Recent Reads

[Ms. Whatsit]

Read anything good lately that you would like to share? Tell us about it.

[Connie Weber]

Hi All,
I haven't been reading kids' novels so much this year, and will be happy to get back into it. I have two "ready to be read": City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende, and Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, both recommended to me by kids. But whatever you recommend I'd be glad to jump into.

[Connie Weber]

And thanks for starting up this group Ms. Whatsit!

[Ms. Whatsit]

Thanks Connie! :-)

[Fred Haas]

While I haven't had a lot of time to read many young adult literature lately, it is one of my favorite genres. I too love that you started this group and have a pile of books that I will be making my way through in the coming months. Regardless, I thought I would contribute with a title that I read a little while ago, when it was first released, but was reminded of it when I got to see a sneak peak of the upcoming animated film. The book is Coraline, by Niel Gaiman, and I very much enjoyed it. The novel reminds me of a darker, edgier The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in some ways, if the story were to remain only about Lucy’s adventures on the other side.

Coraline is a very clever girl often left to her own devices. Exploring her new house, she discovers a mysterious and alluring locked door that she soon unlocks, only to find an extremely creepy alternate reality, a slightly bent version of her real life. I can’t wait to see how the film handles maybe one of the eeriest lines in the entire book – when on the other side, a woman who looks identical to Coraline’s mother turns to her and proclaims, “I’m your other mother,” also revealing eyes that are big black buttons!

Here’s a link to the early footage.

[Connie Weber]

Fred, Coraline sounds like an interesting book--I'm going to go see if they have it in our school library. Thanks for the review!

[Linda]

My two favorite recent reads for YA are "The True Meaning of Smekday" by Adam Rex and "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Smekday is a holiday celebrated by all earthlings of the future. It is the day that the great Smek, leader of the Boogs, took control of the world. After the aliens--or at least some of them--leave, Grutuity Tucci is assigned to write an essay about the events for a time capsule. Her story is full of adventure, humor (who could resist a bumbling Boog who calls himself J. Lo in hopes of better fitting in to the culture of the U.S.), and some modern parables that kids may or may not get. When all Americans are forced to move to Florida (home of Happy Mouse Land) Grutuity, whose mother has disappeared, commandeers a car and sets off with only the family cat. It is one of the funniest things I have read in years so I was disappointed when the first child I gave it to did not like it. I will try again and again to spread the word about the coming invasion and how we can save ourselves.

"Elijah of Buxton" may be the best of Curtis, and he has some great books out already. This one is set in the years just before the Civil War in a town across the Detroit river where escaped and freed slaves can live without the fear that haunts them in the U.S. This was an actual city created just for these former slaves. Elijah is the first child to have been born into freedom in Buxton. Told with the usual Curtis boyish humor, the reader soon feels a real compassion for Elijah. This makes the difficulties that follow all that much more meaningful. Elijah often helps an older man out with chores and such. This quiet man makes an impact on Elijah in many subtle ways. When the man needs someone to go with him to Detroit, Elijah gets the opportunity to meet some folks who have just been captured and are being taken back to their masters. That is the point where I cried. I laughed at many other points int he story.

[Dianne Baillie]

This is a great category, as I am starting to realize how many wonderful choices there are for our kids. I will add more, but wanted to mention how much my girls in Sec 4 and 5 are enjoying the four novels by Ellen Hopkins - Crank, Glass, Burned, and Impulse. I also have some reading It Happened to Nancy and The Perks of Being a Wallflower..Looking for some really engaging books for my boys.

[petra bardon]

Over the past two years I have started to build a classroom library. Just going by what the kids in my classroom are recommending to others, some of the favorite books are: Monster by W.D. Myers (especially for boys) about a 16 year old in jail for murder. The book alternates between being written as a movie script and a journal written by the main character, Steven Harmon. Of course, the series being read by the girls is the Twilight series written by Stephenie Myer. Also very popular with girls is the writer Natalie Friend; Lush. Perfect, and Bounce. These books deal with teenage girl issues e. g. divorce, eating disorders etc. and the girls are eating these books up. Another funny series starts with The Thrilling Life of Pauline de Lammermoor by Edeet Ravel. It's about a 14 year old girl who is writing her life's story. Very funny and the 8th graders love them.

[Conny Weber]

Hi All,
I've just been re-reading parts of ''The Wave'' by Morton Rhue with my history class (students are about 17-19 years old). There is a brand new german movie of the novel which we're going to see next week (www.welle.info). We just covered the whole subject of Nazi-Germany and the book still provokes some lively discussions. Most young people think fascim is a thing of the past, as far away as the roman empire. I think the book helps to transport the modes of operation of a fascist society, especially in a small group, like teacher and students.

[Laura Gibbs]

Just noticed this group for the first time today! I recently read a WONDERFUL book which I did not even suspect was considered young adult literature until I looked it up at amazon:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.

I blogged about it here: Watching/Reading - with a link there to a wonderful audio excerpt.

Highly highly recommended!!! :-)

[Dianne Baillie]

I have just bought this book..and am looking forward to reading it.
NCTE has something about the author, I think..teacher guide perhaps?

[Jess]

Currently reading Fire Bringer by David Clement Davies. I've read it before, but am reading it with someone this time through to practice my reading aloud (I am a really fast reader, and need to learn to slow it down when I read stories aloud!) The Sight by him is also good. They're both about animals (FB = deer, TS= wolves) who are fulfilling prophecies in their own species legends. The writing is very descriptive.
Velvet Elvis: repainting the Christan faith by Rob Bell is a completely refreshing and inspiring outlook on the Christian faith, especially for those of us who have grown up with traditional background.
32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny by Phillip Done is inspiring and offers insight and lessons learned from teaching. I got it for my birthday, and am thankful for all the advice it offers . Each chapter is a new story, and they all made me reaffirm my desire to be a teacher.