Winter Break? More Time to Read!

Our winter break is quickly approaching and I am looking forward to two weeks of non-stop reading.  I guess I'll have to fit Christmas in there too somewhere. ;)  I have several books on my shelf that I am really looking forward to reading, so I am thankful I'll have the time to start working my way through them starting Friday afternoon!  Here are a few recommendations from books I've recently read.

First up, Fallout, by Todd Strasser.  This is another book being considered for a Truman nomination, and I really hope it makes the list.  I could not put this book down.  Fallout takes place in 1962, around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis when the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union was in full force.  Scott's dad decided to build a bomb shelter under their house in case the worst happens.  We know that in real life, nuclear war was averted, but in Fallout, the author imagines what might have happened if the U.S. had been attacked with nuclear weapons.  Everyone thought Scott's dad was crazy for building the bomb shelter, until the air-raid sirens went off.  Then, it was a fight between neighbors to get themselves into the fallout shelter.  Over-crowded, with not enough food or resources, can Scott and his neighbors survive until it is safe to start over above-ground?  This story was based on the author's real-life memories of this time - and the fact that his dad also built a fallout shelter under their home that thankfully, never had to be put to use.  If you want to read this book, we do have a copy in our Congress library, so put it on hold next time you're there.  You can also find it at MCPL or as an e-book on MCPL's Overdrive system.

The final possible Truman nominee that I read was One Came Home, by Amy Timberlake.  This is another historical fiction novel that takes place in Wisconsin in 1871.  Georgie's sister, Agatha, disappeared a few weeks ago, and when the sheriff brings home a body he claims is Agatha, Georgie doesn't believe it.  She goes on a quest to find her sister, because she believes it's her fault that Agatha left in the first place.  Georgie faces the frontier on her own with her Springfield single-shot rifle, and refuses to come home until she uncovers what really happened to Agatha.  This is both a heart-warming and mysterious story.  I really enjoyed it.  If you're interested, you can borrow my copy.  You can also find this book in our Congress library, and as an e-book on our Park Hill Overdrive system.  It's of course, at MCPL and through MCPL's Overdrive system, as well.

I also recently read Ally Condie's new stand-alone title Atlantia.  I loved Ally Condie's Matched series (it's on my shelf if you're interested!), so I was eagerly anticipating this newest book, and it did not disappoint.  In this story, life aboveground became incredibly bad, so societies decided to split and build cities deep in the ocean to try to sustain life.  Rio and her sister Bay have always lived "below". When young adults who live below reach a certain age, they can choose to stay below or to go above.  All her life, Rio has dreamed of going above, but when her mother dies unexpectedly, Rio's sister, Bay, convinces her to stay below so they can stay together.  But when Bay chooses to go above, Rio is determined that she will do everything she can to get herself above too...no matter the risk, no matter the danger.  Can Rio make it above?  You'll have to read Atlantia to find out.  I have a copy of this book, and you can also find it in the Congress library.  It is also available at MCPL and as an e-book on their Overdrive system.

Finally, my favorite that I've read recently - The Young Elites, by Marie Lu. This was another book I've been highly anticipating, because Lu's Legend series was so incredible (I have 2 copies of Legend if you're interested - I highly recommend!).  The Young Elites did not disappoint.  This is the first in what will be a series, so we'll be waiting a bit for the next installment.  Our main character in this story, Adelina, is a very dark character - she is definitely not sunshine & rainbows, let me tell you!  Adelina survived the blood fever that hit her country as a child.  She is what is known as a "malfetto" - one who survived and is marked in some way.  Her hair turned silver, her lashes pale, and she has a scar where her left eye used to be.  When attempting to escape her abusive father, Adelina unleashes some dark power that was hidden within herself and is recruited by other malfettos, who also have powers.  Their goal:  overthrow the current king.  Adelina wants to be loyal, but when the king's military leader takes Adelina's sister prisoner, he uses this to blackmail Adelina into helping him.  Adelina has to choose - work for good or work for evil?   If you like an action-packed story full of conflict, you'll love The Young Elites.  I have a copy of this title, and you can find it both in the Congress library and on Park Hill's Overdrive.  It is also available at MCPL or through their Overdrive system.

There you have it.  Remember, you can find a links to the Congress Media Center, Park Hill Overdrive, MCPL, and MCPL overdrive on my reading page at our En Fuego wikispaces website.  We're heading to the library on Thursday.  I hope you can find something you'll WANT to read over the break!

Book Trailers, 11-24-14

To access the book trailers we watched in class today, click here!

To read more about the individual books, click on the titles below:

The Kiss of Deception
V is for Villain
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer
Sekret
Going Vintage & Counting by 7's

Get lots of good reading done over Thanksgiving break!  Enjoy your time off!

Thanksgiving Reading Ideas

Thanksgiving break is quickly approaching.  You will have 5 whole days off to do some reading!    That's my plan, anyway.  If you're looking for some good titles to read, look no further.  Let me make some recommendations for you.

I recently read Illusions of Fate, by Kiersten White.  If you haven't read White's Paranormalcy series, it is a winner that I highly recommend.  Her newest book, Illusions of Fate, is a stand-alone title about a young lady named Jesamin, who is attending school away from her island home of Melei.  However, she is an outcast at her school in Albion because of prejudices against people from the island.  When she inadvertently meets Finn, a rich young Lord who is interested in her, she is put in the sights of the evil Lord Downpike, who wants to see her come to harm. I loved the historical feel of this fantasy novel that weaves elements of the past with magic.  If you're looking for a story involving magic, adventure, and romance, you might enjoy Illusions of Fate.  You can find this book at Mid-Continent, or check it out through Mid-Continent's Overdrive.


A student recently recommended The Paladin Prophecy, by Mark Frost, to me.  I was intrigued by his description, so I decided to give it a try.  In book, which is first in a series, our main character Will West has been living under the radar for his entire life.  He and his parents have moved around frequently, and they've always wanted him to just be average and keep to himself.  After taking a state test, on which he received a perfect score, Will is recruited to an exclusive private high school in Wisconsin.  In the middle of this happening, strangers come after Will and his parents and he knows that he needs to get away in order to figure out who is after him.  Little does he know that many of the answers he is seeking might be found at his new school where he is looking for safety.  If you like an action-packed adventure with lots of mystery, you'll probably enjoy The Paladin Prophecy.  You can check out this book through the Congress Media Center, through Mid-Continent, or through Mid-Continent's Overdrive.

My next 4 recommendations are all books being considered for Truman Award nominations for next year. 

First up is Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer, by Katie Alender.  In this story, Colette is really excited about her upcoming trip to Paris with her French class.  She's excited to get away and enjoy the time with her friends.  However, when they arrive, a killer strikes - chopping off the heads of his or her victims.  When Colette discovers that all the people murdered have an old family connection to former French queen Marie Antoinette, she knows that she may also be in danger.  Can Colette solve the mystery before Marie Antoinette gets to her?  If you like a fun, fantastical adventure, you'll enjoy this novel by Katie Alender.  You can find this book at Mid-Continent or ask me - I have a copy of this on my shelf.


SYLO, by D.J. MacHale, is about a boy named Tucker Pierce who moved to an island off the coast of Maine a few years ago.  When the island is suddenly overtaken by a deadly virus, an elite navy group called SYLO moved in to force a quarantine on the island.  Tucker is suspicious that the people of the island are not being told the truth.  He wants to figure out if there actually is a deadly virus loose on the island or if there is something more sinister going on.  Here is another book full of action & adventure if that's what you're looking for.  You can find this book in our Congress Media Center or at Mid-Continent.

In Rapunzel Untangled, by Cindy C. Bennett, the famous fairytale gets a new twist.  In this story, Rapunzel lives in a modern-day world where she is homeschooled on the Internet in her tower.  Her mother visits her daily, but Rapunzel can never leave her tower because of a disease she has.  One day, in Rapunzel's loneliness, she decides to visit Facebook where she friends a boy named Fane.  They begin messaging each other daily and become true friends.  When they meet, Rapunzel begins to question her whole life and whether or not the life her mother has forced her into is a lie.  But to confront her mother means Rapunzel's life will be in danger.  Can she save herself from the tower?  If you like fractured-fairy tales, you will like this story. You can find this book in the Congress Media Center and at Mid-Continent.


In A Matter of Days, by Amber Kizer, disaster has struck.  A new virus called BlueStar has struck and most of the world's population has been killed from it.  Fifteen year old Nadia and her younger brother were immunized by their uncle who works as a doctor in the military and have survived, but now must try to make their way across the United States from their home in Seattle to West Virginia where they hope to find their grandfather, who has prepared for a disaster such as this.  Thought most people have died, not everyone has making this long journey quite dangerous for Nadia and her brother.  If you like stories about natural disasters and survival, you'll like A Matter of Days.  You can find this book at our Congress Media Center.

Have a great Thanksgiving and read some good books while you have the time off!  I know that's what I'll be doing. :)

Book Trailers, 10-29-14

Click here to access the prezi with the book trailers we talked about in class today.  You can also click on the titles below to read a summary of the books that I've already blogged about.


The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
The Selection
The Raven Boys
The Winner's Curse
Okay for Now
Slated


Now - go do some reading on this long weekend!  See you at conferences!

Six New Recommendations

What has been on your bookshelf recently?  I've been working on reading titles that are being considered for next year's Truman Awards, but I've managed time for a few other books, as well.

My favorite book I've read recently is The Mirk & the Midnight Hour, by Jane Nickerson.  The first thing I loved about this book was the setting - it takes place in the South early in the Civil War.  I love stories from this time period.  What I really loved about this book was the spooky/creepy storyline that was also included.  This story is about Violet Dancey, a 17-year old girl whose twin brother recently died in the war and whose father is getting ready to leave to fight in the war.  Before her father leaves, he remarries, leaving Violet with a new stepmother and stepsister.  On top of that, two cousins also join them on their small farm.  When exploring the woods with her young cousin, Violet discovers a wounded Union soldier in an abandoned cabin.  He's being cared for by some people who Violet believes might be using him for sinister purposes.  Evil lurks in the woods as with the Civil War as a backdrop for this very entertaining new novel by Jane Nickerson.  I highly recommend!

Next up is The Iron Trial, the first in a new 5-book series co-authored by two young adult author favorites, Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.  Clare's Infernal Devices series is a favorite of mine.  In this story we meet Callum, whose dad was once a magician trained at the exclusive Magisterium.  When Call's mom is killed because of magic shortly after his birth, Call's dad has nothing good to say about the use of magic or the Magisterium.  So when Call is recruited to be part of the Iron Trial - the entrance exam for the Magisterium - he plans to fail on purpose.  Despite his best efforts, Call is accepted to the school and has no choice but to attend.  Even though he doesn't want to like it, he does.  For the first time in his life he has friends...and he's developing an ability he never really knew he had.  But the evil that led to his mother's death is hasn't gone away, and now Call might be in danger too.  I went into this story not really expecting to like it as much as I did.  I should have known that these incredible authors wouldn't let me down.  If you want a read that's full of action, you'll like The Iron Trial.

Now let me share with you some of the titles that are being considered for Truman nomination for next school year.

In Tandem, by Anna Jarzab, we meet Sasha Lawson, a normal 16-year old girl going on about her normal 16-year old girl life.  Nothing exciting ever really happens to her and she often dreams about living a different life - one full of adventure and excitement.  When Grant, one of the more popular boys in her school, all of a sudden notices her and asks her to the prom, Sasha thinks that her life is changing for the better.  But on prom night, things don't go quite as Sasha expected.  She wakes up in a strange place and Grant is there, but he says he's not Grant - he's Thomas, Grant's analog, or double, from a parallel universe.  He's brought Sasha across the tandem, or barrier between parallel universes, to take the place of her analog, who just happens to be the princess who has disappeared.  Their country is in a state of unrest and so they need Sasha to play along until they can find the real princess.  I really liked how this story unfolded.  It's the first in a series, so of course, the story doesn't really end at the end of this book.  If you like science fiction, action, and mystery, you'll probably like Tandem.

Sidekicked, by John David Anderson is about a boy named Andrew Bean, who is your typical 13-year old boy, except for the fact that he is a part of HERO - a secret group training him to be a sidekick for a super hero.  The only problem is that Drew's super, the Titan, is a has-been drunk who no longer fights crime.  When one of the Titan's nemesis' returns from the dead and the super heroes in Andrew's town start going down one by one, Drew knows that he and the other sidekicks have to do something.  The only problem is that they're not super heroes themselves.  This was a really humorous action-adventure type story.  If you're into super heroes, or just heroes in general, you'll like Sidekicked.




Science Fiction stories are becoming more and more popular these days.  Mila 2.0, by Debra Driza is a science fiction story that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next.  Mila and her mother have recently moved to an isolated town in Minnesota after her dad was killed in a fire.  Mila is really struggling, because she has very few memories of her father.  What she doesn't realize for awhile is that she has very few memories of her father because she doesn't have one - she is the latest in the military's experimentation with artificial intelligence.  Mila doesn't understand this, because she feels like a real person.  When she is recaptured by the military, she has to find a way to free herself, before they terminate her.  There's lots of action and excitement in Mila 2.0.

Finally, I recently finished Icons, by Margaret Stohl.  In Icons, we meet Doloria Maria de la Cruz, or Dol.  Her parents, along with many other died on "The Day", when aliens sent the Icons crashing to earth.  Dol was just a baby, but was rescued by the Padre, who took her to a mission to raise and hide her away, along with another child, Dol's eventual best friend, Ro.  Dol and Ro are both special, though, and are wanted by the people in power.  When they are taken in, they discover two others, who are also special, and realize that together, they might be able to bring down the Icons and restore peace and security to their world. This is another science fiction story, though not as action-packed as Mila 2.0.  This one is more emotional and gripping as you read about Dol's experiences in a world gone wrong.

There you have it!  Here's where I got these books:

• The Mirk & the Midnight Hour - MCPL
• The Iron Trial, Tandem, Sidekicked, Mila 2.0, & Icons - I got them all through Overdrive & read them on my Kindle, but they're also available in book-form at MCPL.

Book Trailers from 9-26

If you'd like to see the rest of the book trailers from today's reading class, click here!

For Fans of the Stand Alone Novel

It seems like so many books these days are part of a series, and sometimes it's hard to keep up with them...or wait for the next book to release.  Because of that, I enjoy a good stand-alone title every once in awhile.  It's nice to read a book and just be finished with the story when you're done reading and not be left with a huge cliffhanger for months!  Let me share some good stand alone titles I've read recently.

Thanks to Netgalley, which provided me with a pre-release copy, I recently read The Bridge from Me to You, by Lisa Schroeder.  In this story, Lauren has recently moved in with her aunt and uncle to their small town from Seattle.  She came with a deep secret.  Colby has lived in this small town all his life, and though his life may seem charmed, he has some problems of his own.  When Colby and Lauren meet, they begin a friendship that helps each of them through the hardships they've been carrying on their own.  This is a sweet story of friendship that could be more.  Despite what the characters are going through, this book ends on a promising note.  It's a great feel-good read!

I was also able to read The Fourteenth Goldfish, by Jennifer L. Holm thanks to Netgalley.  This was a short and very entertaining read about a girl named Ellie, who has just begun the sixth grade.  One day, her mom brings home a teenage boy who proclaims to be Ellie's grandfather.  The boy, Melvin, has found the fountain of youth, but now that he's a teenager, he can't get into his lab to save his work.  He enlists Ellie's help  to try to save his work and bring his cure to aging to the world.  Ellie gets to know her grandfather in a way she never did before - and she learns a lot about herself as well in this humorous mis-adventure.  This is another light-hearted and feel good kind of book.

Netgalley also provided a copy of first-time author Esther Erlich's new book, Nest.  In this story that takes place in the early 1970's, Chirp is 11-years old and lives year-round in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  She is watching her former-dancer mom fall apart before her eyes.  Her mom's physical health is in decline and because of that, her mental health is suffering as well.  When her mom has to go stay in a mental institution for several months, it's all Chirp can do to help hold herself and the rest of her family together.  She's trying to navigate the changes in her own life without the help and support of her mother, and it's not easy.  She finds solace in watching the birds in the forests and near the ponds near her home, as well as in her troubled neighbor and classmate, Joey.  This story is a sometimes humorous, sometimes deeply sad story of triumph and the power of family and friendship.  I absolutely loved Nest and Chirp is a character who I won't soon forget.

Nest reminds me of one of my favorite books that I read a couple years ago that also took place in the 1970's.  I think I read it before I started this book blog, so I've never written about it on here.  It's called Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidt.  It's about a 14-year old boy named Doug Swieteck who is basically a loser from a family of losers...at least that's how it appears to everyone around him.  When his dad gets fired from his job and they have to move, Doug is not happy.  When they move into a small town into a small, cruddy house, he knows that people will still look down on him.  His dad is abusive, one brother is fighting in Vietnam, and the other is a huge bully and juvenile delinquent.  Doug has problems of his own without even adding his family into the equation.  However, some key people take an interest in Doug and prove that a person is more than just the family they come from.  Every person has the capacity to excel and soar.  Honestly, writing about this book makes me want to read it again...it's just that good.  Don't take my word for it...read it yourself!