Friday Five - May 15

Yes, I know it's not Friday! It's been a long week with work, internship, classes, homework... I'm having to re-arrange my schedule so that the things I enjoy doing aren't left off - sorta makes me cranky!! Check out Sarah Dessen's Friday Five, here!

1. School - I am so glad that you can change classes! I'm down to my last three classes before my MLS is done! Wo0t! I took a Youth Lit class because that sounds freaking awesome but the work load is too impossible right now! I'm not one to shy away from reading but dang! So I switched to Youth Svs - which will make me more flexible if ever I need to find a new job that's not my dream job! I did get a chance to get the class reading list though and can add some to my TBR pile!!

2. Freezer pops - I bought a container of those at the grocers and now I can have a treat without feeling guilty! I satisfy my sugar craving, quench my thirst, and my lips have a little color! How cool is that! (image from flckr)

3. Audiobooks - just finished listening to Left Behind and, even though it was read by the author, it was really good! With all the busy-ness of last week, it was nice to read something! My reading's been out of wack for weeks now!

4. @awaitinserenity - Drea sent me that cool picture of a bookstore. My dream job is running a teen bookstore/hangout type place. It would feature MG/YA books and MG/YA author visits. Have a section for book groups to meet. Coffee shop. Gaming area. Open later and stay open late. Passionate, knowledgeable employees. Comfy areas. Subdued colors. Displays to get you talking. Downloadable books, movies, music section. Customer rewards. Skype room? What would you want in a bookstore for teens?

5. gmail - I've been using gmail (teach46530 AT gmail DOT com) a lot lately and I love it. You can easily follow an email conversation because each message is there with dates. It has a cool chat function and they just added video. It integrates nicely with iGoogle (love that also!).

2010 Potential Newberys (of Color)

My internship Supervisor is starting her Mock Newbery Club. First she gathered a list of all children's books that garnered starred reviews. Second is determining if those authors are US Citizens or make their home in the US.

As I was completing part two I noticed the following authors of color

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
Peace, Locomotion by Jaqueline Woodson
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon
Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grande

I'm not sure if this is different than normal because I don't really follow the Newbery's even though I purchase them for the school each year. I just thought this was interesting.

What are your thoughts?

Waiting on Wednesday - Powerless by Matthew Cody

Powerless
Matthew Cody
Random House
November 10, 2009

From Random House website:

Twelve-year-old Daniel, the new kid in town, soon learns the truth about his nice—but odd—new friends: one can fly, another can turn invisible, yet another controls electricity. Incredible. The superkids use their powers to secretly do good in the town, but they’re haunted by the fact that the moment they turn thirteen, their abilities will disappear—along with any memory that they ever had them. Is a memory-stealing supervillain sapping their powers? The answers lie in a long-ago meteor strike, a World War II–era comic book (Fantastic Futures, starring the first superhero, Johnny Noble), the green-flamed Witch Fire, a hidden Shroud cave, and—possibly, unbelievably—“powerless” regular-kid Daniel himself. Superhero kids meet comic book mystery in this action-filled debut about the true meaning of a hero

This book has three things I like: It's a graphic novel for middle grade students, It's being released on my best friend's birthday (happy 43rd Kym!), and it is how we all feel at one time or another. It sounds like we'll be learning, along with Daniel, that we can overcome it!

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you courtesy of Jill at Breaking The Spine. Each week we learn what book bloggers around the globe can barely wait to be published.

Review - Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

Readin'
Fragile Eternity
Melissa Marr
HarperCollins
Pages: 389
Ttl Rdg Time: 5 hrs

Writin'
Fragile Eternity is the continuation of Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange. In Wicked Lovely we are introduced to Aislinn and Keenan. Keenan is the Summer King of the faery world and he wants Aislinn to be his Queen. If she becomes the Queen he will get stronger and he can overtake his mother Beira, the Winter Queen who has bound his strength as well as the strength of his court. In Ink Exchange we meet Iriel and Leslie. Iriel is the Dark King and he wants Leslie to join his court. Not exactly as the Queen but so that he can "feed" his court. They feed off negative emotions as well as desires. Leslie gets a tattoo (ink) that allows Iriel to do that but he becomes attached to her.

Fragile Eternity focuses mostly on Seth Morgan. Seth has decided that he is not strong enough to stay with Aislinn in his mortal state and he wants to change but everyone, including Niall, has turned him down. He believes that being a faery will put him on equal footing, not just with Aislinn, but Keenan too!

Rithmetic
There was a lot of foreshadowing regarding Seth's humanity and how he's losing the cool he's fought so hard for (p. 115). Although you *know* he's going to be changed, you are not sure if he's going to turn into a dark faery or what!

The writing in Fragile Eternity was beautiful and kept you engaged. Marr introduced characters in the beginning who we met again later in the book, bringing the plot full circle. There was a focus on love and it's separation from lust. You saw Aislinn and Seth drifting while Aislinn and Keenan drew closer - even though they don't love each other.

"love can give a person strength to break through glamours and magick" - p 134

"We're at the beginning today. I'm yours. Wholly without reservation." p 199

Many choices are made in the hopes that someone will notice. Seth goes with Bananach to Sorcha's despite his own feelings of unease. How many times have we done that? But he wants to be a faery. Will Sorcha grant him his request?

Definitely my favorite of the three books. I was about 10 pages from the end before I realized there was going to be a fourth book! I enjoyed the way Marr wove pertinent parts from the other books into this one without bogging down the story. The ending was well done and totally unexpected, just when I thought I knew what was going on! Will purchase for school!

Melissa Marr will be at Anderson's Book Shop June 2nd!

Blog Award!

Addicted Reader gave me the Kreative Blogger Award!

Rules:
*Post 7 things you love
*Give award to 7 other bloggers who are creative.

7 things I love:
1. Reading and discussing books

2. My Darling Daughter

3. Middle School students

4. COFFEE!!

5. Movies

6. Music - obsessed with OneRepublic and The Fray right now

7. Twitter

I only have time to give this to 3 but, believe me, there are many more that deserve this award! Remember - you define kreative!

1. Epic Rat
2. Prophecy Girl (Wondrous Reads)
3. Doret (Happy Nappy Bookseller)

This will move to my footer until I get my blog re-designed!

Sunday Salon - Trouble by Gary Schmidt

Sunday Salon is me telling you about the book I'm currently reading. I'm taking a Youth Literature Seminar class this summer and we have to read two books this week: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and Trouble. Checking my bookcases I found an MP3 of Trouble and a hardcover of Wintergirls. Since I'm doing some cleaning, as my own personal Mother's Day gift, I thought this would be a good time to listen to Trouble.

Trouble
Gary Schmidt
Scholastic Audiobooks
Read by Jason Culp - Unabridged

Synopsis from Scholastic website:


Climbing Katahdin, the hightest mountain in Maine, is the goal that Henry sets himself when his brother dies following a car accident. Along with his dog, his best friend, and -- surprisingly -- the Cambodian boy whose car was involved in the fatal accident, Henry experiences a journey that is both physically daunting and spiritually exhilarating. The writing combines breathtaking nature imagery and hilarious comedy, as only Gary D. Schmidt can.

What I'm Thinking
Henry and his older brother Franklin have a normal relationship - Henry hero-worships Franklin and Franklin ignores him. It doesn't really help matters that Franklin is good at everything and the town adores him.

Schmidt's sense of humor peaks through this first chapter in a very subtle manner - the greatest job of the two police officers - is picking up trash some outsider left behind and the town all clap when Franklin recovers from a broken ankle.

On Henry's 14th birthday Franklin agreed to take Henry on a climb up Mt. Katahdan, basically because their Dad was making them. But that night they learn that Franklin was hit by a driver sleeping at the wheel and had a brain tumor.

So far this really good! The only problem - I keep stopping my chores to listen more closely! Schmidt has great descriptions and this Jason Culp is a good reader. His slight inflections bring each character to life and injects the audio with an understated humor in the right places.

I have to go to a Mother's Day Dinner now! I know I will get to finish this by week's end!

In My Mailbox - May 10

IMM is brought to you courtesy of The Story Siren, take a look at her blog for more books for your TBR pile! This is where I list the books I've received in the past week - bought, borrowed, begged, or otherwise!

Random House UK
My Dating Disasters Diary by Liz Rettig
I received a slew of books from Kids at Random House UK! I posted about 10! of them here because I couldn't wait to let you know. I forgot to mention this Liz Rettig book. I've heard nothing but good about it and look forward to reading it for summer book club. Check out Liz's website, she's funny!

Tor/Tom Doherty



Children of the Dawnland by Kathleen and W. Michael Gear
Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
City of Fire by Laurence Yep

KD over at Tor Teens sent these three books as choices for my fantasy book club. All three release this fall! When I review these, they will include student comments/reviews! Never Slow Dance has a great post on how they decided on the cover and E. Van Lowe has a blog you can follow.



Blog Tour - June 8 through June 12


Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Gunn - will be hosted on my Blog during the week of June 8 - June 12. Click the cover for more info on book.

@littlebrown Twitter contest

Exit Music by Ian Rankin - on Mr. Rankin's birthday, Little, Brown and Company hosted a giveaway if you tweeted him birthday wishes! Yet another reason I love twitter!

Pretty great week. I have lots of reading to catch up on!

What's in your mailbox?

Pardon My Dust

Working on new blog design. Please forgive the mess and missing posts and page elements. Should be updated by soon!

New Books Arrived - Random House UK

Lauren and Ruth at Random House UK are pretty flipping sweet! They saw that I wanted to read Flightsend by Linda Newbery and they sent it to me!!! They also sent some more treasures that I'd like to share with you:

Thursday, May 7 -



Blood Water by Dean Vincent Carter - a town under water!
Extreme Kissing by Luisa Playa - J has tried to steal this already
Spook's Apprentice by Joseph Delaney - I can barely wait to start this one!
Flightsend by Linda Newbery - J and I sat on the driveway while I read excerpts
Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd - what a beautiful cover
The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare - hella hard time finding this cover! This book wasn't listed on any book sites - that makes me want to read it even more!

Friday, May 8 -



Bang, Bang, You're Dead by Narinder Dhami - have you seen the Tom Cavanaugh movie of this title? Wonder if similar? You can actually feel the holes on the book cover sign!
Dread Pirate Fleur and the Ruby Heart by Sara Starbuck - Dread Pirate? any relation to the Princess Bride? ::squee:: can't wait!
The Sorceress by Michael Scott - This is book 3! The students will be chasing me around the library!!!
Sebastian Darke: Prince of the Explorers by Philip Caveney - this looks like fun! "How can you kill something that's already dead...?" Check out the cool website!

Yippee! I'm so excited! Look for reviews of these books over the next weeks! My goal is to read and review at least one a week. I'm hoping for some fall book club picks out of this! I'm also going to have the summer book club read and comment on some! Keep your eyes on the brainlair!

Waiting On Wednesday - Galleys from BEA

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to you courtesy of Breaking The Spine - check out her blog for more book ideas.

Here's a link to PW's post on what Galleys will be available at BEA. I, unfortunately, cannot go to BEA and hope these will be available at ALA in Chicago! Here are the ones I'm salivating for:

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima (Disney-Hyperion) kicks off a trilogy starring a reformed thief and a princess heir.

Loved the Heir series!

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, illus. by Keith Thompson (Simon Pulse). The author of the Uglies series sets his new novel in 1914 at the brink of WWI, in an alternate world with fantastic machines.

Westerfeld writes a kick ass alternate world. Uglies was my intro to YA when I moved to the middle school and I was totally converted never to return to elementary!

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (S&S). Assistant to a monster-hunting doctor, Will uncovers a terrifying threat to the world.

Loved the Alfred Kropp books - hope this one is just as good.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press). Grace meets Sam, who is a wolf during certain times of the year.

wolf!

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (Little, Brown), collects short stories from more than two dozen top YA authors, including M.T. Anderson, Cassandra Clare and David Levithan.

all my favorite writers!! will disappear fast!


The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Delacorte). Thomas finds himself with a group of ragged boys in a dystopian world.

Dystopian!

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr (Little, Brown). For a 15-year-old girl, personal and local tragedies run parallel.

I love Sara Zarr - she could write anything and I would buy it and read it and pass it around!

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser (Egmont). High school students disappear after being mentioned in an anonymous blog.

Kid's who say they don't like reading - love Todd Strasser.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky) is a middle-grade novel set in a world where magic has been banned.

The author's name is Kaleb Nation - I will buy it just for that!

I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb (Razorbill). For Oliver, world domination might come easier than the class presidency.

It sounds like a book about me but with a name change - :)

School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari, illus. by Carrie Gifford (Little, Brown). Four 12-year-olds attend a strange school to eradicate their fears.

I liked The Makedown as a grown-up book. Will see if writing works well in YA.

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani (HarperTeen) is the bestselling author's first YA novel, about an aspiring filmmaker stuck at boarding school.

another promising adult writer writing YA.

Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga (Houghton). Kyra returns from six months in a mental health facility in this sequel.

Yahoo! Loved The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - this will be read in one sitting - I know it!

Front and Center by Catherine Murdock (Houghton) is the final book in the Dairy Queen trilogy.

Good news - Yeah more DJ - Bad News - last book in series :(

So what are you waiting on?