Winter Break Book Recommendations from Mrs. Holzman's Fourth Grade Class
Winter break is coming up and while we might be stuck inside, it is the perfect opportunity to get cozy and read some new books! My fourth grade class has been reading some awesome books and we are excited to recommend our favorites!
If you're looking for your next great book, consider a graphic novel! When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed is about two brothers, Omar and Hassan. They have survived the Somali civil war and are now living in a refugee camp in Kenya. This moving story will open your eyes to what life is like for refugee children. This has quickly become the most popular book in our classroom! Archie E. says he thinks that this book is one of the best books that he has ever read!
Stacie A. says that if you like books that have both sad and happy parts, the book Out Of My Mind is great! It's by Sharon M.Draper and is about a girl who has Cerebral Palsy. She can't walk, talk, write, or even move. Melody, the main character, is actually very smart, but nobody knows it because she has no way of telling them... until she does. What do YOU think she does so people will know she's smart? Read Out Of My Mind to find out!
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder is a great book that Atara M. highly recommends. This book is about 9 orphans who live on an island. Once a year a boat comes and takes away the eldest child, but also brings a young toddler to whom the next oldest child has to teach the traditions of the island. Atara recommends this book if you have a lot of empathy and like sad books.
Eve S. recommends the Newbery Award-winning book, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. This fantasy novel is about a town that is filled with sorrow because every year the townspeople must give a baby to a witch in order to protect the town. Eve loves the storytelling and language the author uses and says that this book is so interesting! If you like fantasy and books with magic, this book is perfect for you!
Finally, The First Rule of Punk by Celia Perez is another favorite in our classroom. This realistic fiction book is about friendship, family, and learning to love yourself. Throughout the book, twelve-year-old Malú learns to embrace her Mexican-American identity as she follows the first rule of punk: Be Yourself!
