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Nonfiction Book on a Topic I Don't Know     June 14, 2017

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Nonfiction Book on a Topic I Don't Know     June 14, 2017

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Hurricane Disaster by Lynda Jones:

A hurricane is a type of natural disaster part of a storm system called a tropical cyclone. The name can be traced back to the Taino and Maya civilization who had a destructive god named "Huracan" and "Hurakan," respectively. Hurricanes occur all over the world, caused by warm tropical waters. There are four parts of a hurricane: eye (center and calm), eyewall (surrounds eye and is not calm), wind direction, and spiral rainbands (bring rain, lightning, and sometimes tornadoes). They have names to distinguish the different storms, which can develop over days and even weeks. Their damage is organized in a wind scale with 5 categories, ranging from slight damage to power lines to destroying homes. Hurricanes are very destructive and most scientists believed they are too big and powerful to be stopped. But meteorologists are getting better at predicting these huge natural disasters which allows the public to feel safe and prepared.

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3 Short Stories                                                 June 14, 2017

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3 Short Stories                                                 June 14, 2017

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"Regret" by Kate Chopin:

Mamzelle Aurlie is a strong woman. She lives by herself on a farm next to a woman named Odile with four children. Suddenly, Odile was called away to help her mother fight an illness, and the four children were at Mamzelle Aurlie's disposal. She is then forced to take full care of children who need a caring mother, the opposite of her tough disposition. Mamzelle is a strong woman who can handle anything, so why not four little children?

"The Cactus" by O. Henry:

Trysdale has not had the best day. He just witnessed the wedding of the girl he loved. But it wasn't with him. The trouble is, he knows exactly why: in the past, he had been incredibly egoistic. But how she had loved him, showered him with admiration. Until one day, when her groom left a cactus at his door with no message or evident reason why. Their relationship was never the same again. All because of a cactus.

"Pigs Is Pigs" by Ellis Parker Butler:

Mr. Flannery and Mr. Morehouse are in a heated debate over two guinea pigs. Morehouse thinks of them as pets, so it would be 25 cents each. But Flannery thinks of them as just pigs from Guinea, for 30 cents each. Yet after a heated debate of letters, Morehouse does not want to take them! So Flannery is forced to feed and care for the guinea pigs, multiplying daily. He finally learns his lesson after almost all the guinea pigs are gone: charge the right price so no problems ensue!

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Persuasive Passage/Article                          June 14, 2017

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Persuasive Passage/Article                          June 14, 2017

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Publisher's Weekly review of Wonder by R.J. Palacio on Barns & Noble:

This is a persuasive passage as it includes details to convince me to buy the book.
Auggie Pullman has pretty bad facial deformities. But now, after being homeschooled for his whole life, his parents have enrolled him in 5th grade. He has some really bad experiences at school, but he ends up making some new friends.
The article calls this book "a rare story" that should be read by all generations. It also "packs a punch" that most debut novels do not have. If I hadn't read the book, I would have been persuaded to by the article.

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A Newspaper Article                                        May 30, 2017

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A Newspaper Article                                        May 30, 2017

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"Review: In ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ a Lonely Teenager, a Viral Lie, and a Breakout Star" from NY Times by Charles Isherwood:

According to the article, "Dear Evan Hansen," playing at the Music Box Theater on Broadway, is "a gorgeous heartbreaker of a musical." All the actors give superb performances, which takes the sensitive story about the aftermath of teen suicide to a new level. With a beautiful score by Pasek and Paul, Isherwood claims this original musical is not be missed this season on Broadway.

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A Book Review From a Newspaper                May 26, 2017

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A Book Review From a Newspaper                May 26, 2017

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"Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon" from the NY Times by Whitney Joiner:

This article is a review of the book Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. The writer stresses the theme of doomed love and the fact that the protagonist, Madeliene "Maddy" Whittier, practically lives in a bubble - the cause of SCID, which makes her allergic to "everything." Joiner also references popular teen books, such as The Fault in Our Stars and Twilight, with the similarities of forbidden love. Though it had an unconventional writing style - frequent drawings, emails, medical charts, post-it notes, etc. - the book is described as "gorgeous and lyrical." If I had not read Everything, Everything yet, I would have been convinced to read it by this book review.

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A Picture Book Featuring a Hero                    May 26, 2017

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A Picture Book Featuring a Hero                    May 26, 2017

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Kayuktuk by Brian Heinz:

Aknik could be considered a hero in this book.
Young Alaskan hunter Aknik wants to prove his worth and manhood to his tribe. But coming back from hunting with an empty bag does not help him. So he seeks the help of the Shaman. Aknik gets told to find the Kayuktuk, Shadow Without a Body, who keeps stealing his quarry. This would prove to his tribe that his prey gets stolen. Full of courage and persistence, Aknik starts on a journey to find the Kayuktuk and prove his manhood to his doubtful tribe.

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Book With a Color in the Title                         May 23, 2017

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Book With a Color in the Title                         May 23, 2017

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Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell:

Karana was living peacefully on The Island of the Blue Dolphins with her tribe until the Aleuts came. They came to hunt otter to make fun skins. But when they turn on her tribe, a battle ensues and Karana's father is one of the many men killed by the Aleuts. But help follows: white men pick up the tribe in their ship, but Karana's brother is left behind! She jumps off the ship back to the island just as it is pulling away, only to find her brother had been eaten by wild dogs. What happens next to Karana includes living alone for many years, taming animals, building houses, using weapons against tribal rules, and struggling to survive without her family. Can she do it?

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Book Based on a True Story                            May 15, 2017

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Book Based on a True Story                            May 15, 2017

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Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys:

This book is based on the journey of the author's family.
Lina Vilkas is like any Lithuanian girl in 1941: concerned with boys, school, and art. But then the Soviet Secret Police (NKVD) evict her with her mom and brother, Jonas! They get taken to a boxcar labeled "thieves and prostitutes," and meet a woman with a newborn baby and the wife of a soldier with her (cute) son, Andrius. All are forced to take a long journey across the continent to two different camps, with Lina trying to contact her father along the way - Kostas Vilkas got put in a different boxcar. Can they survive the harrowing journey and the brutal camps, while they are starved and freezing? Will life for Lina ever be the same?

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Book Read in the Past, but Didn't Get            May 11, 2017

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Book Read in the Past, but Didn't Get            May 11, 2017

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Who Could That Be At This Hour? (ATWQ #1) by Lemony Snicket:

I read this book a few years ago and didn't really understand it, but fully go it this time around after I read ASOUE.
Lemony Snicket, under the professional apprenticeship of the unprofessional S. Theodora Markson, has been sent to the previously underwater town Stain'd-by-the-Sea to solve a burglary: a statue of the Bombinating Beast - a weird sea horse mythical type creature - has been stolen from Mrs. Murphy Sallis by her "enemy" neighbors the Mallahans. Though Lemony was not expecting this, he works on the case with irritating Theodora anyway. But it is not as it seems. With the help of sub-librarian Dashiell Qwerty, journalist-in-training Moxie Mallahan, and (maybe) the mysterious Ellington Feint, can he get the Bombinating Beast statue back to its rightful owner?

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A Poem About a Silly Topic:

"Talking to My Stupid Younger Brother Is Like Swimming Upstream in a River to Nowhere" by John Grandits

This silly poem is about a girl named Jessie with blue lipstick who is trying to teach her brother, Robert, manners. For example, she is trying to teach him how it is appropriate to say "excuse me" after you burp. But you should let the other person say "bless you" after you sneeze, and not say "excuse me." (Jessie seems very picky!) Her brother does not seem to care and constantly interrupts her.

A Poem About an Animal:

"How I Taught My Cat to Love Poetry" by John Grandits

In this poem, Jessie is assigned to write a poem for someone she loves as a homework assignment in her English class with Mr. Holt. She doesn't want to write one for her family or friends, so she settles on her cat, BooBoo Kitty. At first, her cat is not impressed. So Jessie cuts it up, tapes it to a hanger, and gains BooBoo Kitty's instant admiration. But when her English teacher finds out about her cat playing with (more like eating) the poem, he is not exactly pleased.

Free Choice Poem:

"The Wall" by John Grandits

This poem is also about Jessie with blue lipstick. In it she talks about how she has a wall in her life. On one side of the wall, she has her friends, family (her brother for only half of the time), and familiar things. On the other side, she has random people who she sometimes interacts with, strangers, and the other half of her brother. Jessie also talks about Agnes, her friend from 7th grade. They had an incident where Agnes was mean, so now they aren't friends. The poem teaches that it is important to only let good and trusting people into your life, as some will eventually turn on you.

A Poem About Nature:

"Spring Poem" by Colleen Thibaudeau

This poem is not written exactly about spring. Instead, spring is represented by a machine. The writer talks about how the engine is "warming up" and animals are coming out. Building open their windows to let the breeze and sunlight in. The machine begins to spread around the world to represent how spring is here!

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A Book with a Non-Human Character           April 19, 2017

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A Book with a Non-Human Character           April 19, 2017

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The End by Lemony Snicket:

This book has a character called the Incredibly Deadly Viper - or Ink - who practically saves the day.
The end is near!!!
After burning down a building, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, with their nemesis Count Olaf, wash up on the coast of an island in the middle of the ocean. A girl named Friday finds them and welcomes the Baudelaires to the island, but sees that Count Olaf is a villain and doesn't let him come - she was the first person to do this the whole series! The orphans find life on the island very boring with the other islanders who succumb to enormous peer pressure, and their strange facilitator Ishmael who gives them sinisterly strong coconut cordial. But soon they discover an important secret about their parents that leads to a horrific event that can only be stopped by reading a book entitled A Series of Unfortunate Events. Will the Baudelaires survive? Will Count Olaf win? Will everyone die? Find out in the conclusion to the series about the horrific lives of the Baudelaire orphans, A Series of Unfortunate Events.

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A Favorite Picture Book as a Child             March 14, 2017

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A Favorite Picture Book as a Child             March 14, 2017

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Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes:

Chrysanthemum is a girl who is very proud of her name. She loves life, until she starts going to school. Victoria, Rita, and Jo start bullying her about her name, saying it is too long and weird she is named after a flower! Chrysanthemum is devastated. But with the help of her music teacher Mrs. Twinkle, she learns to love yourself - and your name - as you are.

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A Newberry Winner                                   February 25, 2017

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A Newberry Winner                                   February 25, 2017

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Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes:

Johnny Tremain is the arrogant apprentice of a Boston silversmith. But one day, he has an accident that results in his hand being crippled. He can no longer work as a silversmith and is forced to seek out another job. Johnny then meets Rab, the nephew of a printer, who lets Johnny stay with him. Through this, he finds himself a new job: delivering the Boston Observer which Rab's uncle prints. But a war between Britain and the Colonies is looming. Johnny discovers that he can do his part in the revolution and stand up for what he believes in  - even with a crippled hand.

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A Book With a One-Word Title                February 21, 2017

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A Book With a One-Word Title                February 21, 2017

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Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier:

Cat's sister Maya is sick. She has cystic fibrosis - a disease that prevents her from breathing properly. Because of this, her family moves to northern California for the pure sea air. Cat isn't happy to leave her friends and home for Bahía de Luna. To top off all her misery and fright, the town is filled with ghosts!! Day of the Dead is approaching, and ghosts are known to come out to join in the festivities. Cat will need to learn how to be brave for one night in order to save her sister - and herself.

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A Book by an Author With My Initial      February 17, 2017

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A Book by an Author With My Initial      February 17, 2017

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The School for the Insanely Gifted by Dan Elish:

Daphna Whispers is an insanely talented 11-year-old. She has composed a sonata, opera, and is now working on a grand symphony. She goes to the Blatt School for the Insanely Gifted along with her best friends: Cynthia the insanely gifted actress, and Harkin the insanely gifted inventor. But when Ignatius Peabody Blatt, the world famous inventor, and school founder, announces a competition, Daphna isn't focused on winning the prize (being on the David Letterman show); she is caught up with the recent disappearance of her mother. And when a mysterious man breaks into her apartment, she knows something is up. Daphna, along with Harkin and Cynthia, goes on a quest to find out her mother's fate. But they suddenly uncover an insanely shocking plot with an insanely shocking purpose by an insanely shocking person!

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A Picture Book about Civil Rights            February 1, 2017

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A Picture Book about Civil Rights            February 1, 2017

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I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes

This book - actually a poem - shows how being different (black in the poem, but can be interpreted different ways) is good. You should be proud of your race and not let anyone put you down about it. America is made up of many different types of people, but we are all America.

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A Book Made Into a Movie                       January 31, 2017

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A Book Made Into a Movie                       January 31, 2017

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Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon.

This book has been made into a movie that will be released on May 19, 2017.
If Maddy goes outside, she will die.
That is the result of SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency), which made her allergic to everything. She can't even breathe in air without it being filtered. So Maddy is stuck in her house, with her nurse, Carla, and overprotective mom who doubles as her doctor. (Her dad and brother died in a car accident.) But then a cute boy named Olly moves into the house next door.
The only result is trouble.

(New! This post used to be The Bad Beginning)

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A Book in a Genre I'd Never Tried            January 21, 2017

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A Book in a Genre I'd Never Tried            January 21, 2017

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The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket:

This book is in the satirical genre. I had never read any satirical books until I read The Bad Beginning.
The Baudelaire Children are very unfortunate. After their parents died in a great fire that destroyed their home, they are sent to live with the villainous actor Count Olaf. He lives in a revoltingly dirty mansion and gives the children one lumpy bed. The only reason he took the orphans in was to get their fortune and will do ANYTHING to obtain it. But with Violet's inventing ability, Klaus's knowledge, and little Sunny's talent for biting, can they stop Count Olaf from getting their fortune before it's too late?
(Used to be A Book Made Into a Movie)

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A Graphic Novel                                          January 19, 2017

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A Graphic Novel                                          January 19, 2017

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City of Light, City of Dark by Avi:

It all started out with a token. Mr. Underton wants it, Carlos has it, Asterel needs it, Theo Stubbs doesn't want Mr. Underton to get it, and Sarah has the power to find it. Who can get to it first and save New York City before Mr. Underton and/or the mysterious creatures called the Kurbs take over?

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A Book Written the Year I Was Born        January 14, 2017                 

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A Book Written the Year I Was Born        January 14, 2017                 

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Dawn Undercover by Anna Dale:

Dawn Buckle is one of those kids who always get overlooked, even though she does her best to get people to notice her. Luckily, being invisible is one of the qualities a spy needs to be successful, so she is asked to join an undercover British intelligence agency called S.H.H. (Strictly Hush Hush). She is put in a fieldwork division called P.S.S.T (Pursuit of Scheming Spies and Traitors), and is the first child to join the department. Her assignment is to go to the quiet town of Cherry Bentley under the name Kitty Wilson to track down evil mastermind Murdo Meek, and find a missing field agent in the process. Can she do it without getting caught?

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A Book with a Number in the Title          January 10, 2017

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A Book with a Number in the Title          January 10, 2017

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Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica:

Josh Cameron is the star player of the Boston Celtics and Molly Parker knows everything about him - including that she is his daughter. Her mom, Jen, told her about his real identity before she died of cancer. Molly confronts him with the news and to her dismay, he doesn't exactly believe her. He allows her to hang out with him anyway because he likes her spunk. But as Molly starts to get to know him, she realizes the whole reason her mom left Josh: he only cares about himself and basketball. Can Molly ever be a part of his life, too?

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A Picture Book Biography                           January 9, 2017

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A Picture Book Biography                           January 9, 2017

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The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer:

This book is a biography of the popular English band in the 1960s called the Beatles. The band consisted of four men: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They went from playing in small bars and coffeeshops in Europe to conquering the world with their new sound - while cracking jokes the whole time. The Beatles eventually signed a record deal and made millions. Their unique music is still played all over the world today.

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A Short Story Written by a Classmate      January 9, 2017

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A Short Story Written by a Classmate      January 9, 2017

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"Big Words and Big Fears" by Mimi Nusser:

This is a short story about a girl named Maria who is moving to the United States of America with her family in 1984. Her father's tomato business was failing, so he decided to take his family to America and start a new life. Maria doesn't want to leave her hometown of Madrid, her friends, and her house. But she has some things to look forward to, like seeing her cousin Marissa and other family.

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Song Lyrics                                                    January 8, 2017

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Song Lyrics                                                    January 8, 2017

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"The Lamest Place in the World" by Jason Robert Brown:
This song is sung by a girl named Patrice in the pop/rock musical 13. In the song, she is telling a new kid named Evan all about the boring town he just moved to called Appleton, Indiana as well as the fact it "just got a little bit better" because he arrived. It shows that Patrice likes Evan a lot and wants to be his friend.

"Breathe" by Lin-Manuel Miranda:
This song is from the musical In the Heights and is sung by a college student named Nina. She has just come back to her neighborhood of Washington Heights from her freshman year at Stanford University on a full scholarship to give her parents the news that she dropped out. Nina reflects on her childhood and all the memories she made while living there.

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A Book Recommended by a Friend         January 8, 2017

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A Book Recommended by a Friend         January 8, 2017

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The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

My friend Mamie recommended this book to me.
It is told by an aviator who crashed his plane in the desert. He has no food or water, but then meets The Little Prince who asks him to draw a sheep to keep the baobabs on his planet from growing. The aviator does so (even though he has no idea what baobabs are), and learns that The Little Prince lived on a tiny planet with a rose. He went on a journey to other tiny planets meeting new people - all grumpy grown-ups and then landed on earth. The Little Prince then met a fox and discovered his rose isn't the only one in the universe - unlike she says. The book teaches one that being a child is something one should embrace - because it does not happen for long.

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Free Choice Novel                                        January 6, 2017

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Free Choice Novel                                        January 6, 2017

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A Clatter of Jars by Lisa Graff:

This book is set in a world where almost everyone has a talent, at Camp Atropos for children with singular talents. The kids are prepared to spend a summer singing at campfires, swimming in the lake, are practice for the end-of-camp talent show. But they don't know that the camp's director, Jo, has had them come to the camp for a specific reason that they are not allowed to know at all costs. But strange things start happening: memories and talents move from one person to another, empty jars are found at the edge of the lake, and Jo's harmonica may have a purpose other than making music. Filled with fun, family, and "a touch of fate," A Clatter of Jars is a book about discovering your true identity.