Holiday Reading

As some of you know, I spend most weekends and holidays tucked away in my cozy cabin out west of Beaver Mines. The cabin is rustic and we don't have a computer or internet access there so blogging gets put on hold till I'm back in town. So I did spend the majority of my days outside skiing, cutting wood and playing in the snow but I also made time to read 8 books, 2 magazines and the Saturday paper.
Here's some of what I read.

Chasing RedBird by Sharon Creech
It started out as an ordinary summer. But the minute thirteen-year-old Zinny uncoved an old overgrown trail that ran through the woods behind her family's house, she realized that things were about to change. Right from the start, Zinny knew that uncovering the trail would be more than just a summer project. It was her chance to finally make people notice her, and to have a place she could call her very own. But more than that - Zinny knew that the trail somehow held the key to all kinds of questions. And that -- the only way to understand her family , her aunt Jessie's death, and herself, was to find out where it went. I love the simple stylings of Sharon Creech's writing. It reminded me of trying to find my own place amongst my 3 sisters and 3 brothers.


The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cursed!
David was only trying to be cool when he helped some of the popular kids steal Old Lady Bayfield's cane. But when the plan backfires, he's the one the "old witch" curses. Now David can't seem to do anything right. the cool kids taunt him and his only friends are weirdos. He even walks into Spanish class with his fly unzipped! And when he finally get up the nerve to ask out a cute girl, his pants fall down in mid-sentence. Is it the Bayfield curse at work? Or is David simply turning into a total loser?

This book often turns up on the challenged / banned book list - but really it takes a great look at how we treat each other, peer-pressure, bullies, real friendship. Even though it was published in 1989 the issues remain the same. Wonderfully funny, thoughtful even if it does have some swears in it. You can tell that Louis Sachar has spent time with Middle Schoolers.


Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
This was the book that kicked off my winter holiday reading - it totally set the mood for the frosty temperature we were having. Loved it - No wonder its a Newbery Award Winner. Here's the summary.

Miyax, like many adolescents, is torn. But unlike most, her choices may determine whether she lives or dies. At 13, an orphan, and unhappily married, Miyax runs away from her husband's parents' home, hoping to reach San Francisco and her pen pal. But she becomes lost in the vast Alaskan tundra, with no food, no shelter, and no idea which is the way to safety. Now, more than ever she must look hard at who she really is. Is she Miyax, Eskimo girl of the old ways? Or is she Julie the modernied teenager who must mock the traditional customs? And when a pack of wolves begins to accept her in their community, Miyax must learn to think like a wolf as well. If she trusts her Eskimo instincts, will she stand a chance at survival?


The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan

Summary:
He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dank cloaks and shadowy ways, have always made him nervous. The villages believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night , is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied...
Thanks to all the grade sixers that told me I had to read this, it turned out to be great!!


The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman

Katie and Michaela Wilder are sisters, New York City girls, and best friends. They attend a renowned dance school together and tell each other everything. But the sisters' world changes when they move upstate to rural Fir Lake. Katie is horrified by their new surroundings: the too- friendly neighbors, the lack of a subway, the fact they live near actual cows. Katie is shocked when Michaela adapts to the country life effortlessly by making friends, dating a cute football player, and attending homecoming. But nothing compares to finding out that Michaela's been keeping secrets from her - especially the biggest secret of all.

I wish I could say I like it more but I can't but on the other hand I know quite a number of girls that I will hand it over to as soon as we're back at school.

There's a couple more but that's all I have time for right now.
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