Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head
by Nancy Viau

    SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD by Nancy Viau
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  8/20/08
    Publisher:  Amulet
    Reviewed by:  Cana Rensberger
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen loves rocks. And bugs. And fossils. She keeps an organized notebook filled with
    lists about her favorite rocks, the rocks she hopes to find, what she knows about planets, butterflies, and anything
    else related to science. She also makes lists like why she’d trade in Jen, her older sister, for a turtle.

    Samantha’s good at science. Jen is good at getting her sister in trouble. She messes with Samantha’s rock collection,
    but it’s Samantha who gets in trouble for yelling. Jen plays her music much too loudly for a hard-working,
    conscientious scientist, and when Samantha very nicely asks her to turn it down, she refuses. So, again, Samantha’s
    mom tells Samantha to count to ten to avoid losing her temper. Jen gets away with everything and Samantha’s always
    the one in trouble.

    When Mom announces plans for a scientist’s dream vacation to the Grand Canyon, Samantha knows she’ll have to
    learn to control her temper or Mom will decide she can’t go. But when Richard Frey says she has rocks in her head,
    and trips her on purpose, Samantha loses it and gets sent home from school for kicking him back. She knows she’ll
    have to plan something big so her mom will still let her go to the Grand Canyon. But she’ll need Jen’s help.

    SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD by Nancy Viau is a delightful story. Samantha is full of
    energy and is on a quest to learn everything scientific. But on her trip to the Grand Canyon, she learns more than
    facts about rocks and fossils. Before she returns home, she’ll find a caring sister, discover a proud mother, and learn
    more about her list-making dad whom she doesn’t remember.  And as a reader, don’t be surprised if you learn a
    little bit of science before you turn the last page. This is a terrific read for any 8-12 year old.