Can you imagine anything more horrible than this scenario:
Two best friends, alike in both size & appearance, get into a horrible car accident. When the paramedics pull their bodies from the wreckage, the identify the girls incorrectly.
They tell one family that their daughter has died. That family has a funeral, grieves, tries desperately to come to terms with everything.
They tell the other family that their daughter is alive, but that she is in critical condition and will never again be the same.
And then a doctor comes along who matches dental records to the girls...and realizes that they got everything wrong.
One family gets their daughter back. Another family loses a daughter. The process starts again.
That is the premise of Jacquelyn Mitchard's new novel. It is an excellent story with tons of food for thought. Kids will be drawn to the intense elements of the story, but will gain a new perspective on life by the end.
View the book trailer on Mitchard's webpage. Look around while you're there. She's got some very neat novels and some nice features (like a mailing list that keeps you posted on events).
**There is brief sexual content when Maureen tries to sow her oats. However, situationally, it is very appropriate and well written.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Hot Lunch
So I recently (as in....two hours ago) finished reading Alex Bradley's most recent book, Hot Lunch.
Here is a link to Alex's blog http://iamalexbradley.blogspot.com/....while he claims (on his blogsite) not to be a god, I seriously disagree.
I think what I most appreciate about Alex Bradley is witty writing. There are these great lines buried in the text, so you can't just skim the work, you really have to read it through to find these wonders. Truly funny.
Hot Lunch is about two girls who share a bit of...animosity, shall we say. One thing leads to another in the food fight realm, and the next thing they know, they are in charge of lunch duty. They have to serve and prepare the Hot Lunch selection at their school.
Through their preparations, research, and time together, the girls branch out and make some friends, as well as learn quite a bit about nutrition.
Which brings me to my next point: Alex Bradley has some great facts in the "notes" section at the end...that will help teens who are interested in food and healthy eating learn more and empower themselves about dietary decisions.
Not only did I get a cute story about friends, but I also got a cleverly shrouded lesson in nutrition. Bravo, Alex Bradley...Bravo!!
Read this....Buy it for your middle and high school libraries.
And while you're purchasing, check out 24 Girls in 7 Days. The title will intrigue the kids, at least it has in my library, and you will have another great Alex Bradley masterpiece!!
Here is a link to Alex's blog http://iamalexbradley.blogspot.com/....while he claims (on his blogsite) not to be a god, I seriously disagree.
I think what I most appreciate about Alex Bradley is witty writing. There are these great lines buried in the text, so you can't just skim the work, you really have to read it through to find these wonders. Truly funny.
Hot Lunch is about two girls who share a bit of...animosity, shall we say. One thing leads to another in the food fight realm, and the next thing they know, they are in charge of lunch duty. They have to serve and prepare the Hot Lunch selection at their school.
Through their preparations, research, and time together, the girls branch out and make some friends, as well as learn quite a bit about nutrition.
Which brings me to my next point: Alex Bradley has some great facts in the "notes" section at the end...that will help teens who are interested in food and healthy eating learn more and empower themselves about dietary decisions.
Not only did I get a cute story about friends, but I also got a cleverly shrouded lesson in nutrition. Bravo, Alex Bradley...Bravo!!
Read this....Buy it for your middle and high school libraries.
And while you're purchasing, check out 24 Girls in 7 Days. The title will intrigue the kids, at least it has in my library, and you will have another great Alex Bradley masterpiece!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
More Undead
So...as I previously mentioned, the Undead are out in full force.
Zombie Blondes by Brian James kicked off my foray into the dark side of YA literature.
The ZBs are this crazy group of cheerleader zombies. They dress the same, look the same, and KILL THE SAME (please cue sinister music).
All kidding aside, any book that puts cheerleaders as the undead...I can get behind it. I always thought there was a little something unnatural about all of that bending and jumping; a nod to Brian James for taking it to the next level.
After I finished off the Zombie's, I decided it was a pretty happening topic, so I moved on to Generation Dead. I've linked to author Daniel Waters' blog because, well, he is a pretty cool guy. I'll tell you what...if the story doesn't sell on this puppy, the book cover will get this book a-movin. The main character falls in love with one of the zombies and all hell breaks loose.
Also, Oprah said that you should read it, so...DO IT!
Lisa McMann wrote Wake, which was pretty interesting. You could not pay me to enter the dream world of high schoolers, but this brave lady attempted to do so and the result is actually less revolting that you might imagine. Lisa McMann also accepted my friend request on Facebook, so...we're pretty much BFF right now. :)
I read some other things, too...but they were about living folks. I'll save that for next time.
Happy Reading (moo-ha-ha-ha [evil laugh]).
**all books mentioned have sequel potential. Be aware that you MAY be hooked...**
Zombie Blondes by Brian James kicked off my foray into the dark side of YA literature.
The ZBs are this crazy group of cheerleader zombies. They dress the same, look the same, and KILL THE SAME (please cue sinister music).
All kidding aside, any book that puts cheerleaders as the undead...I can get behind it. I always thought there was a little something unnatural about all of that bending and jumping; a nod to Brian James for taking it to the next level.
After I finished off the Zombie's, I decided it was a pretty happening topic, so I moved on to Generation Dead. I've linked to author Daniel Waters' blog because, well, he is a pretty cool guy. I'll tell you what...if the story doesn't sell on this puppy, the book cover will get this book a-movin. The main character falls in love with one of the zombies and all hell breaks loose.
Also, Oprah said that you should read it, so...DO IT!
Lisa McMann wrote Wake, which was pretty interesting. You could not pay me to enter the dream world of high schoolers, but this brave lady attempted to do so and the result is actually less revolting that you might imagine. Lisa McMann also accepted my friend request on Facebook, so...we're pretty much BFF right now. :)
I read some other things, too...but they were about living folks. I'll save that for next time.
Happy Reading (moo-ha-ha-ha [evil laugh]).
**all books mentioned have sequel potential. Be aware that you MAY be hooked...**
The Undead
Well...it has been awhile.
I was away for a bit, a little jaunty trip to the Med.
Then I had this crazy baby shower that required a lot of home repair work.
And finally, I was reading like crazy!!
What I have found this summer is that the world of the undead is as fascinating as ever.
OF COURSE I read Breaking Dawn.
To all of the nay-sayers of Meyer's fabulous body of work, I would just like to point out that if she had written Round Four of Edward vs. Jacob, she was going to lose a huge fan base.
There was no way for her to pick Jacob OR to pick Edward, really, because she was going to offend people either way. (I am firmly Team Jacob, Jason is firmly Team Edward....even in our own loving family there was discord!)
****SPOILER***
So instead, Jacob imprinted on baby Bella (Really? Renesme? Really...come on, now...).
Imprinting = creepy, but...whatev.
The point is that both populations in Team Edward and Team Jacob were left with a satisfactory choice. No one died, everyone lived happily ever after (and after and after and to eternity).
Including me, because now I can rest easy that Bella is part of the Cullen clan and Jacob is happy.
I am going to opt out of reading the re-telling from Edward's POV. To me, that is just too much.
Infer what Edward was thinking and then move on. It is better that way.
Otherwise, it just seems like a shameless ploy for milking the cash cow of popularity.
I am, however, getting together everyone I know to go to the midnight showing of Twilight. If you haven't seen the trailer...please indulge me.
That's right...the midnight showing, despite the fact that it is a school night and bedtime is strictly 10pm.
If you want to jump on the train, feel free.
12-12-08...be there or be []!
I was away for a bit, a little jaunty trip to the Med.
Then I had this crazy baby shower that required a lot of home repair work.
And finally, I was reading like crazy!!
What I have found this summer is that the world of the undead is as fascinating as ever.
OF COURSE I read Breaking Dawn.
To all of the nay-sayers of Meyer's fabulous body of work, I would just like to point out that if she had written Round Four of Edward vs. Jacob, she was going to lose a huge fan base.
There was no way for her to pick Jacob OR to pick Edward, really, because she was going to offend people either way. (I am firmly Team Jacob, Jason is firmly Team Edward....even in our own loving family there was discord!)
****SPOILER***
So instead, Jacob imprinted on baby Bella (Really? Renesme? Really...come on, now...).
Imprinting = creepy, but...whatev.
The point is that both populations in Team Edward and Team Jacob were left with a satisfactory choice. No one died, everyone lived happily ever after (and after and after and to eternity).
Including me, because now I can rest easy that Bella is part of the Cullen clan and Jacob is happy.
I am going to opt out of reading the re-telling from Edward's POV. To me, that is just too much.
Infer what Edward was thinking and then move on. It is better that way.
Otherwise, it just seems like a shameless ploy for milking the cash cow of popularity.
I am, however, getting together everyone I know to go to the midnight showing of Twilight. If you haven't seen the trailer...please indulge me.
That's right...the midnight showing, despite the fact that it is a school night and bedtime is strictly 10pm.
If you want to jump on the train, feel free.
12-12-08...be there or be []!
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