A Planet Called Treason by Orson Scott Card
paper, home library, 299 pgs

This was a re-read (multiple times). Why do I do that when I have so many other books to read? I think it has something to do with not wanting to actually have to think when I'm tired. Since I know the story already, it's a lazy read. It's similar to other people "vegging out" in front of the tv - mindless entertainment.

Card is my favorite SciFi author, but he wrote this book early in his career and it is a rough read! It lacks the smoothness of his later work, but is still an intriguing story. The descendants of an intellectual rebellion are each making the most of their ancestors' strengths. The Muellers are using their genetics to regenerate human body parts. The Nkumai are selling physics (e.g. faster than light travel). Lanik Mueller is both hero and pariah in this story of power, mystery, and salvation. (Not the kind that Jesus offers, though!)

Blindspot by Kevin C. Pyle
CMSW hard cover, unpaged graphic novel

This one has me in a quandry. I bought it based on a favorable review, and I definitely think it has a lot of redeeming qualities. However, when I paged through it briefly, the word "dickweed" and a few other choice words jumped out at me. So I brought it home and read it. On the one hand, I am concerned that it promotes some very negative behaviors as "normal" "boy stuff." And on the other hand, I think it has a very good message in the end. I also think that it will resonate with a lot of my boy readers.

I had Nick read it to give me his opinion. He thinks I should keep it on the notorious "back shelf" and only check it out on request. I don't actually have a shelf like that at CMSW. I did at NP, though. It was getting pretty full by the time I left. . .

I think I'll ask Lisa G to read it and give me her opinion. Or I might ask some mature male readers - Sam or Drake.

The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers

paperback, Hennepin County Library, 324 pgs

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

book on CD, Hennepin County Library, 3 hrs, 12 min.

Just finished these last night / this morning (12/12/07). It took me a really long time to "get into" Sin Eater. I've had it for almost two months! Every time I started it, I just didn't connect. But after having it so long, I decided that I had to at least read the darn thing. Then I didn't like what I was reading! How could Cadi's parents be so insensitive to her grieving? Ultimately, it worked out well in the end. I liked the friendship between Cadi and Fagan, but it was really hard to get past her parents' treatment of her. Jesus is our sin eater - too many people don't get that. I didn't like this quite as well as the other books I've read by Rivers.

A Single Shard is one of those books I have been meaning to read for quite a few years. I remember all the raving about it when it won the Newbery award, but I just had never picked it up. The CD version was enjoyable - I know there are words I wouldn't be able to pronounce! It was a bit weird hearing a Korean story with a British accent, but reader Graeme Malcolm has a gorgeous voice and brought the story to life beautifully. With this story, too, there were times when I disliked the injustices. Poor Tree Ear! Orphaned when a baby, he has been left with homeless Crane Man. The friendship between the two is so positive, though they live on the edge of starvation. My least favorite part of the story is when Tree Ear encounters the thieves by the cliffs. It upset me so much, I shut off the CD player! This was a beautiful, powerful story about so many different things. I ended up loving it!

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
264 pgs, CMSW hardcover

I enjoyed this immensely, but can't figure out how to "sell" it to middle schoolers. It got rave reviews and I see why. I loved his Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, too (much more than Kira-Kira, which won the Newbery that year). His writing style is very engaging. I just haven't seen kids get hooked on his books.

Mrs. Baker is the extraordinary English teacher in this Vietnam-war era story of a 7th grade boy, Holling Hoodhood. Holling does not go to Wednesday afternoon religious instruction like all the other kids. When half his class leaves for Catholic catechism and the other half leaves for the temple and Hebrew instruction, Holling is left with Mrs. Baker. She begins with menial labor (like eraser cleaning), and moves into Shakespeare. Along the way, she teaches him to think and to care.

This would be a delightful discussion book - with mature adolescents or with adults. It made me want to pick up some Shakespeare. It's been a long time since I read or saw any of the bard's plays. Gary D. Schmidt is a fantastic author! He has another gem in this book.



I cried at a few different points in this book. When Holling re-conneccts with his sister (Heather). When Mrs. Bigio (the cook whose husband died in VietNam) apologizes to refugee Mai Thi. This is a wonderful book and I hope my students enjoyed it. We'll discuss it this week . . .

Stash Envy: and Other Quilting Confessions and Adventures
by Lisa Boyer

Carver County Library, paperback, 142 pgs.

I like this author - she's funny, personable, and has short little stories (previously published articles, I believe). This is a nice, light escapist book. Reading it makes me want to quilt, though. I just want time to work with my fabric! I would also love to go to Hawaii. . . I can't even imagine living there.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

What a unique book! I am such a text-based person that I didn't linger over the illustrations. I wanted to know what happened next! But the illustrations are gorgeous and help tell the story beautifully. I loved how the story elements all came together at the end. And it surprised me that this story sprung from the author's encounter with automata and a curiosity to know more about Georges Melies. (I need to learn how to include accents in my text!) Now I, too, am curious about this man. Delightful story!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

This is at least the sixth time I've read this. This used to be my all-time favorite SciFi title, I think I'm at the point where I like Ender's Shadow better. The only books I've read more than this one are the Bible and Jane Eyre. What is it about a certain book that can make it just as enjoyable upon multiple readings as it is the first time through? I have such a huge reading stack right now that it's hard to believe I took the time to re-read this! Onward!

Light on Snow by Anita Shreve

Book on CD / Hennepin County / ~6.5 hours
Read by Alyson Silverman

What an emotional story! Nicky and her dad are living in an out-of-the-way cottage in New Hampshire when their lives are interrupted by their discovery of a baby in the snow. Still alive, she is rushed to the hospital by the Dillons. When the mother shows up ten days later, just as a blizzard is hitting, they must deal with the intense emotions her arrival stirs up.

I couldn't believe how harsh Nicky's father seemed toward Charlotte. Though he was still grieving the loss of his wife and one-year-old baby two years earlier, it seemed unreal that he could be so unforgiving. Then Detective Warren was such a jerk! This is the type of book I would really enjoy discussing in a book club. I thought about recommending it for our CMSW book club, but I'm not sure if others would enjoy it.

Reader Silverman did a nice job, making the characters fairly distinct. It was an enjoyable listen. The music was unnecessary - it almost detracted from the sections it was supposed to be complimenting.

All in all, a very enjoyable story. Charlotte and Nicky are both wonderful young characters.

Reading! I love to do it. Since I first created this blog four-ish years ago and never did anything with it, I think I'll turn it into my reading response site. I need to get away from my Excel-sheet recordkeeping system and play around with this format. I just forget to label / tag my entries half the time. Onward and upward!