Mrs. McGriff's Reading Blog

Happy reading!

June 4, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

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I’m taking part in the weekly Slice of Life Challenge sponsored by Ruth and Stacey over at Two Writing Teachers, where teachers write and share each Tuesday. Join in yourself or head over to check out what’s happening with other slicers. If you’re taking part in the SOL, leave a link to your post. I’d love to read it.

Like I have for the past couple of summers, I’m taking part in Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday challenge over on Twitter.  So far, I am keeping up and making a dent in the huge stacks of books I brought home for summer reading.  I’m not doing so well with sharing my daily books on Twitter, and I’m struggling to keep up with the reviews, but boy, am I reading some good books!

imageThe book I finished yesterday, Epitaph Road (Scholastic 2010) by David Patneaude, is one that sticks with me.  It’s in one of my favorite genres–dystopian.  The world in this book seems to be much improved over our current state of affairs.  Poverty, hunger, war, and crime have almost entirely disappeared.  How did this come about?  A deadly virus nearly wiped out the world’s population of men.  Now that women rule the world (and tight restrictions keep the remaining males in their place), it is a much better place.  Or is it?  As much as I might like to think that women would do a much better job running the world, I’m not sure it would happen.  I’m afraid that once women got into power, that power might corrupt them, too.  Indeed, there are hints of that corruption even in the world of Epitaph Road.

Kellen Dent is used to the restrictions, but he chafes at the limitations placed on his future.  Then when rumors of another deadly outbreak threaten the area where his outcast father lives, Kellen will take any chance to warn him before it is too late.  Two new friends, TIa and Sunday (both girls), offer to go with him.  Before they return from their mission, they uncover an even deadlier secret that will change their lives and their world.  Even as they rush blindly into the future, Patneaude weaves echoes of the past throughout the story.  Each chapter begins with an epitaph for one of the males who died.  Some are related to characters in the story.  Others reveal just how much the world has changed, and at what cost.

Kellen is a pretty cool fourteen-year-old boy.  He wishes he had more freedom, but having studied history before the virus, he can see that the world is better off in many ways.  When his dad is in danger, he doesn’t hesitate to take off to warn him in spite of the danger to himmself.  He’s also willing to accept help from others–Tia, Sunday, Gunny, even Dr. Nuyenn.  I love Tia and Sunday.  These girls are smart, musical, funny, and brave.  They insist on going with Kellen because it’s the right thing to do.  Together, this trio can take on the world.  Some of the other characters are quite memorable as well.  One of my favorites is Ms. Anderson, the rebel history teacher.  She wants her students to think for themselves and in her homework gives them just enough information to piece together the truth behind those in power.  I hope I can do as much for my students.

June 3, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Middle School Get Me Out of Here! by James Patterson

imageRafe Khatchadorian may have survived his first year of middle school, but seventh grade looms on the horizon.  And seventh grade promises more changes for Rafe and his imaginary best friend, Leo the Silent.  First, Rafe’s family moves in with Grandma Dotty in the big city.  That means a new big city middle school to survive–Cathedral School of the Arts–and a new mission–Rafe Get a Life.

Just like last year, trouble follows in Rafe’s wake, no matter how hard he tries to avoid it.  Trouble first shows up in new bullies and then a new friend–Matty the Freak.  Along the way, Rafe tries all kinds of new experiences, from riding the subway to dropping water balloons, uh gloves.

Like the first installment, Middle School Get Me Out of Here (Little, Brown, and Company 2012) by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts is packed with snarky humor (and innocence from Rafe–Who, me?).  Rafe’s illustrations of his life reveal that his imagination is much more interesting than real life.  Rafe also discovers a surprising secret about his dad.  That’s the only part of the book that bothered me.  I’m not sure why his mom would keep the secret the truth about Rafe’s dad.

I do think that fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Origami Yoda will enjoy this combination of text, pictures, and humor.  I suspect that some of my incoming seventh graders might share Rafe’s fear and trepidation of starting middle school.  A little humor can go a long way to dispel some of it.

If you can’t get enough of Rafe’s adventures and attitude, and if you haven’t yet gotten his little sister’s story in Middle Schooll My Brother Is a Big, Fat Liar, you can check out Rafe’s Rants, a web series on Patterson’s website.

June 3, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Invisible World by Suzanne Weyn

imageSuzanne Weyn weaves together magic in history in this tale that travels back in time to the Salem Witch trials in 1692.  Magic and supernatural powers can be good or evil, and soon everyone in Salem must decide which side they will stand on.  I love that magic is real in Invisible World (Scholastic 2012), but that magic doesn’t excuse people from their choices.  Yes, there may be an evil spirit running loose in Salem, stirring up trouble, but some people are all too willing to invite it in and let it take charge.

I love the fiery independence of Elsabeth James.  She comes from a long line of midwives, mind readers, and fortune tellers.  Even though she is aware of the risks (her grandmother was executed for foretelling the the death of Mary Queen of  Scots), she longs to use he powers to make an independent life for herself.  However, her plans take an unexpected (and unseen) twist when the ship her family’s on to travel to America sinks in the Atlantic Ocean.  Eslabeth survives the shipwreck to wash up on the shores of a rice plantation.  Aakif, one of the plantation slaves, rescues her and takes her to learn from Aunty Honey, who is another powerful healer.

Once the white owners return at the end of the hot season, Elsabeth loses the freedom she cherishes.  She is sent to Salem to be the servant of Reverend Parrish.  On the journey she meets Mary Carmen and reunites with an unconscious Bronwyn.  Attempting to help Bronwyn’s spirit reunite with her body, Elsabeth inadvertently brings down an evil spirit that follows them into Salem.  It will take all of her will and knowledge and help from others to drive the evil from Salem.

June 1, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Seizure by Kathy Reichs

Virals by Kathy Reichs was one of the more popular Young Hoosier books among my students this past year.  The blend of science fiction and mystery created an action-packed story that captivated my eighth graders.  Many of them went out and found copies of the sequel Seizure to read next.  They told me how much they liked it, but I didn’t get around to it until I downloaded the audiobook to listen to once school was out.

Seizure is a swashbuckling adventure.  Tory Brennan and her pack of Virals are desperate to find a way to stay together now that the funding for Loggerhead has dried up.  While their parents look for other jobs, the Virals hunt for pirate Anne Bonny’s missing treasure.  Makes perfect sense to me.

Listen to Kathy Reichs discuss both books in this series:

June 1, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Stolen into Slavery by Judith and Dennis Fradin

imageI cannot imagine the horror of being born and living free and then being kidnapped and sold into slavery for twelve years, but that horrifying fate is just what Solomon Northup survived.  Judith and Dennis Fradin recount Solomon’s story in Stolen into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man (Scholastic 2012).

Solomon Northup was born free in New York state in the early 1800s.  He was educated and worked as a carpenter.  He also played the violin.  He married and had three children.  Then in 1841 he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery.  He spent the next twelve years on cotton plantations deep in the Louisiana swamps.  His name had been changed, so it was nearly impossible for his family to discover what had happened to him.  Since his kidnappers had stolen his money and the papers proving he was free, it was impossible foa him to prove his identity and regain his freedom.  For twelve long years, Solomon looked for a chance to escape and return to his family.  Even though it was illegal to kidnap and sell a free black, the guilty parties were never brought to justice even though they were known.

Basing their research on Solomon’s own account of his years of slavery and on other records including bills of sale and court documents, the Fradins bring Solomon’s story to life in a gripping narrative.

May 31, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Dewey the Library Cat by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

imageIt’s now official.  I want a library (a bookstore would probably do, too) and a library cat.  I’m not sure any cat could top Dewey’s story as recounted by Vicky Myron (with Brett Witter) in Dewey the Library Cat (Little, Brown and Company 2010).Dewey had a rough start that turned out to be the beginning of the best life.  On the coldest night of the year he somehow got into the book drop return in the Spencer, Iowa, library.  His wide eyes and bedraggled fur greeted the librarians in the morning.  How could they resist?  Vicky Myron couldn’t.  With the help of the other librarians, she introduced Dewey to the library patrons, library board, and the wider Spencer community. Almost everyone agreed:  Dewey could remain the official library cat.  His official name became Dewey Readmore Books. (Yes, he has his own website.)

Dewey took his responsibilities seriously.  He greeted patrons every morning when the library opened.  He snuggled in laps, especially for those who needed a little extra that day.  He tolerated the tugs and rough pats of toddlers and the squeals of children.  He invited librarians to play hide and seek among the stacks.  He posed for cameras and performed for news crews.  As time went on, he held court for visitors who travelled from across the country and around the world to see him.  Little by little, he inspired the residents of a small town and gave them hope to hang on through the tough times.

May 31, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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May Books Read

48) Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel – wow!  Other than the fact I’m still wrapping my brain around historical fiction set in 1974 (I was alive and old enough to remember that year!), I loved this story of a family raising a chimp.

49) Cloaked by Alex Flinn – loved this modern compilation of fairy tales into one story packed with twists and turns

50) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot – I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time

51) Holding Onto Good Ideas in a Time of Bad Ones by Thomas Newkirk – much to think abbout it this one

52) 10 Days:  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by David Colbert – I learned even more about the Civil Right’s movement

53) I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis – I know the boat sinks, but I enjoyed the antics of George as he explored the boat and fought to survive.

54) Pathways to the Common Core by Lucy Calkins, Mary Ehrenworth, Christopher Lehman – much to think about

55) Moonbird by Phillip Hoose – Who knew I would get so caught up in reading about a tiny bird that completes an amazing journey year after year?

56) I Survived The Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshish – Tarshis portrays the shock and horror in a way that is manageable for young people

57) As Simple As It Seems by Sarah Weeks – a heartfelt twist on a “ghost” story

58) Choke by Diana López – powerful story of a dangerous game

59) Behind Enemy Lines: True Stories of Amazing Courage by Bill Doyle – amazing courage is right, from the American Revolution to Desert Storm

60) Behind Enemy Lines:  Under Fire in the Middle East by Bill Doyle – more amazing and inspiring stories of courage

61) Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz – Wow!  I’ll be thinking about this story of good and evil, puppets and wizards, poor and rich for days to come

62) Pinned by Sharon G. Flake – Both Autumn and Adonis are tough–and vulnerable

63) Beware the Ninja Weenies by Dvid Lubar – more stories for fans of the gross, the bizarre, and the surprising

64) Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen – another funny book with a warm-hearted MC (even if he does embellish the truth)

65) Dewey the Library Cat by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter – Now I want a library and a cat

66) Stolen into Slavery:  The True Story of Solomon Northrup, Free Black Man by Judith and Dennis Fradin – a gripping and horrifying true story

May 30, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen

imageEven though Gary Paulsen may be best know for his survival stories (Hatchet and the rest of the books following Brian), he may be as popular in my classroom for his humor.  I predict that Liar, Liar (Scholastic 2011) will be a hit in my classroom.

Kevin has it all figured out.  Why tell the truth when a little lie–or two or three or ten–can make everyone’s life a little easier.  After all, it’s not easy being the youngest of three kids in a family that might be unraveling.  It’s not easy convincing Tina that he would be her perfect boyfriend.  It’s not long before all his lies have grown out of control and Kevin must face the unthinkable–telling the truth.

Despite his chronic lying, I like Kevin.  He is actually a good student and proud of it.  Even when he plans to skip class to pursue Tina, he makes up all the work he missed and even does extra work to get back into his teachers’ good graces.  His heart is in the right place even when his schemes have unintended consequences.  And when Kevin is confronted with those consequences, he doesn’t run or hide from them.  He takes them on and owns up to his role.  As a result, he is going to be quite  busy in the near future:  debating the city council, completing extra projects, babysitting the neighbor boy, writing sports stories for the paper, painting sets for the school drama, and joining the wrestling team

My only regret is that I don’t have the next books in this series on deck to read next.

May 30, 2013
by Mrs. McGriff
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Beware the Ninja Weenies by David Lubar

Fans of David Lubar’s Weenie series won’t be disappointed with this installment. Beware the Ninja Weenies is packed full of stories with bizarre twists, gross deaths, and just plain weird characters.  I played around with iMovie to create this trailer.  Believe it or not, all the images have a connection with one or more stories.