Getting Away from Doom & Gloom

For the past two months or so - I guess caught up in The Hunger Games frenzy - most of the books I've been reading have been about dystopian societies or futuristic novels set in a fragmented United States.  Don't get me wrong, they were good and I recommend them all - Legend by Marie Lu, Numbers by Rachel Ward, Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Line and Away by Teri Hall, The Maze Runner series by James Dasher, and Blood Red Road by Moira Young - but I was depressing myself.  I needed to read something fun but meaningful, something light but not stupidly insulting, something that might make me think but not disheartened.  So, I read Jordan Sonnenblick's new one Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip, good, but a bit like wanting a hot fudge sundae and only having a pop sickle. . . good, but just not quite satisfying.

Then, a new order came in! This innocuous little book - Wonder by R. J. Palacio  - was included. I was craving that book that would meet all my needs. You know how sometimes things are just so good you want to clap and jump and maybe even grab somebody by the front of their shirt and say, "You HAVE to read this!"?  This book did that for me. 

Here is the trailer.

ALA Awards Announced!

Guess what book received the Newbery Award for 2012?  Yes, my current "Oh my gosh, this book is great - Dead End in Norvelt". I'm telling you - don't miss this one.  I'll order more.

Another favorite of many of you - The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen- received the Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.

Click here to see the complete list of this year's award winners.

Potpourri

Potpourri - noun \ˌpō-pu̇-ˈrē\ 2. : a miscellaneous collection (Merriam-Webster online)


The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane is the story of 8th grade Molly.  Her father has recently died in an auto accident, her mother is going through the motions of living, and she is just trying to figure out things and cope day to day. To overcome some of her problems, she decides to join the baseball team - the boys baseball team since baseball helps her feel connected to her dad. She only hopes the knuckleball she can throw will help her earn the position. Realistic and memorable.


Legend by Marie Lu is the first novel for this art director of a video game company.  (I can visualize the characters and settings in a game.)  Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, Day is from the slums and is the most wanted criminal in the Republic.  June is a member of the elite, a military prodigy,with nothing but a bright future ahead of her. However, when June's brother is murdered, Day's and June's paths cross when Day becomes the prime suspect.  June sets out to apprehend him and bring him to justice.  But all is not what it seems.  If you like dystopian novels, this is for you. Action, thriller with a sprinkle of romance.


Jack Gantos' Dead End in Norvelt made me laugh out loud. Really. I know many of you (OK, most of you) avoid historical fiction like the plague.  Even though this is historical fiction/non-fiction - because the character's name is Jack Gantos - don't miss this one.  Jack does some pretty dumb things and suffers an summer of grounding for his actions.  One thing that gets him out of the house/yard is helping an elderly lady write the obituaries for the local paper.  His summer is filled with death, gore, fire, Hell's Angels, and nosebleeds. If you think your hometown is weird, you have never been to Norvelt.  Don't miss this one!

Gearing up for Summer!

Memorial Day weekend provided a three day weekend which gave me some time to relax, enjoy the family, and read. So I did.

Day One: Marie Lamba's first book What I meant. . . is the story of fifteen year old Sangeet Jumnal. Sangeet is a good daughter, a good student, a good friend, and a good sister. Her aunt (who she refers to as "evil") seems to be causing her parents to think she is bulimic, her school work to suffer, her friend thinks she is annoying, and her sister thinks she is a thief. Life is not going well at all. And, the boy she thinks she loves is a bit aloof. Find out what happens with Sangeet and her trials. It is funny, sad, and heart warming.

Day Two: Another first novel - How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen is another novel that is funny, sad, and heart warming. Lamar has asthma and loves to bowl. His nickname for himself is "King of Strikers" because he is really, really good. His older brother, Xavier, is a basketball star; everyone is sure he will be pro when he's finished with high school. Typical older brother, X, as he is referred to, puts down Lamar every opportunity he gets. So there is sibling rivalry, friend/girlfriend issues, peer pressure, and self-respect all tied into this one book.

Day Three: "You are indestructible." Three words, innocently written on a cast. Jacob was whispered those three words by his foster parent right before they hit the tree head on. They should have both been killed, and now Jacob is indestructible. However, when the words allow the person to really be indestructible, what happens? Does the Grim Reaper just say, "Oh, that's OK. Later, dude." Or does the Grim Reaper wait and wreak havoc just a bit later? Good mystery, with decisions of good and evil, and life and death on practically every page of Thirteen Days to Midnight.

Day Four: (I took a personal day.) True (. . . sort of) is Katherine Hannigan's first novel since Ida B. This is a captivating look at the ways friendships and truths are discovered. Delly Pattison has been told she is trouble since she was six and left the chickens out of the cage at the county fair. Delly also makes up words (which surprisingly make a lot of sense) like surpresent -a present that is a surprise. She is sure she is going to receive a surpresent the day the Boyds come to town. And, Ferris Boyd is like no one Delly has ever met. This is is another novel that is funny, sad, and heart warming.

Another Good One

It seems lately so many of the books I've been reading are fantasy or futuristic rather depressing science fiction, like Incarceron or The Maze Runner/The Scorch Trials. Although those novel really do pull you in and stimulate "What if. . .?" thinking. Then, a new Wendelin Van Draanen book arrived. Being in the middle of three rather ho-hum books, I started it during lunch the other day. This book is not a depressing futuristic science fiction; it is just the opposite.

The Running Dream is the story of Jessica Carlisle. She defines herself by her running. She loves it. She breathes it. She lives it. Hours after breaking the record for the 400 meter race, a runaway truck plows into their bus and causes a horrific tragedy. One track member is dead, and Jessica has lost her leg. How will Jessica deal with this? How will her friends handle her disability? Will she be able to walk again? Is it possible to even think of running again?

To discover the answers to those questions, read The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen.

Van Draanen is a runner herself and with her husband has founded Exercise the Right to Read. The campaign is designed to get kids reading and running and help school libraries. You can also check out her website.

Good Girl Read!

Four and Five: Discoveries and Decisions

Sherri L. Smith's Flygirl is the story of Ida Mae Jones. Ever since her father went to Chicago to aeronautics school and returned home with his own plane, all Ida Mae has wanted to do is fly. There are a few problems with this given it is the 1940's. First, most females don't fly airplanes. Second, Ida Mae is an African American. As far as her mother sees it, that is "two strikes against her" even if her skin color is much lighter than most. When the U.S. Army forms a group of women pilots - WASP - Women Airforce Service Pilots - Ida Mae sees an opportunity. However, to be a WASP (It seems as though the W could have stood for white too) Ida Mae pretends to be someone she isn't and along the way discovers who she really is.

Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings takes place in Maryland, along the Chesapeake Bay. Brady, and his best friends J.T. and Digger, are in middle school and love to go fishing, crabbing, boating and swimming. The crabbing industry is suffering and times are lean for many families. But the land is valuable since the area is beautiful; rich families buy and build and move into their very exclusive homes built on the land that Brady, T.J. and Digger used to call their own. They bring their fancy cars, their motor boats, and even a kayak. However, one day tragedy strikes one family - the DiAngelos - when their kayak overturns in the bay. The tragedy is difficult for Brady to deal with, and when he discovers the truth, he must make a decision that could impact the lives of many.

Both books make you think and examine your own actions. I love when literature does that.

Summer Vacation! Book One.

Considering my profession requires keeping current on new literature for middle school students, I really look forward to summer when I can read even more! Oh, the joy of having a profession you truly love.

Last night I finished Bounce by Natasha Friend (author of Perfect). Evyn and her brother, Mackey, live with only their dad for as long as Evyn can remember. Her mother died when she was only one from an automobile accident. They have their family quirks - who doesn't - but all in all, Birdie (that is what they call him) is a great father. He is patient, hard working, kind, and supportive. During a special dinner, he has an announcement to make and informs them that he is getting married. Now, Evyn had met the woman - once - and really didn't pay too much attention - but married?!?! AND - they were moving to Boston to live in her house with her five - count them - five children! So, they bounce off to Boston leaving behind Evyn's friends, her school, and the only home she has ever known!

Told in first person, this is a funny, yet very insightful and real depiction of what it might be like to experience a situation like this. Put it on your list. You will not be sorry. I think the characters are worthy of a sequel.

Fun Generator!

Remember Mrs. Farrell? She sent me this link that allows you to create a Wimpy You! I created this one of me. Check out the link and watch the trailer of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and click on the link to Wimp Yourself!

WimpYourself

Have some fun with this. Oh, and if you haven't read the books - give them a try.

Exciting Reads

Number 8 by Anna Fienberg

Jackson has a few quirks - OK - a LOT of quirks. Like he doesn't like odd numbers, particularly the number 7, he counts his blinks and his steps - you get the picture. His mother and he have just moved to the suburbs in a nice quiet neighborhood to hide out from her former boss after she unintentionally witnessed criminal activity. Now, Jackson has a new school, new kids, new teachers, and then he meets Esmerelda. Told in alternating chapters by Jackson and Esmerelda, this exciting mystery will have you biting your nails and tuning in your ipod to a rock station to listen to all the songs mentioned in this mystery.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Thomas is put in the box. He remembers his first name, he has some memories but nothing tangible to attach to it - like knowing how to ride a bike, but not remembering how you learned to ride the bike. Those memories are gone. For two years, once a month a new boy has arrived in the Glade, an expanse of land with towering walls surrounding the whole area. During the day, there are a few openings in the walls, but at night the walls go shut to keep out the Grievers. Why is he here? What is this Maze the boys keep talking about? How will he fit in? How do they get out? Why does he feel like he knows something important about the Maze?

But then the very next day, a girl - the first girl ever - arrives! And she delivers a frightening message. Read this exciting, fast-paced, science fiction adventure to find out.

Sequel to Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

If you've read any of my postings, you know I am a big fan of Jordan Sonnenblick - the person and his writing. His newest book, After Ever After, has confirmed it.

This is Jeffrey's story. Now he is the eighth grader, suffering from late effects from his treatments. He walks with a limp, he has trouble focusing, and math just does not compute for him. His best friend, Tad, also a survivor, may not be strong enough to walk, but has strength of character and observation. Steven has taken off to Africa to find himself through drumming, leaving Jeffrey without his main go-to guy.

Jeffrey learns that he needs to start depending on himself, but it sure isn't easy with a gorgeous new girl in school, Tad challenging him in so many ways, and a state mandated math test he is sure he will fail.

You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be sorry if you do not read this one!

TV vs. Books

I must confess that I've not been reading as much as I usually do. After three years, we broke down and bought a television and entered the present by also getting satellite TV. I felt like I entered a whole new world - the History Channel, Discovery, Food Network - WOW! I scanned, watched the Guide, flipped, and experienced this new world.

And, after a month of this, I've discovered that most channels show the same old shows over and over again. All of this money to watch the same shows...again and again. So, what with the football games on yesterday (my team was eliminated earlier) I. Picked. Up. A. Book.

Oh, the feel of the pages, the immersion into the story and characters...so good! The book I picked up was Six Innings: A Game in the Life by James Preller, one of the PA Young Readers' Choice books. It should come as no surprise that the book is a baseball book.

The book takes place during the little league championship game. IF you love baseball, like I do, this is a great read as it includes the thoughts of the players, the strategies of baseball, and friendship of the boys playing the game. It is funny and exciting, and isn't one of those preachy books about "baseball as life". But you'll get the message.

Two Suggestions

It seems I have two or three books going at a time right now. When the books are of similar story lines or the same genre, characters and plots do get a bit jumbled in my brain. However, the two most recent completions (say that fast five times) are very different.

Bystander by James Preller starts with the new kid in town, Eric, shooting hoops on the playground. He sees this boy, about his age, running towards him. This boy's gait is off, he keeps looking over his shoulder, checking on who might be behind him. He stops to catch his breath, and quickly takes off again. What Eric picked up from this short interaction is this kid is scared. Very, very scared. And then Eric meets Griffin and his cronies.

Neptune's Children by Bonnie Dobkin is an exciting sci-fi adventure. The story begins with a plague - a man-made plague - designed to destroy entire countries. When the canisters are precisely detonated, anyone over the age of fifteen is struck. What the designers of the plague failed to plan for was mutations, and so they become victims of their own planned disaster. Everyone that remains is fourteen and younger. This is story of a group of kids who had been on vacation with their families in a theme park - Isles of Wonder. How will they survive without rules, adult guidance, or even food?

8th Grade Book Talks

Oh, so Good - Wendy Mass!

If you have not read anything by the author Wendy Mass - take the time and check one out. She is the author of Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Every Soul a Star, 11 Birthdays, A Mango Shaped Space, and Leap Day. I've read those that are red and have not regretted one minute of the time expended.

The book I have read most recently is Every Soul a Star which is written from the point of view of three very distinctly different teenagers. Ally, short for Alpha, lives with her parents and brother on a very isolated campground named Moon Shadow. The campground is so named because a total eclipse of the sun will be occurring and the campground is at the perfect spot. Ally is an admitted, and proud of it, astronomy fan. Bree's family is moving to the campground because her parents are scientists. To say that Bree is unhappy is putting it mildly. She is into malls, fashion, and her friends. Jack is helping his science teacher on the eclipse tour... so he doesn't have to go to summer school. The scientific talk is way out of his league and comfort level; so is being on a bus with a bunch of strangers to go to a campground. Now, bring these three teens together as they prepare to witness this amazing event and discover their place in the universe.

That is the plot. However, that is only part of the story. There is plenty of scientific information written in an easy to understand way. Information about stars, galaxies, telescopes, space junk, eclipses, planets, even the SETI organization should peak your interest.

Check out these outer space sites:

• Hubble
• NASA Solar Eclipse
• SETI
  

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3 is Here!

You asked for it and you got it - three copies of #3 of the Wimpy Kids books. However, here are three more of the new arrivals:

• Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone - Sixth grader Conrad Parker is popular; Jessie Ferguson isn't. Jessie has loved Conrad for as long as she can remember, just like all of the other girls. Conrad really hasn't paid any notice to Jessie until his leg is hurt and his popularity suffers. The two of them start spending time together, first for a school assignment, and then just because.
  
• Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech - Jack (from Love that Dog) continues writing poetry from what he is learning in school. Written in verse, this quick read will clearly explain alliteration, onomatopoeia, and hopefully push you to further explore the poetry of T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, or Nikki Grimes.
• Runner by Carl Deuker - This book is edgier than the two mentioned previously. Chance is a senior, his dad is an unemployed alcoholic, his mom is gone, and his home is an old sailboat. The job he has does not pay much and when the opportunity to substancially increase his pay is presented, he takes it. But, could there be something shady about running, picking up the hidden packages, and delivering them?
  

8th Grade Only - Law and Disorder Literature Circles

8th Grade Only - Stirring Up Justice Literature Circles

Some to Consider

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko (author of Al Capone Does My Shirts)

• Kristen in in 7th grade and everything she know is changing - drastically. Her parents aren’t getting along and Kristen and her friends aren’t getting along. When school starts friendships are terribly strained. A new student, Walk, is in 7th grade and his goal is to survive this private, very expensive school his mother has sent him to. Told in alternating chapters by Kristen and Walk, experience their frustrations with friends, family, race, weight, and school.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer

• Miranda is a junior in high school and is given assignment after assignment focusing on the moon and the warnings that a meteor is heading directly toward it. After witnessing the collision of the meteor, life changes rapidly for the entire world. This book is her journal entries of how her family and she strive to survive in terrible times.
• This book inspires me to investigate meteors, the moon, survival, tsumanis, earthquakes, volcanoes, flu epidemics, West Nile Virus….need I say any more about “terrible times”?

Try the guys version - The Dead and The Gone - told from the point of view of a young man in New York City with an entirely different experience of the same catastrophic event.

Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss

• Noticing a swollen lymph node one morning, Izzy tells her mom and goes off to school. She is called out of class to go to the doctor and her life changes in an few short hours. The doctor tells her she has cancer, she is sent to the hospital, and quickly admitted. Izzy tells her story of dealing with cancer treatment in an authentic voice filled with humor and pain.

Girlz Read!

Hello. Just to let you know of a few more new books we received this week of particular interest to girls -

• Babysitting Basics - whole series of books on how to be the best babysitter ever. You can learn how to have fun, earn some bucks, establish rules, and keep the kids safe while in your care.
• People in the News - of great interest - Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. Enough said.
• Edward Bloor’s Taken - the year is 2035 and kidnapping is a major industry. Children are taken from homes, cash settlements are made quickly with the kidnappers, and children are usually returned home. Charity knows what is expected of her in the event she is kidnapped - Do not panic. Do not try to escape. - except this kidnapping is different. Nothing occurs as it is supposed to and the hours are rapidly diminishing for her release. What do the kidnappers really want?
• Justina Chen Headley’s Girl Overboard - Syrah loves to snowboard and feels at peace on the mountain. It would seem that her life would be perfect as she is the daughter of a billionare and has all the material possessions anyone could ever want. Things just aren’t perfect since her half-siblings can’t stand her, her friendships are being ruined, and her boyfriend apparently is only interested in her because of her father. When Syrah is injured and needs to have rehab, she makes a new friend who helps her find and accept herself. After reading this, you might want to give back to the community or try something new.

GREAT WEBSITE - ReaderGirlz

http://www.readergirlz.com/issue.html

Here you will find suggestions of great books to read, a discussion blog, author chats, a “while you read playlist”, contests, ways and reasons to celebrate being a girl as well as ways to inspire other girls to read and contribute! This is an award winning site!