Few things can draw a reader to a book like a book trailer can.
Get the popcorn ready.
Lights…Camera…Action!
Which team will be this year’s BATTLE OF THE BOOK champion?
Here are three of the books you will need to read:
Description
Twelve-year-old Daniel, the new kid in town, soon learns the truth about his nice but odd new friends: one can fly, another can turn invisible, yet another controls electricity. Incredible. The superkids use their powers to secretly do good in the town, but they’re haunted by the fact that the moment they turn thirteen, their abilities will disappear along with any memory that they ever had them. Is a memory-stealing supervillain sapping their powers?
The answers lie in a long-ago meteor strike, a World War II era comic book (“Fantastic Futures, “starring the first superhero, Johnny Noble), the green-flamed Witch Fire, a hidden Shroud cave, and possibly, unbelievably powerless regular-kid Daniel himself.
Superhero kids meet comic book mystery in this action-filled debut about the true meaning of a hero.
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues before the lights go out on Ember forever!
Description
The first book in Deborah Ellis’s riveting Breadwinner series is an award-winning novel about loyalty, survival, families, and friendship under extraordinary circumstances during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan. Eleven-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. Parvana’s father — a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health destroyed — works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading letters for people who cannot read or write. One day, he is arrested for the crime of having a foreign education, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food. As conditions for the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
PICTURE BOOK WEEK!!
Description
From the creators of You Are Stardust and Wild Ideas comes a new picture book that explores how humans are inextricably connected to nature. This book draws examples from the clouds and the cosmos, the seafloor and the surface of our skin, to show how we are never alone: we are always surrounded and supported by nature. Whether it’s gravity holding us tight; our lungs breathing oxygen synthesized by plants; the countless microorganisms that build our immunity; or the whales whose waste fertilizes the plankton that feed the fish we eat: nature touches every aspect of how we live.
Using lyrical text grounded in current science alongside detailed diorama art, this informational picture book presents the idea that we thrive through connections to the land and sea and sky, and togetherness is key to nature. It encourages inquiry-based learning, inviting readers to wonder, ask questions, observe the natural world, and engage with big ideas. An author’s note at the end offers more insight into the research behind the text.
THOUGHTS…
The scientific facts were amazing and strange. It’s a crazy planet we live on. SO MANY things going on all the time we have no idea about. I like these weird facts.
The dioramas that are photographed and enhanced for the illustrations of this book are captivating. I’m glad some of the originals are included inside the front cover.
Description
In this charming, gorgeously illustrated follow-up to the award-winning The Bear and the Piano, a fiddle-playing dog and his human pal share the joy of music, and discover that, even through sad times and far-apart times, good friendship lasts forever.
Fiddle-playing Hector and his dog, Hugo, are best friends. Hugo is Hector’s biggest fan, and when Hector decides to retire, Hugo secretly learns to play the fiddle himself. Soon, a famous piano-playing bear invites him to join his all-animal band and travel the world to perform in front of huge crowds—an opportunity that Hector had always dreamed of for himself. Will Hector be able to overcome his jealousy and learn to be happy for his friend?
This heartfelt tale reminds us that there are many different kinds of success, and it celebrates the joy and healing powers of music and friendship.
THOUGHTS…
Cute story. I was glad to see the dog get his turn in the spotlight. However, I was disappointed that Hector never apologized for his selfish actions. Apologizing is an important step in setting things right.
Description
Gondra, a little dragon with an Eastern dragon dad and a Western dragon mom, celebrates her uniqueness in this sparkling collaboration between Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park and rising star artist Jennifer Black Reinhardt.
Gondra has inherited traits from both her eastern (Asian) dragon dad and western (European) dragon mom and enjoys them all. She’s especially happy that she’s a combination of both. Cheerful banter and hilariously adorable dragon portrayals present a warm, appealing family portrait. The beautiful and fanciful illustrations are rich in whimsical details that invite repeated readings.
THOUGHTS…
Linda Sue Park—yes, the same woman who wrote A Long Walk to Water—doesn’t write just historical fiction or novels. It’s fun to watch the parents joke back and forth in this one. I imagine this would be a fun read for kids whose parents are different races or ethnicities, but really it could be for anyone whose parents argue or joke about their way being better.
“. . . it unfolds with the magic of a fairy tale and the breakneck excitement of dystopian fiction.” –Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.
In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.
Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker – unfortunately, she’s being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she’s just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long. Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who is the fairest of them all?
Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story—a story that has never been told … until now.
Summary
The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?
With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.
As I was reading I made a connection that I tweeted out to the author, Marissa Meyer.
It never gets old:
Mal Reynolds From FIREFLY
Han Solo from STAR WARS
••••
For those “Lunarheads” who can’t get enough, Meyer has also published 2 graphic novels which continue the adventures of Iko, our favorite female robot.
(the art in this one is by the same guy who does the books)
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
Last year I bought my daughter Maya the first book in this duology (a two book series) and read and reviewed it here.
One year later, the conclusion to the story is here…
Fall 2018 Kids Indie Next List
“Wildcard picks up exactly where Warcross left off. Emika has uncovered Hideo’s evil plan and now she’s determined to stop him. But while she can trust her Phoenix Rider friends, she isn’t sure what to make of Zero. Wildcard is a non-stop action, adventure, science fiction thrill ride! In both the real world and the virtual there’s barely a moment to pause and catch your breath.” — Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser, Roswell, GA View the List
Description
An Instant New York Times Bestseller!
Return to the immersive, action-packed world of Warcross in this thrilling sequel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu
Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo’s new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.
Determined to put a stop to Hideo’s grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone’s put a bounty on Emika’s head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn’t all that he seems–and his protection comes at a price.
Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?
In this explosive sequel to the New York Times bestselling Warcross, Marie Lu delivers an addictive finale that will hold you captive till the very last page.
My thoughts…
Remember, this is the same author that wrote the Legend trilogy that some of you have started. She loves action, fighting sequences, and technology. She is clearly a gamer and completely at ease with techno worlds. If you were interested in Ready Player One, this might be your kind of book– but at a higher level.
I’ll be honest, there were a couple places that had me scratching my head as I listened… Wait, what?…. How…. What does that mean?….
These kinds of things happen when you sink deep into a virtual world inside of a futuristic fantasy world. How does it all work? Who is the good guy and the bad guy?
These are questions that keep us wondering and guessing.
Some people think that there is no purpose to fiction besides enjoyment. I disagree. Authors use fiction novels to challenge us and our thinking. For example, two big questions I’m wrestling with as a result of this book are:
As awesome as technology is, at what point does it become detrimental to its users… and society as a whole?
Are there immoral ways to catch people breaking the law? Is it by any means necessary? Or do we all have rights that shouldn’t be trampled on?
Tough questions for a book that’s “just fiction”.
•••
So many fascinating factoids in this one. I captures some of the interesting pics and info in Instagram…
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
Description
An exquisitely written, uplifting middle grade debut by acclaimed author, Erin Bow, about a young girl who defies her family’s expectations in order to save her brother and become an eagle hunter, perfect for fans of PAX.
It goes against all tradition for Aisulu to train an eagle, for among the Kazakh nomads, only men can fly them. But everything changes when Aisulu discovers that her brother, Serik, has been concealing a bad limp that risks not just his future as the family’s leader, but his life too.
When her parents leave to seek a cure for Serik in a distant hospital, Aisulu finds herself living with her intimidating uncle and strange auntie—and secretly caring for an orphaned baby eagle. To save her brother and keep her family from having to leave their nomadic life behind forever, Aisulu must earn her eagle’s trust and fight for her right to soar. Along the way, she discovers that family are people who choose each other, home is a place you build, and hope is a thing with feathers.
My thoughts…
What a fascinating book. I was enthralled with the culture of the Kazakh nomads living in western Mongolia. They lead a beautiful, tough life in the majestic mountains. Milk is their lifeblood, so their livestock must be constantly milked and cared for. And, no surprise, much of this work falls to the women and girls. That includes carrying water.
Aisulu is a bold and powerful young girl. I enjoyed watching her struggle with the decisions she had to make and wrestle with her place in her family and her position with her clan. She was a bold overcomer.
Bow’s language in Stand on the Sky was breathtaking in parts. In order to be able to describe the landscape and customs of the Kazakh people, she went to live among them. She joined a family in a ger (what I knew as a yert) rode on horseback, drank their tea, and ate the hard yak cheese that is a staple in their diets. Now I want to try some.
Tap the image to go to a cool site of pictures.
One of the recommendations I give to my students when reading historical fiction or book that takes place in an unfamiliar location (like Boys Without Names) is to use their iPads to look up images and videos to help them visualize their books better. Foolishly, I didn’t take my own advice until almost halfway through the book.
When I finally did, it was a reading game changer.
I found the pictures above, and also this videos (and many more).
Yeah… I got lost in the many videos I found. Amazing stuff, and it truly helped me understand the book better.
Finally, I found the trailer for this recent documentary about a thirteen-year-old young lady who was trying to become the first female eagle hunter in Mongolia. This is so similar to the book. Now I must find this movie and watch.
I am constantly amazed at the worlds that are opened up to me just by reading. I hope you experience this too.
Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can.
Get the popcorn ready.
Lights…Camera…Action!
Since you’re starting Ancient Greece in social studies class, Mrs. Conway asked me to promote some Greek mythology books with you.
By now, you all know about Percy Jackson books, so let’s look elsewhere.
My former student Julianna did a nice job with her writeup on the Pegasus series a few years ago (she’s in high school now!). LOOK!
This series is recommended by my student Julianna M. She suggested that I feature it on {BookFlix Friday}—and I suggested that SHE write the blog. So she did. Here is Julianna’s BOOKselfie with her favorite series followed by her recommendation and the blurbs she found online for each book.
From Julianna:
Kate O’Hearn, an international bestselling author, brings you a series about a normal girl with a new friend Pegasus. She makes many new friends along the way to Olympus as they fight for Olympus’s very existence. Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, said, “A winning mix of modern adventure and classic fantasy.”
In a fantasy story about Greek Mythology connecting with the real world it will leave you wanting more! There are four books already published in the series. The fifth book Pegasus: Rise Of The Titans, will be out December 1st, 2015. Each book will make you love the series even more. It is such a heartwarming story that touched my emotions. It’s little intense in some parts so I don’t really recommended for younger kids. But, it’s such an amazing story!
When Pegasus, the majestic winged-stallion of myth is struck by lightning and crashes on to her roof in the middle of a ferocious storm that blacks-out New York City, 13-year-old Emily’s life becomes that of legend.
Needing help to treat the seriously wounded stallion, Emily befriends the local school bully, Joel. Working together, they quickly discover that Pegasus has more than lightning burns. He has multiple wounds from a terrible fight as part of a spear is still sticking out of his rear flank!
Together with Pegasus, Emily and Joel face epic battles with gruesome four-armed monsters, desperate chases from a corrupt governmental agency, and captivating flights astride the beautiful winged-stallion in a heroic quest to save Olympus before the ‘Flame of Olympus’ is extinguished forever…
Emily and her winged horse face a war of Olympic proportions in this second book of the Pegasus series.
Emily, newly recognized as the Flame, is living in Jupiter’s palace on Mt. Olympus. Her friends, Joel, Paelen, and—of course—Pegasus, are there as well. The only person missing is Emily’s father, who is still being held prisoner by the CRU back in the human world. Emily wants to go find him, but Jupiter won’t allow her to leave. However, Emily does have access to a winged horse…
Determined to rescue her father, Emily and her friends make plans to sneak away from Olympus and back to New York. Then Cupid, Emily’s sort-of crush, decides to come along as well. It will be hard enough to hide a winged horse from the prying eyes of the CRU, but a winged boy as well? And when the gruesome Nirads begin a new invasion, old grudges are unearthed, new enemies are discovered, and Emily and her friends become entangled in a conflict more dangerous than they ever anticipated.
Emily and her companions, including the winged horse, Pegasus, must confront a legion of Olympic enemies in this third book of an action-packed series.
When Emily’s father and the goddess Diana return from a visit to Earth, they bring with them disturbing news. There’s a horse called Tornado Warning that’s winning all the races, with times faster than anyone’s ever seen. What could this mean? Emily, Joel, Paelen, Pegasus, and the sphinx Alexis return to Earth to investigate—and discover a CRU plot to clone Olympians and Nirads using DNA retrieved from their previous time in the human realm.
The CRU has already created dozens of Nirad warriors, Dianas, Paelens, Cupids, and Pegasuses. Now they want to create their own Emily clone—even if the original is killed in the process. Can Emily and her friends put a stop to the CRU’s plans before Jupiter finds out and carries through on his own threat to destroy the Earth?
Pegasus: Origins of Olympus Emily and her winged horse, Pegasus, face an ancient challenge of Olympic proportions in this fourth book of an exciting series. A deadly plague has struck Olympus. While the Olympians fade one by one, Emily’s heart breaks as she watches, particularly when Pegasus begins to slip away. Determined to save him, she embarks on an investigation that takes her back in time to the origins of Olympus and to the deadly battle between the Olympians and the Titans. In the present, she must face the full force of the CRU. In the past, she must confront Cronus, the father of the gods and leader of the Titans, who is intent on destroying his offspring. When Emily encounters the full power of the flame and a discovery that could change the face of history, will she make the right decisions? And in the race against time to save Pegasus, will Olympus find its true hero?
In order to save Olympus, Emily and her winged horse, Pegasus, venture to Hawaii—and a Hawaiian volcano—in this fifth book of an exciting series that puts a modern thrill into ancient mythology. The ancient rivalry between the Olympians and the Titans has been rekindled. However, this time the Titans have a secret weapon—a weapon that rivals the Flame of Olympus. The balance of power is tipped in Saturn’s favor now that he has found his own Flame of Titus. Olympus is almost in his grasp! And just when the Olympians need Emily most, she finds her own grip on the flame weakening. If Emily is going to save Olympus, she will have to save herself first. To do so, she and Pegasus must head to the Diamond Head volcano in Hawaii to track down the one thing that can rescue Olympus…but can they get there before the Titans or the CRU beat them to it?
•••
You want a fun spin on the traditional myths? Try these “fractured” Greek myths:
•••
The first book of the Goddess Girls series stars Athena, who discovers that her intelligence has immortal value.
Athena always knew she was smart and special, but she didn’t realize that she was a goddess! When she’s whisked away to Mount Olympus Academy, she worries about fitting in and dealing with her dad—who just happens to be Zeus. Luckily, she meets the Goddess Girls—and finds the best friends she’s ever had.
National Book Award and Golden Kite Honor Award Winner!
Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.
But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.
With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.
Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.
My thoughts…
A chunk of this book talks about performing poetry. It’s called SLAM POETRY and it might sound a little like this.
POW. ER. FUL! I’m so glad I listened to this rather than read it. Honestly, reading probably would have been fine since I wouldn’t have known what I was missing. But to hear the author read this the way she intended it to sound— pretty amazing. Again, I feel so fortunate as a reader.
I appreciate the honesty in this book: the honesty of her aggravation with her mom, the romantic feelings towards Aman and the disgust for other guys who are rude, her struggles with the faith with which she was raised, and her infatuation with words and writing.
Don’t take my word for it. Here’s Jourdan, who calls herself a “BOOKtuber”. Man, I wish I would’ve thought of that.
(Watch through 1:53)
This is a high school book, for sure. There are mature topics and language. I share these books with you because I want you to see that I am reading. And I hope that if you need a book to read or listen to a couple years down the road, you might remember some of the books I talked about here (or come back and find them) on this blog and seek them out to read or listen to yourself.
Description
In her first book for adults, the artist Sophie Blackall creates a deeply felt, poignant book about love—a book that captures the mystery, the yearning, at times the cosmic humor behind the “what if?” of a missed connection.
Like a message in a bottle, a “missed connection” classified (usually posted on a website) is an attempt however far-fetched, by one stranger to reach another on the strength of a remembered glance, smile, or blue hat. The anonymous messages are hopeful and hopeless, funny and sad. Ms. Blackall, award-winning illustrator of Ruby’s Wish and Big Red Lollipop, has turned some of the most evocative (or hilarious) of them into exquisite paintings.
Missed Connections is a collection of illustrated love stories. There’s “We Shared a Bear Suit.” “If Not for Your Noisy Tambourine.” “Hairy Bearded Swimmer.” Each is told in the shorthand of a “missed connection,” and then illustrated in Chinese ink and watercolor. The paintings are extraordinary: delicate yet full of feeling, each springing from one little detail of the post into a fully imagined world. Each brings the voyeuristic pleasure of watching love at first sight, and the pleasure of watching an artist discover a fresh new way to tell a story. And not all the connections are missed. Hidden in the book are three pieces that conjure up the magic of love found.
My thoughts…
This was cute. The intro pages—where Blackall mused about a guy she missed a connection with and how eventually that led to this book—were my favorite.
It made me wonder: who did I miss a connection with? And what would have happened if I had missed a connection with my wife all those years ago? Hmmmm….
When Temple Grandin was born, her parents knew that she was different. Years later she was diagnosed with autism.
While Temple’s doctor recommended a hospital, her mother believed in her. Temple went to school instead.
Today, Dr. Temple Grandin is a scientist and professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Her world-changing career revolutionized the livestock industry. As an advocate for autism, Temple uses her experience as an example of the unique contributions that autistic people can make.
This compelling biography complete with Temple’s personal photos takes us inside her extraordinary mind and opens the door to a broader understanding of autism.
If the movie looks good—and it is, trust me—it is available on Amazon Prime.
The critically acclaimed Scientist in the Field book about how one boy’s interest in backyard science inspired a career in scientific discovery.
When Tyrone Hayes was growing up in South Carolina, he didn’t worry about pesticides. He just liked to collect frogs. Tyrone’s interest in science led him to Harvard University, and though he struggled at first, he found his calling in the research lab of an amphibian scientist.
Meanwhile, scientists discovered that all around the globe, frogs were dying. The decline has many causes, including habitat loss and disease. Tyrone discovered that the most commonly used pesticide in the United States, atrazine, may also play a role. Tyrone tested atrazine on frogs in his lab at Berkeley. He found that the chemical caused some of the male frogs to develop into bizarre half-male, half-female frogs. What was going on? That’s what Tyrone wants to find out.
Does this interest you? You might want to listen to more.
A discussion with featured Frog Scientist, Tyrone Hayes:
{Eat the Book} 