With a little help from a great friend and the drama of a mean old aunt, this book will please those looking for a fun fantasy read.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley is the fantasy pick for this year's Sequoyah Intermediate Book List. Have you ever wondered if the stories your grandfather told you are true? Surely these wild tales can only be made up, right? This is what Micah has always been lead to believe. But when his grandpa Ephraim is on his death bed, he tells Micah the stories are indeed real. Now Micah must try to figure out how to get into the mysterious circus and find Lightbender, the greatest magician. Micah must believe in the magic and persuade the magician to keep his promise.
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Next on the list... the book for Wisconsin is Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock. This was a little hard to get into. Subject matters was a little boring , not going to lie. Finally about half way the book did take a turn and got a little more exciting. The book's not bad, but not a great choice for building up the middle school collection either.
D.J. is the hard working daughter of a dairy farmer. Suddenly her life becomes a routine of getting up early, milking the cows, cleaning the cow pens and equipment, working on the farm, milking the cows again, cleaning the milking machinery, and going to bed to start it all over again. Her father hurt his hip and, with her two older brothers gone playing football, she's the only one left to take care of the daily operations of the family dairy farm. The big problem... her dad is critical of everything, including her work on the farm. He's already scared away the older brothers when they moved out of the house during a Christmas argument.
The dad used to coach football before his father passed away and left him the dairy farm. He still has a great coaching buddy, Jimmy Ott, at the rival high school. He sends his quarterback, Brian, to help D.J. on the farm, and asks if she'll train him on the side. Well, D.J. does help improve Brian's football skills, and Brian helps her realize how important communication is for families.
I'm not going to spoil the rest, but there is an interesting twist as D.J. begins to realize there's more to life then being the self-sacrificing daughter.
D.J. is the hard working daughter of a dairy farmer. Suddenly her life becomes a routine of getting up early, milking the cows, cleaning the cow pens and equipment, working on the farm, milking the cows again, cleaning the milking machinery, and going to bed to start it all over again. Her father hurt his hip and, with her two older brothers gone playing football, she's the only one left to take care of the daily operations of the family dairy farm. The big problem... her dad is critical of everything, including her work on the farm. He's already scared away the older brothers when they moved out of the house during a Christmas argument.
The dad used to coach football before his father passed away and left him the dairy farm. He still has a great coaching buddy, Jimmy Ott, at the rival high school. He sends his quarterback, Brian, to help D.J. on the farm, and asks if she'll train him on the side. Well, D.J. does help improve Brian's football skills, and Brian helps her realize how important communication is for families.
I'm not going to spoil the rest, but there is an interesting twist as D.J. begins to realize there's more to life then being the self-sacrificing daughter.
Empty Places by Kathy Cannon Weichman
This school year I dedicated one bulletin board for a reading challenge - for myself and hopefully other teachers and students. It my Read Along Road Trip Challenge - I'm trying to read a book with the setting from each of the states. Every time I finish one, I print out the book cover and then cut it to the shape of the state - kind of like a giant puzzle. to get me started, I did include the books I read this past summer on the Sequoyah Intermediate Book List. I figure it's this school year's list and maybe it would help peak interest for them. I was able to include 4 of these books - Boy in the Black Suit for New York, Blackbird Fly for Louisiana, I Am Princess X for Washington, and Orbiting Jupiter for Maine. The Seventh Most Important Thing is perfect for Washington, D.C.; however, I don't have a good "puzzle piece" for this one, and it would be so tiny. I will probably just include on the side of the big puzzle map.
In my quest for more states, I found this book in a stack of to be read books. It definitely fits for my Kentucky pick. Empty Places by Kathy Cannon Weichman is all about a struggling family in the hills of Kentucky, Harlan County to be exact in 1932. The mother has run off, and the father is a hard working coal miner and an alcoholic. The older sister, Raynelle, has taken the place as the mothering figure even though she is just a teen herself. The older brother, Pick, is determined to get out. He has no intention in following in his father footsteps as a cola miner. The younger sister, Blissie, who is a ray of sunshine in a grim situation. Then there's Adabel, the voice of the narration. She just wants to remember things, especially why her Mama left seven years ago.
I would classify this as a historical fiction and coming of age book as Adabel learns the truths about her family. It a good read, but I don't think it'll appeal to many teens wanting to read the next best novel.
In my quest for more states, I found this book in a stack of to be read books. It definitely fits for my Kentucky pick. Empty Places by Kathy Cannon Weichman is all about a struggling family in the hills of Kentucky, Harlan County to be exact in 1932. The mother has run off, and the father is a hard working coal miner and an alcoholic. The older sister, Raynelle, has taken the place as the mothering figure even though she is just a teen herself. The older brother, Pick, is determined to get out. He has no intention in following in his father footsteps as a cola miner. The younger sister, Blissie, who is a ray of sunshine in a grim situation. Then there's Adabel, the voice of the narration. She just wants to remember things, especially why her Mama left seven years ago.
I would classify this as a historical fiction and coming of age book as Adabel learns the truths about her family. It a good read, but I don't think it'll appeal to many teens wanting to read the next best novel.
Monday, September 4, 2017
Stealing Air by Trent Reedy
I've decided to do a cool book challenge/bulletin board display this school year... Read Along Road Trip. I want to see if I can read a book set in each of the 50 states, and, as I read it, post it on the bulletin board in the shape of that state. I included the ones I read this summer. I figured it was fair since I read all of this year's Sequoyah Intermediate Book List. Plus, this gave me a push to get it going.
For the state of Iowa I had a book by the author Trent Reedy. I actually got to meet this author at a Scholastic event in Jenks. At the time he was promoting his book If You're Reading This, and he explained his writing process. He enlisted in the National Guards as a means to go to college, and then we had the war in Afghanistan. He always loved telling stories, but he soon realized his experiences can enrich his writing. he came back, finished college, and became a writer. I love meeting authors and hearing their stories - amazing!
Back to the task at hand, Trent Reedy's book Stealing Air just happens to be set in the state of Iowa - perfect! Trent grew up in Iowa, so when he started writing this book it seemed like a natural fit and I couldn't agree more. You need the wide open space if you're in a group of boys trying to build and fly your own airplane!
This book is not a heavy read, but addresses everyday issues facing middle schoolers. There's a bully and a crush, unlikely friendships, family drama, and the ending wraps it all up. Kind of like a sitcom, but better because you're reading.
It's a good book, but not the greatest. Get if you have a need for books boys might be interested in. The main character, Brian, is a huge skateboarder. That, with the whole building and flying your own plane, could be appealing to some students.
For the state of Iowa I had a book by the author Trent Reedy. I actually got to meet this author at a Scholastic event in Jenks. At the time he was promoting his book If You're Reading This, and he explained his writing process. He enlisted in the National Guards as a means to go to college, and then we had the war in Afghanistan. He always loved telling stories, but he soon realized his experiences can enrich his writing. he came back, finished college, and became a writer. I love meeting authors and hearing their stories - amazing!
Back to the task at hand, Trent Reedy's book Stealing Air just happens to be set in the state of Iowa - perfect! Trent grew up in Iowa, so when he started writing this book it seemed like a natural fit and I couldn't agree more. You need the wide open space if you're in a group of boys trying to build and fly your own airplane!
This book is not a heavy read, but addresses everyday issues facing middle schoolers. There's a bully and a crush, unlikely friendships, family drama, and the ending wraps it all up. Kind of like a sitcom, but better because you're reading.
It's a good book, but not the greatest. Get if you have a need for books boys might be interested in. The main character, Brian, is a huge skateboarder. That, with the whole building and flying your own plane, could be appealing to some students.
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender
Sequoyah Book Lists always contain a ghost story/scary genre book pick. This was the first one I read on this year's list - even though this year's has two of them and I've already reviewed it. Scroll down until you find This Monstrous Thing...
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender surprised me by how well I enjoyed it. Scary/ghost stories are usually not my go to book choice, but this one had it's surprises. First off, the main character, Delia, dies right at the start - kind of like Psycho - you don't expect it to really happen so quickly. She uncovers the many secrets of the house and witnesses how the death of a family member effects everyone, including her younger sister, Janie.
I would recommend this book for teen collection. It will make a great addition to the ghost books in the library.
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender surprised me by how well I enjoyed it. Scary/ghost stories are usually not my go to book choice, but this one had it's surprises. First off, the main character, Delia, dies right at the start - kind of like Psycho - you don't expect it to really happen so quickly. She uncovers the many secrets of the house and witnesses how the death of a family member effects everyone, including her younger sister, Janie.
I would recommend this book for teen collection. It will make a great addition to the ghost books in the library.
Just Another Girl by Elizabeth Eulberg
Here's another Scholastic Spring Book Fair preview pack book. At first I thought Just Another Girl by Elizabeth Eulberg was going to be another sappy young adult romance with a jealous twist. However, while it does have the envy of the other girl theme, this book offers a different perspective. I think it's important for our teens to realize other people issues and develop empathy for one another. This book tells the story of two girls with eyes on a boy for very different reasons. One of them needs his support just for survival. So while Hope is envious of Hope's slim body, it's because Parker doesn't always know what her next meal will be.
Brady is Hope's best friend, and she's ready to take it to the next level. But Brady has set his sights on the new girl, Parker. Determined to put a wedge between this budding romance, Hope begins to unravel the mysterious behavior of Parker and her family secrets.
Great read for those needing to see there are always two sides. Highly recommend this book as our students are faced with real problems, such as food insecurities.
This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
Another scary title on this year's Sequoyah Intermediate Book List, This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee is just the thing to hand to those teens begging for a scary book. This one also has a great theme of Frankenstein set in a steampunk thriller.
Alasdair comes from a family of clockworks, and he knows the trade well, learning his skills from his father. These are difficult times and people missing limbs often visit clockwork tradesmen to create working arms and legs for them. However, using mechanics is deemed wrong, and the people using these devices are looked down as half human and the mechanics must work secretly.
Alasdair loves the engineering aspect, even more so than his brother. When his older brother, Oliver, gets an opportunity to work with the great Dr. Geisler, he gets jealous.
On a stormy night while Dr. Geisler and Oliver are working on the clock tower, Oliver falls to his death (or was he pushed?) and Alasdair puts his brother back together. But this thing is not the brother he remembers.
There's also another character, Mary, but I don't want to give up too much information. Just know she plays an important part in this novel.
Definitely would recommend this book for middle school libraries. What a interesting way for students to discover Frankenstein!
Alasdair comes from a family of clockworks, and he knows the trade well, learning his skills from his father. These are difficult times and people missing limbs often visit clockwork tradesmen to create working arms and legs for them. However, using mechanics is deemed wrong, and the people using these devices are looked down as half human and the mechanics must work secretly.
Alasdair loves the engineering aspect, even more so than his brother. When his older brother, Oliver, gets an opportunity to work with the great Dr. Geisler, he gets jealous.
On a stormy night while Dr. Geisler and Oliver are working on the clock tower, Oliver falls to his death (or was he pushed?) and Alasdair puts his brother back together. But this thing is not the brother he remembers.
There's also another character, Mary, but I don't want to give up too much information. Just know she plays an important part in this novel.
Definitely would recommend this book for middle school libraries. What a interesting way for students to discover Frankenstein!
The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron
The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron came with my preview book pack for the Scholastic Spring Book Fair. The back cover states, "What isn't written, isn't remembered. Even your crimes." So with that we already know this is going to be a dystopia novel.
It starts with Nadia, the main character, racing back to the city of Canaan after going beyond the wall. Little does she know she's being watched. Gray is also curious about what lies beyond the walls of their safe and secure city. Together they began to unravel the secrets of "The Forgetting," a day filled with chaos as everyone's memories are lost unless they have been written down in your book. Nadia realizes certain people are not writing down the truth, as she is the only one hasn't forgotten. Memories come back to her, and she and Gray must race against time to stop the threat to the people and city of Canaan before it's too late.
This is a good addition for teen libraries, especially ones with a high demand on dystopia genre. This one fits nicely into this section, but has it's own uniqueness to set it apart.
It starts with Nadia, the main character, racing back to the city of Canaan after going beyond the wall. Little does she know she's being watched. Gray is also curious about what lies beyond the walls of their safe and secure city. Together they began to unravel the secrets of "The Forgetting," a day filled with chaos as everyone's memories are lost unless they have been written down in your book. Nadia realizes certain people are not writing down the truth, as she is the only one hasn't forgotten. Memories come back to her, and she and Gray must race against time to stop the threat to the people and city of Canaan before it's too late.
This is a good addition for teen libraries, especially ones with a high demand on dystopia genre. This one fits nicely into this section, but has it's own uniqueness to set it apart.
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