Sarah Lynn Scheerger

Oh, wow. Seriously. That's pretty much the extent of my ability to actually review this book right now, because I am so gosh darn impressed with it. Have you been burning to read a book from the perspective of an amazing class of 5th graders, that will leave you wanting to be a better person at the end of it? Well, welcome to that book. I've stated before how much I love when authors don't talk down to this age group of readers, and how important it is to treat them with respect. Sarah show more Sheerger does that, and more. This book is full of real life issues, seen through the eyes of the children living them. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing. Prepare for some gushing.

First off, I have so much love for the way that this story is told. Ms. Graham's class is spending the year journaling and writing one another letters, so this story is a compilation of those musings. What I loved though, was that Sheerger really channeled the kids and their personalities. Some wrote in poems, some in perfectly written letters, and one in wonderful mini comic form. Each of the students had their own perfectly formed quirks, and they shone through their writing. Getting to know them was a lot of fun, and watching them interact with one another while growing was fantastic!

As I mentioned above, this book is also packed to the brim with all kinds of wonderful messages. These kids are truly amazing. With the help of their teacher, they learn to find their true passions and speak out for what they believe in. I smiled as I watched them research social issues, and truly discuss them like adults. My eyes misted over when the class did a social experiment to go along with learning about Anne Frank, and the kids actually learned something from it. I can't say enough about how well this book tackles everything from immigration to rough home lives. There will be so many young readers who will finally get to see themselves, and issues that are very real to them, depicted on the page. It makes me teary eyed just thinking about it.

Long story short, this is a stellar read. I recommend that it be put into the hands of every young reader out there, and discussed in classes or at home. There is so much in this book that our young people really need, and I can't gush enough. Pick this up, and share it with others. show less

Are You Still There is so much more than just a thriller. While on the outside this looks to be a book about a high school bomber, I believe it is so much deeper and so much more. Scheeger takes a serious subject- high school bullying- and adds a cast of characters and complex plot that holds you in suspense while also making your heart break. Yet, somehow, she successfully adds humor which provides an extra layer and a needed break from the heavy and dark plot.

The story is told from Gabi's show more POV, yet we get glimpses into the mind of the would-be bomber through pages of his/her Manifesto. His/her mind is dark, jaded, and full of hatred.

Meanwhile, Gabi is the "perfect" student, daughter, friend, but is also very complacent in her life at the beginning. As she begins to interact with her fellow helpline peers, she not only finds new friends, she begins to see that appearances aren't everything. This discovery, along with conversations with anonymous callers, prompts Gabi to reexamine not only how she treats others, but how so many high schoolers do. She begins to see the negative effects that bullying (or even ignorance and avoidance) can cause. Her character's growth throughout the book is subtle, but enriching. She was never a bad person to begin with, but her steps to reach out to others is refreshing.

Are You Still There is full of suspense and mystery. I found myself constantly analyzing every person Gabi came into contact with, wondering if they were the bomber. One of the things I loved though was that it's not all nail biting suspense. You get lulled into this false sense of security by the normality of Gabi's teenage life and it's when your guard is down that the thriller part kicks back up. It is this back and forth that made the book unputdownable making it to where I finished it in one sitting. show less

At the age of four, Cayenne lost her mother to breast cancer. Since then, she and her sister have been raised by their aunt Tee, who, now in her thirties, has decided to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer herself. While Cayenne wants to support her aunt through the surgery and its aftermath, she feels conflicted about Tee’s decision.

"How to Live on the Edge" was an important book that tackles some heavy issues. However, I found it hard to connect show more with Cayenne. She’s a risk-taker, and her reckless behaviour often left me shaking my head. Personally, I preferred her sister, Saffron. I understood Saffron’s more cautious, thoughtful approach to life—she was more reserved, which made her easier to relate to. That said, the bond between the two sisters was incredibly strong and heartfelt, and I did appreciate how Cayenne grew throughout the novel.

There were moments when the plot felt a bit slow, but I really admired the author for tackling such a personal and important issue—one that affects so many people. The fact that the author herself has the BRCA gene mutation gave the novel an added layer of authenticity. Overall, it’s a worthwhile read, especially for teens looking for a story that explores the emotional and personal impact of breast cancer. show less

Recommended Ages: Gr. 4-7

Plot Summary: Students in Ms. Graham's class are quite surprised when they are told the seats they choose on the very first day are their seats for the year. Not only that, they are expected to work together as a team for many activities. This upsets Emily, who really wanted to be sitting with her BFFs. It upsets Kaylee who doesn't like two of her groups members. It gets worse when the first team activity is a competition between teams! Who will win? Their class frog show more which "randomly appeared" on the first day, achem, Blake, is rooting for everyone, and almost everyone loves Kermit. But students aren't so sure about Ms. Graham's way of teaching. Writing in private journals every day? Won't someone read one? Class votes and class council members who can bring class issues to Ms. Graham for change? Will Ms. Graham agree to less homework? Major group project about social justice? Will the teams be able to pull it off? When Ms. Graham is pulled from her classroom when students get in trouble with the police, what can her students do?

Setting: "city" with a bridge for homeless people to sleep under

Characters:
Blake - graphic novel, deep thoughts expressed with very few words, known to be a troublemaker by the principal
Emily - feels left out from her previous trio (Aviva and Kaylee)
Kaylee - comes off as arrogant and rude because she isn't afraid to state her opinion, competitive and not always fair
Sharon - writes in verse, notices a lot but doesn't speak, doesn't have friends
Henry - wants to be a movie writer or director, writes in scripts, teases and annoys Kaylee like he's flirting
Kai - wants to help people such as Cecelia when she disappears and Blake when he learns he's homeless
Aviva - overprotective parents, forced by her parents to go to private school (with Kaylee) next year, previously homeschooled, Jewish, stuck between Kaylee and Emily but just follows Kaylee
Cecelia - misses her abuelita so much, writes her letters and tries to teacher her English, loves soccer
Ms. Graham - trusts her students, teaches unconventionally, sets up mailboxes for each student to communicate

Recurring Themes: undocumented immigrant, homelessness, school board, friendship, frogs, trust, teamwork,

Controversial Issues:
Aviva is followed on her walk to work by a tattooed man who seems extremely shady; Aviva holds in this secret for a very long time

Personal Thoughts: I really liked how well the characters personalities were shared with readers through showing, not telling. I was especially impressed by Blake's quiet but super important drawings and Sharon's writing in verse. I liked that characters were able to change and work together to solve a problem. I think that adults will draw different conclusions that some students as they read it, so this is a book that could be read multiple times and get something different from it at different ages. (Is Blake autistic?) On the other hand, I'm REALLY curious to know about all the other kids in the class, which are never even mentioned besides saying it's a class of 30!?

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: fast, switched between characters quickly, one in verse one graphic novel
Characters:
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: show less