What's Mrs. U reading now?

Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret was just made into a move Hugo. I didn't see the movie, but my understanding (AS USUAL) was that it wasn't as good as the book. Big surprise!

His next one, Wonderstruck, just arrived in the library. Can't wait, although the book looks huge and kids are intimidated, it's half pictures!

The Best Bad Luck I Have Ever Had by Kristin Levine

"While most of the residents in the tiny, World War I–era Moundville, Alabama, are shocked that their new postmaster is African American, Dit is simply surprised that said postmaster’s child turns out to be a girl, not the boy his own age he was expecting. Bookish, timid Emma can hardly fill the role of fellow adventurer and baseball player that easygoing Dit, with more than a trace of a Huck Finn–like charm, had his heart set on. In unexpected ways, though, the unlikely twosome cross each other’s paths and slowly build a partnership of complementary strengths. When Jim Crow rears its ugly head in the person of the menacing and blatantly racist sheriff, Emma and Dit embark on a risky adventure to save the life of a man sentenced to hang on trumped-up charges. Levine’s story treats racism frankly and with no mincing of words. The highlight of this coming-of-age journey comes from watching the two kids learn about the world and come to care about each other in the way of 13-year-olds." ~Booklist

I enjoyed this story very much. It is becoming a bit cliche...white character and black character become friends in an unlikely time, but many students still don't understand why that was once taboo and unheard of. Lots of interesting characters and few interesting twists. I will probably still have trouble talking some kids into it, but if they would give it a shot, I think they would really like it.