Read time- 8 hrs  AR STATS  READING QUIZZES   (R) Recommended (High School Audience) (C) Content- Profane/vulgar language, sexual references =================================================== National Alliance for Mental Health Hotlines Call the NAMI Helpline 800-950-NAMI (6264) M-F, 10 AM - 6 PM ET info@nami.org FIND HELP or Text "NAMI" to 741741 =================================================== Did They Really Read the Book? Parents don't actually cover down on their high schooler's book reports, right?! ..Because it would strip the student of the opportunity to demonstrate re ..read more

Read time- 3 hrs  AR STATS  READING QUIZZES  (R) Recommended  (C) Content- Guns, Violence, Hate Crimes, Racism ========================================= This is a powerful story in it's own right, but for the weight of the racial-violence and social issues between the pages, it's important for the young reader to have a trusted guide. (See Other Notes) ========================================= Did They Really Read the Book? Story is told from Jerome's Point of View (PoV) Jerome  lives in a multi-generational home w/ Grandmother as the respected matriarch is a good student, quiet, and ..read more

AR STATS READING QUIZZES Read time- 7-8 hrs (RwC)- Recommended with Caution (C)- Content -Peer Bullying, Fighting, Spying, Theft, Moderate Detail of Violence, PopCulture Language This is Fiction- Similar to the twists and turns of The Hardy Boys or The Box Car Children. =================================================== Historical inaccuracies according to The Historical Novel Society =================================================== The Smithsonian Institute's write up on the Messerschmitt 262   Military Factory's  historical context to the Messerschmitt 262 Did They Really Rea ..read more

Kid's Book Reviews Coming Soon! Word of Mouse by James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Pax by Sara Pennypacker Pottymouth and Stoopid by James Patterson/Chris Grabenstein Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper Crenshaw by Kathrine Applegate The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty Tumble and Blue by Cassie Beasley Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz -DRIF ..read more

Purpose-driven Kid's Book Reviews Welcome to Dad Read It First! where I pre-read the books that eventually land in the hands of my 3 kids in an effort to re-enforce morals, ethics, and cultural standards as they come across them. I'm a parental "sherpa", I guess- helping my kids to react for themselves during the Joplin Tornado in I Survived or trying to stomach and rationalize survivor accounts of the the sho'a (Holocaust) in The Devil's Arithmetic.     For you, I want to share bite-size reviews (2-3 times a month).  It costs nothing...great for all things, and versatile enough to apply ..read more

Accelerated Reading Stats Reading Quizzes (R) Recommended (Zzz) Short Chapters  Short reading time- 3-4 hrs  Several references to animal abuse/deaths in captivity Did They Really Read the Book? The kiddos will most certainly root for the animals to escape from captivity and you'll know they actually read the book if they can tell you most of the following details: Theme: animals don’t belong in cages- (Ivan initially calls his cage a domain) Notable Characters: Ivan is a proud but reserved, 27y/o Silverback Gorilla...and an artist always lived alone paints things found in his cage ..read more

AR Stats Reading Quizzes (R) Recommended Short reading time- 3 hrs  (L) Language Did They Really Read the Book? Vocab-  conflagration (noun)   --an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property. Background:  The Chicago fire occurred over a 3 day period Oct 8-10, 1871 Nearly 100K people were made homeless (The Army set up 50K tents to support) 120 human remains recovered, 300 presumed cremated Plot details:Chicago had previously suffered from an enduring drought and was bone dry "The city was meant to burn" build of wood structures, wooden sidewalks, wooden path ..read more