Yes! I'm Still reading

The school year is going at a racing speed.  It looks like I haven't ready anything since August.  But I have, I just need to remember to blog immediately after I read.  My other challenge has been starting a book, and then recommending it to students.  Today I have an older title by an awesome, well-known, author Gary Paulson. 

Not knowing anything about the book--I randomly picked it off the shelf.  O.k. maybe not randomly, I was looking for something short.  All of the other books I've been reading have been over 300 pages.  I needed something short to get me going.  Anyway, enough about me.

I thought that the book would be funny.  There are a few funny parts, but not like I expected. This books is about relationships.  How to start one, how to keep one going, and how to live with the good and bad things that tend to happen. The main character, Finn, gets a new neighbor, Johanna who is dealing with breast cancer.  Finn, Matthew (friend), and Dylan (the dog with the notes) help Johanna deal with her cancer.  Johanna helps them to discover themselves, especially Finn, who doesn't like talking with others.

Best Advice from the book:  Keep a Journal--Each day write the best thing that happened to you on that day.

First Line:  Sometimes having company is not all that it is cracked up to be.

Favorite Quote:  The truth always reveals itself, and usually in mysterious ways.

To Learn More about Gary Paulsen:  http://www.garypaulsen.com/

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

Truman Nominee 2011-2012

    Yum! Yum!  What could be more fun than living on a beach, designing your own cupcakes, and meeting a cute guy.  Nothing!  Unless your parents are getting divorce, your working for your mother, and the cute guy is sitting with your biggest enemy.  You think you have problems?  Travel through Hog's Hollow with Penny and her friends.



Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell

This was one of the lasts books for me to read on the Truman Award Nominee list. What a shame, it was probably one of the funniest stories that I have ever read. And for my girls who ask for love stories, I think that you would like this one.

So why didn't I read it first--the cover, while very appropriate for the story itself, scares off the boys, and gets disapproving nods from parents of middle schoolers. In fact one parent, during a school walk through didn't approve of the cover. "Why would you put a book with that cover-on the shelf for 7th and 8th graders?" hmmm.... (Notice that it is not on the blog???? I really tried to add the cover of the book...and the blog won't let me....hmmmm....)

The beginning of the story can be a little hard to get into....genius girls, high vocabulary, and "loving school" so much that they want to exceed high school with 5.3 grade point averages?????
It gets very interesting when the girl with the plan, goes to Malaysia to visit an artistic grandmother who just doesn't fit into anyone's plan...

I highly recommend the book--yes it is probably more of a "girl" book. I think that it would be cool if Ms. Cornwell were to do a sequel with Hank's side of the story.

Check out Autumn Cornwell's web-page for more information about the author and what inspired her to write Carpe Diem: www.autumncornwell.com