Heart of a Samurai

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

There are events and characters in history that seem so extreme that they could / should be fiction. Heart of a Samurai is based on the true life events of a young japanese boy - Manjiro. I gained a greater understanding of this period of history in Japan and didn't feel like I was having a history lesson.

From the inside cover:
In 1841, fourteen-year-old Manjiro and his four friends find themselves stranded on a deserted island after a storm at sea. Beyond the island is the unknown, filled with monsters, demons, and barbarians. Or so they've been told. They know they cannot return to their homes in Japan - the country's borders are closed both to foreigners and to citizens who have strayed. No one may enter, under penalty of imprisonment and even death!
One day an American ship passes near the island and takes the castaways aboard. Manjiro's curiosity overcomes his fear of the barbarians. He joins in the work of the whaling vessel, eager to learn everything he can about this new culture. Over the next ten years, Manjiro travels the high seas, visiting places he never dreamed existed, including America. It is a time filled with new experiences and adventure, as well as friendship and treachery. Manjiro sustains himself on a dream of returning home and somehow - though he knows it is impossible for a simple fisherman - becoming a samurai.
Will he ever be able to go back to his native land? And if he does, will he be welcomed or condemned?

If you prefer non-fiction here's another option for you.
Shipwrecked! the true adventures of a Japanese boy / by Rhoda Blumberg

Unsinkable

Unsinkable by Gordon Korman -- Book 1 in the Titanic series

If you were a fan of the Everest series or Island series then you will be happy to know that Gordon Korman has gone back to that trilogy style that works so well for him.
Unsinkable was an exciting read - we all know how the story of the Titanic ends, but do we know some of the other stories that she might have had? Korman does an excellent job of entertaining and educating his readers along this fateful journey aboard the Titanic. Adventure lurks around just about every corner of the huge ship and you find yourself caught up in the lives of Paddy a stowaway, Alfie who's hiding a secret that could get him thrown off the ship, Sophie who is desperately trying to distance herself from her unbearable mother and Juliana who's father is quickly losing all their riches. These four teens find themselves bonding in friendships that never would have happened on solid land. Oh and I should mention -- the murderer of Whitechapel - aka Jack the Ripper might also be on board... 

Notes from the dog

Notes From the Dog by Gary Paulsen

Fourteen-year-old Finn is a loner who lives with his dad and his amazing dog, Dylan. He's hoping to land a summer job where he doesn't have to talk to anyone except his pal, Matthew. Then Johanna moves in next door. She's ten years older, cool funny and she treats Finn as an equal. Dylan loves her, too. But Johanna is ill, and Matthew and Finn learn to care for her emotionally and physically. When she hires Finn to create a garden, his ideas backfire comically. but Johanna and the garden help Finn discover a talent for connecting with people he never knew he possessed.

I liked this book, unfortunately I didn't feel that there was enough character development - I didn't feel like Finn and Matthew acted fourteen-year-old's I know. I felt for Johanna, but again Paulsen could have added alot more to give her and the fact that she has cancer at such a young age some real significance. In other words I probably could have loved this book - instead I just kinda like it.

Geek Fantasy Novel

Geek Fantasy Novel by E. Archer

What happens when a science geek and magic collide?
Be careful what you wish for. Really. Because wishes are bad. Very bad. They can get you trapped in fantasy worlds filled with killer bunny rabbits, evil aunts, and bothersome bacteria for example. Ot at least that's Ralph's experience. He's been asked to spend the summer with his strange British relatives at their old manor house in order to set up their wi-fi network. But, there's much more to it than that, of course. It's just that nobody told Ralph. He's a gamer, sure. But this game, is much stranger -- and funnier-- than anything to be found on his xbox.
He is a geek. This is his story.

Moon Over Manifest

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

This year's Newberry Medal Winner. I have mixed feelings about this award, some have been pretty spot on the perfect choice for kids and others complete duds (this is just my opinion ;-)
So this Easter holiday this is one of the books coming home with me.
Here's the summary.
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works on a railway job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train at Manifest Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.

Extreme Survival

Extreme Survival: An adventurer's guide to the World's Most Dangerous Places by Marshall Corwin

From the back cover:
Extreme survival is the essential guide for what you absolutely need to know before you visit out-of-the-way places. It's an entertaining and unusual guide to surviving and enjoying extreme conditions. It offers solid advice on fitness, protection against disease, packing, proper clothing, and finding drinking water, but it offers much more. Learn how to:
Fight off a polar bear, build a snow shelter, stop mosquitoes from biting, safely remove leeches from your body, escape an avalanche, camp on the side of a mountain and much more.

This may seem like a book you just browse through, but before long you'll be learning all kinds of stuff you never really thought of.
REad ON.

Scorpia Rising

Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz
Summary: Alex Rider is a teenage orphan facing adult sized challenges. After Scorpia killed his parents, the terrorist group fixed their target on him. In struggle after struggle, Alex saves himself and others, but Scorpia continues their relentless drive for power. In this intense novel, they set thier incendiary sights on the very combustible Middle East. A young protagonist worth following.

Here's a couple of trailers for this the last installment in the Alex Rider series.

Flip

Flip by Martyn Bedford


One December night, fourteen-year-old Alex goes to bed. He wakes up to find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country, and it's the middle of June. Six months have disappeared overnight. The family at the breakfast table are total strangers.
And when he looks in the mirror, another boys face stares back at him. A boy named Flip. Unless Alex finds out what's happened and how to get back into his own life, he may be trapped forever inside a body that belongs to someone else.
Questions of identity, the will to survive and what you're willing to sacrifice to be alive make this an extraordinary book impossible to put down. If you're a fan of Things Not Seen this might be a great next Read for you.


Book Trailer--

Wolves, boys and other things that might kill me

Wolves, Boys & Other Things that Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

Summary:

KJ Carson lives an outdoors lover's dream. The only daughter of a fishing and wildlife guide, KJ can hold her own on the water or in the mountains near her hometown outside Yellowstone National Park. But when she meets shaggy haired, intensely appealing Virgil, KJ loses all self-possession. And she's not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that they are assigned to work together on a school newspaper article about the famous wolves of Yellowstone. As KJ spends time with Virgil, she also spends more time getting to know a part of her world that she's always taken for granted ... and she begins to see herself and her town in a whole new light.

This book explores both sides of environmental activism, how choosing sides can split communities, and how the "not in my backyard" look on issues is alive and well, and how taking a stand has lots of implications. I hope some of you are starting to look beyond your backdoor, and are curious about issues that surround us and are willing to look for books like this, which give insight into all sides.

Morpheus Road: The Light

Morpheus Road : The Light by D.J. MacHale


Summary from back cover:
Marshall Seaver is being haunted....
It begins with mysterious sounds, a fleeting face outside a window, a rogue breeze - all things that can be explained away. That is, until he comes face-to-face with a character who only exists on the pages of a sketchbook - a character Marshall himself created.
Marshall has no idea why he is being tormented, but he is quickly convinced it has to do with his best friend, Cooper, who has gone missing. Together with Cooper's beautiful but aloof sister, Sydney. Marshall searches for the truth about his friend while ultimately uncovering a nightmare that is bigger and more frightening than anything he could ever have imagined.

book 2 The Black will be coming out this month, so I thought I'd pick up a second copy and get some more of you hooked on this great spooky trilogy.
Here's the book trailer for The Light.

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

This version of the classic Romeo & Juliet also contains (and starts the book) a retelling - Juliets Story by Jacqueline Ritten, this story is written normal, like a work of fiction - a story not a play. Then the second part of the book is the actual play written by William Shakespeare. So the retelling acts as a bridge or a summary of the story told in language that is more understandable and preps you for whats coming up -- The play.

I know in the past we've had readers become interested in Shakespeares works, it's challenging, so having a book that can help with explaining the language and storyline can be a great help. this is one of those books. I especially liked at the end of the book what Romeo and Juliet's facebook pages might look like.

Here's the summary from the publisher:
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.
When Romeo first lays eyes on the bewitching Juliet, it's love at first sight. But thought their love runs true and deep, it is also completely forbidden. With family and fate determined to keep them apart, will Romeo and Juliet find a way to be together?
William Shakespeares masterpiece is one of the most enduring stories of star-crossed love of all time. Beautifully presented for a modern teen audience with both the original play and a prose retelling of the beloved story , this is a must have edition of a timeless classic.

Jump

Jump by Elisa Carbone

Summary:
Jump. That is what P.K. has done. A totally wild, crazy jump from a restrictive life with her family, into a life of total adventure - rock climbing out west with a guy she barely knows. At first, everythings amazing. Not only are they climbing in awesomely beautiful National Parks like Yosemite but they seem awesomely made for each other. P.K. is in heaven. And then the cops show up... with an arrest warrant. And P.K. has to decide who to believe: this amazing guy who she trusts with her life - or the cops who want her to believe that he may take her life. 

Here's the 60 recap.

The Limit

The Limit by Kristen Landon

From the book jacket:
"An eighth grade girl was taken today."
With this first sentence, readers are thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the financial debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are responsible with their spending, right?
But after Matt's family unexpectedly goes over their limit, Matt is whisked away to a workhouse where far more serious dangers exist than anyone on the outside realizes - dangers that could change his reality forever.

Here's the book trailer.

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup

Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge

This is a surprising little book. Is it a surprise that it's about baseball? or more surprisingly that it's a novel in verse? Can the two really be compatible? No, has to be No. But that's the surprise how well the two subjects - baseball and poetry, work together (I guess it's no wonder Casey at the Bat is a classic).

So this is the story of Kevin, MVP, first baseman, stuck at home with a bad case of "Monouglyosis" just as baseball season is getting started. He's worried about losing his position on the team to another player, he's worried about what the girls at school are saying about him, he's worried that his friends are forgetting him, he's worried that the memory of his Mom is starting to fade, and he's worried that if his writing poetry will change everything.

here are a few of the poems I really liked.
How do you do, Haiku, Pantoum for Mom, and A Poem for Poetry.
Read ON

Wearable Book Art - Accessories

Here's a fun handbag to wear as an accessory - to go with the beautiful gown made from the pages of colourful little golden book.

These purses are repurposed hardcover books. Apparently they can make custom bags from the book of your choice.

Fun project for this summer.
Thanks Jan for tipping me off to this.

Worst-Case Scenario ~ Choose Your Own Adventure

The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure : Everest by Bill Doyle

I've just ordered this one up, so don't go looking on the shelves for it right away. I did want to tell you about it though. What a great concept, to combine worst-case scenario info with a choose your own adventure book and have graphic novel style pages also added into the mix. This should be terrific fun.

The next book in the series will be Adventure Mars (due out in summer) and then Sharks.

Here's a sneak-peak.

Vesper's Rising

Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan

The Cahills weren't the only family searching for the Clues. They had powerful rivals - the Vespers - an evil organization waiting in the shadows.

I don't know much more than this, today was the release date, so I'll have to see if I can get it into my hot little hands for this weekend. Then I'll be able to talk it up to those eagerly awaiting this next episode in the 39 Clues story.

Technically, it's not my fault

Technically, It's Not My Fault by John Grandits This may be one of my favourite poetry books, it is definately my favourite concrete poetry book. I especially like, skateboard, the Thank You Letter with Footnotes, and What are you thinking about Robert? Here's the description: An eleven-year-old boy named Robert voices typical -- and not so typical -- middle grade concerns in this unique, memorable collection of hilarious poems. His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes and his annoying older sister. In addition, he speculates about professional wrestling for animals, wonders why no one makes scratch and sniff fart stickers, designs the ultimate roller coaster (complete with poisonous spiders), and deconstructs a new word, snarpy. Love it. Makes poetry look fun and easy. Here's a link to his webpage http://www.johngrandits.com/books/technically.php READ ON

Albert Einstein / Giants of Science

Albert Einstein by Kathleen Krull

From the inside cover:

The proud possessor of possibly the worst case of bedhead in history. Albert Einstein was a giant to be sure - in fact, his name has become a synonym for "genius." But was he a scientist? Not in the ordinary sense of the word. Einstein didn't like to work in a lab (he had a tendency to blow things up), rarely did experiments to back up his theories, and had trouble working out mathematical proofs. What he excelled at was thinking - on hikes, while playing the violin, even at the dinner table. And by endlessly pondering what he called "thought experiments," he managed to lay bare the limits of Newtonian physics and bring about a new understanding of "givens" such as time and space.

I love Kathleen Krull's series Giants of Science, she uncovers fun facts about the person that seemed to influence their science. Isaac Newton was insanely competitive, Enstein a rebel, and these attributes influenced their break-throughs in the world of science.

I'll end this posting with one of my favourite Einstein quotes, "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious."

Wearable book art

Wow!! This dress is made entirely of the pages and spines of little golden books. I ask, Has a book ever looked this good? Think it isn't real? Check out this link, for the making of the dress and it strutting down the runway. http://home.comcast.net/~ryannovelline/16.html

April is Poetry Month

April is Poetry Month and so I'm going to try to add Poetry books to this months blog postings. Today I'm thinking about all the great novels in verse we have at our library. These are terrific books for the reluctant reader, they are often short, fast reads, which always give a great feeling of accomplishment. Here's some covers of titles we have.

There are more novels in verse on the shelves, use novels in verse for a subject search and you should be seeing some more.