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!