Teen Read Week-Library Olympics

Check out the photos from Teen Read Week. They will be updated daily after the lunch events. Don't forget to participate in the upcoming events...Audiobook Toss...Dewey Limbo...Book Club...Dress-Up Day...Closing Ceremonies!

2006 Teen Read Wk

I Am The Messenger -- Quotes

On topic...
For those of you who like quotes...this is one of my favorites from I Am The Messenger

Still, when she stands up, Angie Carusso thanks me. She asks my name, but I tell her it isn't important.
"No," she protests, "it is."
I relent. "It's Ed."
"Well, thanks, Ed," she says. "Thank you."
She thanks me a few times more, but the best words I hear all day come to me right when I think it's over. It's the girl, Casey. She twists herself onto Angie's hand and says, "Next week I'll give you a bite of mine, Mum."
In a way, I feel sad and empty, but I also feel that I've done what was intended. Just once, an ice cream for Angie Carusso.

This is such a great reminder to all of us that it is the little things. We don't need to make a big gesture to make a big impact. I think that if society just thought about what it was doing before it acted sometimes we would have a lot more of these moments. I hope that this book makes me or reminds me to think or change the way I might treat a person or do something that might not be that big of a deal to me, but might really affect that person. This theme is also apparent in the book/movie The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.

Library Thing

So I really love Library Thing. They have shirts and even thongs. I would just like to know if I can look at someone else's wishlist or another list to get ideas for good books. I suppose I could just pick random ones like normal but if anybody has read a really good one lately, let me know. Thanks!

Photos--Read It 1st

Read It 1st: How To Deal

Sep 21, 2006 - 5 Photos

Check out the photos from the 1st Read It 1st Movie Nights! Feel free to leave comments on the album or here. Also, know that the photos can not be found doing a search, so only people who know where to look (you of course) will be able to find them. Enjoy!!

Read It 1st--Someone Like You and That Summer by Sarah Dessen were combined to make the movie How to Deal starring Mandy Moore. As you can see from the photos we got comfy and watched the movie on the "big screen." Houa and Sara won the big black comfy chairs which they had the option of sharing with people of their choice or keeping to themself!

I had a great time and I hope to see everyone back on November 2nd for the discussion and viewing of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Stop by the library today to reserve your copy!

Twilight and New Moon--iMix

I made these and thought those of you who are interested may or may not want to check them out. You can listen to little clips of the songs without purchasing :) You will need iTunes to look/listen. Also, I noticed that New Moon is available on iTunes as an audiobook!

Twilight Playlist
New Moon Playlist

Stephenie Meyer

I finally got around to posting a few photos to tease you with. Unfortunately, the quality is not great. I had my complicated camera with me and when you hand it off to someone else to take a photo they may catch you mid-sentence, so I look pretty goofy, but Stephenie looks great.

New Moon-Sequel to Twilight

Okay, from the start, I'll let you know that this post won't be a spoiler.

BUT!!! All comments on this post are most definitely going to be spoilers.... so if you haven't read New Moon yet, don't look at the comments!!!! lol! ;]

I finished the book this morning!! I started it at 10:30 last night, the last time I looked at the clock was about 4:30, then I fell asleep. Lol! I was up again at ten finishing the book.

My reaction...

OMG!!!!!! It made me cry!!! I most definitely had tears in my eyes at more than one part!! Most of the book was painful to read about.... I was so worried about Bella!!! This was definitely a book for extreme emotions, although laughter was one of them. But still very powerful to read!!

So, yeah, about those spoilers in the comments.... If you've read the book already, leave a comment!!! I'll be back later to check!! :]

-Kaati

Sarah Dessen Wrap-Up

Join in the lunch discussion of Sarah Dessen's books on September 21 during all three lunches. At 6:30 p.m. on September 21 we will be showing How to Deal the movie which combines Someone Like You and That Sumemr. For more information stop by the library.

If you need copies of any of Dessen's books they are also available in the library.

Happy reading!

yay!! school!

back in school! and in my favorite place........ the library! yaaa!! stefi and i were just telling mrs. rech how the library is like being in a candy store at christmas time!! i loooove the library!! there are so many good looking books in here to read! i guess we got a bunch of new ones over the summer. right now i have checked out "Never Let Me Go" which was on the summer reads list... i haven't gotten to it yet. Also, "Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers" which is (i think) the fifth book of the Georgia Nicholson series. Good!!! And, "Lionboy" which just has an interesting cover and title!! And "-defining dulcie". It looks kinda short but i'm interested! And also.... I got SPECIALS!!!!!!!!! before stefi did!!! yea!! i have to read it really fast.
but then mrs. rech was being mean and wouldn't let me check out six books! how cruel!!! i mean, i'll have all the books back in before they're even due!!!! :]
wello, gots to go!!!!!
Love, Kaati!!
p.s. WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :]

I just found out how to work this!!!!!!

I think this summer has been way too long. i just found out how to work this place and now im supper psyched!!! some books we have to read this year are The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint and Once Upon a Marigold. they are both fiction and full of excitment and a few love stories and a little bit of revenge. they are both just really really good. well, write to you soon!!!

Just started Specials...

I just started reading Specials--finally!! I don' t really like Tally right now. For those of you who read it...Did you feel frustrated with Tally and Shay to begin with? Does it get better (I know I asked, but I don't want to know, really I just want to finish it and hope it gets better!)?

Just finished Goodnight, Nobody
Currently listening to Inkheart

Happy reading!!

Both Sides Of Time

I just finished reading Both Sides Of Time by Caroline B. Cooney. It was actually, sadly, the first book I've had a chance to read all summer! I couldn't put in down, though. It is the first book in a series of four. The description right off the back of the book says, "Imagine changing centuries- and making things worse, not better, on both sides of time. Imagine being involved in two love triangles in two different centuries. Imagine discovering that, no matter which direction you travel in time, you must abandon someone you love. Meet fifteen-year-old Annie Lockwood, a romantic living in the wrong century. When she travels back a hundred years and lands in 1895, a time when privileged young ladies wear magnificent gowns, attend elegant parties, and are courted by handsome gentlemen, Annie at lasts finds romance. But she is a trespasser in time. Will she choose to stay in the past? And if she does, will she be allowed to stay?" The beginning is a little hard to understand, but once you get past it, you will just want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. It's really unpredictable and told through different characters' perspectives. I would definitely recommend it.

Happy Last Day of July!!!!

Hello everyone :)

Yes today is the last day of July, it is kind of like the last day of summer for me, because once we get into August, I start back into school mode. So yeahhhhhh July, 31st!!!!!!

Sorry for being soooo absent on the blog, in fact I think this is my first entry. Well anyway, good work Kaati on kickin' it and getting some major reading done and posting your book conquests for others to take in. Sorry that I can't respond to any of your blog requests, but I will try to pick up the next book in the Great and Terrible Beauty Series and post some comments about it.

And thank you Miss Bee for the suggestions and the thought provoking questions. Hmmmm when I'm at home, my favorite place to read is my kitchen table, with cereal or a good snack handy. My second favorite place to read is my lazyboy recliner, but then I run the risk of my grandpa syndrome catching up with me and taking a good long snoozer.

I've been teaching ESL this summer to mostly Koreans, a couple of Latin Americans and one man from Africa at UW- Eau Claire, and we're reading Holes, so I've been working a lot with that book which is always a blast because I really like it. For fun, I read Ender's Shadow and I just started the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but our ESL group went to Chicago this last weekend and I forgot the book in the hotel room (oooooooooooooh nooooooooo!) So I will be going to Borders (there's no Barnes and Noble in Eau Claire) to pick up a copy to replace the one I lost from the library. Speaking of libraries, one of best perks of my summer job here is that the university library is just a hop skip and jump away from my room, so a good read is never far away :)

Well, when I finish the Sisterhood I'll definitely post something, and then I'll try out the new one from Great and Terrible Beauty series. Enjoy what is left of summer!

K-Dog.... er... er Atticuspicard.... er...Mr. Krueger;)

Literary vs. Classics

I receive emails from yahoo group called adbooks. They discuss young adult books, it is acutally pretty interesting when I have time to read it. This is their website http://www.adbooks.org/ if anyone is interested.

Anyways, this was in one of the emails...
"I think award winners are literary and classics are popular."--Jonathan Hunt (used by permission)

What do you think of this statement? What would you consider a classic by this definition? Literary?

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

I read this one at home last night. I really liked it!! Yet again, I found myself really liking Dessen's male characters. I kept thinking to myself, "Sa-woooon!!!" (It's from the book.)Actually, I loved all the characters in the book, except the mother, which I guess was supposed to be the point.
So anyways, a synopsis.
The main character, Macy, is facing a grand and boring summer. Her brainiac yet distant boyfriend is going off to "Brain Camp" and she's taking over his super fun job at the library! (truthfully, i would love to work at a library, but not the one in this book, with these girls....jeez!) She's got not one single friend to keep her busy outside of work, which only highlights the fact that she and her mother are having problems. And that she's still reeling from her father's death a year and a half before. Everything changes though, when Macy meets a catoring group, Wish. The five people working for Wish are so different from any Macy has ever met. She starts working with them and before long, her world is changing in a wonderful way...
I loved a lot of the material from this book. The crazy catorers (sounds like so much fun!), the high school age group, Wes's junk metal welded sculptures (I have a cousin who does the same thing), heck, even the thought of running was great in this book! I really want to discuss this book with someone. "Please God I'm begging you" read this book, "okay"???
-Kaati

Another cool reading tool...

I discovered this and thought you all might enjoy it as well. It is a free service that allows you to rate books that you have read by answering a few questions. It recommends books based on these ratings of everyone who has "coded" the book. So the more people that use it the better. Anyways, it looks interesting.

http://www.storycode.com/index.php

Upstate by K. Buckhanon

I went to the Barnes and Nobles in Evansville yesteday and I read this book. I didn't think it was worthy of my five hours at B&N! The book was interesting (it was interesting to see things through a prisoner's perspective) and it wasn't really boring, but it just wasn't exciting enough for me! I guess I just didn't like that it was written in a letter style. I mean, it doesn't really seem as exciting as first person because by the time the person gets to writing a letter, all the real feelings are gone, all the adrenaline and things like that. I don't know! I may need to discuss this with someone....
-Kaati

i made it to the library

I made it to the library in Madisonville on Tuesday!!! YES!!!!

The library in Madisonville doesn't have it's own Young Adults section! Therefore, Kaati couldn't easily find her booklist books... NO!!!

So, I had to resort to just browsing the stacks. I came away with Unspeakable, The Witness, and The Switch all by Sandra Brown, Obsessed by Ted Decker, and my "comfort book" Polgara the Sorceress by David Eddings.

I started with Unspeakable. It must've been good cuz I stayed up until 6 in the morning reading it! I would describe it as a romantic/murder mystery (my favorite genre!). A widowed young mother, Anna Corbett, is trying to keep the family farm away from industrial developers. Jack, a mysterious drifter, shows up at the farm and volunteers himself for the job of a much-needed farmhand. And Carl Herbold, a murderer who just escaped from prison, is headed towards the Corbett farm to have his revenge against Anna's father-in-law. The twist is, Anna was born deaf and is rather unsafe alone in her own house. Jack (a supposed stranger) takes it upon himself to be Anna's protecter. I really liked that this book dealt with a deaf woman. It was educational! It showed me that deaf people process their thoughts differently than hearing people. It wasn't a quick read, but it held my attention the entire night!!

Ten o'clock on Wednesday night and I started The Witness. Again, I did not go to bed until after the sunrise (it's summer, I can keep bad hours if I want!). This was another romantic/murder mystery, like all the Sandra Brown books I read. This one's really hard to explain... Kendall is on the run with her three month old baby and her "husband"(who conviently got amnesia during a car crash in the beginning of the book). You immediately know that she's not married to the man, but you have no clue who he is. Further into the story, you're introduced to the horrific part of human society; a "Brotherhood" much worse than the Klu Klux Klan. This book had so many questions and twists that I just couldn't put it down!!

I also started The Switch last night, but I'm not far enough into it to describe any of it. I hope it's good! The other book I got, Obsessed, is not one that I'll be reading in the middle of the night... the inside cover made it seem really scary... Stephan Friedman is an ordinary man. Until he inheirits a "clue" and an incredible fortune from the grave of a Holocaust survivor. "... a clue that only he and one other man can possibly understand. That man is Roth Braun, a serial killer who has been waiting for Stephan for thirty years. Roth was stopped once before. This time nothing will get in his way." And of course, I probably won't read Polgara straight through... as my "comfort book", I just read through all my favorite parts.... :-)

My mom and I have made plans to spend tomorrow or Sunday at the Barnes and Noble in Evansville, so hopefully I'll be able to get another discussion book to read!!

Well, I best be going!!
Later,
Kaati

Favorite place to read

Where is your favorite place to read this summer? Why?

I'll post mine after some of you share first. If you have a photo feel free to share that too!

Happy reading!

Library Thing

Something cool I discovered this spring. It is a website where you can catalog your own library or keep track of what you have read. I am having fun adding the books I have read over the last couple of years (since about 2002 when I started keeping track consistently of what I had read). If you want a peak at my collectiong her is my link:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/SheReads

Some people use it only for the books they own, while I use it for everything I've read.

Happy reading!!

Keeping the Moon

I finished Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen last week. I loved it! Kaati I think you would love this one as well. Especially since you liked This Lullaby and are living somewhere else for the summer.

Colie (short for Nicole, I think this a really creative nickname for Nicole) used to be overweight along with her mom who started doing aerobics and is not a Richard Simmons type selling work out videos and being healthy. Colie lost a lot of weight, but still feels like an outsider. She is spending the summer with her aunt who is overweight and a little on the wierd side while her mother tours Europe to promote a new video or book or something. I loved Colie's voice and perspective on life.

Has anyone else read this one? I read it while on a short vacation to Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It was so good I couldn't put it down and my husband didn't understand why I wanted to finish it while sitting at our campsite enjoying a fire (he thought I should be talking to him).

has anyone read...

has anyone read anything by Janet Evanovich!?!?! O.M.G. her Stephanie Plum books are hilarious!!!!!!! I love them so much and would like to talk w/ someone about them!!! (but I haven't read Twelve Sharp yet, so if you have, don't bring that up!).

i'm just really in need of some social chat and/or a library.........

Til later!
-Kaati

other books i'd have no problem discussing... Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, A Great and Terrible Beauty/Rebel Angels by Libba Bray, and anything by David and Leigh Eddings.

:-)

i haven't read much!!

well, i've been in kentucky since the 28th, but i haven't made it to the great madisonville library yet.... i did manage to go to the onalaska library sometime in june. they didn't have any of our reading list books!! i was shocked!! they truly do have a small selection! on a better note, i did get to go to a barnes and noble in evansville, id (the BEST b&n i've ever been in.... two stories, a seperate music shop, a starbucks, escalators, lots and lots of comfy chairs.... i was in heaven!!! lol). there i got This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I read This Lullaby the other night and I really like it!! I'm positive it's the first book I've ever read about that specific age group (just graduated high school-20). And of course, I just love "love" stories, but the fact that the main girl Remy pretended she didn't believe in love at all made it better... she was so stubborn about her beliefs. And the deal with her mother and marriage, yet her mother still had a positive attitude towards love. I just really wanted to hit Remy and knock some sense into her by the end of the book!! Of course, the main male character, Dexter, had my heart the entire book! He was perfect (in my mind!). If anyone else had read this book yet, let me know!!

I started Pride and Prejudice yesterday. I'm only on chapter 5, so I think I'll go sit out in the gorgeous weather! I'll probably be done with this book before I check the blog again, so if you wanna talk about this one too, it's fine by me!!! :-)

Adios! Kaati

What I've Been Reading So Far This Summer

Although I haven't had too much time to read yet this summer (except for re-reading the Belgariad), I have had the chance to read a pretty darn good book. It doesn't have an name, per se, but the thing on the front cover is the prescription sign (the one that looks like and RX, only connected together) and I don't know how to do that on the computer, so I'll just assume that you all know what I mean. Anyways, it was a good book, definitely made you think, since it's about prescription drug addiction and dealing, specifically in high school. Maybe I'm just really naive, but some parts of it weren't too believable to me (mainly just the amount of conversations the main character, Thyme, overhears dealing with teenagers taking prescription drugs). I definitely recommend it, though, especially since then I'll be able to talk to someone about the book more specifically! Well, just thought I'd post a little something about that, since it was a pretty darn good book (even if the ending was a little ambiguous, which usually drives me insane), and I said I'd blog, so here's me attempting to do so. Well, I'll talk to you guys later!!

*~Kari~*

Perks of Being a Wallflower--Discussion

Check out the photos from 2nd lunch's discussion.

Sara Dessen Summer

It's that time of year! Summer is almost here. This summer we are discussing ANY and ALL of Sarah Dessen's young adult novels, Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, This Lullaby, Dreamland, Keeping the Moon, Someone Like You and That Summer.

Also share with us what else you are reading--the good, the bad and the ugly. Summer is a time when you can get caught up on all those books you haven't had time to read because you've had too much homework!

Happy reading!!

Mixed Tapes in Perks of Being a Wallflower

I haven't heard anything about The Perks of Being a Wallflower. What do you think? Are you glad you are reading it?

I am about one-third of the way through it. I haven't heard about mixed tapes in forever. Do you still make mixed tapes/CDs? If so, what does it feel like to receive a mixed tape/CD from friends? Do you recognize the songs that are on the tapes Charlie and the other characters make for each other? What do these songs make you think of?

In high school (1996, yes I am that old), a friend of mine and I put together a mixed tape as a graduation present for our friends. She and I had fun putting it together and I know of a few friends (those that still have cassette players) that still listen to them even now ten years later. I think I feel a sense of nostolgia when I listen to the songs that were on that tape (I have most of them on CD and now on my iPod). It makes me think of a time when things were very different then they are now. It makes me think of moments that happened while listening to the songs.

Happy reading...

Wow

I just finished Jump Ball: a basketball season in poems by Mel Glenn. It's just... so sad. It's about this basketball team, told from a lot of different perspectives through poems. Some of the players see basketball as their entire lives, while others see it as a game in high school. The manager of the team has a crush on a player from the Ukraine, and it's cool to see how that relationship unfolds.
It's a very good book. I'm definitely recommending it to friends.

I finished Rewind by Jan Page last night. It's about a boy who starts a band, and on the night of his first gig he dies. Then his spirit goes back in time, and he sees his parents and their band. He hadn't gotten along with his dad during his life, so it's a different thing for him to see him as a teenager. He also tries to stop the death of his parents' best friend.
It's very very very good. Just the whole what is time thing that goes on.

I'm going to start Friday Night Lights. I don't know if I'll finish it, because it's so long. I may end up just watching the movie. :)
But I plan on catching up on some reading this weekend. Soccer practice takes up so much of my time these days!

Next Book--Uglies

In March we will be discussing Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. I thought it was so interesting and thought provoking. I can't wait to hear what you will have to say!

Welcome!!

Welcome to our new bloggers!

I am excited to get some fresh voices and posts. I look foward to reading and participating in your discussions on any all topics that have to do with books and reading.

Just Finished...Currently Reading...Looking Forward

I just finished...
Stained by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, In Weaver Falls, New Hampshire, in 1975, seventeen-year-old Jocelyn looks for answers when her lifelong neighbor and friend, Gabe, turns up missing and she learns that, while her boyfriend has been telling everything to a priest, Gabe has been keeping terrible secrets. I enjoyed this one alot and it was a really quick read. I would highly recommend it.

Light Years by Tammar Stein, Maya Laor leaves her home in Israel to study astronomy at the University of Virginia after the tragic death of her boyfriend in a suicide bombing. I thought this novel was very good. I really felt Maya's fear and my hear went out to her. This was Stein's first novel and I look forward to reading what she writes in the future.

Currently Reading...
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers (Audio), Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry, just out of his Harlem high school, enlists in the Army in the summer of 1967 and spends a devastating year on active duty in Vietnam. I have been meaning to read this one since I was in 6th grade and all the cool boys were reading it and liking it. It really makes you think about war and how it really is. I would be curious as to whether or not Myers faught in Vietnam or who he based his characters on if anyone.

Sexy by Joyce Carol Oates, Sixteen-year-old Darren Flynn, a popular, good-looking high school athlete who lacks self-confidence, learns that his jock friends are hatching a revenge act against their English teacher for failing a member of the swim team. I just started this one and don't have an opinion about it yet. The chapters are really short which to me makes the novel a little chopped up.

Looking Forward To...
Night by Elie Wiesel, This month's Oprah Book Club pick. A true account of the author's experiences as a Jewish boy with his family in a Nazi concentration camp.

What have you all been reading lately?

Just Finished, Currently reading...

I just finished... um. Taming a Liger. Napoleon Dynamite devotional book... it was interesting.

Currently reading Same God, Different Churches. It's interesting to read about why there are different denominations, what each is like. Also reading poetry by various poets. Elias McConnell is pretty good (he was Eli in Elephant, if anyone has seen that movie, with the school shooting...)

I probably won't pick up another book for a little while. I'm swamped with homework, and getting ready for solo ensemble. And last minute college applications... Sorry I couldn't stop by the high school when I was in wisconsin!!

Just finished...Currently Reading...Looking Forward To...

I just finished...
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen [audiobook], I thought this was thought provoking and entertaining. I enjoyed it more than I enjoyed This Lullaby. The main character's, Macey, dad died and now she feels like she has to be perfect for her mom, but that changes when she begins work for Wish, a catering company. Wish and its other employees are a little bit chaotic and like nothing Macey has experienced in a while. I encouarge you to read it if you haven't.

Currenly Reading...
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, I had heard this was a dark read, which it is, but I am finding a lot of hope in this novel. It is fulfilling my goal of reading at least one non-fiction book per term.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo [audiobook], I haven't really read much historical fiction lately and it is good to revisit it once and a while. This book takes place in Europe during World War I or The Great War. Tommo, the narrator of the novel, is fifteen and a soldier for the British military fighting in Belgium (at least that is where he is now). I am finding it interesting, as I usually do when I read historical fiction.

Looking Forward To...
Eldest by Christopher Paolini, The sequel to Eragon has my name on it over break!
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, I have read it once, but I must re-read it so I'm prepared for book club next month.

What have you all been reading lately?

Contest 4 U

Hey!

I thought some of you writers would be interested in this contest...

http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/youngwarriors/

Happy reading and writing!

Feed

The discussion of M.T. Anderson's Feed occured yesterday. I was happy to see everyone who attended and participated in the discussion.

Feel free to continue the discussion here...

Violet lists all the things she wants to do before she dies. Do you share any items on the list? What can we learn about her from her list? And what could someone learn about you from your list? (From Candlewick Press' Reader's Guide to Feed)

...I'll post my comments after I hear some discussion from you.

Happy Reading!!

Whee! Library Card!!!

I finally got a library card. I'm happy. I checked out 10 books.
I got Black by Ted Dekker on audiobook,
Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
Names Will Never Hurt Me by Jaime Adoff
Faerie Wars and The Purple Emperor by Herbie Brennan
Jude by Kate Morgenroth
Dark Blue by Melody Carlson
Pride and Prejidice and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

and ofcourse, Feed by M.T. Anderson. I've finished Names Will Never Hurt Me, and got into Full Tilt before thinking that I should read Feed. But you guys know how fast I can go through books.

Please say hi to Ben Lang, and Rachel H and everyone for me. I miss you guys so much. Hopefully the library card will give me some consolation... lol. I'm hoping to visit the school when I come home for Christmas break (i get out earlier... haha!). I might just creep up on you, so watch out!

I have to finish my homework now.

Life

Hey everyone! I'm sorry that I haven't been involved. My new school's library isn't too great. I'm hoping to get a card for the town library soon.
Life's been going good, for the most part. Adjusting to a really small town. And looking at possible majors and careers.
Hey, Bee, I've got a question for you. Do you like working at the LMTC? I've been looking at getting a degree in library media, and then maybe a major in sports management. Then i could be a... Libraristican. A librarian/statistician. hehehe.
I hope to be back home either next week, or before christmas. And I'll try to get my senior pictures to you guys, too. once i get them taken.....
peace out!

<3 laura

Finished Feed

Has anyone else finished Feed? What are your first impressions? Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?

November Discussion--Feed by M. T. Anderson

We've moved on to a new book...Feed by M.T. Anderson.
In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

Those of you who have read, start posting I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, comments and concerns. I know it has been and interesting read for me and now I have started listening to it as well.

Hi everybody!

I know it has been literally forever since you all heard from me. But I am doing just fine. After an entire summer of basically being homeless, I now have a place to live permanently. I am back at the school that I left and I am settling back into my old routine.

Marching band, of course, is running my life at this moment. Between that and working two or three nights a week, I have no real spare time to pick up a book and just relax. I will definitely try to go along with the books that you all are reading and I will attempt the participate in the online discussion. I miss all of you terribly.

If you'd like to, my AIM screen name is: secretdesires513 and my email adress is: wickedwiccan1988@yahoo.com


:-) Don't be strangers!

Stiff

Hello All!
I really enjoyed the discussion on So Yesterday, during lunch last week. The next book we will be discussing is Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers it is really quite interesting and if that topic has a little humor the author definately finds it and uses it to intise the reader. I encourage you to try it and finish it.

Happy Reading!!

Discussion So Yesterday

We will be meeting in person on September 22, 2005 to discuss So Yesterday, during all three lunches. Bring your lunch and I'll bring dessert.

Feel free to make comments here before then or ask your own questions. Thanks for participating and I look forward to discussing So Yesterday with you!!

Happy reading!!

b

Perfect Shoe

What would your perfect shoe be? I am really curious what people think of as the perfect shoe.

For me I would first say it must be comfortable. I think the perfect shoe should also be stylish. I don't think there are any shoes out there that are both comfortable and look good. For example, I went to a few weddings and none of the shoes I found to go with the skirts or dress pants were comfortable. But if I put on my black tie shoes that are comfortable, Stacy and Clinton (from What Not to Wear) would probably make fun of them and make me toss them (if I was on the show). I am all about comfort, but really would like to be stylish at the same time. Is that possible.

Happy reading!!

Speak- the movie

if anyone remembers the book Speak, i don't remember who it was by, the movie will be on Lifetime channel tomorrow at 9 PM... or 8 PM central time i think.

just saw the commercial for it and thought you guys would like to know.

and yeah. I moved to ohio. But i'll still do the book club, so it's good. yay! gotta get going. buh bye!!

Welcome Back!!

I hope you had a great summer! We have a lot of new titles in the LMTC, so stop by and check things out. We look forward to seeing you.

Good News!!--So Yesterday

Laura I completely agree with you about reading books more than once. I am in an adult book club and I read the book this month and now I am listening to it on audio and there are things that I am picking up on that I had not picked up on before.

Mrs. Foster and I decided to extend the discussion of So Yesterday into September and discuss it in person over lunch. So keep your eyes open for the time and date once you get back to school or here on the blog.

Happy Reading!!

As you know, I love this book. I've read it probably three times. It's one of those books where you can read it once, and understand. But a couple more times, you see little things that you didn't see before... atleast it was for me.

yeah, I know most of it's the truth. People take surveys, they try out products, they view commercials and tv pilots in advance. I've done all of that, I know. And they get paid in all different ways.

the whole jammer types, i don't know. In that, I think i'm either an Innovater, or the one below that. Or i would be if i had money.

But i love the book. It makes you wonder- what does the perfect tennis shoe look like?

Reading So Yesterday??

Hello All!
Well I am back at work at HHS (yes already). How is everyone liking So Yesterday? The first thing I thought...Is this at all close to the truth? What do you think? Do you think there are people out there that are looking for the next "it" thing and are getting paid by a certain shoe company that tells you to "Just Do It"? It is kind of creepy, but I would love to know what you think...

I hope you had a great summer and I look forward to seeing you all at book club in September. I have a couple ideas for books but will definately take some more for September or the upcoming months.

Happy reading!!
b

Double Helix

So, has anyone picked-up Double Helix?

I will pose a question that hopefully will get you all thinking...

What are your thoughts on genetic alteration? Is it helpful to our society? Should it be allowed on plants? Animals? Humans? Why or why not?

Happy reading!!
b

gone

i was thinking about reading the book for this month, but the public libraries don't like me. I have an overdue book... it was due in October... of 2003.

BUT I am reading. I've reread Born Confused, and I'm going to make another attempt at Jane Eyre. I'm going to florida on friday with a bunch of kids from my youth group... DRIVING. it'll be a 25 hour trip, so i'll probably get through Jane Eyre.

what is everyone else reading? Chels, Kailei?

June--Chanda's Secrets

Hello All!!
It's summer and that means fun reading! I am jealous of all of you being off of school. Anyways this month we will be reading and discussing Chanda's Secrets by Allan Stratton, Chanda Kabelo, a sixteen-year-old in a small South African town, faces down shame and stigma in her efforts to help friends and family members who are dying of AIDs. I encourage you to go the public library to check it out.

I enjoyed it and look forward to hearing what you think. A book guide will be posted in the next couple of days.

I also know that there were more people interested in the online book club that didn't get there applications in, so if you know of friends that still want to get involved please tell them to drop me an email recbec@mail.holmen.k12.wi. us.

Happy reading!!

P.S. I am listening to Bras and Broomsticks which I think some of you would enjoy. Rachel, a 14-year-old girl finds out her mother and sister are witches, but she is not. Right now Rachel is trying to figure out how she can get her sister to use her magic to help Rachel and get rid of their future step-mother. The author's style kind of reminds me of Meg Cabot.

New Members

I would like to welcome two new members to our blog!! I encourage you to introduce yourself and start posting.

Contest--Win Free Books

Follow this link to a contest to win free books. Check it out!! I know you all would enjoy some of the ones they are giving away! (The title is linked)

New Feature

Hello All!!
There is a new feature, you may comment directly to someone's original post. If you notice in the lower right corner of the post there is a link with a number followed by "comments", you may click on the link and then comment on this specific post. I think this might make some of the posts a little less confusing and a little more organized. FYI--I posted comments on a couple of posts so check those out. If you are starting a completely new topic do it the same way as before.

Happy reading!!

b

Sorry I didn't make it today. I was OVERSWAMPED with Newspaper stuff. Plus, I only read like half the book. I just couldn't get into it. :-(

Oops...kinda forgot this site existed for a while. :-) lol. I plan on reading The Wish List tomorrow since we have a half-day! Yea for half-days! :-D

http://www.livejournal.com/users/writergirl1988/

That's my writing site. I post my poems and snippets of stories there. Be warned, if you happen to go there, I don't hold back in my writing. Some of it is a little graphic, but those are always under cuts. You don't have to read them. :-) Any feedback on any of the poems I've written there are welcomed and appreciated.

On an actual book note, I just finished an absolutely dreadful book. I really didn't like the author...she just seemed to drag the story out. I didn't really enjoy the book. It was called "The Sinner" by Madeline Hunter. I don't know. She just doesn't do it for me.

What have people been reading? Anyone finish The Wish List, wht did you think? I would love to hear some feedback.

Just finished...
Dinner for Two by Mike Gayle
I enjoyed this book. It kind of reminded me of The Bridget Jones Diary but told from a male perspective and it was a lot cleaner (no swearing, etc.) Dave Harding is a music jounalist who really wants to be a dad. He ends up losing his job and starts working for a teen magazine as "Love Doctor Dave". Through this job he realizes he has a teenage daughter. The HHS LMTC does not own this book, but the La Crosse Public Library does.

Reading Currently...
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
It is a little bit slow going, but the author is creating this great tension between the father and the rest of the characters. The author is very descriptive. So much so that I can see the pictures very vividly in my head. The story is about a wealthy family in Nigeria. The tension in the book is definitely keeping me in the story.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (audio)
I just started this one last night and am only through chapter one, so I have no idea where it is going or whether or not I am going to like it.

Just finished...
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
I got to see Jodi speak last month in Edina, MN. She was very entertaining and interesting. One of the things that stuck with me the most was when she spoke about writer's block. She said that a writer should never have a block, they should always write something because even if it is garbage you can still revise garbage, but you can't revise nothing. Vanishing Acts was definately a page turner. I kept wondering what would happen next. The first chapter starts with you meeting the main character, Delia, and getting introduced to her family and friends. It ends with Delia's father getting arrested for Delia's kidnapping when she was 4 or 5 more than 20 years after the event. Jodi read this chapter to us when she spoke, oh it was so good!! I highly recommend this book, however, it wasn't my very favorite book by Jodi that place is still held by My Sister's Keeper

Maybe next...
Fat Boy Swim
The Kite Runner
The Sea of Trolls
Becoming Naomi Leon

I like it. :-) The new design is nifty and cool. I like it.

I'm reading a whole lot of nothing lately. Nothing. :-( That's sad. I want to go read The Wish List, but I can't. I guess I'm just not in the mood. Oh well. I don't really know.

On second thought, I am reading a book. Almost a Bride by Jane Feather. It's a romance novel. Started it like two weeks ago. Haven't finished yet. But yeah, I'm in the middle of it. Maybe I might go read that...

:-) What about the rest of you?

So what do you think of the new look. Hopefully it will function better then the old one. What are you reading these days.

We selected our new book--The Wish List by Eoin Colfer (the same author of the Artmis Fowl series).

More later on that and other stuff!!

Happy reading!!

Coolness. I might look into those books.

Yep, I'm from MD. Nice place. Can't wait to go back. :-) However, I think I'm gonna miss it here. It's a nice place.

:-) What books are you all reading lately?

:-) Who does the series?

I'll probably go to prom back home in Maryland next year and the year after. I'm only a sophomore so it's not like I would be going this year unless somebody asked me. Which is very unlikely. lol.

Are you going to prom with anybody?

Missing Persons series? Hmmm...never heard of it. Was it good?

I'm not going to prom. I wouldn't go to save my life. But that's just me...lol. :-)

At the risk of triple posting...

I finished The Brimestone Journals. I didn't like it that much. I don't know. It just didn't seem like it wrapped it up very well. Too neat, but also...it left some ends loose. Doesn't that sound weird?

Had anyone else finished it? Or started it? (the discussion is next week)

Didn't happen. Oh well. I tried though. I promise, I did. I just...couldn't. It's so boring! I'm gonna go to bed now. It's almost 1am...actually, it is right now! lol.

I hope your spring break is going well!

Happy Easter (if you celebrate that sort of thing)!

Well, I'm kind of hormone crazy so the sex thing in romance books doesn't really bother me. I absolutely LOVE Victoria Alexander, Mary Balogh, Jane Feather (although Chase the Dawn was the worst book I've ever read), and Lisa Kleypas. Those authors are just made to write romance novels.

Anyway, I just finished Keeping You a Secret. GOOD BOOK. I also completed the New Rules of High School. That one was okay. Not too bad. I'm wrapping up Empress of the World and I'm pretty sure it's the best book I've read in a while. It's by Sara Ryan so go check it out! :-)

I'm going to reread The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons. I'm kind of in that sort of mood. I don't know. I'll also be attempting to read Pride and Prejudice again. ::crosses fingers:: Wish me luck!

Wow. I couldn't think of ANYTHING that might be a school appropriate book for you to read. I'm a mushy-gushy romance fan so that's what I read a lot. If you like those kinds of books, let me know and I'll tell you my favorites. Gosh, I love romance books. :-) I'm most certainly a romantic. ::sighs:: lol.

Chels, did you ever read Truth or Dairy? I know HHS has it. It's by Catherine Clark. I loved it. It was funny. You'd like it.
Sorry i missed your IM the other day, too. My sister was on. Sorry.

I'm excited for the next book too. It looks good. I like poetry novels. Have any of you read One of Those Hideous Books Where The mom dies or something like that. the title gives away the beginning. And I like God Went To Beauty School, and Things My Mother Doesn't Know.

Yeah. so. later days.

Ohhh!!! I have suggestion! Have either of you read any books by Jodi Piccoult? The two I have read are Plain Truth and My Sister's Keeper. Plain Truth is about a teenage Amish girl who is accused of murdering her newborn baby, but she denies even being pregnant. My Sister's Keeper is about a 13-year-old-girl whose parents conceived her to be an umbilical cord fluid donator for her sister who has a rare form of Lukemia. The girl is now sueing her parents for medical emancipation. Ohhh it is so good!!! I haven't read anything else by this author, however, I think The Pact looks really good.

Just as an FYI we read Plain Truth for book club a few months ago and there is a link on the left for a better description.

By the way it is also good to see you guys posting!

Happy Reading!!

Hey Chels! Do you have break this week too? We are done with school for the next four school days. :)

Alright, well, I'm gonna find something that I know you'll like. Just give me the day and I'll find SOMETHING. I've read a lot of books and you've kind of put me up to a challenge. I'm gonna find some books.

I totally recommend Perks of Being a Wallflower. I don't remember who it's by but once I find out, I'll post it here. Anyway, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mittchel, if you haven't read it yet, is an excellent book. It's sequel, Scarlett by Alexandra Hamilton, is much better.

Also, the Fearless series by Francine Pascal is phenomenal. It's basically about this girl who doesn't possess the gene of fear. She doesn't feel that emotion. Pascal is a brilliant author. She also wrote the Sweet Valley series.

I also loved Nicholas Sparks's A Walk to Remember. Although I felt the movie was better, I do enjoy rereading it on occasion. His book Messenger in a Bottle was excellent. Sparks is a favorite author of mine.

If that's not enough suggestions for you, I have just one more. If you haven't already, pick up The DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Both are books I loved. If you into a mystery murder type of thing or are interested in theologies or ancient cultures, these books are must-reads.

Hope that helps!

I really can't wait for that book. It looks really good. Hehehe...course lots of books look good and then end up being really bad. Ugh. I hopet this book isn't like that. I really don't like those books.

Anywho, it turns up that I really did have a blogger....I had just forgotten about it. Oh well.

P.S. Finished Perks of Wallflower and have started Empress of the World. It's good so far, but I'm only in the first chapter.

Thank you to those of you participated in the discussion of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The in-person discussion occurred yesterday during all lunches and from what I understand it went well during all three lunches (I only participated in 2nd and 3rd lunch discussions). We even had special guest join us during 3^rd lunch, so watch the Holmen Courier…

The book we have chosen for April has a unique format. It is a novel in free verse (or poetry). The Brimstone Journals, by Ron Koertge, is told from multiple perspectives of students who attend Branston High School. Each student tells the story from their unique perspective.

I just finished The Brimstone Journals and am excited to hear what you think and look forward to another great discussion. The books should be arriving from other libraries in the next couple of weeks.

bee

Yessssss! I finally know someone else at this school who sees the genius in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. You rock, Kailei.
the discussion was good. it was nice to talk to someone besides Bee. Not that i don't like it, it's just cool to shake things up.
I must say that i am not used to reporters watching us.... hmmmm...
So, what is the next book? I'll check it out tomorrow. I've got to get back to homework. later days.

New here. Recently moved from MD. I really liked The Lovely Bones. Alice Seabold did a wonderful job in writing it. There were only two or three things I didn't like. I can't wait for the next book.

I have been reading a lot lately. Started The Perks of Being a Wallflower today. It's great book. To anyone who hasn't read it, as soon as I'm done (and I'm already halfway through it), go check ito out. You won't be sorry.

Hello All!
Thanks for posting! It is good to see some posts besides mine :)

I finished See You Down the Road it was an interesting read about a culture of people within the United States. This group of people, Irish Travelers, live in their trailors and scam people to earn a living. I found it hard not to like the main character because of her personality and her questioning of her family's life style. I would recommend this to all of you.

Happy Reading!!

I've started reading The Lovely Bones. I'm on page 23 as i type. It's really sad so far. I mean, she flaming dies at the begining. How happy is that?

I read How I live now, and i liked it, but i didn't like the whole thing with Daisy and her cousin.... eeeewww! gross. yucky yucky yuck.

On my own, I'm reading Romeo and Juliet again, and I'm going to try to read some of Nathaniel Hawthorne's works. i'm going to go to Forensics practice now. Peace out

laura

Just finished...
how i live now by Meg Rosoff--It just one the 2005 Printz Award. Daisy travels to England to live with her cousins there because she does not get along with her step-mother and father. While there, a war begins. Daisy's aunt is stuck in another country so the kids must survive on their own. The novel follows Daisy and her cousins' survival through being separated and reunited.

I was slightly confused and disappointed by the book, but also impressed by the quality of the writing. I can't wait to hear what others think of this book. I think this would be a good discussion book, however, because I didn't like I think I would have a hard time trying to convince others to read it.

The Wish List by Eoin Colfer (Audio)--Meg Finn is in trouble. She's dead, but not at peace--she's in limbo, her good deeds perfectly balanced against her bad deeds; Heaven or Hell wait, a tip of the scale away. So she's back on Earth trying to tip the scale to the good by helping her last victim, and her former "partner" is also back, trying to force her to tip the scale to the bad.

I enjoyed this look at an alternative afterlife scenario, although it goes against what I personally believe. I found it very interesting to imagine what would the characters looked like. I think Colfer did an amazing job describing Belch (I may have spelled that wrong, I didn't see it in print--audio book) and making him come to life. I would love to see this one made into a movie.

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis (Audio)--Deeply involved in his cold and manipulative mother's shady business dealings in Flint, Michigan, fourteen-year-old Luther keeps a sense of humor while running the Happy Neighbor Group Home For Men, all the while dreaming of going to college and becoming a philosopher.

I like this book, but I didn't think it was great. I think the audience is a little bit younger then what I originally thought. I also thought it was a little far fetched. Who wouldn't notice a thirteen-year-old running and old folks home and driving? Could the Sarge really get away with all that she does?

I will continue this post later, I must have been busy reading this past month because I have at least one other book that I just finished and I need to mention the books I am currently reading. Happy Reading!

Just Finished...
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Sáenz--Sammy and Juliana are seniors in high school in a neighborhood in New Mexico called Hollywood during the late 1960s. Hollywood is a poor neighborhood primarily made up of Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Sáenz tells the story of Sammy and his friends; the discrimination they face as a minority, the poverty, losing friends to drugs and the war. The characters face tragedy around every corner, some survive while others give in to the challenges they face.

I like the story and it was very well written, however, at times it was hard to understand because the characters used a lot of Spanish that the reader couldn't figure out within in the context of the word or sentence. I would definitely recommend this one to others, but I also would recommend a Spanish-English dictionary to be checked-out with it, unless you know Spanish :) Rating: 4Q 2P

Airframe by Michael Crichton--A large airplane suffers an unusual accident while in air. More than three people are killed and more than fifty are injured. Crichton allows the reader a peak into what happens when something unusual occurs on an aircraft. The main character, Casey Singleton, is part of the team investigating the accident. There is more to the accident then what is on the surface, but she can't quite put her finger it on it.

This is definitely a page turner (or in my case a CD switcher, I listened to it). At times Crichton used a little too much detail when describing the airframe or other technical parts. I have noticed this about Crichton in the past on other books, like Timeline, but it is still definitely worth the read. Rating: 3Q 3P

Currently reading...
The Wish List by Eion Colfer (Audio)
Meg Finn is in trouble. She's dead, but not at peace--she's in limbo, her good deeds perfectly balanced against her bad deeds; Heaven or Hell wait, a tip of the scale away. So she's back on Earth trying to tip the scale to the good by helping her last victim, and her former "partner" is also back, trying to force her to tip the scale to the bad.

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis (Audio)
Deeply involved in his cold and manipulative mother's shady business dealings in Flint, Michigan, fourteen-year-old Luther keeps a sense of humor while running the Happy Neighbor Group Home For Men, all the while dreaming of going to college and becoming a philosopher.

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Feller, who goes from job to job on the fringes of show business, and her older sister Rose, a lawyer, have had no contact with their grandmother, Ella, since their mother's death years ago, but all three need to find each other to reach happiness.

What to read next...
Wicked by Gregory McGuire (re-read for book group)
God Went to Beauty School by Cynthia Rylant (recommended by a friend)
The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon (This one is a true story)

Oh by the way the rating system I used is from VOYA http://www.voya.com/WhatsInVoya/reviews.shtml#bookreviewcodes

What are you reading?

I just finished My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. If you want to read a book that will make you think and keep you wanting to read the next page this is it. I listened to it and would sit in my car for an extra five minutes even after I arrived home. It was so good. Anna is 13 years-old. Her parents used genetic treatment to conceive her so she would be a genetic match to her sister, Kate who has leukemia. Now Anna wants to make her own medical decisions, and sues her parents for those rights. Ohhh!! This is a must read. Rating: 3Q4P

I also just finished Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Can you believe it I made it through high school and college without reading it. I can't say that it was my favorite book of the year, but at least it was well written and a quick read. Have any of you read it? Rating: 4Q2P

I am currently reading No Shame, No Fear by Ann Turnbull. This historical fiction title looks at a Quaker girl and an English boy's relationship during the 1660s in England. At this time the Quaker way of life was not acceptable to the English government and to most people. Every other chapter is told by Susanna, the Quaker girl, and Will, the English boy. It is very interesting getting the different perspectives on the relationship.

I am currently listening to Airframe by Michael Crichton. Another very good one. It is kind of technical, but very good. There has been a couple of airplane crashes and problems where passengers and crew have been killed and injured. The main character Casey is on the team of investigators trying to figure out what is causing the accidents.

What would I like to read next?
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
The Year of My Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
The Burn Journals by Brent Rnyon (This one is a true story)

Oh by the way the rating system I used is from VOYA http://www.voya.com/WhatsInVoya/reviews.shtml#bookreviewcodes

Hello All!!
Just a friendly reminder that this Friday is the discussion for Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. I hope you all are enjoying this entertaining holiday read.

For December, we have chosen Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult, a thought provoking novel about an Amish teenager believed to be pregnant and accused of killing her baby who is found dead in her family's barn. Copies of this book have already started arriving, so you can pick them up whenever you get a chance.

Happy Reading!!

What are you reading? I just finished Double Helix, oh it was so good!! We have it at HHS LMTC, so you should check it out.

Skipping Christmas is in. Stop by today to pick up your copy.

In the next couple of days the Reading Guide will be posted as well!

Happy Reading!
b

The decision has been made. Description 2 was chosen :)

We will be reading Skipping Christmas by John Grisham for November/December's discussion. A movie based on that book will also be coming to theaters in the end of November. Maybe we'll have to plan an outing after we finish the book.

I'll let you know when we have copies available for check out. Have a great day!!

happy reading...

Hello All!! I need your help!
We are picking the new book for November/December...
Based on the following descriptions cast your vote...

1. Santa tells the story of his life, from his childhood in fourth century Turkey to the present, and recounts his experiences with some of his many helpers including Atilla the Hun and Teddy Roosevelt.

OR

2. Luther and Nora Krank decide to opt out of Christmas, choosing instead to set sail on a Caribbean cruise on December 25, but they learn there are consequences to pay for trying to ignore the holiday frenzy.

Drop me an email recbec@mail.holmen.k12.wi.us or post here or stop by!! I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy reading!!

When you first read about the dead dog who did you believe killed it?

I couldn't believe someone would actually kill a dog like that. It seems so cruel to me. At first I believed it to be random act and that Chris would never find out who did it. Then I thought it might be the neighbor's ex-husband, but I didn't really get at who really did it until just before the author revealed it.

I miss all of you discussing...

Are you out there...Chels, Jess, Laura, Foster?????????????????????????

The new reading guide to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is posted. Check it out and get reading.

Do we have any suggestions for the November Book?

The October book has been chosen!!

We are going to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Christopher Boone discovers his neighbor's dog dead in her front yard. Christopher decides he must solve the crime, but his father does not want him to get involved. Christopher has asperger syndrome and doesn't always act properly in social situations. Check out this interesting and unique novel!! Find out who killed the dog and what Christopher's father has been hiding from him...

I know a couple of you have read this one, so talk to your friends and family. It is a great read.

What are you thinking about First Part Last? Have you taken a look at the book guide?

Mrs. Foster and I discoverd a new reading opportunity for you. Check out WI's Book Club

http://readon.wisconsin.gov/

Hey Chels! Have you made friends with the librarian at your new school yet? What are you reading for class?

From what I understand the a lot of the rest of you are reading The Great Gatsby for class. How is that going? Any comments on that one...

Hey you guys!!
Are you glad to be back in school? Well, First Part Last is the next book we are discussing. I finished it earlier this week, it was great. Hopefully, by the end of the week I will have a reading guide posted. For those of you at HHS stop by and pick up your copy today.

I just finished Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding. Fielding has a way of making you believe her stories could actually happen. Olivia is a freelance writer who is convinced that she met Osma bin Ladin or at least someone from al Qaeda. The magazine she currently works for never believes some of her far out story ideas, so she creates another one she can work on while she gets to know the Osma look alike. The story continues getting more far fetched and hilarious with every page turned. I would highly recommend it, especially if you read and like Bridget Jones's Diary also by Fielding.

Onto Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials and Breaking the Da Vinci Code.

Have any of you started Witch-Hunt?

Just to let all of you know, I am back at HHS working my regular hours from 7 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., so stop by and say hello.

The Perks of being a Wallflower is an AWESOME book!!! I'm so glad someone besides me and my sister Sarah is reading that.
But you should definitely read The House of The Scorpion. It's not as stupid as it sounds. Trust me. I completely loved it.
Some books that you should check out:
Girl by Blake Nelson
Pure by Rebecca Ray (not really "school appropriate" but the lesson that the main character learns is worth reading it! plus the author dropped out of school to write this, so you know it HAS to be worth the time!)
girlfight by Frank Lauria (based on the movie. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the book is awesome. It's 100% girl kicking butt. GREAT story!)
Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn (an amazing book. This girl is kicked out of boarding school and sent back to her super rich and stuck up mom and dad. Her mom gets sick of her and sends her to spend the summer with her biological father. amazing.)
Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers and Emo byt Andy Greenwald (you all know I'm way into music. Blender magazine calls it Catcher in the Rye with guitars. It's a basic history of "emo" music I.E. Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eats World and other awesome bands. You guys might like it)
Villette by Charlotte Bronte (I just got it. I'm not too far into it, but it's by Charlotte Bronte. It'll be great)


I can not wait until school starts. I've missed the LMTC sooo much. Plus I have an AWESOME homeroom. Chels, I checked out your site. Tres chouette! do you have AIM?? I am now in the mood to talk about books. hmsklrsrockmysox is my SN if you do. later everyone!!

<3 Laura

Sounds like you have been busy Chels...

The website looks fun... The V-Club is one of the ones we purchased last spring, I have it home this summer, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. You'll have to let us know how it is.

Well it is August, has anyone read Witch-Hunt.

Hey there!
So, has anyone besides Chelsey read The Earth, My Butt...

Chels...
I couldn't believe what Virgina's dad would say. I can't ever imagine my dad being forward when talking about someone on TV, I mean I know he has said so and so is cute, but not in the way that Virginia's father did.

Do you think that the family lifestyle and culture seems so different due to our geographic location, finacial situation, etc?

Hey Foster...
Good to hear from you!! Can I say I told you so :)
Sorry I had to.

I am really glad that you enjoyed The House of the Scorpion.

Anybody else think they will pick it up based on Mrs. Foster's change of heart?!?!?

I am currently reading The DaVinci Code (audio) and The Virgin Suicides (5 minutes before bed or until I fall asleep)

The DaVinici Code I don't ever want to turn off. I have made two trips to the WI Dells to help a friend with her new business and would hop in my car again tomorrow if I could :)

Happy Reading...
b

Hi y'all, just jumping in now.  I have been so busy this summer reading about 2 books every week.  I have a whole stack still sitting on my floor.  I will have a ton of books to recommend in the Fall.  I am still reading The earth, my butt, and... I had to read required stuff first.  I will try and be done by this week. 

By the way, I opt. out of House of the Scorpion when we read it last year because I thought I would hate it.  I read it for the class I am taking and I loved it! It was a quick read and very interesting to say the least.  I would recommend if you were like me and pooped out the first time around, you try it.   I would be interested to hear what you guys have to say. 
Hope you are all enjoying your summer.  See you in the Fall. We have 2 full carts of new books! : )
By the way, Laura, did you get that job?

I thought some of you might be interested in this link (if you haven't seen it yet)...
http://www.bookdivas.com/newsletters/teenidol_spotlight.html

Hey!!
This summer I am not doing official reading guides because I am not officially working and they take a bit of work, but here are some questions for The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things:
1.  Do you think Virginia's family is having a healthy impact on her?  Why or why not?
2.  Can you relate to Virginia's situation, if so in what ways?
3.  How are Brie (not our Bri :)) and Virginai a like?
4.  Have you rebeled against your family? friends? anyone? How did you feel afterwards?
5.  Virginia feels as if she doesn't fit with her family?  Have you ever felt this way?  Describe.
6.  Overall, how did this book make you feel?
7.  Have you read anything else by Carolyn Mackler?  Did you like it?
 
Alright, I look forward to hearing your responses. 
 
Happy reading!!
b
 

I read it last november i think. it was good. I still think we should've done This Lullaby or Jane Eyre....

back in holmen area. I'm gonna make my mom get me a library card. Does the holmen library have The Earth...? later days. I.H.n.

<3 Laura

If you are talking about The Earth, My Butt and other Big Round Things I don't know. How are you liking it? I talked to Mrs. Foster last night and she is planning on reading it soon.

If you are talking about Pride and Prejudice I thought we were done discussing it. It is July :)

I do have questions ready to go for The Earth, My Butt and other Big Round Things, but I wasn't sure if anyone was reading it so I didn't post any questions yet.

I just finished The Face of God by Bill Myers. If you want a book to make you think and like suspense you should definately pick it up.

Yes, it really is the time that it says. I just finished reading The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things (even though I should have been reading about the East Asian Civilizations I need to write an essay on for next week). Oh what a great read!! I can't wait to hear what you guys think of it. I can understand why you might not have picked up Pride and Prejudice (I was even a little skeptical), however, this was quite great and I can understand why it received the Printz Honor Award. So, rush to the library and get it. I will be returning the copy I got from La Crosse PL in the next week!! For those of you who like to buy books, it is even that good (I believe it is out in paperback) Enjoy!!

Happy reading and good night!