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.