Hey, Dummy

by Kin Platt
CMSW, hardcover, 171 pages

This book caught my attention with its 70s-style cover and 95 cent price on the front (probably a Permabound). But as I flipped it open, I got curious. So I read the book before deciding that yes, I was going to delete this from the collection.

I liked the fact that an ordinary kid went from bullying to empathizing with a mentally disabled student (the empathy part, not the bullying). There were some interesting portrayals of realistic situations and some neat moments. But overall, it was not a fulfilling story and the ending was just plain stupid. Written in 1971, this is definitely showing its age. . .

Stately Pursuits

by Katie Fforde
Carver County library, paperback, 280 pages

British chick lit. Heartbroken Hetty Longden heads to Courtbridge to house-sit for an elderly great-uncle who's hospitalized. She ends up trying to save the house from the heir's determination to bulldoze it and develop once his uncle dies. Of course, she falls in love with Connor as they battle over the house's future.

I thought about just returning it to the library after the first few chapters, but doggedly finished it. I liked it better than I expected to, but wasn't really crazy about it. Fluff read. A bit shallow.

Lawn Boy

by Gary Paulsen
CMSW, hard cover, about 70 pages

The 12 year old boy gets an old lawnmower from his grandma as a birthday gift. He starts mowing neighbors' lawns and pretty soon he has a stockbroker and 100% ownership in a boxer. Funny and light, this is the novel that the seventh grade has chosen to go with the Stock Market Game in seventh grade. Should be fun!

Latte' Trouble

by Cleo Coyle
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 243 pages

This was going to be our November book club book, but I honestly couldn't get past page 98 before it was due. It was just not compelling. I feel bad that Christie and Karen both read it - it was just that bad. The review of it made it sound delightful!

Basically, someone dies at a hip Manhattan coffee bar. A barista is arrested. A mystery begins.

But I found myself forcing the reading. Like the little engine that could, I was trying to motivate myself to get 'r done. Then I decided (once again) that life is too short to waste on uninteresting books. I don't know why I have so much trouble with that!

Re-Gifters

by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, & Marc Hempel
Carver County Library, paperback, 148 pages
graphic novel

I really liked this story, but wonder if it's a bit too edgy for middle school . . . Jen is a Korean girl who's very good at Hokaido (fighting). When she lets her crush on fellow fighter Adam distract her, she decides to make an extravagant gesture. But things don't turn out the way she expects. Her twin brothers provide comic relief. This is another title in the new Minx series. So far, I've really enjoyed Plain Janes & this one . . . good storytelling!

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period

by Gennifer Choldenko
audioCD, 4 hours & 17 mintes, Carver County Library
narrated by Ariadne Meyers & Francois Battiste

Oh this story infuriated me! Brianna is a very, very icky mean girl. And Kirsten's mom was clueless and nasty. I'm so glad it turned out well in the end.

Told from both Kirsten's & Walker's perspectives. Nice to listen to both voices. Not sure how it would come across in book form. . . my school's copy walked off last year. I should reorder. This book has some good lessons about friendship.

Round Robin

by Jennifer Chiaverini
hardcover, Dakota County Library, 304 pages

Book two in the Elm Creek Quilters series. At first, I thought there were too darn many story lines, but then I realized that it fit right in with the "round robin" idea. I liked learning more about the characters in this setting. I enjoyed Diane's storyline with her sons and the skateboarding.

I wish I spent time at a quilt retreat and worked on quilting as a regular part of my life!

A Perfect Day for Love Letters

by George Asakura
Carver County Library, paperback, unpaged
manga

Five short stories involving letters and love. They were okay, but not my style. Intriguing concept of using the letters in different ways in different characters' lives. I actually had a dream about letters after reading this! Won't buy it for school, though. Not enough substance and I already have plenty of manga.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

by Ishmael Beah
paperback, PRFC, 228 pages

The absolutely chilling story of a boy from Sierra Leone who gets separated from his family at age 12, evades both the army and the rebels by foraging and constantly moving, then becomes a vicious killer. It amazes me that Beah was able to leave the drugs, violence, and power of his army time and become such an incredible young man.

I'm looking forward to the discussion tomorrow. This book was difficult to read, but so very important! It's hard to believe that this was his reality only a decade ago. How can the rest of us just go blithely about our lives when things like this are happening?

MAD Kids

paperback magazine, Carver County Library

A student asked me to get this for CMSW, so I got a public library copy to make up my mind.

- clean enough (regular MAD has some pretty intense drug & sex humor)
- interesting variety of comics, interviews, and other features
- I remember some of the cartoons from twenty years ago in regular MAD! They're re-using some material.
- only 4 issues per year . . . it would take a long time to build up enough issues to check out back copies.

I think I'll just refer kids to the public library on this one. They could also take a look at Nickelodeon magazine.

Electric Girl

by Michael Brennan
paperback, Carver County Library, 155 pages
volume 3

Interesting graphic novel - actually, it's a series of stories about electric girl (and her personal gremlin who loves to cause problems). It's "clean" enough for middle school, but didn't really inspire me much.

Maybe I'm too tired to enjoy much right now.

Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyer
hard cover, CMSW, 754 pages

Spoiler alert!

Edward and Bella get married, procreate, Bella turns into a vampire, Jacob imprints on her baby (Renesmee), the Volturi come out in force, the good guys win.

I'm glad it's over. Each successive book has become less interesting to me, but I understand why these stories are so incredibly popular with my students.

There are a lot of vampire things that I'd love to ask the author about. Why wouldn't the human blood consumers choose victims that thinned the herd of bad humans? If vampires don't have beating hearts and blood circulation, how exactly do the male vampires get to the point where procreation is possible? Well, the questions don't end there, but I've had enough of this genre.

Eclipse

by Stephenie Meyer
CMSW, hard cover, 629 pages

Book 3 - Bella & Edward work out their "terms," and Jacob & Edward face off as rivals for Bella's affections. Victoria starts an army of vampires to come after Bella.

Bella's immaturity makes me wonder what Edward sees in her . . . some nice storytelling, but not a fabulous read. I like how the vampires and werewolves worked together to defeat the army. I liked the tent scene - good tension.