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.

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

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."

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

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.

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.

Inside Out & Back Again

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

I am often drawn to novels in verse, I admire the way the author has selected just the right words to get across their message, story, and feeling. I imagine that it takes an incredible amount of time to create this kind of book, carefully choosing each word, that it will resonate the strongest, and leave a lasting impression. And this wonderful book did leave a lasting impression.
Summary:
"No one would believe me but at times
I would choose wartime Saigon over
peace time in Alabama."

For all the ten years of her life, Ha has only known Saigon: the thrills of the market, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by ... and the beauty of her very own papaya tree.
But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Ha and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed towards hope. In America, Ha discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape... and the strength of her own family.
This is the moving story of one girls year of change, dreams, grief, and healing, as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

I hope that many of you will chose to read this book, it will leave a lasting impression. I hope this book will encourage you to get to know someone outside of your normal circle of friends, and that kindness for others should be an everyday virtue.

Losing Joe's Place

Losing Joe's Place by Gordon Korman

I love so many of Gordon Korman's books that they're getting hard to list, and here's another one to add. Quirky characters, unbelievable events and laughs - what more could you ask for?

Summary:
"Whatever you do, DON'T lose me this lease. It's the best deal in town. Sell your friends, but hang onto the apartment."

Jason and his two best friends are about to have the ultimate summer experience in the big city. And they get to use Jason's brother's apartment for the summer. All they have to do is be sure to pay Joe's rent each month. No problem, right?
Wrong.
They didn't count on dealy with the sleazy landlord, or Joe's strange friend, Rootbeer. And they certainly weren't expecting Joe's Camaro to go missing. Keeping Joe's place turns out to be way harder than they'd expected.

Withering Tights

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Confession of Georgia Nicholson is back with Georgia's younger cousin Tallulah Casey. Yes! more hilarity from Jolly Ole England.

Summary:

Picture the scene: Dother Hall preforming arts college somewhere Up North , surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely type. On the whole its not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting ... but once her mates show up and they start their FAME I'm gonnnna liiivvvve forevvvver, I'm gonna fill my tiggghts summer course things are bound to look up. Especially when the boys arrive (When DO the boys arrive?) Six weeks of parent-free freedom, BOY freedom, artistic freedom, cos it's the THEATRE dahling, theatre.

Here's the trailer.

Gimme a call

Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski

We've just recieved more books yeah!!!! So I want to give you a quick peek at some of them - unfortunately I haven't had a chance to read all these titles so I'm just going to give you the book jacket info and a trailer if there is one.

Summary:

A new life is just a phone call away!

Devis' life isn't turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted the past three years going out with Bryan - cute, adorable, break-your-heart Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn't join any clubs ... and now that Bryan has broken up with her, she has nothing left.

Not even her stupid cell phone - she dropped it in the fountain at the mall. Now it only calls one number -- hers. At age fourteen, three years ago.

Once Devi gets over the shock - and convinces her younger self that she isn't some wacko - she realizes she's been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do ... because she's already done the wrong ones. Who better to take advise from? right?

Darth Paper Strikes Back

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

Not such a long time ago, in a middle school not so far, far away...
Something amazing happened. A weird kid named Dwight made an origami finger puppet of Yoda. (That wasn't the amazing thing- just typical Dwight weirdness.) The amazing thing was that Origami Yoda gave great advice. He could predict the date of a pop quiz, tell a guy if a girl liked him or not, and keep kids from embarrassing themselves in a dozen different ways. Most of the sixth graders were convinced he was using The Force.
But now, a year later, it's a dark time at McQuarrie Middle School. Dwight has been suspended and may be expelled, which means no more Origami Yoda. Even worse, Darth Paper, a puppet created by Dwight's nemesis, Harvey, has take Yoda's place. He spews insults and evil and just may be responsible for getting Dwight kicked out in the first place. Now the kids of McQuarrie are trying to build a case to save Dwight. This is their case file.

Loved the first book, can't wait to dive into this one.

Read On.

Middle School the Worst Years of My Life

Middle School the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts ; illustrations by Laura Park

I know many of you are dreading coming back to school -- who can blame you, the weather has finally cooperated, there's still a pile of stuff you want to do (or at least I still have stuff I want to do.) Anyways... like it or not you'll be finding your way back to the doors of G.S. Lakie next week, eager to see friends, learn who is in your class (and that is probably about it as far as anticipation goes - so I think many of you will be able to relate to the main character in this book - Rafe. Rafe isn't too keen on school, and his unique way of coping with things is the only thing that holds his interest or excitement. Overall I enjoyed this look at grade sixer Rafe, his family, classmates and teachers. I just hope that none of you attempt his crazy scheme.

Generously sprinkled with cartoon style illustrations keeps readers interest and the pace of the story flowing.
If you're all caught up in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, you might give this one a try.
Check out the website.
http://middleschoolbook.com/

Read On

Close to Famous

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

If you've ever taken part in one of my book talks you'll know I often describe books as "yummy", well this book was "yummy beyone belief." I think I ate it up just like the cupcakes that Foster makes. Delicous! Mmmm Mmmmm.
Here's some of my favourite quotes from the book.
"You don't know the power of a cupcake until your life depends on it."
"The smartest thing I ever did in sixth grade was give Mrs. Ritter a cupcake. I think it might be why I passed sixth grade."
"When you're going through a tough spell, it's easy to think that's all your life is about. You forget the good things, forget the quiet places. But they're always inside of us and we can pull them up when we need to set ourselves right. I think that's why why pop fished. It just set him right."

Summary:
When you've been chased out of Memphis by a scary Elvis impersonator and endu p in the tiny town of Culpepper, where nothing much seems to happen, it's hard to hold onto a big dream. And Foster has a really big dream: one day she hopes to have her own TV cooking show like her idol, Sonny Kroll. Meanwhile, she'll keep on doing what she does best - baking.
Soon Foster discovers she's not the only one in Culpepper with a dream of fame. Macon desperately wants to make documentary films, Miss Charleena longs to return in triumph to Hollywood, and Foster's mother hopes to be a headliner instead of a backup singer.
Meanwhile, Culpepper seems to provide a safe haven. But Foster and her mother can't hide forever.
Read On.

Page by Paige

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art work was fun, thoughtful, and full of double meanings (idioms galore). I think many of you will be able to relate in some way to Paige, she insecure about her art work and vunerable to criticism but she doesn't let that stop her and she becomes an inspiration to her friends and those around her. I loved some of the projects she and the Agents of Wimsy take on, it reminded me of the Random Acts of Kindness that our staff does for one another.

Here's the summary:
Page Turner has moved to New York with her family, and she's having some trouble adjusting to the big city. In the pages of her sketchbook , she tries to make sense of her new life, including trying out her secret identity: artist. As she makes friends and starts to explore the city, she slowly brings her secret identity out into the open, and process that is equal parts terrifying and rewarding.

Racing in the Rain

Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog by Garth Stein


Mr Meyer's suggested this book to me last year, and when I found that they had adapted the novel for a younger audience I thought I would pick it up for our collection at the school and also preview it for you. How can car racing, reincarnation and dogs all make it into the same book? that's what I was thinking. But after reading the first chapter told from Enzo the dogs point of view I came to understand how things were gonna fall into place -"Gestures are all I have - sometimes they must be grand in nature." This is an enjoyable read for any dog lover or fan of car racing, for those of you that love a plot driven book, this will move to slowly for you.


Here's the summary from the back cover:
Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking?
Meet one funny dog - Enzo, the lovable mutt who tells this story. Enzo know he is different from the other dogs: most dogs love to chase cars, but Enzo longs to race them. He learns about racing and the world around him by watching TV and by listening to the words of his best friend, Denny, an up-and-coming race car driver, and his daughter, Zoe, his constant companion. Enzo finds that life is just like being on the racetrack - it isn't simply about going fast. And, applying the rules of racing to his world, Enzo takes on his family's challenges and emerges a hero. In the end, Enzo holds in his heart the dream that Denny will go on to be a racing champion with his daughter by his side. For thiers is an extraordinary friendship - one that reminds us all to celebrate the triumph of the human (and canine) spirit.


If you only read a couple of chapters I recommend chapter one (to get you familiarized with the characters) and chapter 25. I believe it has already been optioned for becoming a movie, so watch for it in a year or two.


Thanks Mr. Meyers it was a fun read.

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.

Notes from the dog

Notes From the Dog by Gary Paulsen

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

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

Breakaway

Breakaway by Andrea Montalbano Summary: LJ knows her place in the world is on the soccer field. When she's out there scoring goals, everything is right. But being a big-shot on the field is starting to go to her head. She's letting her temper get the best of her - both on the field and off, alienating everyone around her. Everyone except Tabitha, the popular girl who cares more about credit cards than yellow cards and spends most of her time on the bench. But when it's LJ on the bench instead of Tabitha, forced to be a spectator instead of a star, she realizes that sometimes it takes more skill and guts to make others look good instead of yourself. and that by losing a little glory, you can win more than just championships. This will be the perfect pick, as soccer season isn't that far off now.

Hearts at Stake

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey - The Drake Chronicles

From the inside cover:
Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. and as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from vamprie suitors who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?
Let the Drake family be your guide into the secret vampire society full of epic battles, undead drama, and wicked humor.

And there's even a book trailer.

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.