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.