Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars A bit different than his other works-- though still enjoyable. Interspersed with the narrative are short non-fiction segments related to the time period 1776. The story follows a 13 year old who has an encounter with the redcoats. This story gives a picture of the Revolution rarely seen in YA literature. View all my reviews >>

A year gone by?

It is impossible to believe that a year has gone by since my last post. It is December... clearly to cold to go barefoot-- but I head to St. Kitt's soon for a much needed rest. What has happened in the past year? A parent diagnosed with cancer, a cousin married and now expecting, amazing children growing into young men and of course lots of books. Favorites? Hmmmm--- nothing strikes me as a favorite. I'll have to think about that though for my list of recommendations. Hopefully it won't take me a year before I post again.

TV Studios

Well it is Decemeber. Somehow my time for posting new posts disappeared. Hmmmmm, I guess it takes a lot of time to be a full time blogger... or even a part time blogger for that matter. So the media center has been painted. The decorated pumpkins have moved in and out, and now since the final order is in it is time to turn my attention to the new project. A TV studio. So how many of you have one of these in your schools?

I think it will be fun and will be a way to engage our reluctant students. However, I think it will be a lot of work to get it up and running. Oh well. I hope though that it doesn't ge tin the way of my reading though. It seems like there is less and less time for that lately.

Another YA title: The Burn Journals

Well we are entering into a routine at the middle school, and I have finally learned where everything is kept. My media center walls were even painted last night--- but the "accent" walls are pepto bismal pink--- Yuck. It gives me an upset stomach just thinking about the color. Nut the good news is that we will get rid of the accent colors.

We will have reading quotes... that will be nice. So what else is new in the Middle School Media Center? I have reaffirmed that my students really have no clue about all of the information they are being bombarded with. They were under the impression it was just all out there for free and that there was no money involved. They were AMAZED to discover that those advertisements on webpages make money for somebody. Really what else could they have been doing there.... amusing people? Anyway my vote is for a media literacy rotation in the 6th grade.... not a foreign language!

Ok so what have I been reading lately? I just finished The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon. It was non-fiction and really quite a compelling read. It chronicles his suicide attempt by trying to set himself on fire and his 8 month recovery. It also provides tremendous insight into the musings of a 14 year old boys mind. It is not for the faint of heart as the language is realistic particularly for someone undergoing such a painful physical experience. But I think it belongs on library shelves particualry 8-12 grades. I won't give it to a 6th grader... but it is a great book.

That reminds me, I'll have to Blog about my first experience with a parent challenge. Actually it went well. Very Well.

A New Author to Love

Sara Lewis! I love her writing. Of course I have only read one book-- The Answer is Yes but I can tell already she will be one of those authors that I will want to read all of her works. My book club met today and we had the fantastic pleasure of having a phone call from Sara during our meeting. She was delightful on the phone.

She answered our many and varied questions about the book. No it is not autobiographical, and she is not adopted. Her characters are realistic and charming, and the powerful positive message within the book has touched me. It reminds me of a pasta place I used to visit with my husband in Virgina. "Pete's Positive Pasta and Pizzeria" It was a cheery place with huge servings and friendly staff. I mean we all have a choice to greet each day and be the better for it or not. We can choose to miserable or not.

Anyway the book is great. It follows the main character Jenny who is at a crossroads in her life, and by circumstance, or perhaps by being quiet enough to allow the natural rhythm of life to occur she finds her inner self. Along the way she meets delightful characters all rich in their own way. The book reads beautifully. It is as if she Jenny is a friend just chatting with you on the phone. I am going to go check out her other books as soon as possible. Also her website is great and the blog too. Check them out.
http://intuitivewriting.blogspot.com/

And... she has 3 other novels waiting to be published, so come on you people in the industry... We need Sara Lewis' books!

AAAARGHGHH!

Technology! I love it and I curse it. At least if you set down a piece of paper you have written on it doesn't just evaporate into the netherworld. Anyway, I just hit the wrong button, and my last blog entry disappeared.... where did it go? I imagine it there are many words and letters jumbled around in cyberspace lost.

Anyway I was blogging that I didn't have as much time to blog now that school has started again. Figures, but I love to write so I suppose I will just have to make time. My students are blogging on the blog I set up fro the media center. BUT... the comments are so inane! "6th grade is so coooooll!" or "i just love it here i think...." AARRGH. I know the younger generation is all hip with the online speak, but come on. You have to capitalize the pronoun I. I find it impossible to hit the approve button for these posts with terrible grammar. So----- I edit them. I do. I go in and add capitalization and periods. I leave the other errors that don't bug me so much.

And then I have this moral dilemma. What do you think? Should I edit the posts? I don't want garbled gook to be out their for a world audience. They will think our students are pathetic.
I would love to hear some feedback on this issue. So let me know what you think.

First Days Again!

Let's just say--- I love Middle School! Teachers are truly meant for one level or another-- and now having taught from pres-school through college, I know without a doubt that I love middle schoolers. They are caught up in so many changes from goofy to surly often with mood swings from moment to moment. I even got non-reading 8th grade boys excited about reading William Sleator's The Beasties. The were unable to resist the lure of people who walked around with ears missing, noses bitten off, and strange other injuries that no one talks about. I gotta love Sleator for reluctant readers--- he really draws them in.

Of course would I choose to go through middle school again as a student--- NO WAY! Man they are vicious to one another. I remember very little about my own middle school years except perhaps for the few close friends I had. One of whom I still keep in touch with-- here's a shout out to ya' Paula!

Anyway-- I haven't had much time to read this week-- Go figure-- New school for me, the kids, and the husband too. It is busy here- but new on my bookshelf is The Alchemist's Daughter by Katherine MacMahon, an adult book for a change. I have a feeling I am going to enjoy it quite a bit. It mixes my love of history with science all blended nicely with a page turning plot. I'll write more about it and the goings on at the middle school soon.