Book Fair

Well, I didn't get much reading done because we had our monster book fair last week. We aren't going to hit anywhere near last year's sales, but we had a tremendous turn out nonetheless. I picked up some books for myself and paid attention to what the kids were getting. I can't wait to read Inkdeath, and I also got the second 39 Clues book. At WalMart the other day, I grabbed Tales from Beadle the Bard by JK Rowling because for some crazy reason, Scholastic does not have it on their book fair. The kids picked up Deep and Dark and Dangerous, Found, Elephant Run, Listen, A Crooked Kind of Perfect, Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls, Seekers, and Marley. Some of those I've already read, some I will have to pick up. I also plan on reading/listening to Twilight. Santa got me a combination Christmas/Birthday present, an iPod touch, so I'll have to download Twilight and see what all the fuss is about.

I will have lots more to say next week after I get a chance to read some. Hang in there and Merry Early Christmas!

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

The third book in the "Inheritance Trilogy" (or as most people will identify with it, the Eragon books), was mostly satisfying. I very much enjoyed the story-lines, and the deepening of the characters. I could have done with several less long and detailed fight scenes though. Especially the ones between Roran and the empire. You can go with Eragon not being killed because he has magic, but come on...193 soldiers, with a hammer? I suppose if I am suspending belief for dragons and magic, I can suspend disbelief for Roran and his hammer. But it's a little to convenient for Paolini I think. It's like an easy out for him to say, "Wow...Roran lived...again!" But oh well, that's really a minor quibble.

I'm impressed with Paolini's devotion to the world of Alagesia. It echoes of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars how he devotes an entire section of the end of the book to the analysis of the language and how he encourages one who is interested to further study the originating languages (dwarf, elvish, urgal, etc.) I can't believe that the book was supposed to be longer. For one thing, what the heck else could he have added to the story?! And for another, it could not have handled anything else.

I hope there is some restraint in the fourth book with regards to the battles, but I'm sure there will be a few good detailed ones as Eragon and his companions must march on toward killing "King" Galbatorix. We'll see how long it takes Paolini to craft the next story.

On a side note, I can't wait to pick up the third Corneila Funke book, Inkdeath. (I can't think of the name of the series right now...it's not her third book, just the third in the series). I might just have to ask for it on CD for Christmas!

The Missing Book 1: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Wow. This book was pretty good. I wasn't really expecting anything when I opened this. The book fair rep sent it to me so that I could preview it and book talk it before the fair. I'm still trying to figure out a good way to book talk it without giving anything away! At the end of the first 10 pages, there's quite a kicker. I immediately took the book to another teacher and said, "Read the page ten." She shook herself after she read it and said, "Creepy."

The descriptions that jump into my head right away are "Lost" and "Quantum Leap". (Remember that show?) So I can definitely say this is Science Fiction. But I was a tad surprised with the direction the book took at the end. I expected more of the "backstory" to the mystery to be dragged out and have that be the focus of the series. Clearly, the series is going to continue with the backstory still there intact, but the main characters having varied adventures.

I'm not describing this book very well, but I don't want to give anything away! It was very good, but I felt the writing was a little forced at the end of the book. Haddix was trying too hard to wrap up the backstory before the end of the book. Since this is a series, she could have left a few of the questions unanswered in this book and come up with better explanations for them in the second book. But all in all, this was a great read and the kids will really enjoy it.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn

Although this is on our State Children's Choice Awards for next year, I read this because one of my friends said, "You have to read this. It's creepy." She's now reading it at recess time with her fourth graders who want to and they are loving it.

Seriously. I met Mary Downing Hahn briefly at the autograph session when she won our state award for The Old Willis Place. She is this little petite older lady with gorgeous flowing script. How can these creepy stories come out of a sweet person like that?! I think this story is scarier than the Old Willis Place. I might have to make it an optional book with my 4th and 5th graders next year, as I can see some being too scared when reading it. It's a pretty typical ghost story, and fairly obvious to us adults what's going on, but it might be too much for some students. Still, the voice Downing gives her characters strikes a chord, even with us adults.

I also got a few new books in the mail. They are going to be on the book fair, so I got some to preview and book talk before the fair. I picked up Margaret Peterson Haddix's new book "Found: The Missing - Book 1". I didn't get very far yet, but dang...I didn't need to. The first ten pages made me think the kids are going to gobble this one up. I'll tell you more about it when I finish.

Other than that, I've been terribly busy. Most of my reading has been magazine and scrapbooking things. Although, I did leisurely read some books from an older series called Myth-O-Mania. Very light-hearted reading, but I had one from the series and never read anymore. I found them at the public library a few weeks ago.

I will check back later when I've read more of "Found"!

39 Clues by Rick Riordan

I read what is sure to be the breakout book of the season. If you haven't heard about it, 39 Clues is going to be a 10-book series. (Why have just one book anymore?!) Each book will be authored by a popular intermediate/young adult author. The first is by Rick Riordan, and the second, which comes out Dec. 2nd is by Gordon Korman. Each book comes with a pack of clue cards and extra packs of cards can be purchased separately. You can go online and register yourself and your cards and compete to win prizes by solving mysteries.

The story itself is worth the read. My description of it is: The Westing Game meets National Treasure meets Series of Unfortunate Events. (With maybe a little Pokemon thrown in to cover the card thing!) I really enjoyed the read and look forward to the next one, though we'll see where I'm at by number 10. The third book in the series comes out in March and is by Peter Lerangis.

Of course, I'm a sucker for mysteries and puzzles to solve, so the website is an added bonus. Check it all out at http://www.the39clues.com

Interesting Thoughts

I read a very interesting article on one of the School Library Journal blogs the other day. It is a great discussion of the Newberry Award and its staying power.

Looking at the list for our state children's choice awards, I'm thinking the same thing for our award. There are many authors on the list who have been on the list within the last two or three years. How do you balance exposing readers to something new with the "popular" items? Hmmm...tough dilemma.

Sooo bad at blogging...

I'm am so bad at blogging apparently. I have read a lot of books in the last month. But, I just can't seem to make the time to blog. I even got my blog unblocked at school, but I feel like I shouldn't post entries unless it's lunch time. And you know how fast lunch at a school goes!

I've read several of the Sisters Grimm books. They continue to be enjoyable, but now there's a while time travel element to them that I'm not sure I like.

I read a book called Evil Genius. It had gotten a lot of press at conferences last year, but I wasn't sure it was appropriate for my students' level. While I really enjoyed it, I think I was right. It wasn't quite for my students. Certainly for middle school it would be o.k. It is about a gifted student who gets sucked into a school that teaches about world domination...and all the crimes and violence that goes with it. I was hoping the "evil is bad" message would come out sooner and stronger than it did to override the violence and little bit of language in it. Then I could justify having it in the library. But, I just don't think it's for the intermediate level.

I started reading Eggs by Jerry Spinelli. It's o.k. I'm not really thrilled about what I've read so far. Right away it sort of hit me like Stargirl, but with none of the finesse. The writing in this one seems forced so far. Maybe I need to give it a little more time though.

I know I'm missing a few books, but I can't think of what they are right now. I'll need to go peruse the shelves at school and try to remember.

Next on my list are Brisingr (the third in the Eragon series, I even bought it on CD!), Theodosia: Serpent's Chaos, and The New Policeman.

Check in later. Hopefully sooner than this last time!