How I Became a Ghost

“You cannot keep your eyes on the bloody footprints you have left behind you. You must keep your eyes on where you are going.”

This week's book is one of those books that really gets you right in the gut. It leaves you with something we, in my home, call the book hangover. (Can I say that on here? Can I say hangover?) The book hangover is when you read a book that is so amazing, but so amazing in a way that leaves you unable to read anything else for awhile and unable to move on from what you just experienced. My longest book hangover lasted over a year and it was A Fault In Our Stars. A YEAR.... I read nothing for a year after I read it. 

This book has that same gut wrenching feeling; that same impression of how can life just move forward when my world has been shattered? 

I also cannot stop reading for a year, as one of my classes requires me to read 20 books this semester. So I am doing what I usually do after a book hangover and that is to speed date some books. I have about 6 I am reading off and on and just waiting on one to catch. 

Anyway... This book was incredible. How I Became a Ghost is the story of a young boy's journey on the Trail of Tears. The reader follows him through his view of the treaty talk and the fear it stirs in his parents; then the burning of their homes by the white community; then being given the smallpox infested blankets (insert feelings of white hot anger here. This was so disturbing to me even though I knew it had happened). The reader sees the deaths and pain and suffering through the eyes of this young man as he makes his journey and his time of death draws nearer.  

I really loved this book. It is part of a series and I would love to read more. My only criticism would be that his death felt a little skimmed over. I felt like it could have been more of a result of the circumstances than it appeared to be (that will make more sense if you read the book!). I don't want to spoil it for you should you choose to read this book, so I am not going to go into much detail here. I just felt like there should have been more as it was the turning point of the book. 

I hope you read this book. It is probably the best I have read so far this year. I think it is very important for our young people to know the ugly history of America and the injustices that happened here. This would be a great book for upper elementary who are learning about United States history or even state history as it will be on the same timeline. The main character will also be near the age of the reader if they are 4th-6th grade and that will likely make a huge impact on the reader as they see the bravery and suffering of someone their age. 

I highly reccomend this book!

Mary Poppins

                                          


Mary Poppins.... Practically perfect in every way...

Sigh... It gets me right in the nostalgia.

Growing up my older brother and I were obsessed with the movie, Mary Poppins. It was the source of many of our childhood games.

Somehow, even as an avid reader in my youth (and to this day), I never read the series of books that inspired the movie. Now was my chance!

I must say, the differences between the book and movie are striking. I started to understand a bit more about how P.L. Travers was feeling during the making of the movie. If you haven't watched Saving Mr. Banks yet, I recommend you do so, it will give you a lot of insight. Suffice it to say, she hated the movie.

I am getting ahead of myself as usual. First, a summary, in case you have never heard of Mary Poppins (what are you doing with your life?).

The Banks family of number 17 Cherry Tree Lane find themselves in quick need of a nanny. The East wind blows in (quite literally) Mary Poppins to fill the position and events get more strange and unusual from there. Mary Poppins is a magical nanny who takes the children on many adventures all the while denying any of it actually happening. (Is she gaslighting these children? I am not sure how I feel about this.) She is also quite cross (not at all like Julie Andrews! The outrage!).
         

There is also the small matter that there are actually FOUR Banks children; Jane and Michael of course, but also infant twins John and Barbara!





I did, however, really enjoy the book. Keep in mind there are some very outdated ideas and language in this book that may be sensitive for the children in your classroom. I would very much like to see it revised to bring it up to the standards of the cultural norms. I would only recommend this book on a read-aloud basis so that you as the parent or teacher can filter out these ideas.
It really is a magical tale, just don't expect it to be exactly like the Disney movie (which actually was based on the first 4 books of the series). I think young children will still enjoy hearing about the many adventures Mary Poppins takes the children on.

I could really go either way on this one. The story itself is nostalgic for me, but the book just seems outdated in terms of what I would like to teach my students. It is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book in my humble opinion.

Kingdom Keepers

You either love Disney World or you are wrong... 

that is my opinion and I will not consider any other view at this time ;)

So naturally, I was super stoked to find a book that takes place at the Happiest Place on Earth AND it was a fantasy book (two major perks in my book!) What could be better? 

The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson places 5 teens in the position to save the world. The Villains have come to life and they are using their evil forces to take over the world. It all happens after the park closes! Each night the 5 must work to thwart the mission of Maleficent and other animatronics.

I was really excited when I found this series of books. They seemed to combine everything I love! However, I am struggling through this book. I have not finished it yet, so it still has a chance to win me over, but I am not optimistic. The writing is a little lackluster and the characters are not as well developed as I would have liked. I yearned for this book to suck me in, but so far it still feels a little like a chore to read (and I love to read! I devour books with a fierce hunger). 

I feel like science fiction and fantasy, no matter how far fetched, has to do a good job of making it seem feasible. The author has to create the world in which their story takes place in such a way that, although impossible or fantastical, seems possible and real to the reader. This book missed that mark for me. 

That being said, I am a 35-year-old woman. I promised never to grow up (I have a Peter Pan quote tattooed on my person), but maybe I have. I think this book (and series) would appeal to young adults who enjoy science fiction and fantasy books. I plan on finishing this book and hopefully a few more of the series to see if it is just a slow start. I think the concept is excellent, I really wish I could fall in love with this series the way I have fallen in love with others and with Disney in general.