tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84276920967855057922024-02-18T18:02:47.594-08:00Tween MaterialsFor my main blog, please visit http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com!Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-52896654718288217732011-06-13T10:49:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:49:16.209-07:00Sports Illustrated Kids (Magazine)<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.ohnozone.net/archives/060114d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://www.ohnozone.net/archives/060114d.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="241" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Published since 1989. Published by Time Warner. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Description: </b>This version of the popular sports magazine began being published for a younger audience in 1989. The magazine features interviews with famous athletes, comics, other information about sports. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sports Illustrated Kids</i> is an ideal magazine for tweens, especially boys, who are interested in sports or athletics. The magazine often includes interviews conducted by other tweens of famous athletes, which readers are sure to enjoy. The funny photos of athletes with clever captions are also very entertaining. Overall, and excellent publication for tweens. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Magazine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interest level: </b>Grades 4-8</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> Although I am not a sports enthusiast, I do like this magazine quite a bit, especially for its appeal to tween boys. I think it is very clever and amusing and covers a lot of topics that readers are sure to enjoy. For latchkey tweens who come into the library after school, I often recommend picking up a copy of this magazine for browsing until their parents pick them up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sports, athletics, interviews. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Published since 1989. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information:</b> N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Character information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you like sports? Want to learn more about your favorite athletes? Then this is the magazine for you!</span><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002PXW04Y&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
</div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-7432121977243249312011-05-10T22:31:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:48:11.088-07:00Girls’ Life (Magazine)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span></span>Published since 1994. Published by Girls’ Life Acquisition Co. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://s11.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/f/2/f2h8xqgg0zsoggz8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Emma Watson - Girls' Life Magazine [United States] (August 2007)" border="0" class="imgorig" height="320" src="http://s11.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/f/2/f2h8xqgg0zsoggz8.jpg" width="249" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Description: </b>Since it was first published in 1994, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girls’ Life </i>has focused on issues facing real-life tweens, like school, self-esteem, and peer pressure. Also included in the monthly publication are fashion tips, advice, quizzes, horoscopes, and games. The magazine often features celebrities on the cover, along with information and interviews about their lives. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girls’ Life </i>is an ideal magazine for older tween girls who are just on the cusp of wanting to pick up teen magazines like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seventeen </i>or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cosmo Girl</i>. The topics featured in the magazine are more mature than children’s magazines, and include a lot more celebrity gossip and advice about the opposite sex. According to the magazine’s website, the publication prides itself on guiding tween girls without making them grow up too fast. This is accomplished well and the magazine is very age appropriate as well as entertaining. Tween girls will undoubtedly want to read through each issue, especially those featuring celebrities they admire. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Magazine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interest level: </b>Grades 5-9</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Girl Magazine</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> This was not a title I read as a tween, but I have often looked through issues that have come through my library. I am always impressed with how the magazine covers important topics but in an age appropriate manner. Although I do prefer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Girl </i>magazine for tweens, I think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girls’ Life</i> is another really good publication as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Celebrities, advice, fashion, real-life issues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Published for 17 years. Recipient of many Parents’ Choice Gold Awards and the Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Awards. Official magazine for Girl Scouts of the USA. Official book for Take Our Daughters to Work Day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information:</b> N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Character information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to learn about fashion, celebs, boys, and real-life issues facing girls just like you at the same time? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girls’ Life</i> magazine features advice columns, horoscopes and fun quizzes that are sure to entertain you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002PXW0TE&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-54067301767712153132011-05-10T22:10:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:47:47.607-07:00American Girl (Magazine)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Published since 1992. Published by American Girl, LLC. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://magazinesinthemail.com/cart/images/T/american-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://magazinesinthemail.com/cart/images/T/american-girl.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="251" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Description: </b>Published by the same company responsible for the American Girl dolls and fiction series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Girl </i>magazine is issued bimonthly and contains a variety of regular articles and special features for the modern American girl age 8 and up. Regular features include advice columns, including “Help!” and “Heart to Heart.” In addition to these columns, the magazine features fiction stories, games, and ideas for parties or crafts. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Published for almost twenty years, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Girl </i>magazine has been a breath of fresh air in the world of magazines available for tweens. Too old for children’s magazines and too young for teen publications, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Girl</i> is completely age appropriate for tween girls who aren’t quite ready to dive into the world of fashion, make-up, and celebrity gossip. Much of the fiction included in the magazine is actually quite well-written and interesting. The advice given is sound and appropriate for tweens. Overall, this magazine has been serving its target audience very well for almost two decades, and has the readership to prove it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Magazine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interest level: </b>Grades 3-6</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girl’s Life Magazine</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I used to read this as a tween and it still puts a smile on my face every time I see an issue pass through my library. It is a very wholesome but interesting and completely age appropriate publication. I am often impressed by the caliber of the fiction included in the magazine. I hope that this magazine continues to be published for years to come. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self-confidence, advice, creativity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Published for almost twenty years to over 500,000 readers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information:</b> N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Character information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the magazine that has been enjoyed by girls for almost twenty years! Included in this bimonthly publication is advice, craft ideas, party planning, and interesting fiction stories. </span><br />
</div><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00006K37V&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-49148386020219246962011-05-10T10:40:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:47:24.392-07:00A Cinderella Story (Film)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Release date: 2004. Performers: Hilary Duff, Jennifer Coolidge, Chad Michael Murray, Dan Byrd, Regina King. Studio: Warner Brothers Pictures. Director: Mark Rosman. Screenplay: Leigh Dunlap. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b3/Movie_poster_a_cinderella_story.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="File:Movie poster a cinderella story.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b3/Movie_poster_a_cinderella_story.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Samantha Montgomery lives with her loving father, Hal, who owns a successful diner. Wanting Samantha to have a mother, her Hal marries Fiona who moves in with her two daughters, Brianna and Gabriella. One night, Hal is tragically killed during a large earthquake, leaving Samantha to live with Fiona, who is actually cruel and hates Samantha. Since Hal had no will when he was killed, Fiona inherits the house and diner, and turns Samantha into her and her daughters’ personal slave. Eight years later, Samantha, Brianna and Gabriella are in high school. Fiona spoils her daughters rotten and they are bumbling idiots who are trying desperately to be popular. Samantha is forced to work long hours at the diner, but still manages to get straight A’s. Samantha takes refuge online, where she has a pen pal named Nomad who she shares her aspirations with. It is revealed that Nomad is actually Austin Ames, the most popular boy at Samantha’s high school, quarterback of the football team, and recent ex-boyfriend of popular cheerleader, Shelby. When Nomad suggests that he and Samantha meet in person at their school’s Halloween dance, Samantha is distraught when Fiona forces her to work, missing the dance. The loving employees of the diner, however, are determined that Samantha go, and get her dressed up beautifully. When she arrives in costume at the dance, Austin doesn’t realize who she is, and the two immediately fall for each other. But when Austin learns that Samantha is actually a poor diner employee, will he still love her?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This modern take on the classic Cinderella tale includes a lot of twists and turns from the original story that make for a wonderful movie for tweens. Instead of Samantha’s beauty, the “prince” falls for her kindness and intelligence. The evil stepmother is actually a Botox’d, plastic surgery obsessed woman who is too self-centered to love anyone but her own offspring. The stepsisters are wannabe popular girls, who believe they are talented and desirable, but are, in fact, perpetually making fools of themselves. The prince is a pensive and intelligent quarterback who doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed into the life his father has set out for him. All of these changes make for a very interesting film that shows that popularity isn’t all it’s cut out to be. True to the original tale, the ending of the movie is very satisfying with all the loose ends tied up and the characters getting what they deserve. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Cinderella Story</i> is an idea “chick-flick” for tween girls with a good message behind it as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interest level: </b>Grades 4-9</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ever After </i>(1998)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I really enjoyed this modern take on the Cinderella story, especially because it showed that brains can take a girl much farther than just beauty. Jennifer Coolidge as the evil stepmother almost stole the show for me with her goofy Botox’d face. The interactions between Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray are very sweet, and tweens will definitely enjoy watching the beautiful couple fall for eachother. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cinderella, intelligence, following your heart. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Box office success. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information:</b> Sequels: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Another Cinderella Story </i>(2008) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song </i>(In production)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Samantha Montgomery – The “Cinderella” character. An intelligent and caring girl who is orphaned after her father is killed in an earthquake. She meets her “prince” in an online chatroom where she impresses him with her intelligence and aspirations. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Austin Ames – The “Prince Charming” character. A kind but misunderstood high school quarterback. He is the most popular guy at school, but longs for something outside of the life that he sees laid out before him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fiona Montgomery – The “Evil Stepmother” character. A cruel, self-absorbed woman who cares only for her own daughters. She treats Samantha very poorly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brianna and Gabriella Montgomery – The “Evil Stepsisters.” They try very hard to be popular, but always end up making fools of themselves. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this modern version of the classic tale, Samantha meets her prince, the most popular boy in her school, in an online chat room where she impresses him with her intelligence and aspirations in life. </span><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0003JANM8&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003TY2SW2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-74233068545980470252011-05-10T10:08:00.001-07:002011-06-13T10:46:46.212-07:00Aquamarine (Film)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span></span>Release date: 2006. Performers: Emma Roberts, Joanna “JoJo” Levesque, Sara Paxton, Jake McDorman, Arielle Kebbel. Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures. Director: Elizabeth Allen. Screenplay: John Quaintance and Jessica Bendinger. Based on the novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquamarine</i> by Alice Hoffman. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Aquamarine_%28poster%29.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:Aquamarine (poster).jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Aquamarine_%28poster%29.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Claire and Hailey are best friends living near a resort on the Florida coast. Claire is an orphan who lives with her grandparents and Hailey lives with her single mother, a marine biologist. The girls are devastated to learn that Hailey will soon be moving to Australia for her mother’s job. Claire and Hailey wish for something miraculous to happen so that Hailey doesn’t have to move. One night, after a particularly nasty storm, the girls discover a mermaid named Aquamarine who washed ashore and into the pool at the resort. Claire and Hailey befriend the kind and charismatic mermaid, who informs them that she can take human form on land during the day as long as her legs don’t get wet. Aquamarine has run away from home trying to escape an arranged marriage and prove to her overbearing father that true love exists. In order to do that she needs to fall in love, and tells Claire and Hailey that if they help her they will get to make a wish. Seizing the opportunity to avoid Hailey’s move, the girls set out help Aquamarine fall in love with a handsome lifeguard named Raymond. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fun and simple movie is girly to the core, and will delight tweens with its humor and heartwarming message. The relationship between Claire and Hailey mirrors the friendship many tween girls have with one another. They are incredibly close and rely on each other for everything, but things outside of their control seem to be pulling them apart. It is clear that Hailey is the stronger of the two girls, trying to coax the orphaned Claire out of her fear of “living.” Aquamarine is a very wise and charismatic character who helps Claire and Hailey realize that they are both courageous and capable of living happily without one another. The love story between Aquamarine and Raymond takes a back seat to the dynamics between Claire, Hailey and Aquamarine. The end result of the film is an encouraging message to “be friends with life” as Aquamarine says, and Claire and Hailey both grow stronger as a result of their adventures. A very sweet and wholesome film that tween girls will enjoy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction/Fantasy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interest level: </b>Grades 4-8</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Splash </i>(1984)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> Even though I am about fifteen years past the target audience for this film, I still find <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquamarine</i> to be a very entertaining and heartwarming movie. Sure, there are some goofy, girly scenes, like when Claire and Hailey try to teach Aquamarine about love by having her read through a dozen magazines or when the ladies go shopping and get makeovers. But the overall message of the film is really solid, and I think the characters, especially the confident mermaid, are good role models for tweens. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mermaids, friendships, courage. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nominated for two Teen Choice Awards, two nominations and one win for Young Artist Awards. Box office success. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Claire Brown – A kind but timid tween girl who was orphaned after her parents were killed in a boating accident. She is very clingy to her best friend, Hailey. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hailey Rogers – Claire’s best friend, and the braver of the two. She lives with her mother who is a marine biologist, and is devastated to learn that her mother is moving her to Australia for her job. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aquamarine – A charismatic and confident mermaid who washes ashore during a big storm and befriends Claire and Hailey. She desperately wants to prove to her father that true love exists and is trying to escape an arranged marriage with a merman that she doesn’t like. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Raymond – A handsome and kind lifeguard. He is the object of lust for many tween girls around the resort, and Aquamarine is determined to make him love her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claire and Hailey are best friends who are in danger of being split up when Hailey’s mother wants to move her to Australia for a promotion. When a beautiful mermaid named Aquamarine washes ashore, the friends are in for an adventure that will change their lives forever. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0439098645&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000FCW15A&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-47811698250565516952011-05-10T09:38:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:46:09.629-07:00The Tilting House (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Tom Llewellyn. Release date: 2010. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582462882.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n71/n357799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n71/n357799.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Josh Peshik’s parents don’t make a lot of money, so when they have the opportunity to purchase an old but spacious mansion they take it. The trouble is, the mansion is tilted. The floors, the furniture, the walls, all slope three degrees inward. Even more strange are the equations, formulas and ideas scribbled all over the walls throughout the house. The Peshiks are determined to make the best of their new house, however, and Josh and his little brother Aaron, along with their mom, dad and grandpa, move in. What follows is a series of adventures and strange occurrences involving the various secrets contained within Tilton House. From talking rats, to a dimmer switch that makes the house disappear, living in the mansion makes for one interesting summer vacation. Despite all of these odd happenings, Josh wants to learn more about the mysterious man who built the mansion and what all of the scribbling mean. Will he be able to uncover the truth about Tilton House and all of its eccentricities?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Told in a series of interconnected vignettes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tilting House</i> is a fun and original tale where the setting, a mysterious old mansion, is a prominent character in its own right. Immediately after beginning the novel, readers will be intrigued by the oddness of Tilton House. The sloping floors, the crazy scientific scribbling all over the wall, and the magical discoveries of talking rats, powder that makes things grow, and a dimmer switch that makes the mansion disappear. Hidden within all the mansion’s eccentricities is a decades old love story that explains the truth behind Tilton House. Tweens will enjoy this quirky novel. The way Llewellyn has organized the chapters makes for an interesting read. There is somewhat of a plot string that continues throughout the novel, but each chapter chronicles a different event that Josh and Aaron experience. The conclusion of the novel is very satisfying but also leaves the story open for sequels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction/Fantasy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-8</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sixty-Eight Rooms </i>by Marianne Malone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I found this book to be delightful. The idea of a house that slopes leaves many opportunities for fun storylines, and Llewellyn took advantage of them very well. I really liked the romance that Josh and Aaron discovered that was responsible for a lot of the eccentricities of Tilton House. I wouldn’t be surprised if Llewellyn wrote some sequels to this story and I look forward to seeing them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Science, mystery, mansions, secrets. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">School Library Journal, Booklist, Publishers weekly, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kirkus Reviews. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Josh Peshik – A tween boy who moves with his family into the mysterious Tilton House. Josh is determined to uncover the secrets behind the house and is very adventuresome. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aaron Peshik – Josh’s little brother. He is also interested in learning more about the mansion, but is far more apprehensive than Josh. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lola – A tween girl who lives on the same block as the Tilton House. She befriends Josh and Aaron and helps them investigate the mysteries behind the mansion. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grandpa Peshik – Josh and Aaron’s quirky grandfather who is also interested in their investigations of the house. He has a wooden leg, his actual leg was lost due to a fishing accident. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Daga – A large talking rat that lives in the attic of the Tilton House. He is gruff, but eventually provides a lot of assistance to the Peshiks in investigating the house. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josh and Aaron Peshik aren’t sure what to make of the new house their parents have just moved them into: all the floors slope three degrees inward and there are crazy, scientific scribbling all over the walls. They soon find that when you live in a tilting house, adventure is definitely in store!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1582462887&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-78947100370935478372011-05-09T22:21:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:45:53.368-07:00James and the Giant Peach (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Roald Dahl. Release date: 1961. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alfred Knopf. ISBN: 9780375814248.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMqllV-rf90RLnI9B1McAvl3qkysmzRwxfAx3rqVzw3HfcQfY5Z7L3nZeXBoph_Nw3mdUSdyvEcfyTynvNONY4uOAg1KbpJOILouwAJWaveuuxnWrOioOou2Tsao83x6lW-FHO2TByKE/s1600/james+and+the+giant+peach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMqllV-rf90RLnI9B1McAvl3qkysmzRwxfAx3rqVzw3HfcQfY5Z7L3nZeXBoph_Nw3mdUSdyvEcfyTynvNONY4uOAg1KbpJOILouwAJWaveuuxnWrOioOou2Tsao83x6lW-FHO2TByKE/s320/james+and+the+giant+peach.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="208" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>After his parents are tragically killed by an escaped rhinoceros, James Henry Trotter is sent from his serene cottage by the sea to live with his cruel aunts, Sponge and Spiker. The women treat James horribly, beating him for no reason, giving him leftover scraps to eat, and forcing him to sleep in the attic on the bare floor. One day while taking a break from the abuse outside in the garden, James meets a mysterious man who offers him a bag of crocodile tongues which he promises will bring him happiness. James is heartbroken when he trips and spills the contents of the bag at the base of a barren peach tree in front of the home. Not long after, however, a very large peach begins to grow on the tree, growing bigger and bigger with each passing day. James’ aunts invite crowds to view the peach, for a fee of course. One day while cleaning up after the crowds have left, James discovers a tunnel leading through the fruit and into the hollow pit at the center. In the pit, James discovers a group of insects who were also transformed by the magical tongues and can speak like human beings. The insects are kind to James, and the group decides to escape the awful hillside. After the insects chew through the stem, the peach is released from the tree and rolls into a series of adventures beyond James’ wildest imagination. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Roald Dahl classic contains the same slightly dark tone as many of his other titles, but is still one of the author’s most light-hearted and fun novels. James experiences living with his aunts are so awful it’s almost cartoonish. They beat him, call him terrible names, and give him only disgusting things like fish heads to eat. Almost from the start, the reader will wish horrible things upon these women. That James is able to find a more loving environment in the company of insects living within an enormous peach is no surprise. The various adventures James and his friends experience will delight readers, especially when the peach gets skewered on top of the Empire State Building. The conclusion of the novel is very satisfying as well, and will likely inspire tweens to pick up another Roald Dahl title, if they haven’t read them all already. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">James and the Giant Peach</i> would make a great classroom read-aloud as well as an individual option for both tween boys and girls. The film version of the novel, released in 1996, is an excellent adaptation and would make a great companion to reading the book. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction/Fantasy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-7</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b>Other Roald Dahl novels, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Series of Unfortunate Events</i> books by Lemony Snicket. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I am a huge Roald Dahl fan, and remember tearing through this book as a tween. As an adult, I enjoyed it just as much. There is something so clever in Dahl’s writing style that makes any plot twist, no matter how crazy or odd, seem marvelous. I also liked that the abuse received by James at the hands of his aunts is so over the top as to be cartoonish. It would be unfortunate to try seriously delve into the topic of child abuse in a novel about a giant, magical peach, and Dahl steers clear from making this an issue. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orphans, magic, talking animals. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considered a classic piece of children’s literature. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">James Henry Trotter – Kind young boy who is forced to live with his abusive aunts after his parents are killed. He tries to be happy even if his aunts are cruel, and ends up finding a new family of talking insects living in the pit of a giant and magical peach. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge – James’ horrible and repulsive spinster aunts. They are perpetually cruel to James and abuse him frequently. When the giant peach begins to grow in their yard they use it as a money making scheme. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Centipede – One of James’ insect friends living in the peach. He and James become close on their adventures. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earthworm – Another of James’ insect friends. He is constantly arguing with the Centipede and is somewhat pessimistic, but also kind. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grasshopper – Another insect living in the peach. He is the most sophisticated of the insects and acts as a father to James. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ladybug – Another insect living in the peach who takes on a motherly role to James. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spider – Another insect living in the peach who has a particular hatred of James’ aunts for killing her relatives. She often uses her webs on the various adventures in the peach. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glowworm – The final insect living in the peach with James. She is kind but very lethargic. She provides light for the insects in the peach pit. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After his parents are killed and he is sent to live with his repulsive and cruel aunts, James is sure that he will never be happy again. Things change, however, when an impossible large peach begins to grow on the formerly barren tree in front of his aunts’ house. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0590505904&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0142407917&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003L4Y5BW&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-58108475060880677452011-05-09T21:32:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:45:25.374-07:00My Side of the Mountain (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Jean Craighead George. Release date: 1959. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780140348107.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n52/n262816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n52/n262816.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="204" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Thirteen-year-old Sam Gribley decides one day that he is fed up with his life in New York City and decides to run away to live in the Catskill Mountains. All Sam brings with him on his journey is a few tools including a knife and some flint and steel. After arriving in the Catskill Mountains, Sam has some trouble battling nature. He catches a fish but is unable to make a fire at first to cook it. He isn’t sure which plants he can eat and which are poisonous. With the help of some passing travelers, however, Sam soon learns how to survive and begins to enjoy his new way of life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This classic tale does not have an overly complicated plot, but is still a very enjoyable survival story. Most tweens have undoubtedly contemplated the idea of running away and living in the wilderness, but Sam actually does it. Readers will enjoy the detailed descriptions of how he manages to create a rather nice life for himself in the beautiful Catskills. The story will likely create an interest in nature for many tweens. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Side of the Mountain</i> would make an ideal choice for a reluctant reader, especially a male tween, because it has a simple but interesting story. Animal lovers will also enjoy this title as Sam befriends many woodland creatures. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction/Survival Story</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-7</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hatchet</i> by Gary Paulsen, and sequels to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Side of the Mountain</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> As I mentioned in my entry for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hatchet</i>, I was a huge survival story fan as a tween and remember loving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Side of the Mountain</i>. Picking it up as an adult was a real treat, especially since I was better able to geographically place where the story takes place. I was a little wary of Sam simply running away to live in the woods, but I don’t think the story encourages readers to run away by any means. I would highly recommend this book to tween boys, especially reluctant readers, as it’s a very easy title to breeze through. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survival, nature, living off the land. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newbery Honor Award Winner. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>Four sequels published beginning in the 1990s: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On the Far Side of the Mountain </i>(1991), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frightful’s Mountain </i>(1999), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frightful’s Daughter </i>(2002), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frightful’s Daughter Meets the Baron Weasel </i>(2007). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sam Gribley – Thirteen-year-old boy who runs away from his home in New York City to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirteen-year-old Sam Gribley decides that he’s fed up with life in the big city and runs away from his home in New York to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. Will he be able to survive the elements long enough to create the serene life he’s envisioning?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0142401110&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0525462694&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-9637258517563006852011-05-09T17:54:00.001-07:002011-06-13T10:44:53.540-07:00Jumanji (Film)<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Release date: 1995. Performers: Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde, David Alan Grier. Studio: TriStar Pictures. Director: Joe Johnston. Screenplay: Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain. Based on book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jumanji</i> by Chris Van Allsburg. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Jumanji_poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:Jumanji poster.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Jumanji_poster.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s 1969 in a small New England town, and twelve-year-old Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game in a construction site near the shoe factor owned by his wealthy father. After learning that his parents plan to send him to a boarding school, Alan decides to run away, taking the game with him. As he is leaving the house, however, he is stopped by his friend, Sarah Whittle, and the two decide to play the game. The game begins to act very strangely, with the pieces moving on their own and messages appearing in smoke in the middle of the board. On Alan’s first move, he is told he must wait in the jungle until another player rolls a five or an eight. He is then sucked into the center of the game, and Sarah, terrified, flees the house. Twenty-six years later, orphans Judy and Peter Shepherd move into the mansion where Alan lived with their aunt Nora. The siblings are having a difficult time coping with the death of their parents, but discover the mysterious board game in the attic. After unleashing a swarm of giant mosquitos and a pack of crazy monkeys, Peter rolls a five, releasing a now middle-aged Alan. Alan is overjoyed to be free from the terrifying jungle, but is sad to learn that his parents are dead and the town is now in shambles. Things get even worse when Judy, Peter and Alan realize that they will have to locate Sarah, who is now also an adult, in order to finish the game they began in 1969 and put a stop to the crazy jungle creatures wreaking havoc on the town. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This exciting and clever movie adaptation of a classic picture book incorporates a lot of humor, danger and mystery into one entertaining film. The opening of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jumanji</i> is very engaging, with Alan being sucked into the game and it cutting to the now decrepit mansion twenty-six years in the future. Siblings Judy (played by a young Kirsten Dunst) and Peter have an interesting storyline on their own in regards to their parents death and how they are coping. It is clear that they are close and this bond is enhanced throughout the film. Robin Williams, of course, brings his own element of fun to his role as the adult Alan, as does Bonnie Hunt as the adult Sarah. Jonathan Hyde is also very entertaining playing a dual role of Alan’s father and a vicious hunter released from the board game. The conclusion of the film is very satisfying, and it is likely that tweens will want to view this movie again and again. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Action/Adventure/Fantasy</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Interest level: </span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grades 3-8</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Zathura</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (2005). </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I was in sixth grade when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jumanji</i> was released in theaters and I absolutely adored it. In speaking with tweens who come into my library, they love the film as much as I did. It is very exciting, entertaining and clever. I think the balance of humor, danger, mystery and romance is perfect for a relatively wholesome tween film. I often recommend this title to families looking for something that everyone can enjoy, even tweens or teens. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Adventure, board games, jungle. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Performed very well at the box office. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zathura </i>(2005) is also based on a book by Van Allsburg and is sometimes viewed as a sequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jumanji</i>. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alan Parrish – Begins the film as a twelve-year-old who is dissatisfied with his privileged life. After beginning a game of Jumanji, he is trapped in the jungle for twenty-six years. When he emerges, he is, understandably, a little quirky. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Judy Shepherd – A tween girl who was recently orphaned and now lives with her brother and her aunt Nora. She is obviously angry at the death of her parents and often acts out by lying and creating wild stories. In the adventures that follow as a result of Jumanji, Judy proves to be very courageous and caring. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peter Shepherd – Judy’s younger brother. He is not coping well with the loss of his parents and hasn’t spoken since they died. Peter begins to talk once the Jumanji game begins, and proves to be very brave. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sarah Whittle – Alan’s childhood friend who was outcast by the town after she was the last one to see Alan alive. She considers herself a psychic, but is under the care of a psychiatrist. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Most board games require that you use your imagination, but when you play Jumanji the things in the game come to life. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000031EGV&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004VRK3ZU&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0395304482&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div><br />
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</div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-54218672231868953252011-05-09T17:21:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:44:17.849-07:00The Indian in the Cupboard (Book)<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Author: Lynne Reid Banks. Illustrator: Brock Cole. Release date: 1980. Publisher: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780380600120.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZImPyr9pL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZImPyr9pL.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="218" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s Omri’s birthday, and he receives his much desired skateboard and helmet, as well as a plastic Indian figurine from his friend Patrick and an old medicine cabinet from his older brother. Omri isn’t too thrilled about the Indian or the cabinet, but he soon changes his mind when he wakes up the next morning and finds that the Indian, who he had put in the cabinet the night before, has come to life! Omri soon learns that the Indian’s name is Little Bear and that he is from the Iroquois tribe. Little Bear demands food, fire and a blanket, and Omri soon finds himself caring for the feisty but kind miniature warrior. Omri decides to try bringing other figurines to life to keep Little Bear company, including a plastic horse, a World War I army medic named Tommy, an Indian chief, and a cowboy named Boone. Many adventures ensue, including a tussle between Little Bear and Boone and a dangerous situation with a pet rat on the loose. Can Omri keep his new miniature friends safe?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This novel takes a different twist on the classic “toys come to life” concept with wonderful results! The concept of the figurines coming to life in the cupboard is simple but very delightful as well. Readers will definitely enjoy Little Bear’s personality, especially when he stabs Omri in the hand with his miniature knife. Discovering what Omri will bring to life, and what mishaps will certainly ensue as a result, will keep tweens turning the pages quickly. Also included in the story are some deeper concepts about friendship, especially between Little Bear and Boone who are, at first, quick to personify the “cowboys vs. Indians” concept. Readers will likely be so enchanted by this first installment, they will want to quickly pick up the next novels in Banks’ best-selling series. Overall, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Indian in the </i>Cupboard is a very enjoyable, entertaining and timeless tale. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fiction/Fantasy</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grades 4-7</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other titles in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian in the Cupboard</i> series by Lynne Reid Banks.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I adored this novel as a child, and was so excited to pick it up again as an adult. There is something simple but enchanting about Omri’s adventures with his miniature friends. I really enjoyed seeing how Omri took care of the tiny people, and especially loved Little Bear’s antics, like building a long house and stabbing Omri in the hand. I think this is a true classic that is not going anywhere. I have and will continue to recommend this book to tweens, especially reluctant readers who will enjoy its fast and interesting pace. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Toys coming to life, Indians, cowboys, imagination. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Considered a classic piece of children’s literature. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">First book in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indian in the Cupboard</i> series by Lynne Reid Banks. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Omri – A tween boy who receives an old medicine cabinet and a plastic Indian figurine as gifts on his birthday. Much to his surprise, the Indian comes to life after Omri locks it in the cabinet. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Patrick – Omri’s best friend who gives him the Indian figurine. Omri shares the secret of the cupboard with him. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Little Bear – The human form of the plastic Indian figurine. He is a ferocious but kind Iroquois warrior. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Boone – The human form of the plastic cowboy figurine. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What would you do if you could make toys come to life by putting them in a magical cupboard? </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0375847537&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0006749526&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0375855246&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0375855238&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><br />
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</div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-77417170834176470562011-05-09T16:57:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:23:19.140-07:00Flipped (Book)<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Author: Wendelin Van Draanen. Release date: 2001. Publisher: Random House. ISBN: 9780439649986.</span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Flipped.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:Flipped.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Flipped.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Juli Baker has loved Bryce Loski since they first met in second grade. Unfortunately for Juli, Bryce doesn’t feel the same. He finds the quirky girl and her constant badgering to be embarrassing. Over the years, he tries to distance himself from Juli, but she simply won’t give up. One of Juli’s favorite activities is to sit high in the branches of a big sycamore tree. Juli loves trees and often invites Bryce to join her, which he, of course, refuses to do. Things begin to change when the two are in eighth grade. Bryce begins to see what he’s been missing all these years: Juli is a fun, charismatic and passionate person who is also very kind. The trouble is, Juli has grown bored of Bryce’s constantly ignoring her and his seemingly shallow personality. It seems that things have flipped for Juli and Bryce, and now Juli is the one doing the ignoring. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This delightful novel of childhood love takes a new look at middle school romance that readers are sure to enjoy. The story is told in alternating voices between Juli and Bryce. Each have a unique perspective on the plot, and knowing what is going on in each of their heads makes things all the more interesting. Juli’s persistent love for Bryce and his “baby blue eyes” is something that many tweens will identify with. On the other hand, many will also identify with Bryce and his constant efforts to avoid Juli’s outlandish and often embarrassing attention (i.e. telling him his hair smells like watermelon, etc.) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flipped</i> is full of situations that will resonate with readers, and that is part of what makes it such an engaging story. The twist in the story, when Bryce falls for Juli but she no longer feels the same, is equally delightful. The 2010 film version of the story makes an excellent companion to the novel as well. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fiction</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading level:</span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Grades 6-9</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Stargirl </span></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">by Jerry Spinelli.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> This is such a fun novel, I wanted to read it again and again. I found myself really identifying with Juli and her persistent efforts to capture the attention of that one boy. I think most former-tweens had experiences such as this and will likely enjoy the novel as much as current-tweens. This is definitely a novel for tween girls, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in something entertaining but sweet. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Romance, friendship, compassion. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Virginia Young Readers Program Award Winner, South Carolina Children’s Book Award Winner, California Young Reader Medal Winner, Nevada Young Readers Award Winner, Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award nominee, positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Booklist</i>. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Juli Baker – Quirky but kind girl who falls hopelessly in love with Bryce Loski in second grade. Over the next six years, she tries her hardest to get Bryce to love her back. She loves trees and raising chickens in her family’s yard. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bryce Loski – Shy but kind boy who is the recipient of a lot of undesired attention from Juli Baker. When the two reach the eighth grade, Bryce begins to reciprocate Juli’s feelings, but it might be too late. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Chet Duncan – Bryce’s kind grandfather who immediately takes a liking to Juli. He helps Juli clean up her family’s disheveled yard. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In second grade, Juli Baker flipped for Bryce Loski and his beautiful baby blue eyes. Unfortunately, Bryce couldn’t be less interested and spends the next six years avoiding Juli and her unwanted advances. In eighth grade, however, things change, and Bryce finds himself flipping for Julie...but is it too late?</span></span></div><br />
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</div><span></span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004IH1YHO&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002ZG97KG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span><br />
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</div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-20773886835762796432011-05-09T15:18:00.001-07:002011-06-12T22:22:44.178-07:00Soldier Boys (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Author: Dean Hughes. Release date: 2001. Publisher: Simon Pulse. ISBN: 9780689860218.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Soldier_Boys.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="File:Soldier Boys.jpg" height="250" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Soldier_Boys.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">During the second world war, two farm boys, one from Utah the other from Germany, decide to the join the fight for their respective countries. Sixteen-year-old Spencer Morgan, a Mormon from Brigham City, Utah, drops out of school and trains to become a paratrooper, hoping to prove himself to his family and friends. Fifteen-year-old Dieter Hedrick is initially involved with the Hitler Youth, and his blind devotion to the dictator leads him to insist upon being sent into combat. Both Spencer and Dieter are enthusiastic about fighting for their country, not truly understanding the implications of war. Spencer’s eyes are opened when his best friend is killed, and an older soldier named Schaefer helps Dieter to see that murdering the enemy is nothing to revel in. Spencer and Dieter eventually meet during the Battle of the Bulge, and what happens proves that, even though they are enemies, soldiers in war have far more in common than they realize. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This gripping novel tells the stories of two teenage boys fighting on opposite sides in WWII, who come to realize that a person’s humanity should never be lost in the ravages of war. Full of historical information and references, readers will learn a great deal about both sides of WWII in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Soldier Boys</i>, particularly the Hitler Youth program, the Battle of the Bulge, and the horrors of combat on the front. Both Spencer and Dieter are engaging characters who bring a unique voice to the events in the story. The relationship between Dieter and Schaefer is, at times, very touching, with the older soldier having a fatherly impact on fifteen-year-old Dieter. The conclusion of the novel is heart breaking, but also helps to drive home the point the novel ultimately presents: the terrible tragedy that is war itself. Tweens are certain to enjoy this novel, especially boys who are close in age to the main characters. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Historical Fiction </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grades 6-9</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> by Harry Mazer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heroes Don’t Run: A Novel of the Pacific War</i> by Harry Mazer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Search and Destroy </i>by Dean Hughes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Missing in Action</i> by Dean Hughes. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I enjoyed this book, but also found it difficult to get through at times. The tragedy that is war is a common theme throughout the story and I couldn’t help but think of all the young men and women currently fighting in wars overseas who are likely experiencing situations similar to the characters in the novel. This made the story very sad for me, but I do hope that tween readers pick up on these concepts as well. Despite this overwhelming feeling of sadness, however, I found the novel to be very well written and an ideal pick for reluctant tween boys who don’t want to read anything “girlie.” </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">War, World War 2, death. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list, positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">School Library Journal</i>. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spencer Morgan – Sixteen-year-old Mormon boy from Brigham City, Utah. He drops out of school to become a paratrooper for the US military in hopes of defending his country during WW2. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dieter Hedrick – Fifteen-year-old German soldier and former member of the Hitler Youth program. He is very dedicated to Hitler and cannot wait to begin fighting on the front. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Schaefer – An older soldier who befriends Dieter. He is weary of war and convinces Dieter that killing the enemy is not something to celebrate. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ted Draney – Fellow paratrooper and friend of Spencer’s. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">War is supposed to tear two sides apart, but American soldier Spencer and German soldier Dieter find that, even though they are enemies, they have more in common than they realize. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0689860218&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-42346830288742539972011-05-09T14:52:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:22:08.137-07:00Fever, 1793 (Book)<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Author: Laurie Halse Anderson. Release date: 2000. Publisher: Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 9780689838583.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/Fever_1793.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:Fever 1793.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/Fever_1793.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fourteen-year-old Matilda “Mattie” Cook lives with her mother, Lucille, and her grandfather in 1793 Philadelphia. The family resides above a coffeehouse that Matilda helps to run, along with the coffeehouse cook, a free African-American woman named Eliza. Mattie lives the life of a typical teenager: she often argues with her mother, she daydreams, and she has a crush on a handsome painter’s apprentice named Nathaniel Benson. Things change, however, when, Polly, the server at the coffeehouse, does not come to work. Mattie learns that Polly has come down with yellow fever, and is shocked when Polly quickly dies. Mattie becomes more and more frightened as her neighbors and friends catch the fever. When her mother shows signs of having it, Mattie is sent with her grandfather to stay in the country where she is less likely to fall ill. As she and her grandfather are leaving the city, however, they are mistaken by the town guards as already being infected with the fever. The two are forced to remain in Philadelphia, and soon Mattie finds that she has contracted the illness. As Mattie fights to survive, she must cope with the impact of the epidemic on her life and how things will never be the same. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This tale based on the real yellow fever epidemic of 1793 is heartbreaking but inspiring as well. Anderson’s descriptions of the city of Philadelphia in the grips of the epidemic are very realistic and set the tone perfectly for Mattie’s story. While the character of Mattie is fictional, it is likely that someone very much just like her did exist in the summer of 1793, and tweens will appreciate being put in the shoes of someone who survived a horrible epidemic. The transition from Mattie’s life before the epidemic and her existence after are stark. Many readers will be able to identify with some of what Mattie is growing through: the death of her father, arguing with her single mother, longing for the handsome and kind Nathaniel. In many ways, Mattie is a typical teenage girl which makes what she must cope with after the epidemic takes hold all the more harrowing. Readers will learn quite a bit about the yellow fever epidemic as well as the city of Philadelphia in colonial times. The research Anderson put in to composing the story is evident, and serves to create an entertaining story hidden within a history lesson. Overall, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fever, 1793 </i>is a very engaging novel for tweens. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Historical Fiction</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grades 5-9</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> As a history buff, I really enjoyed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fever, 1793</i>. I don’t think that it’s a book for everyone, many tweens might find it a bit too historical or descriptive, but it is certain to be enjoyable for quite a few readers as well. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Mattie’s life pre- and post-epidemic, especially because epidemics still occur today. This book definitely has classroom applications, and I would also recommend it for tweens interested in historical fiction. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Yellow fever, Philadelphia, colonial times, single parents, coping with illness and loss. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, New York Times Book Review</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">VOYA</i>. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matilda “Mattie” Cook – Fourteen-year-old living in 1793 Philadelphia. She lives with her mother, whom she often argues with, and her grandfather. When friends and neighbors become ill with the yellow fever, her mother sends her away to the country to avoid getting sick. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Captain William Farnsworth Cook – Mattie’s grandfather and a former military man. He accompanies Mattie as she flees the city to avoid catching the fever. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lucille Cook<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Mattie’s mother who was widowed after Mattie’s father died suddenly. She eventually becomes ill with the yellow fever and sends Mattie away. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nathaniel Benson – A kind and handsome painter’s apprentice that Mattie admires quite a bit. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Eliza – A free African-American woman who is the cook at the coffeehouse where Mattie works. She is one of Mattie’s best friends. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fourteen-year-old Mattie’s life will never be the same when her town, Philadelphia, falls into the grips of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0689848919&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-53480365493446509332011-05-09T14:15:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:21:32.894-07:00The Boggart (Book)<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Author: Susan Cooper. Release date: 1993. Publisher: Macmillan. ISBN: 9780756939328.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n3/n17681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n3/n17681.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">When the Volniks inherit an old castle on an island off the coast of Scotland they decide to visit to see if there’s anything useful that they can send to their home in Toronto, Canada. After returning home they discover that they took more than a few pieces of furniture from Scotland: an old, mischievous spirit called a boggart was living in the castle, and was transported in an old desk to the Volniks’ home! Strange things begin happening and twelve-year-old Emily Volnik and her ten-year-old brother Jessup are getting the blame. How can they convince their parents that they didn’t cause furniture to fly through the air or for a bucket of water to drench their mother? Apparently the boggart loves nothing more than to play pranks on the humans around him, and he’s loving all the modern technology at his hands, especially electricity. At first, Emily and Jessup aren’t sure what to make of the strange spirit, but when one his practical jokes lands Emily in the hospital, it’s clear that he belongs back home in Scotland. Will Emily and Jessup be able to return the boggart to the old castle, or is he stuck in Toronto forever?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This fun and clever story breezily combines slapstick humor with English folklore for a unique tale that is sure to delight readers. Tweens may not be familiar with a boggart, a spirit similar to a poltergeist but less sinister, and will enjoy his goofy antics. Towards the middle of the story, the boggart actually becomes quite a likable character, even if he makes mistakes here and there. One of the darker parts of the story is a psychologist named Dr. Stigmore. Dr. Stigmore believes that Emily is manifesting the paranormal activities and believes she should be placed in a mental institution. Tweens will pick up on this nod to the over-medication of children that perpetuates society, as well as stifling the imaginary beings that often accompany childhood. The mood of the story is very light, however, despite these more subtle themes. Overall a charming novel with a lesson in folklore mixed in. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fiction/Fantasy</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grades 4-7</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Borrowers</span></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> by Mary Norton. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I love stories that combine folkloric elements with a modern plot, so <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Boggart </i>was right up my alley! Prior to reading the novel, I had never heard of a boggart, but did quite a bit of research into the concept afterwards. I wouldn’t be surprised if the story sparked a similar interest in tweens, making this title an excellent way to start a discussion about English fairy tales, or other creatures from different cultures. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Spirits, Scotland, poltergeists, mental health. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Young Reader’s Choice Award nominee, positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">School Library Journal.</i></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Boggart</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> has a sequel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Boggart and the Monster</i>, published in 1997 by Susan Cooper.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emily Volnik – Twelve-year-old girl from Toronto, Canada. She is blamed for many of the pranks pulled by the boggart and, eventually, a psychologist, Dr. Stigmore, thinks she should be institutionalized. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jessup Volnik – Ten-year-old genius brother of Emily. He is a computer programmer and these skills eventually come in handy when dealing with the boggart. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maggie Volnik – Mother of Emily and Jessup who blames the activities of the boggart on her children. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Robert Volnik – Father of Emily and Jessup who also blames his children for the activities of the boggart, but is not as apt to want Emily institutionalized as her mother. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tommy Cameron – Thirteen-year-old resident of the Scottish island where the boggart was living. At first he doesn’t tell Emily and Jessup about the boggart, but eventually he helps them. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dr. William Stigmore – A cruel parapsychologist who believes Emily is manifesting her teenage angst in the form of a poltergeist that is responsible for the boggart’s activities. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What’s more strange: inheriting an old Scottish castle inhabited by a mischievous spirit called a boggart or accidentally bringing that spirit home with you? Emily and Jessup Volnik are about to find out what happens when an ancient spirit meets a modern city. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0756939321&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0689869312&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-7574668222580910432011-05-09T12:02:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:21:07.408-07:00Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Book)<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Alvin Schwartz. Illustrator: Brett Helquist. Release date: 1981. Publisher: HarperCollins. ISBN: 97800060835200.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrensImages/isbn/large/8/9780064401708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrensImages/isbn/large/8/9780064401708.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This collection of short stories has been delighting, and scaring, readers, for thirty years. Stories include “The Big Toe,” a tale about a little boy who discovers a toe sticking out of the ground in his garden, “The Haunted House,” a story about the ghost of a murdered woman who wants to avenge her death, and “The White Sating Evening Gown,” the story of a mother who rents a used dress from a thrift shop for her daughter’s dance, a dress used by a corpse. The book contains five chapters that divide the stories, but they do not have to be read in order. Included in the book are instructions for a game called “The Dead Man’s Brains” as well. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">is a truly frightening, but fun, collection of short stories that tweens are sure to love. Published thirty years ago, generations of young readers have been enjoying these bone-chilling tales. Some of the stories are darker than others, but none are too scary, graphic or violent for tweens. The collection, as well as the other titles in the series, was listed by ALA as the most challenged books from 1990-1999, and continues to be challenged, though not as frequently today. Although some of the illustrations are frightening or surreal, there is nothing truly sinister that a quick chat with a parent wouldn’t take care of for younger tweens. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Short stories/ Horror</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grades 4-8</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Other titles in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scary Stories</i> series by Schwartz, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Favorite Scary Stories of American Children </i>by Richard Young and Judy Dockrey Young, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">13 Scary Ghost Stories</i> by Marianne Carus. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scaryforkids.com/pics/stories-to-tell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://www.scaryforkids.com/pics/stories-to-tell.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to add this picture. <br />
This was really the only thing in the<br />
book that I had trouble with as<br />
a tween. She really scared me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I absolutely loved this book as a tween, and even earlier! I remember reading these stories with my two older sisters and being scared, but not to the point that it kept me up at night. I like how Schwartz created a chilling set of stories that is still appropriate for younger readers. I’m not surprised that they have been challenged so frequently, but I believe that they are appropriate for tweens. I saw no ill effects in myself after reading them, in fact, they inspired me to write my own short stories!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">. Scary stories, ghosts, monsters. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grand Canyon Reader Award winner, considered classic work of children’s literature. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Book one in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scary Stories</i> series by Alvin Schwartz. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Prepare to be scared in this bone-chilling collection of short stories that are sure to make you tremble!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0060835206&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0060263415&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0060835222&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=006440465X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-36473223328720890392011-05-09T11:16:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:20:23.958-07:00Tuck Everlasting (Book)<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Natalie Babbitt. Release date: 1975. Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 9780312369811.</span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.mrcpl.org/upload/images/Childrens_Dept/B_is_for_Buckeye/tuck_everlasting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://www.mrcpl.org/upload/images/Childrens_Dept/B_is_for_Buckeye/tuck_everlasting.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="205" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ten-year-old Winnie Foster lives a very sheltered life in her family’s home where she is kept behind a fence that surrounds the property. One day, Winnie decides she’s had enough of her life and runs away into the neighboring woods. While in the woods, Winnie happens upon a teenage boy who is drinking water from a spring pouring from a tree. Winnie learns that this boy is Jesse Tuck, the youngest son of the Tuck family who, along with the rest of the Tuck family, have discovered the secret of this spring: it makes whoever drinks the water immortal. When Winnie learns their secret, the Tuck family decides to take Winnie to their home to live in order to keep the truth about the spring safe. Winnie and the Tucks don’t realize that someone has been watching them in the woods: a mysterious man in a yellow suit who wants to use the spring to get rich. After Winnie goes to live with the Tucks, she learns that life doesn’t have to be as structured as it was behind the walls of her parents’ home. But will the love she has for the unusual family be ruined by the schemes of the man in the yellow suit?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This sweet and magical tale combines adventure, romance, love, and immortality to create a timeless story. The novel is set in the year 1880 initially giving it a historical fiction feel. The novel is far from this genre, however, and is more along the lines of a fantasy story or fairytale. Tweens will be surprised to learn the secret of the Tuck family, and this “twist” will likely entice them to plow through the rest of the novel. The theme of immortality and what it means to live forever is very interesting and unique in literature for this age group. Despite the plot line of the man in the yellow suit trying to use the spring water to get rich, the real question presented in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tuck Everlasting </i>is whether it is good to live forever, or if mortality has its merits. This question will likely resonate with many tweens who are beginning to think about complex ideas like death and their own mortality. The romance between Winnie and Jesse provides a nice antithesis to the more deep questions in the novel. Overall, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tuck Everlasting </i>is a magical story that has been beloved by readers over the years, and will likely continue in this same vein.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fiction/Fantasy</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grades 4-7</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Bridge to Terabithia </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">by Katherine Paterson. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I really enjoyed this novel and was surprised by the complexity of some of the themes and questions the plot raises. The man in the yellow suit part of the story was, to me, secondary to the question of the merits of immortality. I think this story would make a great classroom read-aloud. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">. Immortality, change, nature, greed.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ALA Notable Book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horn Book Magazine</i> Fanfare List, Janusz Korczak Medal Winner, Christoper Award for Best Book for Young People Winner, positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Booklist</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The New York Times Book Review. </i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Winnie Foster – Ten-year-old girl who lives a very sheltered life with her parents. After running away into the woods surrounding her home, she meets the Tuck family and learns that they have discovered a spring that makes them immortal. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesse Tuck – Appears to be seventeen-years-old, but is actually much older. Youngest son of the Tuck family, he is immortal from drinking the spring water. He develops a romance with Winnie. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mae Tuck – Mother of the Tuck family, and also immortal. She is very kind and loving. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Angus Tuck – Father of the Tuck family, and also immortal. He is very concerned with keeping knowledge of the spring a secret. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Miles Tuck – Oldest son of the Tuck family, who appears to be in his early twenties. </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Man in the Yellow Suit – Cruel man who wants to exploit the powers of the spring to make money. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Winnie lives a sheltered and boring life behind the walls of her parent’s home, cut off from the rest of the world. One day she decides to run away, and happens upon the Tuck family who live in the woods nearby. The Tuck family is different from other families, however: they have discovered a spring that makes those who drink from it immortal. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312369816&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005JLOT&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-45616134380570510732011-05-08T17:23:00.001-07:002011-06-12T22:19:45.564-07:00The Reptile Room (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Lemony Snicket. Illustrator: Brett Helquist. Release date: 1999. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780064407675.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/The_Reptile_Room_USA.PNG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:The Reptile Room USA.PNG" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/The_Reptile_Room_USA.PNG" width="227" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>In this second installment of Lemony Snicket’s series, the Baudelaire children have been saved from their evil cousin, Count Olaf, and are now living with another distant relative, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery. Dr. Montgomery, or “Uncle Monty,” is a kind man with a bit of a reptile obsession. He introduces the children to his new assistant, Stephano, who will help him with his new discovery, the Incredibly Deadly Viper. The Baudelaire children quickly realize that Stephano is actually Count Olaf in disguise and try to warn their Uncle Monty, who doesn’t believe them. Will the Baudelaire children be able to escape Count Olaf again, or has their luck run out? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continuing in the same dark but fun tone as the first novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Reptile Room</i> continues Lemony Snicket’s popular series. The story picks up where the first left off with the Baudelaire children experiencing a bit of good fortune while living with their kind but eccentric uncle, Dr. Montgomery Montgomery. Readers will likely pick up on the fact, however, that things are never going to go well for the Baudelaires, and the fate of their uncle won’t be a surprise. Count Olaf’s disguising himself as Stephano proves to be an entertaining plot twist, as does the Incredibly Deadly Viper. Tweens who enjoyed the first installment in the series will also enjoy this sequel, and want to continue on to the third title. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-7</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b>Other titles by Lemony Snicket. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I was a bit apprehensive before picking up this title, as I have often been disappointed with sequels to novels that I enjoyed. In this case, I was very pleased with what Lemony Snicket created next for the Baudelaires. I think that tweens will enjoy this book as much as the first, and want to continue on in the series. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orphans, danger, reptiles. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of popular series. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>Book two in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Series of Unfortunate Events</i> books by Lemony Snicket. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Violet Baudelaire – Fourteen-years-old and oldest of the Baudelaire orphans. She is smart and an inventor. While living with her Uncle Monty she is asked to invent snake traps for a Peruvian expedition. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Klaus Baudelaire – Twelve-year-old middle child of the Baudelaire children. He is a bookworm who helps his Uncle Monty by reading books about snakes. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunny Baudelaire – Infant and youngest of the Baudelaire children. She has very sharp teeth and uses them to bite rope for Uncle Monty. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Count Olaf/Stephano – Evil cousin of the Baudelaire children. He disguises himself as Uncle Monty’s assistant in order to capture the Baudelaires and get their fortune.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Montgomery Montgomery or Uncle Monty – Kind guardian of the Baudelaires. He is a herpetologist and plans to take the children with him on an expedition to Peru. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They escaped the clutches of their evil cousin, Count Olaf, and now the Baudelaire children are living with their kind distant uncle, a herpetologist named Dr. Montgomery Montgomery. But when Uncle Monty suddenly gets a new assistant, Stephano, could it be Count Olaf in disguise? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061146315&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=006029809X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0060095563&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061119067&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-2290707242679322662011-05-07T19:09:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:19:03.963-07:00The Bad Beginning (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Lemony Snicket. Illustrator: Brett Helquist. Release date: 1999. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780064407667.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/b4/83/2aac81b0c8a0450a59fee110.L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="cmuImage" height="320" id="cmuMainImage" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/b4/83/2aac81b0c8a0450a59fee110.L.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>True to it’s title, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bad Beginning </i>chronicles the very unfortunate circumstances that cause fourteen-year-old Violet, twelve-year-old Klaus and infant Sunny Baudelaire to be orphaned. After their parents are killed in a fire, the children are sent to live with their distant cousin, Count Olaf, a professional actor. Soon the children learn that Olaf is a cruel man who is only after what he assumes is a very large inheritance following the death of their parents. Olaf treats the Baudelaire children like slaves, and only their kind neighbor, Judge Strauss, makes their lives bearable. When Olaf asks the children to participate in an upcoming stage performance called “The Marvelous Marriage,” they begin to wonder if it is simply a trick to get Violet to actually marry him, thus inheriting the money. Can the Baudelaire children figure out a way to outsmart Olaf?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lemony Snicket’s now prolific Series of Unfortunate Events books begin with this dark but fun novel. From the start, it is clear that Snicket’s writing style is quirky. He warns the reader that they will not enjoy the story and that it is full of sadness. These tricks, however, only serve to entice the reader to continue, making this title ideal for reluctant tween readers who might need a little “shove” to dive into a chapter book. The story of the orphaned children who are forced to live with a mean relative isn’t new, but Snicket’s dark humor makes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bad Beginning</i> unique. The adults the Baudelaire children encounter seem to be either sinister or incompetent with the exception of the kind Judge Strauss. The end of the novel leaves the story wide open for all of the sequels that follow, and tweens will certainly want to pick up the next title after they finish this one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-7</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b>Other titles by Lemony Snicket, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">James and the Giant Peach</i> by Roald Dahl. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I have always been a big fan of this series mainly because I know that it gets checked out and read quite frequently by tweens at my library. I have also been curious about what it is about the books that entice children to keep picking up the books, so I was delighted to experience the first story. I found it very entertaining and clever, and completely understand its popularity. I commend Lemony Snicket for creating something that can be enjoyed by reluctant readers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orphans, tragedy, sinister plots, dark humor. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly, Library Journal </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kirkus Reviews. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>Book one in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Series of Unfortunate Events </i>books by Lemony Snicket. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Violet Baudelaire – Fourteen-years-old and oldest of the Baudelaire orphans. She is smart and an inventor, but struggles while living with her evil cousin, Count Olaf. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Klaus Baudelaire – Twelve-year-old middle child of the Baudelaire children. He’s also smart and a bit of a bookworm. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunny Baudelaire – Infant and youngest of the Baudelaire children. She has very sharp teeth and can perform many tasks that are unusual for a baby. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Count Olaf – Distant cousin to the Baudelaire children and professional actor. He is a very cruel man who is intent on getting a hold of the Baudelaire inheritance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Judge Strauss – Kind neighbor of Count Olaf who helps the Baudelaire children. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After their parents are killed in a fire, the three Baudelaire children must try to survive at the hands of their distant cousin, and new cousin, the evil Count Olaf. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0064407667&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061119067&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=006029809X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0060095563&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-6686026175099250012011-05-06T10:10:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:18:16.232-07:00Mockingbird (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Kathryn Erskine. Release date: 2011. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puffin. ISBN: 9780142417751.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcosXQI9wVl5CQHRoh0CoCPyqbHd6Xo4aB73Q2qWzHvDho4I289k9THJKth_LdiBFazk-UT7WV-dz3K8G3LwTy8DT__fvRq5eZiNHcCCHG3uzGvdHXEUxrSouvVxIlC6u7WwzF22YD9dp/s1600/mockingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcosXQI9wVl5CQHRoh0CoCPyqbHd6Xo4aB73Q2qWzHvDho4I289k9THJKth_LdiBFazk-UT7WV-dz3K8G3LwTy8DT__fvRq5eZiNHcCCHG3uzGvdHXEUxrSouvVxIlC6u7WwzF22YD9dp/s320/mockingbird.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Ten-year-old Caitlin Smith’s life changes forever when her older brother, Devon, is killed in a tragic school shooting. Her mother passed away years earlier, and now it is just her and her dad. Devon helped Caitlin cope with having Asperger’s Syndrome: he gave her advice on how to interact with people, explained things to her that she didn’t understand, and helped her appear “normal.” Now that he’s gone, Caitlin is stuck in the world of her mind, trying to deal with his death and help her very distant father find closure. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This complex novel deals with many issues that can affect the life of a tween: school violence, Asperger’s Syndrome and psychological conditions in general, loss of a family member and friendship. Erskine does an excellent job of giving Caitlin a voice that helps describe what it’s like to have Asperger’s. Her inner monologue is often rambling or difficult to understand, but eventually the reader gets used to it and comes to see that these are the challenges Caitlin faces when trying to navigate through her world. Coupled with the fact that she is dealing with some very intense and tragic situations, tweens will definitely come to feel a great deal of empathy for Caitlin and, hopefully, more compassion for individuals with Asperger’s that they might know. Although this title is not for everyone, many tweens might be turned away by the difficult situations discussed in the book, it is an excellent read for mature readers who want something that delves deeper than much of the literature for tweens will go. There are also many parallels between Harper Lee's <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em> that readers will pick up on if they've read the classic novel. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Realistic Fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-8</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out of My Mind</i> by Sharon M. Draper, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anything but Typical</i> by Nora Raleigh Baskin. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts:</b> I have to admit that I did find this title to be somewhat depressing, but at the same time a very touching and interesting novel as well. I personally know several people with Asperger’s Syndrome and I found the look into the mind of these usually gifted individuals to be very interesting and enlightening. I would recommend this book to tweens who are mature readers and want more complexity and depth in a novel. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asperger’s Syndrome, school shootings/violence, death/loss/grief, parent/child relationships. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>National Book Award Winner, positive reviews from<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> School Library Journal, Booklist</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Horn Book Magazine. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Caitlin Smith – A ten-year-old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome. She is trying to cope with the death of her older brother, Devon, who helped her communicate like a “normal” child. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caitlin Smith has Asperger’s Syndrome and sees the world very differently from other ten-year-olds. She must try to cope with the loss of her older brother, Devon, who guided her in acting like a “normal” child. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0142417750&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-20182648857770617722011-05-05T22:06:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:17:56.078-07:00Hatchet (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Gary Paulsen. Release date: 1987. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bradbury Press. ISBN: 9781416925088.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a class="image" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Hatchet.jpg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="First edition cover"><img alt="First edition cover" height="339" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Hatchet.jpg/200px-Hatchet.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is travelling on a two-person plane to visit his father when the pilot suffers a fatal heart attack in mid-air. Brian is forced to land the plane, which crashes into a remote lake. Brian narrowly escapes the sinking plane with only his clothes and a hatchet his mother gave him as a gift. Brian must now survive in the wilderness using his wits and the now precious hatchet. Will he be able to last long enough to be rescued?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paulsen’s classic survival tale has itself survived the passing decades since it was first published because it is simply a well-written and interesting story. Brian’s struggles to survive, told in detail, have an appeal that is hard to describe other than the reader wanting Brian to make it. The inner struggle Brian must also cope with, his realization of his mother’s extra-marital affairs, adds greater depth to the story beyond the man vs. nature concept that drives the plot. The ending is very satisfying as well, which makes the novel even more enjoyable. Overall, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hatchet </i>is an excellent book for tweens, especially for boys who are reluctant readers or don’t feel that there is literature that will appeal to their interests. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 5-9</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Side of the Mountain </i>by Jean Craighead George, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Island of the Blue Dolphins</i> by Scott O’Dell. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always enjoyed survival stories and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hatchet</i>, in a way, is the “godfather” of this genre for young adults. Paulsen’s descriptions of the elements and Brian’s struggle to overcome them are superb, and the novel is a very easy read. I would recommend this title to boys especially, but also to girls as it has universal appeal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survival, nature, hunting/fishing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b>Newbery Medal Honor Winner. Positive reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">School Library Journal</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b>First novel in Brian’s Saga by Gary Paulsen. Other titles, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brian’s Return, Brian’s Winter, The River </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brian’s Hunt</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brian Robeson – Thirteen-year-old boy who must survive in the wilderness after his plane crash lands due to the pilot’s death.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian Robeson has just crash landed in the Canadian wilderness with only one tool to help him survive in the harsh elements: his hatchet. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0042EJFJ2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0440413796&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0440227194&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0553494155&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span><span></span></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-40319553908283232322011-05-05T21:37:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:15:54.387-07:00The Phantom Tollbooth (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span></span>Author: Norton Juster. Illustrator: Jules Feiffer. Release date: 1961. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random House. ISBN: 9780394815008.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="image" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Phantomtollbooth.PNG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Phantomtollbooth.PNG" height="291" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/02/Phantomtollbooth.PNG/200px-Phantomtollbooth.PNG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Milo never finds anything too interesting. Everything seems dull and boring. One day Milo receives a mysterious present: a tollbooth with a map to some very strange places. Milo hops in his toy car and drives through the tollbooth, only to find himself a real road in a different land. What happens next is an adventure that interests someone even as perpetually bored as Milo. After visiting the lands of Dictionopolis, ruled by King Azaz, and Digitopolis, ruled by the Mathemagician, Milo learns that their sisters, Rhyme and Reason, have been banished to the Castle in the Air. It appears that King Azaz, who is obsessed with words, and the Mathemagician, who is equally as obsessed with numbers, disagreed about which was more important. When Rhyme and Reason declared that both are equally useful, they were banished, causing the strange land to fall into disarray. Milo, and Tock, a watchdog with a clock in his stomach who befriends Milo, decide to rescue Rhyme and Reason. The journey will not be easy, however, and Milo and Tock must face countless monsters and some very strange creatures. Will they be able to rescue Rhyme and Reason and restore order to the land?</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This quirky but fun book from the 1960s is a cerebral read that tweens who like to think are certain to enjoy. Many readers will be able to identify with Milo. He doesn’t find anything interesting and spends most of his day bored, a common feeling for children who aren’t stimulated in school. The adventures he experiences after travelling through the tollbooth are strange, but fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Juster’s use of language and writing style are unique and he creates a whole new vocabulary for Milo to learn (Dictionopolis, Digitopolis, Mountains of Ignorance, Chroma the Great, the Terrible Trivium, etc.) Readers will likely find themselves learning new words while reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Phantom Tollbooth</i>. Even though it was originally published fifty years ago, this title is still an excellent and interesting read for tweens that like to think outside of the box. The 1970 film adaptation is also enjoyable. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Fantasy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4+</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alberic the Wise </i>by Norton Juster, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat</i> by Theoni Pappas. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of my favorite books for tweens and adults as well. It is so fun, clever and unique that it is still beloved fifty years after it was first published. One of my favorite parts of the story is how Juster manages to include educational topics in the plot. I remember learning a lot about different concepts as a tween simply from looking into some of the words mentioned in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Phantom Tollbooth</i>. I would highly recommend this book to tweens who are craving something original. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adventure, fantasy, puns, math, words. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b>Considered a classic work of children’s literature. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Milo – A tween boy who is bored with life until he receives a mysterious tollbooth that transports him to a strange land and into a strange adventure. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tock – A watchdog with a clock in his stomach who befriends Milo soon after he passes through the tollbooth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Humbug – A beetle like creature who is very pompous and likes attention. He also befriends Milo after he passes through the tollbooth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">King Azaz- The word obsessed ruler of Dictionopolis and brother to the Mathemagician, Rhyme and Reason. He is involved in a long conflict with his brother concerning the importance of words versus numbers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Mathemagician – The numbers obsessed ruler of Digitopolis and brother to King Azaz, Rhyme and Reason. He is in a fed with his brother, believing numbers to be more important than words. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Princess Rhyme and Princess Reason – Sisters of King Azaz and the Mathemagician. They were banished to the Castle in the Air after deciding that numbers and words are equally important. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Milo is perpetually and hopelessly bored with his life until a mysterious tollbooth appears in his room. After driving through the tollbooth in his toy car, Milo finds himself on a real road on the way to a strange adventure. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0394815009&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1557344310&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004DS9UF6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-56617328270904914322011-05-04T22:00:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:15:12.197-07:00Adventurer’s Handbook – An Extreme, Extraordinary, and Exciting Journey Around the World (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Anita Ganeri. Illustrator: Dusan Pavlic Release date: 2010. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feiwel & Friends. ISBN: 9780312580902.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://creativesessions.s3.amazonaws.com/content/2010/cs3_digital_illustration/article_children_book_covers/23-digital-illustrated-childrens-book-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://creativesessions.s3.amazonaws.com/content/2010/cs3_digital_illustration/article_children_book_covers/23-digital-illustrated-childrens-book-cover.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="192" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>This guide to adventuring features lessons in how to have various adventures that are actually science lessons in disguise. Some of the activities outlined in the chapters include “How to Drive a Dog Team Across Polar Ice,” “How to Jump High with the Maasai in Kenya,” “How to Avoid a Sea Wasp in Australia,” “How to Avoid Hippos on the Zambezi” and “How to Survive a Hurricane in the Caribbean.” Each chapter begins with an introduction to the topic. For example, in the chapter “How to Track a Twister in Tornado Alley,” the science behind a tornado is explained as well as the geographic area that makes up “tornado alley.” The enhanced Fujita Scale for measuring tornado intensity is even included before the actual guide to tracking a twister is presented. The book continues in much the same fashion from chapter to chapter, most including one to two pages of factual information prior to the instructions on performing the various activities. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Adventurer’s Handbook</i> is a science lesson cleverly disguised as a guide for adventuring. The information presented in the various chapters is not only clear, it is also fun and interesting. This title would be perfect for a science classroom or reluctant readers, especially tween males. It will also likely spark an interest in topics included in the book, such as geography, geology or various indigenous or cultural groups presented. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Non-fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-8</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As someone with an interest in science, I really enjoyed reading this fun, easy-to-read and educational title. I definitely have observed the statistic that tween and teen boys often prefer reading non-fiction books over “girlie” titles, and I think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Adventurer’s Handbook</i> is wonderful for not only that purpose but for teaching them a little something about science as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survival, science, adventure. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b>Written by Anita Ganeri, award-winning author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horrible Geography </i>series. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Character information: </b>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you know what to do if you were trapped in a blizzard in Antarctica? Can you crack a coconut on a deserted island? Read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Adventurer’s Handbook</i> to learn all about navigating some of the trickiest, but most exciting, situations the world has to offer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0312580908&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0439977185&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span><span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-54853237060541574682011-05-03T21:50:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:14:01.640-07:00The Year of the Bomb (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author: Ronald Kidd. Release date: 2009. Publisher: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781416958925.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/cvr9781416958925_9781416958925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/cvr9781416958925_9781416958925.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="265" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plot summary: </b>Paul, Arnie, Crank and Oz are best friends living in Sierra Madre, a suburb of Los Angeles, in 1955. The boys love spending their summer days at the local theater watching the latest horror movies. When they learn that a new movie called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invasion of the Body Snatchers</i> is set to be filmed in their town, they’re ecstatic. The boys get to see the movie being filmed and even become friends with the director, Don Siegel, and a beautiful extra named Laura Burke. But when they learn that an FBI agent is working on the movie set to determine if anyone involved in the film is a communist, their summer of fun turns into their own hunt for Russian sympathizers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Year of the Bomb</i> opens the door for tweens to learn about a time many may not be familiar with, the communist witch-hunts of the McCarthy era. Friends Paul, Arnie, Crank and Oz are a likeable gang of teenage boys who fill their days in much the same as their 2011 counterparts would: exploring the world through the eyes of the movie camera. Many classic horror films are mentioned in the book and will undoubtedly prompt curiosity on the part of young readers who want to learn more about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invaders from Mars </i>or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invasion of the Body Snatchers</i>. What makes the story so interesting is that it makes reference to real people, places and events. In a way, the novel is a history lesson disguised as a story about a group of friends in the 1950s. While <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Year of the Bomb </i>is not for everyone (tween girls might not be as interested in this title), it is an entertaining and well-written story that holds a lot of appeal for readers who are interested in this particular historical period. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre: </b>Historical fiction</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reading level: </b>Grades 4-8</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Similar titles: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal thoughts: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began reading this book not knowing quite what to expect, but was very pleased with what I found. The McCarthy-era is one of the most interesting and strange periods in American history and I love that Kidd created a book for tweens that looks into it. I had some familiarity with the movies mentioned in the story, but it definitely peaked my interest in watching more classic horror films, which I’m sure would be the effect upon tween readers as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Themes: </b>Friendship, 1950s, McCarthy-era, communism, horror movies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awards/Reviews: </b>Junior Library Guild selection, positive review from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">School Library Journal. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Series Information: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N/A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul – Teenage boy who spends most of his time with his friends watching horror movies at the theater. He has a strained relationship with his parents and sister and uses his friends and the horror films as an escape. He becomes enamored with beautiful movie extra, Laura. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oz – One of Paul’s friends who enjoys watching horror films. He is very knowledgeable about Hollywood because his father was involved in movie making before being accused of having communist tendencies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Crank – Paul’s most headstrong friend. He believes strongly in fighting communism, and is somewhat of a bully to his other friends. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Arnie – The wimpiest member of the group. He is always getting sick when he feels nervous and is unsure of himself. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Laura Burke – A beautiful and kind movie extra who befriends Paul and the rest of the boys. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Darryl – An FBI agent working on the set of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invasion of the Body Snatchers</i> to discover if anyone involved in the film is a communist. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Annotation: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The year is 1955 and Paul and his buddies are thrilled when a new horror movie, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invasion of the Body Snatchers, </i>is set to be filmed in their home town. Little do they know that something worse than body snatchers are lurking on the set: the FBI is investigating to determine if anyone involved in the film is a communist. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1416996257&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0782009980&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-26976908719951702862011-05-02T17:27:00.001-07:002011-06-12T22:13:02.572-07:00The Witches (Book)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Author: Roald Dahl. Illustrator: Quentin Blake. Release date: 1983. Publisher: Jonathan Cape. ISBN: 9780141322643.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://content.scholastic.com/yawyr/cd2b3d39b4e00c5acb160f0434f380daf84f07cf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://content.scholastic.com/yawyr/cd2b3d39b4e00c5acb160f0434f380daf84f07cf.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="202" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After the death of his parents in a tragic car accident, a young boy and his loving grandmother move from Norway to England to start a new life. Before they go, the grandmother warns the boy to beware of the witches. Witches are demons who disguise themselves to look like human women. They have no hair and must constantly wear wigs that give them horrible scalp-rash. They have no toes and must force their squared off feet into tiny and uncomfortable shoes. They must always wear gloves to disguise their long, clawed fingers. And their eyes change colors when closely inspected. Most of all, witches hate children and want nothing more than to kill them. The grandmother explains that she lost several friends as a girl to witches, and warns her grandson that witches can sniff out children very easily. One day after they’ve moved to England, the boy is building a tree-house when he encounters a woman he is sure is a witch. The witch tries to lure him down from the tree, but he stays put until his grandmother comes. Already on guard, the grandmother and boy travel to a luxury hotel on the English coast for a vacation. While exploring the hotel, the boy stumbles upon the annual convention of the RSPCC or Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. While hiding in the conference room, he discovers the women are actually witches who have come together to meet with the Grand High Witch. The witches have a plan to kill all of England’s children with a potion, Formula 86, which will turn anyone who drinks it into a mouse. Can the boy stop the witches in time to save all the children in England?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The always original Roald Dahl delivers one of his most fun and clever stories in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Witches</i>. Witches often appear in stories, but are never quite so sinister as in this tale. They disguise themselves as regular women, even nice women, but are perpetually homicidal. The description of how they look is so dark it is almost comical. From clawed hands to missing toes, they sound absolutely terrifying, but in a fun way. The grandmother and boy’s encounter with the “RSPCC” at the ritzy English coastal hotel is equally as entertaining. Overall, this is a fun story that tweens will definitely enjoy. Since it was first published, it has appeared often on the ALA’s list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books due to violence and dark tones. Today’s tweens, however, are undoubtedly savvy enough to realize that the violence is very cartoon and the story is actually quite light hearted. Violence has, unfortunately, become engrained in our society to a bigger degree than it was in 1983, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Witches </i>is far tamer than what tweens are exposed to on an almost daily basis. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fiction/Humor/Horror</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Reading level: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grades 3-7</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other Roald Dahl titles. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I think this book is hilarious. I loved it as a child and as an adult I can appreciate Roald Dahl’s writing style even more. It is full of ironic and dark humor that I truly think will not be lost on the majority of tween readers. It is very engaging and would make an ideal choice for reluctant readers as well. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Witches, magic, adventure. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Considered a classic piece of children’s literature. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">N/A</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boy – The unnamed protagonist. He lives with his grandmother after his parents are killed and becomes involved in a battle against the evil witches of England. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grandmother – Becomes her grandson’s guardian after his parents’ death. She is kind, loving, and wants to keep her grandson safe from the witches. She is very knowledgeable about witches and lost several friends to them as a young girl. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Grand High Witch – The leader of the witches, she is described as the most evil woman in the world. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What would you do if you stumbled upon a group of witches with a plan to turn all of England’s children into mice? Could you stop them, even if you had already been turned into a mouse yourself? </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0141301104&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0790740885&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000U1ZV5I&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427692096785505792.post-87276626853857537422011-05-02T16:45:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:12:29.472-07:00Homeward Bound - The Incredible Journey (Film)<div style="background: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Release date: 1993. Performers: Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Ameche. Studio: Walt Disney Pictures. Director: Duwayne Dunham. Screenplay: Caroline Thompson and Linda Woolverton. Based on novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Incredible Journey</i> by Sheila Burnford. </span></div></div><div style="background: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://movies.maxupdates.tv/wp-contents/uploads/2010/01/Homeward-Bound-The-Incredible-Journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://movies.maxupdates.tv/wp-contents/uploads/2010/01/Homeward-Bound-The-Incredible-Journey.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="235" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Plot summary: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Chance, a bulldog, Shadow, a golden retriever, and Sassy, a Himalayan cat, are all three pets of the Burnford children. Jamie is Chance’s owner, even though he feels like he doesn’t really need one, Shadow belongs to Peter and Sassy to Hope. The three create mischief, especially at the wedding of Laura Burnford, the children’s mother, to Bob Seaver. After the wedding, the family must go to San Francisco for a few months, leaving the animals at a ranch owned by one of Laura’s friends, Kate. Worried that they’ve been abandoned and that their owners are in danger, the three escape from the ranch and embark on a journey back to their home through the wilderness. While in the wild, the animals experience many different adventures, some fun, some funny, and some dangerous. Will the house pets be able to survive long enough to make it home to their beloved owners?</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Review: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This fun remake of the classic 1963 film is based on an equally wonderful novel by Sheila Burnford. Younger tweens will enjoy this heartwarming tale of love and loyalty. The voices provided for the animals by Michael J. Fox, Sally Field and Don Ameche are perfect for narrating their “incredible journey.” They provide the right amount of humor and caring. The mouths of the animals don’t move, but they are still clearly communicating. The animal actors are also very lovable and viewers come to care a great deal about them getting home. The satisfying conclusion makes this the perfect movie for tween animal lovers. The film will also inspire viewers to pick up a copy of the novel as well. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Genre: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fiction/Animals</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Interest level: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grades 2-6</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Similar titles: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homeward Bound II – Lost in San Francisco </i>(1996), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Milo and Otis </i>(1989), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Babe </i>(1995).</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal thoughts:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> This was one of my all-time favorite movies as a young tween, and I watched it consistently (sometimes daily) from about age nine through age twelve. I still love it and think it is wonderful for tween animal lovers. Since it was released in 1993, it is not full of the CGI that many movies for this age group starring animals contain. Chance, Shadow and Sassy are real animals. They communicate with human voices, but their mouths do not move. They have adventure after adventure that leads to a satisfying conclusion. I think this is a genuinely heartwarming and completely age appropriate film that I would absolutely recommend to tweens. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Themes: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Pets, loyalty, adventure. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Awards/Reviews: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Well-reviewed and successful at box office. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Series Information: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sequel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Homeward Bound II – Lost in San Francisco </i>(1996)</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Character information: </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chance – A rambunctious bulldog who is owned by Jamie, but considers himself independent. He often gets into trouble.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shadow – An older and wiser golden retriever. He is owned by Peter and is concerned first and foremost about Peter’s safety. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sassy – A prissy Himalayan cat who is owned by Hope. She often fights with the dogs, but loves them like brothers. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Annotation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What happens when three house pets travel through the wilderness to return home? Adventure, danger and a whole lot of fun!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=6304711913&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000Y11B7G&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0000633U3&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0440413249&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></span></div>Hylaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10096927073318655638noreply@blogger.com0