“Grandpa always said a good dog needs work, and the night Travis’s mom went to the hospital and didn’t come back, Rosco found his job. But because I’m subversive’ -he turned and wrote the word on the board as he talked- ‘(look it up if you don’t know what it means, and it will be on the vocabulary text next week), I am actually going to try to teach you a passion for the written word.'” (p. ‘I’m supposed to teach you how to take the standardized reading tests so you won’t be the child left behind.

Read With: Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Schooled by Paul Langan, Just Juice by Karen Hesse, Wonder by R.J. I think the quotes below will really show you the power of this book. But it is also about grief and family and fitting in. And not only is this book a love story to good teachers, it is a love story to books and the written word. McQueen who ultimately changes Travis’s life. Students like Travis is the reasons why I became a teacher and I hope that I am a teacher like Mr. What I Think: This is one of those books that makes me proud to be a teacher. With sympathy, humor, and disarming honesty, Pat Schmatz brings to life a cast of utterly believable characters-and captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. McQueen, who doesn’t take “pass” for an answer-a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world.

Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of school. Goodreads Summary: Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Genre/Format: Realistic Fiction/Young Adult Novel

Bluefish by pat schmatz