Against All Odds

Knockin' On Wood

2007-06-22T11:50:00.001-07:00

This book is by Lynne Barasch. It is about a young child who loves to dance but his leg got caught in a machine. The poor boy's leg got cut off but he got a peg leg. Learning how to dance was his goal but it was hard to do. He finally learned how to dance. Now he is very famous for putting on shows. He overcame his problem. Reviewers' tips: You should try to persevere. Never be down - stick up. Try things that are new - you might like them. Work hard and believe.

Reviewed by: N.G. and A.K.

America's Champion Swimmer

2007-06-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

By David A. Adler. This book is an amazing story about Gertrude Ederle. Trudy tried to swim the English Channel. But she failed! Another year later she tried again and succeeded. She was the first woman to swim it and beat the men's record by almost two hours. She had proved that women weren't the weaker sex.
Reviewed by: J.M. and H.R.

The Librarian of Basra

2007-06-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

This book is by Jeanette Winter. A true story from Iraq. There was a librarian working at Basra and there was a war going on. The librarian wanted to save the books from being destroyed so she worked through the night to put the books into her friend's restaurant. Then her library burned down. She brought her books home and there was no room for anything else. After the war she wants to build a new library.
Reviewed by: A.K. and K.C.

Joe Louis

2007-06-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

This book is by David A. Adler. Joe Louis was born on May 13, 1914. When he was 12 his mom got remarried and moved to Detroit. Joe quit school in 1932. Later that year he boxed a three round match with Johnny Miller. On July 4, 1934 Joe had his first professional fight. Joe won all twelve of his fights in 1934. On June 25, 1935 he fought against a white man and won. Three months later he got married. In June of 1936 he went against a German Nazi champion and lost. On June 22, 1938 he fought another Nazi and kept trying and won. Joe knew that he could fight and he fought in the army.
Reviewed by: J.S. and M.M.

The Harmonica

2007-06-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

The book is by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Ron Mazellan. A boy who lives in Poland is very poor. His dad worked in the mines and one day came home with a harmonica. He and his mother and father loved music. They played all night until one night the German Nazis found them and split them apart. The boy went to one concentration camp and his parents to another. The hope of surviving stays alive because the boy plays Schubert on his harmonica all night.
Reviewed by: D.J.G. and C.P.P.

By My Brother's Side

2007-06-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

By the NFL Super Stars Tiki and Ronde Barber. In this book Ronde had to face playing no sports with Tiki. One day Tiki was riding a bike up a steep edge of a dirt pile and fell off his bike. He couldn't move his leg. But Tiki kept on trying to work his leg and he overcame his challenge.
Reviewed by: J.B.

The Librarian of Basra

2007-06-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

The author is Jeanette Winter. It is a nonfiction, true story from Iraq. This lady risked her life for these books. The war was raging harder and harder and she wanted to save the books. She put books over a seven-foot-wall - what a challenge for her! She overcame this challenge with these books.
Reviewed by: N.G. and A.K.

The Librarian of Basra

2007-06-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

This book is by Jeanette Winter. Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian of Basra, which is a place in Iraq. There is a war going on and she has to save her books. One night she took as many books as she could. But then there was an attack. The library was destroyed but most of the books were safe.
Reviewed by: R.G.

Mighty Jackie

2007-06-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

This book is by Marissa Moss. "Now pitching for the Reds....Jackie Mitchel!" That's right - the first girl pitcher! Except today she's pitching against the New York Yankees! And Babe Ruth is up! The crowd doesn't thin she can do it. Do you think she can? Well, if you want to find out you're going to have to read the book.
Reviewed by: G.C.C.

Bright Path

2007-06-22T11:22:00.001-07:00

This book is by Don Brown. It is about a boy running away and changing schools many times. Then, at one school, he decides to try the high jump that no one could beat. He did it. On his first ever jump! He didn't know that he would be an Olympic champion.
Reviewed by: T.O.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

2007-06-22T11:19:00.001-07:00

Written and illustrated by Jeanette Wilder. The Librarian of Basra is a true story about Alia Muhammed Baker, a librarian in the sand swept port city of Basra in Iraq. The library in Basra contains a lot of historical books, including a 700 year old biography of Mohammed. However, war is nearing and the government refuses to help evacuate the library. So she, her husband, and her friend Anis Muhammed, who owns a nearby restaurant, empty the library themselves. Soon all of their homes are full of books. However, 9 days later, the library is destroyed. Fortunately, they saved 70% of the books.
Reviewed by: K.M.

Henry's Freedom Box

2007-06-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

This book is about a slave named Henry. Henry is a slave with his family but he is soon sent away. He has a new master now. When Henry grew up he met someone named Nancy. They got married and had three children. Nancy and her children were sent away. Henry was determined to be free. Henry had an idea to be put in a box and be sent to his friends. Henry went through a long trip and arrived in Philadelphia. Now he had a new birthday - March 30, 1849, and Henry had a middle name - Henry "Box" Brown.
Reviewed by: R.W. and H.B.

The Boy of Steel

2007-06-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Book by Ray Negron. This book is about a boy who had brain cancer and he became a batboy for the New York Yankees. The challenge was for Michael to leave the hospital and the nurse said it was okay to leave the hospital for only one night. He overcame the challenge. He met all the Yankee players on the team.
Reviewed by: D.P.

Jim Abbott

2007-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

This book is by Jon Kramer. Jim Abbott had only one hand - left. He worked very hard and soon enough he pitched a no-hitter. He still switches the glove to his right hand to pitch and left to catch.
Reviewed by: C.G.

Joe Louis

2007-06-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

This book is by David A. Adler. Joe Louis, "the greatest heavyweight champion ever," was born on May 13, 1914. Sadly, Joe Louis didn't have a very good life as a child but when he was getting older there was one thing that cheered him up ... boxing. He worked hard on boxing and became one of the best. Joe Louis died on April 12, 1981 but he is still known as "the greatest heavyweight champion ever."
Reviewed by: H.F.

Hammerin' Hank

2007-06-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

This book is by Yona Zeldis McDonough. On the fields of Crotona Park nobody knew that soon enough a Jewish baseball star/hall of famer was born. His name was Hank Greenberg. He was very big and tall, and at age 13 was already 6 feet 3 inches. Hank loved baseball but his parents did not want him to play. They wanted him to go to college and get an education. He went to play in the minors and then went to play for the Detroit Tigers and won them the World Series. After he got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates he played well, then retired and went to the Hall of Fame, the first Jewish player to make it to the Hall of Fame.
Reviewed by: K.S. and A.S.

Knockin' On Wood

2007-06-22T11:02:00.001-07:00

By Lynne Barasch. In 1912, in South Carolina, an African American boy named Clayton Bates, was just 5 years old. He got the chance to dance every time he could. He had no shoes but that did not stop him. (Nothing did.) He had no music, but he made rhythms by clapping his hands and tapping his feet. Clayton's mom worked at a cottonseed farm, for two white men. She got paid less than she deserved. Clayton hated farming. He escaped the field work then he walked to town to the barber shop. There was always an audience to watch him dance. When Clayton was 12 years old he got his leg caught in a cotton factory machine. Back then they had no hospitals that would take him so they took it off with no machine or anything like that. Clayton had crutches made out of broomsticks. His uncle made him a wooden leg. Now Clayton can tap rhythms. Soon he was dancing with white people in masks. He could not eat with them but that soon changed. Clayton Bates had made history.
Reviewed by: M.P. and M.G.

Catching the Moon

2007-06-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

This book, by Crystal Hubbard, is about a girl whose dad and mom think that she can't play baseball but the girl thinks she can do it. She went and did it. She was so good in baseball and it didn't matter that she was a girl.
Reviewed by: I.R. and M.N.

Jim Abbott

2007-06-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

Jim Abbott, by Jon Kramer, is about a baseball player who was born without a right hand. Doctors don't know why Jim was born without a right hand. In 1985 Jim graduated from high school and was also drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, but turned them down so he could attend the University of Michigan. Jim was taught by his father how to field. He simply just switched the glove to his left hand. So what do you think about him? We think he's awesome!
Reviewed by: J.B. and D.J.C.

Knockin' On Wood

2007-06-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

This book, by Lynne Barasch, is about Clayton Bates, who is a slave and loves to dance. Clayton worked in a cottonseed mill but he got his leg stuck in the machine and lost his leg! His uncle made him a peg leg. Soon Peg Leg (Clayton) was performing for big audiences.
Reviewed by: L.G. and W.F.

Henry's Freedom Box

2007-06-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

This is a book by Ellen Levine. It is about Henry, a slave in the south who doesn't know how old he is and when his birthday is. One day, while working in the tobacco plant, Henry meets Nancy. They talked and planned to meet again. Months later, Henry and Nancy wed. They had three babies. Henry's friend came to the tobacco plant and told Henry that Nancy and the kids were just sold at the slave market. Henry couldn't think, move or work. But he had to. Henry mailed himself to Philadelphia, to the friends of a man who disliked slavery. Henry arrived in Philadelphia safe. Now Henry has a birthday - March 30, 1849, when he got to Philadelphia. He also got a middle name - everyone called him Henry "Box" Brown.
Reviewed by: Z.F.

Henry's Freedom Box

2007-06-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

Henry's Freedom Box is by Ellen Levine. This book is about a kid named Henry who is a slave. When he gets older he mails himself with the help of his friends. He mails himself North and now he's free. Henry had to face many challenges, like he was a slave and worked all day. He also didn't know when his birthday was and many other things. He overcame his challenges with the help of his friends. So he could be free he mailed himself north.
Reviewed by: S.M.

El Chino

2007-06-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

The author is Allen Say, a very imaginative author. This book is about a young gentleman named Bong Way Wong who was Chinese but lived in Arizona. He had five other brothers and sisters. Bong Way Wong wanted to be an athlete but his parents just laughed. He loved basketball but by college he was too short. He traveled to Spain and loved the matadors fighting the bulls. He started training and became very famous in Spain.
Reviewed by: C.Z.

Delivering Justice

2007-06-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

This book, by Jim Haskins, is about Westley, a young black gentleman who grows up to be a leader. Westley's challenge was stopping segregation. He overcame this problem by not using violence. He helped stop segregation in Savannah, Georgia.
Reviewed by: M.R.

Jim Thorpe's Bright Path

2007-06-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

This book's author is Joseph Bruchac, and the illustrator is S.D. Nelson. Jim Thorpe had a twin brother, Charlie. Charlie was always rooting on Jim in school and Jim was always rooting him on in races. When Jim was six he had to go away to boarding school. He hated it so much he ran all the way home. His father wanted him to go back so he did. During that time his mom and brother died. Near the end of the year his father got hurt, but he was okay. Soon enough, because of all that happened, his dad let him come home. He went to college and played quarterback.
Reviewed by: A.B. and J.L.

Talkin' About Bessie

2007-06-12T08:37:00.001-07:00

This book, by Nikki Grimes, is about Bessie Coleman, the 10th child born in her family of 13 children! Bessie's mom worked across the street. Bessie's sister became the 2nd mom. Even though she was poor and black, Bessie's dream came true of being a co-pilot, with William D. Wills. Suddenly the plane crashed throwing Bessie to her death, with William at her side. The crash remains a mystery. Bessie, a 34-year-old woman, died as her dream came true.
Reviewed by: J.H. and V.V.

America's Champion Swimmer

2007-06-12T08:29:00.001-07:00

This book by David A. Adler is a story about Gertrude Ederle and the way she changed the world. Gertrude was born in 1906. People were banned from many places. People said a women's place was home, but Gertrude's place was in the water. She had five brothers and sisters. When she went to Germany she almost drowned in a pond. Her dad had to teach her how to swim. He tied her to a rope. She was better than a lot of people. She did everything amazing, and she even was the first woman to swim across the English Channel.
Reviewed by: D.T.

Hammerin' Hank

2007-06-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

This book, by Yona Zeldis McDonough, is about Hank Greenberg, an amazing Jewish baseball player who is insulted by fans all over America. Hank was threatened physically but because of his height and size and strength other players backed down. He overcame it by ignoring them and working hard and going to the major leagues.
Reviewed by: A.O. and J.K.

Satchel Paige

2007-06-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

This book, by Lesa Cline-Ransome, is a very enjoyable book, about a young kid, Satchel, who always loved baseball but he was very poor and he was black. Sometime later he joined the Negro leagues and became a good player, even though he was really poor.
Reviewed by: K.C. and N.A.

Henry's Freedom Box

2007-06-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

This book is by Ellen Levine. Henry was a slave to whites and grew to be a fine boy. One day he met Nancy and got married and had three children. One day his family was sold south. He had no choice but to go north. His friend helped him get in a box and sent him north to Philadelphia. He was pushed and rolled in different directions but he was finally there, and free.
Reviewed by J.A.S.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue

2007-06-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

This book is by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by JoAnne E. Kitchel. The challenge that George Gershwin faced was to write a concerto in five weeks. George didn't know he was supposed to write a concerto, then he read in the newspaper he was supposed to be writing a concerto. George didn't know where to start. He couldn't think of anything to start his new concerto. George had a hard time trying to compose his concerto.
He overcame his obstacle by being inspired by the sounds a train makes. The sounds inspired him by helping him remember the melodies he already knew. George decided to just use those melodies and change them a little. George added a love song for New York and it sounded great. That is how George overcame his obstacle.
Reviewed by: C.L. and A.R.

The Librarian of Basra

2007-05-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

The book is by Jeanette Winter. This book takes place in Basra, Iraq in 2003. It is about the war and a woman who had to put her books in her friend's house and her house. The main idea about the story is that you can put your books anywhere. The government would not let her move her books and she didn't care what the government said. She would still move the books.
Reviewed by: G.S.

Hammerin' Hank

2007-05-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Book is by Yona Zeldis McDonough, with illustrations by Malcah Zeldis. There once was a baseball player named Henry Benjamin Greenburg. His nick-name was Hammerin' Hank. He was a Jewish baseball player. After many years he got into the major leagues. But people were treating him very badly, like Jackie Robinson, because he was Jewish. Later all that was about to change. Find out by reading Hammerin' Hank!
Reviewed by: Z.M.L. and J.Z.

The Harmonica

2007-05-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Harmonica was written by Tony Johnston. There was a kid who got a harmonica for a present. He loved it. Then the Nazis sent him to a concentration camp. When the commander hears him playing the harmonica he asks him to play it or he will kill him. Then the prisoners thank him for playing. We give it a score of 7 out of 10.
A.B. and K.H.

Young Thomas Edison

2007-05-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Young Thomas Edison is by Michael Dooling. Thomas loved science. He loved inventing things. But soon he began to become deaf. Now that he couldn't hear, he said he could concentrate more. Wherever he went he set up a lab and soon he invented lots of things.
Reviewed by: A.K.

The Librarian of Basra

2007-05-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

The Librarian of Basra is written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Alia Muhammad is the librarian in Basra, Iraq and a war is about to begin and all of the books will burn if she does not move the books. Nobody will be able to get books! She asked the government. The government said no way! But she still moved the books.
Reviewed by: I.P.

Mighty Jackie, The Strike-Out Queen

2007-05-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

This book is by Marissa Moss. It was 1931, April 2, and something amazing was about to happen. Chattanooga, Tennessee, two teams were going to play an exhibition game in baseball. It was Yankees vs. Chattanooga Lookouts. Jackie was 17 years old. She was a girl and usually girls don't play baseball. When Jackie was a little kid she played baseball with her father. Jackie practiced pitching until it was too dark and too cold. Jackie was going to pitch the ball to Babe Ruth, the run king. She pitched the ball - strike one. She pitched it again - strike two. She pitched it again - strike three, you're out! She is going to pitch it to Lou Gehrig. Strike one, strike two, strike three, you're out! Everybody cheered!
Reviewed by: S.M.

By My Brother's Side

2007-05-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

This book is by Tiki and Ronde Barber but only Tiki overcomes a challenge. Tiki was riding his bike and his bike flipped over going down a steep hill. He broke his leg and the doctor said he might not ever be able to play sports again. But Tiki really was so desperate he dropped his crutches and played football with Ronde. His mom was mad. After he got his brace off he played football, so the doctor was wrong. He is still playing sports.
Reviewed by: S.F. and I.S.

Henry's Freedom Box

2007-05-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Henry's Freedom Box is written by Ellen Levine. This book is about a boy named Henry Brown who was a slave. Henry went through a hard stage of first losing his parents and brothers and sisters. Then, losing his wife and his own kids who were sold. Henry was very brave; he took a big risk. He shipped himself to Philadelphia, where he would be free.
Reviewed by: S.B. and A.S.

Knockin' On Wood

2007-05-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

This book, by Lynne Barash, is a wonderful non-fiction story, about a biography of Clayton Bates. In 1912, in South Carolina, when Bates was 5, he was dancing at every chance he had. Then he had an accident and lost part of his leg. But that didn't stop him. He got a peg leg and danced anytime he wanted. Soon he became a famous dancer. They called him "Peg Leg Bates." We still remember his wonderful life as a dancer.
Reviewed by: K.S. and N.A.

The Royal Bee

2007-05-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

This book is by Frances Park and Ginger Park. This story is based on a true person. In The Royal Bee, the boy could not go to school. So, he overcame it by listening at the door to learn as much as he could.
Reviewed by: Y.N.

Welcome!

2007-05-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog! We will be posting brief book reviews written by our students. The books that we are using are part of our project, "Against All Odds." In this project, we are sharing books about real people who have faced a variety of challenges and have overcome them. We are also having speakers come in to tell us about how their hard work and determination have helped them to overcome the challenges that life has placed in their path. Enjoy the reviews - perhaps you will want to try one of our books!