Two More...

As we head into our second week of school I am not finding enough time to read. Seriously, I am never too tired to read a bit but I am too tired to read a lot. Only two more books to tell you about....

A very interesting title about a very interesting character in "Kiki Strike - Inside the Shadow City" by Kirsten Miller. Ananka meets Kiki Strike, an unusual girl ; small, light haired, appears and disappears like magic and yet is pulling this group of misfit girls together to form the "Irregulars". Kiki introduces them into the world of the Shadow City - a labyrinth underneath the streets of New York City of tunnels and rooms and exits into important buildings which, a hundred years ago, were used for criminal activities. Kiki's goal is to take over this Shadow City before any other thieves discover this long forgotten place. However all is not what it seems. Does Kiki have another goal? Does it have something to do with the Princess? Read and find out...
The second book is called "If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period" by Gennifer Choldenko who wrote the acclaimed "Al Capone Does My Shirts". This books follows Kirsten and Walk, Grade 7 students who form an unlikely friendship only to discover a secret that leaves them both shocked and almost shattered. Kirsten is slightly overweight and her best friend is ignoring her to hang out with the popular crowd. Walk is an African American, new to the school on a scholarship and immediately starts injecting himself into situations. Bullying, race relations, friendships and parents all come into play but I think you will be very surprised at the twist this book takes.

What are you reading today?

Science & Fiction = Good

It is interesting that the last two books I have read have to do with science and fiction. These are different than Science Fiction which makes me think of outer space and aliens. No, these books have to do with things that are possibly being invented here on earth as we speak, things that could change lives or how we live. The first book is "Frozen in Time" by Ali Sparkes. The year is 1956 and Freddy and Polly are willing participants in their father's experiments of cryonic suspension, having their hearts frozen. Their father usually wakes them up two hours later. In 2009 Ben and Rachel are bored at their uncle's home until they find these two frozen children in an underground vault in the garden. You will want to know what happens next, how this has happened and why didn't their father wake them up.
"Dot Robot" by Jason Bradbury is a super exciting book about a young boy Jackson Farley, a digital genius, who is playing a video game when he is invited to a very special website. His super skills have attracted him to billionaire Devlin Lear, founder of top secret defence force MeX. Along with 3 other brilliant young gamers , his job is to fly state of the art robots around the world helping where needed...... or that is what it seems on the surface. Jackson discovers there is more to this than he anticipated and now he might be part of a huge crime.
Both good...one exciting.

What are you reading today?

Sigh

"Every Soul a Star" by Wendy Mass is a wonderful book about 3 very different teens who come together during a very unusual and rare experience, a solar eclipse. Ally has spent her whole life in Moon Shadow Campground, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of America where her parents have been preparing for years for hundreds and hundreds of visitors to view this spectacular event . She and her brother have been home schooled but she loves her life full of astronomy and family and the simple things around her. This is in complete contrast to Bree, a beautiful girl whose whole focus in life is looking great and has a goal of being a model. Her scientist parents are making the trek to the campground but with more in mind than just seeing the eclipse - they are planning on staying for 3 years while Ally's parents are planning on moving back to the city so the kids have a more normal experience. You can easily imagine how both girls are devastated. Thrown into this mix is Jack, a teen who hates his life; friend problems, weight problems and school problems have come together to enlist him help his science teacher lead an expedition to this event. This story is told in the teen's 3 voices in alternating chapters where you get to hear their thoughts, dreams and realizations in a very real way. If you liked "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli I know you will like this one.

What are you reading today?

Another Winner

I am a big fan of Andrew Clements and have read and loved most of his books. Favourites that come to mind are "No Talking", "The Report Card" and all the Jake Drake books. So I was very excited to see a new one, "Extra Credit". After reading it I think it is another winner! One of the main characters is Abby, a young girl who loves rock climbing and the outdoors... at the expense of her school work. When she is told she will have to stay back in the same grade she decides to show them she can do the work. She is asked to do an extra credit for the work she has missed and her task is to become a penpal to another student in a foreign country. She chooses Afghanistan because of the mountains. Her first letter ends up in a small village where it is decided to have the best student respond. The problem is that the best student is a boy and traditional values dictate that a boy should not correspond with a girl. This boy is Sadeed. It is his sister who is then chosen to write but because she does not do such a good job he intervenes and helps write back. A friendship between Abby and Sadeed begins that is based on the mutual love of the land and the honesty that children can have with each other. The problems arise when society with all its fears, both in America and Afghanistan, interfere. Read this! Not only a good story but one that will make you think.

What are you reading today?

Humphrey Again!

I love reading stories about Humphrey the hamster by Betty G. Birney. My first love was the "World According to Humphrey" where Humphrey was bought by Ms Mac from Pet-O-Rama and brought to Room 26 as a class pet because .... well .... you can learn alot about about yourself when you take care of another. Humphrey is no ordinary hamster. He can read, write and loves to help his classmates, teachers and even Mr. Morales the Principal solve their problems. I am sure you are wondering how Humphrey can help but believe me he is very good at it as he is very observant and very creative. In this latest Humphrey book called "Adventure According to Humphrey" not only does Humphrey help others but he also achieves his biggest dream - to have a real adventure. However this adventure could have disastrous results for Humphrey and you will have to read it to see how it all manages to end happily. Be sure to also read "Friendship According to Humphrey", "Trouble According to Humphrey" and "Surprises According to Humphrey". You will love them all!

What are you reading today?

Loved It!

Do you like a book that will make you laugh out loud? I do and "Granny" by Anthony Horowitz made me laugh ... alot. Yes, that Anthony Horowitz. The one who wrote all those Alex Rider books but this time he writes this very entertaining book about Grannies and Joe's Granny in particular.They hate watching all the young people take over so the Grannies deliberately.... get in their way. For example they see how long they can take to get on a bus.... 3/4 of an hour then 23 minutes to find the bus pass . For example Joe's Granny takes delight in giving him a present that is much too babyish for him. Joe thinks she is evil but he has no idea what a convention of Grannies wants to do. This would make a very fun read aloud. Lots of puns and plays on words. Read this!

What have you read today?

A Good Read

I was a little skeptical when I began to read "Ruined" by Paula Morris. It is about a girl, Rebecca, who has been sent to stay with friends of her father in New Orleans for a few months and sees a ghost of a young girl in the graveyard across the street from where she is staying. A new school, not fitting in, mean girls, it felt a bit predictable. But the more I read the more I got hooked and just had to finish it in the wee hours of the night. A forbidden romance with a handsome boy from one of the town's oldest and richest families, a curse placed on a house 150 years ago and a murder all come into play. Probably will best appeal to girls in Grades 6 & 7.

What are you reading today?