One Piece

Read Volume 1 of One Piece for a student who highly recommended it and passionately asked me to.  I can honestly say I am not a fan of Japanese manga.  No, that's too nice... I really dislike reading Japanese manga.  Dare I say it was a painful experience that left me wanting to tear my toenails off?  Yes.  I dare say it.  I hate manga.  But I love my students, so I read Volume 1 all the way through (backwards) without skipping one single frame or word.  The only redeeming quality of this volume is that the theme of determination and loyalty were quite clear.  Why, oh why must the animators use only two emotions?  Calmly speaking or full open-mouth SCREAMING!?!  I don't understand!!!

Anyhow, I fulfilled my promise and read one-third of it.  I shall hold my head up high as I return it and thank her for the experience.  (Which I shall never have to endure again!)  
Seriously, though...it's good to try new experiences.  

Hope your new year is filled with lots of happy new ones.  
RC

Revisiting books...

I've had the conversation lately with a classroom teacher and her group of 6th grade girls about rereading books...we all agreed that there is value in it.  However, some people see it as a waste of time.  I can understand that to a point.  And the point is, that we always pick up something new from the author each time we read their ideas.  We bring with us new experiences, opinions and perspectives when we read a book again.  For example, I read The Secret Garden as a child and again as an adult.  Instead of simply thinking this was a "good" book, I was able to compare it to all of the other books I've read and see it for what it truly is...a classic.  Thank goodness!  Also, there's a practical reason for rereading books and that is simply because we enjoy them.  As the teacher pointed out to her students, "Don't some of you watch a movie more than once?"  Um, yes.  Yes, we do.  

And so I've said all that to be able to share this...I'm revisiting a book I've already read as a favor to one of my students.  And, I'm revisiting a book I shamefully abandoned back in March of 2012 as a lesson to all of my students.  I'm reading Copper Sun by Sharon Draper and attempting The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud once more. Copper Sun is the historical account of the slave trade and one young African girl's attempt to survive it!  It's not a book you can say you "like" because of the horrific events that permeate her story, but it's worth reading again.  Worth being reminded of our tragic past.  And it's worth reading again because the 7th grade girl that chose it for me was passionate about recommending it to me and although I told her I had already read it, the look in her eyes was enough to persuade me to read it again.  :)

The Bartimaeus Trilogy book #1 is fantasy and chronicles Nathaniel who is a magician's apprentice.  In his attempt to skip the hard work, he uses shortcuts in his magic that will

eventually cause him some conflict.  (That's what the blurb alludes to anyway.)  I'm going to start again from the beginning and try to read with the purpose of finding the just right student for this book.  As I mentioned in my previous blog in March, 2012, I've tried it on a couple of students and have not been successful yet.  It's a challenge I'm willing to take.  

So as you can see, I've got my hands full of reading material and am hoping to make it through both before Christmas Break so that I can read some newer titles!  :)

Happy Reading!
RC

Mick Harte Was Here

Only on page 3 and I've already been moved emotionally.  Twice.  That's the art of Barbara Park.  Yes, the author of Junie B. Jones.  She published this book for middle school readers in 1995 and to my knowledge, at least one teacher has used it with her students each year since.  It's the story of Phoebe as she deals with her brother Mick's accidental death. And, as always, Park offers a valuable lesson to be learned... always wear a helmet.  That's what I know from reading the blurb on the back of the book...

"When her brother, Mick, is killed, Phoebe Harte's world is suddenly turned upside down.  How could someone like Mick die?  Mick was one of the neatest kids you'd ever want tot meet.  He was the kind of kid who freaked his mom out by putting a ceramic eye in a defrosted chicken.  And who would ever forget the wild dance solo he performed in front of the whole school because "the music got in his pants."  Mick was the kind of kid everyone liked...the kind of kid who, if he'd only worn his bicycle helmet, would still be alive today.  If only."

Reading this in hopes of offering my daughter another short, wonderful reading experience next year.  

Happy Reading...
RC  

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Several of my students participated in the local play for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson and because I couldn't attend the play, and because I've never read either the book or the play, I decided to honor them by picking up this quite popular little novel and giving it a read today.  Here's the blurb from the back of the book...

"The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.  They lie and steal and smoke cigars (even the girls).  They talk dirty, hit little kids, cuss their teachers, set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse, and take the name of the Lord in vain.  So no one is prepared when the Herdmans invade church one Sunday -- and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant.  None of them has ever heard the Christmas story before.  Their interpretation--the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating--has a lot of people up in arms.  But the actual pageant is full of surprise for everyone, starting with Herdmans themselves."

Looking forward to a good laugh! 
Happy Reading!
RC

Freak the Mighty

It's Book Fair week in our school library and I'm caught up on my required reading.  My student crew is handling the cash register and fair responsibly, so I'm taking my supervisor's job very seriously and sipping coffee while bossing them around.  Seriously, I'm spending my very much desired and rare down time reading books from the collection that my daughter may enjoy reading next year when she enters sixth grade.  I'm starting with Rodman Philbrick's Freak the Mighty.  Our school library owns a classroom set and a group of sixth graders usually read them with one of their teachers each year.  I've never read it...so here we go!  I'm also excited that we own the movie...LOVE reading books and watching the movie!  Here's a blurb from the back of the book.  Feel free to join me as I read!  

"Max.  Freak.  Best Friends.  Forever.  I never had a brain until Freak came along.... That's what Max thought.  All his life he'd been called stupid.  Dumb.  Slow.  It didn't help that his body seemed to be growing faster than his mind.  It didn't help that people were afraid of him.  So Max learned how to be alone.  At least until Freak came along.  Freak was weird, too.  He had a little body---and a really big brain.  Together Max and Freak were unstoppable.  Together, they were Freak the Mighty."

Sounds like a perfect book for middle school!
Happy Reading!
RC

What my daughter and I are reading...

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is a fast favorite for many upper elementary and middle school

students.  When my daughter asked for an historical fiction recommendation, I immediately knew the time had come to introduce this topic with the best story I know for tweens.  This Newbery Winner is short, direct, simply written and pertinent.  It's the story of Annemarie, a citizen of Denmark (aka Dane) who lives during the Nazi occupation of Europe.  Her best friend is a Jewish girl named Ellen.  As you might suspect, the Germans have set up a military state and are beginning to herd the Jews into concentration camp as this story progresses.  I like that Lowry gives the reader just enough information about this horrific event in our history to want to know more, yet doesn't bombard the reader with details.  The truth of the events is shocking and realistic enough.  My daughter is on chapter 3 and already "likes" it.  She is able to comprehend and make connections, which has been difficult for her in the past.  I highly recommend this wonderful book for tweens. As a librarian, I have found they usually want to read it again once they are a bit older.  And they love it just as much.  

Happy Reading,
RC

Thankful, just thankful...

 At this time of year, I'm just thankful for a little quiet time to spend with family.  I rarely have any, but when I do, I love just sitting and watching as my kids grow into their own personalities.  One of them can be quite compassionate and hysterical.  The other can be quiet and contemplative.  While confined to the car with them for approximately 12 hours this past week, I was reminded that in order for them to be confident in themselves, I have to remember to show confidence myself.  I am a confident reader, but have been criticized in the past for reading "too much".  Reading is a big part of my life.  Some may say it takes up too much time, but I defend that critique wholeheartedly...it's my job.  I like what I do.  I've worked a long time to become a librarian and guess what librarians do?  They read.  They have to.  Most of the time I read for work and some people just don't understand how that works.  How am I to recommend books/authors to students when I'm not familiar with the material?  Once I get to know a student, I can usually place a book in their hands that I know with 90% assurance they will love!  It's not magical.  It's not a talent.  It's the product of work.  Reading.  Why am I standing on the soapbox shouting to the world?  I really don't know.  Guess I felt it necessary to take some of the guilt from my fellow readers for spending so much time buried up in a book.  I admit that some people neglect responsibilities and that too much of a good thing is a bad thing, but shouldn't we all strive to be the best _____ we can be?  

And further more, sometimes we busy humans forget to stop and breathe.  
I had the opportunity to do just that this past week.  My daughter struggles with the concept of "reading as homework" and really, who can blame her?  When I'm "required" to do something, I find myself enjoying it less.  As a school librarian, I KNOW that reading at home is ESSENTIAL to growing a reader/writer, but I wonder how many less students would read at home anyway, even if we didn't require it and provide a grade for it?  I won't be conducting this experiment any time soon, but I do wonder...  Anyhow!  I picked up an additional copy of Touch Blue, by Cynthia Lord to read along with my daughter.  And as I knew it would be, the story was delightful.  It's the story of Tess, who lives on an island just off the mainland.  The government has decided that unless they can add to their school's enrollment, the doors will be shut.  So one of the islanders comes up with an ingenious plan to have the families take in foster children.  Their hearts are pure and the concept appears to work until Tess' family welcomes their foster child to the island.  He's angry.  Has been in numerous foster homes.  Misses his mother and wants to return to her.  What ensues is a heartbreaking story of acceptance, with themes of HOME and LOVE and FAMILY.  What makes a family anyway?   I love Lord's books, so I flew through it.  Leaving my poor daughter waaaay behind.  I was pleased to be able to talk to her about the book and answer some questions she had about this realistic fiction novel set in Maine.  Some of the vocabulary was foreign to her and some of the concepts, such as lobster trapping.  Hopefully my daughter will finish the book this week and we can get her book report finished and turned in!  Shew!

Once I finished, I found myself with 5 days left in vacation and no reading material.  Because I'm frugal and have been encouraging my students to read digitally for free through our local library, I decided to download free classics.  I started with H.G. Wells' The Time Machine.  It's brilliant.  What an imagination!  I would love to discuss this with my students next year during a book breakfast!  If you haven't read Wells' science fiction classic about our future as humans, you should!  It's a quick read, short...mind-blowing.  (And the movie could NEVER do this book justice!  I saw it...it was NOT good!)

And so once I finished that, I needed more.  So I downloaded Sinclair Lewis' classic American comedy, Free Air.  This story, set in the early 1900s, follows Claire and her father, Mr. Boltwood, as they drive cross country from Brooklyn to Seattle in search of clean air and relaxation.  Claire drives and is stubbornly snooty when the book opens...she soon finds that her regal "air" doesn't sit well with 'commoners' as she is quickly humbled by many she meets.  I love the evolution of her character, despite her numerous tries to staunch it.  And who wouldn't love Milt Daggett?  He's the male lead and is immediately smitten with her at first sight...jumps into his teal bug and follows her anywhere she leads.  I also enjoy his character's growth as he learns to like himself more and her less.  I'm halfway through and have found myself chuckling at the sarcasm and wit displayed by the author.  There was one sentence that caught my attention and wouldn't let me move on until I responded to it...

"When he had been tempted by a smooth stretch to go too breathlessly, he halted, teased Vere de Vere, climbed out and, sitting on a hilltop, his hands about his knees, drenched his soul with the vision of amber distances."

Ahhhhhh.  That's how you write a sentence, folks!

My next book will be Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George.  She won the Newbery Medal for this in 1973.  I'm excited to share this book with my December Book Breakfast members even though some of them have already communicated to me in no uncertain terms, that it's just "not as good a book as what we have been reading".  Ha!  Love that they're becoming literary critics!  I'll attempt to help them understand the significance of this story, as it was released in 1972. (I was months old, btw).

Happy Reading!
RC

The Journey Back

Finding myself in between books this morning and as I looked around the library for something to read that the kids have always liked and that I hadn't read yet, my eyes were drawn to the sequel to Red Kayak.  Numerous readers, both student and adult, have praised The Journey Back for being "even better than the first!"  That's rare.  So I'm going to give it a read!  This is apparently the continuation of the character, Digger and his life after juvenile detention.  In the first book, Digger and his friends make a really bad decision and must pay the consequences for it.  This idea to continue one of the character's story reminds me of what Louis Sachar did with Small Steps, the sequel to Holes.  I'm looking forward to learning whether or not Digger has learned his lesson, what his new conflict might be and how he decides to resolve it. 

And of course, any book that a student can seriously recommend to me and provide evidence for it's quality is a must-read for me.  I encourage all readers, regardless of age, to pick up Red Kayak.  It's an amazing, award-winning book that has stood the test of time here at our middle school.  It's read by various grades and assorted reading leveled classes.  It's a timeless tale that holds it's value.  I consider it a new classic.  Don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it has as much appeal to boys as Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huck Finn. 

Happy Reading!
RC

Uglies

For years I've watched as Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series checked in and out of our school library on a regular basis.  I've reordered the series a few times due to loose bindings, ripped covers, missing pages, excessive use, etc.... I've listened to numerous booktalks and conversations between students and teachers about this sci-fi series.  I've even led a few reluctant readers to the series, simply telling them what I've heard about the books.  But never had I read one until this past weekend.  Oh my goodness, I'm hooked!

In the future, society has made improvements that ensure fairness and the preservation of civilization.  Or, at least that's what the government has told the citizens.  (Again, we have a dystopian novel that will definitely hold a reader's attention.  And, we have a strong female protagonist who struggles to save humanity from a fate worse than death.)  Tally, the sixteen year old protagonist, lives in Uglyville and is considered an Ugly.  That is, she's not quite old enough to have the surgery all sixteen year olds have that turn them into a Pretty and change their lives forever.  There's nothing "wrong" with being an ugly unless you live in their world.  Uglies are born ugly and remain that way until the surgery which shapes their bones and resurfaces their skin to make them more symmetrically attractive.  But not only do their physical features change, their personalities do as well.  They become silly, happy, simple-minded do-nothings!  They sleep late, party all night and drink excessively.  They have no responsibilities and are expected to live life to it's fullest and in it's excess!  Caviar and champagne are the breakfasts of choice!  It's a dream for an Ugly to become a Pretty, but not all people feel that way and Tally meets someone at the last minute who has a huge influence on her decision to become a Pretty.  

No spoiler alerts here, but I'll say that I was as tempted to do nothing and simply read as the Pretties are to party.  :)

I'm on the second book now, Pretties, and I can't put it down. There are two additional books, Specials and Extras.  Plus, Westerfeld published a companion handbook called Bogus to Bubbly, which helps you navigate their world.   It's an adventure and makes me wanna add a hoverboard to my Christmas list!!

Happy Reading!
RC

Bearstone

 Our November book breakfast title is Bearstone, by Will Hobbs.  I can't describe the attention this book has received so far this school year.  Kids are talking about it in almost every class.  As with all book breakfast titles, this story is one I hadn't read and am reading this month along with my students.  Since it's a short read, my students are already finishing and spreading the word about what a fantastic book it is!  I'm currently on chapter 16 and can see the appeal for boys.  I'm also taking lots of notes on the Native American Ute Tribe and thinking about adding a clay fetish craft to our donut discussion.  :) 

What's so appealing about this story so far?  Well, it's the story of Cloyd, a fourteen-year-old Ute boy whose mother died at birth and who's father ran away shortly after.  He's been raised with his sister by his grandmother.  He's been rebellious and defiant for so long that he's never learned to read.  He's angry and expresses his frustration in physical ways...he runs away, he destroys property, etc...  I'm sad to say that many of our students can relate.  Not often do I work with a student who has a solid, functional family.  Not often do I work with students who feel safe, loved and nurtured.  Many of our students are raising themselves.  Literally.  It's a terrible reality and we've done as much as we can do and continue to provide them with what we can daily.  However, some pain is permanent and like Cloyd, students spend years struggling with it.  I'm happy to read that Cloyd has a strong adult male mentor in his life.  Walter is a likeable character, the grandfather figure Cloyd has never known.  Looking forward to finishing and discussing this book with my students.  We have a full table for this breakfast and one or two students who have earned the privilege to pull up a chair with us.  

This is a fantastic read for upper elementary and middle school boys.

Happy Reading!
RC

Found

Harlan Coben's third installment in the Mickey Bolitar novels was released this past month and has been waiting for me patiently on my bedside table.  I knew better than to let it escape my grasp for fear it would fall into student (and faculty) hands and would not resurface again until Spring.  It's THAT popular!  And trust me, it's THAT good!  

Here's the blurb from the Amazon.com website... I am on chapter 4 and am soooo thankful the author catches the reader up so well.  Not only do middle school readers need this in a series, but so do busy library media specialists and teachers who read constantly.  :)

 "It’s been eight months since Mickey Bolitar witnessed the shocking, tragic death of his father. Eight months of lies, dark secrets, and unanswered questions. While he desperately wants answers, Mickey’s sophomore year of high school brings on a whole new set of troubles. Spoon is in the hospital, Rachel won’t tell him where he stands, his basketball teammates hate him . . . and then there’s Ema’s surprise announcement: She has an online boyfriend, and he’s vanished.

As he’s searching for Ema’s missing boyfriend (who may not even exist!), Mickey also gets roped into helping his nemesis, Troy Taylor, with a big problem. All the while, Mickey and his friends are pulled deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Abeona Shelter, risking their lives to find the answers—until the shocking climax, where Mickey finally comes face-to-face with the truth about his father."

I'm now going to enjoy my time with Found...
Happy Reading!
RC

The Outsiders revisited

One of my students referenced a scene from The Outsiders this week and I couldn't remember it.  It was a subtle phrase from a scene I had obviously not found as profound.  I honestly couldn't even remember it.  Therefore, I decided to read this book again and to watch the movie so I could answer questions more accurately.   So I spent my "free" time this week rereading this timeless tale.  Our 8th graders read it each year and I'm always so pleased with the turnaround some reluctant readers make after reading it with their teacher.  I attempted to share the story with my eleven year old daughter, but she wasn't interested enough yet.  And I'm so relieved!  This story is one for mature students.  I appreciate S.E. Hinton's craft even more after revisiting it.  I strongly encourage you to read this book.  Here's a blurb, as found on Amazon.com.

 "No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. And when it comes to the Socs—a vicious gang of rich kids who enjoy beating up on "greasers" like him and his friends—he knows that he can count on them for trouble. But one night someone takes things too far, and Ponyboy's world is turned upside down..."

And of course afterwards you'll want to watch the movie.  :)
 Some stories are worth revisiting...
Happy Reading!
RC

The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death and Lands in California

Well, that didn't take long!  In my earlier post from today, I proclaimed that I was waiting for my next student recommendation and within the hour it arrived.  One of my 8th grade boys, who is a reluctant reader, turned this book in and declared that although it was in bad shape physically, it deserves to be repaired and kept in the collection.  Okay.  A book this kid likes has to either have mature content or it must be fabulously written to keep his attention throughout.  lol

So I'm going to read it next.  It's worth having the conversation with him.  This is not a new book, but it did catch his attention...I'm sure it was the giant title and the fact that the word "death" was in it.  lol

Middle school kids are so much fun to work with.  They aren't all trying to discover who they are, some of them already know.  And they're not ashamed to share that with you.  This student is no different.  He will abandon a book quickly if it doesn't catch his attention, so this book must jump right into the action, pun intended.  :)

From what I can tell from the blurb, this story is about a boy whose parents are divorced.  He was in a traumatic accident a few years ago and had to have his leg amputated.  He's moving to spend time with his father and the relationship between them will be explored.  Also, it's apparent the boy is self-conscious of his artificial leg because he calls himself "Stump".  Therefore, I'm assuming bullying will be a topic for discussion.  

Looking forward to getting to this next.  And of course, discussing it with my student.  If the book is good enough, I'll order another copy because ours is falling apart!  It's literally held together with tape.  If not, I'll discard it and move on.  However, I have a sneaky suspicion that this one will be a keeper.  

Happy Reading!
RC

The Genesis Trilogy

One of my favorite Christian fiction authors, Mesu Andrews, highly praised this trilogy soon after the controversial "Noah" movie, starring Russel Crowe, was released. Many Christians strongly disliked the movie for it's science fiction components.  I am a Christian and was not offended by the movie.  Personally, I thought the inclusion of alien beings was unnecessary, but it did not make me angry.  Without venturing into religious discussion, I have to say that Mesu Andrews wrote an outstanding review of the movie and then referred those of us who weren't offended by the movie to this author's Genesis Trilogy. I purchased the trilogy and haven't had time to work it into my lineup until now.   I started the first book last night.  So far, so good.  The main character, Annah, is virtually a slave to her older brother, who has taken over the family following his father's murder.  Guess who was responsible for that?  Yes, he was!  This brother is one evil, wicked, mean fella.  Reminded me of the evil spoken of in Genesis that angered God and caused Him to be sorry he created mankind.  The author sets that up well.  Also, Annah is expected to be submissive because she's a woman.  Also very typical of neolithic man.  There is mention of the Most High, but most people worship a goddess of nature called Havah and a tree she is said to have created.  I find this book to be culturally accurate so far and appreciate the research and creativity this author has obviously put in. 

Waiting for my next student recommendation!  Until then, I'll be reading this!  If you want to read along with me, start with The Heavens Before. 

Happy Reading!
RC

Famous Last Words

My students get a bit spoiled by their fabulous reading teachers (and me) as they are so enthusiastic to recommend great books to kids.  Their goal?  To hook those students who haven't found the "just right book" yet...or to coax the reluctant reader to try something a little longer than 100 pages...or to encourage the avid reader to try something new.  It's a constant swap of literary energy at our school.  And I love it.  Especially when students find out you are in between books and would have time to read something they recommend.  Such is this...

The 3rd library aide recommendation was so fun to read!  Famous Last Words is a ghost story/mystery that, once I read beyond halfway, kept me glued and I finished the book in less than 24 hours.  A quick read.  And like I said, "fun". However, I did pick up on a few key themes I think the author embedded for the reader.  Fear, anger, forgiveness...these are internal conflicts the main character, Willa, battles throughout the story.  

Willa, a high school student who has just been transplanted into the Hollywood, California lifestyle, has external conflicts as well.  Her father has died, she's been taken out of school and moved across the United States, and she doesn't know her stepfather well and feels completely out of place in his home, despite his and her mother's attempts to settle her into the lap of luxury.  She faces a sea of strangers at school and seems to have rubbed her chemistry partner the wrong way right off the bat.  She is approached by a girl who seems friendly, but may not be the best influence for her.  And finally, she's attracted to her stepfather's 19 year old assistant who just so happens to work in her home practically 24/7.  On top of all this, Willa must deal with the supernatural.  She's apparently opened up a portal and has attracted the attention of a ghost.  Not only does Willa not feel safe at home, she's terrified to venture out too far from home because of the latest kill by the area's serial killer.  Yes, it's quite the complex plot!  

I would recommend this book to middle school and high school girls who enjoy fast-paced realistic fiction with a fantasy twist.  It's refreshingly appropriate and free of mature content.  If I had this in our school library, it would be at home on the fiction shelves...if it ever stayed checked in.  

What a reward it is to read books recommended by students...I look forward to discussing this book with my library aide tomorrow!  

Happy Reading!
RC

Fall Break Reading

Fall Break reading is almost here and I'm trying to get one more book in before I tackle the 428 page tome that is October Sky by Homer Hickam. I have been waiting patiently to start this memoir so that I may continue the pattern of reading the book breakfast title within the month it is discussed.  That's what I told my students I would do and I'm sticking with it.  This is quite the read for my students.  I don't anticipate more than 4 or 5 students at the breakfast.  Only those truly dedicated readers will wade through this book.  It's size makes it an intimidating choice to middle school students.  I've scheduled a movie night to coincide with the event as sort of a "reward" for finishing the book.

In the meantime, I've taken my library aides' recommendation of another great read for me and I'm thrilled to say I'm enjoying it so far.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman is one of the most popular titles in our library since the movie was released this past summer.  I picked it up last night and read through 30 pages very quickly.  The story flows well, but is meant for a mature reader who can follow the plot sequence changes.  And, there is some mature language.  I'll know more about the mature content when I'm finished, but as for now, I would recommend it only to 7th/8th graders.

Here's an excerpt from the Barnes/Noble website...

 "In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family. Now a major motion picture starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time."

I'm sure I'll finish this book by the weekend.  Won't be hearing from me for a while...I'll be spending time with my niece and my children.  And, I'll be knee deep in October sky!  

Happy Fall Break Reading!
RC 

Jump

Got a great recommendation from my morning library aides and am loving this book by Ginger Rue!  They were so tickled when I asked them to help ME find a book.  Jump is a fantasy novel that will teach valuable lessons to middle and high school girls about narcissism and bullying.  Very reminiscent so far of "Mean Girls" and "Freaky Friday".  Basically, Brinkley, a popular high school junior attending a prestigious school, is so mean to her female classmates that four of her victims have left and are attending school elsewhere.  One has even checked into rehab for an eating disorder.  Brinkley, being beautiful and perfect in every way, sees nothing wrong with her behavior and sees absolutely no use in attending mandatory counseling sessions after school.  Her counselor has plans to help Brinkley see the world like others do.  Literally.  When Brinkley begins to transform into other girls and spend time walking in their shoes, she is distraught and her therapy truly begins.  

I'm only on page 29 and this is what I know about the story so far.  I plan on enjoying Brinkley's therapy.  :)

Parents, be aware that I keep this book on the restricted shelf due to language.  However, if you're willing to read this alongside your tween or teen, you'll find many good opportunities for discussion.  And, sometimes as a parent I can't express myself like I need to...gonna let this character's story do it for me with my daughter!  

Happy Reading!
RC

Treasure Island

I'm reading the classic, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson for our September Book Breakfast.  I chose this title because I found numerous copies in the book storage closet that had yellowed and hadn't been circulated in many years.  I also am intrigued because this title has one of the oldest copyright dates in our collection and I'm constantly trying to "prove" to my students that older books can be some of the best they've ever read.  I'm excited to introduce my students to young Jim Hawkins and the infamous Long John Silver.  When I booktalked this title, they immediately shouted out, "Like the restaurant?"  Yes.  But he was a character first.  lol

Pick up a classic...give the older titles a chance to impress you. (Or walk the plank, matey!)
Happy Reading!
RC

 

Golfing and reading...

 We're in the midst of golf season at my house and with that comes many stolen opportunities to read.  I'm traditional and carry my book with me everywhere I go.  My daughter, on the other hand, prefers to read digitally when she can.  I love this picture of her stealing a moment to read.  She's currently reading Charlotte's Web.  (Big smile!)

I've managed to work in an adult novel recently highly recommended to me by LT.  Harlan Coben's Missing You is a mystery that you won't be able to put down.  I found myself staying up late and waking up early to read.  It's a suspenseful tale that I'm glad I worked in to my young adult line-up!  Here's what Amazon has to say about it...

It's a profile, like all the others on the online dating site. But as NYPD Detective Kat Donovan focuses on the accompanying picture, she feels her whole world explode, as emotions she’s ignored for decades come crashing down on her. Staring back at her is her ex-fiancé Jeff, the man who shattered her heart—and who she hasn’t seen in 18 years.

Kat feels a spark, wondering if this might be the moment when past tragedies recede and a new world opens up to her.  But when she reaches out to the man in the profile, her reawakened hope quickly darkens into suspicion and then terror as an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light, in which monsters prey upon the most vulnerable.

As the body count mounts and Kat's hope for a second chance with Jeff grows more and more elusive, she is consumed by an investigation that challenges her feelings about everyone she ever loved—her former fiancé, her mother, and even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before, and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.

Soldier Dog, by Sam Angus is a fantastic debut novel about Stanley and the love he has for his dogs.  Set in WWI England, Stanley's journey begins as a desperate attempt to escape his abusive father.  He ends up enlisting in the army and finds himself working with dogs...the perfect job for him.  Many trench scenes later, the reader is left with a wadded up box of tissues and a desire to adopt a big dog asap!  Or at least that was my experience.  LOL  This title reminded me of Cracker by Cynthia Kadohata.  I'm proud to offer it to students as part of our '14-'15 KBA Nominee List.  Be advised that the vocabulary may be difficult for some.  This was written and published in England first.  

Finally!  A piece of science fiction I can add to my "top ten books of all time" list!  I am so in love with Steelheart!  Not the evil Epic, mind you, but the book named after him. Kudos to Brandon Sanderson for his imaginative characters and plot!  I also love the witty humor and intentional misuse of metaphors throughout.  An English teacher could teach some serious metaphor lessons with excerpts from this book!  It also reminds me of the X-Men comics I love so much.  I may be personally biased, but I would stand this book up next to any of the popular dystopian fiction on shelves now.  It's magnificent.  Read it if you want action, humor, reputable characters and a little bit of tongue-in-cheek.  It's perfect for graphic novel readers who reluctantly read "real" books for me.  Can't wait to introduce them to David and the rest of the Reckoners!  And, it's a series!  Whoo!

Happy Reading!
RC

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Book breakfasts begin on August 29th and the first amazing story we'll discuss is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.  I've fallen in love with the Logan family this week...especially Cassie and her brothers.  I've felt their pain and heartbreak as they attempt to endure life in the deep south during the Great Depression.  Fortunately for them, they own their land and can be somewhat independent, but they truly are an island as so many black families were back then...they had each other and that's about it.  When I've shared the fact that they walked a mile to school each morning and that the white school bus splashed them intentionally and ran them off the road into the muddy ditch, my students look at me as if I were reading fantasy to them.  "Yes," I say, "That kind of behavior really existed."  It blesses me when they innocently ask why the bus driver wouldn't stop to pick them up...  It's a difficult question to answer. 

Winner of the John Newbery Medal, this classic will probably find it's way onto my top ten books of all time list.  It's one of those stories that continues playing in your mind when you're not reading...  This is a book for everyone.  I strongly encourage you to read it.  :)

Happy Reading!
RC

Prophet

What I'm reading...probably all through the night.  I've had a bout of insomnia lately with school approaching and have decided that if I'm going to be awake, I cannot sit like a zombie in front of the television.  So I will read something that will keep me awake!  LOL
Prophet by Frank E. Peretti should do it.  I've had this book for a while and it's sheer intimidating length have kept it in my stack.  I enjoy so much a Peretti novel, but have very little time for personal reading anymore.  Making time now!  

What's a Peretti novel?  Well, first of all...it will be scary.  So spooky I'll have the "oh Lord please protect me from all the invisible demons that are probably waiting to attack me right now" prayer on my lips constantly while reading and for days thereafter.  Peretti writes of supernatural battles that occur around us between angels and demons.  His fiction is Biblically impeccable in my humble and ignorant opinion.  His work is not cheesy or meant to scare, but it's intent is to get the reader to think...really think about the decisions you make every day.  Where are those thoughts coming from?  Are you doing God's will?  How powerful is prayer?  Oh yeah...it's good stuff.  If you'd like to try one, I would suggest starting with This Present Darkness.  Without spoiling it for you, just know that I stopped doing my morning yoga for a while after reading it...and began to pray before meditating.  Uh yeah.  Scary stuff.  

I don't read a lot of this genre.  I don't generally like scary/horror/spooky/ghost stuff.  My mother would call this a "devil book".  haha  However, I do plan to enjoy this one.  And what's great about Peretti books is that they're Christian fiction and perfectly fine for teenagers who don't scare easily and have a firm grasp on their salvation.  (Seriously would talk to my high schooler before letting him read this...just to make sure he understands how powerful this content can be in the wrong hands.)

If you or your high school reader want to read books that lead to lots of spiritual discussions, then here's a new author for you.  You can check out his other titles at this website.


Happy Reading.  I'll be keeping the lights on while I read!
RC

 

Death Comes to Pemberly

This title has been in my stack since 2011.  Finally took the time to read it!  If you love Jane Austen, you'll enjoy this author's "sequel" to Pride and Prejudice although this story stands well on it's own.  I appreciated that James revisited P&P several times to refresh my memory as to certain conversations, events... and I LOVED that she included some of Austen's Emma as well.  

This author is well known for her mystery and crime novels.  Rightly so!  This is the first I'd read of hers and was pleasantly entertained throughout.  Never did figure out "who dunnit" or why!  Now, I have to warn you that it's very Austen-like.  Very high brow.  Very slow reading.  She does Darcy and Elizabeth justice with the continuation of their story and I believe Austen would be thrilled to know James' theory of what happened with Wickham and Lydia next...because readers of P&P knew they were gonna be nothing but trouble in the days to come.  Love this author's ability to bring back a classic in a refreshing way and with no zombies.  :)  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you.  (I refuse to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies btw.  Just cannot do it!) 

And did I mention the author is 91 years young?  Oh yeah.  She's fierce.  

Here's a copy of an excerpt I located online through The Huffington Post.  Just in case you wanted a glimpse of the prose...

 
From the prologue:  "A family of five unmarried daughters is sure of attracting the sympathetic concern of all their neighbours, particularly where other diversions are few, and the situation of the Bennets was especially unfortunate. In the absence of a male heir, Mr. Bennet’s estate was entailed on his nephew, the Reverend William Collins, who, as Mrs. Bennet was fond of loudly lamenting, could turn her and her daughters out of the house before her husband was cold in his grave. Admittedly, Mr. Collins had attempted to make such redress as lay in his power. At some inconvenience to himself, but with the approval of his formidable patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, he had left his parish at Hunsford in Kent to visit the Bennets with the charitable intention of selecting a bride from the five daughters. This intention was received by Mrs. Bennet with enthusiastic approval but she warned him that Miss Bennet, the eldest, was likely to be shortly engaged. His choice of Elizabeth, the second in seniority and beauty, had met with a resolute rejection and he had been obliged to seek a more sympathetic response to his pleading from Elizabeth’s friend Miss Charlotte Lucas. Miss Lucas had accepted his proposal with gratifying alacrity and the future which Mrs. Bennet and her daughters could expect was settled, not altogether to the general regret of their neighbours. On Mr. Bennet’s death, Mr. Collins would install them in one of the larger cottages on the estate where they would receive spiritual comfort from his administrations and bodily sustenance from the leftovers from Mrs. Collins’s kitchen augmented by the occasional gift of game or a side of bacon."

This one is a keeper for me.  
Happy Reading!
RC 

The Lightkeeper's Daughter

Great Christian historical fiction murder mystery romance.  Spans many genres!  Mercy Falls Novels by Colleen Coble.  I enjoyed the first book in this series very much.  Will be ordering books 2 and 3 soon.  Highly recommend this author to tweens, young adults and ladies who love historical romance. Here's what Library Journal has to say about this first installment...

"Orphaned after her parents die in a shipwreck, two-year-old Addie Sullivan is raised by lighthouse keepers near Crescent City, CA. She grows up wondering about her past and the family she doesn't remember. Then an injured stranger shows up at the lighthouse and recognizes Addie's locket. Determined to uncover her past, she finds not only employment as a governess at the lavish Eaton estate in 1907 Mercy Falls but also danger and romance. VERDICT This historical is one of Coble's ("Rock Harbor" series, "Aloha Reef" series) better novels, full of intrigue. Those looking for a wholesome story with some suspense will enjoy the book's gothic feel" - Library Journal.

Fast read with lots of mystery...loved it!

Happy Reading!
RC 

The Thing About Luck

National Book Award Winner.  Author Susan Patron said it would give me insight into the typical 12-year old brain.  A reviewer said we should steal this from the nearest pre-teen.  I agree.  In addition, I would advise any girl who has ever been on a farm, worked on a farm or was raised on a farm to read this wonderful story about Summer and her family.  

During the wheat harvest season, Summer and her family are hired out to drive semi's, combines and tractors.  This year, her parents are pulled away to Japan to help take care of elderly family members and Summer and Jaz (her younger brother) are left with their grandparents to carry on the work.  Not only was I mesmerized by the simple, straight-forward text, I was impressed at the farming knowledge and Japanese culture imbedded in the text.  

I started this book at exactly 6:15 this morning.  Finished it in 2 hours.  Will definitely recommend this book to my students.  Such a sweet story!

Happy Reading!
RC

American Gods

Wow.  What can I possibly say about a Neil Gaiman book other than...wow?  Immediately drawn in by the tree on the cover, I gladly entered the 500 + page journey of this author's preferred text version of American Gods.  Having read Gaiman before, I knew what to expect...a wild imaginative plot with characters so real you swear they're based upon people you really know.  Afterwards, I always have the surreal experience of wondering if I dreamed the story, read it or actually lived it!  It's quite an adventure a reader takes upon themselves to read a Gaiman novel.  My students love Coraline and The Graveyard Book.  I'm pleased to say I'm a fan of his adult work as well.  

In this novel, we meet Shadow, a prisoner soon to be released from prison.  His story is mysterious and hidden.  Gaiman always does a great job of peeling a character like an onion.  There's always lots of juicy layers!  Once Shadow is released from prison, he is taken on a whirlwind road trip across the United States, visiting many roadside attractions.  I recognized several.  The people he encounters are really ancient gods once worshipped by cultures but are no longer powerful because people have stopped believing.  They've moved on to "worshipping" technology, the media, transportation, music, etc...  The gods fight for survival and it was so much fun to read and try to figure out which character represented which ancient god/goddess.  

I couldn't put it down!  Loved it so much!

Happy Reading!
RC

A Wizard of Earthsea

In one of my favorite movies, The Jane Austen Book Club, one of the characters suggests another read author Ursula K. LeGuin's books.  I have never, so now I shall.  I'm previewing the Earthsea Cycle for the middle school library and am finding many interesting similarities to Tolkien's work.  Also, since this series was first copyrighted in 1968, I'm guessing J.K. Rowling also read this as a young girl because the Harry Potter plot sounds remarkably similar... a young wizard with unbelievable power is nurtured by an older wizard and sent to a school for wizards to learn the magical trade.  He encounters many foe along the way and battles one particularly evil creature in book 1.  Reminds me so much of the summer I read the HP series.  I can see why so many people love the Earthsea Cycle...the plot is quick, the prose perfect.  

Although, I have to admit that I had a bit of trouble getting into it up until page 108.  That was when it "clicked" for me.  That's when the plot became really interesting and I felt like all the necessary foundation had been laid and the author was ready to take me on an adventure with Ged, the main character.

I have just a few more chapters before I'm finished and I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'll read the other 5 books.  Just in case I don't, I've included a picture for reference.  (This is not my photograph and I only ordered books 1-6.  Not sure quite yet what that 7th is about.  I did,

however, order the DVD for the library.)

Happy Reading!
RC

To Heaven and Back

A couple of years ago, I came across this book while searching for something unique for my mother to read.  She enjoys biography and true accounts of angels, near-death experiences, etc...  So when I saw this title, I knew it was right up her alley.  She read it and immediately brought it back to me to read.  She was so excited to share it.  For whatever reason, I couldn't get to it at that moment and it found it's way to my bedside book stack.  And eventually, it sank to the bottom of the stack and was just this month picked back up.  I sure did miss a blessing not reading it two years ago.

About this true story:  Dr. Mary C. Neal writes about her death experience while kayaking.  Without giving too much of the story away, please know that I believe every word she says about her son, what happened to her when she died and the messages God sent to her afterward.  She struggled with sharing this story, because it was HER story...her experience with the Lord and that is sacred.  However, He must have wanted her to share it because she reluctantly did and I'm so glad.  

If you want to take Dr. Neal's journey with her, be prepared to read for a while...you won't want to put it down.  You'll have to finish it in one sitting like I did.  It's that poignant.  It will definitely make you think about all the "coincidences" and "encounters" you've had so far in your own journey.  

To me, it's as good as Heaven is for Real in that she writes so purely and there's an innocence about her experience that you won't doubt.  So, if you're a fan of that book/movie, you'll want to pick up your own copy.

Happy Reading!
RC

May Bell's Daughter

This is the last book my dearly departed Sunday School teacher, mentor and friend, JoAnne, loaned me.  She gave it to me right after her son died a horribly painful death from cancer.  She knew the value in a lesson learned instead of a lesson taught.  She knew that at some point, I'd find the answers to all those questions I asked her every Sunday.  :)  By loaning me this book, she knew I'd find the answer to why people suffer.  

May Bell's Daughter, which is Eva Whittington Self's life story, 
is written by Lisa Harper.  Through it, Eva describes her childhood growing up in North Carolina.  Her parents, her siblings, her teenage years.  Her tragic automobile accident which left her paralyzed.  And her question to God...why?  But most importantly, how she lived after the accident.  How she turned a crisis into a blessing.

I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.  It's a quick, insightful read that will make you think.  It will make you question what you truly believe about the tragic events that have happened in not only your life, but the lives of others.  

Apparently, Eva visited a local church some years back and gave her testimony.  I wish I could have heard that.  Perhaps that's where JoAnne picked up her autographed copy.  I'll be returning this book to her family soon.  My hope is that they continue to loan it out to others...that's what their librarian mother/mother-in-law/grandmother would have done.  

According to the author info, Eva lives in Hopkinsville.  Maybe one day I'll get to meet her. And I'll tell her how JoAnne shared her story with me. 
 
Happy Reading!
RC

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Modern Christian fiction at it's best!  Loved reading Mindy Starns Clark's book 1 of her Million Dollar Mysteries series.  On loan to me by my cousin, I carefully picked off the $3 bargain price sticker from The Dollar Store and dug in.  My cousin hadn't disappointed me with The Cross Gardener, and so I dove in expectantly and wasn't surprised that it was a quick, thoughtful read.  Who doesn't love a "whodunit"?  In this series of mysteries, an attorney/private investigator, Callie, investigates nonprofit organizations for her boss, Tom, whom she's never met.  He's a mysterious philanthropist who grants money to deserving charities. 

In this first installment, Callie is sent to Philadelphia to grant Tom's friend a quick $250,000.  Not only is this unusual, because Callie always investigates the companies first...this turns into a mystery that she's asked to solve.  

Short, quick read.  Love that Callie is a born again Christian who takes opportunities to witness to others.  Love that sometimes she's met with opposition, as we all are.  Love that she gets the chance to win someone to Christ.  And, I love that she's a "real" woman.  She's made mistakes, has issues, and she's willing to deal with them in her own time.  That's a character I can identify with.  

Not going to pursue the rest of the books in the series right now, due to the overwhelming stack of summer reads, but I will definitely look into the second book, Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels, in the future.

Highly recommended for any age group, although this is published for adults.

Happy Reading!
RC

Dust Lands Trilogy book 3...a lesson learned

Had the toughest time reading Raging Star, book 3 in the Dust Lands Trilogy by Moira Young.  Not because it's a difficult read, but because I could not remember one single plot sequence from the first two books and nothing my book friends said brought anything rushing back to memory.  I even succumbed to a Google search for books 1-2 summaries...nope.  Nothing.  I could remember the main character, Saba...that she had a twin.  That she'd cut her hair off.  That she'd at one time been a cage fighter.  That she had a little sister.  That she was the typical Dystopian heroine.  But other than that?  No.

Now, this has nothing to do with the quality of the book.  Young knows how to write a dystopian novel.  Her plots are unpredictable, yet scattered with just enough clues to keep even the most avid mystery reader intrigued.  It's my fault.  I read too fast.  I absorb a book and blog a little about it, and then I move on.  I read the books as they were released.  Lots of time in between.  I remember enjoying them, I just couldn't remember them and I still can't.  I should have reread them.  But when I looked at my huge stack of summer reading material, I just couldn't force myself.  So, I trudged on and plowed through.  

I like Raging Star.  It's very well-written.  I can't give you any details because it's the final installment, but I can advise you to read them straight through.  You'll probably enjoy them so much more.  

I'm ashamed to say that by page 299, I still felt lost.  Still felt like I was missing something.  Felt very much like I'm sure some of my students who say they "hate" reading, feel when they try to read a book I've promised them is a winner!  

 You'd think I'd learned my lesson by now...I did the same thing with Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series.  But no.  The sheer volume of my summer reading stack pressured me to get this trilogy over with.  I'd like to say I'll try to reread it in the future.  But I won't.  Not unless I have to lead a discussion group over it.  Wow.  What a depressing experience I gave myself.  

For those of you reading this, I strongly encourage you to pick up book 1 if you haven't.  It's a wonderful trilogy.  I liked it better than The Hunger Games.  I bet you will too.  And yes, Ridley Scott has picked it up and it's in pre-production.  Can't wait for the movie!

Note:  This is a young adult trilogy that I would recommend for mature readers.  I keep it in the restricted collection of our school library due to the language and author's craft to not use any quotation marks.  (That can be very confusing to an emerging reader.)

Happy Reading!
RC

Doll Bones

I'm a big fan of Holly Black anyway, so I knew going in that I would enjoy Doll Bones, the 2014 Newbery Honor Book.  It had already received raves from some of my 7th graders and so I jumped into the fantasy world with Poppy, Alice and Zach right away.   This somewhat spooky story is made scarier if you are already afraid of creepy dolls.  And I am.  No creepy dolls or clowns for me please.  Never wanted them staring at me while I slept.  As a child I even kept my Barbies and their world closed inside my closet at night.  So when Poppy claims the doll they've been "playing" with might be made of crushed dead little girl bones, I was like "Yep, aren't they all?!"  LOL  

Seriously, this story speaks to those adults who fondly reminisce those long ago days of play.  Make believe.  Imagination.  Something terrible does happen to us as we grow up...we forget how to play.  We forget how much fun it is to escape.  And we have lots to escape don't we?  Stress?  Bills?  Work?  Health issues?  We should play more.  Forever.  That's Poppy's main argument throughout.  Let's not grow all the way up!

Zach, Alice and Poppy are in middle school and have been playing together for years.  They meet and play with their action figures and create a fantastical world of pirates, mermaids, Lady Jayes and Queens who all meet their match with William.  They create this story together and keep it going with questions even while in school.  It's their way to escape their realities.  Poppy has absentee parents, Alice is being raised by a very strict grandmother, and Zach's father is back after stepping out on the family for about three years.  No wonder they create a world that's fun and exciting for themselves.  Poppy begins to have dreams about a doll locked in her mother's china cabinet and that's where the quest begins.  

I enjoyed every moment of the story.  It's a fast read.  My students will love it.  Especially fans of Dan Poblacki, Mary Downing Hahn and Lois Duncan.  It will be an easy one to "sell" this fall.  

I love a story that takes me back to my childhood. 

Happy Reading! 
RC