Category: School - Blazer Tales

Blazer Tales

There are 4 ways to use this blog: 1) Scroll through to see a variety of books; 2) Click on the 3 lines at the top left to get a drop down menu of books broken down by grade levels; 3) Go to the search box and for title, genre, or subject; and 4) Go to Categories and search by subject matter.

***These reading levels are just a guide to help if needed. Please, please, please do not let any of these numbers deter you from reading whatever you want!!!***

Reviews Published

Professional Reader

10 Book Reviews

The Great Jeff by Tony Abbott

2/9/2019

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 5.7

Have you ever wished that your friends knew what problems you were going through, yet at the same time you want to hide from your friends the problems you are going through? This is exactly what is happening to Jeff Hicks. Jeff spent his seventh grade year at St. Catherine's Catholic School with his best friend, Tom. Now Jeff begins his eight grade year in public school with no best friend. Jeff's parents have gone through a bitter divorce and they can not afford to pay for private school anymore. He has lost his beloved school, his best friend, his grandfather, and his parents, and things are still going downhill fast. His mom has started drinking more and more, so much that she has lost her job. She is months behind on their rent and Jeff is mortified when they get evicted. Jeff's dad is no help because he is about to have a baby with his new girlfriend. He doesn't have any extra money to spare. He develops a crush on a girl in his class, but how can he even talk to her when he is always dirty and smelly and unkept? Where will Jeff and his mom go now that she has no job, no money, and is an alcoholic? Will Jeff be able to continue at his school if he is homeless? And what about his former best friend, Tom Bender? When Jeff ends up standing in front of his house will they be able to mend their ways? Read this incredible book about family issues, homelessness, new friendship, old friendship, and endurance to keep things together when everything is falling apart.

This book will grab your heart, twist it, and then tear it into a million pieces. I was not a fan of Jeff in Firegirl, however my eyes were opened and many tears fell as I read Jeff's story. I know in my own school we have homeless families and it just breaks my heart what they have to go through every day just to come to school. Some kids have so much more to worry about in their lives than just homework. I want to just wrap my arms around the kids and hold them for a long time. I want to thank Tony Abbott for this incredible, eye-opening story that will stay with you for a very long time! This is a must read, do not miss book for 2019!

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

1/20/2019

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.1

Have you ever done the right thing even if it cost you a friend? Tom is a seventh grade kid in a Catholic school. His best friend, Jeff, is not the nicest kid around but it's his only friend. Tom has a huge crush on a girl in his class but he doesn't have the nerve to even talk to her. One day their teacher announces that a new student will join their class and she gives them a warning about her appearance. Jessica has been badly burned and the students have a very hard time accepting her. The students in the class do a very good job of ignoring her yet at the same time rumors fly about how she was burned. One day during their daily prayer Jeff refused to hold Jessica's hand because he is so repulsed by her. Jeff doesn't think anything about it but Tom feels sorry for Jessica. Since Tom lives a few houses away from Jessica, Mrs. Tracy asks him to take her homework to her after an extended absence. Tom learns a lot about Jessica that day and actually wants to consider her a friend. This does not go over well with Jeff and their friendship disintegrates. Will Tom really choose Jessica over Jeff? Will this cause problems with the other kids in the class? To save face, should Tom go back to ignoring Jessica like all the other? Read this incredible story about compassion, friendship, and the decision to do what is right no matter what it costs.

This book was published in 2006 and I missed it so many years ago. It was not until Tony Abbot send me his new book, The Great Jeff, that I read Firegirl. Since The Great Jeff is the story of Tom's friend, Jeff, I wanted to read Firegirl so that I would know what was going on. I am so glad that I didn't go one day longer without reading this book. In a time when kids who are different seemed to be picked on and bullied, this is a refreshing story of a kid who realizes that it is wrong, especially when Tom is a shy kid himself. Run out today to get this book so you will be ready for The Great Jeff!!

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel

1/20/2019

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 4.8

Imagine your dad disappeared ten years ago and your mom is too busy with her work to deal with you. This is Emmy's life! On her third birthday her dad went missing and is presumed dead. Her mother writes parenting books and is now starting a reality television show in which she has to go from family to family helping them with their children. Since her mom won't be around she is sending Emmy to a boarding school in England. Emmy is used to moving schools because anytime a school drops a point, she gets pulled out for a better school, but half way around the world? Emmy's first impression of the school is not a good one when she meets her roommate, who had the room to herself until Emmy came along. These two do not hit it off and Emmy is expecting to not be accepted by everyone. She couldn't be more wrong. She very quickly makes best friends with Lola and Jack. These three become inseparable and it's a good thing because mysterious notes about Emmy's father start being left for her about her father. She soon finds out that her dad went to Wellsworth and he has a very dark past at this school. As Emmy and her friends start to investigate a secret order of men things start to become very dangerous. Will Emmy find out the mystery of her dad? Is he dead or alive? Will Emmy survive when the powers higher than her try to stop her investigation? Read this incredible book to find out what happens!!

This books was absolutely amazing! It was full of mystery, suspense, and a friendship that will stop at nothing to help each other. I have mentioned in my blogs before that I am a slow reader. To say that I read this book in a 24 hour period says a lot about it. I could not put it down. The writing was magnificent!! I wanted to go to Wellsworth and become friends with these kids! Towards the end of the book I wanted to finish it so bad to find out how it ends, but at the same time I didn't want the book to end!! I am so in love with this book and I can not wait for the second book to come out!! This is a 2019 book that you can not miss!!

Ruby in the Sky by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo

1/6/2019

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.7

Imagine that your mom moves you around from place to place to place and each one is going to be your "forever home". Ruby wants her forever home to be back in the home where she last shared with her dad, but her mom has brought Ruby back to her own home town. She once again promises Ruby that this will be their forever home but within a week of being there her mom gets arrested and things are not looking good. Ruby knows there is no point in making friends because they will not be there for long, however she didn't expect to meet Abigail. Abigail is the old, crazy lady that lives in the shed next to her house and feeds the birds. Rumor around town is that she killed her husband and daughter many years ago. Ruby sees a different side of her but she can't deal with it because she has her own problems. She is trying to avoid a huge biography project since she knows that they will be moving soon and won't be there to present it. Her teacher, Mr. Andrews, and the kid trying to be her friend, Ahmad, think otherwise. Will this home actually be their forever home? Will Ruby expose Abigail for who she truly is or will Abigail's pain be more than she can bear? What happens with Ruby's mom's arrest and will she ever take Ruby back to the only home that she knew? Read this incredible book to find out what happens with Ruby and those around her!

Ruby in the Sky is a phenomenal book about love, loss, friendship, and overcoming when all the odds are against you. Ruby shows us all that even though we may be lonely and in pain ourselves, there can be others that need our help. No matter what kind of walls we put up around ourselves, those walls can be broken down for a new beginning. This book has such an amazing message and does not need to be missed!!!

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez

12/18/2018

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 5.2

Have you ever felt a little different from the people around you, including your family? This is exactly how Malú feels, especially around her "SuperMexican" mom. Malú (short for Maria Luisa) loves punk rock, wearing t-shirts and shorts, and skateboarding; she absolutely hates cilantro (what person of Mexican descent hates cilantro??). Malú's parents are divorced and she feels more comfortable with her dad who owns a record store than her mom who is a college professor. The huge problem facing Malú right now is that her mom is moving them away for a new job. She will lose her dad and her friends. Starting over at a new school is hard enough, but when you look and dress different than everyone else, it is a bazillion times harder. Malú has decided that she will not be happy with this move, no matter what. Malú is very unhappy, and to make matters worse, on the first day of school, she offends the the school's queen bee and gets in trouble for violating the dress code. Little does she know, but by violating the dress code, she finds some of her very best friends in the process. Will Malú ever be happy in her new home? Does her dream of being in a punk rock band die with the move, or is it just the beginning? Read this incredible story of family, friendship, and overcoming all odds to find yourself.

I absolutely loved this story! Malú teaches the reader how to continue to be yourself even when the majority is against you. This book also teaches you that true friendship can be bent, but not broken and that family is always there for you no matter what. Do not miss this amazing story!!

Operation Frog Effect by Sarah Scheerger

11/25/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.7

Have you ever had a teacher that was completely awesome and made a huge impact on your life? At White Oak Elementary School, Ms. Graham is that teacher and the impact is made on eight very different students. Emily doesn't understand why her two best friends, Aviva and Kayley, won't talk or sit with her on the first day of fifth grade. Kayley actually doesn't like Emily and is extremely stuck up. Sharon doesn't seem to have a voice because she always seems to get interrupted and corrected when talking. She also describes herself as weird and a loner. Blake doesn't have many friends and likes to express himself through his drawings. Henry is a big cut-up and wants to be a famous movie writer/director of comedies one day. Kia comes from a big family and the thing he loves to do the most is read. Cecilia has only been at White Oak a year and she misses her Abuelita back in Mexico so much that she writes her letters teaching her English. Lastly, Aviva misses her best friend, Emily, but she has her reasons for dissing her and befriending Kayley. These kids don't always get along but a classroom assignment brings about new friendships and some bitter competition between table groups. However, when one group assignment goes terribly wrong, they all must team together to save themselves and their beloved teacher. Will they be able to come together to save Ms. Graham's job? Will they be able to put their differences aside to get this done? Read this incredible story to find out how this story plays out.

This books is so amazing! It is written from eight different perspectives in letter form, including one in graphic novel form. Ms. Graham is an inspirations teacher and the affect she has on her students makes me want to be a better teacher. Do not miss this story of friendship, coming of age, and how powerful students voices truly can be.

I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët

11/21/2018

Interest Level: K-3

What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? Would you jump in and help or would you walk away? In this wordless story a new girl at school gets bullied and no one comes to her aid. However, one little girl sees everything that happens and it really bothers her all through the night. Will she do what is right or will she stand back and let the bully win? Read this incredible wordless book about trying to fit in, being new to a school, hurtful words, and finding friendship!

Secrets and Scones by Laurel Remington

11/8/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.6

Imagine that your mom is a famous blogger and everyone reads her posts, including all the kids at your school. Now imagine that every small, embarrassing detail about your life gets splashed across that blog. This is the life that Scarlett lives. So how does she combat this humiliating torture? She does nothing. She quits all of her clubs, sports, after-school activities, even her friends. She does absolutely nothing to be noticed. The problem is that her mom is so absorbed in her new blog fame that she doesn't see her children right under her nose. One day her elderly neighbor falls and gets rushed to the hospital. That night Scarlett hears a noise from her house and thinks she has come home and needs help. She sneaks out to find a key under the mat, a very hungry cat in the house, and one of the most incredible kitchens she has ever seen. It is like magic when she discovers an old, handmade, incredible cookbook, a kitchen stocked with so many ingredients, and a desire to teach herself how to cook. After days of sneaking over to the neighbors house to cook she is caught by the new girl at school who just happens to show up with her real estate aunt. Together these girls create a cooking club and a friendship, but they have to keep it a secret from her blogging mom. When their secret gets leaked out to others, including Scarlett's arch-nemesis, will this jeopardize the club? What happens with the owner of the house comes back and finds them in her kitchen? Also, what about the elderly woman's nephew who wants to put her in a retirement home and sell the house? There are so many things going against the cooking club. Will it survive? What about the friendship Scarlett has made? Read this incredibly sweet story of family, friendship, and how first impressions may not always be what they seem.

Ghosted by Leslie Margolis

9/14/2018

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 4.7

Do you think it would be awesome to be the most popular girl in your middle school? Would you love to have all the girls want to be your friend? Ellie Charles is this girl and she plays her role as mean girl perfectly. Ellie can have any friends that she wants and she can make them do her bidding. The worse she makes people feel, the better she feels. She loves her life as the reigning queen of Lincoln Height Middle School, or at least she though she did until the accident. It is the day of the Winter Dance and she has made sure that her dance committee has everything amazing so this is the best dance in the history of dances, and she has been ruthless to achieve this. What she doesn't expect is to have an accident that causes her "friends" to think that she is dead. Even Ellie thinks that she is dead when she is standing and looking at lifeless body on the gym floor. She is watching the whole scene unfold but no one can she her "ghost". She is confused when a girl in black begins talking to her and sweeps her away to her past. She goes back to when she was eight-years-old and her father left her and her mom. This was a very hard time for Ellie but at least she has her best friend, Marley. Fast forward to when Ellie is eleven and the mean girls who run the school make fun of her and she is devastated. She will do whatever it takes to never feel that way again, even if it means jeopardizing her best friend. Finally, Ellie is taken to the future to see her senior prom. Ellie is beginning to realize that her life is not as great as she thinks it is. Does any of this make a difference in Ellie's life? Is her need to be a mean girl greater than doing what she knows is right? If Ellie does realize that she wants to turn her life around, are the injuries to her physical body too bad to be saved? Read this incredible coming-of-age story about friendship, loss, and love. Don't miss it!!

The Right Hook of Devin Velma by Jake Burt

9/11/2018

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level 4.4

What lengths would you go to to help your family if your dad got sick? Well Devin Velma wants to become a social media sensation so that he can make a lot of money to help his family with his dad's hospital bills. He knows if he can nail the Double-Barreled Monkey Bar Backflip of Doom on video it will be easy money. The problem is, Devin on has one Twitter follower and that is his best friend, Addison (and technically Addison doesn't have an account - Devin created it just so he would have one follower). By some miracle, Devin does nail this impossible move but Addison failed to get it on video. So when Devin comes up with another crazy stunt idea Addison feels obligated to help him whether he wants to or not. Devin wants to become an internet sensation by flashing his painted check behind a couple of celebrities at an NBA game. Everything is going according to plan until the kiss cam is done earlier than normal. When Devin takes off from the upper deck to try to get to the camera, things go completely wrong. Will Devin be able to pull off this impossible stunt in order to save his family? Or will it become a complete flop? Will Devin and Addison make choices that could ruin a life-long friendship? Read this amazing story of family, friendship, love, and a whole lot of humor! This is one you don't want to miss!!

I absolutely love this story!! Devin and Addison and their family is as close as close can be, but Devin and Addison are completely opposite. Devin is outgoing a crazy and Addison freezes up when any attention is put on him. I think this is great to show kids that they can have all types of friends. This book is also hilarious. The characters in this story have such a great wit about them. Don't let this one pass you up!!