Where Does It Go?

Time- it gets away from me before I even know it's happening!

I have recently read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Enjoyable story about a woman's quest to "find herself" through Italy, India, and Indonesia. Many parts were entertaining and educational; others were a strain to filter through the cultural references. Visit her site to read many other reviews.


I just began a book found on the bargain table at Waldenbooks. It claims to be an international bestseller and the title is familiar but I can't place where I've heard it. Interred With Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell Since I teach a unit of Shakespeare to my students, I think I'll enjoy the references.

Finally, I have to read the most recent book in the young adult series by James Patterson, Max

Any recommendations from my readers?

Making a Dent

I've read quite a few books since my last post. As noted, I received books from interlibrary loan. That was a good experience. I requested 3 and got all 3 within a couple weeks. The downside to it was the cost- $2.60 per book. I guess it's better than buying in the store.

On vacation, I read The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller. I heard about it here.

Then, I started Deadline by Chris Crutcher. This book is on the 2010 high school Sequoyah masterlist. I read all the middle school and high school Sequoyah nominees so I can make recommendations to students. Wow, this book is thought provoking! Well, anything by Chris Crutcher will make you stop and think. Basic plot is an 18 year old senior finds out he has a deadly form of cancer and refuses treatment. He also decides not to tell his family. His family doctor is not legally allowed to tell the family, either. The story that unfolds is about how this kid, who knows his life is short, makes the most of his senior year. It's a tear jerker like none other. But, I think our older teenagers could really pick up on the lessons here. What really makes life important, making decisions, etc.

I then moved to The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. This book is seriously weird! I really didn't care for it but it is freaky in a way that junior kids will love it. No vampires, just people called the Unconsecrated.

Wintergirls is my latest read. It is by Laurie Halse Anderson, one of my favorite authors. In true Anderson fashion, the book is loaded with figurative language and imagery. I am writing down quotes to use for teaching next year. The subject matter is scary and emotionally wrenching. It deals with anorexia and cutting, two habits common among our teenage girls (and some boys). I really liked the writing style despite the disturbing material. It will be VERY popular in my junior high when our library gets a copy!

So, the summer reading list is getting shorter. Has anyone read a good book lately?

Mortal Instruments: Book One

I've grown bored of books with only vampires and have moved on to a combination of vampires, werewolves, faeries, and other fantasy sort of creatures. This led me to the first book in a new series called The Mortal Instruments. At the pleading of 3 8th graders, I read City of Bones in one weekend. I enjoyed it more from a curiosity standpoint than anything. I wanted to know what had propelled these 3 to beg me to read it. It certainly was intriguing with a combination of magic, fantasy, romance, and all kinds of mythical creatures. Thankfully, the 2nd and 3rd books are already released so I can move on to the next one without the months of wait time that usually prevail. The author, Cassandra Clare, has a website dedicated to all of her stuff but this series has it's own site here.

Sunrise Over Fallujah

A book that will make you rethink your thoughts of war.

House of Night #5 and Down The Rabbit Hole

I wrapped up the 5th House of Night novel last week. It was as good as the other 4 but the first book, Marked, is still my favorite. Rumor has it that there will be a 6th and, based on how Hunted ended, I can see why. Check out the House of Night series for racy vampires!

On to a new book called Down The Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams. This is a new author for me. I did some research on google (is that real research?!?!) and found lots of interesting details. For the young reader who enjoys mystery and suspense, this is a fun and safe book. It doesn't have the allure of horror but maintains a healthy sense of whodunit.

Welcome to Echo Falls. Home of a thousand secrets, where Ingrid Levin-Hill, super sleuth, never knows what will happen next.
Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. Getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation rivaling those solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes, and Ingrid has enough on her plate with club soccer, school, and the plum role of Alice in the Echo Falls production of Alice in Wonderland. But much as in Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole, things in Ingrid's small town keep getting curiouser and curiouser. Her favorite director has a serious accident onstage (but is it an accident?), and the police chief is on Ingrid's tail, grilling her about everything from bike-helmet law to the color of her cleats. Echo Falls has turned into a nightmare, and Ingrid is determined to wake up. Edgar Award–nominated novelist Peter Abrahams builds suspense as a smart young girl finds that her small town isn't nearly as safe as it seems.

Chris Crutcher

I been reading all things Chris lately. He is a border-line young adult author, meaning the characters are teenagers but the content is very mature, making the books more like adult books.

I teach one of his novels, Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes. Remember, I do anythinng I can to push the envelope when it comes to reading literature. I believe if kids are exposed to it in print, they won't be as tempted to try it in "real life." That's just my theory and you certainly don't have to agree with me.

Anywho, back to Chris Crutcher. Recently, I read Sledding Hill and Whale Talk; both were totally different than his other books and from each other. I didn't care for Sledding Hill because of the take on religion. Whale Talk, on the other hand, was aout of this world! This was a book I was reading while cooking supper, giving baths, and other household chores. I would cry and be angry at the same time; I wanted the good guy to win. He does, but not in the way you'd expect.

Visit his website at www.chriscrutcher.com to find out more.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book was my latest obsession. I couldn't put it down. I love this author, especially her book, Speak. I am terrible about writing my own reviews, so check out the one I "stole" from Amazon.

Socially inept Tyler Miller thinks his senior year of high school is going to be a year like no other. After being sentenced to a summer of character building physical labor following a graffiti prank, his reputation at school receives a boost, as do his muscles. Enter super-popular Bethany Milbury, sister of his tormentor, Chip, and daughter of his father's boss. Tyler's newfound physique has attracted her interest and infuriated Chip, leading to ongoing conflicts at school. Likewise, Tyler's inability to meet his volatile father's demands to be an asset, not a liability adds increasing tension. All too quickly, Tyler's life spirals out of control. In the wake of an incident at a wild party that Bethany has invited him to attend, he is left feeling completely isolated at school and alienated at home, a victim of twisted perception. Tyler must tackle the complex issues of integrity, personal responsibility, and identity on his own as he struggles to understand what it means to be a man. His once humorous voice now only conveys naked vulnerability. With gripping scenes and a rousing ending, Anderson authentically portrays Tyler's emotional instability as he contemplates darker and darker solutions to his situation. Readers will rejoice in Tyler's proclamation, I'm not the problem here…I'm tired of feeling like I am. Teenage concerns with sex, alcohol, grades, and family are all tackled with honesty and candor. Once again, Anderson's taut, confident writing will cause this story to linger long after the book is set down.–Erin Schirota, Bronxville Public Library, NY

Modern Day Fairy Tale

Beastly by Alex Flinn is a modern day Beauty and the Beast from the point of view of Beast, aka Kyle Kingsbury. Kyle is a snooty rich kid who attends a prep school in NYC. He and his friends would never think of spending time with someone who was "ugly." At a school dance, Kyle gives an imperfect rose to the plain girl taking tickets at the door and his life changes forever. Later that night, a witch named Kendra visits him and turns him into a beast. Kyle has 2 years to find someone to love him as he is or he will remain a beast forever.

If you like fairy tales, you will like this book. I am a bigger fan of Alex Flinn's other books. In fact, I teach Breathing Underwater in 8th grade English. Each of her books deals with a pertinent social issue facing teens today. Some books have mild language but nothing more than the average teen hears on a daily basis. Pull off your prude panties to read Breathing Underwater!

Books I've Read Lately

As always, I'm knee deep in young adult literture. 2 of my recent favorites are from Catherine Gilbert Murdock. The voice of the main character, D.J., is strong and true. In Dairy Queen, D.J. is the only girl in a family of athletic boys. While she is no wimp, she has been the "responsible" one able to take over the family dairy farm after her dad had hip surgery. D.J. has to struggle with her love of the farm, her resentment towards her father, and an annoying boy named Brian who happens to be from a rival town. When a close family friend sends Brian to the Schwenk Farm for some lessons in hard work and responsibility, D.J. is the one stuck with the teaching. What unfolds is way more than you'd expect. To continue the life of D.J. and her family, check out the sequel, Off Season.

By the way, all pictures are courtesy of Amazon. Head over there and check out the reviews before you decide to buy or rent.


I did venture out to adult books *gasp* with the reading of To My Dearest Friends by Patricia Volk. This was a spontaneous grab at the library and it proved enjoyable.

Review“To My Dearest Friends has an irresistible premise: Two weeks after Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Bloom dies, her lawyer calls her two best friends, Alice Vogel and Nanny Wunderlich, to his office. Why? Because Bobbi has given them keys to a safety deposit box. And now the lawyer has a letter for them from Bobbi. Alice and Nanny–who have nothing in common but their friendship with the deceased–go to the bank. In the box, they find another letter. A love letter. To Bobbi. Undated. With no further instructions. . . . Obviously, Alice and Nanny can’t agree what to do next. But in the course of not agreeing they have reasons to get together. And we get two treats along the way: wonderfully sharp dialogue and observations, and a quick but deep look into the lives of two New York women. . . . I hoovered this book in an evening. . . . How does it turn out? With a fantastic surprise. . . . To My Dearest Friends is an addictive urban adventure story. Nancy Drew for the post-menopausal. Chick-lit for grown-up chicks. And, just maybe, the first novel about New York women to ring a bell for readers in the ‘burbs since The Devil Wore Prada. You don’t have to be 50-plus to enjoy To My Dearest Friends. Or even a woman. You just have to like ‘smart.’”–Jesse Kornbluth, HeadButler.com


My family thanks me for finishing this next book because most of them were ignored while I was reading it. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was gripping, disturbing, and too close to reality. However, the story was impossible to put down and I devoured the pages, determined to know the ending. As I turned the last few pages, I started to realize there was no way the book could end this simply and, of course, it couldn't. I understand this is to be a trilogy. The 2nd book is available for pre-order on Amazon.

How can I explain the plot? I guess I will say picture a North America in the distant future. It 's hard to tell how far because, and this is the the disturbing part, it could be closer than we think. In this new North America, there are 13 Districts controlled by 1 capital.

(from Entertainment Weekly)
As negative Utopias go, Suzanne Collins has created a dilly. The United States is gone. North America has become Panem, a TV-dominated dictatorship run from a city called the Capitol. The rest of Panem is divided into 12 Districts (the former 13th had the bad judgment to revolt and no longer exists). The yearly highlight in this nightmare world is the Hunger Games, a bloodthirsty reality TV show in which 24 teenagers chosen by lottery two from each District fight each other in a desolate environment called the ''arena.'' The winner gets a life of ease; the losers get death. The only ''unspoken rule'' is that you can't eat the dead contestants. Let's see the makers of the movie version try to get a PG-13 on this baby.

I have only muddied the waters as to what this book is about but I will say it is worth your read even if the plot does have striking similarity to other books (1984, Animal Farm, "The Lottery")

I Can't Believe It!

Has it really been weeks since I've posted?!?! Yes, it has and I feel terrible!

I have been reading tons of young adult literature so I can recommend books to my students. I read Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson. I teach Speak by the same author and many students want to know what else she has written when we finish it.

Teenage guys are loving a series by Rick Riordan. The first book is called The Lightning Thief. It has to do with Greek gods and goddesses with constant action and heart pounding excitement. I think younger kids would enjoy this, too.

Finally, I'm previewing a memoir by Elie Wiesel called Night to possibly teach in pre-AP this year. It is his personal experience in surviving the Holocaust. It has several parts that are graphic and stomach wrenching. Do I really want to tackle this in 8th grade? Probably the most disturbing is the truthfulness of his account.

Finally, finally, I am starting the 3rd House of Night book. Back to vampires!

Anyone reading anything new and exciting? I often get stuck in a rut with certain authors or genres and hearing your recommendations really help.

On Deck

Hello, my loyal readers (even if there are only 2 of you)! Starting the school year has taken a toll on my blog updates. I've barely had time to keep up with my personal blog, let alone this one. However, I have been reading! I'm in the 2nd House of Night book called Betrayed. This is another vampire series, folks, and it's a good one! Oklahoma authors and lots of references to the Tulsa area make this one our teens will love!

The Scholastic Book Fair has been at my school this week and oh, how I drooled! I had a stack of choices a mile high before checking the pocketbook and did the responsible thing. I narrowed my choices based on the amount of cash I had and came away with 2 books. The first is an adult bestseller by Lori Lansens called The Girls. It's a story about 2 sisters who happen to be twins and who happen to be conjoined. The story is about their life. I can't wait to start it! My second purchase is a young adult novel that flew off the book fair shelves into the clamoring hands of eager junior high students wanting something cutting edge. I think they've found it. It's The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod- Eighth Grade Bytes by Heather Brewer. Critics called it "gruesome, heartwarming, spellbinding." My type of adjectives!

I did a booktalk over a book in my Top Ten- Silent to the Bone- to my classes last week. All 5 copies in the library were checked out by the end of the day and the waiting list multiplied. How I love the power of suggestion!

It's Here!

Today's the day! My advance purchase copy of Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyers finally arrived from Amazon. Tonight will be a long night as I delve into the fascinating conclusion to this 4 book series. Truly an epic romance!

What I've Been Reading

I've sadly neglected this blog but that probably won't change since school is on the horizon. I promise to make 1 post a week but the content will be predominately young adult literature since that has to do with my job. 8th graders need as much encouragement as possible!

On my vacation last week I read Stephanie Meyer's book The Host. It is not part of the Twilight series but is just as good. It is certainly a book written in the distant future but still with the hint of romance that Meyer does so well. 700 pgs. later, I moved on to a book that was on my "on deck" list from a previous post.

Road Trip Reading

On a long road trip this past weekend, I bypassed my "on deck" books and read a new young adult novel. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a funny, sad, and real story all in one. Check out this summary from the author's website:

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.

I have been hearing about this book for a while and kept seeing it on must-read book lists. I loved it! Trickled throughout the story are cartoons drawn by the main character, Junior.

Carl Hiassen

I have never read anything by this author, but I just picked up a book by him at the library. I am familiar with his young adult books, Flush and Hoot, and was surprised to find that he has several adult books as well. Based on his website, Carl Hiassen writes about environmental and political issues where his main character tackles a problem with great odds. With witty humor and clever plot, the story moves quickly. I think this is an author I will enjoy very much!

After searching his website, I'm curious about the book Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World.

What I'm Reading Now

I usually read more than one book at a time. I know, I know... how do I keep the plots seperate, don't I get the characters confused, etc. I've heard it all before. I really don't know why I do it. I think it might have to do with the fact that I need a break from a book but not from reading so turn to something else then go back to the original. Anywho, besides the Secrets novel by Jude Deveraux, I started the final book in a series by James Patterson. I must have a thing for books in a series! The Final Warning is supposed to be a conclusion to a somewhat sci-fi story involving a girl named Maximum Ride. She is no ordinary girl (would you be with a name like that?!) because she has the ability to fly. She and 5 other kids like her were raised as an experiment in a horrible place they call the "School." Now her life is in danger as the scientists try to eliminate the "flock." This one is about half the length of the first 3. I'm curious if the story will tie up loose ends or leave me hanging (again!). The short chapters and cliff hanger endings make this series a must read if you like young adult literature.

House of Night

I hope to use this blog as a way to recommend books, find books, and discuss books. Reading is a joy in my life. I have always loved the thrill of starting a new book and the immersion into a world that is often not like my own. As I create this blog, I want to reach my students through discussion and sharing of what I love. I will blog about what I am currently reading as well as keep a running list of what I want to read. Let's get started!

I just finished the first book in the House of Night series, Marked. It certainly pushes the bounds of respectability when it comes to religion and vampires. I was intrigued by the plot because it is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is written by a mother/daughter team who live in our great state. The teenager voice comes through with language that is abrasive but true to that generation. I was surprised at the sexuality of the book and thought it to be unneccessary. Despite the language and sexuality, I can't wait to get my hands on Betrayed and Chosen. If you want to start with a vampire book, I recommend Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. There is romance, blood, and vampires all wrapped up in one lovely story.

So... now you know what I'm reading. Let's here from you. Any good vampire novels out there that you want to recommend? Leave a comment and let me know