Book Review: Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince

 

I spend a lot of time pre-reading books for my kids. I found this book on an 8th grade must read list. 

Taking Flight falls into reading categories such as Young Adult Ballet, Dance, Orphan, Africa history, War Orphan, Adoption, Dreams, hope, and memoir. 

Taking Flight is a fantastic read about dreams, overcoming, and hope. Michaela shares her heart as she tells her story. She was born in Africa to parents who accepted her as a girl and planned a great future for her. Her parents died and she ended up living with an abusive uncle who sold her to an orphanage. She was then adopted by an American couple and grew up in the United States. From a young age, even before leaving Africa, Michaela dreamed of being a ballerina. Her family helped her achieve her dream and her mother encouraged here to share it. “I have been blessed with a hardy dose of hope,” says Michaela. “It was hope that enabled me to survive in Africa in the face of abuse, starvation, pain, and terrible danger. It was hope that made me dare to dream, and it was hope that helped that dream take flight.”

This will go on the recommended list for my 8th grader.

Elizabeth

October Book Shelf

Miss E's Book Shelf

1. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

2. Pippi Goes on Board by Astrid Lindren
3. The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
4. The Fast and the Frozen by Geronimo Stilton
5. The Rival Detective by Walker Styles
6. Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lindgren
7. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
8. Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
9. Meet Me in Horrowood by Geronimo Stilton
10. Telescope Troubles by Nate Ball
11. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Little Man's Book Shelf

1. Meet the Knights by Julia March
2.Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
3. Finn & the First Order by Elizabeth Schaefer
4. Henry and Mudge in the Green Time by Cynthia Rylant
5. Henry and Mudge and Annie's Perfect Pet by Cynthia Rylant

6. Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House by Cynthia Rylant
7. Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon by Cynthia Rylant
8. Meet the Justice League by Lucy Rosen
9. There was an Old Lady who Sollowed Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
10. Mr. Putter and Tabby See the Stars by Cynthia Rylant
11. Super Animals! by Rico Green
12. Tribes of Chima by Ruth Amos
13. Smash Trash! by Laura Driscoll

Read Alouds and Audio Books

1. The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket
2. How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
3. Ragweed by Avi
4. The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket
5. How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell

September Book Shelf

The kids have a challenge with their school to see how many pages they can read in the school year. There are little prizes for different levels. The highest level is 50,000 pages which awards them a trophy. Miss E has her eyes set on that goal. At 10,000 pages they get a medal, which both kids have earned the past two years.

Here is what we have been reading this month.

Miss E's Shelf

1. The Christmas Toy Factory by Geronimo Stilton

2. Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro by Geronimo Stilton
3. The Mouse Island Marathon by Geronimo Stilton
4. Otherwise Know as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume
5. Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish
6. Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume
7. The Treasure of Easter Island by Geronimo Stilton
8. Rider Woofson: Undercover in the Bow-Wow Club by Walker Styles
9. The Search for Sunken Treasure by Geronimo Stilton
10. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
11. Attack of the Dragons by Geronimo Stilton
Independent pages read: 1294

Little Man's Shelf

1. Ted and Friends (12 phonics readers) by Phil Roxbee Cox and Stephen Cartwright

2. Ice Age Collision Course: Scrat's Space Adventure
3. The Crimson Dynamo Returns! (Iron Man Story)
4. Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
5. Pup and Hound Scare a Ghost by Susan Hood
6. Carnival Capers! by Eric Esquivel
7. Star Wars At-At Attack by Calliope Glass
8. Star Wars Death Star Battle by Trey King
9. Hiccup the Hero adopted by Catherine Hapka
10. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
11. Poppleton Everyday by Cynthia Rylant
12. Poppleton and Friends by Cynthia Rylant
Independent pages read: 658

Read Alouds and Audio Books

1. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
3. The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket 

Elizabeth's Shelf

1. Just Friends by Jenn Faulk

August Book Shelf

I thought it would be fun to track our reading for the month. Here is what we have been reading. What are you reading?

Elizabeth's Shelf

1. Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies The Real West by David Fisher

Miss E's Shelf

Age 9, 4th grade, avid reader

1. Silver Pony Ranch: Sweet Buttercup by D.L. Green

2. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
3. Superfudge by Judy Blume
4. Greetings From Somewhere: The Mystery of the Forbidden City by Harper Paris
5. Special Gifts by Cynthia Rylant
6. Geronimo and the Gold Medal  Mystery by Geronimo Stilton
7. Soup Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
8. Thea Stilton and the Spanish Dance Mission by Geronimo Stilton
9. Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume
10. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
11. The Karate Mouse by Geronimo Stilton
12. A Series of Unfortunate Events A Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
13. Grizzly Trap by Justin D'Ath
14. Phantom of the Subway by Geronimo Stilton
15. The Hunt for the Secret Papyrus by Geronimo Stilton
16. Following the Trail of Marco Polo by Geronimo Stilton
17. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
18. Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? by Sydelle Kramer
19. Flight of the Red Bandit by Geronimo Stilton
20. Complete Adventure of Olga da Polga by Michael Bond
      The Tales of Olga da Polga, Olga Meets Her Match, Olga Carries On, Olga Takes Charge

Little Man's Shelf 

Age 7, 2nd grade, emerging reader

1. Charlie the Ranch Dog:Rock Star by Ree Drummond

2. How to Track a Dragon adapted by Erica David
3. Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble by Cynthia Rylant
4. All About the Dragons by Judy Katschke
5. Charlie the Ranch Dog Stuck in the Mud by Ree Drummond
6. Poppleton Forever by Cynthia Rylant
7. The Amazing Adventures of Superman! Creatures from Planet X! by Yale Stewart

Read Alouds

It is very important that Daddy gets involved in our reading time. I want my kids to know that reading is not just a 'girl hobby'. Daddy reads the bedtime story while I start our day with Bible reading and a chapter book.

1. The BFG by Roald Dahl
2. The Secret of Pirates' Hill by Franklin W. Dixon
3. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
4. More About Paddington by Michael Bond
5. Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures The Intrepid Canadian Expedition by Sara Pennypacker
6. Matilda by Roald Dahl

Audio Books

We have started the habit of listening to books in the truck as we drive around town. It has been fun to listen to other people read to us.

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
2. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
3. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket
4. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket
5. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket