I love this book!! I recently read this to my class I observe in.  It has a reading level of a 3.5.  It is a great story about a boy who is reluctant to spend the summer at his grandma's river house, but finds a raft and ends up having a wonderful summer on the river with his grandma.  We could use it in the classroom to talk about how the character changes in the story. We could focus on this lesson of character development. 

I used The Raft for a whole group lesson on character analysis. This book is good for a comparison character analysis and we looked at how the main character, Nicky, changed from the beginning of the story to the end. I personally found the book on the drier side, but the boys in my class enjoyed a story that was set outside and involved wildlife. I would recommend using this book for 3rd grade and 4th grade!

Unfortunately, I'll have to put this title on hold.  Two books I put on hold at the library have FINALLY come in. So I'll have to read them both quickly since others have them on hold. Luckily I can renew this title. Also the new titles fit Sock Poppet at Play's February prompts! 

For Sock Poppet at Play's February reading challenge, I'm reading a book with love (or variation of the word love in the title)- Like No Other by Una LaMarche. It's a YA novel that I've wanting to read for a while. 

They were in love, two teens with different backgrounds from opposite sides of NY, trying to overcome the biggest obstacle that stood in their way, religion.   With countless rules and limitations placed upon the Hasidic sector, it truly amazed me that living in a modern society these individuals could abide by such strict doctrines. How they lived beside other individuals not following such rigid orders really showed me how devoted they were to their religion. Strict guidelines on dating, use of electricity, and restrictions on what they could wear and eat and controls on almost every aspect of their day were an eye-opener to me. I live not far from an Amish community so I am aware of their principles but they live in a community, surrounded by others who follow their same belief not like Devoran.  Devoran lives with her family and she thought the Hasidic lifestyle was ideal until she meets Jaxon. I was surprised how instantly head-over-heels these two teens become for one another. They both were not looking for love, they just found each other in the most unlikely place and it clicked.   Jaxon coaxes things along as Devoran knows she is overstepping the boundaries that were set in place for her. She wants to be an individual; she realizes that the life she had mapped out before is not the life she visions for herself now. There is this sincerity and warmth within the book as the teens try to find time to be together and as Devoran tries to figure out exactly what she wants with the life already planned out for her and the life she envisions for herself. Jaxon can dream about a life with Devoran and can encourage her but family is family and her life is her own to chose.