For Elementatry Visits on 3/6/09....

http://www.jeopardylabs.com/play/loogootee (East Jeopardy Link)

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix - I love M.P. Haddix, especially her Shadow Children Series, so when I saw that she had a new series I was quite excited to read the first book. This series begins with a stirring Prologue where we learn about a plane full of babies, 36 in all, that mysteriously appears out of nowhere. The first chapter then jumps ahead 13 years and we meet our main characters, Chip and Jonah, who are both adopted. Jonah's family had been open about his adoption from the start, and his parents are the picture of parental bliss. They do the right things and say the right things are very supportive of him. Quite "by the book" if you will. Chip's parents, on the other hand, are the exact opposites of Jonah's, not telling him he was adopted until he confronts them after receiving a mysterious letter, just like Jonah had received. As the plot progresses, Jonah and Chip, along with the help of Jonah's sister Katherine, begin to be caught up in the mystery of how both of them were adopted and how their adoptions relate to the plane full of babies, time travel, and the "missing children of history."

Walking on Glass by Alma Fullerton - A short story written in verse, this book is a moving account of a lost young man. We don't learn his name, but we learn so much more as, in the first few pages, he reveals that his mother is lingering in the hospital on life-support. As the book progresses we come to understand that his mother more than likely suffered from some sort of mental illness, and eerily we infer that our main character my well be suffering from this same affliction. He struggles with peer pressure and is able to step away from the downward spiral of his best friend, Jack, in order to do the right thing. Caught between a mother who he could have saved from suicide if he had "just been 5 minutes earlier getting home" and his father who can't make the hard choices of an adult, he does what he knows is right, despite his own fears.

Genesis Alpha by Rune Michaels - Josh and his brother Max are close, closer than most brothers. Not only do they look alike, sound alike, and have the same interests, but Josh was genetically formed in order to save Max's life. An interesting mix of science fiction, murder mystery, and cyberspace, the novel revolves around the murder of a young girl and the suspicion that Max is the murderer. Many revelations have dire implications, not only for Max, but also for Josh.

I enjoyed this book a lot as the issue of Josh being born solely to save Max's life reminded me of My Sister's Keeper. I think this is a great option for guys especially, and won't hesitate to recommend it!

Compoundby S.A. Bodeen - I picked this YA title off of the book fair as it looked like a good "guy read" to have as a recommendation. Boy, was I ever surprised. Not only would this title make a good "guy read" but it was a great book that even girls are sure to enjoy.

The book opens with Eli and his family in the Compound, a place where Eli's father took them six years prior when there was a nuclear attack, or so Eli thought. Although the Compound was just as comfortable as their home above ground was, the situation has become increasingly dire as they are starting to run out of food. Eli's father, a billionare computer whiz, accounted for everything, or so he thought. Eventually, Eli begins to suspect that maybe his father isn't telling him the entire story and is secretly able to get a wireless Internet signal through which he makes contact with his twin brother Eddy who wasn't fortunate enough to make it into the Compound with the others. Through this contact Eli realizes that there was no nuclear attack and that the entire Compound was an experiment concoted by his father. A confrontation ensues and the novel resolves itself with much action and suspense.

I really enjoyed this novel and would suggest it to any YA!

Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon - I have had this book since early last year...I was so excited to buy it and read it. However, I've been so busy with other books that I haven't had the time to get to all the ones I've wanted to read for ME...such is life. But, finally, I had the time to read for me and the book was well worth the wait!

Another offering from Karon in the Home in Mitford series, Father Tim and Barnabas venture back to Holly Springs, the town of his childhood, recalled to the Southern utopia by a vague note. Father Tim goes home in search of answers and finds them, both by making new friends and by uncovering old memories.

Although this is a series that doesn't really reflect my reading tastes, I can't seem to get enough of the innocent plots and true-to-life characters that Karon creates in this series.

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir - Historical fiction can be enthralling when written well, and this tale of Lady Elizabeth falls into that catagory. Having been to London I could visualize many of the locations referenced, and it was interesting to juxtapose my view of the Tower of London with the one described in the book. I learned quite a bit about the English monarchy while reading this book, and finally came to understand how and why religion played such a huge part in many of the decisions throughout this period. At the end, I felt like the book was really just getting ready to start, but not in a bad way. I'm ready to read the next book from Ms. Weir that, hopefully, will follow Elizabeth through her reign as Queen of England.

*** After reading this for our Rival Reader book club, my interest was so piqued that I picked up The Other Bolyen Girl. I'm in the midst of that now (along with a few other books!) and am enjoying the immersion in royalty for a bit longer.

New Year, Not Much Reading - So far this year I really haven't had much of a chance to read. Before Christmas I finally got around to reading a book for myself...the 14th Janet Evanovich book...which I bought way back in June. I know, how sad is that? Anyway, right now I'm reading a few books, trying to stay ahead of the book clubs and such. Here's what's on my desk right now:

Ready, Fire, Aim: the Bill Cook Biography - reading because I'm incredibly intrigued with Mr. Cook's success and character.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - reading for my adult book club

The Lady Elizabeth - reading for the Rival Readers book club

Beowoulf - reading for English Academic Team, along with a lot of other Norse literature that perodically causes my brain to go into spasms.

As you can see, I have enough to keep me busy on the reading front. However, I keep adding to the list of books I really, really, really want to read. Here are just a few...

World Without End - Ken Follet's sequel to Pillars of the Earth. This book may have to wait until summer as it is huge and I know I'll never find the time between now and then!

Outliers: the Story of Success - what can I say about Malcolm Gladwell? His books intrigue me and really make me think...a lot.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - even though this book is on Oprah's list, I'm still leaving it on mine. Oh the shame...

Moscow Rules - not usually the type of fiction I read, but after visiting Russia a few years ago, the entire culture of Soviet times fascinates me.

The Art of Racing in the Rain - recommended to me by my sister, this one was already on my list. A book written from a dog's perspective might help me figure out my own hound!

A Lion Among Men - the third volume in The Wicked Years and the follow up to Son of a Witch, I thoroughly enjoy Gregory Maguire's work (see entry for Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister below) and can't wait to read this one.

As you can see, most of these books are bound to wait until the summer when I have so much more time to read. Actually, this summer I am hoping that will be the case, so be prepared for LOTS of updates to my blog!

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire - By the author of Wicked, our Rival Reader book club recently chose this book as a selection. I was, at first, a little skeptical of their selection as the language and the content seemed way too different from our usual reads. However, having read Wicked, I knew the story would be good and was thus excited to get my read on!

The story of Cinderella from one of her "wicked" step-sister's point-of-view, the book unfold and gives us a new version of an old tale. What if the "wicked" step-sisters weren't really all that bad, and what if Cinderella really did all those house chores and dressed in rags out of choice? Well, then, we'd have a completely different story, wouldn't we?

I really enjoyed this book and contemplated, at length, about perspective and point-of-view, not only as far as a novel goes, but as it occurs in life in general. Thought-provoking about the aspects of love and beauty, among a wide array of other things! I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone and, watch out for his new book, a re-telling of The Wizard of Oz through the eyes of the Cowardly Lion!

It's Not About the Bike - Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins - I've really been more interested in cycling (not biking!) as of late, and I'd heard really great things about this biography. I finally decided to shun book club titles while recovering from a recent surgery, and I was very pleased with the choice! This book briefly recounts Lane Armstrong's rise to cycling fame but then focuses most closely upon his fight with cancer and his quest to not only defeat the disease but to also regain cycling glory by winning the Tour De France as a cancer survivor.

I think I enjoyed this book so much because it talks so intimately about overcoming obstacles, not just in sports, but also in life. It really put my measely ankle surgery in perspective!

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - I struggled with actually being able to type what I am about to type. As a librarian, the words that follow carry a weight outside of themselves when I repeat them to others, so I do not use them lightly...this book is, quite possibly, the best book I have ever read. It was difficult for me to get into this book, to really sit down and embrace it, as I was busy and distracted throughout the first half. That is never the way to read a book. This one deserves to be savored, each and every word of it, and I fully intend to go back and read it in order to give the parts I took lightly the respect I failed to give them initially.

I can't really even describe what this book is about as it is about so many things, it is the story of so many people, and it is the story of a city...Barcelona. On the facade, it is a book about a book. But, once inside, the reader finds that it is really a book about how books affect us, emotionally, spiritually, and physcially. How a book can reach out and grab us and take us down an entirely different road than we had anticipated. That is all I am going to give you about the plot of this book...if you don't take my recommendation simply on its own merits by now, then anything I write about the book won't sell it to you. READ THIS BOOK....

Run by Ann Patchett - Our first Rival Readers' novel of the year was a well-written dissappointment. Although the author has a wonderful skill in portraying her characters almost perfectly through her prose, she failed to capture my attention by making the plot too uneventful and predictable.

The story of twin brothers adopted from poverty into prosperity, Tip and Teddy Doyle grew up in the priveleged atmosphere of Bostonian wealth. Their adoptive father Bernard Doyle, a mayor of Boston in their youth, gave them every opportunity to excel, and excel they did. The book, which takes place over a 24 hour period, finds them in the midst of their college years, each finding his own path. An eventful car accident on a snowy night throws the Doyle family into turmoil, something they've not had to experience. A mother, a sister, and a long-lost brother all join the book during the short night. In the end, we find out more about Tip and Teddy's past, but all in an unremarkably uneventful way.

Hopefully, our second book, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory McGuire, will be much more interesting!

Back to Work, Back to Reading...

Since school has been back in session I've had the opportunity to commit myself to reading a little more. Here is a brief snippet about each book I've read during the first month of the new school year:

1. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult - As much as I couldn't wait to read this book, I was a bit dismayed that I could see early on how it was going to play out in the end. Usually, Picoult is able to maintain the suspense up until the very end and this is the first book I've read in which that hasn't been the case. Nonetheless, the plot and the characters were classic Picoult...controversial and well-developed. The issues of the death penalty, organ donation, religion, and child abuse are all masterfully combined in this book. Once again, Picoult alternates points-of-view with each chapter, revealing the story through the eyes of each character and bringing it, again, to one controversial and regretable end.

2. I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder - YA title written in verse, it has been highly popular with my students so I thought I'd give it a quick read. Although nothing I got excited about, really, the message of love and loss was a poignant one for young adults. What happens when the love of your teenage life dies? Does the world stop or does it move on?

3. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones - I picked this book up simply because Great Expectations is one of my all-time favorite books and this one had Pip in the title! Once I got into the book, I struggled a bit to see the correlation between the Dickinsonian life in London and the small, desolate island environment in which the plot takes place. I was a bit confused at many points in the book but did take away a very important lesson...books can transport you anywhere, from a remote island to London, when you immerse yourself in them and allow yourself to listen to what the charactes have to tell you.

4. Eleven Seconds by Travis Roy - Recommended by someone who means a lot to me, I actually read a book about HOCKEY...and enjoyed it! This is a memoir written by Travis Roy about one tragic event, a span of only 11 seconds, and how it changed the course of his life forever. An outstanding hockey player at Boston University, Travis sustained a spinal cord injury in the first, and only, game he ever started...and in just the 11th second. His hopes and dreams has been pinned on getting to the NHL and making a name for himself. His entire life revolved around the sport. In this book, Roy documents his childhood as well as his injury and recovery. Although devasting his physical aspirations, Roy portrays the spirit of a fighter and retakes his life and, at the end of the book, is back in school at Boston University.

This book made me curious about where he is today...I may need to do some further research!

Long Summer....Few Books :(

This summer was filled with lots of writing and lots of dog-sitting, but not enough reading for my tastes. However, just to keep you up-to-date, I will tell you a bit about the books I did get the time to read...

1. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - Our Rival Readers Book Club Summer Selection, this book seemed like a daunting endeavor when I began because it was 1,000 pages long! Even so, Follett introduces so many different characters up front in his novel that the reader wonders how in the world he is ever going to weave them together into one story. However, he does it and does it amazingly well. The story, set in 1200s England, tells the tale of many people, from the prior of Kingsbridge Priory who is struggling to build a cathedral, to the many knights, builders, and common people of the day. Follett provides the reader with a lens that transports them back in time and envelopes them in the medieval lifestyles that led to our current day architecture and culture.

*** I am now reading the follow-up to this story, World Without End. It's also very long, and a little intimidating, but so far the writing is just as masterful!

2. Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes by Dixie Cash - Oye. Not my favorite book as I saw from chapter 3 exactly what was going to happen. I HATE that when it happens! I endured only because it is the first book for our new book club...Wonder Writers and Rebel Readers. I'm excited about our new adult book club, even if I wasn't so thrilled with the first book!

3. Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster - IMHO, Jen Lancaster is the funniest person on the face of this planet. No Lie. This memoir, written as she struggles to lose weight...specifically for the book. Her accounts of attempting first Jenny Craig and then Weight Watchers is nothing short of bitingly brilliant. I was in stitches the entire time I was reading, at times because I could relate and at time because I was dumbfounded at her antics!

Diary of a Wimpy Kidby Jeff Kinney - Okay, so not something we'd hold in high esteem if we were judging LITERARY value, but, hey, the kids are reading it so I did, too.

I could not help but think of any one of a number of past students as well as my nephew Sam when I was reading this book. If one was to split open the head of a pre-pubescent boy, I bet something much like the contents of this book were what would come sloshing right out. Innocent and devious at the same time, the main character, Greg, lets the reader see the ins and outs of daily life as a not unpopular yet not cool middle school boy. The layout of the book is unique as well. Not quite graphic novel, the book looks like the reader is actually opening up an actual journal, complete with lots of handrawn pictures and comics throughout the text.

I can certainly see why this book has become a #1 New York Times Bestseller and why it sold like hotcakes at my recent book fair. I'd recommend this book to any middle school boy...or girl...or high school students looking for a light and fun read to fill the time.

Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck - Another light and inspirational book chosen especially by my Inspirational Fiction girls. The book, although eerily like many of the others they've chosen this year, ended quite unexpectedly for me.

The main character, Caroline, always seems to feel responsible for others, often sacrificing her own goals and happiness in order to help others or do what she perceives to be the "right" thing. This is what leads her to the Frogmore Cafe, whose owner's recent demise causes her to become the owner of the dilapidated cafe that has become a local icon. Turning down the opportunity to pursue her own dreams in Barcelona, Caroline stays to save the cafe and its loyal staff from disaster, while at the same time facing the return of her first love, country boy turned Nashville star Mitch. As Caroline and Mitch are reunited, she faces her insecurities about her past, love, and her faith in God. In the end, as the reader would suspect, Caroline again does the "right" thing, but the reader is pleasantly surprised with just what that "right" thing is.

I really enjoyed this book as it didn't really fit the cookie cutter form of many in this genre. The choices Caroline makes throughout the book are admirable and often self-sacrificing. However, the point the author makes with the ending is that there comes a time for everything....and everything happens according to God's time, not ours. How very, very true.

Bird By Bird by Ann Lamott - I've read this book, or at least parts of it, a long time ago. I even had my own copy. However, when I was given a new copy to read for an upcoming class, I figured I'd better re-read it. A practical guide to the craft of writing, Lamott, herself an acclaimed author, gives useful, witty, and often downright hilarious advice on everything from creating characters to getting published. She minces no words and doesn't try to sugarcoat anything. Writing is hard. It is lonely. It is an obsession. Often, it just sucks. However, everyone has a story and everyone has the ability to tell that story. Will everyone be published? No. Should everyone be published. HECK NO. But, that is not the point of writing. The point of writing is to tell the story that only you can tell. And that is worth more than anything being published could every hope to do for you.

The Penny by Joyce Meyer - I was very interested in reading this inspirational fiction title after hearing Sue talk about it. My book club girls decided to switch books with Shoals' girls to save some moola so I had the pleasure of actually, for once, reading a book I wanted to read for work!

The book is truly a gem. Not only does it have a compelling plot, but it is also well-written and offers the reader periodic nuggets of quotable wisdom...my favorite! The main character, Jenny, is a young girl in a tough spot. Living in the more economically depressed part of St. Louis in the 50's, her family situation leaves much to be desired. She has an abusive father and a mother who refuses to confront the abuse within her own family. When Jenny stops one day to pick up a penny...a simple penny, her life changes forever when she sees how much life can change in the blink of an eye. The simple act of stopping to pick up this penny brings Jenny a friend from the "wrong" side of the tracks and the opportunity to see what the "right" side of the tracks looks like when she is hired by an eccentric socialite to work in her jewlery store. Throughout the book Jenny learns that "People who are hurt are the people who hurt others," and that her life is indeed worth fighting for...and saving...one penny at a time.

I would recommend this book to anyone (my mom has already read it, even!). The message that God sees no one as inconsequential and is always acting in your life no matter what your circumstances is a valuable lesson for everyone.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf - Not the type of book I would pick up if I were choosing for myself, but since I was reading it for a book club, I was a lot more open-minded, and, honestly, I am glad I was.

Set in rural Colorado, the setting was foriegn to me. Farm life influences all of the characters, and the author does a great job of describing, in too much detail at points, the day-to-day things farm life brings. Written in successive chapters from different characters' points-of-view, we see how the surroundings affect everyone, from Victoria Roubideux, a pregnant 17 year-old girl turned out by her mother, to Ike and Bobby, two young boys also abandonded by their mom. Through the quirky yet sincere love of two old bachelor brothers, the McPheron brothers, Victoria finds a true home for the first time in her life, and Ike and Bobby find a stronghold in the face of uncertainty.

Written without quotation marks for dialogue, it was hard to get a grasp on the action of the story at the start. However, the language and descripton Haruf uses puts the reader at ease and makes a real connection between the reader and each and every character. It is very apparent, in retrospect, why this book was nominated for a National Book Award. Well worth your time...with an open mind!

Although I have not read it yet, I cannot wait to read Change of Heartby Jodi Picoult. By far the most popular author with my students, Picoult rocks the writing world right now. So, you can imagine my excitement when, for my birthday, I receive a package with a personally autographed copy of this new book from my best bud Jessa who lives in NYC! Now, if I can just find the time to read it!

Below is a picture of J at the book signing:

No Need for Speed by John "The Penguin" Bingham - Geesh...has it been a long time since I've read a running book or what? With all of my book club books this semester, I've had no time for reading for my personal enjoyment let alone for my addiction to running. This book, although filled with lots of tips for first time runners, was great for renewing my spirit and reminding me just what running SHOULD be about. Since I've started this marathon thing, I've lost a lot of my perspective on running...constantly training and losing the sheer enjoyment I used to have when I laced up my shoes and headed out to run. Bingham reminded me that my goals should be realistic, that frustration leads to improvement, and that failure is often an illusion that results from unreal expectations. With the Indy Half-Marathon sneaking up on me and the Chicago Marathon looming in the fall, these bits of information in this book will go with me on the road...literally!