Spring Reading Thing 2013

Welcome to Spring Reading Thing 2013!  Coming to you in 4 Days!

Katrina from Callapidder Days was unable to host this fantastic Reading Challenge this year so I have volunteered to step in. This is a valuable challenge for me.  I have my students participate in both her fall and spring reading challenge.  I just could not bear not having it.  So bear with me as I give my first shot at hosting a reading challenge.  As always this is a fun way to catch up on some of the books you have not had a chance to read or finish. You may not have much time to read.  If you can only read 2 books that is fine.  Keep this simple and fun. 

Most of what you will read has been borrowed from Katrina’s site.  I wanted to make sure the  basic rules are the same for those who have participated in years past.

Here are the basics  you will need to do if you wish to participate in this reading challenge.

1.     Make a list of books you want to read this Spring.  Since this is a stress free challenge you may feel free to modify your list as needed if it is not working for you.  I often do this because I get requests for a book review with a due date.

2.     Write a blog post containing your list and submit March 20^th to the Mr. Linky that will be at the bottom of that post.

·      Then begin reading!  The Challenge runs from March 20^th through June 20^th.

·      Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile

You might want to check out  last year’s Spring Reading Thing Challenge to see what others did and to find answers to any questions you may have.

Posting Guidelines

1.     Write your post before you sign up on the linky list that will go live on March 20^th.  Please have your post written and pubished on your blog before you add your name to the linky list.  If I click on your name/link and do not see your post and reading list, or if it takes me to a post that says you will be participating, but will post your list later, I will delete your entry from the list.  It is unfair to those participants who have already prepared their lists and blog posts.  If I delete your entry please come back and submit your name again once your post/list is up.

2.     Use a permalink when you sign up.  Make sure your linky list is linked to your Spring Reading Thing post, not just the front page of your blog.  Mr. Linky will go live on March 20^th.  There will be a space marked “Your Name” where you will type your name (or your blog’s name) and a space under it for “Your URL,” or website address.  This is where you will put your permalink to your Spring Reading Thing post.

      Instead of something like :  http://myspecialblog.com  you would want 

      something like this: 

       http://myspecialblog.com/2013/03/spring-reading -thing.html

These addresses are made up, but you get the idea. Blogging Basics 101 has an article on how to find the “permalink” to a particular post HERE.

3.     Keep your post family-friendly.  Please make sure any book titles or book coverts you include would be safe for younger people to see.  In years past Katrina has had kids participate in the reading challenge and my students participate.  I want to make sure the links presented on the official Spring Reading Thing list are safe for them.  Links to posts with explicit titles or covers may be deleted. 

4.  Get ready to read!  I have included time each week in my classroom for reading to

      give me and my students time to work on our reading goals.  I also use this time 

      to check out what other participants are reading.  It is a wonderful way to add

      books to our ever growing reading list.

Mr. Linky

My plan at this time is to put up the official Spring Reading Thing 2013 launch post at 6:00 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday March 19^th.  The reason for this is because I teach all day and won’t be able to check  if something goes wrong with the linky list until that evening.  You may sign up the night before but please do not start reading until the 20^th.  If you have any questions please email me at skstiles612 [at] yahoo [dot] com.  I will do my best to answer your questions.

I will be giving away two prizes as part of the 2013 Spring Reading Challenge:

1.     A $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com

2.     A #10 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To be eligible you must:

·      Post your initial Spring Reading Thing 2013 post  ( and enter it on the linky list on my blog) by midnight on March 24th

·      AND post a wrap-up post on your blog at the end of the challenge (and enter it on the linky list I’ll have up then) by midnight on June 24^th

That is it.  I’ll randomly draw the winners shortly after the end of the challenge.

You may get the button below

<a href="http://www.themusingsofabookaddict.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Musings of a Book Addict" src=" http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz265/skstiles612/f2e6983f-cb04-4e74-96a2-fb6b0e558c20.jpg "/></a>

Student Saturday: Clone Codes - Patricia C. McKissacks

Student Reviewer - Reid

From Goodreads:
In the year 2170 an underground abolitionist movement fights for the freedom of cyborgs and clones, who are treated no better than slaves

The Cyborg Wars are over and Earth has peacefully prospered for more than one hundred years. Yet sometimes history must repeat itself until humanity learns from its mistakes. In the year 2170, despite technological and political advances, cyborgs and clones are treated no better than slaves, and an underground abolitionist movement is fighting for freedom. Thirteen-year-old Leanna's entire life is thrown into chaos when The World Federation of Nations discovers her mom is part of the radical Liberty Bell Movement.

Student Thoughts:
I loved this book.  Once I started I couldn't put it down. This book makes you want to know more, what's next, was all I could think about. Leana is an average teenage girl in an average life. But, her life is turned around when she finds out that she's a clone. Along the way she meets Huey a cyborg boy the same age as her. Together they try to stop segregation for clones and cyborgs.

This book is great for all ages and fits into any genre lover's mind.

this book really shows us what would happen if we continue to judge others on appearance. I can't wait for Mrs. Stiles to read it.

Purgatory Reign - L.M. Preston

Publisher:  Phenomenal One Press

Pages:  368

Source:  I received a copy in exchange for my honest review

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy

Purgatory Reign Book Summary:

Something evil this way comes...sadly for it, Peter Saints awaits.

Peter Saint's life stinks. But things are about to get much worst. First, his parents are murdered in front of him. Then another victim dies in his arms. Visions plague Peter with warnings that something wants him for a sinister cause. It desires the one thing that Peter refuses to give—his blood. Peter carries within him the one gift or curse that could unlock a secret to destroy the human race. On the run with Angel, a scruffy kid, Peter starts to unravel the mystery. It's the one treasure the heavens sought to hide from the world. Unfortunately, when Peter finds the answer that he hopes will save the girl he loves, he opens the door to a great evil that happens to be salivating to meet him.

My Thoughts:

This was one of those books with a lot of twists and turns that I did not expect. The main character Peter Saint watched his parents die.  He was taken in by Pastor Finn who took care of him like a son.  He had a rule that Peter was to stay in all the time for his protection.  Peter didn’t know what he was being protected from.  He had terrible visions and nightmares that were increasing. Peter would sneak out at night.  He was followed around by a girl named Hannah. He sees her get hit by a car. Before she dies she gives him a “gift”, a mark in his hand.  He rushes home and tells Pastor Finn what has happened and shows him the mark.  Pastor Finn tells him he must leave and search for a safe place.  Peter learns that his parents were part of an organization called The Order of Grace.  They held a secret and gave their life protecting Peter and others like him.

Peter’s blood is desired by an Evil that can use it to bring their evil to life.  Peter joins Angel and Kyle on the run.  The three of them must find a way to stay out of harms way and protect and save the world.  I really wish I could say more but that would really spoil it.  This is definitely a must read for all fantasy lovers.

Author Bio:
L.M. Preston loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. She worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. Her passion for writing science fiction was born under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds feeds her creation of multiple series for Middle Grade and Young Adult readers thirsty for an adventure. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

Find L.M. Preston:

Website

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YA Facebook Page

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