Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can.
Get the popcorn ready.
Lights…Camera…Action!
Our very own Linda Sue Park, author of the loved A Long Walk to Water — that book which has garnered so much praise and inspired so much action—is at it again. This time, the first book in a fantasy trilogy:
From Newbery Medal winning author Linda Sue Park comes a captivating fantasy-adventure about a boy, a bat, and an amazing transformation.
Raffa Santana has always loved the mysterious Forest of Wonders. For a gifted young apothecary like him, every leaf could unleash a kind of magic. When an injured bat crashes into his life, Raffa invents a cure from a rare crimson vine that he finds deep in the Forest. His remedy saves the animal but also transforms it into something much more than an ordinary bat, with far-reaching consequences. Raffa’s experiments lead him away from home to the forbidding city of Gilden, where troubling discoveries make him question whether exciting botanical inventions including his own might actually threaten the very creatures of the Forest he wants to protect.
The first book in an enchanting trilogy, Forest of Wonders richly explores the links between magic and botany, family and duty, environment and home.
Glad to say that I have an ARC of this and am looking forward to digging in soon. I’m confident Mrs. Park won’t disappoint!
In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
I will not soon forget Joana, Florian, and Emilia. I’d like to forget Alfred, but I will remember him too.
War make friends and accomplices of of people who would never meet under normal circumstances. These four are brought together as WWII is drawing to a brutal and bloody end. It is winter of 1945 and the Germans have finally admitted that defeat at the hands of the Russians is inevitable. Hitler had denied this outcome for so long that now, escape is a harrowing and tragic ordeal. Joana, Florian, and Emilia are the three main characters who are working their way to the Baltic Sea to get on board a departing vessel that will take them away from the brutal Russian army. Each has a different story to tell. Each has his or her own secrets to keep. Each is vying for a coveted spot on board the doomed ship—the Wilhelm Gustloff.
I don’t know how Sepetys so deftly weaves so many stories and so much history together into one novel. I found myself engrossed in the characters and their histories—waiting on edge for a new secret or tidbit to be revealed. All the while knowing what they were heading for disaster. A sinking ship.
Do you like historical fiction? Are you interested in secret stories? Did you read
Sepetys’ Between Shades of Gray? Then please don’t miss this one.
I was also fortunate enough to receive this year’s Newbery and Caldecott winners in the Scholastic order this week.
“Robinson’s simple shapes, bright palette and flat perspective belie a sophisticated use of acrylic and collage. His cityscape is diverse and friendly, without neglecting the grittiness: litter, graffiti, security grilles and a soup kitchen—CJ and Nana’s destination. With this final detail, Last Stop on Market Street provides a gentle twist, letting readers in on the secret Nana and CJ have known all along: They’re on the way to help others who have even less. But it’s also the warmth of their intergenerational relationship that will make this book so satisfying, for both young readers and the adults sharing it with them.”–New York Times
A #1 New York Times Bestseller and Winner of the 2016 Caldecott Medal
Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!
In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.
Harry Colebourn’s real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey–from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England…
And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.
In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
Let’s also watch the first 3:00 of this video:
If that looks good, I’d also highly recommend Mrs. Sepetys’ first novel, which can be seen as a companion to Salt to the Sea.
In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina’s father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.
Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father’s prison camp to let him know they are still alive.
It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?
Between Shades of Gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit.
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!
… Lots of Interim assessments and blog posts… and half of my current book. SO GOOD!
This was how I spent part of my Sunday—at the Blood Mobile outside my church doing the Double Red Blood Cell donation.
Double Red Cell Donation
What Is It?
Double red cell donation is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma and platelets to you.
This is an AMAZING book so far. I’m 63% through. The book trailer was just released—Perhaps it’ll show up on Friday’s BOOKflix Friday. I can’t say enough so far.
Born on February 9th, 2016
From Barnes and Noble:
For readers of Between Shades of Gray and All the Light We Cannot See, international bestselling author Ruta Sepetys returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war’s most devastating—yet unknown—tragedies.In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.Told in alternating points of view, and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson’s critically acclaimed #1 NYT bestseller Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein’s Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of theWilhelm Gustloff—the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.
Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can.
Get the popcorn ready.
Lights…Camera…Action!
Mrs. Polisner is an ultra-cool and in-touch author. She is quick to reply on Facebook and Twitter, which has been cool. We’ve gone back and forth a number of times.
While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him.
Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make Gae Polisner’s The Pull of Gravity a truly original coming-of-age story.
As I told you, both of my daughters recently read and loved this book. I did too 🙂 Give it a shot. Oh, you might also see this cover floating around. I think I like it better:
You can also keep your eyes open for her second book that’s on my shelves:
The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.
“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!
Tap to read a sample.
It was tough to stop reading this book. Partly because with terrorists and Homeland Security and spies and investigations and planned attacks, it is so pertinent today. There
Tap to read a sample.
was tons of action here, which I wasn’t expecting. I thought it would be more of a drama and an inner struggle than an in-the-middle-of-the-action thriller. Perhaps that’s my fault for not reading the blurb more carefully.
Regardless, this is a page-turner. If you are up for some action—and are willing to suspend disbelief just a tad, you’ll probably get a kick out of this one. It’s way different than Gratz’s Prisoner B-3087, but still a worthy read.
From Scholastic:
About This Book
From the acclaimed of author of Prisoner B-3087, a timely, heart-racing action-adventure about the War on Terror and the bond between brothers.
Kamran Smith has it all. He’s the star of the football team, dates the most popular girl in school, and can’t wait to enlist in the Army like his big brother, Darius. Although Kamran’s family hails from Iran, Kamran has always felt 100% American. Accepted.
And then everything implodes.
Darius is accused of being a terrorist. Kamran refuses to believe it, but the evidence is there; Darius has been filmed making threats against his country, hinting at an upcoming deadly attack. Kamran’s friends turn on him; suddenly, in their eyes he’s a terrorist, too.
Kamran knows it’s up to him to clear his brother’s name. In a race against time, Kamran must piece together a series of clues and codes that will lead him to Darius and the truth.
But is it a truth Kamran is ready to face? And is he putting his own life at risk?
Book orders are due today! Don’t miss out on the great books available for fantastic prices.
Wow. Another WWII historical Fiction novel. This comes out February 9th. It’s pretty amazing so far. Sepetys is so talented weaving four characters’ stories together.
From Barnes and Noble:
For readers of Between Shades of Gray and All the Light We Cannot See, international bestselling author Ruta Sepetys returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war’s most devastating—yet unknown—tragedies.In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.Told in alternating points of view, and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson’s critically acclaimed #1 NYT bestseller Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein’s Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of theWilhelm Gustloff—the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.
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.
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
A discussion with featured Frog Scientist, Tyrone Hayes:
{Celebrating the books we’ve read in the past week
&
the titles we are currently reading.}
This meme is originated by Jen and Kellee at TeachMentorTexts. Thanks!
Fascinating book that reminded me a bit of Nielsen’s
A Night
Divided. Since my wife and I watched Amazon’s Man in
the High Castle, this seemed a fitting book to read.
I’ve always been fascinated about what it was like to live in Europe as a non-Jew during Hitler’s rise. Why didn’t people stand up to him? Why didn’t more fight back?
This is a glimpse into that—how kids were brainwashed and used as tools of the Reich against their parents. And as we see here, there were plenty of power-hungry adults willing to go along with what was going on, too.
But there was a resistance. And that’s where this book takes us.
Talk about a page-turner! This is right out of the current news, and it reminds me of the series Homeland.
From Scholastic:
About This Book
From the acclaimed of author of Prisoner B-3087, a timely, heart-racing action-adventure about the War on Terror and the bond between brothers.
Kamran Smith has it all. He’s the star of the football team, dates the most popular girl in school, and can’t wait to enlist in the Army like his big brother, Darius. Although Kamran’s family hails from Iran, Kamran has always felt 100% American. Accepted.
And then everything implodes.
Darius is accused of being a terrorist. Kamran refuses to believe it, but the evidence is there; Darius has been filmed making threats against his country, hinting at an upcoming deadly attack. Kamran’s friends turn on him; suddenly, in their eyes he’s a terrorist, too.
Kamran knows it’s up to him to clear his brother’s name. In a race against time, Kamran must piece together a series of clues and codes that will lead him to Darius and the truth.
But is it a truth Kamran is ready to face? And is he putting his own life at risk?
Few things can draw a reader to a new book like a book trailer can.
Get the popcorn ready.
Lights…Camera…Action!
Before we get to our trailer, I have some new book news and updates you might be interested in.
First, I know some of you love the Amulet series. Did you know there’s a Seventh Book coming out?
I was scrolling through Instagram the other day and came across Raina Telgemeier’s (Smile, Sisters, Drama) post. (She also has a site!) Guess what? NEW BOOK COMING IN SEPTEMBER!!
I’ve seen a bunch of you reading the I Funny series.
I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and this literallyjumped off the shelf at me.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pederson and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
At the outset of World War II, Denmark did not resist German occupation. Deeply ashamed of his nation’s leaders, fifteen-year-old Knud Pedersen resolved with his brother and a handful of schoolmates to take action against the Nazis if the adults would not. Naming their secret club after the fiery British leader, the young patriots in the Churchill Club committed countless acts of sabotage, infuriating the Germans, who eventually had the boys tracked down and arrested. But their efforts were not in vain: the boys’ exploits and eventual imprisonment helped spark a full-blown Danish resistance. Interweaving his own narrative with the recollections of Knud himself, here is Phillip Hoose’s inspiring story of these young war heroes.
Just started Code of Honor, a WWII novel, and I’m already into it. It reminds me a bit of Nielsen’s
A Night
Divided. Since my wife and I watched Amazon’s Man in
the High Castle over vacation, this seemed a fitting book to read next.
y were heading for disaster. A sinking ship.
Nielsen’s
Night
She looks tough, doesn’t she? And do you think she was mean through the whole book?
{Eat the Book} 
