Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

by Liz Wiseman with Greg McKeown
Hennepin County Library hardcover 250 pages
genre: non-fiction leadership

I struggled with this book and wish I'd had time to finish it (due today and no renewals because of the waiting list). Our district leaders (administration) are reading this and I was curious.

On the one hand, I appreciate "multipliers" like Sue Kreuser (the best boss I *ever* had!). I worked harder for her than for any other principal and didn't resent it or feel used at all.

On the other hand, this comes across almost as a "how to get more out of your employees without spending more money" type of book. That doesn't sit well when I see how stretched everyone around me is feeling. We're not working hard enough already?

Like I said, I'm conflicted . . . but I think a lot depends on what I'm bringing to the reading of this book. I love working with good leaders and need to try to be a "multiplier" kind of teacher! This just didn't connect very strongly for me.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper (book one)

by Kazu Kibuishi
personal paperback 186 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, mystery & SciFi

Emily and Navin have dealt with the death of their dad and the frustration of moving to a new town, but when their mom is kidnapped by a bizarre tentacle creature in their "new" home, it's time for the kids to take charge. Emily finds an amulet which accepts her and gives her powers. A strange man with glowing tries to overpower them as they seek to rescue their mom, meet an elderly relative, and team up with some robots. I'm ready to read book two!

Ghost of Spirit Bear

by Ben Mikaelsen
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3:42
read by Jason Harris
genre: YA realistic fiction

The follow-up to Touching Spirit Bear, this story watches Cole and Peter return to their high school (Minneapolis Central) and try to live out their lives as changed individuals.

The mindless bullying and cruelty, indifference and ineptitude of the adults at the school, and Cole's recurrent bouts of anger got old fast. Not sure how many schools like this still exist, but it doesn't resemble anything I'm familiar with. The homeless guy was my favorite character, though we really don't get to know much about him. Keith's transformation was nice, but not very realistic.

Troubletwisters

by Garth Nix and Sean Williams
Hennepin COunty Library audioCDs 8:45
read by Miriam Margolyes
genre: YA fantasy, supernatural adventure & mystery

Liked:
the cats
good triumphs over evil
the blue room
the crocodile thing
reader's voice was very effective

Disliked:
adults keeping kids in the dark, even though the kids' lives were on the line
keeping major life secrets from mom
"Troubletwisters" never really explained
too many secrets and bizarre choices by the wardens

The Wedding Planner's Daughter

by Coleen Paratore
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 4.25 hours
read by Sina Nielsen
genre: YA realistic fiction

Cute little story about Willafred Havisham (her mother is Stella, and she has "Great Expectations" for her daughter) and her dream for getting a father. Her birth father perished the day after his perfect wedding to Stella. Stella goes into business planning perfect weddings for others, but refuses to ever fall in love again.

Willa is a nice character, but she seems very young (closer to sixth grade than eighth). The literary quotations are nice. It's just a sweet, simple story.

The Downside of Being Up

by Lawrence Sitomer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 210 pages
genre: YA male puberty, humor

Oh my. Very funny book, but more penis humor than I've ever encountered in my life before. I think I'll buy it for my collection. Recommended (?) by my peers who heard about it at a BER conference (except I don't think they plan to get it).

Not very realistic that he would be penalized for having an erection in school (as one character says, it would become an all-girl school pretty quickly if they expelled boys for that), this book has enough realistic elements to make it work. The nutty grandpa made me laugh the most. The dad's skewed life philosophy was a catalyst for Bobby to live his life differently. The brother-sister dynamic wasn't explored enough (and there was waaaaay too much of Finkelstein), but it was a delightful book.

Green Lantern: Secret Origin

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, & Oclair Albert
PRMS paperback unpaged
genre: graphic novel, superhero

Interesting. Not my favorite superhero, but a nice parallel to recently having watched the movie. I like the integrity of the mentor green lantern in this comic book version. I also like the emphasis on the brothers' relationships.

Ghostopolis

by Doug TenNapel
PRMS paperback 266 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, supernatural

Glad I finally took the time to read this. Odd story, but a terminally ill child accidentally gets sent to the afterlife by a somewhat slacker ghost hunter. Wanting to fix his mistake, Frank Gallows enlists the help of his one-time love Claire Voyant (clever, huh?) to get to Ghostopolis to rescue Garth Hale. Meanwhile, Garth is discovering that he has tremendous powers in the afterlife, drawing the attention of the evil Vaugner. My favorite part of the story was Garth's connections to his grandfather and his future son. Worth a second read!

War Horse

by Michael Morpurgo
PRMS hardcover 165 pages
genre: historical fiction (WWI) & horse story

Didn't really work for me. I loved King of the Wind, Black Beauty, and Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion too much to enjoy this one. Choppy and not very compelling. I liked the scene in "no man's land" when Joey is rescued.

Finding It: and Satisfying my Hunger for Life without Opening the Fridge

by Valerie Bertinelli
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6.5 hours
narrated by the author
genre: self-help, autobiography

Liked: Tom (what an amazing boyfriend/husband=type person), learning about Wolf (her son with Eddie Van Halen, her mom, and her accomplishments in losing weight and getting in shape

Didn't like: her self-centeredness and shallowness. Get over yourself! Also, her pseudo-Christian philsophizing got old. And her attitude toward food - too extreme.

Somewhat inspiring in terms of her achievements in working out and getting her weight down. (with the help of Christopher, her personal trainer)

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town

by Warren St. John
Hennepin County Library hardcover 300 pages
genre: non-fiction journalism

This book follows Luma Mufleh from Jordan to America, where she goes to college and decides to stay in America to exercise her independence and strength as an individual. Her parents essentially disown her and she struggles to support herself and forge a new life. Over the same chunk of time, many refugees are being resettled in Clarkston, Georgia (just outside of Atlanta). The influx of so many needy refugees into a predominantly white, small town environment has a tremendous impact on the town. Mufleh starts a free soccer team for boys who love to play the game.

The Fugees have their ups and downs as a team, with poverty and violence playing a role. St. John's reporting is wonderful, especially when he acknowledges how difficult it is to remain an impartial observer to the boys' lives and struggles.

Barb Green recommended this book to me. It's a wonderful story! There's a lot of food for thought here. . . .