Hate List - Jennifer Brown

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 405

Source: Purchased

Genre:  Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

April, 20, 1999, October 2, 2006, December 14, 2012 are just a few of the dates that have one thing in common they were all school shootings. Columbine was the first major shooting I remember.  The one thing  that was brought out and mentioned was the issue of bullying. The Nickel Mines shooting showed us that peace loving people like the Amish could be just as big a target.  Lest we forget this last December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary, we see that even the youngest child is not safe.

Jennifer Brown has created a book that makes us look at possible reasons why these things happen.  I am in no way making excuses for these killers.  However, as I read her book I began to look at my life and do some comparing.  Funny the things we think about and things we learn. 

Valerie Leftman is the main character in this story.  It is the story of being left behind after a tragic event has occurred.  It is the story of trying to make sense of the world both before and after so that you can move forward with your life.  Valerie’s boyfriend Nick did the unthinkable.  He went into a school and killed several kids.  Valerie saved a life, getting shot in the process.  Nick then killed himself.  The problem is that everyone believes that Valerie was behind this plot and that Nick just carried it out.  Why would they think that?  They had a hate list.  I immediately thought back to the first “slam book” I confiscated.  The girl was anxious to get it back and I didn’t know why until I opened it up.  It was filled with the names of people she didn’t like and why.  I turned it over to the principal.  We took all of these kinds of things seriously as we were fresh out of the Columbine shooting the year before.  It turned out the girl’s parents were going through a divorce, her brother was leaving for college and her best friend had just been killed in an accident.  She was different, which seems funny now that I think back.  I worked in an arts school so to me everyone was unique.  She was venting her frustration out through that slam book.  When does a journal, slam book become something more?  I wondered this because I often give kids a journal when I know they are going through a lot of garbage and tell them they can feel free to  write whatever they need to get it out of their system.  When does it actually go bad?

I kept seeing the people who had called Valerie names and made fun of her and her friends, getting by with things. It was so unfair.  She felt like she had no one on her side including her parents. That is why I take all acts of bullying seriously in my classroom and school.  Having parents that don’t believe in you for whatever reason only adds to that stress.

Okay, so here is where I tell you something personal.  I understood how Valerie felt when her parents didn’t believe her innocence.  In their eyes she was guilty by association.  When in eighth grade I had a friend who was doing drugs.  Sitting in art class one day I was defending my right to be her friend.  I passed a note to the student I was talking with and it was confiscated.  I heard nothing from anyone.  I just assumed the teacher had thrown the note away.  My parents had been called to the school where they went through all of my things in my “open-faced” (as in no door) locker looking for drugs.  Then they did the same thing with my room.  They wanted to know where I kept the drugs. There were none.  I was grounded and had to go to the school counselor twice a week for the rest of the school year because of my association with "those" kids. My cousins thought this was so funny..  It was years later one of my cousins told my mom that as she lay in a hospital after an overdose in school she started laughing thinking about her and the other cousins doing drugs and never being suspected while I had been accused of something I didn’t do.  I felt totally betrayed and it took a long time, as in years to repair the damage done to our relationship.  This is one of the themes that runs throughout this book. The theme of broken relationships.  This should be a must read for every kid and teacher from middle grade up.  I know I will have parents say, “But, I don’t want my kids being exposed to that kind of stuff.”  Wake up parents, they are exposed to that and so much more every day.  Let’s teach kids what are actually out there and how to deal with it.

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children - Keith McGowan

Pages: 192
Genre: Middle Grade, Fairy Tale, Fantasy

A new take on the Hansel and Gretel Story!

 I have had this book on my shelf for at least a year and a half.  I decided I was definitely going to read it this summer. I absolutely loved this book! For those of you who like the story of Hansel and Gretel, you will love this new spin on it.
The witch, Fay Holaderry has adapted her lifestyle to the present time, living like any elderly person in any community. But, looks can be deceiving.

Sol and Connie Blink have just moved to Grand Creek. They have a lovely set of parents who don't really seem to care about them. The reasons, and there are many, become clear as you read the book. Sol is a science nerd. His younger sister Connie loves animals and loves and admires her brother. Sol has a difficult time believing in himself after a terrible incident in the town they have just moved from.

Both Sol and Connie must learn to trust each other if they are to survive what their parents, Ms. Holaderry and many others in the town have set up for them. This story's themes of perseverance, trust and relying on family run all through this story.  I can't wait for the first day of school to begin so that I can recommend this book to my new students.

Balance - Nik Wallenda

Publisher: FaithWords
Pages: 224
Genre: Memoir
Source: I purchased it

Living in Sarasota my husband and I jump at the chance to watch any circus performers.  I've done book signings where we met other members of the Wallenda family, had members perform in our Christmas pageant,  or come to a school I taught at to perform and speak to our students at the conclusion of our circus unit.  The week before Nik Wallenda walked across the Grand Canyon I had the privilege of finally meeting Nik and his wife as he practiced at Benderson Park. I've heard people talk about how he was too important to perform for the lowly people or talk with them.  Well I am here to tell you that he and his wife are some of the most down to earth people I've met.  As I stood in line to have a picture taken with him I observed an act of kindness that was in no way put on for cameras. The cameras didn't see it.   There was an elderly lady in a wheelchair off to the side.  She'd been waiting patiently while her family stood in line to meet Nik. While members of his team were talking with the next person in line Nik walked down and stooped down next to her, took her hand and talked with her.  He autographed something for her.  He didn't make a big production of it or anything.  There were enough people around her that few saw this. He then silently made his way back up on stage.

There will be many who read his book and declare him a show off.  I sure hope so.  He wouldn't make it very far if he were not.  His book was a look back at his family's roots, and his path to where he is today.  I learned so much about his family history.  It was not always pleasant or easy.  There were always financial worries. Nik's work ethic was shaped by these experiences.  I definitely identified with a lot of that.  I have had a job since I was 13.  Nothing was beneath me.  I did what I had to do for my family.  I like Nik have a control problem.  Nik saw the effect of feeling like he had to be in control of everything including everything his family did.  It almost cost him his marriage.  With Nik's strong Christian background he had to learn to rely on God for that balance.  He can't be in control of everything.  He had to learn to let go and let God take over.  If you watched him on the walk across the Grand Canyon then you heard him talking to God.  This was not for show.  This is how Nik finds his balance as he walks.  He has the skills and talents that God gave him, but internally he has to rely on God for that balance.  I believe God gives me books to read when I need them. This last school year I felt like I had little control over things in my life.  I took on too much, had people wanting to know if I'd gotten their book read and reviewed, others who wanted to know if I'd finished the book I was working on.  School let out and I still felt things were not right.  After reading Nik's book I realized that I needed to look at my life and re-do and re-arrange things in my life.  I also needed to get my spiritual life back in balance.

There is so much you can learn from Nik's book.  You not only learn his family history, how he grew up performing and what he hopes to accomplish, but you get the sense that he is teaching you how to find your own balance.  Part of finding your balance in life is taking risks.  They don't have to be risks that are dangerous like Nik does when walking the wire.  Those risks may be simply putting your self out there in a situation.  My husband said the reason I did not start writing sooner was because I was afraid oI have to say that when I am writing I feel more balanced.  This is definitely a book I will read more than once and a book I will recommend to my friends and family.

Student Saturday - No Safety In Numbers - Dayna Lorentz

Student Saturday is a day I post reviews written by other students.  The review that follows is written by Meaghan

This book is from the point of view of five teenagers who have (along with many other people) been quarantined in a mall on account that some kid had found a suspicious item in the air ducts of the mall. Some people are trying to keep their own lives from falling apart rather than saving others. Some were forced to be there and would have much rather been at home. Others were just hanging out with friends having a typical day at the mall.

This ‘bomb’ was unfamiliar territory for the local police so the bomb squad and the F.B.I. were all called in, it looked like they were going to be there for a while. At first it was pretty comical being locked in a mall with hundreds of shops and restaurants. After days though it’s no laughing matter. The restaurants have almost completely run out of everything. Enraged rioters have raided stores and shops and everyone is in hysterics. Then the people start getting sick. A hospital has to be set up in an office supply store. Hazmat doctors wheel in two or three patients an hour with al the same symptoms, blue fingers, ears and noses. When the scientists determine what is happening to all these people it is too late. Most of the mall population has been contaminated and even the hazmats can no longer stay to help.

This book is one of my most recommended books.  It has you on a gruesome and twisted roller coaster from the start. I don’t recommend this book to anyone who is squeamish to medical science. No safety in numbers thrust you into a futuristic atmosphere where our government is dealing with different kinds of terrorists, the kind that knows the human race’s weakness, itself.

I recommend not starting this book until close to the end of school because it gets you wrapped up in it and doesn’t give you an ending. The sequel doesn’t come out until July.

SPRING READING CHALLENGE GIFT CARD WINNERS!!!

The winner of the $20 Amazon gift card is Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories

 

The winner of the $10 Amazon gift card is Gina @ Book Dragon's Lair

 

Please send me your email address.

Student Saturday - Unwanteds - Lisa McMann

Student Saturday is a day I post reviews written by other students.  The review that follows is written by Elizabeth

Alex Stow and his twin brother, Aaron Stow face an ugly betrayal on this exciting creative adventure. Alex is thirteen and Alex knows that he will be an unwanted, but his brother is hoping that he will become a wanted and go to Wanted University in Quill.  Alex has curly brown hair, and he has an outgoing creative mind. In Quill, creativity is a death sentence and you will be executed. Alex soon discovers a place called, “Artimé” a fantastic world full of creativity…and mischief. He also meets some new friends on the way. When they meet Mr. Today, a kind, understanding man, they find themselves happy to live in the mansion he owns. They will soon find out how they will defend themselves using the magic of art, including theater, dancing, music, and art itself against Quill. Alex will unravel the truth that has been kept from him and his family in Quill.

With the help of his friends, Alex will be able to face the most challenging obstacles. Alex uses his gift to defend the lovely land of Artimé, and all the creatures, statues, and people who live in it. Alex discovers his connections with his brother and so does Mr. Today. Alex makes new friends and new enemies. Later on Alex realizes that he does not need his brother and family he already has a family in the wonderful, mystical world of Artimé. He also learns to not hold on to something he cannot keep forever. Alex and his friends will soon come face to face with their most cruel, betraying enemies. Alex and his friends have an amazing adventure in the world of Artimé. An extraordinarily fun adventure happens all in the pates of this book. Magic is mixed with fantastic creatures and mystical statues in it.

The book will have your mid go racing with ideas of your own and creativity jumps out at every page. It is an exciting, new adventure with imagination running wild right before your very eyes, all you have to do is read the marvelous book. I enjoyed the book very much; it is a very fun, hilarious, fantasy book. You will not forget the amazing creativity you will experience. It is full of interesting descriptions you could picture very clearly in your head that is if you have the creativity that it takes. Unwanteds takes you to another level of crazy, cool fantasy and it will have you on the edge of your seat. I like that it had magic and mystery in every single pate. I recommend it to those who love, “Harry Potter” and, “The Hunger Game”. I also recommend it to my teacher and fellow classmates who love to read fantasy and mystery. This book also reminded me of “Percy Jackson”.

Hunt and the Hunted

These were the last two books I had read for the Spring Into Reading Challenge.  I had not had a chance to write and post their reviews until today.  I have to say that this was definitely the way to end the challenge.

The Hunt – Andrew Fukuda

Pages: 293
Source:Review copy in exchange for my honest review of the book
Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy

If you like vampire stories then sit back and enjoy this one.  This is not your “Dracula” or “Twilight” vampire story.  No this one is full of descriptive gore.  Imagine living in a society where you are human and must pretend that you are a vampire just to survive.  That is exactly what Gene does.  He’s been trained well to blend in.  He must shave his body every day and make sure he has absolutely no human odor.  He polish his fake fangs.  The problem I saw was that Gene has lived among them for so long that when they talk of humans, called hepers, he has trouble understanding a heper’s point of view, even though he is one. Ashley June is a girl at his school.  She is quick  thinking and definitely has a thing for Gene.  He feels the same way but was always taught to show no emotion.

Ten years have passed since “The Ruler” has had a heper hunt.  He has just announced they have enough humans for a heper hunt and that seven  people will be chosen by lottery to participate.  Gene is one of those unlucky ones.  Now he is to be locked up with the other winners to train for this hunt, along with Ashley June.  He keeps referring to the humans as hepers and the vampires as the people.

One of my favorite parts of the training was when the Director was giving a lecture about hepers .  She droned on about things like the reason hepers sing is because they had a mistaken belief that it helped their food grow.  It showed a weakness on the part of the vampires.  Gene chalks it up to the fact that hepers have become almost extinct so the only thing the vampires can do is speculate.  He makes a comparison to vampires becoming extinct and humans making assumptions such as vampires sleeping in coffins instead of hanging from ceilings in footholds, they would have no reflections, and even made a comment about heper-people romances.  The author’s allusion to “The Twilight Series” and “Dracula” stories made me laugh.

But Gene has another problem. He is a heper, he has met the hepers in the dome and he knows what is to become of them.  Should he share that knowledge or should he continue to play the role of a vampire to save himself?  Lots of twists and turns in this book.  There are a couple of surprises as well.  This was probably one of the best vampire books I’ve read and I can’t wait to read the sequel “The Prey”.  Move over “Hunger Games”.  For those who love dystopian fiction, and vampires, this is the best of both worlds.

Children of the Fog – Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Pages: 278
Source:  purchased
Genre:  Adult Mystery, Thriller

I was captured by the prologue of this book.  I entered to win a copy and did not win, so I purchased it.  From the moment you read the prologue where you find Sadie, an alcoholic determined to commit suicide to the moment she sees the faces of children out side her window as she places the gun to her head, you are caught.  Why does she want to kill herself? What happened to her son? Who are the children outside the window and what do they want?  These were the questions that popped into my head as I began the journey of reading a book that I KNOW I will re-read several more times. 

We find out that Sadie is an author and is currently writing and illustrating a story about bats for her son.  Her illustrative abilities will help and hurt her situation when the notorious “Fog” kidnaps her son in his own bedroom.  She hears a noise and goes to check on him only to catch him in the act. No one has ever seen his face until Sadie.  He gives her a choice, let him leave with her son and he lives or he will kill him right there in front of her.  I kept thinking what I as a mother would do.  One part of me kept thinking I’d rather he kill him so that I knew it would be quick and over because if he took him I had no idea what type of torture he would go through.  The other side of me said, let him  go because I would not want to witness my  child’s murder.  Sadie does just that, lets him go. She is warned she will never see her son again if any details about what he looks like gets out. 

We go from this situation to her husband coming in late.  Right away we know there is a big rift in their marriage.  That helps ramp  up the tension.  When he finds a sketch she has made of the kidnapper, we know from his personality that things have gone from bad to worse.  Throw in the legal troubles he is having and that would be enough for anyone to want to throw in the towel.  Sadie decides to go off into the woods, rent a cabin, get her affairs in order and then take her life.  However, she is getting nightly visits from children who keep telling her they need her help.

There were so many eloquently executed twists and turns in this story. I kept flying through the pages to find out what happened next.  I was frustrated when my husband woke up and told me I had to put the book down because I only had two hours until I had to get ready to go to work. I solved that problem though.  I assigned a silent reading day in class so I could finish the book.  I guess I got pretty involved because I looked up and my students were watching me.  I was making noises as I read the book.  They figured it must be really good if I was “that into it”.  I told them it was and that if I could find a middle grade/young adult book that was as suspenseful, I’d have several copies on my shelves.  This is a definite must read for anyone who loves mysteries, suspense, a good thriller.  This is definitely a great author, one whose works I will continue to read.  I love it when I can find a new author.

Spring Reading Thing Challenge - The End

Well it is that time when we have to say goodbye to a great challenge.  I hope all of you were successful in reaching some or all of your reading goals.  I also hope to see all of you for the "Fall Into Reading Challenge".  Hopefully Katrina will be back to host this  challenge.  If not and no one else is willing to do so then I will host it in the fall.  Please place the link to your final post in Mr. Linky below.  You have until midnight Eastern time to post your link.  I will draw two names early the following morning and post those names on my blog.  You will have 48 hours to contact me with your email address or I will need to draw a new name.  Thank you for participating.  Please link up below.

Spring Reading Thing Wrap-Up

This has been a wonderful  Challenge.  As always I enjoyed forcing myself to read more.  It was a great success for my students as well.  I had more students join this challenge and stick to it. I have a couple of books I must post reviews for this week.  The Hunt, and Children of the Fog will be posted tomorrow. I finished the Hunt about 20 minutes before I started this post.

Below is my original list.  I've drawn lines through those I read.  Those in red were added to the list.  I started with 16  books.  I read a total of 30 books.  However 17  of those books were picture books.  Of the remaining 13 books 2 were adult books,the other 11 were a combination of MG, MG/YA, or YA/Adult.  I had about a quarter of The Musicians to read but stopped because I am finishing up the book Balance by Nik Wallenda in time for his walk across the Grand Canyon this Sunday.  My plans are to have the post up on Saturday, one week after I spoke with him.  My husband and I live in Sarasota, FL and went out and watched him practice on Saturday and were able to talk with both him and his beautiful wife.  I gave them my card so they could read the review after his walk.  As for all of the picture books.  It seems that I have had lots of authors who have written picture books (especially about monsters and farts) that have asked me to read and review their books.  Expect more picture books next week.  I do hope you had as much fun  as I did with this challenge and I hope to see you in the Fall.

Books to Finish:

The Musicians – Liam McAuley 

The Hunt – Andrew Fukida (YA/Adult, Fantasy)

St. Viper’s School for Super Villains – Kim Donevan (MG, Fantasy)

New Books to Read:

Everville: The First Pillar – Roy Huff

A Time For Everthing – David Bond

At Drake’s Command – David Wesley Hill (Adult, HF)

Babel's First Light – Sherry Chamblee

Brain on Fire – Susannah Cahalan

Children of the Fog – Cheryl Kaye Tardif (Adult, Mystery, Suspense)

Dead Man’s Hand – Eddie Jones (MG/YA, Mystery)

Beholding Bee – Kimberly Newton Fusco (MG/YA, Realistic Fantasy)

Children’s Books:

Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob – Brooks Olbrys (picture book)

Alphabet Anatomy – Linda Ann Jones (picture book)

Candy and the Cankersaur - Jason Sandberg (picture book)

Counting to Ten and Sharing My Easter Eggs - David Chuka (picture book)

Circle and Square - Ms. Sally O. Lee (picture book)

Wiggle Jiggle - Alan Dapre  (picture book)
When Monsters Come Out to Play - Samantha Foster (picture book)
Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs - David Chuka (picture book)
The Boy and the Ocean - Max Lucado (picture book)
Aberrant - Ruth Silver (YA, dystopian)
The Golden Scarab - S.W. Lothian (MG, Fantasy)
The Cursed Nile  - S.W. Lothian (MG, Fantasy)
The Fallen Pharoah - S.W. Lothian (MG, Fantasy)
The Black Duckling - D. Edgar Henneking (picture book)
Froggie - Jeremy Goodison (picture book)
Skippyjon Jones Shape Up - Judy Sachner (picture book)
Froggy Goes to Hawaii - Jonathan London (picture book)
Billy and Monster The Superhero With Fart Powers - David Chuka (picture book)
Billy and Monsters New Neighbor Has a Secret - David Chuka (picture book)
Thompson Twins Call the Cops - Lesa Hammond (MG, Realistic Fiction)
Oh Brother! - Kimberly Sentek (picture book)
Hello Bella - Nicole J. Foster (picture book)
Harold the High Knight and Princess Megan - Micheal Andrisano (MG, Fantasy)
Impostors & One Far Out Flying Machine - Sands Hetherington (MG, Fantasy)

Link Up Below:

SPRING READING THING REMINDER - Time is almost up!

Just two more days until the Spring Reading Thing Comes to an end.  I am sorry I've not been on here promoting it more.  School is finally out and I have put behind me one of the busiest years of my life.
Remember to put up a final post letting us know how your reading went.  My students had to end their challenge early due to school ending.  However. I managed to give away 85 books to students who participated.  Looking forward to next year's students.  We must do whatever it takes to keep the reading love going.  I look forward to seeing how your reading went.  Remember, there are two Amazon cards that will be given away.  You must have your final post up by the 24th.