tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69433893957078289542024-03-05T18:48:12.880-05:00Brandon's BooksHere's a blog about reading and life in (and out of) a middle school library!Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-50292271133689555492019-10-31T15:30:00.000-04:002019-10-31T15:30:07.395-04:00Newest in I Survived seriesMy son, a fourth grader, loves the <i>I Survived</i> series and we enjoy listening to them together as we drive back and forth to school each day. This book was one I personally wanted to listen to as I've visited Boston once and we traipsed around the North End on our Freedom Trail journey in the dog days of summer way back when. <br />
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Well, it was neat to hear this story from an immigrant's perspective and as we listened, the characters and story prompted conversations around boiling points, molasses uses, and immigration (small living spaces, poorly paid citizens, jobs in 1919, travel in 1919, etc....). Thank goodness the Red Sox were mentioned as my husband is a HUGE fan, and a little Irish too!<br />
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We hope you enjoy this book as much as we did. Thanks to Sora (Overdrive) and Richland School District Two for the audiobook! 📚<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43319593-i-survived-the-great-molasses-flood-1919" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (I Survived, #19)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560051279l/43319593._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43319593-i-survived-the-great-molasses-flood-1919">I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/260639.Lauren_Tarshis">Lauren Tarshis</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3031068536">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-74683853063132399802014-12-02T18:37:00.000-05:002014-12-02T18:41:08.157-05:00Sports fan?I've been in a reading rut lately, partially due to circumstances and partially due to my inability to put work down when I get home at night. Since I had a little more time to myself over Thanksgiving weekend, I thought I'd try to catch up on some sports fiction, esp. for boys. I have a hard time recommending titles to them and actually being able to discuss them unless I've read them. My hook is usually, "well, this one is popular here" or "this one's about football, why don't you try it." Not very persuasive but sometimes it works. So now I have two solid recommendations, one oldie, and one newbie (in my mind). Either of these titles would be great for both girls and boys. Of course there is a little romance in them and high school drama, something most girls probably enjoy. Then there's the football angle. If you follow football and understand the lingo, these will satisfy your sports craving.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6528512-pop" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Pop" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406315045m/6528512.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6528512-pop">Pop</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2130.Gordon_Korman">Gordon Korman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/463405853">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Marcus is a brave high schooler who unknowingly moves to a town where a NFL legend lives. Marcus meets Charlie one day when he's practicing plays in the town park. Charlie is athletic, older, and a phenom with a football. He is also quirky and disappears on a dime, takes things from stores w/o paying for them, and seems to know everyone in town. It takes a little bit but eventually Marcus realizes that Charlie is the father of the town quarterback hero, Troy Popovich. Unfortunately, Troy and Marcus are main rivals on the team. While Marcus proves himself to be a versatile player all over the field, Troy solely plays quarterback and sees Marcus as a huge threat, especially when he learns how close his father and Marcus have gotten over football practice. Charlie pays more attention and praise to Marcus than his own son. Troy and his sister are very protective of Charlie and see Marcus as someone who might expose the secret they're trying to hide, a secret that could damage the legend status of Charlie Popovich. Of course there's a surprise close to the end and it's not a happy one. This is a very good sports book that makes you analyze whether playing football can actually be more detrimental than we realize to our young players and if it's worth it in the end to have them bashing helmets in games. I highly recommend this to all ages and both girls and boys!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623913-unstoppable" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Unstoppable" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339434943m/13623913.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623913-unstoppable">Unstoppable</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/48914.Tim_Green">Tim Green</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1118365762">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2596349-michal-hope">View all my reviews</a>Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-57107466285799620402014-11-08T19:28:00.002-05:002014-11-08T19:28:59.486-05:00Downton Abbey, the real storyFor those of us interested in the back story of major TV shows, this book fits the bill for Downton Abbey. This book is written by a family member of Almina, one of the Duchess' of Carnarvon. She was the wealthy daughter of Alfred de Rothschild and accepted into English society despite her parents not being married. She married into one of the oldest families and inherited Highclere, their estate. She lived a long life as the Duchess of Carnarvon and with her considerable wealth, used her influences to provide medical aid during the Great War and beyond, both at Highclere and in London at their city home. This book is well written and interesting, sharing tidbits of English life and highlighting the workings of English society along with the impact of the Great War on travel and life in the countryside.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12926432-lady-almina-and-the-real-downton-abbey" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344371479m/12926432.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12926432-lady-almina-and-the-real-downton-abbey">Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6869945.Fiona_Carnarvon">Fiona Carnarvon</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1055742554">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
For the real story behind Downtown Abbey, this book is a treasure. I enjoyed hearing the history of Almina's fortune, her love of Highclere, the Earl's adventures in Eqypt and the historical adventure through Victorian England. I especially liked Almina's love of nursing and how she applied her fortune to do good as much as she could for others.
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-7529820984283869952014-10-04T12:02:00.002-04:002014-10-04T12:02:49.920-04:00Continuing with medieval....<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153784.First_Test" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="First Test (Protector of the Small, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320478357m/153784.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153784.First_Test">First Test</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596.Tamora_Pierce">Tamora Pierce</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1071758057">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Ok, I'm a little behind on my Tamora Pierce reading but I finished this one yesterday. Yep, it's a quick one and I'm hungry for the next one in this series. I'm proclaiming this Pierce as my "author to catch up on". Except it's no longer summer and time is fleeting during the school week so let's hope our public library has #2 Page in stock today! Kel, or Keladry, is a new female page who has to endure a year's probation before officially earning the title of page...same kingdom and castle as Alanna, or the Lionness as she is now called. Kel holds Alanna in very high regard and hopes to attain the same greatness, without the magical influences. This is the story of how Kel comes to Tortall and passes her first year, probationary of course, as she's still a girl. How wise she becomes during that year! Her character is very similar to Alanna's and her tactics to gain ground amongst the boys struck a similar chord. I look forward to moving on with this series! Enjoy!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-29555086214870457122014-09-28T16:57:00.001-04:002014-09-28T16:57:51.951-04:00Falconer<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15791085-the-falconer" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Falconer (The Falconer, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384367442m/15791085.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15791085-the-falconer">The Falconer</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5303332.Elizabeth_May">Elizabeth May</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1066579829">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Wow! I don't normally like steampunk but this novel highlights more of the fantasy/fae part of the novel while working steampunk into it. Aileana Kameron witnessed the brutal murder of her mother but a faery and is trying to work through her grief while hungering for the battles with the fae around her. She has a good friend, Kiaran, who is also fae but he's on her side. Her pixie Derrick doesn't get along with Kiaran but both love her in their own way. Then there's her society friend, Catherine, and her brother, Gavin (Lord Galloway) who muddy the waters while helping Aileana along her path to vengeance against the faery who ruined her life. Lots of great action with tools of ingenious invention, mystery surrounding who she will meet on the final battleground, and of course whether her love remains alive....now when is book 2 coming out???
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-22491158530936429972014-09-28T16:53:00.001-04:002014-09-28T16:53:47.610-04:00Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079754-the-blossoming-universe-of-violet-diamond" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385355373m/18079754.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079754-the-blossoming-universe-of-violet-diamond">The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/180801.Brenda_Woods">Brenda Woods</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1014559440">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Violet is a very charming middle schooler whose father died when she was young and her mother raises her in Moon Lake, Washington. Violet's father was African American and her mother is white. She has never met her paternal grandmother but as she starts to become more aware of who she is and worries about differences in color, her mother and grandparents encourage her to ask questions and seek answers. Violet's journey begins at an art show where she meets her grandmother for the first time. While not necessarily the best beginning, Violet and her mom settle some differences between them while also healing old wound between mom and grandmother, Roxanne Diamond. Of course Violet eventually learns about her father's family and even comes to love her cousin Ahmed, but not before suffering through an ordeal that no 11 year old should ever have to deal with by themselves. Great voice and wonderful relationship building, crossing racial lines and blurring them but celebrating the uniqueness of both!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-22953746163978366912014-09-19T15:00:00.000-04:002014-09-19T15:00:08.115-04:00Historical Fiction - Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790805-sugar" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Sugar" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350766262m/15790805.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790805-sugar">Sugar</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/135707.Jewell_Parker_Rhodes">Jewell Parker Rhodes</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1014559301">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Sugar is one of the only children left after slaves departed the Wills' plantation on River Road in Lousiana, during Reconstruction. Her mama died and left her to be raised by the Beales, an elderly couple who were left behind when their children moved north. Sugar and Billy Wills (the master's son) have become good friends but change is coming to River Road. As Sugar learns from Billy, "Chinamen are coming" and change is coming fast. Jewell Parker Rhodes hits it big again with this novel, her second for upper elem/middle ages. Sugar is spunky but sweet, kind but daring, and she stands up for what she truly believes in. Her spirit should appeal to both girls and boys as well as adults and teens. I'm looking forward to her next one!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-8301517957629361232014-08-09T20:07:00.002-04:002014-08-09T20:07:54.612-04:00When on Tybee or in Savannah...<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38030.Savannah_Blues" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Savannah Blues (Weezie and Bebe Mysteries, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327883095m/38030.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38030.Savannah_Blues">Savannah Blues</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21387.Mary_Kay_Andrews">Mary Kay Andrews</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/982386857">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I love southern novels, esp. ones that take place in cities I love to visit, like Savannah or Charleston. Thus, this book fits the bill and while I think I read it way back when, I couldn't resist re-reading, esp. since summer is winding down and I'm on Tybee right now! Mary Kay Andrews ranks up there with other well knows southern authors like Dorothea Benton Frank and Mary Alice Monroe. This novel doesn't disappoint and Weezie is just a really lovable character. If her antics with Bebe don't make you laugh, something wrong!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-81411173984764486052014-08-05T14:40:00.001-04:002014-08-05T14:40:37.630-04:00Myth-O-Mania Series<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11864873-myth-o-mania-series" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Myth-O-Mania Series" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387755496m/11864873.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11864873-myth-o-mania-series">Myth-O-Mania Series</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6986.Kate_McMullan">Kate McMullan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1017688851">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This would be perfect for our 6th graders who study Ancient Greece and Rome. It's on a lower reading level and reads pretty quickly. The gods are not deep characters but the story runs along with the myth to help for understanding and building comprehension of the myths. I liked the voices of each character. In this novel, we meet Hades and learn how he becomes God of the Underworld. I personally liked how Zeus was obnoxious and kind of a twerp in this novel. It goes against the traditional depictions of him as the mighty ruler of Olympus.
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-11834227818719413042014-08-04T10:02:00.000-04:002014-08-04T10:02:18.646-04:00E-I-E-I-O, preschool here we go!<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17347639-old-mikamba-had-a-farm" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Old Mikamba Had a Farm" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362370696m/17347639.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17347639-old-mikamba-had-a-farm">Old Mikamba Had a Farm</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6014.Rachel_Isadora">Rachel Isadora</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1016241868">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A wonderful new alternative for Old McDonald Had a Farm! This artfully pleasing picture book takes the old version and puts an African spin on it. The artwork is beautiful with many textures and accurate depictions of each animal on the farm. Of course, there are not just the traditional animals associated with Africa. There is a glossary at the end which tells you more about each animal. My 4yo was very interested in the ones he did not recognize so we spent time going through the glossary. This is a very valuable resource for integrating art and music into the classroom content!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-61016445997259600842014-06-19T13:38:00.001-04:002014-06-19T13:38:22.709-04:00Laugh with the Moon (SC JBA Nominee 2014-2015)<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12681103-laugh-with-the-moon" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Laugh with the Moon" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327971446m/12681103.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12681103-laugh-with-the-moon">Laugh with the Moon</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/985739.Shana_Burg">Shana Burg</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/719584654">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a great book about a girl, Clare, who has lost her mother and temporarily moved with her father (a doctor) to Malawi. She meets a local girl, Memory, who also has lost her mother and her father. She also becomes "mother" to a chicken named Fred. Clare must learn to adjust to a new way of life without the conveniences of American living while her father works at the local hospital. Clare attends a local school and finds a way to grieve her mother's passing through the opportunity to teach English to 176 school children, including Memory's little brother Innocent. His smile becomes a sign of peace for Clare. As Clare adjusts to life in Malawi, she must deal with another tragedy that hits very close to home again. Through it all, Clare becomes friends with local children, shows strength and perseverance in times of tragedy, and is sad when she learns she is returning to her home in Boston. What a powerful story! I hope Shana Burg keeps writing fiction for this age level!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-63090218804633726172014-06-11T09:56:00.000-04:002014-06-11T09:56:04.949-04:00Tamora Pierce's "Alanna: The First Adventure"<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13831.Alanna" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388206270m/13831.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13831.Alanna">Alanna: The First Adventure</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596.Tamora_Pierce">Tamora Pierce</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/964263128">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Alanna is to girls what False Prince is to boys. Why have I never read Tamora Pierce's books? This was fabulous! I can't wait to read the next in the series. While reading, I couldn't help but think of Alanna as Joan of Arc, without overly zealous religious fervor of course. Alanna wants to be a knight so much that she disguises herself as a boy and takes her twin's place in the castle to train. Her magic gifts eventually come out and she is forced to reveal herself as a girl but she bests a bully in fights, makes friends with a local king of thieves, charms the prince, and becomes one of the favorites "knights in training" at the castle. What a great fantasy!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-18135305485985762014-06-11T09:37:00.000-04:002014-06-11T09:37:01.032-04:00Delirium<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11614718-delirium" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Delirium (Delirium, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327890411m/11614718.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11614718-delirium">Delirium</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2936493.Lauren_Oliver">Lauren Oliver</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/501471701">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
If you liked Matched, Divergent, or the Hunger Games, this is another great series to read!
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-35035037700495942932014-05-12T14:29:00.001-04:002014-05-12T14:29:30.522-04:00Latest Middle/YA Fiction Updates<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9275658-legend" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Legend (Legend, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397663963m/9275658.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9275658-legend">Legend</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4342215.Marie_Lu">Marie Lu</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/255129354">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I read this book in a day and couldn't put it down! Looking for the next in the series now...if you like Hunger Games and Divergent, this will appeal to you!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13518112-cinders-sapphires" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Cinders & Sapphires (At Somerton, #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350397214m/13518112.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13518112-cinders-sapphires">Cinders & Sapphires</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1050293.Leila_Rasheed">Leila Rasheed</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/476241557">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-42801690536165048032014-03-29T14:27:00.001-04:002014-05-08T10:03:47.299-04:00Spring cleaningIt's finally spring and as the weather warms up, I feel so motivated to de-clutter, clean, enjoy the outside, and read. How to do all of those at the same time? Hmmmmm....<div><br></div><div>Well, I'm enjoying my audiobooks while I carry my little guy to soccer practices on Mondays and Wednesdays. I have discovered how much I'm motivated to cook when I have an audiobook to keep me company. The same goes for folding laundry. I also find that when cleaning or de-cluttering my home or office, that my reading life needs some rethinking. What about you?</div><div><br></div><div>In my #bookbootcamp discussions, I find inspiration to read so many new titles that my TBR list is growing disproportionately to my actual reading lists. So why not apply the de-clutter and spring cleaning advice to our reading life like we do to other areas of our lives?</div><div><br></div><div>Those series titles that I tried but couldn't finish...swept off of my TBR list. I dusted off a few titles sitting on my bookshelf and returned them to the library since I haven't read them in the 6 weeks they've inhabited the shelf. Surely, there is someone else who can read these while I catch up on other good books!</div><div><br></div><div>Here are some great books I've read lately. I've been heavily reading historical fiction and it started with the <i>Luxe</i> series by Godbersen, which lead to the Flappers series by Larkin. While these wouldn't be appropriate for middle school, I do feel they give us some insight into those eras of history. The one middle grades novel I've finished recently,<i> One Came Home</i> by Amy Timberlake, is a great Wild West mystery with a strong sharpshooting female character. Enjoy!</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeqzKryb0bXyFF_EEN8CRxB3O8XVPQlM05MOqL5VgYhBkE5N2Smqi_T2RMDz17Y0qdDhQ-Pq1BnkYDv9EZnm5ovVrs6ji2vIGxSP7MI8HVA8S1m_bhPdtFflRU6fxvpPpvNcwPDg4Ht4/s640/blogger-image--1313511902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeqzKryb0bXyFF_EEN8CRxB3O8XVPQlM05MOqL5VgYhBkE5N2Smqi_T2RMDz17Y0qdDhQ-Pq1BnkYDv9EZnm5ovVrs6ji2vIGxSP7MI8HVA8S1m_bhPdtFflRU6fxvpPpvNcwPDg4Ht4/s640/blogger-image--1313511902.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX7aCYFLqyCptIX60XruRAbE5LHpYLHNHdNR874I6Ay0scxZsBwmwoPXypmwnug_6D8Xhx0z8UpaKNIdipmDs16jAqFz1K45it13baq9As8R7qlBtISsAJ7L3PT13G17h8L65X7hA3-4/s640/blogger-image--1782249457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX7aCYFLqyCptIX60XruRAbE5LHpYLHNHdNR874I6Ay0scxZsBwmwoPXypmwnug_6D8Xhx0z8UpaKNIdipmDs16jAqFz1K45it13baq9As8R7qlBtISsAJ7L3PT13G17h8L65X7hA3-4/s640/blogger-image--1782249457.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDHzrbEOVkaPDSs3greeLx-nEBLMYSs8UJaeNmpwcVmQlK_fu4ooEejyQLDouUrfFhz3cSfumsoRF4a8LEtdiibpNxJeKMJ_EygyKUq-BwMVKwqghJu3TapjrXrOrUwuQyOg-F-ctk-4/s640/blogger-image--1067527761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDHzrbEOVkaPDSs3greeLx-nEBLMYSs8UJaeNmpwcVmQlK_fu4ooEejyQLDouUrfFhz3cSfumsoRF4a8LEtdiibpNxJeKMJ_EygyKUq-BwMVKwqghJu3TapjrXrOrUwuQyOg-F-ctk-4/s640/blogger-image--1067527761.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-24019588108793839832014-01-20T07:15:00.001-05:002014-03-29T14:16:06.203-04:00Liked False Prince?<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">If you're looking for a YA/middle grade fantasy with action and suspense, this is the start of a fabulous series...The Ascendance Trilogy. The third book comes out in February and I have students who can't wait to get their hands on it. Check out @nielsenwriter's blog for her ARC giveaway if you too are waiting patiently/impatiently for February's release date. </span><a href="http://www.jennielsen.com/blog" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.jennielsen.com/blog</a></div>
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Check it out on Goodreads too!<br>
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I highly recommend The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy, #1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen </div>
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12432220 </div>
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-59804117821416230792013-12-13T16:46:00.001-05:002013-12-13T16:46:13.431-05:00Triskaidekaphobia fine clearanceSo to encourage research on Friday the 13th, we offered fine clearance for all students who came into the media center and told us what the word triskaidekaphobia means. It encouraged students to come into the media center, even if they didn't have fines! Definitely worth trying on the next Friday that's a 13th. It was a huge hit!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KHx0zO-DE6n7hilEu3aHUGzNAMdtjzg01lqdb2WuyxW3v1lRTupmZV_9mCMbfBXiYmNhqsQC2gXgGxw6U8cGdHufTBGOhvvi8DMaGxxoeQOw_TlYFgNo67UO-N2eeUt3x2QU3oa9ZwY/s640/blogger-image--18216623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KHx0zO-DE6n7hilEu3aHUGzNAMdtjzg01lqdb2WuyxW3v1lRTupmZV_9mCMbfBXiYmNhqsQC2gXgGxw6U8cGdHufTBGOhvvi8DMaGxxoeQOw_TlYFgNo67UO-N2eeUt3x2QU3oa9ZwY/s640/blogger-image--18216623.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-24412727299473754182013-11-11T15:02:00.000-05:002013-11-11T15:02:46.416-05:00Sci-Fi and Fantasy<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/hTeiLxirTvF/embed/postcard" width="320" height="320" frameborder="0"></iframe><script async src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-22285931109466756672013-11-02T14:42:00.001-04:002013-11-02T14:42:19.895-04:00WAYRTW?<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455112-origin" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Origin" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1346121755m/13455112.jpg" /></a><b>What are you reading this weekend? </b><br />
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I'm working on several great books. I finished Origin by Khoury last night. It was pretty popular with our book fair crowd back in early October so I thought I'd try it. Definitely science fiction with a little bit of romance tossed in. I'm counting it as part of my romance stack for last week's #bookbootcamp chat.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13455112-origin">Origin</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5625945.Jessica_Khoury">Jessica Khoury</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/754991429">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I'm still in the midst of Dear Blue Sky and I'm going to attempt Summer of the Gypsy Moths per a teacher recommendation this week.<br />
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I can't help but enjoy the sunshine today. I'm taking my books outside to get some Vitamin D. What about you? Enjoy your first weekend of November!<br />
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Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-62814568680774934762013-11-01T14:15:00.000-04:002013-11-01T14:15:39.764-04:00Check and Treat<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the spirit of the frightfully holiday known as Halloween, I began a new tradition this year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Check and Treat! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, it's not overly crafty or creative and it's probably already being done by many librarians out there, with a variety of cute(r) names. But at Muller Road, for the past 2 days, students have been "checking" and we've been "treating". Simple concept and I really don't know why I never thought of that before. It's a win-win for students and teachers alike. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students come into the media center to return, check their account, check out, or pay fines and voila, they receive a sweet treat. For myself and my assistant, this is also a great way to hand out the candy that will no doubt end up in our stomachs by the end of the semester. <i>Win-win!!!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>8th graders love getting a treat for checking out new books!</i></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1720147124"></span><span id="goog_1720147125"></span><br />Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-15686950587361058892013-10-19T14:35:00.002-04:002013-10-19T14:35:13.091-04:00What are you reading this weekend?<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13316309-the-ghost-of-graylock" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Ghost of Graylock" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1341264431m/13316309.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I'm traveling this weekend, I brought along some student favorites and some picture books to keep my 3yo happy. I finished <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17166336-the-haunting-of-gabriel-ashe?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe</a> last night/early this morning. Here's my review. If you liked <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13316309-the-ghost-of-graylock?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">The Ghost of Graylock</a>, then this is a good choice for you. I have trouble keeping both of these in my library since we're doing a Scary Stories display. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17166336-the-haunting-of-gabriel-ashe" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372370179m/17166336.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17166336-the-haunting-of-gabriel-ashe">The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2264238.Dan_Poblocki">Dan Poblocki</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/744289136">5 of 5 stars</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poblocki continues the spine tingling mystery with Gabriel Ashe that he introduced in The Ghost of Graylock. Basically the story goes like this: boy loses home in fire, moves w/ family to grandmother's mansion, makes friends with local boy who is ostracized at school, has to choose b/w new friend and group of popular people, discovers local mysterious disappearances, and has to find an ending to the strange happenings around town. Gabriel is the main character but Seth's character also holds up the story. I like the pretend world that Seth introduces to Gabriel. It makes the boys seem more human, more middle school. I did not feel that there was a strong enough connection between Gabriel and his grandmother, but that is explained later in the book. Good mystery, kept my attention long after bedtime, and then of course I had trouble falling asleep.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2596349-michal-hope"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View all my reviews</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, I'll have <a href="http://www.chadcrewsmagic.com/index.html" target="_blank">Chad Crews</a> come present his show, <a href="http://www.chadcrewsmagic.com/authorsofmysteryandhorror.html" target="_blank">Authors of Mystery & Horror</a> to all grades (6-8). I count on books disappearing from the shelves after students see his show. I stocked up on Edgar Allan Poe faves like <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30029.Tales_of_Mystery_and_Madness?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">Tales of Mystery and Madness</a>, Scary Stories series', R.L. Stine, Mary Downing Hahn, and Dan Poblocki especially for that reason. Hope you're reading something good too!</span><br />
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</a>Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-37877701165417452332013-10-06T17:05:00.000-04:002013-10-06T17:05:49.002-04:00Historical Fiction #bookbootcampI accidentally missed <a href="http://bookbootcamp.blogspot.com/">#bookbootcamp</a> this past Monday and the genre we covered in September was historical fiction. I have read many of the titles on our <a href="http://bookbootcamp.wikispaces.com/Historical+Fiction" target="_blank">wiki</a> but unfortunately, I was on single parent duty Monday night as my husband was working at <a href="http://www.richlandlibrary.com/" target="_blank">Richland Library</a>. SO, I'm blogging here as my way of contributing to our discussion, albeit a little late. Here's my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2596349?shelf=historical-fiction-bookbootcamp">list</a> of recent historical reads for me in addition to a laundry list of suggestions that I've enjoyed. The LONG laundry lists begins...enjoy!<br />
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I love reading historical fiction and I prefer particular time periods over others, as I'm sure most of you do too. I know my students have their personal preferences. Vietnam and the Civil Rights Era are both popular historical fiction periods in my school library. I also have some 8th grade girls who love to read the Ann Rinaldi or Carolyn Meyer titles that deal with Revolutionary America or Civil War and royal historical fiction, as I like to refer to it. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11346278-crow?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crow" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320530756m/11346278.jpg" /></a>Most recently I've read some great new titles that I'm recommending to my new 6th graders and my 7th and 8th graders who are doing some IRP's (Independent Reading Project) on historical fiction. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11346278-crow"><i>Crow</i></a>, by Barbara Wright, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11982396-glory-be?ac=1"><i>Glory Be</i></a>, by Augusta Scattergood, and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11699349-the-lions-of-little-rock">Lions of Little Rock</a> </i>by Kristin Levine are good titles for Jim Crow and the Civil Rights time periods.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11982396-glory-be?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Glory Be" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328836347m/11982396.jpg" /></a><i>Crow</i> has a male main character, Moses, and is based in Wilmington, NC in the late 1800s. Moses' father was involved in the local African American newspaper and was attempting to get into local politics, which were not open to African Americans in the South at that time. Moses shares his experiences dealing with ignorance and hatred while learning to stand up for himself and protect his family. <i>Glory Be</i> and <i>Lions of Little Rock</i> have female main characters who tell their stories of experiencing integration and their thoughts about civil rights equality. Glory is a little younger and more self-obsessed than Marlee, the main character in <i>Lions of Little Rock</i>. Marlee is a very strong character who stands by her friend Liz as the segregation/integration battle was waged in her school district. I found it interesting that Marlee's parents were also on both sides of the battle as educators. <i>Lions of Little Rock</i> is on our <a href="http://scasl.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013-14-SCJBA-Nominees-Brochure-fixed.pdf" target="_blank">South Carolina Junior Book Award list</a> for 2013-2014 and I'm selling it like hot cakes to my students.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14928417-the-quilt-walk?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Quilt Walk" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338943488m/14928417.jpg" /></a>Looking for pioneer/prairie life, try <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14928417-the-quilt-walk?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>The Quilt Walk</i></a>, <i>Hattie Big Sky</i> (and continue with <i>Hattie Ever After</i>), or <i>May B</i>. Be forewarned, these are more for fans of Little House on the Prairie. I doubt I'd try to sell these to boys but the female main characters are definitely heroines in their own right.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207798.Hattie_Big_Sky" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Hattie Big Sky (Hattie, #1)" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320437651m/207798.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207798.Hattie_Big_Sky">Hattie Big Sky</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/121579.Kirby_Larson">Kirby Larson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/607617739">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Looking forward to the next Hattie book. She is such a strong female character and offers a great historical fiction perspective, like Laura Ingalls Wilder.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11527309-may-b" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="May B." border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1345645748m/11527309.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11527309-may-b">May B.</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4019810.Caroline_Starr_Rose">Caroline Starr Rose</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/602923691">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Fabulous story in verse...May B. is truly a heroic character and this is an excellent example of historical fiction for middle grades.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2596349-michal-hope">View all my reviews</a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13037526-breathing-room?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Breathing Room" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349045381m/13037526.jpg" /></a><br />
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Set in 1940, during the political unrest that would become WWII, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13037526-breathing-room?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>Breathing Room</i></a> by Marsha Hayles is an excellent introduction to TB and its effect during early war-time efforts on families and doctors/nurses. It's written from the perspective of a TB patient, Evvy, who has to leave her family and live in a sanatorium until she is healed. Evvy misses her twin brother and her father, but does not have a close bond with her mother. She does, however, make friends with the 3 other girls in her room and I can't say that I've ever seen a middle grade book on this topic.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Between Shades of Gray" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327873479m/7824322.jpg" /></a><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337034341m/11925514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Code Name Verity" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337034341m/11925514.jpg" /></a>For WWII fiction, always a popular time period with upper grades, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11925514-code-name-verity?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>Code Name Verity</i></a> by Wein is a new and popular choice for girls. While I loved the suspense of the novel and figuring out who Verity might be, I again feel like this would be more of a suggestion to girls than boys. This is also more for 8th and 9th graders, less for middle grades as a whole. In addition to Verity, I'd recommend <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>Between Shades of Gray</i></a>, highlighted recently due to the popularity of the <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">OTHER</span></i> novel dealing with shades of gray. No, this <u>does not </u>contain similar content. B/W Shades of Gray is based on the author's family history. Set in Lithuania during Stalin's reign, 1941, the main character and her family are put on a train to Siberia as a result of Stalin's tyrannical rule over Russia. The Russian Holocaust is alive in this story. Again, I'd recommend to 7th and 8th graders. It's on the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award list for 2013-2014. I hope it wins!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13591179-shadow-on-the-mountain?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Shadow on the Mountain" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344602802m/13591179.jpg" /></a><a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333577868m/11164774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jump into the Sky" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333577868m/11164774.jpg" /></a>For boys, I'd recommend <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13591179-shadow-on-the-mountain?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>Shadow on the Mountain</i></a> by Preus or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11164774-jump-into-the-sky?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>Jump into the Sky</i></a> by Pearsall. Espen, main character in <i>Shadow on the Mountain</i>, becomes a spy for Norway while the country is occupied by the Nazis. He and his sister secretly "fight" by assisting the local Norwegians in their efforts to defeat the Germans and end their occupation. Skiing is obviously an important mode of transportation and sport in Norway but for Espen it becomes the way to survive. I liked the suspense and spy elements in this novel. Now back to the USA with <i>Jump Into The Sky</i>. Levi Battle was left in the care of his grandmother, who passes away in Chicago. He leaves for his aunt's house in Fayetteville, NC, where he thinks he will find his father, one of the few African Americans serving in the U.S. Army in 1945. Levi sees the harsh reality of being African American in the South during that time. U.S. Army or not, he must learn to deal with society's restrictions placed on race alone. Living in the South is so very different than living in the North during this time. This is an excellent choice for 7th and 8th graders if they're looking for this time period.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10587311-saint-louis-armstrong-beach?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Saint Louis Armstrong Beach" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311702868m/10587311.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7118768-ninth-ward?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ninth Ward" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1267819800m/7118768.jpg" /></a>To move forward in history, for middle grade students, Hurricane Katrina could be considered historical fiction. After all, they were born around that time so their memory of it is slim and based upon oral history or what they've seen in the media surrounding the hurricane and its effects on the Gulf Coast. So, with that being said, I have a few teachers who allow that topic as historical fiction. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7118768-ninth-ward?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">Ninth Ward</a> </i>and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11863768-saint-louis-armstrong-beach?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book"><i>Saint Louis Armstrong Beach</i></a> are the two novels I'm recommending for that event. Ninth Ward was on last year's SC JBA list and Saint Louis is on this year's list. Again, these choices offer both a female and male perspective for this natural disaster. <i>Ninth Ward</i> offers some fantasy elements, courtesy of New Orleans' voodoo heritage while Saint is a musician, a cultural link to New Orleans.
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Our next #bookbootcamp discussion will be the last Monday in October so check it out! I hope to make that one. We'll be reading middle grades romances during October. "See" you all there!Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-39680643563935504322013-08-06T19:13:00.000-04:002013-08-06T19:13:21.038-04:00What I've been reading this summer....Here's just a taste of what I've finished reading lately. I have to admit, it's hard to blog when I'm trying to finish so many great books!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9429895-my-sister-lives-on-the-mantelpiece" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327538990m/9429895.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9429895-my-sister-lives-on-the-mantelpiece">My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4388883.Annabel_Pitcher">Annabel Pitcher</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/651851496">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I listened to this one and it was narrated by someone Scottish. Mesmerizing narration, really! I love the way Jamie overcomes his father's prejudice which is misplaced due to his sister's murder by a terrorist bomb. I disliked the way the mother abandoned the family following said murder. I thought that was a little over the top but people have different ways of dealing with tragedy and I guess she couldn't handle being with the rest of her family following the tragedy of her daughter dying. Overall, I would recommend this to upper middle and high school. There are some situations where lower middle school students wouldn't relate very well.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12341309-mister-death-s-blue-eyed-girls" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344673019m/12341309.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12341309-mister-death-s-blue-eyed-girls">Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10006.Mary_Downing_Hahn">Mary Downing Hahn</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/351319407">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I would definitely keep this one reserved for mature 8th grade readers and high school. There are some overtones and situations that require a bit more maturity than 6th and 7th graders possess, usually. I really liked the historically accurate depictions and personal touches Hahn includes, since this is so close to the real events. There were times where I wanted to slap Nora out of her funk though. Surely there were things around town where she could go to keep herself busy while pining away for friends who left the town to escape the memories of the murders. I appreciated the questioning of God's mercy and Nora's escape into books that her mother may not have approved of. I found the last part to be very interesting and a good conclusion to the story. Had MDH not included that part, I can imagine the questions we readers would have for her.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2596349-michal-hope">View all my reviews</a>
Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-73515868925291468142013-07-01T23:00:00.001-04:002013-07-01T23:00:58.042-04:00Game on! It's that time of summer again... #SummerThrowdown<a href="http://www.heisereads.com/2013/06/launching-new-improved-summerthrowdown.html?spref=bl">Heise Reads & Recommends: Launching the New & Improved #SummerThrowdown</a><br />
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It's always nice to have a little competition when reading over the summer, or just some friendly collaboration around the world as we librarians and teachers spend our vacation time reading, whether for our students, our kids, or ourselves, it all counts in this game. Sign up for #summerthrowdown and get your game on as we read for the fun of it during the month of July. Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6943389395707828954.post-7018355860868000542013-06-22T17:47:00.001-04:002013-06-22T17:47:05.825-04:00Catching up...I've been playing catchup the last 2 weeks as school ended and I began chauffering my preschooler around to camps, doctor appts, and library visits. I've finished <i>Raft</i> by Bodeen, <i>Life As We Knew It </i>by Pfeffer, <i>Beholding Bee</i> by Fusco, <i>Fire In The Streets </i>by Magoon, and <i>Fourmile</i> by Key. I enjoyed them all and I won't bore anyone with the same reviews I posted on Goodreads, but I do want to stress how great these are for middle schoolers.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2JzeUTUxGMCROgjofl6s7GwAuhJHws4tC7RdvAxVXRj8rKOlExm1I1LgZNqoyoGDnHHMKJO5YaEUIHYsp33fRiV4EiqnWQsYHNQqktP5InkkzOXaF_VgmzCvmPZxszpVUDoqSZFMvF4/s640/blogger-image--523527944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2JzeUTUxGMCROgjofl6s7GwAuhJHws4tC7RdvAxVXRj8rKOlExm1I1LgZNqoyoGDnHHMKJO5YaEUIHYsp33fRiV4EiqnWQsYHNQqktP5InkkzOXaF_VgmzCvmPZxszpVUDoqSZFMvF4/s640/blogger-image--523527944.jpg"></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuwnDpq-Vu-mOPtZ2bHJmx3D9JcczBgP-D_SD-9P0kAGpoIvdKmM6WFFJJcWntwxzjHtzrx2dW7Ueob7DklrbKfwZDRGC03acFCRmUdaAK6nhLZ9FM37yEwJZF1mekUuvm6OP73g3pFI/s640/blogger-image--164033457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuwnDpq-Vu-mOPtZ2bHJmx3D9JcczBgP-D_SD-9P0kAGpoIvdKmM6WFFJJcWntwxzjHtzrx2dW7Ueob7DklrbKfwZDRGC03acFCRmUdaAK6nhLZ9FM37yEwJZF1mekUuvm6OP73g3pFI/s640/blogger-image--164033457.jpg"></a></div></div><br><div><br><div>I would reserve <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Life As We Knew It </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for mature 7th and 8th graders, especially those intrigued with <i>Hunger Games</i> and <i>Divergent</i>. There is some romance involved and Miranda does mention her feelings about sex and becoming a woman. There is not a lengthy discussion about it but I can see some 6th grade parents being offended by this. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I had students from all grades requesting <i>Raft</i> and I understand why, now that I've finished it. If you like contemporary survival stories, this is one for you! As I was reading, I couldn't help thinking of the <i>Open Water</i> movies. </span><i>Fourmile</i> is a great book for boys, especially those who are missing their fathers. It's also contemporary fiction and topics include farm life and relationship abuse (not heavily mentioned but it is a possibility), as well as dealing with grief. </div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9sYtn7NhRbORLlSs7fdOlkwlcg0BGZTKNqLiqdAFFMyfBVr4j55cTt-56-BkPMsAL_y9zQNQrMQlOqGYlh4nJVM6yrnQwhH5Yj-pgpZ5G0sm2FY0WK-M8HMjxfb40oPUH8uGqBwaUPg/s640/blogger-image--286498338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9sYtn7NhRbORLlSs7fdOlkwlcg0BGZTKNqLiqdAFFMyfBVr4j55cTt-56-BkPMsAL_y9zQNQrMQlOqGYlh4nJVM6yrnQwhH5Yj-pgpZ5G0sm2FY0WK-M8HMjxfb40oPUH8uGqBwaUPg/s640/blogger-image--286498338.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>As I read <i>Beholding Bee</i>, I couldn't help but recall <i>Water for Elephants</i> during the carnival scenes. This one is historical fiction but it's a story of a girl trying to find her way in the world with the help of a mysterious woman in a floppy hat. I really liked the characters in this novel. Bee, or Beatrice, learns to run, to raise a dog and a pig, and to stand up for herself and friends with the help of some ancestors. I look forward to recommending these books to my students next year.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZlKUMBfGDVzaF_nGbBFAIQQFKJ3UjiBI_gLnAM-bMZh1LokvTCXFY8eDOb3EZhWQeSW4Iv7xOvXIdg_oyr-6bo4f3y5rYYCga7MvVxpkLj8_APHt8nhVet9VSY3c70b6dzUG5zDV8xg/s640/blogger-image-357874645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZlKUMBfGDVzaF_nGbBFAIQQFKJ3UjiBI_gLnAM-bMZh1LokvTCXFY8eDOb3EZhWQeSW4Iv7xOvXIdg_oyr-6bo4f3y5rYYCga7MvVxpkLj8_APHt8nhVet9VSY3c70b6dzUG5zDV8xg/s640/blogger-image-357874645.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Michal Hope Brandonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317195638916846357noreply@blogger.com0