Hiroshima No Pika by Toshi Maruki

This book is about the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and how it affected the lives of the people who lived there. The pictures in the book are very dark and disturbing. It shows dead people floating in the river, the flames of the fires, and naked people because they lost everything. I do not see this book as problematic to children I do think the story should be told. I just don't think the pictures would be right to show the children, at least young children. I think the older they get the more they will understand but also feel the emotions these families are going through. I think the end of the book is what is most shocking. The girl never grew taller, her mother still finds pieces of glass in her head, people were still in hospitals and there is no cure for what happened that day. It's a very emotional book but one that should be understood in this families perspective otherwise we would not see the problems that were caused because of this bomb.

Uncle What-Is-It Is Coming to Visit by Michael Whilloite

This book is very interesting and I'm not sure I would be totally comfortable bringing this topic up in my classroom. Just like the book about how babies are born I believe this topic is for outside of school. I know now there are more types of families and some children will not be exposed to families with gay parents. I'm not sure this should be talked about it in school. Maybe that's not what I mean...I don't think I should talk about it in school. It depends on how comfortable the teacher is with the children and how comfortable the teacher is with talking about this subject. The problem I have is that I don't want to feel like I am singling out certain students or putting them down by any means. I don't want them to feel uncomfortable, that would be the biggest part of my concern.

I enjoy how the book uses stereotypes of gay people when learning about their uncle. I know this seems weird but I think it is a good idea to talk about stereotypes because students might have their own personal opinions but should not judge a person by what the culture perceives them as. At the end of the book I like how once they meet their uncle they realize he is exactly like everyone else.

I Never Knew Your Name by Sherry Garland

I thought the pictures in this book related perfectly with the book. I noticed that there was not much detail put into each picture: the faces, eyes, clothing, street signs...etc throughout the book. I think it relates well with the book because this boy really wanted to meet this boy and become his friend but he never got too close to understand or see the details of his life. He always wanted to say hi or go fishing with this boy but always found an excuse to do something by himself. This boy he wanted to be friends with was having problems and finally committed suicide. Once this happened the one boy regrets not getting to know him better and the opportunities he missed to become a friend.

I believe this is a very good book. It was really sad but it also gives the reader a perspective of life. It teaches everyone on how to be a better friend and how everyone out to people who might seem to need the help. There is always an opportunity to cheer someone up or make them laugh each day because you wouldn't know what they are dealing with.

This book reminds me of an e-mail I have received many times about a boy who is walking home with all his books because he is going to commit suicide. Then all of a sudden another boy runs over, asks him if he needs help carrying the books then asks him to play. These boys became best friends. On graduation day this boy thanked his best friend for taking the time to make him feel noticed because he was carrying home the books to commit suicide. It's important to know how a little difference can go a long way; even save someones life.

White Wash by Ntozake Shange

I was shocked when I realized this was based on a true story. I experienced emotions with this girl who's face was spray painted white by a white gang that attacked her and her brother after school one day. Her brother got punched in the face while she got spray painted white. The gang was saying how she should be white for a day and be American. I think this is a great book to read with children either in the school setting or at home because of the ending of the book.

This girl was very embarrassed of what happened and stayed in her room for a while. She didn't want to go to school at all. One day when she opened her door all her friends from school standing there waiting for her. They said, " If we all stick together, no one will bother you or anyone else." I really like this quote in the book because there is not only significance to the book but to a culture in the United States. It shows children that if we stand tall together side by side no matter what we look like we can face the troubles in the world that might be wrong or difficult to side with. Everyone has a right and should stand up for their rights or what they believe in.

Mommy Laid an Egg or Where Do Babies Come From by Babette Cole

I think this story is very funny and cute in a way. I like how at the beginning of the book the mom and dad want to tell their kids where babies come from and they say weird things. For example girl babies are made of sugar and spice, some are brought by dinosaurs, grow as plants, and an egg. Then the kids say to the parents that they are wrong and they will teach them how babies are born.

What I thought was very controversial are the pictures the kids draw to show the mom and dad how babies are born. Phrases like, "this fits in there" or "different positions that mom and dad fit together," are just a little over top to me. I do believe this book is a good idea but I believe that how babies are born should be understood at home and not in school. I not only think kids will laugh and giggle at these sorts of things but I also think they might try to investigate these things at school. I think that because it is in a book these children will think it's okay to do and experiment with. It doesn't seem like the right place to read this book to students I think it should stay at home for the mother and father to take care of.

Purple, Green and Yellow by Robert Munsch

I would have to say this is my favorite book of all time. What drew me to this book were the pictures and all the colors. The lemons that were yellower than lemons, the roses that were redder than roses and oranges that were oranger than oranges. I also was drawn to the book because there is a girl who has these super indelible never come off till your dead or maybe even later coloring marker who was only supposed to draw on paper. She was not supposed to draw on herself but it was too hard for her so then she just colored her fingernails, then her hands, then her face and then all over her body. She washed her hands for 30 minutes and it wouldn't come off. She used the color that looked just like her but her mom noticed when she washed her hands and the pale color came off. After she went to the doctor and took the orange pill she was invisible but she used the pale color to color herself in again.

I think this book is very imaginative and creative with color that catches the eye on each page. The one thing that I realized about this book is how the child acts about the markers she wants. It tells children that it is okay to beg and beg for what you "want" and don't "need" and the mom will go out and get it for you. I think it shows how society is today. How children will get anything they want if they keep begging for it.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

I really enjoyed Alexander since I was a little kid. I was thrilled to read it again. This book is very funny and pulls the reader into the story. The details in the text can really put a picture in the readers head without even looking at the picture that goes a long with the text. The one thing about that though is that the illustrations are so detailed and unique that they also play into the readers imagination. The one thing I believe this book does is relate to it's readers extremely well. This book reminds us of each bad day we have had and how no matter what happens things can always turn around and get better. Children I have worked with have always enjoyed this book because they don't want to go on but want to tell me something that happened similar to them in their own lives. It is a great read for anyone because everyone wants to know what will keep happening during his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

I really enjoyed this book as a child and thought I should read this again to see if I still enjoyed the book. The one thing I really liked about the book was the pictures. I feel like I was looking more at the pictures than at what the text was actually saying. I read the text and wanted to go find the object in the room. I think too many words on one page would have taken away from these pictures and visual of the room.

The one problem I had was with how big this bedroom really was. There was a fireplace, a huge bed, pictures, dressers, tables and another huge rug. A room like this seems fit for royalty. I don't know anyone who has this in their bedroom or the particular items in the room as well. In most kids rooms there are toys, big messes, and stereotypical kids things. I think the visual is a little too old for who the text is meant for.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I have read this book before in school but I didn't remember what the book was about or what went on in The Giver. After I read the book again I think my thoughts have changed dramatically from the first time I read it otherwise this book would have been more vivid in my mind. I also told one of my friends that I was reading The Giver and she was so excited because she loved the book. I was a little hesitant when replying to her comment. I'm not really sure if I like this book at all. At some parts I believe it is very unique and imaginative but then there are other parts where I think why would this be appropriate to write about.

The part with the book that I have trouble with is the whole fact of "sameness," not being able to make their own choices, there is no sense of emotion or feeling of love, or color. I guess it is because I have a belief that everyone has their own goals and dreams, no one should be told how to live, what their job will be, or who their parents will be. How can you take that away from someone and why would they want to? Why does everyone have to be the same plain people all the time? The whole process of "releasing" is a problem for me. It's like this community is hiding the fact that these people who are "released" go off and live another life in another community but they don't they die and are replaced as if they didn't matter.

The part of the book I enjoy is the character Jonas and how he also questions these crazy things that go on in this community and he is the one who can change what happens in the future. It might be bad for the community at first but they are missing the huge things in life: love, emotions, individualization, passions and dreams. I think Jonas knows what these people need and even though he is going against what the rest of the community believes he is doing things that he believes in which no one in the community has done. I think it's a book to use with high schoolers or middle schoolers because it gets them thinking about their own way of being an individual but also their emotions, passions and dreams in life that they can have.

I am a Booger...Treat me with Respect by Julia Cook

I chose another Julia Cook because I thought the first book I read that she wrote was excellent. How she used pictures to enhance her story and how the story could relate to the readers life. I thought this book did the exact same thing. I thought it would be weird reading a book about boogers but I think this book would be very helpful when working with lower elementary students. The story first starts out talking about what a booger is and what it looks like. Then it goes into what the boogers do to help us and how we should handle our boogers. The book goes on to talk about how to never to pick a booger with just your finger but to make a "Booger Ghost," or never eat a booger because it can make you feel sick. I think this book is a great idea for lower elementary school students because it explains many things to them instead of having to be told by a teacher or parent many times.

Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray

When I picked this book off the shelf at the library I was very interested on why it could be a #1 New York Times bestseller. I had to find out for myself why this book was so good because on the cover and title I was very hesitant about reading this. I know I shouldn't judge a book by the cover but it does happen sometimes.

I'm not a huge fan of the pictures in the book. I think they make the story more interesting and funny but just the way the people and Walter look in the book bothers me. The way it is aligned in the book with the text is really creative. It changes every page and doesn't look the same which I do like and I like the different type of font the authors use for the text.

I really liked this book because it shows that everyone is different and no one has the same talents or problems. I think it makes the reader realized that you must treat everyone in a kind respectful way no matter if they seem "different" or not. This book also is very funny and I believe would interest little kids because the book is talking about farting.

Forever Young by Bob Dylan and illustrated by Paul Rogers

I bought this book at Barnes and Noble because it was my song for my high school graduation. I only bought it because of the words of the song were in this book.At the beginning of the book it shows his parents being his inspiration about following his dream and I think it's a great way to incorporate his own life into the book. As I kept reading the book I realized that the images are crafted in a unique way to Bob Dylan's life but also significant moments in history. At the end of the book Paul Rogers puts the significance of each picture in the story and what it means.

I really enjoyed this book and the song because it has a lot of meaning to life and having inspiration. It's a great book to read to kids about having big dreams and always being true to yourself.

The Baby-Sitters Club: The Truth About Stacey (A Graphic Novel) by Raina Telgemeier

I am not 100% sure how I feel about this being a graphic novel. First of all for some reason it is very difficult for me to follow along as a graphic novel. For me I believe it would be more interesting to read it as a fictional story. The graphic novel is a good idea but can only work for certain books. I do like the expression put into the pictures and I don't have to read what the characters are saying to understand what people are feeling and thinking. Another part of the book I enjoy is how it's split up into chapters like a regular chapter book. If this didn't happen I believe that it would seem more overwhelimg than it already does. Overall it's a great story but I think it would be better fitted in a regular book instead of a graphic novel.

Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick

What is most different about this book from any other picture book is that these are actual real photographs taken in the wilderness. It is a story that takes place in the middle of winter when there is snow all over the ground and there is a snowman built in the middle of the forest. The authors take photographs of many different animals throughout the wilderness and use these pictures to create the story about this stranger, the snowman, in the woods and how the animals see that he is friendly.

I really like how the pictures still relate to the language and text of the book instead of throwing random lines here and there with pictures that don't relate to the words at all. Becuse they relate so well together it enhances the book even more. It also shows children and students that you don't need to draw your illustrations there are many other ways to use pictures in picture books.

Dream, A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom and Wishes by Susan V. Bosak

Dream is a very extraordinary book: the illustrations, the words, the wisdom and the whole layout of the book. This book inspires anyone to dream and that dreams are possible at no matter what age, young or old. Throughout the book what makes it so special is how the pictures and background color of the page relate so closely to the words that are being said and the language that is formed. It is a true example of a picture book how the illustrations and text work hand in hand.

I don't think a child 3rd grade or younger could read this book so when using this book in the classroom it might be helpful to read it to the students and just two or three pages at a time so they can soak in what is happening. It is very lengthy and I wouldn't want them to get distracted and not understand what is going on throughout the book. But I would encourage anyone to read this book to children because it encourages them to pursuit their own dreams.

Don't be Afraid to Drop! By Julia Cook

This has to be one of my favorite books of all time. My aunt gave this book to me after one of my softball games and the author Julia Cook wrote this in the front of the book, " Never underestimate the power of the words "I can." This book has had an impact on my life and with this book she makes her readers believe in their own gifts.

The illustrations are very unique in this book. My favorite part is when the dad raindrop is talking to his son raindrop about how many gifts he has to offer the world and there are actually gifts in the picture but instead of having presents inside of them these words are placed on top of the box: strength, friendship, knowledge, and courage. It shows that the greatest gifts in the world are not material items but the relationships we make and how we help others around us grow. Another part of the book I enjoy is when the important words are bolded, in a different color and are flowing through the illustrations instead of just in one spot every page. It is very interactive and shows emphasis on what is important.

I think it is interesting how Julia Cook relates the rain drops to people. Each person who reads or listens to this book can relate to what is happening to the story. It's an important part for a writer to catch his or her audience in an emotional or special part in their own personal lives and I believe Julia Cook does exactly that with this book.

Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies by Shel Silverstein

I went out on a limb today and picked out a poetry picture book. In Don't Bump the Glump he describes each "so called animal" in a section of poetry. Some are very short for example the page about The Terrible Feezus: "There is a terrible twenty-foot Feezus. Shhh...I don't think he sees us," and others take up two pages. What I think is, how in the world does he come up with this stuff? A Slithergadee, Pointy-Peaked Pavarius, and Long-Necked Preposterous...wow it's incredible and also keeps the reader engaged throughout the whole book.

I think Shel Silverstein books are excellent for children: poetry, fiction, and of course the pictures that he uses. It gives children and students an opportunity to be creative and use their imagination. It shows them that writing isn't just about spelling and grammar but it's about having fun and letting their mind wander.

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

This book is about a little boy who lives with his grandma and he wants one pair of shoes that everyone has! But the problem is they don't have enough money for two pairs of shoes only new boots for winter. When his shoes fall apart on the playground Mr. Alfrey gives him some blue shoes with a little animal on them and everyone laughs at them except for Antonio. One day him and his grandmother go to a thrift store and by the shoes with his own money. They are not his size but he buys them anyway so he can fit in. On the playground he sees that Antonio, the boy who didn't laugh at his blue animal shoes, has tape holding his own shoes together. After seeing his shoes he realized that Antonio needed those new black shoes that everyone had more than he did.

I really enjoy this book because it goes away from the "typical" children's book I have been reading. For example the Henry and Mudge series where mom is at home while dad works and they live in a nice house with a white fence that says: middle-class. This book also teaches children about how some people may not have the same benefits as they do. It shows them the importance of friendship but also realizing that someone out there has it worse off than you do. It's a great way to encourage and incorporate service learning or community service projects in your classroom as well. Because there are people who need specific things in life, like shoes.

Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C.M. Butzer

Once I found this book I thought it would be a great idea for a graphic novel. I believe descriptions and details of pictures can explain a specific time period better than any words. My favorite parts of the book is in the front when he lays out a map of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863 and also where Gettysburg is in Pennsylvania. It gives a reader an image in their mind of where this is taking place and also to realize that this did happen in the United States not too far from where they life. Another very crutial piece of this graphic novel is the cast of characters right directly after the map. I think this cast of characters helped the reader understand who was talking and in pictures at specific time periods. The one downfall about this is that there are so many pictures and it is very hard to distinguish them throughout the book.

The beginning of the book was difficult for me to follow. Every time the day changed it seemed like there were so many different things going on at once and it was hard for me to totally understand what was happening. I beleive the most important thing in the book was the Gettysburg Address from President Lincoln. The battle was important but there needed to be a way to generate a better understanding for the reader. If the book was more similar to the ending and Lincoln's speech I think the reader could have a better view of Gettysburg.

Tuesday by David Wiesner

Tuesday is one of the most creative books I have ever read. This book is the epitome of wordless books. It doesn't need any words to explain what is going on in the book. I believe if there were words in this book it would ruin the inventiveness and expression of David Wiesner's created in the pictures of this book. Tuesday is about the imagination and things that happen at times when people are unaware. Like what crazy things happen after every one goes to bed? It's about how ever Tuesday around 8:00 the frogs get on their Lilly pad and fly in the sky.

My favorite picture is where all the frogs are floating in grandmas living room while she is sleeping and watching TV. In this picture all the frogs do not look the same. Some are intrigued, others scared, and some not paying attention to the T.V. The detail and thought put into these pictures is phenomenal. For example the page where the detectives are examining the Lilly pads it incorporates the previous pictures: the man being interviewed that was eating cereal and the cat from the grandmothers living room. This is one of the best picture books I have read and would recommend it to anyone.

Once Upon a Banana by Jennifer Armstrong

I really enjoy this wordless picture book by Jennifer Armstrong. This book doesn't start from a specific page but it starts on the front cover where the monkey is a part of the jugglers show. Like most books there is a book cover, a page for the tile and copyright, but this book starts differently and should be read more than once before it is really understood by the reader. The last page and the back of the book are also used in unique ways. The last page is used for a map of where the monkey traveled and the back of the book is usually plain with the bar code at the bottom of the page. In this book the bar code is used creatively and is being carried up to a billboard.

She did a fantastic job of keeping the reader engaged throughout each scene and page. There are so many different things going on in each page so that the reader can understand what is going on in the book. Once I read this book three times I also noticed a little poem going on with the signs in the book. For example: One-Way Street, No Bare Feet, City Hall, Shopping Mall. These words describe where the crazy monkey is headed but it's formulated into a poem that can be unnoticed unless read multiple times.

Benny and Penny in Just Pretend a Toon Book by Geoffrey Hayes

I really enjoy this book as a comic strip. I believe it enhances the quality of the book overall. It's a great book for little kids who have a little sibling who bugs the older sibling to play with them all the time. Benny just wants to play pretend and be a pirate. His little sister is not able to play with him because pirates are brave and Penny is not brave enough. In the end he plays with Penny because he realized that he does love her she is brave he was just pretending that he didn't.

The main part that I like is that the layout of the pictures are different on every page. They sometimes over lap, are surrounded by a box, are not surrounded by a box and looks like a selection of picture shots. The font and style of words in the book are also used in many different ways. The talking is put into little bubble forms, ideas and imaginations are put into clouds, words of sound are in a larger font with different colors. It's a very creative way to enhance words throughout the book and let children understand their importance.

Wave by Suzy Lee

Wave is a picture book with no words and needs no words. I chose this particular picture book because it was shaped differently and I was wondering why. This book very long and narrow because it has a wonderful detail of the ocean and the perception of how big it is compared to the little girl on the beach.

I love the expression that is created by Suzy Lee in each aspect of the book. The girl is playing with the waves and when she walks away the wave follows. The girl scares the water and it creeps back into the ocean. Then she jumps in and is having fun when a little wave starts to creep up and get bigger and bigger all of a sudden she is running away from the wave and gets soaked, but leaves her presents from the sea. She starts picking up all these beautiful sea shells.

My favorite part of the book are the sea gulls that are on the front cover. They are basically playing monkey-see-monkey-do with the little girl and when she shows an expression to the water the sea gulls follow her lead. Another part of the book I enjoy is how in the beginning the only color was the ocean but after the wave soaked the little girl the sea shells, little girls dress, and sky were also blue. It made these parts stand out in the book.

The Underground Gators by Tina Casey

This is very fun and exciting for kids that make them think about specific parts of New York City and their home life. They really wonder why these specific places or things (hot-dog carts, smoke from streets, wires on the Brooklyn Bridge) are there in the first place.

I really enjoy how Tina Casey didn't just use New York City for a place with alligators because most children who read this book don't live in New York City. She puts these alligator stories into specific time periods and things that happen throughout children's life (what the babysitter does after they go to bed, where all the teachers go in the summer, if they are missing a sock, and why pizza is round).

A great part to the end of the book is when Tina Casey describes the urban legend of the alligators living in the 6,000 miles of sewers under New York City. It's very interesting information for the students.

Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum

I believe the best part of the book is the illustrations and the placement of words to the pictures. It's understandable that the author really wanted the reader to see the story visually instead of just reading the words. On some pages there is a huge picture with words on the side and also noises on the picture: the plap, plap, plap of the boys feet hitting the pond or the rumble-brum-brum of the thunder. The reader understands what is happening in the picture. On other pages there are pictures that are split up into almost cartoon like sections where words are placed under the pictures describing what is happening.

The only problem I had with this book was that there were too many words. It was very hard to keep interest in the story with that many pages for words. All I really wanted to do was look at the pictures and I could understand the story from just the pictures. By the end of the book that is what I was doing: skipping over words and looking at the pictures.

If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

I chose to read this book because I was familiar with the four other books by Laura Numeroff: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, and If You Take a Mouse to the Movies. I also chose to read this book because it involved a school and the every day events of elementary school children. I think it's great for children to read books by the same author and that are similar to one another. If children like certain types of books they are more likely to want to read more books like them; it's a great way to get children excited about reading.

I really enjoy the illustrations in the book; the illustrator Felicia Bond puts great detail into her work. One thing I think is really funny is that they are in an elementary school and the picture with all the students working on the chalkboard they are working on calculus and algebra. Then about five pages later there are 2 + 2 = 4 flashcards and toys on the shelf.

As a teacher I don't know if I would want to read this book out of the four other books to my class first. I believe If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Give a Moose a Muffin stood out more than this book in my mind. They were more exciting and I also think it gives the teacher a way to talk to students about their life outside of school instead of reading about school while in school.

You? by Vladimir Radunsky

When I first opened this book what really stuck out to me was the pictures. To me it seems like they are sketched and it puts more emphasis on the descriptive words from the dog and the little girl. On each page there is a little girl and little dog separated by a fence at the park. The girl sees every dog and the dog sees every owner. They state their reasons why or why they shouldn't be with that particular dog or owner.

My favorite part of the book is when the dog is talking the author uses barking noises: yip, woof, arf, and bow wow then translates what the dog is saying. It's a very unique way to describe language. It's extremely exciting for children because that is what they actually hear instead of the words humans use.

Throughout the book I noticed that many words were used to describe why or why the owner or dog didn't belong to the little girl or the little dog wanting someone to love. But at the end of the story they both knew that the other one was the right one for them. Many words didn't need to be said to display their love for one another.

The Hot & Cold Summer (Novel) by Johanna Hurwitz

This book was about friendships and how bad situations can turn around with a little belief. Rory and Derek are best friends and are looking forward to summer vacation so they can spend every day together. These two friends live two houses down from each other and in between their houses lives an elderly couple with no children left in their house. This summer the couples great-niece is coming to visit and tell the boys they will love her! The boys were not excited and disguised a plan of how to ignore and stay away from this girl, Bolivia. Derek starts to play with Bolivia which leads to a big fight between the two best friends. Right after the fight Derek ends up going to camp leaving Rory alone with Bolivia.

While Derek is at camp Rory discovers that Bolivia isn't as bad as he thought she would be. His fight with his best friend was a mistake because Rory was wrong about Bolivia. At the end of the summer Derek and Rory realized that they both loved being with Bolivia. In the beginning they didn't want her to come but in the end they didn't want her to leave.

This might not be a new book, it was published in 1984, but I saw that it was an IEMA winner in 1988-1989 and thought it would be a great book to read; and it was. It brings back childhood memories of selling lemonade, going to the pool, camping out on summer nights, and barbeque's with friends. It's a book that all children should read because it teaches the children that things don't always go the way they originally planned.

Meet Addy An American Girl (Series Chapter Book) by Connie Porter

American Girl books are great for young children. Connie Porter brings to life a little girl the same age of the reader at critical time periods in United States History. The reader follows along with the struggles of Addy and her family throughout the Civil War, Slavery and learning to fight for their own freedom.

Meet Addy is a great way to get young children and students in their early education years to learn about major time periods throughout history. The story is more understandable because it's put in a child's perspective. The emotional part of the book is when Addy's brother and papa are taken from the rest of her family and she leaves her baby sister behind when she escapes. This is an important part of the book because it makes readers wonder what it would be like for their own father, brother or were removed from their family. The readers want Addy and her family to come back together again and have their freedom in the United States.

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia (Novel) by Barbara O'Connor

I have not read a child's novel in a very long time and this is by far one of the best books I have read. It was easy to read and also kept me engaged throughout the book. By looking at the title I thought this girl on the front cover, whos name is Bird, had fame and glory in this town in Georiga. Once I opened the book I realized this girl had nothing to fame and glory, but that is exactly what she wanted in life. She was a girl who had no friends and was always picked on. When the new student Harlem Tate walked into her class she wanted to be his friend and she overcame obsticales and did just that.

Harlem became her friend by competiting in a spelling bee together. They spelled every word in the dictionary in three weeks. I thought they were going to win the spelling bee and everything would end happy. But surprisingly they lost first round and her dream of fame and glory went down the drain.

This is a story about a girl who had to overcome many struggles throughout her life and it took her strength to achieve happiness. She realized that it's not about what you win, how many friends you have, or how much money your family has it's about finding happiness in the little things in life.