offline---

I've been wondering if it is time to put this book group to bed--this is the third year! That's pretty good!

By no means is this meant as a criticism; I know everyone has priorities and obligations and Life, etc. The weak efforts I've made at maintaining the site just don't seem worthwhile.

Would anyone mind, terribly?

someone stole the story

I did read this month's book. It's just that my response was so ... lacking that I put off posting and put off posting and here we are, 23 September and I am posting.

You know, I am just not a Tim Wynne-Jones fan (not to be confused in ANY way with Diana Wynne Jones--no hypen; Ms. Jones is a Brit and Mr. Wynne-Jones is Canadian) (you can totally tell by his photo). This is my third Wynne-Jones book and I'm yet again feeling it lacked lustre.

He gets some interesting characters who have Issues, but they don't do much except Think Thoughts. Mm. Yes.

I couldn't figure what kind of story A Thief in the House of Memory was. Psychological coming-of-age? Murder mystery? Spooky ghost story? No idea, even now.

Argh!

Mo Willems Fan Mail

. . . a la "Don't let the pigeon . . .

Madeleine L'Engle

She was 88.

BOOK THIEF, THE

Any commentary on The Book Thief? I read it last summer; we'll see what I can remember.

I didn't love it--really, I thought it was too long and tended to ramble. It was depressing and dark and cold. All that remains with me visually are a few flashes of the basement and the drawings the artist did.

I remember it was a difficult read, as in I had to force myself to finish it.

. . . that's all I can dredge up! Other thoughts? I know we are all pretty busy right now.

Thick as. . .

And that will be A Thief in the House of Memory for September.

I don't think I'll use that poll again; it messes up the formattting.

New Thing

Hey all--

Blogger has a new feature that integrates polls into the blog. I thought we could give it a shot, although I'm already not liking it as much because it does not support linkage.

Just a try.

Red Hair’s Not as Uncommon as You Think

"A countdown of 20 things that show up repeatedly in young adult fiction."

From the blog of Joëlle Anthony.

your input here!

Hey all--

As some of you may know, I am returning to the classroom RIGHT NOW. Sadly, I got rid of many of my classroom library books and am now down to these 85 books. I had over 300 at one point.

Any suggestions?

I'm building this for 6th, 7th & 8th grade; what were YOUR favorite books then?

When I was 11-13, I read a lot of Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Diana Wynne Jones and Robin McKinley. How about you?

Thief!

August's book is The Book Thief. I've read it and encourage you all to get started; it is not short.

Yay for all the participation last month!

Absolutely, Positively Not a bad book

Hmm. Absolutely, Positively Not was amusing, very tongue-in-cheek and I read it in one sitting.

The story was predictable (clichéd at times) but also funny. Comical may be a better word. The characters were likeable and I am so glad it wasn't all about the teacher leading Steven along the Path of Knowledge. I'm glad Mr. Bowman fell off his pedestal and that Steven had to come to terms with his teacher's imperfection. I did have some issues with Rachel. She was just about too earthy Type A for me; her actions were extreme and unrealistic at times.

Favorite part: after Rachel cheers Steven for finally telling coming out and starts getting all squidgy on him, (pg. 126) she continues:

"Which guy in our class do you think is the sexiest?"

"I have no idea."

Actually, it was Victor Sanchez.

Steven's answer is so quick, so definite; he's obviously put some thought into the subject. That still makes me laugh! I think it is the "actually" that makes the line. Hysterical.

I did not like how the story ends just before the complicated part begins. Or not so much where it ended as much as where Steven was. The central point of the book: Steven wants all the "answers" -- the ones that any person wants for instant relationship/life success. He thinks that if he just looks hard enough or talks to the right person and asks the right questions, he'll be enlightened. I don't think Steven figured out that that's a pipe dream, which left me without a feeling of closure. I think Steven still expects Mike to have the magic words to "fix" him (or he's expecting red-hot romance).

Then again, there's a lot to be said just for finding someone in the same boat.

Other opinions?

July's Author

David LaRochelle has a web site that includes this groovy photo from his teaching years.

Discussion for Absolutely, Positively Not begins Sunday.

Simmons News

The latest Simmons magazine explains that Cathie is heading the 2009 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award Committee! Barbara Elleman is also on the crew.

If you don't remember, the honor is a sort of lifetime achievement award. Past winners:

2007: James Marshall
2005: Laurence Yep
2003: Eric Carle
2001: Milton Meltzer
1998: Russell Freedman
1995: Virginia Hamilton
1992: Marcia Brown
1989: Elizabeth George Speare
1986: Jean Fritz
1983: Maurice Sendak
1980: Theodor S. Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
1975: Beverly Cleary
1970: E. B. White
1965: Ruth Sawyer
1960: Clara Ingram Judson
1954: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Poll Over

July will be Absolutely Positively Not by David LaRochelle and August is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.