Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Borders Book Club featuring Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer has won an enormous following for her very well-written page turners about a high-school girl who unwittingly falls head over heels in love with a vampire. What is a girl to do when the boy whom she obsesses over happens to not be human? This third book in the dark romantic saga, coming August 7, finds Bella at a crossroads as graduation approaches.

Click below to view The Borders Book Club featuring Stephenie Meyer. This video is quite long, and features Stephenie speaking with several fans about Twilight, New Moon, and her upcoming novel Eclipse. Enjoy!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I would love to discuss this one with you. DO NOT READ the COMMENTS they will include SPOILERS!!!

Monday, July 23, 2007

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--Have you...

...finished it yet? I am about 1/3 of the way through it and realized I needed to do some homework for my class and came across this article which I thought some of you might enjoy. Jim Dale is the narrator for the Harry Potter Series on audio. I have listened to the first five on audio, Dale does a wonderful job with the voices of all the characters and I always wondered how audiobook narrators kept track of the different voices (I can barely keep track of two characters voices when I am reading picture books to my nieces and nephews!). The New York Times published this article last week: "The Voice of Harry Potter Can Keep a Secret".

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Suggestions and a Survey

I am taking a class this summer on YA lit called "Making the Match." Next week 7/26/07-8/2/07, I need to read two books that teens have suggested, so I need some suggestions! I would like to read something new (some of you know what I have already read--so give me some different ideas and remember I have to read 2 of them next week!). Please put your comments in the suggestions. Also, next week I need to survey at least 12 of you. If you are interested in that, please comment as well. I have your email addresses, so you don't need to leave them in the comments.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

More on Stephenie Meyer

Here is another article you might enjoy on Stephenie Meyer

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-07-12/news/charmed/


Happy reading!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Battle of the Books 2007-2008

It is official this is the list...it looks like a promising list.
  • Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos
  • The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fable by John Boyne
  • Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
  • Eagle Blue: A Team, A Tribe, and a High School Basketball Season in Arctic Alaska by Michael D'Orso
  • Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman
  • Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
  • Firestorm: The Caretaker Trilogy: Book 1 by David Klass
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling and Mary GrandPre'
  • Heat by Mike Lupica
  • Invisible by Pete Hautman
  • Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein
  • My Sister's Keeper: A Novel by Jodi Picoult
  • New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
  • The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
  • Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh
  • The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
  • The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield
  • Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I know a lot of you have already read some of these and if you haven't there looks like some really good ones here. If you haven't participated in Battle of the Books before you should start this year. The idea is for a team to read all of these book (that doesn't mean everyone has to read all the books, but that isn't a bad idea) and know them inside and out before February when the state competition is. The more you know about the books the better chances you will have of answering the questions. You may start reading these books right now and watch for more information here and at school when you come back in the fall.

What is you favorite Westerfeld?

What is your favorite book by Scott Westerfeld? Why?

I had always really liked Uglies, but after reading both of the books in the Peeps series I think I might have a three way tie. I really like Westerfeld's ideas about vampires. It is actually a disease. I liked the way he brought a lot of information about parasites into Peeps. In a weird way, Peeps seemed a little bit more believable to me (ok I know that might sound like a stretch).

I haven't read the Midnighters Series, yet and was hoping to this summer, but I decided to take a Online course this summer about young adult lit. You guys better watch out--I am reading a lot of great stuff and getting some good ideas! Speaking of which if you need something to read, I would highly recommend Sold by Patricia McCormick--it didn't make me cry but it was pretty close. Sold has short, poetic chapters that make you keep reading and wanting to know more. Sold tells the story of a young Nepali girl who is sold by her family (knowingly or unknowingly, I'm not sure) into the sex trade in India. I will definitely be looking at it for book club next year and if you are in forensics I think there is some great material there as well.

Happy reading!!