Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

We had a great book club and skype session with Kristi Wientge, author of Kharma Kruller's Mustache! The author skyped with us all the way from Singapore. It was inspiring to hear about what inspired her to write a novel about differences and friendships in this realistic fiction story. We loved it! The students asked unique and thought-provoking questions. Our next book is Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. We will meet to discuss on Monday, December 3rd at 7:30am in the Lower School media center. Can't wait! Check out the book trailer below:

Karma Khullar's Mustache

What a fantastic kick-off party we had?!  I mean, we Skyped with author, Taryn Souders, and we ate meatloaf for breakfast! (Sounds crazy, but it's actually delicious when the meatloaf is chocolate rice crispy treats!)  It really can't get any better than that!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the silly humor and likable characters portrayed in "Dead Possums are Fair Game."  We also really loved getting the inside scoop on all of those amazing characters from Taryn.  She even shared some math tips and tricks from her time as a middle school math teacher.

I have a hunch that our next book selection will be another great read!

Join us on Monday, October 22 at 7:30 am in the Media Center for our next book club meeting.  We will be reading "Karma Khullar's Mustache."  And we will be skyping with the author!!!

Karma Khullar is about to start middle school, and she is super nervous. Not just because it seems like her best friend has found a newer, blonder best friend. Or the fact that her home life is shaken up by the death of her dadima. Or even that her dad is the new stay-at-home parent, leading her mother to spend most of her time at work. But because she’s realized that she has seventeen hairs that have formed a mustache on her upper lip.

With everyone around her focused on other things, Karma is left to figure out what to make of her terrifyingly hairy surprise all on her own.

"I was immediately captivated. Growing up in a Punjabi household and having facial hair at the same age as Karma, her story and hardships sounded very similar to mine...I will most definitely be sharing this book, story and the lessons inside it to my younger siblings and future children." (Harnaam Kaur )"Debut author Wientge has sensitive, anxious Karma confronting the universal preteen problems of self-esteem, bullying, and changing friendships, with everyday details of her interracial family's Sikh faith and culture seamlessly woven in . . . Readers will enjoy seeing how Karma navigates the complexities of adolescence, middle school, and the 17 hairs on her upper lip in this realistic and humorous story of new friendships and family support." (Kirkus 6/1/17)

Book Club Launch Party: 2018-2019 School Year!

We are thrilled to host a book club launch party for 4th and 5th graders on Monday, September 17th at 7:30am in the LS Media Center. We will be discussing Dead Possums Are Fair Game by Taryn Souders. Please get your hands on a copy of the book either from our media center (copies available on a first come, first serve basis) or through your local public library. It's going to be a fabulous year of book clubs! 



Check out the author summarizing this book in this short video:

If you would like to check out a Kindle or an iPad with the Kindle app from the LS media center to read the month's book club book, please have a parent complete this form, which can be turned into the Media Center.  

5th Graders Only: If you would like to bring in your own e-Reader for book club, please complete the Acceptable Use Policy Form and return it to Myla Young in the administration office. 

Get ready for a fantastic end of the year book discussion and party!  We're ready to welcome 3rd grade to the book club and send off our fabulous 5th grade friends.  Come join us in the media center for a book related craft, snack, and a special skype with author, Ellen Airgood on Monday, May 21 at 7:30 am!  Stop by the library to pick up a copy of the book or visit your local public library.

Prairie Evers is finding that school isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She’s always been homeschooled by her grandmother, learning about life while they ramble through the woods. But now Prairie’s family has moved north and she has to attend school for the first time, where her education is in a classroom and the behavior of her classmates isn’t very nice. The only good thing is meeting Ivy, her first true friend. Prairie wants to be a good friend, even though she can be clueless at times. But when Ivy’s world is about to fall apart and she needs a friend most, Prairie is right there for her, corralling all her optimism and determination to hatch a plan to help.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

Picture this: It's 1947 and India is being divided into two: India and Pakistan. A 12 year old girl, who is half Muslim and half Hindu is struggling to figure out where she belongs. Her father decides that it is too dangerous to stay in India so they embark upon an arduous journey to discover a new home. Journey with Nisha as she goes through a physical and mental trek to discover who she is and where she belongs at the heart of it all. This book is going to be AMAZING! Don't miss out on reading and discussing it with your Davis Academy media crew. It's gonna be awesome! (Also, stay tuned for details about a future Skype date with the author.)

We will meet to discuss on Monday, April 23rd at 7:30am in the LS media center. Copies may be available in the LS Media Center on Kindle along with a few hard copies. But, be sure to check out your public library too!

It goes without saying that we had a blast discussing Bubble by Stewart Foster this month! We enjoyed bubble "tea", had an enlightening discussion and made unpoppable bubbles signifying Joe's inability to leave his own bubble. It was fantastic. The author (all the way in the UK) loved that we were discussing it too:

Booketh club wast so much excit'ment!

Booketh club wast so much excit'ment!

As you can see, our book club discussion on "All's Faire in Middle School" was very high-spirited! We spent the morning puzzling over medieval language and sampling "fairy elephant ears." We also pretended to be princesses and created some lovely princess accessories.  We all agreed that Victoria Jamieson is a genius and should write all the graphic novels forevermore.  Okay!  Maybe we didn't all say that, but we all really loved "All's Faire in Middle School." 

With that being said our next book has a lot to live up to, but it comes highly recommended.  The next book club meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 12 at 7:30 am, and the book will be "Bubble" by Stewart Foster.

Wonder meets Mark Haddon in the poignant and uplifting debut novel about superheroes, super-nurses, and the beauty you can find in hope. 

Eleven-year-old Joe has never had a life outside of the hospital, with its beeping machines and view of London’s rooftops. His condition means he’s not allowed outside, not even for a moment, and his few visitors risk bringing life-threatening germs inside his bubble. Then a new nurse offers Joe the possibility of going outside. But Joe doesn’t know if the nurse is serious—or whether he could survive the adventure. 

Bubble is the touching story of how Joe spends his days, copes with his loneliness and frustration, and looks—with superhero-style bravery, curiosity, and hope—to a future without limits.