What to do?

Start the book Crossed by Ally Condie or read 100 essays?  But the essays are Ch. 24 of the Giver...so they should be fun.

What are you reading right now on this cold wintery day?

Utopia is the new hot like the oh-so-2-years-ago vampire genre was

Long weekends are for reading, and this 5-day break gave me the opportunity to read Matched by Ally Condie.  And this whole Utopia genre is the new hot like the oh-so-2-years-ago vampire genre was.

This book is Uglies meets Hunger Games meets The Giver and now meets Matched.

Same premise...main character goes most of her life OK with the society's choice for her.  She goes through the matching ceremony and gets "matched" to her life-long friend.  Yay.  But then the conflict starts and like any great Utopian society book, the main character starts to think about how things will go if he/she makes some choices on her/his own.  And her choices begin with her match.

And that's where the issues start.  This book weaves in a really strong love story with twists and turns.  I could hardly put it down.  Thankfully, a 9-hour drive home helped me out.

Matched will give you 21 Reading Counts points.  The sequel, Crossed, just came out.  I can hardly wait to check it out.  I hear it's coming to the WMS library really soon.

Thanksgiving weekend makes me realize that I'm thankful for good books.  Which one are you reading right now that you can't put down?

The Chosen One

Finally gave up on the Uglies series so I would read again.  I picked up The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams after trying to "sell" it to several 6th period students.  Nobody would take it, so I checked it out myself.

I finished it in three days!  What a book.  It's about a girl who is part of a religious cult that lives on a compound as part of a polygamous community.  She has one dad and several mothers and the family follows Apostles and a big mean Prophet.  She is 14 and learns randomly one evening that the Prophet spoke directly to God and she is to marry her 60-year-old uncle in 4 weeks.  Ewwww.

I love watching Sister Wives on TLC.  I'm just fascinated to see how they all work together to make a lifestyle choice work for their family.  This book is more of the same and follows Kyra's struggle with trying to fit in with her community while having "unwholesome" or sinful thoughts...which are just normal 14 year old emotions.  The author tucks in a real love story in here too.  Nice.

A real page turner, this quick read is captivating and gets you 12 Reading Counts points.  It won't disappoint.

What to read next?  Hmmmmm.  Help!  Need another good book.  Or several.  Thanksgiving is a long road trip.  Gotta stock up!

Reading Counts counts

Quarter 1 is done. Books are read; quizzes are finished.  I was pleasantly surprised to see my students embrace the new reading program at WMS.  What I learned:  kids really like to read.  Here's what I learned after watching you guys read your way through quarter 1.

1.  Finding the right book is paramount. Our new librarian, Mrs. Brockman, brings life and excitement to WMS's library.  She gives book talks, shows book trailers and helps kids find that just-right book.  She's ordering $10,000 worth of new books as I write this.  Telling your friends about a good book is also key.  I always stick to award-winning books--other people found them good, so I should, too, right?

2.  Finding time to read is life-changing.  I'd much rather watch TV sometimes than do anything else...dishes, laundry, grading papers.  But working reading into your busy schedules means that you have to change a lifestyle.  Keep your book with you and read in the car, between classes, right after school.  When you would normally throw away a 1/2 hour watching "Good Luck, Charlie" for the 4th time, pick up that book and read instead.  Schedule reading.  Set a goal per day or week.

3.  Pick good books.  Know what the Reading Counts points are when you pick the book.  Know your schedule.  Two short quick books might get you points faster than one long hard book.  Also know your limits.  It's good to push your Lexile and read a harder book, but if you are up against a deadline, this isn't the time for that.  Know when the quarter ends!  For sure!  

4.  Use the public library.  Reading Counts is not unique to Wentzville School District.  It's a nation-wide program.  So books found at the public library are probably Reading Counts.  Don't discount audiobooks.  What a great way to get through a book!  You can download a book from the library website:  http://www.youranswerplace.org/ebooks-and-downloadable-audio-books.  Or you can just go into the YA section and see what they have.  You can even renew your books online or reserve them.  http://catalog.youranswerplace.org/(mkxj3l45lcm0vnfucx2s03m3)/HomePage.aspx

5.  Start right away!  Quarter 2 starts Monday!  Get reading!

You can do this.  Read through my blog to find some good ideas for books.  Good luck and happy reading:)

Use this link to check how many points your book is worth in Reading Counts:  http://src.scholastic.com/ecatalog/default.asp?UID=43D02184EBFF4C1B9CCF00EAFC93C11A&subt=0&Test=NA

Pretties: what an ending.

Pretties is such a great book.  Such twists and turns it takes in the end.  I actually lol'ed and gasped while reading with my students today in class.  The main character, Tally Youngblood, has so much, ummmm, gumption.

gump·tion

   [guhmp-shuhn]  Show IPA

noun Informal .

1.

initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness: With hisgumption he'll make a success of himself.

2.

courage; spunk; guts: It takes gumption to quit a high-paying job.

3.

common sense; shrewdness.

She can get herself out of any situation. Like anything.  I went directly to the library and checked out the 3rd book:  Specials.  I'm so excited.  

It was so great to see everyone so excited about taking Reading Counts! quizzes today.  And you were asking for help to find a good book.  We're really going to raise some Lexile and MAP scores with all our hard work!  Happy reading.

Can you read 2 books at the same time? I can.

So I'm reading 2 books right now.  I usually only have time to read, umm, no books.  But I'm making reading a priority because I'm making reading a priority for my students.  They have to see me read.  They have to see me "want" to read.  They needs to know sometimes, it's ok to want to sit and watch a completely mindless TV show like "Bachelor Pad".  They have to know that blowing an hour on Facebook is OK, but you still have homework and reading to complete.  And you have to read.  There's no way around it.


I'm reading Pretties by Scott Westerfield.  It's a great book.  It's a thriller...keeps me guessing.  And during Core Plus, I pull the book out and read.  And it's painful because I could be answering email, grading those pesky ungraded essays, taking attendance, making sure the kids are reading, watching the wasp in my room (does it really have a nest above the 4th light back?).  But I'm glad I force myself to read during class.  It makes me a better reader.  Period.  Case closed.


And at night before I go to sleep, I started reading Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine.  The narrator of the book as Asberger's--a form of autism.  It's so neat to see the world through Caitlin's eyes.  At first I did not like the book, but Caitlin is growing on me.  I'm interested to see how she thinks, what she'll do.  I recommend it.  And it's 11 SRC! points.


And by the way, I heard that this blog was passed around on Facebook by my 8th grade students.  I'm flattered.  Truly.  I'm glad you're talking about reading or at least were interested enough in a teacher who blogs about reading to post it and click on the link.  Do it again.  I dare you to link it to Facebook.  I'll read more if I know you're listening, I mean reading.  And I hope it shows you I care about your reading success.  Cuz I do. (you want to edit that, don't you?)


Now get off this blog and read!

Good reads in the library

So I took my classes to the library and Mrs. Brockman, our new rock-star quality librarian, recommended some great books!  Here they are:

Secret Lives of Bees
Peak
Found
anything by Sara Dessen
anything by Nicholas Sparks
Hunger Games
Uglies/Pretties
Zen and the Art of Faking It
anything by Mike Lupica
Mark Twain nominees http://thelibrary.org/kids/bookplanet/twain.cfm
Truman award winners http://thelibrary.org/teens/bltruman.cfm
13 Reasons Why
Code Orange


Some book recommendations from my friends:
authors Terry Pratchell or Neil Gaiman
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
The Cay
Lord of the Flies
"Life as We Knew It", Joan Baurer books
"Hattie Big Sky"
"Penny from Heaven"
"Fly Girl"
"Someone named Eva"
"Dragon Slippers"
"Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life"
"The Lightning Thief"
Heist
Matched
My Name is Memory
Adoration of Jenna Fox
The House of the Z Scorpion
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Last Thing I Remember
Good luck finding a great book and get reading!

Stealing Heaven: A Little Predictable

Finished up Stealing Heaven this weekend (another book finished on the dock).  The book is about a girl and her mom who move from place to place stealing--it's their occupation.  The main character was believable enough...and I felt like I needed to know what would happen to her.  However, I felt like I could predict the ending....  The foreshadowing was just a little obvious.

I've read a lot this summer, thanks mostly to this blog.  It's kept me focused and looking forward to the next novel.  I hope it helped you too.  Summer reading assignments are due in one week.  Where are you on that?  Make sure you are ready on the first day!

I pick up Pretties this week at the library.  Can't wait to read book 2 of the Uglies series.  All upcoming 8th graders should try to read Uglies--it will give you some background/insight when it comes time to read The Giver in class.

I head to my classroom tomorrow. I'll be there 1-3:30.  Join me if you'd like to:)

Uglies + The Giver + Hunger Games = The Same

Hey upcoming Holt freshmen!  You won't want to miss out on Uglies if you haven't read it already.  It is so similar to The Giver and the Hunger Games that I'm thinking I could teach all three books at the same time and have the same exact discussion going.

Uglies is a sci-fi book which has an alternate world just like Giver and Hunger Games.  I don't really like sci-fi but this is so interesting.  I'm fascinated how the book parallels our own world and how we value "being pretty" with happiness.  When in reality that's not what the world should be about.  It has such a great theme--some really great life-learning lessons.

The main character in all 3 books struggles to learn the truth about what they thought they knew was real and what reality actually is.  The reader follows their journey as they learn the real truth about the world.

I really think you all should give this one a try.  The author is coming to town this fall...I can't wait to meet him too!  Looking forward to reading Pretties before he comes to town.

OK, so just about 2 weeks until school.  Have you completed your summer reading?

Hate List is a great book!

Finished Hate List yesterday on the dock.  I was totally crying.  Although the ending wasn't as good as the whole book...and has one of those open endings that my 8th graders love so much (sarcastic), I still loved the book.

Val really had to go through a lot during the book and grew so much as a person.  I can't imagine how she dealt with all of it without yelling "I didn't shoot anyone" all the time.  And I wasn't a huge fan of either her mom or her dad...or brother really.  What mom never asks if her daughter is guilty?  What mom doesn't step in and help a daughter more?  It was weird.  And her dad.  Yuck!

I thought that they should have put a yearbook picture of Ginny--from before the shooting--in the time capsule.  That would have been very sweet.  Where you thinking that the ending would have been different.  I thought her speech would have been very different at graduation.  I couldn't understand why she kept mentioning the hate list....it was driving me nuts.

Also where did this art teacher fit into everything?  She wasn't related to anyone?  It was really weird.  Not that she liked to draw...but the teacher.  I don't understand why she had to be so eccentric and described in so much detail.

I've started Uglies now and it reminds me so much of The Giver.  The whole location and concept is very much like The Giver's government and ideology.  I like it so far...it's so different.  What a neat concept for a book.  Anyone going into 8th grade should read it before reading The Giver.

Just great reading!

So City of Ashes is pretty slow, so I put it down and waited for Laurel to finish Hate List (which is a book from the list on the right).  She LOVED it, so I was really looking forward to it.  And it's already due next week....

I started Hate List last night and it is certainly worth the wait.  It's about a school shooting, and it goes back in forth in time which is a bit confusing so far.  Laurel said it takes some time to get used to it.  I'm not very far into it, but it pulled me in right away.  I could really identify with the characters immediately.  What I've already learned is no matter much you hate (and you shouldn't), don't write it down on a list, cause that list will surface one day and you'll look bad--like really bad.  That's a good theme, huh?

I reserved and picked up Uglies and Stealing Heaven this morning (the right Stealing Heaven this time).  Laurel is excited to get started on one.  Can anyone recommend which one she should try first?

What are you reading now?  Is it good?

Locker Room Talk: High school boys are crude

Finished Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have today on the dock.  I was actually cheering on the guy at the end and laughed out loud at one point although I don't remember what was so funny.  I'd recommend this YA book--especially to a boy reader.

What I was surprised about was the language content....some of it was fairly inappropriate.  I figure some of the innuendos and vulgar language are how boys talk in high school, but to be reading it in a book is just plain weird for me.  Most of my time, I spend sheltering my own kids from mature video games, MTV television shows and R rated movies.  But in reality, parents (hey, that's me) need to be reading ahead and finding out what's in these YA books!  Teenagers read about the same topics I wouldn't let my daughter watch at the movies or on TV....it's really so backwards.  Is this OK?  Am I the only one noticing this discrepancy?

But I also want to add that the inappropriate content still isn't half as bad as shows like Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant...  So parents shouldn't shy away and start banning (censoring--oh no!) YA books.  They are great conversation starters for parents and teenagers, especially if you've pre-read the book.  Check out a book and read it.  Be a good role model.  And you kids:  tell your parents they need to be reading as well.  Turn the Bachelorette off--nobody like Ashley anyway:)

So even though I'm at the Lake, I got on the St. Charles County Library webpage tonight and reserved Hate List and Stealing Heaven (both on the summer reading list on the right).  I have the second book: City of Ashes to hold me over until I get home.  Thank goodness I thought ahead.  Whew.

Getting through the book

So I plodding though most of Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have, I kinda like it.  It seemed a little conversational to me after reading the last well-written book, Jude (btw, I lent that one to a friend at the Lake and she LOVED it!)  But this other book is just a different style and I had to talk myself into continuing on with this book after page 10.  Glad I did.  Maybe it's the fact that the main character is a boy--and he's the opposite of me.  Or maybe it's because I know what he's thinking all the time--and he has weird, boy thoughts (which I don't necessarily want to know).

It's gotten better and now that the main character has shown some growth (become more normal)--I kinda want to know what happens to him in the end.  It's been slow going on the reading since I've been on vacation for 10 days without a lot of time to read.  Even though it's midnight now, I'm anxious to go to bed and read for a while.

I look forward to going to see what book to read next.  I plan on going to the library as soon as I get home from the Lake this week.  A good book is perfect for a super-hot day...you can get all snuggled in--in the air conditioning.

What are you reading that's good???  Are you accomplishing your summer reading assignment?

Hey Jude

So I finished reading Jude this morning.  What a great YA book!  The book is about a teenager that goes through some turmoil with his dad, is reunited with his mom and goes through some huge life ordeals before you learn the real mystery.  I'd recommend it to either boys or girls.  It's a real page turner and you can really relate to the characters.  Plus, even though a bit predictable, I loved the ending...

Pick it up today at your local library!  on to Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have.  It's on the reading list, folks:)

Have a great 4th of July.  Are you reading Ethan Frome, Pre-AP kids???

Survival Encounter: Lord of the Flies

My tutor student came to the library the other day and said, "Whoah, that Captains Courageous is a bunch of craziness!  They don't even speak English"  I glanced at the first page with him standing next to me and said, "OMG, you are so right!"  (We had to pick a book for his summer reading assignment...)

So we found a new book.  Lord of the Flies.  He was lucky; he's not read it before (just moved here).  

I was assigned Lord of the Flies my sophomore year of high school and I'm guessing if you ask any of my classmates today, they will remember this book rather fondly.  The class was called Workshop of Life, and it was a mix of social studies and real-life activities.  When we read the novel, we learned how to stay alive when stranded ("When wet and cold, fire is first priority) and had a Survival Encounter where the school bus dropped our class off in the woods, and we had to "fend for ourselves" over the course of 1 or 2 nights.  We weren't allowed tents or other cool camping gear.  We were graded on our shelter and how we "survived."  We bartered for food, made fires, laughed a lot.  

Our encounter was a lot like the kids' situation in Lord of the Flies.  They have to survive and find their way in the wilderness.  I'm eager to reread this book again with new eyes, at a different stage in my life.  I know what will happen to Piggy, but I bet I still cry again.  I bet I'll remember some of the cool assignments and class activities my teacher created for us.  I guess I learned a couple of things in the woods and maybe the boys in Lord of the Flies learned the same things:  we rocks explode and don't drink directly from the stream.   

We all have to survive and find our way...isn't that just a way of life for everyone?  The book has a universal theme...one of survival, of growing up, of getting along.  

It's all a Workshop of Life.

Captains Courageous is here. (insert yay here.)

If you read my last blog, you will understand today's post.

Sigh.  It's here.  Picked it up from the reserve shelf today.  Wish the public library wasn't so quick.  Now to start reading it.  How do you handle reading books that are assigned?  How do you make it through?

Summer Reading Assignments are 'so' fun!

I went to the library yesterday.  Not totally unusual for me.  I had a great tutoring session with a good kid.  I was trying to get him motivated to check out a book so he could complete his English IV summer reading assignment.  He really wanted to re-read (or not) a book he already read last year for a class to complete this assignment.  He must have suggested we read Animal Farm (the book he read already) 50 times, but I reassured him that finding a new book the right thing to do.  Reluctantly, we set off to find a book from the list.

So let me just say one thing.  The senior list isn't very good.  You guys going into English I should celebrate--like throw a party over your list.  (think confetti and cake here)  The English IV list is full of real classics...and when I say "real classics" I mean, books that are old and were popular when people used horse and wagons and explored the West.  But the list says that a book for this assignment must have literary merit.  As an English teacher, I do understand we all need to read books like that.  But the real problem is that I promised that I would read the book we choose WITH my student.  What was I thinking?  I wanted to run to the YA section and get a vampire book...  We finally decided to check out 1984 (one of my favorites off the list and a book I had already read).  Book was not there.  Not cool.  We trudged on.

So after several failed attempts at finding a book that sounded decent (and wasn't too long), we found Captains Courageous by the same author as Jungle Book.  It wasn't too long and looked good enough.  They only had one copy, so I sent it home with the student to get a jump start.  I reserved my copy, and I anxiously await the day until it comes in...  It sounds like a story like "The Most Dangerous Game" (remember that one from freshman year?).

With my book reserved, I had enough time to check out Jude, a YA book that looked and sounded great and a bunch of books for Cale (39 Clues, a Boxcar Children series book, the Odyssey, and a couple books on tornadoes).

So it was a successful day at the library.  And no email yet from the library saying Captains Courageous is in and waiting for me.  Ahhhh, can't start that assignment....yet.

How's your summer reading assignment coming?

I am a nerd.

So I started Is It Day or Night? Sunday.  And I finished it last night.  Before I go into how nerdy I am, let me tell you a little about this book.

If you liked Night this year, you will love this book.  Although the beginning is a little slow, the main character, Tiddy, shows readers what it was like for German Jews who actually escaped to America and had to deal with leaving their loved ones behind.  I never really thought about the people who escaped--what they had to go through.  And she pays dearly for her escape.

This historical fiction book talks about events in the 1930's and 1940's...giving me information and a feel for what life was life then.  She talks a lot about baseball and the White Sox.

So the nerdy part for me is that I read it in 1 day.  Not sure that's happened before for a long, long time.

I recommend this book.  It's quick, enlightening, heart-warming.  The main character is real and belivable.  Check it out today.  You won't be disappointed.

What to do now?  I head to the library at 10 for tutoring...got plans to check out a couple more books.  What are your book plans?

City of Bones: The Ending...OMG!

Couldn't hardly put this book down in the last 50 pages.  In fact, Sat. night, I left my book on the boat.  I realized it was down there pretty late...and didn't want to walk down to the dock in the dark (and through the spider webs).  I was so mad.  For those of you who know me, you know I wouldn't walk through spider webs (ever)...for others, this is a shocker because reading hasn't always been my thing.  I only like to read when I find a good book and when I have time.  Glad to have both this summer.

Back to the book, City of Bones....boy, Clary and Jace make some HUGE realizations near the end of the book.  I, for one, didn't see this coming at all.  The author does a good job of weaving all their lives together and not making the foreshadowing too obvious.  The book is a cross between Harry Potter and Twilight--all the action of Harry Potter and some of the romance of Twilight (and throw in a few vampires and werewolves and add demons, forsaken and fairies).

I would recommend this book.  I've looked for it at the county library and haven't seen it.  Must be checked out.  Either I need to reserve the second one or just go buy it at Target like I did the first.  Give it a try!

On to my next adventure:  Is It Day or Night?  This is the Holocaust historical fiction.  It has a fairly slow start....but I'm interested to see what happens to the little girl and their family.  So far, she and her family have had to endure all the new rules in Germany that being a Jew entitles them:  not attending movies, the pool, shopping in certain stores, not learning music in school.  It's neat to hear her perspective or POV.

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What book are you reading?

Girl books v. Boy books. Help!

So which books on the English I summer reading list are "boy" books?  I have a request and am not familiar with them enough to give an answer.  Help me out and recommend some good books from this list for boys.  Thanks!

Can't spoil the ending for you...

Boy, did the City of Bones take a change last night when I was reading!  I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but wow--I was sucked in and couldn't stop reading (until the book hit me in the face because I fell asleep.)

I just can't help think how much more rounded the characters are in this book compared to Twilight.  Do you agree with me or am I totally off base here?

Headed to the library again today.  Need to find a book to help me with tutoring a student who is a second language learner.  Cale has read 1 hour already (miracle!) for his reading program.  He's excited to get the Sonic coupon.

Egad!

"She had imagined Jace leaping from the bed in astonishment and gasping something like 'Egad!' This didn't happen--largely, she suspected, because Jace had seen much stranger things in his life, and also because nobody used the word 'Egad!' anymore (Clare 326).

I love that quote from City of Bones.  I'm going to try and use "Egad!" at least twice today....:)

So yesterday I took Laurel and Cale (and myself) to the library on Highway K.  I asked Cale if he wanted to go and he said he kinda wanted to go---then decided he wanted a Boxcar Children book.  So I jumped on the chance and we went.  (he's read 1 of his books already--came in to my room at 6:44 this morning to tell me he finished it!!!  ha!)

I checked out that book I've been trying to get you guys to check out all year---you know the one with the Holocaust survivor?  It has a blue cover and I say, "I think you'd like this one!"  Then you hold it for a minute and set it back down.  I know I did that about 25 times this year.  I don't think anyone ever checked it out!  The title:  Is It Night or Day?

Are you headed to the library this summer?  What are you checking out?  The county library has a teen summer reading program---coupons and a cool lighted pen.  Talk with me!  Follow this blog!

Jace and Clary or Simon and Clary????

So, I read more of City of Bones last night and it's to the part where Simon finds Jace and Clary in a fairly awkward situation.  I was glad the author finally got to this relationship because the book was basically fighting demons and monsters up until this point.  It showed Jace in a different light as well...rounded his character a little--made him a little less sarcastic.

What do you think of the character Jace?  (and I love his name, btw).

What do you think will happen between Simon and Clary?

What are you reading this summer?

(You can follow this blog using your gmail or other email).  I'd love for you to join in the book conversation!  Feel free to share this to your facebook account to get more involved!

Stacey recommends Sold

So I heard from Stacey yesterday.  She told me she read Sold and it was a very quick read.  She loved it and it was very sad too.  I recommended this book to her and told her it would be a quick read.  It's about a girl who is sold....and she thinks she is going to become a maid in a city.  But she is "sold."  It's a heart-wrenching story.  Check it out today.

Welcome to my new blog!

I've started this blog so I can tell you about what I'm reading and maybe we can talk about what you are reading.  I hope to read a lot over the summer and encourage you to as well.

Right now, I'm reading City of Bones.  It's a lot like Twilight....but a little more action packed.  Anyone else read/reading it?