Green Angel and Green Witch

Green Angel has sat on my school bookshelf for a couple of years. I always had the intention of reading this book. I simply never got around to picking it up and giving it a try. I am so glad that on a recent trip to the local library (YEA FOR LIBRARIES!), I glimpsed the YA librarian reshelving Green Witch, Alice Hoffman's follow-up to Green Angel. I knew that I needed to read both books!

Green Angel is about a fifteen-year-old girl named Green who suffers an unspeakable loss of her entire family due to a disastrous act of man. Green is overwhelmed by the loss of her family and her world as she has known it to be. She retreats and starts to destroy herself; she inks herself with dark images and tries to become a new person. Will Green ever learn to love again? What does the future hold for Green?

Beautiful writing here from Alice Hoffman. But it was the second book, Green Witch, that really captured me!

Green Witch continues the story of Green a year after the disaster that occurred in the first book. I loved this book so much more than the first--the story--the writing--the meaning that it held for me and the connections I made as I read this book.

Here are some passages that spoke to me...

"What you see, you can understand...But I had looked at the outside of things, not at the true, ever-changing heart. Look at a cloud and see how it becomes a swan, a rose, a lantern, a lion. That is the only way to understand that all clouds change...Not a single one can ever stay the same...That doesn't mean it's not still a cloud."

And...

"...people tell lies. But a lie is not a story, it's simply a lie. Lies become bigger, and fatter, and meaner every time they're told. They eat air and inflate with each piece of gossip. They feel real, but when you touch them, they pop like a bubble. There's nothing inside."

And...

"What you look for, you may find...Someone promised me this, but I shook my head...Surely, wanting more would only bring more despair...But desire can drive you for miles. It can lead you in ways you never would have imagined. A map can be written in ashes, earth, water, air. Take a step and keep walking. Don't be afraid to look back...In the end, every path you choose takes you closer to what you've been searching for all along."

I highly recommend that you read these two books by Alice Hoffman. What passages speak to you?

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Sixth Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me

Sixth grade girls...here is a book for you! Ever feel like you are on top of the world with your best friend by your side...nothing can go wrong...best friends until the end of time? Right?

Only then you discover that the two of you don't seem to be hanging out as much. Your best friend discovers another friend. AGH! The world of ever-changing friendships!

As a sixth grade teacher, I see this dilemma played out time and time again. Each year, girls (and boys!) enter their new school year with established friendships that eventually twist and turn, changing monthly--weekly--sometimes daily--into a friendship drama-monster! I've been there...done that. Yet it is so hard to give advice. Perhaps this year, I can stick Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me by Lisa Papademetriou into the hands of those girls seeking help. Maybe reading about Allie's sixth grade year will provide some guidance for those trying to figure out friendship troubles.

From the book jacket..."Allie Kimball and her best friend, Tamara Thompson, have been looking forward to starting sixth grade all summer. But sixth grade isn't turning out to be what Allie expected at all. She discovers that middle school is a different world, requiring a whole new vocabulary. The halls of middle school are full of strange new beasts, like glommers--girls who never go anywhere alone--and norks--a combination of a nerd and a dork. Now Allie has to define herself before she gets lost in the jungle of sixth grade. The question is, where does Allie fit in?"

A believable read that I will surely recommend to my sixth-graders this year.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Firegirl

"This novel may be brief, but it leaves a big impact." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

I agree.

In Firegirl by Tony Abbott, seventh-grader Tom and his best friend Jeff are typical teens going through the hum-drum routine of school. Until Jessica Feeney arrives.

Jessica has been badly burned in an accident. Her "skin was all rough and uneven. It looked almost smeared and was stained all shades of pink and white and red. Her lips were swollen. They nearly filled the space between her nose and chin. Her eyes peeked out from behind skin that looked melted. Her hair was mostly short. Her arms were covered, except that the forearms were bare and blotchy. Her fingers were bent as if she were trying to grab something."

Even though Tom secretly wishes to catch the attention of another girl in class, Courtney, he finds himself thinking about Jessica. When Tom's teacher asks him to deliver some books and homework to Jessica's house, the unexpected chore turns into the beginning of a unique friendship between shy Tom and Jessica.

"Firegirl is a powerful book that shows readers that even the smallest of gestures can have a profound impact on someone's life."

I would certainly recommend this book. At only 149 pages, it is a quick read that won't soon be forgotten.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Trickster

"Meet the trickster, a crafty creature or being who disrupts the order of things, often humiliating others and sometimes himself in the process. Whether a coyote or rabbit, raccoon or raven, tricksters use cunning to get food, steal precious possessions, or simply cause mischief."

I have just finished reading Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection by Matt Dembicki. What a fantastic collection of Native American trickster tales by various storytellers and illustrators.

I know this book will be appealing to a wide range of readers because it took FOUR DAYS to get my hands on this one! Thanks to The Picnic Basket, this gem came in the mail only to be grabbed by my eleven year-old daughter. She started reading it immediately, being the lover of graphic novels she is. I then saw this book in my husband's hands. He is drawn to anything Native American. When I finally asked for my chance to read through this book, I was intrigued.

Each Native American tale is told by a different storyteller. Each tale is illustrated by a different artist. Such an interesting collection of tales and styles of artwork! For a younger reader, this format will work well as they won't get 'stuck' in a story or a form of artwork that they do not enjoy. (See example pages below.)

My favorite tales were "Coyote and the Pebbles", "Azban and the Crayfish", "Rabbit and the Tug of War", and "Giddy Up, Wolfie".

Find a copy of Trickster and let me know which tales you enjoyed!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Wild Girl

Patricia Reilly Giff's new novel, Wild Girl, is a must read for horse-lovers. This novel alternates between the story of a filly in Aiken, South Carolina, and the story of a girl in Jales, Brazil. Soon, these two stories become intertwined.

Lidie lives in Jules, Brazil, with Tio Paulo and Titia Luisa. Her father, Pai, and brother, Rafael, left her to go to America soon after her mother, Mamae, passed away. Lidie was seven years old.

Now, five years later, Lidie is on her way to America to join her father and brother who work at a horse farm. Her father trains horses while her brother is an aspiring jockey. Lidie speaks Portuguese and very little English. She finds it difficult to fit in at her new school in America. Lidie also finds it difficult to fit into her new 'family'. Her father and brother expect the seven year-old Lidie to arrive in America. not the older twelve year-old who comes with her own love of horses and riding.

The filly comes to the horse farm where she, with her own story of loneliness and heartbreak, befriends Lidie. Will the two of them be able to make it through the rough times? Will the filly find the family she needs? Will Lidie find the family she desires?

This is another good story from Patricia Reilly Giff. It is not only a horse story but also a story of family...a story that captures the feelings of immigrants coming to a new world...of adventure...of dreams.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Water Seeker

"Shoot dang!" If you are looking for one of the best historical fiction books written this year, look no further than The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holt.

I have been thinking over twelve hours on this book...on just how to tell you about it so I could get it right. I even had a long conversation with my ten-year-old daughter about it in the pool this afternoon. I still can't put my thoughts together. I am in awe of the story!

Let me just say that it has been a while since I have read a book as heart-wrenching as this one. Amos, the main character, must endure so many trials that I truly felt this boy deep down in my bones. Perhaps it was my motherly instincts that kicked in and wanted to provide Amos with so much that he didn't have. More likely, it was Ms. Holt's storytelling that took me away to Amos's world in the 1800's.

The Water Seeker takes place over the course of twenty-six years beginning before Amos is even born in 1833. Once Amos comes into the story, the heartbreak begins, and Amos's story of misfortune and fortune is told.

I found the characters very real in this book. I am still thinking about Jake and Rebecca and Jameson and Blue Owl and Daisy and Homer and Finn and Rebecca..and yes, even Delilah. I met friends in this book and found some enemies as well. I felt as though I 'lived' a while with Amos.

All my ramblings aside, this is a fantastic story of love and loss, of the growing of a young boy into a man.

Please go get this one from the library...it is that good! Then come back and post some comments on what this post should really say about The Water Seeker!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Keeper

I thought Keeper by Kathi Appelt would be the perfect summertime read, and I was right! What a "cooleoleo" story!

The main character in this story is ten-year-old Keeper, a resident of Oyster Ridge Road, "world unto itself", located on the Texas coast. Right from the beginning, the reader gets the sense that Keeper is in a world of trouble. There are problems with crabs, a precious wooden bowl, a well-loved ukulele, and pots of antique roses and night-blooming flowers. Keeper is at the center of all the misfortune.

"But she knows who can make things right again: Meggie Marie, her mermaid mother who swam away when Keeper was just three. A blue moon calls the mermaids to gather at the sandbar, and that's exactly where Keeper is headed--in a small boat, in the middle of the night, with only her dog, BD (Best Dog), and a seagull named Captain. When the riptide pulls at the boat, tugging her away from the shore and deep into the rough waters of the Gulf of Mexico, panic sets in, and the fairy tales that lured her out there go tumbling into the waves."

I thought this book contained fantastic storytelling. I was mesmerized by the writing of Kathi Appelt. Not having read her New York Times bestseller, The Underneath, I didn't know what to expect from this author. I thought Keeper was reminiscent of Ingrid Law's writing...poetic, beautiful...the weaving of an intricate story...I almost felt it was Savvy-like.

I will be recommending this to readers who like mermaid stories...to those who like adventure...to animal lovers...to those who enjoy a bit of a mystery as I kept reading to find out if Meggie Marie, Keeper's mom, would truly 'hear' her daughter and come save her.

I believe this story is a "Keeper"!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Nathan Abercrombie - Dead Guy Spy and Goop Soup

I was first introduced to Nathan Abercrombie last fall. Since then, David Lubar has kept the books in this popular series rolling off the presses. I recently finished the second book, Dead Guy Spy, and the third book, Goop Soup.

In Dead Guy Spy..."Nathan is approached by the secret organization BUM—aka the Bureau of Useful Misadventures—which offers him a cure in exchange for his help. Nathan jumps at the chance to become the world’s first zombie spy, but soon discovers that BUM may not be quite what it seems. Can Nathan trust them? Or is BUM’s offer too good to be true?”

And in Goop Soup ..."Nathan is just getting started with his training for secret organization BUM--the Bureau of Useful Misadventures--when greasy green globs of goop start oozing from every faucet in town. Gross! BUM asks Nathan to investigate, but he's not so sure he's ready for his first mission. Things get even worse when Nathan's mother makes him a doctor's appointment. His doctor is sure to notice he's dead. Is Nathan's life as a half-dead zombie spy over before it has even begun?"

I know middle-schoolers will continue reading this series once they start. Nathan and his friends Abigail and Mookie (yes, Mookie and his noxious gaseous self is back!) keep the ball rolling in these two books. Fun-filled and full of adventures and laughs, once you pick up the first Nathan Abercrombie book, you'll be hooked.

And believe it or not, David Lubar has the FOURTH book in the series coming out on August 31. The new book is called The Big Stink.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Out of My Mind

"Words.

I’m surrounded by thousands of words. Maybe millions.

Cathedral. Mayonnaise. Pomegranate.
Mississippi. Neapolitan. Hippopotamus.
Silky. Terrifying. Iridescent.
Tickle. Sneeze. Wish. Worry.

Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes—each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.

Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs.

From the time I was really little—maybe just a few months old—words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade. I could almost taste them. They made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance. My parents have always blanketed me with conversation. They chattered and babbled. They verbalized and vocalized. My father sang to me. My mother whispered her strength into my ear.

Every word my parents spoke to me or about me I absorbed and kept and remembered. All of them.

I have no idea how I untangled the complicated process of words and thought, but it happened quickly and naturally. By the time I was two, all my memories had words, and all my words had meaning.

But only in my head.

I have never spoken one single word.

I am almost eleven years old."

Melody might not be able to speak but she certainly has a lot to say. Melody has cerebral palsy and Sharon Draper has captured this eleven year-old's thoughts and feelings perfectly.

In Out of My Mind, Melody struggles to be "normal" like the "regular" kids. Her world changes when she is given a computer that can 'talk' for her...all Melody has to do is type what she wants to say or hit a few programmed buttons.

This new computer allows Melody to compete for a spot on the fifth and sixth grade quiz team. She shows the teacher and her classmates that she, indeed, has superior knowledge and becomes the team's 'secret weapon'. Will the team, with Melody's help, win the competition in Washington D.C., collect their trophy, and be interviewed by Good Morning America?

This book is heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. I nearly cried along with Melody and her parents in the ending...not how I imagined the story would end up but certainly worth the read. For more book information, click HERE.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Lawn Boy Returns

Happy Summer! There is no better way to start my summer reading! My first book this summer is Gary Paulsen's sequel to Lawn Boy...Lawn Boy Returns.

"The summer I was twelve, mowing lawns with Grandpa's old riding mower turned into big business. With advice from Arnold the stockbroker, I learned all about making money.

Six weeks and hundreds of thousands of dollars later, life got more complicated. You see, the prizefighter I sponsor, Joey Pow, won a big fight. And a TV interview made me famous. As Arnold says, "Capitalism plus publicity equals monster commerce." Even my best friends wanted a piece of the action. Meanwhile, some scary guys showed up at Joey's gym..."

Lawn Boy is a success! His business is growing and that creates a whole new set of problems for this twelve-year-old entrepreneur. Will Lawn Boy get control of his business empire or will it be the ruin of a young boy?

If you enjoyed Lawn Boy, you just can't pass up this short 101 page follow-up!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

John Grogan Author Appearance

John Grogan visited Books and Company at The Greene in Beavercreek, Ohio, this evening. My oldest daughter was able to get Marley A Dog Like No Other signed. (I also had a copy signed for one of my students.) My son and youngest daughter were excited to get Bad Dog, Marley! and his newest book, Marley and the Kittens, signed. We also had a copy of Marley Goes to School signed.

The author was very nice and even offered to pose for a photo with the kids--I can't wait for my two youngest to get over their shyness! Taylor was the only one bold enough to pose!

Thanks to John Grogan for a wonderful visit. It was his last stop before he heads home to Pennsylvania for a much deserved break from touring.

If you are interested in learning more about his books, go visit his WEBSITE.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Unfinished Angel

"Sometimes a people needs an angel and sometimes an angel needs a people."

Hokay! Hokay! I am not a professional book reviewer. I am simply a teacher who loves reading and recommending the best books to her students in the hopes of instilling a lifelong love of reading in each of them. So let me tell you about a specialful book that may just do exactly that...

I am impressified by Sharon Creech's newest book, The Unfinished Angel. It is intrigueful!


High in the stone tower of Casa Rosa in the southern part of Switzerland lives a swishing angel. "Me, I am an angel. I am supposed to be having all the words in all the languages, but I am not. Many are missing."

The angel in Casa Rosa does not seem to have a special assignment. The angel thinks she (or he!) may be unfinished, an unfinished angel.

This all changes when Zola appears in the angel's tower. Zola is "skinny like a twig-tree, with hair chip-chopped in a startling way." Zola comes to the village with Mr. Pomodoro who wants to create a harmonious school for all nationalities of children.

Meanwhile, Zola asks the angel for help. There are children in an ancient barn--"skinny and hungry and dirty...extremely tragical." Zola wants the angel to DO something.


Sharon Creech is a master of playing with language. The mishmasheroni of delightfully poetic words in this story is a treasure! Is really!

My favorite chapter has to be "What is Time?" It is too funny! "...compulsive...propulsive...obsessive...seconds, pinutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, and sentries...tick-tock...whoosh there goes two seconds..." and the "creak creak creak crickle creak BURPLE BURP"! Everything is happening so quickful in this chapter that it not only makes the angel's mind spin but mine as well!

Then again, maybe my favorite chapter is "Lizards". As a mom, I can definitely relate to all the craziness going on in this chapter. After all, "It's just a normal night with childrens." HA!

Hmmm...I can't be making much sense here, but Sharon Creech makes perfect sense of all this in her story. Adulterinos and childrens will enjoy this read! Please go pick up the book and read it! I think you'll be gladful that you did.

As an author friend said to me recently, "I loaf this. I loaf this (book) very much!"

(Click HERE to go to the author's website.)

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T. :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

What a Surprisement!

The girls were smalling...what is the word?...smiling in a bigga way when they received a package from Sharon Creech in the mail! What a surprisement! A UK copy of Hate That Cat was enclosed and personally autographed to Taylor and Tessa by Sharon Creech...AND two small bookmarks were also personalized with "Hi Taylor!' and "Hi Tessa!" WOW! Sharon Creech knows how to treat her readers like royalty!

The girls were grinning from ear to ear as they played Show-and-Tell with their new treasures!

Molto thanks, Sharon Creech!

(Look for a blog post on The Unfinished Angel, her newest book, coming tomorrow!)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Gone From These Woods

What a riveting first chapter! Donny Bailey Seagraves had me hooked from the beginning with her debut novel about an eleven year-old boy named Daniel. In Gone From These Woods, Daniel is rabbit hunting with his uncle in the woods near his home. Daniel is not interested in shooting a rabbit. He is simply going hunting in order to spend time with his favorite uncle.

Tragically, a hunting accident claims Uncle Clay's life. Daniel is devastated and cannot overcome his guilt.

"Mom tries to hold the family together. Mrs. Hardy, Daniel’s guidance counselor, tries to help Daniel after he loses his role model and best friend. Daniel’s alcoholic father just makes the situation worse. The memory of that cold morning will stay with Daniel forever. But somehow, he must find a way to go on . . . for Uncle Clay . . . and most of all, for himself." (from Amazon)

After reading the first chapter, I was blown away...but I was also asking myself the question, "Now what?" Was I going to wade through the next one hundred pages growing tiresome of hearing about Daniel's feelings of guilt?

I need not have been worried. Not only did the author develop the conflict between Daniel and his father but the author also created an unexpected twist for Daniel himself.

Make sure you read the appendix which provides statistics on gun violence and a list of sources to contact for more information.

I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy the outdoors, who enjoy hunting, who are interested in reading a novel that explores a character's deepest emotions. This is one not to be missed.

(Click HERE to view the author's extensive website.)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Patrick Carman is Cool!

I am not a huge music fan, but my favorite group is Bon Jovi. And I suppose if I would ever have a chance to meet the band, it would be a total rock star experience.

Meeting an admired author is much like a total rock star experience...

The kids and I had a great time visiting with Patrick Carman. (I am not sure which one of us was more excited!) Patrick had spent the day at two schools in the Dayton/Beavercreek area in addition to doing a radio interview and then made a stop at Books and Company at The Greene. I am so glad he took the time to do this as we thoroughly enjoyed hearing him speak. (It just happened to be my daughter's birthday as well! In fact, Patrick asked Tessa how old she was when talking about the intended audience for his new novel to which she responded, "Nine. I mean ten!")

Patrick was super cool and very easy to talk to. He booktalked his new book Thirteen Days to Midnight. It sounds like a thriller! Of course, we bought a copy of the book and had it signed. I'll begin reading as soon as I finish here!

He talked a little about his popular (and spooky) Skeleton Creek series, too. Can you believe he has received emails from parents saying, "Thanks a lot! My kid won't sleep in his own bed because of your book!"

After signing Skeleton Creek for our school library and our personal copy of Ghost in the Machine, Patrick invited our school to do a virtual author visit. Via the Internet and Skype, Patrick will visit with schools for free! Wow!

We feel very fortunate to have been able to meet Patrick Carman. What an experience to share with my kids (and my students back at school)!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Love, Aubrey

"I had everything I needed to run a household: a house, food, and a new family. From now on it would just be me and Sammy–the two of us, and no one else."

"A tragic accident has turned eleven-year-old Aubrey’s world upside down. Starting a new life all alone, Aubrey has everything she thinks she needs: SpaghettiOs and Sammy, her new pet fish. She cannot talk about what happened to her. Writing letters is the only thing that feels right to Aubrey, even if no one ever reads them."

I was amazed by Love, Aubrey. Suzanne LaFleur had me hooked in the first chapter. Aubrey's story was raw. It left my heart aching. But it was also a story of hope and humor and courageousness.

This read has been on my TBR list since I started to notice some of my favorite bloggers post their thoughts about it. Great recommendation! On my TBR list forever, this book did not let me down.

So far, two of my sixth graders have read it and have ranked it as one of their favorite books they have read this year! (And they have read a lot of books!)

Click HERE to visit Suzanne's website where you can both read and hear an excerpt from her book. You can also read some interesting facts about the author and read her writing tips for you.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Patrick Carman Author Visit

Skeleton Creek and The Ghost in the Machine have been two books that have been in readers' hands all year. Now is your chance to meet the author in person!

Patrick Carman will be visiting Books and Company at The Greene Shopping Center in Beavercreek on Wednesday, April 14. His visit begins at 4:30 in the afternoon.

He will introduce Thirteen Days to Midnight, his new young adult novel...Jacob has an astonishing gift: he is indestructible. He can withstand a beating from the high school bully without a scratch, walk through a burning building without so much as a singed eyebrow, and even transfer the power to another person. When his friend Ophelia suggests he could use the power to save other people who are at risk of death, they discover the power is linked to a curse that even the world’s greatest escape artist could not outrun. He has only thirteen days to figure out how to harness a power that may destroy the very person he wants to save.

Visit Patrick Carman's website for another future release, Trackers..."the follow up to Skeleton Creek and Ghost in the Machine. Think of TRACKERS as Skeleton Creek 2.0, a super-spy novel with more characters, more gadgets, and more cameras." Click HERE to see the promo video for this book.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

All the Broken Pieces

"Matt Pin is haunted." He is airlifted out of Vietnam by an American helicopter during the Vietnam War. Matt's mom believes he will have a better life in America instead of war-ravaged Vietnam. Matt wonders why he has to leave his mother and little brother behind. Don't they love him?

Matt is adopted into an American family. His 'now mother' sings to him at night.

"You are safe, my precious child.

You are safe now, you are home.

We have found you and we love you.

You will never be alone."

His 'now father' plays catch with him, and Matt learns the game of baseball. Matt eve goes out for the team and makes it. But now Matt must confront other boys who do not treat him nicely because he is Vietnamese.

I had heard a lot about this book and had read some reviews. The one writing that really captured my attention, however, was a reading letter by one of my sixth graders. Brett wrote that this book was "...one of the best books I've read this year." Of course, I had to read it.

I enjoyed this story very much. I like to read novels written in verse, and this one did not disappoint. I felt for Matt and was saddened to hear his story, but I was also encouraged by the fact that at book's end, he seemed to find some healing for himself.

Author Ann E. Burg says, "Writing All the Broken Pieces was like listening and jotting things down, or sitting at a loom and weaving together the frayed, forgotten strands of history. Hoping to create something worthwhile, something like a healing quilt.

"Maybe that’s the best of what historical fiction does. Recreate a moment in history so that in remembering, we might find a way to heal the wounds."

Pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Slob

This is a great book for middle-schoolers...Slob by Ellen Potter has been on my TBR list for a while. I was thrilled to see it arrive in our middle school library.

From the book jacket...

"Twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum is the fattest kid in school.

"But he's also a genius who invents cool contraptions--like a TV that can show the past. There is something that happened two years ago that he needs to see if he ever hopes to unravel a dreadful mystery.

"But genius or not, there is much Owen can't outthink. Like how his Oreos keep disappearing from his lunch. Or why his sister suddenly wants to be called by a boy's name. Or why a diabolical, scar-faced thug at school seems to be on a mission to destroy him. He's sure that if he can only get the TV to work, things will start to make sense. But it will take a revelation, not a cool contraption, for Owen to see that the answer's not in the past, but the present. That no matter how large he is on the outside, he doesn't have to feel small on the inside."

I enjoyed this book very much. There were times when it reminded me of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl and times when I felt like I was reading Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.

This is a very real realistic fiction novel. Ellen Potter tells Owen's story with such honesty that at times I was cringing wondering if students are really treated this way in school. Not only do Owen's classmates treat him poorly, but so does his gym teacher, Mr. Wooly ("Mr. Hates Unathletic Kids and Enjoys Seeing Them Suffer").

There is a mystery in this book...something Owen is remembering and dealing with that is not revealed until later in the book. Ellen Potter weaved this into her story so delicately that I was surprised when I read it.

This is a great read for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.

(By the way...Ellen Potter is sponsoring a writing contest. The deadline is June 15, 2010. Click HERE to view the details.)

Keep Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

Killer Pizza = Killer Book!

I just finished reading Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor. I thought it was quite a 'tasty' read. Okay, I'll try not too get too 'cheesy' with food puns!

I think middle school readers are going to like this book. It's got pizza and monsters! What better combination could there be?

Toby is the main character who is having a boring summer. He watches Food Network and wishes to be a chef one day. Great news comes Toby's way when he learns he is hired by Killer Pizza, a local pizza joint. What a great way to combine some money-making with his career-to-be.

Toby meets his fellow crew workers, Annabel and Strobe. Together, the three of them survive the mania that comes with running the afternoon shift at Killer Pizza. They think they have things under control until they learn that Killer Pizza is more than just a local pizza eatery. It is actually a front for monster killers!

This book would be perfect for readers who wish to graduate from R.L. Stine. In fact, R.L. Stine says, "Greg Taylor serves up a hot slice of horror that I couldn't put down."

Check this one out if you want to read some monster slashing and let me know how you like it!

(Click HERE to go to the book's website.)

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!