So... I had to abandon Claim to Fame. I usually enjoy books by Margaret Peterson Haddix, but this one was a combination of unrealistic and boring. The main character had a strange ability that wasn't really explained very well and her situation was completely unbelievable.
Since I hadn't finished my road trip yet, I decided to start on another book: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. This one definitely kept my attention. It's a book about Caitlin, a 16 year old girl who has to figure out how to live her life after her better-than-perfect sister Cass runs away just before heading off to Yale for college. Caitlin starts the school year by doing things she never thought she'd do...like try out to be a cheerleader (she makes the team) and meeting a boy, Rogerson, who is unlike anyone she's ever met before. Soon, Caitlin gets so wrapped up in being Rogerson's girlfriend that she lets the rest of her relationships slide. She isn't interested in being a cheerleader and she makes some choices that lead her down a very dark path. Soon her entire life is ruled by her relationship with Rogerson and he isn't the person she thought he was. This book is definitely for older readers and deals with some very intense issues like drug use and violence. However, if you are a fan of Sarah Dessen, you will probably like this book.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Listen to this!
Have you ever listened to an audio book? I don't usually, but I decided to try one during a road trip to visit family in Idaho. I listened to an entire book and even started another one on the way.
The first book I listened to was The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. Zoe is 16 and trying to deal with the fact that her mother is very sick and possibly dying. She feels completely alone, especially when she learns that her best friend Lorraine will be moving across the country in just a few days. Then, Zoe meets a mysterious boy named Simon late at night at a park near her house. She isn't quite sure what to think about him. Meanwhile, strange murders keep occurring in town. Then, just when she begins to get close to Simon, she learns he is keeping a horrifying secret. This book is in the vampire genre, but it is a little different than ones I've read (or listened too!) before. Twilight fans, if you're waiting for the Eclipse movie to open, you might enjoy this quick read.
The next book I've started to listen to is called Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Lindsey tells us in the first few pages (or, minutes!) that if she'd just done her algebra homework, she wouldn't have been kidnapped. But, she didn't and she is. However, her kidnapping isn't what you might think. We soon learn that Lindsey is hiding a secret. A really big secret. It isn't that she used to be a super famous child star, but it does have something to do with why she left Hollywood, moved to a tiny town and barely ever leaves the house. She doesn't have any friends and she's hiding from the few people who know her. I haven't finished this one yet, but it's pretty good so far...
Do you have any audio books to recommend? Post a comment to let us all know!
:) Ms. Harris
The first book I listened to was The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. Zoe is 16 and trying to deal with the fact that her mother is very sick and possibly dying. She feels completely alone, especially when she learns that her best friend Lorraine will be moving across the country in just a few days. Then, Zoe meets a mysterious boy named Simon late at night at a park near her house. She isn't quite sure what to think about him. Meanwhile, strange murders keep occurring in town. Then, just when she begins to get close to Simon, she learns he is keeping a horrifying secret. This book is in the vampire genre, but it is a little different than ones I've read (or listened too!) before. Twilight fans, if you're waiting for the Eclipse movie to open, you might enjoy this quick read.
The next book I've started to listen to is called Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Lindsey tells us in the first few pages (or, minutes!) that if she'd just done her algebra homework, she wouldn't have been kidnapped. But, she didn't and she is. However, her kidnapping isn't what you might think. We soon learn that Lindsey is hiding a secret. A really big secret. It isn't that she used to be a super famous child star, but it does have something to do with why she left Hollywood, moved to a tiny town and barely ever leaves the house. She doesn't have any friends and she's hiding from the few people who know her. I haven't finished this one yet, but it's pretty good so far...
Do you have any audio books to recommend? Post a comment to let us all know!
:) Ms. Harris
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Warning: Vampires, Werewolves, Pixies and Zombies Ahead
So, you've read the entire Twilight series and Eclipse, the movie, doesn't open until June 30th. What to do? Try one of the books below. Vampires, werewolves and other mystical creatures abound. Each one is an example of magical realism, a genre of books that take place in the real world, but there's a twist. Something very strange, mysterious or creepy is going on. You never know what you'll find around the corner, at your school or in your own house. Some people are hiding secrets....
If you have more recommendations, comment to this post and share them with us!
Need by Carrie Jones
Bizarre phobias, mysterious creatures, deep, dark secrets, a stalker and pixies make Zara's trip to stay with her Grandmother in main very strange indeed.
Sucks To Be Me by Kimberley Pauley
What would you do if you had to choose between your family and a normal life? Mina's parents are vampires. If she chooses to become one, she leaves normal life, school and friends behind. If she chooses normal, she'll never see her parents again. She's about to learn everything she needs to know about vampire life...at a class with other potential vampires. Oh, and there's a cute boy.
Suck It Up by Brian Meehl
Morning isn't surprised that just when he finally has a nice Thanksgiving with a normal family away from the orphanage....vampires attack and he's accidentally turned into one. A year spent learning to be a "good" vampire doesn't help his confidence much. His young age makes him even freakish among vampires. But, when he's selected to be the first vampire to "come out" to the world, he realizes his trouble has really just begun.
Zombie Blondes by Brian James
Hannah has moved around enough in her life that she knows exactly how spot the most popular kids at school...and how to avoid trouble. Unfortunately, her expertise isn't working at Maplecrest High. The uber-popular cheerleaders have chosen her as a target and no matter what she does, they are making her life miserable...until, shockingly, she's asked to try out. Ignoring the warnings of Lukas, the strange boy who befriends her, she gives it a go only to discover that he was right. The cheerleaders are hiding a monstrous secret.
If you have more recommendations, comment to this post and share them with us!
Need by Carrie Jones
Bizarre phobias, mysterious creatures, deep, dark secrets, a stalker and pixies make Zara's trip to stay with her Grandmother in main very strange indeed.
Sucks To Be Me by Kimberley Pauley
What would you do if you had to choose between your family and a normal life? Mina's parents are vampires. If she chooses to become one, she leaves normal life, school and friends behind. If she chooses normal, she'll never see her parents again. She's about to learn everything she needs to know about vampire life...at a class with other potential vampires. Oh, and there's a cute boy.
Suck It Up by Brian Meehl
Morning isn't surprised that just when he finally has a nice Thanksgiving with a normal family away from the orphanage....vampires attack and he's accidentally turned into one. A year spent learning to be a "good" vampire doesn't help his confidence much. His young age makes him even freakish among vampires. But, when he's selected to be the first vampire to "come out" to the world, he realizes his trouble has really just begun.
Zombie Blondes by Brian James
Hannah has moved around enough in her life that she knows exactly how spot the most popular kids at school...and how to avoid trouble. Unfortunately, her expertise isn't working at Maplecrest High. The uber-popular cheerleaders have chosen her as a target and no matter what she does, they are making her life miserable...until, shockingly, she's asked to try out. Ignoring the warnings of Lukas, the strange boy who befriends her, she gives it a go only to discover that he was right. The cheerleaders are hiding a monstrous secret.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Stephenie Meyer's new book in the Twilight series will be in stores this Saturday, June 5th.
Will you be reading it? Were you first in line? Share your review with a comment to this post. I think I'll wait and see what you all think before I read it.
For more information, check out Stephenie Meyer's web page about the book.
:) Ms. Harris
Will you be reading it? Were you first in line? Share your review with a comment to this post. I think I'll wait and see what you all think before I read it.
For more information, check out Stephenie Meyer's web page about the book.
:) Ms. Harris
Yay! Summer! Books!
Hey Tarriers!
Summer has almost arrived! It's my favorite time of year because I get to read, read, read as many books as I want.
Check back soon to get some great book recommendations. I'll let you know what I'm reading, new books I've discovered and more. I'd love to hear about what you're reading and your recommendations.
If you would like to leave a comment, just click on the "comments" link below.
:) Ms. Harris
Summer has almost arrived! It's my favorite time of year because I get to read, read, read as many books as I want.
Check back soon to get some great book recommendations. I'll let you know what I'm reading, new books I've discovered and more. I'd love to hear about what you're reading and your recommendations.
If you would like to leave a comment, just click on the "comments" link below.
:) Ms. Harris
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