Kindle Edition
Amazon
SaddleBack Educational Publishing
Boys That Read
Category:
Children
Publisher: SaddleBack Educational Publishing
ISBN-10: 1622508955
Type: Fiction
Pages: 68
ISBN-13: 9781622508952
Great Chapter Book for children struggling readers in grades 4-6
Zeke’s parents have split up. His dad is hurt and angry when Zeke sides with his mother. But Zeke’s emotions go on a crazy roller coaster ride when he’s visited by a mysterious kid that only he can see … until he finds out his grandpa can also see the ghost. Zeke’s world is rocked in new ways when he finds out that he can see and talk to the dead.
Hi-Lo Chapter Books for Children. This series of short novels was designed to engage a broad spectrum of struggling readers. No longer will upper-elementary students have to read material junior to their maturity and interests. Characters are age appropriate and come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Science fiction, sports, paranormal, realistic life, historical fiction, and fantasy are just a few of the many genres. Books are no higher than a 1.5 reading level, with illustrations on every spread that support visual literacy and draw kids into the text.
Excerpt
From The Gift
By Jim Westcott
Page 1
TRAPPED
My mom and dad are opposites. They
never agree.
“Zeke, let’s go. Practice time. Let’s do it.
Three hundred kicks,” Dad says.
“You don’t have to. Soccer is supposed to
be fun,” Mom says.
“You baby him,” Dad says. He says this a
lot. “Come on.”
Page 2
“Well, Coach,” she yells back. “Keep it up.
He’s gonna hate soccer. And you!”
I am trapped. I hate being in the middle.
“Tell your mom you like soccer,” Dad
yells.
“Tell your dad you hate it,” Mom yells.
Still trapped.
They don’t get it. Truth is, I like soccer a
lot. I’m pretty good. But Dad is always in my
face. Yelling at me in front of my team. He
Page 3
only yells at me.
I don’t hate my dad. He just gets …
excited.
Then Mom tells Dad something.
Something I wish she hadn’t. But I don’t
say anything. Wish I had. She says I want
to quit the team. Because of him.
“This true, Zeke?” my dad asks in his
coach’s voice.
I look down. Can’t say a word. He walks
away.
Then he leaves. Moves out. I am no longer
part of their tug-of-war.
Page 4
Mom says she’s sorry. Says it’s not my
fault. I know, I guess. They always fought.
Mom is great at “mom” stuff. But
sometimes she drives me nuts. She worries.
And now that Dad’s gone, she doesn’t stop.
Jeez. He’s only been gone a few days.
“What’s wrong, Zeke?”
“You look down.”
“School okay?”
“You okay?”
Page 5
“Talk to me. You can tell me.”
“What’s wrong?”
I reply with my usual.
“Nothing, Mom.”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine, Mom.”
“Fine, okay?”
“I. Am. Fine.”
“Nothing.”
“I hate that word,” she says.
Home now is Mom, Grandpa, and me. It
feels like a new life. One I don’t want. But
school is the same. Always. Boring.
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