What should I read next?

The holiday break is approaching quickly, and it is time to find some great books to read.  I love this time of year when the "Best Books of 2016" lists begin to be published.  I often find books on the lists that I haven't read yet, and this year is not exception.  I have been in a little slump lately, and haven't found a book to review that I have really loved.  So I thought I would share a couple sites that offer lists of the "best" with some great looking suggestions.  I am going to read Tales of the Peculiar over the break (written by the same author as the Miss Peregrine books) and The Girl From Everywhere (Thanks for the great suggestion Miss Busk!)  I will review those for you after the break, but in the meantime, check out these great lists and happy reading!

http://www.readbrightly.com/the-most-exciting-ya-books-to-read-in-2016/

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2016-best-fiction-young-adults

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen/best-young-adult-books-2016/

Wolf Hollow

When reading Lauren Wolk's novel Wolf Hollow I couldn't help but think of To Kill a Mockingbird, one of my favorite books of all time.  Like the Harper Lee novel, this book explores discrimination, but not based in racism, rather social status.  While Wolf Hollow may not become a great American classic, it is definitely worth a read!  

Summary

Growing up in the shadows cast by two world wars, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet, steady life in her small Pennsylvania town. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty quickly reveals herself to be cruel and manipulative, and while her bullying seems isolated at first, things quickly escalate, and reclusive World War I veteran Toby becomes a target of her attacks. While others have always seen Toby’s strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. She will soon need to find the courage to stand as a lone voice of justice as tensions mount.

Brilliantly crafted, Wolf Hollow is a haunting tale of America at a crossroads and a time when one girl’s resilience, strength, and compassion help to illuminate the darkest corners of our history.

“The honesty of Wolf Hollow will just about shred your heart, but Annabelle’s courage and compassion will restore it to you, fuller than before. This book matters.” —Sara Pennypacker, New York Times bestselling author of Pax“An evocative setting, memorable characters, a searing story: Wolf Hollow has stayed with me long after I closed the book. It has the feel of an instant classic." —Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author

Welcome Back to school and the Wizarding World

Welcome back to school everyone.  I hope that you all had a great summer, and that you have settled into the school year.  I read lots of great books this summer, and can't wait to share some of them with you!  Lets start with the return of our favorite wizard...

It has been 9 years since J.K. Rowling published a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the Harry Potter series.  I have told many of you before that I LOVED all of the books, except I wasn't very happy with the epilogue written at the end of the Deathly Hallows.  I didn't think it was necessary, the book should have ended after the Battle of Hogwarts...however, she did write it, and what was there was hugely unsatisfying.  It answered some questions we had about our favorite characters, but left WAY too many questions unanswered.  I just found the whole chapter disappointing.  I was stunned when I heard that they were making a new play, to be performed at the Palace theater in London, that was being billed at the 8th story in the HP series.  STUNNED.  Then I was shocked when they announced that the script to the play was going to made available in print so that fans could enjoy the story even if they didn't get to see it performed live.  SHOCKED.

I decided last September that I had to see the play if I could.  I was able to get two tickets to see it in August.  Then I was chosen as the recepient of the Faculty Enrichment grant, which provided the funds for this adventure in London.  I made the decision not to read the script before I went to see the play live.  I didn't want to have any expectations.  This was a great decision, because none of the surprises were spoiled.  Then I read the script when we got back from London.  So here are my thoughts and impressions.  No spoilers.  I am on board with #KeepTheSecrets

1.  If you are a fan of HP then you will love finding out what has become of your favorite characters, and disappointed that some of them never appear in the story at all.

2.  Reading the script is not the same as seeing it live.  It is hard to really get into the "story" when you are simply reading the dialog of the script.

3.  Some parts of the story/play feel rushed, and some parts drag on for too long.  You will see what I mean when you read it.

4.  Time turners are both awesome and horrible.  Terrible things happen to wizards who mess with time.

5.  The magic is still there.

Enjoy, and take the time to read the script.

Peculiar Children

It has been a while since my last post, but I have been reading a new series and I wanted to wait until I had read them all.  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was published 3 years ago as the start of this trilogy.  The author Ransom Riggs combines fiction with actual photography to create a truly unique reading experience.  Sixteen year old Jacob has just suffered a tragic loss.  While dealing with his grief he travels to a remote island off the coast of Whales.  While exploring a long abandoned home for children who had been quarantined on the island, Jacob discovers that the children may have been sent to live on the island not because of illness but rather due to the dangerous abilities they possessed, and that they may still be alive.  All three books follow Jacob and his experiences with the peculiar children, and contain actual vintage photographs that contribute to the spooky air of the books.  If you are looking for a thrilling read over the Holiday break, start this series.  Hollow City and Library of Souls follow Miss Peregrine.  See full summaries below. Have a great holiday break and happy reading!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

From the Publisher

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow--impossible though it seems--they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Hollow City

From the Publisher

September 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them--but she's trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

Library of Souls

From the Publisher

A New York Times #1 best seller

A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom.

The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he's diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.

They'll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil's Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It's a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

Book Sale and Author Visit

Each October the PA hosts the amazing Fall Book Sale in the library.  It is a great opportunity to check out some the newest books for young adult readers.  Part of this event involves hosting an author on campus for a day for assemblies and book signings.  We are so lucky this year to welcome Lisa Safron, mother of Peck alum Renee, to discuss her first YA novel Cut Paste Gone.  This entertaining novel reminds us all to be careful what you wish for!  Happy Reading!

From the Publisher:
Seventh grade wasn't supposed to be this hard for Mona Ryland. She just got her worst grade ever on a science test, her best friend Turnbacker is suddenly turning into her first crush, her sister Violet is acting weirder than usual, and worst of all, Mona just can't shake the loss of her beloved, kooky, tracksuit-wearing Gram. After finding a mysterious birthday gift--an unusual pair of bejeweled scissors--Mona uses them to create a collage. Cut paste is her therapeutic hobby. But the imaginary world Mona pieces together on paper is beginning to mesh with her real life in ways she never expected.

Get ready to revisit an old friend!

Welcome back to school!  I hope that everyone had a great summer, and that you are as excited about this school year as I am.  My family and I traveled A LOT this summer, and I read some really great books that I am excited to share with you in the next couple of months.  I will start in October with a new book written by the mother of a Peck graduate.  She will be visiting us during the book sale at the end of October.

In the mean time, if you have not heard, we are about to be revisited by an old friend.  It is no secret that I am HUGE fan of the Harry Potter book series, and I am excited to hear that we will be able to visit the HP universe in a lot of exciting new ways.   If you follow entertainment, tech, or publishing news, you may have heard that there are some really exciting things happening in the wizarding world.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling, was written like a Hogwarts text book, and a movie version of this book is currently in production.  Next, if you are a user of the Pottermore website, big changes are on the way.  Rowling is moving away from the Hogwarts/house format, and releasing a newly redesigned website soon.  Make sure to login, read as much of the newly published stories on the site as you can before they are taken down (Remus Lupin's back story is my personal favorite), and earn points for your house (go Ravenclaw!).  The muggle city of London will soon play host to yet another Harry Potter attraction.  "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is a play based on a J.K. Rowling story that will premiering next summer on a West End stage.

Finally, if all of these new HP items aren't enough, there is one more exciting event happening on October 6.  Scholastic and Bloomsbury will be releasing a fully illustrated version of the Sorcerer's Stone!  They have been slowly releasing some of the Jim Kay illustrations in the last couple of weeks, and it looks like it is going to be beautiful.  I have pre-ordered a copy for the library and I am excited to share it with all of you when it arrives.  Here is a little preview:

Happy reading!
-Mrs. MacVicar

El Deafo and Brown Girl Dreaming

If you enjoyed Smile by Raina Telgemeier, then you are also going to like Cece Bell's El Deafo, one of the two 2015 Newbery Honor Books.  Bell uses a graphic novel format to tell about her difficult time growing up with hearing loss.  I loved the Bell's artwork, and she masterfully weaves together humor and serious moments that leave you wanting to learn more about her life.  Enjoy this great book!

From the Publisher:

A 2015 Newbery Honor Book Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful--and very awkward--hearing aid.
The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become "El Deafo, Listener for All." And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world and find the friend she's longed for.

Brown Girl Dreaming is the second Newbery honor book this year, and the winner of the National Book Award.  The author Jaqueline Woodson has written a number of books about based her experiences growing up in South Carolina in the 1960s and 1970s, but this book of poems might be the most powerful she has ever written.  Woodson uses her poems to tell of her struggle to learn how to read, and find her place in a nation where there were still Jim Crow laws.  This is a powerful book that will leave you thinking about it long after the story is done.  

Booklist starred August 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 22)

Grades 5-8. What is this book about? In an appended author’s note, Woodson says it best: “my past, my people, my memories, my story.” The resulting memoir in verse is a marvel, as it turns deeply felt remembrances of Woodson’s preadolescent life into art, through memories of her homes in Ohio, South Carolina, and, finally, New York City, and of her friends and family. Small things—ice cream from the candy store, her grandfather’s garden, fireflies in jelly jars—become large as she recalls them and translates them into words. She gives context to her life as she writes about racial discrimination, the civil rights movement, and, later, Black Power. But her focus is always on her family. Her earliest years are spent in Ohio, but after her parents separate, her mother moves her children to South Carolina to live with Woodson’s beloved grandparents, and then to New York City, a place, Woodson recalls, “of gray rock, cold and treeless as a bad dream.” But in time it, too, becomes home; she makes a best friend, Maria, and begins to dream of becoming a writer when she gets her first composition notebook and then discovers she has a talent for telling stories. Her mother cautions her not to write about her family, but, happily, many years later she has—and the result is both elegant and eloquent, a haunting book about memory that is itself altogether memorable.

The Crossover

It has been such a long time since my last entry!  However, I have used that time to redesign the blog, and you will likely notice some changes.  Over the March break I had a chance to read The Crossover, the 2015 Newbery Medal winning book.  It is unlike any of the choices for the last few years for the medal honor, but one that is a lot of fun to read.  Written in a series of concrete poems, this book explores teen relationships, sport, jealousy, and the importance of family in all of our lives.  Take a few minutes in the next couple of weeks to read this great book.  Next month I will be publishing my summer reading lists, and offering two more book reviews.  Enjoy them warmer weather, and happy reading!

School Library Journal March 1, 2014

Gr 6-10-Twins Josh and Jordan are junior high basketball stars, thanks in large part to the coaching of their dad, a former professional baller who was forced to quit playing for health reasons, and the firm, but loving support of their assistant-principal mom. Josh, better known as Filthy McNasty, earned his nickname for his enviable skills on the court: ".when Filthy gets hot/He has a SLAMMERIFIC SHOT." In this novel in verse, the brothers begin moving apart from each other for the first time. Jordan starts dating the "pulchritudinous" Miss Sweet Tea, and Josh has a tough time keeping his jealousy and feelings of abandonment in control. Alexander's poems vary from the pulsing, aggressive beats of a basketball game ("My shot is F L O W I N G, Flying, fluttering.. ringaling and SWINGALING/Swish. Game/over") to the more introspective musings of a child struggling into adolescence ("Sit beside JB at dinner. He moves./Tell him a joke. He doesn't even smile..Say I'm sorry/but he won't listen"). Despite his immaturity, Josh is a likable, funny, and authentic character. Underscoring the sports and the fraternal tension is a portrait of a family that truly loves and supports one another. Alexander has crafted a story that vibrates with energy and heart and begs to be read aloud. A slam dunk.-Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Sisters

I hope that everyone enjoyed the great visit from Chris Grabenstein during the book fair week.  If you have not had a chance to read Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library try to make some time to read it soon!  It really is a great book, and I am looking forward to the new book about Mr. Lemoncello planned for the future.

Fans of Smile and Drama rejoice!  Raina Telgemeier has just published the next book in the series, Sisters.  Once again, she brings her unique artwork and storytelling ability to this book, and I liked it just as much as the others.  Even if you don't think that you like "graphic novels" you will still enjoy these books.  Mostly autobiographical, Sisters is a fun read and a very accurate depiction of the very complicated relationship between siblings.

Booklist starred (June 1, 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 19))

Grades 5-8. Telgemeier’s follow-up to Smile (2010)—possibly the only universally embraced graphic novel on the planet—offers the same thoughtful perspective while also creating a slightly more mature and complex tone. Raina boards the family minivan traveling from California to Colorado to visit relatives, sharing a charged and eventful trip with her mother, sister, and younger brother. Cleverly, the trip is interspersed with flashbacks that flesh out the emotional background and neatly dovetail with Smile. While the focus of the story explores Raina’s combative relationship with her younger sister, Amara, it is in some sense about families themselves, the tensions they breed, the unspoken worries that swirl through households, and the ways an older generation’s unintended example echoes through younger generations. This may sound dark and heavy, but it actually exists only as an underlying reality. Telgemeier keeps the surface story popping and zippy, even through the constant sparring between the awkwardly adolescent Raina and her firecracker younger sister, a relationship that will prove profoundly familiar to many readers. Telgemeier’s art complements her writing to great effect, offering a cheerful, vivid cartoon simplicity that allows readers to instantly engage even as it leaves room for deeper truths to take hold. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: New York Times best-selling Smile continues to be one of the most widely loved kid’s graphic novels in recent history. With a sizable first print run, Telgemeier’s publisher is counting on a repeat performance.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Welcome back!  I hope that everyone had a great summer, and that you had a chance to read some great books!  If you are looking for a new book to read, make sure to stop in the library before school begins to check out something new. 

I all ready have a number of great books to share with you this year, and today I am going to highlight one of my favorites.  If you like to read, and you like to play video games, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library might just be the perfect book for you.  Luigi Lemoncello, a famous game designer, has just completed a new library, and invites 12 lucky 7th graders to the grand opening.  They will be the first to enter and be "locked in" for the night...little do they know that the real challenge will be getting out.  This story feels a lot like Night at the Museum and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  There are some great puzzles to solve too, so if you liked Chasing Vermeer or The Puzzling World of Winston Breen this would be a great choice for you!

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–8—The world's most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has just designed a brand-new, state-of-the-art library in his hometown, and he's invited 12 lucky seventh graders to stay the night just before its grand opening. Avid gamer Kyle Keeley jumps at the chance to meet his idol and see a real live library. After the previous library's demolition, this is the first library this small town has had in 12 years. Kyle is elated when his essay is chosen, and he gets to be among the first to wander the halls of one of the most interactive libraries ever. Kyle and the other contestants have 24 hours to find a secret exit out of the building and win a spectacular prize, and when the doors shut, the games really begin. Love of literature is a must if you want to escape. Librarians will fall in love with Mr. Lemoncello's library. This title is filled to the brim with witty literary references, an education on the Dewey Decimal System, and zany word puzzles. Narrator Jesse Bernstein expertly brings to life each character from the whimsical Lemoncello to the pretentious bully Charles Chillington. Insatiable readers who pick up on all the references will adore this book, as will general puzzle and mystery enthusiasts.

The Great Trouble

The school year is coming to an end quickly!  This is my last review for the school year, and Peck's library will be closed during the summer months.  Make sure to check out your local public library this summer.  In addition to offering great books to read, and book themed programs, you will find that libraries have lots of special programs in the summer.  Often there are theater performances, special guest speakers, and a variety of classes in art, technology, writing, etc.  On the side bar of this blog, I have also provided digital copies of my summer reading lists.  Check them out if you are looking for more great books to read.  Have a wonderful summer break!

I just finished The Great Trouble:  The Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel.  This work of historical fiction starts off in August 1854, on the first day of a catastrophic cholera outbreak.  During this time, people did not know how cholera was spread, but believed it had something to do with "bad air."  Eel, and orphan living on the streets in the center of the outbreak, finds himself in the employment of a doctor determined to find the source of the outbreak and stop it from spreading.  This is an amazing story, and the descriptions of life in London during this time period are accurate and it is enough to make anyone with even the smallest understanding of sanitation want to cringe.  While the character of Eel may be fictional, other characters in the book (like the doctor) are actual historical figures, and this book might inspire you to learn more about this event in history.  Check out this great book this summer!

From the publisher:
Eel has troubles of his own: As an orphan and a "mudlark," he spends his days in the filthy River Thames, searching for bits of things to sell. He's being hunted by Fisheye Bill Tyler, and a nastier man never walked the streets of London. And he's got a secret that costs him four precious shillings a week to keep safe.

But even for Eel, things aren't so bad until that fateful August day in 1854—the day the Great Trouble begins. Mr. Griggs, the tailor, is the first to get sick, and soon it's clear that the deadly cholera—the "blue death"—has come to Broad Street.

Everyone believes that cholera is spread through poisonous air. But one man, Dr. John Snow, has a different theory. As the epidemic surges, it's up to Eel and his best friend Florrie to gather evidence to prove Snow's theory before the entire neighborhood is wiped out.

The Girl From Felony Bay

I love when I find a book that has a memorable and strong main character, and I have found one in The Girl From Felony Bay.  Abbey Force is a spunky and very capable young sleuth, who is determined to prove that her father did not commit a crime he has been accused of.  Set in South Carolina this book has a distinctly southern feel, and it is full of pirate lore.  This will be a great read for all of you who love adventure and mystery novels!  Enjoy!

From the Publisher:
I'm not going to lie to you: the last year has been rougher than alligator hide for me and my dad. You see, he's in the hospital in a coma since his accident a year back, wherein he was framed for a terrible crime he didn't commit. Our home, Reward Plantation, had to be sold to pay off his debt to society, so I'm stuck living with my uncle Charlie, who, even in the few hours a day when he's sober, ain't exactly your ideal parental role model. And I managed to run afoul of Jimmy Simmons, the meanest kid in the sixth grade, and on the last day of school no less.

But things just got a bit more interesting. Turns out the new family that moved into Reward Plantation has a daughter named Bee, who is the same age as I am. And she's just as curious about all the No Trespassing signs and holes being dug out by Felony Bay, in the corner of what used to be my home. Seems like someone's been poking around a mystery that dates all the way back to the Civil War—and it just might be the same someone who framed my dad.

I'm Abbey, by the way. Abbey Force. And if it takes all summer, I'm going to find out what's happening out on Felony Bay, and maybe even clear my dad's name.

And the winner is...

It is awards season!  The movie and music industries are giving their big awards for the past year amid lots of glitz and glamor, but the American Library Association gives their awards quietly each year.  There will be no red carpet, but the winners deserve some attention.  Below is a  summary of the book awarded the Newbery Medal and one of the Newbery honor books this year.  I had read the winner, Flora and Ulysses, and loved it.  I am currently reading Doll Bones, and if you love a creepy adventure that will be the book for you.  I will post a summary and thoughts on the others next month!  Enjoy!

The Newbery Winner
Flora and Ulysses By Kate DiCamillo 

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format — a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. (from the Publisher)

Newbery Honor
Doll Bones by Holly Black

Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever. And for almost as long, they've been playing one continuous, ever-changing game of pirates and thieves, mermaids and warriors. Ruling over all is the Great Queen, a bone-china doll cursing those who displease her.

But they are in middle school now. Zach's father pushes him to give up make-believe, and Zach quits the game. Their friendship might be over, until Poppy declares she's been having dreams about the Queen—and the ghost of a girl who will not rest until the bone-china doll is buried in her empty grave.

Zach and Alice and Poppy set off on one last adventure to lay the Queen's ghost to rest. But nothing goes according to plan, and as their adventure turns into an epic journey, creepy things begin to happen. Is the doll just a doll or something more sinister? And if there really is a ghost, will it let them go now that it has them in its clutches? (from the publisher)

True Blue

Happy New Year everyone!  The school year is flying by, and I haven't had a chance to write a review in a while, so it is time to catch up.  One of favorite books of all time is The Underneath by Kathi Appelt.  I have given this book to many of you to read when looking for a new fantasy book.  That is why I was so excited when I heard that Kathi Appelt published a new book, and it was a finalist for the National Book Award.  We are half way through January now, and we will find out who the Newbery Award winner is at the end of the month.  If I were on the committee I would choose Appelt's new book The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp.  This book is another masterful fantasy, with multiple story lines.  The whole time you are reading you wonder how it all will come together in the end, and that is the amazing surprise at the end!  Pick up this short book to read this month, and we will see who wins the Newbery for 2014!

Booklist starred (May 1, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 17))

Grades 5-8. Swamps provide great fodder for stories, and Newbery Honor Award–winning Appelt uses every inch of the Sugar Man Swamp—and its inhabitants—to tell her engaging tale. At the helm of the complex ecosystem is the Sugar Man, a gigantic, fur-covered cousin to the yeti and bigfoot, who rules benevolently but has been asleep for the past 60 years. He is to be woken, preferably with an offering of sugarcane, only in the case of an emergency. Bingo and J’Miah, two raccoons who live in an abandoned DeSoto car, are the official Sugar Man Swamp scouts, and it’s their job to alert him to impending danger. Meanwhile, on the edge of the Bayou Tourterelle, a 12-year-old boy named Chap has just lost his beloved grandfather, and he and his mother must raise a “whole boatload of cash” making sugar pies to prevent Sonny Boy Beaucoup and an alligator wrestler from developing a theme park on their home turf. On top of all that, there are wild hogs headed straight for the swamp—“rumble, rumble, rumble!” This delicious, richly detailed story is told in 104 short chapters, which swing the plot beautifully from one thread to the next and keep the action moving. Appelt’s omniscient third-person narration exudes folksy, homespun warmth while also feeling fresh and funny. A satisfying romp with plenty of memorable characters to root for—and some to boo.

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.