On My Honor
Written and Illustrated by: Marion Dane Bauer
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: 3-5
Awards: Newbery Honor
This book follows two boys, Joel and Tony. Both boys grew up with each other from when they are babies, but their personalities are different from each other. Joel likes to play everything safe, but Tony loves adventure and is on the fun side. One summer day, Joel was able to convince his father that him and Tony will visit the state park a few miles away and will be completely safe coming back. Tony tells Joel that they should visit and climb Starved Rock, which is a large and dangerous cliff that everyone says to stay away from. Halfway on their trip to Starved Rock, the boys stop at Vermillion River, a forbidden and risky river. Joel was tired of being made fun of by Tony, so he convinced Tony to a swimming race to the sandbar. Once Joel reaches to the sandbar, he looks back and he could not find Tony anywhere. Joel tried his best looking for Tony in the river even with a help of strangers, but Joel finally realized that Tony has drowned and died in the river. Joel arrived back home and did not tell anyone immediately of what happened to Tony, instead he lied to his parents that he didn't go all the way to Starved Rock because he was feeling sick, so he came back home and leaving Tony alone to go to the cliffs. Joel had to do his newspaper route around the neighborhood, but while he was throwing newspaper to the houses, all he could think about is Tony's death and the consequences he would have to face. That night, the police have arrived to Tony's house to announce that they found his clothes and bike near the river. Joel and his father went to their house and Joel finally admitted the truth of what happened when they went to the river and how Tony drowned. All night, Joel argued with his dad that it was his fault that Tony died and that it should have been him that drowned. Joel's father reassured him that it is the choices that you make can determine your fate.
This book was really good to read and it was a bit emotional to read. I believe this book is needed in every classroom libraries. This book is best fit for third to fifth graders. This book would be good for book club, where the students can discuss with what has happened in the book. The students can also write a short essay about what decisions you make can lead to consequences.
The War That Saved My Life
Written by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grades: 3-5
Awards: Newbery Honor
This novel follows a ten year old girl, named Ada, and her six year old brother Jamie, on a rough journey trying to gain freedom during the WWII. Ada was born with a clubfoot and has been abused and ridiculed by her own mother or also called mam, since she is embarrassed of Ada. While being forced and stuck in their small apartment all day long, Ada spends her time trying and learning to walk on her own, cooking and taking care of Jamie.
Once WWII was declared, the government forced the children of London to move to a safer area, the countryside of England, Kent. There, Ada and Jamie is placed with Susan Smith. Susan is use to taking care of just herself, but later took on the motherly role towards Ada and Jamie. Ada learned how to ride and take care of a horse she fell in love with, Butter. Ada also learned how to read, write, sew, and walk properly with crutches. Ada and Jamie were able to experience what nature is like outside of muggy London. The both of them made friends with the soldiers at the airbase next to their house and with the rest of the villagers. But even more, Ada and Jamie experienced something different while living with Susan than with mam, motherly love that showed kindness, patience, and love.
The children's mother finally came, after being reached to for months, to take Ada and Jamie home back to London, leaving Susan all alone again. Mam confessed to them that she ultimately did not want children and only had them since their father insisted. Ada and Jamie realized that their real home is back in Kent, with Susan. While mam went off to work at night, London was airstrike by Germany, forcing Ada and Jamie to seek shelter. The next morning, Ada and Jamie found Susan in the streets and was embraced in Susan's arms again. Once the three of them arrived back in Kent, Susan's house was bombed and completely gone when she left to search for Ada and Jamie. It is then that they realized that not only did Susan save the children's lives from mam, but that they saved her life from the bombing.
I absolutely loved and enjoyed this novel! I haven't teared up this much in a long time while reading a book. This is an essential to have in the classroom for the students to enjoy while reading. This book would be fitting for third to fifth grades. This book can introduce a unit about World Wars. This also encourages and teaches students on what it means to persevere through life challenges and conflicts.
