What's Mrs. U Reading Now?

I am reading The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine. I am always looking for historical fiction that my students would actually read. This is a difficult genre to "sell" and I hope this is one I can talk up to my students...

The Chosen One By Carol Lynch Williams

Wow! I was really impressed with this story. Cult stories are becoming fairly regular in the press these days, but it continues to fascinate me. Here's the product description:

"Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much—-if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.

But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle—-who already has six wives—-Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever."

It's not only about the negative connotations you hear about, but about how much love can go on in a family like this one. The expectations and structure of the controlling cult is what is frightening. It's also interesting to read it from a girl's perspective who innately knows there's much more out there in the world for her and that she just doesn't belong in this world.

What's Mrs U Reading Now?

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams is next on my list. All I know is that it is about a girl who lives in a cult and was well reviews by Booklist and School Library Journal. With recent news headlines about girls escaping this type of life, I'm curious to see how the author handles the topic...

Storm Runners By Roland Smith

"Chase Masters and his father are storm runners, racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in a classroom. But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined."

This is a quick fun read that has lots of action. I preferred Mr. Smith's other series that started with Cryptids, because I happen to like science fiction, but this one is enjoyable too. This one seems to be much more realistic and will be perfect for those students who come in for an action book. It is obviously the beginning of a series, and is new, so you may have to wait awhile between publications...

What's Mrs U Reading Now?

I am going to read Storm Runners by Roland Smith next. Mr. Smith wrote two other books we have in the library that I really liked - Cryptids and Tentacles, so I have high hopes for this new one!

Candymakers by Wendy Mass

I just love Wendy Mass. She is a master storyteller. First of all, who wouldn't want to read a book about candy? That's an easy one. Then you have to really hold on to the reader, though. Ms. Mass does it so well...

Four 12-year-olds gather at a candy factory to participate in the local segment of a nationwide contest to create a new and delectable piece of candy. One contestant is the only child of the factory’s owner, known here as the Candymaker. Another boy is obsessed with allergies and the afterlife, while the third boy is unfriendly and intent on winning. The lone girl, Daisy, seems to be sweetness itself but displays great physical strength as well as odd behavior. Mass skillfully presents the two and a half days of the kids’ apprenticeship from the perspective of each of the four contestants. At over four hundred pages, this is not a lightning-fast read, but it reveals a multitude of mysteries, explaining all the clues about misunderstandings, spies, and sabotage that Mass has dropped along the way. Attentive, candy-loving readers will be richly rewarded. - From Booklist

What is so wonderful about this book is that every time you think you have the characters figured out and you know what's going on - you don't. That's what makes a great page turner.

Loved it!

What's Mrs U Reading Now?

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass! One of my favorite authors (and nearby Jersey native) has a way with storytelling. First, who doesn't love candy? I'm quite curious to see what she does with this story.

Soccerland

"Soccerland" by Beth Choat is a terrific sports story for girls. I don't know much about soccer, but the basics, and still thoroughly enjoyed the story of Flora's experiences at the International Sports Academy.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8–Flora Dupre loves soccer, and before her mom died of cancer, she made a promise that one day she was going to play for the U.S. Women's National Team. She dominates the team at her secondary school, but she is not being challenged, and she longs to play with more seasoned players than those in her little Maine town. She gets her chance when her coach tells her that she has been invited to Colorado for a two-week National Team Identification Camp, where she quickly finds out that things are quite different in the big leagues. The head coach seems to have it in for her with constant criticism; a clique of mean girls makes fun of her large stature; and she feels very alone in the pool of 100 girls who are just as determined as she is to get one of the few spots on the Under-15 national team. Choat's background in sports journalism is obvious. While soccer action takes precedence over any deep character development, readers will enjoy following Flora's new friendships, budding romance, and changing relationship with her father. Themes of sportsmanship and the mental and physical aspects of training are subtly woven into the story line.

There are a lot of sports-minded females at Cavallini. I hope they will give this book a chance. It celebrates the great values of an athlete in the most positive way.

Eggs Over Evie

"Eggs Over Evie" by Alison Jackson is a great realistic fiction story about divorce, new families, and finding your own personal passion.

“Evie’s narration is emotionally perceptive without being sappy, and the emphasis on roles and relationships yields solid character development that serves to move the story forward. Each chapter is followed by a recipe, and the cooking frame adds organization and appeal to the story.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, RECOMMENDED

Twelve-year-old Evie Carson lives with her mom. In an apartment across the lake, Evie’s celebrity-chef dad is starting a new life with his young second wife, Angie, who’s expecting twins. To make matters worse, Evie’s dad has custody of the beloved family dog. Navigating her new family situation is difficult, and Evie turns to her love of cooking as a way to stay connected to her father. Through cooking classes, Evie finds an unexpected friend in Corey, whose eccentric aunt Shanti might be able to make everyone a little happier. Evie learns to look outside herself, help others, and make friends where she never thought she could (she also learns to make a pretty darn good soufflé!).

I highly recommend this book to fans of realistic fiction, kids going through their own family upheaval, or anyone who likes to cook!

Knifepoint by Alex Von Tol

Jill works at a ranch sun up to sun down. She works extremely hard and is often exhausted, so when she takes a good looking gentleman on a trail ride without letting anyone know, you are not surprised. What does surprise her is when his charismatic banter suddenly turns menacing. He is not the nice guy he had seemed. She is far from the ranch, no one knows where she is, and she's at the mercy of a strong menacing man with a knife.

It was definitely a page turner. It's a very short book, so every word and sentence counts. Lots of suspense. I think most students would like this. There's not much going against it.

What's Mrs. U Reading Now?

I'm starting my new book shipment and I'm just about to crack open the book Knifepoint by Alex Van Tol. The description on the back cover is "Jill took a job that sounded perfect for the summer, guiding tourists on trail rides in the beautiful mountains. She didn't realize that the money was terrible, the long hours long and the co-workers insufferable. After a blowup with her boss, she takes a lone man into the mountains for a ride, only to find that he is a dangerous killer. When Jill fights back and manages to escape, she is in a desperate race to survive and make it to safety." Certainly intriguing!

Three Black Swans by Caroline Cooney

When sixteen-year-old Missy Vianello decides to try to convince her classmates that her cousin Claire is really her long-lost identical twin, she has no idea that the results of her prank will be so life-changing. This book is filled with surprise after surprise. I will give away that the two girls introduced at the begining of the story are actually sisters who have been told they're twins, however this is not the big surprise of the story because it's pretty obvious, at least to me, that they are. What does follow is a mystery that begins to unravel and plot twists that catch me unawares. It's a slightly disturbing story of love, parenting, and family life. I does tend to drag in some parts, but I found it worth it to push through and get to the resolution.

This week!

To my loyal readers...I promise to post some new reviews this week. I was very busy with a successful Read Across America this past two weeks.

The Truth about Truman School by Dori Hillestad Butler

A story of middle school cyberbullying as seen through the eyes of:

Zebby… she just wants to tell the truth.

Amr… he wants people to understand that he is just as American as anyone else.

Lilly… she wants to be popular.

Hayley… she IS popular.

Brianna… she wants to be Hayley’s B.F.F.

Trevor… he just wants to be left alone.

This is the product description on the book's website and tells it all. This book is so topical right now. Bullying has been around since the dawn of man, it seems to be part of human nature, unfortunately. The internet/technologies of today make it even easier to do so. Students are able to post their opinion, photos, videos, etc. without having to actually bully someone face to face. This increases the likelihood ten-fold. This book is a really interesting look into several situations that end up in bullying - from both perspectives. It pushes the envelope about "free speech" and damaging someone's life. It's a great book for these times.

What's Mrs. U reading now?

My students often ask for books about other kids like them. This is called realistic fiction. I am always on the quest for a truthful and honest look into middle school kids' lives. I want them to read a book and believe it could or has happened to them. Let's see if The Truth about Truman School by Dori Hillestad Butler is one of those types of books.

Stop Pretending: Poems About When My Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones

In a sequence of short, intense poems based on the author's own experiences, a 13-year-old girl suffers through her shifting feelings about her sibling's mental illness. She recalls the terror of the Christmas Eve when Sister was suddenly transformed into a stranger; the horror of visiting Sister in the hospital and finding her rocking on all fours; the fear that her friends will find out; her own worry that she, too, may lose her mind; and her wistful memories of Sister as she was before...

“The poems take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale.” (Kirkus Reviews )

“Sensitively written.” (The Horn Book )

“Stop Pretending is a tour de force debut. It celebrates truth-telling, and has a purity and passion that speaks to the heart.” (Boston Globe )

“The poems have a cumulative emotional power.” (ALA Booklist (starred review) )

“Unpretentious. Accessible. Deeply felt.” (School Library Journal )

“Heartfelt.” (KLIATT, starred review )

Can you say much more than that?

What's Mrs. U Reading Now?

I am beginning Stop Pretending What Happened When My Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones. Ms. Sones is known for her verse style of writing. The kids like them because they are fast reads. However, most times they don't realize that they're getting a lot of story in those carefully chosen words.

Christopher Killer Slays!

As the daughter of a Colorado County coroner, seventeen-yearold Cameryn Mahoney is no stranger to death. in fact, she’s always been fascinated by the science of it. so she’s thrilled to finally get some hands-on experience in forensics working as her father’s assistant. but Cammie is in for more than she bargained for when the second case that she attends turns out to be someone she knows—the latest victim of a serial killer known as the Christopher Killer. And if dealing with that isn’t hard enough, Cammie soon realizes that if she’s not careful, she might wind up as the killer’s next victim. . . .

Great introduction to the series. What's great about reading a forensic thriller is that you can skim/skip over the gory parts (like FF on the DVR). I really hate blood and guts stuff, but I love the idea of science solving a crime. Having a girl teen play the main character just adds a great new element to a cool mystery. From a teacher's perspective, I think it's great whenever a female is portrayed with intelligence. It subtly shows you that your strengths and interests can lead you into all sorts of interesting possible futures. I look forward to reading the rest of the series when I get the chance.

What's Mrs. U Reading Now?

I have gone back to the beginning of Alaine Ferguson's forensic series with The Christopher Killer. I had purchased one further down along in the series without realizing that it was a series. The premise of the books is that Camryn, a high school senior, is a gifted scientist who wants to become a coroner/forensic scientist like her father. I've always enjoyed CSI and NCIS (even if I am very squeamish). The idea of solving crimes with science is fascinating to me.

Max Cassidy : Escape from Shadow Island

I enjoyed Max Cassidy: Escape from Shadow Island by Paul Adams. It had a little bit of Alex Rider, and it reminded me a little bit of First Shot by Sorrels. Only fourteen years old, Max is the world's foremost escape artist. Chained, handcuffed, locked in an airtight water tank, there's nothing he can't get himself out of. He learned the art from his father—a man who just two years ago was murdered, and Max's mother went to jail for the crime.

Now a mysterious man has shown up backstage after one of Max's shows, telling Max that not only is his mother innocent, but his father is still alive. He can provide only one clue: a slip of paper with eight digits written on it. It is this clue that will lead Max from his home in London to the exotic and deadly Central American country of Santo Domingo and the impenetrable fortress on the sinister Isla de Sombra.

There is a cliffhanger at the end, leading to sequels, I'm sure. It's not a frustrating ending, though. It was a fun adventure read.