max has dyslexia and Kevin has Morquio Syndrome. It’s a disease when your organs grow but your body doesn’t. Max is mighty and Kevin is freak.
This quote makes me very happy. What happened was Max was “kidnapped” by his father who escaped prison. But then Kevin came in and saved the day claiming that he sprayed acid on Max’s dad, but it was just soap, vinegar, and curry powder. Also, Max’s dad was a jerk. He killed Max’s mom and called him a retard. I think he deserved it. I also wonder if one of my friends would do something like that for me. I would like to learn more about the “sulfuric acid” it might come in handy.
In the end, Max’s dad was caught, and sent back to prison. I think it really shows Max and Kevin’s friendship. Max being taken “hostage” and Kevin rushing in to rescue him, knowing that Max’s dad was very dangerous. I really shows how far friendship can go. Do you your friend have a friendship like Max and Kevin’s?
My Mind Exploded
Holes by Louis Sachar
“If only, if only, the moon speaks no reply;
Reflecting the sun and all that’s gone by.
Be strong my weary wolf, turn around boldly.
Fly high, my baby bird,
My angel, my only.”
In my book group we read the book Holes by Louis Sachar. The book is about a camp for bad boys that are forced to dig 5×5 foot holes. The main character Stanley is an overweight kid who is innocent but always in the wrong place at the wrong time. His Great-Great-Grandfather met a one legged gypsy and she told him to sing a song very similar to a pig to help him marry a girl he liked. But he ended up putting a curse on him and all his descendants.
When I read this my mind blew up. Like… a lot. The quote connects to almost everything! Like how his Great-Great-Grandfather sang almost the same song and who sang it, and that connects to even more things! It make you think and you want to learn more! I really think that quote brings the whole book together.
Louis Sachar is a wonderful author and is really good at making connections. I think making connections is very important for making great stories. The characters are awesome (accept for Zig Zag) and if you haven’t, you should defently read it. Do you know any other authors who are great at making connections?
Also, there’s a movie! if you want to see the trailer it’s right here! 
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
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Mia,
Holes is one of my all-time favorite books–it makes me laugh & cry! The audiobook is well done too.
I also loved Rodman Philbrick’s The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg–an unreliable narrator which takes place during the Civil War–funny, great voice and full of heart
Thanks for your great recommendations Maria! My son just finished his Zodiac Legacy book and I need to find him a few more as he’s recently tearing through books! I’ll show him The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg. Thank you!
OOOOH!! He should read and blog about JG’s by M.D. Marrone. It’s on Amazon…he’ll LOVE it!
Thanks Maria! I’ll tell him about it!
These are great! I love that his teacher is doing that.
Hi Dee,
His teacher says it’s her secret weapon to get kids writing. They have so much fun, they don’t notice they are writing!
Thanks so much Dee! The kids seem to be loving it!
Your son has an excellent teacher. What better way to introduce kids to writing. Kudos to your son and to his teacher.
Thanks Pat,
I am trying to find the blog post his middle sister wrote about him since he wrote something about her… both on the same school classroom blog! I’ll post it if I can get it. It’s really funny!
We are so lucky to have this teacher three times!!!!
This is so cute. I had my son write book reviews for my blog (which shame on me, I have not posted yet) to get him to practice writing over the summer. He loves to read but hates to write and pay attention to details of writing. Your son did a great job with his reviews! Stopping by from MMBH! Hope you’ll link up with us at Small LVictories Sunday Linkup too!
Thanks so much Mom’s Small Victories! I am always looking for ways to get my kids writing, and, of course, I love them blogging. It makes them appreciate my blog more 🙂 !! And thanks for the heads up for your link up!