Defiance by Valerie Hobbs

Defiance by Valerie Hobbs

Defiance. Defiance is defined as 1. challenge 2.disposition to resist or contend. The main characters of this book have chosen to defie obstacles that are around them. Toby has decided that he is finished with cancer, with hospitals, chemo and being sick - even though the lump on his side tells him otherwise. Pearl has decided she is done with just about everyone, especially her kids and her poetry. So when these two defiant characters are brought together over an ailing cow, their unlikely friendship begins. They have much to learn from each other and how defiance also contains a smidgen of surrender.

I enjoyed how cleverly the author made you interested in the poems that Pearl introduces to Toby, and how she-Pearl lets Toby discover the imagery and magic that poetry brings to the world.

Heartwarming and over too soon.

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Children of the Longhouse

Children of the Longhouse by Joseph Bruchac

Joseph Bruchac is one of my many favourite authors and once again I enjoyed one of his books. This time travelling back in history to about 1493, set after the founding of the Iroqois Confederacy and before the arrival of European settlers. I enjoyed how many native american teachings were interwoven into this book, and I think it would make a great story to be read aloud or done as a novel study for Grade six because it has a terrific tie in with the Social Studies curriculum and explains the traditions and layout of the longhouse in a way that can be visualized.

Summary- When Ohkwa'ri overhears a group of older boys planning a raid on a neighbouring village, he immediately tells his Mohawk elders. Has he done the right thing? but he has also made enemies. Grabber and his friends will do anything they can to hurt him, especially during the village-wide game of Tekwarrathon (lacrosse). Ohkwa'ri believes in the path of peace, but can peaceful ways work against Grabber's wrath?

Outta this world

Laika by Nick Abadzis and Hilary Sycamore

This is one more to add to the great Outta This World collection, a simple colourful graphic novel that tells the story of the first dog in outer space.

Here's the summary:

Laika was a abandoned puppy destined to become the Earth's first space traveler. Nick Adadiz masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika health and life. This intense triangle is rendered with pitch-perfect emotionality of classics such as Because of Winn Dixie, Shiloh and Old Yeller. Abadiz gives life to a pivotal moment in modern history, casting light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind history. Laika's story will speak straight to your heart.

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Outta this world

T - Minus: the race to the moon by Jim Ottaviani

This graphic novel presents a fictionalized account the race between the Soviet Union (Russia) and the United States. Over the course of almost ten years the Russians and Americans staged various battles in being the first to put a man on the moon. The Russians were leading this race for almost three quarters of it, with being the first to have space crafts put into the Earth's orbit, orbitting the Earth for the longest period of time, first to orbit the moon and the first to have a living creature from Earth go into orbit (Laika the dog). And then it was the Americans turn, after several failed attempts , they finally were getting men into orbit and of course were the first to put a man on the moon in June of 1969.

This book provided a very interesting time line to all of these varying firsts into space, and creates the tension that the engineers and scientist in both countries felt about how that race was to be won and at what expense. I learned a lot more about the space race than I could have imagined, and have a much greater respect for astronauts that continue to make milestones in space travel and at the international space station doing important research.

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Outta this world

Aliens Are Coming by Meghan McCarthy

The true account of the 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

It was an ordinary night in October of 1938 until a news bulletin interrupted dance music on CBS radio - aliens were invading the United States. Meghan McCarthy's hilarious The Aliens Are Coming tells the true story of the Halloween prank that duped much of the country into believing the martians had invaded. The book uses excerpts from the actual War of the Worlds broadcast and includes information about the importance of radios in the 1930's (before the time of television and computers) as well as facts about Orson Wells and H.G. Wells, author of the novel on which the broadcast was based.

This one is fun as well as informative. It could make a terrific book project.

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Outta this world

You are the first kid on Mars by Patrick O'Brien

It wasn't really that long ago when the idea of putting a man on the moon seemed like a crazy idea and then in June of 1969 the mission Apollo 11 did just that. The dream of many kids was made a reality.

So to dream of being the first kids on Mars could see it's own reality maybe within the next forty years. Who knows maybe it will look something like the images in this book.

I really enjoyed this book - the creative ideas, especially the elevator car to Earth Station had me hooked. Ideas such as this could provide ideas to the engineers and scientists that work towards someday putting people of red planets surface.

The illustrations are perfect in their dusty red. And there was plenty of information about Mars to make this more than just a picture book. Let your imagination soar with this trip Outta This World.

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Killer Pizza

Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor

This was one of my summer reads but I'm just remembering to blog about it now. This was a fun book that had me at times sitting at the edge of my seat and other times cracking up out loud.

Here's the summary: Pizza you'll die for. Toby McGill dreams of becoming a world-famous chef but up until now his only experience was watching the FoodNetwork. When Toby lands a summer job at Killer Pizza, where pies like The Monstrosity and The Frankensausage are on the menu, things seem perfect. His co-workers, Annabel and Strobe, are cool, and Toby loves being part of the team. But none of them are really prepared for what's really going on at Killer Pizza: It's a front for a monster-hunting organization! Learning to cook pizza is one thing , but killing hideous, terrifying monsters ? That's a whole other story. Still if Toby quits, will the monsters take over his town?

Much like the Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp - Toby kinda falls into the role of defender of good. There is plenty of action, crossbows, explosions, car chases, deadly talons and fangs, as well as a recipe for Killer Pizza - which makes this monster chasing adventure truely worthly in my opinion.

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The Crossroads

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

Zack, his dad and new stepmother have just moved back to his fathers hometown in Connecticut, not knowing that their new house has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a crazed killer caused an accident at the near by crossroads that took forty innocent lives. He died when his car hit a tree in a fiery crash, and his malevolent spirit has inhabited the tree ever since. During a huge storm, lightning hits the tree, releasing the spirit, who decides his evil spree isn't over yet, and Zach is directly in his sights.

This one is the winner of the Agatha Award for YA / childrens mystery. And it's no wonder, with its short chapters, friendly and definately unfriendly ghosts, the creepiest tree in history and a plot that wouldn't quit - this one had me hooked.

Here's the booktrailer (unfortunately it doesn't quite grasp how scary and trilling the book is.)

The Magician's Elephant

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

What a wonderful, magical book.

It lets you believe that absolutely anything is possible, that magic is strong, that people are good and elephants can appear and disappear when needed. Filled with hope, this story follows a young orphan, Peter, who spends the one florin that is meant for he and his benefactors supper of two day old bread and very small fish, on a visit to the fortuneteller. Where he is told that his sister lives and to find her he must follow the elephant. And so begins the tale of unlikely happenings, unlikely heroes and a group of unlikely conspirators.

Here's some brilliant writing done once again by Kate DiCamillo -

"That is surely the truth, at least for now. But perhaps you have not noticed: the truth is forever changing." (the fortuneteller)

"It is important that you say what you mean to say. Time is too short. You must speak words that matter."

"What if?", Why not?, Could it be?"

"What are we to make of a world where stars shine bright in the midst of so much darkness and gloom?"

"Magic is always impossible," said the magician. "It begins with the impossible and ends with the impossible and is impossible in between. That is why it is magic."

The illustrations are in black and white and softly surreal, perfect for the dark, wintery city and the glimmers of magic.

39 clues The Black Circle

The Black Circle - Book 5 in the 39 clues series by Patrick Carmen

Well, it's been a little while since I've read any books in this series, so when I picked up this book for the library on Friday, I thought I'd just take it home with me for the weekend.

The story follows Amy and Dan Cahill as they continue their search for the 39 clues. This time the story has them travelling to Russia - minus their au pair Nellie- and having to work with one of the other teams that are also working to find the clues. I enjoy how interesting characters in world history make their way into the story and are related to the differing branches of the families that are searching for the clues. This time those characters are Rasputin and the Romanov family.

This series provides a quick, entertaining, read that has readers working out puzzles and guessing where the next clue will come from.

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The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I know many of you have already read this book, but for some unknown reason it had not made it onto my bedside pile of books till now. And now I'm kicking myself that I hadn't read it sooner cause it was awesome!!

Percy Jackson our protagonist, starts out as an unlikely hero, he's the kid that can sit still in class, ADHD and dyslexia are code words when grownups talk about him. This and the fact that he has been kicked-out of just about every school he's ever set foot in make him seem like he's the kid that trouble just follows for some unknown reason. Once we learn that Percy is a half-blood (born of a mortal mother and a Greek God father) we see why Percy has been plagued with trouble. The Gods aren't too pleased with him. And worse than that Zeus's mast lightning bolt has been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect.

There is only one way Percy can clear his name - that's by finding out who really stole the lightning bolt , the trouble is he only has 10 days to do it. With him on his quest are Annabeth another half-blood and his best friend Grover (a satyr). There are plenty of monsters and Gods that will make this the hardest adventure of Percy life.

I thought this was a great action/adventure book, I wish it would have been around when I was a kid cause I was totally into Greek mythology. If your looking for your next fast-paced, exciting read this should definately be one of your choices.

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Red Blazer Girls

The Red Blazer Girls by Michael D. Beil

It all began with The Scream. And ended with ... well, if we told you that it wouldn't be a mystery. But in between The Scream and The Very Surprising Ending, three friends find themselves on a scavenger hunt set up for a girl they've never met, in search of a legendary ring reputed to grant wishes. Are these sleuths in school uniforms modern-day equivalents of Nancy, Harriet and Scooby? Not really, they're just three nice girls who decide to help out a weird lady, end up hiding under tables, tackling word puzzles and geometry equations, and searching moldy storage rooms for "the stuff that dreams are made of." Oh, and there's a boy, who complicates things. As boys often do.

Intrigued? The Red Blazer Girls offers a fun, twisty adventure for those who love mystery, math( c'mon, admit it) and a modest measure of mayhem. (from the back cover).

If you enjoy, Nancy Drew, The Calder Game, The Wright Three, Chasing Vermeer - this will probably be a great option for your next read. A puzzling mystery ~ a mystery with puzzles, enjoy doing both with this book.

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Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Lucky me, I got to read this book back in June (I had an advanced readers copy). I've kept in my rave review until now - I didn't want to spoil it for those of you who have been waiting for the follow up to The Hunger Games.
Wow! WOW! WOWIE-WOW-WOW.
I wasn't sure where the author Suzanne Collins would take our young heroes Katniss and Peeta. But once again - I was hooked, I think I read it in one sitting, and much like the Hunger Games at the end of Catching Fire I was ready for the next book in hungry anticipation.

Here's the summary from the book:
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove , without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

This was my favourite for the summer, I just needed to wait to tell you all about it and now I finally can. Yeah! I know your gonna love it :)

Here's the book trailer from the publisher.