In addition to the May 17 release (finally!) of
Star Trek into Darkness, 2013 looks to be a good year for movies based on children's and YA books.
Coming up this year are:
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Ender's GameThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugOther movies this year based on books/plays/classic tales include:
Bless Me, Ultima
Jack Ryan
Jack the Giant Slayer
Jurassic Park 3D
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Great Gatsby
World War Z
Much Ado About Nothing
Carrie
The Seventh Son
And based on comic books:
Iron Man 3
Man of Steel
The Wolverine
Thor: The Dark Worlds
Oh, why not. Let’s just start with what is undoubtedly the best thing ever. Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 90-Second Newbery and James Kennedy, the author and organizer, was clever enough to know how to start things off. It seems that Aaron Zenz and his Boogie Woogie kids have made another video. And darned if it isn’t even better than their previous (genius) efforts. I liked it so much I’m including the Making Of film as well.
Those of you already familiar with the PBS Digital Studio’s remixes of Mr. Rogers, Julia Child, and Bob Ross (boy is that catchy) know that no one is safe when it comes to classic public television. They did a nice job with LeVar here too. It’s fun to watch based on his shifting facial hair alone.
Seems to me that LeVar Burton had his way of recommending books. Iron Guy Carl of Boys Rock, Boys Read has a different method: Scare them away with a PSA. Works for me!
Now here we have a movie coming out based on a YA novel I never read. I did listen to the Read It and Weep podcast episode about it, but now I suppose that was insufficient. I dunno. The creepy kiddo looks interesting but I may just hold out for The Last Apprentice film that’s coming out soon anyway.
Thanks to bookshelves of doom for the link.
Oksey-doksey. New publishing model time. It happens. Seems Rebecca Emberley and Deidre Randall are creating a new “hybrid children’s book imprint” called two little birds (something about that name just speaks to me). They’re pairing a picture book in print form with an app of the same title and publishing them simultaneously. The first book is the sure-fire winner The Itsy-Bitsy Spider, catchy song in tow.
You can learn more about their Kickstarter campaign here and read the article about it here.
Author Alan Silberberg has a different method of bringing videos and books together. He animates his thoughts on writerly advice. Like so:
Sweet screams never sounded so right.
Finally, the off-topic video (I did well this week, didn’t I? – she said like an eager puppy). Normally I’d eschew something as tawdry as a Gangnam Style parody, but . . . but . . . there are literary references! And for once the idea of looking like you’re riding a tiny pony makes odd sense.
Thanks to Jeanne Birdsall for the link.
There's been a lot of hoopla over who will be cast as Jace in the upcoming Mortal Instruments film. ReelzChannel.com decided to get YOUR casting opinion, but not just for Jace.
Head on over to the Mortal Instruments Cast-O-Rama (click the image below) and vote for your favorite actor picks for Jace, Simon, Clary, and the rest. You can even embed the lists into your own website!
Publisher: McElderry (February 19th 2008) (first published March 27th 2005)
Paperback: 512 pages
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.... (Source)
Review
CITY OF BONES, by Cassandra Clare, starts The Mortal Instruments series with a serious bang. After reading
Clockwork Angel, I already had an idea about the Shadowhunters, but this book gives more of an introduction which I needed to fill the gaps. Clare is correct in saying that
The Mortal Instruments series and
The Infernal Devices series are companion series versus sequels/prequels.
I love books that take place in Manhattan, probably because I am extremely bias and love it there! The action of the book started straight away and I instantly loved the characters that Clare created. We got a sense that there was something
more to Clary and within the first couple chapters I was hooked. Clare wasted no time explaining about the Shadowhunters and their background with the many races of Downworlders.
I was instantly attracted to Jace because he was definitely sexy, but also there was an underlying innocence that I wanted to explore. Jace and Clary definitely had some steamy moments that I enjoyed. Simon was never a contender for Clary in my mind because I knew that her blood and history could never be normal after discovering what her mother was. Everyone had secrets in this book and I was intrigued to figure them out.
My biggest problem with the book was the discovery of the relationship between Jace and Clary. When I found out I wanted to literally throw the book away. To be honest, I was grossed out thinking about what they had done and them thinking it was okay! But with all of the phenomenal reviews of the series, I decided to give it another chance and start reading
City of Ashes immediately after.
Another plus was the cover of the book. I love the intricate details of the runes and it helped form a better visual in my mind about what the Shadowhunters skin looked like.
Last night Cassandra Clare posted some movie news about City of Bones. Check it out here!
I am so excited for this! I had not heard anything up to now about it and I am so happy that we have a chance to see this book come to life on the big screen!
Are you excited? What scenes would you want to see in the movie? (I am partial to the Greenhouse scene :) )
*Young adult contemporary fantasy
*Fifteen-year-old girl as main character
*Rating: If you are a fan of the Twilight series, you will love City of Bones and its sequels. Check them out now!
Short, short summary: I know why I love City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. School Library Journal said it was “Buffy-esque.” That’s good enough for me! Clary Fray’s life changes when she is at a nightclub with her best bud, Simon, and she sees three tattoo-covered teenagers kill another teen, who then disappears. This immediately puts her into the world of the Shadowhunters (humans who kill demons), and she soon finds out that she has some Shadowhunter blood, too. Her mother, Jocelyn, is missing because she is the only Shadowhunter who knows where the Mortal Cup is, and a powerful Shadowhunter named Valentine wants it at any cost. This is all new to Clary, who had her memories erased when she was young, and she is quickly introduced to this new “magical” view of New York City by Shadowhunter teenagers: Jace, dreamy and mysterious; Isabelle, beautiful and graceful; and Alec, broody and the only homosexual character in the book. Twists and turns happen in every chapter, and teen fantasy lovers will enjoy this first book of the series.
So, what do I do with this book?
1. Teens will most likely read this book at home or as part of an independent reading assignment. One of the activities they can do is compare and contrast themselves with one of the characters: Clary, Simon, Jace, Isabelle, or Alec. All of these teenagers in the book have strengths and weaknesses that readers can relate to. Students could write several journal pages while reading as they get to know the characters better.
2. The setting of City of Bones is present day New York City. Could this book take place in another city? Does it matter that it is New York? Ask students to think about this question. If they think this novel could take place in another large city such as Los Angeles, ask them to write or discuss how this would change certain plot points. Why do they think Cassandra Clare chose New York City for the setting?
3. Why is City of Bones believable even though it is fantasy, or is it? Ask students to debate or write about this question. Does Cassandra Clare stick to the rules of her fantasy world? What are some of the rules? Why is this important when writing fantasy?
Have you read City of Bones? What did you think?
I always have such a hard time trying to choose good actors and actresses for the roles. XD I had the same problem when they had this thing for The Hunger Games.
totally was blown away by the mortal instruments series... cant wait for the fourth book.., im a new blogger making reviews about books and other stuff here in the philippines... great blog u have here... hope you can link me up too dletterwork.blogspot.com thanks