Keaton's Review: Go Big or Go Home

Title: Go Big or Go Home
Author:  Will Hobbs

     When a chunk of meteor gets into earth’s atmosphere, it smashes right into Brady’s house through the roof while he is watching the meteorite show. Brady investigates and finds a meteorite he names F.R.E.D. (Far Roaming Earth Diver). After he makes the fascinating discovery he calls his extreme cousin Quinn over. Him and Quinn are the (extreme) type and love insanely awesome, out of this world, wicked cool things especially space things. Quinn first thinking that it may be valuable suggests they take to the museum on Monday. Before they went to the museum they had to have some fun and had a weekend all to themselves of extreme bicycling, dirt biking, fishing, and cave exploration. They finally headed to the museum to see the scientist and soon learned something incredible. Before and after they head to the museum Brady is noticing some strange physical increases like dunking his 6`0 tall cousin and having the speed of a buffalo, faster than a buffalo. At first he thinks nothing of F.R.E.D. but then learns more and becomes more and more suspicious. Brady soon realizes that his nightmares come true and what caused everything the way it is. Could it be his cousin coming with a very, very, very bad contagious disease? Could it be something at the science lab? Or could it be F.R.E.D.?

Carsyn's Review: Palace Beautiful

Title: Palace Beautiful
Author: Sarah Deford Williams


     From Shelfari, "When sisters Sadie and Zuzu Brooks move to Salt Lake City, they discover a secret room in the attic of their new house, with a sign that reads “Palace Beautiful” and containing an old journal. Along with their neighbor, dramatic Belladonna Desolation (real name: Kristin Smith), they take turns reading the story of a girl named Helen living during the flu epidemic of 1918. The journal ends with a tragedy that has a scary parallel to Sadie and Zuzu’s lives, and the girls become obsessed with finding out what happened to Helen after the journal ends. Did she survive the flu? Is she still alive somewhere? Or could her ghost be lurking in the nearby graveyard? Sarah DeFord Williams has created a gripping read that covers two time periods, many fantastic characters, and a can’t-put-it-down ending, all with delightful, extraordinary prose."


     I would recommend Palace Beautiful to anyone who wants to read a great book.  I would stay awake for hours reading this at night.  I quickly added this to my list of favorites.  I liked Palace Beautiful because it had events and characters that I could relate to.  It was filled with adventure, mystery, and girl power.  If you are looking for a good book, you should pick up this book!

Exciting News!

Congratulations Kaylee!

     The Doniphan-Trumbull Library has been participating in the Great Scavenger Hunt Contest, sponsored by author Kay Cassidy, since February.  To participate, students (also known as hunters) look at the list of participating books that we have in our collection and choose one that looks interesting.  Once the student reads the book, they complete the associated trivia challenge and turns it in to Ms. Sears to check.  Students must get at least eight of the ten answers correct in order to be entered into the monthly contest.  Every month, Kay Cassidy picks one lucky hunter as the winner.  The winning hunter receives a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice and the host library receives a prize tote filled with books to add to their own library collection.

     The winning hunter for March of 2010 was Kaylee, who took home the $50 certificate.  Just to let you know, Kaylee had a total of thirteen entries.  Wow, what a reader!  In addition to her prize, the Doniphan-Trumbull library received the following titles:

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale

Haven by Beverly Patt

Operation YES by Sara Lewis Holmes

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

     We would like to thank the authors of those particular titles for donating their books and author, Kay Cassidy for providing libraries with such a cool program.  In this time of economic hardship, it is wonderful to know that there are such giving, incredible people out there.  It should also be noted that libraries are allowed to win more than once, so if there are students out there that still want to participate, they should start reading and scavenging today!  Please go to the Great Scavenger Hunt website or see Ms. Sears for a list of titles.

Review: Shug

Title: Shug
Author: Jenny Han


     From GoodReads, "Annemarie Wilcox, or Shug as her family calls her, is beginning to think there's nothing worse than being twelve. She's too tall, too freckled, and way too flat-chested. Shug is sure that there's not one good or amazing thing about her. And now she has to start junior high, where the friends she counts most dear aren't acting so dear anymore -- especially Mark, the boy she's known her whole life through. Life is growing up all around her, and all Shug wants is for things to be like they used to be. How is a person supposed to prepare for what happens tomorrow when there's just no figuring out today?"


     I just finished reading Jenny Han's new novel, It's Not Summer Without You last night.  After reading the novel, I remembered why I feel in love with Han's writing in the first place, Shug.  Shug reminded me again of the power of love, especially first love.


     The book was told from the perspective of Annemarie Wilcox, or Shug (her nickname).  I loved that the book was written in the style of a journal, which made the reader feel like they were participating in something secret with the main character.  Shug is an easy character to like because she is so realistic.  She is friendly, bubbly, sarcastic (at times) and funny.  When she realizes that she has strong feelings for a guy who just happens to also be her best friend, the story begins.  This is a story about guy/girl friendships and what happens when you want to be more than just friends, but aren't sure you should act on it because you might jeopardize that friendship.  I felt Shug was easy to identify with, especially if you had experience with some of the same situations she was facing.  This is Jenny Han's first novel and a incredible one it is.  I have been recommending it to many of my upper elementary and middle school readers, especially the girls, and there hasn't been a single one that has come back with anything but good things to say about this book.

Red Carpet Readers 2010

 

The fifth graders celebrate a special night on the Red Carpet with their teachers, Mrs. Osler and Miss Arterburn!

     On April 19, 2010,  Doniphan-Trumbull students, staff, and parents celebrated by watching students strut their stuff on the Red Carpet.  Thirty-one students were recognized because of their participation in the Nebraska Golden Sower Award program.  The students, in grades two through six, are required to read at least four of the nominated Nebraska Golden Sower books.  In addition to walking down the Red Carpet, the students received certificates as well as an autographed copy of The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, which was one of the nominated titles. Honored students were: Carson N, Brianna P, Katie R, Cade S, Maddy S, the other Cade S, Kate A, Kelton B, Brynna L, Kalee W, Emma C, Madi K, Logan P, Sydney S, Zoey B, Kaleb P, Josie S, Jessica C, Sarah F, Madi G, Kaylee L, David R, Abby W, Abigail W, Jon A, Kendrick B, Jamie C, Jenna C, Tate M, Makenna N, and Carsyn P.

  Two additional awards were given to teachers whose classes had the most students on the Red Carpet.  The runner-up class was Mrs. Herrmann's second grade class with a total of six students on the Red Carpet.  The winning class was actually a tie between Mrs. Osler's fifth grade class and Miss Arterburn's fifth grade class who each had seven students.  Each teacher received a book to add to their classroom libraries that were signed by the students in their classes.

        

Review: How To Steal A Dog

Title: How to Steal A Dog
Author: Barbara O'Connor


From GoodReads, "Half of me was thinking, Georgina, don’t do this. Stealing a dog is just plain wrong. The other half of me was thinking, Georgina, you’re in a bad fix and you got to do whatever it takes to get yourself out of it.

Georgina Hayes is desperate. Ever since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment, her family has been living in their car. With her mama juggling two jobs and trying to make enough money to find a place to live, Georgina is stuck looking after her younger brother, Toby. And she has her heart set on improving their situation. When Georgina spots a missing-dog poster with a reward of five hundred dollars, the solution to all her problems suddenly seems within reach. All she has to do is “borrow” the right dog and its owners are sure to offer a reward. What happens next is the last thing she expected.

With unmistakable sympathy, Barbara O’Connor tells the story of a young girl struggling to see what’s right when everything else seems wrong."

     This book, which is nominated for the Nebraska Golden Sower award, was just picked as a favorite in our school.  It is loved by both boys and girls... and I can see why.  It is a terrific book!  It is one of those books that makes you appreciate what you have.  For example, the main character, Georgina Hayes and her family are homeless.  It isn't that her mother doesn't try to keep their family together and in a house.  She works, in fact she works a lot.  It's just that she struggles to stay ahead which leaves Georgina left to take care of her little brother.  Then Georgina comes up with an idea.  It's the kind of idea that makes perfect sense, but is also the kind of idea that is totally wrong.  

     The messages of the book are thought-provoking and lend themselves to great discussions.  There aren't many books that talk about the issue of homelessness quite the way this book does.  I love the fact that even though Georgina's family is homeless, they still have terrific family dynamics. It really shows that all kinds of people can find themselves in the same situations that Georgina's family deals with.  This is a well-written book with lots of good messages for both kids and parents alike.  It would make a terrific read-aloud book.  Go to your nearest library and check it out!

Review: Airhead

Reading... it does a mind good!


Research shows that the more you read, the more you know.
Title: Airhead
Author: Meg Cabot


From GoodRead, "Emerson Watts, 16 and female, loves playing video games, hanging out with her best friend, Christopher, and has made peace with her less-than-supermodel-esque looks. But when she's involved in a mysterious accident, she wakes up to find she's now in the body of...a supermodel. Who was behind this switch? What was the motive? And how can she get Christopher to realize she's still the same person inside?"


     This book had an interesting premise and one that I haven't seen in a book for awhile.  It reminded me somewhat of a book that I read and loved as a kid, Freaky Friday. I have read several of Meg Cabot's books, and am a fan of her writing style.  It is very conversational, which makes the reader feel a part of the characters and the plot.  All of her books are witty and fun and this one is no exception.  I loved the character of Emerson Watts and loved it when she got a chance to live someone else's life.  Don't we all secretly wish we could do that?  When I began reading this book, I wasn't aware of the fact that it would have a sequel, so I was a little disappointed when I got to the end and realized that there was a cliffhanger and another book. The sequel  Being Nikki is already out and Runaway comes out April 20, 2010.  The fact that Meg Cabot has a lot of series novels should have clued me in that this book could also be a series, but sometimes it's just better to be clueless.  I have been recommending this book to lots of high school and middle school girls and have had good response.  I was also the winner of an Airhead shirt on Meg Cabot's website, which I quickly gave to the first girl that read the book, noted in the picture above.

Carsyn's Review: Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam

Title: Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam
Author: Cynthia Kadohata


From Shelfari, "Cracker is one of the United States Army's Mose Valuable Weapons: a German shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on her keen sense of smell. She's a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too. Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. There, he's going to whip the world and prove to his family and his sergeant -- and everyone else who didn't think he was cut out for war -- wrong. But sometimes Rick can't help but wonder that maybe everyone else is right. Maybe he should have just stayed at home and worked in his dad's hardware store. When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn't so sure about this new owner. He's going to have to prove himself to her before she's going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive. Told in part through the uncanny point of view of a German shepherd, Cracker! is an action-packed glimpse into the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a dog and her handler. It's an utterly unique powerhouse of a book by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Kira-Kira."


I would recommend Cracker to many people.  If you like historical fiction or dog stories, you'll love Cracker.  If you are like me and not a fan of either historical fiction or dog stories, there is still something of interest in this book for you.  If you are just looking for a good book, you should read this book. 

Review: Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly

Title: Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly
Author: Alan Madison 


From GoodReads, "IT'S HARD TO BE VELMA entering first grade. That's because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders, and no one even notices Velma. But all that changes on a class trip to the butterfly conservatory, a place neither of her sisters has been. When a monarch roosts on Velma's finger and won't budge for days - no one will ever forget it . . . or her!

Kids will enjoy reading about everything butterflies, from migration to metamorphosis, as they follow Velma's own transformation."


Any kid that has ever been in the shadow of an older sibling will be able to identify with Velma Gratch.  The youngest of three girls, Velma tries to crawl out from behind the shadow of her older sisters.  After unsuccessfully trying several ideas, she comes into her own due to her love of science.  The wonderfully humorous illustrations in this terrific book add to the appeal.  My students especially liked the illustration with Velma peering into the jar.  After reading this story, the students were curious as to what some of the butterflies mentioned in the book looked like, so we spent some time looking at them.  This book lends itself well to many scientific experiments and explanations.  An awesome story with a subtle lesson always gets me a "flutter". 

Emily's Review: Swindle

Title: Swindle
Author: Gordon Korman


From Shelfari, "After a mean collector named Swindle cons him out of his most valuable baseball card, Griffin Bing must put together a band of misfits to break into Swindle's compound and recapture the card. There are many things standing in their way -- a menacing guard dog, a high-tech security system, a very secret hiding place, and their general inability to drive -- but Griffin and his team are going to get back what's rightfully his . . . even if hijinks ensue. This is Gordon Korman at his crowd-pleasing best, perfect for readers who like to hoot, howl, and heist."


The book, Swindle, was a book I thought had mystery and suspense. The book showed friendship, trust, and dog loyalty. I recommend the book, Swindle, to readers who love to "break the law"! The main character is "The Man With A Plan". He gets his baseball card taken away by a swindler and has to work to get it back.

Kaylee's Review: The Road to Paris

Title: The Road to Paris
Author:  Nikki Grimes


From GoodReads, "Paris has just moved in with the Lincoln family, and she isn't thrilled to be in yet another foster home. She has a tough time trusting people, and she misses her brother, who's been sent to a boys' home. Over time, the Lincolns grow on Paris. But no matter how hard she tries to fit in, she can't ignore the feeling that she never will, especially in a town that's mostly white while she is half black. It isn't long before Paris has a big decision to make about where she truly belongs."


     This is a touching story about a girl (Paris) who moved to many different foster families and finally comes across a loving family, the Lincoln's.  But Paris can't decide if she should trust them.  I really loved this book.  It made me want to cry in some places, but it also made me want to read on.  

Review: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Title: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Author: Carmen Agra Deedy


From GoodReads, "Carmen Agra Deedy delivers a deliciously inventive Cuban version of the beloved Martina folktale, complete with a dash of café Cubano.

Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn't know coffee beans about love and marriage. That's where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increible, some shocking advice.

You want me to do what? Martina gasps.

At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela's unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails The Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. Soon, only the gardener Pérez, a tiny brown mouse, is left. But what will happen when Martina offers him café Cubano?

After reading this sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale, you'll never look at a cockroach the same way again."

I had the pleasure of hearing Carmen Agra Deedy speak to a group of teachers and librarians at the Plum Creek Literacy Festival in Seward, Nebraska.  She was an amazing storyteller and gave us lots to take back home to our schools, including the importance of storytelling.  I purchased Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale at the festival.  The book included a CD of Carmen Agra Deedy telling the story in her own unique way.  I have shared her version with library classes from second through eighth grade and I can honestly tell you that every student has been engaged.  I would highly recommend buying the book and making sure it has the CD included.  It is truly amazing.

The story is a wonderful testament to the lesson that it is more important what people have on the inside rather than what they look like on the outside and has a unique way of pointing this out.  I also liked the underlying lesson of respecting our elders demonstrated beautifully by the relationship Martina has with her grandmother.  This is a terrific book and one that should be shared with as many people as possible.