notes on books, teaching, and tech from your friendly neighborhood librarian
City of Light, City of Dark, Avi & Brian Floca
Graphic novel/Fantasy
The Kurbs owned an island. When People came, the Kurbs agreed to share their Power to bring light and warmth so the people could build a city. But once a year, a chosen person must return the Power to the Kurbs, or the city will be destroyed. When the power is stolen, it’s up to Carlos and Sarah to find it and save their city.
Losers Take All, David Klass
Humor/Realistic fiction
At Fremont High School, sports come first. They have the best everything in New Jersey – best basketball team, best baseball team, and most importantly, best football team. It’s earned them the nickname “Muscles High.†Continue reading “Book of the Week: Losers Take All, by David Klass”
Under the Mesquite, Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Realistic fiction/Verse
It can be hard growing up in a big family. Lupita, a brilliant writer & high school student who moved to Texas from Mexico when she was six years old, has eight younger siblings, which means she has a lot of extra responsibility already – and that’s before her mother is diagnosed with a serious illness. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Under the Mesquite, by Guadalupe Garcia McCall”
A School for Unusual Girls, Kathleen Baldwin
Historical fiction/Adventure
Georgiana Fitzwilliam is not your typical rich 19th-century girl. She’s not interested in petticoats or fancy parties or getting married. What she does love is science. Which would be great in 2014, but wasn’t so great in 1814. After years of close calls, in the process of one of her many experiments, Georgie manages to burn her family’s stables to the ground. Continue reading “Book of the Week: A School for Unusual Girls, by Kathleen Baldwin”
Baba Yaga’s Assistant, Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll
Graphic novel/Fantasy
Some kids act out when their families change, but most of them don’t decide to go work for a witch who is rumored to eat children. In this graphic novel, that’s just what happens. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Baba Yaga’s Assistant, by Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll”
The Thing About Jellyfish, Ali Benjamin
Realistic fiction
Suzy knows that things don’t just happen. What kind of world would that be? But that’s the only answer she gets when she asks why her best friend Franny drowned on summer vacation, before Suzy could apologize for the worst thing she’s ever done. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Thing About Jellyfish, by Ali Benjamin”
Took, Mary Downing Hahn
Horror
Dan’s family is in trouble. His dad lost his job, he and his sister Erica had to quit their private school, and now – worst of all – they’re leaving their Manhattan apartment for a house in rural West Virginia. They don’t know anyone in the close-knit village, and no one there is impressed with them. Their parents struggle to find work, their house is falling apart – which is no surprise. No one has lived there for fifty years, ever since a little girl disappeared – supposedly taken away by a witch. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Took, by Mary Downing Hahn”
Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, R.J. Palacio
Realistic fiction/Short stories
Students often ask me when there will be a sequel to Wonder, which told the story of Auggie Pullman, an ordinary kid who looks very different, and struggles to fit in at his new school. Well, the answer is: there won’t be a sequel. What the author has done, though, is write this book, which features three novellas – long short stories, ranging from 40 to 100 pages long – about three characters from the original book: Julian, the bully; Christopher, Auggie’s childhood friend; and Charlotte, the girl on Auggie’s “Welcome Committee†at Beecher Prep. These stories are told from their perspectives, and take place at different times. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, by R.J. Palacio”
Jefferson’s Sons, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Historical fiction
Thomas Jefferson might be most remembered as the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the words, “all men are created equal.” Those words have inspired people around the world to fight for equality. But Thomas Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Jefferson’s Sons, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley”
The Worst Class Trip Ever, Dave Barry
Humor/Adventure
Our eighth graders just got back from a trip to DC, but as far as I know, none of them got involved in a terrorist plot while they were there. The eighth graders in this book – Wyatt and Matt – are not so lucky. The trouble starts on the plane, when the guys in the row behind them act super weird about their backpacks, leading to a run-in with a federal air marshal and a very serious lecture from their teacher chaperone. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Worst Class Trip Ever, by Dave Barry”