The Book Thief

I just heard on the radio the other day, that a movie is about to be released based on one of my favorite young adult novels The Book Thief.  I have not written a review of this book in the past, so I thought I would recommend it now.  I am a BIG believer in reading a book BEFORE you see the movie.  Often large sections of books need to be cut from movies, making the story less powerful, and my guess is this will be true of The Book Thief as well. 

Death is the narrator of this story.  Yes, Death itself.  This makes for a unique voice to tell the story.  Set during World War II in Germany, big themes of family, trust, and safety are explored within the story, and it often leave you shaken and inspired all at the same time.  See a complete summary of the plot below, and take the time to read the book before you see the movie!

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of sophisticated teen and adult readers. Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.

The Spindlers

Welcome back!  I hope that all of you had a wonderful summer, and a great start to the new school year.  I would like to welcome our new students and 5th graders to the blog for the first time.  Look for a new post each month on the great books I have been reading for middle school students.

Over the summer I had the chance to read The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver (author of Delirium Stories, Liesl and Po, and Requiem).  This is a wonderful fantasy that combines some suspense and mild horror.  I will let you read the full plot summary below, but I would highly recommend this book.  If you are a fan of Neil Gaiman (Coraline, and The Graveyard Book), or The Mysterious Benedict Society books, you will likely enjoy this, as well.  Happy reading!

Summary:

Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the Spindlers--evil, spider-like beings--came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him. Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy: she must brave tree-snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting scawgs before facing her greatest challenge in the Spindlers lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.

Summer Reading

June is finally here, and we are ready for summer.  I do most of my reading for fun in the summer, as I think a lot of you do too.  On the right hand side of this page, you will see my suggested summer reading lists for 2013.  They have also been published with the summer projects on the Peck website.  If you find yourself wondering what you should read next, check out my lists. There is  a short summary of each book to help you decide what would be best for you.  I will try to post a few new entries over the summer, as I read books that I think you will all like.  Have a restful and safe summer, make sure to send me a postcard, and I will see you in the fall.  Happy reading!

In a Glass Grimmly

One of my favorite books of all time A Tale Dark and Grimm now has a new companion novel.  Adam Gidwitz returns with a new book based on the Grimm fairy tales, but we now have Jack and Jill as the main characters.  These are not your average kind, cute fairy tales.  Didwitz once again weaves a twisted and hair raising story, that just might keep you awake at night!  See a full description below, and come check it at the library!

Horn Book (November/December, 2012)

This companion volume to A Tale Dark & Grimm (rev. 1/11) features more macabre and humorous “once upon a time” takeoffs. Princess Jill is the daughter of a very beautiful but selfish queen; her cousin Jack lives in the village and longs to play with the other boys, who just laugh at him. After Jill has a humiliating experience involving a dress made of cloth that no one will admit they can’t see, she joins up with Jack and a frog and they set off on a life-or-death quest to find the “seeing glass.” Along the way they encounter goblins, mermaids, and a terrible monster named Eidechse von Feuer, der Menschenfleischfressende, each time outwitting what appears to be certain death; in a spectacularly bloody and funny scene, they also face giants in the sky (as the narrator warns, “What follows is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard”). Gidwitz masterfully threads his lore and his characters together, coming at last to a satisfying conclusion. A closing note explains his source material, drawn from Grimm, Andersen, Mother Goose, and even Christina Rossetti and the New Testament. The book somehow manages to be gory, hilarious, touching, and lyrical all at once, with tons of kid appeal.

The Flint Heart

"The universe if full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." - Eden Phillpotts, 1862-1960

This tale is a retelling and abridged version of Eden Phillpott's original book of the same name.  This a wonderful story full of fantasy in the most traditional sense.  We have magic, fairies, talking animals, and a mystery to be solved.  A talisman created during the Stone Age brings tremendous power to those who posess it, however it corrupts them completely.  Twelve year old Charles, his sister Unity, and their dog Ship, must find a way to distroy the flint heart for good. 


Come check out this great book from the library!

School Library Journal (August 1, 2011)

Gr 3-6-The Patersons have teamed up to bring a long-out-of-print story (originally written by Eden Phillpotts and published in 1910) to a modern audience. During the Stone Age, an ambitious warrior asks the wise man of his tribe to make him an artifact that will harden his heart so he can become a powerful chief. The wise man obliges and, with some mischievous intervention from the Thunder Spirit, an artifact-the flint heart of the title-is made and a series of tyrants is created. Flash forward to 1910 and a farmer discovers the item, much to the dismay of his children. Book-learned 12-year-old Charles and his younger sister, Unity, take matters into their own hands by consulting with the local fairies on how to proceed.

The One and Only Ivan

The American Library Association just announced the winner of the 2012 Newberry Medal, and the winner is:  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (author of Home of the Brave).  I don't always agree with the committee, thinking that the books they choose aren't really worth the award, but I have to say, I love this book.  This is the story of Ivan, a silver back gorilla living in a glass cage in a circus themed mall.  Ivan is the narrator of the story, which gives us an interesting perspective on events.  When the aging elephant who is on display with him at the mall, dies from neglect, Ivan's eyes are opened to the deplorable conditions they have been living in.  He soon forms a plan to escape with the new baby elephant that has arrived at the mall before anything else bad can happen.  This tale was inspired by actual events, and will leave you thinking about the ethical issues surrounding animals in captivity.  Enjoy, and let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Kirkus Reviews starred (October 15, 2011)

How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage. Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human--except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery. His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and, rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers' passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout. Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author's note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (and trilogy)

Welcome back!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday break, and you are ready to read in 2013!  I don't really get to the movies all that often, so when I do, I make sure it is to see a movie that I am really excited about.  My husband and I went to see "The Hobbit" over the break, and it was amazing.  I was not prepared for it to be a trilogy, however.  I was shocked when the movie ended and we still had so much story left to tell.  It also make me realize just how much of the story I had forgotten.  I had not read The Hobbit since high school, and seeing the movie inspired me to read it again.  I know that many of you tried to read the Lord of the Rings books as the movies were released and found them to be a difficult read.  I have to agree with you on that one, but don't let this stop you from reading The Hobbit.  I enjoyed this book far more then the others, and it was great to go back and read it again.  JRR Tolkien has an imagination that amazes me.  Middle Earth is so richly developed that it seems as if it could be real.  Take the time to read The Hobbit before you see the movie.  It will give you an deeper understanding of the story, and change the way you look at fantasy forever!