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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

The Wrath of Zozimos

Stickman Odyssey : the wrath of Zozimos by Christopher Ford

I love Christopher Ford for drawing stickmen and having such a wonderful sense of humor. The fact that he can give stickmen so much expression gives us creatively challenged folks hope.
Here's the summary:
In his quest to reclaim the throne of Sticatha from his evil stepmother, the exiled prince Zozimos has fought golems, matched wits with a sphinx, and overcome his own ineptitude to, well, stay alive. Now, with his homeland finally in sight, he and his band of misfits ready themselves for battle. Only it's not quite the fight they were expecting...

Where my last funny book left me a little bored, this one kept me reading and laughing right along.

Middle School Get Me Out of Here

Middle School Get Me Out of Here by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

Rafe is back, and if life could get any more difficult it has... Now he is sleeping on the couch at his Grandma's house in the city, his Mom is out of work, he's started the new school year at a fancy "art school" and the pressure is on.  Can Rafe control his out of control life? or will the old Rafe make his presence known in this new installment.

Although this is a similiar style of book as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, it just doesn't carry the same funny punch. Where it does win out is the illustrations - Rafe is the kid that is always doodling, he sees his life as a series of frames in a cartoon, his characterization is some of the people in his life (his Uncle Harry -Hairy the Sasquatch, and the Principal as a man-eating spider) are spot on. The fact that his art work are a strong feature of his personality make the styling of the book valid.

Here's the book trailer.

The Boy Project

The Boy Project : notes and obervations of Kara McAllister by Kami Kinard

Summary:
For anyone who's ever felt that boys were a different species....
Wildly creative seventh grader, Kara Mc Allister just had her best idea yet. She's going to take notes on all of the boys in her grade (and a few elsewhere) in order to answer a seemingly simple question: How can she get a boyfriend?
But Kara's project turn out more complicated than she imagined. Soon there are secrets, lies, and an embarrassing incident in the boys bathroom. Plus, Kara has to deal with mean girls, her slightly spacey BFF, and some surprizing uses for duct tape. Still if Kara's research leads her to the right boy, everything just may be worth it....
Full of charts and graphs, heart and humour, this hilarious debut with resonate with readers.

Here's the book trailer.

How they croaked

How They Croaked : the awful ends of the awfully famous by Georgia Bragg ; illustrated by Kevin O'Malley

WARNING: If you don't have the guts for gore, do not read this book.
This fascinating collection of remarkable deaths is not for the faint of heart.
Over the course of historymen and women have lived and died. In fact, getting sick and dying can be a big ugly mess, especially before modern medical care that we all know today. How They Croaked relays all gory details of how nineteen would figure gave  up the ghost. For example:

• It is believed that Henry VIII's remains exploded within his coffin (gross!!!)
• Doctors "treated" George Washington by draining almost 80 ounces of blood before he finally kicked the bucket
• Right before Beethoven wrote his last notes, doctors drilled a hole in his stomach without pain medication

Readers will be interested well past the final curtain, and feel lucky to live in a world with painkillers, X-rays, soap and 911.

I loved this one!!!! Fun, gorey, quirky facts, great illustrations.The chapter sub-titles are hilarious. I don't think there is a thing I would change, in fact I want another volume with more awfully famous deaths. 
Here's a list of the famous deaths that are included in the book: King Tut, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Christopher Columbus, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Pocahontas, Galileo Galilei, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Marie Antionette, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, James A. Garfield, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein.
Here's the book trailer:

Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End In Norvelt by Jack Gantos

This book just won the Newbery Award for best children's fiction. Jack Gantos once again gives us a glimpse of what must have been a crazy upbringing (even if these events didn't exactly happen to him, he still is drawing from something he knows to make it so believable.)

Summary:

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional , Dead End in Norvelt, is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, who's plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his fueding parents, and who's nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of shocks and excitement are coming Jack's way once his Mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbour with a most unusual chore.

Endlessly surprizing, this sly sharp-edge narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly of kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

I can say from personal experience that this book not only had me laughing out loud, but I've tested it on grade 7's and 8's and yes it got them laughing too.

Book trailer.



Showoff

Showoff by Gordon Korman

From the book jacket:
Showoff: someone who is given to bragging, having a swelled head, boasting, swaggering, knowing it all...
Griffin Bing and his friends are back - and this time, things have gone to the dogs!
After former attack dog Luthor goes berserk at a dog show, he's accused of ruining the career of the three-time champion. Griffin has always wondered whether you could teach such a vicious dog new tricks... but he also smells a setup of some kind. he feels bad for Luthor - bad enough to spring him from the pound.
The only way for Luthor to make everything right is to do the unthinkable... and become the new national champion. Can Griffin Bing, The Man With the Plan, turn this beast into a beauty? Very soon, the whole world will want to know the answer.

If you can't get enough of the characters that Korman created for Swindle, Zoobreak and Framed, you'll be happy to know that the library just got a copy of Showoff. Dog lovers and readers who enjoy a fun sense of humor unite and enjoy another great book from Gordon Korman.
Booktrailer.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Today is the day, we are hosting a free webcast with author Jeff Kinney author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and today is also the release date for book six Cabin Fever. If you are a fan don't miss out, be ready at 8:00 a.m.
See you there.

Son of Neptune

Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Yes, it's finally here! and we have a couple of copies, and our first folks on the holds list are fast readers, so your turn will arrive quickly (I hope?).

Here's the cover summary.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demi-gods, revies fearsome monsters and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a  demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells for him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

Book trailer.

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.

Lunch Lady series

This graphic novel series is clever and fun, perfect for a quick read during math.
Could our mild mannered Lunch Ladies actually be superheroes with a great disguise? According to Jarret Krosoczka the answer is definately YES.
Creative, clever, love Betty's kitchen spy gadgets, hilarious.

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.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

This book has been around for long time (1938), some might call it a classic, I know that it is a brilliant read aloud to be shared with any animal lover. Of course, I know you've heard that Jim Carrey will be starring in the upcoming movie production of it. So, I thought some of you might be adventurous and quickly read this one before the movie comes out. If you get stuck looking after a younger brother or sister or cousin or babysitting during this summer this would be a great book to pull out and start reading.

Here's the summary:
The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed with dreams of the polar regions.

And the movie trailer.