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Buyea, Rob. MR. TERUPT FALLS AGAIN
Buyea, Rob. MR. TERUPT FALLS AGAIN New York : Delacorte Press, 2012 IL 3-6 ISBN 0385742053 Mr. Terupt is back and he is now teaching 6th grade. After the tragedy of what happened in 5th grade, the kids are happy to find out that they will have Mr. Terupt as their teacher yet again. There are some aftereffects of the accident last year and the kids will learn how to cope with that. The children will go through many changes in 6th grade as will Mr. Terupt.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Today's podcast 05/14/2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Today's podcast 05/13/2013
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Bryant, Jen. A SPLASH OF RED : THE LIFE AND ART OF HORACE PIPPIN
Bryant, Jen. A SPLASH OF RED : THE LIFE AND ART OF HORACE PIPPIN New York : Knopf, 2013 IL K-3, RL 3.1 ISBN 0375967125 On February 22, 1888, a young boy named Horace was born in Pennsylvania. By the time Horace was three, he was drawing. He would use charcoal from the stove and draw whenever he could. When he won an artist's kit, he was finally able to add color to his drawings. As a young man, Horace went to war and his right arm was injured. He could no longer draw. Oh how he longed to be able to capture the images in his head. One day he decided to try something new. He tried using his left hand to support his right and started painting. Would this work?
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Today's podcast 05/12/2013
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Beil, Michael D. THE SECRET CELLAR
Beil, Michael D. THE SECRET CELLAR New York : Knopf, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 4.8 ISBN 0375967419 The Red Blazer Girls from St. Veronica’s are back with a new adventure and mystery to solve. Sophie buys her father a fountain pen at a local antique store. Little does she know what mystery that will open up. She finds a message in the pen that leads to a secret cellar. They go to the home of the man who originally owned the pen. He is a mystery himself with a house full of puzzles. Now the girls are really determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Today's podcast 05/11/2013
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Bauer, Joan. ALMOST HOME New York : Viking, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 3.7 ISBN 0670012890 Meet 12 year old Sugar Mae Cole. She is a character you won’t soon forget. She is given a small dog who she has decided to train as a helper dog. But Sugar is the one who is going to need all the help she can get. Her grandfather dies and her father abandons Sugar and her mother who are now homeless. But Sugar keeps looking on the bright side even as her mother suffers a breakdown that leaves Sugar in foster care. All Sugar has left is her dog Shush. Is that enough to get her through all of this?
Friday, May 10, 2013
Podcast number 1,600 and counting
When I started adding podcasts to my site, little could I image that I would be loading my 1,600th podcast one day. That day is today. I strive to do one podcast a day but there are times when a week or so may go by without a podcast. But I am still going and looking forward to podcast number 2,000 in the days to come. Thanks for listening!
Today's podcast 05/10/2013
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Finneyfrock, Karen. THE SWEET REVENGE OF CELIA DOOR
Finneyfrock, Karen. THE SWEET REVENGE OF CELIA DOOR New York : Viking, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0670012750 Celia’s dark clothes match her dark mood. She once was a girl who had friends and a nice family. Now she is alone and her parents are separated. Add to that the horrible prank that mean girl Sandy Firestone played on her last year, things are looking pretty grim for freshman year. But the new boy in class takes an interest in Celia and the two become friends. Drake has some issues of his own and confides his secrets in Celia. Can the two of them come to terms with the past? Can Drake help Celia understand that sometimes friendship is more important than revenge?
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Today's podcast 05/09/2013
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Bachmann, Stefan. THE PECULIAR
Bachmann, Stefan. THE PECULIAR New York : Greenwillow Books, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0062195182 In an alternative, steampunk England, we are introduced to two siblings who are living in Bath in the aftermath of the human-faery war. Bartholomew and Hettie are changlings, or peculiars who are half human and half faery. Hated by both the humans and the faeries, the two have been taught to stay in the background and don’t get yourself noticed or you’ll be hanged. When Hettie is kidnapped by a lady plotting against the changelings, Bartholomew teams up with another outcast to try to find her.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Today's podcast 05/08/2013
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Averett, Edward. CAMERON AND THE GIRLS
Averett, Edward. CAMERON AND THE GIRLS New York : Clarion Books, 2013 IL YA ISBN 054761215XFourteen year old Cameron is suffering from schizophreniform – a temporary form of schizophrenia. Medication helps but leaves him feeling flat and disconnected. When he doesn’t take the medicine, his inner companions include two male voices – one compassionate and logical, the other more dangerous who goads Cam into actions that may get him into trouble. And lately, there has been a third voice – a female who Cam is falling in love with. If he takes his meds, his inner voices are gone and so is the girl. But he finds a real life girl who has feelings for him. A rather unusual love triangle indeed. Cameron must decide which world to live in.
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Today's podcast 05/07/2013
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Condie, Ally. REACHED Dutton Books, 2012Concluding the Matched series, we gain a new perspective with Xander as a narrator. The passive struggle continues between the Rising and the Society. After a difficult fight to escape, Cassia is thrown back into the Society, undercover, and runs back in to Xander which complicates her choice with her match. She remains conflicted on how to best help the Rising and trying to figure out who she is supposed to be with. (Candace Skoff for the Colorado Blue Spruce Award, 2014)
Monday, May 06, 2013
Today's podcast 05/06/2013
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Brees, Drew. COMING BACK STRONGER
Brees, Drew. COMING BACK STRONGER Tyndale House Publishers, 2010 IL AD ISBN 1414339437 When Drew Brees, former quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, suffered a potentially career ending injury, everyone doubted his ability to ever play professional football again. Dropped by the Chargers, he worked harder than ever to build himself back up and was drafted to be the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints in 2006, just one year after the city had suffered the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Largely written off, both the city and the quarterback began the long process of rebuilding together. Inspiring his city, and the nation, Brees led the Saints to Super Bowl victory in 2009, proving to the world that not only can you get up after a great and terrible fall, you can come back stronger. (Tana Lucero for the Colorado Blue Spruce Award, 2014)
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Today's podcast 05/05/2013
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Wein, Elizabeth. CODE NAME VERITY
Wein, Elizabeth. CODE NAME VERITY New York : Hyperion Books, 2012 IL YA ISBN 1423152190 Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein tells the tale of Verity, a secret agent captured in enemy territory during WW II, who trades an intricately woven confession to her Nazi captors in hopes of prolonging her life. In flashbacks she tells the story of her friendship with Maddie, a pilot who is her best friend, whom she believes died in the wrecked fuselage of their downed plane. An experienced pilot herself, Elizabeth Wein creates a realistic portrayal of the relationship between Maddie Brodatt, a British civilian pilot during WW II and her best friend Queenie, a wireless operator and spy. In part one Queenie, code named Verity, has been captured by the Nazis and is trading a hand written confession including what she knows about the British war effort, in order to postpone her inevitable execution. Assuming that Maddie died in the crash of their plane over France, Queenie primarily writes about the development of their friendship. Part two is Maddie's "accident report." Unbeknownst to Queenie, Maddie survives the crash and spends the last part of the book attempting to rescue Queenie from her captors. Code Name Verity is a Michael L. Printz honor book. (Sharon Nehls for the Colorado Blue Spruce Award, 2014)
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Today's podcast 05/04/2013
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Clare, Cassandra. CITY OF LOST SOULS
Clare, Cassandra. CITY OF LOST SOULS New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2012 IL YA ISBN 1442416866 City of Lost Souls is the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series, and the action picks up right where it left off in book four. Clary is once again met with difficult decisions and ethical dilemmas around every corner. The greater demon Lilith has been defeated, but that is just a catalyst for the beginning of a new and even more dangerous journey that Clary and her friends, Shadowhunter and Downworlder alike, must handle on their own. Without much help from the Clave, Clary is left with very few options when it comes to the rescue of the love of her life, Jace. She takes matters into her own hands, and seeks out her evil-minded brother, Sebastian, who holds Jace captive with a very powerful spell—one that joins their bodies and minds together, so whatever happens to Sebastian, Jace experiences the same fate. While Clary is working to gain knowledge of Sebastian’s new plan, Simon, Isabelle, Magnus, and Alec are back in New York trying to gain access to a weapon powerful enough to break the bond between Jace and Sebastian. Only an angel can craft a weapon that can sever the line and leave one of the two boys unharmed. The only problem is: to summon an angel is certain death for anyone bold enough to try.As the character’s relationships flourish and intensify, so do the mysteries and risks. This fast-paced series covers all the topics teens deal with and love to read about. From diverse romantic relationships and complicated friendships, to morally ambiguous decisions and terrifying situations, this book leaves readers with a lot to contemplate about our world, however “mundane” it might be compared to Clary’s. (Kate Farrell for the Colorado Blue Spruce Award, 2014 )
Friday, May 03, 2013
Today's podcast 05/03/2013
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White, Kiersten. PARANORMALCY New York : HarperTeen, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0061985848Evie swears she's a normal teen. Even though she's been working for the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency) ever since she was found wandering alone as child, and can see through the glamours that paranormals use to hide their true forms. She has the same ups and downs as regular teens. She's got problems with her faery ex-boyfriend, loves her pink bedazzled taser (she calls it tasey), is obsessed with a teenaged soap opera and has a newfound fascination for the incarcerated shape-shifter Lend. But Evie's normal life is about to become much stranger...paranormals across the world have begun turning up dead and their deaths seem connected to a prophecy that might be about her. (booktalk by Jocelyn Redel, Arlington Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2013)
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Today's podcast 05/02/2013
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Shusterman, Neal. BRUISER New York : HarperTeen, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0061134082 Tennyson and Brontë are twins, who (big surprise) are the children of literature professors. Their lives are just as comfortable and well off as you'd imagine.Brewster Rawlins lives with his eight-year-old brother Cody on their uncle's run down former farm in the middle of the suburbs.Not much is known about Brewster, except that because of his hulking size and quiet manner, everyone calls him Bruiser.Brontë decides that she wants to date Brewster and this sends her hot-headed brother into fits. But after confronting Brewster, Tennyson changes his mind, and decides to give him a chance, although he also wants to find out more about this mysterious kid in his class.It turns out that Brewster has a special ability. He can actually absorb the pain of someone he cares for. Up until now, Bruiser's power has been only been used to protect his little brother Cody from their uncle. Brewster has kept it all a secret by being quiet and never really having any friends.As Tennyson and Brontë's injuries start to mysteriously disappear, and their athletic abilities grow, they slowly realize just what Brewster can do. Tennyson and Brontë begin to draw Brewster out of his shell, thinking they're helping him, but Brewster's uncle has other ideas. His rage drives him to a frenzy that will change things forever.You'll hear each person's side of the story: bullying Tennyson, compassionate Brontë, poetic Brewster, and Cody's little kid voice.They say the ones you love the most are the ones who can hurt you worst. In Bruiser's case that's literally true. Find out what happens to him in Bruiser.(booktalk adapted from a book review by Shawn Crosby King County Library System for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2013)
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Today's podcast 05/01/2013
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Quick, Matthew. SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR
Quick, Matthew. SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR Boston : Little, Brown, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0316043524Amber explains, "Forget about peeing, unless you want to shiver your butt off --literally. And it's pretty lonely too." Abandoned by her dad and a string of her mother's bad boyfriends, Amber is homeless and living in a school bus with her dog Thrice B (Bobby Big Boy) and her alcoholic mom.How does she cope? She reaches out to other outcasts: the geek gang she plays computer games with at lunch, the elders at a local nursing home, a Vietnam vet, with PTSD, and the Korean women who are learning English at Father Chee's church.Amber is strong in many ways. She takes a stand on what she believes in. She loves people and the places they take her.A violent tragedy changes everything.This novel will touch your heart. It will make you laugh out loud and sob like a baby. This book is for all of you who live outside the edge of normal...............or not.This book may change your life. (booktalk by Donna Bartholomew Pine Lake Middle School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2013)
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Today's podcast 04/30/2013
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McBride, Lish. HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER
McBride, Lish. HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER New York : Henry Holt, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0805090983Sam is just an average guy - happily living a slacker life, working at Plumpy's as a fry cook, and hanging out with his friends. His philosophy is that he may be a drop-out loser, but he's going to be the BEST dropout loser he can be. One afternoon after a game of potato hockey in the back parking lot, a strange man comes in. He grabs Sam, lifts him up by his shirt sending a bolt of cold electricity through Sam, and demands to know what he's is doing in Seattle without permission of the Council. Sam has no idea what he's talking about. Later that night on his way out of the restaurant, yet another man grabs him, sniffs him and says "you smell like the grave...and blood." When Sam's friend tries to run the creepy guy over with his car, creepy guy tears the bumper off! The next day a unexpected package is delivered to Sam's apartment. Inside is the disembodied head of his best friend, Brooke. That would be scary enough, but Brooke's head begins to TALK! But it's all good because she's kept her sassy personality even without her body. That's when things get really interesting!In another part of town, the hot daughter of the leader of Seattle's werewolf pack has been kidnapped and is being held in an iron cage. And Douglas, her captor, has Sam in his sights. You see, Sam's mother is a witch and Sam is a necromancer - someone with the ability to raise the dead. Sam is unaware of his powers, but once he is trained, he will be a threat to Douglas' powers. Douglas is out to eliminate the competition before it get out of hand.Sam's adventure on the dark side is a real roller coaster ride. Who knew that Seattle is inhabited all manner of paranormal creatures? The story of Sam and his friends (both human and not) is a funny, scary story (or a scary, funny) first novel by a young, quirky Seattle author. Be ready to laugh one minute and cringe the next. (booktalk Diane Ferbrache by Hazen High School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2013)
Monday, April 29, 2013
Today's podcast 04/29/2013
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Clare, Cassandra. CLOCKWORK ANGEL
Clare, Cassandra. CLOCKWORK ANGEL New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010 IL YA ISBN 1416975861 A chill is not all that awaits sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray in the damp fog of Victorian England as she arrives from New York City to look for her brother. Terrifying creatures lurk in the darkness of London's Downworld. Tessa is kidnapped and tormented by the sinister Dark Sisters until she unlocks her power to transform into other people. This ability, previously unknown to Tessa, makes her a coveted prize for their leader, the Magister. But, London and all its inhabitants do not go unprotected. Shadowhunters, including beautiful but angry Will and kind-hearted but doomed Jem, are duty bound to keep order. When Tessa's path crosses with the Shadowhunters she is saved, at least for the moment, and is allowed refuge at the Institute. There she struggles to figure out what she is, where her brother has gone and, perhaps most unsettling, why she is irresistibly drawn to both Will and Jem. These questions lead her down a dangerous path where the fate of the world and her heart are at stake. (booktalk by Kirsten Gunn Highline High School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Today's podcast 04/28/2013
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Bacigalupi, Paolo. SHIP BREAKER
Bacigalupi, Paolo. SHIP BREAKER Nailer works as part of a disassembly crew for abandoned oil tankers on the US gulf coast, stripping out recyclable materials like copper wiring. If the dangerous conditions and low pay made him think of quitting, there are hundreds of kids begging for the same job. When he lucks out and discovers a windblown luxury yacht that has washed up on the shore with a "swanky" girl on board, it could be the biggest thing ever to happen to him, or it could cause his quick death. The other crews will want to control the yacht, as will his abusive, addicted father, who wouldn't hesitate to hurt Nailer to get what he needs. Soon Nailer and the girl are on the run, with only a beefy, nearly-indestructible, genetically engineered, dog-man named Tool for their companion. Nailer and his new crew must get to safety in the drowned city of New Orleans, or the brutal crews will catch up with them. (booktalk by Michael Fleming Pacific Cascade Middle School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, 2013)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Today's podcast 04/27/2013
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Avasthi, Swati. SPLIT New York : Knopf, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0375863400 Sixteen year old Jace has less than $4.00 in his pocket, a busted face, and not much else, unless you count a long list of memories he'd really rather forget. After a marathon drive from Chicago to New Mexico, Jace has finally arrived at the only place he could think of to go, the only place where he might be safe: his brother's house. The only problem is, Jace hasn't seen his brother in five years, much less talked to him, so he doesn't know if Christian will even take him in. He'll definitely be turned away if Christian finds out what happened to make Jace leave town, which means it's time to start lying...Split is a compelling look at a family ruined by domestic violence, but it is also a rewarding book about trust, healing, and how two brothers learn to live life for themselves.(booktalk adapted from a review by Summer Hayes, King County Library System, for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, 2013)
Friday, April 26, 2013
Today's podcast 04/26/2013
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Garcia, Kami. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
Garcia, Kami. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES Little, Brown, 2009 Ethan Wate has lived in Gatlin his whole life. His father has lived there his whole life. His Grandfather lived there his whole life… Get the idea. People live in Gatlin their whole lives and never leave, except that is exactly what Ethan wants to do. He hates the whole life in Gatlin, the families of popularity that keep the other families out, the same lessons taught in school, the same life as the Civil War. Ethan plans to leave as fast as possible after graduation and never look back.Then, Lena Duchannes arrives. She comes to live with the town’s Boo Radly, Old Man Ravenwood. Lena is a breath of fresh air and Ethan is drawn to her. Suddenly, Lena and Ethan are more than just attracted to each other, they are able to communicate with each other even miles away through telepathy. Ethan and Lena also share the same dark dreams of death and sadness. Through their journey to discover a way around the Duchannes curse and to solve the riddle of the dreams, Ethan discovers that Gatlin isn’t the town he thought he knew- and that there are many mysterious powers that live there. As Lena and Ethan travel down their road to discovery, danger lies in every direction and they discover it is hard to know who to trust when everyone has a secret.... (Tobye Ertelt for the Colorado Blue Spruce Award, 2014)
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Bacigalupi, Paolo. THE DROWNED CITIES
Bacigalupi, Paolo. THE DROWNED CITIES Boston : Little, Brown, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0316056243 A companion novel to Shipbreaker, here we meet Mahlia and Mouse. In a future America filled with violence and terror, the two children try to make their way to safety. Mahlia is the daughter of a Chinese diplomat but has been left behind when the peacekeepers gave up on Drowned Cities and went back to their homes. Mouse is a product of the violence and was living on his own until he met Mahlia. Actually, he saved her from the soldiers. She lost one hand in the confrontation but at least she is alive. The two team up with a half-man to find their way to safety. Will that road lead back into the Drowned Cities?
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