Top Ten Tuesday 4

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's topic is the Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Book Club Picks.  I happen to be in a unique position to address this particular topic.  I am lucky enough to run a book club at my high school with the ever fabulous Lively Reader.  We actually posed a similar question to our students in our club, and they, along with the two of us, compiled this list.  In no particular order...

Top Ten (or at least Ten Really Good) Book Club Book Picks:

1.  Unwind by Neal Shusterman:

There is plenty to discuss with this book, it appeals to boys and girls, and it is extremely exciting and well-written.  It lends itself to a great discussion on bioethics, which can be tied into lots of current news.  Lots of fun to be had by a book club!


2.  Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King:

We've been mulling this book over as it deals with a timely topic for high schoolers:  bullying.  Again, the appeal for both male and female readers, as well as the multiple discussion opportunities, makes this a good choice for our kids.

3.  After by Amy Efaw:

Dealing with a very controversial issue is exactly what books are for, and having a supportive group in which to discuss these topics makes that experience even more valuable.  This novel deals with a teenager who is put into juvenile detention for abandoning her newborn baby in a Dumpster.  Though it is gruesome, the ending leaves a LOT to be discussed - we had many students who enjoyed reading this over the summer as part of the Virginia Reader's Choice list.

4.  Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon:

This one was a student pick.  Though sometimes series can be tough to do with a club, the high level of action and suspense would make it a fun group read.  I haven't read this book yet, but a high school vampire slayer sounds right up my alley!

5.  The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson:

Ok, haven't read this one either... pretty sure it was our girlies' answer to Infinity. Again, though, the summary on Goodreads and on the book jacket have put it in my TBR pile.  Romance, revolution, and a mysterious prophecy - sign me up!

6.  Not as Crazy as I Seem by George Harrar:

Another student pick, one that deals with Devon Brown and his struggle to fit into high school with OCD.  Again, I haven't read the book, but I admire the students' sensitivity in selecting this one.  Tolerance and compassion are excellent lessons, and two our school is focusing on this school year.  Discussing both the plot as well as learning about something new would be a great way to meet as a club.

7.  Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

This book, which won the 2010 Printz Award, is absolutely fantastic.  While Lively Reader has a little bit of a hard time selling this book to kids, no one who has read it dislikes it.  She really enjoyed the writing in this dystopian thriller.  The fact that there is a strong male protagonist in this novel is a real strength as well.  I personally have it sitting next to my bed, TBR at some point in the near future...

8.  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin:

This is a great psychological thriller that we know kids will have fun discussing.  The ending of this book is unreal too- it really lends itself to a great book club discussion of what we think may come next.  Knowing that book two is coming in the fall sets the club up to read and discuss the sequel too!

9.  Divergent by Veronica Roth:

Our book club actually read and discussed this novel as a group.  We enjoyed talking about how this society came to be, what faction we would be in if we had to choose, and what we think will happen in the next book, Insurgent.

10.  The Bitter End and/or The Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Both of the fabulous realistic fiction novels by Jennifer Brown are prime for discussion!  The Hate List deals with the aftermath of a high school shooting and The Bitter End is about a teenage girl who finds herself in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend.

What tips and tricks do people have for running a YA book club?  We are in our first year, and any help would be welcome!

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Image and summary from Goodreads.com:


NEWSOUL 
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. 

NOSOUL 
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? 

HEART 
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.




This is a book that has been hyped all over the blogging and Goodreads community.  When I scored it on NetGalley, I was absolutely thrilled!  Though the book took me a bit to get engrossed, I ended up reading about 75% of it in one day - it was that good.


The characters in this book were extremely well-developed and conceived.  Though they live in a completely fantastical world, I found myself reacting to and empathizing with them as if they were real.  Ana, the protagonist, was very well done.  Though she experiences many insecurities - namely, that she isn't worth anyone's love and compassion - she confronts her problems with bravery and a measure of impulsivity that made the story move.  Rather than pulling a Bella Swan (sorry, Twilight, I still love you!) and letting her feelings of inadequacy hold her back for 20 pages, Ana takes action.  Well, that, or gets mad that someone else won't.  It was refreshing to see a misfit female character move through the story with confidence or at least a compulsion to act.  Sam, the romantic lead, has moved up my list of YA crushes.  He is creative, intelligent, and compassionate.  The way he stood up for Ana in the face of so much adversity made him particularly endearing.  Also, their shared love of music and using that as a place to showcase their growing romance was a detail that I loved.  For once, the two were hesitant to trust their emotions and fall in love - something rarely seen in YA anymore!  To me, that was the best part of the story.  Even though I knew where their relationship was headed, watching them grow together made the novel even more meaningful.


I've seen some places where this story was criticized as slow-moving.  While the beginning might have seemed that way, I think it helps to remember that this book was conceived as part of a trilogy.  Knowing that, I tried to keep in mind that I wasn't going to have all of my questions answered throughout the book.  Instead, I just let myself get immersed in this alternate reality - one that was created brilliantly.  There was just enough conflict, without following the typical "We're happy... oh no!  Lives are threatened!" pattern to which so many books succumb.  Rather than having lots of little plot peaks, this one slowly built to a few monumental moments.  As these moments build, the growing relationship between Ana and Sam, as well as the mysteries surrounding Heart and Ana's existence, slowly get played out to keep the reader engaged.  


Ana's narration was also well done.  As I said above, she is someone who (for good reason!) feels very insecure.  However, these insecurities aren't running constantly through her mind.  Her varying emotions seemed believable, and as they were narrated, I felt like I could feel them with her.  I imagine any teen reader would feel the same.


Though this seems shallow to say, I think one of the real strengths of this book is the cover art.  It is absolutely amazing.  Put that cover in front of any teen girl, and I know she would look twice!  Additionally, it matches the whole butterfly motif that runs through the novel - namely, that butterflies, like Ana, are short-lived and can't be contained.  Just beautiful.


Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone (though namely girls) who enjoys a romantic and intriguing story.  It was beautifully done, and easy to believe.  Romantic, exciting, and mysterious - this book has it all.  Definitely my favorite debut of 2012 so far!


Has anyone else read this book and enjoyed it as much as I have?

A Random Musing...

You know those days when you have a million things to do, but a fantastic book has sucked you in and you're still in your pajamas reading at 11:37 am?

Today is one of those days. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows is truly worth the hype. Review will probably be coming tomorrow, at the rate I'm going!

Has anyone else experienced this? What books have drawn you in recently?

Top Ten Tuesday 3

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is any list of our choosing. As it is a Tuesday, and I am missing my darling middle school ski clubbers, I thought I'd do a list about middle grade books. So many of the books we see out in the blogosphere are more mature young adult books that the younger books go un-noticed. Without further ado...

Top Ten Middle Grade Books (that I've read in recent years... :)

1. A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass:

Actually, any Wendy Mass book could go in this spot. Her writing is pure magic. This particular tale is all about a girl named Mia, and her struggles to accept her family, and her unique condition called synthesia (she associates colors with everything - sounds, letters, numbers etc). For example, her cat is named Mango not because he has orange eyes, but rather because when he purrs, she sees mango-colored puffs. A great book for any pet lover!

2. Elephant Run by Roland Smith:

Set during WWII in Burma, Nick Freestone is sent to live with his father on his elephant plantation after the bombs are dropped on London. But when invading Japanese soldiers take his father prisoner, Nick is forced to escape the plantation and rescue his father, or risk both their lives. This book has been complete magic for many a reluctant reader!

3. The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman:

Technically, this one could transcend age groups. Antsy Bonano is the only one who takes a second to notice Calvin Schwa, a student who considers himself "functionally invisible." Using the Schwa's unique talent starts out as a way to make money, but soon gets the two in trouble - trouble that might ruin their friendship. Sweet, hilarious, and totally creative!

4. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick:

Steven is a thirteen-year old who seems to have it all: a great gig drumming for the Jazz Band, a tutoring job with the cutest girl in school... and a twerpy little brother named Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven is forced to try and accept the truth about how much he really loves the bane of his existence, and keep his family together. If you want to find out what Dangerous Pie is, you have to read this book. Rare is a book that is so entertaining and heartbreaking at the same time!

5. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz:

The entire Alex Rider series (a series about a teenage spy) is completely wonderful. I've seen many readers, especially my squirrelly boys who couldn't sit still, become enthralled with the novels. Books that can do that are worth their weight in gold to a teacher!

6. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan:

Ok, I think the whole Percy Jackson series has appeared on my Top Ten lists every week. But, the narration is adorable, the characters are believable and good role models, and it awakens students' curiosity about Greek mythology. These are fast paced reads that can't go wrong. I owe Rick Riordan SO MANY thanks!

7. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech:

This book quite possibly belongs on my all-time favorite list. This is a touching story about Salamanca Hiddle, her cross-country quest to find her mother, and the entertaining tale of her friend Phoebe Winterbottom and the lunatic. I used it in my classroom as a lesson on foreshadowing and literary theme, but I suggest it just as a pleasure read too.

8. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix:

The Shadow Children series is a great introduction for young readers into the world of dystopian fiction. It explores a world where only two children are allowed per family - and what happens to the children who are born third. The books are quick and easy - perfect for students who are nervous about trying a new genre.

9. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead:

I am absolutely in love with this book. The story follows sixth-grader Miranda as she navigates the streets of New York, the trials of friendship, and the mysterious notes being left on her doorstep. I recommend this Newbery winner for anyone who loved A Wrinkle in Time as kids, as this book explores that story as well.

10. Rules by Cynthia Lord:

Rules follows the story of Catherine, a 12 year old whose family (and life) revolve around her autistic brother David. She's spent years trying to make her life normal by teaching David "the rules," but when she meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, she begins to question everything she thought she knew. This is a great story about love, acceptance, and understanding - plus, it's good for a few laughs.

Honestly, I could continue for so much longer with this list, but I will stop and let others add. Any other middle grade books that should be on there?

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Image and summary from Goodreads.com:

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.

This book came with mixed reviews to me. I had heard from some of my students that they really liked it, while others said that it was only "alright." That's sort of how I feel about it too - it had a lot of great qualities, but then some that were only "alright."

For one, while the characters (especially those of the sister wives) were interesting, I felt that they were a little flat. Rhine, the protagonist, is certainly someone who has been put into a very depressing situation; so, I feel a little wrong calling her "excessively morose," but that was how she felt to me. Her constant self-reminders to hate her situation, loathe her father-in-law, and distrust her husband became a bit monotonous. Then again, perhaps this was intended to be a glimpse into what would truly be going on in someone's head who has been kidnapped and forced into a marriage - I suppose I couldn't speak to it from personal experience. (Thankfully!) The other character that left me wanting more was Gabriel, the servant-turned-forbidden love. While we see Rhine's attraction to him, I felt that his character could have been developed more. What are his motivations? Why is he living in this house? There were a lot of questions left unanswered about him that had they been answered, I probably would have been "rooting" for him more.

The plot was exciting and mysterious - I tore through this book! However, again, I was left wanting more. There were a lot of things that almost happened, or questions that were almost answered, but not quite. Perhaps it is because this book was conceived as a trilogy from the start? At the risk of giving away too much, and ruining the book for others, I will leave it at that. I know I am looking forward to reading the sequel, just to see where the story continues.

My only big problem with this book was the world building. My personal preference in dystopian fiction is to get some details and backstory as to WHY the world is the way it is. In this novel, though, that explanation is somewhat missing. People die at extremely young ages from a "virus" that somehow came about because of genetic engineering. (Problem here - and perhaps this is just because I am married to a doctor - but a latent virus that hangs out for differing amounts of time depending on gender seemed a bit strange. Genetic mutation maybe?). The other idea that struck me as strange was the marriages that are formed for breeding purposes. If having as many children as possible is the aim, which it seemed to be, why are they killing off or abandoning the girls who aren't selected for these marriages? Is there some sort of genetic screening to which we were not privy? It just seemed to be at cross purposes. On one hand, you have the wealthy men selecting only the most beautiful and unique girls for marriage - I can accept this. On the other, you have demands that as many children as possible are born to save the human race - while sort of disgusting, I can buy that too. But the two ideas just didn't work together the way I thought they would.

Like I said previously, the narration is this book can seem excessively morose. It is absolutely a pretty bleak world to live in, so I didn't exactly expect a perky narrator either. However, there seemed to be a few details on which the narrator harped, and nothing more. At the same time, I bought into her conflicting emotions about her husband and sister wives. Rhine's voice is compelling in that sense for sure.

One BIG plus of this book is the cover, without a doubt. A few of my girls even said that they chose to read this book for that specific reason! I was drawn in by the art too. The whole wedding ring connected to the bird cage really did speak to the themes of the novel, which I appreciated.

So, overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who, like me, enjoys a good dystopian novel and series and is willing to overlook some flaws in order to appreciate the mystery. There were no real content concerns, as long as readers are comfortable with the fact that these women are married solely for the purpose of breeding - obviously, they will be having sex. The sex occurs 100% off-stage, though, and isn't mentioned more than the necessary allusion to it. This book is a great quick read - just don't think too hard about it.

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.com:

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.


First of all, a big thanks goes to The Page Sage for turning me on to this fabulous author. This was a book that I bought on a whim (the book aisle in Wal-Mart, especially when you're supposed to be buying a vacuum cleaner, is a very dangerous place), but I am so glad that I did. It truly touched my heart.

Without a doubt, the characters in this book are the best part of it. Green does a wonderful job of giving his characters little eccentricities that make them seem all the more real - and loveable. Miles "Pudge" Halter's is his love of memorizing famous last words; his roomate, Chip aka "The Colonel" loves milk and vodka cocktails and mooched cigarettes; their friend Takumi is a budding rapper. And of course, Alaska Young has so many, many quirks she manages to become as fascinating to the reader as she is to Miles. What I liked best about Alaska is even though she is the love interest, she is not idealized by Green - or even by Miles, most of the time. The other characters are up front about the fact that she can be selfish, moody, and purposefully cryptic. Making the "love interest" seem like a fresh idea, by having her be so flawed and yet sweet and caring at the same time, gave this "boy meets girl" story a welcome slant.

The plot takes a backseat to the characters in this novel, but was also completely enjoyable. Though options are limited with a boarding school as a setting, Green made the ins and outs of high school life humorous and exciting without being cliche. Although never a prankster myself (I am one of the worst liars in history), the practical jokes pulled in this book cracked me up. Perhaps my only concern as a teacher would be the amount of underage drinking (and smoking, which is nearly constant) in the novel. Though Miles himself rarely partakes, the other characters do quite often - and this frequently becomes an excuse for other mischief. Furthermore, the book is narrated by a teenage boy, and one with a very big crush. Sexuality becomes a part of the story as well.

That being said, Miles' voice makes this story compelling. He is funny, quirky, and introspective. I think that he is someone that both male and female readers can relate to, which is always welcome to teachers looking for books! Though the cover art makes more sense after reading the book, this is probably not one that would sell itself because of it. Once readers are hooked, however, they will definitely fall in love.

Overall, I would say that this book is one that can come with a cautious recommendation. The sex and partying make it questionable for all audiences. Though the sex isn't graphic, it leaves very little to the imagination. The drinking is much more in the forefront, which could also be a concern. For a more mature reader or audience though, this book comes highly recommended. I can't wait to read another of his novels!

Review: Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.com:

Venice, 1585.

When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

I was extremely excited when this book arrived in my inbox. I absolutely adore historical fiction, and anything with a mysterious and romantic twist is sure to pique my interest. Though this book wasn't terrible, I just felt underwhelmed. A fun read for sure, but not one that I will feel compelled to re-read.

I will say that I absolutely adored the protagonist, Laura. Her voice was sweet and inexperienced, but she didn't seem irritatingly naive (despite having spent the majority of her teen years in a convent). When she was agonizing over her impending marriage to Vincenzo, I felt her pain and repulsion. However, I felt that her character, and perhaps those of her father and nurse Faustina, were really the only ones who were truly developed. So, when we are supposed to believe she has fallen in with the Segreta and trusts them with her life, it was a little tough to swallow. Or when she falls in love with the mysterious Venetian painter - very bad case of the Titanics (throwing it all away on a very brief romance) there. These characters didn't feel very real to me, so I guess I wasn't as invested in Laura's interactions with them.

The plot, rather than the characterization, was what drove the novel. Again, though, I felt that it was a little underdeveloped. It was a great story arc, with lots of exciting moments, but those moments were far too short and over too quickly. The mysteries of the painter's identity, her sister's murder, and the true motives of the Segreta are such intriguing topics, yet didn't seem to get the proper time. I would have loved to see the story go on longer, just to develop it more. Plus, the setting had such potential to be breathtaking; the narration lacked a lot of description, though, so the potential wasn't reached.

A strong positive of this narrative was the writing style. I liked that even though it was historical fiction, and the setting is something with which many of us aren't necessarily familiar, the easy voice made it very approachable. Moreover, the covers on these books (all of them - I couldn't figure out which will be the final...) are gorgeous! It was certainly the reason I selected it to read, and I feel that it could intrigue potential readers in the same way. That and the high-interest synopsis could be enough to excite readers.

So, overall, I would recommend this to some of my fans of historical fiction. I don't think the story was strong enough to sell the genre to those who claim to not enjoy it, but for those who want a fast read in a familiar genre, this might just be the thing.