Echo

By:  Pam Munoz Ryan

Genre: Children’s Historical Fiction

Pages: 587

Published: 2015

Told In: Third Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Dash, Kirby Larson

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

Wonder, RJ Palacio

In a nutshell:

The stories of 3 children in different parts of the world during WWII, bound together by a harmonica with mystical properties.

What you may enjoy:

This book is both moving and informative. The characters are well developed, relatable, and likable. The writing is well done. The story is enjoyable for all ages, although it’s a young target audience.

What you may NOT enjoy:

There are a few slow moving parts through the book. If you don’t like stories of 10-12 year old children, then you may not like this.

Warnings:

Violence and Graphic Images:

Boy is injured from being bullied; boy falls from a high ledge; man loses fingers in war; man shot in the leg and chest.

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Wonder

By: R.J. Palacio

Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 316

Published: 2012

Told In: First Person

 “Movie” Rating: G

Compare to:

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

Counting by 7s, Holly Goldberg Sloan

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, Erin Dionne

In a nutshell:

Starting middle school is hard enough for most but especially for August who was born with face deforming gene and has never attended school before. But being around other kids may be just what he―and the other students―need.

What you may enjoy:

Beautifully written with lovable characters. This is a happy, hopeful story. It moves along quickly and gives the perspective of several characters. The writing is so smooth that reading just 10 pages turns into 50. For a light, sweet book there is a lot of depth.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The purposeful typos and errors in some characters’ perspectives is distracting. The overarching moral that all problems can be solved by being nice bothers some readers. And structures of the plot are set up a little too perfectly.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Mentioned that a woman died of a heart attack; boy punched in the mouth; dog dies

Sex and Nudity:

Boy and girl kiss (twice)

Language and Profanity:

God (9 times)

Drugs and Alcohol

Teenage smoking 

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