Junkyard Wars -- Jessica Kamp

Your name: Jessica Kamp

Name of Book: Junkyard Wonders

Author: Patricia Polacco

Age of reader: 6-9 years

Plot summary: In the book, Trisha is the main character, and she goes to a new school. She has had trouble reading and doesn’t want to be put in a special class where she won’t learn anything or do fun things. When she arrives at her new school, she is put in a class labeled the “junkyard.” Instead of hating the class and feeling like an outcast as she thought she might, she finds that her teacher Mrs. Peterson loves them and does everything she can to help them learn and have fun. She creates tribes and puts each student into different tribes and encourages creativity and unity among them. During the year, they visit a junkyard and find things to use for a project. Trisha and her tribe refurbish and old plane and launch it in the end.

Why I chose this book: I chose this book because it addresses the issue that children with special needs belong in a special classroom where they don’t learn anything or are treated like misfits. This book demonstrates the importance of teaching every child that they matter and they can do anything they set their minds to. It helps children understand that there is no difference between a child with a special need and child without a special need. This book also has beautiful illustrations that accompany the message.