Busing Brewster

Reading Busing Brewster (2010) by Richard Michelson (and illustrated by R.G. Roth) took me back to a simpler, gentler time. The artfully done images and story at the beginning took me back and culled memories of Bill Cosby's characters of Fat Albert and his gang. The message, however, is anything but heart-warming.

In the story, Brewster and his brother, Bryan, were "force bused" to the closest school, which also happened to be a previously segregated school. In the early 70's, the Supreme Court permitted "forced busing" in order to further integrate schools. While Bryan is pulled from what he knows and is comfortable with, this is all new to Brewster. The two boys and others are not greeted warmly or welcomed at their new school. Bryan protects Brewster the best he can to help his little brother get through his first day of first grade at this new and unusual school.

While my current kindergartners would not get the nuances of the story, I believe first-graders might, but I would suggest second grade and up. I could certainly see using Busing Brewster to raise cultural awareness with students, as well as history, no matter how ugly it may be. While textbooks have their place, stories like this that give children a firm picture of what has happened. Stories give children a real glimpse of life and allow them the chance to feel the fear and anger that was prevalent in our country during this tumultuous time.

Dying to Meet You

There were approximately 20 books spread out on the table from which to pick. I don't remember which I picked, but it was NOT the book with the decrepit old house on the cover. Yet, I kept glancing at that book, wondering who was standing in front of the house. Why was he standing there? I made my choice and wasn't changing my mind, but I felt compelled to at least give it a chance and read the teaser.

It warned that you might die laughing. The next words that filtered in were "best-selling author" and "wicked case of writer's block." I still couldn't tell you what I picked, but whatever it was got tossed back into the pile. It was immediately replaced with the book with the decrepit old house on the cover!

Dying to Meet You (2009) is the first book in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series that is written by Kate Klise and illustrated by her sister, M. Sarah Klise. While Kate is listed as the author, the book itself is written by the characters. It consists of a series of letters written back and forth from best-selling author Ignatius B. Grumbly, house occupant Seymour Hope and Olive C. Spence, the other house occupant who happens to be a ghost.

Ignatius rents the house for the summer, hoping to find some peace and quiet in order to jump start his newest book in a series (Ghost Tamer series) he had started. However, the current house occupants aren't willing to share the house with a grumpy old man who is full of himself. The three of them begin correspondence to each other immediately, making rules and hurling accusations. Ignatius' lawyer, realtor and a private investigator also begin corresponding. Add to this mess stories from the local paper, The Ghastly Times (whose motto is "Your Secrets Are Our Business"), and you've got a great plot to hold young readers' interest!