A Boy Called Slow

 A Boy Called Slow 5-1

    A Boy Called Slow is a true story that begins in 1831, when the family of Returns Again, of the Hunkpapa band of the Lakota Sioux, welcomes the birth of a baby boy, His parents decide to name the baby Slon-he, or Slow, because he never does anything quickly.
    Growing up, Slow does not like his name. But he can only earn a new name by having a powerful dream or by doing something brave. Slow's father, Returns Again, has earned his name for bravery in battle against the Sioux's enemy, the Crow. Returns Again can also understand the speech of animals. He gained four more names after hearing those names spoken to him by a bull buffalo.
    One night, at the age of fourteen, Slow hears that his father and others are going to raid the Crow for horses. Slow goes with them, making his father proud. The men get ready for the fight. They paint their horses and their faces, and take out their coup sticks, lances, and shields. But Slow, armed with only a coup stick, takes off ahead of the others. As one of the Crow warriors is about to shoot an arrow, Slow hits his arm with his coup stick, causing the warrior to miss his target. When the Crow see the other Sioux warriors coming, they flee. None of the Hunkpapa have been hurt. Slow is a hero.
    Slow's father is so proud that he gives the boy a new name, the first name the buffalo bull spoke to him. This name means "Sitting Bull." Sitting Bull grew up to become one of the greatest Lakota warriors in history.

Dear Mr. Henshaw Theme 4-4

 Dear Mr. Henshaw Theme 4-4

    Dear Mr. Henshaw is the story of Leigh Botts, told in his own word through entries in Leigh's diary. In the second grade, Leigh began writing to Boyd Henshaw, his favorite author. Those letters led to the diary he now keeps. Leigh's parents are divorced, and Leigh doesn't see much of his dad, a truck driver who is almost always traveling.

    At school, Leigh decided to enter a writing contest. The top winners get to have lunch with a famous author. At first, Leigh tries to write an imaginary story, but he doesn't like any of his ideas. He then decides to write about a time when he rode in his dad's truck while his dad was delivering grapes.

    A few days later, Leigh finds out that his story has received Honorable Mention in the Writing contest. At first he is disappointed that he wasn't one of the top winners. Then he learns that he can have lunch with the author, too.

    During lunch, Leigh sits across from Angela Badger, the author. She asks him what he wrote for the contest. When she discovers that he is the author of A Day on Dad's Rig, she tells him how much she liked it. She encourages him to keep writing. Leigh is especially pleased that she has called him an author.

    Leigh is very proud of himself. That night, he writes a letter to Mr. Henshaw to share the good news about his writing.

Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirers Theme 4-3

 Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirers Theme 4-3

Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirers is about the Yang family's oldest daughter, Yinglan, and a trick that her younger brother and sister play on her.

Ever since she and her family moved to the United States from China, Yinglan has shown no interest in making American friends. Her younger brother and sister, Yingtao and Yingmei, decide to make new friends for her. With the help of their friend, Kim, they set out to make her think that her classmate, Paul Eng, has a crush on her.

First, while washing dishes after dinner, her brother and sister wait until they are sure that Yinglan is nearby. Then, in a loud whisper, they talk about how Paul really likes Yinglan and wants to know if she goes on dates with boys. Yinglan stops by the stairs to listen. None of what they are saying is true, but from the slow way she goes upstairs, they can tell that she is thinking about what they said.

Next, they need to get Paul Eng to think that Yinglan likes him. Their big chance comes when they are at a science museum with Kim. They see Paul. Quickly moving behind a dinosaur display where he can overhear them, they talk about how much Yinglan likes Paul.

When they see another girl with Paul, the three worry that he has a girlfriend. But Paul comes over to them and introduces the girl as his sister, Melanie. Better yet, Paul nervously asks them it Yinglan ever goes out with boys.

Their plan has worked!

Mom's Best Friend 4-2

 Mom's Best Friend 4-2

    Mom's Best Friend tells about the relationship between Leslie's mom, who is blind, and her new dog guide, Ursula. Mom's first dog guide, Marit, had become a part of the family before she died. Now Mom needs to find a replacement for Marit.
    Mom travels to the same place where she got Marit - The Seeing Eye, in New Jersey. It is a training center where people teach dogs to be guides and teach blind people how to use the dogs. Mom meets Ursula, her new German shepherd, and stays for a month to train with her. At first, Ursula forgets some of her training. Mom has to correct her and try again. Every day they go on walks together to practice her training.
    While she is away, Mom writes to the rest of the family about her progress and about the people she meets at The Seeing Eye. Meanwhile, Leslie, her father, and her brother struggle to keep up with the chores around the house.
    When Mom and Ursula come home, the dog is friendly but nervous. Mom teaches Ursula different walking routes around town and gives her obedience training. The rest of the family can only watch as Mom plays with Ursula. Ursula and Mom have to become attached to one another first. After a lot of training at her new home, Ursula is allowed to play with the rest of the family. They learn to love her as much as Mom does.

Mariah Keeps Cool 4-1

 Mariah Keeps Cool 4-1

As Mariah Keeps Cool begins, Mariah and her friends, the Friendly Five, are busy getting ready for a big swim meet with their coach and friend, Brandon. They are also planning a surprise birthday party for Mariah's sister, Lynn. Because Lynn is a volunteer at a homeless shelter, Mariah asks the guests to bring food and clothing donations instead of gifts.

Mariah is also growing closer to her half-sister, Denise, who is helping them make paper flowers and other party decorations at Brandon's house.

When Lynn shows up at Brandon's house unexpectedly, the girls have to think fast. Denise hides and the Friendly Five hurry to Bandon's pool and pretend that they are practicing for the swim meet. Brandon tells Lynn that she needs to leave so they can practice.

On the day of Lynn's birthday, Mariah needs to get Lynn out of the house. But Lynn just wants to stay in bed all day. Her mom finally gets out of bed by offering to take her to a bookstore. As soon as they leave, Mariah calls the guests to come over. By the afternoon, everyone is in the backyard decorating and setting up.

Mariah tells all the guests to be quiet as her mother and Lynn pull into the driveway. Then Lynn appears and everyone yells,  "Surprise!" Lynn is moved and happy when she sees all the donations for the homeless shelter. Then the party gets underway with music and dancing, and everyone has a great time.

James Forten 3-3

 James Forten 3-3

James Forten is a biography of James Forten, a sailor at the end of the American Revolution and a sailmaker and fighter against slavery afterwards. Forten lived in Philadelphia, home to hundreds of free African Americans and abolitionist groups, including Quakers, who wanted to end slavery. He went to a school that a Quaker founded for African American children.

Forten wanted to join the fight for America's freedom. In 1781, at age fourteen, he went to sea. His job was to bring gunpowder up from below deck during battles. In his second battle, Forten's ship, the Royal Louis, was trapped by three British ships. The Royal Louis surrendered. Its crew was taken aboard the British ship, the Amphyon. Forten was afraid that he would be sent to the West Indies and sold into slavery.

The son of the captain of the Amphyon joined the American boys in a game of marbles and befriended Forten. Instead of going to the West Indies, Forten was sent to the British prison ship, the Jersey. He felt that his friendship with the captain's son saved him from slavery.

Life for the prisoners was awful on the Jersey, but in two weeks, news arrived that the British army had surrendered to George Washington, ending the war. Washington did not approve of sending prisoners to the West Indies. The news, not the game of marbles, is what probably saved Forten from life as a slave.

After the war, Forten went into the sail making business where his father had worked. He took over that business and become one of the richest men in Philadelphia. He also became an important abolitionist, speaking out against slavery.

Katie's Trunk 3-2

Katie's Trunk 3-2

Katie's Trunk tells about the family of Katie Gray at the beginning of the American Revolution. Katie's parents are Tories; they support the British king. Katie's family has lost rebel friends who are against the British. Her friend Celia Warren doesn't speak to her anymore.

One day, Katie's father comes running to tell his family to get out of the house and hide. The rebels are coming. Scared, they run into the woods. Katie feels like a trapped animal. Then she gets so angry that she runs back into the house. She doesn't want anyone to damage the house or the things in it.

Katie runs into her parents' room and hides in her mother's wedding trunk under a pile of clothes. She can hear footsteps and doors slamming. She hears the rebels throwing things on the floor and Celia Warren's father telling the other to look for money.

Katie can hardly breathe inside the trunk. Then Mr. Warren opens the lid. She breathes in the fresh air. the dresses on top of Katie move, and she feels Mr. Warren's hand. Katie wants to scream, but she knows she must keep quiet. After touching her, Mr. Warren shouts to the others that the Tories are coming and that they should leave the house. he leaves the trunk lid open.

Katie comes out of the trunk and begins to cry. Her family runs inside. Her mother hugs her but is angry that she ran back into the house. Katie knows that Mr. Warren called the others away to keep her safe, leaving the lid open for her to breathe. She believes that there is still some goodness in her neighbors, even with the war beginning.