Odd, Weird, and Little by Patrick Jennings

5  Reasons Why Your 4^th through 6^th Grader Should Read Odd, Weird and Little by Patrick Jennings

1.      One of the two main characters of this charming book is (spoiler alert!) an owl disguised as a merely eccentric, accordion playing, briefcase toting, hat wearing “new kid” from Quebec.

2.      The above set-up leads to hilarious classroom scenes and wink-worthy word-play.

3.      This book requires suspension of disbelief in the way that fantasy and children’s books featuring animal characters (Cleary’s Runaway Ralph, Birney’s Humphrey series) do, while still reading like realistic fiction--making it appealing to a variety of readers.

4.      Your 9 year old will walk around the house saying “wait a second… I think this kid may be an owl", while your 11 year old will be seen slapping her palm against her forehead saying “I can’t believe they don’t realize he’s an owl!”

5.      Since “the other” in this book is an animal, and not simply an unpopular kid, or one of the typical victims of marginalization in our society, the themes of bullying and “being yourself” can be explored in a non-pedantic, non-moralizing way.  

2014 D. Rosen-Perez

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Georges (named after Georges Seurat) and his family have moved out of their house and into an apartment, in the same neighborhood, leaving behind many treasures and memories. Georges' dad lost his job and is trying to start his own business. Georges' mom is a nurse and is working a lot of double shifts to help with the financial difficulties. Georges misses his house, especially his bedroom, and he misses seeing his mother.

Georges is still at the same school, which isn't necessarily a good thing. He is the victim of bullies and his friend since kindergarten has abandoned him to be friends with the cool kids. There is a big taste test coming up in science and school lore maintains that is determines who is a loser and who's not. Georges is dreading it because he is sure it will cement his position as an outcast and a victim.

Friendship possibilities improve for Georges when he meets Safer, a quirky homeschooler who lives in his building and has a warm, inviting, but equally quirky family. Safer soon draws Georges into his spy games, convincing him of one tenant's nefarious deeds and shady character.

There are several layers to this story, as there were in Newbery winner Stead's When I Reach You. Besides the mystery involving the enigmatic neighbor, there is the mystery of why Safer rarely leaves the building. Georges' dad spends a lot of time at the hospital with Georges' mom, who is supposedly working and Georges never want to go along.

Georges handling and the eventual outcome of the feared taste test at school is both clever and potentially believable. While all of his problems don't go away, the resolution of the story is both hopeful and satisfying. Rebecca Stead has written another good story full of characters with whom kids can relate.   

R.Rauch                                                                                                                           2012

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder

Starting middle school is a challenge for any child. But for 10 year old August Pullman, "Auggie", it seems like an almost insurmountable feat. Born with severe craniofacial abnormalities, Auggie has been homeschooled his entire life and undergone countless surgeries. When his parents decide to send him to private school, he is not sure how his new classmates will react to his strange appearance. While initially, he does make a few friends, most of the children stay far away from him and he also attracts the attention of an outright bully.
Through it all, Auggie's voice as a typical 10 year old, rings true, even as he faces obstacles that are anything but ordinary. Adding even more richness to the story is the fact that there are also chapters told in the voices of Auggie's sister Olivia, his supposed "best friend" Jack and Olivia's boyfriend and best friend. As each one of them details how their lives are changed through their interactions with Auggie, it becomes clear that while Auggie's difficulties are extreme, no one is exempt from the challenges that life often throws our way.
A turning point is reached when Auggie is the target of bullies on a school trip. When he receives help from an unlikely source, he realizes that sometimes the worst of circumstances turn out to be the moments when our true character and the characters of others shines through.
This is a completely satisfying read that honestly portrays the perils of middle school as well as the individual suffering that those that are different must often face in our society. 2011
Highly recommended.
P.Sassoon

I Am Jack, by Susanne Gervay

What do you do when you're eleven years old and suddenly your happy world is turning into a nightmare? Why are all the kids in school calling you Butt Head? And how do you make it to class safely when George Hamel and the other bullies are waiting for you? Jack doesn't want to bother his mother with all these problems when she works so hard to support him and his sister, but eventually his friend Anna realizes that something must be done about the bullying at school. This book, set in Australia but universal in its topic, is written from Jack's viewpoint, with the simple sentences and the limited attention span of an eleven-year-old. While at times the book portrays Jack's family as almost too happy, and the resolution at the school seems to occur remarkably quickly, I Am Jack is still an effective and entertaining book that deals with an important topic. 2009.
M. Adams