What Are You Reading Good (11/20/08)

I was sick last week and didn't post WAYRG.  :(

I had an idea that I am going to do at school and at home.  I'm going to create a poster where I can put up a sticky note with what I am reading good, and then I'm going to ask my students and my family to put up a sticky note to tell me what they are reading good.  You can do this at home with your family!  It's important to share what we read with others!

So...what are you reading good this week? REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now. Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun. Make me want to read the book! Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.

This week I am reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.  I read The Thief Lord by Funke which is a great great great book.  I loved the characters and I loved the story.  This book is the first in a trilogy of books about a girl who loves to read and her father who is a bookbinder.  So far I am only at the beginning and her dad just disappeared because he was trying to save a book...sounds like an adventure waiting to happen!

I am also read Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.  I have also read a book by Choldenko before but so far this one is great.  It's about a boy whose family goes to live on Alcatraz because his dad gets a job there.  Can you imagine living on Alcatraz!  I think it would freak me out too much!  This book is great so far!  The boy has a sister who is autistic that he has to take care of and the warden's daughter keeps getting him into trouble!

The Higher Power of Lucky

Most Recently Read Book:

The Higher Power of Lucky

By Susan Patron

This book is a sweet story about a girl whose mother dies and who is being raised now by her dad's ex-wife.  She lives in a teeny-tiny town with only 43 people in it.  The girl, Lucky worries that her dad's ex-wife, who is now her guardian, will leave her and she'll become an orphan or a ward of the state.  

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

Most Recently Read Book:

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

By James Patterson

Well...I have to say this was my least favorite in the Maximum Ride series.  As far as I know this is the last book in the series and it really was not a good book.  I did listen to this entire series on CD and this book was narrated by a different narrator so maybe that makes a difference, but I really didn't like the plot.  I loved the first and second books, and the third book for the most part, but this one was bad.  In this book Max and the flock go to Antarctica to try and do some research to help stop global warming only to get captured by another mad scientist kind of creature.  I know they are out to get them, but this was a little crazy, even for this series.  The whole time we have heard about Max's mission to save the world and this just didn't seem like a good ending.  Also, I'm a big fan of the romance that has been becoming more and more evident between Max and Fang.  Patterson addressed that in this book but at the same time just kind of said Max was freaked out and ended the book never talking about it again.  Maybe there will be another or more than one other book in this series.  If this really is the final book it was a very sad way to end the series.  Ugh.

Jinx

Most Recently Read Book:

Jinx

By Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite young adult authors.  I love The Princess Diaries series, and I also like the All-American Girl series.  Honestly, though, I have to say this was not one of my favorite Meg Cabot books.  Jinx is about a girl who moves to New York City to live with her aunt and uncle and to get away from an obssessed ex-boyfriend.  The weird part about this book is that the main character, Jinx, thinks she might be a witch.  It was just a little strange for me.  I love the Twilight series and vampires and everything, but I didn't really like reading about a witch.  I don't always like every book I read, and that's okay.  

What Are You Reading Good (11/06/08)

So...what are you reading good this week? REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now. Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun. Make me want to read the book! Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.

I am currently reading Travel Team by Mike Lupica.  He is a well-known sports writer who has written many young adult novels about kids who play sports.  This book is about a boy who is really short but is really good at basketball.  He's really upset because for the first time ever, he doesn't make it onto the team.  It made me really sad now that I am a mom because it would make me so sad if my son didn't make the team.  That's all I know so far!

I am currently listening to Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson.  This is the fourth and final book in the Maximum Ride series.  Once I start a series, I like to finish it, or at least keep up with, especially if I like it.  If you remember, this series is about the group of bird-kids who are trying to escape from mad scientists.  They pretty much escaped but I think now someone else is going to come after them.  It's kind of slow in the book right now, but still entertaining.  I love Max as a character, she cracks me up!

The Sea of Monsters

Most Recently Read Book:

The Sea of Monsters

By Rick Riordan

Last night, I finished the second book in the Percy Jackson series: The Sea of Monsters. This series is about Percy Jackson, who is a demigod. A demigod is someone who is part Greek god and part human. I love these books because they incorporate ancient Greek mythology and real life as we know it. I think these books are great for students who like action and adventure.

Chasing Vermeer

Most Recently Read Book:

Chasing Vermeer

By Blue Balliett

This is the first book in this mystery series by Blue Balliett.  I didn't realize this was a series and I listened to The Wright Three first, so now I had to go back and listen to Chasing Vermeer.  I like this series about young kids who live in Hyde Park in Chicago and get involved in solving mysteries about art, in this case the Vermeer painting called A Lady Writing.  It's amazing all the thinking that Blue Balliett has to put into her writing.  She incorporates art, puzzles, writing and exploring.  Now that I have read Chasing Vermeer and The Wright Three I have to go read the third book in this series, The Calder Game, which was recently released!  

Author Spotlight - Gordon Korman

I just saw Gordon Korman present at one of my middle schools. I have to tell you, it is so fun for me to meet authors. I love reading books and to get to meet an author is a great experience because you really get to hear where a story comes from and how he or she goes about writing.

Gordon Korman wrote his first book when he was in 7th grade! He explained that his teacher gave an assignment asking students, basically, just to write...and he did. When he finished his book, he mailed it off to Scholastic, and by luck, they published his book. From there, he just kept on writing and has now written a lot of books.

The entire 7th grade read his book, Schooled. It was interesting to hear him talk about books he has published and how he came up with the idea for Schooled. He explained that some of his stories come from experience, and others come from his imagination. He was doing a presentation at a school when he noticed some students who were home-schooled. He noticed that they seemed out of place amongst the other students and that is where he came up with the idea of a character like Capricorn Anderson, for Schooled.

This picture turned out kind of dark, but you can see him on the stage if you look closely.  

Here I am with Gordon Korman! You can see I am wearing my tie-dye t-shirt in honor of the 60's theme of the book.

Gordon Korman also talked about his newest book that will be released in December. The book is called One False Note. This new book is the 2nd book in series, The 39 Clues. There will be ten books in the series, and each book is going to be written by a different author. Rick Riordan wrote the first book, and Gordan Korman wrote the second. I am really anxious to check this series out.

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

Most Recently Read Book:

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

By James Patterson

I love this series! I think this is such a fun series with great characters. Max, the main character, is really funny and is always making me laugh. This is the third book in the series about a group of kids who are part bird and who are trying to escape from and bring down the mad scientists who created them in order to save the world. I liked this book as much as the others. There was lots of action, a little more drama...and definitely more romance, which I love. Not too much gushy romance, just a little, but it made the book more interesting to me. There were a few twists and turns along the way. I think this is a must read...after you read the first two in the series, that is.

Catcher in the Rye

Most Recently Read Book:

Catcher in the Rye

By J.D. Salinger

I just finished this book for the second time.  As I mentioned in WAYRG, I read this book in high school and I wanted to reread it to see if I might have a different view of it now that I am an adult.  Basically, I can appreciate it a little more, but I can't say that I really like this book.  The author definitely is able to create a unique voice for a character such that you don't mind reading a book all about what is happening in his life.  My biggest problem is that I completely do not in any way relate to the character and the author doesn't really help me connect with the character.  I'm not sure I blame the author, he definitely does a good job of presenting the character but there is no way he can be sure every reader will identify with a character.  I guess I just can't even connect with the character at all just because it's hard for me to sympathize or empathize with him.  I think this is mainly because of the way the story is told.  I'm not sure I'm making sense!

Let's just say that Holden Caulfield is just not a character who I can identify with and, for the second time, I feel like it was just annoying to read all about this kid's life when in the end, it really doesn't help me grow as a reader.  

Please, if you are a Holden fan or a Catcher fan, tell me why you are and help me see the light!  I really want to like this book, I think I just need some help.  Let this be a good example that books are not one size fits all.  

What Are You Reading Good? (10/30/08)

So...what are you reading good this week? REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now. Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun. Make me want to read the book! Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.

I am still reading The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan.  I've been reading two other books at the same time so I feel like it's taking me a long time to get through this one, but so far the adventure is still pretty fun and getting more and more interesting!  

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is one of the other books I have been reading lately.  I actually read this book when I was in high school.  I remember not really liking it, but it is truly a classic that many high schools require students to read.  I thought I would try and reread it to remember what it was about and to see if maybe as an adult I would think of it differently.  So far, it is pretty much what I remember.  It's about a boy in high school and what is happening in his life.  I also wanted to read it because in the book I just finished, King Dork, the character refers to The Catcher in the Rye.  I'll have to wait until I finish it to decide what I think about it.   I would love to hear what anyone else has to say about Catcher.  

I am now listening to Maximum Ride: Saving The World And Other Extreme Sports.  This book is the 3rd book in this series by James Patterson.  If you remember, this is the series about the bird-kids who are trying to save the world from mad scientists.  I love the adventure in this book...and this one even has some romance!  Very fun!

King Dork

Most Recently Read Book:

King Dork

By Frank Portman

I found this book at the library randomly and just finished listening to it yesterday.  This book was really a funny book after I got into it.  It's basically a year (or so) in the life of a sophomore boy in high school.  He's pretty much a dork and doesn't really have too many friends in school.  It's a totally different perspective from what I have read before.  There are some mature ideas in this book so I would definitely recommend this for at least high school students.  A perfect book for any boy who's into music, too.  

What Are You Reading Good? (10/23/08)

So...what are you reading good this week? REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now. Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun. Make me want to read the book! Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.

I am currently reading The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan.  This is the second book in the Percy Jackson series.  Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman which makes him a half-blood.  He is part Greek god.  This book so far has him returning to "camp" where he finds monsters are attacking the boundaries and not making camp very safe.  It's getting to an exciting part where I'm sure Percy is going go take off on an adventure.  Fun!

I am also listening to King Dork by Frank Portman.  So far it is about a boy in high school and what his life is like in high school.  I don't really think this would be appropriate for middle school students, I would say this book is mature and should be read by someone in high school or even 11th or 12th grade.  I just barely started it though, so I'll have to get back to you on how it turns out!

The Wright Three

Most Recently Read Book:

The Wright Three

By Blue Balliett

I didn't realize this book was the second in a series...but it didn't really matter that I read it out of order.  This is a historical fiction book, which means parts are based on true facts or part of history.  This books happens to be about three kids who help to save a house that was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright, a very famous architect.  There are plans to tear down the house but the kids find a way to save it.  They have a mystery to solve because they think they see someone in the house.  This book was a very fun adventure mixed in with the history part and even some math and art things, too!  Plus, this book is set in Chicago.  I love to read books that are written in Chicago.  I can't wait to go back and read the first book in this series, Chasing Vermeer.  

Reading Strategy - Making a Prediction

Reading Strategy - Making a Prediction

A reading strategy is a tool that a reader uses when reading.  The strategy helps the reader think about what he or she is reading or helps the reader understand.  

One reading strategy good readers use is making predictions. A prediction is a guess stating what you think a book will be about or what you think will happen next in the book. “Pre-“ at the beginning of the word ”prediction” means before. You make your guess or prediction before you read. If you understand what you are reading or are thinking about what you are reading then you should be able to make a prediction. Sometimes you will be right and sometimes you will be wrong-that’s okay! You can predict what a book will be about before you start to read. You can also predict while you read when you predict what will happen next in the story. You can even predict what will happen after you read.

Read the following paragraph.  Make sure you are thinking about what you are reading so you can make a prediction when you are done!

Sarah was so excited for Halloween on Friday night.  After school, she would go home and change into her costume.  This year she was dressing up as a fairy princess.  She would make sure she had her flashlight and a big pillowcase from her house and her mom would drive her to her friend Tanya's house.  Then...

What do you think will happen next in the story?  There are many things that Sarah could do. Write you prediction as a comment.  You can also tell about what helped you to make your prediction.  Make sure you try to make predictions before, while, and after you are reading!

The Thief of Always

Most Recently Read Book:

The Thief of Always

By Clive Barker

This book was recommended by one of my students!  His name is Jose and he thought I would like this book and let me borrow it.  This book is a combination of mystery and fantasy.  The main character, Harvey, is bored with life when a man named Rictus comes along and tells him he can take him somewhere that isn't boring.  He convinces Harvey it's kind of like a vacation and takes him to a place called Holiday House.  Harvey loves being there until he realizes some things there are a little too strange and tries to go home...at first he can't escape, but when he does he finds out for every day he was at Holiday House, one year of his life went by.  The only thing he can do is go back and try to figure out who is controlling everything at the house and find a way to get his "years" back!  

Pretty Tough

Most Recently Read Book:

Pretty Tough

Liz Tigelaar

I thought this was a great book!  Besides being a great book in general, it was a great book for girls, sisters, and athletes.  There were so many things going on in this book.  Charlie and Krista are sisters.  Charlie basically hates her sister because Krista didn't stand up for her when her best friends started a really mean rumor about her.  When Charlie is recruited for the soccer team,  she decides to try out because she knows it will make Krista mad since Krista is the start of the team.  At first Charlie just wants to make Krista mad but then she really starts to like soccer and they find out that they have to figure out how to get along if they want to succeed on the soccer field.  There's boys and friendship mixed in along the way...and lots of technical soccer stuff, too!   

Reading Strategies

You may have heard your teachers talk about using reading strategies.  What are reading strategies?  Reading strategies are things we do while we are reading that help us think about the text and understand the text.  

All good readers use reading strategies to help them really think about the text when they are reading.  Reading strategies are ideas or plans for what a good reader will do while ho or she is reading.  You can think of reading strategies as "tools" that a reader uses.  When a carpenter builds something, he or she uses tools to help him or her.  When a chef cooks something, he or she uses tools to help him or her.  When you, the reader, reads something, you use tools to help you read.  We call these reading tools reading STRATEGIES!

Some examples of good reading strategies are making predictions, visualizing, or making connections.  Good readers use strategies before, while, and after reading.  It’s important to think about the book before, while, and after reading to make sure you really understand what you read. 

I will be posting about a new reading strategy each week.   Try and think about using these good reading strategies when you read!  Can you tell me about some reading strategies you know and use already?  How does the strategy help you as a reader?

Amelia Rules: When The Past Is A Present

Most Recently Read Book:

Amelia Rules: Volume Four, When The Past Is A Present

By Jimmy Gownly

This was my first ever graphic novel!  One of my students was reading this book and it sounded like a cool series to me.  I have to say, graphic novels are definitely hard for me to read.  I read comics as a kid, but graphic novels are a different, if you ask me.  They definitely use the pictures and placement of words and characters to explain what is happening in the book.  It was hard for me to jump from one even to the next in this book just because I'm not used to it.  The reader definitely has to do more work as far as filling in all the gaps that are left out when the book is told mostly with the graphics and dialogue.  I really liked this book though and I think the characters are really fun.  Amelia does rule!

Half Moon Investigations

Most Recently Read Book:

Half Moon Investigations

By Eoin Colfer

This was a great young adult mystery!  I haven't read a mystery book in a while and this one was really fun!  I was also new to reading Eoin Colfer's writing but I love it!  I noticed that he uses a lot of similes when he is describing.  Similes are one of my favorite literary elements.  He also has a great collection of characters.  Fletcher Moon is the main character, he's a kid who went to school online to become a detective.  There is a theft at school and the kids call in Fletcher, known as Half Moon because he is short, to solve the crime.  When he tries to help solve the crime he ends up becoming a suspect, that means, people think he may be the criminal.  He has to figure out the mystery before he ends up in big trouble!  

Shelfari

Shelfari is cool new website I have found to keep track of my books. Do you want to know what books I own or have read? You can go to www.shelfari.com/mrsreadalot to see what books I have read or own. If you want to know what I thought of a book you can see how many stars I gave the book. (You can also look through this blog to see what books I have written about here.)

What Are You Reading Good? (10/03/08)

So...what are you reading good this week? REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now. Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun. Make me want to read the book! Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.



I am currently reading Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer. I have never read any books by this author. I know he is the author of the Artemis Fowl series. This book is way funnier than the cover suggests. It is a mystery and Fletcher Moon is a kid-detective who finds himself in the middle of his own investigation. So far, there are lots of crazy characters and the writing is really fun. This author seems to use a lot of similes, which I think are really fun. I can't wait to read more!

Brisingr Is Here!

This weekend the third book in the Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini was released: Brisingr!  Many people were eagerly awaiting the release of this book.  The first book in the series is Eragon...you may have seen it, it's a blue book with a cool blue dragon on the front cover.  It's about a boy, Eragon, who discovers a dragon egg that hatches for him.  From there on, he is off on a long adventure to help defend his country and its people by becoming a dragon rider.  The second book is Eldest.  This book has a red cover with a red dragon on it.  I was in the middle of reading this book when I had to abandon it because it was just taking me too long to read.  I definitely like the story but I think I just needed a break from it.  I think I am ready to go back to it though so I can get on to reading Brisingr which is the final book in the series.  I know fantasy lovers were very excited for this third book to be released.  If you are an Eragon  and Eldest fan, you may want to try and get your hands on Brisingr...and then let us know that you think!!

Overboard

Most Recently Read Book:

Overboard

By Elizabeth Fama

This was an adventure/survival teen read that really kept my attention.  Emily, the main character, is in Sumatra because her parents are doctors who help sick children there.  She gets frustrated that she had to move away from the United States and her home to Sumatra where the culture and climate and many other things in her life are different.  She decides to take a ferry to an island to visit her uncle...without telling her parents.  While on the overcrowded ferry, it sinks.  Emily struggles to survive out in the ocean until she can be rescued.  She meets Isman, a young boy, who helps her make it through the ordeal.  I think young adults would really enjoy reading this book because of the survival aspect.  

What Are You Reading Good? (9/11/08)

Welcome back to school!  I had a great summer relaxing with my husband and my son and doing lots of reading.  Now that we're back in school I'm excited to be sharing books with students again!

So...what are you reading good this week?  REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now.  Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun.  Make me want to read the book!  Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.  

Right now I am reading Overboard, by Elizabeth Fama.  It is about a girl who is living in Sumatra because her parents are both doctors and they are there helping kids who are sick.  One day she gets really mad at having to live there and gets on a ferry, which is a boat that takes you across water.  While on the ferry...it sinks!  The girl is in the water with all the other people and it is getting pretty cold.  I'm not sure what is going to happen to her but I hope she can get some help!

What Are You Reading Good? (7/07/08)

It's been a while since I posted!  Summer is a fun time and my family has been really busy.  My son completed the Summer Reading Program at our local library.  He earned a free kids' meal at Panera and some other food places and he got a free book!  There still might be time sign up at your local library and earn some free stuff!!!

So...what are you reading good this week?  REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now.  Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun.  Make me want to read the book!  Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.  

I finished Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages.  It was a very interesting historical fiction book about a girl who lives in a  secret government town where all the adults are working to create the atomic bomb.  I really like the genre of historical fiction.

I also finished Fablehaven, Book Two: Rise of the Evening Star, by Brandon Mull.  I love this series and am excited to read the third book.  This is a fun series for anyone who likes fantasy.  This is the second book in the series but is just as good as the first!

Currently, I am reading Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, by Jordan Sonnenblick.  This book falls into the category of teen issues.  It is about a boy named Stephen whose little brother was just diagnosed with cancer.  That means his family just found out his little brother has cancer, which is a serious disease that people sometimes die from.  It is a really well written book because I feel like Stephen is talking to me.  I can't imagine what it might be like to have a family member with cancer, but I think it would really hard to have a little boy have to deal with cancer.  No fun!  So far this book is really interesting but easy to read at the same time.  

What Are You Reading Good? (6/16/08)

It's the beginning of another week...what are you reading good this week?  REMEMBER..tell me the title, the author, what the book is about right now.  Try to really be more specific than just saying it is interesting or it is fun.  Make me want to read the book!  Or...really support why I shouldn't read the book, if you don't like it.  

I am still reading The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages.  I'm really getting interested in the story because the two main characters live on an army base where there are a lot of secrets.  I can't wait to figure out the secrets!

I'm also reading the second book in the Fablehaven series: Rise of the Evening Star, by Brandon Mull.  I am really enjoying this series.  It's a must for fantasy lovers!

What Are You Reading Good? (6/9/08)

What are you reading good this week??  Please share what you are reading, who the author is, what you are reading about so far, and what you think of what you are reading.  

I am reading The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages.  So far, this book is about a girl named Dewey.  Her father works for the Army but has been gone for a while.  Her grandmother was just put into a nursing home and she doesn't have anywhere to stay when a woman from the Army comes to get her and sends her off on a train to New Mexico where her dad is.  It seems like it is going to be a long trip and she's kind of scared all on her own.  I don't think I would like being on such a long trip all by myself.  I wonder what awaits her in New Mexico! 

S.E. Hinton

Today a went to a huge book fair in downtown Chicago.  There were lots of booths to buy books and lots of fun free stuff.  They had presentations going on all day.     

I went to go see S.E. Hinton.  She is a famous author and she wrote The Outsiders.  She wrote The Outsiders when she was a teenager.  The Outsiders is about two different cliques: the socs and the greasers.  Cliques are groups of people who are friends.  Sometimes, if you are part of one clique then you cannot be friends with someone from another clique.  It can be sad because everyone should be able to get along and we should get to know people for who they are not who they hang out with.  S.E. Hinton wrote this book about 40 years ago, but the social problems she wrote about then are still going on today.  I think this is a great book for teenage readers.  I was able to get my copy of The Outsiders signed by S.E. Hinton and to take a picture with her.  

Here is her website if you want to learn more about her and other book she has written: www.sehinton.com.    

What Are You Reading Good? (6/2/08)

What are you reading good this week?  Please share what you are reading.  Tell me the name of the book, the author, what the book is about so far, and if you like it!

 

I just finished Fablehaven By Brandon Mull.  I am now a fan of this series!!!!  I can't wait to read the books that come after this first one.  Fablehaven is the story of a brother and sister, Seth and Kendra, who are sent to spend a few weeks with their grandfather while their parents are away on a cruise.  Seth and Kendra learn that their grandfather lives in Fablehaven which is one of many special preserves for magical beings.  They meet fairies and a witch and lots of other cool fantastical creatures.  They also get themselves into some exciting and scary adventures.  This was a great book!

Where Do You Get Your Books?

Where do you get the books you read?  Do you check them out from the library at school or your public library?  Do you buy them?  Where do you buy them?

Personally, I like to check out books and books on CD from the library.  Books and books on CD, especially, can be really expensive.  I don't like to buy a book before I read it if I don't think it will be a good book.  If a friend tells me a book is good then I might buy it.  Mostly, I go to the library.  

 

Did you know that Wal-Mart and Target have books?  They usually have a pretty good selection.  Most of the time they have "Bestsellers".  "Bestsellers" are books that have been bought the most in the United States for the week.  If lots of people are buying a book then it's probably a good book.  Sometimes that helps me make a decision to buy a book. 

If you go to www.cicispizza.com you can click on the link there called "Feed Your Brain".  This is a cook summer reading program like the libraries have.  When you go to Cici's you can get a card where you log, or write down, how much you read.  Then, you take it in to Cici's and you can choose two prizes:

1. A free buffet for you when your mom or dad buys a buffet.

OR

2. A $3 giftcard for Half Price Books, a bookstore.

I love free pizza!  You could also read a lot all summer and then save up your $3 gift cards to buy a book...or books even!

Ready or Not

Most Recently Read Book

Ready or Not

By Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors.  She wrote the Princess Diaries series and lots of other fun books.  She is definitely a girly-girl author who writes about girls and their crazy lives...and usually boys.  This book, Ready or Not, is a sequel to All-American Girl.  The main character saves the President in the first book and starts dating the President's son Michael.  In this book she defends young American's rights...and has some fun along the way.  I would recommend this to students in high school because of some of the issues that are discussed.  I definitely recommend checking out Meg Cabot's other books if this one seems interesting to you!

The Tail of Emily Windsnap

Most Recently Read Book

The Tail of Emily Windsnap

By Liz Kessler

This was a very fun book about a girl, Emily, who goes swimming for the first time ever and finds out she becomes a mermaid when she is in the water. She lives on a boat on the ocean with her mom. Her dad totally disappeared when she was a baby and she knows nothing about him. When Emily realizes she is a mermaid, she goes swimming in the ocean...yes, she goes fast and can even swim underwater!...and she meets another mermaid her age, Shona. Shona shows her lots of tricks and becomes her best friend. Emily tries to find out more about her dad but her mom can't remember...it's a fun adventure. Do you think Emily finds her dad? You'll have to read it to find out! This book is actually a series and there are other books about Emily's adventures if you like The Tail of Emily Windsnap!

What Are You Reading Good? (5/26/08)

Every Monday, I will be posting a new "What Are You Reading Good?" for the week. This is your chance to share what you are reading good for the week.  As a student, you should be reading about one book a week, depending on how long the book is. A Harry-Potter-sized book might count as three books because it is so long and so it may take you three weeks to finish.  Try and set a goal for yourself and see if you can meet it! 

I have just started reading The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler.  This story is about a girl who has never been swimming or totally underwater, even in a bathtub, in her whole life!  Finally, she begs her mom to let her take swimming lessons and when she gets in the pool her legs feel really weird and she can't control them...because she has changed into a mermaid!  Right now, she is pretty freaked out and not sure what to do about.  She is scared to tell her mom so she is trying to keep it a secret from her.  It doesn't seem like she really has friends so I wish she would tell her mom.  I hate keeping secrets unless they are fun secrets.  I can't wait to see what happens!  

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors.  She wrote the Princess Diaries series (made into Disney movies) and other fun books.  I have to admit, these are totally girly books, but they are fun!  This is the second book in the All-American Girl series.  In the first book, All-American Girl, the main character accidentally saves the president from being shot and becomes famous because of it.  She also ends up falling in love with and dating the president's son.  How cool is that?  In this book, so far, she is trying to decide if she is going to go to Camp David, the private hangout for the president (for real), with her boyfriend and the President for Thanksgiving.  Who wouldn't want to go to Camp David?  I hope she choses to go!  

What are you reading good?  Please share with me and other blog-readers.  I love to share what I am reading, to hear what others are reading, and to get ideas for books I want to read.  Let me know if you have questions about the books I am reading or about anything in this post. Don't forget, keep reading good!  

Boy

Most Recently Read Book:

Boy 

By Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is one of my favorite authors!  He has written great books like: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and The Witches.  Boy is a fun, autobiography.  An autobiography is a story that a person writes about his or life.  Roald Dahl doesn't tell boring details about his life growing up, instead he writes interesting stories that he remembers from his childhood.  There are some unbelievable things that he writes about because he grew up in the early 1900's.  The one story that shocked me the most was when he was in a car accident and his entire nose was almost entirely sliced off...but then sewed back on, phew!  You might be interested in reading Boy to learn more about Roald Dahl.  After reading this book I definitely have a better understanding of how he came up with his awesome books.  I suggest you check out his website at www.roalddahl.com where you can play games and learn more about the author.  Did you know he had a special writing hut where he wrote most of his stories?  You can see what's inside!  You may want to read some of his books that I listed above, the entire list is on his website.  If you do...let me know which you chose to read and what you thought!    

Books as Movies 2008

Did you know that so many of the movies you see were really books first??  Sometimes movies are made into books, too.  Here is a list of books that were made into movies for 2008. Personally, I like to read the book first and let myself imagine the story first...and then go see the movie.  Some of these movies are already out...but that doesn't mean you can't still read the book first and then go check out the movies.  Also, did you know that you can check out movies at the library?  How cool is that?  They have VHS or videos, and they also have DVDs.  The best part? Totally FREE!  Just remember to return them on time, sometimes you can't check them out for as long as books.  Let me know how you thought the movie compared to the book!!

Spiderwick Chronicles - February 2008

Nim's Island - April 2008

Prince Caspian - May 2008

Indiana Jones - May 2008

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - June 2008

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - August 2008

This series is definitely a favorite!  It's great for teen girls and is a fun story of friendship.

City of Ember - October 2008

This is the beginning of an awesome science fiction series about a very interesting community.

The Secret Life of Bees - October 2008

This is a great story of a girl whose mom died when she was little and she runs away to find out more about her.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - November 2008

I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I am sad that the series has ended...but at least we have the movies to look forward to!

The Road - November 2008

Twilight - December 2008

Twilight is one of my absolute favorite books!  It is a fantastic, vampire, action, love story!  How cool does the cast look?  It is awesome!  I dare you to read it!

Marley and Me - December 2008

The Tale of Desperaux - December 2008