Styx came to us like magic—the really, really powerful kind. There was no grand puff of smoke or anything, but he appeared as if from nowhere, right in our very own woods.
The Season of Styx Malone begins with brothers Caleb and Bobby Gene inadvertently trading their baby sister for a bag of fireworks which sets into motion the Great Escalator Trade orchestrated by the one and only Styx Malone.
This book has it all—humor, adventure, discussion worthy themes, and scenes that had me reaching for the tissues. The minute I finished the last page and closed the back cover, I knew I was holding the perfect Read Aloud.
You don’t have to take my word for it.
Take at look at what my fifth graders had to say about this extraordinary book:
I think that The Season of Styx Malone is a great Read Aloud because of the way Caleb thinks of the word extraordinary as “extra” ordinary. It’s a mistake that almost anyone could make. Caleb’s misunderstanding of this word influences the plot of the book, and eventually leads to the big “aha” moment at the very end.
This is a great book because it is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs, and it pulls you from one side to another. For parts of the book I was on Caleb’s side and other parts I was on B.G.’s side. I didn’t want the book to end!
The Season of Styx Malone is a really good book for Read Aloud because of what Caleb, the main character, learns. Caleb learns that being “extraordinary” is not a bad thing. This book teaches a really good lesson on friendship. Caleb’s friendship with his brother goes through some hard times because of Styx’s influence but in the end he realizes this: I was wrong about my brother. He wasn’t on the ordinary side of the canyon with Dad. He was the bridge.
This book really touched my heart. I love how Caleb and B.G. are always by Styx’s side. I LOVE this book!
