Hadley Blue Devil Bloggers

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

2011-10-24T23:20:00.002-05:00

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

During a student exchange program, seventh-graders Ivy June and Catherine share their lives, homes, and communities, and find that although their lifestyles are total opposites they have a lot in common.

Dough Boy by Peter Marino

2011-10-23T21:23:00.002-05:00

Dough Boy by
Peter Marino

Overweight, fifteen-year-old Tristan, who lives happily with his divorced mother and her boyfriend Frank, suddenly finds that he must deal with intensified criticism about his weight and other aspects of his life when Frank's popular but troubled, daughter arrives to live with them.

Double Eagle by Sneed B. Collard, III

2011-10-23T21:21:00.002-05:00

Double Eagle
by Sneed B. Collard III

Michael and Kyle's discovery of a rare Confederate coin near an old Civil War fort in 1973 turns into a race against time as the boys try to find more coins before a hurricane hits Alabama's Gulf coast.

One thing that makes this book interesting is the dynamic between the characters of Michael and Kyle.

Anything But Typical

2011-10-23T21:15:00.002-05:00

Anything But Typical by
Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.

Tentacles by Roland Smith

2011-02-22T14:09:00.002-06:00

Tentacles is the sequel to Cryptid Hunters. It IS an exciting installment! Grace and Marty are living with their uncle/father and they are helping to track and capture a giant squid. Grace and Marty are trying to come to terms with all the changes their parents' disappearance has brought about. This trip is dangerous on many levels. Grace's grandfather is her father's enemy--but it is complicated! This book delivers excitement and supense!

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

2011-02-22T14:08:00.004-06:00

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

Elaborates on the tale of "Beauty and the Beast," told from the point of view of the beast and set in Persia. I like this book because of the folk tale connection. It brings the flat characters from the story to life! Instead of taking place in France, this one is set in the middle east. Of course the rose connection is in the story, but the Beast is actually explained more clearly.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

2011-02-22T14:06:00.005-06:00

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

Hunger Games Series book 3

Katniss Everdeen, having survived the Hunger Games twice, learns she and her family and friends are in danger because the Capitol holds her responsible for the unrest and races against time to protect those she cares about and the people of District 12.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2011-02-22T14:05:00.014-06:00

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-02-22T14:05:00.013-06:00

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

This is the dystopic genre, one of my favorites! Things in the world have gone wrong and everything has started over, not for the better! Kids in our library check this out all the time! The teachers like it too.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2011-02-22T14:04:00.010-06:00

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

When thirteen-year-olds Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

2011-02-22T14:04:00.006-06:00

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin. This is a book for everyone who loves a good book about princesses and knights, and true love.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

2011-02-22T14:03:00.016-06:00

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Jason, Piper, and Leo, three students from a school for "bad kids," find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods and begin a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth herself.

The Red Pyramid

2011-02-22T14:03:00.015-06:00

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. Brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane accidentally unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes the doctor to oblivion and forces his two children to embark on a dangerous journey, bringing them closer to the truth about their family and its links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs. This is the first book in the Kane Chronicles.

The Roar by Emma Clayton

2011-02-22T14:03:00.013-06:00

The Roar by Emma Clayton. Students at Hadley Middle School have been reading the Hunger Games series. This book has many similarties to Hunger Games and to the popular Ender's Game series. All three books are dystopic--end of the world, everything starts again--but not so great!

In an overpopulated world where all signs of nature have been obliterated and a wall has been erected to keep out plague-ridden animals, twelve-year-old Mika refuses to believe that his twin sister was killed after being abducted, and continues to search for her in spite of the dangers he faces in doing so.

Kids are recruited from extreme poverty in order to play a game, which has a purpose other than entertainment.

Can You Get and F in Lunch? by Nancy Krulik.

2011-02-22T14:02:00.003-06:00

Can You Get and F in Lunch? by Nancy Krulik.
Jenny McAfee feels totally prepared to start sixth grade until her best friend Addie Wilson decides to hang out with The Pops--the coolest seventh graders in the school.

Adam Canfield Watch Your Back by Michael Winerip

2011-02-22T09:59:00.004-06:00

Adam Canfield Watch Your Back by Michael Winerip

A much-welcomed snow day turns into an embarrassing nightmare for middle-grader Adam Canfield when, after being mugged by high school bullies for his snow-shoveling money, he becomes the focus of major media attention just as his co-editors at The Slash are launching a contest to out bullies at their school.

Last Apprentice: Rise of Huntress by Joseph Delaney

2011-02-22T09:58:00.010-06:00

Rise of the Huntress by Joseph Delaney

Returning from Greece, Tom and the Spook find that their home, including the Spook's precious library of knowledge, has been burned to the ground, and that their battle against the denizens of the dark must continue.

Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer

2011-02-22T09:58:00.008-06:00

Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer
Vladimir Tod, a teenage half-vampire, approaches Dorian, a powerful vampire, in search of help, and when Joss returns to Bathory with orders from the Slayer Society to eliminate his former friend, Vlad is forced to use all of his skills to survive his junior year of high school.

Adam Canfield The Last Reporter by Michael Winerip

2011-02-22T09:58:00.006-06:00

Adam Canfield The Last Reporter by Michael Winerip

When the school board shuts down the student newspaper, the Ameche Brothers, two budding entrepreneurs with a knack for refurbishing junk but a shaky command of journalistic ethics, step in to help.

Clash of the Demons by Joseph Delaney

2011-02-22T09:57:00.016-06:00

Clash of the Demons by Joseph Delaney
	Joseph Delaney

Tom is reunited with his mother and must return to Greece to face a new and terrible threat from the dark forces, and a momentous decision must be made, causing a serious rift between Tom and the Spook that threatens to separate them forever.

Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings

2011-02-22T09:57:00.013-06:00

Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings

When his mother brings home a guinea pig instead of the dog he has always wanted, fifth-grader Rufus is not happy--until the rodent starts acting exactly like a dog. This is a very funny book!

Beastly by Alex Finn

2011-02-22T09:57:00.009-06:00

Beastly by Alex Finn is a modernized story of The Beauty and the Beast. I couldn't imagine how the author could make the isolated world in modern day that is required for this story to work, but Finn created an amazing world where this works! The teen-aged boy in the story is turned into a beast because he is unkind and vain. Finn expertly winds the critical elements of the rose, the one year curse which can only be broken by true love, and the isolation of the masion into this amazing and very good book. One of my students recomended Beastly to me--she also tells me that it is being made into a movie soon!

Adam Canfield of the Clash by Michael Winerip

2011-01-21T13:42:00.003-06:00

Adam Canfield of the Clash by Michael Winerip
While serving as co-editors of their school newspaper, middle-schoolers Adam and Jennifer uncover fraud and corruption in their school and in the city's government.

City of Time by Eoin McNamee

2010-11-12T10:43:00.002-06:00

The second book in the Navigator Trilogy is quite good. I wondered, where else could this series go? In this book readers learn more about Owen and what being the Navigator means, and how time works in this world. The cast of characters is much smaller than in The Navigator, and we are in another world of time!

Here is the abstract from the card catalog:
"When he receives the cryptic message that "time is running out," Owen, known as "The Navigator," summons Cati and Dr. Diamond and together they journey to the City of Time in order to discover what has gone wrong. " Check out the ;ublisher's website if you haven't yet:
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385735544

The Navigator by Eoin McNamee

2010-10-19T13:28:00.004-05:00

The Navigator by Eoin NcNamee

This is the first book in the Navigator Trilogy. Owen is different from other kids. He has always thought it was because his mother went a little crazy after his father committed suicide. But, of course, there is more to that story. Owen is actually the keeper of time--the Navigator--and he finds out what that means in this book as he learns about the forces of time which are hidden from everyone else. He meets new friends and battles unspeakable evil.

Rating for this fantasy book 4/5--good book, recommended--it made me think!

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385735544

City of Time by Eoin McNamee

2010-10-19T13:20:00.005-05:00

City of Time by Eoin McNamee--Book II of the Navigator Trilogy

Time is running out--no seriously--there isn't enough to go around. It causes problems, for example, the moon is crashing into the earth. Owen has to call the sleepers to help take care of the problem. Cati and Dr. Diamond and Owen travel to the City of Time, where they will do whatever it takes to find enough time--even if they have to steal it!

I rate this fantasy book City of Time 4--a good book--recommended. It made me think. I am ready to read the rest of the series!

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375839139

The Underneath by Kathy Appelt

2010-10-19T13:01:00.004-05:00

The Underneath by Kathy Appelt

This is an animal story based on ancient relationships and Native American Mythology. It is modern--a hound dog and his best friend--a mama cat--and her two kittens become a family. Together they battle the evil of anger, resentment, jealousy and abuse. The story weaves through time but shows the story of kittens trying to be loyal and the difficult journey one of them must make home. Applet uses an omniscient narrator which is just right for this book.

I rate this book 4--good book, recommended--it made me think. The Underneath is on the William Allen White award winner's nomination list this year.

http://www.kathiappelt.com/articles/books_for_older_readers

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

2010-10-19T10:05:00.004-05:00

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

This book is set in an alternate 1800s London where demons, ghosts and witches have been unleashed on the world. There are hunters of these creatures, and our 17 year old hero, Thaniel is the best hunter around. Thaniel takes in a possessed girl and mysteries begin to unravel. Parts of this book are very creepy and even scary!

I rate it as 5/5--an Awesome book, highly recommended--it made me think!

http://www.chriswooding.com/the-books/the-haunting-of-alaizabel-cray/

The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

2010-10-19T09:46:00.006-05:00

The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Set in the 1850s of Pittsburgh, PA, Owen's mother left him and his younger brother at an orphanage so they would get enough to eat. Owen got hurt doing something silly, so when it was time for the orphan train to come and take them to a new life, Owen left his little brother because thought he could find a better home without him. He sneaked onto a Circus Boat and ended of with a job helping Solomon, a freed slave, taking care of the elephants and many other chores on board. Just like the historic time, this book is full of conflicts--runaway slaves, freed slaves, yellow fever, child labor, orphans, a civil war brewing, rich vs. poor, value of education... And Owen has to make choices about family, loyalty, and what is the right thing to do.

This books receives a rating of 5/5 from me. It is on the William Allen White Awards list for the year. It is a book that makes me think, but also touches my heart.

http://www.tracievaughnzimmer.com/TVZ/CIRCUS.html

My Brother Abe: Sally Lincoln's Story by Harry Mazer

2010-10-19T09:34:00.003-05:00

My Brother Abe: Sally Lincoln's Story by Harry Mazer

Abraham Lincoln grew up to be one of the greatest leaders ever in the USA. Did you know he had a big sister? And, of course, she did tease him and fight with him like most brothers and sisters do--and he teased and fought back! This is a fictional account of a short time in Lincoln's childhood, told from the perspective of his older sister, Sally. Their life seems full of adventure such as walking from their old farm in Kentucky to the new on in Indiana. Sleeping outdoors for several months during the winter, building a cabin from logs they cut themselves, and, if their father is to be believed, talking bears out of eating them for lunch. This is a good frontier story that helps to remind us of our American way of life and uses the familiar figure of Abe Lincoln to do it.

This books recieves a rating of 5/5 from me! It touched my heart.

http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Harry-Mazer/1286046

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

2010-10-19T09:17:00.004-05:00

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.

Looking at events in a different way is what all good detectives do, right? Ted, a 12 year old boy with a bossy older sister, always sees things in a different way--his brain is wired differently than most peoples'. The disappearance of his cousin while riding on London's huge Farris wheel-type ride, is a real mystery. It is a mystery Ted and his sister know they cannot leave to the grown-ups. But, will they get anyone to listen to them before it is too late? The London Eye Mystery is full of suspense and really pulls you through it!

This books receives a 5/5 rating for me...it touched my mind AND my heart!

http://www.siobhandowdtrust.com/books/the-london-eye-mystery/

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski

2010-09-03T12:48:00.005-05:00

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski.

This book is that interesting mix of fantasy, magic, and science fiction that I just can't resist! Petra is a small place, village girl who wants to save her father. She has to go far from home to a big city to accomplish this task--while he waits at home. And, he doesn't want her to do it! Her father is an inventor and something important has been taken from him, she must figure out how to steal it back and decide who she can trust along the way.

Here is the blurb from the card catalog: Twelve year old Petra, accompanies by her magical tin spider, goes to Prague hoping to retrieve the magical eyes the Prince of Bohemia took from her father and is aided in her quest by a Roma and his sister.

I had the sequel to this book IN MY HANDS earlier this week, and I really want to read it! Something happened and before I knew it, I was checking it out to someone else! I will just have to wait!

It is on the William Allen White list.

5--Awesome book--Recommend

Breath by Donna Jo Napoli

2010-09-03T12:34:00.013-05:00

Breath by Donna Jo Napoli (be sure to see her website at this link)

I like Napoli's use of mythology in her stories. Her historic periods--the middle ages in this case--are reliably researched and presented, as far as I can tell. The book, Breath, follows the story of the Pied Piper. Remember there was a child who couldn't or didn't go with the other children when they left? He is the main character of this Pied Piper tale. It is set in Hamlin and there are lots and lots of rats causing plagues and food shortages. It is so interesting to see the human side of this tale, rather than just filling the the blanks with imaginings.

I was attracted by the painting, The Triumph of Death, by Peter Brueghel the Elder, on the book jacket, as well as the author.

5 - Awesome Book, highly recommend

Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith

2010-09-03T12:34:00.005-05:00

Here is a quote from this story. I think it shows how on target Keeping the Night Watch is about life at middle school. "Lunch is probably the worst subject you have to take in school. Every day you run the gauntlet and try to come out on the other side alive."

This book is written in poems. Each one tells a little story, and all together you know the whole story. It is full of the angst of a boy who is growing up and whose dad has come back to the family after being away.

Using the scale we have for the 25 Book Campaign, I give this book a 4--good book, recomend

My Summer Reading List: Diamond Willow by Helen Frost

2010-07-22T15:13:00.003-05:00

Diamond Willow by Helen Frost

In a remote area of Alaska, twelve-year-old Willow helps her father with their sled dogs when she is not at school, wishing she were more popular, all the while unaware that the animals surrounding her carry the spirits of dead ancestors and friends who care for her.

This is a native American story which combines myth with story. It illustrates the strong connection Native American people can have with Nature.

4 - Good Book, recommend. This is a William Allen White list book.

My Summer Reading List: A Difficult Boy by M.P. Barker

2010-07-22T15:06:00.004-05:00

A Difficult Boy by M.P. Barker

In Farmington, Massachusetts, in 1839, nine-year-old Ethan experiences hardships as an indentured servant of the wealthy Lyman family alongside Daniel, a boy scorned simply for being Irish, and the boys bond as they try to right a terrible wrong.

This book is historical fiction about the life of an indentured servant of the 1800s. It is interesting to see this perspective--we are often exposed to the idea of slavery and understand that horror. An indentured servant also lived a life of slavery, and many had the actual hope of paying their debt and becoming free.

3-Average book--would probably recommend. This is an William Allen White list book.

Recent Reading: Sheep by Valerie Hobbs

2010-07-22T14:59:00.002-05:00

Sheep by Valerie Hobbs

After a fire destroys the farm where he was born, a young border collie acquires a series of owners and learns about life as he seeks a home and longs to fulfill his life's purpose of shepherding sheep.

My Summer Reading List: Siberia by Ann Halam

2010-07-22T14:54:00.003-05:00

My Summer Reading List: Siberia by Ann Halam

After spending two years at a prison school, thirteen-year-old Sloe sets off on a trek across frozen wastelands, tending to the secret "seeds" of wild animals her mother left in her care, trying to reach a new life for all of them.

This novel is science fiction.

Recent Reading: Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock

2010-07-22T14:49:00.001-05:00

Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock

A girl is transformed, through instruction in life at court, determination, and magic, from sullen, pudgy, graceless Ben into Crown Princess Benevolence, a fit ruler of the kindgom of Montagne as it faces war with neighboring Drachensbett.

Recent Readings: One Small Step by P.B. Kerr

2010-07-22T14:38:00.002-05:00

I read this book last May.

In 1969 Houston, Texas, thirteen-year-old Scott learns to fly from his father, an Air Force flight instructor, but when NASA needs him for a secret space mission, Scott's elation is tempered by concern that his mother, who has moved to Florida, will find out.

Recent Readings: Time Thief by Lind Buckley-Archer

2010-07-22T14:32:00.002-05:00

The Time thief : Being the Second Part of The Gideon Trilogy

I read this book last May. I am ready for the third one in the series!

When an attempt to bring Peter and Kate back to their own time is bungled, Peter finds himself stranded in 1763 while The Tar Man, a villainous eighteenth-century criminal, returns with Kate to twenty-first-century London.

Recent Reading: Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney

2010-07-22T14:24:00.003-05:00

Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney

I read and enjoyed this book at the end of the school year.

When her father betrays the Scottish king and is hung as a traitor, Lady Mary's future is bleak after she loses her only true protector and ends up locked away in the tower by the powerful and deadly Lord and lady Macbeth.

My Summer Reading List: Milagros : Girl from Away by Meg Medina

2010-07-12T17:21:00.001-05:00

Milagros : Girl from Away by Meg Medina

Twelve-year-old Milagros barely survives an invasion of her tiny, Caribbean island home, escapes with the help of mysterious sea creatures, reunites briefly with her pirate-father, and learns about a mother's love when cast ashore on another island.

My Summer Reading List: Every Soul a Star : a novel by Wendy Mass

2010-07-12T17:18:00.002-05:00

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

The best book I read so far this summer!
Ally, Bree, and Jack meet at the one place the Great Eclipse can be seen in totality, each carrying the burden of different personal problems, which become dim when compared to the task they embark upon and the friendship they find.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

2010-07-12T17:17:00.003-05:00

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"--A magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.

My Summer Reading List: Itch by Michelle D Kwasney

2010-07-12T17:15:00.002-05:00

Itch by Michelle D Kwasney

In 1968, after the death of her beloved Gramps, Delores "Itch" Colchester and her grandmother move from Florida to an Ohio trailer park, where she meets new people and, when she learns that a friend is being abused by her mother, tries her best to emulate her plain-spoken grandfather.

My Summer Reading List: Waiting For Normal by Leslie Connor

2010-07-12T17:07:00.003-05:00

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Twelve year old Addie tries to cope with her mother's erratic behavior and being separated from her beloved stepfather and half-sisters when she and her mother go to live in a small trailer by the railroad tracks on the outskirts of Schenectady, New York.

This was a sad, sad book, but it ends ok!

My Summer Reading: The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

2010-07-12T16:47:00.003-05:00

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

In October, 1942, seventeen-year-old Helmuth Hübener, imprisoned for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, recalls his past life and how he came to dedicate himself to bring the truth about Hitler and the war to the German people.

Battle of the Books List for 2010-2011

2010-07-12T16:41:00.000-05:00

2010-2011
Title	Author
The Underneath	Kathi Appelt
Iron Thunder: The Battle Between The Monitor and the Merrimac	Avi
The Unknowns: A Mystery	Benedict Carey
Singer of All Songs	Kate Constable
Forged by Fire	Sharon Draper
The City of Ember	Jeanne DuPrau
Under a War-Torn Sky	Laura Elliott
The Thief Lord	Cornelia Funke
The Brooklyn Nine	Alan Gratz
Out of the Dust	Karen Hesse
The Outsiders	S. E. Hinton
Red Scarf Girl	Ji-Li Jiang
Heaven	Angela Johnson
Schooled	Gordon Korman
To Kill a Mockingbird	Harper Lee
Touching Spirit Bear	Ben Mikaelsen
My Dog Skip	Willie Morris
Here Lies the Librarian	Richard Peck
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn	Betty Smith
Milkweed	Jerry Spinelli
Truesight	David Stahler, Jr.
The Mysterious Benedict Society	Trenton Lee Stewart
The Land	Mildred D. Taylor
The Weirdo	Theodore Taylor
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Journey to Change the World…One Child at a Time****	Sarah L. Thomson
Surviving the Applewhites	Stephanie Tolan
Angel on the Square	Gloria Whelan

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner

2010-05-10T12:07:00.002-05:00

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner

I like fairy tale based stories! And, I, Coriander is a bit of a Cinderella story. Add in a motherless child, and I am hooked! The main character is descended from fairies. Her mother died and her father is tricked into marrying a horrible woman who wants Coriander's mother's power. This is a fast paced story with a lot of mystery. If you read it, I am sure you will like it!

5 -Awesome book, highly recommend.

Siberia by Ann Halam

2010-05-10T12:06:00.006-05:00

Siberia by Ann Halam (see her website)

Sloe lives in the frozen wasteland of Siberia. She is the keeper of seeds--the DNA of all wild animals. It is complicated, but interesting. And of course the AUTHORITIES don't want them to exist. She has to run from the authorities to keep herself and the animals safe. She doesn't know who to trust or, at times what her quest is. She has a fuzzy idea of where she should go and what she should do.

This is another genre of books I love--hey I like the movie theme too--Dystopian Science Fiction. Wikepedia has interesting information about this!

4- Good Book--Recommend

Night of the Living Dummy 2 by R. L. Stine (Heather)

2010-03-31T11:26:00.003-05:00

Heather's book recommendation: Night of the Living Dummy 2 by R. L. Stine (not in Hadley Library--but some R.L. Stine books are)

This book is about a young girl that lives with her mother father sister and brother she has a hobby--making a dummy talk. It’s her birthday and I think and her parents get her this little dummy that, and later we find out that it's possessed. Like when she started making it talk, it was not saying what she wanted it to say. It was making insulting jokes to her family and they thought it was her making them. It was really the dummy. All this other stuff happened and stuff got blamed on her and like at the end...well you should read it for yourself...but there is a spell and a way to get rid of that.

World War Z by Max Brooks (Max)

2010-03-31T11:21:00.002-05:00

Book Recommendation by Max

World War Z by Max Brooks

I really enjoyed this book. It has suspense and, possibly the best part, zombies. This book is about the war against the living dead and the world being brought close to obliteration.
Warning: this book is not for everyone. It does contain a lot of violence--and we don't have it in the Hadley Library.

Student Comments

2010-03-30T10:37:00.002-05:00

Click the comment button below if you want to participate!

Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline Cooney

2010-03-30T08:43:00.005-05:00

Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline Cooney

Readers are very interested in Greek and Roman mythology--especially because of the Percy Jackson Series. Caroline Cooney has written a story set in the Greek islands just before the Trojan war. The protagonist of this book is at the home of Menelaus and Helen when Paris takes Helen--and you will remember that this is the incident that began the Trojan war which lasted ten long years!

Cooney used the Iliad, The Odyssey, and many other historic Greek and Roman writers and well known stories as the sources for this book.

"Taken from her home on an Aegean island as a six-year-old girl, Anaxandra calls on the protection of her goddess while she poses as two different princesses over the next six years, before ending up as a servant in the company of Helen and Paris as they make their way to Troy."

http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385729451&view=rg

Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson

2010-03-26T13:00:00.012-05:00

Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson

What would a spy be like as a kid? Would he be scientific, studious, or a thrill seeker? Readers have a chance to find out with the Young Bond series...

"This prequel to the adventures of James Bond, 007, introduces us to the young James when he's just started boarding school in England and is about to become involved in his first adventure."

Book 2: Blood Fever

"During a summer holiday in Italy, the teen-age James Bond tangles with an underground empire of criminals as he attempts the rescue of a kidnapped young girl."

Book 3: Double or Die

"Teenage James has forty-eight hours to rescue a kidnapped professor and to keep a powerful weapon from falling into the wrong hands."

Car Trouble by Jeanne DuPrau

2010-03-26T13:00:00.007-05:00

Car Trouble by Jeanne DuPrau

After I read the City of Ember books, I wanted to read more from Jeanne DuPrau. This story is sooooo different than her others, but it is good.

"Early one August morning, seventeen-year-old computer "nerd" Duff Pringle leaves Richmond, Virginia, in a newly-acquired used car and begins an unexpectedly convoluted journey to San Jose, California, and the job that awaits him there."

Side Effects by Goldman Koss

2010-03-26T12:59:00.008-05:00

Isabelle is diagnosed with the cancer, lymphoma. The book details her illness. What would it be like to get chemotherapy and not know whether you were going to live or die? This book may help students develop empathy for others in this situation.

3 - Average book - recommend

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

2010-03-26T12:59:00.006-05:00

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

This is essentially a Cinderella story set in ancient China. Xing Xing is the mistreated--practically enslaved step child. It is very interesting and suspenseful, plus I believe that Donna Jo Napoli is careful to preserve historic details.

Here is what the card catalog says:

"In a novel based on Chinese Cinderella tales, fourteen-year-old stepchild Xing Xing endures a life of neglect and servitude, as her stepmother cruelly mutilates her own child's feet so that she alone might marry well. "

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

2010-03-26T12:56:00.002-05:00

Snakehead byAnthony Horowitz

This is a recent book I read from the Alex Rider Series. This kid is a spy for the British government, but he just wants to be a regular kid. However, he is from a family of spies and he begins to suspect that his guardian uncle was training him to become a spy just like the Alex's uncle and father.

From the card catalog:

"While working with the Australian Secret Service on a dangerous mission, teenaged spy Alex Rider uncovers information about his parents."

The Blossoms and the Green Phantom by Betsy Byars

2010-03-26T12:45:00.002-05:00

Maggie Blossom is learning to be a bare back rider for the rodeo show to travel with her mom. Junior is ready to show off his new invention, Vern is getting to know his new friend. Mud just wants that new puppy to go away!

Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park

2010-03-26T12:33:00.004-05:00

Book Recommendation by Chesney: Archer's Quest

by Linda Sue Park

A legendary ruler of ancient Korea suddenly appears in Kevin's room. And Kevin must return him home before the Year of the Tiger ends the next day and before history is changed forever.

Even if you aren't interested in Asian culture or...the Korean culture, this book will be entertaining for you!

Someone to Love Me by Paul Langan (Megan)

2010-03-26T12:29:00.003-05:00

Book Recommendation by Megan T:

Someone to Love Me by Paul Langan

At first there was this boy Bobby Wallace who was everything Cindy Gibson hoped for. Some of his qualities were he was mature and handsome! He was the perfect escape from her troublesome life!! But then Bobby Wallace starts acting strange and she’s getting scared! She's hiding her concerns from her friends and distracted mother, she finds herself in a very bad situation!!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Alex R)

2010-03-25T12:31:00.002-05:00

A Good Book: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan recommended by Alex R

When troubled student Percy Jackson vaporizes his math teacher on a class field trip, he begins to suspect that his life is not what it seems. He discovers that his lifelong reading and attention troubles are all signs that he is a half-blood-a child of the Greek gods. After a summer training session with other demigods and Chiron the centaur, he sets off on a cross-country quest to Los Angeles (the entrance to Hades) with his friend Grover the faun and Annabeth, a child of Athena, to recover Zeus' lost thunderbolt and stop a war between the gods. Along the way, where modern life and mythology intersect to create both humor and excitement, Percy will come to know his father Poseidon, rescue his mother, and discover that he has what it takes to be a hero. Ultimately, Percy learns to trust his friends and his abilities and to choose love over despair.

Orson Scott Card -- Ender Series

2010-03-24T14:45:00.004-05:00

Orson Scott Card -- Ender Series

Information about this series from Wikipedia--a good source for series lists! But it is a little confusing, so I have make a graphic to show you!

Speaker for the Dead. This novel takes place three thousand years after Ender's Game, although due to relativistic space travel Ender himself (now using his own name, Andrew) is only 36, making him only 25 years older than he was at the end of the Formic Wars.
Two sequels Xenocide and Children of the Mind are more philosophical in nature.

A War of Gifts: An Ender Story was released in October 2007. It is set during Ender's first year in Battle School.

A prequel to Speaker for the Dead named Ender in Exile was released in November 2008. It involves Ender meeting a character from the Shadow saga.

Shadow Saga
Starting with Ender's Shadow four more novels have been released which tell the story of the people whom Ender left behind — this has been dubbed the Shadow Saga (also known as the "Bean Quartet").

Ender's Shadow is a parallel novel to Ender's Game, telling many of the same events from the perspective of Bean, a mostly peripheral character in Ender's Game, while Shadow of the Hegeman, Shadow Puppets, and Shadow of the Giant tell the story of the struggle for world dominance after the Bugger War, in which the Battle School children, as well as Ender's brother, Peter Wiggin, are involved. A sequel book to Shadow of the Giant names Shadow in Flight is planned. It is said to start after Children of the Mind rather than Shadow of the Giant, finish the Enderverse as a whole, tying up the two series, and explain some unanswered questions.

Wanted...Mud Blossom by Betsy Byars

2010-03-24T14:40:00.003-05:00

Wanted...Mud Blossom by Betsy Byars

What is the Blossom family up to now? Can junior really put on a trial for a dog--MURDER--of a hamster??!! Mad Mary is also missing...it is never dull at the Blossom house!

"Convinced that Mud is responsible for the disappearance of the school hamster that he was taking care of for the weekend, Junior Blossom is determined that the dog should be tried for his "crime."

This is another author, Betsy Byars, who is quickly becoming an American icon--her books a quick read for most middle school students.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

2010-03-24T13:49:00.004-05:00

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

This is a science fiction story. Can a kid save the world from aliens? "Ender" has been chosen for the task of saving humanity. He has to go through all kinds of training, which includes space war games and conflicts with bullies where Ender's life is at risk.

It is the first book in a series...

"After the Earth is twice attacked by aliens, the world government begins breeding military geniuses, one of whom is Ender Wiggin."

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (Kris S.)

2010-03-24T11:22:00.009-05:00

Book Recommendation by Kris S: City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau

I Recommend this book for anyone who loves a book that takes you away from your world at the moment and take you into a whole new one that needs to be explored.

"In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions. "

http://www.jeanneduprau.com/books.shtml

There are several books in this series:

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan (Chris N.)

2010-03-23T11:26:00.002-05:00

Chris N.'s book recommendation: Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

This is the book before The Vampires Apprentice, which is also a movie it’s by Darren Shan. There is 12 books in this series. Also it’s a great series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (Z A-C)

2010-03-23T11:19:00.004-05:00

Z A-C's book recommendation: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

I picked this book because it is an awesome book for kids to read when you are in a good mood to read.

"When the Chamber of Secrets is opened again at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, second-year student Harry Potter finds himself in danger from a dark power that has once more been released on the school."

Eldest by Christopher Paolini (Alex R.)

2010-03-23T11:13:00.003-05:00

Alex R's Books Suggestion: Eldest by Christopher Paoline

Summary:

Eragon leaves the dwarf city to go to the elves and receive training in swordsmanship and magic. As his is training he finds out that Surda (a city opposing the empire) is about to be attacked. He sets out immediately. Meanwhile the monsters who killed Eragon's uncle have returned to his home. Roran, Eragon's cousin, is fighting with all his strength to protect his home. When Roran's love is kidnapped he sets out to rescue her, bringing the whole of Caravhall with him.

Excerpt:
Saphira's breathing quickened, and she opened her eyes, yawning expansively. Good morning, little one. Is it? He looked down and leaned on his hands, compressing the mattress. It's terrible . . . Murtagh and Ajihad . . . Why didn't sentries in the tunnels warn us of the Urgals? They shouldn't have been able to trail Ajihad's group without being noticed. . . . Arya was right, it doesn't make sense. We may never know the truth, said Saphira gently. She stood, wings brushing the ceiling. You need to eat, then we must discover what the Varden are planning. We can't waste time; a new leader could be chosen within hours.

The Unseen by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

2010-03-22T09:49:00.002-05:00

Someone, or something, is trying to tell Xandra something! Xandra has stumbled across a magical world, which can be traveled to only by a key. For some people, comfort and wonders await them in this world, but for others angry beasts await! Xandra finds a guide to get there, can strange Belinda be her friend, too? Xandra is a girl who has a big wonderful family--too wonderful if you ask her!

Here's the synopsis from the card catalog:

"Feeling angry and out-of-place in her large family, twelve-year-old Xandra finds a magical key to a world of ghostly, sometimes frightening, phantoms that help her see herself and her siblings more clearly. "

Enter Three Witches: a story of Macbeth by Caroline B. Cooney

2010-03-22T08:20:00.003-05:00

Cooney is a suspense writer. This book, Enter Three Witches: a story of Macbeth, is based on the William Shakespeare play, Macbeth. It does follow the plot of the tragedy, but several characters are added by Cooney to tell the story in her unique way.

From the card catalog:

"When her father betrays the Scottish king and is hung as a traitor, Lady Mary's future is bleak after she loses her only true protector and ends up locked away in the tower by the powerful and deadly Lord and lady Macbeth."

Whisper in the Dark by Joseph Bruchac

2010-03-22T08:08:00.003-05:00

I am a Bruchac fan! Whisper in the Dark is full of legend and mystery. Readers won't be sure whether Maddy, the protagonist--(oh yeah, she's an orphan), is dealing with a bad guy or with a legendary Native American Ghost! This book is pretty creepy--so if you like to be scare, read this one! Here's what the card catalog says:

"An ancient and terrifying Narragansett native-American legend begins to come true for a teenage long-distance runner, whose recovery from the accident that killed her parents has stunned everyone, including her guardian aunt in Providence, Rhode Island."

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2010-03-04T15:47:00.005-06:00

In my quest for monster and vampire books, I found The Graveyard Book. Nobody Owens is the protagonist of the story. I haven't finished it yet, but Nobody is being raised by the "people" who live in the graveyard. How could that happen? Gaiman did a great job in making the impossible sound plausible!

This is an award winning book. Here is a synopsis from the card catalog:

"Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has been raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard." And a link to the book's site--very intriguing! http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/

Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon

2010-03-04T15:32:00.004-06:00

Upstate is an epistle--letters written back and forth between two people. In this case the people are two teens,17-year-old Antonio and 16-year-old Natasha, who are in love. Tragically, the boy is imprisoned for killing his father. The correspondence between the two is poignant and very real, using everyday drama and language. No expletives deleted here! The teens are committed to one another and determined to stay together. Life and circumstances sometimes get in the way of love.

This books is for high school shelves and the Young Adult section at the public library.

Check out this link for a great synopsis: http://www.flipkart.com/upstate-kalisha-buckhanon-novel/0312332696-mtw3fb79nb

The Return of Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

2010-03-04T15:23:00.003-06:00

I enjoy a sequel to a good book! The protagonist in this story thinks sequels are lame, but has to write it because her monster DOES come back. Bruchac is great at weaving Native American stories and history into his narration. The book is set in a real, historic place. I was so intrigued, I looked it up!
http://www.josephbruchac.com/
http://www.mohonk.com/

From the card catalog:
"When Molly and her parents attend a conference at Mohonk Mountain House, Molly begins to fear that she is being watched by the very man who kidnapped and tried to kill them all the previous year. "

Williwaw by Tom Bodett

2010-03-04T15:07:00.005-06:00

This is an adventure book set in Alaska. The isolation and danger remind me a little bit of Gary Paulson's Hatchet--many kids enjoy reading that!

Here is the synopsis: "In their father's absence, thirteen-year-old September and her younger brother Ivan disobey his orders by taking the boat out on their Alaska bay, where they are caught in a terrifying storm called a williwaw."

http://www.bodett.com/titles/williwaw.htm

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

2010-02-05T15:07:00.003-06:00

Bruchac is one of my favorite story tellers. Noticethis story is based on a Native American story.

After her parents disappear and Molly is turned over to the care of a strange "great-uncle." She must rely on her dreams about an old Mohawk story for her safety and maybe even for her life.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

2010-02-05T14:55:00.004-06:00

The book that started it all! Pete's precocious little brother, Fudge, drives him crazy. Was life better without Fudge? It sure was easier...

Super Fudge by Judy Blume

2010-02-05T14:51:00.002-06:00

Had to read this one, too! Fudge goes money crazy!

Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume

2010-02-05T14:48:00.002-06:00

Here is another very funny book--my 7 year old thought so, too.

Pete describes the family vacation in Maine with the Tubmans, highlighted by the antics of his younger brother Fudge.

Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

2010-02-05T14:42:00.002-06:00

If you have never read this book, you really should. I read it a long time ago and reread it with my seven year old daughter. She loved it, too.

"A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling."

Donorboy by Brendan Halpin

2010-02-05T14:27:00.002-06:00

The protagonist in this book is a very angry teen girl. Her parents have both died. She is remanded into the custody of her biological father--a man whom she has never met.

This is a book you'll need to check out from the public library or at your high school--it is not in our library.

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

2010-02-05T14:22:00.002-06:00

Am I way into vampires? Not really, I just like to read, especially what kids are reading. So, I have lost count of how many vampire books I have read this year!!

Peeps treats vampirism as an ancient, invading parasite--what an interesting idea.

"Cal Thompson is a carrier of a parasite that causes vampirism, and must hunt down all of the friends he has unknowingly infected. "

Lovely Bones

2010-02-05T14:12:00.004-06:00

I read this book because many of my high school students often talked about it. I saw it, checked it out, read it (cried a lot) and the next thing...I heard a movie is coming out...I am sure it is at a theatre near you.

The topic of this book is mature--so if you want to read it, have your family look at it first. Here's some information I found:

The book's narrator is 14-year-old murder victim Susie Salmon. Raped and killed by her neighbor, Susie ascends to heaven, where she observes how her death has affected those around her. http://www.curledup.com/luvbones.htm

Chronicles of Vlaimir Todd by Heather Brewer

2010-02-05T12:47:00.010-06:00

I have enjoyed these fun Vampire books--Vlad is a half vampire actually. It is nice to get away from all that LOVE and get into some action! There is plenty of drama and a little bit of romance, but it fits together nicely.

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod : Eighth Grade Bites. Eighth grade is no picnic. Like the average outsider Vlad's got bullies and a crush on his mind. But being a vampire, and one recently orphaned in mysterious circumstances, adds a whole new level of suckiness. Vlad has to hide blood in his school lunches, slather on the sunscreen, and keep his fangs under control. See this Review.

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod : Ninth Grade Slays. High school freshman Vlad Todd, having a hard time with bullies and his grades, takes the opportunity to study abroad in Siberia, where he meets other vampires and learns how to use his mind-control abilities. --from the card catalog

The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd : Tenth Grade Bleeds. Tenth grade does not bring any relief to Vlad who is finding it increasingly difficult to resist feeding on his classmates and to avoid the evil vampire D'Ablo who wants to drain his powers. --from the card catalog

Gideon The Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer

2010-02-05T12:26:00.002-06:00

I am just getting to know, Peter, Kate and the Tar-man! They seem to be time travelers.

"Ignored by his father and sent to Derbyshire for the weekend, twelve-year-old Peter and his new friend, Kate, are accidentally transported back in time to 1763 England where they are befriended by a reformed cutpurse. Kate was unconscious for barely thirty seconds. When she came round, her face was drawn and her skin was white as paper. She felt sick and weak and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and escape from a reality that she was not ready to face -- at least not just yet. Gideon carried Kate to a shady spot well away from the road and laid her gently on the grass. He took a shirt from his bag and folded it into a pillow for Kate's head. Then he gave his water bottle to Peter, saying, "Stay with her. We are close to Baslow Hall, Colonel Byng's house; I shall fetch a horse and will return as soon as I am able." Peter took the bottle like a sleepwalker. His world had temporarily flicked out of focus, and he was quite happy for it to remain that way."

Bravo Zulu, Samantha! by Kathleen Benner Duble

2010-02-05T12:21:00.005-06:00

We read this one during consortium.

'Decidedly unenthusiastic about spending part of her summer vacation with her grandparents, twelve-year-old Samantha is particularly upset by her prickly grandfather's secretive behavior and decides to find out what he is hiding."

Confessions from the Principal's Chair by Anna Myers

2010-02-05T12:16:00.004-06:00

Hey--these characters drive through Kansas en route from Denver to Oklahoma! I enjoyed this book so much I stayed up way too late to finish reading it. It may end up as an All School Read.

"After participating in a cruel prank on a classmate, fourteen-year-old Robin and her mother move to Oklahoma, where Robin is mistaken for the substitute principal and receives a new perspective on bullying."

Lily's Ghost by Laura Ruby

2010-02-05T12:12:00.002-06:00

I have wondered what ghosts, if they exist, think about and do...the author, Laura Ruby, presents one perspective on what might be going on with ghosts and why they are still roaming the earth.

"Strange goings-on at her great-uncle's summer home in Cape May, New Jersey, draw Lily and a new friend into a mystery involving lost treasure, a fake medium, and ghosts of all sizes, shapes, and dispositions."

Quantum Prophecy 3: The Reckoning by Michael Carroll

2010-02-05T10:48:00.007-06:00

Take at look at Michael Carroll's website. This series is about kids who are super heroes...and how did they became superheroes? Well, it's complicated! http://www.michaelowencarroll.com/qp/main.htm

The plot revolves around the superpowers of a group of adolescent super humans. Danny, the leader by default, is still afraid of the vision he's had--which seems to mirror his father's prophecy that he will lead a world-wide war. The heroes have split up due to mind control by one of their own, Yvonne. Some remain together in order to fight for the good of humanity, others have gone into hiding or just run away. The group that remains together continues to fight the Trutopians, an international organization designed to give each of its members security and equality, but with reduced freedoms. The antagonist of the last novel, Victor Cross, appears yet again. The prophecy is resolved in this book, the third of the series.

Call this series Quantum Prophesy or Born to Be Heroes or The New Heroes, I know one is a British name and one is the American name, and what's the other--I can't quite figure that out, the series seems to be known by each of these names.

The Spirit Line by Aimée & David Thurlo

2010-02-05T10:45:00.003-06:00

I always enjoy books including Native American stories or mythology! The plot is especially interesting to me when it combines old stories with modern life.

"When the special rug Crystal Manyfeathers is weaving for her kinaaldá, the traditional Navajo womanhood ceremony, is stolen from her loom, there are any number of suspects. "

Stained by Jennifer Richard Jacobson.

2010-02-05T10:01:00.007-06:00

Girls have been asking for this book, so I decided to read it. I does tastefully and overtly deal with some a mature and distrubing topic. It probably is not what you would think. The title comes from the windows in the church--you know 'stained glass?"

"In Weaver Falls, New Hampshire, in 1975, seventeen-year-old Jocelyn looks for answers when her lifelong neighbor and friend, Gabe, turns up missing and she learns that, while her boyfriend has been telling everything to a priest, Gabe has been keeping terrible secrets."

Archer's Quest

2010-02-05T09:57:00.002-06:00

Archer's Quest combines Asian mysticism with fantasy historic time travel--hey is that a new genre? I enjoyed this book by Linda Sue Park:

"Twelve-year-old Kevin Kim helps Chu-mong, a legendary king of ancient Korea, return to his own time. "

February book reviews and teasers by Mrs. Riley's 8th grade class

2010-02-05T09:56:00.000-06:00

February book reviews and teasers by Mrs. Riley's 7th grade classes

2010-02-05T09:55:00.001-06:00

February book reviews and teasers by Mrs. Riley's 6th Grade Class

2010-02-05T09:54:00.001-06:00

Nov 20 Book Reviews and Teasers by Ms. Riley's 6th Grade

2009-11-20T10:33:00.002-06:00

Nov 20 Book Reviews and Teasers by Mrs. Riley's 7th Grade

2009-11-20T10:32:00.005-06:00