What is Mrs. Helm Reading?

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

2012-02-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

Did you see the movie or read the book, Seabiscuit? Laura Hillenbrand is the author of that book as well.
Unbroken is a true World War II story. Louis Zamperini was a teammate of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany. He was a superb runner and was thought to be the first person who would break the 4 minute mile mark. His running career was cut short by the war.
Louis left college in California to become a member of the U.S. Army Air Force. He was sent to a base on the Hawaiian Islands and became a gunner on a B-24 bomber. His plane was shot down. Louis was one of three men who survived the water crash into the Pacific Ocean. As he and 2 crewmates floated for over 47 days they became living skeletons. One man died. Finally, an island loomed. Unfortunately it was Japanese occupied. Louis was captured. For several years he was a Prisoner of War, traveling to several camps.

The Japanese were brutal in their treatment of POW's. I find it hard to believe Louis survived, but he did. Starvation, torture.....it was all in the realm of the Japanese mistreatment of soldiers. It really is an incredible story of survival and one that will stick with me a long time.

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

2012-01-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

I loved this new book by Richard Paul Evans. As I read his bio on the inside back cover I found it interesting that he also wrote The Christmas Box. The two books are nothing alike!

Michael Vey is the main character. Fourteen years ago he was born in a Pasadena Hospital as were many other children. Mysteriously many of the babies died, but seventeen survived with special powers. Michaelhas an electric power. He can "surge" electricity from his body. The "doctors" in charge of the research project have hunted down all these kids. They want to harness their power to control the world.

Evil prevails. Michael's mom is kidnapped to lure him to the facility. A showdown between the kids and "Hatch" prevails. The books leaves you hanging. I guess I'll have to wait for the sequel to see what will happen:(

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

2012-01-16T09:01:00.000-08:00

Did you read the book, Before I Die? Jenny Downham is also the author of that book.

Mikey's younger sister, Karyn, claims to have been raped by Ellie's older brother, Tom. Mikey and Ellie meet....Mikey for the purpose of getting revenge for his sister. Neither of them intended to start a relationship with each other, but that is exactly what happens. It's complicated. Adding to the confusion Ellie supplies a written statement to the police stating that her brother didn't do anything wrong. It's definitely "he said/she said".

In some ways the book reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. Ellie is from a wealthy family and Mikey's family struggles to make ends meet. Read the book and see the outcome.

Trapped by Michael Northrop

2012-01-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

The cover of this book reminds me of what January in Wisconsin should look like. Tattawa High School is pictured amid falling flakes of snow and huge drifts. This January looks more like November --- no snow here.

The day the blizzard started school was released early. After school events were canceled. Somehow seven kids ended up left at school. Pete and Jason were going to work on a shop project. Others were waiting for rides that never came. A teacher went for help and never returns. Cell phones stop working. Slowly the students realize they are going to spend the night in school.

No one ever expected the blizzard to last a week. The power goes out, there is no heat and they have to scavenge for food in the school cafeteria. The weight of the snow collapses part of the roof. Read the book and see what happens to Scotty and the rest of the kids.

Vacation Reading!

2012-01-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

Wow.....I did lots and lots of reading over break.....now to get busy and write about it!

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a true story written by Terry Ryan about her mother. I find it interesting that the subtitle is: How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less.

Terry, the author, really did grow up with 9 other brothers and sisters! She lived in the average size town of Defiance during the 1950's and 1960's. Her father was an alcoholic who never brought home much of a paycheck that he didn't drink up first. The only way that mom could feed everyone was by using her gift of writing. Mom, Evelyn, entered all kinds of "jingle-writing" contests to try and her money or prizes to keep her family fed and clothed. And.....she was very successful. I chuckled when I read the chapter where Evelyn won a 10 minute shopping spree in a grocery store. I laughed at the idea of her "prize closet". Evelyn has a positive spirit that is hard to put down.

In 2005 this memoir was adapted into a movie.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

2011-11-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

Funny, funny stuff. Enough said. You'll have a good chuckle and NEVER look at "beauty pagents" the same again.

Bedbugs

2011-11-28T06:40:00.000-08:00

Did the title grab your attention? This is a new book by Ben Winters.

Susan and Alex have found their dream apartment in Brooklyn. Along with their toddler, Emma, they move in and life is good. At least it is good until Susan discovers a small bite on her wrist. Is it a bite from a bedbug or a spider?

Susan becomes more and more obsessed with bedbugs. She itches the bites until they become sores. Neither Emma nor Alex seems to be affected. An exterminator doesn't find any evidence of the bugs. What is biting Susan? You'll have to read this creepy book and find out!

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

2011-11-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

This is a new "Adult for Young Adult" book which was recommended by Miss Carwardine.

Annie O'Sullivan has been kidnapped. She is held for over a year in an isolated mountain cabin. During that time her captor abuses her physically and emotionally. He holds her to strange rituals....for example, she can only use the bathroom at certain times of the day. Annie fights daily for her survival. It is heart-breaking.

The story is told through Annie's sessions with a psychiatrist. Read the book and find out how she escapes and tries to put her life back together.

Lots and lots of new books

2011-11-28T05:56:00.000-08:00

New books continue to come in! It's my favorite time of the year!!

Are you looking for the final book in the Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner? How about Passion, the newest Lauren Kate book in the Fallen series? Goliath, the final book in the Leviathan Trilogy is here as well!

Follow the following link to see all the new materials. Go to Destiny. Click on Catalog. Click the tab across the top, Copy Categories. Click the link for New Books Fall 2011 for all 393 titles!

Happy Reading!

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

2011-11-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

A new zombie book!!!!

It sounds funny to say, but I really enjoy reading books about the zombie apocalypse.

Everyone over the age of 16 is dead. The "grown-ups" wander the streets looking for children to eat. Yikes!!!

This first book in the series follows a group of children as they try to survive in London. After hearing that another group of children have made their home in Buckingham Palace, the group tries to make their way there. Unfortunately, it isn't what they hoped it would be.

It's a bit gory in spots, but it wouldn't be a zombie book if it wasn't☻

Room by Emma Donoghue

2011-10-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

Our new OWHS Book Club is reading Room. It was on my summer reading list and I never got to it....finally I finished this heartbreaking, but hopeful book.

I couldn't help but make comparisons between my 7 year-old son and the narrator, 5 year-old Jack. Jack has been born in Room and has never left it. Ma was kidnapped 7 years ago by a sexual predator. Both she and Jack have been held in Room. Can you imagine never leaving a Room for 7 years? It is the only world Jack knows.

Ma is determined to escape and with Jack's help it does happen. Read the book to understand the transition that Jack and Ma need to make back to the outside world. Book Club will be discussing this book on Monday, October 31. Meetings will be held before school, during lunch hour and after school. It really is one of those books that you want to talk over with a friend.

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

2011-10-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

The author examines the plight of the illegal immigrant. She has firsthand knowledge of the challenges that immigrants face -- her mother and father came to the United States from Colombia and Germany.

Nora's father left behind family in Mexico years ago. He has always sent money to support Nora, mom and grandma. Suddenly though, letters stop arriving. The bank doesn't receive any more deposits. Nora and her mom risk their lives in a desperate trip across the border. Once they arrive in Texas they begin looking for dad.

Living in Wisconsin I don't give much thought to the challenges that face illegal immigrants. If I lived in Texas or Arizona I would pay much more attention to the topic. Nora experiences things no teenager should have to.....imagine being in a country without much money, nowhere to live and a language you don't understand. Nora has the strength to survive.....but how many more "Nora's" are out there?

Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

2011-10-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

Parrotfish are a unique fish. Almost all species start as females and then change to males. In the book Parrotfish, Angela feels as though she is a boy. Ever since she was young she has been a tomboy. Now that she is 17 she honestly feels as though she was born the wrong gender.

Angela is transgendered. I never really understood the conflicted feelings of a person with these circumstances. The book raises a good question, "What happens when we don't fit into a "neat" predetermined category?

Angela asks her family and classmates to call her "Grady". She starts dressing in a masculine fashion.....and it is tough. Grady has to deal with bullies and humiliation. Read the book and understand what it means to be transgendered.

Nobel Genes by Rune Michaels

2011-09-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

The first line of this new book is, "I'm a donor baby." Donor as in the narrator's father was a sperm donor. The only thing the boy has been told by his mother is that his father was a Nobel Prize winner. Consequently there is a great amount of pressure on the narrator (he isn't named). What kind of intelligence did his father have? Was his biological father a winner in the science area, the creative arts? So far, to his mother's dismay, the narrator is only of average intelligence.

It becomes very clear that mom is mentally unstable. Several episodes of drug overdoses have sent her to the hospital. The first hand look at what mental illness does to a family is heartbreaking. Also heartbreaking is the narrator's search for the truth about his dad. Read the book to find out about his missing family.

Soulless

2011-08-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Last year I was on quite a streak of zombie books. I hadn't read one in awhile. I brought Souless by Christopher Golden home for the summer and finally picked it up. I remember the review said it was a great zombie thriller. They were exactly right -- I couldn't put it down.

The zombie apocalypse starts in New York City. Three mediums are broadcasting a live seance on morning television. They fall into a trance - it can't be broken.....and everything changes.

It starts out slowly. The dead crawl out of their graves. They are "empty" and need at first to find family and friends. Obviously this escalates. Do you want to read a creepy horror book? Do you like the television program, The Walking Dead? If so, you'll certainly want to read this book.

The Help

2011-08-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

I finally made a point to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I put it off because so many people were reading it....the the long, lonely roads of Nebraska allowed me to finish it! My thoughts - great book! I really enjoyed reading it. Can't wait to see the movie.

In the mood for an edge-of-your seat thriller?

2011-06-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of Dean Koontz's work. I like weird, supernatural stories. His fit the bill, especially when I want a quick read. His newest one, What the Night Knows, really has me creeped out, so much so that I'm having a hard time finishing it.

As the book begins a 14 year-old boy has savagely murdered his entire family. The murders bear an eerie coincidence to ones that occurred 20 years earlier. Police detective John Calvino is certain his family is now the next target of this "reincarnated" killer.

Read the book and let me know what you think. A few students told me it was one of his most "gory" books. At this point, I'd tend to agree. I'll let you know.

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-06-25T10:19:00.001-07:00

I always say, "Don't judge a book by the cover!", but I love the cover of this book. Cassia, the 17 year old main character is pictured in a beautiful lime green dress.....the dress that she wears when she meets her match.

Cassia lives in a planned, dystopian society. People wear the same clothes and eat the same foods. They are assigned their jobs and who they will spend their lives with. There are no choices involved in this world -- at least until now. At her official matching ceremony Cassia is matched with Xander, a boy she has known since childhood. It is almost unheard of in the Society for a match to be someone you know. Cassia is so excited that she will enter into a marriage contract with her best friend. But the next day as she is reviewing the Courtship Guidelines another picture shows up on the screen. It is not Xander. You'll have to read the book to find out who Cassia choses --- Xander or Ky?

The author has a great website http://www.matched-book.com/index.html#home and another book coming out in November, Crossed, that continues the story.

A brief hiatus

2011-06-25T10:04:00.001-07:00

I'm back....and despite the fact I haven't been blogging, I have been reading. Many, many new books came into the LMC in May. The political situation in Wisconsin didn't give me a lot of time to blog --- but trust me, I've still been reading!!

What's new? During summer school I am working on a new area in the LMC. Remember the shelves with the back issues of magazines? They are gone. In their place are 4 cafe-style tables with chairs. Check out the picture of the chairs. Wifi is being installed....finally. It should be a neat area to have a snack, read the latest magazine, or catch up on your school work.

Got any ideas on how to use this space? Let me know.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

2011-03-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

In September, 1994 Robert "Yummy" Sandifer appeared on the cover of Time magazine. He was only 11 years old and lived in Chicago. Why would such a young boy, who loved anything sweet, be on the cover of a national publication? Yummy was a gang called the Black Disciples -- he had killed a 14 year old girl!

This award-winning graphic novel looks at Yummy's life and death. He went into hiding after killing Shavon Dean. The Disciples became tired of the publicity surrounding Yummy and finally killed him. How can an 11 year old be caught up in such violence? Was Yummy a cold-blooded killer or was he a victim? Ultimately he didn't make good decisions. Read the book by G. Neri and decide for yourself.

The Bite of the Mango

2011-03-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

This heart-breaking true story is co-authored by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland. Mariatu is 12 years old when the story begins. She lives with her extended family in a small village in Sierra Leone. Civil War breaks out in the country. Bands of rebel soldiers wander the countryside terrorizing and killing. The inevitable happens. The soldiers capture Mariatu.

The horrors this young girl sees are unforgettable. This chapter of the book was especially hard to read....I had to put it down several times. Mariatu survives the rebel attack, but the soldiers - some younger than Mariatu herself - take a machete and chop off both of her hands! Can you imagine?

This isn't the end of Mariatu's suffering. You'll have to read the book to get the entire story. She is a survivor -- that much I will say.

Stitches: A Memoir

2011-03-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

David Small wrote this National Book Award Finalist about his childhood and teenage years. He is best known for his picture book illustrations.....this book is in the graphic novel format.

David grew up in a very dysfunctional home. He had many sinus infections as a young boy. His father, a doctor, used x-rays to monitor his condition. Those x-rays ended up giving David cancer. At 14 David had, what was supposed to be a minor surgery. It ended up being several surgeries....and his vocal cords were removed. David was virtually speechless!! I haven't even talked about his mother yet.....

Read the book. It is tragic, disturbing...and a compelling read!

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

2011-02-04T05:45:00.000-08:00

Are you in the mood for a good mystery? This is it.

Maya, Abby's younger sister is always in trouble --- major trouble. Whether it is drugs or truancy, Abby always seems to be "covering-up" for Maya.

Abby's morning run takes her along a nearby river where she finds a murdered classmate and Maya's cell phone. What to do? This time it may be impossible to protect Maya.

The police are searching for Maya --- Did she kill Jefferson while high on drugs? He was her tutor, they had a relationship. Are there other suspects? Jefferson isn't the "good guy" that everyone thought he was. Abby tries to track down the killer!

The Beautiful Between

2011-01-24T11:07:00.000-08:00

Another first-time YA author --- Alyssa B. Sheinmel!!

Connelly compares herself to the fairy tale character, Rapunzel. Not because she has long, flowing hair.....but because she feels locked up....locked up by all her responsibilities. The SAT's, college applications, but most of all family secrets.

Connelly's mom has never been forthcoming about dad's death. He died when Connelly was only 2 years old, but she still doesn't know why or how. Now a classmate's sister is dying.....what is the connection between Connelly's dad and Kate? Read the book and find out.

Blood on my Hands

2011-01-24T10:33:00.001-08:00

Todd Strasser is a favorite author of mine --- this is his newest book.

Cell phones....and cell phone cameras are everywhere. Callie learns firsthand the danger of a cell phone camera.

The book begins, "In the dark woods behind the baseball dugout, I'm kneeling next to Katherine's body, my heart racing, my breaths shallow and fast, my emotions reeling crazily at the sight on the ground before me." At first Callie doesn't understand.....why is her friend lying on the ground? Why does she appear wet? As Callie realizes her friend is dead and the shiny wetness is her blood, other people arrive on the scene.

Perhaps the worst case of bad timing ever....as Callie reaches down and picks up "something" next to Katherine, a cell phone starts snapping pictures. Callie is holding the murder weapon....and now it looks as though she is the one who committed the crime.

Can Callie prove her innocence? Read the book and see!

Weekend reading!

2011-01-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post before the Packer-Bears game. Yesterday I finished The Beautiful Between by Alyssa Sheinmel and started Blood on my Hands by a favorite author, Todd Strasser. Now... back to gameday!!

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

2011-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

First-time Australian author, Lucy Christopher has already had several awards associated with this, her first book!

Sixteen-year-old Gemma is travelling with her parents to Vietnam. Like many 16-year-old girls, she gets in an argument with her parents about her clothes. As things end up, she is going to meet her parents at the flight gate. That never happens.

Ty , a mysterious, older, ruggedly handsome stranger buys her coffee and sits down with her. He also slips a drug into her coffee and kidnaps her. With the use of a fake passport he takes her to the middle of the Australian Outback.

Ty has been planning Gemma's kidnapping for years. He has been watching her. His intentions are for the two of them to live the rest of their lives in isolation....together. Read the story and see what happens to Gemma.

Tell Me A Secret

2011-01-05T06:04:00.000-08:00

This is a debut book by author Holly Cupala. Seventeen-year-old Rand is the main character. She has had a lot to deal with the past several years. Her older sister Xanda died .... and it seems as though the family has been hiding some of the facts surrounding her death. Mom says her boyfriend was drunk and that he was no good. Is that the truth or not? Mom is very controlling and dad just disappears.

As the story begins Rand has to deal with another life-altering event. While away at summer camp she discovers she is pregnant. She comes home to find her boyfriend "with" her best friend. The book is a bit heartbreaking and also a bit hopeful. Read the book to see what choices Rand makes.....adoption? art school? work? Does she reconcile with her family?

I Am Number Four

2011-01-04T05:56:00.001-08:00

I stayed up late reading this book -- I had to finish it and see if "John Smith" would survive the battle against the Mogardians.

Pittacus Lore is the author of this new book. On his website he says he is an alien from the earthlike planet, Lorien, which is a hundred million miles away! He has been on earth for 12 years.....are you still with me?

John Smith is the main character in the book and he is number four! Nine aliens came to earth with their guardians. Three have already been hunted down and killed by the Mogardians. John knows he is next. He looks like an ordinary teenager from Paradise, Ohio --- but there is much, much more to him than you see.

Read the book - it is amazing!! The movie comes out February 18! http://findnumberfour.com/

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2010-11-30T05:57:00.000-08:00

Samantha dies in a car crash after a party. But wait.......why does she wake up in her bed, only to relive the entire Friday over? Sam has to do this SEVEN times before there is any resolution!!! Does it sound like Groundhog Day? Way more emotional............Read it and think about your choices!!

Pod by Stephen Wallenfels

2010-11-30T05:47:00.000-08:00

Do you like science fiction? Did you watch the TV show "V"? If you did, you will like Pod. The story begins with a screeching, screaming noise that wakes up the world As people investigate and look outdoors they see immense, pod-like, spinning disks descending from the sky. Walking outdoors ensures a quick death -- you are immediately "zapped" and disappear. Is it the end of the world? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Dozens of new books

2010-11-30T05:42:00.000-08:00

Dozens and dozens of new books are in! It's better than Christmas!! Stop in and see what is available.....Or........ are you at home? Access the Destiny West Catalog. Click the "Catalog" tab. Click the "Catagories" tab. Find "November 2010" and you should see a listing of everything that is new. Not sure if this link will work off site? http://10.50.1.184/cataloging/servlet/handlecategorysearchresultsform.do?categoryID=3231&categoryDescription=November+2010&collectionType=0&page=0&collectionType=0

Stealing Henry by Carolyn MacCullough

2010-11-11T06:40:00.000-08:00

The first line got me: "The night Savannah brains her stepfather with the frying pan is the night she decides to leave home for good."

Savannah's stepdad is abusive, not only to her, but to her younger brother Henry. Mom is oblivious to everything.....so "Sav" decides to hit the road. Much of Savannah's childhood (she is now 17) was spent riding cross-country with her single mom, Alice. Alice could never seem to make a home for them ....obviously she is a bit dysfunctional.

I picked out this book because I liked the retro look of the cover. I know I always say....don't judge a book by the cover. The "feel" of the book is old, the copyright is new!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-11-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

Sophie is 16 years old. After using her powers in a "prom night spell gone bad".... she is sent to Hectate Hall. It is a "boarding school" for prodigium teens. What are prodigium? Witches, warlocks, vampires, shape-shifters, fairies, etc...... who have used their powers incorrectly. Hopefully Sophie will now find the correct way to channel her powers.

After her arrival a student is maliciously attacked and left for dead. Sophie's vampire roommate is blamed. Who is responsible? What about the very handsome warlock that Sophie crushes on? Read the book and find out. It will leave you waiting for the next one.

lessons from a dead girl by Jo Knowles

2010-10-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

I only meant to read this book for a short time last night. I got home late from conferences and needed something to put me to sleep. (The Viking game wasn't doing it!) I ended up staying up late, too late, to finish this book.

Laine is a victim. Leah is a victim. Leah is dead. That about sums up the book!

Laine has always wanted to be a part of the popular crowd. When Leah, the most popular girl in the school, wants to be her friend, Laine is ecstatic! But popularity comes at a price. When Leah is at Laine's house she wants to go in the closet with her and "practice". Laine is very conflicted in her emotions. She wants Leah's friendship, but she feels wrong. She tries to end the friendship and there are disastrous results. Laine tries to help Leah, but it is as though she doesn't want help. There are risky behaviors and lessons learned. I couldn't put it down.

Another one!!

2010-10-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

I read another graphic novel! This time it was Welcome to the Jungle from Jim Butcher's Dreseden Files. I'm really liking this genre!!

Harry Dresden is a wizard "on-call" with the Chicago Police Department. He is brought into a case involving the death of a security guard at Lincoln Park Zoo. The guard was viciously killed -- perhaps by a gorilla? No one appears to know. Harry suspects there is some bad magic at work. He finds himself working against not one, but three hags.

Read the novel, see what you think! There are more titles by Jim Butcher in our collection. Have you outgrown Harry Potter? Try these.

I read a graphic novel!!!

2010-10-05T05:50:00.001-07:00

Finally.....I read a graphic novel. Last night I read In the Small by Michael Hague. I've really been liking the "dystopia genre".... and this book fit the bill.

On a beautiful September day a strange blue light swept over the earth. It went everywhere --- inside buildings, to the bottom of the ocean and inside subway tunnels. It only lasted a second -- then life returned to normal - almost. The only life form that changed were humans. Humans are now about 6 inches tall --- approximately the size of a pencil! Think of all the dangers that present themselves when you are that small. Pets - cats and dogs - think you are food, how would you navigate the stairs in an office building, how would you push the button for an elevator?

Somehow "Mouse" and "Beat" short for Beatrice become two of the leaders in the chaos that ensues. Read the book and see if you like it as much as I did.....I'm waiting for a sequel.

Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe

2010-10-04T12:39:00.001-07:00

The FBI has finally caught up with Maya's dad. He's pulled one scam too many ..... and is now in prison. Maya is in foster care, but has no intention of staying there.
Aunt Sarah lives in Idaho - at least that is what Maya thinks. The problem is .... she is in Nevada. How to get there? Maya and another girl in foster care run away. She have only the clothes on their backs and a few dollars in their pockets. Life on the streets is hard -- hitchhiking, shoplifting to try and get food, rats...... Read the story and see if they get to Idaho and find the elusive Aunt Sarah.

Huge by Sasha Paley

2010-10-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

April and Wil are roommates at "Fat Camp". That is about the only thing they have in common. April has saved and saved to afford the expensive tuition at Wellness Canyon. She desperately wants to lose weight. Wil, on the other hand, does not want to be at camp. Her thin, successful and beautiful parents are owners of Excalibur Sport and Health Club. When your parents are owners of a string of work-out facilities, the last thing in the world you should be is overweight. Well....guess what? Wil is. Wil is also determined to "show" her parents that she is in-charge. Wil is actually trying to gain weight!!

There are lots of clashes between the two girls.....yet as you read the story you will see that they have more in common than you think.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

2010-10-04T06:19:00.000-07:00

This book is best described as a psychological thriller! It was made into the 2010 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The setting is Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. The hospital is located on an island. It is 1954. Teddy and Chuck, U.S. Marshals, are summoned to the island to locate a missing patient. Rachel, the missing patient, has been convicted of a horrible crime --- killing her three small children.
The book has one plot twist after another. A hurricane throws havoc into the scene. Teddy discovers that unorthodox brain surgery is taking place on patients. He has been drugged through the food he has been eating and the cigarettes he has been smoking. His partner, Chuck, disappears.
What is real? What is not? I'm still wondering..........I finished this book over the weekend, yet it still sticks with me. Next I need to rent the movie and see what director, Martin Scorsese did with the screenplay.

Willow by Julia Hoban

2010-09-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

Willow is a cutter. She cuts herself to cope with the pain and guilt of .... as she puts it...."killing her parents." Willow was driving her parents home from a restaurant on a rainy night. She only had her temps and her parents had too much to drink. There was a horrible accident. It was just that, an accident. But in the blink of an eye everything changed.

Willow now lives with her brother, sister-in-law and her baby niece. How do they cope? How does Willow continue to live with the pain? Read the book and find out.

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

2010-09-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Furnace Penitentiary is a prison located miles underground. Only the worst offenders are sent there. Fourteen-year-old Alex is framed for murder and sent there for life!!!

The prison is ruled by gangs, the guards are sadistic, furless deformed dogs are unleashed to attack the inmates....but the worst is the "middle of the night" raids when the "wheezers" come. Wheezers are human-like creatures with a gas mask stitched onto their faces. Wheezers mark cells with a red "X". After that the "black suits" come to take you away.....forever. Are you a fan of horror? If so, you'll like this book.

Alex discovers there might be a way out. Will his plan work? Will he be able to escape the black suits? The sequel Solitary comes out December 21. Hopefully that will answer some of the questions.

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

2010-09-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Eagan is a 16 year old competitive figure skater from Milwaukee. Amelia is 14 and dying of congestive heart failure. After a freak accident where Eagan dies, Amelia receives her heart. Eagan had checked the small box on her new driver's license that listed her as an organ donor. Amelia has no idea whose heart she has received, yet she starts to take on some of Eagan's personality. The story is heart-breaking --- two girls, two families --- and one heart.

This World We Live In

2010-05-10T06:00:00.001-07:00

This is Susan Beth Pfeffer's third book about the meteor hitting the earth. Alex and Miranda, characters from the previous books, are brought together in this companion novel.

Earth has still not recovered. The struggle for enough food is a daily occurrence. Scavenging for essential supplies like toothpaste and toilet paper is constant. Everything is gray -- the result of volcanic ash in the air. It is a desperate time.

Miranda's dad, stepmother and new baby brother arrive. There are even more challenges as the families try to house and feed more people. The book closes with yet another disaster. I won't give it away.....but I wonder whether there will be another book? There almost has to be.....

The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive

2010-05-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

Do you like to read true stories about people? How about trying this new memoir......

Marvelyn Brown was 19 years old when she found out she had been infected with the HIV virus. She is a "straight", for the most part "non-promiscuous", young woman from Nashville, Tennessee. She was athletic, just graduated from high school, and had met the man she thought was "the love of her life." He is the one who passed on the HIV virus to her.

Marvelyn could have given up....and for a while she seriously thought about it. After an article about her appeared in The Tennessean, her life changed. She was offered a job working for Nashville CARES, an organization devoted to helping people living with HIV and AIDS. This was a stepping-stone to national coverage of her story. You have to read Marvelyn's inspirational story....and learn from it!

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

2010-05-06T11:34:00.001-07:00

This was the eagerly anticipated companion to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I just finished it.....and it left things totally unresolved:( Gabry is the main character. Her mother is Mary --- the main character that escapes in the first book. The action continues. The world is still populated by the "Unconsecrated" or as they are also know, "Mudo".

I will now have to wait until Spring 2011 for The Dark and Hollow Places. I don't think I can wait! Click here for Carrie's blog.

Lots and lots of new books!

2010-05-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Boxes and boxes of new books are appearing. Stop in and check something new out before the end of the year!

Breathless

2010-04-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

Can you believe we have three new books titled, Breathless? The one I read over break is by Jessica Warman. I found it interesting that the events in this story parallel her life. She first wrote it when she was just out of high school

The main character is a girl named Katie. She has just been sent to a fancy boarding school. While she doesn't mean to.....she implies that the reason she is there is because her brother died. Her brother, Will, is alive, but not well. He has schizophrenia. It has caused him to be extremely violent toward himself and others. The story looks at the effect of a serious illness on the entire family.

Katie is an expert swimmer. The only time she honestly feels like herself is when she is in the water. But.....even that changes. ............. Read the book!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

2010-04-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

I LOVED this new book by Carrie Ryan!!

Mary lives in a village in the middle of a forest, that is completely fenced in. Guardians patrol the perimeter of the fence line to make sure that the fences are in good repair. Outside the fences the moaning of the Unconsecrated fills the air. The Unconsecrated are described as wearing "tattered clothes, having sagging skin and fingers scraped raw from pulling at the metal fences. " They are "zombie-like" creatures.

The fenceline of Mary's village is breached. The villagers do all they can to try and escape the Unconsecrated. It is a horrific battle for survival. Mary along with several others escape down a path. What happens? Do they escape? Will Mary find the ocean that her mother insisted is "out there"? You've got to read this horror/romance!

Identical

2010-03-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ellen Hopkins writes many hard-hitting books. This one is no exception. Did it appall me? Yes...it did. To think that young women deal with abuse like Kaeleigh and Raeanne do, is just sad. Read the book -- thank goodness it is fiction!

Dark Angel

2010-03-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

This was a great book by David Klass! Jeff's brother Troy has been released early from prison. His parents are ectastic that Troy is home -- but Jeff feels as though his life is ruined. He doesn't want his friends to know about his brother, but inevitably the "secret" is out. His girlfriend breaks up with him. Life definitely changes.

Jeff can't accept Troy back into the family. When a popular, star athlete disappears.....a person who Troy had a skirmish with.....all fingers point to Troy. When the car he disappeared in is found - with traces of blood - Troy has to submit to DNA testing. Is he responsible? You'll have to read this thriller to find out!

Did you know you can review a book in Destiny? Look up this title in the catalog to see what I mean!

My two new favorite books!

2010-02-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

I finished two books over the weekend. Often I'll only read a small part of a book (don't tell) so that I can booktalk it. These two I had to finish!!

Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson. James is the 17 year-old main character. The book is full of his rants against consumerism. The title of his first persuasive essay for AP English is "Destroy All Cars." In typical James fashion he tells us that cars are the evil of the world. If we don't destroy them, they will destroy us. This book is funny!!! My husband loved the rants. In fact, one of his favorite phrases is one that James shares, "useless crap". Used as in......"I understand that it is the nature of Consumer Americans to constantly drive to different stories so they can buy endless amounts of useless crap."

My other favorite is If the Witness Lied by Caroline Cooney. Cooney is a favorite author from my middle school days. I really enjoyed this book. The intrigue at the beginning is what grabbed me. What could have happened to Jack's family that is worse than the "most horrible soap opera?" I know that Jack's parents died. Jack is 15 years old. He lives with an aunt and a 3 year-old brother. Both his sisters live with other families. Why? Why is a reality show interested in Jack's family. Read the book and find out!

Surf Mules

2010-01-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Not even the start of the Viking-Saints game could get me to put down this new book by G. Neri!

The setting of the book is California. Logan is a surfer, as are all his friends. He's graduated from high school and needs a way to make some money for college. He and his best buddy, Z-boy (no one calls him by his real name, Zane) get hooked up with a drug dealer. Broza needs someone to drive a car full of drugs from Southern California to Orlando, Florida. There is good money involved, but the two have to work together as a team. They don't even reach the state line before the trouble begins. Read the book --- it will DEFINITELY keep your interest!

The Chosen One

2010-01-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

Kyra has 20 brothers and sisters, 3 mothers and 1 father. Yikes.....What kind of family does she have? Kyra and her extended family are part of a polygamist cult.

Kyra lives in an isolated community in the desert. You have to read this book to really understand how the people, under the direction of "The Prophet" try to make this lifestyle work. It isn't until The Prophet decides that Kyra is to marry her 60-year-old uncle, her father's brother, that Kyra decides enough is enough. She ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT want to marry her uncle.....but in the society she lives in, that is what is expected.

Read the book - see what happens when Kyra tries to escape!!!!!

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have

2010-01-05T06:03:00.000-08:00

Intriguing title!!! Andy is starting his sophomore year. He is seriously overweight. The kind of overweight where he questions whether he will fit into a desk!! Despite his weight, he is a typical teenager. Over the summer at one of his mother's catering events (her profession does not help his weight problem!), he met a girl....a girl he really wants to impress. As the school year begins, April shows up in his AP History class -- she is a transfer student. Now Andy has to make good on all the things he told her!! He told her he was a jock, so..........he joins the football team!! Be aware -- all 307 lbs of Andy has never been on a football field.

The story is told from Andy's point of view. His voice and his humor are very believable. Read the book and see what happens when Andy becomes the starting center.

New Year New Books!!!

2010-01-05T06:01:00.001-08:00

Yeah -- it is my favorite time of the year. The first order of new books and materials is here. I did a ton of reading over vacation. Stay tuned for my reviews!

Blind Panic

2009-12-18T06:19:00.000-08:00

I had to stop reading sad stories, so I picked up this new book by Graham Masterton. The cover of the book says that Masterton is a "horror veteran". It sounded like just what I needed!!

The story begins on the lawn of the White House in Washington D.C. As the President is getting on a helicopter, he is suddenly struck blind. No reason - just suddenly blind. The same thing is happening all over the United States. Airplanes are crashing, cars have piled up on the freeway. Imagine the devastation. No one knows the reason for the sudden blindness.

Enter Misquamacus - a reincarnated, evil version of an Algonquin medicine man. This story blends Native American legends with the present day. Misquamacus wants revenge on Americans for the treatment of his ancestors years ago. Will he gets his revenge? Read the book and see!

If I Stay

2009-12-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder what goes on in the head of someone in a coma? In this heart-breaking new book by Gayle Forman, Mia must decide whether she will live or die? Yikes! Why would someone have to make that kind of decision? Mia's entire family -- mom, dad and brother were killed in a tragic car accident. Mia survived, but is in a coma.

You will have to read the book to see what happens to Mia. I guarantee it won't be without a few tears!

Beautiful

2009-12-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

This book has been described as a modern day Go Ask Alice. If you've read Alice you know what kind of book Beautiful is -- hard-hitting -- full of emotional problems, drug and alcohol abuse, family problems....the list goes on.

Reading how Cassie's life was a downward spiral made me sad, yet I couldn't stop reading. I can't understand how her parents or teachers didn't see what was happening or care enough to try and make it stop.

Read the book. See if it affects you the way it did me.......

Love You, Hate You, Miss You

2009-12-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

One of my new favorite authors, Elizabeth Scott, writes this brand-new book. Amy is just out of rehab for alcohol. She is trying to adjust to life again, life without her bff Julia. Julia has died in a car accident.

Amy's therapist suggests keeping a journal as a way of dealing with all the emotions that surround the accident. Why does Amy feel responsible? You will have to read this page-turner to figure it out!

After

2009-12-07T06:49:00.000-08:00

After by Amy Efaw was the first new book that I read! Devon is a star athlete and student, but she had a secret. Didn't she know she was pregnant? Was she in denial? Read this shocking story and see what happened to Devon. I couldn't put it down!

New Books

2009-12-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

It is my favorite time of the year. Yes, it is the holiday season...but it is also new book time. We've had boxes and boxes of new books arrive. Stop in and see what is here!

Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping

2009-12-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

Okay......I don't shop as much as I used to, but I still could NOT go one year without shopping. Judith Levine wrote this nonfiction book about her attempts to go "shopping-free" for one entire year! Can you imagine?

Judith and her friend were concerned about all the commercialism, materialism and waste in our world. After racing around during the holiday season, maxing out credit cards and searching for the perfect gifts....they decided to simplify.

Their shopping-free lives start on January 1. When the designer soap is gone, good, old Ivory is the replacement. They vow to buy only essentials. No processed or prepared food -- no fast food. No first-run movies at the theater. They now wait for the rentals -- free at the library! They consider their high-speed Internet access a luxury! Read the book -- see how their lives change!

Feathered

2009-11-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wished and wanted to go on spring break sans parents? (Without parents!) I always wanted to....and didn't until I was in college. In this novel by Laura Kasischke three friends - Terri, Anne and Michelle - are headed to Cancun. They are high school seniors from Illinois. All three are ready to have fun -- sand, sun, boys... you get the idea! BUT..........

Since you've been able to understand haven't your parents warned you about "stranger danger"? Haven't they always warned you about taking rides from strangers? Read the story and see what happens when Anne and Michelle decide to experience the Mayan ruins on their own.

Repossessed

2009-11-23T05:22:00.000-08:00

This novel by A. M. Jenkins is a Printz winner. Stop in the library and see the display of winners. The award is given specifically to a young adult novel of merit. Repossessed was recommended to me by a student, and it didn't disappoint!

Kiriel is a "fallen angel". What does that mean? He is sentenced to spend eternity in hell. His job is to torment the occupants of said place. But......he is bored with the job. He decides to take over the body of 17 year-old Shaun. Shaun has just stepped in front of a speeding truck and is on his way to heaven -- in no need of his physical body.

You have to read this book to see how Kiriel adapts to a body -- in hell he was only a presence. He wants to experience all the things that 17 year old guys experience. In one of the first scenes of the book Shaun's younger brother (who Shaun has never been nice to) catches Shaun in his bedroom "french-kissing" a shirt. Why a shirt? It's a sensation that Shaun has never experienced. Shaun, AKA Kiriel, has an ultimate plan to have the same experience with Lane Henneberger.

Eventually Kiriel is found out. His demon supervisors venture to earth to find him. Read the book to see what happens to Shaun.

Shift

2009-11-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

Shift is a first novel by English teacher Jennifer Bradbury. A good author will always do thorough research for a novel. Jennifer really did.....she and her husband took a 2 month bicycle trip! They traveled from Charleston, South Carolina to Los Angeles, California.

In the book, Chris and Win, best friends since 3rd grade, have just graduated from high school. It was Chris' big dream to take a cross-country bike trip. He and Win finally convince their parents they are old enough and responsible enough to do it. The morning after graduation they leave their homes in West Virginia. Their ultimate destination? The Pacific coastline of Seattle, Washington.

As they bike through the upper Midwest -- they spend the night in a jail cell in Hudson, WI -- you get to know both Chris and Win. They experience the desolate highways of North Dakota and then the beauty of Glacier National Park. It's a long 2 months. Chris and Win have their own up's and down's....along with numerous flat tires. After almost being attacked by a wild coyote, Chris has another flat. Win continues on --- not waiting for his friend. That is the last Chris ever sees of Win!

Chris makes it to Seattle -- alone. He takes a bus back home and starts college. One of the first days on campus the FBI shows up to talk to Chris. Read this mystery to find out what happens to both Chris and Win!

Endgame

2009-10-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Nancy Garden writes this very realistic book about what it is like to deal with extreme bullying.

The story starts with a flashback. Gray is staring out the window of a juvenile detention center. The glass in the tiny window has 6 sides. Gray imagines the 6 sides of his personality: son, brother, friend, archer and drummer (he excels at archery and is a great drummer). What is the sixth side of the hexagon that describes him? Murderer!

In 8th grade Gray was suspended twice for carrying a weapon. Now his family has moved so he can make a fresh start in high school. Once again, the bullies seem to find Gray. Teachers seem to dismiss the bullying and teasing at school with the explanation that "Boys will be boys." The bullying escalates to physical violence....especially the scene in the locker room. Gray's dad is not sympathetic. Gray feels his life is out of control. Read the book and see what he does! You won't forget it!

The Hot Zone

2009-10-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ebola virus -- just the name of the disease is enough to cause panic. This book really is not for the "faint of heart".

Ebola's effects on the human and animal body are gruesome --- flesh turning to liquid, bleeding.....you get the idea.

Read this book by Richard Preston about a real outbreak in Reston, Virginia.

The Book of Michael by Lesley Choyce

2009-10-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

How's this for a first line: "Some people still think I killed her. Despite the evidence. Despite everything." (Okay...it is more of a first paragraph.)

Michael was 16 years old when he was convicted of killing his girlfriend Lisa, a girl he very much loved. He spent 6 months in prison. One day the guard told him he could "go home". The person who really killed Lisa had confessed.

How do you go home? How do you go back to your life? Back to school? Back to your family?

You'll have to read the book and see how Michael manages to put his life back together.

Hole in my Life

2009-10-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Many of you probably read a Jack Gantos book in elementary or middle school. Is Joey Pigza a character you know? He is one of Gantos' creations. This book though, tells a real story. It is not one of those cheerful "this is how I became an author" stories.

Jack Gantos spent time in prison. Twenty-year-old Jack tells the story of how he found himself in New York City, fresh off a boat from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, about to be arrested for smuggling 2000 lbs of hash. As a young man Jack made some poor decisions....the poorest one being that he crewed a boat loaded with drugs.

Jack served 15 months in the federal prison in Ashland, Kentucky. He is honest about his prison experience and certainly doesn't gloss over things. Prison is also the place where he first became a writer and realized his desire was to continue his education.

Try an autobiography, you might like it!

Hey Horowitz Fans!!!

2009-10-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

The 4th book in the Gatekeepers is here. Stop in and check it out!!

Th1rteen R3asons Why

2009-10-12T05:28:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to read this book by Jay Asher ever since it was published in 2007. Reading it this weekend, I was left with an uneasy feeling.

Hannah has committed suicide. She has mailed cassette tapes with the 13 reasons she has ended her life to 13 people. The story is told from the viewpoint of Clay, a boy who really did like Hannah, but was afraid to let her know his feelings. He is one of the 13.

Clay spends a retched night listening to Hannah's voice, visiting the locations on the tape, and trying to understand.

Why did this book make me uneasy? It really makes you think about the consequences of your actions. Think about your daily interactions with friends and family. Words, or lack of words, do indeed hurt. Clay is hurting in this book.....Hannah was hurting, yet no one saw.......

Urban Legends

2009-10-02T05:42:00.000-07:00

Do you know what an urban legend is? Even if you don't, I bet you've heard one before.

Urban legends are modern-day folktales. Have you ever heard someone tell a story that they know happened to a "friend's boyfriend" or "my "brother's girlfriend" saw this happen to her aunt when they were on vacation. ...it is those kind of stories. I think everyone has heard the legend about alligators in the New York sewer system. Kids supposedly bought baby alligators as pets. As they grew too large to keep as pets they were flushed down the toilet. They continued to grow in the sewers until now -- they are monstrous. Is it true? No.

The library has several books containing urban legends. They are lol funny!! Read the story about the carpet layer. As it begins he has just finished laying a new carpet. When he goes outside to have a smoke he realizes that he lost his pack of cigarettes. Regretfully, he looks at the new carpet and there is a lump in the middle of the floor. It has to be the cigarettes. With no other options seemingly available, he takes a mallet and starts pounding to flatten the bump. Not more than a few minutes later the owner of the house says, "I found your cigarettes on the front porch. Now....could you help me find my baby hamster? He seems to have escaped from his cage!" Hmmm.........

Check out the urban legend books - some stories are funny, others are creepy!

Grief Girl; My True Story

2009-09-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Scanning the shelves I found this book. The inside cover intrigued me:

I am just like you.

I get bored in school.

I goof off with my friends.

I fight with my family.

I love my family.

I have big dreams.

I am just like anyone else.

And then, in a split second, I'm not.

This is my story.

What could happen in a split second to change 14-year-old Erin's world? Her parents were in a horrific car accident. Read the book -- go home and tell your parents that you love them -- it is Erin's true story.

Gadget Nation - A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention

2009-09-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

I saw this nonfiction book on the shelf and it caught my eye. I like quirky "stuff". If you do, you will lol at this book.

Don't you wish you would have thought of "bird diapers"? How about pet "fat"? Octodogs or lighted slippers? This book is full of odd inventions and the stories behind the inventions. How much money was spent on "mopflops? Did the inventor make any money? You'll have to browse the book and see!

Wake

2009-09-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Imagine you were able to "spy" on the dreams of other people -- classmates, your parents, teachers........ that is exactly what happens to Janie.

Since she had her first experience when she was 9 years old, Janie is able to fall into the dreams of others. Imagine you are working at a table in the library. At the table next to you someone falls asleep (now....if it were here at West I'd probably nudge you awake!) suddenly you enter their dream. That is exactly what happens to Janie. Unfortunately she also "blacks out" in the process. It looks like she is having a seizure.

In the past 8 years Janie has been drawn into some very bizarre dreams. But now, she is drawn into some pretty gruesome nightmares. Why is she dreaming about Cabel? Why is he dreaming about her? Read this book by Lisa McMann and the follow-up, Fade.

Deadly Little Secret

2009-09-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

When I first started reading this book I thought, "Oh no......it's starting to sound like Twilight." Remember the scene in Twilight where Edward saves Bella by blocking an out-of-control car in the student parking lot? Something similar happens in this book. Camelia, the main character, could have died 3 months ago in the school parking lot. Gloria went into diabetic shock while driving and her car headed straight for Camelia. Out of the blue, Ben, a very mysterious new student shows up. He pushed Camelia out of the way, saving her life. But....then he disappears. Camelia really wants to thank him, but can't find him. Meanwhile rumors start about Ben -- about how he killed his ex-girlfriend. Camelia starts receiving threatening letters and packages. Everyone puts two and two together -- Ben is the suspect. Did he or didn't he?

Anna: A Daughter's Life

2009-09-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

One of the things I'm enjoying about high school is I get to read more "adult" books. Last night I finished this memoir that William Loizeaux wrote about his first-born daughter, Anna. It was heartbreaking, but I was compelled to read it. Both William and his wife, Beth, were older parents....something I can relate to.

Anna was born with a variety of birth defects known as Vater Syndrome. In Anna's short 5 1/2 month life she endured many surgeries to fix her myriad of problems. William is trying to make sense of the death of his child. The book is written in a diary format to span the months of Anna's life. Touching, tender and sad. Read it.

The Compound

2009-09-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Eli's dad has always been a "freak" about nuclear war. Dad was convinced that war would come -- and he wanted his family to be prepared. When the inevitable happens and the steel door to the compound closes behind Eli, life as his family knew it, will never be the same. The door is programed to stay closed for 15 years -- the amount of time it should take our world to recover from a nuclear event.
Eli is 15 years old. He has been living in the underground compound for 6 years. Some things are not adding up. Dad gives him a CD to listen to. Eli peels the label off and finds the name of the band and the copyright date -- but the date is last year. How can that be when he and his family have been locked up for 6 years? Certain things don't seem right. As Eli starts to question his father, dad shows increasingly erratic behavior. Read the book and find out what happens to Eli and his family.
S. A. Bodeen (Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen) is a Wisconsin author. She grew up in Humbird, Wisconsin. You'll have to Google the location to see where it is -- I know I never heard of it:)

Before I Die

2009-09-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

What a sad title:( Tessa has terminal cancer. The cancer is so advanced that she has decided to forgo chemotherapy treatments. She is just a teenager. In the months that she has left she wants to pack her life with all the experiences that she will miss as an adult.

Some sound simple -- others like, find love, are not. Read the book by Jenny Downham and see what happens to Tessa.

Finally ... September 1 --the sequel is published!

2009-09-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for this sequel. Many of you read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Here is the next one....... We don't have it yet, but soon will!

Living Dead Girl

2009-08-31T13:32:00.000-07:00

The cover quote about this book is "Stark. Gripping. Totally unforgettable." There is no better way to describe this book by Elizabeth Scott. I couldn't put the book down and read it completely in a few hours.

"Alice" was kidnapped by Ray when she was 10 years old. She is now 15. The abuses she has suffered at Ray's hands are too horrible to imagine. Yet....she has survived. Ray now has a plan to find a new little girl. Will Alice help kidnap her? When will Alice's nightmare be over? Read the book and find out.

Lily Dale: Awakening

2009-08-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, this isn't a vampire book! (It seems like my summer reading was themed!) This book by Wendy Corsi Staub is about physic ability.

Calla's mom has just accidentally died. Calla and dad are devastated. To make matters worse Calla has to fly from her home in Florida to her grandmother's home -- a tiny town named Lily Dale in upstate New York. Her father had committed to a semester teaching in California.

Calla hasn't had a relationship with Odelia. Mom never encouraged visits. Now that she is sleeping in her mom's childhood bed, Calla knows why.

The community of Lily Dale is a spiritualist community. Look down the streets and you will see signs advertising all kinds of "services". Mediums are more than willing to look into your future, read your palm, or try to connect you with dead relatives. To make matters worse, Odelia is a medium. Calla doesn't know what she got herself into......but is curious enough to keep the information from her dad.

Things grow stranger and stranger until Calla wonders if she has inherited the family "gifts". You will have to read the book to see what circumstances lead Calla to this revelation. This is the first in a series...I have to get the next one!

Blue Bloods

2009-08-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

Do you like vampire books as much as I do? If so, you'll probably love Blue Bloods the first in a series by Melissa De la Cruz.

Schuyler Van Alen is one of the main characters. She attends a very private, very exclusive school in New York City. She is an outcast at the "academy" in part because she doesn't worry about fashion or how she looks, like Bliss and Mimi --- the "popular" girls.

As Schuyler turns fifteen things start to change. Her skin starts to turn translucent. The blue of her veins shows through in a paisley pattern. Schuyler is invited or rather summoned, to join the Committee. She learns that she is part of the long and noble tradition of the Four Hundred. The changes she is experiencing are all completely normal and part of the Cycle Of Expression.

Have I peaked your curiosity yet? If that isn't enough, Aggie, a classmate is mysteriously murdered. You will have to read the book and the sequels that follow. I couldn't put it down!

Dark Dude

2009-07-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

Oscar Hijuelos is a Pulitzer Prize winning author. This is his first book for young adults. Did you read The Outsiders in middle school? If you did, I bet you will like this book.

The main character is a light-skinned Cuban-American boy named Rico. His light skin is important because he is often mistaken for being white....in Rico's neighborhood that isn't a good thing. He lives in 1960's Harlem. It is a time filled with violence -- a shooting at school, a friend overdosing on drugs, and constant harassement. Rico is a smart boy and knows enough to know that he has to get out if he ever wants to make something of himself.

Somehow he convinces Jimmy (his overdosing friend) that they need to leave the streets of Harlem and move to Wisconsin. Yes....Wisconsin. Rico has a friend, Gilberto, who lives on a farm and attends Milton College. (Milton College is located near Madison. It operated as a college until 1982 when it had to close due to financial difficulties.)

Hitchhiking to Wisconsin makes for some funny plot lines. Life in Wisconsin of the 1960's has a much slower pace and near Madison the hippie life prevails. Gilberto puts them to work painting the farm and cleaning out the outhouse. Rico's parents don't know where he is...he didn't say goodbye or leave a forwarding address. So.........

Can you leave your problems behind and start over? Read the book see what happens to Rico.

Unwind

2009-07-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

This book by Neal Shusterman is riveting and chilling -- all at the same time. I couldn't put it down.
At the very beginning the "Bill of Life" is introduced.... The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. However, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent may choose to retroactively 'abort' a child... ...on condition that the child's life doesn't 'technically' end. The process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept alive is called 'unwinding.' Essentially, if you are unwound your body parts become available for transplantation.
Reading that in the prologue was enough to convince me to read this book. Connor is one of the main characters. He's been in some trouble and his parents are tired of dealing with him. They make arrangements for him to be unwound. He learns of their decision and decides to runaway and make it on his own. He meets Risa and Levi - both are scheduled to be unwound. The orphanage can no longer keep Risa - she has not proved to be valuable to society. Levi is being sacrificed by his religious parents.
Imagine this type of world.....Read the book and see what happens to the three main characters. If you liked The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins you will definitely like this one!

Moving West

2009-07-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

I only shared this with a few students -- but here it goes.......I am now an Oshkosh West Wildcat!!!!
Unfortunately, cuts in education have become more and more commonplace in Oshkosh and around the state. With all my years of experience in the district I am able to keep a job - but to stay in one building instead of 3, I decided to move up to the high school.
Those of you who knew me and Tipler and Traeger....I'll see you in the high school. I am excited to reconnect with former students. I'll miss all my 6th and 7th graders --- but, hey --- you'll be at West in a few years anyway. Keep in touch: beth.helm@oshkosh.k12.wi.us
And as always....come to me if you need a good book to read. More posts to follow on my summer reading:)

Everything is Fine

2009-06-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

Oh......this book made me really, really sad. Yet, at the same time it is a true portrayal of what a family goes through when someone dies. Mazzy's mom just can't get out of bed. She is severely depressed. I don't want to give away details of what happened to Olivia, Mazzy's sister, but obviously she has died. The family does not know how to go on.

bog child

2009-05-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

This book is tragic .... as is, or was the life of the author, Siobhan Dowd. She died of cancer in 2007. At the time of her death she had two unpublished books, this is one.

Ireland has had troubles for centuries. There is always conflict between Northern Ireland and Ireland. This book is set in the Ireland of the early 1980's. There are several parallel stories and it is interesting to see how the author brings them together.

Fergus' brother is in prison. He ends up going on a hunger strike with other jailed members of the IRA (Irish Republican Army). No one has lived much beyond 50 days. It is tearing the family apart - especially Mam.

But.....I'm sure you're asking...."What about the bog child?" As the story begins, Fergus and Uncle Tally are up in the mountains cutting peat. What is peat? It is decayed matter that you would find in a bog or marshy area. In Ireland it is cut and burned -- similar to firewood. The chemicals in peat also have amazing properties of preservation. As Fergus is cutting the peat he finds a human hand. Curled up in the bog they find the body of a human child. Archeologists are called in. It is determined that the body is of a young girl who lived in the year 80.

Mel, as the bog child is named, has her story told as well. She has been murdered. Why? Read the book! Find out how Fergus is blackmailed and how Cora fits into the story. As I said earlier, Dowd has written a touching story -- but keep all the plot lines together.

Groosham Grange

2009-05-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Anthony Horowitz has done it again! This fast-reading horror story reads almost like a short story. David Eliot is being sent to Groosham Grange. It is another boarding school, in a string of boarding schools that he has attended.

Gregor, the driver waits at the train station to take David to the school. "He was horribly deformed. If he had been involved in a dreadful car crash and then fallen into an industrial mangle, it could only have improved him." Needless to say, David is apprehensive as approaches the building. Upon arrival he meets Mr. Kilgraw. His first clue that something isn't quite right is when the headmaster makes him sign his name in blood in the school register. He says that it is a "tradition". Hmmmmm.....

Things only get more strange. David tries repeatable, without success, to escape Groosham Grange. Read the book and see what happens on his 13th birthday!

The Missing Girl

2009-05-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

Creepy........A man is watching the five Herbert sisters. He watches them as they walk to school, he watches them in the park....all the while he is trying to decide which sister he likes best. Read the book by Norma Fox Mazer. See what happens to the family when he finally makes his move and kidnaps Autumn.

Granny

2009-04-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

Aren't "grannies" supposed to be kind, bake your favorite cookies and buy you special treats? Well....meet Joe's granny. She is the ANTI-GRANNY!! In fact, she admits she hates Joe!!

Anthony Horowitz has concocted an unusual, eccentric story. Joe lives the life of wealth. Too bad his parents don't pay much attention to him. After his parents go on vacation ....again, granny makes sure she has Joe to herself. Her plan is to kidnap him and take him to the Golden Granny Awards. Once there, the evil grannies want to remove the enzymes from his body. Hopefully they will then be able to inject themselves with a magic formula that has been developed. Think fountain of youth! The device (extractor) they have built to do this sounds like a torture device from the middle ages. The plan almost succeeds.

Once you read this book I know you will appreciate your granny:)

The Last Invisible Boy

2009-04-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

Did you read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? If you did, you will probably like this book by Evan Kuhlman. The illustrations remind me of those that Jeff Kinney has in his books.

The main character is a 12 year-old boy named Finn Garrett. Finn feels he is becoming invisible....his once dark black hair is slowly turning white. Really! His skin is also a pasty white color. All these changes began in June on "The Terrible Day that Changed Everything". What could possibly happen that would be so traumatic and cause these changes? At first Finn says, "I lost my dad forever." I wasn't sure if his parents had divorced or dad had died. Sadly, his father has died, but he doesn't reveal what happened.

Read the book. See how Finn gradually turns whiter and whiter -- and becomes more and more invisible. Will he ever be normal again?

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

2009-04-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

This book by Mary E. Pearson is brand new. (I love new books!)

Jenna's parents adored her.....thus they would do anything to save her. Wouldn't your parents?

This book is a little futuristic. Jenna is 17 and is told she has been in a terrible car accident. The accident explains some of the amnesia, but not everything. Why is she so clumsy? Why is she shorter than she was before the accident? She knows things that she never knew before, but has no recollection of friends and her life in Boston. It doesn't make sense.

Jenna's dad is a scientist. What he has done with Jenna is illegial. Read this "medical thriller" and find out what it is!

Torn to Pieces

2009-04-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Wow.....I could not stop reading this new mystery book by Margot McDonnell. More to come later.

Beastly

2009-03-31T08:33:00.001-07:00

Did you know that author Alex Flinn is a woman? I guess using the more masculine "Alex" I thought it was a male author. Alex loves to read fairy tales to her daughters. She made them sit through numerous readings of Beauty and the Beast while she was writing Beastly.

In this modern retelling of the original Beauty, Kyle Kingsbury is the main character. He is "beautiful and handsome" on the outside, yet inside, where it really counts, he is mean, nasty and arrogant. He asks Kendra to an important school dance, only to stand her up. The last laugh is Kyle's though, when Kendra places a spell on him. She turns him into a beast -- hairy, sharp claws, the whole package. Now he is as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside.

Kendra does give him a chance to redeem himself and possibly turn into a normal human again. Read the book and find out how.

Dusssie

2009-03-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this book by Nancy Springer. It's always out and always popular during booktalks.

Puberty does crazy things to your body:) Dusssie wakes up one morning and finds she has snakes for hair!! If you're "up" on your Greek mythology you know that Medusa shares the same characteristic. Dusssie finds out that her mother - who always dresses in long, flowing caftans and turbans - is a Gorgon AND Medusa's younger sister!

Inadvertently Dusssie transforms a boy in her class to stone, a boy she secretly has a crush on! Obviously, she is just getting used to her new-found powers. Read the book and find out what Dusssie tries to do to remedy the situation.

Greek gods living in the 21st century is a popular genre!

Neptune's Children

2009-03-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

The prologue of this book by Bonnie Dobkin pulled me in right away.......

Terrorists have created a virus and planted it in locations around the world. A timing device is set. But...when the virus is released the unthinkable happens...it mutates! All adults die!

The story is set at the Isles of Wonder Theme Park. Families had been enjoying a warm summer day at the park when the tragedy struck. The survivors band together under the leadership of Josh and Milo. Did you ever watch the TV show, Survivor? Like the television show, alliances are made and broken. Disagreements break out and violence often threatens.

This is a good survival story. Read it and see which side you would choose to be on!

Knucklehead

2009-03-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Jon Scieszka is an author many are familiar with -- The Stinky Cheeseman and the Time Warp Trio books are popular even in middle school. His newest book, Knucklehead, is Jon's autobiography. I loved this silly book!!

Jon grew up in Flint, Michigan in the 1960's. He was the second of six brothers. Mom was a nurse -- a good thing in a house of rambunctious boys, and his dad was a school principal. I laughed and laughed at the goofy things he did during childhood. Because his mom was a nurse she demanded that the boys use the "proper" name for things. He devotes a chapter to "urinating", not the slang word that most kids use. The chapter on a family vacation was hilarious. Their family cat (a boy also) accompanied them. When it threw up after eating a candy bar that one of the boys dropped, it set off a chain reaction. You can only imagine how the car smelled.

Read the book....the stories are timeless:)

Pictures from the tea!

2009-03-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Tea with author Laura Schaefer. Yes.....we really served tea!

Laura shared a Powerpoint with students that explained the process she went through to have her book published.

You can visit her online at http://teashopgirl.blogspot.com/ Check out the blog for more pictures from our tea!