Catching up...

Now is the time to catch up my reading record to reflect the Fall Book Frenzy books I read in preparation for that event.  I chose not to leave an individual post on each book, I wanted to simply list them so those students who are participating would not have my opinions muddying theirs. 

This officially gets me to 75 books of the 100 I planned to read in 2011.  I am probably off either way by 1 or 2 books, but I'm going to stick with this number.  75
These are all great reads...depending on your personal reading preferences, of course.

75.  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Reread this...it's just as good as I remembered.)
74.  Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (sports fiction, mystery)
73.  No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman (Love this author!  He has 3 books on the FBF list!)
72.  The Crimson Cap by Ellen Howard (historical fiction)
71.  Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord (We've picked up a few more Lord fans with this one!)
70.  The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne  (realistic fiction)
69.  The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army/Navy Game by John Feinstein (sports fiction/mystery)
68.  Scrawl by Mark Shulman (This is also a Kentucky Bluegrass Nominee!)
67.  Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor (horror, humor)
66.  The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman (realistic fiction)
65.  The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (one of my all-time favs)
64.  Finally by Wendy Mass (Lots of our girls can relate to this one!)
62. and 63..  Devastation by Gloria Skurzynski (Two books bound together.)
61. Countdown by Deborah Wiles  (Such a neat book!  Love the primary sources included.)
60.  Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (A good author.  A great book.  Couldn't believe it ended so abruptly, though!  I don't have time to read the next book right now!  LOL)
59.  The Cardturner by Louis Sachar (Precious story about inner beauty and what's really important in life.)
58.  Bullyville by Francine Prose (Mean kids reminded me of the teens from Gone.)
57.  Boost by Kathryn Mackel (girl sports fiction)

Okay, so that should catch me up...I'm going to try to include the number with each post.  Hopefully, that will keep me from having to go back through ALL OF MY POSTS and try to figure out where I left off with my counting.  Ugh!  Why must I always do everything the hard way?!

Happy Reading (and counting!)
RC

The Likeness

Good Morning!
This is probably the most unorganized post for a book I've ever written, but I can't care at this time!  Don't have time for editing, so just try to hang on!!!  LOL

Finished the second book in Tana French's murder mystery trilogy...I enjoyed The Likeness much more than In the Woods.  I'm pleased with the direction the author took Cassie in this book and the plot was original.  Still thinking about that book, after two weeks, so that tells you it was a great read! (Need to remind you that this is an adult read.)

In this second Irish murder case installment, we are reunited with Cassie, who has left the murder department for the domestic violence unit of the squad.  She doesn't get to recuperate long, though, because an old colleague contacts her with an urgent need for her to reenter the undercover world!  A girl has been found dead...she looks exactly like Cassie...has identification on her that is the same as one Cassie created to bust a drug dealer many years ago.  Something is just not right!  So Cassie enters the girl's world...and that's where the story really gets interesting. 

The murder is solved and I have fewer questions than I did with the first book.  Thank goodness!  Actually looking forward to getting to read the third book.  But for now, I'm working my way towards a big book event here at North Middle in late October and my evenings have been spent sleeping instead of reading.  I miss my books so much!

So let me just record that (I think) this is book #56 for the year, not counting the Fall Book Frenzy books I've read and not counted or blogged about yet. I was keeping a running tally on my laptop, but then it crashed and I lost everything for the second time.  (No, I didn't back up to an external hard drive.) So, I've had to count the books I've read in between blogging and not-blogging.  Ugh!  So instead of rounding up or rounding down, I'm sticking with the magical number 56!  I'm running out of time!  I have to read 100 before December 31st!  This is the first New Year's resolution I've managed to keep.  I'll turn 40 this year and I know it sounds pitiful that I haven't had the willpower to keep a resolution yet.  Oh well, no time like the present!  Guess old dogs can learn new tricks after all!

I have a feeling I'll be reading on New Year's Eve.  ;)
Happy Reading!
RC

Historical Fiction

(font enlarged for teaching purposes)
In historical fiction, setting is the most important literary element. Because the author is writing about a particular time in history, the information about the time period must be accurate, authentic, or both. To create accurate and authentic settings in their books, authors must research the time period thoroughly. They must know how people lived, what they ate, what kinds of homes they had, and what artifacts were a common part of their lives.  Usually, historical fiction is set at least 30 years in the past.

Historical fiction may have characters who are either imaginary or who actually lived during the time period. Settings also may be real or imaginary. The plot events may be documented historical events or they may be fictional. If they are fictional, it means that the author created the events for the telling of the story. The fictional characters, settings, and plot events must be portrayed authentically, as if they actually could have happened.

All of our school's fabulous reading teachers read at least one historical fiction novel with their students each year.  Shown in this post are some of those novels read in the past.

Some of my favorite historical fiction includes Crispin: the cross of lead by Avi.  It was my all-time favorite young adult novel until I became the library media specialist and became exposed to so many more authors.  Now, I count it among my favorites.  I also adore Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis, Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm, and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.  I have an interest in the Tudor History of England, so when I choose adult historical fiction, I look for books that are set in that time period and include characters like King Henry VIII or Queen Elizabeth.  I do not enjoy reading about US History, so when I'm asked to read historical fiction that is set in America, I preview very closely.  I especially loved Coal Black Horse, by Robert Olmstead, which depicts life of soldiers during the Civil War, especially on the Gettysburg battlefield.  I was pleasantly surprised by the story, which took several plot turns and twists.  However, could it be I was more entertained by the gruesome details of the battlefield?  Who knows.  This book is so vivid in it's description of death and despair that I was probably shocked by the bluntness.  I keep this book on the restricted shelf of our library due to the graphic violent content.  The story is amazing. The book Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham looks like one of those historical novels that will surprise me.  I'm not completely blown away by the blurb or the synopsis, but because my peers chose it as the historical fiction nominee for this year's Kentucky Bluegrass List, I have a feeling this book will blow me away.  I'll definitely let you know!

We have many historical fiction novels available for checkout in our general collection.  Something for everyone.  I hope that as our students read about previous times in our world's history, they'll come to understand just how fortunate they are to have many of the modern conveniences, like clean water and medicine.  Our ancestors struggled to survive.  I'm thrilled that our reading teachers are using historical fiction to help our students connect with a character they probably have very little in common with...

Happy (Historical) Reading!
RC

"Order up!"

I've received a request to post a blog entry concerning the order of James Patterson's popular young adult series, Maximum Ride.  A few years ago, the publishing company Little, Brown and Company republished the series and caused quite a lot of confusion among our middle school students.  They essentially broke the series up into two parts, labeling the first three books "The Fugitives books 1,2,3" and the next books in the series "The Protectors books 1,2,3".  This makes for one confused reading community!!!  It's been difficult to convince our voracious readers that the book cover is in fact, not representing the true order of the series.  So, to set the record straight once and for all, here's the title list if you'd like to start this outstanding series about a group of genetically-enhanced kids who fight not only to stay alive, but to eventually save the entire world.  It's worth the confusion, believe me!  If you look for these books in book stores, you may see different covers than I have displayed here and you may also find the Manga series...trust the title, not the number on the book. And please, preview every book before you purchase (or checkout)!!!
1.  The Angel Experiment
2.  School's Out Forever
3.  Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
4.  The Final Warning
5.  Max
6.  Fang
7.  Angel
8.  The End (not yet released)

You'll want to read the first book right away, if you're the least bit interested, because the movie will be released in 2013! 

Happy Reading!
RC

I finished this book in 1 day...no lie!

What an amazing amount of reading time I had this past weekend!  After taking my baby girl to the doctor for an ear infection, I sat and held her in my lap and (don't tell her this part) propped the book up on her back.  Why would I spend my free time reading this book when there's obviously a lot of disinfecting to do at my house?  Well,  as any avid reader knows,  it's important to take every reading opportunity.  Now you know that I took precious time to read the book...let me fill you in on the reason!

Fibble, the fourth book in a series by Dale E. Bayse, is a book full of sarcasm, puns, allusions and humor.  I couldn't help laughing out loud as I read about Marlo and Milton Fauster's adventures in the afterlife.  You see, Fibble is a location in Heck, where the bad kids go.  Those kids who lie get to spend eternity covered in shirts made of "little white lice" that feed off of their fibs.  The vice-principal of Fibble is the infamous P.T. Barnum, ringmaster for the "greatest show on earth", the circus.  He's such a liar, that his pants are continuously on fire!  One of the many internal conflicts the characters deal with is whether or  not it's ALWAYS a good idea to tell the truth.  Haven't you ever told a little white lie to spare someone's feelings?  By the end of the book, not even the author has resolved this conflict! 

As in all the other books in this series, good overcomes evil and we're left with the foreshadowing of more adventures to come.  The next book is due out in May and it's called, Snivel.  Apparently, this location in Heck is reserved for whiny kids!  I'm predicting that book will get on my nerves as I cannot stand whining!

As with many other titles in our library's restricted collection, this book is not for anyone who doesn't understand dark humor or who wouldn't be mature enough to catch the pop culture references.  (If you don't know what that means, then that's a pretty good indication this series is too mature for you.)

Always preview a book carefully before checking it out...books are like snowflakes, no two are alike!

Happy Reading! (And always tell the truth!)
RC





 

Former Navigator Afternoon in November

In November, Mrs. T and I will be gathering together those current 8th grade students who read Ann Rinaldi's An Acquaintance with Darkness .  We'll offer popcorn, soft drinks and show The Conspirator, a newly released movie that ties in with the book.  I'm taking names now for those students who read this book as a Navigator while in Mrs. T.'s reading classes.  Students who wish to attend are encouraged to check the book out again and scan through it to familiarize themselves with the plot. 

Free movie, free food...We're so excited about this event!!  
Happy Reading,
RC

WELCOME, GALAXY STUDENTS!!

Welcome to the MNMS Library blog which serves as a forum (place for discussion) about everything related to books.  Today, I'd like you to answer one of the questions below.  You'll know your comment has been posted successfully when the blog site gives you the positive feedback, "Your blog post has been received and is waiting approval."


Question #1
What would you say if you were the character, Total, from Maximum Ride?

Question #2
If you were cast in the upcoming movie, The Hunger Games, which character would you want to portray and why?

Question #3
In Lawn Boy, by Gary Paulsen, the main character has earned a lot of money by the book's end.  What would you do with a million dollars?

Remember to leave your answer as a comment!  Please include your first and last name. 
Happy Reading!
RC