Ivy and Bean

Title: Ivy and Bean

Author: Annie Barrows

Contemporary Realistic Fiction #2

This book is for younger readers – I would have been all over this book when I was in 2^nd/3^rd grade! It was beyond cute. The story follows Bean (sassy and dirty) and her neighbor Ivy (dainty and quiet). After playing a trick on her older sister, Bean escapes with the help of Ivy. Turns out, Ivy is secretively a witch in training and offers to cast a spell on Bean’s sister! Through this experience, the two girls become the best of friends. This story preaches the classic saying: don’t judge a book by its cover! You never know who can turn out to be a friend despite any differences you might have. This is a good message to share with children especially at this impressionable age.

I loved this book because of the sibling rivalry between Bean and her older sister. It reminded me of myself and my younger sister because we have never gotten along! The book also kind of reminded me of the Ramona books I read when I was young. The book is silly, has an adventure element to it, and describes a favorite topic of most seven-year-olds – getting in trouble! I personally loved reading about the friendship Ivy and Bean form. It was really just a cute book that I think children would love.

Another reason I enjoyed this book is because it is part of a series. Children at this level love series books and the Ivy and Bean series is a wonderful place to start. Young girls will relate to Ivy and Bean and the childhood struggles they encounter. As I stated, I would have loved this book as a child! This is definitely one for teachers to include in their classroom libraries. The text is large and easy to read but it complicated enough that kids can claim they have read “their first chapter book”. 

Shark Girl

Title: Shark Girl

Author: Kelly Bingham

 Contemporary Realistic Fiction #1

What can I say? I love sharks; so, when I picked up Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham I was very intrigued. When I found out that the book was also written in free verse poetry, I knew that I had to read it. Sharks and poetry? It must have been written for me. I can honestly say that I enjoyed the book. The story is about a young, teenage girl named Jane who innocently goes on a swim with her family during the summer. That is when everything changes and Jane becomes a victim. During the shark attack she loses her arm, and for someone who is an aspiring artist – this is devastating! To make matters worse, her attack was filmed and put on the news for everyone to see. Now she has sympathy cards, letters, and flowers from people she doesn’t even know. Everyone wants to be her friend but still everyone whispers and no one seems to care that she can’t even button her pants with ease anymore.

I found this story to be truly touching and eerily realistic. I felt like I was reading about an actual event, an actual teenage girl that experienced this. Though I couldn’t relate to the attack first-hand (though I can tell you, I don’t plan on getting in the ocean anytime soon!), I did relate to the alienation Jane felt. I believe this is something all teenagers can relate to regardless of their situation which is what makes this book so appealing. It is fun, interesting, and different while being completely relatable at the same time. I would definitely recommend this book for 6^th grade and up. It’s excellent and shows children that telling a story in poetry is just as effective as traditional story writing.