Don't Stand So Close To Me by Eric Walters

 If you check out other book recommendations by me on this blog, you know that I love all books by Eric Walters.  I can't wait to read whatever he writes.  This one was no exception. 

Don't Stand So Close to Me was written in the spring of 2020 during the Covid lockdown.  In this book, Water's describes the emotions, uncertainty and small acts that were prevalent in the spring. 

This story starts in early March of 2020, just before the country went into lockdown.  Quinn and her friends think they are pretty lucky to have an extra two weeks off after March Break.  However, when reality starts to hit them with what the new restrictions mean for their lives, they are not quite as happy.  Quinn watches her mother switch to working from home, her father, who is a doctor is exhausted dealing with all the patients at the hospital.  Her friend Isaac's mother is a police officer and is having to enforce new bylaws that not everyone agrees with.  Then there is Reese who is worried about her grandmother who is in a long term care facility and can no longer receive visitors.  These three thirteen year olds are forced to deal with online schooling, worries about their parents, missing their friends and all the things they are missing out on because of Covid-19.  

This story did such a great job of describing the events of the Covid pandemic. There were times that it hit a little close to home for me and I found myself getting quite emotional about what the kids were facing.  I can see some kids finding it hard to read and remember the emotional roller coster that many of them faced last spring.  

It is a well written book that I think will be a great reminder in a few years post-Covid about how we coped with all the changes that have been thrown our way this year!  

Breaking Through - Heroes in Canadian Women's Sport by Sue Irwin

 If you were to look through a library or bookstore, the shelves are often filled with sports books written about men and their accomplishments.  Finding a book that focuses on women athletes is much more challenging.  Finding a book about Canadian women athletes is rarer still.  Author Sue Irwin has written a book for those young athletes sitting in your classroom who need inspiration and someone to look up to.  

Breaking Through introduces readers to great moments in Candian sports history featuring both known and less familiar female athletes.  These athletes are introduced through their moment of glory as the reader learns about the excitement leading up to their success in a play-by-play description.  Following that introduction, we learn of the struggles and challenges these resilient women faced as they worked to reach their goal.  

Throughout the book, the author shares inspirational quotes that speak directly to the young reader.  Quotes such as “Take every opportunity that comes and never look back” by Jen Kish.  “Don’t believe anyone that says you can’t do something because you’re a girl” by Carol Huynh.  “When you fail, always get up, and you’ll learn from your mistakes...Each day is a new beginning , and you get to start all over again.” from Sharon Anne Firth are sure to motivate young girls who want to succeed in sports.  

The stories of these women will be sure to excite your students,  teach them that through hard work and dedication you can achieve anything while introducing students to new sports and new heroes.