I know that, and it’s exactly why I don’t want to do it. Teachers are like the machines that take quarters for bouncy balls. You know what you’re going to get. Yet, you don’t know, too. So she makes all these word cards for him that she knows that teenagers like to say. It’s cute, and they go for walks together. There’s a little bit of a challenge in the book that she has to merge her life like her friend. Somehow, she thinks this is normal. Then, her paraplegic and autistic paraplegic friend Jason and her autistic brother David merge those lives and redefine normal. The reality and psychological aspects are very similar to Fish In A Tree. Although, I did find Shay (typical mean girl) to be a bit unrealistic. If someone was actually THAT mean to everyone, she wouldn't have any friends. Even her school yard minions would soon leave. She was relentlessly vindictive, and it never stopped. What type of monster does that?

Our hearts attach ourselves to this young girl immediately. Our heart continues to grow as we journey with Ally at school... with her teacher, and classmates.

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Mrs. Hall is Ally's teacher at the beginning of the novel. She's pregnant and soon to go on maternity leave. Ally doesn't dislike Mrs. Hall; in fact, she's thrilled to be able to give Mrs… Woodland Trust (Enterprises) Limited, registered in England (No. 2296645), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Woodland Trust. Registered office: Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL.

Hey,” I say, trying to get the thoughts floating around in my head to land on the paper. I don’t know why the things in my brain get lost on the way down my arm. Each letter stands for another letter in the alphabet and follows a pattern. So, for example, if I told you that every letter in this word < ALD > was really the letter that is three letters after it in the alphabet, would really be < DOG >. This code below follows a pattern similar to this. It would be refreshing to read a book about a career teacher who has been reaching out and helping kids for a career, and not just for a semester.But, instead, knowing she loves clean desks and things just so, I grip my pencil with a hard fist. And scribble all over my desk. Her child’s voice was wonderful - real - authentic - not pretentious -- with no ‘adult-feed’ language. Poignant. . . . Emphasis on ‘thinking outside the box’ . . . Ally’s new friendships are satisfying, as are the recognition of her dyslexia and her renewed determination to read. Fans of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship and unconventional smarts.” Ally begins to try to do her writing assignments, as she realizes she'd like Mr. Daniels to like her. Travis refuses to help Ally with them, saying he can fix cars like a natural but writing isn't something he can do. Ally turns in one assignment, worried Mr. Daniels will think it took minutes. When he asks her how long it took, she tells the truth: hours. Despite this, Ally contrives ways to get out of writing, including faking a broken arm. Noticing that Albert is always covered in bruises, Ally invites him to eat lunch with her and Keisha. She learns that Albert gets free lunch. Shay and Jessica tease Albert, Ally, and Keisha about being misfit toys, and Ally begins to think that, just as many of the misfit toys are normal save for odd names, there has to be more to her than just being a "slow reader."

This middle-grade contemporary shows a young girl trying to accept her best friend’s death. She becomes obsessed with the idea that her friend was stung by a rare jellyfish and set out to prove it. The Thing About Jellyfish explores themes of grief, loss, and the power of friendship. 9. El Deafo by Cece Bell Ally, a sixth-grade student, argues with her teacher, Mrs. Hall, about her writing assignment. She's supposed to be writing about herself so that when Mrs. Hall goes on maternity leave, the new teacher can learn about the students. After some arguing, Ally covers her paper with the word "why?" She admits to the reader that she doesn't want to write because she can't read or write, no matter how hard she tries. I personally am taking nothing from anything raised here and funds will be dispersed directly to associated band and crew members who have been struggling financially this year with little or no work outside the live music industry. Read (or add your own!) SUCCESS STORIES of people who struggled in school and later set the world on fire! (as Mr. Daniels would say ;-) It's the new, inexperienced teacher who turns it all around. Who know and sees...BUT he does not stop the bullying in his classroom. That bothered me.

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She has a very loving mother… But she needs to work long hours - at an ice cream store- and is not home as much as she wishes. Alice and how she argued with Humpty Dumpty about using the right words. I turn to Keisha and blurt out, “Do you like eggs?” “Eggs?” she asks. Oh no. She thinks I’m a barrel full of crazy, but I keep going because sometimes my tongue goes on without my say-so. “Yeah. I love eggs. Scrambled eggs. Fried eggs. Poached on toast, and boiled eggs. I love peeling the shell off of a boiled egg, don’t you? I even like egg salad, which my brother won’t eat even if someone holds him down . . .” Her eyebrows scrunch up, reminding me of angry caterpillars. “That’s incredibly interesting.” Then she searches inside her desk for something. I know this move. It’s a polite way of ignoring me. People do it a lot. Finally, I just put my head down. Grandpa used to say that Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole was just like real life. I didn’t used to understand what he meant, but I do now. ••• There can’t be any place on the planet scarier than a school cafeteria. I hold my tray so tight, my fingers hurt. I hear, “Hey, Ally!” It’s Shay. She is standing with Jessica and a few others. “Yeah?” I ask. “Do you want to sit with us for lunch?” Of course I don’t want to sit with them. But I am getting tired of sitting alone. And having everyone else see me sit alone. Besides that, Shay, Jessica, and some other girls all have these woven friendship bracelets. And I have never had the kinds of friends who have matching bracelets, but I have always wanted them. It’s like the bracelet tells the world that the person wearing it has someone who cares about them. Not like a family member that has to care, but someone who just likes you. I want to feel a part of something. Anything, I guess. Shay is overly happy that I’ve said yes. I sit down after glancing at the seat to make sure I won’t be sitting in a pool of glue. Shay motions to me to sit next to her. She and Jessica smile She is a talented artist, as her brother is a talented mechanic...as long as they don't have to read the directions. As unrealistic as that sounds, it could be easily forgiven if the rest of Hunt's book was interesting, or clever, or different, or interesting. What if I told you that I was going to climb a tree using only my lips? Would you say I could do it then?”

Ally was a likeable protagonist, and she had some good moments. I couldn't really picture her as the troublemaker she supposedly was before the story began, however.

She moves me to the reading table next to a Thanksgiving bulletin board about being grateful. Meanwhile, she sprays my desk with cleaner. Glancing at me like she’d like to spray me with cleaner. Scrub off the dumb. With time, Ally turned out to be quite the wonderful character, brave, even though she was failing, stubborn, even though it seemed hopeless. I really liked how she grew up in the course of the book and the big little person she became at the end. Most of all. I liked the final scene with her brother and the teacher, it really moved me. I just want you to know that I’m going to try really hard not to send you to the office. If we have something to deal with, you and I will deal with it together.” He winks. “What happens in room 206 stays in room 206.” What? “So, we won’t involve Mrs. Silver anymore, okay? I think she has enough to do around here.” Oh no. Did he just take away my “Get Out of Jail Free” card? “Also,” he says, moving his head to look me in the eye, “I’m on your side, okay? I want to help you.” So he wants to help me, huh? He has no idea what he’s in for.