Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell

This is an excellent choice for the Sequoyah Book List this year.  Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell turned out to be a happy read for a summer day.  It's definitely a girl-friendly romance, so I wouldn't recommend it to those boys seeking high thrills and adventure style books.

It starts off with Rebel Blue, a moody and free spirited teen, who is forced to live with aunt and family after her mother dies in an accident.  The atmosphere at her aunt's house is the opposite of Rebel Blue's personality, so the teenage angst is strong from the start.  Rebel Blue is faced with yet another after school detention and finds herself sitting next to Kennedy Green.  This girl is peppy and upbeat, friendly and social, basically everything Rebel is not.  Kennedy suggests they were meant to be friends with both their last names being colors, but Rebel isn't buying it.  The counselor in charge of detention tells the girls their assignment is to create their bucket list - a list of things they want to accomplish before they die.  When the counselor doesn't come back at 5, the girls both end up throwing their lists in the trash.

Next day Rebel finds out that Kennedy never made it home that night.  She died in a car crash.  This hits a nerve in Rebel.  She can't shake it and ends up breaking into the classroom to rescue Kennedy's bucket list from the trash.  She decides to complete Kennedy's list, thinking it's her destiny to do this for her.  She ends up trying new things and definitely getting out of her comfort zone.  All of these, of course, leads Rebel into becoming a more likeable person.  Plus, she gets the guy in the end - always a good way to end!

Potty Papers

I got this idea from Twitter.  Mr. Schu, a librarian extraordinaire, writes in his blog that he routinely uses what he calls his "potty papers."  He advertises in the most unusual, but a favorite hangout for many students - the bathroom.  I tried it this week and discovered success!

I created a simple flier - big heading, small note about applying for MakerSpace Club, a Sequoyah Book Review, and another book review on a series.  I wanted to keep it short and sweet - something that would catch their eye and be quick to read.  we made copies and hung them up in each stall and above each urinal.  They're a hit!  I plan on putting up a new edition each Tuesday.  I kept the same format and switched out the info and book reviews.  What an easy way to advertise the library!