Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood

Glory Be is historical fiction set in the summer of 1964, the height of the Civil Rights movement. The story takes place in the small town of Hanging Moss, Mississippi and centers around the closing of the community swimming pool and Glory's twelfth birthday. While the story focuses on Glory and the summer of her awakening to the injustice of segregation, a second storyline about Glory's older sister Jesslyn is also developed.

I recommend Glory Be to 4th - 6th graders who like historical fiction and are particularly interested in the Civil Rights time period. It is also a good choice for students who like to read realistic fiction about family and friend relationships.

By Mrs. Norton  

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Rain Reign is the story of Rose Howard, a 5th grader with Asperger's syndrome who lives in a small town in the state of New York. The main characters include Rose, her distant father, her beloved Uncle Weldon, and her dog Rain. The story revolves around what happens when her father lets Rain out during a hurricane.

My favorite aspect of the book is that Rose narrates the story. Since she is a child, this makes the writing simple and easy to read. Even better than that, though, is the fact that the first person narration allows readers to see from the perspective of a person with Asperger's syndrome. I teach several students with either Asperger's or Autism, and this book made me understand and appreciate them more.

I recommend Rain Reign to upper elementary students who are up for reading a book that will both open their minds and touch their hearts. I also recommend it to students with Asperger's or Autism themselves. Thanks to author Ann Martin, you can finally read a good story to which you can personally relate!

By Mrs. Norton