MrsK Books: Fearless Joe Dearborne by Lisa Whitney Mitchell

Monday, November 17, 2014

Fearless Joe Dearborne by Lisa Whitney Mitchell

Lisa Whitney Mitchell

ISBN: 9781495933592

Publisher's Synopsis:

Some might say he's courageous, while others would say he's daring, maybe even a little crazy. But when Joe Dearborne risked his life and ran into a burning building to save a puppy, the local newspaper referred to him as "fearless"-and that's a pretty big title for a sixth-grader to live up to.

Plus, Joe already has plenty else to worry about. After other daring feats in the past, Joe promised his father he wouldn't do anything dangerous again, and, alas, he's just broken that promise.

But whatever trouble he expects to get into with his father, and despite the dangers he's triumphed over in the past, nothing could prepare Joe for what he's about to encounter when a cold, bitterness creeps into his home.

A mysterious and peculiar woman named Mrs. Chill has just been hired to care for Joe while his father is away on business. In no time, however, Joe discovers that she's up to more than cooking and cleaning, and she has plans to destroy his family. Joe's effort to save them results in perilous, sometimes humorous, encounters, and leads him on a journey through the threatening wilderness where he faces his greatest challenge yet.

MrsK's Review:

"It had been ninety-nine days since Joe Dearborne last risked his life.

As his school bus slowed to a stop on a Friday afternoon in November, Joe thought,

If I can just get home without anything happening, I’ll make it to one hundred tomorrow.

That should make Dad happy."

This story is a delightful surprise, you know when you begin reading you realize that you are totally engaged and enjoying the story... well that's what happened with this fun read. The story line completely took me by surprise. Fearless Joe begins his story completely fearless...

"The red and yellow thing moved, and Joe realized it was a coral snake.

He remembered the saying his mother taught him so he would recognize one and never touch it:

if it has a black nose and red touches yellow, it’s a deadly fellow...

Just past the living room, he stumbled.

It was hard to breathe. He reached for the wall, but it kept moving.

He collapsed to the floor. Thud was the last sound Joe made."

Joe is the person that runs towards danger. The students, teachers, neighbors, and just about everyone considers him a hero. His father considers him as a boy heading towards a disaster that must be stopped. So, once Joe was bitten by the snake his father decides to hire a live in housekeeper to watch over Joe. And... from that point on, Joe is plagued with doubts and fears.

Mrs. Chill is definitely not his new best friend. Not only is his favorite shirt missing the day of a test, so many weird things begin happening. Is it still the left over venom in his system? Is there really something not right about Mrs. Chill? Why did his father have to go away to save the family business? Who can he trust? Should he tell his Aunt P? Or could he trust Meg?

There are so many twists and turns, so many quick adventures that will leave you "rooting" for Joe to become fearless again. The settings are well defined. The characters take on life as you are pushing Joe forward out of his funk. The story line will surprise even the best predictor.

A must read and share for classrooms, libraries, and your independent readers,
MrsK

Enjoyable read... perfect for your classroom readers!

Don't forget to enter the contest: Directly located to the right... Search for the cover, scroll, and enter!

Meet the Author:

Lisa Whitney Mitchell lives in Florida with her husband, two sons, and their dog. When she's not writing, she practices law. Fearless Joe Dearborne is her first novel.

"I received this eBook for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)