Missing - by M. Sobel Spirn (for grades 3 - 4)
Sam sometimes likes to make up lies to make things more interesting, like the time he said an earthquake swallowed up his homework! So when Sam sees two men kidnap his father, he has trouble getting anyone to believe him. Sam has no choice but to try and solve the mystery of his missing father all by himself. What kinds of dangerous situations is Sam going to get himself into? This book moves quickly and is easy to read.
Schooled - by Gordon Korman (for grades 5 - 8)
Capricorn has lived his whole life on an isolated farm commune with his grandmother and has been homeschooled. When his grandmother is hospitalized, 13 year old Capricorn is brought to a middle school for the first time. He is completely innocent and naive and has never heard of TV, i-pods, pizza or all the other things important in a teen's life. He quickly becomes the butt of middle school pranks and is nominated for class president as a joke. But Capricorn's innocence and strange ways soon win classmates over in his quest for peace, love and understanding. Korman writes this book in first person narrative from various characters point of view and provides insight into the life in middle school.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Welcome to our library blog
Welcome to our new library blog! This is where you can check to see what is happening in our library and see what new books have arrived. You can also see what other students are reading and read some reviews. If you have read a book that you would like others to know about, feel free to post your review on our blog! Just click on the green "comments" to add what you have to say!
Also, for the month of November, we are having a "Pick a Reader" contest in the library! Any student in grades 2 - 8, that reads a book on their grade level during the month of November, can enter! Simply fill out an entry form and drop it in our jar. I will pick a few winners and award prizes!
Book Reviews:
Following are some brief reviews of books that you may enjoy reading!
The Graveyard Book - by Neil Gaiman (grades 5 and up)
A baby boy climbs out of his crib and toddles out of the house unaware that his family is being murdered by a killer named Jack. The baby boy makes his way to a graveyard where he is taken care of by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, who just happen to be ghosts. The boy is name "Nobody" and is raised by the ghosts and protected from the killer that is still searching for him. Nobody, "Bod" for short, is taught the ways of the dead and is given special graveyard priviliges. He meets all kinds of interesting characters that lived throughout history. Neil Gaiman writes another captivating yet disturbing and dark tale that young adults will find appealing.
No Talking - by Andrew Clements (grades 3 - 6)
When Dave learns about India and how Gandhi spent one day a week in silence, he is inspired to devise a contest to see whether the girls or the boys in fifth grade can keep quiet for two whole days. The rules allow them to answer adults with three word replies which leads to some humorous situations. The principal is drawn in to the contest and tries to put an end to it. We see the students bond over the experience as we see the experiment unfold from the viewpoints of the students and the teachers. Clements writes books that are smart and funny and they are always a joy to read!
Peak - by Roland Smith (Grades 5 - 8)
An adventure story about a 14 year old boy that attempts to be the youngest to climb Mount Everest. As the story unfolds we learn a lot about mountain climbing and what it takes to get to the top. This riveting story is a journey that uncovers human nature and what the characters are really made of as they face unimaginable conditions and dangers. If you like survival stories, this is one you must read.
Briar Rose - by Jane Yolen (grades 7 & 8)
For young adults, Jane Yolen has written a beautiful book that follows a young woman’s journey to discover her beloved grandmother’s secrets. Becca has heard her grandmother, Gemma, tell an unusual version of Sleeping Beauty where she says that she once lived in a castle and is Briar Rose, who was awakened by the kiss of a Prince. Upon her grandmother’s death, Becca is surprised to learn that her family knows very little about her past. Becca travels to her grandmother’s homeland of Poland and uses the clues from her grandmother’s story and a box of mementos to uncover a riveting tale of Nazi horror. As the story unfolds, we also learn fascinating stories of courage and survival. Yolen weaves together Gemma’s imaginative version of the story of Sleeping Beauty with the unimaginable horrors that Gemma has kept secret all these years. Jane Yolen writes an imaginative and heartwarming tale that reminds us that we must keep memories alive but that some secrets are too painful to remember and that uncovering the past is not always easy. If you like emotional books, try this one!
Also, for the month of November, we are having a "Pick a Reader" contest in the library! Any student in grades 2 - 8, that reads a book on their grade level during the month of November, can enter! Simply fill out an entry form and drop it in our jar. I will pick a few winners and award prizes!
Book Reviews:
Following are some brief reviews of books that you may enjoy reading!
The Graveyard Book - by Neil Gaiman (grades 5 and up)
A baby boy climbs out of his crib and toddles out of the house unaware that his family is being murdered by a killer named Jack. The baby boy makes his way to a graveyard where he is taken care of by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, who just happen to be ghosts. The boy is name "Nobody" and is raised by the ghosts and protected from the killer that is still searching for him. Nobody, "Bod" for short, is taught the ways of the dead and is given special graveyard priviliges. He meets all kinds of interesting characters that lived throughout history. Neil Gaiman writes another captivating yet disturbing and dark tale that young adults will find appealing.
No Talking - by Andrew Clements (grades 3 - 6)
When Dave learns about India and how Gandhi spent one day a week in silence, he is inspired to devise a contest to see whether the girls or the boys in fifth grade can keep quiet for two whole days. The rules allow them to answer adults with three word replies which leads to some humorous situations. The principal is drawn in to the contest and tries to put an end to it. We see the students bond over the experience as we see the experiment unfold from the viewpoints of the students and the teachers. Clements writes books that are smart and funny and they are always a joy to read!
Peak - by Roland Smith (Grades 5 - 8)
An adventure story about a 14 year old boy that attempts to be the youngest to climb Mount Everest. As the story unfolds we learn a lot about mountain climbing and what it takes to get to the top. This riveting story is a journey that uncovers human nature and what the characters are really made of as they face unimaginable conditions and dangers. If you like survival stories, this is one you must read.
Briar Rose - by Jane Yolen (grades 7 & 8)
For young adults, Jane Yolen has written a beautiful book that follows a young woman’s journey to discover her beloved grandmother’s secrets. Becca has heard her grandmother, Gemma, tell an unusual version of Sleeping Beauty where she says that she once lived in a castle and is Briar Rose, who was awakened by the kiss of a Prince. Upon her grandmother’s death, Becca is surprised to learn that her family knows very little about her past. Becca travels to her grandmother’s homeland of Poland and uses the clues from her grandmother’s story and a box of mementos to uncover a riveting tale of Nazi horror. As the story unfolds, we also learn fascinating stories of courage and survival. Yolen weaves together Gemma’s imaginative version of the story of Sleeping Beauty with the unimaginable horrors that Gemma has kept secret all these years. Jane Yolen writes an imaginative and heartwarming tale that reminds us that we must keep memories alive but that some secrets are too painful to remember and that uncovering the past is not always easy. If you like emotional books, try this one!
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