Traveler IQ

I love this world geography quiz. Let me know how you score when you take it. Here's the address - www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq

This Traveler IQ was calculated on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 01:27PM GMT by comparing this person's geographical knowledge against the Web's Original Travel journal's 3,243,792 travelers who've taken the challenge.

Back to the city of Ember

The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau

If you've been a fan of The City of Ember and the People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprau then you'll be happy to read on with The Diamond of Darkhold. Lina and Doon's struggle for survival continues now that they've been living in Sparks. But life above ground is hard and most of the time uncertain and unhappy. During the dark days of winter Doon finds an unusual book. Deciphering the remaining pages, Doon feels certain that the Builders of Ember meant for them to find a critical device that would make their lives easier. And so the adventure begins.

I'm a huge fan of these books (well -with the exception of The Prophet of Yonwood). I was happy to meet up with Lina and Doon again and rediscover that feeling of hope as they try to learn from the past and courageously step into the future.

Read on.

Samurai shortstop

Samurai shortstop by Alan Gratz

From the back cover-

From his first day at boarding school, Toyo Shimada sees how upperclassmen make a sport out of terrorizing the first-years. Still, he's taken aback when the seniors keep him from trying out for their baseball team - especially after he sees their current shortstop. Toyo isn't afraid to prove himself; he's more troubled by his uncle's recent suicide. Although Uncle Koji's defiant death was supposedly heroic, it has made Toyo question many things about his family's samurai background. And worse, Toyo fears that his father may be next. It all has something to do with bushido- the way of the warrior- but Toyo doesn't understand even after his father agrees to teach it to him. As the gulf between them grows wider, Toyo searches desperately for a way to prove there is a place for his family's samurai values in modern Japan. Baseball might be the answer, but will his father ever accept a "Western" game that stands for everything he despises?

From the opening sentence I was hooked. The rest of the chapter was just as gripping. And from there I just kept liking the book more and more.

I learned a lot about the time of transition for Japan, how moving from a feudal system to a modern one was more than difficult - as politics, religion and western influences pushed people into finding a new Japanese identity. How for Toyo's uncle (a samurai) this change was impossible.

Toyo is a memorable character. He's a student, he's a friend, he's a leader. He understands the samurai spirit and brings this knowledge to his friends and teammates and also applies it when being bullied, to understanding his relationship with his father, or out on the baseball field and you get the sense it will stay with him for life.

The baseball moments of the story are also worth the read. It's no wonder the Japanese have guys playing in the American League and winning world championship little league tournaments. After reading this book I get the connection and see the long history baseball has in Japan.

I thought it was a great read, and has terrific curriculum tie-ins.

Art break

3-D ABC ; a sculptural alphabet by Bob Raczka

Today I was busy cataloguing more of the new books, but took a moment to read through this book. I loved it!

Bob Raczka has done it again, pairing beautiful pieces of art - this time sculptures and wonderfully simple wording to help explain or get us thinking about what art means to us. This time he also cleverly uses the alphabet to move from piece to piece. Each sculpture is given full credit to who created it, where it is housed and what it is made from.

Readers will learn about contemporary sculpture, he covers everything from various sculptural styles (kinetic, relief, ready-made) to sculpting materials (metal, old car parts, light, etc.).

I'm having a hard time picking a favourite, but tonight I'd have to say it's the letters K & L - the sculptures are The Kiss and LOVE. Tomorrow who knows I might pick a totally different one , that's the great thing about art- it kinda depends on your mood.

I love books like this, i may never get to see these sculptures up close but now I know more about them and I'm inspired to visit the sculptures that I have access to here in Alberta.

Read on

Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi

Rucker Park Setup by Paul Volponi

Harlem's Rucker Park has seen more than a few stars rise through its ranks, and Mackey and J.R. are hopeful that they will be the next - afterall they've been playing and watching ball their entire lives. Finally the moment they've been dreaming of has arrived - they're about to play in the Rucker Park Tournament where there is sure to be college scouts. Their team is sponsored by the Rapper named Greene and Greene has wagered heavily against opposing coach Fat Anthony that they will win. Before the tournament can even start, things go wrong and J.R. is killed. Mackey knows what has gone down and now has to decide how he'll handle things, including his own involvement.

The basketball action was intense and really kept the story captivating. The characters believeable and I found it to be a fast read. I'd recommend this for any of those reluctant readers who might need something for a book project, that and it's about 160 pages.

There is lots of language** in this one, so use some caution.

Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell

Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell

Sixteen-year-old Vasser Spore has her life planned out for the next 15 years, from graduating valedictorian - right through to winning the Pulitzer Prize. Her very scheduled, precisely planned life take a wild turn when her Grandma (who she's never met) sends her airline tickets to join her for the summer in South East Asia. Vassar doesn't have any intention of going, until she overhears a mysterious conversation between her parents and her grandmother. Before she knows it, she's rearranging her well planned summer and making up her AP English class by agreeing to write a novel during her travels in Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos.

The travel part of the book is really what grabbed me. Vassar finally has to give up some of her rigidness and learn to LIM (Live in the moment). Along the way she figures out the mystery between her parents and her grandmother, finds an unexpected boyfriend and decides she can live without having every moment of her life planned out - sometimes the unexpected is fun.

Although it wasn't quite as good as I wanted it to be, I still think this will be a great book for those needing an escape to a foreign country.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Warning don't start this book if you have homework you should be doing or if you've got other important stuff you have on the go - because you won't be able to put it down.

I started this book on Tuesday morning before I came to work, and I seriously thought about skipping work for the day so that I could finish it. I went to work, but the moment I got home, I immediately pickup it up and didn't stop reading till I finished.

Wow! What a book. What a trill ride.

Time: The future

Setting: The nation of Panem (what used to be North America)

Characters: 16 year-old Katniss Everdeen

16 year-old Peeta

old - Haymitch

In this futuristic world of Panem, a land made up of thirteen colonies (but really only twelve, the capitol blew up the thirteenth when they tried to rebel). Each year the Hunger Game is played.

Every district holds a lottery with the names of all those aged between twelve and eighteen - a boy and a girl are chosen to play in the Hunger Game.

What's the Hunger Game? It's a reality tv "survivor" like game with one small twist. This game is played to the death. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. There is only one person left standing at the end of the Hunger Game - or is this years' game in for a change.

Have I got your interest? Cause this is one you really don't want to miss out on.

Read On

Story collections

Right now in our library there is a large display of Octoberish books. All have the common theme of - the creep factor, whether it be ghosts, goblins, halloween, or paranormal. I have a few new suggestions to be added to the display. Good scary titles to make your spine tingle.

All Hallows' Eve 13 stories by Vivian Vande Velde
As some of you know, I'm a spineless wimp went it comes to horror stories, I made it through the first three stories in this book and I had to quit, it was gonna give me nightmares for sure.

666 The Number of the Beast : Stories of Horror

From the back cover-

Tales of evil. Tales of darkness. Tales of beasts.

There's the ...

Vampire who visits the same girl every night.

Dangerous rumor that turns all too deadly.

Zombie who couldn't look more innocent.

Boarding school plagued by a tortured ghost.

And so much more in this spine-tingling, bone-chilling collection of 18 stories from 18 masters of horror.

So lock the door. Turn on the lights. Don't answer the phone. And open this book ... if you dare...

Oddest of All : Nine odd stories by Bruce Coville

Started this one this morning and loved the weird, odd factor. It reminded me of the Twilight Zone my favourite tv show when I was in senior high. I might save this one for read alouds.

The Dark Side : truly terrifying tales / chosen by Susan Price

From the back cover.

Sure to leave your skin crawling with fear, this chilling collection of horror stories will get your heart racing and goose bumps popping. Twenty-four terrifying tales by such authors as Charles Dickens, Stephen King, and Edgar Allen Poe are sure to haunt even the bravest of readers.

The Curse of the Campfire Weenies and other warped and creepy tales by David Lubar

I love David Lubar, I think he's funny, quick and clever. So it's no wonder I picked up two copies of this one. Delicously silly and at the same time macabre. Can't wait to dive into this one.

Beastly Rhymes to read after dark by Judy Sierra

I'll share one.

Never Bully a Bug

Young William was not nice to bugs,

Or bees, or centipedes, or slugs.

He'd poke, and pull, and squeeze, and tweak

And laugh because they were so weak.

Young William never realized

The tiny mites he victimized

Had cousins that were giant-sized.

One day, while walking down the stair,

Young William met a bumblebear.

The bumblebear packed quite a sting,

But when a beast more frightening -

A stomping-mad rhinocepede-

Came hurtling toward him at top speed,

Young William, feeling far less smug,

Collided with a hipposlug,

And disappeared in one slow g-l-u-g.

Thank you

I just want to give a huge shout-out to my friends at ULS - Monica, Stella, Diane, Robin, Yolanda, Brenda, Anna, Tina, and everyone else who works there. You do a fabulous job and you always make my day when I'm up for a shopping trip / visit. I can't thank you enough for the book suggestions, advance readers copies and posters that keep me and the rest of your fans at G.S. Lakie smiling.

Thank you many times over.

Home and other big fat lies

Home and other big fat lies by Jill Wolfson

Another great read from the weekend.

Whitney is trading in buildings for trees. She is headed from the city to Northern California, and foster home #12. #12 because of the top five complaints about Whitney from foster parents...
1. Big, sassy mouth
2. Too hyper
3. Doesn't always stick to the truth
4. Thinks she knows everything
5. Climbs everything (p.19)

Whitney soon learns that she's not the only "foster" new in Forest Glen, in fact theirs a lot of them. She also learns that the reason there are so many off them, is that these families need the financial income that comes along with having foster child in the house. Forest Glen is and always will be a logging town so when a closure of the timber cutting areas closes the effect is felt in just about every family. Whitney (aka - Termite) begins to love the outdoors, the forest and most of all a ginormous redwood tree she's nicknamed Big Momma. She leads her fellow fosters in starting a nature and ecology club. And that's just the beginning the adventure.

Termite is one of those great characters- she's full of action, bounce, energy and and her own creative way with language. It's no wonder she finds herself leading an environmental cause and winning hearts along the way.

Read on

The Missing Girl

The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer

Haunting, chilling, creepy, tense. This is how I describe this book.

Told in alternating voices. The story of five sisters from a poor family, each going about their own lives in differing ways, full of chatter, laughing, bickering typical of any family.

The oldest Beauty (ironically rather plain) is planning for the day she'll turn eighteen and be away from all this. Mim quiet and responsible holding a personal secret that she has yet to share with anyone. Stevie always temperamental, on the attack and demanding attention. Fancy is always doted on by her sisters as she is "special" and loves to tell the others of her special teacher and special class. And Autumn the tag along, lagging behind, wanting attention from the others.

Meanwhile a man secretly covets watching the girls, deciding which one he likes best, which one he'll take home and keep.

Definitely a page turner.

Read on

What's your savvy?

From the cover.

For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" — a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity... and now it's the eve of Mibs's big day.
As if waiting weren't hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs's birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman's bus... only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up — and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

I soooo enjoyed this, the well crafted if somewhat wacky characters, the tall tale adventure, the wonderful savvy Mibs is given and how it presents itself are all unforgettable (it made me kind of glad I don't have a tattoo ;-). I felt part of the team on that bumpy pink bus ride, wondering what my savvy was and if I could guess what yours might be.

"But as I grew up, I began to understand that a savvy is just a know-how of a different sort."

"In most ways, Mibs, we Beaumonts are just like other people, we get born, and sometime later we die. And in between, we're happy and sad, we feel love and we feel fear, we eat and we sleep and we hurt like everyone else."

Wonderfully odd, no wonder this book (the authors first - wow!) has already been optioned for a movie. Check out the book trailer on youtube or visit the authors website http://www.ingridlaw.com/ for more about this great book.

Don't miss this one!!

Read on

Rapunzel's Revenge

I love new takes on fairy-tales, and this one is terrific!! Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale ; illustrated by Nathan Hale. An old-west, tall tale version of the classic fairytale Rapunzel with loads of giddy-up told in the graphic novel format. Yahoo!

Rapunzel has grown up in a beautiful villa, surrounded by wonderful blooming gardens under the watchful eye of Mother Gothel. As Rapunzel grows up she begins to question what lies on the other side of the gigantic wall that surrounds the villa. Being bored and a bit adventurous Rapunzel scales the clock to see for the first time the very puzzling landscape that stretches almost as far as the eye can see. When Rapunzel questions Mother Gothel on this and other issues concerning her past, Mother Gothel banishes her to a towering tree. The years slide by, and Rapunzel's determination has grown with each day. When she escapes her lonely tower, the adventures and a lesson to be taught to one Mother Gothel get underway. Her long braids come in handy and a friend named Jack joins in on settin' things right.

I loved the independent, honest and daring nature of this wildwest Rapunzel. The illustrations capture the action, excitement and western feel admirably. Yahoo!