Two Powerful Stories

Sorry for the delay in my summer reading reports, but between storms and power failures it has been difficult to add to this blog. However, those difficulties did not interfere with my reading. I finished two incredibly powerful stories that deserve nominations for the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award.

First, a new book by Gordon Korman, one of my favorite authors, takes up a very serious problem facing many families today. In Pop, Marcus Jordan moves to a new town and wants to pick up his high school football career where he left off. While practicing in the park over summer he is challenged to work his hardest by Charlie, a senior citizen who likes the "pop" of football - crashing into his opponent with everything he's got. When school starts Marcus is sidelined by an undefeated record lead by the star quarterback. But something is strange about his Charlie and the star quarterback. As Marcus puts the pieces together he finds himself getting into trouble with law and carries off an amazing deception. Though the book ends on a tragic note, this story is about family, friends, and football.


Susan Shaw's book One of the Survivors is an equally powerful story of a school fire as told by a survivor. What happened is slowly revealed in Joey Campbell's journal as he tries to cope with the death of 23 students and his teacher. Joey is not only dealing with his guilt and sorrow, but is accused by many people in the town of having set the fire himself as an explanation of why he survived. This story of a painful summer will keep you reading to find out what has happened and what will happen.

Both of these books will be added to the Lakeview collection in the fall.