The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

Room 117 is the last classroom in the building. It is the classroom for the left-over students and the place the superintendent sends Mr Zachary Kermit. Mr Kermit is close to retirement after 30 years of teaching. The superintendent is keen to get rid of Mr Kermit because if he retires the school district will have to pay him a pension long into the future - Mr Kermit comes from a family of long livers. Mr Kermit is also haunted by the past when he was accused (wrongly) of aiding a kid - Jake Terramova - with cheating on the National Aptitude Test. The Superintendent will NEVER forgive Zachary Kermit.

Class SCS-8 (Self-Contained Special Grade 8) is a dumping ground for failures plus Kiana.

"They're kids you've given up on. They had their chance in sixth and seventh grade and now you're just warehouseing them until they can be the high school's problem."

"How bad can these Unteachables be? Behaviour issues, learning problems, juvenile delinquents? ... Bad attitudes? The kid hasn't been born with an attitude that's half as bad as mine at this point. Face it, the Unteachables can only hurt you if you try to teach them. I have up on teaching anybody anything decades ago."

Characters:

• Mr Kermit - the teacher, nickname Ribbit
• Kiana - who is a bright and compassionate girl in the wrong class or is she?
• Parker - a boy with a heart of gold and a driving licence (provisional). He also has dyslexia and so far no one has helped him with this
• Aldo and Elaine - kids with serious anger issues
• Rahim - great at art but sleeps all day in class
• Mateo - a boy with an obsession for tv and movie characters
• Barnstorn - talented football player now on the bench with a broken leg
• Emma Fontain - the teacher in the room next door. She is enthusiastic, kind and wise beyond her years
• Jake Terramova - now owns a successful car dealership. Jake truly wants to repair his past errors and help Mr Kermit find forgiveness
• Dr Thaddeus - school district superintendent
• Mrs Vargas - school principal

Read these reviews for more plot details:

Writing in the alternating voices of Mr. Kermit, most of his students, and two administrators, Korman spins a narrative of redemption and belief in exceeding self-expectations. Kirkus

The students are lovable, and their reasons for their own issues become clear as they narrate their parts of the plot. The love, respect,and care which come to light in the story are real, and it’s easy to root for this group of misfits. NY Journal of Books

A solid, funny novel with deeper issues. Ms Yingling

Why did I pick up this book? Why did I thoroughly enjoy this book?
I have read books by Gordon Korman (Canadian author) in the past.
I really enjoy books which use multiple voices which change with each chapter and give the reader different views of the same incident.
The bright cover caught my eye.
I have been reading Middle Grade books with recent publication dates - this one is 2019.

After reading The Unteachables you might want to pick up Where the Red Fern grows so that you can understand when Aldo says: "It was Ribbit who showed me that teachers aren't always the enemy, even when they make you do work, or yell, ... If it wasn't for Ribbit, I never would have heard of Where the Red Fern grows, which I'd be done with by now if we didn't drop everything to work on the science fair. I can barely picture my life before I knew about Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann, who feel like real people to me - except Old Dan and Little Ann, who are dogs."

I would follow this book with these:

Ms Bixby's Last Day

Because of Mr Terupt

The Fabled Fourth graders of Aesop elementary

The Junkyard wonders

In a Jar by Deborah Marcero

Stunning - Kirkus

Two rabbits sitting in a field of bluebells. They each have a jar and have collected a couple of bluebell stems.

The end papers show leaves scattering in the wind but the simple addition of colour to these pages also shows the passing of time as the leaves change from bright green, to yellow, to dark orange and olive green and back to bright green.

Now turn to the first page and you can see these same autumn leaves scattered across the page. If you flip to the final page it is Autumn once again - so a whole year has passed.

Llewellyn loves collecting things. He collects things and puts them in jars. He collects beautiful and poetic things such as heart-shaped stones, the sky "the color of tart cherry syrup", and the "wind just before snow falls" . When Llewellyn looks back at each of his jars he can enjoy the memories they hold. As with all the best things in life, the joy of collecting is even better when shared. Llewellyn shares his jars with Evelyn and together they collect wondrous things but one day Evelyn tells Llewellyn she is moving away.

"With Evelyn gone, Llewllyn's heart felt like an empty jar."

This is not the end of the story. There is a solution to this problem. Llewllyn decides to post a jar to Evelyn. He fills it with a meteor shower on a moonless night. In return Evelyn fills jars with the sights, sounds and smells of her new city environment and she posts her parcel to Llewllyn. Once again, though, this is not the end of the story.  I hope the last page makes you sigh with happiness. You can listen to Deborah talking about her book on The Children's Book Podcast.

The two bunnies, with their rectangular, anthropomorphized shapes and straight antennae ears, are cozy yet also endearingly offbeat. Bulletin of the Centre for Children’s Books

In a surreal touch, the jars themselves become frames containing rainbows, cups of hot chocolate, lightning strikes, a family of ducks, ski slopes and the tight squeeze of a subway car. Enchanting, indeed.  In a Jar does what all the best picture books do: It captivates, entertains and leaves you with a reminder of magic still shimmering around the edges. Book Page

The art here is tremendously gorgeous. Marcero creates pages of meteor showers, sunsets filled with birds soaring, and entire seasons on two pages that are filled with moments of wonder and amazement, and yet that are also moments we could all have and share. Waking Brain Cells

If you read this book with a young child you are sure to want to grab some jars and go outside and begin collecting.  You can see this idea in action at This Picture Book Life.  I love the idea of collecting things - especially the idea of collecting things in jars.

I talked about collectors and collecting in one of my most favourite picture books A friend like Ed and in the junior novel - Donovan's word jar.

For a younger child try to find a copy of the Australian book Collecting Sunshine by Rachel Flynn illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie (2018).

Here is another book by Deborah Marcero.

Ziggy and the moonlight show by Kristyna Litten

Forms in music have names such as binary (AB); ternary (ABA); or rondo (ABACA).  If you apply this idea to a book like Ziggy and the moonlight show I suggest it follows the binary form. 

Part A
Ziggy hears the cry of a forlorn mother bird. The chick is lost. Ziggy looks at the mother bird and decides the chick must have black and white stripes so with that as the main clue the pair set off. They have to rush because, yes the chick is lost, but tonight is Saturday night - the night everyone loves to attend The Moonlight Show.

The hunt for the chick begins. Stripy feathers in the reeds - no it's the frogs; up in the tree - no it's a tiger; stripes in the grass - no, quick run run it's a huge snake.  Ziggy and the mother bird head on into the forest.

"Until out of the stillness came a tiny 'Poe! Poe! Poe! And down through the branches hopped the little chick."

Part B
If they hurry the three of them might make it back in time for the special show but how can they find the way? That's where the animals from the original journey can help. They spy the snake, then the tiger and finally the frogs. And YES they do arrive in time for the show. Moths swirling around the stars - pure magic.

Ziggy and the moonlight show is a very satisfying story with a happy ending and beautiful themes of kindness, courage and perseverance.  With a group of older children you could talk about why the snake and tiger do not seem quite so scary at night. You can see more illustrations here. Check out another book by Kristyna Litten - Norton and Alpha.

Brian the Brave by Paul Stewart illustrated by Jane Porter

Brian is a sheep - a typical sheep with white wool, curly horns and blue eyes but as we know in nature there are lots of variations and really there is no such thing as "typical" or "normal".  Brian has been living a carefree life unaware of the hurt that can be inflicted by others when he meets another sheep. She is called Rose and Rose has black wood and curly horns. This pair hit it off straight away and enjoy a happy romp around the field. Now comes the first complication. Another sheep arrives. His name is Stanley. Stanley is a black sheep but he has no horns. He declares

"I only like sheep with black wool. White wool is rubbish. I'm just going to play with Rose.' ... They wouldn't let Brain join in. Brian felt sad."

Naturally there are lots of other sheep in the flock. Tracey and Frank have white wool with black and yellow spots and they have curly horns.  This new pair declare they only want sheep with horns in their gang. So now Stanley is very sad. 

More sheep arrive and the pattern continues until finally Brian has had enough:

"We are all sheep ... we should all play together!"

Sadly nothing is solved. Eye colour becomes the next point of difference and once again Brian finds he is once again ostracized from the group - he felt very, very, very sad.

Brian walks away, head low. Oh no he bumps into a wolf! It is time for action - group action. If all of the sheep work together they can defeat this wolf! Brian saves the day and finds a way for the flock to all be friends - thank goodness!

On this page you will find a video where Paul Stewart and Jane Porter discuss their book.  Jane Porter uses collage for her illustrations. On her web site she shows examples of the work she does during school visits. Brian the Brave is one of those picture books which could be discussed by children from a range of ages and it would also be a great text to use when discussing Harmony Day here in Australia. Another discussion topic that is raised by this book is the power of a single word - when I read the word "rubbish" I shuddered.

At times it feels there are so many new books coming out I am overwhelmed with choice and I struggle to keep track of books I want to read. One way I have attempted to "tame this process" is through following book sellers and now children's book publishers on Instagram. In the past I was more concerned with authors and illustrators but a colleague of mine always asks me to supply the name of the publisher when I talk about reading a terrific book. I did some exploring on the web site of the publisher of Brian the Brave - Otter-Barry Books.  And I am now following them on Instagram. Here is their philosophy:

At Otter-Barry Books you will find the best picture books and non-fiction titles, with fantastic art, by some of the top authors and illustrators working today, addressing big themes such as identity, family, cross-cultural issues, world history, natural history and looking after our Earth …

Otter-Barry books are distributed in Australia by Walker Books.

Little Brown by Marla Frazee

2019 Winner Charlotte Zolotow Award

I am not sure about this book. I do not think I would read it to the younger children at school but I do think it would be a terrific springboard for discussion with older students aged 9+.  The ending is so unresolved and sad. Little Brown is cranky. We don't know why? Perhaps he does not know how to make friends or approach the other dogs. Watching the play and happy times of the other dogs just makes him crankier and crankier. Is this jealousy? When a ball rolls over to his corner of the enclosed yard (perhaps this is a dog shelter/home/pound) he nabs and keeps it and then continues to collect all the other dog toys.

This is a dilemma for the other dogs.  I was pleased to see did not lead to any aggression. I did expect to see the dogs fighting. Instead the other dogs ask important questions:

"Is Little Brown cranky because we don't play with him?"
"Or do we not play with him because he is cranky?"
"Should we play with him to get the stuff back?"
"Or will that make us cranky too?  What then?"

Little Brown himself wonders:

"If I give it all back, will they like me? Then will they play with me? What if I give it all back and they still won't play with me? What then?"

I have labelled this book as a senior picture book because there is so much you could discuss around these questions and the open ending. I think I would call this lesson "What if or What then... ? " Marla Frazee conveys huge emotions in her illustrations. She discusses this on her web site.

 Here are some comments from the Charlotte Zolotow committee:

Little Brown, a cranky (but otherwise unremarkable) brown dog, has no one to play with at the kennel. Is that why he’s cranky? Or do none of the other dogs include him because he's cranky? When he hoards all the other dogs’ toys, what should they do? What should Little Brown do? In Frazee’s superb text, supported by equally fine, soft-hued pencil and gouache illustrations, a dramatic narrative crafted with wonderful language and artful pacing is full of hilariously spot-on dog behavior. But Little Brown’s isolation is heartbreaking, while the puzzlement of the other dogs and the “dilemma” they all face make for a complex look at social dynamics. The brilliant open ending leaves everything up for discussion with young readers and listeners, who no doubt know people like all of the dogs portrayed here. Charlotte Zolotow Award page

The reviewer at Kirkus says:

So when a ball rolls his way and Little Brown grabs it, this looks like the beginning of the end of Little Brown’s isolation and crankiness. But he then decides to grab the other toys, and in a jiffy, he’s collected a whole pile and stands on top of them, like a dragon hoarding treasure. Now there is a “dilemma.” …  Weirdly, this dilemma remains unresolved, leaving readers to continue the pondering: It becomes time to go and “maybe tomorrow / they would know what to do.”  A promising start dissolves to an undetermined, unsatisfying conclusion. Kirkus

In contrast the School Library Journal review says:

An open-ended story that creates a great starting point for meaningful discussion with young children about bullying and inclusion. School Library Journal (from Simon and Schuster publisher)

And here is the Bulletin of the Centre for Children's Books

Frazee interestingly leaves the conclusion open-ended, with no dog managing to break the standoff; that lessens the drama of the ending slightly, but it also offers easy discussion prompts (the dogs' questions could be posed to the audience verbatim) for some empathy-building and social consideration, while the adults can consider larger political symbolism. 

Bulletin of the Centre for Children’s Books

The girl who stole an elephant by Nizrana Farook

Chaya is a thief but she is a thief with a purpose and a good heart. She does not take things for herself she simply wants to help the people in her village - Serendib (Sri Lanka). Her friend Vijay has been attacked by a crocodile. Money is urgently needed so his leg can be saved so Chaya has taken valuable jewels from the Queen's bedside table and now she is on the run.

She tries to hide the jewels in a box made by her friend Neel. The box has a hidden compartment and this seems like the perfect plan but on that same day a young girl called Nour has convinced her wealthy father to purchase this box.  Now Chaya needs to steal it back. She takes the box but finds it is empty. Noor has kept the jewels.

Now the three children are thrown together as they are chased through the jungle riding on the back of the King's elephant which Chaya has also stolen. Near the end of their action packed and thrilling journey they make an amazing discovery about their tyrant King and discover a way the people in their village can enjoy a life with freedom and dignity.

This story has a great pace and strong sense of place and justice.

With themes of morality, friendship, teamwork and loyalty,this book will have wide appeal to middle grade readers as it incorporates tension and jeopardy in an exciting coming-of-age adventure. Book Trust

There are brushes with death, but great camaraderie too and it all ends with a much-needed righting of wrongs. Great stuff! LoveReading4Kids

I spent the entire book focused on the plot and the action,almost subliminally assimilating the smells, sights and sounds of each of the different settings. Madge Reviews

You can read the first 16 pages of this novel on the Nosy Crow page.  On this same link you can hear an audio extract.

I would pair The girl who stole an elephant with Tua and the Elephant for a younger audience or Lizard's Tale for an older audience.

The Epic Race by Marie Dorleans

"They're off. The competitors take off at a brisk pace, amid a deafening roar. The horses leap forward, the rides hold on tight, the spectators cheer. Meanwhile ..."

I love this word - meanwhile. The page turn is perfectly placed at this point. Turn the page and we see the riders at the back of group "still trying to cross the starting line." The officials disqualify the donkey, rocking horse and statue. But something crazy is happening. Some riders in the race are reclining on chairs, some have come off their mounts and are flying along holding the tail of the horse and one guy has attached a rocket to his back!

Wait a minute. As the horses almost reach the finish line a small white mouse steps onto the track. CRASH.  But one rider is determined to carry on - literally - carry on by carrying his horse on his own back all the way to the finish line!

"But alas, when the trophy is awarded, the rider doesn't quite get the prize he was hoping for ... "

Do you remember the scene in My Fair Lady at the races? The opening pages of The Epic Race

This is the PERFECT book to share with any Primary school class on Melbourne Cup day which might be why the Australian publisher Wilkins Farago invested in translating this book from French into English.  Translation by Philippine McDonald.

I would link this book with The Emperor's new Clothes Horse by Tony Wilson illustrated by Sue DeGennaro.