Rockett Blog

What do you value most?

2011-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

In the book Divergent, it determines what faction you belong to.

Honesty= Candor

Bravery= Dauntless

Intelligence= Erudite
Peace and friendship= Amity

Selflessness= Abnegation

Tris was born as a member of Abnegation, but decides to join Dauntless at her Choosing Ceremony. In Abnegation, she just didn't feel like she belonged. Dauntless is very different, but she has to survive initiation before she can have the privledges of membership. That means she has to face her fears, fight, and survive the bullies. But when her family is criticized for their political leadership, and her mother tips Tris off to a dangerous plot, she will be challenged to try and save her new friends, as well as her own family. In the stages of being made a movie, this science fiction thriller is as much fun as Uglies, Matched and Delirium, and is on the new Lone Star List.

Creepy story?

2011-10-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

It's close to Halloween, would you like a scary book to read under the covers at night? This one will haunt you! Kendall lives in a farming community that is trying to get over the loss of a sophomore girl last year. She just went missing. They looked and looked for weeks, but no sign of her ever turned up. Now it's a new school year, and their one room schoolhouse has a conspicuously vacant desk. But then Kendall's best friend, Nico, starts to act strangely. Days later, he has also vanished without a trace. Kendall is absolutely numb with grief. They search the fields, like last year, but to no avail. One day at school, Kendall sits in Nico's desk just to feel its familiarity with her best friend. She lays her head down on it and carresses the familiar carved graffiti on the desktop with her fingers. And that is when she hears it. Nico's own voice saying, "Please. Save me."

Forever it is

2011-08-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Ah, it is sad when a good series comes to an end. At least, I think it's over.... The door was left open just a crack in case the author decides to write more in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I'm not sure how much I should say, since it could spoil the ending if I say too much. Can I assume you know what happens in Linger? Ok, so on the cover that's Sam as a human and Grace as a wolf. That doesn't reveal too much. Grace's disappearance begins to be blamed on Sam by everyone in town. Isabel's parents are again petitioning to have the wolves eliminated from Boundary Wood. And Cole, well he's finally decided to put his genius to good use and see if he can invent a cure. But someone new learns the real secret behind Grace's disappearance. That's about all I can tease you with....

Movie, anyone?

2011-07-26T18:11:00.001-07:00

I may be a bit behind, but the May 27 issue of Entertainment had some great YA book suggestions! Actually, they were detailing books being made into movies, but all the more reason to read them.They are hoping to find the next Twilight since we are about to see our last movie from the series. So, without further ado, here are some great books being made into movies:

Beautiful Creatures
City of Bones
Delirium (a Rockett fave)

Divergent

Earthseed
Incarceron
Matched

Pure

Shiver(yippee!)

Warm Bodies

Anyone notice the predominace of one word titles there? Here's a little extra dirt on series installments I picked up from the article. The third of five books in the Beautiful Creatures series is coming in October. The Mortal Instruments series will have 5 books, but there is no word on when the last one will come out. Delirium will be a trilogy; the second one is titled Pandemonium, coming in March. Divergent is very new and will also be a trilogy. The second book will be out next May. Incarceron doesn't have a third book yet planned, but guess what? Taylor Lautner is cast for the lead! Crossed, the sequel to Matched, is due in November. Pure won't even be out until February. Hope you didn't miss the release of the 3rd book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series- Forever came out a couple weeks ago! I had not yet heard of Warm Bodies, but guess what- it's a zombie romance! Now, you have to promise to read all those before you go see them in the movie theater!

Portrait of a Book Junkie

2011-06-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me explain that our boss gave us librarians a challenge for the summer. Read 12 books. I mean, she was pretty specific and all about what types, but still, I was like, whatever. How about 24? Maybe 30? Would I get a bonus? Ha! So, in preparation for that, I loaded up before I left school. This is where it all piles up. This is the life of a librarian. They are truly organized piles, and I can prove that.
So, here goes: 1. Currently reading my 9th Lone Star book. 2. A stack of non-fiction I don't get to very often. 3. Hidden box of books! You can see just a couple stacked on top of the box that was too full to put any more in- all hidden behind a Library of Congress bag (nerdy, huh?). 4. That little box is my IPod Shuffle- loaded with an audiobook- I swear! 5. Kindle!!! 6. My 7th Bluebonnet that I'm reading with my daughter. 7. Pile of audiobooks on top of a couple of other books. 8. Stack of preview copies and review books. 9. Books I finished this month! 10. Some Lone Stars and graphic novels to get to.
This is the life of a reader. Or the bookshelf. Did I forget to mention the books that are actually shelved on the bookshelf. Oh, that's just a collector thing. I do try to limit myself, honestly. You know some people are worse than me- some people actually read at stoplights and keep books in their trunks. Anyway, just thought you'd like a little insight into my reading habits. Or idiosyncracies. Whatever.

2011-06-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

Delirium is a dystopic story about a world that has discovered the cure for love. Rather than letting people subject themselves to a lifetime of heartache and pain, everyone is surgically cured at 18. Sure, in the old days not everyone thought it was the best idea. But those who weren't actually killed were imprisoned or forced to attempt survival outside the boundaries of the civilized cities. Now everything is safe and everyone can be content. Lena hopes at least that she will be matched with a stable boy to marry after she is cured. Lena has more to overcome than most- her past is overshadowed by her mother's inability to be cured of the disease. In the end, nothing could save her mother from love, and Lena had to be raised by her aunt. But the family is tainted, as evidenced by her older sister's case of amor deliria nervosa. Lena is more than ready to get on with her future, until she meets Alex....

Entwined

2011-05-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

This story takes the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses and gives it a gothic twist. The oldest princess is Azalea, and she’s become the caretaker of her 11 youngest sisters since her mom’s death after giving birth to the youngest. In mourning, their father the king has forbidden dancing. But the enchanted castle has a secret door in the girls’ room. There, they can dance every night to their hearts content, at the Keeper’s invitation. Azalea soon learns he is actually the former King who enchanted the castle and his own body so that he’d not die, but exist in the magical realm within the castle’s walls. HIs demands for Azalea are the source of the tension and much of the novel's gothic feel. As she is realizing what is truly at stake, and the meaning behind her father's withdrawn moodiness, the suspense and action are at their climax. The sisters are all distinct and engaging, battling with their own issues in a full family domicile. One of the highlights of the story is the parade of suitors brought around to gain the eye of the Princess Royale, and the ensuing romantic entanglements. Being such a thick book, some readers may find it hard to get into, as it could be slow and confusing at first. But those who stick with it will be rewarded.

Serving Library Patrons

2011-04-15T08:38:00.001-07:00

Think like the customer session @ TLA
Try caring. We don't understand the customer, but we're not trying hard enough. Closing time behavior=bad. The key to customer service is creative problem solving. Without creativity we solve problems by changing procedures, making a rule to punish everyone or spend time explaining why we don't do it instead of actually doing it. Houston Public Libraries' policies- respond to complaints within 3 days, handle important stuff right away, work on uniformity of response for complaints, flexible policies as a result of continuous improvement process. How do you get passionate, enthusiastic staff? Inspire, liberate and cherish the ones you have, and make passion and enthusiasm driving values of your organization. Job descriptions- engage well with others and provide exemplary customer service, team player who thinks quickly on your feet, excited about the prospect of growing and learning. What motivates people-Mattering, things that are interesting...

Hot off the Press

2011-04-15T06:01:00.001-07:00

Session by Teri Lesesne: www.slideshare.net/ProfessorNana.

The Future of Libraries

2011-04-13T08:39:00.001-07:00

Science fiction and the fate of the libraries session @ TLA
Look to scifi cause often scientists write it and it frequently comes to pass in one form or another. Ex- Clark's artificial satellites, computers, robots, ereaders, inet. Whole societies predicted by Huxley, Orwell, Pohl. Libraries have been around but changed radically and continually. See extinction timeline- we are extinct in 2020. Computing drives the future and is likely to grow expotentially from now on. Comparison- now at insect brain level, by 2040 will be at human brain level. Look at: bioengineering, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence advances for the future. Most changes likely to occur here.
AI singularity model- we'll lose control as tech advances. (Vinge) I.e. Terminator, Wake, or Deepness in Space present different scenarios.
Super future model- advanced capabilities with computers under our control.
Dystopia model- evil people gain control over the technology- power and wealth only held by few.
Muddling Through model- advancements made slowly and used for good but not efficiently.
This is the scenario most likely to occur- how will libraries fare in this society? Digitization and direct to brain downloads, using digital spaces like 2nd life- libraries assist with huge cost, kindles and iphones providing book access as inet gets cheaper and faster. Implanting of digital devices?? (I vote no!) Books likely to disappear. Illiteracy possible. Artificial intelligence may become a personal librarian, but we'll have to show others how to use them and evaluate the info. Proliferation of 2nd life-use of avatars, computer generated environment- expensive- likely to be in libraries for people to experience. Libraries will provide face to face meeting space for people. People are still social creatures. Will become difficult to live without ebooks and iphones- these are transitional devices to artificial intelligence. Libraries should be democracy centers and continue to help people become better citizens. Libraries provide needed access to technology for the poor in our polarizing society. 1 percent own 40 percent of wealth. Info is one of our greatest needs and if it's expensive or difficult to use, libraries will continue to prosper.

If you give a kid a book @ TLA

2011-04-12T11:52:00.001-07:00

If you give a kid a book session:

Liar, liar by Paulsen- MS pathological liar
Wicked Girls by Hemphill- historical fic Mean Girls- witches
Moon over manifest- combine To Kill a Mockingbird, Holes and Sting
The End of the Line- kid thrown out of alternative schools
Deadly by Chibarro-historical fiction disease story
You Wish by Hubbard- all her bday wishes from past are coming true
Flip by Bedford- he woke up a completely different guy
Girl, Stolen by Henry- blind girl accidentally kidnapped
Dark Song by Giles- good girl gone wrong
Take me to the River by Hobbs- two boys take the rafting trip alone and encounter a hurricane and a drug lord
Trapped by Northrop- snowed in at their high school
The Magnolia League by Crouch- set in Savannah w a California protagonist. Debutante society involved with hoodoo to obtain eternal life.
Die for Me by Plum- set in Paris, Kate and Vincent fall in love, but he is a ghost-angel-zombie. HS
Cryer's Cross by McMann- sm town with secrets where teenagers are disappearing
Clarity by Harrington - she can see things and is hired to find out about a murder
Trance by Gerber- sisters couldn't prevent their mom's car wreck
Delirium by Oliver- get a shot to make you happy and avoid love
Divergent by Roth- one choice at 16- which faction to be in. A divergent belongs in more than one faction. Cpid
The Limit by Landon- MS kids are no longer off limits to be a worker who gets the family's debt manageable
Across the Universe by Revis - accidentally unfrozen on the way to a new planet
The Emerald atlas by Stephens- Poe-like orphanage where there are no other children
Small Persons with Wings by Booream- girl's fairy leaves her when she tells her class
Anna And the French Kiss- realistic romance
Juliet by Fortier- Romeo and Juliet connection

Switch

2011-03-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

Claire is special. Lightning causes her to sometimes switch bodies with other girls whose birthdays are close to hers. She was lucky to learn about this from her grandmother, a ghost/spirit who’s been around all Claire’s life- since her own death before Claire’s birth. Her grandmother’s story is intriguing- revealed later in the story to Claire for the first time. But her role in the story is to inhabit Claire’s body when Claire leaves it so that Claire will be able to return to herself safely. She can only do that when asleep. So it is extremely odd (and a little hard to believe, even when you are suspending disbelief) when a mere shock of static electricity puts her in another girl’s body. And she can’t leave because she actually likes being the attractive girl that all the boys stare at, especially her swim teammate Nate, the Golden Boy. Eventually, she learns to appreciate her own body and life more than the one she’s been inhabiting for several days, as she learns the bad things about the other girl’s body and life. Nice tidy story with a happy ending. And a pretty good read in the meantime- light and definitely beach worthy as the setting is a coastal town.

Bruiser

2011-03-09T18:10:00.000-08:00

What do you think a boy nicknamed Bruiser is going to be like? Here's a hint: he was voted most likely to go to jail. He's a pretty big guy, and very quiet. Maybe a little misunderstood. Bronte, working in the library, decides to help him as he wanders around the poetry section. In high school, most guys don't spend a lot of time in the poetry section- at least, not guys with a reputation like Bruiser's. Their short conversation intrigues her- he had a particular author in mind- and she decides he is date-worthy. However, for her popular twin brother Tennyson, Bruiser is not the right guy for his intelligent sister. Tennyson starts watching Bruiser so he can report the would-be boyfriend's horrendous habits back to his loveblind sister. But what he finds instead is a very protected 10 year old brother, a very mean uncle, and a very rundown shack. What Tennyson witnesses changes his mind completely about Bruiser. So Bronte is free to continue her romance and the twins get closer to the mysterious boy. They begin to notice strange things when they are around him. Strange things about him. Disturbing, but not at all in the way they once thought of a boy named Bruiser. What if his nickname isn't because he causes bruises, but heals them? What if his distanced personality is way he protects himself? What if everyone had a story to explain their behavoir? Maybe you should find out the truth before you judge someone. That's what Bronte and Tennyson learn in Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman.

In honor of Black History Month

2011-02-15T17:47:00.000-08:00

Just finished an ARC that I had and picked up after I learned it won an award at ALA. Not surprised. Quite a good story. I think what I liked best was the strength of the two main characters, 11 year olds Zora and Carrie. If you didn't realize it, it is based partly on Zora Neale Hurston's autobiography, Dust Tracks on the Road. Many of the characters seem to have been drawn from Zora's own telling. The reader can tell that Zora is headed for a future as a writer. But the novel is its own unique thing, not based on events that truly occurred. The two girls are worried that a man they had met once was killed by an alligator. The signs in Eatonville, Florida, indicate that it was more likely a hate crime. But the girls embark on their own investigation to out a man who they claim to be half alligator and half man. This leads them to a woman who pretends to be white because of her dark skin, but is the murdered black man's sister. Justice is meted out in both the black town and its neighbor full of whites, carried out fairly and in secret by men of both towns, giving the story a balanced ending. Between its strong message, characters, setting, historical enlightenment and the murder mystery, the book is indeed an ammazing accomplishment for the two first time authors who co-wrote it.

Black Bird manga

2011-01-11T18:24:00.000-08:00

I've got to admit, I really opened the door wide for controversy with this one. I'm gonna lay it all out and be completely honest about it. I read a segment of it from the magazine Shojo Beat and ordered it because a student wanted me to. Hmmmm. Well of course I read the whole book when I got it in. And the first volume isn't that bad. When I say bad I mean racy. Here's the premise: Misao is the Senka Maiden, meaning that she can give a lot of power to demons if they: drink her blood, eat her flesh, or impregnate her. Now, her childhood friend Kyo is one such demon. She loved him, he left, and then came back to claim her just before her sixteenth birthday. On her birthday, the otherwise invisible demonic creatures she's always seen are increasing in number and even attacking. Kyo comes to her rescue and explains everything to her. And informs her that he intends to marry her! So, he stays near her and protects her by masquerading as one of her teachers while in secret they date and she questions his intentions- is he just wooing her so she'll have his child someday and he will never have to worry about losing his place as the most powerful clan leader. That's basically volume 1 in a nutshell. Various characters pop up and try to get in the way of their relationship. The problem is that he's really comfortable with making her uncomfortable. Kyo loves to irritate her by turning into a pervert just when things start to get serious. To her credit, Misao socks him when he sticks his hand up her shirt. In later volumes (I've just finished 5), he is making his way around the bases, so to speak. Usually body parts are conveniently covered by either clothing or some body part. But not always. Since my book club wanted to read the series, I bought all five for the library. And now it appears the whole series really kinda centers around whether or not they will have sex. And then the other middle schools bought it, and oh, man, I'm afraid I'm gonna get in trouble!

Latest book in fantasy series

2010-12-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

The Icemark Chronicles didn't make a very big splash, although I'm not sure why. I do believe that fantasy either appeals to a reader or it doesn't. And the fans of fantasy are a minority of the readers out there. But they are die hard fans. And this series will feed them, because they always want series and they love big books! I read the first two in the series and this is the third one. I have enjoyed all three, although this one probably the least of the three. Thirrin, the heroine of both books one and two, spends less time in the spotlight in favor of two of her daughters, one the heiress to the throne, and the other a sorceress condemned to the strange underworld of this fantasy land. All three tell the story at different times during the novel, but so do some of the male or seemingly minor characters. The continual switches might actually be confusing to some readers. However, what readers may enjoy more in this installment is the deliberation and philosophizing about the nature of good and evil. What readers will enjoy about this series as a whole, is the combination of strong characters, strange creatures, war, magic, and love. It makes for a great read for girls and boys.

Fantastic Fairy Stories

2010-10-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

Radiant Shadows is a book I recently finished. I love the fairy world that Melissa Marr has created in this series. Let me lay out the books I've read of hers: Wicked Lovely- the love triangle of Aislinn and Seth; Ink Exchange-Aislinn's friend pursued by Irial; Fragile Eternity- continuing the story of Seth and Aislinn after she becomes Summer Queen; and Radiant Shadows- the love story of Ani and Devlin. Ani is only half fairy, but her fairy half is strong and taking over more of her body everyday. Devlin is an extremely powerful fairy created by two of the rulers- Sorcha and Bananach, his sister/mothers. He's a killer; sent to deal with problems that trouble order in the world according to his queen Sorcha. However, there is one time that he defied her orders, and it's when he's sent to kill Ani. When their destinies cross paths, they can't resist the love that draws them to each other.
What I love as much as the fairy world are the numerous characters that have been introduced in the various books. They are complex and intriguing. There is no black and white- well, maybe Bananach is all bad, but everyone else is shades of grey. They may be fairies, but they manage to deal with just as many complex relationships and emotions. Awesome books.

Trackers

2010-09-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Patrick Carman's new series is Trackers, in the vein of Skeleton Creek with the videos that you periodically watch between chapters. Only this one is a suspense/adventure/mystery. I liked it a lot better than Skeleton Creek actually because I thought it was more suspenseful. Or maybe it was just more believable to me being about computer hackers as opposed to ghosts. Oh wait, maybe I missed the part where you "break the codes" according to the cover. Hmmmmmmmmm. Need to check into that.

Reading, but not time to post!!

2010-09-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished Mockingjay, of course! Excellent. I even like the ending, although of course I hear some people didn't. I like gutsy endings. And I enjoyed the reaslism of the love triangle throughout the trilogy. Because, you know what, it's not all love at first sight and star crossed lovers. I was thrilled to see People do a page on the trilogy. I love it when YA books cross borders!
Anyway, there's a book I finished up this summer that won't be published for a couple months yet, so I'll give it some advance promo. It's called Fixing Delilah Hannaford. The main character is obviously Delilah. She's just learned that her grandmother has passed away and now she'll have to spend her summer at her grandmother's house: cleaning up the remains, reconnecting with her old friend from childhood, and digging up the secrets of her her family's past. It's a tough summer, full of raw emotion, which makes it a cathartic read. Is it ok that I identified with her bossy, busy mother more than the rebellious and reckless Delilah? If you like a good realistic fiction book full of strong female characters and fraught with every concievable emotion, then check this one out when it's published.

Sorta Like a Rock Star

2010-08-05T07:52:00.001-07:00

I'm not talking about myself, but about a book titled Sorta Like a Rock Star. It's a great read. The heroine of the book is really likable: a high school girl named Amber who is an eternal optimist despite the adversity that she and her mom face- living in a school bus to be exact. But she's got her friends- the Five- her dog, a caring teacher, and a few other eccentric adults in her life to look out for her. They come through for Amber when she needs them most- after the death of her mother. As a reader, you experience the depression with her and wonder if she'll ever pull out of it. But with the help of her friends and the community, she manages to come out sorta like a rock star.

My Take on Feed

2010-05-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

The most recent advanced reader copy I've read was actually an adult novel. But I have to write about it on my blog! I mean, it's all about blogging. How, in the future, when zombies are attacking people all the time, bloggers are the real reporters. "The media" can't be trusted because they're too political. And when the zombie virus hits, it's the bloggers out there telling the world how to fight them. Intriguing premise, huh? It only gets more complex when the young protagonist bloggers are invited to cover the upcoming presidential campaign by the most promising candidate. Throw in a few assassination attempts, and needles full of the virus, and bingo- you have a book that you just can't put down.

And if that wasn't creepy enough, let me share another thriller- Monstrumologist. This one is a Printz Honor book by Rick Yancey. Man, can he write. The main character, aside from the young apprentice narrator, is a dark, brooding scientist who studies bizarre creatures. The novel opens in fact, with a grave digger bringing to his door the body of a corpse that had been fed on by one such- an anthropophagus. These creatures are mentioned, however rarely, in ancient books by the likes of Heroditus, Pliny, and more recently Shakespeare, but whose existence has never been proven. Imagine headless giant hominoids with eyes on their chests and giant sharklike mouths where a stomach should be- but the most horrifying aspect of all is their diet- human flesh. And a colony is thriving in their town- below ground. This is one you may not want to read at night...

Reading Level Woes

2010-05-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

What to do when a teacher or student comes to you looking for a book based on their reading levels??? When did our educational system manage to convince people that reading a book based on one's intelligence level rather than reading interests would make someone more successful? How can we explain the inadequacy of attempting to apply the science of "reading levels" to the art of writing? I've tried, but I can tell you what happens most often: I become seen as someone who can't effectively do her job. They need a book and I can't just hand one over that will continue to promote readicide in America. And what's worse is the higher reading level a student attains, the fewer books are "on their reading level". Why can't we admit that if they are reading on an 8th grade reading level, or higher, they are more than competent to read 90% of the world's writing? Can't they just pick whatever they want at that point? Read for pleasure?
Ultimately, I have no answer. I want to support the teacher. I know I can't try to convince them of this in the 5 minutes they have to devote to this task. So what do I do? What are the odds I'm going to find "The Right Book for the Right Student at the Right Time" on the right reading level? Not good. Not good at all.

TLA preconference

2010-04-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in a preconference at TLA thinking I really want to share what I just heard with some people. So I think well maybe its time to blog about something other than books. Michelle gorman was the speaker- remember her? Well I do cause we were in theater together in high school. It is just amazing to me to see how passionate and knowledgable she has become about the same profession! (Yes people it does make me feel inadequate, especially since she's actually younger!) Ok so here's the background: her all teen and children library just got cut by 1/3 of its staff. Ouch. So her message is fourfold: 1 know your stuff, 2 share your message, 3 choose your words, 4 be an advocate. Let's see how well I can summarize what she said here. The first is about understanding the adolescent brain. New research tells us brains are still developing until their early 20s. So we need to remember that. Having that knowledge means we need to react accordingly. Other things to keep in mind when dealing with teens is their 7 needs and 40 developmental assets. More on that later when I have the handouts!
Sharing your message can be done in many ways- anecdote file ( because its more than just a number), visibility, socail messaging, and film testimonials. No one knows what you're doing unless you tell them!
Choosing your words is largely based on the ideas of Valerie Gross in Transforming our image through words that work. One great piece of advice is to do dual marketing- one for kids and one for adults!
Being an advocate can be done by modeling the behavior you want to see from the adults in the library, developing a philosophy of service, making sure policies are in alignment with developmental needs, and realizing that if you don't do it, no one will. I'm out of room, so feel free to comment!

Twilight graphic novel

2010-04-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Just finished the new graphic novel of Twilight last night. Not bad. The adaptation of the text was pretty straightforward, so that was good. The art was artistic, although on the manga side. I find that always tends to look kinds 80sish- anyone else notice that? But they didn't get very far into the story!! I wonder how many volumes it'll take to get Twilight done! And then there's the other 3!!

I did "Shiver"!

2010-03-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Where are all the frustrated Team Jake die-hard fans? If you are reading this, I've got a book for you! Shiver is a werewolf love story- not one vampire in it! It's a story about Grace, a girl taken from her swing as a child by werewolves and bitten, but not killed or changed. Sam is the werewolf who prevented that and watched over her in his wolf form every winter. But now it's his last summer; the cold weather threatens to change him daily and he will lose his humanity forever. Things come to a climax in their town when a high school student is killed by the werewolves and a hunting party sets out to rid the town of what they see as just a pack of wild wolves. Grace charges after them to prevent the killing of the wolves that fascinate her, and hears the shot that hits her favorite, Sam. When she returns home, she finds him in human form on her back porch, bleeding and near death. He is saved, partially by her and partially by his own ability to heal himself. But it becomes a daily struggle to keep him human as the weather gets colder. This is, of course, when the romance begins to get hot and heavy. The secret to Grace's ability to resist the change is their only hope for the future.

A podcast

2010-02-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

This is a podcast I made of the book Forbidden by Judy Waite. It's an engrossing story about a girl trapped in her current circumstances. Happy reading!

Fantasy Watch

2010-01-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Since fantasy is my favorite genre, I frequently have new fantasy books that I want to talk about, so here's a few I've read recently. As a side note, I think some of these fall into a new cross-genre: horror/fantasy. Or is that gothic? I'm sure there is nothing new under the sun...

Immortal by Gillian Shields
On her way to a new boarding school, Evie meets a mysterious boy who she later begins to have nighttime outings with. But there are dozens of things going on that she can't explain-like the girl whose place in the school she took, recently drowned in the nearby lake, a girl she can sometimes see that looks exactly like her but old-fashioned,the inexplicable aloofness of the one other scholarship girl at school, why the boy she's falling in love with refuses to see her in the daytime or introduce her to his parents. She's almost driven to insanity when other girls help her realize that she has latent powers that are the key to all the mysteries she's encountered.

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
If you enjoyed Wicked Lovely, put this book on hold! Wicked Lovely is a story of twisted love when the Summer King of the fairies chooses mortal Asilinn to be his Queen. In between these two is the story of one of Aislinn's friends who is victimized by an nefarious fairy- Ink Exchange. But it digresses. Fragile Eternity picks up the story of the Summer King and Queen again. Their tenuous agreement to let Aislinn keep her mortal boyfriend is put to the test as the summer draws near and their powers rule them. Is she destined to be her king's true consort, or can her mortal find his own way to intervene? This was a book I just couldn't put down.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
This title is on the Lone Star list for next year. A tale of two sisters, one evil and one good. But after their father's death, Lia finds a book with a prophecy that she can't ignore. Partly that's because of the snake mark etching itself to life on her wrist and a matching medallion given to her by a strange girl. The mystery of the prophecy is something she must work to discover while keeping it secret from her twin. But beware reader, all is not as it seems.

Daring Holocaust Story

2009-12-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti is a work of historical fiction inspired by her research and writing of the acclaimed non-fiction work Hitler Youth. It tells the story of one German teenage boy, Hugo, who becomes disillusionsed with the Nazi propoganda. The loss of so many civil freedoms leaves him wondering about the true nature of the party in power. It is when he obtains a radio from his older brother and secretly tunes into a BBC broadcast in German, however, that he learns the truth: Nazis are lying to their own people about the war. This leads him to take dangerous risks that land him in prison awaiting trial. The story is told intermittently through flashbacks as he ponders his fate in prison- a technique used effectively by the author. What really hit home here is the boy's perspective. He was not one persecuted by the Nazis, but one who could have, and was encouraged, to contribute to the good of the Fatherland. His questioning of the ideals and the Nazis in addition to their techniques, allows the reader to question along with him. This book is a powerful read that has much in it to stimulate discussion or introspective reflection. Pair this with Orwell's 1984 for a really thought-provoking analysis of current government regimes.

Whew!

2009-12-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

I took my time recovering from that one! But we now have a list of 54 graphic novels for middle and high school students!
What are my favorites? Well, the ones I nominated of course! Which would be Maximum Ride, Stuff of Life, Outlaw, Emiko Superstar, Salt Water Taffy, Coraline, Amulet, and Rapunzel's Revenge. Seriously, though, I was delighted to enjoy some new nonfiction like Photographer, What It Is and The United States Constitution. New manga is always fun- check out Jyu-oh-sei and Pluto for some pretty good characterization and detailed sci-fi settings. For traditional comics, Blue Beetle: Reach for the Stars and Wolverine: Prodigal Son are both great but impart some important life lessons. Since I love re-made classics, I'll advise you to check out Fahrenheit 451, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Hound of the Baskervilles . Those were the ones we included, but by no means the full range of what's available these days in graphic novel format. Let me just add a couple not-to-be-missed titles: Good Neighbors: the Kin and Flight Vol. 5. But that's not everything- I don't know how much I missed, so check out the full list!

43 Books in 38 Days

2009-10-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is it1 The last push! Oringinally, it was going to be 45 books in 45 days, but.... I've got less than 6 weeks to go on my tour of duty with the Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List committee! But this is the hard part. I may not post much cause I should be reading. Nonetheless, I thought maybe I'd try to periodically post a good GN for you readers out there.
Last night I finished Nightschool by Svetlana Chmakova. Now with a name like that, and a manga-like novel NOT reading backwards, I wondered what the deal was. She's Russian, and I believe is now living in Canada. So this is an Original English Language manga. What we have with Nightschool is the first of what will be a series about Alex, who is weirn. What? you ask? According to the author's website, 'weirns' are a special type of witch who are born with demon guardian spirits bound to them. And they have a special school, hence Nightschool. But, they are aren't the only creatures you'll encounter in this "urban fantasy"; it's also full of vampires, vampire hunters, witches, seers, and other horrific monsters of the night. Gripping, fast-paced, and full of fantastic artwork, this graphic novel is sure to entertain you for the 30 minutes or so it'll take you to read it ;)

Already caught fire

2009-09-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Long weekend, read Catching Fire. Could NOT believe the ending. Guess I'm gonna have to read the THIRD ONE now. Don't want to say too much else right now.

"Impossible" to resist

2009-09-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little hole in your reading life now that you've finished the Twilight saga? Well, maybe you should try Nancy Werlin's Impossible. This is the story of cursed Lucy and her female ancestors. Imagine knowing that once you turn 18, you'll be pregnant and go insane right after giving birth to your baby girl! What would you do? What if there were three impossible tasks that might break the curse and save you? Even if you didn't believe in the supernatural being controlling the curse, would you attempt three impossible things: to make a seamless shirt without using needles, to find an acre of land between the sea and the seashore, and to sow it with only one grain of corn? Lucy is lucky though- she's always had her wonderful foster parents, and now she has her good friend and neighbor Zach whe are willing to help her. Her mother didn't have this support and didn't ask for help with the tasks, but with all four of them working on it, surely there's a way to do it all- before Lucy goes into labor!

Hunger Games

2009-08-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Did I know they were going to make this into a movie? Did you know the second one is coming out Sept. 1?

Explosion of scifi

2009-08-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Man, did everyone get tired of the vampire bandwagon and jump on the science fiction wagon at the same time? It's just CRAZY how many good scifi reads are out there right now! Take the Lone Star List for this year. I THINK 7 of those titles would classify as science fiction.
I just finished a book I picked up at TLA LAST YEAR (in 08 I think) that I really liked. It's called The Sky Inside and the author is unknown to me. The society where the main character, a teenage boy, lives is a suburb inside a dome. They know nothing of the outside world. Their babies are delivered by "the stork". Most are "reproductions" of a certain person- possibly using their DNA. I can't remember the exact details, but this young generation gets referred to as freaks. They are too intellectual and curious for their "parents". Things get complicated when they are recalled, and a man comes to take them away on the train that runs through the suburb underground. The main character realizes how wrong and inhumane this is and runs away to save his sister, among the group taken away. His experiences outside the suburb, as I'm sure you can imagine, are full of wonder, shock, danger, and adventure. If you enjoyed Uglies, then this is another science fiction adventure that I'm sure you'll devour.
Check it out here:

I'm a slow reader

2009-07-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

Never let that stop you. Anyway, so I finally finished a book I wanted to blog about. It's called The Ghosts of Kerfol and it's by Deborah Noyes. Technically, it's a collection of short stories, although each one is about a castle in France that's been haunted since the 1600's. The first story tells why it's haunted- the lord of the manor was a domineering man who had good reason to be insanely jealous as his young wife was in love with another. Bizarrely, he forbade her to own dogs as pets, or even care for them and strangled them whenever she dared touch one. Yeah, it's pretty dark. But these dogs, as well as other characters involved in the couple's story, continue to haunt the manor up until the last story set just a few years ago. I was really enthralled by these stories.

Black Book of Secrets

2009-07-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

What could be more interesting to read than a book full of people's deepest, darkest secrests? That's exactly what this Black Book is- transcribed confessions for which the pawnbroker has paid. A cast of characters is paraded through as the pawnbroker and his assistant make a home in a remote mountain village: the butcher, the bookseller, the gravedigger, the priest, and the rich man who blackmails them all. As the town's secrets are slowly collected, unrest and questions begin to arise. What can the pawnbroker do to stop the blackmail? Will he use everyone's secrets agains them? Can the assistant resist reading the secrets in the book from before? This dark book will compel you to join their journey and make you examine the nature of man.

Book trailer to view

2009-07-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

If you enjoyed my review below, then watch the book trailer I made for Academy 7!

One to watch

2009-04-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

At the librarian's conference, I picked up a couple copies of Advance Reader Copies of books. Last week I finished one that was a CPID (can't put it down)! It is a science fiction story by Anne Osterlund titled Academy 7. I don't know about you, but I have noticed an alarming trend for all the great new books to be science fiction. For example, check out next year's Lone Star list. Anyway, on to the book.
The main characters are Aerin and Dane, freshmen at Academy 7 on planet Academia. The story is told alternating between the two of them as narrators. Aerin has been raised by her father on his ship, never formally educated. His death, however, landed her in a world of terrifying unknowns that are slowly revealed as the story progresses, but end in stability with her acceptance at the most prestigious school. This is where she meets Dane, her academic and combative rival. He is the unfavored son of an infamous general, who forces his son into submission using whatever means necessary. Dane's rebellious ways culminated in his acceptance at the school his father attended but since abandoned. The two are inexplicably tied to one another, in the present, the past and possibly even the future. I thinik it's gonna be a series! Lots of action to supplement the "scientific" part and the romance- this book has it all!

Eternal

2009-03-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have been eagerly anticipating the book I knew would follow Tantalize without being its sequel. I was so thrilled on Thursday the 12th when I learned it’d just come out finally! I ran out and got it and it was my Spring Break reading. I loved it! I thought it was better than Tantalize. I was more attached to these characters- and in love with Zachary, the fallen guardian angel of Miranda, a girl just turned into a vampire. He's trying to save her soul but he loves her and at times that conflicts him. Don't be misled though, it's a dark story that highlights the battle between good and evil. Vampirism isn't romanticized here. Think of how centuries of rich selfish bestial beings have developed a society where they are in control of vast resources. Zachary's been given the task of trying to make a dent in their cruelty.
When I read Tantalize, it seemed as if I missed things. Especially at the end- it really took me by surprise. And what a cliffhanger! I did notice that at times with Eternal, it was like things were happening in between chapters that didn't get put in the book. But much less than in Tantalize and it was more understandable considering the alternating narrators. I did wonder if maybe the publisher made the author cut out some of the writing. The ending is satisfactory in my opinion, as opposed to that of Tantalize. Some readers may not agree with me! I will be avidly awaiting the third book in the universe!

New Graphic Novels

2009-03-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

P.L.A.I.N. Janes and Janes in Love
Looking for a new kind of she-ro? Meet Jane, an ex-New Yorker living in suburbia after a homemade bomb hospitalizes her. A fellow victim helps her recuperate as he lays unconscious in the bed next to hers. After the explosion, she finds his journal titled Art Saves and grabs it for him. She hangs onto that concept as a lifeline and uses it to begin anew. As she goes to a new school full of strangers, she seeks out quiet beauty and shy students to befriend. Periodically she writes her John Doe, still in the hospital, and confesses her depressing thoughts to him. Her new friends were seemingly waiting for her to come and give them purpose. They all ate lunch together, silently, and were all named Jane. MainJane brings them all together with her plan to bring art to their boring neighborhood. Thus, People Loving Art In Neighborhoods is born. Unfortunately many see their work as vandalism. The girls must work harder and more secretly to continue their work. In the 2nd volume, they make new allies and learn a lot of lessons about love.
Maximum Ride
Well, for any of you who know my opinion of the novel Maximum Ride, you'll probably be happy to know that I am much more positive about the way the graphic novel turned out. The artist (NaRae Lee) is a Korean girl who is a university student if I'm not mistaken. To be so talented at such a young age... The main criticism I have for the graphic version is that it ends at p. 197 of the novel. That's not even halfway through the book. But I must admit, it's a fairly good place to break if you ignore the fact that the subtitle is The Angel Experiment and Angel is still inexplicably in captivity. My other criticism is that Max is blonde according to this artist. Well, there's a couple of other minor things along these lines: the way their wings disappear without the aid of large jackets, Nudge's lip color, the Erasers' appearance of inhumanity (after all, they're hybrids too). Besides all that, readers will likely enjoy the graphic novel whether or not they've read the book. It sticks very closely to the plotline of the novel, but readers must beware of going from the graphic novel to the second book of the prose series!!
In Odd We Trust
This book is another adaptation of a story from its novel. This one by adult author Dean Koontz. I don't think this series will appeal as much to young adult readers because the protagonist is 20. He "sees ghosts" which makes me wonder if the author wrote it after the movie "The Sixth Sense", but I didn't research to find out. Honestly, if you want a story of a mediator for teens, I'd suggest Cabot's Mediator series, but since this one is a graphic novel, I guess there's reason it may appeal to different readers. It's a bit hard to draw ghosts possibly, because the illustrator did not distinguish them from the other characters. It actually takes a while to see that some are indeed only viewed by the main character, Odd. I must digress here a minute to discuss the art. Oddly enough, the artist, Queenie Chan, did her own graphic novel series about ghosts-the Dreaming. I wasn't particularly enthralled with it either. I just don't like her faces, for one. That story also had a tendency to drag but have cliffhanger endings. Nonetheless, I was shocked when I recognized the style of the faces and hair in Koontz's book and found out it was the same artist. I think for this title, they shouldn't have ventured into the graphic arena. But that's just me!

Why I love Scott Westerfeld

2009-01-29T14:44:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest books I've read in a while is by one of my fave authors- Texan Scott Westerfeld. He so rocks. His book So Yesterday is about how things become popular. Well, actually, it's about a girl who goes missing and what happened to her in the world of Trendsetting New York. I was enthralled. Westerfeld works in so much into his novels- history, science... To think this book was copyrighted 2004 but was so technologically spot-on. Are we that behind in Texas? Or is it just me? The things I think of particularly here the celphone capabilities and power of blogging. I've absolutely got to quote my favorite part. It's the English teacher in me. The main character, Hunter, is being sought to join a group of trendsetting kids who are frustrated with the lack of capitalization in our society. I love this idea! Read on:
“One more word about cranks: An Innovator friend of Lexa’s had this theory that uppercase was coming back in. That all the Webby kids who’d never hit the shift key in their lives (except to type an @ sign) were about to start putting capitals at the beginning of their sentences, maybe even the first letter of their names and other proper nouns. Lexa didn’t really believe this seismic shift was imminent, but she desperately wanted it to be. Typographical laziness was slowly destroying our culture, according to Lexa and her pals. Inexactitude was death.
“I wasn’t clear on the details of her theory. But the concept behind SHIFT was that if enough Trendsetters started using capital letters in their e-mails and posts, maybe the herd would follow.
“’You haven’t joined up, have you?’
“I cleared my throat. ‘I’m sort of agnostic on the whole SHIFT agenda.’
“‘Agnostic? You mean you aren’t sure if capital letters exist?’ Lexa could be literal minded at times.
“’No, I believe in them. I’ve actually seen a few. But as far as the need for a movement goes—‘”...
p. 50-51
He cracks me up. So true, so true my friend. And does Hunter get the girl in the end? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, to tell or not to tell? The power I wield. It does go to my head. I think I'll make you read the book to find out. We need the circulation stats.

What I Read Over Christmas Break by Cindi Rockett

2009-01-07T12:59:00.000-08:00

Guess what I did over Christmas break? Read, of course! I made my way through many a book and I’ll give you a quick briefing in case you’re interested.
Blood relatives 2- A take off of the Vampire Kisses in graphic novel format. I reviewed the first one about this time last year. What I really like about this is that the graphic novel is a separate story. You needn’t have read the novels. Having only read the first novel, I can’t really tell you where in the big picture the two separate plotlines are in relation to each other. Well, Alexander and Raven are dating in the graphic novels- that part I do know! In #2, Raven is trying to help her boyfriend rid Dullsville of his half-vampire cousin. In order to do this, the two plot a fake map that will take him back to Transylvania, but the plot fails. Entertaining.
Ouran High School Host Club 2- I realized why I love this series. It’s like a sitcom. It’s not about the story. In fact, each chapter is a separate episode. It’s about the characters. And it’s definitely comedic in nature, unlike the graphic novels I’ve been reading which fall into romance or horror. So, in this installment, the twins have a (staged) fight, a young newcomer seeks their help wooing one particular girl, and the group go for an outing to an underground water park, where Hunny goes missing but proves he inherited the martial arts skills of his family. Lots of good fun. Now I left out clean but only because the FRONT MATTER in the book indicates that one of the twins is a “handsome homosexual l+ forbidden love between relatives”. Yeah, they are a little close and make comments about each other, but it could be staged for the girls just like the fight was staged. Nothing major- at least not in this volume.
Miki Falls- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Unique story. Well, sort of. I mean the complicated journey of love isn’t unusual- at first. But Hiro’s secret is a new one- he’s a keeper of the spark of love as it dies from one couple and is held until it can be given to a new one. The main conflict is that his superior believes that being in love prevents one from doing their job. The lengths the two of them go to in an effort to escape punishment- and separation- rival the forbidden love story of Romeo and Juliet- almost. The reader is really kept on the edge throughout all four volumes and will be surprised by the ending. Unless you can guess it.
Queen B -This is a story that I am not sure our community could relate to. Every other paragraph talked about the people of the upper crust. The protagonist’s term for a member of this group is a soc. Personally, I found it obnoxious to read about a girl so obsessed with a person’s place in high school social strata. Perhaps middle school girls relate more than me. If they can get past the extravagant wealth of some of the families living in this town. It’s something you don’t see much of in Irving. Cassie keeps talking about how she does not want to be Queen B but a queen bee. Her jealousy almost costs her the love of her boyfriend. I kept getting the feeling that there’s another story before this one, but I haven’t read it…
Evil Genius - If you were a fan of the Mysterious Benedict Society, this might be a good read for you. Both deal with extremely smart young people. Cadel is so bored at school he is bounced around from one to another until he ends up at one that will graduate him at the age of 14. During this time he gets into a bit of trouble using computers and is ordered, as a minor, to see a psychologist on a regular basis. Dr. Roth, his therapist, plays a big part in his life and in getting him enrolled in an institute of higher education known as the Axis Institute. Here he learns many things: forgery, hacking, the art of disguise, the nature of evil, and the importance of accounting, as well as the identity of his father, according to Dr. Roth. He’s the son of an criminal mastermind in jail. Behind the scenes, Dr. Darkkon, his father, runs things and has set up the Institute solely for the purpose of educating his son to take over his criminal empire. But he and Dr. Roth did not count on Cadel inventing his own computer dating service (as a scam) which would put him in contact with a parapalegic who would save his life. Hard to believe? Wonder what the sequel holds!

The sequel to The Diary of Pelly D

2008-12-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

What do you think is the difference between these two lands? Cherry Heaven is across the ocean, a part of the New Frontier, where the violence of the Five Cities that escalated into race wars is someone else's problem. But at what cost have they managed to evade discrimination? The New Frontier is seen through the eyes of Kat J and her sister, Tanka, as they arrive at Cherry Heaven for their aunt and uncle's new jobs. It's not as technologically sophisticated as the city they grew up in, but not too bad overall. Colder, yes, but there is also great scenery, good looking boys on the waterball team, and all the frozen cherries left from the previous owner's harvest. The comfortableness of their new lifestyle is brutally contrasted with that of an escaped factory worker. Luka was leading a slave-like existence because of her race, but not anymore. Now she's free to exact revenge on the authority figures who were brutally cruel to her and her co-laborers. It turns out that "peace" and "comfort" in the New Frontier is something obtained on the backs of slave workers. Luka's path of destructive behavior crosses the path of Kat and Tanka, and things escalate from there. In the end, the deus ex machina is none other than Pelly D's brother! Gim D had gone overseas to work for peace and ended up as a laborer too. And there you have it- full circle.

twilight must be commented upon

2008-11-21T00:52:00.000-08:00

just a sec. *sigh* i'm a little emotionally overwhelmed right now. it's a good thing i had a while to get used to Robert Pattison as Edward. true- he'll never be MY Edward, but i enjoyed his interpretation. kind of a uncomfortable in his own skin guy. actually it reminded me of another Edward- Scissorhands. odd comparison, huh? well it was definitely done in the cult classic vein. i guess that's mtv for you. mmmmm. just have to say that once in a while. there were some truly great moments I'm reliving. does make me wish i were in high school again. which reminds me how it reminded me. of that-high school. in particular of a very close group of friends who spent Thursday nights watching Twin Peaks! can i get a cheer from the audience on that one? man, i was having some deja vu moments in there. *sigh* mmmmmmm. what an awesome movie. but then again, with a book like twilight, wouldn't it be hard to go wrong? oh-heads up-watch for Stephenie Meyer's cameo appearance. did anyone else see a resemblance between her and Victoria? was that just crazy me? i should really quit rambling and get some sleep. what a night. maybe Edward will come watch over me while i sleep. : )

Time for the Movies

2008-11-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

Well, of course you'd have to be a cave dweller to not know that Twilight is about to be released in the theaters! Awesome! I am so PSYCHED! We're taking Friday Night Flicks ON LOCATION for this historic event! Anyone who goes needs to stop by the library and sign our poster. You can also trade your movie stub for a bookmark.

But since this blog is about books I just read, then let's talk about another book coming to the theaters: City of Ember. Actually, I read this quite a while ago. But, I did just finish the third book of the trilogy on audio. Sidenote- if you an audiofan- don't listen to this one. Read it. Really annoying sound effects were included all thoughout the story. For those of you unfamiliar with this series, City of Ember is a sci-fi book where the narrator's whole world exists underworld after a devastating world war. This book is followed by the People of Sparks. I won't summarize this one cause it would ruin the ending of the first book if I did. And of course, that's the one you can go see in the theaters now. I'm including a link to the the preview.
Ok, so go see that movie and then go ahead and check out The Prophet of Yonwood. Wow, that's kind of funny, I just now mentioned that that's the title of the third book! Man, do I digress. Here's what I really wanted to tell you: this book is actually the prequel to City of Ember. It's nice to get a little background on it. I enjoyed it, although not as much as the first. It gave a satisfying explanation for why they went undergound in the first place. So, hey, check it out.
Other great movie/book combos to check out: Tale of Desperaux, Hoot, Spiderwick Chronicles, Golden Compass, Horton Hears a Who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Because of Winn-Dixie, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Aquamarine, Tuck Everlasting, Stormbreaker, and Bridge to Terabithia. That ought to give you guys something to do over Thanksgiving and Christmas break. When you're not reading, that is!

book fair buys

2008-11-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

ok, I haven't technically seen every title in store for us at the book fair this week. This is just a starter list of things to check out. What got me most excited was a new Skippyjon Jones book : ) !!! But there's only two copies and I am definitely buying one. Ruby was eyeing the other one... But since some of you are wanting books you can really sink your fangs- I mean teeth- into, I think we got some copies of Host! Found is a new book by Haddix that I've heard is really good. Korman's book Swindle is there. Since the new Bluebonnet list just got announced, I'll be looking for those titles. I need to pick up a bunch of copies of all the Maximum Ride titles, which we did get. I think I saw a new Land of Elyon book in one of the cases- which reminds me I need to find out if we're getting Carman as a visiting author..... Another list of titles I'll be looking for are the Lone Star consideration list. Oooh and I've really gotta look for the stuff on Lesesne's list- like the one written by Westerfeld's wife- How to 4itch your fairy. Fun. Happy shopping everyone,

woooo-halloween

2008-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Wanna spooky read? Try Generation Dead! It's a zombie book. ok I should tell the truth- it's not a scary book. Sorry. Here's what happens-whenever a teenager dies, they come back to life. They try to go back to life as normal but can't quite because they aren't the same. And they certainly aren't treated the same anymore. There is some serious discrimation going on here-even from their own families! Eventually there begins to be small changes among the "living impaired". a few can function quite a bit better- one guy even tries out for the football team, and makes cause seriously zombies are indestructible, right? The kicker is when the heroine falls in love with the football playing zombie, much to everyone's distaste. Will she end up him or the sweet guy next door? I'm not telling! (If you guessed that I don't even remember, you know me well : ))

boyfriend buzz

2008-09-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

I recently reviewed Lockhart's The Boyfriend Book, which is the sequel to the previously quite hot Boyfriend List. Well, I wanted the full picture, so I checked out the audio of the first book. So, today, I can discuss both books with you. First off, I wanted to know, "What is all the buzz about?" Well, let me tell you, I don't know the answer to that. I mean, they were pretty good, but no Harry Potter or Twilight or anything. Nonetheless, let me tell you a bit about it and let's just see if you are interested in reading it for yourself.
We have the same main character of each novel: Seattle-based Ruby who attends a private school and is a high school underclassman. The main issue is her breakup with Jackson and subsequent events, one of which involves accepting an invitation to the dance with him AFTER he has begun to date her former best friend. I should mention the very non-linear format of this first book. At some point Ruby explains that she is seeing a therapist because of the post-breakup panic attacks she suffered. The therapist recommends writing a list of any and all semi-boyfriends and crushes. Each "chapter" is a discussion of that guy with her therapist and then flashbacks of the stories about them. But they are in no way in chronological order. Eventually you do get around to the actual breakup story, which reeks of him cheating on her with her former best friend. Then you wonder about what she did after the breakup that was so awful that all of her friends abandonded and isolated her. Well, it comes around at the very end FINALLY. She initiates a kiss with him during the dance. She shouldn't have accepted the "date" anyway. That's my opinion. It was ok- I guess teen girls like it because they relate to the different stories of dating life. And I was enjoying it, but at the end, we got into a bit too much detail with her older friend's personal relationship.
Now, on that note, the second book was a lot more of that TMI. So, first a warning, you'll be reading quite a bit about what the girls do and don't do with their boyfriends- and random guys that they sometimes just hook up with. OKAY. Not a cutesy little teeheehee we're holding hands book. This title is The Boyfriend Book, which comes from the first novel. Ruby mentions the boyfriend book created by her and her three friends many times. She talks about referencing it and making entries with her friends. So here the author includes many excperts from said book. They fit in with her stories as she remembers the good times, tries to reconnect with some of the alienated friends, and works to make new friends. I don't think it will be as sought-after as the first. But it's got a pretty good message at the end, which the first novel kinda lacked. So together, they make a whole.

Can't get enough vampire lit!

2008-08-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhhhh! I LOVE sinking my teeth into vampire books! Hahahahahahahahaha! Seriously though, I am hooked- or is it addicted? One of my favorite vampire series is Vampire Knight- which is actually manga. The author is Matsuri Hino, who also wrote MeruPuri. That's another great series, btw. So, we are now drooling over the 4th installment. I find that with most graphic novels, I tend to forget details of the plot. It's kinda hard to follow, honestly. It would be great if they had plot outlines you could read up on- especially when it's like 6 months in between publications. Did I digress?
I guess I'm not going to bother with filling you in on the details of vol. 1-3. If I can. So in vol. 4, it starts out with murmurs over the new Night Academy student. I'll skip names where I can. I think you only need to know Yuki, Zero and Kaname. This new girl is apparently a pureblood vampire (like Kaname) using someone else's body. I guess that might be to disguise herself. Although it certainly doesn't take long for anyone to figure out her true identity. She is the vampire who bit-killed-saved?- Zero. It's important to remember that he was/is a member of a really hardcore vampire hunting family. Well, if you had forgotten, he remembers the event for you in a series of flashbacks. So she really screwed his life up.
Before I go on, let me inform you that the whole novel is taking place around the ball where both Night and Day students get to mingle and dance. Just a little sidelight, but it makes for an interesting setting. Yuki offers her blood to Zero at one point, and I think it is during this moment of weakness that he reveals the new student's true identity to her. She runs off in search of the new villian, but I'm not the least bit sure what she was planning to do. She is told at this point that she can save Zero from becoming a Level E (uncontrollably evil?) vampire in one of two ways. She can kill Kaname (because it is only around Yuki that he lets his guard down- mysteriously) or by offering her blood to the new pureblood.
The night of the dance she makes her decision easily in light of her admiration- or is it love?- for Kaname. So she runs off again to find the transfer student/vampire. Just before the she is bitten, Zero shows up to save her, but Yuki heroically tries to martyr herself. It's all so dramatic. Ooh, but then, right at the end, someone new shows up to complicate things even more. Are you ready for this? It's Zero's long lost twin brother!!!!!!!! I think Zero actually got a sword through his arm somewhere in all the confusion of who is on whose side, who is protecting who and all that whatnot. Do you see why I want a plot outline? But it's all good. Very easy to fall in love with the characters of this story, especially with the cute side stories the author includes.

Breaking Dawn is here!

2008-08-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Like you didn't know that! But I couldn't think of a catchy title. I finally finished it. Took my time actually cause I wanted it to last. Other people are all, "I know I have to finish it in one day or someone will spoil the ending for me!" Pooh I say. Don't watch those shows or read the paper or talk to those people and you'll be fine. No one ruined it for me! It was great. I enjoyed every minute. How much should I reveal........ Well, it's hard to discuss without revealing certain crucial plot elements, so I guess I'd better warn you- I will be talking about things you might rather not know in advance if you're planning to read it. OK? All responsibility is now on your shoulders. You can't come back and get mad at me cause I ruined it for you cause I'm warning you right now!!! Stop reading if you don't want to know!!! This blog is intended only for those who finished it! (Or plan to never read it, which would be a darn shame if you ask me.)
I admit I wondered what this initally unplanned novel had up its sleeve. I pretty much thought that Eclipse had wrapped everything up well enough. Except for Jacob being unhappy. I went in wondering what Stephenie Meyer had concocted that could take a whopping 756 pages to tell. I kind of expected the whole turning Bella into a vampire to be the big climax. Well, it kinda wasn't huh? I mean she jumped right on in with the wedding plans. Is it just me that takes a year and a half to plan a wedding? jeez! Ok, I guess since Alice is a vampire and doesn't sleep she could do it in half the time, but still... Well, I guess I just wanted more detail. That's the girly girl in me. It seemed so abrupt. Maybe the editor made her cut some of that out so it wouldn't be 900 pages long.
Anyway, let's move on to the honeymoon, cause Stephie sure did! Much more interesting. Cool setting. I had trouble actually picturing the house. And Bella in lingerie, but that's not something I was really trying to do! Well, my first thoughts were that here in this fourth book Meyer was sure making up for all the chasteness of the first three. Am I right or what? Concerins as a middle school librarian, let me tell you! All I can really say is that it wasn't graphic thankfully, but it was definitely prolific (later on anyway). Here my discussion of sex in the novel ends. Except for the fact that Meyer had a funny twist to it. ok nuff said.
So the really fascniating part of the whole book was Bella getting pregnant. Wow I did not anticipate that at all! You're probably thinking duh but I'm not much of an anticipator (anticipationist?) at all. So I just loved this twist and was all abuzz with the possibilities. Needless to say my husband was unsympathetic and uninterested in hearing the details of such a hybrid child. Would it be the angel no one could resist or a demon child bent on destruction and death? These and other questions entertained me. I could see the Cullen family divided- Bella and Rose fleeing to protect a monster only a mother could love and who knows what Jacob and Edward would be doing to put a stop to it.
And then we get to the part where she's almost dead due to the birth and it's time for Edward to turn her so she won't die. DISAPPOINTING. I really wanted her transformation to be more traditional- not Edward injecting his venom into her with a needle and all sterile and everything. I wanted him to bite her, for Pete's sake! Anyone out there agree with me? I'd been waiting for this for three books! Imagining Edward creating a honeymoon like atmosphere and letting himself go for once. It should have been more romantic and even bordering on sadistic, as only vampire myths can. Well, this is all my humble opinion. Of course, Meyer's choices are good and honorable. It's the sign of a good writer that she goes against what we want- at times- and puts in a wonderfully brave twist. She knew people like me were out there and would be disappionted but she did it anyway. Gotta admire her. Few writers have fans as devoted as hers. She probably hired security to protect herself. But I digress.
Moving on to Renesmee. No way would I ever have even remotely let the thought enter my mind that Jacob would fall in love with Bella's daughter. Whoa. Now that was something. Holy cow. One of my colleagues meditated on if Meyer might perhaps be planning a fifth novel about their relationship. Wouldn't that be a story? Ok, she came out as the angel and not the monster, so we didn't have to stress over the family breaking apart or-God forbid- the need to destroy her. A period of happiness ensues for Bella, which is always fun to read about becaue you want your heroine happy, don't you? And I gotta say it did cross my mind how well she had it made- didn't have to work, had all those family members around to help out, didn't need sleep, had her own little getaway cottage, awesome cars, fabulous husband and her best friend Jacob with her, and Renesmee was a child prodigy. In too many ways because she was you know, half immortal and all. Yeah, Nessie seemed like a good kid to have. Wished my own life had been so easy after birth, shah right!
Did you keep wondering, like me, okay, what are the other 200 pages for? Aren't we going to end here where everyone is happy? Why why why ruin it now??? Oh but she did. Oh no, the Volturi again. Putting their noses (or fangs?) into other vampires' business as always. Alice's foresight puts everyone on edge because the only possible reason for the Volturi to be coming- having been invited to the wedding and thus concluding Bella has been turned into a vampire- is to kill Renesmee. A little Eclipse flashback for me here. You too? But I think I anticpated the end because who could deny Renesmee's obvious unlikeliness to harm others considering her special gift? Who would not be convinced when seeing through her eyes? Meyer tried to make us fear the Volturi would not be reasoned with- attack first and ask questions later. I knew though we'd have another happy ending. Hm. NOw what? Nothing else I could read would be as good. Movie's not out til December. I read Host. When is Midnight Sun coming out? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Coming soon

2008-08-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

My thoughts on Breaking Dawn- stay tuned!

Bluebonnet Special

2008-08-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Today I will explore 2 of this year's nominations for the Bluebonnet award: House of Atherton and Gabriel's Horses. Having read a wonderful fantasy by author Patrick Carman, I had high hopes for House of Atherton. I was, however, quite disappointed with it by the end. Which was basically mostly due to the end. Like right in the middle of an admittedly lengthy climax, it was just like...to be continued! Didn't we all learn from Harry Potter that fantasy fans do not shy away from long novels? Argh. Just a cheap publicity ploy if you ask me. Have I said nothing about the plot? My bad. It's really a great idea. The Planet of Atherton, created by a mad scientist, orbits the Earth without knowledge of its existence-for the most part. Our young male protagonist discovers the secret dooming life on planet the planet and undertakes an dangerous journey to see what can be done. Interesting premise. I'm just mad that I would have to read the next book to see what happens. One cool feature that I did not even bother exploring in my rebellious rage was the accompanying cd which implies unlocking the secrets of the planet.

Another purported series on the list is Gabriel's Horses. Set in Kentucky during the Civil War, this novel is vastly different. It is truly difficult to make comparisons. Both novels do feature a male pre-teen hero, but Gabriel is a slave. He is lucky though to have a free father who works for a wealthy Brit who values his skills with the thoroughbred horses he races. When his father joins the Union army, Gabriel must take his father's place in some areas while submitting to a cruel new horse trainer. He proves what he is made of when a Rebel band comes to thieve their horses and Gabriel saves them with his quick thinking. Unlike House of Atherron, this novel does tie up nicely. I think it has a chance at winning.

A Haunting Tale

2008-07-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just finished Breathe, one of this year's Lone Star picks. Not too impressed. Firstly, I suppose I should admit that I'm not a fan of the horror genre. YA horror rarely delivers. But I have other critiques. The Ghost Mother character came off as bizarre. The motivation for her actions just wasn't strong enough. I might have bought it if the author had tried to portray her as a mentally unstable person, like Misery, but this was not the case. The whole business with the Nightmare Passage was just weird and seemed like too much, especially since it was introduced more than halfway through. Probably could have just left that out altogether. I suppose that made the main character's dealings with the departed a positive experience, but here again, I just didn't buy it. Speaking of the boy, what happened to his weird mannerism? Hmmmm, I guess that just wasn't important once he he got to know the ghosts, huh? Now the asthma condotion of the protagonist was a new twist that I thought worked well in the story. Kids might be able to relate to that aspect or find it at least enlightening. But I don't see anything spectacular about this book at all.

Vacation reading

2008-07-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Last week we went on two vacations: Glen Rose (i know big whoop) and Las Vegas baby! So I got a lot of reading done. Finished Kenneth Oppell's Silverwing. I loved Airborn which was on the Lone Star list a couple of years ago. This book was written much earlier in his career and I can see why it didn't get anywhere as much publicity. It's an animal fantasy centered on bats. Now generally I do love a good animail fantasy. Fire Bringer totally wowed me. But that's neither here nor there. What I'm trying to say is this one did not. Not 100% why- it just didn't satisfy. In fact, I'm not going to spend much more time on it. One thing I'll mention though was it aimed at an elementary audience most likely. I think most middle school readers would react like me.
Moving on now. My second book finished was a larger endeavor- meaning more pages. But I got through it quickly. Was that because I had more time to read being on vacation or because it was actually a book that I had trouble putting down? Hmmmmmmmm hard to say. Aren't I helpful? At some point I might actually get around to telling you the title of aforesaid book- oh hey why don't I mention it know? It was Second Virgin Birth. Did I mention it was closer to home? Not yet. By that I do mean literally. The author Tommy Taylor is a local librarian AND on the HEB ISD school board. Now he's an author, albeit a non-consulted one. Does taht make sense? His wife published the novel without his knowledge- does it make more sense now? Okay, that little fact does play a big part. Hopefully it explains the many grammatical errors I found. I couldn't get past them. Seriously- I was an English teacher. It really does annoy me when educated people don't know how to properly use an apostrophe. I'm trying to be understanding and realize that if he'd actually gone through a publisher that would all have been taken care of. In fact, for a reasonable sum, I'd do it for him.:)
OK I think I need to focus on the actually need to talk about the story now. Quite intriguing premise- a scientist has obtained the DNA of Jesus and decided to bring Him back to life. and since the Pope doesn't like this idea, this scientist and his co-horts are wanted men. That's pretty much all I need to tell you about the story. Well, I will tell you that they manage to implant the DNA in a young girl's egg and create the pregnancy successfully. To me, it read a lot like the Left Behind series and a bit like the Da Vinci Code. If you can get over the errors and get your hands on a copy, it's a good read. Note- mine was a gift and the binding is falling apart after one reading. -you'll have to order one from Amazon.

A Beastly Twist

2008-07-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

The most recent book I've finished was Beastly by Alex Flinn, who happens to be a woman. Oops. I was reading a particular paragraph thinking to myself, "Now see, that's exactly where men and women have completely different views on sexism". I flip back to see the info on the author and lo and behold, Alex is a woman. So much for my theory. I guess I have to admit to you all at this point that, yes, I did have an issue with the portrayal of sex and sexism in this novel. Not once, but twice mind you, the author made a disturbing comment about how a school dance is like legalized prostitution. I'll explain this in the context of the reading as best I can: the boy buys the girl a fabulous corsage and gets her a limo to ride in and and treats her like a princess all night. In return, it is assumed he will get what he wants, which is apparently always to ravish her. O.M.G. Reminds me of a disgusting article I read in Ebony that shocked the bejeebers out of me. It was a pro/con debate on why men should pay for sex. I know what you're thinking. What? Why would any magazine publish such trash? No idea, but they did and I read it. The man (and I do use that term loosely) said that in any relationship a man has to buy a woman lots of things to be able to get in bed with her. My jaw did hit the floor. I cannot possibly fathom a world where people think these attitudes and actions are not only widespread and normal, but ACCEPTED. They most definitely are not. I don't know about you, but my life has never resembled the above descriptions. OKAAAAAY, I think I'll get off my soap box now.

So did you actually want to know what the book was about? Ok. I can do that. Well, it's a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Need I say more? Well, I will anyway. I tend to be long-winded when I write. Beast starts out as your typical most popular guy in school with good lucks and a rich dad to boot. What does this make him? A total jerk. So of course, the night of the aforementioned dance, he is turned into the beast by a mysterious new student (the witch) at school whom he dissed earlier in the story. When his father finds out, he spends months going to doctors to cure this stange disease before giving up on his son entirely. He is moved out of his father's Manhattan apartment and moved to a 5 story house in Brooklyn with the housekeeper and a new tutor who is blind.

With the witch's parting present- the magic mirror, he looks in upon his former friends and discovers the shallowness of their lives- which of course mirrors his own former existence. Ironic, huh? One he returns to frequently is a humble girl who attended his school on scholarship. Their brief connection was when he gave her the crushed rose that his date was not impressed with the night of the dance. She turns out to be Beauty if you didn't see that coming from a mile away. Now this is a stretch, but he manages to entrap her as his "prisoner" when it is her drug-addicted father that breaks into the house. In order to not be killed or have charges pressed against him, this really pitiful father offers up his daughter to the beast. Whatever. So she moves in, eventually falls in love with him cause he's changed and then he has to let her go because her father gets sick months later. But wouldn't you know on the very night his chance to get his true self back would expire if he's not kissed by a woman who loves him, he checks on her with his mirror and sees her in such peril he risks running through the city to save her. And of course she kisses him just in time and saves the day.

I wasn't thoroughly impressed if you didn't get that. It's one of this year's Lone Star books, but I don't know why. I really think it's a high school book. I definitely won't vote for it. But feel free to form and share your own opinion of Beastly.