Variant

Variant by Robison Wells

Summary: Benson Fisher thought a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life. He was wrong. Now he’s trapped in a place where breaking the rules equals death.

Thoughts: Great book!  Totally didn't see the twist coming.  (And I'm pretty good at figuring it out.)  I was surprised and can't wait to see what's in store in the next novel. 

Read if you liked: Maze Runner, The Roar

Shakespeare

Oh, the Bard!  Either dreaded or loved, he brings up strong emotions.  8th grade English teachers asked me to help them come up with a lesson to help introduce kids to Shakespeare and the time period in which he wrote.  I decided on a Gallery Walk.

What's a Gallery Walk?  It's essentially a bunch of different stations requiring different things of the students.  For example, I have several stations where students watch and listen to YouTube videos of people performing, a biography of Shakespeare, and so much more.  I also have a station where students use manipulatives to match a word (such as soliloquy and farce) with its definition.  This isn't new to the kids.  I stole this idea from another librarian and we've done other Walks before.

Student viewing a 3D Globe model

Student responding  to one of Shakespeare's soliloquys.

Watching a video.

Manipulative of definitions

With each walk, there is some sort of assignment where students have to apply what they've learned.  For this Walk, I decided that the students needed to do a Facebook post.  So, I created the "Bardbook: Facebook Shakespeare-style" on my front windows.  If you lived in Elizabethan times, what would your post be?  The responses have been creative, funny, and deep.  It's amazing to watch my students apply their knowledge.  They've wanted to write so much I had to tack up paper next to the windows for more posts.

Two kids writing their posts and responses.

I pray thee Maid Smith - Soft! What light through yon window breaks?
Tis my sunshiney personality, not east nor Juliet.
(Post from a teacher and a response from me)

TOLO: Thou only liveth once.

Thy mother art a dizzy, brainless slug-bag.

It is so great to see the students apply their knowledge in this manner.  The kids will even sit and look at all the other comments and respond orally and talk amongst themselves about that.  Even the 6th and 7th graders that pass will stop and look and read.  It's just amazing to watch all the learning and sharing going on right now.

Hunger Games

As with most middle schools, we have a major fan-base for The Hunger Games trilogy.  It stirs everybody up!  In fact, the reason I haven't been posting was because I was re-reading the series before I saw the movie.

Well, series = re-read.  In order to celebrate our most favorite book becoming a pretty darn good movie (if you don't mind me sayin' so!), we threw a party!

When people (students and teachers) arrived, they were given a Hunger Name.  These were fun!  Some examples are: Jaymes Rabbledeen, Tobee Thistlemitch, Regret Gristledeen.  After that, they were invited to guess what the Capitol (Ms. Smith) put in Katniss's backpack, enjoy the "Feast," practice Weapons Training, or watch the Capitol Broadcast.  We talked about our favorite quotes from the book, whether we were Team Peeta or Teem Gale (Teem Peeta, thank you!), and how we felt about the trailers playing on the Capitol Broadcast.

We had SOOOO much fun!  I'm ready for Catching Fire.  It's a shame it's a year away!

I'll upload some photos when I'm on my other computer.

Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Summary: Cinder (16 yrs old) is a cyborg and an especially talented mechanic in New Beijing long after WW IV has ended.  When Prince Kai shows up at her booth to fix an android that contains a "matter of national security," Cinder is suddenly thrown into a world of intrigue and mystery as she struggles with the Plague, Luna royalty, and who she really is.

Thoughts:  This is a futuristic Cinderella tale.  It was a little difficult to get into at first, but once I did it swept me away.  This book would've been a five-star had the ending not been disappointing.  It's almost as if the author decided that she didn't know how to end it so I'm going to make it flow into the next book.  *sigh*  I hate that!  Hopefully the sequel will resolve some of the final "issues" that were left hanging.

Payback Time

Payback Time by Carl Deuker

Summary: Written from a sports journalist's point of view, this novel explores the world of high school football and an apparent scandal.  Are the coach and a player trying to cheat their way into the big time?  Or is there something more sinister happening?  The truth will surprise everyone.

Thoughts: Not a bad sports book.  I was surprised.  I really liked Mitch and could relate to him in a lot of ways. I think kids could too.  Sometimes the football play-by-play bored me, but I don't care that much so I skimmed over it.  If you're into football, though, you'll love hearing about the yardage and zig-zag patterns, and all that jazz.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Summary: Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers? (GoodReads)

Thoughts: Really good.  I listened to it in the car on the way to Austin.  It's a great audio book (Surprisingly!) and it has a great and intriguing storyline.  The plot is a bit predictable at times, but it has it surprises.  Would definitely recommend it!

Stuck on Earth

Stuck on Earth by David Klass

Summary: Ketchvar III’s mission is simple: travel to Planet Earth, inhabit the body of an average teenager, and determine if the human race should be annihilated. And so Ketchvar—who, to human eyes, looks just like a common snail—crawls into the brain of one Tom Filber and attempts to do his analysis. (from GoodReads)

Thoughts: Meh. This book had it's funny moments. However, there was a lot of bullying, gross name-calling (Zitface, Slugbrain), and dogging on your family. I didn't love this book. BUT! It would be great for kids who still love calling people booger-brain.