Rules by Cynthia Lord

I was anxious to read Rules because I had heard many good things about it and I saw many students buying it at the Book Fair.

from Barnes and Noble:
"Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules-from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"-in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?"

What a great story! I loved the characters and I loved how Catherine shared her rules throughout the book.

Happy reading! If you read Rules, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Twilight movie

I feel like I am behind ... I had no idea that they had started to cast for the Twilight movie already! :) Some students that were visiting the LMC during lunch this week shared the excited news with me.

You can read all about it at Stephenie Meyer's website.

Defect by Will Weaver

15 year old David is a target for bullies - he has bug eyes, a pinched face, and hearing aids. But David has a secret that he doesn't share with anyone - not even his foster parents. David has a layer of skin under his arms that allows him to fly (or glide and then crash!). David befriends Cheetah, a girl who is struggling with health issues of her own. David has to decide if he is comfortable in his own skin...or if he would liked to be "fixed" so that he can be "normal." Along the way, David meets several people who make him question: What is normal? Is it OK to be different? What makes a person happy?
This novel make me think that the author might have read the Maximum Ride series :), but I really enjoyed the story and it has a great message to think about.

Happy reading! If you read Defect, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

To Dance by Siena Cherson Siegel

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel is a beautiful book. I love reading graphic novels because the illustrations contribute so much to the story. This book shares Siena's life as a dancer. It follows her dance career - she begins lessons when she was 6 years old and the story continues until Siena goes to college.

Happy reading! If you read To Dance, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Question of the Week

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

The Question of the Week is: How do you feel about snow?

I am not a big fan of snow. I love the way it looks and I love seeing my dog have fun playing in the snow, but I do not like cold weather. :)

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

new books - thanks to the Book Fair :)

Thanks to the generosity of the Book Fair ... we have quite a few new books to add to the library collection. Stop by later this week - we hope to have them ready to check out by then.

A few of the new books that I am excited about are:

Schooled by Gordon Korman
Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The Land of Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by by Rick Yancey
Rules by Cynthia Lord

The Princess and the Peabodys by Betty Birney

What a fun story! One of the students in my advisory loaned me this book and it was a fun read!

Casey Peabody is just your average 14 year old girl who attends Pine Glen Junior High. Casey is a soccer player who struggles to deal with the cheerleaders at school who tend to act like princesses.
When a young teenage wizard's spell goes wrong, Casey finds a real medieval princess living at her house! Princess Eglantine brings all kind of excitement to the Peabody household. :)

Happy reading! If you read The Princess and the Peabodys, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Lunch Bunch Book Club

When the Lunch Bunch Book Club meets in December, we will have a roundtable discussion about our favorite books! Please consider participating! All you need to do is bring 1 or 2 of your favorite books to share with the group. Stop by the LMC and see Mrs. Kirsch if you would like to participate.

The meeting will take place during lunch/recess on Thursday, December 6th.

Question of the Week

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week...time is just flying by!

The Question of the Week is: What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving?

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

This is another one by the author of Al Capone Does My Shirts. I loved the way this book was written - the chapters alternate from being told from Kirsten's point of view and then from Walker's point of view.

from Barnes and Noble:
Kirsten's parents are barely speaking to each other, and her best friend has fallen under the spell of the school's queen bee, Brianna. It seems like only Kirsten's younger science-geek sister is on her side.
Walker's goal is to survive at the new white private school his mom has sent him to because she thinks he's going to screw up like his cousin. But he's a good kid. So is his friend Matteo, though no one knows why he’ll do absolutely anything that hot blond Brianna asks of him.

But all of this feels almost trivial when Kirsten and Walker discover a secret that shakes them both to the core.


Happy reading! If you read If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

I finished Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports yesterday...I was anxious to see what was going to happen to Max and her flock in this 3rd book in the series.

from Barnes and Noble:
"The time has arrived for Max and her winged "flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution"--a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them--but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another?"

Happy reading! If you read Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Maximum Ride: School's Out - Forever by James Patterson

This second book picked up right where the first one left off! Max, Fang, Iggy, Gasman, Nudge and Angel are back. :)

I am now anxious to start the third book...

Happy reading! If you read Maximum Ride: School's Out - Forever, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Question of the Week

Did you know that this week marks the anniversary of when the iPod was unveiled? On October 23, 2001 Apple shared its new music player with the public.

The Question of the Week is: Do you have an iPod?

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

new books!

I love when we get a shipment of new books in. :) Stop by the LMC to check out all the new titles.

A few new ones that you might be interested in:

* Blood Fever by Charlie Higson (book 2 in the Young Bond series)
* The Icebound Land by John Flanagan (book 3 in the Ranger's Apprentice series)
* The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (book 3 in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series)
* The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (sequel to Dairy Queen)
* Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick (the author of Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie)
* Peak by Roland Smith (the author of Zach's Lie)

Four Perfect Pebbles

Four Perfect Pebbles by Lila Perl and Marion Blumenthal Lazan.

I simply could not put this down - I read it in about 1 hour this morning and this biography has stayed with me throughout today. It tells the story of Marion and her family as they struggle to survive the Holocaust.

If you read Four Perfect Pebbles, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it.

Question of the Week

I am posting the new question of the week a day early. :)

This week is Teen Read Week. The theme of Teen Read Week is "LOL at your library!"

The Question of the Week is: What makes you LOL (laugh out loud)?

Question of the Week

The Question of the Week is: What is your favorite Disney park to visit?

The reason I asked this question is because Disney World opened on Oct. 1, 1971. :)

I think my favorite park to visit is the Magic Kingdom. :)

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

I had read Flipped before, but I wanted to reread it since it had been a while and I wanted to be prepared for the Lunch Bunch discussion about this book on Thursday. :)
I liked it just as much as the first I read it! :)

From Barnes and Noble:
"In alternating chapters, two teenagers describe how their feelings about themselves, each other, and their families have changed over the years."

Happy reading! If you read Flipped, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser

Todd Strasser is an author who isn't afraid to write about tough subjects. His current book examines a disciplinary boot camp where troubled teens are sent.
This is not a fun, light read ...but I quickly became absorbed in this fast-paced novel, wondering what would happen to the teens at Harmony Lake.

Question of the Week

The Question of the Week is: How do you find good books to read?

I find good books to read by talking to students, reading reviews, and talking to other teachers and librarians!

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac

Code Talker is on the Rebecca Caudill 2008 list. The book tells the story of Ned, a 16 year old Navajo boy, who becomes a code talker. This work of historical fiction was fascinating and I liked that the author provided more information about the actual code talkers at the end of the book.

from Amazon:
"Six-year-old Ned Begay leaves his Navajo home for boarding school, where he learns the English language and American ways. At 16, he enlists in the U.S. Marines during World War II and is trained as a code talker, using his native language to radio battlefield information and commands in a code that was kept secret until 1969. Rooted in his Navajo consciousness and traditions even in dealing with fear, loneliness, and the horrors of the battlefield, Ned tells of his experiences in Hawaii, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The book, addressed to Ned's grandchildren, ends with an author's note about the code talkers as well as lengthy acknowledgments and a bibliography."

Happy reading! If you read Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Question of the Week

The Question of the Week is: What is your favorite season?

I thought this was a good question because Fall is coming soon.

Summer is my favorite season because I love warm weather... but Fall is my 2nd favorite season because I love all the leaves changing colors. :)

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

I immediately fell in love with Emma-Jean, a quirky, caring, oddball 7th grader, who tries to solve the problems of her classmates.

from Amazon:
"Emma-Jean Lazarus is a lovable oddball who thinks she can use logic to solve the “messy” everyday problems of her seventh-grade peers. It’s easy—she just follows the example of her late father, a brilliant mathematician. Of course, the more Emma-Jean gets involved, the messier her own life gets. Suddenly she’s no longer the person standing on the outside of all social interactions. But perhaps that’s a good thing?"

Happy reading! If you read Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell out of a Tree, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Question of the Week

The Question of the Week is: What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

I included butter pecan ... because that is my favorite kind of ice cream!

Is your favorite ice cream not listed? Choose "other" and then comment on this blog post and tell me what it is. :)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

This book is a good example of why sometimes you might want to give a book a second chance. I tried reading this book last year and I just couldn't seem to enjoy reading it. I had heard from students that they really enjoyed it...so this past week I decided to give it a second chance. I am so glad that I did! It was a quick read, but such a touching story and the beautiful illustrations just made the novel more special.

from Barnes and Noble:
"It all starts simply: A china rabbit, a house, and a girl. And then one day, the rabbit, who is named Edward Tulane, disappears and begins a miraculous journey. Newbery medalist Kate diCamillo and artist Bagram Ibatoulline have created a piercingly beautiful story about love, loss, and the power to love again."

Happy reading! If you read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Lunch Bunch Book Club

Just a reminder about the Lunch Bunch Book Club...
Any interested students (that means you!) are invited to join the club. Stop by the LMC to let me (Mrs. Kirsch) know that you would like to be part of the club and also to pick up a copy of the book.

6th grade - We will be reading Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
7th grade - We will be reading Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan
8th grade - We will be reading Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

Meetings will be held the first Thursday of each month. Our first meeting will be Thursday, October 4th during your lunch period. Plan on bringing your lunch...we will eat lunch together while we discuss the book.

Please see me with any questions! :)

Question of the week

The Question of the Week is: What is your favorite genre?

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

Eclipse

I have gotten a few comments on the post about Eclipse and I have enjoyed talking with many of you about this book during this past week at school!

Like many of you, I want the next book to be out NOW. :) But...the next book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, will not be released until Fall 2008. Stephenie Meyer has also started to write Midnight Sun, which is Edward's version of Twilight. You can read the first chapter of Midnight Sun on Stephenie Meyer's website.

Question of the week

I thought it might be fun to post a "question of the week" (or QofW for short when I am labeling blog posts). The question will be in the form of a poll and I will post new questions each Wednesday ... so please check back each week! :) You can cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. Sometimes the question might be book related... sometimes it might just be fun questions. :)

The Question of the Week is: Did you read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this summer?

I did read the new Harry Potter this summer - I couldn't wait the mailman to deliver it! :)

Welcome!

Welcome to another school year! I read LOTS of books this summer (as you can probably tell if you glance through this blog). With school starting, my book reading time lessens, so if you don't see quite as many books being read...that is why. :)

I hope this use this blog this year to:
* talk about books!
* random, fun stuff
* share news and other information from the LMC

thanks for stopping by...and I hope you continue to visit this blog throughout the school year. :)

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Love, Stargirl was another book that I was anxiously waiting for this summer. :) It did not disappoint me - I loved connecting with Stargirl once again and I really enjoying the way the book was written...a series of letters.

from Amazon:
"Love, Stargirl picks up a year after Stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of Stargirl. The novel takes the form of "the world's longest letter," in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a year's time. In her writing, Stargirl mixes memories of her bittersweet time in Mica, Arizona, with involvements with new people in her life."

Happy reading! If you read Love, Stargirl, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

busy, busy ...

I have been busy getting ready for school ... and when I am busy I don't have as much time to read. :) Also, almost all the books I read are young adult books, but in the summer I sometimes read books besides young adult books. Right now I am in the middle of a really good high school appropriate book - but it is over 800 pages long! :)

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

I read, read, read ALL day yesterday and finished Eclipse. :) I had been waiting all summer for this book to come out. :) It did not disappoint me - I really enjoyed it. I won't say much about the plot in case there are some people reading the blog that have not finished it.


Happy reading! If you read Eclipse, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

going shopping! :)

I have been waiting for today... I am heading out to go buy Eclipse. I can't wait to start reading it!

The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor

a fun, quick read. :) This was another advance reader copy that I picked up at my conference that I went to.

from Barnes and Noble:
"Jen Lewis is having a great junior year. She is the features editor of the school paper, and she's dating senior Max Brown, the editor in chief. Everything is perfect -- that is, until Max says, "Maybe it would be better if we were just friends." Jen is in shock and denial, and she wonders how she is going to make it through the school year. Her misery only intensifies when her grandmother gives her a book that she heard about on the radio. Dr. Emerson's The Breakup Bible claims that "there's no reason a woman can't get over a breakup very quickly if she'll just follow a few basic commandments." Jen is doubtful. What does Dr. Emerson know about her and Max?"

Happy reading! If you read The Breakup Bible, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

The Off Season by Catherine Murdock

The Off Season is the sequel to Dairy Queen ... and I loved this second one just as much as the first one. :)

from Barnes and Noble:
"Life is looking up for D.J. Schwenk. She's in eleventh grade, finally. After a rocky summer, she's reconnecting in a big way with her best friend, Amber. She's got kind of a thing going with Brian Nelson, who's cute and popular and smart but seems to like her anyway. And then there's the fact she's starting for the Red Bend High School football team—the first girl linebacker in northern Wisconsin, probably. Which just shows you can't predict the future. As autumn progresses, D.J. struggles to understand Amber, Schwenk Farm, her relationship with Brian, and most of all her family. As a whole herd of trouble comes her way, she discovers she's a lot stronger than she—or anyone—ever thought."

Happy reading! If you read The Off Season, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

I'll Ask You Three Times, Are You OK?: Tales of Driving and Being Driven by Naomi Shihab Nye

This was another advance reader copy that I got at my conference in June. I love this author's style of writing. I think the description on Amazon really captured the mood of this book:

"Foolhardy missions. Life-altering conversations. Gifts—given and received. Loss. Getting lost. Wisdom delivered before dawn and deep into the night. Love and kissing (not necessarily in that order). Laughter. Rides on the edge. Roses. Ghosts.

As a traveling poet and visiting teacher, Naomi Shihab Nye has spent a considerable amount of time in cars, both driving and being driven. Her observations, stories, encounters, and escapades—and the kernels of truth she gathers from them—are laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving, and unforgettable. Buckle up."

Happy reading! If you read I'll Ask You Three Times, Are You OK?: Tales of Driving and Being Driven, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser

I read Give a Boy a Gun in about an hour this morning. It was one of those books that you really have to keep reading all the way through. I had heard about this book and have been told by many librarian friends to read it.
This is by no means a lighthearted read - it is serious and stays with you long after you finish reading. That being said, I would highly recommend it. The author takes a very serious subject and treats it in a respectful manner and gives the reader much to think about.

from Amazon: "High school sophomores Gary Searle and Brendan Lawlor have had enough. Day in and day out, for more than two years, they have been harassed, beaten up, and cursed out by most of the jocks at Middleton High--especially by football player Sam Flach. Armed with guns they've stolen from a neighbor's collection, Gary and Brendan storm a school dance and booby trap all the doors with homemade bombs When it's all over, Sam Flach is alive (but without any hope of a future football career), Gary has killed himself, and Brendan is in a coma, after being beaten almost to death by other students who managed to disarm him. Could this tragedy have been prevented? Who, if anyone, is to blame? Consisting of short, related statements from students, parents, school administrators, and even the troubled shooters themselves, Give a Boy a Gun attempts to give a voice to the countless sides of the school violence issue."

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock

What can I say about Dairy Queen ... it is the perfect summer reading book! :) Many students had enjoyed reading this one so I was eager to see what it was all about. :)

D.J. Schwenk, a 15 year old girl, must do most of the work around her family farm when her dad injures his back. D.J. must juggle the work on the farm, dealing with a family that doesn't communicate, and also her best friend who is going through some things as well. In addition, D.J. (whose two old brothers are great football players) decides to train Brian, the rival high school quarterback. While she is training Brian, D.J. begins to discover that football might also be her passion. The narration and inner thoughts of D.J. hooked me in - I really enjoyed it! The sequel, The Off Season, is now out so I am also looking forward to continuing to read about D.J.

Happy reading! If you read Dairy Queen, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows

I just finished it. I am kind of sad - I wanted to prolong this last Harry book. :) I won't say much about the actual story, just in case anyone is reading this blog and has not finished the book yet.
All in all, I was pretty pleased with the book ...I really liked the epilogue!

Happy reading! If you read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Harry Potter ...

So I was waiting for the mailman when he delivered my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from Amazon on Saturday morning. :) I am on Chapter 10 right now...I decided that I wasn't going to read it all at once, I wanted to just take time to enjoy this last novel. But I am so tempted to just peek at the last chapter. :) But I won't do that. I will post when I am finished reading it. :)

I also saw the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie on Saturday afternoon. I thought it was pretty good!

So all in all - it has been a Harry Potter weekend for me. :)

iPhone

***I debated about sharing this on this blog... but I couldn't resist! So I am taking a short pause from talking about books ... to share with you what I got a week ago :) ***

The thing I love the most - I can go to a bookstore, see a book I like, go on my public library website on the iPhone and then reserve that book. :) fun stuff!

Harry Potter thoughts

Wow... hard to believe that book 7 will be out in a few short days. :) I have my theories about what will happen ... I wonder if my theories will prove to be true?? It has been fun working at the public library to hear everyone's thoughts about what they think will happen. The challenge for me will be to read it fast enough before I work at the public library again ... because I sure people will be talking about it. :)
I have not seen the new movie, but I heard that it was pretty good. That might be on my list of things to do for tomorrow. :)

In other new book news... not much longer for Eclipse to come out! I can't wait!

East by Edith Pattou

I had put off reading East because of the length - it is quite long...right around 500 pages. I should of read it months ago! I started reading this Monday afternoon and finished it last night. I read it in 1 & 1/2 days - I could not put it down. :) East is on the Rebecca Caudill 2008 list.
East is the retelling of the folktale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". You will also recognize elements of the the folktale "Beauty and the Beast." Many of you know that I love books that are retellings of classic folktales.

from Barnes and Noble: "Rose has always felt out of place in her family, a wanderer in a bunch of homebodies. So when an enormous white bear mysteriously shows up and asks her to come away with him--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees. The bear takes Rose to a distant castle, where each night she is confronted with a mystery. In solving that mystery, she loses her heart, discovers her purpose, and realizes her travels have only just begun."

I loved the voices in this novel - each chapter is told from a different character's point of view. The author does a terrific job of capturing the emotion and personality of each character, especially the white bear.

Happy reading! If you read East, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman

The Schwa was Here is on the Rebecca Caudill 2008 list.
Here is the excerpt of the review from Amazon:
"When Anthony "Antsy" Bonano and his friends meet Calvin Schwa, they are impressed and puzzled by his ability to appear and disappear before their very eyes. Antsy concocts a moneymaking scheme based on the Schwa's invisibility that seems promising until he and his friends overreach and are caught by the town's legendary mean millionaire, Mr. Crawley. Schwa is an average kid who hangs on the outskirts of the crowd and longs to be noticed and included, not simply ignored."

The narrator of the story, Antsy, had a wonderful voice. He was a bit sassy and often had me laughing out loud. :) The story also gives you alot to think about: friendship, including others, and being comfortable with yourself.

Happy reading! If you read The Schwa was Here, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Cover-up by John Feinstein

I just finished reading Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein. This was another advance reader copy that I got at my conference. Steve and Susan Carol (who we met in Last Shot) are back in another sport mystery.

Here is the review from Amazon:
"THE SUPER BOWL. America's biggest sports spectacle. More than 95 million fans will be watching, but Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson know that what they'll be watching is a lie. They know that the entire offensive line of the California Dreams have failed their doping tests and that the Dreams' owner is trying to cover up the test results. These two teens are sitting on the biggest sports scandal of the decade. What they don't know -yet - is how to prove it."

Happy reading! If you read Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Harry Potter fever?

Is anyone excited for the new Harry Potter book to come out? Less than two weeks now...

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Wow! What a book! I started reading this book on my way home from San Diego - it made the flight go by very quickly! :) As some of you might know, I am not a huge fantasy fan - so I have been putting off reading this book, but now I am eager to read the next two books in the series.
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment tells the story of 14 year old Maximum, a spunky girl who isn't afraid of sticking up for herself. Maximum is the leader of her ragtag "family" - a group of 6 kids that are quite special. They are 98% human and 2% bird. Max and her friends are being hunted by the evil scientists that altered their DNA. They must struggle to survive and also find out more about their own origins.


Happy reading! If you read Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin was one of the advance reader copies that I got at the conference I attended. I was VERY anxious to read it because I loved Elsewhere, which was also written by this author. This book did not disappoint me - I had a hard time putting it down. I think the book description at the front of the book does a great job of setting the mood of the book so I will include that here:

"If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn’t have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn’t have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d know about her mom’s new family. She’d know about her dad’s fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back. But Naomi picked heads."

Memoirs of Teenage Amnesiac should be out in mid-August. Happy reading! If you read it, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

home again & advance reading copies

I am back home from my trip to Washington, DC. I had a great time. It was hard to believe that there were over 20,000 librarians at the conference ... that is alot of librarians all in one place. :)
There were authors all over the place at the conference - I think I was most excited to see Judy Blume - I LOVED reading her books when I was in middle school.

I know that some of you might be wondering what advance reading copies of books that I managed to pick up. I immediately headed to the Little Brown booth - they are the publisher of all of Stephenie Meyer's books and I REALLY wanted a copy of Eclipse! But no luck - they were not giving out advance reading copies of that book - I guess I have to wait until it comes out in August.
Here is a list of advance reading copies I did get:

• I'll ask you three times, are you OK? by Naomi Shihab Nye (great author!)
• The Last Apprentice: Night of the Soul Stealer by Joseph Delaney (3rd in the series)
  
• Memoirs of a teenage amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin (by the author of Elsewhere - I can't wait to read this one!)
• Adam Canfield watch your back! by Michael Winerip (sequel to Adam Canfield of the Slash)
• Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler (by the author of Love and other four letter words)
• The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor (by the author of If I have a wicked stepmother, where's my prince?)
• Cover-Up by John Feinstein (by the author of Last Shot)

I got a few others by authors I didn't recognize ... I am anxious to read those as well. I will post as I read these... first on my list is Memoirs of a teenage amnesaic.


Keep commenting - let me know how your summer is going and what books you are reading! :)

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

Masquerade is the 2nd book in the Blue Bloods series. In this novel, we find out a little bit more about the characters that were introduced in the first book - Jack, Mimi, Bliss, and Schuyler. I though the plot in this book was a bit more developed. I enjoyed it, but it is certainly not Twilight. :)

Happy reading! If you read Masquerade, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Washington, DC

I am in Washington, DC right now attending the American Library Association's annual conference. It is fun to be around other librarians. :) This morning was very exciting because I visited the exhibits ... where I was able to pick up several advance reader copies of books by some of our favorite authors. I can't wait to start reading them. :)

Jumping the Scratch by Sarah Weeks

I read this book while I was working at the public library today. I was anxious to read this book because it is by the author of So B. It - a book that I really enjoyed.
Jumping the Scratch by Sarah Weeks, tells the story of Jamie Reardon. Life isn't going so well for Jamie - his father has left and now Jamie must live with his mom in his Aunt Sapphy's trailer. Aunt Sapphy had an accident while working at the cherry factory and has lost her short-term memory. While trying to help Aunt Sapphy regain her memory, Jamie must also try to cope with a deeply buried secret.
Happy reading! If you read Jumping the Scratch, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Peak by Roland Smith

I am so excited! I was getting ready to post about the book I just finished reading and I saw that two students visited to let me know what they have been reading! Thanks for stopping by. :)

I just finished reading Peak by Roland Smith. This is by the same author who wrote Zach's Lie.
I read Peak in about two days - it was hard to put down. The main character is Peak, a 14 year old boy who is arrested for climbing a New York City skyscraper. Peak is put on probation - but only with the understanding that he will leave New York to be with his long-lost father who runs a climbing company in Thailand. Peak soon discovers why his father has welcomed him back into his life - he wants Peak to be the youngest person to reach the Mt. Everest summit.

Happy reading! If you read Peak, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

last week of school...

Wow! I can't believe it is the last week of school - this year has gone by SO quickly! I hope to use this blog to "talk" about books that I am reading this summer. Please stop by and say hi from time to time ... feel free to leave a comment and let me know what YOU are reading. :)