What Did You Do This Summer?

In the book "Lawn Boy" by Gary Paulsen a 12 year old boy uses an old lawn mower, given to him by his grandma, to start his own business and have a summer adventure he will never forget. A few of the colorful characters included in the story are a hippie e-trader that helps the boy invest his earnings, a prize fighter "Joey Pow" that comes to the rescue of the boy & his friends, and a thug that tries to take over the successful business. This story will appeal to anyone that enjoys a funny, lighthearted read. It almost made me want to start my own lawn mowing business...what do you think?

SAVVY

What special power would you like if you received one on your 13th birthday? The power to walk through walls, or control electricity? "Savvy" by Ingrid Law, is about a young girl ready to turn 13 and receive her special power, or savvy.

I enjoyed reading "Savvy" by ingrid Law. You can go to the "SAVVY" link under online resources if you want to find out more about this book.

You might have your own savvy & just haven't discovered it yet.

Penny from Heaven

I just finished reading "Penny from Heaven" (a 2007 Newbery Honor book) written by Jennifer L. Holm. The author is also known for writing "Our Only May Amelia" (one of my daughters favorite books). I enjoyed this book because it gave me a little glimpse back in time to see what it might have been like growing up when my parents and grandparents were younger. I even found myself feeling as if I were Penny as I read, cringing when she got hurt or upset or laughing at her large Italian-American family and their antics. If you enjoy real or historical fiction books, I think you might enjoy "Penny from Heaven" by Jennifer L. Holm.

Read a New Recipe

There are so many different types of reading we can do. Yes, books are the traditional thing that we think of when we think of reading, but words are all around us waiting for us to read them. One thing I've been enjoying reading this summer are new recipes. I love to cook and trying something new in the kitchen is my favorite type of cooking. I've started another blog about my experiments in the kitchen. If you'd like to read about my experimenting, and the new recipes I've tried, go to the "Read a New Recipe" link under the other blogs list.

I just read "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne, a historical fiction book written from the point of view of a young boy during the holocaust. This book has been made into a movie but I like to read books before I see the movie. Though we don't have this book in our library, I hope you will read other books before (or after) you see the movie version of the book. If you liked the movie... you should give the book a try. Here is a list of books that have been made into movies. Check it out!

Around the World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne
A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
Babe (Book Title: Babe : The Gallant Pig) - Dick King-Smith
The Black Cauldron - Lloyd Alexander
Bridge To Terabithia - Katherine Paterson
Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Ian Fleming
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau
Coraline - Neil Gaiman
Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - Dr. Seuss
Dracula - Bram Stoker
Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
Eragon - Christopher Paolini
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Freaky Friday - Mary Rodgers
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling
Heidi - Johanna Spyri
Holes - Louis Sachar
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dr. Seuss
The Incredible Journey - Sheila Burnford
The Invisible Man - H. G. Wells
The Indian in the Cupboard - Lynn Reid Banks
Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl
Jumanji - Chris Van Allsberg
The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
Legend Of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Lord of the Rings series- J. R. R. Tolkien
Mary Poppins - P. L. Travers
Matilda - Roald Dahl
Nim's Island - Wendy Orr
Old Yeller - Fred Gipson
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Pinocchio - Collodi, Carlo
Polar Express - Chris Van Allsburg
Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
Ramona - Beverly Cleary
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm - Kate Wiggin
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Shiloh - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Sounder - William Armstrong
Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz
Stuart Little - E.B. White
The Tale of Despereaux - Kate Dicamillo
The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
Thomas the Tank Engine - Rev. W. Awdry
The Time Machine - H. G. Wells
War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells
Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, The - Dick King-Smith
The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Graham
The Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum
Zathura - Chris Van Allsburg

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

There was such excitement among students about the newest book in the Percy Jackson series before school got out I was ashamed that I hadn't read any of the books in this series yet. After learning more about the series, I knew I wanted to at least read "The Lightning Thief" (the first book in the series) by Rick Riordan this summer. I just finished it and have to encourage readers that like fantasy books to give this series a try. I will be reading the next in the series, I have to find out what happens next.
I found the following book review written by a student online at Nancy Keane's book talk website.

"Percy Jackson was pegged as trouble almost from the moment he was born. Of course, he never did anything intentionally, but that didn't stop him from getting blamed for things. Now, at the age of 12, Percy is trying his best not to get thrown out of yet another private school. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before school is the least of his worries. Odd things had been happening to him throughout most of his life, but he never really tried piecing any of it together. Then one day his class takes a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s there amidst the Greek artifacts that his powers are finally released. He’s also forced to fight his first monster, a winged hag, who, up until a few moments ago, was also his Pre-Algebra teacher.

From that point on everyone seems to know more than they’re willing to tell and it’s not until Percy’s attacked by yet another monster that the truth finally comes out. The Greek gods are alive and well in the 21st century and trouble is brewing on Mt. Olympus. Zeus’s most powerful weapon has been stolen, everyone is blaming everyone else, and Percy is a prime suspect. Unless he and his friends can get to California to find out what's really happening, World War III may be just around the corner. However, it doesn’t take Percy long to realize that things are not always what they seem in his new myth-infested world and he’s going to need all of his wits to get past the traps the gods have set for him. (Miranda J. Hawkins, Grapevine Public Library"
*If you are interested in reading other book talks by children, click on the "Nancy Keane's - booktalk" link in the online resources list.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The most recent book that I read this summer is "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart. I was a little reluctant to start the book because of it's 485 pages, but I am so glad that I read it. Here is one review that convinced me to give it a try...

School Library Journal

After Reynie Muldoon responds to an advertisement recruiting "gifted children looking for special opportunities," he finds himself in a world of mystery and adventure. The 11-year-old orphan is one of four children to complete a series of challenging and creative tasks, and he, Kate, Constance, and Sticky become the Mysterious Benedict Society. After being trained by Mr. Benedict and his assistants, the four travel to an isolated school where children are being trained by a criminal mastermind to participate in his schemes to take over the world. The young investigators need to use their special talents and abilities in order to discover Mr. Curtain's secrets, and their only chance to defeat him is through working together. Readers will challenge their own abilities as they work with the Society members to solve clues and put together the pieces of Mr. Curtain's plan. In spite of a variety of coincidences, Stewart's unusual characters, threatening villains, and dramatic plot twists will grab and hold readers' attention. Fans of Roald Dahl or Blue Balliett will find a familiar blend of kid power, clues, and adventure...