Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

I listened to this book in the car and I really enjoyed the narrator. I loved the way the author made connections among characters.

From Amazon:
When twelve-year-old Jamie Dexter's brother joins the Army and is sent to Vietnam, Jamie is thrilled. She can't wait to get letters from the front lines describing the excitement of real-life combat. After all, they've both dreamed of following in the footsteps of their father, the Colonel.
But TJ's first letter isn't a letter at all. It's a roll of undeveloped film, the first of many. What Jamie sees when she develops TJ's photographs reveals a whole new side of the war. Slowly the shine begins to fade off of Army life - and the Colonel. How can someone she's worshipped her entire life be just as helpless to save her brother as she is?

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

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

Once I started reading this book, I found it hard to put it down. It is based on a true story about a group of Boy Scouts who go camping and hiking in a remote area of Hawaii. While they are camping, an earthquake strikes ... and the quickly followed by a tsunami. The books follows the boys and their leaders as they attempt to survive after the natural disasters.

From Barnes and Noble:
Dylan's Scout troop goes camping in Halape, a remote spot below the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The only thing wrong with the weekend on a beautiful, peaceful beach is Louie, a tough older boy. Louie and Dylan just can't get along.
That night an earthquake rocks the camp, and then a wave rushes in, sweeping everyone and everything before it. Dylan and Louie must team up on a dangerous rescue mission. The next hours are an amazing story of survival and the true meaning of leadership.

Happy reading! If you read Night of the Howling Dogs, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick

I loved this book. I loved the main characters and how they grew. I loved the titles of the chapters. I loved the humor. I loved the funny references to librarians. :)
We are reading this book for 7th grade lunch bunch book club - I can't wait to discuss it!

From Barnes and Noble:
When eighth-grader San Lee moves to a new town and a new school for the umpteenth time, he doesn't try to make new friends or be a loner or play cool. Instead he sits back and devises a plan to be totally different. When he accidentally answers too many questions in World History on Zen (only because he just had Ancient Religions two schools ago) all heads turn and San has his answer: he's a Zen Master. And just when he thinks everyone (including the cute girl he can't stop thinking about) is on to him, everyone believes him . . . in a major Zen way.

Happy reading! If you read Zen and the Art of Faking It, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

The Wedding Planner's Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

I thought the plot of this book was a little predictable, but it was quick listen - I listened to this book in the car. I think my favorite thing about this book was that each chapter started with a quote from a book.

from Barnes and Noble:
Twelve-year-old Willa Havisham is a classics reader, a cherry-cordial eater, and quite possibly the world's worst wisher. But when she and her glamorous single mother, Stella, move to Bramble, Cape Cod, Willa's wishes begin to come true: She makes her first-ever best friend, Tina. She bonds with her hip, candy-making Nana. And best of all, steely Stella is falling for Willa's English teacher, Sam -- he's perfect dad material! But before Willa can marry off her mother, or dance with her adorable crush, Joseph, a pit gets stuck in the wishing well....
Can Willa undo the damage before Stella misses her chance to say "I do"?

Happy reading! If you read The Wedding Planner's Daughter, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

LMC wiki

I have added a link on the right hand side of the blog, but also wanted to share the news in a post! I have started a LMC wiki. One thing I added to the wiki is an online form to submit book requests. If there is a book you would like to be added to the library collection, all you need to do is fill out the form located on the "Book Requests" section of the wiki. Also located on the wiki is a section for Book Suggestions and also a Screencast section. A screencast is an online tutorial that can help you see how to do something on the computer. I hope to continue to add to the wiki ... so stop by often. :)

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail by Lesley M.M. Blume

It took me a while to get into this book, and but I thought it was an interesting story.

From Amazon:
Franny Hansen is a 10-year-old piano prodigy living in Rusty Nail, Minnesota. Once the Coot Capitol of the world, in 1953 it's just a run-of-the-mill town with one traffic light and a bizarre cast of characters. She's long exhausted the talents of the town's only piano teacher and seems destined to perform at church events and school assemblies, until a mysterious Russian woman arrives in Rusty Nail. Franny's neighbors are convinced the "Commie" is a threat to their American way of life, but Franny's not so sure. Could this stranger be her ticket out of Rusty Nail?

Happy reading! If you read The Rising Star of Rusty Nail, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman

We had an all school read this morning, and I forgot my book at home ... so I decided to give this book a try. I am glad I did! Russell Freedman is a great non-fiction author and I thoroughly enjoyed his book about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

From Amazon:
As Freedman points out, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was a triumphant historical event, and there are numerous memoirs, articles, and scholarly works, for adults and for young readers, about the leaders and the ordinary heroes. In his signature clear prose, Freedman draws on the best of those personal stories and historical accounts to provide a dramatic overview of how the 381-day resistance to segregated buses spearheaded the civil rights movement.

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

The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy

It took me a little while to get into this story, but I did enjoy it. I listened to this novel and the narrator did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

From Amazon:
It’s 1972. Twelve-year-old Joan is sure that she is going to be miserable when her family moves. Then she meets a most unusual girl. Sarah prefers to be called “Fox,” and lives with her author dad in a rundown house in the middle of the woods. The two girls start writing their own stories together, and when one wins first place in a student contest, they find themselves recruited for a summer writing class taught by the equally unusual Verla Volante. The Wild Girls brilliantly explores friendship, the power of story, and how coming of age means finding your own answers.

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

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

This novel began by challenging the reader to stretch his or her right arm up to the sky and then reach across and touch his or her left ear.
I was instantly captured ... I love books with unique beginnings. :) The reader was challenged to do that because Georgie, the main character, isn't able to do that simple task because he is a dwarf. Throughout the book Georgie "talks" directly to the reader - quickly giving you a glimpse into what his world must be like for him. Georgie must deal with his friendship with Andy, his mom having a new baby, and a challenging classmate, Jeanie the Meanie.
I really enjoyed this book! :)

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

lunch bunch book club

Today was the first meeting of our lunch bunch book clubs. I was really happy to see everyone who attended the meetings! We shared favorite books that we have read - if you attended the meeting don't forget to fill in the form with the books you shared today :)

We also picked the books that we would be reading for next month:

6th grade - Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
7th grade - Time Windows by Kathryn Reiss
8th grade - Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

Please stop by the LMC if you are interesting in participating and would like a copy of the book for your grade level. :)

lunch bunch book club

All Grade Levels ☺
I hope you can join us for our first meeting
... feel free to see Mrs. Kirsch with any questions!

WHAT: First meeting for the lunch bunch book club

WHEN: Thurs., Oct. 9th at the beginning of the whole lunch period

WHERE: LMC – bring your lunch with you

This meeting is a round table discussion. Bring a favorite book (or two!) that you have recently read to share with the group. I will compile a list of the books. We will also pick our next book that we will read.

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Anyone who knows me just a little bit knows that I DO judge books by their covers :)... I wasn't too sure about this book, because I didn't really like the cover. I was pleasantly surprised as I read this book - it is was interesting historical fiction novel about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire - told from the point of views of 3 girls - Bella, Yetta, and Jane.

From Barnes and Noble:
This historical novel about New York City's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and the catastrophic Factory fire hits its stride to offer a compelling message about labor, sacrifice and the price of freedom in America. Haddix follows three very different girls: naïve Bella from Italy, who becomes a strikebreaker; the feisty Yetta, a Jewish immigrant from Russia who spearheads the strikes; and the socially prominent Jane, raised to marry for status and prestige. The pace and interest pick up once the infamous 1910 strike begins and the girls' experiences collide.

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

reading and more...

I had a few students suggest that it might be neat to share what I am currently reading. So I did just that. :) I added two sections on the right hand side of this blog - "currently reading" and "currently listening to" (since I usually am listening to a book in the car). I will do my best to keep it updated and current.
I also had a few students share that they are using a tool to help keep track of books read and also connect with friends to share good titles. The website they are using is called Goodreads. This is very similar to the tool that I use called LibraryThing. The books displayed on the right hand column of this blog are books that I have added in LibraryThing. I think it is neat that there are websites available that can help you find great books that might be interesting to read! :)

First Light by Rebecca Stead

This book was hard to put down ... I quickly became engrossed in lives of Thea and Peter. A bit of fantasy, a bit of mystery, and a bit of education (about global warming) - this was a great read!

from Barnes and Noble:
Peter is thrilled to leave New York City to accompany his parents on an expedition to Greenland to study global warming. There he has visions of things that should be too far away for him to see.
Generations ago, the people of Thea’s community were hunted for possessing unusual abilities, so they fled beneath the ice. Thea needs help that only Peter can give. Their meeting reveals secrets of both their pasts, and changes the future for them both forever.

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

Day of Tears by Julius Lester

I can not speak highly enough about this book. I listened to this book while driving to work this week, and at times it was difficult to listen to because it was heartbreaking to hear about the "day of tears" ...but a fabulous book that I will remember for quite a while and would highly recommend.

From Barnes and Noble:
On March 2 and 3, 1859, the largest auction of slaves in American history took place in Savannah, Georgia. More than 400 slaves were sold. On the first day of the auction, the skies darkened and torrential rain began falling. The rain continued throughout the two days, stopping only when the auction had ended. The simultaneity of the rain-storm with the auction led to these two days being called "the weeping time. " Using the multiple voices of enslaved Africans and their owners, Julius Lester has taken a little-known, all-true event in American history and transformed it into a heartbreaking and powerfully dramatic epic on slavery.

Happy reading! If you read Day of Tears, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it.

Question of the Week (a little bit late!)

The Question of the Week is: What genre do you enjoy reading the most?

My favorite genre is realistic fiction, following by mystery and historical fiction :)

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog!

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

I really enjoyed this book! Suspense, humor, and memorable characters made this such a fun book to read.

From Barnes and Noble:
Welcome to Echo Falls, home of a thousand secrets.
Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. And getting them back will mean getting tangled up in a murder investigation as complicated as the mysteries solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes. With soccer practice, schoolwork, and the lead role in her town's production of Alice in Wonderland, Ingrid is swamped. But as things in Echo Falls keep getting curiouser and curiouser, Ingrid realizes she must solve the murder on her own -- before it's too late!

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

Question of the Week

Each week (usually on Wednesdays) I try to post a "question of the week." If I get busy, I sometimes skip a week. :) Sometimes the question is book/library related and sometimes it is just a fun question!

The Question of the Week is: What did you do this summer?

This summer I read many books, enjoyed the nice weather, and played with my dog. :)

Please cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog!

Welcome back!

Welcome back! I was exciting for school to begin ... although coming to work each day does leave me less time to read. ;) Please stop by this blog often ... I mostly use it to talk about new books that I am reading, but I also use this blog to share about things that are going on in the LMC.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

I really enjoyed this book! When I saw the cover in the library, it looked intriguing to me ... and this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed the fast-paced storyline and the subject matter made me stop and think.

from Barnes and Noble:
Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

Happy reading! If you read The Adoration of Jenna Fox, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

books...books...books

I have not been doing a very good job of posting about the books I have read. I have been busy reading, but also busy enjoying what is left of the summer :) I have read the following books since the last time I posted:
* Room One: A Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements
* Children of the Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr
* Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
* Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan
* The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

The only one I didn't really enjoy out of this whole bunch was Children of the Lamp. I just couldn't get into the story or plot. Of course, the one I enjoyed the most was Breaking Dawn ... I had been waiting for it to come out ALL summer. It didn't drawn me in quite like the other three books in the series did, but it still was a great read. :)

Happy reading! If you read any of the books listed, comment on this post and let me know how you liked them. :)

The Comeback Season - a contest!

I received the following email from Jennifer Smith, the author of The Comeback Season. As you know I really enjoyed the book- so this contest sounds like lots of fun. :)
Feel free to pass along the contest information to anyone who might be interested!

In honor of the recent publication of The Comeback Season,

and the amazing season the Cubs are having this year, we're having....

The Comeback Season

CONTEST!

1^st Prize: 2 tickets to the Cubs vs. Astros game on 9/3/08 at 7:05 at Wrigley Field

2^nd Prize: A marked-up copy of The Comeback Season, with notes from the author

3^rd Prize: A signed copy of The Comeback Season

There are three ways to win!

1. Let me know that you told at least 10 people about the contest via blog or email

2. Send a photo of you reading the book

3. Send a receipt showing that you bought the book

Send all entries to: thecomebackseason@gmail [dot] com

Winners will be chosen on August 12^th, 2008 by random drawing

(* If you win 1^st prize, but don't live in Chicago, you can opt for the Cubs tickets to go to the next person, and you'll get a marked up copy of the book instead, plus another YA book of your choice!)

Good luck, and go Cubs!

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

I find that most of Sarah Dessen's novels are predicable - but that doesn't stop me from reading them. :) I feel that this was one of her better novels - there was a bit more substance to the storyline.

from Barnes and Noble:

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future-it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

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

what a conference!

Last week I was very lucky to attend the NECC (National Educational Computing Conference). It was held in San Antonio, TX - which was a city I had not visited before. Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Schuetz, Mrs. Carney, and Mr. Beese also were at the conference ... it was fun for us to learn together.

The theme of the conference was: convene connect transform

It was so interesting to convene (meet) with other teachers from around the country and learn about how technology can be used in our classrooms. It was exciting to connect with other teachers who had similar interests and gave me ideas to use at our school. The conference gave me much to think about and tranformed my thinking of technology in many ways.
I wanted to share about this conference with you because teachers also like to learn... and it is really neat to have Ah-ha! moments ... just like you do when you learn something exciting in the classroom! :)

A Small White Scar by K.A. Nuzum

It took me a little while to get into this book, but I am glad I gave it a chance. I loved how the author developed the relationship between the main character, Will, and his twin brother, Denny.

from Barnes and Noble:
Will can see his future stretch out before him. It's as clear as the plains that lead to La Junta and the first-place prize at the rodeo. He will become a man, a cowboy with a life of his own. But his twin brother, Denny, follows, bringing with him the memory of that small white scar. Ahead lies adventure; behind, responsibility. And on the road between, Will and Denny will travel together -- brothers united by blood.

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

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

I read this book in one day - I started it this morning and just finished it. :) Several students at school had read it and really enjoyed it ... so I was anxious to read it. I REALLY enjoyed it. I instantly connected with the main character, Zoe.

from Barnes and Noble:

Ten-year-old Zoe Elias has perfect piano dreams. She can practically feel the keys under her flying fingers; she can hear the audience's applause. All she needs is a baby grand so she can start her lessons, and then she'll be well on her way to Carnegie Hall.
But when Dad ventures to the music store and ends up with a wheezy organ instead of a piano, Zoe's dreams hit a sour note. Learning the organ versions of old TV theme songs just isn't the same as mastering Beethoven on the piano. And the organ isn't the only part of Zoe's life that's off-kilter, what with Mom constantly at work, Dad afraid to leave the house, and that odd boy, Wheeler Diggs, following her home from school every day.
Yet when Zoe enters the annual Perform-O-Rama organ competition, she finds that life is full of surprises--and that perfection may be even better when it's just a little off center.

Happy reading! If you read A Crooked Kind of Perfect, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

the dead and the gone by Susan Pfeffer

This is a companion novel to Life as We Knew It, but is set in New York City. This was a page turner ... but I felt that it was much darker and even a little sinister. However, it gave me much to think about.

from Barnes and Noble:
Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.

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

Rosa, Sola by Carmela Martino

I loved this little novel. It was at times, both heartbreaking and hopeful. I enjoyed the Italian words that were used throughout the text, and it was helpful that the author included a glossary that you could refer to.

from Barnes and Noble:
Living with her Italian immigrant parents in 1960s Chicago, nine-year-old Rosa, an only child, often feels SOLA and different. But as soon as she holds her friend AnnaMaria's baby brother for the first time, Rosa is sure that if she prays hard enough, God will give her a sibling too. Amazingly, Ma does get pregnant, and Rosa is overjoyed — until the awful day comes when she learns that her brother was stillborn, and Ma, who is weak and grieving, must stay in the hospital for a while. With her papa bitter and rarely home, and her bossy aunt Ida in charge, Rosa has an "empty cave" feeling and now is more SOLA than ever. Why would God answer her prayers, only to take her baby brother away? Will her broken family ever be happy again?

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

All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

Mary Downing Hahn is known for her ghosts stories ... and this was certainly a ghost story. I didn't think it was a bad book, but I didn't think it was all that good either. I would be interested to hear what students think of the story. If you are a fan of ghost stories, this would probably be a good choice for you. :)

Happy reading! If you read All the Lovely Bad Ones, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

happy Summer :)

Summer is here...although I don't really feel like it is summer yet, it takes a little while to get used to be done with school. :) I recently read two books that I didn't have time to blog about because the last week of school was BUSY!

Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby interested me because it involved sign language. I have been signing for a long time so I was anxious to see what this book was all about.

from Barnes and Noble:
Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis is used to being left out of conversations. Though she's been deaf since the age of six, Joey's mother has never allowed her to learn sign language. She strains to read the lips of those around her, but often fails.
Everything changes when Joey meets Dr. Charles Mansell and his baby chimpanzee, Sukari. Her new friends use sign language to communicate, and Joey secretly begins to learn to sign. Spending time with Charlie and Sukari, Joey has never been happier. She even starts making friends at school for the first time. But as Joey's world blooms with possibilities, Charlie's and Sukari's choices begin to narrow—until Sukari's very survival is in doubt.

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John was another animal story but had some mystical elements to it, which I enjoyed.

from Barnes and Noble:

Martine’s parents are killed in a fire, and she must leave her home in England to live on a wildlife reserve in Africa with a grandmother she never even knew she had.
As soon as Martine arrives at the reserve, she hears whisperings of a mythical animal living there–a white giraffe. No one has ever seen the animal, but it leaves footprints behind. Her grandmother insists that the white giraffe is just a legend, but then, one stormy night, Martine looks out her bedroom window straight into the eyes of the tall and silvery animal. The white giraffe is real!
But why is everyone keeping the giraffe’s existence a secret? To find out, Martine will use all of her courage and smarts, and an emerging gift for healing, in a daring adventure to save her new friend.

Happy Reading! If you read Hurt Go Happy or The White Giraffe, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

summer reading

I find it so hard to believe that it is almost the end of the school year. This year just seemed to fly by. I hope that you continue to read over the summer. A few suggestions if you are looking for summer reading suggestions:

* Lake Bluff Public Library has a summer reading program. The theme this year is "Where the Wild Things Read." The program begins June 21st and runs for 6 weeks. Please consider participating. :)

* I will be blogging about the books I am reading this summer... so please continue to visit this blog :)

* I also have suggestions for summer reading listed on the LMC website

The book I am SO excited about this summer is Breaking Dawn, which is the newest book in the Twilight series. It will be released on August 2nd.

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

This last book in this trilogy did not disappoint - it was fabulous! It was quite long ... but the author once again delighted me with the stories of the adventures of Gemma Doyle and her friends at Spence Academy.

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

Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham

Shark Girl was a quick read - I read it in about an hour on the bus ride home from Springfield. :) I really enjoyed the way the book was written. It was written in a series of letters, newspaper articles, and verse (sharing the thoughts of the main character, Jane). I honestly thought this book might be a little "cheesy" ... but it turned out to be a great book.

From Barnes and Noble:
"A teenager struggles through physical loss to the start of acceptance in an absorbing, artful novel at once honest and insightful, wrenching and redemptive.
On a sunny day in June, at the beach with her mom and brother, fifteen-year-old Jane Arrowood went for a swim. And then everything - absolutely everything - changed. Now she's counting down the days until she returns to school with her fake arm, where she knows kids will whisper, "That's her - that's Shark Girl," as she passes. In the meantime there are only questions: Why did this happen? Why her? What about her art? What about her life? In this striking first novel, Kelly Bingham uses poems, letters, telephone conversations, and newspaper clippings to look unflinchingly at what it's like to lose part of yourself - and to summon the courage it takes to find yourself again."

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

author visit

It was so exciting to have Jennifer Smith visit on Friday ... in fact, it was so exciting that I forgot to take pictures. :) She shared about how she became a writer and how writing IS a process (I think we have heard that before!). She ended her visit by reading the first chapter of the book and then answering a few questions.

author visit

I am very excited that Jennifer Smith, the author of The Comeback Season, will be visiting our school next Friday, April 18th. I really enjoyed her book and it is always exciting to meet the author. :)

You can order a copy of the book (she will be signing them), but all orders must be placed by this Friday.

Stop by the LMC if you have any questions!

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson

Max is back in this 4th book in the Maximum Ride series. I must admit that I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as the other 3 ... but it was still a quick, fun, and adventurous read.

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

Spring Break question of the week

The Question of the Week is: What did you do over Spring Break?

You can read about what I did over Spring Break in the post below. :)

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

Spring Break reading

I can't believe it is already Saturday... Spring Break went by very quickly.

I enjoyed Spring Break for two reasons:
1) escaping Illinois to someplace WARM! (Arizona)
2) having extra time to read :)

I had a student recommend The Comeback Season by Jennifer Smith to me. This was the first book I read on Spring Break. I LOVED this book. The other exciting thing about this book is that the author grew up in the area - I think in Lake Bluff - how neat is that? :) It is a great story of friendship, perseverance, and the Chicago Cubs.

from Barnes and Noble:
The last place Ryan Walsh should be this afternoon is on a train heading to Wrigley Field. She should be in class, enduring yet another miserable day of her first year of high school. But for once, Ryan isn't thinking about what she should be doing. She's not worried about her lack of friends, or her suffering math grade, or how it's been five whole years since the last time she was really and truly happy. Because she's finally returning to the place that her father loved, where the two of them spent so many afternoons cheering on their team. And on this -- the fifth anniversary of his death -- it feels like there's nowhere else in the world she should be.
Ryan is once again filled with hope as she makes her way to the game. Good luck is often hard to come by at a place like Wrigley Field, but it's on this day that she meets Nick, the new kid from her school, who seems to love the Cubs nearly as much as she does. But Nick carries with him a secret that makes Ryan wonder if anyone can ever really escape their past, or believe in the promise of those reassuring words: "Wait till next year." Is it too much for Ryan to hope that this year, this season, might be her comeback season?


The next book I read was Rebel Angels by Libba Bray. It was just as good as the first book in this trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty). I think I said it in a previous post, but this series is great for fans of Twilight. I have already started on the third book by Libba Bray. :)

Rebecca Caudill 2008 winner

This was just announced! The winner of the 2008 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is: Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick. It is a great book. :)

The Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky

I heard about this book in one of the journals that I read to find out about new and great books. I had it in the LMC so I quickly read it. It was fascinating! The author shares the world history of salt - with interesting facts, neat illustrations, and fun stories. I never thought a book about salt would be so interesting ... but it was. :) This book is based upon the author's adult book Salt: A World History ... that might be next on my reading list! :)

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

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Wow! I couldn't put this book down! I have been recommending this book for awhile, but hadn't been able to read it yet...mostly because it always seems to be checked out from the library. The book reminded me of one of my favorite novels --> Twilight!

from Barnes and Noble:
After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world.

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

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I vaguely remember reading this book when I was a teenager...I know that I really enjoyed it, but didn't really remember that much about the book. I am so glad that I decided to read it again! It is the coming-of-age story of Francie Nolan - set in Brooklyn, beginning in 1902.

Snow!

Wow! By the time I got home today, I could barely drive into my driveway. :) I shoveled the driveway (heavy snow), read my book (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), and then played outside with Annie the dog. She wanted me to throw her ball over and over and over again! She loved the snow. I have included a picture of Annie - this is her "please throw the ball NOW" look. :)

What did you do today with all the snow? Cast your vote in the poll!

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

A student let me borrow this book from her because she said that she thought I would enjoy it ... and I did! So much in fact, that I neglected doing many things on my "to do" list this weekend because all I wanted to do was sit and read Wicked Lovely. :)

from School Library Journal:
Aislinn knows that fairies are real and that they aren't the small, cute, winged beings that most people imagine. She has inherited the gift of Sight from her mother's family, allowing her to see them. She lives by rules that have kept her safe from their notice. All of that changes when Keenan, the Summer King, chooses her as his queen, involving Aislinn in a 900-year power struggle between him and his mother, the Winter Queen. If Aislinn refuses him, summer will cease to exist, killing both mortals and fairies alike. If she accepts, she loses her humanity and ties to the mortal world-as if life as a teenager isn't hard enough when you're "normal." This story explores the themes of love, commitment, and what it really means to give of oneself for the greater good to save everyone else. It is the unusual combination of past legends and modern-day life that gives a unique twist to this "fairy" tale.

Perhaps one the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that it reminded me of one of my all time favorite books, Twilight. I want Melissa Marr to write a sequel to Wicked Lovely right NOW. :)

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

time to read :)

I enjoyed the long weekend...I had lots of time to read. :) I was able to read Beastly by Alex Flinn and Schooled by Gordon Korman. I enjoyed both of them! I love books that are twists on fairy tales and Beastly was a great twist on the Beauty and the Beast tale. Schooled was also an enjoyable read - it reminded me of another favorite book of mine, Stargirl.

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

Happy New Year

I can't believe the winter break is almost over ... it just seemed to fly by. My break consisted of: lots of reading, lots of knitting, and lots of playing with Annie the dog outside. :)

What did you do over break? Comment on this post and/or cast your vote in the poll located in the right hand column of the blog. :)

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