This is a book I would use in a sixth grade classroom.  It would be a great book to keep the students engaged and even watch the movies afterward to note the differences.  Further, the Hunger Games could be utilized for an analysis of characterization, symbolization, and plot structure.  It could be the book to break down and look at all the individual parts.

I enjoyed this sequel to Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It. It's not about racial identity (but the book's characters are racially diverse). It's more about growing up and navigating friendships. This one also concentrates on Brendan's relationship with his dad (where the last one concentrated more on his relationship with his mom).

Occasionally plot points were left hanging a little too long, and there are a lot of metaphors (I'm not the biggest fan of metaphors), but the sequel left me wanting another sequel.

ETA: The black belt myth is replicated in the book (you know, everyone's belt starts out white and becomes stained until eventually it's black). Also, Frazier uses n**py to describe the weather (this is a personal thing, but I HATE that word).

Some of these challenges I feel only need brief mentionings so I am doing a two at a time post about them. 

Day 21: The First Novel You Remember Reading

Two books I distinctly remember in my childhood for different reasons though they are not the first two books I read. I mean a lot of people remember reading Green Eggs and Ham/Goodnight Moon/Berenstain Bears/Etc. so why really mention them.

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

I was obsessed with mythology and history as a kid. I still am at this point in my life, there are more historical eras and fairytales thrown in as well. The Egypt Game is one of the first history related kids books I remember reading. I could relate to the girls cause I was just like them. I loved to play make believe about Egyptian Gods/Goddesses/Life. This is one of the first books I felt I could relate to the characters. 

Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis Sachar

I remember reading this book for a different reason. It was the book I was reading in 2nd grade, in my mom's bedroom, the day before Thanksgiving....when our house caught on fire and I alerted my mom to the smoking coming from her bedroom. This book will forever stand out vividly because of that scary day. 

Here's the story of that day in brief:

It had been picture day, I was wearing your usual 90s kid female attire, a sunday best dress and frilly socks. I had just received Sixth Grade Secrets through a book program at school called RIF. I was laying on my mom's bed reading page after page, cause I liked to stretch out and the big bed allowed that...plus...QUIET. No little brothers to annoy me. 

I took a break to go get a something to snack on and use the restroom. When I came back to my mom's room, there was smoke in the air and the wall was covered in flames. I ran down the hall, told my mom, and went back to save my cat. Mom came running, saw the flames, told me to run to the neighbors while she got my brothers out of the house. 

I ran a quarter mile to the neighbors and ruined my frilly socks. The fire trucks came but the house was lost. So was my cat, she ran back into my mom's room after I grabbed her, Sixth Grade Secrets was unfinished, and every happy Thanksgiving after that was ruined. 

Day 22: A Book That Makes You Cry 

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson & Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

I don't handle the death of children or animals very well.

30 Day Book Challenge