Welcome to our first meeting (in person) on Wednesday, October 29th!
By now you're read some NEW books that you can share with your students!
What you need to do now is comment to the blog for each of your books.
I would type and save my comments in a word processing program. I wouldn't type it right in the box in case something goes wrong, and you'll lose your comment.
For each book you read, please make a separate post.
- First, in your comment, include your name, school district and grade level/s.
- Second, the title of your book, author, genre and recommended grave level/s.
- Give us a brief one or two paragraphs with a summary of your book including your opinion.
- Next write your own booktalk for the book.
Click on "Comments" and then copy and paste your comment in the box. Click name/URL where you'll leave your name, (first and last name or only first name, last initial if you prefer). Then, type the captcha, (the letters or numbers to prove you're not a spamming robot), Click "Publish". Your comment will appear after I post it.
Optional: Create a second comment and respond to at least one group member's post, commenting on one of the books they read.
Now all that's left to do is add some fabulous *NEW* books to your reading list!
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I thought it might be helpful to all of you if I gave you an
idea of what I
was thinking about for the content of the blog posts, (see below).
*If you are elem. level and have read many books, you may choose to keep
the posts for each book shorter.)
--------------------------------------------------
*sample blog post:*
Rebecca Ekstrom, Averill Park CSD, Algonquin Middle School, grades 6-8
*Eleanor and Park* by Rainbow Rowell, realistic fiction/romance, grades 9-12
summary: Eleanor moves to a new town and must attend a new high school.
She is dealing with multiple issues: poverty, a free spirit mother in
denial of the family's issues, an overcrowded apartment, many siblings, a
bathroom with no door and a very real fear of her horrific stepfather.
When no one wants to sit with Eleanor on the school bus, (mean girl Tina
relentlessly teases her because of her curly, bright red hair and over
sized men's clothing), she has no choice but to sit with Park, a boy who is
Asian and loves X-Men comics and the Watchmen graphic novels. She reads
them over his shoulder on the bus, he soon he is slipping her new issues.
Both feel like outsiders and quickly a friendship is born, which blossoms
into love. Eleanor struggles to feel at ease with Park's "normal" family
while lying to her parents and saying she is at "Tina's" house almost every
night. When social services enters the picture, it's unclear if they can
help Eleanor's family and what the future holds for Eleanor and Park.
opinion: I absolutely fell head over heels for this book that incorporates
elements of Pretty in Pink and Romeo and Juliet. The very next book I read
was *Fangirl*, by the same author, (though not as beloved as *Eleanor and
Park*). I can see this novel being excellent for high school students who
are reluctant readers. I couldn't put it down! Even though this novel
takes place in 1986, it transported me back to high school in the 1990's
and had me crying on the very last page, (and I'm not a big crier when I
read books). I wish I hadn't already read this book so I could read it all
over again.
booktalk: When Eleanor and Park meet and bond over comic books and graphic
novels, worlds collide. Eleanor is struggling with an abusive stepfather,
a mother who doesn't see the abuse, a cramped house with many siblings and
a new high school. Park lives in suburbia, has a stable life, his mom is
an Avon lady and there is always dinner on the table. Eleanor must keep
her relationship with Park a secret from her mean stepfather and figure how
how to feel comfortable with Park's "Leave it to Beaver" family. Will
their love survive?
was thinking about for the content of the blog posts, (see below).
*If you are elem. level and have read many books, you may choose to keep
the posts for each book shorter.)
--------------------------------------------------
*sample blog post:*
Rebecca Ekstrom, Averill Park CSD, Algonquin Middle School, grades 6-8
*Eleanor and Park* by Rainbow Rowell, realistic fiction/romance, grades 9-12
summary: Eleanor moves to a new town and must attend a new high school.
She is dealing with multiple issues: poverty, a free spirit mother in
denial of the family's issues, an overcrowded apartment, many siblings, a
bathroom with no door and a very real fear of her horrific stepfather.
When no one wants to sit with Eleanor on the school bus, (mean girl Tina
relentlessly teases her because of her curly, bright red hair and over
sized men's clothing), she has no choice but to sit with Park, a boy who is
Asian and loves X-Men comics and the Watchmen graphic novels. She reads
them over his shoulder on the bus, he soon he is slipping her new issues.
Both feel like outsiders and quickly a friendship is born, which blossoms
into love. Eleanor struggles to feel at ease with Park's "normal" family
while lying to her parents and saying she is at "Tina's" house almost every
night. When social services enters the picture, it's unclear if they can
help Eleanor's family and what the future holds for Eleanor and Park.
opinion: I absolutely fell head over heels for this book that incorporates
elements of Pretty in Pink and Romeo and Juliet. The very next book I read
was *Fangirl*, by the same author, (though not as beloved as *Eleanor and
Park*). I can see this novel being excellent for high school students who
are reluctant readers. I couldn't put it down! Even though this novel
takes place in 1986, it transported me back to high school in the 1990's
and had me crying on the very last page, (and I'm not a big crier when I
read books). I wish I hadn't already read this book so I could read it all
over again.
booktalk: When Eleanor and Park meet and bond over comic books and graphic
novels, worlds collide. Eleanor is struggling with an abusive stepfather,
a mother who doesn't see the abuse, a cramped house with many siblings and
a new high school. Park lives in suburbia, has a stable life, his mom is
an Avon lady and there is always dinner on the table. Eleanor must keep
her relationship with Park a secret from her mean stepfather and figure how
how to feel comfortable with Park's "Leave it to Beaver" family. Will
their love survive?
Linda Fecura, Wynantskill Union Free School District, Gardner Dickinson Elementary, grades K-8
ReplyDeleteThe Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer, science fiction, grades 8-12 (2013)
Summary: Nancy Farmer brings us the much anticipated sequel to The House of Scorpion. The story began in The House of Scorpion with Matt discovering who (and what) he is. Set in the future where cloning has become a means of generating spare parts for the rich, Matt realizes he is destined to help stretch 142 year old drug lord, El Patron’s, life even farther. Farmer does an amazing job creating a future that addresses so many contemporary issues ranging from drug trafficking, to immigration, to cloning. In this believable future, the US and Mexico have negotiated a span of land along the border given exclusively to drug lords (Dope Confederacy), who use brain altered immigrants caught trying to cross the border as slave labor. In this story, clones are much like slaves were in US history and are not considered actual people, but something less, something inferior and to be scorned. The Lord of Opium picks up in the year 2137, when now fourteen-year-old Matt is stunned to learn that, as the clone of El Patron, he is expected to take over as leader of the corrupt drug empire of Opium, where there is also a hidden cure for the ecological devastation faced by the rest of the world. Matt struggles with the knowledge of his origin, his desire to help repair the outside world, and his yearning for his childhood friend, Maria.
Opinion: I liked this book a lot, but admittedly not as much as I LOVED The House of Scorpion. Farmer still addresses critical contemporary issues, and it is a fast-paced read – but just not quite as well conceived as the original.
Booktalk: It’s 2137. The environment is devastated. Drug Lords hold vast political sway in world affairs. Cloning is a relatively easy way to gain immortality. But what will happen when the most powerful drug lord dies and his only heir is a…. clone? Clones, which are not quite people – Clones, which are lab creations. Can Matteo Alacran hold The Land of Opium together? Can Matteo Alacran actually save the world?
Linda Fecura, Wynantskill Union Free School District, Gardner Dickinson Elementary, grades K-8
ReplyDeleteFreaks Like Us by Susan Vaught, realistic friction/mystery, grades 7-12 (2014)
Summary: This is a fascinating story told from the point of view of 17 year old Jason Milwaukee (“Freak”). Jason’s world is rocked when his best friend, Sunshine, never makes it home after he leaves her at their bus stop. Jason, who suffers from schizophrenia, feels compelled to find Sunshine with the help of their other friend, Drip. All three kids have shared the fate of being “alphabets”, or students with diagnostic classifications. They have supported each other through their years spent together in the self-contained classroom with the other “alphabets”. Jason suspects Sunshine was abducted by another student, although when the FBI arrives on the scene, he is horrified to realize that he is the prime suspect! Jason’s voice is very believable as he struggles with his emotions, his disorder, and his parents. Working in education, I found this story offered interesting insights to Special Education and those students receiving it.
Opinion: I liked this book. I’m not usually a big fan of “mysteries”, but I feel Vaught did a superb job keeping the reader in the moment through Jason’s voice. The chapter titles reflect the passage of time, and that also helps to set the mood and momentum of this fast-paced novel. This would be an excellent book for reluctant readers and also for fans of John Greene.
Booktalk: Life is hard enough when you have an emotional disability. Do you take your meds and risk zoning out? Do you not take your meds and suffer the cacophony of the incessant voices? How would you feel if you went through life being called “Freak”? Imagine all of that, and then factor in your best friend disappearing and YOU being the top suspect. Read this fast-paced novel to find out if Freak can save Sunshine. This may be a mystery, but it's also a story of friendship and discovery.
Excellent post Linda! I loved The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, so I will have to check out The Lord of Opium. We had author Edward Averett last year for Read All Day. He wrote a book called Cameron and the Girls. Cameron is a teen who struggles with schizophrenia and falls in love with one of the voices in his head. I will recommend Freaks Like Us to him; we're friends on facebook. Ah, the power of social media! More books for my to-read list! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMichelle McComb, Averill Park CSD Miller Hill Elementary, Grades 4&5
ReplyDeleteThe Maze Runner by James Dashner, science fiction, grades 6 and up
Summary: This is the beginning of a series of books that focuses on a boy named Thomas who has mysteriously appeared in this strange place where a group of boys have been living on their own. Periodically a new boy will appear through a box. This is the same box that provides the boys with food and supplies. Someone is obviously meeting the boys’ basic needs, but they have no memories of the past and they don’t know how to get out of the place they are in. What they do know is there is a large maze with a gate that closes each night. Each day some of the boys enter the maze and try to find a way out. One problem is the walls in the maze change every day and the other problem is there are these mechanical monsters called grievers that try to attack and sting the boys if they encounter them. Once stung by a griever a boy goes through a very painful even where some memories seem to return, but they are so traumatized they can’t speak about it and some boys even seem to go crazy from the ordeal. The main character, Thomas, ends up joining the boys that enter the maze each night. The original boys are suspicious of Thomas because strange things seem to happen once he arrives. One thing is a girl appears for the first time. She is has a few cryptic words of warning for the boys, although she doesn’t even know what her words mean. It seems that she and Thomas know each other from the past, but they can’t remember anything. They find out they can speak to each other in their minds. The book mostly revolves around the boys trying to solve the maze and escape the grievers. They also have to learn to work together as they try to make their escape and remember their past.
Opinion: I found the book to be slow to start and a bit tedious. The boys spend a lot of time arguing and the griever characters seem quite bizarre. I did want to know why the boys were there, and I could only suspect that it was part of some plan to save the world, but I felt that should have been explained early in the book so the reader could root for the characters. The book has a futuristic science fiction feel to it, but it isn’t nearly as interesting as other books of its type like the Hunger Games series. Even at the end of the book you don’t know why the boys are there or what their purpose is, but there are also several books that follow this one and I can only assume answer those questions. I would recommend this book for middle school students due to some of the violent scenes with the grievers as well as the way the boys talk. Fifth graders could probably handle it, but I think it’s better suited to a middle school setting.
Book Talk: When a group of teens finds themselves in a mysterious maze with no memory of their past, they must work together to find a way out and figure out why they were put there in the first place.
The Maze Runner has been in demand in my jr/sr high library due to the movie release. Haven't been able to read it yet because of the many reserves!
Delete
ReplyDeleteGenii Rutherford, East Grenbush CSD, Red Mill Elementary, grades K-5
Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matthew Myers
A sappy looking book, Birthday Bunny, is found by a grandmother at a garage sale and is given to her grandson, Alex. Alex transforms the Birthday Bunny into the Battle Bunny as he adds his own editions to the illustrations and story! This Battle Bunny is a force to be reckoned with. He goes on a secret mission to unleash an evil plan, a plan only Alex can stop.
Opinion: Jon Scieszka now teamed up with Mac Barnett, has topped his The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Fairy Tales with this new parody. The transformation that the original Birthday Bunny (ala Richard Scarry’s I am a Bunny and Walt Disney’s Grandpa Bunny, sorry.) text and illustrations go through is genius. The illustrations are drawn over and extended to look just like a young reader/artist has his imagination going to enliven this blah character and story line. Students will be thinking of their own books and what they can do with them.
There is a website that allows students to create their own Battle Bunny.
http://mybirthdaybunny.com/make-your-own/
Students may want to try rewriting using some old withdrawn books too.
When I book talked this book to 3rd and 4th grades students they wanted to get in line to borrow it. I’ll definitely need to order a couple more copies.
Book Talk:
Please, do not try this at home! Alex was given a blah book called, Birthday Bunny that his grandmother found at a garage sale. He decides to transform the Birthday Bunny into the Battle Bunny while he rewrites the story and adds his own twist to the illustrations. If you like the humor in this book you should check out Jon Scieszka’s other books…
Sera Deo, Averill Park CSD, Poestenkill Elementary School, Grade 2
ReplyDelete*The Book With No Pictures* by B.J. Novak, picture book, any age
Summary: As the title suggests, this truly is a book with no pictures. Instead, it is filled with hilarious text that requires the reader to take on silly personae and read in funny voices. There really is not a story line, per se, but that doesn’t take away from the “story” at all.
Opinion: My students were literally rolling on the floor in laughter as I read this book aloud to them, and they’ve asked for a re-read several times since then. They each have a favorite part and sit with anticipation as I approach that page.
Our librarian shared with them a book with no words and they had a great discussion about that story together. I then was able to have a similar discussion about the power of the written word after reading this book to them.
I highly recommend this book!
Booktalk: The Book With No Pictures is a funny read-aloud experience for young children that may also inspire conversation about the power of the written word and the nature of a book itself. How do books work? Was it surprising to read a book with no pictures? What other kinds of things could a book say? If you could write a book, what would your book say?
I shared this with 2nd graders -- they were howling. Loved it when I said butt :)
DeleteThen read it to 5th graders. It was interesting to see their minds working, trying to figure what was up. You could see the lights going on as they realized the strategy of the book. They want to make their parents read it! I have a waiting list --- of 5th graders :)
Sera Deo, Averill Park CSD, Poestenkill Elementary School, Grade 2
ReplyDelete*The Mighty Miss Malone* by Christopher Paul Curtis, Historical Fiction, Ages 9-12
Summary: Deza Malone, 12, is the main character and narrator. She lives in Gary, Indiana with her parents, Peg and Roscoe, and her older brother, Jimmie. The story takes place during the Great Depression.
The Malones have a close, loving family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class, and he brother is known around town for his soulful singing.
But, it’s hard for black men like Roscoe to find work, and soon Deza’s father sets off to Flint, Michigan to do what he needs to do for his family. Peg gets tired of waiting to hear from Roscoe and before long, the family boards a train to find him. Deza is ripped away from her best friend, Clarice, and her favorite teacher, Mrs. Needham. Along the way, they face many hardships, including poor health (Deza’s teeth are rotting out of her mouth and Jimmie has stopped eating) and living in a shantytown camp.
They’re forced to separate while in Flint. Jimmie leaves to pursue his dream of singing in Detroit, but they never give up hope that they’ll be together again. When Deza hears that Jimmie is making it big in Detroit, she sets out to find him, starting a chain of events that lead to a hopeful yet heartbreaking conclusion. The subsequent twists and turns of the story, and the trials and tribulations of the family prove just how might Deza Malone really is.
Opinion: Christopher Paul Curtis’s books never disappoint me. This book, with a mighty girl main character was no exception. It was a great way to return to the setting of Bud, Not Buddy, and a perfect reintroduction of Deza, who was mentioned rather briefly in that story. I found the story to be completely absorbing. Deza is a snappy character that truly grabbed my attention. She is one of the smartest and bravest charaters that I’ve ever met. The author’s portrayal of the strong love the Malone’s have for each other felt incredibly real and true. The story left me wanting more. Maybe a sequel?
Booktalk: Like all of us, Deza Malone was born with advantages and disadvantages. It’s how she manages them that makes her so mighty. Deza is living with her family during the Great Depression in the racially tense town of Gary, Indiana. Her family is poor and her father can’t find work. Her teeth are rotting right out of her mouth, but she’s the smartest girl in her class and she doesn’t let anything get in the way of her writing. Until her father leaves and her family is forced to move to Michigan. Follow Deza through this disheartening journey and find out if she’s strong enough and brave enough to steady the ride and wait for her family to be reunited again.
I loved Bud, Not Buddy and look forward to reading The Mighty Miss Malone.
DeleteYou are sooooo right! I've read and loved all of his books. Have you read Richard Peck at all? He's similarly satisfying :-)
DeleteSera Deo, Averill Park CSD, Poestenkill Elementary School, Grade 2
ReplyDelete*Reconstructing Amelia* by Kimberly McCreight, Realistic Fiction, Mature, High School
Summary: Kate Baron, a high-powered attorney, is stunned when her daughter's exclusive private school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, calls with disturbing news: her 15-year-old daughter, Amelia, has been caught cheating. Kate can't believe that Amelia would do something like that. But by the time she arrives at Grace Hall, Kate's faced with far worse news. Amelia is dead.
Amelia has jumped from the school's roof in an act of "spontaneous" suicide. At least that's the story Grace Hall and the police tell Kate. That is the story that Kate believes until she gets the anonymous text: “She didn't jump.” Kate is determined to learn the truth about why Amelia was on Grace Hall's roof that day and why she died.
Opinion: This is truly one of the best books I’ve read. With a stunning Gone Girl-esque ending, it kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.
While the content is mature and incredibly poignant, it should not be overlooked.
Booktalk: Told in alternating voices, Reconstructing Amelia is a story of secrets and lies, of love and betrayal, of trusted friends and vicious bullies. It's about how well a parent ever really knows a child and how far one mother will go to vindicate the memory of a daughter whose life she could not save. Will she be successful?
Hi Michelle-Great job on your thoughtful posts! I have to agree with you about The Maze Runner. Sometimes I read a book, and I don’t love it, but it was okay. Unless I have a feeling it is a book very few students will enjoy, I book talk the book. I think The Maze Runner for some adults just doesn’t hit the high notes, but of course, most students seem to love it. We’ve had a big run on it, (with no signs of slowing), due to the recent movie release. I have to make sure Skink No Surrender is in our orders database. Carl Hiaasen’s mysteries are in demand when grade 6 Literacy focuses on the mystery genre. Your thoughts on The Orphan Train post have inspired me to make this topic the next one I read about! Thanks for your contribution Michelle!
ReplyDeleteHi Genii! Does Jon Scieszka touch anything that isn’t gold!? I loved your booktalk: “Don’t try this at home!” What a great way to catch kids and hook them into such an engaging book! I’m so glad you were able to bring it to our first meeting; it has to be seen to be throughly enjoyed! Thanks Genii!
ReplyDeleteHi Sera! I love the selection of books you chose and the range of ages. I saw that The Book With No Pictures was written by B.J. Novak who worked on The Office as Ryan and behind the scenes. I was a big fan of The Office-so even though I’m a middle school, I am dying to check this out! I love the booktalk you wrote! I am sure it will make students think about their own story and the nature of what a book is. I also love Christopher Paul Curtis and am glad The Mighty Miss Malone hits the mark. I am not a big fan of history, but historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Go figure! I bet if you booktalked Reconstructing Amelia, (not to your second grade students of course), it would fly out of the school! Wow-what a compelling story! Thanks so much Sera-nicely done!
ReplyDeleteKatelynn Ingham, East Greenbush CSD, Columbia High School, grades 9-12
ReplyDeleteNoggin by James Corey Whaley, realistic fiction/science fiction, grades 9-12
Summary:
Travis Coates is a young man who is dying from cancer. When the doctors tell him it’s over, he is offered a spot in an experimental treatment that may be the answer Travis and his family has been looking for. But it’s extreme. The company that is trying to rescue him must cut off his head and cryogenically freeze it in the hopes that science will advance enough to bring Travis back to life in the future. It turns out that the future isn’t too far off. Five years after his death, Travis Coates is brought back to life with the gift of a donor body. When Travis wakes up he feels like he just took a long nap, but to his friends and family those five years has changed everything. Travis must come to terms with the fact that his parents, his best friend Kyle and his girlfriend Cate have all moved on. Will Travis be able to move on too or will he regret ever coming back to live. This story has strong themes of identity, death, terminal illness, friends and family.
Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book. While reading I was emotionally invested in what the outcome would be for Travis. This story was more about how Travis’s death affected his parents and his friends, than the fact that his head was attached to a donor body. The struggle to come to terms with everyone in his life moving on without him is the most difficult obstacles he is faced with. The focus on the death of a family member from a mental illness and how it affects everyone is so genuine. It was a great book to read and I would definitely recommend it to any of my students or staff.
Booktalk:
What if you were losing a battle with a terminal illness? What would you do to survive? What if an extreme experimental scientific treatment could save your life? What would you choose? Travis Coates is given such a choice after trying to overcome cancer. When it becomes clear that his body is dying he chooses the extreme. But did he make the right choice? What will Travis do when he realizes that the choice live will cost him the life he knows and the people he loves? Read Noggin by James Corey Whaley to find out what happens.
Hi Katelynn-We can all agree that cancer touches every single student and staff that walks through our doors. What I like about this book is that it is about a serious topic, and sounds like it will be thought provoking for students, yet has a hook that is so intriguing. Who wouldn't want to read about Travis and find out what happens to him? And how does this whole cryogenic process work anyway? How does one prepare for having one's head cut off? More minor questions than listed in your booktalk, but interesting to think about. Thanks for your great review!
DeleteLinda Fecura, Wynantskill Union Free School District, Gardner Dickinson Elementary, grades K-8
ReplyDeleteDoll Bones by Holly Black, technically “adventure fiction”, but I would call it just plain creepy and disturbing, grades 5-8 (2013, 2014 Newberry Medal Honor)
Summary: Okay, the cover should alert you that this book is creepy. Think Coroline by Neil Gaimen crossed with something by Stephen King, like Pet Cemetery and/or Stand By Me. The premise revolves around three Middle School friends who go on a quest to bury an antique china doll that they suspect is haunted by the little girl whose ashes were used to create it – think “bone china”. But it’s worse than that – the girl’s ghost seriously “visits” one of the friends, and during the course of the quest, the doll seems to be able to move of its own volition when no one’s looking. It turns out that the girl’s father, a famous producer of bone china in the 1800’s, murdered the girl. Great.
Opinion: On the bright side, ultimately this is a story of friendship and the strange path relationships can take during adolescence. I like how there are two girls and a boy, and how Black describes how they each view the changes they’re experiencing. There are also quirky side characters, like the pink-haired librarian who ultimately helps them – but truth be told – I really didn’t like this book very much. I thought it was a little too dark – even more so than the Spiderwick Chronicles – Black’s other major contribution to children’s literature.
Book Talk: Looking for something to keep you up at night? If you’re a fan of Coroline or ParaNorman, then this is the book for you! This book has it all - a creepy, possessed doll, a historical thriller mystery, and three friends on an adventure of a lifetime. Filled with spine-tingling intrigue and just enough humor to make it readable, Doll Bones is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Linda Fecura, Wynantskill Union Free School District, Gardner Dickinson Elementary, grades K-8
ReplyDeleteThe Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen by Geraldine McCaughrean, Adventure/Histporical Fiction, grades 5-8 (2011)
Summary: I can’t resist a good yarn involving a paddleboat. It must be the Mark Twain addict in me :-) And here’s an absolutely delightful romp of a book set in the 1890’s in the mid-west during an outbreak of diphtheria. Twelve year old Cissy misses her vivacious teacher who has left town to join an acting troupe. Life becomes even more unbearable when diphtheria hits her tiny Oklahoma town and it looks like her parents want her to leave school and help out at their store. But Cissy is destined for greater things, and it is a welcomed surprise when she and two classmates end up on a paddleboat chugging down the Mississippi, reunited with her beloved teacher, on a quest to free a man named Curly from a jail in Missouri. McCaughrean weaves an enchanting story with lots of historical appeal that is sure to please a wide audience.
Opinion: I just adored this book! Being a huge fan of Richard Peck and his unforgettable stories about Grandma Dawdle (A Long Way From Chicago, A Year Down Yonder, and A Season of Gifts), this was right up my alley. Filled with humor and well developed characters, this is escapism at its best.
Book Talk: If you’re looking for adventures and laughs, try The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen. This book is guaranteed to keep you reading as Cissy’s story unfolds. The story begins in the tiny prairie town of Olive Town where Cissy attends a one-room-schoolhouse and dreads the long, boring life ahead of her - when through a bizarre twist of fate, she is propelled on the adventure of a lifetime with a large group of semi-professional thespians who inhabit a once “glorious” showboat on the Mississippi. This is a cleverly crafted, fast-paced read sure to delight!
Linda Fecura, Wynantskill Union Free School District, Gardner Dickinson Elementary, grades K-8
ReplyDeleteHollow City by Ransom Riggs, mystery/fantasy, grades 6-12 (2014)
Summary: This is the sequel to Miss Peregrine’s Home For peculiar Children, and it picks up right where the first story left off. I heard about this book on my way into work one morning while listening to NPR shortly after this book came out, and I was intrigued. Apparently Ransom Riggs collects weird old photographs from rummage sales and the like, and one day decided to weave together a story that would incorporate some of these bizarre images. He came up with a captivating fantasy story set in 1940’s England during WWII when many children found themselves orphaned and needing safe refuge. These children all had one other thing in common, though – a collection of strange abilities and mutations. Living in an almost idyllic setting in northern England, these misfits live a happy life under the watchful care of Miss Peregrine – until she is captured at the end of the first book. This second book recounts the quest to get her back and to restore the order of their little world.
The main character is 16-year old Jacob Portman, who has lived his life puzzled by his grandfather’s weird tales of the orphanage he left to serve in the war. When his grandfather dies mysteriously, Jacob tries to find closure by visiting this orphanage. Jacob finds a lot more than he bargained for in the process, though!
Opinion: I loved this book! It is such a well-conceived story that vacillates between fantasy and reality. There is really nothing else quite like it. The historical tid-bits are just a bonus that lend credence to this other-worldly tale. And, of course, the weird photos “make” the book!
Booktalk: Just show the pictures and let them sell the book.
Hi Linda-Nice choices! If you liked Geraldine McCaugharean's The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen, from its description, you'd probably like the Newbery winner Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres even though I'm not a big history person. The other two sound like great books to include in a "Chilling Novels" book talk. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteMartha v.December 31, 2014 at 9:38 AM
ReplyDeleteMartha v. Hoosick Falls gr. 7-12
Etiquette and Espionage / Gail Carriger, 2013. Science fiction (Steampunk)
Summary: Etiquette and Espionage is a fun, action-packed steampunk adventure. Sophronia, a young lady with unfortunate tendencies (likes to climb trees, travels surreptitiously between floors in the dumbwaiter, and causes an unfortunate event in which the trifle lands on a genteel visitor) is sent off to what her mother thinks is a finishing school for “young ladies of quality.”
All is not what it seems! The coach Sophronia is riding in to get to her new school is set upon by flywaymen. (Flywaymen are highwaymen who have taken to the air.) Why have they set upon the coach?
Sophronia discovers she is enrolled in a school for spies and assassins. The school itself is a huge floating contraption full of girls studying to become either a spy or an assassin. Why has Sophronia been selected to attend this school?
Sophronia acquires a mechanimal (a robotic dog) on the sly which she feeds coal and water. She acquires coal for her ‘pet’ by making a hair-raising climb around the outside of the huge airship, hundreds of feet above the ground, to get to the engine level and the coal supply. Why are the ‘sooties’ (the young men who shovel the coal to power the steam engine that powers the airship) so isolated from the rest of the school?
Opinion: I love this book! Hilarious opening scene which could be read as a booktalk – the heroine tries to listen in on her mother’s conversations with visitors and ends up falling out of the dumbwaiter, upsetting the maid and launching the trifle onto the head of the Very Important visitor.
BookTalk: This story has lots of intrigue, some very unusual teachers (werewolf, vampire), and a very bold heroine. If you like mysteries and alternate histories, this is the book for you. Delicious fun! (Suggestion: read the opening sequence where Sophronia tumbles out of the dumbwaiter and causes a scene!)
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Martha v.December 31, 2014 at 10:37 AM
My library is 7-12 and I would recommend this as 7-12.
Sorry to be adding this back in late ....... I'm guessing I never hit "publish"! :)
ReplyDeleteJeanne Seel, Averill Park CSD, Miller Hill/Sand Lake & Poestenkill Elem, Gr K - 5
When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens, realistic fiction / history, grades 4-6, 287pg
Summary: Audrey is not sure her role as First Daughter suits her. Dealing with the White House, rules, new school, and a lack of friends is complicated even more by having a mother who is the President and a father who is a renown scientist. Finding the diary of Alice Roosevelt and her credo “To thine own self be true”, becomes a turning point in Audrey’s life. Fascinated by the entries, Audrey begins to question and consider new things as she tries to sort through the confusion of her new life. With a nod to presidential and White House history, Audrey’s story is humorous and heart-felt.
Opinion: I enjoyed the way this book mixed realistic with a touch and hint at history. It made be want to learn more about Alice Roosevelt and the author provides several references at the end of the book. With just a touch of romance / crush to satisfy young tweens, the focus is more on learning about yourself which is spot on for this group. Much more for girls than boys, much lighter than historical fiction. You can easily ignore the history aspect and just enjoy the tween coming of age and angst with a dash of humor.
Booktalk: “I am eating up the world!” – Certainly makes you wonder what is going on! When Audrey Lee Rhodes, current First Kid of the White House, finds a hidden diary belongs to former First Kid Alice Roosevelt she starts looking at her world and opportunities in a new way. Alice Roosevelt’s diary reveals that she was a very adventuresome young woman, especially in 1901. Can Audrey survive the consequences when she starts asking herself ……. “ What would Alice do?”