Growing Bookworms – Two books that help inform young teenagers
Posted: July 13, 2022 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Growing Bookworms, Middle Grade | Tags: Book Review, Books, Growing Bookworms, Middle Grade Fiction, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read 43 Comments
Current world events are bewildering for young teenagers who are faced with a barrage of information about pollution, climate change, war, politics, religion, and other important issues. It is difficult for teenagers with their limited experience and knowledge of the world to unravel and cope with all these challenging messages.
Today, I am sharing a few books for this age group that contain strong messages about political and other themes encased in an entertaining and engaging storyline.
Fattipuffs and Thinifers by Andre Maurois
This is a book about segregation, in this cased based on the size of people, war, and negotiation and is a entertaining and enlightening read.
A brief summary about this book from Wikepedia:
Fattipuffs and Thinifers “concerns the imaginary underground land of the fat and congenial Fattypuffs and the thin and irritable Thinifers, which is visited by the Double brothers, the plump Edmund and the thin Terry. Fattypuffs and Thinifers do not mix, and their respective countries are on the verge of war when Edmund and Terry make their visit.” You can read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fattypuffs_and_Thinifers
My review of Fattipuffs and Thinifers
Fattypuffs and Thinifers is a wonderful book about two brothers, one fat and one thin, who discover a hidden world beneath the surface of the earth. This subterranean society is segregated based on the physical weight of its inhabitants. Larger people are Fattypuffs and live separately to the Thinifers, who are workaholics who “eat to live not live to eat”. The two nations are hostile towards each other and are verging on a war. The two brothers from the surface are separated when they arrive in this country and set off on individual adventures. Edmund is a Fattypuff and sails away on a ship to Fattyport. He has a lovely time, resting on the deck in a large arm chair and eating all kinds of tasty food. Terry, on the other hand, sets off on a ship to Thiniville and gets to know some of the Thinifers who exercise and work relentlessly while eating very little. The tension between the two nations is on the increase and war seems inevitable when the two brothers come up with a clever plan to resolve the situation. This book is suitable for readers aged 10 to 13 years old.
Purchase Fattipuffs and Thinifers
I Am David by Anne Holm
David’s entire twelve-year life has been spent in a grisly prison camp in Eastern Europe. He knows nothing of the outside world. But when he is given the chance to escape, he seizes it. With his vengeful enemies hot on his heels, David struggles to cope in this strange new world, where his only resources are a compass, a few crusts of bread, his two aching feet, and some vague advice to seek refuge in Denmark. Is that enough to survive?
David’s extraordinary odyssey is dramatically chronicled in Anne Holm’s classic about the meaning of freedom and the power of hope.
My review of I Am David
I have been trying to work out in my mind which of the many children’s books I love, is my absolute favourite. This morning I was reading an extract from I am David to a group of children. It was the scene where David saves the little Italian girl from the fire and I realised that I am David is my absolute favourite children’s books. This book has such a beautiful storyline and is so well written, you become completely pulled into the story and David’s search to find his mother. I would highly recommend it for children of 12 and above.
Quotes from I Am David
“The sun glistened on a drop of water as it fell from his hand to his knee. David wiped it off, but it left no tidemark: there was no more dirt to rub away. He took a deep breath and shivered. He was David. Everything else was washed away, the camp, its smell, its touch–and now he was David, his own master, free–free as long as he could remain so.”
“And his eyes frighten me, too. They’re the eyes of an old man, an old man who’s seen so much in life that he no longer cares to go on living. They’re not even desperate… just quiet and expectant, and very, very lonely, as if he were quite alone of his own free choice.”
“Johannes had once said that violence and cruelty were just a stupid person’s way of making himself felt, because it was easer to use your hands to strike a blow than to use your brain to find a logical and just solution to the problem.”
Purchase I Am David
Have you read either of these books? Did they make an impression on you? Let me know in the comments.
About Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with ten children’s books and two poetry books.
The eight Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie has also published two books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has two adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories, in the horror and paranormal genre, and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie Cheadle contributes two monthly posts to https://writingtoberead.com, namely, Growing Bookworms, a series providing advice to caregivers on how to encourage children to read and write, and Treasuring Poetry, a series aimed at introducing poetry lovers to new poets and poetry books.
In addition, Roberta Eaton Cheadle contributes one monthly post to https://writingtoberead.com called Dark Origins: African Myths and Legends which shares information about the cultures, myths and legends of the indigenous people of southern Africa.
Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.
Find Robbie Cheadle
Blog: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog: robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com
Twitter: BakeandWrite
Instagram: Robbie Cheadle – Instagram
Facebook: Sir Chocolate Books
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Writing to be Read 
Each of these books appears to have such important messages. I believe that whenever something can be told in such a way as to make it relatable, the better. Thank you for the suggestions!
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Hi Annette, I believe these books do have important information to share with teens in an interesting and relatable way. I loved both of them as a young teen.
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Two such intriguing books, both with great messages, but so different! Thanks for the reviews.
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HI Jacqui, I am glad you found these two books interesting. I read them to both my boys when they were quite young.
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Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
My Growing Bookworms post this month focuses on two book that help inform young teenagers. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
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🙂
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I agree with you, I Am David is an amazing book. I read it about three years ago and was so impressed. A book that stays with you. The message of hope and perseverance is what young people need to hear.
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Hi Darlene, I agree and I think both these books teach young people about negotiation, consequences of poor judgement and, as you’ve mentioned, the benefits of resolution.
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My wife read ‘I Am David’, and loved it.
Shared both posts on Twitter, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hi Pete, thank you, I Am David is an excellent book.
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They both sound like great reads, you have me curious about David.
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Hi Denise, these are both excellent books. David is wonderful, I just love it.
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I ordered it and will pass it on to my graddaughter when I’m done.
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I’m delighted to hear that 😊
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I haven’t read either of them, but they sound perfect for that age, and for any age. Many thanks, Robbie.
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Hi Olga, certainly adults can enjoy these books too.
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Thank you for the reviews, Robbie! I Am David sounds like a beautiful book. Your quotes drew my attention to this book.
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Hi Miriam, if you can find this book, it is a wonderful read even for an adult. Autumn and Nora will also like it down the line.
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I Am David sounds like an excellent book! This quote should be shouted from the rooftops:
“Johannes had once said that violence and cruelty were just a stupid person’s way of making himself felt, because it was easer to use your hands to strike a blow than to use your brain to find a logical and just solution to the problem.”
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Hi Liz, this really is an excellent book full of profound quotes. I highly recommend it even to an adult.
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Thank you for the recommendation, Robbie.
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Sounds like both contain important messages. Thanks for sharing your reviews, Robbie!
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Hi Teri, I am pleased to share about these books. They are both wonderful, for adults and children.
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These sound wonderful, Robbie. Toni x
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Hi Toni, they are great books for tweens and young teens.
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I don’t know either book, but they both sound like good ways to introduce children to problem-solving in a positive way. (K)
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Hi Kerfe, yes, that is a lovely way of putting it. Thanks for this comment.
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Both of these books sound exceptional, Robbie. I am definitely going to see if I can get my hands on a copy of I am David. Wonderful reviews.
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Hi Carla, I Am David is a wonderful book. I loved it and have read it several times. I enjoyed Fattipuffs and Thinifers too. Also very unique and itneresting.
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When I was teaching, I used to read my classes the Dr. Seuss story, The Sneetches. It was about how they divided their society whether or not they had stars on their bellies. It used to get some great discussions going. I will have to see if Fattipuffs and Thinifers is available over here.
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Hi Carla, I have not read that particular Dr Seuss book. I’ll look for it as now I’m interested.
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I Am David sounds like the kind of book I would have liked to read when I was a teenager.
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Hi Pete, it is a great book to read even as an adult. I have read it several times.
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Robbie, these seem to fantastic reads to engage, yet educate children in a simpler way about world politics. Although, it is really sad they need to learn because of our world which seems to be spinning out of control on so many fronts, it is good to know there are good books out there for them. Thank you. ❤
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Hi Debby, thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed these choices of books. I think the world has always been a dark place. Imagine what it was like growing up during WW1 and then having WW2 only 21 years later. Dreadful.
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No kidding! It’s no wonder I’m drawn to those reads. I’ve added these to my TBR ❤
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Thank you for two wonderful book reviews!
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My pleasure, Jennie, I’m glad you liked them.
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😀
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing, Michael.
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Thanks for choosing and reviewing another great books, Robbie! They are for great reading experiences. Best wishes, Michael
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Hi Michael, I am delighted you enjoyed this review.
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