Day 36: 45 Days of Summer

Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst

First, I want to say that I love this author. LOVE. Not afraid to gush about it either. She is the popular author of the Alexander books (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good...) and MANY others. But the Alexander books are where I first got to know her and her characters...and they saved more than one storytime for me!

This is the third book starring Lulu. I cannot get enough of them...or Lulu. In this book, Lulu's parents take a much needed vacation and bring in a mysterious babysitter to take charge. Lulu is DETERMINED to get rid of the babysitter, until she discovers that Ms. Sonia is a spy in disguise.

Go back and read all these books and enjoy Lulu's adventures.

Perfect for: students reading early chapter books; grades 1st-4th. 

Day 29: 45 Days of Summer

The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin

They're baaaaaack.

Those cute chicks from the author's JJ Tully Mystery series.

And now they're solving their own crimes.

Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie try to help a frightened squirrel in their first "solo" adventure. Which just might get a little off-track.

Hilarity ensues, and JJ Tully comes out of retirement to help save the day.

This is the perfect beginning chapter book for young readers. Perfect for grades 1st-3rd.

I can't wait for the next book!

Day 18: 45 Days of Summer

The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer

Who hasn’t wanted to participate in a reality TV show? 

What if one was filmed at your high school? 

That’s exactly what happens in The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy. 

When Ethan and his crew figure out that “reality” doesn’t necessarily mean “real,” they set out to bring down the TV show…and the villainous school principal.

Best for: 8th-12 grades.

Day 13: 45 Days of Summer

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen & Jim Paulsen

Summer is the time for family road trips, and what better reason for a father/son trip than to rescue a dog from an animal shelter. 

A quick read that packs a humorous punch, Road Trip will appeal to all ages and readers.

Best for: 4th - 8th grades.

Top 10 Books at Evergreen This Week

The library catalog system "tracks" top titles for our library, and it is something that I enjoy looking at quite frequently to see what's "hot." Of course, I use the term "track" loosely, because I haven't quite figured out the formula it uses. For example, I think that it should take number of holds on the book into account, but it doesn't.

Regardless, I thought that I would share the Top 10 books in our Evergreen Library this week. Now, if you are a student and click on the "Top 10" in the library catalog, this list is for the past 30 days. I can actually pull up reports to change the time frame that it uses when calculating titles. It's actually interesting to note that this changes the titles quite a bit, and takes into account suddenly popular titles vs. titles that sustain popularity.

So, for the last 7 days, the top books at Evergreen were:

1. Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown. TOTALLY surprising, and completely due to the fact that I ordered two additional copies this week and I booktalked this to 6th grade classes a lot recently. It flew off the shelves.

2. Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson. Love this book and while it is always popular, the reason it hit number 2 is that it's a top choice for our 8th grade Sci-Fi unit which just started this week. All 9 copies FLEW off the shelves yesterday.

3. & 4. Catching Fire and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Not a shocker with the movie coming out next week.

5. House of Hades by Rick Riordan. Again, not a shocker. Riordan's books are always popular with my students, and the hold list continues to grow every day, even though we have multiple copies and students are reading it fast. If the system factored holds into the calculation, this book would be number one without any competition.

6. Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I actually can't figure out why this book is so much higher in the top ten than Divergent, because students are always asking me for Divergent and with all the movie buzz, I would have thought that all the recent recruits to the series would have pushed the first one into the lead.

7. Matched by Ally Condie. Again, not a surprise considering the Sci-Fi unit. This is always a popular series at Evergreen.

8. Wimpy Kid #8: Hard Luck. It's kind of fitting that this book is 8th on the list...but also surprising. The only reason that this is so low on the list in my opinion (I expected it to be 2 or 3) is that many of my kids must have purchased their own copies from their local bookstore.

9. Swim the Fly by Don Calame. Always popular at Evergreen, this is falling down the top 10 charts as the 8th grade Humor unit is ending.

10. Divergent by Veronica Roth. Barely made it into the top 10 this week. But long-term, this one is always in the top. And deservedly so!

So, what does this tell us? 
I'm sad that there's not a non-fiction title among the top 10. Something I will continue to work on.
Series are HOT at Evergreen. I often joke that if I call it a series, they will read it.
Dystopian is not dead yet, at least in my neck of the woods.

What are your top titles?

Funny, Funny, Funny, Funny...Funny!

This week in the library, I've been talking about HUMOR books with the 8th graders. Their first quarter Independent Reading Project is all about all things Funny.

Looking back through this blog, I cannot believe that I have never done a Friday 5/15 about my top Funny books for teens. We will have to remedy that in a future post!

My goal today was to mention some of the newer Humor books published this year that I was highlighting to students, as well as some quietly funny gems that often get overlooked. Looking back over the 2013 publishing cycle, I have to say, humor has not been at the top of the trend list. I always pride myself on finding great funny books each year, but this year, there really haven't been too many that "tickled my funny bone."

Again, that could be just me. Humor is subjective after all. And the two things that I love most in a humor book are either (1) snarky, sarcastic, witty narrator, often a girl; or (2) dumb boy humor. Love both styles...can't get enough!

In no particular order, here are my funny favs of 2013:


Also Known As by Robin Benway. LOVE Robin Benway, and this book is no exception. I have highlighted the book already this summer as one of our Trailer Tuesdays here. This book has it all, and has also received starred reviews from various publications (which did not influence how much I loved it, but thought I'd throw it out there if it might influence you). Spies, high school drama, a witty and relatable narrator, a little romance, action and suspense...this book has it all and is so much fun. Even if you aren't a fan of the typical "spy" novel, there is a lot to like here. And I'm very excited that it is a series starter. Grades 7-10.


Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg. Again, another good author. A high school girl who's little sister is on the Toddlers & Tiaras pageant circle? Yep, lots of witty asides here. But also a real story. And a character to root for that many girls can relate to. Grades 7-10.


Better Nate than Ever by Tim Federle. Yes, I've already gushed over this book here so probably not a surprise. A kid who runs away to audition for the musical based on E.T.? The images I have in my head are just funny. I love Nate. And I don't care if maybe everything works out a little too easily for him in the end. Every now and then, that's just a good thing to have happen in a book. Grades 6-8 (ignore the cover!).


Wise Young Fool by Sean Beaudoin. This book is not on my middle school shelves, but it has some of the funniest writing I've read in a long time. I just loved everything about this book, and it's main character Ritchie Sudden. When a teenager in juvie makes references to jumping the shark, you know you're going to like this book. Definitely grades 9-12, but so good!




Some quietly funny gems that I hope each year finds their way into the hands of just the right student:

Misfits by James Howe.

Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick.

Warp Speed by Lisa Yee.

Two books that have some of the funniest opening scenes I've ever read, but might not necessarily be "funny" books:

The Schwa was Here by Neil Schusterman.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger.

Review: Who's On First? (Illustrated by Martz)

Title: Who's On First?
Author: Abbott (Illustrator: Martz)
Genre: Fiction, Picture Books, Baseball, Humor
Pages: 40
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Ages: Kindergarten-2nd grade

Yes, Mondays are becoming "Picture Book" review days. There's just so many good books out there this summer for all ages. In honor of tomorrow's MLB All-Star game, I thought I would highlight this favorite from my summer reading list for the younger crowd. 

From the Publisher: 
"Who's on first. What's on second. I Don't Know's on third." One of the classic comedy sketches of all time is now transformed into a priceless picture book-and it's a great read for kids of all ages. Follow the mistaken identities, confusion, and lots of laughs as Rabbit and Bear act out this scene.  Illustrated in full color with slightly retro stylized illustrations.

This is the classic routine from Abbott & Costello. I actually grew up listening to re-runs of this and have always enjoyed watching old footage of the comedy greats performing this sketch. ("Third base!") Martz' illustrations really lend well to bringing this humor to all ages. Rabbit and Bear are such great characters...as were Bud and Lou. This is a book not to be missed!

Review: Dunk (Lubar)

Title: Dunk
Author: Lubar
Genre: Fiction, Summer, Humor, Friendship
Pages: 260
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Ages: 8th grade and up

I am a fan of David Lubar. I often recommend his titles to my students. "Hidden Talents" is a classic "go to" recommendation for me; his "Weenies" short story collections are a good mix of  funny and spooky (perfect for the tween and young teen crowd); and I cannot tell you how much I LOVE "Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie." But somehow, I have never seen this book, which actually predates many of the aforementioned titles. So I decided to take full advantage of the public library and check this one out.

From the Publisher: 
Chad finds a whole new summer occupation--he wants to be the Bozo, the clown who sits inside the dunk tank and goads people into taking a shot. What could be better than using his razor-sharp wit against a random stranger? But Chad soon discovers he's entered a strange and twisted world where humor packs a loaded punch.

Seriously, how could you not like a book where the main character wants to be a dunk tank clown? Who comes up with a premise like that? Lubar has written a really witty character in Chad. But this book is actually more than just yelling funny insults at people as they pass by (although the insults are quite funny). 

Beneath the humor, there is quite a bit going on here: a story about taking care of your friends and family, having fun, falling in love, and growing up. It is also a terrific look at what it is like to live in a town that people flock to for summer vacation but you're stuck in all year long. This is a glimpse at the life of one such young man during the summer when everything doesn't go quite as he had planned. 

Review: Meant to Be (Morrill)

Title: Meant to Be

Author: Morrill
Genre: Fiction, Love, Travel, High School, Humor
Pages: 292

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Ages: 7th grade & up

This is not a new title, but I think that this book also falls into the "neighbor girl borrowed and I never read" category, because I just discovered this book on my shelf last month. 

From the Publisher: Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way.

I think this book is an enjoyable read, especially for all those teen girl fans of romantic comedies. I mean seriously...just look at the book cover. It practically screams "Rom-Com" movie poster! And even though the action in the book takes place over spring break, it's a great summer read because the travel details are part of the fun. 

This book is not the most surprising from start to finish, but you really can't help but like Julia, even when she's acting too smart for her own good. I really loved her and all her quirkiness...pocket Shakespeare? A pencil sharpener at all times? How could you not love this girl? And root for her to find the love that is "meant to be"?

Holiday Gift Ideas: Ungifted (Korman)

Title: Ungifted
Author: Korman
Genre: Fiction, Funny, Middle School, Friendship, Robots
Pages: 280
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

After pulling a major prank that lands him in the district superintendent's office, troublemaker Donovan Curtis is accidentally sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special program for gifted and talented students. Needless to say, Donovan knows he's dodged a bullet and intends to do whatever it takes not to let on that he doesn't belong in the gifted program.

Before we go any farther, I have to admit to being a HUGE Gordon Korman fan. Seriously...top 10 all-time authors. I recently convinced our 6th grade team to make his title "Schooled" an all-grade read. Big fan! And this latest book did not disappoint.

Written much like "Schooled," with multiple characters' first-person narration propelling the story forward, this has something to offer every reader. Yes, there is a subtle message of tolerance and many ideas to ponder while reading, but it is also a funny story that is universal to all middle school students. Donovan is a charming character with heart, and his story has broad appeal.

And who could say no to that cover?

On a recent online auction to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, I won an autographed copy of this book. I was quite excited (even though I missed out on some other great things...that's a post for another day) and looked forward to having some sort of clever contest at Evergreen with this book as a prize. However...the more I think about it...is it bad that I kind of want to keep it for myself?

Trailer Tuesday: Blogtastic! series

This is an enjoyable series, especially for girl fans of the Wimpy Kid books who always ask me for a Wimpy Kid book for girls. These are the books for you!

Trailer Tuesday: Planet Tad

One of the funniest books that I've read in a long time. I love Tad! I hope there's more to come!

Trailer Tuesday: Dark Lord: The Early Years

This is one of the funniest, yet oddest, books that I have read in a long time. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think this is a perfect book for middle school boys! It was so hard to write a review of it because it is so quirky...luckily the trailer speaks for itself.

Review: Dark Lord: the early years (Thomson)

Title: Dark Lord: the early years
Author: Thomson (or is it???)
Genre: Fiction, Identity, Magic, Fantasy, Funny
Pages: 290
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Dark Lord is confounded when he wakes up in the middle of a small town on a planet he's never seen before. Where is he, why do they keep calling him Dirk Lloyd, and why is he powerless against these earthlings who insist on finding his parents? Is Dirk Lloyd the human incarnation of the Dark Lord who, after a cataclysmic final battle with his arch nemesis, was hurled into the Pit of Uttermost Despair (Earth)? Or is he just a lost and confused boy?

What is not to love about this book? The writing is terrific, and the word choice adds so many layers to the humor. From the Iron Tower of Despair that he misses on his home planet, to the Black Diary of Doom that he writes in, I love Dirk Lloyd/Dark Lord's voice.

As an adult reading this book, I spent much of it thinking that the Dark Lord character was a coping mechanism for some tragedy that we were going to discover at the end. I'm not going to give away the ending at all, but I think that this book is a SPOT ON choice for middle school boys, especially those with a penchant for fantasy/gaming...or a quirky sense of humor.

Stay tuned for the book trailer on an upcoming "Trailer Tuesday."

Review: Warp Speed (Yee)

Title: Warp Speed
Author: Yee
Genre: Fiction, Humor, Middle School, Friendship, Popularity, Bullying
Pages: 320
(it is the FASTEST 320 pages you will ever read--even reluctant readers will rejoice)
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

Marley is completely prepared for the new school year: same old boring classes, same old boring life. The only thing he has to look forward to is the upcoming Star Trek convention. But when he inadvertently draws the attention of Digger Ronster, the biggest bully in school, his life has officially moved from boring to far too dramatic.

As you can tell by my rating, I obviously loved this book. I am always looking for that perfect middle school "boy" book, filled with humor and substance. This book made me laugh out loud...and at the time I was reading it, I was also proctoring our annual state assessments, so it led to interesting looks from students in the room.

There are so many things about this book that I enjoyed:
First and foremost, Marley is a humorous and likeable narrator. His funny narrative keeps the plot moving and will grab readers from the first page. His asides and Star Trek log at the chapter ends are a riot (thus leading to the awkward stares from students). There are so many students in my school that I see in Marley and his friends.
The supporting cast of characters add to the story, and I love all the kids in the AV Club. Additionally, Marley's father and mother are interesting characters and the family dynamic adds a fresh perspective.

This is an accurate portrayal of how many middle schoolers feel...like an outsider. And a realistic look at bullying from the victim's perspective. The story is fast-paced, and the humor will keep readers attention to the authentic resolution. A realistic story that will appeal to a variety of middle school readers, it is so much more than "just another book about bullying."

And if you are already a fan of Ms. Yee, you will discover many of the characters from her other novels make "guest appearances" in this book...a welcome treat if you have already read her other books!

Student Review: Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto (Luper)

Title: Seth Baumgartner’s Love Manifesto

Author: Eric Luper
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Love
Pages: 293
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.


So it all started at Applebee’s. Seth Baumgartner is on his lunch break with his girlfriend when she dumps him, she says she too “Comfortable with him” while she’s really into her co-worker Anders. It was then that his father walked in with a woman that wasn’t his mother, Seth’s heart was sinking. After his 30 minute lunch break, Seth goes back to his job at Belgian fries express where his boss fires him after his shift because he was late. YIKES! So Seth’s day isn’t going to well. Later that week, Seth launches an anonymous podcast called the Love Manifesto to talk about the reasons he loves his ex-girlfriend, Veronica, his investigation of his father’s affair and other things related to love and why it sucks. Seth’s father wasn’t happy he lost his job since it was his 4th job he got fired from so he gets a job at the country golf club where his family goes and also where he’s training for a father/son competition with his dad. Amidst all this he comes face to face with Luz, his father’s mistress, a few times and even goes in her apartment! Also, he gets in a fight with his best friend Dimitri…


I chose to read book because when Mrs. Yusko gave a brief summary of the book, it sounded really funny and interesting and it also seemed like the type of book I like to read. I think the theme of this book would be perseverance because Seth never gave up on what was going on around him. He got over Veronica and got a new girlfriend, got a new job, and never gave up on investigating his father affair.


I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a quick and easy read. Also, I liked reading this book because the author kept me wanting to read more after every page, in every chapter, the author threw something totally unexpected for me to absorb in. Overall, this book is going to get your emotions up and down like a roller coaster, one minute you are going to despite a character and another minute you will love them. I would recommend this book to teenagers and above and either boys or girls because there is some bad language and even though it’s written from a guy’s perspective, girls could relate to it easily also. Also, I would recommend this book to people who like stories with good twists, romantical comedies, and for people who likes golf because the book talks about some golf terms.


So… what would you do if everything you cared about fell apart in a matter of minutes?
--Nomin, 8th grade
 
I am so glad that you chose to read this book!  As you know, it is one of my favorite stories this year (Top 10 for Summer Reading), and I did recommend it for this project. You can read my brief review here.

Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June (Benway)

Title: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June
Author: Benway
Genre: Fiction, High School, Sisters, Paranormal
Pages: 279
Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

April, May, and June Stephenson's lives have been turned upside down.  Their parents recently got divorced and the girls are starting at a new school in a new city.  Oh, and they just discovered they have magic powers.

April, the oldest, is a studious, rule-following junior.  She is a bit of a worrier who can now see into the future.  May, the middle child, is a sharp-tongued, quick-witted sophomore who can disappear...literally.  June is a freshman, looking to be the most popular girl on campus and invited to all the right parties.  Now she can read everyone's mind.  These new-found powers help the girls navigate the high school social scene.  When April sees a disaster in their future, the girls come together to see if they can save the day.

This was a light-hearted, quick read.  Alternating between each girl's perspective to tell the story, readers get a true sense of all the sisters and their personalities.  May, with her sharp wit and sarcastic tone, was definitely my favorite character, though I am probably more like April.  Anyone that has sisters, or very good girlfriends, will definitely relate to the relationships in this story.  Throw in a hint of romance for at least one sister and there is something for everyone here!

And it leaves me wondering...if you could have a magical ability, what would it be? Hmmm...

Wimpy Kid NEWS!

Amulet Books announced today the title and cover for Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5.  "The Ugly Truth" will be published on November 9th with a first printing run of 5 MILLION COPIES!  That says a lot about the popularity of the series.  According to an article in Publishers' Weekly, author Jeff Kinney says that he has always wondered whether Greg Heffley (aka the Wimpy Kid) should "grow up or stay in a state of arrested development forever. This book answers that question once and for all."  Hmmm...what do you think?  Grow up or stay Greg Heffley forever?

Also announced, there will be a second "Wimpy Kid" movie.  Based on the book "Roderick Rules," it will hit theaters on March 25, 2011.  Stay tuned for more news, and check out my previous blog post about my favorite Wimpy Kid souvenir.

Best giveaway item...EVER!

As many of you know, the Yusko family are wild about all things Wimpy Kid!  We have even sucked the 8-year-old daughter into the fun.  Read all the books, multiple times?  Check!  Seen the movie?  Check!  Met the author?  Check!  When Jeff Kinney came to the Seattle area several years ago, I pulled my son out of school to go meet him at Third Place Books.  (Shhh... don't tell anyone)!  Now 13, my son is still a fan of the series, and I am left hoping that something new will spark his love of reading just like Kinney's wonderful Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley.

Obviously, we are awaiting the next book, due out in November...aaaah, it seems so far away!  Recently, at the American Library Association conference in Washington, D.C., both kids spent one morning walking through the exhibition floor with me.  We had a great time talking with publishers, hearing their suggestions, and scooping up advance copies of books...which is obviously a big highlight of the event for readers like myself.  (That, and meeting favorite authors, but that was a previous blog post).

However, the "BEST GIVEAWAY ITEM EVER," as deemed by the entire family were the Diary of a Wimpy Kid water bottles that we scored from Amulet Books/Abrams.  And as we are heading out to a soccer tournament, filling our water bottles to put in the cooler, I must agree.  I was originally thinking that we would keep one and I'd give away the other two in a drawing at school in the fall.  Alas, EJH students, you are out of luck because no one will part with theirs, including ME!

Review: Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol (Krieg)

Title: Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol
Author: Krieg
Genre: Fiction, Humor, Middle School, Mystery
Pages: 272
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Griff Carver is the new kid in school, and the newest recruit to the school's safety patrol.  He may be new to school, but he is a veteran at safety patrol and is determined to rid the "mean streets" (school hallways) of crime. 

Griff is a character straight out of a television crime drama.  With so many cop shows on TV, and with new ones scheduled to debut in the fall (think Hawaii 5-0), this book has a ready-made group of fans.  But the best part about this book is Griff.  He is such a typical 7th Grade boy, and fans of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" will enjoy this book.  This is a hilarious, smart-aleck mystery (Griff uncovers counterfeit hall passes for goodness sake).  Just plain funny!  Word of warning: I wouldn't recommend talking to Ms. Olsen (or any other principal) like Griff talks to his!