May 2012 archive
I am always looking for more sports books to connect with my students who are athletes. I’ve found lots of books around basketball, baseball, and football, but not so many for soccer. Tangerine (Scholastic 1997) by Edward Bloor will be one of those books that I put into the hands of my soccer players and many other readers. Paul Fisher lives to play soccer, but Tangerine is about so much more: disturbing family dynamics and willfully blind adults.
Paul Fisher may be the only character wearing thick glasses, but he is the only member of his family to see things clearly in this new place they’ve moved. On the surface, the town of Tangerine is filled with gleaming subdivisions and is bursting with opportunities. As Paul struggles to fit into another new place, he discovers some very strange things going on. Thunderstorms fill every afternoon, but not even a lightning strike that kills a student will cancel sports practices. A muck fire constantly burns underground while mosquitoes fill the air above. In between, termites are eating away at those new houses. Inside his new house, Paul is terrorized by his older brother Erik, the football hero. His parents are blind to the torment dished out by Erik and can only focus on the Erik Fisher Football Dream.
Paul tries not to let it get to him until he’s kicked off the middle school soccer team because of his disability. (Did he really damage his eyes by staring at a solar eclipse?) Then a sinkhole swallows most of Paul’s middle school. The chaos afterwards opens up a new opportunity for soccer at a different school, Tangerine Middle School. The students there are much rougher, but Paul earns the respect of the War Eagles on and off the field. With their friendship, he gains the courage to see the truth about his community and to confront the dark secrets in his family’s past. Ultimately, he decide if he has the courage to speak the truth to people who don’t want to hear it.
I first discovered Joan Bauer when two of her books (Hope Was Here and Stand Tall) were on the Young Hoosier list. I enjoyed the combination of humor and tragedy that she brings to her stories. Close to Home just might be my favorite yet because Foster is the kind of girl I dreamed of being. She reminds me of my favorite heroines like Anne of Green Gables and Caddie Woodlawn with her spunk and attitude.
Foster has a dream to make it big with her own television cooking show. She hangs onto that dream throughout the challenges thrown at her as she and her mother flee a violent Elvis impersonator and find themselves stranded in the tiny mountain town of Culpepper when their car breaks down. Culpepper is a town in need of a dream–and possibly some of Foster’s cupcakes. (I could be in need of some of the cupcakes if anyone would like to bake me some.) The new prison was supposed to bring new jobs, but so far it only casts a dark shadow over the town. Business is slow at Angry Wayne’s Bar and Grill. The Church of God and its ministry of Helping Hands (for the families of prisoners) is FOR SALE due to financial woes. Two of Foster’s new friends also have dreams: Macon wants to make documentary films (even though he doesn’t have a camera) and Miss Charleena longs to return to her glory days in Hollywood (even though she is too sick to get out of bed some days). Even Foster’s mom yearns to be the lead singer instead of backup.
Foster also holds a deep, dark secret that she is embarrassed to share with anyone: She struggles to read and dreads the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year where she is sure to be labelled a failure yet again. I love how Bauer honestly confronts Foster’s struggle to read and write–and the reactions of her friends. Miss Charleena sneakily ferrets out the secret and offers hope when she says, “My teacher told me some people come naturally to reading and other have to work twice as hard. There’s nothing wrong with having a different way of learning. What’s wrong is when people blame you for it” (143) Foster works hard to rise to the occasion. She is not lazy like her previous teachers called her, but the words just swim across the page. Cooking, on the other hand, has given her something she’s good at.
But just maybe, if Foster can learn to trust Macon and Miss Charleena (and they can learn to trust her), she just might make strides toward being the next Sonny Kroll, her Food Network hero. She might even finally crack the reading code. Through it all, Foster keeps doing what she does best–baking. Or is it connecting with people that she does best? For Foster, cupcakes and people go together as she goes about making “the world a better place, one cupcake at a time” (250).
Now, who’s going to bring me some cupcakes?
Sadie and Carter Kane have one last book to save the world from the Egyptian god of chaos, Apophis. Just like the previous two books, The Serpent’s Shadow (Disney/Hyperion Books 2012) by Rick Riordan is packed with zany humor, eccentric gods, and nonstop action. If anything can go wrong with their quest to save the world, it does go wrong. The only way they can save the world is to do the impossible–and do it on a deadline in three day’s time.
Sadie and Carter take turns telling the story. I enjoy their digs at each other and the opportunity to experience all the action from their different perspectives. Some of my favorite characters are back. Sadie is still torn between Anubis, the god of death, and Walt, the cursed & and dying magician. Ra, the Sun-god, is still off his rocker. Zia (the real one) is drawn to caring for Ra. Carter, of course, is still attracted to Zia if he can just get up the nerve to do something about it. Bast still puts out her claws if anyone threatens her kits. Bes and Tawaret might even make it out of their eternal nursing home, if all goes according to plan.
I love the new characters Riordan introduces as well. Sadie and Walt must survive their encounter with Neith, the goddess of the hunt. I will never quite look at Jelly Babies the same way again. My favorite, though, would have to be Setne, the ghost magician. This dude is not only evil, he is the only one who can lead Sadie and Carter to the secret to defeating Apophis. Setne has a history of escaping justice after death, and he just might do it again. He might lead Sadie and Carter to where he hid his book of spells, or he might kill them along the way. Even if he tells only lies, it is always a good story.
This is supposed to be the last book for the Kanes, but Riordan leaves hints that Sadie and Carter won’t necessarily live happily ever after. New magic and new problems are sure to appear along side the work of rebuilding all that was lost while Apophis grew stronger. After reading this series, I just wish I knew more about Egyptian mythology. Somehow I neglected the gods of the pyramids on my mythology kick back in my younger days.
Now I just have to wait until fall for the release of the Mark of Athena, the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series.
I love how Elana Johnson begins Surrender (Simon Pulse 2012*): “Someone is always watching. Always listening. Freedom doesn’t exist in the city of Freedom, what with the glinting silver surfaces recording thoughts everywhere and the surrounding walls keeping everyone and everything in–or out.”
Gunner and Raine live in a city where everything is provided for you and everything is controlled by the government. Students are tracked into classes that will prepare them for the career that best complements their talents. Each person has a Match chosen for them. Food dispensers provide nutritionally balanced meals from your recommended food plan with the push of a button. Even your free time activities are monitored a guided. No one has to think for themselves because Thinkers are there to do it for them.
Gunner has always played by the rules, but now he is running out of time. Will he join the Insiders? Will he use his considerable talents to brainwash and control the rest of the population? Raine has always given the appearance of playing by the rules–especially to her father, Director Hightower–but she is a rebel with a secret power of her own. Both Gunner and Raine have a role to play in the fight against the total control of the government, but first they have to sort out the attraction between them. They must also discover the secrets locked within the brainwashed mind of Raine’s roommate, Vi, and decide if they can trust her boyfriend, Zenn, who is playing both sides in a deadly game. Zenn is not the only one playing both sides. Someone offers help with disrupting the constant technical surveillance and sending warnings just when they need it most.
Surrender is the companion to Possession, which I haven’t read yet. I definitely want to read it to learn more about Vi and Zenn and the mysterious Resistance leader Jag. I also want to revisit this world where the possibility of control has grown to such terrifying abilities. How do you keep secrets in a world where your every word and action is recorded. Even your thoughts are recorded as you send messages via an implant for communication? In this world some people are born with extraordinary abilities to manipulate and control others. Those people–like Gunner, Raine, Vi, and Zenn–are groomed to lead the rest of the population. How do they resist the temptation of so much power to spread freedom?
I hope there is a third book coming soon because the ending was chilling. Three of them got away, but the one left behind faces a fate worse than death.
*I read an ARC I won from a contest.
Now that school is out, you have time for all the fun things you want to do. Hopefully, you’ll find time for a little bit of reading, too. How do you like my pile of books for summer reading? These are books I picked up through book orders and the book fair but didn’t have time to read through the school year. I hope to enjoy most of them so I can add them to the class library next fall. Which should I read first? The bottom picture is the stack of next year’s Young Hoosier books. I’m excited. I’ve already read a couple of titles and have been wanting to read several more.
Even though you have left my class, there are lots of ways to connect with other readers.
- Start with the Summer Reading Program at the Jennings County Library. You can earn prizes for any and all reading you do and for completing different challenges. You can also enter raffle drawings for even more prizes! I just signed up this morning. Here’s the link to the teen sign up: Own the Night. If someone older or younger wants to sign up, click the tab at the top for the appropriate age range. You can also hang out at the library on Thursdays at 1 pm for Teen Navigators. Explore something new every week!
Did you know you can read with your ears? I love audio books. I can read while doing mindless chores like washing dishes, weeding the garden, or mowing grass. I can even read while I run! You can download audiobooks (and e-books for Nook and Kindle) straight from the Jennings County Public Library. Download the Overdrive app straight to your iPod Touch, tablet, smartphone, or computer to get started.- Sync YA Literature into Your Earphones is giving away two free audiobooks a week, starting June 14. Explore a contemporary YA title paired with a classic title. It uses the same Overdrive software as the library.
- See what’s happening on GoodReads. It is social networking for readers. It’s a great place to discover new books and connect with your favorite authors. Check out my page to see what I’m reading.
- Of course, you can drop by here anytime to check out what I’m reading. Be sure to let me know your favorite books from the summer!
Happy Reading!
It has been an amazing year, and I have enjoyed seeing each of you grow as readers and writers. I think we have a lot to celebrate as we wrap up 8th grade together. For one last time, here are your reading totals. This is the first year I set a reading goal, and I had no idea what would happen when I challenged you to read 40 books by the end of the year. Let’s just say you blew me out of the water. Even if you didn’t read all 40 books, I am thrilled with how much you have read. Almost all of you have read more this year than you dreamed possible. Here’s how it all adds up!
The 129 students I ended this year with have read
a grand total of 3,733 books.
- 2nd period: 30 students read 1,095 books, for an average of 36.5 books per student. The number of books read by student ranged from 9 to 81. Thirteen of you met or exceeded the goal of reading 40-50 books.You guys rock!
- 3rd period: 26 students read 752 books, for an average of 28.9 books per student. The number of books read by student ranged from 8 to 105. Five of you met or exceeded the goal of reading 40-50 books.
- 5th period: 30 students read 724 books, for an average of 24.3 books per student. The number of books read by student ranged from 6 to 116. Six of you met the goal of reading 40 books.
- 6th period: 20 students read 512 books, for an average of 25.6 books per student. Everyone who was here for the entire school year read more than 10 books! The number of books read by student ranged from 4 (by a student who was here less than half a year) to 55. Seven of you met the goal of reading 30-40 books.
- 7th period: 23 students read 650 books, for an average of 28.3 books per student. The number of books read by student ranged from 7 to 108. Six of you met the goal of reading 30-40 books.
I have enjoyed reading your blogs this year. I hope you have enjoyed writing for them and reading each others’ blogs as well. If you don’t want to keep your blog, don’t need to do anything. I will delete it over the summer. If you want to keep your blog, there are some steps you need to follow because I can’t keep up with them any more–especially after I start a 130+ more blogs for next year’s students! You must complete these steps by May 31, 2012. I will start deleting blogs in June. You need to remove me from your blog and change your email.
Remove me from your blog.
- From your blog dashboard, go to Users > All Users.
- Click the check box by my user name: kaymcgriff
- Click on the arrow next the the box that says Bulk Actions.
- Choose Remove from the drop down menu.
- Click on the button that says Apply. My name should disappear. You are now on your own and in control of your blog!
Change your email.
- From your dashboard, go to Users > Your Profile.
- Scroll down until you get to Contact Info.
- Type in your own email address and click Update Profile (all the way at the bottom of the page).
- An email will be sent to your new email address. It will ask you to click on the link to confirm the change in email address.
- If you don’t click on this link, your email address won’t change, and I will still get all the email from your blog.
Repeat.
- From your dashboard, go to Settings > General.
- If your email address did not change, type in your new email address again here.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
- An email will be sent to your new email address. It will ask you to click on the link to confirm the change in email address.
- If you don’t click on this link, your email address won’t change, and I will still get all the email from your blog.
Monday
Read first 15 minutes of class. Today you get to read for the real world to decide which two products would be best to buy. Read the Consumer Reports article on your choice of product. Create a Venn diagram to compare two models of the same product. Which one would you buy?
Homework: Read. Choose five words for Weekly Word Study.
Tuesday
Read first 15 minutes of class. Finish your comparison of two products and turn in.
Homework: Read. Complete Weekly Word Study.
Wednesday
Read first fifteen minutes of class. Misti, from the Jennings County Public Library will be here to talk about opportunities for the summer reading program at the library. Today is the last day to bring in books for the Book Swap on Friday.
Homework: Read. Complete Weekly Word Study.
Thursday
Read first 15 minutes of class. We will disassemble your binders today. If you don’t want to keep it, and it is in good shape, you can recycle the dividers and binders to be used next year.
Homework: Read. Weekly Word Study due.
Friday
BOOK SWAP! Don’t bring anything to class today, because all the desks will be filled with books! Everyone gets one coupon to take home a book. If you brought in additional books for the book swap, you get one coupon for every book you brought in. You will have an opportunity to browse the books available and select the ones you would like to take with you. Happy Reading!
Homework: Read.
What would it be like to live with mentally ill parent? What would it be like to hear voices in your head as you try to keep your life from falling apart? Jason Papadopoulos–and the voices of Fat Bald Guy with a Mustache, Sexy Lady, Crazy Glue, Aunt Bee, and the Laugh Track–can tell you all about it in Crazy (Scholastic 2010) by Han Nolan.
Ever since his mother died, Jason is the only one left to care for his father. His dad is convinced that Jason is the Greek leader of the Argonauts and that the Furies are about to kill him. They no longer have heat in their home, and there is no more food in the house.
At school, Jason has always tried to be invisible, but his recent actions have been drawing unwanted attention. (For some reason his English teacher did not appreciate the symbolic gesture of writing only the middle of every word.) He finds himself sent to the school psychologist for a lunch group session with three other students. Jason vows to keep quiet, but finds himself sharing more and more as life at home spirals out of control.
Yes, this is a story about mental illness, but it is so much more. More than anything else, it is a story about friendship. Jason learns to trust Shelby, Haze, and Pete and to accept their offers of help. Once life with his dad crosses the line (in an incident involving a broken mirror and a stolen Stradivarius), Jason has to learn to let go of his dad. Once his dad is committed to the hospital, Jason is placed with a foster family. He no longer has to do it all on his own, but can he accept the fate he is given?
I found much to love about this book. I could understand Jason’s desperation to keep his family’s secrets. I admired his dedication to his father and wanted him to find some sort of stability. Shelby, Pete and Haze add their unique voices to Jason’s life as well. At first I was distracted by the voices in Jason’s head that kept interrupting the narrative. I wanted to do impersonations as I read. As I got used to them, they added multiple points of view all going on in Jason’s head at the same time.
Here’s the deal. You can order great books through Scholastic. Sometimes they even give you a great deal. (Always check out the $1 book on the front page.) An even better deal, the more books you order, the more free books I can get for our classroom library. There are two ways to order:
1) Fill out the paper form and bring it with your money (checks made out to Scholastic) by Friday, May 11.
2) Order online at Scholastic (for parents only). On the parent page, click the “REGISTER” button under “First time here,” then register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time activation code code (GPBPV). This code ensures that your orders are sent to me. Select the books you want from over 500 titles. Take advantage of on-line only discounts and specials. SEND your order to me on-line. I will deliver the books in class.
Here are some of my favorites from the May book order:
- Call It Courage by Armstrong Perry
- Alex Rider: Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz
- The Gallagher Girls Collection and Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Ally Carter
- Dead End in Norvelt by Jac Gantos
- Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
- Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
- Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik
- Found, Sent, Sabatoged, Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- The Roar and The Whisper by Emma Clayton
- The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd by Heather Brewer
- Matched and Crossed by Ally Condie
- The Red Pyramid, Throne of Fire and The Serpent’s Shadow by Rick Riordan
- The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
- Plagues, Pox, and Pestilence by Richard Platt
- Charles and Emma: The Darwin’s Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
- The Big Field by Mike Lupica
- The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
I am always looking for more sports books to connect with my students who are athletes. I’ve found lots of books around basketball, baseball, and football, but not so many for soccer. Tangerine (Scholastic 1997) by Edward Bloor will be one of those books that I put into the hands of my soccer players and many other readers. Paul Fisher lives to play soccer, but Tangerine is about so much more: disturbing family dynamics and willfully blind adults.
