*this is cross-posted on the Discovery Middle School Library blog
4 of 5 book clubs will meet this month to discuss books read over Winter Break. One will meet to discuss a previously read book, due to a missed meeting.
6th Grade - January 11 - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
7th Grade Roberts - January 18 - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The trailer
The blog of Tahereh Mafi and some information about Shatter Me movie rights which were sold even before the book came out! Also, a recording of Ms. Mafi pronouncing her first name! On her official website you can see a trailer for book 1.5 Destroy Me.
7th Grade Randolph - January 25 - Partials by Dan Wells
The trailer
Dan Wells' bio as well as a trailer for the next book, Fragments.
8th Grade - January 24 - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Trailer
Laini Taylor's Blog. Those UK covers are so much better! Love their simplicity. A few discussion questions from LitLovers.
Almost went to bed without doing my Friday Five. Here are five things on my mind right now:
1. @Readathon - It starts tomorrow people!!! I can hardly wait! I have my books all ready. I was going to start at 9am but my Book Blather buds talked me into starting at 8am (7am for them!) So, I added some additional books to my pile just in case this list isn't enough. I will be taking a break to go see Zac Efron in 17 again!!
2. Zac Efron - the one thing Ellen and I have in common - our "love" of Zac! He is good to look at and I think I would enjoy watching him mow my yard and clean out my pool - and I don't have a pool. Check him out! Rawr!
3. Book Talks - Love doing book talks to students who don't really read a lot and they sit up and take notice of the books. Some of them wanted to make sure that I had enough copies because they heard about "at least 3 books they wanted to read". I heart my job!
4. Book Groups - Every time I decide that it's just too much work to do book groups - some kid will tell me they heard about them and they want to sign up and my softie wittle heart makes me offer them again! The 3 this year meet every two weeks! Sure, we talk about the books, but mostly we just talk about...books! They love it, I love it, my principal loves it...it's pretty flippin sweet!
5. Cinda Williams Chima - I love authors and consider what they do to be nothing short of miraculous. They take stories i know and flip them around and they introduce me to new stories and mesmerize me. I stand in awe of them. Cinda has agreed to Skype with me and my 6th graders who read Wizard Heir. The students cannot believe that she would do that - they said - "it's like we are Oprah!" - no joke, that's what they said. We are going to finish Dragon Heir before our May 8th meeting and I will blog about it here.
Honestly, life is good right now. Nothing is too exciting. Nothing is too boring. It's just flowing and I'm moving along nicely. These are just five of my favorite things. What's one of yours?
OMW! Each group has read and discussed two books so far. It has been crazy trying to keep up and, like the students, when I have to do something it takes me a lot longer! Here are some updates:
6th Grade
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson - overall the students loved it and thought it was the best book they've ever read. Some of the students thought Isabel should have been happy being a slave because "that was her place". So we had a big discussion about what they meant by that. Very eye-opening for me.
Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima - most of the group loved this one and two students immediately checked out Dragon Heir because they wanted the rest of the story. The group was mixed on whether you could read these books separately or if you needed to read book one to get the full idea of what was going on. Two students didn't like the book - one because she "doesn't like fantasy". We decided to define what we meant by "fantasy" and ran out of time. We are having an extra meeting to continue our discussion.
Next meeting: Counter Clockwise by Jason Cockcroft
7th Grade
Graceling by Kristin Cashore Boys and girls raved over this one. The gentlemen were skeptical because of the soft colors in the cover. But every person loved this one (20 students!). They argued over whether Katsa and Po should have gotten married, though! They all had great reasons for their position and I pointed them to the website and to their parents! With more time I would have taken a poll on family backgrounds! Not really, J/K!
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
No love for this one except for a handful of the students. They didn't get it. These are students who also didn't love the Martian Chronicles. I was hoping to turn them around with this choice but it backfired. They requested something totally different for their next book. Cie la vie!
Next meeting: Epic by Conor Kostick
8th Grade
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness The conversation was fast and furious and went from beginning of the book, to end, to middle and back again. We discussed how the hits just kept coming for Todd but you couldn't stop reading because you just kept believing the hope was coming. They were outrage over the dog and the end. We were left wondering how in the heck did the Mayor do what he did? And the most important question of all - When is the sequel coming out!?!? Check out next week's Waiting on Wednesday for the answer!!
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
It was close to being unanimous - they loved this book. I had one student say it was too slow and she could not get into it. The rest wanted to know if we could watch the movie. We talked about why no one stepped in and rescued Lily. Why it was hard to remember her name - was it the author's way of making it easier more realistic because you could substitute for anyone? We talked about which of the Month sisters we associated with and if we would have had the guts to do what May did. Great discussion.
Next meeting: Separate Peace by John Knowles
I'll be back next month with more news from the groups.
Ah - books, books, books. I love them. And soon there will be more to love! This week I'm waiting on a new Sarah Dessen book:
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen Publication date: June 16, 2009
I've read a few of Sarah Dessen's books including: Someone Like You, Keeping the Moon, This Lullaby, Just Listen, and Lock and Key. Her writing continues to get better. I like how some characters show up in other books. One new-agey thing I did was to get two rings, one for each hand, like Owen in Just Listen. I have something written on both and they serve as constant reminders for me because I wear them everyday! I read that book two years ago and it still inspires my life! That's good writing. If you want to know more about Along for the Ride - check out Sarah reading an excerpt on YouTube. Now I'm even more excited. I'm sure we'll be reading this in summer book club!
Check out this Lit Flicks Challenge. You read 5 books that have been made into movies and watch at least 2 of the movies by February 28th.
This works well for me because that's one of the 8th Gr. English Teacher's themes for next month. I will be doing book talks to her class on books that have been made into movies. The students have to read the book/watch the movie and write a paper comparing/contrasting them. Two books she's given me to read are: Hoot and Princess Bride.
I also chose Lord of the Flies because I've always wanted to read that. I just need two more book choices! I think I want to watch the movies for all of them though!!
Breaking Dawn I loved most of it. I had a little problem with the s-e-x, not because it was graphic - it wasn't. It was only alluded too. It was just...unexpected. One of the ways I "handsell" these books to parents is the absence of sex. So many young adult books have it - which isn't bad - unless it's gratuitous. But these appeal to avid readers who are a little younger - say 5th grade and up - so I was surprised and a little grossed out!
I especially enjoyed the writing from Jacob's point of view. It helped me to picture him more clearly, and I was already a Jacob fan! It was funny and thoughtful and surprising. Even the chapter titles were funny: Waiting for the damn fight to start already, Some people just don't grasp the concept of unwelcome - I mean,you can tell Stephenie Meyer was enjoying herself. And I loved the end of that part...
Throughout the book, I felt that we got to know more about Edward's family and I wish there was a part from his perspective. I can't wait for Midnight Sun to come out.
Reality Chick Ally Cavanaugh decides she wants to be on a reality TV show. In her freshmen year of college. That begins the unrealistic part of the book. The setting, the television show, could have been changed without changing the book. The book could have been changed and you wouldn’t know you were reading something different. It really had that “haven’t I read that before” quality and not in a good way.
If Barnholdt would have explored the photography angle and the growing relationship between Drew and Ally, the book would have been much better. A little less name-dropping would help too – it will really date the book. Barnholdt also portrays Ally’s parents as idiots and her best friend as the stereotypical gay guy obsessed with his looks. So campy. Those parts could have been left out and would have improved the story.
Let’s just start with the title. Bad. Can you imagine having to ask for this book in a store or at the library? How embarrassing! This book was unrealistic from beginning to end - the mom moving to Germany to work on her degree, Kate earning money so she doesn’t have to go to college, the nerd dating the most popular guy in school, and then everyone wanting to know her secret. It was totally predictable and the ending could be determined within the first two chapters. Nothing was explored in depth. We all want to believe that you can cross the lines of popularity. This book does not help us.
1. Reality Chick by Lauren Barnholdt 2. Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendalin Van Draanen 3. The Luxe by Anna Godberson 4. Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway 5. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
We will discuss Reality Chick on June 19th. In the meantime, check out some of Lauren Barnholdt's favorite musicians.
The girls (8th/9th/10th grade) get to pick their top 5 and then we will see which ones we read. Our first book will be Reality Chick by Lauren Barnholdt and our last book will be Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.
1. It's All About Us by Shelley Adina 2. Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway 3. Shift by Jennifer Bradbury 4. Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson 5. Take Me There by Susane Colasanti 6. How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro 7. Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Judy Gerham 8. Imaginary Enemies by Julie Gonzales 9. Luxe by Anne Gunderson 10.In Between by Jenny B. Jones 11. My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger 12. How to be Bad by Lockhart, Mylnowski, Myracle 13. Suck it Upby Brian Meehl 14. Dairy Queen/The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock 15. Thirteen by Lauren Myracle 16. The Fold by An Na 17. How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt 18. Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott 19. The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith 20. Lost It by Kristen Tracy 21 Me, The Missing and The Dead by Jenny Valentine 22. Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen
Really hard to pick just 5! I know that #14 is actually two books but you gotta read both! What are your picks?
1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie 2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 3. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by MT Anderson 4. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 5. My Name is Chloe by Melody Carlson 6. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen 7. The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher 8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 9. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer 10. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer 11. Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers 12. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock 13. The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock 14. The Fold by An Na 15. Unwind by Neil Shusterman 16. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 17. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 18. Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman 19. Black and White by Paul Volponi 20. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Taken I read this book for my YA book club. We tried to choose books that would be appealing to both boys and girls, since we have one boy in our group of 10 girls. The boy dropped out - but we stuck with our book selections.
Taken is set in the future, 2035. In the future, kidnapping is such a lucrative business that the rich have currency vaults, their children have trackers inserted somewhere on their persons, the help consists of people who will be willing to die for you, and they live in gated communities - and rarely leave!
Charity Meyers goes to school via satellite, buys her clothes online, and only has one friend. Taken refers to what happens when someone is kidnapped. Such as Charity. The rule is the families have 24 hours to follow the kidnappers demands and the book opens with only about 12 hours left.
It's a very interesting concept. I didn't think the Mickie Meyers character, Charity's ex-stepmother, was believable. Everyone did what she said but it was noted that she wasn't very bright. She disrupted the satschool classes and the Meyer's everyday life - and they let her.
Other than that - it was a pretty good middle grade mystery. Lots of twists and turns. There were some scenes that might make it a little YA though - such as how Charity and her friend Patience make fun of the background of their names. But, I would recommend it to people looking for a quick read.
This was an enjoyable book. Stuart Hill gives you just enough background information that you are not bored or bogged down.We knew that Thirrin would be able to take over when it was her turn.What we didn't know was how she would be able to fight the Empire.The book was action packed but with enough dialogue to make the action fun.Sometimes it was hard to believe that Thirrin was only 14, but that's because I was thinking of modern day 14-year-old children.It was hard to put this book down because Hill gave you just enough to make you keep going.The book club loved this book and immediately checked out the sequel: Blade of Fire.
I have to say that this was better than Last Shot for me.I thought it moved a lot faster.I loved the story about the big shot football player and his close friend the equipment manager.I was a little put off by the frequent references to Susan Carol's height and attractiveness though.Also, the older men putting the moves on her were a little much.
I liked the focus on Stevie and how he had to deal with Susan Carol's fame while being sure to do get his work done.The mystery unfolded naturally and I felt like I could recreate the steps the duo took for background research on steroid testing.In light of what's happening with steroids in sports today, this was very timely!
I loved Marla the therapist.She was believable and interesting.That said...this book felt so contrived.I disliked the main character and did not care what happened to him.He was very egotistical and unbelievable.Everything went right for him.I couldn't believe that he would get the girl, I couldn't believe that Rudy would change.I don't understand why Dallas and Rudy had the backgrounds that they did.There was no preparation for any of that.I read 182 p. without any connection.The only reason I finished the book was because it was a book club book.
I wonder if I didn't like this book because of the books I read right before this: Crooked Kind of Perfect, The Opposite of Invisible, Book Thief...maybe these books biased me.As of today though, I didn't like this book.I gave it two stars because we did have a good discussion about it!
That is my favorite YA book this year. I am "hand-selling" this to my 8th grade students. They are studying the Holocaust right now. Markus Zusak approaches the topic from a different viewpoint. He introduces you to the people who were left behind, the people who had to leave, people who didn't agree but didn't have a choice, people who tried to do the right thing and what that cost them and their families. He does all of that, and more, with compassion. The compassion comes in the form of Death, who narrates the story. He has a sense of humor and a great big heart. It is truly a great book. I've only physically read it once, but I listen to the audio over and over. The narrator hits the exact tone that I imagined! Well worth reading. Don't let the size put you off. It's actually a fast read. Enjoy!
I am pretty busy with classes and work stuff lately. Not a lot of time to read or post, except what's required! I need to learn to say no. I hope to get back on track soon!
I did just finish reading The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher (waiting for Jess at the ortho). That book is full of awesome. As soon as I get the chance, I want to re-read it! And, of course, write about it. Along with all the other reviews I would like to do.
I just started Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli. It is phenomenol. It's all I can do to put it away while I do my homework. Will Tuppence is afraid of everything and his fear...well it keeps him from everything. Here are a few lines from the book:
And smiles to go before I weep. ...off the edge of self-control and down the slippery slope of my own words. ...you can't forgive unless you first give a crap. ...smile on wheels...(describing a laugh) Chapter PD165
It's a great story with great words. Will thinks of his epithet:
Here Lies Will Tuppence - He Was Afraid
He also thinks of his best freind's dad's epiteph. He's a man who is always busy:
I just won a Chronicle's of Narnia pop-up book from Anne at Book Buds Kidlit Reviews as part of her Cybils awareness campaign.
I am writing all of the YA short list books in my journal, so that I can read them before the year is over. If I haven't already. I will then be able to use some of them for next year's YA book club! How sweet is that?
I used to have a blog called Read.Think.Learn. I think, as part of the new me, I want to go back to doing the reviews for my students. This is my second year as a librarian and now I have students in middle and high school as well as some authors I've met. I think it's time. I will be careful though. I burned out because you couldn't update at school and I was super busy at home. I'm still super busy, taking classes at IUPUI, single mom-ming it, hanging out with my homies, running a couple of school book clubs, you know the drill. I'm going to start off small, just with the books I read for book clubs, including our ARYA book club (Adults Reading Young Adult books) which is just me and some teachers finding a reason to get together once a month!!
Ok, that's what I'll do. Right now I'm reading: Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Teach Me by RA Nelson. Those are the book club books du jour. For fun I'm reading: Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt.
I also have a Facebook and Myspace account. As well as GoodReads and LibraryThing. I need to consolidate!
is a much better book.
