I've moved

Hi,

Just to let you all know, I haven't stopped blogging, but I have moved my blog over to wordpress.
You can now follow me here:
http://lakielibrary.wordpress.com/

Read On!

Ungifted

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

From the back cover:
The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy for Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students.
It wasn't exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn't be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harders and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed.

I enjoyed this visit to an elite school through a normal kids eyes, but I also liked hearing the brainiac voices of the story. In the same fashion as Korman's Schooled - the various characters take a turns in telling the story. I thought the strongest of these to be Donovan, Chloe and Noah's. I especially liked how Donovan's character frees up Chloe and Noah from being driven students with only one goal (A+++++) into becoming people with many characteristics.

From page 8.
"Corrosion is a terrible thing. It was all in slow motion, but there was nothing you could do to stop it. With a crack, the bolt snapped, pieces whizzing out of sight. The ball of the world and heavens toppled and hit the ground with a whump!
The big bronze globe careened down the hill toward the gym, picking up speed as it went...
The prognosis was not good."

Timber Wolf

Timber Wolf by Caroline Pignat

If you crave a story filled with backcountry adventure look no further...
Jack wakes up alone, injured and completely lost in the Northern wilderness. He has no memory of what happened, how he got there, or who he is. The days pass but there is still no sign of rescue. His injuries are festering and he can no longer hunt to survive. With the dwindling scraps of food and the wolf drawing nearer each night, Jack begins to fear for the worst. His family, wherever they are, whoever they are, have abandoned him completely. The only one coming for him is the wolf.

This is the third book in the Greener Grass series by Caroline Pignat. What I like about this series is that each book can stand alone, although they are tied together by the Byrne family.

I loved this description of the Windigo - "The Windigo towers above the tallest man, but is as gaunt as a skeleton. It smells of death and decay, for that is what it brings as it seeks to feed its never-ending hunger. And the more it eats, the bigger it gets. But as it grows, so does its hunger."
It reminded me of Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac. Obviously both creatures are based in Native American myths and legends. I hate to be told that kind of story before heading out on a winters night.

Cardboard

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

Love this! Good vs evil, creative, friendly,  weird, and creepy cardboard monsters come to life. This story has probably been floating in Mr. TenNapel brain since he was a kid - it's more than just a box.
From page 12 --
 "Gideon, this is an empty box."
"Empty? It's full! Full of ideas... projects... adventure!
"He does like to make things."
"Now you're getting it! Make a submarine, a monster, a train! It beats the heck out of some dumb ol' remote-controlled car! - To the naked eye it appears to be just a plain old cardboard vessel! But this is actually a father-and-son project in disguise! Slay the giant! Kill the Nazis! Hunt for buried treasure! It's up to you! No, this is not just a box! It's everything mankind ever needed to accomplish pressed into a cube of corrugated pulp!

And alas that cube of corrugated pulp becomes a whole nother world, complete with living and breathing creatures and creations. Now part of the problem is how to escape it.
Full colour illustrations and characters that you truly feel you know and can relate with, bring this story to life. I appreciate how one reviewer wrote " Marcus is like a teenage version of Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes."
Summary from back cover:
Cam's down and out father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday and he knows it's the worst present ever. To make the best of a bad situation, they bend the cardboard into a man - and to their astonishment, it comes magically to life. But the neighbourhood jerk, Marcus, warps the powerful cardboard into his own evil creations that threaten to destory them all!

Beware the Ninja Weenies

Beware the Ninja Weenies : and other warped and creepy tales by David Lubar

I have been a fan of David Lubar's for years now, our library has the complete collection of his warped and creepy tales, and I think the make the best short story read-alouds. So, I was happy to take this book home and review it. I now have a list of a least 6 more that will make perfect read-alouds for the gang at Lakie.

I'm in touch with this description from the back cover: "These short-story collections really showcase [Lubar's] delightfully twisted imagination. For me, reading Attack of the Vampire Weenies was like watching a bunch of Twilight Zone episodes for kids.... There is no doubt about it - David Lubar is the Rod Serling of middle-grade fiction."

I was a late night watcher of the Twilight Zone and I think Lubar must have been too.

Bzrk

BZRK by Michael Grant

Here's the deal, I won't have a chance to read this one right away (and I have to admit that I'm a little overwhelmed with the number of dystopian future books on my TBR pile) so I am looking for a student to read and review this one for me. I will post your review here on the blog - it can be a written review, a avatar review, or a vlog review - your choice.
Here's the book trailer so that you know what your in for.

Archie Meets KISS

 

Archie Meets KISS by Alex Segura

 

It's been awhile since I've read an Archie comic, so when I was ordering this round of graphic novels I couldn't resist including Archie in his latest antics. The characters of Riverdale remain the same, with a few unexpected visitors, Sabrina the teenage witch, Josie of Josie and the Pussycats and well obviously KISS - oh yeah and throw in some zombies. The storyline is the following: When one of Sabrina the Teenage Witch's spells goes awry and summons forth a gang of dangerous monsters bent on turning the people of Riverdale into mindless zombies, what can Archie and the gang do to save the town and their friends. Enter KISS - four supernatural heroes with their sights set on the frightening invaders.

 

Things I liked: Reading an Archie comic again. KISS lyrics sprinkled throughout the text. The chapter cover artwork that mimics KISS album covers. The artists sketchbook at the end of the book - I love to see where the inspiration comes from.

 

Things I didn't like: It was a little predictable and I would have liked the monsters to be more monsterish.

 

Here's the trailer

Outcasts United

Outcasts United by Warren St. John

I always cheer for the underdog, I'm always happy to see the little guy do well, and I love the fact that there are people out there that are quietly giving of themselves to better a situation. Outcasts United embraces all of these things. What's not to like.
I don't know much about the game of soccer. I've never played it. I've never watched a full game of it. I don't know how many players are on a team, what their positions mean, but that didn't stop me from understanding this book. Because this book although it is about soccer, the heart of the book is about community, about a team, about struggle, about committment and about a coach who believes in the game and her players. If you're in need of an uplifting story don't miss out on this one.
pg. 226
"Luma is really a normal person doing what she can for the people around her. If people can look at her and see that, that she's human, not a saint or a superhero, and that she doesn't  - can't- do everything or effect miracles, then maybe they can say to themselves, 'I need to look around myself and see my neighborhood, and what is going on here and five streets over, and what I can do in terms of investing myself and my time , to be present for the people around me, and to do something positive for change in my community.' "No one person can do everything," Tracy said. "But we can all do something."

From the book jacket:
More than half of the people who live in clarkston, Georgia, are refugges, mostly women and children, form more htna fifteen countries. Twenty year ago, clarkston was sparsely populated by working-class families. Then the federal government designated the town a refugee centre. Almost overnight, Clarkston changed in countless ways.
One day, Luma Mufleh, a young Jordanian woman educated in the United States and working as a coach for private youth soccer teams in Atlanta, was out for  a drive and ended up in Clarkston. She was pleasantly surprised by the ethnic restaurants and by the sight of women wearing the hijab. Most of all, she was amazed and delighted to see young boys, black and brown and white, some barefoot, playing soccer on every flat surface they could find. Luma decided to quit her job, move to Clarkston, and start a soccer team. This was where she needed to be, and this was where she would make a huge difference.

September 19 -- International Talk Like A Pirate Day

 

Ahoy! matey's. AaRRR the day has finally come. The day to plunder your lockers for hidden eye-patches, to loot the classroom for buried treasure and dance the hornpipe when the bell rings. It's the day to let your raucous pirate self out before he/she get locked away down deep (Davie Jones locker deep) until next year.

 

Here's a listing of some fabulous piratey books. Grab one and get inspired.

 

Tough Boris by Mem Fox

Whatever You Do Don't Go Near That Canoe by Julie Lawson

Blackbeard and the Birthday Suit by M. McElliott

The Secret of the Unicorn by Herge

Timothy and the Dragons Gate by A. Kress

The Dread Pirate Fleur and the Ruby Heart by Sara Starbuck

Pirates by Celia Rees

Hamish X and the Cheese Pirates by Sean Cullen

Demons of the Ocean by Justin Stomper

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

The Invaders by John Flanagan

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Wave Runners by Kai Meyer

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

The Ghost of Grania O'Malley by Michael Morpurgo

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

The Last of the Sky Pirates by Paul Stewart

Capt. Hook by J.V. Hart

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Unsinkable Walker Bean by Aaron Renier

The Wreckers by Ian Lawrence

 

There's many more, come down and see me - do your best pirate impression and the reward will be great ... if your impression is poor well I'll make you swab the deck, before I make you walk the plank!

 

 

Skating Sensation

Dork Diaries : Skating Sensation by Rachel Renee Russell

These books are gaining so much popularity at school that I've had to order more, and yesterday this brand new one arrived.
Here's the summary:
Nikki Maxwell isn't at all surprised to find out that her crush Brandon volunteers at a local animal shelter. He's such a sweet guy - of course he wants to help those adorable puppies. Then Brandon tells her that the shelter is in danger of closing down, and Nikki knows that she can't let that happen. Especially when she discovers a shocking secret about Brandon that makes keeping the shelter open more important that anything. So Nikki and her friends Chloe and Zoey enter an ice skating competition to help raise money for the shelter, but big surprise MacKenzie has to stick her nose in and cause trouble so that she can be the one to swoop in and save the day. No way will Nikki let that happen: she'll just have to find some extra creative ideas this time.

Running Out of Time

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This is a story that will satisfy both historical fiction fans and sci-fi fans. Our strong female protagonist Jesse lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton. The children of Clifton are getting sick. Seriously sick. Jesse is the one chosen to leave the village (and everything she knows) to travel to a strange new place in order to find medicine that could save her friends and family. Can she do it before she runs out of time.

This book will provide great conversation, the idea of reality TV might have sprung up from this book. I love the idea of which skills transfer through generations of time. Jesse's courage and questioning mind are the heroes of the story. It was a great quick read for the weekend.

Article 5

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Throughout middle school and high school students learn about various forms and styles of governments, for those of us living in a democracy we can hardly imagine a life without a Bill of Rights that ensures all kinds of basic rights and freedoms. So to imagine a country that has gone from a democracy to dictatorship / tyranny, that should scare the pants off of you. Imagine the Bill of Rights being replaced by Moral Statutes, or that the police have been replaced by soldiers and these soldiers have absolute power to make decisions about your future on the spot. Imagine a set of rules that demand complete compliance - there will be no argument, no debate, no trial for disobeying. This is the world that Ember finds herself in, and when her mother is arrested for violating Article 5 (Children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife ). Ember's life changes abruptly as she is taken away to a rehabilitation centre. Ember's focus becomes one of escape and survival in order to rescue her mother, but that can't be done from within the prison she beening held at. Can she rely on Chase a boy from her past, who is now part of the governments machine of law and order?

Dystopian future books are still all the rage, and here is another one to add to the list. While I had high hopes for this one, it fell a bit short for me. It's an interesting idea and will appeal to readers who enjoyed Divergent. Give it a try and tell me what you think.

Storm Runners

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

The breakneck  pace of Storm Runners by Roland Smith, grabs you from the first page and just keeps on going, right to page 143. The story never really let up- in fact I'll be heading to the shelves this morning to check out book two in the series. Chase Masters and his father are storm runners, racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in the classroom. But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined.
Here's an interview with author Roland Smith.

Welcome Back

Nothing says Welcome Back quite like a catchy song, that will have you singing along and thinking you can 'read it maybe.'


Let's have a great year! Let's read loads of books, let's listen to stories, let's write and tell stories, let's have some fun.

Read On.

Crazy Project / Awesome Result

I love picture books. I love all they can say with so few words. I love the simplicity, the artwork, the humour. So this morning when I came across this project I just felt I needed to share it. Now this has me thinking... do you think we could do a project like this with titles from our library?
Maybe even more than picture books, I enjoy pop-up books, I've tried making simple ones, but get a load outta this guy. He's a true paper engineer. I know I'd love to hold that advent calendar in my hands, peek in every window, every door and be mystified at how it was done.

Free Audio Books

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the tribe.

It's one of my favourites.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Written in 1903, this classic brought Jack London to the world’s attention. It is the story of Buck, part St. Bernard and part Scotch shepherd dog, who shows the strengths of both breeds when he is stolen and sold off as a sled dog in the Yukon during the gold rush. A heartfelt story that appeals to both children and adults.


To download this weeks titles click on the link.

These are the last of the free summer audiobooks. I hope you tried out a couple.

Back to School

Today I start back to work. I know that I left the place in a bit of a mess, so in a crazy way, I'm excited to go back and get things all prepped and ready for my readers. Another great thing that I'll be doing is working on buying some new titles to be added to the collection. Yeah! shopping!! Love this Adele remake. You can have it all! Find it in a the pages in a book.

Fabulous project, worthy cause

SketchTravel from Curio on Vimeo.

This animated short film was created as part of a sketchtravel project which is an international charity art project where one red sketch book was passed around between 71 artists around the globe for 4 1/2 years.
The original sketch book was sold for $ 96,200 US and its entire proceeds will go towards building libraries in third world countries in partnership with a child literacy non-profit Room to Read.

Just wanted to share something that makes me feel good. If your interested in Room to Read please check them out here.

Summer Reading

The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick

I'm smitten with Brian Selznick's work, both as an author and an illustrator. Since my first introduction to his illustrative style in Ann M. Martin's, The Doll People right through to his most current work Wonderstruck, I have been enchanted with how he visually tells a story, as well as, when he writes  a story. Blending these two talents together in more than just a picture book fashion (32 pages) has been such a hit with readers at Lakie. Why I think it is a hit? I believe that some of us readers are better at interpreting visual clues and then making the inference with the verbal clues in the story. In other words the pictures help us understand the story. And Selznick is a master - it's a joy to uncover the clues in his pictures.
I guess it's no wonder that I searched out more of his titles this summer.
In The Houdini Box we are introduced to Victor a young boy who idolizes Harry Houdini. He tries to learn countless magic tricks to no avail - often with humourous bruising results. Then a chance meeting with the magician leads Victor on an unexpected journey.
I loved learning more about the magician Harry Houdini, I love the thought of a magic box that could transform Victor into the magician he dreamed of being. The black & white cross-hatched illustrations supported the story beautifully. And I appreciated the non-fiction content including a biography and magic trick at the end of the book.

I was delightfully surprized to find out that this book has been the inspiration of a children's play. Here's a preview of it.

Summer Reading

The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

Sometimes when I'm choosing a book, I read the first sentence and if it grabs my attention, I'll check it out. Here's the first sentence -- "My name is P.K. Pinkerton and before this day is over I will be dead."  So that in combination with cover was enough to peak my interest. (And I seem to be on a western kick these days.) This book might be a bit of a gamble for some, but with short chapters, loads of action, fascinating characters - including our main character P.K. (who if you can imagine Sheldon from Big Bang Therory were twelve years old and living in the old west, a hilarious combination.) and guns being drawn just about every other chapter -- well then this should be your next book. It was loads of fun.

Here's the summary from the book jacket:
The year is 1862 and twelve-year-old P.K. Pinkerton is on the run from Whittlin Walt and his gang of ruthless desperados. P.K. is determined to hold on to his ma's last priceless possession: the deed to a large amount of land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. But this is the Wild West, and there's hardly a safe place to hide in Virginia City, an untamed mining town full of gamblers, hurdy girls and gunmen - all of them on the make! Relying on disguises will only keep P.K. hidden for so long as he works to outwit the outlaws who are quickly closing in...
At once thrilling, funny, and moving, this mystery adventure will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

Summer Reading

The Recruit by Robert Muchamore (#1 in the CHERUB series)

This has been highly recommended to me so many times that I brought it home with me for the summer and moved it to a much higher position on the To Be Read stack, and then brought it with me to the lake for more of my summer reading. I'm very glad I did all those things, because it didn't disappoint.
"What is CHERUB? -- During World War II, French civilians set up a reistance movement to fight against the German forces occupying their country. Many of their most useful operatives were children and teenagers. Some worked as scouts and messangers. Others befriended homesick German soldiers, gathering information that enabled the resistance to sabotage German military operations.
A British spy named Charles Henderson worked among these French children for nearly three years. After returning to Britain, he used what he'd learned in France to train twenty British boys to work on undercover operations. The codename for his unit was CHERUB.
Henderson died in 1946, but the organization he created has thrived. CHERUB now has more than two hundred and fifty agents, all aged seventeen or under. Although there have been many technical advances in intelligence operations since CHERUB was founded, the reason for its existence remains the same: adults never suspect that children are spying on them."

Our main character is twelve-year-old James Choke, who finds himself recently orphaned and forced to live in a Childrens Home. It is there that he is recruited to become part of CHERUB. First he'll have to undergo some pretty intense training before he ever ventures out on his first mission. Action-packed, thrilling, gritty, with a very real sense of teenagers (you know -- the kind that don't clean their rooms, play endless videogames, make crude jokes and occasionally go overboard when asked to vandalize something.)

Thanks to the students that recommended this one. It was very entertaining. I'm not sure I'll make it through the remaining 10 in the series, but I may try the pre-series The Henderson Boys.
If you loved The Recruit there are some great bonus stories at the CHERUB website-
http://www.cherubcampus.com/the%20recruit.htm

Read On!

Free Audiobooks

This week's free audiobooks are: Skulduggery Pleasant and Dead Men Kill. You can download them here.

This is a very popular book in our library, so if you haven't had a chance to borrow it, why not try downloading it and listening to it.
Here's the summary;
When a not-so-innocent twelve-year-old girl named Stephanie inherits her eccentric uncle’s estate, she must join forces with Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton mage, to save the world from an ancient evil.

Skulduggery Pleasant is paired with Dead Men Kill by L. Ron Hubbard.

Description:When several of the city’s most respected citizens are inexplicably killed by what appear to be zombies, all Detective Terry Lane has to go on is a blue-grey glove, a Haitian pharmacy bill for some very unusual drugs and a death threat from a mysterious stranger. Matters are soon complicated when a beautiful nightclub singer shows up who claims to have information that could solve the case, but whose motives are plainly suspect. Against his better judgement, Terry investigates her lead only to find himself sealed in a coffin en route to the next zombie murder his own.

Summer Reading

An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton

There are some books in this life that are just perfect. They fit a hundred different monmentous occasions. This one will be joining my list of books that make a perfect present. Based on the simple theme of dreaming big, not giving up on those dreams and keeping an active imagination throughout your life.
This is also a wonderful story about Dad writing and illustrating a colourful, wildly imaginative book for his child, searching endlessly for a publisher, deciding who needs a publisher - I believe in this book, and sharing it with the world. And now I'm gonna share it with you.
Read the book / share the story for free--
 right here.
Here's Dallas Clayton's story.


Congratulations Mr. Clayton, you've inspired us all.

Summer Reading

Ingo by Helen Dunmore

Here's a book that I've been meaning to read for years. Each year that I've been a school librarian I've had students say "I must read this book!" So I'm happy to say it made it's way to the top of the summer reading stack, and I was enchanted by the underwater world of Ingo. In fact the descriptions of Ingo and its inhabitants were by far my favourite parts of the story. I enjoyed how the story felt filled with an old mythology, one that I wasn't familiar with (maybe, this is because I didn't grow up next to an ocean), and yet had a present day believability.  Thank you to all of  those students who insisted that I read this one. I got totally caught up in the tantalizingly beautiful and dangerous world of adventure under the sea, where the Mer people live.

Summary:
I wish I was away in Ingo
Far across the biny sea,
Sailing over deepest waters
Where love nor care never trouble me...

By the Cornwall caost where Sapphire lives with her family, it's easy to hear the call of the sea. Too easy.
When the sea called to Sapphy's father, he vanished from her life. When the sea called to her brother, he started disappearing for hours on end. And now the sea is calling to Sapphy, and she feels its pull more strongly than she's ever felt anything in her life.
In a novel full of longing, mystery, and magic, Helen Dunmore takes us to a new world that has the power both to captivate and to destroy. At the waterline, the two worlds of Air and Ingo meet. Sapphy and her brother, Connor, find themselves at the boundary between these worlds, in a place of danger and amazing discoveries.

Summer Reading - Graphic novels

Lost Trail : Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness by Donn Fendler ; illustrated by Ben Bishop

Based on the true story Lost Trail is a boldly illustrated graphic novel that tells the story of Donn Fendler, a twelve-year-old Boy Scout from New York, who climbs Maine's mile-high Mount Katahdin and in a sudden storm is separated from his friends and family.
What follows is a nine-day adventure in which Donn, lost and alone in the Maine wilderness, struggles for survival.
What I liked: I liked how Donn relied and remembered his training from Boy Scouts about what to do when your lost (sometimes he ignored this and therefore made things more difficult for searchers.) Stay with the group. Don't panic. Follow a stream. and others. I thought the black & white illustrations were very atmospheric and gave a good sense of how Donn was feeling emotionally. I also really liked that the story was made into chapters with breaks that were made from Newspaper articles.
What I didn't like: Although Donn had a strong faith in God, I don't know if that it should have overshadowed his survival the way that it did.

Fans of the Hatchet series might want to check this one out, or you might want to read the original book recounting the story : Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler. There is even talk of making it into a movie. Here's a promo for it.

Summer Reading - Graphic novels

Wolverine : Worst Day Ever by Barry Lyga

I have to admit that this was a totally random pick. What can I say? sometimes fate gives you what you need -- something fun, adventurous, hilarious and with great artwork. I found it in the graphic novel section, but I don't know that it qualifies as a graphic novel (it's not  a story told in sequental artwork / drawings). It's more of a story, told in blog format, with illustrations. That's really unimportant to anyone who's not a librarian.
So, to get on with the review... Eric is a recent recruit to Xavier's School for Gifted Students. He has a very peculiar mutant gift, in his words
 " Basically, people don't notice me. I don't mean like I'm shy or anything like that. I mean that people just don't notice me. I could walk into a room totally naked, playing an accordian while juggling chainsaws, and people might get the idea that something's a little off in the room."
So what's a kid with a strange undeveloped mutant power supposed to do when surrounded with peers who have awesome mutant powers, well..., sneak around, lurk in the shadows, tag along with the X-men on secret missions and spy on favourite X-man of all Wolverine. This is where the fun, the action and the hilarity gets rolling.
I'm buying this one for our library for sure! I loved it.
Read On.

Awesome SUPERPOWERS

Have you heard, reading gives you superpowers?, How awesome is that!! I knew it, I knew that sometimes I can make myself invisible.
For years I've been a fan of Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants - his creativity, energetic style and he's funny. So is it any wonder that he let's us in on a secret (that reading gives you superpowers.)

Free Audiobooks

Pinned by Alfred C. Martino
In this gripping story, wrestling dominates the lives of two young men. Ivan Korske and Bobby Zane come from very different backgrounds–yet they both have the drive, determination, and commitment of a champion. And both are determined to have successful wrestling seasons despite having to grapple with their own demons. But their personal problems won’t matter when these two teens meet on the mat to compete for the title of New Jersey State Wrestling Champion. Both Ivan and Bobby have put in grueling hours of practice, endured intense hunger to cut weight, and sacrificed themselves for the sport they love–but only one of them is destined to win.

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
When Lonnie Collins Motion was seven years old, his life changed forever. Now Lonnie is eleven and his life is about to change again. His teacher, Ms. Marcus, is showing him ways to put his jumbled feelings on paper. And suddenly, Lonnie has a whole new way to tell the world about his life, his friends, his little sister, Lili, and even his foster mom, Miss Edna, who started out crabby but isn’t so bad after all. Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical voice captures Lonnie’s thoughtful perspectives of the world and his determination to one day put a family together again.

To download this past weeks audiobook selection visit this link:
audiobooks

Summer Reading

The Legend of Bass Reeves by Gary Paulsen

Earlier in the year I had a student who was wanting a western / gunfighter / wild-west kind of book, unfortunately I drew a blank, eventually we did find him an adequate book to check out. But I now have a great recommendation, when I'm faced with that kind of request. This fictionalize account of the slave turned lawman Bass Reeves was a captivating read. Like many I had never heard of Bass Reeves but he certainly earns his place in Western history, I learned lots and enjoyed this 130 page book.
Summary:
Born into slavery, Bass Reeves became the most successful US Marshal of the Wild West.
Many heroic lawmen of the Wild West , familiar to us through television and film, were actually violent scoundrels and outlaws themselves. But of all the sherriffs of the frontier, one man stands out as a true hero. Bass Reeves.
He was the most successful Marshal in the US in his day. True to the mythical code of the West, he never drew his gun first. He brought hundreds of fugitives to justice, was shot at countless times, and never hit.
Bass Reeves was a black man, born into slavery. And though the laws of his country enslaved him and his mother, when he became a free man he served the law, with such courage and honour that he became a legend.

Summer Reading

Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan

As a kid growing up I had a long list of my favourite horse stories. It included titles like The Black Stallion, Misty of Chincoteahue, My Friend Flicka and Smokey the Cow horse along with others. I also grew up riding a horse most every day during the summer and at one point in time I think our family had a remuda of around 30+ horses. So it was with great pleasure that I picked up Paint the Wind and was transported to a familiar, wonderful place, filled with the great outdoors and the wonder that can fill a person up by being on the back of a horse.
If your a horse lover, this should definately be your next good read. Even if your not a horse lover - I still think this book has lots to offer. It has earned it way into my favourite horse stories list**

Summary from back cover:
Maya lives like a captive. At Grandmother's house in California, everything is forbidden: friends, fun, even memories. and her life is built on lies Grandmother tells her about her dead mother, lies Maya tells to impress or manipulate. But then she moves to the vast Wyoming wilderness where her mother's family awaits - kind, rugged people who value independence and have no tolerance for lies. They challenge Maya to confront the truth about who she is. And a mysterious mustang called Artemisia waits, too. She holds the kiey to Maya's freedom. But to find it, Maya will have to risk everything ... including her life.

Summer Reading

The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

I love a good mystery. I enjoy historical fiction. And I really dig hep-cat lingo. So it's no wonder that I got so caught up with this title.
Summary:
It's the fall of 1942 in New York City and Iris is dying to help out at her father's detective agency, especially when she discovers that one of Pop's cases involves a boy at her new public school. But when Pop adamantly refuses her help, Iris quickly realizes that it's much easier to lie than to ask permission. Suddenly, this once-obedient former private-school girl is sneaking out of the house, double-crossing her friends, and dancing at the Savoy till the early-morning hours. There's certainly never a dull moment in the private-eye business.

Here's a sample - Iris (our main character has joined a group of friends headed to Harlem's Savoy Hotel) - "But it wasn't just the dancing that grabbed my gut and held me solid. The music was different. This wasn't Benny Goodman rocking the airwaves from the parlor radio. These musicians worked their instruments like they were part of themselves - trumpets grown in places of  arms, pianos where there should've been legs. Instruments didn't sound like instruments here: they were animals that growled, hooted, and barked in four beats to a measure. I don't know how the musicians got them to sound that way, but it was more alive than any music I'd ever heard before."

Free Audiobooks

This past weeks' selection for is:

Antony & Cleopatra by none other than William Shakespeare --
The twin empires of Egypt and Rome mingle and clash in this towering tragedy. Impulsiveness, passion, mistaken identity, and dark humor all color the fascinating dalliance between Antony and Cleopatra, the larger-than-life pair at the center Shakespeare’s play.
and

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter --
Selene has grown up in a palace on the Nile with her parents, Cleopatra & Mark Antony–the most brilliant, powerful rulers on earth. But the jealous Roman Emperor Octavianus wants Egypt for himself, and when war finally comes, Selene faces the loss of all she’s ever loved.

To download these audiobooks visit the link below.
Free Audiobooks

Summer Reading - Graphic Novels

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
I really enjoyed Smile, written and drawn by this same author, so I was excited to get the chance to have a sneak-peak at her latest graphic novel Drama. Basically it boils down to this -- finding your way in middle school is tough!  I know I wouldn't want to travel back in time and relive the challenges or the drama of it. So cudo's to Ms. Telgemeier for having the skill to create a story that stays true to the age, as well as being relatable with what kids are facing as they grow up.
Think GLEE for middle school -- this book deals with dating, friendships, school plays and learning about a friend's homosexuality. So if that makes you uncomfortable, maybe it's not a book for you. On the flip side it has so many great true moments that are so part of everyday life at middle school, that you won't want to miss this one.

Here's the book summary:

Callie loves theatre. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi, she's a terrible singer. Instead she's the set designer for the stage crew, and this year she is determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage and offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen, and when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier.

Summer Reading

The Project by Brian Falkner

Fun, action-packed read. Thoroughly enjoying this one, I'm about two-thirds of the way done and now have to set it down to get some of my chores done, but wanted to give it the thumbs up before I head off to the cabin again. If you're a fan of the Alex Rider series this might be a great choice for you.

Here's the summary from the book jacket:
It begins with a book. The most boring book in the world. A book so boring no one could ever read it - the perfect place to hide a dangerous secret.
When best friends Luke and Tommy voluntyeer to help move books from their library's basement to hight ground during a quick-rising flood, they discover the only surviving copy of the most boring book in the world: Leonardo's River, lost for over a hundred years.
The book is connected to Leonardo da Vinci and is worth millions, but the secret it hides could be world-shattering. After they steal it from the library, dark froces are soon on their tail. Luke and Tommy must unock the mystery first, but with their puruers closing in, the clock is ticking down to the final hour.

Book Films

Sometimes you get sent a cool video, link, app and you just feel you need to share it. Here's a recent find that I couldn't hold back from sharing. Visit the website below if you are curious about the making of this incredible stop motion book film. http://www.salonalpin.net/muchbetternow_short/

Summer Reading

My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

When I think of summer reading, I think something that is fun, light, charming, with probably just a little romance thrown in. This title fits that description  of  'summer reading' to a tee. What if all your big decisions always seemed to be the wrong ones? That's where Brooklyn is at -- her latest bad decision, throwing a party at her Mom's model house, but wait that's not all, this little party gets outta control and before she knows it, Brooklyn is getting her first ride in a cop car. It's shortly after this that Brooklyn decides things have got to change - she's going to let others decide for her, via her blog My Life Undecided. Hilarity follows. Like I said, light, funny, charming with a little romance - perfect for summer reading (if your a girl.)

Here's the book trailer.

Summer Reading

Game Changers by Mike Lupica

Some of you might be familiar with the name Doug Flutie, he was a quarterback in the CFL, the NFL, a Heisman trophy winner, and he was a little guy, an underdog. He was also the inspiration behind this book Game Changers. I think this book will find an audience at our school. It's a book about football, but also what it takes to be a great team player.

Here's the summary:
Ben McBain is every football team's dream player. He's a jack-of-all-trades guy that can handle almost any position. When the game is on the line, Ben's number is the one being called for the final play. But Ben wants to be the starting quarterback and the one thing standing in his way is the coach's son.
Shawn O'Brien looks the part. He has been groomed by his father, a former professional quarterback. But despite his size and arm strength, Shawn is struggling.
Ben is torn between being a good teammate and going after his own dream. As Ben finds out, Shawn isn't the easiest person to help. And when Ben gets an unexpected opportunity, the entire game will change for the both of them.

Summer Reading : Graphic novels

Amulet - book 5 : Prince of the Elves by Kazu Kibuishi

I was lucky enough to read this ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) via NetGalley, the release date isn't until September 1. I really like this series, the art work is fabulous and story of the stonekeepers has kept my interest for years now and although I'm not a huge sci-fi / fantasy kind of person I can relate to the characters and enjoy the depiction of this other world, with its flying ships, weird talking creatures and robots.

Here's the summary:
Emily has survived the chaos of the Guardian Academy, but Max Griffin, who is working for the Elf King, has escaped with the mother stone. The Elf King has now forged new amulets, which allow him the ability to invade Cielis and destroy it once and for all. Emily and her friends desperately make preparations to defend Cielis in what will be a brutal war, and they can only hope that it will be enough to defeat the Elf King.

I'm sure Scholastic will be putting together a book trailer and will include that at a date closer to the release or when I'm holding the copy for our library in my hands.

Free Audiobooks

 This weeks free audiobook selection can be found and uploaded here: http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-syn-downloads/

Funny Business edited by Jon Scieszka
Ten stories guarenteed to delight, amuse and possibly make you spill milk in your friends face from the following esteemed writers:
Mac Barnett, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo, Paul Feig, Jack Gantos, Jeff Kinney, David Lubar, Adam Rex and David Yoo.

The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other stories by Mark Twain
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” is a wild yarn involving a case of mistaken identity, a gambler who’d bet on anything, and a very unusual frog named Daniel Webster. First published in The Saturday Press in 1865, the tale was immensely popular, and in 1867 an expanded version was published with 26 additional short stories, told as only Mark Twain could tell them.

Summer Reading

The Magnificent 12 : the call by Michael Grant

We've had this book in the library throughout this past year, and yes it did circulate and the readers of it gave it favourable reviews but I didn't get a chance to read it until yesterday. Now I know exactly how to booktalk it -- read the first chapter out loud. Right away you'll find an unlikely hero and storytelling that is filled with a scarcastic style of humor, that I think most middle-schoolers will love. This was a fun, fast read - filled with gross monsters, an evil princess,  a phobia filled hero and world travel- what's not to like? This is a series that I'm excited to be ordering the next book of.

Summary from book jacket.
Twelve -year-old Mack MacAvoy suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Medium looks. Medium grades. Medium parents who barely notice him. With a list of phobias that could make anyone crazy. Mack never would have guessed that he is destined for a more-than-medium life.
And then, one day, something incredibly strange happens to Mack. A three-thousand year old man named Grimluk appears in the boys' bathroom to deliver some startling news: Mack is one of the Magnificent Twelve, called the Magnifica in ancient times, whatever that means. An evil force is on its way, and it's up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it. He must travel across the world to battle the wicked Pale Queen's dangerous daughter, Ereskigal - also known as Risky. But Risky sounds a little scary, and Mack doesn't want to be a hero. Will he answer the call?

Summer reading

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Whoa, I finished this a couple of hours ago and I'm still reeling. There's a part of me that wants to go back and read it again to find all the clues that were given along the way, and there's another part of me that can't bear to go through the hard parts of the book over again. This is a WW II story, filled with unlikely heroes, code names, operatives, double agents, Nazi SS men and women, the resistance movement, and a very strong friendship. This story keeps you guessing almost the entire time, with an unreliable narrator who is protecting not only her secrets but an entire country's. This is an atypical  story because it is about women during WWII - not the stay at home weepy kind, not jews marched off to deathcamps, but a very unlikely sort of women- the strong, courageous, mysterious sort, the sort that deciphers codes, creates codes, pilots planes and  trades in secrets and cigarettes.
Powerful and thrilling to the end.

From the book jacket:
When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
They'll get the truth out of her. But it won't be what they expect.
As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuelage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure, and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from a merciless and ruthless enemy?
Harrowing and beautifully written, Code Name Verity is the story of an unforgettable friendship forged in the face of the ultimate evil.

Summer reading

Oh, Rats! ; the story of rats and people by Albert Marrin

Those of us that live in Alberta don't really know the problem with rats - the Alberta Department of Agriculture has enforced a strick rat control since the 1950's. It wasn't until my first trip to Europe, staying with a friend in an apartment that was built in the 1500's that I came across my first rat. OMG! these things are huge! and scary! and ugly!, So it was with some trepidation that I took home Oh, Rats! the story of rats and people. In the end I was rewarded with a fascinating book that reveals tons of details about the rat and its relationship with humans.

Here's the summary:

Able to claw straight up a brick wall, squeeze through a pipe the size of a quarter, gnaw through iron and concrete, rats are also revealed in this fascinating book to be incredibly intelligent and capable of great compassion. Weaving science, history, culture, and folklore, awarding winning author Albert Marrin offers a look at rats that goes from curious to replusive, horrifying to comic, fearsome to inspiring. Arresting black and white scratchboard illustrations with bold red accents add visual punch to this study of a creature that has annoyed, disgusted, nourished and intrigued its human neighbours throughout the centuries.

Summer Reading

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford

This has been on my to read list for a long time (a couple of years) and so when I brought it home with my huge stack of summer reading, I quickly moved it to the top and took it along with me to the lake. It is definately in the same category as Swim the Fly by Don Calame -- realistic fiction, inside the head of a teenage guy, laugh-out-loud funny, but definately mature. I read a couple of chapters out loud to my nephews and they agreed that it would make a good read for most teenaged guys.
I enjoyed that Carter is a popular kid, even though he has several setbacks -- stuttering, ADD, and terrible organizational skills (he writes everything kind of reminder on his hand, arm, etc. - from deodorant, to party at Maria's.) He's likable, he's flawed, he's confident (with his friends) and ackward with girls, he wants to be cool, but sometimes misses the mark, There is much to learn about fitting- in, in high school and Carter learns most of these lessons the hard way.
Here's the summary from the book jacket.
Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love , and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process,  he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off against his greatest nemesis, get caught up in a messy love triangle, suffer a lost of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprize the hell out of everyone, including himself.

Free Audiobooks

This weeks free audiobook choices are: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud and Tales from the Arabian Nights. You will need to download the Overdrive Media Console onto the device that you'll be listening from (I went to the Lethbridge Public Library site for the easiest download instructions), from there you need this website to download this weeks titles.
http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-syn-downloads/

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonthan Stroud

Nathaniel is eleven years old and a magicians apprentice, learning the traditional arts of magic. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a magician of unrivaled ruthlessness and ambition. When Lovelace brutally humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decieds to speed up his education, teaching himself spells way beyond his years. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a five-thousand-year-old djinni, to assist him. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure 'The Amulet of Samarkand' he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder and rebellion.

Tales from the Arabian Nights

AudioFile Magazine Review:“This is an absolutely gorgeous introduction for young listeners to fine literature, a vastly different time and culture and enchanting music. Narrator Toby Stephens is dazzling as he presents three of the best-known tales: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and The Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor. He skillfully renders the text be it stupendous description, cunning adversaries or wide ranging emotion as he spins Scheherazade’s stories. At times Stephens’ accent sounds quite modern which should appeal to a contemporary audience. Both male and female voices are distinct and appropriate to the age and situation. Rimsky-Korsakov’s stirring music adds vastly to the rich emotion generated by the exotic tales. All ages will be enthralled.”

Grade 8 Farewell

Today we say farewell to over 200 grade eight students. I know I won't have a chance to say goodbye to each of them, so I'll do that here. You are a great group of kids, fun, funny, caring, and dynamic. And what a group of strong readers. My advice to you is this -- Stay curious. The most interesting people you meet in life are those that stay curious. People who want to explore, discover, invent and create. Become one of them.  They make the best friends (because they are willing to be adventurous), they make the best roommates (because they can teach you new ways of doing stuff), they make the best coaches (because they tend to think of others first), and mostly they are unafraid of change (and if there is one thing we can depend on in life it is change, so get good at it! embrace it!) Stay curious.

Summer reading

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Loved it!! Thank you Brooklyn for recommending that I move it to the top of my summer reading stack. This futuristic Cinderella story has it all, cyborgs, a plague, evil step-mother, handsome prince -- and yet it still had  an unpredictable cast and plot. (just because you know the old story of Cinderella, doesn't mean you know this version.)
Here's the summary:
Sixteen-year-old Cinder in considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her step mother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interface has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it "a matter of national security," but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on.
Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister , and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for palgue research, an "honor" that no one has survived.
But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.

And there's a book trailer:

Between Here and Forever

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
Elizabeth Scott's writing style is like being on vacation for me, I don't have to thinking real hard, I don't have to guess what's gonna happen next, I'm not on the edge of my seat with worry or angst for the characters. I just along for the ride. She tells a great story, she reminds you what it's like to be human, and a teenager, and she makes it somehow relatable throughout. If you're a fan of Sarah Dessen, Nicholas Sparks, or Jodi Picoult most likely you'll enjoy books by Elizabeth Scott. I do.

Summary from back cover:
Abby long ago accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister, Tess. But at least she knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.
Until the accident.
Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her. Abby's got a plan to bring Tess back, though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli. But then she learns a shocking secret about Tess. Something that was always right there, but she'd never seen.
Abby is about to find out that the truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could.

This one is for anyone who's felt like they live in the shadow of their sister.

Summer Reading has officially begun

The Last Musketeer by Stuart Gibbs
Summary:
On the first day of a family trip to Paris, Greg Rich's parents disappear. They're not just missing from the city -- they're missing from the "century." So Greg does what any kid will do: he travels through time to rescue them.
Greg soon finds out that his family history is tied to the legendary Three Musketeers. But when he meets them, they're kids his age , and they'll only live long enough to become true heroes if he can save them. To rescue his parents, Greg must assume the identity of a young Musketeer in training and unite Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan -- but a powerful enemy is doing everything possible to stop him from succeeding.


I love it when a book has a great first sentence that makes you want to keep reading. This book had it, I was also intrigued with the reinvention of The Three Musketeer's story, and although I'm not a huge time travel fan, it worked for this story. I enjoyed how Greg struggled with some of the more descriptive and challenging aspects of history - scratchy clothes, travel by foot or horse and worst of all the smells of sewage everywhere.

Free Audiobooks

Here's a great opportunity for you to download free audiobooks this summer. Each week another two free audiobooks will be available. You will need to download some software (Overdrive Media) onto the device you will be listening from. There are instruction on the website for this, if you're having trouble come down to see me and I'll see if I can help.
http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-syn-downloads/

This weeks titles are the below.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Summary: In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving. In the aftermath of a war, America's landscape has been ravaged  and two-thirds of the population are left dead

from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen year old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen's grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler's Landing a community that seems to be too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievious Jenny, who refuses to accept things the way that they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler's Landing and their lives forever.

 The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.
The novel focuses on the Joads, a poor family of sharecroppers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and changes in financial and agricultural industries. Due to their nearly hopeless situation the Joads set out for California. Along with thousands of other "Okies", they sought jobs, land, dignity and a future.
The Grapes of Wrath is frequently read in high school  and college.