About Me

I'm the school librarian at G.S. Lakie Middle School. As you can see - me, reading and comfy chairs go way back. I still enjoy Asterix and many other graphic novels. My main reason for blogging is for reviewing books for the students and anyone else that might be interested in YA literature.
Showing posts with label individuality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label individuality. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

42 Miles


42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Loved it!!! Absolutely loved it!
Just 42 miles. That's how far it is from the downtown apartment where JoEllen lives with her mom to the old family farm where she spends weekends with her dad. But to her, these two homes are worlds apart. In the city, she's Ellen, who hangs out with her girlfriends, plays the sax, and loves old movies. In the country, she's Joey, who rides horses with her cousin, Hayden, goes fishing, and listens to bluegrass. Now - with her thirteenth birthday approaching - she needs to decide: Where do her loyalties lie? Who is the real JoEllen?
Linked free-verse poems combine with scrapbook-style illustrations to create the vivid portrait of a girl who it trying to find herself amid the pieces of her life.

This one is a short one at only 72 pages, and novels in verse always read fast, but there are thoughts to ponder long and hard here, about the combinations of flavors and ingredients inherited from family that in part make us who we are. Once again - loved it!

Read On.
Here's one of the poems from the book -done up for a book trailer.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Can't wait for this one!!

Some of you know I'm a huge fan of Emily Strange (I've been reading her graphic novels for years) and I've pre-order The Lost Days book. Here's a teaser. I have high expectations being the fan that I am of the graphic novels so we'll see if the novel can hold it's weight.

Favourites


Here's some of my favourite books with their movie trailers and some other stuff I've found on a Friday afternoon.

StarGirl and Love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli are a couple of my favourite books - at times I wish we all had a little bit more of Stargirl in us - unafraid, compassionate, inspired (who wouldn't want that.)
I also thought these tips from the Stargirl page were fun- http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/stargirl/societies.html