proseandkahn

Oops!

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:01:46 GMT

I forgot to post the new url: http://proseandkahn.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you there!

Happy New Year! Happy New Blog!

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:17:42 GMT

I've been blogging here since December, 2008. Mostly happily, but ever since LJ crashed majorly a year or so ago, and made "improvements," I have been unhappy with all the glitches, hearing from bloggers that they can't comment, being unable to have my identity verified and therefore unable to comment on other blogs, losing posts, down, down, down.

Luckily, proseandkahn was available over at blogspot. So, I'll be mostly posting over there from now on and occasionally posting here. I'm letting my paid subscription lapse, so after February, there will be ads. Hope to see you over at blogspot, which I hear has its own bugs. We'll see.

Oops, edited to add the new url: http://proseandkahn.blogspot.com/.

Taking Stock - December - 2012

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:52:24 GMT

Total Posts: 37started, not published
Total Books Read this Month: 36
Total Books Read this Year: 415

Challenges:
Audio Books: 5/83 ytd
Debut Author: 4/30 ytd
Mount TBR Challenge: 3/48 ytd

The Good: I surpassed my Goodreads goal of 400 books. Unfortunately the two totals (LJ and GR) don't jibe because GR doesn't allow counting of rereads. I frequently reread favorites with my ears if I originally read with my eyes and vice versa.

The Bad: LJ continues to have glitches and technical difficulties galore. Losing patience. Really, why am I still blogging on LJ?

Also, I didn't write enough reviews. As I may have explained ad nauseum, writing is a slow and painful process for me. So slow that I'd rather be reading. That said, I did not get around to blogging about books I absolutely adored (see below).

The WTF: I really don't like to use that acronym, but, I had a number of wtf moments this year mostly having to do with not sharing the love for some raved about books. The most notable of which has to be The Fault in Our Stars. Don't get me wrong. I like it. I didn't love it. It was a good cancer book. But it broke no new ground. I actually liked Me, Earl and the Dying Girl a whole lot better. I read it simultaneously with my eyes and with my ears. Kate Rudd did a spectacular job performing it and I liked it better with my ears but ultimately found (guiltily) the two main characters too pretentious to stomach. I also didn't love the media hype surrounding the launch. Color me cynical.

Hugely disappointed in Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. I have been playing a bit of catch up with the Mortal Instruments series and mostly a fan until the fourth, City of Fallen Angels. I listened to Clockwork Angel with my husband on a car trip to visit #4 son at college. He was intrigued enough to steal my cds and finish the book on his own. I ended up buying him Clockwork Prince, but he quit it early on. I, on the other hand, listened to the bitter end and was bitterly disappointed with how wimpy Tessa got and the repetitive angsty scenes.

I was also disappointed in Safekeeping by Karen Hesse. I am a huge fan of most of the author's work but I could not buy into the premise of Safekeeping. There were just too many "ah, no," moments. I read it with my ears and I have read that the print version contains photographs, but I didn't even try to seek out the book to check out the photos.

Faves that were not reviewed:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio: originally read this one with my ears and was so, so disappointed in the audio despite the starred review for the audiobook in SLJ. Luckily, the performances did not detract from the intense story. Deserving of all the Newbery buzz. Totally and completely in love with this one.
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: Read this one with my ears and Libba Bray can not only write her ass off, she can narrate it off (as well as sing it off and act it off) (really, is there anything she can't do?) I was late to the party to read this one. It will remain on my all-time faves for a while (along with Going Bovine).
Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi: Read Ship Breaker with my ears and adored it. Read the arc of this one with my eyes and thought that this was even better! Printz, anyone?
Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie: I don't know what arc fairy godmother to thank for this one. I was totally destroyed by this one. What a beautiful, powerful story. So sorry the author was overlooked by the Morris committee.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer: this was another one that I avoided because of all the pre-pub hype. The only good thing about that is that the wait for the second installment is that much shorter.
Summer of the Gypsy Moth by Sara Pennypacker: Only Sara Pennypacker could've pulled this Weekend at Bernie's for the pint-sized off.
One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate: this was one that also got some early Newbery buzz and I initially resisted reading. Don't.
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead: I am such a fan of this diverse writer. I am totally ashamed that I did not write about this one. Especially since I was totally surprised at the end.
Blood Red Road by Moira Young: another overly hyped debut that I avoided. I read it with my ears only after my sister, Barbara, a high school librarian raved about it. Unique voice. And, yes, better than The Hunger Games.
iBoy by Kevin Brooks: I adore Kevin Brooks, but his books are really for a high school audience, so I don't read everything he writes because I don't have the time. In iBoy, once I decided to let go and accept the contrivances, I was hooked.
Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter: I really enjoyed Ms. Shecter's biography of Cleopatra and when I heard about Cleopatra's Moon, I pre-ordered it, but then it sat on TOM. This past summer, the audiobook was available as a free download and I took advantage of it and finally read it with my ears. The production was very well done!
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Obed: I received an arc of this darling little book from Houghton Mifflin when I attended their publisher preview at KidLitCon this past September. It is lovely and would fit very nicely as a mentor text in any middle or high school language arts classroom.
Unspoken by Henry Coles: This one is my personal choice for Caldecott. How do you spell P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L.? I work very closely with the ESL teacher at my school. We both share a love of wordless books and find using them particularly effective with English language learners. When I showed her Unspoken, she grabbed it, read it and said, "I'm buying it." She used it as a mentor text with her eighth graders to help them study the Civil War.
The Diviners by Libba Bray: I read this comment somewhere on the interwebz: The Diviners is the shortest long book you'll ever read. Oh yeah. I swallowed this baby whole. Before its publication date. The problem with reading arcs early is the long wait till the publication of sequels, especially if arcs are not distributed.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater: The Scorpio Races was one of my faves earlier this year. I liked but did not love Linger and disliked the sequels even more. This one put my admiration for the author back on the upside. Atmospheric, romantic, quirky, with just the right amount of creep factor. Looking forward to the sequels.
Dodger by Terry Pratchett: I recently finished reading this one with my ears and might just get to writing about it. But, then again, might not. I am definitely rereading it with my eyes. I adore Terry Pratchett and mourn his devastating diagnosis. Stephen Briggs is simply brilliant as a narrator, period, but seems to have a particular affinity for Pratchett's singular humor. I adored this book and (repeat) will be rereading with my eyes if only to mark the text horribly.

December's list: * = a favorite
378. Rebel Heart by Moira Young. Dust Lands #2 (12/1)
379. Endangered by Eliot Schrefer (12/3)*
380. The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #7) by Jeff Kinney (12/4)
381 One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (12/5)
382. The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman (12/5)
383. Dusssie by Nancy Springer (12/5)
384. Mutiny in Time (Infinity Ring #1) by James Dashner (12/6)
385. Secrets from the Sleeping Bag by Rose Cooper (12/6)
386. Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo (12/7)
387. Madeline L'Engle's a Wrinkle in Time: the Graphic Novel adapted by Hope Larson (12/7)
388. Her Permanent Record by Jimmy Gownley (12/7)
389. Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (Dork Diaries #5) (12/8)
390. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen (12/8)*
391. Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffen Burns (12/10)*
392. Cactus Soup by Eric Kimmel (12/10)
393. The Two Mountains by Eric Kimmel (12/10)
394. Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Prachett (12/10)
395. Beowulf adapted by Gareth Hinds (12/11)
396. My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff (12/12)
397. The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse (12/13)
398. Shadow by Michael Morpurgo (12/15)
399. Who Could That Be at This Hour by Lemony Snicket (12/15)
400. Seriously, I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres (12/16)
401. Goodnight iPad: a parody for the next generation by Ann Droyd (12/16)
402. Just Behave, Pablo Picasso by Jonah Winter (12/20)
403. Hunter Moran Saves the Universe by Patricia Reilly Giff (12/21)
404. If I'm So Smart, Why Aren't the Answers Easy? by Robert A. Schultz & James R. Delisle (12/21)
405. Dodger by Terry Pratchett (12/21)*
406. I Funny: a middle school story by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (12/23)
407. Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo (12/26)
408. The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park (12/27)
409. I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black (12/27)
410. Oh No! (or how I built a time machine to save history) (or at least my history grade) by Mac Barnett (12/27)
411. Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli (12/27)
412. The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng (12/27)
413. Etched in Clay by Andrea Cheng (12/28)*
414. The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver (12/29)
415. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (12/31)

Non-Fiction Monday: Etched in Clay: the life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet by Andrea Cheng

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 02:25:58 GMT

I am thrilled to be hosting the last Non-Fiction Monday of 2012! Happy New Year everyone! What are your reading resolutions for 2013?

143 p. Lee & Low Books, January 15, 2013. 9781600604515. (Purchased)

The life of an enslaved man named Dave is recounted in 90+ blank verse poems and illustrated by woodcuts. According to Ms. Cheng's brief introduction and afterword, facts about Dave's life were gleaned from the records of his many owners. It is estimated that he was born around 1801 and lived to see the end of slavery. He showed an affinity for throwing pottery and soon became known for the quality of his pots. He continued to throw pots despite losing one of his legs in an accident. He was taught to read at a time when it was illegal to teach slaves. In one of his poems, Dave expresses admiration for Nat Turner and chides himself for not being brave, but he wrote his poems on his pots and signed them at his and his owner's peril. Some of the poems incorporate Dave's poems and there is a page with Dave's inscriptions at the back of the book along with information about Edgefield Pottery, an author's note and sources.

This book is quite hefty despite its narrow trim and mere 142 pages. It is also beautifully designed - the cover paper is textured, the preponderance of clay-red on the cover and end-pages is lovely, and the creamy pages containing the poems are on the thick side. The story of Dave the potter's life is told from multiple viewpoints, Dave's, his two wives, three owners and their wives and sundry folks. The free verse poems beg for multiple readings. The wood cut illustrations are spare and powerful. There's potential for plenty of cross-curricular work here - art, social studies and language arts, especially if paired with Laban Carrick Hill's gorgeous picture book, Dave the Potter: artist, poet, slave. One might also include It Jes' Happened by Don Tate to expand the unit.

I first heard of the book when I read a tweet from Lee & Low directing me to this page. What a nice resource! Since I am a fan of Ms. Cheng's work and also of Mr. Hill's book, which is also a poem, I looked up the book with the intention of pre-ordering it and found that it was shipping early. Yay!

Please leave your links to Non-Fiction Monday in the comments. I am sorry to say that LJ is glitchy with comments from time to time. If your comment does not appear, feel free to post your link to kidlitosphere or email me at labsnbooks(at)aol(dot)com. Cheers! And Happy New Year!

Sandy, from Unpacking the Power of Picture Books, is not only in first, but also festively, with One Times Square: a century of change at the crossroads of the world by Joe McKendry. Genius!

Tara of A Teaching Life, talks about using A Black Hole is Not a Hole as a mentor text to launch a non-fiction unit. Great choice!

Jeff, at NC Teacher Stuff is featuring a book about The American Revolution titled Did It All Start with a Snowball Fight? This sounds like a fine addition to the unit I collaborate on with the seventh grade social studies teacher

Cathy and Louise, from The Non-Fiction Detectives reflected on their favorite history books of 2012. It's quite a diverse list starting with Bomb.

Alex, of The Children's War, reviewed The House Baba Built: an artist's childhood in China by Ed Young.

Anastasia writes, "Today at Booktalking I have a book for the new year: Health Smarts: How to Eat Right, Stay Fit, Make Positive Choices, and More (USA Today Teen Wise Guides: Lifestyle Choices) by Matt Doeden."

Sue submitted this: "Today at Sally's Bookshelf I've posted a review of About Habitats: Oceans by Cathryn Sill; illustrated by John Sill."

Jennifer didn't let LJ's snubbing prevent her from posting the link to City Critters: wildlife in the urban jungle by Nicholas Read over at Jean Little Library. Thanks Jennifer!

Keep them coming folks!

What's New?

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:40:03 GMT

Well, I did get some lovely books as gifts this holiday season. The sweetest one had to be from #4 son, the mountain-climbing camper turned counselor who guided me on my first attempt to hike a fourteener.
He's still hopeful that I will get in shape enough to actually make it to the top. So sweet. I've already skimmed the book and read about many of the hikes. They're way too hard for the likes of me but they are inspiring.

Purchased:

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: a new English version by Philip Pullman. 405 p. Viking/ Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated, November, 2012. 9780670024971.

Publisher Synopsis: Pullman retells his fifty favorites, from much-loved stories like “Cinderella” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Rapunzel” and “Hansel and Gretel” to lesser-known treasures like “The Three Snake Leaves," "Godfather Death" and "The Girl with No Hands." At the end of each tale he offers a brief personal commentary, opening a window on the sources of the tales, the various forms they've taken over the centuries and their everlasting appeal.

Suffused with romance and villainy, danger and wit, the Grimms' fairy tales have inspired Pullman's unique creative vision—and his beguiling retellings will draw you back into a world that has long cast a spell on the Western imagination.

Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies by Ellen Brown. Cider Mill Press, September, 2011. 9781604332391.

I know, a day late and a dollar short. When #4 son was diagnosed with celiac disease, his nutritionist said that there was no need to run out to buy g-free cookbooks. I could just adapt and substitute. For the most part, her advice was sound but for baking. It's a bit tricky. Last year, my spritz cookies were a spreading mush. This year, I actually read the Pamela's bag and learned that the shortening needed to be lessened and the spritz turned out. Lessened by how much? The bag didn't specify and I chose a random amount, which I doubt I will remember the next time I bake the cookies (next Christmas)!

I don't know how I came across this book, but it's worth trying.

That's what's new with me. What's new with you? Happy New Year and happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 19:12:02 GMT

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles of books we are ~~eagerly~~ anticipating.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. Infernal Devices #3. 592 p. Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 19, 2013. 9781416975908.

Publisher synopsis: Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy. (Repeat much?)

Well, that was edifying. Even though I was less than thrilled with book 2, Clockwork Prince, I'm curious about the conclusion. I did enjoy the related series, Mortal Instruments, though I think I stopped that one after the third book when things got a bit convoluted and silly.

What's New?

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 01:52:24 GMT

Quiet week this week. I thought I would be so productive getting prepared for the holiday. Don't know where the time went.

Purchased:

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. Unabridged MP3 audiobook, 13 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Mandy Williams. Listening Library, July,2012. 9780307968937. (Purchased.)

Publisher synopsis: In her New York Times bestselling debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy."

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

Been hearing lots of great things about this one, plus it's a debut. Must squeeze it in before the end of the year.

Hope and Tears: Ellis Island Voices by Gwenyth Swain

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:55:12 GMT

114 p. Calkins Creek/ Boyds Mills Press, March, 2012. 9781590787656. (Chosen to review for LibraryLinkNJ)

This beautifully designed book needs to find its way into every middle school Ellis Island unit. The author relates the history of the island from the time it was used by the Lenni-Lenape Indians as a fishing spot through the construction of the first buildings, its use as a processing center from 1892 through the 1950s, to it’s restoration as a museum and National Park. Each brief history is followed by poems or monologues inspired by a photograph from the archives related to the time period. While each poem is fiction, each is based on solid research into the immigrant experience. The volume lends itself perfectly to a cross-curricular unit in social studies and language arts.

Waiting on Wednesday

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:00:02 GMT

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles of books we are eagerly anticipating.

I've been posting these a bit more regularly since I've been more organized about keeping notes when I see upcoming books around the Interwebz. I have myself a nice little list to keep me going for the next few Wednesdays. Occasionally, news of some book causes a happy dance and results in said book cutting the line, so to speak. Today, my WoW celebrates a publisher. So this entry will be a bit of a publisher preview except I didn't need to take a personal day from work and eat sandwiches while I listened to booktalks. A catalog caught my eye.

First, a word or two about catalogs. Some time ago, Betsy Bird asked librarians on the ethernet their preference regarding publisher catalogs - print or online? I posted a guilty preference for print while acknowledging that I ought to seek out the online catalogs more often. You see, with print catalogs, even though they too can get lost in a sea of print materials, the catalog takes up space, on my desk(s), on the catalog shelves, etc. At some point, I must pay it attention, if only to toss it in the recycle bin. But if there's an eye-catching cover, I will sit down with it. Same goes if it's small. Nothing screams, "No time!" like a tome of a catalog to flip through.

I so wanted to type the words, "this pretty little thing," around now because yesterday, I found two catalogs in my office mail box - a tome and a pretty little catalog from Boyds Mills Press/Calkins Creek/ Wordsong. Then I would insert a photograph of the pretty little catalog here:

Only I can't because I've already ripped it to shreds and cut out the adorable little dodo on the cover to tape to my circulation computer. I'm writing this post from home and the dodo's in school so I can't even take a picture of it taped to my circ. computer. But I did bring home the torn out pages, so here's what got me excited:

The Mystery of Darwin's Frog by Marty Crump. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Edel Rodriguez. 40 p. 9781590788646. March 1, 2013.

Synopsis: Here, for the first time, is the strange but true story of Darwin’s frog. After Charles Darwin discovered the frog in 1834, other researchers found that one of his specimens was packed full of tadpoles. Was the frog a cannibal, or perhaps a rare species that gave birth to live young instead of laying eggs? No. He was a male, holding the tadpoles safe in his vocal sac while they morphed into froglets. And the surprises didn’t stop there. Author and frog scientist Marty Crump mines her firsthand experiences studying Darwin’s frog to tell the fascinating story for young readers. Award-winning illustrators Steve Jenkins and Edel Rodriguez lend their art to a mix of beautiful photographs. Young readers will be enthralled by this story of real science, full of strange surprises.

Face Bug by J. Patrick Lewis, Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Photography by Fred Siskind. 9781590789254. March 1, 2013.

Synopsis: In this ingenious picture book, Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis invites you to visit the Face Bug Museum. There, readers can meet fourteen bugs in Lewis’s sly, humorous poems; gaze upon giant close-ups of the creatures’ faces in Siskind’s photographs; and follow the antics of two beetle friends in Kelly Murphy’s artwork. This is a trip to a museum—built by bugs, for bugs—unlike any other. It is also a poetry collection, macro-photography book, and illustrated story—all in one. Includes end notes with photographs of the entire bugs and further information about these creatures.

Grumbles for the Forest: fairy-tales voices with a twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Ilustrated by Matt Mahurin. 9781590788677. March 1, 2013.

Synopsis: What were all those fairy-tale characters thinking? Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich answer this question in paired poems, with sometimes startling results. The Princess claims all those mattresses kept her awake—not a silly pea—while the poor pea complains that the princess snores. One Snow White begs the witch to settle by the bay and throw that mirror away. Another boldly tells the mirror she “won’t be guided by a glass that’s so one-sided.” Grumbles from the Forest is a bewitching brew of voices—grumbling, pleading, bragging, reminiscing, confiding—that bubbles with magic and wonder. The spectacular paintings that tie the poems together are full of surprise and intrigue. This stunning collection includes end notes that briefly describe the tales and their history and an introduction that invites readers to imagine their own poems from unusual perspectives.

Cowboy Up! Ride the Navajo Rodeo by Nancy Bo Flood. Illustrated by Jan Sonnemair. 9781590788936. March 1, 2013.

Synopsis: It's morning at the rodeo. Riders are standing by. Horses are in the chutes. "Cowboy up!" the announcer calls. Then the excitement begins. In this riveting collection, narrative poems give voice to the individual competitors, lively prose explains rodeo events, and evocative photographs show off the riders and ropers, the horses, bulls, and broncs.

Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette by Selene Castrovilla. Illustrated by Drazen Kozian. 9781590788806. April 1, 2013.

I have a soft spot for small publishing houses. This year, two of my favorite non-fiction titles came from Boyds Mills Press - The Amazing Harry Kellar and Hope and Tears: Ellis Island voices.

What are you waiting on?

Edited to add: Here are a couple of photos of the adorable cover dodo.

Who Could It Be at This Hour by Lemony Snicket

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:29:51 GMT

Unabridged audiobook on 4 compact discs, 4 hours. Read by Liam Aiken. Hachette Audio, October, 2012. 9781619692510. (Purchased.)

A young (nearly thirteen) Lemony Snicket narrates this tale that begins with him in a tea shop with his parents about to embark on a mysterious journey. After he receives a mysterious message from a mysterious stranger, he escapes through a bathroom window, climbs into a roadster with said mysterious stranger and heads to parts unknown. In this case, it's to Stain'd-by-the-Sea, a fading town where, the mysterious stranger, S. Theodora Markson, reveals the two have been hired to investigate the theft of an object valued at "upwards of a great deal of money."

Snicket is Theodora's apprentice and has been instructed to do as he is told, but since Theodora jumps to all the wrong conclusions, Lemony starts asking his own questions, only, he quickly learns, they are the all the wrong questions. Between the two of them, is there any hope for a solution to this mystery? Plot twists, red herrings, and vocabulary words abound in this (mostly) delightful but convoluted and Quirky noir whodunit.

I should have read this one with my eyes. I found the narrator's accent inconsistent as well as stilted and pretentious. Perhaps he was instructed to read this way. I found it utterly annoying. I've never listened to this narrator before and thought he did a decent job with other voices as well as overall modulation. I just wish the author had read it.

Click here for the series website. Click here to view the book trailer.

What's New?

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:23:46 GMT

For review:

If I'm so smart, why aren't the answers easy? by Robert A. Schultz, PhD & James R. Delisle, PhD. 190 p. Prufrock Press, October, 2012. 9781593639600.

Publisher Synopsis: Based on surveys with more than 5,000 gifted adolescents and young adults, "If I'm So Smart, Why Aren't the Answers Easy?" sheds light on the day-to-day experiences and stories of those growing up gifted. In their own enlightening words, teens share their experiences with giftedness, including aspects like friendships and fitting in with peers, school struggles and successes, worries about the future, and their family lives. By allowing teens to share their real-life stories firsthand, the book gives readers a self-study guide to the successes and pitfalls of being gifted teens in a world not always open to their unique and diverse needs. While reading, teens will be able to reflect on their own experiences through the engaging journaling and thought experiments included throughout the book, and their parents and teachers will enjoy hearing directly from other students about the topics their gifted teens face daily.

Purchased: bad week for the budget!

Show me a story! Why picture books matter compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus. 309 p. Candlewick Press, May, 2012. 9780763635060.

Publisher Synopsis: In compelling interviews by the acclaimed Leonard S. Marcus, twenty-one top authors and illustrators reveal their inside stories on the art of creating picture books.

Max and Mickey; Miss Nelson; Pack, Quack, and Mrs. Mallard; Pigeon; Sylvester; John Henry; and a very hungry caterpillar — these are just a few of the beloved picture book characters discussed in Show Me a Story. Renowned children’s literature authority Leonard S. Marcus speaks with their creators and others — twenty-one of the world’s most celebrated authors and illustrators
— and asks about their childhood, their inspiration, their determination, their mentors, their creative choices, and more. Amplifying these richly entertaining and thought-provoking conversations are eighty-eight full-color plates revealing each illustrator’s artistic process from sketch to near-final artwork in fascinating, behind-the-scenes detail. Why do children love and need picture books so much?

Rethinking teacher supervision and evaluation by Kim Marshall. 256 p. Wiley and Sons, 2009. 9780470449967.

Because our district adopted his rubric for evaluation from here on out.

Love and other perishable items by Laura Buzo. 243 p. Random House Children's Books, December 10, 2012. 9780375870002.

Publisher Synopsis: Love is awkward, Amelia should know.

From the moment she sets eyes on Chris, she is a goner. Lost. Sunk. Head over heels infatuated with him. It's problematic, since Chris, 21, is a sophisticated university student, while Amelia is 15.

Amelia isn't stupid. She knows it's not gonna happen. So she plays it cool around Chris—at least, as cool as she can. Working checkout together at the local supermarket, they strike up a friendship: swapping life stories, bantering about everything from classic books to B movies, and cataloging the many injustices of growing up. As time goes on, Amelia's crush doesn't seem so one-sided anymore. But if Chris likes her back, what then? Can two people in such different places in life really be together?

Through a year of befuddling firsts—first love, first job, first party, and first hangover—debut author Laura Buzo shows how the things that break your heart can still crack you up.

Reached by Ally Condie. Unabridged audiobook on 11 compact discs, 13 hours. Read by Kate Simses, Jack Riccobono and Matt Burns. 9781611761023.

Publisher Synopsis: Cassia’s journey began with an error, a momentary glitch in the otherwise perfect façade of the Society. After crossing canyons to break free, she waits, silk and paper smuggled against her skin, ready for the final chapter.

The wait is over.

One young woman has raged against those who threaten to keep away what matters most—family, love, choice. Her quiet revolution is about to explode into full-scale rebellion.

With exquisite prose, the emotionally gripping conclusion to the international–bestselling Matched trilogy returns Cassia, Ky, and Xander to the Society to save the one thing they have been denied for so long, the power to choose.

Etched in clay: the life of Dave, enslaved potter and poet by Andrea Cheng. 143 p. Lee & Low Books, January, 2012. 9781699694515.

I followed a link in a tweet by Lee & Low Books to this page and learned about this book as well as a ton about close reading. Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill and gorgeously illustrated by Bryan Collier is one of my all-time favorites. I'm also a fan of Andrea Cheng and have enjoyed verse novels. Win-win-win.

That's what's new with me. What's new with you? Happy reading!

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:52:23 GMT

375 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, July, 2012. 9781442432659 (Purchased.)

Sixteen-year-old Alenna Shawcross narrates this dystopian debut. Set in the UNA, the US, Canada and Mexico have merged, twenty years in the future, Alenna is anticipating the day she and all other sixteen-year-olds must submit to the Government Personality Profile Test. It's a test to weed out citizens who are potentially violent. Those who fail are sent to a prison island where they spend the rest of their short lives fighting to survive. Even though her parents were arrested as traitors when Alenna was ten, she fully expects to "pass" this test since she flies under the radar, is not a troublemaker and felt as though she never fit in.

She awakens on the island and is soon attacked by one of the tribes. She escapes thanks to the efforts of David, another test failure, only he gets captured by the "drones," mindless followers of a leader called, "the Monk." Meanwhile, Gadya leads Alenna to the more civilized tribe in the Blue Sector where she is welcomed after submitting to questioning under a truth serum. She's immediately well-liked, helped by the fact that she's attractive as well as willing to pitch in and help any time. She's drawn to a warrior named Liam, which doesn't make her new bestie, Gadya that happy as Liam is Gadya's ex. It's kind of interesting how something as mundane as romantic triangles can preoccupy a teen when survival seems tenuous at best.

The world-building was not totally convincing. The book is set twenty years in the future. While a consolidation of all the North American Nations seems plausible, what happened in the twenty previous years led up to it? Perhaps I missed the explanation. Then there's the prison island. It doesn't seem all that big. It's described as a wheel, yet the story-line concerns itself with just three. North America is huge and I imagine its combined population would be high and I'm expected to believe that so few sixteen-year-olds fail the GPPT? And, why is it that while most of the island is sweltering and tropical, the grey zone is frigid? I have other questions, but to ask them would be spoilerish. I will say an awful lot happens in six years and the timeline doesn't always make sense.

Then there's Alenna. She's a puzzle - alternately (or conveniently) naive and savvy. I had a hard time accepting her transformation from mush to warrior. I had similar feelings about Gadya though in the reverse because she reverted from kick-ass warrior to mush whenever Liam was in the picture. And Liam, he's curiously remote and described by Alenna in curiously un-teenage lingo.

My friend, the children's book store owner, RAVED about this book. While I don't share her unbridled enthusiasm, based on the strength of the ending and the intriguing plot twists, I'm in for the next installment. I'll be donating my copy to my school library to have another dystopian to hand to students asking for more books "like The Hunger Games." I'm interested to hear their feedback.

Waiting on Wednesday

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:01:45 GMT

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles of books we are eagerly anticipating.

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Summer Vacation by Tommy Greenwald. 240 p. Roaring Brook Press, May 7, 2013. 9781596437579.

How can a librarian love a book about a boy who not only hates to read, but is willing to teach kids how to get out of assigned reading? Because it is hysterically funny, totally appealing to any reader, but especially reluctant readers and it appeals to the subversive side of me. Click here, here and here for my reviews of CJJ1, CJJ1 - the audio and CJJ2. I am constantly replacing my library's Charlie Joe books because they are always being ~~stolen~~ borrowed permanently. I haven't had a rash of book theft of this magnitude since The Percy Jackson Caper five years back.

I did a happy dance when I learned that Charlie Joe is returning in a third installment. And, get this, you can enter to win an arc! Follow this link to Mackidsblog, where you will need to follow another link to the form to enter. Hurry, the drawing is December 16.

Wimp Appeal

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:12:29 GMT

I guess it's a good thing that imitation is ~~the quickest way to big bucks~~, um, the sincerest form of flattery because my kids are constantly coming in looking for more books like Wimpy kid. Diary/ notebook type books circulate very well at my school library so I do try and keep up with books that have "wimp appeal." Here's a mini-review of two of the latest titles.

Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (Dork Diaries #5) by Rachel Renée Russell. 321 p. Aladdin, October, 2012. 9781442449619. (Purchased for my school library.)

Nikki's back, still desperately trying to keep her secret despite the fact that queen bee Mackenzie knows it and is waiting for the right time to reveal it. Lots of OMG's and things being described as super- are becoming annoying to this old coot, but fifth grade girls are eating this series up.

Secrets from the Sleeping Bag: a Blogtastic Novel by Rose Cooper. 198 p. Random House Children's Books, July, 2012. 9780385742467 (Purchased for my school library.)

Sophia goes to camp in this one and despite the fact that she hasn't grown much in any of the first three installments, this one happens to be my favorite one because she's no where near a computer at camp and therefore not blogging. (I had a real problem accepting her using a class blog to basically cyberbully in the earlier books.)

Other titles with Wimp appeal:
The Loser List by H.N. Kowitt
The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf & Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick by Jennifer Holm
Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
Wonkenstein by Obert Skye
Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger
Middle School series by James Patterson (hybrid)
My Life as a Book (Stuntboy) (Cartoonist coming April, 2013) by Janet Tashjian (hybrid)
The Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter by John Gosslink (reprinted with new title: Free Thaddeus!)
Vordak the Incomprehensible by Scott Seegert
Matthew Meets the Man by Travis Nichol (hybrid)
Adventures of Beanboy by Lisa Harkrader (hybrid)
The Boy Project by Kami Kinard
Totally Lame Vampire by Tim Collins

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Neilsen

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:01:18 GMT

Ascendance Trilogy: book #1. Unabridged audiobook on 7 compact discs, 8 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Charlie McWade. Scholastic Audio, April, 2012. 9780545391665. (Borrowed from the public library.)

This story is narrated by a snarky, sarcastic fourteen-year-old orphan named Sage. We meet him as he is purchased from his orphanage by a nobleman named Conner. Sage is not interested in being part of this transaction; he mouths off and attempts escape many times. It turns out he is not the only orphan purchased by Conner, three other boys are more or less more willing purchases. They all take an instant dislike to Sage.

When one of the boys is brutally murdered, the remaining boys, including Sage, are cowed into submission. Once they arrive at Conner's castle, they learn that the royal family of the kingdom of Carthya have been poisoned but this news has been suppressed. Conner hopes to train the boys to impersonate Prince Jaron. They all bear some resemblance to him. Jaron was the youngest child who disappeared four years earlier and, while presumed dead, his body was recovered. Sage claims this is treason, Conner claims he's saving Carthya. Sage feels equal parts revulsion and intrigue over Conner's plans. He has no wish to be chosen to impersonate the prince yet he chooses not to attempt escape, though he does escape his room nightly to roam the castle discovering its nooks and crannies and secret passages.

I'm tempted to call this action-packed book #1 of a planned trilogy a fantasy, but that's not quite right. There's no magic or magical creatures involved. It has a medieval feel, yet it's not historical fiction as there's no such place as Carthya. The world-building is well constructed and the characters are well-developed. I initially resisted reading this one as the impersonation angle held no appeal. Several fifth graders have recommended it and I'm thankful. There's some predictability, but a few twists near the end are delightfully surprising. Sage's voice is fresh and engaging. The narrator does a terrific job of conveying Sage's vulnerable side. I'm eagerly awaiting the publication of book #2, The Runaway King, due March 1, 2013.

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Book 2 of The Ascendance Trilogy. Scholastic, Inc. 9780545284158.

Publisher synopsis: A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

Click here to view the book trailer. Click here to visit the author's website.

Other blog reviews:
Jean Book Nerd
Fuse #8
Book Smugglers

What's New?

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 12:46:30 GMT

For review:

A happy dance was had when I found this in my mailbox at school:

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg. 320 p. Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic, 9780545509893.

Publisher synopsis: A funny, honest novel about being out, being proud . . . and being ready for something else.

Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He's won skiing prizes. He likes to write.

And, oh yeah, he's gay. He's been out since 8th grade, and he isn't teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.

So when he transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret -- not so much going back in the closet as starting over with a clean slate. But then he sees a classmate breaking down. He meets a teacher who challenges him to write his story. And most of all, he falls in love with Ben . . . who doesn't even know that love is possible.

This witty, smart, coming-out-again story will appeal to gay and straight kids alike as they watch Rafe navigate being different, fitting in, and what it means to be himself.

Purchased: I'm the "book aunt" in my family. I have 9 nephews and 1 niece and they always received a couple of books with a gift card tucked into one of them each Christmas from me. Now that most of them are in college and beyond, I'm not buying as many (they're reading books for grown-ups now), which is why I don't want my niece or littlest nephew to ever grow up. Of course, I had some trouble choosing which books to buy for them. Of course, I couldn't remember if I had already given the Matched books to my niece. Of course, I ended up buying six for myself.

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse. 375 p. 374 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, July, 2012. 9781442432659.

Publishers synopsis: A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

I picked this one on the recommendation of book store owner, Mary Brown, who NEVER steers me wrong. I don't recall seeing anything about it and it's a debut to squeeze in before the end of the year.

She also booktalked the next one and since I admire Michael Morpurgo's writing, it went on the pile:

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo. 178 p. Feiwel & Friends, September, 2012. 9780312606596.

Publisher Synopsis: With the horrors of war bearing down on them, Aman and his mother are barely surviving in an Afghan cave, and staying there any longer will end horribly. The only comfort Aman has is Shadow, the loyal spaniel that shows up from places unknown, it seems, just when Aman needs him most.

Aman, his mother, and Shadow finally leave the destroyed cave in hopes of escaping to England, but are held at a checkpoint, and Shadow runs away after being shot at by the police. Aman and his mother escape—without Shadow. Aman is heart-broken.

Just as they are getting settled as free citizens in England, they are imprisoned in a camp with locked doors and a barbed wire fence. Their only hope is Aman's classmate Matt, his grandpa, and the dream of finding his lost dog. After all, you never lose your shadow.

Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo. 114 p. Scholastic Press, April, 2012. 9780545460064.

Publisher Synopsis: Farm Boy is the heartwarming sequel to War Horse, the beloved novel that has now been made into a play and a major motion picture.

Albert's son is all grown up, an old man now. But he has a shameful secret he's kept to himself his whole life. As he comes to terms with the truth, he tells stories of the farm of his childhood--his war hero dad, skipping school to help with the harvest, and of course the wonderful horses, Joey and Zoey.

The charming book speaks to the bond between generations, and captures the spirit of rural life and the love of horses.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket. Unabridged audiobook on 4 compact discs, 4 hours. Read by Liam Aiken. Hachette Audio, October, 2012. 9781619692510.

Publisher Synopsis: In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be read. This is the first volume.

I bought the next two books to books as my gifts to my school library/ my fifth grade girls who are gaga over them:

Secrets from the Sleeping Bag: a Blogtastic Novel by Rose Cooper. 198 p. Delacorte Press, July, 2012. 9780385742467

Publisher Synopsis: Sofia is spending the summer at Camp Krakatow! S'mores, crafts, bug juice, water sports, boys(!) . . . Sofia doesn't want to forget one second of sleepaway camp!

Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (Dork Diaries #5) by Rachel Renée Russell. 321 p. Aladdin/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2012. 9781442449619.

Publisher synopsis: Nikki Maxwell develops a sudden interest in student journalism that may or may not (okay, definitely does) have to do with the fact that mean girl Mackenzie has started writing a gossip column. And there just might be some juicy info involving Nikki’s crush, Brandon, that Nikki doesn’t want Mackenzie reporting to the world. So Nikki joins the school newspaper staff—and ends up as an advice columnist! It’s fun at first, answering other kids’ letters. But when Miss Know-It-All’s inbox is suddenly overflowing with pleas for guidance, Nikki feels in need of some help herself. Fortunately she has BFFs Chloe and Zoey on her side—and at her keyboard!

That's what's new with me. What's new with you? Happy reading! (And Happy Hanukkah!)

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:38:14 GMT

270 p. Scholastic Press, October, 2012. 9780545165761. (Purchased)

Fourteen-year-old Sophie spent the first eight years of her life in Congo before moving to Miami with her American father after her parents' divorce. Her mother chose her work with the bonobos and the sanctuary she established over Sophie and her father. It is with mixed feelings that she's returning for her summer visit. During the car ride from Kinshasa to the sanctuary, Sophie spots a man with a crippled foot standing in traffic attempting to sell an infant bonobo. Sophie grew up among the bonobos and knows that the infant was in great danger of dying. She also knows that her mother would forbid her from buying the ape from the poacher but there is no time to inform the authorities. Sophie knows both the poacher and bonobo would disappear into the crowds before anyone arrived. So she makes a deal and brings the bonobo infant to her mother's sanctuary. She is far from pleased and assigns Sophie 24/7 care of "Otto."

Although the work was hard, Otto thrives under Sophie's care. The reader learns a lot about Congo, bonobos and the plight of both. Sophie is a bit ambivalent about her mother. While she admires the work that she has done establishing and maintaining the sanctuary, she feels that her mom cares more for the bonobos than her own daughter. As the end of Sophie's visit approaches, her mom needs to leave the sanctuary to release some bonobos into the wild. Shortly after her mother's departure, the president is assassinated and the government is overturned. Rebels are looting and killing. Sophie's father arranges for her to be airlifted out with the UN, but she can't bring herself to leave Otto when the van arrives to pick her up. When the rebels find the sanctuary, they shoot all the adults but Sophie and Otto escape, first into the bonobo enclosure, and later into the jungle.

Buckle your seatbelt folks. This one's a nail-biter and, unlike the survival story featuring a young girl that I read a week or so ago, totally believable. When I first heard about the book and read the premise, I recall being a bit skeptical. Then it was announced as a National Book Award Finalist, so I bought it. I had hoped to read all the finalists before the award was announced, = fail. I'm glad I finally got to it. I was totally sucked in on page one. I liked Sophie's voice even though she sounded older than fourteen (later we learn she narrates the story as an adult). I loved the strong sense of setting and enjoyed the long descriptions of bonobo care and feeding as well as how they behave as a society. Otto was utterly adorable and his relationship with Sophie was incredible.

I do wonder a bit about the audience. It's an intense read and while the violence is not graphic, there's plenty of violence as well as the threat of sexual assault. Just as upsetting is the unrelenting poverty and desperate condition of the people of Congo. There are also two totally heartbreaking scenes at a makeshift AIDS hospital. There will be tears during this read. While I find the cover beautiful, it's a bit sinister despite that adorable bonobo peeking out. I have a cadre of fifth grade girls who just love animal books. They'll need to wait for this one. It's probably best for grades 7 & up.

Click here to watch the author speak about the book.

Other blog reviews:
I'd Rather be Reading
Educating Alice
A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy
Maggie Stiefvater

Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Kate Coombs

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:52:51 GMT

Illustrated by Meilo So. 32 p. Chronicle Books, LLC, March, 2012. 9780811872843. (Borrowed from the library)

I love the beach and am delighted to report that I can now take a trip to the beach anytime without getting into my car. Twenty-three poems contemplate the ever-changing coast teeming with wildlife from the depths to the skies. There's something for everyone here, humorous poems, short poems, rhyming poems, non-rhyming poems, poems that beg to be sung, even sad poems. Some of my favorites include, Sand's Story; What the Waves Say; Water Artist; Blue Whale; Ocean Realty and Tideline. All are accompanied by evocative watercolor paintings that reflect the mood of the poem. Gorgeously designed from its square size through the sandy end-pages, each page is as delightful to the eyes as the poems are delightful to the ears.

This one begs multiple readings as well as reading aloud. Use it in science class to introduce a unit on seashore biomes. Use it in language arts. Better yet connect poetry to a science unit by having students write their own biome poems. I borrowed my review copy from the public library but will be purchasing copies for both my school and personal libraries.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:49:44 GMT

Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. unpgd. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group. October, 2012. 9780399246524.

When Maya, the new girl, enters Chloe's classroom with the principal, the first thing Chloe notices is how shabby Maya's clothes are. When Chloe's teacher assigns Maya the desk next to Chloe, she turns to look out the window when Maya smiles at her. Chloe has two besties and the three painfully rebuff Maya's attempt at friendship on the playground. Undeterred, Maya keeps trying to make a connection. Unimpressed, Chloe and her pals continue to reject and add a nickname, "Never new." It isn't until Maya disappears for good and Chloe's teacher shares an impressionistic lesson on kindness using a pebble and a puddle that Chloe reflects on her own treatment of Maya and is saddened to realize that she will never have the opportunity to make things right.

Powerful stuff. The paintings by E. B. Lewis are no less powerful. These watercolors are filled with details of the school day. They depict a multicultural classroom and playground scenes that could mirror any school. He has a keen eye for body language and facial expression as he conveys the tension between the powerful and powerless.

As soon as I finished reading, I shot an email to the fifth grade team thinking it would make a great discussion prompter for advisory. It could also be paired with Wonder. It is most certainly a must-purchase for school libraries.

Click here to read an interview with the author at SLJ. Click here to learn more about Jacqueline Woodson and her books at Brown Bookshelf, circa 2009. Click here for an interview with E.B. Lewis at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Others have reviewed the book much better than I:
Great Kids Books
Waking Brain Cells
Educating Alice

One for the Murphy's by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:42:50 GMT

224 p. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated, May, 2012. 9780399256158. (Purchased)

Twelve-year-old Carly Connors ends up in foster care with the Murphys. She's recovering from a severe beating at the hands of her stepfather. Her mother remains in intensive care. She's tough and totally not interested in making any connection with any of the Murphys, but most especially, Mrs. Murphy. She cannot believe how happy this family is. Well, mostly happy because the eldest son, Daniel is very clear about how unhappy he is that his mother has opened her home to a foster kid. Mr. Murphy is not too keen on the idea either. But the two younger sons accept Carley with open arms and Mrs. Murphy shows an unlimited supply of patience while dealing with Carley's push-me-pull-you recalcitrance.

Do we really need another book about a foster kid? Well, yes. This debut is middle grade friendly without being syrupy sweet. Carley is prickly, so is Toni, the standoffish girl Carley butts heads with at her new school. The story is told by Carley and I found her voice to be filled with longing, but also cynical. She's a survivor. She is also a keen observer of body language and smart. I fell in love practically immediately although there were a few, "ah, no" moments later in the first third (and slightly tidy ending) that threatened to derail my love for the story. I got over it and appreciated how Hunt captures the many moments of a busy family both big and small. I found myself siding with Carley in her hatred of the book, The Giving Tree and sighing with frustration when she wouldn't/ couldn't let her defenses down. I loved how persistent Mrs. Murphy was. I even loved that the boys fought.

Give this one to your tween patrons who crave weepy. It's poignant and heartwarming but also funny. The cover should have instant appeal. I loved the fact that that the designers managed to include a giraffe and basket ball. But, why couldn't they manage hi-tops on the model? Picky, I know, but still important.

Other reviews:
GreenBeanTeenQueen
Stacked
I Read Banned Books

I'm a bit reluctantly editing this review to add the book trailer I found. While I love the images, the violin and piano music screams hokey.

Waiting on Wednesday

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:10:08 GMT

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles of books we are eagerly anticipating.

Aces Wild by Erica S. Perl. 224 p. Random House Children's Books, June, 2013. 9780307931726.

Publisher synopsis: Zelly Fried has finally convinced her parents to let her get a dog, with the help of her grandfather Ace. Unfortunately, said dog (also named Ace) is a shoe-chewing, mud-tracking, floor-peeing kind of dog. Despite Zelly's best efforts to drag Ace (literally!) to puppy kindergarten, his flunking report card says it all: "This Ace is wild."

Also wild is the other Ace in Zelly's life. Grandpa Ace has decided to begin dating again and is dining and dancing every night, against his doctor's orders. Determined to get both Aces under control, Zelly enlists the help of her two best friends, Allison and Jeremy (despite the fact that they don't quite see eye to eye). They need to come up with a plan, fast. But how? It's not like either Ace ever does what he's told.

Teaser Tuesday

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:12:33 GMT

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

I just started reading One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt last night so I'm not too far into it.

Publisher Synopsis: A moving debut novel about a foster child learning to open her heart to a family's love

Carley uses humor and street smarts to keep her emotional walls high and thick. But the day she becomes a foster child, and moves in with the Murphys, she's blindsided. This loving, bustling family shows Carley the stable family life she never thought existed, and she feels like an alien in their cookie-cutter-perfect household. Despite her resistance, the Murphys eventually show her what it feels like to belong—until her mother wants her back and Carley has to decide where and how to live. She's not really a Murphy, but the gifts they've given her have opened up a new future.

From page 119:

"God, Connors. You're beginning to sound like me."

"I hear there are psychiatrists for that kind of thing."

Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:55:39 GMT

132 p. HarperCollins Publishers, August, 2012. 9780062028037. (Purchased)

If you haven't read the author's Printz Honor-winning debut, Stuck in Neutral, stop reading. Definite spoilers ahead. I'll be nice and fill the boring white spoiler space with the covers of the two books you should read before reading Life Happens Next.

While you're at it, check these out as well:

I discovered that I missed a few titles myself when I searched for those covers and need to do some catching up:

That should be enough spoiler space.

Shawn's father decides not to kill him and Life Happens Next picks up a few days after Shawn comes out of his seizure and realizes that he's still alive. He's going to make it to his fifteenth birthday after all. He's having a bit of a pity party because his crush and his brother are dating and it hurts him to see them. Since they are both kind to him, he sees them a lot. Of course, neither can possibly know about Shawn's feelings. Of course, he acknowledges that, but it still hurts and he's still a teenager, so he's wallowing. Of course, he's entitled to wallow. Totally.

Enter Debi and Rusty. Shawn's mother, who must be one of the saintliest characters in YA literature, agrees to care for Debi, her forty-one-year old cousin who has Down Syndrome. Rusty is Debi's very large, very unruly and very scary German Shepard. Great. First, Shawn's dealing with the possibility of death by Dad, now he's terrified of death by dog as Rusty seems to have taken an instant dislike to Shawn. He's not liking how Rusty looks at him.He also has some strong feelings about Debi as well.

I will be very interested in watching my students' reaction to this one. Stuck in Neutral is one of my go-to books for reluctant readers. The edgy premise invariably hooks them and they almost always come back asking for another just like it. That's when Cruise Control goes into their hands. Life Happens Next is quieter, more introspective. I hope that fans of the books have enough invested in Shawn to contemplate another aspect of his being. Shawn's voice continues to be irreverent and at times laugh-out-loud funny but tears will be wept so keep some tissues handy.

It Jes' Happened: when Bill Traylor started to draw by Don Tate

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:44:58 GMT

Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. 32 p. Lee & Low Books, April, 2012. 9781600602603. (Borrowed from public library.)

Biography is not my genre of choice. I always need to remind myself to look for one to read and usually rely on starred reviews to get me to crack one open. When I do, I’m almost always gratified and scold myself to read them more often. Perhaps I’ve yet to shed the memory of those deadly dull tomes I was forced to read in elementary school. Perhaps that’s why I tend to gravitate toward picture book biographies. Picture book biographies do pose their own challenges and, believe me there are some deadly dull picture book biographies out there. But, how does one crystallize a life into 32 pages and do it justice? A good picture book biography will work that magic and compel the reader to want more. And picture book biographies are not just for those in kindergarten through grade 3. Bring them up to middle school where struggling readers will have a fighting chance.

I love stories about folks who discovered their true talent late in age. I had never heard of Bill Traylor, before reading this lovely biography. He was born into slavery and when it ended, his family stayed on to become sharecroppers. Life was filled with hard work but Bill took it all in. He grew to adulthood, continued to farm, had his own family and, at age 85 left his farm and moved to the city of Montgomery, Alabama. He was poor. He was lonely. And one day he started to draw and found he couldn’t stop.

Don Tate writes sparingly but lyrically about the hardships of Bill Traylor's life and uses repetition, "It jes' happened," effectively. R. Gregory Christie mimics Traylor's folk art style using a vibrant palette to convey the strength of character and intellect. An author's note with more information ends the volume, but I hope that intrigued students will do as I did and want to read more about this fascinating artist. I can see many uses for this picture book biography at the middle school level from art room to social studies class to language arts class. It begs to be paired with a biography of Grandma Moses or Mr. Williams by Karen Barbour.

A Couple of Short Reviews

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 12:35:04 GMT

November was Picture Book Month and, while I read more picture books than I ordinarily do, I wrote about almost none of them. I am going to try and make that up today, so forgive the flurry of out-of-date posts. Here are a few shorter reviews of the final books of the month.

Doo-Wop Pop by Roni Schotter. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. HarperCollins Publishers, October, 2008. 9780060579746. (Borrowed from public library.)

I must confess that I chose this book, which was on display at a local library, based purely on the art, which I (correctly) assumed was Bryan Collier’s. The collages just pop with light and warmth. The rhythmic story is told from the point-of-view of Elijah Earl, a shy boy who attends an inner city school, but is intrigued by Mr. Searle, the custodian. Mr. Searle was the lead doo-wop singer in a group called The Icicles when he was young. Now, he sweeps floors in a school. He handpicks four of the shyest students and teaches them to harmonize. This lovely story would make a great read aloud.

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Roaring Brook Press, March, 2012. 9781596433977. (Borrowed from the public library.)

Ah, Laura Vaccaro Seeger is at it again. She is just a genius. Her books are utter simplicity and oh so creative. The concept being explored here is green. Now green is not a favorite color of mine, but even I came to appreciate its merits thanks to this book. Each page brings a new surprise with strategically placed die-cuts and splashes of color. These are not the greens one would find in a crayon box either, Wacky Green? Find a little one, snuggle up and have some fun. Oh, and read it more than once. Then, go out and find her other spectacular offerings if you aren't already familiar with them.