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.

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.

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.

Curveball

Curveball: the year I lost my grip by Jordan Sonnenblick

Jordan Sonnenblick has to be one of my favourite authors, he writes with both heart and humor. His books are great read alouds that have real feeling, that we all can relate to (whether we've been in that circumstance or not, some things are just part of the human condition - we have parents, we have siblings, we have friends, we go to school.) Although curveball is written about a slightly older teen, I think middle school students will still enjoy the character of Peter Friedman - pitcher (used to be), photographer (wanna be) his best friend AJ (ace pitcher) and new friend Angelika (wanna be girlfriend).

Here's the summary from the book jacket.

Sometimes, the greatest comebacks take place far away from the ball field.

Meet Peter Friedman, high school freshman. Talented photographer. Former baseball star. When a freakish injury ends his baseball career, Peter has some major things to figure out. Is there life after sports? Why has his grandfather suddenly given him thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment. And is it his imagination, or is the super-hot star of the girls swim team flirting with him, right in front of the amazing new girl in his photography class?

In his new novel Jordan Sonnenblick performs his usual miraculous feat: exploring deep themes of friendship, romance, family and tragedy, while still managing to be hilariously funny.

Here's an interview with Jordan Sonnenblick - I love the part  "what will you do when life throws you a curveball?"

The Crazy Man

The Crazy Man by Pamela Porter

I wanted to revisit this gem of a book, it left me hungry for the hot, dry days of summer, with crickets chirping, winds making the fields of wheat move as if in choreographed wave, and a simplier time.

Here's the summary:
In 1965, twelve year old Emaline , living on a wheat farm, must deal with a family that is falling apart. When her dog Prince, chases a hare into the path of the tractor, she chases after him, and her father accidently runs over her leg, leaving her with a long recovery and a permanent disability. Even worse, from Emaline's point of view, is that in his grief and guilt, her father shoots Prince and leaves Emaline and her mother on their own.

This is a novel written in verse, so it reads very quickly, it's a touching story and will make you think about how times and values have changed.
Here's my favourite passage.
"Heard coyotes in the night
from my open window.
Far away.
One pack calling,
another answering.
Young ones yipping
along with deeper voices.
Smell of wood smoke
on the night air.
A full moon.
Their high whines.
Their wild choir.

It's like I'm standing right there next to Emaline, hearing and feeling everything she is. Now that's good writing.
If you enjoyed The Crazy Man you might want to try reading Karen Hesse's - Out of the Dust.
Read On

All These Things I've Done

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant DA's son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly Anya finds herself thrusts unwillingly into the spotlight - at school, in the news, and most importantly within her mafia family.

I've enjoyed all of Gabrielle Zevin's books so far, so I was not disappointed with this one either. I quickly fell into liking the character Anya and her family, I love the Romeo / Juliet concept of forbidden love - and family duty, I liked the dystopian future ideas although I think that they could have been elaborated on. So I'd probably give it 4/5 on the readability scale - unfortunately I think they've talked Gabrielle into making this a series, when it really is a great stand alone story.
I think lots of you will enjoy it.
REad On

13 Gifts

13 Gifts by Wendy Mass

I just got this one in, and well the first three chapters have been great. How many of you would steal the school pet mascot in order to fit into a more popular group at school? What if that school mascot was a goat? Are you still in for it? Well this is exactly what Tara Brennan finds herself faced with in the very first chapter. No spoilers here.

Blood Red Road

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Well, if there is gonna be a book that will make you late for school, it might be this one. It almost made me late for the very first day of school. I was reading as fast as I could, getting more and more caught up in Saba's story. I described the book to Mr. Newman and Ms. Garner this way -- it's like The Hunger Games and MadMax and True Grit all rolled up in one. Written in an interesting dialect of the old west, this captures how language changes in different times. I thought of this book many times throughout the day and when that bell rang at 3:30 I knew I needed to get home to finish it. Wow! If your in need of an action packed trill ride with strong characters, action, drama, suspence and unpredictability - this should be your next book. To add to my admiration of the book Moira Young the author is Canadian.

Summary :
A story to make your heart beat faster.
In a wild,
lawless
land...
Saba's twin brother is stolen by mysterious, black-robed riders. She sets out ona desperate journey to find him. Ahead lie violence and treachery, and Saba will need a spirit as tough as her crossbow to survive. But her companions are the smartest bird that ever flew, and a young, handsome thief with eyes the colour of moonlight....
The book trailer.

Graphic novel blitz

Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

I was very impressed with Doug TenNapel's first graphic novel Ghostopolis, it was wierd, creepy, fun. I wanted that same feeling from this book, and unfortunately this one kind of fell flat. I feel bad just saying that, I mean look at it! Full-colour, great title that suggests all sorts of wierd creepy fun, huge hours of drawing, colouring and writing this story - for what turned out to be just okay. Anyway, I hope some of you will review it and give me a different perspective about it.

Summary:
Somthing on the island is up to no good...
When Reese is forced to go on a boating trip with his family, the last thing he expects is to be shipwrecked on an island - especially one teeming with wierd plants and animals. But what starts out as simply as a bad vacation turns into a terrible one, as the castaways must find a way to escape while dodging the islands dangerous inhabitants. With few resources, and a mysterious entity on the hunt, each secret unlocked could save them... or spell their doom. One thing Reese knows for sure: this is one bad island.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway

Yesterday, when a smallish box of books arrived I was excited as usual, but also sad because this will be one of the last deliveries of the year. Anyway, this was one of the titles in that little box, and one I plan to be taking home with me for some of my summer reading.

Here's the summary from the back cover:
I hugged my sisters and they fit against my side like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn't imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.

Three sisters share a magical, unshakable bond in this witty high-concept novel. Around the time of their parents divorce, sisters April, May and June recover special powers from childhood - powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high-school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?
April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds - everyones but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they'll always have each other. Because there is one thing stronger than magic - sisterhood. 

Reaching for sun

Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Josie Wyatt knows what it means to be different. Her family's small farm house seems to shrink every time another mansion grows up behind it. She lives with her career-obessed mother and opinionated Gran, but has never known her father. Then there's her cerebral palsy: even if Josie wants to forget that she was born with a disability , her Mom can't seem to let it go. Yet when a strange new boy - Jordan- moves into one of those houses nearby, he seems oblivious to all the things that make Josie different. Before long, Josie finds herself reaching out for something she's never really known,  a friend and possibly more.

Interlinked free verse poems tell the beautiful heartfelt story of a girl, a family farm reduced to a garden and a year of unforgettable growth.

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.

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.

The Running Dream

The Running Dream by Wedelin Van Draanen

This was great, on many, many levels. Top marks! Loved it! I'm already planning something big around this one.

Summary:

What would you do if you lost the one thing that mattered most?

Sixteen-year-old Jessica is a runner. It's not just what she does, it's who she is. So when a tragic accident causes her to lose one of her legs, she is shattered - inside and out.

Though the doctores say she'll be able to walk with a prosthetic limb, recovery is slow and full of pitfalls. Jessica wonders if the girl who died in the accident didn't get the better end of the deal. But as she struggles to reclaim her life, Jessica get to know Rosa - a girl with cerebral palsy whom she and her friends had always overlooked. Not only does Rosa come to Jessica's rescue in math, she also helps her reach for a future that is full of wonder: Is it possible not only to walk again, but to run?

"I ran everywhere. raced everyone. I loved the wind across my cheeks, through my hair. Running aired out my soul. It made me fell alive. And now? I'm stuck in this bed, knowing I'll never run again."

This book will make you look at things differently, appreciate the little things that we so often take for granted each and every day.

Here's Wendelin Van Draanen introducing the book.

Notes from a liar and her dog

Notes From a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko

Synopsis:
Ant MacPherson's basic rules of life.
1. Dogs are better than people.
2. The more you say, the longer they ground you for.
3. Lying only works if you keep it short.
4. Never be nice to people who make fun of you.
5. It's okay to keep a chicken in your house, as long as it's housebroken.
6. Make sure that school doesn't get in the way of important things like your friends.
7. Don't waste the truth on people who won't understand.

Ant MacPherson is totally misunderstood. At least, that's how she feels. Sandwiched between two perfect sisters and stuck with parents who just don't get her, antonia (but please, call her Ant!) finds it easier to lie. After all, only her dog Pistachio, appreciates her anyway. But when her teacher starts to see the turth behind Ant's stories, Ant is in for some big changes....

I want to say - "I loved it (cause I really like this author) , but, unfortunately I was really only so-so on it. I think it does have some redeeming qualities - how good friends behave, how to work through tough situations-without lying, and how to figure out parents who think your invisible most of time until they think your bad.
I hope some of you will try it, and give me reason to maybe give it a second chance.
REad On.

Crazy Beautiful

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

From the back cover:
In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn't outgrow them as quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.
Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don't scare her. They don't keep her away. In fact, they don't make a difference at all to her.
But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.
Or maybe she's a girl who needs love just like he does.

Great modern day retelling of the beauty and the beast story. Told in alternating chapters, giving the reader an inside perspective on love, forgiveness and second chances and reminding us that beauty is so much more that what we see on the surface.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Roderick Rules

I don't know if you're aware that the next Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules the movie is about to be released this month (March 25?). I thought they did a terrific job with the first movie and will be excited to see how they follow it up.
Here's the movie trailer.

The total tradegy of a girl named Hamlet

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne

Do your parents ever embarrass you? How about when your not at home, but with your friends somewhere? Do you hate the name they gave you? Do you have a younger brother or sister that is a brainiac or could show you up in just about anything? - Well welcome to Hamlet's world.

Hamlet Kennedy just wants to be your average, happy, vanilla eighth grader. But given her family - a genius seven-year-old siter who is attending middle school with her, and Shakespearean scholar parents who show up like a walking, talking REnaissance Faire - that's not terribly easy.
School gets worse when her sister is named the new pre-algebra tutor, and even worse when the class project is announced: It's on Shakespeare. Add it all up , and Hamlet's life (like her name) seem like a total tragedy.
But, as Shakespeare said, "it is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves," and Hamlet finds that ultimately, being from a Freak Family can give a girl license to find her own brand of extraordinary. And there's nothing tragic about that. In fact, the curtain on Hamlet's eighth-grade year might just close to overwhelming applause.

And the book trailer.

Missing

Missing by Catherine MacPhail

Maxine's parents have had to do perhaps the worst thing possible: confirm the identity of her brother Derek's body by the clothes he was whereing went he disappeared. So the who was missing is now officially dead. But then the worst possible thing really happens: Maxine receives a telephone call from somebody saying he is her brother. She can hardly believe her ears. Has Derek come back from the dead? In this pacy triller, the author manages to confront many issues - how differenet people deal with grief, the very under-rated effect of severe bullying at school and sibling rivalry - all in a fast paced compelling narrative voice.

I thought comparable titles would be: My sister's keeper and Buried.

Dear George Clooney, please marry my mom

Dear George Clooney, please marry my Mom by Susin Nielsen

Twelve year old Violet's TV director father has caused a huge upheaval: he has left his family in Vancouver to start afresh with his new blonde trophy wife in LA. To Violet, it seems like he's traded his old life for a new and improved one - complete with new and improved children.

When her mother takes up with the unfortunaltely named Dudley Wiener after a series of disastrous relationships, Violet - with the help of her best friend, Phoebe - decides to take conterol. If her mom can't pick a decent man herself, Violet will help her snag the most perfect one of all: George Clooney. In turns brazen, infuriating, and hysterical, Violet's antics will delight readers, who will root for her even when she's at her worst.

In this poignant, funny new novel , author Susin Nielsen explores the emotional fallout of divorce by creating a true original in Violet, whose outrageous yet heartfelt ploys to set things right will resonate with readers for years to come.

What a great, fast read. I read it Friday afternoon. Characters you can relate with. Funny stuff that will make you kringe, teenage struggles and of course an encounter with George Clooney, make this into a very enjoyable read.

Read on