Amity Middle School-Bethany Book Blog

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

2012-01-30T12:49:00.001-05:00

Ok, if you want to read a book you can't put down, read Girl, Stolen. I read this book in two sittings and only to stopped for a break when my husband insisted he was hungry and we needed to eat. Cheynne Wilder is sixteen-years-old and blind. She is also very sick with pneumonia. On the way back from the doctor's, her mother stopped to pick up a perscription for her. While Cheyenne was sleeping in the back seat her mother's car was stolen-with Cheyenne in it! Although Griffen, her kidnapper, only wanted to steal a car and was shocked to see a person in the back seat, he doesn't let her go. Griffen brings Cheyenne to his father's house deep in the woods and things go from bad to worse. How can Cheyenne escape if she can't see? And when Griffen's father discovers Cheyenne is the daughter of the president of Nike his plans for a ransom seem to put Cheyenne even more at risk. This was really a book that I couldn't put down. I was really frightened for Cheyenne and amazingly, felt empathy for Griffen her initial kidnapper. If you want to read a fairly short book that will keep your interest from page one, read Girl, Stolen!

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

2012-01-27T12:12:00.002-05:00

Rory Deveaux arrives in London during a very exciting time. It will soon be the anniversary of the Jack the Ripper killings. In 1888, a person who police nicknamed Jack the Ripper killed a number of women in London, England, in a short period of time. The killings stopped, but "Jack" was never caught.

Now, each year on the anniversary of the killings, London is filled with a sort of party atmosphere. Stores are selling Jack the Ripper tee-shirts and pubs are packed with people.

Until a murder occurs. The murder is caught on a surveillance camera, but no killer can be seen ...except by Rory.

If you like murder mysteries and ghost stories, you will love this book.

Half A Life A Memoir by Darin Strauss

2012-01-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

Half my life ago, I killed a girl.

I had just turned eighteen, and when you drive in new post-adolescence, you drive with friends. We were headed to shoot a few rounds of putt-putt.

So begins the memoir by Darin Strauss who was driving his friends to play miniature golf when a girl on her bike (who happened to be in his senior class in high school) darted out in front of his car.

He killed her and it changed everything.

This is a very honest accounting of how Darin reconciles the fact that although he killed a classmate, it wasn't his fault. With deep introspection, he examines his feelings right after the accident, when he attends college, and then when he is trying to build a life with his soon-to-be wife.

I'm not sure that middle school students will be able to relate to this book, but I do think at least a few students are living with what seems to be a terrible secret - a part of themselves they try to keep private from the outside world.

And probably at least one or two people reading this blog have had to deal with a terrible accident. Maybe something happened to someone you love, or perhaps you are living with guilt over something that happened in your life. It would be hard to find a book where someone has examined his feelings so honestly and written about them with such perceptive insight.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

2012-01-19T09:44:00.004-05:00

What a fun book! Are you looking for a romantic book that will take you away from the winter doldrums we seem to be in?
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was a light, romantic read with a bit more to it than first appears.

How much of what happens to you is coincidence? Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in love at first sight?

Well, I fell in love with the two main characters - Hadley and Oliver - but especially Oliver, who seems like the perfect guy: smart, cute, a little mysterious, and sensitive. Just the kind of guy a lot of girls wish they could meet. And Hadley, who misses her overseas flight by just four minutes, has to take the next plane to England, and gets to sit next to Oliver for the entire flight.

There are some twists and turns once they arrive in England that will keep the reader interested until the very end. If you like romantic books, you will love this one!

Variant by Robison Wells

2012-01-19T09:22:00.002-05:00

This is the chance of a lifetime for Benson. He has been granted a full scholarship to Maxfield Academy. He will be able to turn his life around, get a good education, and finally live in one place longer than a few months before he is sent on to the next foster home.

But when he is dropped off at the Academy, things seem strange. First of all, there are no adults anywhere. NONE! The only teachers are other students who read from a computer screen.

The entire school is divided into three gangs: Society, Havoc, and Variant. He must decide which gang to join - and quickly - before he gets badly beaten up, or worse.

Perhaps worst of all, there are cameras and microphones everywhere, recording everything.

And to make matters even worse, there is no escape. There is both a wall surrounding the school and barbed wire fences. Students who have tried to escape in the past are killed. Max is trapped and has no idea who he can trust - because if he trusts the wrong person, it could be deadly.

This book was full of twists and turns - it was fabulous!! It kept me guessing until the end. And then, there was another twist! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian or suspenseful novels with a twist of science fiction.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

2012-01-06T11:05:00.002-05:00

If you like to learn about history when you read a book, but also like a quick read and a riveting story, Between Shades of Gray is the book for you.

If you enjoyed reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and other historical fiction books about the Holocaust and WW II, you will race through this book.

I never knew Lithuanians were deported from their country during WW II, but in this historical novel I learned that fifteen-year-old Lina and her family were taken from their comfortable home in Lithuania and sent to a cold, bleak camp where they were forced to pick beets all day and had to sleep on wooden planks at night. Beatings and shootings came randomly from guards who were unpredictable at best. And if these conditions weren't bad enough, Lina and her family were again taken and sent to Siberia.

Siberia - where it is dark half of the year and incredibly cold! Here they didn't even have a hut to sleep in and disease swept through the prisoners.

However, courage, love, and resilience shine throughout this book. I am very glad I read this book and I think you will be, too.

Blue Fish by Pat Schmatz

2011-12-20T09:13:00.002-05:00

Last week a student asked me for a book that would make her cry. It was an unusual request from an eighth grader, but after thinking awhile, I managed to come up with a few titles.

Wouldn't you know, the next book I read had me in tears! This is a sad book in parts, but it is so much more. I've always known that you can't tell about a person's life just by their appearance, but that lesson is easy to forget. This book reinforces that belief - you never know what is really going on in a person's life by just looking at him or her.

Well, in Bluefish, things aren't what they seem in Velveeta and Travis' lives. Things are difficult, much more difficult than they should be for young teenagers. But both characters have spirits that shine through and enable them to persevere despite overwhelming odds.

After I finished this book (which I read in 3 hours), I came to school and put it in the hands of the first person who came into the media center.

Read this book, but first get a tissue for the tears that will probably come! I realize I haven't told you much about this book. It's about a girl with family problems, a boy who has difficulty in school, and a dog who made me cry.

Legend by Marie Lu

2011-12-16T09:23:00.001-05:00

I promise, I will read something other than dystopian soon. When some books come into the library, they are just too tempting, and I must read them immediately!!

Legend was one of the tempting books and it lived up to its promise - it was great!

Day and June are the main characters and are on opposite sides of the law. Day is a rebel, fighting against the government, and June is a 15 year-old girl, quickly rising to the top ranks of the government's army. They meet when June is working undercover on the streets. Because June thinks Day killed her brother, she is hunting him down and wants to capture him knowing that if Day is captured, he will be killed.

But June gets to know Day, and begins to think Day is not a murderer, and in fact, seems like a caring and intelligent young man. They are very much like a dystopian Romeo and Juliet.

Legend is very fast-paced, a little on the bloody and violent side, but altogether a gripping story. I loved it, and if you like dystopian novels, you will love it, too!

Now, on to find some other genre to read. Any titles you can suggest?

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

2011-11-29T10:25:00.003-05:00

Emma and Josh are next-door neighbors who live in the year 1996. Not every household has a computer, and those who do, don't always have the internet.

Josh brings Emma an AOL CD so she can go online. But --- when Emma puts the AOL disk in, Facebook pops up ---and Facebook hasn't even been invented yet!

The picture on the page looks just like Emma, but older. Her status is married! And, the adult Emma doesn't seem all that happy.

When they type in Josh's name, however, they see a photograph of a beautiful house on the lake, twin babies, and a beautiful wife (actually a senior who goes to his school and is considered the hottest girl in school.) Josh is estactic, especially since he's hardly even dated.

Emma is upset; Josh is wildly happy with this vision of their futures, but when they login the next day, things are different. Why? Does what they do in the present change our future?

Would you want to know your future? How far would you go to change it, if you didn't like what you saw? This is a fascinating book that will appeal to both boys and girls in middle school and up. There are some sexual references, so I would recommend The Future of Us to grade 8 and above.

Populazzi by Elise Allen

2011-11-22T11:30:00.002-05:00

Cara has never been one of the popular girls, but now that she is moving to a new school for her junior year of high school, her best friend Claudia has a plan.

Claudia has a theory for becoming popular - "The Ladder." If Cara follows the Ladder step-by-step, Claudia is sure that Cara will become one of the Populazzi - one of the most popular girls in the school.

On her first day of school, Cara needs to make friends with and perhaps later date, a student who is mildly popular. Once they become a couple, Cara is to break-up with him, and then date someone higher up on the ladder. Then repeat ...

This is a fun, rather light-hearted look at high school dynamics, but underneath the glitz and gossip, we get to know Cara and her new best friend (boyfriend?) Archer. Above all, her teenage angst rings true and I think all teenage girls would love to be best friends with Archer.

I really enjoyed this book, but there are some sex scenes that make this book more appropriate for mature 8th grade girls and older.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

2011-11-22T11:05:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I think I'm getting tired of reading dystopian novels, and then a book like Ashfall comes along and sucks me right in.

Alex's family leaves him to visit relatives and Alex is finally alone to fend for himself when the unbelievable happens - his house catches on fire and his leg is trapped under his dresser.

He finally frees his leg and runs for help, but when he reaches his yard, he discovers ash raining down from the sky. A huge volcano in Yellowstone National Park has erupted and doesn't show signs of stopping.

Day after day the sky is grey and ash is accumulating like snow on the ground. Alex has no choice but to leave his community and try to find his parents. He straps on skis, packs some food, and puts a wet rag over his nose to keep from breathing the ash.

The author really made me feel and see what life was like - bleak, grey, dirty, dying plants and animals everywhere. People are running out of food and water. Outlaws are doing anything they have to to survive.

This book is not for the feint-hearted. But if you want to read a page turner filled with adventure and a big heaping dose of romance, you will love this book. I did! But I sure did appreciate going outside and breathing a big lungful of fresh clean air!

Hunger Games Official Movie Trailer

2011-11-21T13:09:00.003-05:00

Just in case you haven't seen the official Hunger Games movie trailer I thought I'd post it here. I can't wait until March! Movies based on books are hardly ever as good as the book, but I have high hopes for this one!
Do you want to have another Hunger Games party here at school before the movie opens?

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

2011-11-07T09:46:00.003-05:00

Another book for fans of dystopian novels. Fifteen-year-old Waverly lives on the Empyrean, a spaceship headed for the New Earth. She and her boyfriend, Kieran, are part of the first generation of children born on the Empyrean, and along with this comes the duty to carry on the human race. Waverly must decide if Kieran really is the right boy for her when suddenly that decision becomes immaterial when the Empyrean is attacked by the New Horizon, another ship bound towards the New Earth.

After a violent battle, all the young girls are taken hostage from the Empyrean. Anne Mather, leader of the New Horizon is one of the great villains in YA literature. She is devious, ruthless, and will stop at nothing (including killing) to ensure the New Horizon will have a new generation of children aboard.

This book is a little more mature than some dystopian novels - it does have violence and some sexual content - so I'm recommending this to only mature readers in eighth grade and up.

Scored by Lauren McLaughlin

2011-11-07T08:53:00.004-05:00

During the Halloween snow storm power outage (no power, heat, water) for five full days, I had plenty of opportunity to read, and I was lucky enough to have brought several great books home with me.

If you like dystopian fiction, but aren't a fan of blood and violence, then this is the book for you.

Mechanical eyeballs are everywhere, looking at you, tracking everything you do, say, and even think. And then giving you a score.

In Imani's world everything depends on your score. She is a 92 and seemingly has it made - she will be able to attend a good college (and have it paid for), choose a great profession, and have a life that she desperately wants.

However, her best friend, Cady, is a 71 and hanging out with the wrong boy. Imani believes in loyalty, until her score begins to plunge quickly from the 90s to the 70s and then into the 50s. She needs to drop her best friend, and even then, may not ever be able to raise her score in time.

This book will really make you think. What really is important? Money? Doing the right thing? What does doing the right thing really mean - when you aren't sure what the right thing is?

This is a really good book that I highly recommend for both boys and girls.

Right Behind You by Gail Giles

2011-11-07T08:39:00.003-05:00

Kip did a horrific thing when he was just nine years old - he set his seven year-old neighbor on fire and killed him- all because he was jealous of a baseball glove.

Kip spends four years in a mental hospital, but now that it is time to leave, he is unsure of how he can fit in. He and his father move from Alaska to Indiana where he changes his name and attends the local high school. Miraculously, he fits in, makes friends, and creates a new life until ...

During a celebratory party after a swimming match, Kip (now Wade) drinks and things get out of control. He confesses everything to his new friends. Can they handle this or will they think he has lied to them?

Kip is a narrator you will root for. He tells his story with honesty and courage. How much does your past define you? Must you always live with guilt when you have done something horrible? This is a very quick read that I think both boys and girls will race through.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-10-27T10:58:00.002-04:00

Alex is camping out in the mountains when an electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky. In that moment everything changes. Everyone between the ages of 20 and 60 dies. Young people are turned into zombies and the few people left are "changed." Alex must make her way to safety. Who can she trust? And where should she go? This book has a ton of twists and turns that kept me anxiously reading. But the ending! Well, I admit I don't really understand the ending - is it me? Please read this book and come talk to me about the ending -I'd really like to be able to understand what happens at the end of Ashes!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness inspired by Siobhan Down

2011-10-12T12:37:00.002-04:00

"The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do.
Conor was awake when it came."

Conor sees the monster almost every night. It comes from the yew tree in Conor's back yard. The monster is very large, very scary, and tells Conor scary stories throughout the night.

But Conor isn't scared. He has too many things going on in his life to be scared of this monster, who, after all, is really only a nightmare. Or is it?

Although this book seems like it might be really scary and creepy, it isn't scary in the way readers might think after seeing the cover and hearing a little about this book. A Monster Calls is scary in an entirely different way - it's more like real life - with all the heartbreak and sorrow life can sometimes bring. This book is beautifully written and has intriguing illustrations to accompany the text.

Told in surprisingly simple language, you will remember this book for a long time.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

2011-10-06T14:47:00.000-04:00

Cryer's Cross is a small town where terrible things are happening. One teenage girl disappears without a trace. Despite a town-wide search party for Tiffany, she is never found.

Kendall and her boyfriend Nico are in their senior year of high school and although the town is small enough that the entire high school is taught in one big room, Kendall is looking forward to completing her senior year, applying to colleges, and playing on her school's soccer team.

Her world is turned upside-down when Nico doesn't come to school and noone knows where he is. What is happening in Cryer's Cross?
And why does Kendall feel strange when she sits in Nico's desk at school?

Why does she hear whispers when she sits at his desk?
     "Save me. I'm alive.
      Say yes. I need you.
      Come back."

What really is happening in Cryer's Cross? Read this book and find out!

Angel Burn by l.a. weatherly

2011-10-06T11:23:00.003-04:00

I've read other books lately, where people have been angels here on Earth, but this is the first book where angels are the bad guys who want to destroy all humans.

However, Willow is part angel, and although she is different from other girls (she can tell the future and is an expert repairing cars), she is not at all evil. In fact, when an angel spots Willow, he can tell that she has the power to destroy all angels. She must be killed before she realizes she has that power!

Alex is an angel killer and works for the CIA without realizing at first that the CIA has been infiltrated by angels and is using Alex to actually kill the good guys.

Alex receives a message from the CIA that he must kill Willow and seeks her out, but before he kills her, he realizes she is different than the other angels. However, he does have his orders which he has never disobeyed in the past.

Read this very exciting, adventure-filled book to find out what Alex decides to do. This is the first book in a triology - I can't wait to read the others! Highly recommended!

all these things i've done by Gabrielle Zevin

2011-10-04T13:14:00.002-04:00

When I saw that Gabrielle Zevin, author of Elsewhere, wrote a new book I couldn't wait to read it - and I was so happy I did! all these things i've done is a very interesting dystopian novel which takes place in the future where chocolate and coffee are outlawed and books and paper are in short supply.

Sixteen-year-old Anya is the daughter of the city's most notorious crime boss. Her father was in the chocolate smuggling business and Anya's family still has stashes of illegal chocolate.

Anya 's life is full - she takes care of her grandmother, brother and sister, goes to school, and is trying very hard not to fall in love with Win, the son of the assistant District Attorney. But love sometimes happens despite our best intentions, but although she and Winn begin to date, Anya knows she must keep her family's secrets from him.

But when her ex boyfriend almost dies from one of her chocolate bars, Anya needs Win's father to help get her out of jail.

This is a great book - full of suspense, romance, and interesting characters.

Flip by Martyn Bedford

2011-10-04T10:53:00.002-04:00

Imagine waking up in a strange room, in a strange house, in a strange body. Fourteen-year-old Alex wakes up and finds it's 6 months later than he remembers. He looks in the mirror and doesn't recognize the face that looks back.

When he goes down to breakfast, his "parents" call him Philip and act like there's is absolutely nothing wrong. His friends at school wonder why he is no longer good at lacrosse.

Is there anything Alex can do to prove who he really is? When he calls home, his parents think he is an imposter because their son (Alex) is in the hospital and has been in a coma for 6 months.

This is a fascinating book that both middle school boys and girls would enjoy! Let me know what you think ...

Giveaway Just For AMS-B Students - The Compound

2011-09-19T08:43:00.000-04:00

This giveaway is just for students at AMS-B.

S.A. Bodeen, author of The Compound and The Gardener, is speaking at our school on October 7.

I'm giving away one copy of The Compound. If you would like to enter, leave a comment below answering the following question:

What was the title of the best book you read this summer?

Also, leave your first name, first letter of your last name, and your homeroom, so we can contact you.

I will use a computer-generated number chooser to pick the winner at 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 22. The winner will be announced during Friday morning announcements.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

2011-09-16T12:30:00.001-04:00

The Eleventh Plague takes place twenty years after the Collapse of civilization. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are salvagers and walk across the country trying to salvage anything of value that can be exchanged for food and other necessities.

Stephen's dad is badly injured and Stephen must, for the first time, decide who he can trust himself; he has no one else to rely on. He needs help badly, his father will die without it, but he also doesn't want to be taken by the Slavers.

Stephen and his father end up in Settler's Landing, where Stephen finds, for the first time he can remember, a world full of families, barbeques, school, and baseball games. But can he trust the people here? Can he trust Jenny, a girl he meets in Settler's Landing?

This is a great story because the plot revolves around Stephen and the people he meets instead of gory fights and battles (although there is some violence and disturbing images.)

I think middle schoolers who liked Hunger Games will love this book. It's a faster read that has adventure, plot twists-and-turns, and even some romance.

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

2011-09-09T09:38:00.003-04:00

Hailey is wildly popular at her boarding school. She is the girl who seems to have everything: nice clothes, a cute boyfriend, good grades, etc., etc., etc. ... And she's nice on top of everything else.

But one night, she rebels and nothing is the same again. She gets caught vandalizing a statue on school grounds and kissing a boy (not her boyfriend) after curfew. She refuses to tell the boy's name and the entire school is grounded until she confesses - which she won't do.

We've all grown up knowing that we should tell the truth - but what if the truth will hurt someone and maybe ruin their life in a major way? Hailey must decide, and as I read this book, I thought a lot about what I would do.

Highly recommended for middle school girls

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

2011-09-09T09:15:00.002-04:00

London Lane wakes up each morning not remembering anything about her past. She can, however, see the future which makes for a VERY interesting story. London takes extensive notes at the end of each day just so she knows what happened the day before. She doesn't even remember the boyfriend she has had for a few months without reviewing her notes. Reviewers have called this book "part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery." Would you like to know your future if your best friend could tell you what was going to happen? This very intriguing book was well-written and very different - I really liked and highly recommend Forgotten. Watch the book trailer from the author:

Beyond Lucky by Sarah Aronson

2011-09-09T08:30:00.005-04:00

Do you have any lucky superstitions - things you do before a game or a test in school?

"Jerry MacDonald has no pre-game rituals. He wakes up, jumps out of bed, and eats whatever looks good. Even though we have to be on the soccer field in forty-five minutes, he shows up at my house and starts playing solitaire on my computer."

Ari, however, has many rituals before soccer games. He eats a bowl of frosted cornflakes with half a cup of puffed rice and one third of a banana, wears his brother Sam's U Mass T-shirt, does fifty push-ups, recites the American presidents in order, and lastly reads his daily horoscope in the paper.

Although this is a story about Ari, Mac, and their soccer team as they try to make the U-thirteen, Division One soccer team, it is also a story about friendship, betrayal, and growing up.

This is a fast read that I think middle schoolers will enjoy, especially those who love sports.

Reel Life Starring Us by Lisa Greenwald

2011-09-07T11:40:00.003-04:00

Reel Life Starring Us is a fast, fun read - just right for middle school! Dina, is the new girl in high school, and althougth she used to be popular at her old school, here she is ignored, made fun of, and "chipped."

Chelsea, however, seems to have it all: popularity, great clothes, and to top it off, the most popular boy in school seems to like her.

Chelsea is paired up with Dina for a school-wide project, and they decide to videotape every student in the school.

Pick up this book, and read about their adventures and mishaps. Not everyone in the school (actually no one) wants to be filmed because students are sure they will be mocked and maybe even "chipped."

What is "chipped"? Well, read this book and find out!

Flip Flop Fly Ball: An Infographic Baseball Adventure by Craig Robinson

2011-08-20T13:52:00.002-04:00

Once I started looking through this book I couldn't stop - and I'm not even a big baseball fan!

Have you ever wondered ...

How often does the best team win the World Series?
How often does the most expensive team win the World Series?
What number of players on opening day (2010) wore high socks?

This is a really cool book mostly for baseball fanatics, but even casual fans will enjoy flipping through this one!

The Brooklyn Nine A Novel in Nine Innings by Alan Gratz

2011-08-20T13:43:00.002-04:00

If you love baseball and want to know more about the history of the game from its very beginnings through the present, you need to read this book.

First of all, it is a novel - almost a collection of short stories. The first inning (story) takes place in 1845, the second, in 1864 during the Civil War. The last inning is set in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York.

I liked the book because of the character development and the love of the game that shines throughout this book, but baseball lovers will also learn about the development of baseball throughout the years.

Excellent book - I'm looking forward to seeing what my students think of it!

Long Story Short by Siobhan Parkinson

2011-08-20T13:30:00.001-04:00

I received a copy of this book and wrote the following review for the book review web site: abookandahug.com For more book reviews, go take a look at the site!

Fourteen-year-old Jonathan lives with his alcoholic mother and eight-year-old sister Julie in Ireland. Life is tough-there is never enough to eat and Jonathan’s mother’s behavior is unpredictable, but things are bearable until Jonathan’s grandmother dies. Now, the only adult they can count on is gone.

Things need to change when Julie’s mom hits her and Jonathan can’t call the police because he knows they both will be taken away from home. Julie also can’t go to school because it is very obvious that someone hit her and social services will have to be called.

Jonathan thinks his only recourse is to run away and take Julie with him. His plan is to bring Julie to their long-lost father and hope Julie can stay with him. Things get complicated when their mother is found dead and the police are looking for Jonathan and Julie. Did Jonathan push his mother and did that lead to her death? Did he know his mother was dead before he ran away?

This is both an adventure and a very emotional story. As a reader, I couldn’t help but be pulled in and worry about Jonathan and Julie. This is a very short book with short chapters and I wouldn’t hesitant to recommend it to readers in seventh grade and up.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-08-05T16:31:00.001-04:00

"I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary when extraordinary things began to happen. The first of these came as a terrible shock and, like anything that changes you forever, split my life into halves: Before and After. Like many of the extraordinary things to come, it involved my grandfather, Abraham Portman."

Sixteen-year-old Jacob, sets off on a journey to Wales to find out what really happened to his grandfather when Abraham was sent to an orphange during World War II. This book is part fantasy, part mystery, and just really very interesting.

The photographs included in the book really add to the story - very, very, strange indeed! Look again at the cover of this book - do you notice anything strange?

In case I haven't intrigued you enough, take a look at the book trailer here:

Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

2011-08-05T16:19:00.001-04:00

If you liked They Cage The Animals at Night and A Child Called It, you must read this book. This is a well-written memoir that will keep you riveted.

The author spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes. This is her story as she remembers going from one foster home to the next, always hoping to be reunited with her unpredictable mother. Ashley and her brother were taken away from her mother
.

The book begins "Two days compete for the worst day in my life: The first is the day I was taken from my mother the second is the day I arrived at the Mosses' foster home four years later."

This is a gripping memoir that I read in a day and a half on vacation on Cape Cod - I just couldn't stop reading. I highly recommend this book!

Insight by Diana Greenwood

2011-08-05T16:01:00.003-04:00

Elvira lives with her mother, grandmother, and younger sister Jessie on the outskirts of town. They must leave their house and town quickly before everyone finds out Jessie is a seer - she knows about the future before it happens.

If you like figuring out mysteries as you read, you will love trying to figure out what Jessie's puzzling insights really mean. Can she really predict the future? And why does Elvira's family insist on keeping this and other secrets?

A really fast, interesting read! Watch the book trailer:

Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman

2011-07-15T13:00:00.002-04:00

This book was written in alternating chapters by Myers and a seventeen-year-old boy, Ross Workman, who wrote Myers a fan email.

Workman writes from the point of view of Kevin Johnson, a thirteen-year-old, who is enormously talented athletically, but has a difficult time controlling his temper and may be headed for juvie.

Myers writes the alternating chapters from the point of view of Sergeant Brown, a police officer assigned to Kevin's case.

Kevin is a striker on his school's soccer team and he's good. He wants to prove how good he is in his school's quest for the State Championship.

But before the quarterfinals even begin, Kevin ends up in jail - for something he says he never did. The biggest problem he has though, is he won't say what really happened.

Kick is a really fast read that is part mystery, part romance, and a lot about sports (especially soccer). It's a book about friendship, and growing up, and opening yourself up to accept the help of others.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

2011-07-15T12:43:00.003-04:00

Wow, I'm not going to be able to adequately describe how good this book is. The plot sounds like it would be very depressing to read, but honestly, it's a book that will make you appreciate your life while admiring the way the main character faces her challenges. It might be better to just go out and start reading The Running Dream instead of reading about it - this is one book you will NOT regret reading!

Sixteen-year-old Jessica loves to run - and she is very good at it. She's on her school's track team and running is her life.

Then there's an accident when the team is on their way to a track meet. One girl is dead and Jessica ends up losing one of her legs.

Van Draanan is an excellent writer and made me feel the way runners must feel - the wind blowing across my face, legs pumping, and the sheer freedom and adrenaline of it and then...

she made me feel what a prosthetic leg feels like the first time it is fitted to the stump.

However, this story is NOT a downer - it's a story about acceptance and courage and appreciating what you do have. It's a book about romance and friendship and sportsmanship. This story is much more than a story about a plucky athlete who overcomes all obstacles - read this book - it will stay with you for a long time.

Shutout by Brendan Halpin

2011-06-07T12:54:00.001-04:00

Amanda and Lena are best friends and both are great at soccer. Prior to freshman year, both try out for the varsity soccer team but only Lena makes it. This changes everything. Suddenly Lena becomes friends with the upper-classmen on the soccer team, gets a boyfriend, and becomes wildly popular. Along with her new popularity, Lena makes some bad choices like drinking and partying.

Shutout is a novel about friendship, growing up, and realizing that actions have consequences. Brendan Halpin is a great author. I read an adult book by him a few years ago and was so happy to see that he is now writing for a teenage audience.

This is a well-written, funny, and realistic look at what life is like at fifteen. Highly recommended!

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskin

2011-06-03T10:59:00.001-04:00

National Book Award Winner

Caitlin is probably the best artist in Virginia, misses her brother, Devon, who died in a school shooting, and has Asperger's, which makes her see the world in black and white. She is also wise beyond her years and is looking for closure for both herself and her father.

This story is told from Caitlin's point of view and we are able to see the world through her eyes as she tries to learn the social skills that are so easy for other kids in her class.

The author, Kathryn Erskine, has a child with Asperger's and I have read that Caitlin is very typical of children with this particular syndrome. This is a very short, quick-to-read book that is very powerful. I don't think students will pick this one off the shelves, but if they do read it, they will be happy that they did.

I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

2011-06-01T11:06:00.010-04:00

This book is at the top of the list of books I would recommend to just about anyone - from middle school to adults. The story is beautifully written and the characters are so well-described that you will have a hard time forgetting Sam and Riddle Border.

I'll Be There is about coincidence and love and destiny. It's about how what one person does affects other people, almost in a domino effect.

Both Sam and Riddle are being raised by a very unstable father who hears voices that tell him he is in danger and must move to yet another town. The boys don't go to school, and, in fact, must take care of their daily needs themselves. They must find their own food and keep away from their father as much as possible.

Their life is pretty much surviving from day to day - until Sam meets Emily. Although there is certainly romance in this book, boys will also be pulled into this novel because there is adventure and danger and tension until things are wrapped up at the end. I think mature readers, especially, will appreciate the nuances in I'll Be There.

Warp Speed by Lisa Yee

2011-06-01T09:17:00.003-04:00

Marley Sandelski lives with his parents above the Rialto Theater. He's in middle school, is a Star Trek geek, has a crush on Emily Ebers, and is bullied every day by the "Gorn." I liked this book because of the humor, the realistic relationship between Marley and his parents, and the way Yee depicts the other "fringe" kids and the relationships in middle school, which can be very complicated. Marley is a well-drawn character; he "accidentally" makes the track team when the coach sees him run from the "Gorn", he slips into speaking Klingon when he is nervous, and good-naturedly models a plastic bag dress because he is trying to impress Emily. This is a quick read that I think is much deeper than it first appears. To view a book trailer for Warp Speed, click here: http://youtu.be/l3wiihpHIV8

Stay by Deb Caletti

2011-06-01T08:48:00.001-04:00

When does love turn into obsession? Clara's relationship with Christian began with "love at first sight," but when do the intense feelings cross the line?

Caletti writes beautifully, and readers are drawn into the story quickly. Clara's relationship with Christian begins like any other relationship - they want to know everything about each other and want to spend all their time with each other. But slowly Christian begins to question and check up on Clara about the most mundane things. Things begin to snowball and soon Clara and her father secretly move to a beach house for the summer so Christian won't know where Clara is.

The scenes describing the beach town and the people who live there are some of the most vividly described in the book. I wanted to (still want to) buy a small shack right on the beach and live simply there.

This book is not just about Clara and Christian; Clara's father keeps an important secret from her that also is a big part of the book. Stay is for more mature readers. It does have some minor sex scenes (nothing explicit) and the relationship between Clara and Christian is scary-intense, but I was glad I read this one and I'm still thinking about this novel!

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

2011-05-23T12:57:00.003-04:00

Foster is making the world a better place - one cupcake at a time. Joan Bauer is one author who can take a character and a small town, put them together, and make you care deeply for both. I now have a new favorite character: Foster McFee. She is feisty, fiercely protective of her mother, and a passionate baker. Foster is also a girl with a big secret she doesn't want anyone in her new town to know. Close to Famous is filled with quirky characters and delicious baking secrets. Do not read this book when you are hungry! I'm not a big baker, but Bauer has me thinking of making butterscotch muffins and chocolate cupcakes. This is a great read that you can finish in a day or two. Close to Famous will leave you feeling good, if albeit, a little hungry!

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

2011-05-23T11:20:00.007-04:00

Rival is told from the point of view of two senior girls, who both are gifted musically, and who are now rivals. You can feel the animosity between the two girls even when they are just in the same room.

This story is beautifully written and flashes back and forth from senior to junior year in high school. Kathryn, a soprano in the choir, is used to being a loner with just one friend. Brooke, an alto, is one of the rich, popular girls in school who has dozens of hanger-oners just waiting to do her bidding. They do become friends because of their passion for music, but now they are bitter enemies, and the reader must piece together why.

These characters, however, are NOT cliches; they are fully-developed characters with nuances and depth. Even when I thought I knew how the characters would act, I was proven wrong again and again. Life isn't cliched; people often have a depth not easily seen on the surface.

There's a lot to this novel. It's about friendships, romances, and school. But mostly it's about music and two high school girls who are passionately pursuing their musical dreams.

Read this one; you'll be happy you did!

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

2011-05-16T10:03:00.004-04:00

Okay for Now is one of the great ones! A book that is so well-written I would remember the main characters when I put the book down and thought about them until I was able to read again.

Readers who like baseball, drawing, birds (!), and just plain reading a great story will love Okay for Now. Doug Swieteck is a great kid who lives in a pretty awful family. His oldest brother is in Vietnam, his other brother picks on him mercilessly, and his father has trouble controlling his temper.

Joe Pepitone gave Doug his New York Yankee baseball cap which quickly gets taken away by his brother and promptly lost. Doug's father loses his job and the family must move to dumb Marysville. Doug knows no one in the new town and now his brother is accused of stealing. In short, Doug's life is a mess.

But slowly, Doug meets Lil, a girl his age, and is befriended by some people in town and gradually his life gets better. It's hard for me to adequately describe this book and its predecessor, The Wednesday Wars, but every student I have given this book to has loved it - boys and girls alike. The only (very) slight problem I have with this book is the changes that occur in the family at the end of the book occure rather abruptly. Maybe there will be another sequel where the character changes are explained. And I'll be first in line to read it!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-05-16T09:17:00.012-04:00

Fans of The Hunger Games will see many similarities in Divergent. At first this bothered me, then I got caught up in the writing, characters, and fast-moving plot, and was swept into this novel.

When teenagers turn sixteen, they must make a momentous decision. Each must decide on which of 5 factions, or groups, they will join. Sixteen year-old Beatrice's family are all Abnegation, the faction who live to serve others and never think of themselves.Tris (Beatrice) and others take a test to determine which faction suits them best. Tris' result is inconclusive; she is divergent and is told she must never reveal the test results to anyone. However, Tris wants to join the Dauntless faction who protect others with their fearless deeds and actions. Tris and others who want to join Dauntless must prove their worth - not everyone gets in.

Even though I was pulled into this dystopian world, I did flinch from some of the violence in this book. I'm usually not bothered by violence in novels, but some of this seemed excessive. I will recommend this book to my students along with a strong warning about some of the content.

If I Stay and Where She Went (sequel) by Gayle Forman

2011-05-16T08:45:00.002-04:00

If I Stay is a beautifully written novel following seventeen year-old Mia during the 24 hours after her entire family dies in an horrific car accident.

Told in flashbacks from Mia's point of view, the reader gets to know Mia, a cello prodigy, and her relationship with her ex-rocker dad, her rock-chick mom, and her younger brother Teddy. I was fascinated by all the music references and lyrics in this book (from classical to hard rock) which added another layer of enjoyment for me.

While Mia is in a coma, Adam, Mia's boyfriend and lead guitarist in a rock band, asks her to stay. He will do anything if she lives - including leaving her so she can go to college in the East and pursue her music studies without feeling guilty that she is leaving him behind.

This book and its sequel Where She Went (told from her boyfriend's point of view) are for more mature readers. The accident scene was particularly upsetting and there is a little sex (appropriate, I think) that readers should be aware of before choosing this book.

Both books are so short, they can be read together in one day, but I will remember these books for a long time to come.
http://youtu.be/SrpMNXdEl3Q

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

2011-04-08T12:46:00.001-04:00

Nothing is going right in Delilah's life. She doesn't get along with her mother, she has a boyfriend, but she only feels sexual attraction to him - no real connection, and she must return to Red Falls for the summer for her grandmother's funeral.

Delilah has happy memories of Red Falls where she and Ricky, the boy next door, were inseperable friends. But, now Ricky is all grown-up and although they haven't seen each other in years, can they still be friends or is there something more going on?

Delilah's family is full of secrets which are slowly unfolded throughout the book. Her mother, aunt, and grandmother haven't told her the whole truth about a lot of things.

This would make a great summer read. Not a book you want to tear through, but a story that can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace as you get to know the characters and the secrets they hold.

Once by Morris Gleitzman

2011-04-06T11:01:00.002-04:00

Wow, Morris Gleitzman manages to make a tragic story both amusing and heartbreaking at the same time.

Along the same lines as The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, Once is told from the point of view of Felix a young boy who has been hidden in a Catholic orphanage for 3 years and 8 months. Felix decides he must try and find his parents who own a bookstore and tell them that the Nazis are burning Jewish books.

Until Felix leaves the orphanage, he has no idea how dangerous the Nazis really are. He ends up on a road being herded to the city with hundreds of other Jewish people and finally realizes the truth. "Maybe it's not just our books the Nazis hate. Maybe it's us."

Based on a true story of a Polish doctor who ran an orphanage for Jewish children and chose to die with them in the camps rather than abandon them, this is truly an inspiring book. I read it in a day and would highly recommend Once to anyone from seventh grade through adulthood.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

2011-03-30T12:44:00.001-04:00

Valerie and her boyfriend Nick are sick of being bullied and vent their frustration by listing the students who harass them in a "hate list." Valerie never dreams Nick will take it any further, but he brings a gun to school and kills six students and a popular teacher. Did Valerie know about Nick's plan ahead of time?

This book is told from Valerie's point of view - shifting back and forth in time, and the reader lives through the shootings with Valerie and also experiences what her life is now like after the shootings.

This is an incredibly moving story that I think will have people thinking about bullying and its effects long after they finish the book.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2011-03-30T09:17:00.004-04:00

Clara is a quarter-angel and has begun to have visions of her divine purpose. She sees a very cute boy and a forest fire. Clara and her family move from California to Wyoming so she can fulfill her purpose in life.

On her first day of school in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Clara sees Christian, a handsome football player, and probably the most popular, and nicest boy in the school and recognizes him from her vision.

This was the best of 5 books I read over my winter break. It has a well-written and complex plot. The characters, although part angels, seem realistic and draw the reader into the story. I can still visualize the scene where Clara's wings first begin to grow.

I highly recommend this book!

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

2011-03-30T08:36:00.001-04:00

Wow! This psychological thriller had me second guessing myself until the very end.
Cara is bullied at school. She has moved and left her best friend Zoe behind. Cara is miserable and after a horrible incident in the school cafeteria, she acquires the nickname "Choker."
One afternoon, Cara comes home after school and finds her old friend Zoe in her room. Things change quickly after that because Zoe, unlike Cara, knows the right things to do. She changes Cara's hair and clothes and tells her how to act. But the more popular Cara becomes, the more unhappy Zoe is.
Although I thought I knew the ending, I kept second guessing myself. This book was scarier than I thought it would be, so if you like scary movies, you'll love this book!

The Complete History of Why I Hate Her by Jennifer Rich

2011-03-29T13:19:00.001-04:00

Nola is looking forward to the summer. She is going to Maine to be a waitress at a resort. She is looking forward to living there for the summer and leaving her troubles behind. Nola's younger sister, Song, has cancer and Nola just wants to escape for a few months. On the bus ride to Maine, Nola meets Carly - a girl her age who is carefree, fun, and adventurous - everything Nola would like to be. But as summer goes on and Nola meets other girls (and a few cute boys, as well) she becomes aware that Carly isn't as perfect as she seems. Carly cuts and dyes her hair to look exactly like Nola's; Carly tries to steal the boy Nola is interested in; and lastly, Carly begins to write letters to Song and encourages her to visit the resort in Maine. Is Carly really a good friend or does she have sinister intentions? This was a fast read that kept me interested throughout.

Stuck on Earth by David Klass

2011-03-04T11:25:00.005-05:00

Ketchvar III, a superintelligent alien, arrives on Earth for a mission from his planet to study Earthlings. Tom's body gets overtaken by Ketchvar, and Ketchvar is able to see the world from the point of view of a 14 year-old boy. Will humans pass Ketchvar's test? Or will he destroy them all with his Gagnerian Death Ray?

This novel is both very funny and very, very sad. There's really a little something for everyone: romance, teen angst, and an adventure.

This is a short book that should appeal to seventh and eighth graders, both boys and girls.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-02-28T10:52:00.025-05:00

Wow, this was a great book! I was on a reading tear over February break, and read one good book after another - and this was one of the best. Oliver is not only an excellent writer but also knows how to make the reader care about the characters and keep up the exciting pace of this novel.

Have you ever been in love? So in love, you can't think of anything else, are anxious, maybe depressed, and can't sleep?
Well, in the dystopian world Lena and Alex live in, love is considered to be a disease - amor deliria nervosa. When teenagers reach the age of 18 they must undergo an operation where the feelings associated with love will be eradicated. They will then be paired with a "match" and will live "happily ever after."
However, before Lena undergoes the operation, she meets and falls in love with Alex, a boy who is dangerous and a rebel. Will the society permit them to be together? Or will they have to run away to the place where the "invalids" live?
The most horrifying thing about this society is that along with taking away the feelings of love, other feelings such as empathy and passion are also erased.

This is the first of a planned trilogy, and I know I will be waiting in line when the second book comes out!
http://youtu.be/KmwLLqe6GSc

Trapped by Michael Northrop

2011-02-07T08:57:00.008-05:00

We've had seven snowdays in three weeks here in CT so I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read this book on a cold, snowy day, but I was so glad I did!

Wow, what a great book! Scotty and six other students are trapped in their high school when their parents can't pick them up because of the sudden intense snowstorm. Their cell phones don't work and after a day and night in the school, the roof begins to make ominous creeking and groaning noises. And no one knows they are stuck in the school. Meanwhile, no one can remember snow coming down so quickly - by the second day, the windows on the first floor are almost covered up - by the third day, snow is up to the windows on the second floor.

Trapped is told from Scotty's point of view and I think both male and female readers will be able to identify with him. This is a very quick, engrossing read that I think even the most reluctant reader will enjoy! I know I sped through this book on our most recent snow day and suddenly the 3 feet of snow outside my window didn't seem all that terrible!

Click on the link to read the first few chapters of Trapped:
http://michaelnorthrop.net/?p=4261
And Naomi Bates, librarian at Northwest High School, created a great book trailer about Trapped.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

2011-01-31T08:49:00.006-05:00

Andi's younger brother is dead. Her mother isn't coping very well and just obsessively paints his picture over and over. Her father left the family and buries himself in work. When her father makes an unexpected visit to see why Andi is in danger of being expelled from the prestigious private school she attends, he is alarmed and makes her fly to Paris with him during spring vacation.

In Paris, Andi meets Virgil who not only is a musician like she is, but is also handsome and kind. Together they explore the catacombs of Paris and go deeper and deeper into the underground burial site.

There are some secrets Andi hasn't told Virgil - or anyone. In an antique guitar case, she finds a journal from Alexandrine, a girl who lived during the French Revolution. Donnelly has written a story within a story before in A Northern Light, and she does it very well. I typically only get drawn into the main story and not the secondary one, but in both of Donnelly's books I was also riveted by the story told within the pages of the diary.

This is a great story which will interest many different types of readers. Lovers of music (from rap to Beethoven), historical fiction, and romance will enjoy this novel. I think with a different cover, boys would enjoy it also.

Want to know more? Check out the book trailer:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-01-24T09:25:00.018-05:00

Across the Universe was a fabulous novel! I listened to the audio version of this book, and since it has alternating narrators, the audio version was riveting. I have it on the school’s iPod, so if you want to listen to it, just come and ask.

Seventeen-year-old Amy and her parents are frozen and are on board Godspeed, a huge spaceship headed for a new planet on which they expect to land in three hundred years. Things don’t go as expected, and Amy “accidentally” wakes up 50 years too soon. She joins the other inhabitants on the spaceship and soon learns that things and people are WAY different on the spaceship.

Amy discovers that someone unplugged her cryogenic chamber on purpose hoping she would die and is now in the process of unplugging others as well. In her race to discover the killer, she makes friends with Elder and his best friend. But can they be trusted?

I actually gasped during a few parts of the bookbecause this novel truly had some twists and turns I didn’t expect. I was so eager to finish the book, I picked up the actual book – the audio version was too slow- and raced to the end.

I think both males and females will love this book. I think this book is appropriate for eighth grade and above and for mature seventh graders. There are some references to sex and the main character narrowly escapes being raped.

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-01-10T11:31:00.005-05:00

In Cassia's world, people don't have to worry about what to eat, where to live or work, or even who to marry. It's all decided for them by the government. It is a world of mindless following and strict control and consequences.

In the beginning of this novel, Cassie is happy following the rules. When she is sixteen, Cassia is matched to her life-long friend Xander and it seems as if she has nothing to worry about - until she puts the media card with Xander's information into her computer and another boy pops up.

A quick read for fans of dystopian novels - I think you will enjoy this one!

Sequel: Crossed

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

2010-12-13T11:14:00.002-05:00

What a great book to read right before Christmas! Lily leaves a red notebook full of dares at the Strand bookstore (a real bookstore in New York, with a purported 18 miles of books) the week before Christmas, hoping that a cute boy will come along and pick it up. Dash comes across the book, and accepts the challenge.

Lily and Dash leave the notebook in many unusual places in New York City, so the reader ends up experiencing Christmas in the city, complete with hoards of crowds at FOA Schwartz, crowd-crushing mobs at Macy's, and finally the movie Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Through it all, Dash and Lily try to make each dare more creative and perhaps dangerous.

Dash and Lily do meet. Unfortunately, Lily has gone to a club to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday, and after tasting everyone's drinks isn't feeling very well.

Will Dash still be interested in Lily or will he think she is just a party girl? This is a lively, funny book to read - just right for the holidays, or really, any time!

The Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter by John Gosselink

2010-11-18T13:22:00.006-05:00

If you liked A Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then you need to read this book. The Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter is written a for the more sophisticated reader but is just as funny. Thaddeus, a seventh grader at Crooked Creek Middle School, has in-school suspension for the rest of the school year for a "crime" he says he didn't commit. Written as a series of journal entries, letters, and forms, Thaddeus is trying to prove his innocence to his principal and his school.

If you're tired of reading all the "end of the world as we know it" books, and just want to sit back and laugh, then this is the book for you!

Here's a book trailer that is WAY different than usual:

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

2010-11-15T10:18:00.005-05:00

Now I know why every girl who has read this book has loved it. It has romance, royal princes and palaces, and a strong female main character.
Isabel is a Shifter - or at least everyone thinks she is. She is supposedly able to change into a cat, leopard, disappearing mist, or anything she would like. But her powers seem different since Prince Rokan captured her and put a magic bracelet on her wrist.

Mistwood has it all: intrigue, romance (with a capital R) and a story filled with mysterious characters who may not be who they appear to be.
Highly recommended for teens who like to lose themselves in a story and live for a while in a castle filled with mystery and romance.

Cool Book Trailers!

2010-11-05T10:54:00.000-04:00

Ruined by Paula Morris

2010-10-25T10:46:00.003-04:00

Students are always asking me to recommend a good ghost story - I've finally found one that I think all students will enjoy! Ruined takes place in New Orleans, and along with being a ghost story, it's also a romance that deals with contemporary teenage issues.

Rebecca is sent to live with her aunt in New Orleans while her father is working in China. Her aunt is a tarot card reader and the house she lives in is spooky and filled with things to ward off evil spirits - and it's across the street from Lafayette Cemetery. While she is living with her aunt, Rebecca must attend a snooty school for rich girls - girls who do not want her around.

Fortunately (or unfortunately?) Rebecca meets Anton Grey, a very cute guy, who is also friends with one of the richest, snootiest girls in town.

And I should be sure to mention Lisette, a ghost, who has been around for over a hundred years and can't rest until her untimely death is avenged.

This is a great page-turner. I really enjoyed reading this book and trying to piece together the mystery.

Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne

2010-09-27T13:07:00.004-04:00

What would you do if your mother wanted you to enter in the "Miss Husky Peach" modeling contest? Eigthth-grader Celeste, an overweight girl with a passion for Oreos, is already picked on in school. If her classmates find out she is a "oversize" model, it would make her life even more miserable.
Celeste decides to "throw" the contest and the results are unpredictable. She tells the story from her quick-witted and often hilarious point of view. Another character is Lively, a mean girl, you will love to hate.
All-in-all, a very fast, enjoyable read!

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman

2010-09-27T12:57:00.004-04:00

If you had only one superpower, what would it be? Thirteen Days to Midnight begins with this intriguing question. This is a fast-paced book that will have you reading quickly to the end.

The last words to Jacob, the main character, from his foster father were, " You are indestructible." What does this mean for Jacob? Can he fight other boys in his class and not be hurt? Can he transfer this power to other people who may be in need of help? Should he say these words to Ophlia, his crush, and will she use her power wisely .. because if you cheat Death, where does it go??

This is a riveting mystery that ventures a bit into the dark side - a really good read!

Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan

2010-09-07T19:23:00.005-04:00

Hands down, the best YA book I've read in a long time. Sources of Light is set in 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi. Sam and her mother move to Jackson to begin a new life after her father dies in Vietnam.

This is a time of turmoil for America. Although African Americans have been granted the right to vote, many people in the South disagree. Also, Sam's African American maid can't shop in the same stores as white people. African American maids can't even drink water out of the same glasses the family uses.

After Sam's mother gives a lecture at an African American college, their front door is covered in threatening graffiti and garbage is strewn on their lawn. And when Sam is having lunch in the local drugstore, she witnesses an angry mob pouring drinks and ketchup over the head of a young African American girl who just wanted to be served at the counter.
Sam also goes to her first school dance with a boy she has a crush on. But she sees him at the lunch counter and wonders if he is a racist like his father.

Well-written and thought-provoking - this is a book you shouldn't miss. I HIGHLY recommend Sources of Light.

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell

2010-09-07T18:51:00.001-04:00

Gen's mom signs them up for a "wonderful" vacation. Instead of going to camp, spending time by the pool and hanging out with her girlfriends, Gen must go to Camp Frontier - a place where they will live as if it is 1890. No running water, no grocery stores, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing.
And worst of all, everyone must give up all modern-day gadgets - no iPod, no cell phone, and no up-to-date fashions.
However, Gen manages to sneak in her cell phone that helps her update her friends back home. Unknown to Gen, one of her friends begins to post her texts on a blog - and the blog becomes wildly popular. Will she be found out and her family expelled from Camp Frontier in shame?
I REALLY enjoyed this book. Fans of Little House on the Prairie will recognize some of the characters here. Remember Nellie? There's a little romance, much humor, and a really good story that kept me reading all of this book in one day.

Med Head by James Patterson and Hal Friedman

2010-09-07T18:14:00.003-04:00

Cory has been on a medication since he was four years old. He has Tourette's syndrome which makes him have uncontrollable tics and OCD which makes him have uncontrollable urges. The subtitle "My Knock-Down, Drag-Out, Drugged-Up Battle With My Brain" pretty much sums up Corey's battle with his illnesses.

Year after year, Cory is put on a smorgasbord of drugs - a little of this drug, more of that drug, and a change of medication every time his condition worsened.

Through it all, Cory attends school, tries to make friends, and at times just tries to survive. This is a very powerful true story told from Cory's point of view. If you or a friend or family member has ever struggled with OCD, ADD, or any illness that requires medication, this is a must read.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-09-07T17:14:00.001-04:00

What can I say? If you haven't read Hunger Games and Catching Fire yet, grab a book, sit down, and read. You'll be hooked by the end of the first chapter of Hunger Games. Yes, this series is violent, but other than that, it has it all - a strong female protagonist, a very fast-paced plot, and Suzanne Collins knows how to end each chapter so the reader needs to read "just one more."

Mockingjay is the last book in this triology and it doesn't disappoint. Are you team Peeta or team Gayle? Collins wraps things up and tidies up all loose ends. And no, I won't give the ending away, but Katniss does end up with either Peeta or Gayle.

Now, pick up this book and READ. We will be having a book party for those students who have read all three books later in the year. Let the games begin!

Tell Us We're Home by Marina Budhos

2010-08-23T16:59:00.001-04:00

Jayla, Maria, and Lola are eighth grade girls who live in the wealthy community of Meadowbrook, New Jersey. They like all the things other eighth grade girls like: nice clothes, being with friends, and maybe going to the big spring dance. The one big difference between Jayla, Maria, Lola and their classmates is the fact that their mothers are maids and nannies for the families of their classmates.

One day Jaya's mother is accused of stealing from the woman she keeps house for. Now Jaya's mom is fired and they may have to move. The other girls also have problems. Maria likes and is tutoring a boy in
Spanish, but is he just using her? Lola ends up having to go to a therapist for anger management issues.

On one level, this is a very sweet book about the friendship among these three girls, but on a deeper level this book will make the reader very angry. Throughout the book, we are aware of the great divide between the wealthy townspeople and the lives of the immigrants who work in their homes.

I highly recommend this one.

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

2010-08-16T19:48:00.003-04:00

Coffeehouse Angel was one of the best books I read this summer. I thought it was very well written and had a bit of everything - romance, mystery, and supernatural occurrences - all in one novel.

Katrina lives with her grandmother above the old fashioned coffeehouse they own. Business has been very slow beause a competing coffeehouse, one that serves organic everything, has moved in next door.

When throwing out the morning's trash, Katrina notices who she thinks is a homeless person lying on the ground. She leaves him coffee and a day-old donut and this one gesture changes her life.

I don't want to ruin this book by telling you more, but go out and get this book and read it - you won't regret it. I loved this book and am going to read Selfors' previous book Saving Juliet. If it's as good as this one, I'm in for a real treat!

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

2010-08-16T19:35:00.002-04:00

By the author of The Compound

Scientist are working on something that will eliminate hunger in the world. Humans will be able to subsist without food or water. The Gardener has found a way to "grow" people.

Mason, the main character, is a pretty typical sophomore in high school until he falls in love with a beautiful girl he knows nothing about. He only knows he must keep her safe from the people who will do just about anything to get her back - including his own mother.

But keeping her safe is much more difficult than Mason first thinks - she appears to be dying and Mason may have no choice but to bring her back to the Gardener.

This is a fast-paced book that will keep the reader guessing. Fans of The Compound will also enjoy Bodeen's latest dystopian novel.

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russel

2010-08-16T19:25:00.001-04:00

I enjoyed Dork Diaries much more than I expected. This is a fun read that has much more meaning to it than first appears.

Nikki, the main character, is going to a new middle school where she tries to fit in. It's difficult, though, because her family can only afford the tuition there because her father is the school exterminator.

Her diary is filled with drawings and cartoons that add to the enjoyment of the story. For many girls going into middle school, this book will be one they will not only enjoy but where they may also get some advice about how to survive those first days of middle school.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

2010-08-08T15:08:00.001-04:00

Did fairy tales ever scare you when you were small? Did you like the story "Little Red Riding Hood"? If you did, then read Sisters Red, a VERY modern retelling of the classic tale.

Scarlette and Rosie are sisters who have a big grudge against the Fenris - werewolves who at first seem to be very charming men, then turn into wolves who prey on young, pretty women. Scarlette, the older sister who has scars of a past encounter, has decided to turn into the hunter and tries to entice werewolves to her so she can kill them.

So, yes, this book is violent at times, but it is also funny and romantic in other parts. Sisters Red is told in alternating points of view. Scarlete is determined to protect other young girls from going through what she went through, and Rosie, the younger sister, dreams of a life away from hunting werewolves and is beginning to fall in love with Silas, Scarlette's only friend.

If you like action-packed novels with strong female characters, deadly villains, with a little forbidden romance thrown in, then read this book!

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeves

2010-08-08T14:53:00.003-04:00

By the author of the Mortal Engines series

Fever lives at a time when women are creatures that aren't considered intelligent. She is an orphan who doesn't know anything about her past. She is also unusual because she is the only female in the Order of Engineers and serves as an apprentice to Dr. Crumb.

Fever must leave Dr. Crumb to become the assistant to archaeologist Kit Solent who is working on a very secret project.

Reeves creates a world that the reader can't help but be caught up in. At the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure if the book took place in the past or in the future - but the descriptions of the city of Cripplegate and the people who live there are so vivid they seem real. Reeves also has a sense of humor that I think will really appeal to students.

Readers will immerse themselves in this world and quickly devour this book because they will want to know about Fever's past. Why are people chasing her and trying to kill her? Why does she have this strange memories? This is a book that I think students will love!

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

2010-08-08T14:25:00.002-04:00

By the author of Holes

The Cardturner is an unusual book. This book is about many things: teenagers and growing up; friendships; first romances and break-ups; family relationships; and greed. But mostly this novel is about bridge (the card game). I don't know anything about bridge and I really don't care to read about bridge. Yet, I really liked this book!

Thank you Louis Sachar for alerting the reader (by way of a drawing of a whale) to boring bridge-talk. I was able to skip over boring (to me) bridge details and go on to what to me was a book about relationships.

Alton, a junior in high school, is forced by his family to be a "cardturner" for his rich, very sick, blind uncle. His mother and father want to inherit his uncle's fortune and be named in Uncle Lester's will.

I loved the characters in this book. Uncle Lester, Alton, and Toni (a love interest) are wonderful characters who seem as if they could be in your family. And although I didn't enjoy the "bridge talk", I could easily see students who are interested in cards really enjoying learning about how to play bridge in a very enjoyable way. And if you are like me, just skip over the "bridge talk" and enjoy the rest of the book!

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

2010-08-08T14:09:00.002-04:00

By the author of Unwind - one of my all-time favorite books

Bruiser is voted "The Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty." Bruiser is a loner. He doesn't have any friends and lives with his uncle and younger brother. Students at his school are either afraid of him or make fun of him. Except for Bronte who finds him interesting and in need of a friend.

Problem one: Bronte's twin brother Tennyson dislikes and distrusts Bruiser.
Problem two: Bruiser has a secret that no one can know. There is something unique about Bruiser that could be dangerous - especially for him.

This is a very interesting book told from multiple points of view. Bruiser is a character I will long remember.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

2010-07-23T14:57:00.001-04:00

First of all, you should know that this is an adult novel. I am reviewing it here because the subject matter is appropriate for students and teachers. There is one (very minor) adult scene so be aware. I would definitely let my eighth grade niece read this, but I know some parents are a bit stricter. So, onto the book...

Jacob Hunt has Aspergers which is on the autism spectrum. Jacob likes rules, schedules, is VERY intelligent, and is an expert on crime scenes. He dislikes loud noises and bright lights, has a hard time relating and talking to people, and is easily confused if someone asks him lots of questions. Oh, yes, Jacob is also accused of killing his best friend.

This book is told from various points of views. We hear the story from Jacob's unique perspective, his mother's, his brother's, his lawyer's and from the point of view of the policeman who is in charge of the case.

I have had a number of students with Aspergers in my classes and have to say this book gives me a whole new perspective. The reader really gets to know how Jacob thinks and why he acts the way he does. Heart-breaking in parts and very funny in others, this book, I think is a very worthwhile read for young adults and older.

Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

2010-07-23T14:40:00.005-04:00

Three billion people are dead - all men. A plague has killed 2/3 of the male population. Now women are in charge and there is no crime, no poverty, no war and no one goes hungry.

Boys are a curiosity and Kellen is one of only two boys in his class. He feels like he is a second-class citizen - and he is.

When there is a rumor of another virus, Kellen knows he must ensure his safety and warn his father, too. But Kellen has no idea where his father is and time is running out.

Read this very fast-paced dystopian novel and hang on for a roller coaster ride!

Mr. Patneaude, the author, has left a comment telling me about a book trailer for this book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2HYgm4y9Z0

After - Francine Prose

2010-07-23T13:40:00.002-04:00

Life is different now. School feels like a prison. We must first go through metal detectors. We can't wear red. There are random drug tests for every school athlete. Our teachers are mysteriously leaving. Nothing is the same since there was a terrible school shooting fifty miles away.

This is a very interesting novel about what happens when protection goes too far and students have no rights at all. At first, students and parents felt safer, but after several classmates get sent away for small infractions, Tom Bishop and his friends are beginning to think that things have gone too far. This was a very quick read and a book that not only was exciting, but was thought provoking, too.

Snap by Carol Snow

2010-07-11T13:00:00.001-04:00

Pardon the pun, but girls will "snap" this book right up ... and finish it in one or two readings!

Madison has it all. She is entering her sophomore year of high school as the photographer of her school paper, a beautiful house, nice clothes, and a cool best friend.

Her parents take her on a beach vacation to Sandyland and, unbeknowst to Madison, don't plan on returning to her hometown - ever. Her father has lost his job, her mother is constantly criticizing, and maybe worst of all, Madison's father left her suitcase with all her clothes back at the house.

Madison has brought her camera on vacation and suddenly finds herself caught up in a mystery - a weird mystery where people who turn up dead suddenly appear in her pictures.

This is a page turner, and I finished this book in one day. It has it all: an intelligent, wise-cracking main character, a maybe new romance, and a chilling mystery. Read this book - you'll love it!

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane

2010-07-11T12:46:00.001-04:00

Eighth grader Molly Williams has her life turned upside-down when her father dies and her mother becomes despressed and detached.

Molly and her father spent a lot of their free time throwning a baseball back and forth. He taught her how to throw a knuckleball - a pitch that almost no one can hit - right before the baseball goes over the plate, it dips and hops, then sails over the plate in the strike zone.

Molly decides to join the boys' baseball team and this is the story about how she earns a spot on the team.

I loved the way this novel didn't hit you over the head with "life-lessons", but showed the reader a slice of life and how Molly and her teammates and coaches learned to accept and respect one another.

There is a tiny bit of romance - just enough to keep the interest of girls who are not "girly-girly", and who like to read about a girl who may be just like they are. This is a short book and a quick read that you will remember long after you finish reading.

In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

2010-05-21T08:21:00.003-04:00

I haven't read a book that affected me so much in a long time. This book is written in alternating viewpoints. Sharp, sassy Eagan is a very promising figure skater with a VERY pushy mother, and Amelia, on the other hand, hasn't been able to live a normal life in a long time because of her failing heart.

Both lives collide when Eagan lands on the edge of her skate and falls and hits her head. Just days before, she got her driver's license and checked the organ donation box. I don't want to tell you more and ruin the story for you, but this is definitely a book you should read!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

2010-05-17T10:30:00.002-04:00

Wow, what a book! The Body Finder is a romance and a thriller all rolled up into a gripping story. This book is rather intense, so if you don't like REALLY creepy stories, you may want to skip this one.
However, if you liked The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and other novels that creep out other kids, you will love The Body Finder.

Violet has a secret ability - she knows where dead people and animals are buried just by being in their vacinity. She also can tell who has killed anyone by the vibes they give off. Since she was a little girl, she has had this ability to sense death.

But now, there is a serial killer and it is important to stop him. The police are on the case, but the killer is still at large. Violet wants to use her abilities to stop the killer but will this prove too dangerous?

The romance in this book, while really quite sweet, is also intense in parts, so I would recommend this novel for only mature eighth graders.

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

2010-05-17T10:11:00.004-04:00

Lucy has a secret - a big secret she can't share with anyone. Lucy is finally getting everything she wants. She now has a best friend, and her long-time crush, Josh, seems interested. Life could be good, but Lucy can't invite anyone to her home because her mother is a hoarder. This is not just a messy house - there are boxes upon boxes, piles of clothes (some still with tags), and rotting garbage everywhere.

Lucy may have a way out - but can she take it and finally be free?

This is a gripping novel that kept me reading (and cleaning) throughout the day. The author makes you care about Lucy. The ending is a climax I won't soon forget!

Naomi Bates has a book trailer on this book here:
http://naomibates.blogspot.com/

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

2010-05-12T10:11:00.004-04:00

Well, now it's official - I am old enough to have a book about my elementary school years be considered "historical" fiction! Countdown takes place in 1962 and fear is everywhere. For the first time, there is a real threat of atomic war. People were taught to "duck and cover" when they heard the air-raid drill. I remember hiding under my desk thinking it would protect me from the atomic bomb. Although this book took me back to my childhood (reading Nancy Drew, listening to early '60s music), there's plenty for today's middle school reader to enjoy.

Things like fighting with your best friend (over a boy), being embarrassed by family members, and going to your first boy-girl party, are universal.

Franny, the narrator, is funny, smart, and adventurous. You'll be happy you picked up this book, and the additional pictures and newsclippings from the '60s make this novel even more interesting.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-04-27T09:59:00.002-04:00

Sophie Mercer is a witch - a dark witch- who doesn't know the extent of her powers. She has lived in nineteen states in her 16 years. Because of a spell-gone-wrong, she must attend Hex Hall, a school for witchers, warlocks, fairies, and vampires.

The characters in this book are realistically depicted and have the same kinds of problems ordinary teenagers have - with the big exception of their extra-ordinary powers.

This is a fun read that has everything - interesting characters, a murder mystery to solve, and some very humorous parts!

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

2010-04-08T11:21:00.005-04:00

Recommeded for people who liked The Hunger Games and The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Wow, what a terrific book! Very similar in style to both of the books mentioned above. Gaia is a great heroine - smart, feisty, and fearless. After her mother and father are taken away, Gaia must continue her mother's work as a midwife. Along with that responsibility, comes the duty to give up the first two babies born each month and hand them over to the Enclave-priveledged people who live inside the wall.

This is a fascinating page-turner. Many plot twists and adventures kept me returning to this book to just read a few more pages, then a few pages more ...

I haven't let students get their hands on this book because I wanted to finish it - can't wait to hear what they say about this one!

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

2010-03-31T08:41:00.003-04:00

This was one of the very best books I read this past year.

Have you ever wondered what happens when you die? This book has a very creative answer to that question.

Fifteen year-old Lizzy steps off a curb on the way to buy a prom dress and is hit by a car. It takes a while for her to realize it, but she is dead. Lizzy ends up in Elsewhere where people age backwards. She will never turn 16 and get her driver's liscense. She will never marry; instead she will turn 14 on her next birthday, then, 13, 12, ... until she is a baby and then is 1 day, then 1 minute old. What happens then?

This very interesting and unusual novel brings the reader into the world of Elsewhere. I didn't want this novel to end - I loved reading Elsewhere!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

2010-03-31T08:33:00.003-04:00

What makes you really you? How much of your memory can you lose without becoming a totally different person? What if all you know about your younger years is by watching family videos?

This is a fascinating novel that questions many of the assumptions we have. Jenna Fox is severely injured in a car crash, and when she wakes up from her coma, she has no memory of who she used to be.

Besides losing her memory, her physical body also doesn't seem the same. Jenna's parents aren't much help, and throughout the book, Jenna struggles with finding out the truth about who she really is and what happened to her body and her memories.

This is a great book that still makes me think a year after I finished reading it.

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

2010-03-29T10:58:00.002-04:00

I have always been fascinated by what it is like to live in a cult. Fourteen-year-olds Honey and Agnes live in Mount Blessing, a secluded religious commune near Fairfield, CT. People living in Mount Blessing can't watch tv, listen to the radio, or leave the grounds. Children, when they are born, are raised in a communal nursery until they are around 7 years old.

Although Honey and Agnes have been friends forever, they are very different. Agnes is trying to become a saint; while all Honey wants to do is escape the commune - which is more difficult than she thinks. This book is written from each girls point of view which makes the book even more interesting.

This was a great book - a very fast read, but also one that made me think about it for a long time.

The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan

2010-03-15T12:40:00.002-04:00

Darren Shan is the author of the Cirque Du Freak series. This book is quite a departure for him.
First of all, the book I read is an advanced copy I received from one of my students. This book will be out in August 2010 - and I will be lining up to buy it for the media center.

Jebel is the third son of a respected executioner. His father has told the village that his two older sons will battle to see who will have the honor of succeeding him - poor, thin Jebel is left out. He decides to go on a perilous quest to petition the fire god for invincibility and hopefully return to his village a hero.

This book has it all - a hero, plenty of villians, and a romance. Plus, be aware this book is plenty violent and gory in parts.

On the back cover it states that Darren Shan was inspired by The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: after I finished reading The Thin Executioner, it was interesting to see how many similarities I could find. I think more mature readers will devour this book!

The Hunger Games Party and Activities

2010-03-11T13:21:00.004-05:00

We had our Hunger Games party a few days ago and both teachers and students had a great time. Below I will share every little detail of our party. If you have any questions, please let me know. Twelve people (the gamemakers) worked on this including 3 math teachers, 1 social studies teacher, 2 reading, 1 computer, 1 English, 1 assistant principal, 2 media specialists, and the media secretary. I work in a terrific school!
Basically, we divided the students into 8 groups (districts) of 4 or 5 students each. Each district received a scorecard and each gamemaker received a schedule. Since the party was held after school, we had to work within an hour and 15 minute time frame since students had to leave at 3:45. Don't panic if this doesn't make sense right now, links to everything are provided below.

There were 3 main activities:
Triva - 4 groups at a time (30 minutes)
Cornucopia challenge - 2 groups at a time (15 minutes)
Physical challenge - 2 groups at a time (15 minutes)

Half of the students (4 districts) began in Trivia. (The other 4 districts were divided between the Cornucopia and Physical challenges.) While completing the trivia contest, students also received a Hunger Game button that we made and entered their names into a raffle for the next book Mockingjay. We are a 7/8 middle school - so we had a raffle for the seventh grade (the winner will pick up the book in the fall here). The high school media specialist came and will provide the book for the winner of the eighth grade on the first day of high school - media relations at its finest! We held the trivia contest in the cafe and students had snacks (trial mix and juice boxes) while they worked on the questions. Teachers had to correct and put the score on the districts' scorecard.
After 30 minutes, the trivia students are off to the Cornucopia (2 districts) or the physical challenge (2 districts). All this is explained in the schedule. The Cornucopia challenge is especially interesting - be sure you click on the link below for the explanation. There is also a link to just about any trivia question you may need.
You can find links to everything (invitations, scorecard, trivia questions/answers, cornucopia and physical challenges) on the Amity Middle School - Bethany Library Media Site here:
http://www.bethanymediacenter.com/hungergames.html

At the end of the party, we assembled in the media center, added up the scorecards, picked the raffle winners, and awarded medals to the top three districts.

I would be interested in hearing about any other ideas for this party and also would love to hear from anyone who tries our ideas. Have fun!

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

2010-03-05T12:38:00.015-05:00

If you liked Hunger Games, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, City of Ember ...
Eli has always followed his twin brother Eddy. Eddy was more popular, smarter, and nicer. But Eli and Eddy are separated when their father, to escape a nuclear attack, whisks the family away to a compound deep in the earth away from civilization. Eddy and his grandmother don't make it to safety, and the entire family thinks they must have died in the nuclear explosion.
Dad has planned well; they have everything they need in the compound - food, water, a gym that includes a full basketball court, a gourmet kitchen and more - even a science lab. After six years, the food becomes rancid, but Dad also has a plan for that - quite a diabolical plan.
As you can tell, everything is not as it seems in the compound and Eli slowly begins to realize that his Dad is insane and that he and his family are trapped in the compound with no way out.
This book kept me rivited and reading far later into the night than I wanted. I have never read such a diabolical plan in a YA book.

Really good book!!
There's a good book trailer over on YouTube on this book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBXxZaZMxwA

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

2010-02-12T08:55:00.002-05:00

Wow, what a book - I loved this one! My Most Excellent Year is told from three different points of view - Augie, T.C. and Ale are all high school students who are dealing with their sexuality, adoption, and figuring out who they really are. This novel was both funny and heart-warming: I read it in two days and couldn't wait to sit down and continue reading.

Parts of this book are written in journal format, emails, and IMs - a format that keeps things interesting. Although the parents in the book are less important characters, I loved the way they interacted with each other and their children - too often, adults are portrayed as clueless and ineffectual.

Read this one!!

Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma

2010-02-08T13:08:00.002-05:00

If you are a fan of mystery books that aren't very scary, you will really like this book. And if you like black and white 1940s movies, you will LOVE this book. Thirteen-year-old Dani is on summer vacation in a "nothing-ever-happens" town in up-state New York. But one day a mystery begins and Dani is the only one who has the clues to unravel the mystery. This was a very quick read that I think a lot of girls will really like-it was funny, sad, mysterious, and quirky.

Candor by Pam Bachorz

2010-02-08T12:18:00.005-05:00

Something is really wrong in the model community of Candor. Everyone is respectful, polite and listens to their parents. But Oscar knows something is terribly wrong. The music that plays all day, every day, is sending subliminal messages. Can Oscar think for himself? Is there anything he can do to escape this "perfect" life?

When Oscar meets Nia, a newcomer to the community, he must decide whether to follow the messages or try to escape somehow.

Hunger Games Party - March 9

2010-02-07T16:33:00.002-05:00

*Be sure to check out the activities for our Hunger Games party on this blog!

A little advance notice for readers of this blog:

The Hunger Games party is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9! The first 50 students who sign up in the media center will get to come. Remember- you must read the book to come to the party.

There will be challenges and games and a raffle for the last book in the series - so come and sign up!!

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

2009-11-30T10:23:00.002-05:00

Looking for a good supernatural ghost story? Bad Girls Don't Die is a ghost story with romance and mystery and adventure thrown into the mix. Alexis is a loner with pink hair and an attitude. Add in a dysfunctional family and a haunted house and you have the makings of a novel you won't be able to put down.
Kasey, Alexis' younger sister, is acting weird - she has extreme mood swings and is devoted to her doll collection. One of her friends is blaming Kasey for breaking her arm. What is happening to Kasey and can Alexis stop it before anyone gets seriously hurt?
This is also a romance between two teenagers, who on the surface, have nothing in common.
This is a terrific, well-written book - pick it up and see for yourself!

Black and White by Paul Volponi

2009-11-30T10:13:00.002-05:00

Wow, what a riveting book! I should warn you that there is some strong language used here, but it does add to the gritty reality of this novel.Marcus and Eddie are star basketball players destined to be given athletic scholarships to college. Marcus (African-American) and Eddie (white) desperately need money and consider working in a fast-food restaurant demeaning. So although they are basically good kids, they begin to rob people for money. This snowballs into an horrific event that will affect their entire lives - and their friendship. This book is a very fast read, but it will stay with you a long time.
Read this one -

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

2009-11-30T09:47:00.003-05:00

Jamie Dexter and her brother TJ are Army brats - their dad is a colonel and in charge of the base in Fort Hood, Texas. This novel takes place during the Vietnam War and although both Jamie and TJ have always played "army men", when TJ decides to enlist as a medic and delay college, the family is in turmoil. Jamie who has always believed in the "Army way" begins to reconsider things after her brother sends home roll after roll of film from Vietnam for her to develop.
This is a very quick read and is beautifully written. I couldn't believe how caught up in the story I became and read this book in one sitting. I think both boys and girls will really like this very thought-provoking novel.