How to use this Page

photo by StrebKR www.flickr.com

Today is a Wacky Wednesday post because I have a few things to discuss that don’t really go together, so that’s why it’s wacky! First I want to introduce to you my new website! I have been using this blog as a kind of website for a while (so you’ll see some of the same information in both places), but I hope to use my website more for books and speaking and my blog more for my opinions and ideas on education, books, and world issue’s as I get more books published! That’s the goal. Please take some time to check out what a wonderful job webmistress Elaine Lanmon did–I love the stars! Margo’s new website

As for my book, I know many people are wondering WHEN IS IT COMING OUT? Believe me, I have wondered the same thing. I recently heard from the marketing director at White Mane Kids, and she said, “We have had a few kids reprints that we are currently working on and that bumped back the new title setups.” So, that’s all I know as of now. Thanks for your support!

Onto the next subject, Verizon
and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post, and they want me to write about the ways my smart phone affects my life as a parent. First, I have to clarify that I actually have a regular Verizon phone (which I love), and then I also have an iPod Touch (the smart phone without the phone part). I could not live without either of them. But how does it affect my life as a parent? Well, I’m not sure about affecting my life as a parent, but here are ways that I have used my iPod Touch with my stepson:

*He has listened to albums I downloaded on it when I had a doctor’s appointment and meeting with an editor, so he was entertained and didn’t have to listen to boring adult talk.

*We have looked up movie times to make sure we could get to the movies on time. The same goes for ice skating and roller skating rink times. This is VERY convenient!

*I use the timer on my iPod Touch when we are at the park to play a game. We set up an “obstacle” course, and then he goes through the course while I time him. He tries to beat his time.

*I use the notes feature ALL THE TIME. It is probably one of the most popular apps for me. I take notes on book titles we want to buy or check out from the library, things we need at the grocery store, present ideas (when he tells me he is interested in something, I make a note of it for future gift ideas), and songs we like that we hear on the radio and want to download.

*I would like to download some of the “learning game” apps and use those with my stepson whenever we are waiting for something like a movie to start. I always carry my iPod Touch around with me, and so I could just whip this out, and he could play and learn at the same time. I think I’ll look into that today!

Once you have a tool like a smart phone, it is hard to imagine your life without it. Isn’t it funny how we become so dependent on our electronic gadgets? (GPS comes to mind, too!)

photo by tibchris www.flickr.com

I am so happy to hold this contest on my blog today for Hate List by Jennifer Brown. I am IN LOVE with this book. It is perfect for tweens and teens, and I think all parents and teens should HAVE to read it. It’s great for a mother-daughter book club. So, I am going to give my copy away to a lucky winner. All you have to do is leave a comment about the book, about the photo I posted here (this is not the author, but this picture just reminded me of Hate List so I posted it), about high school, about your teenager or teaching teenagers, or a pick-me comment. Contest will close on the day we celebrate LOVE–February 14 at 8:00 pm CST.

*Young adult contemporary novel
*Senior girl as the main character
*Rating: Hate List will grab you from page one and keep you riveted until the end. It’s tragic and heartbreaking and shows there are no easy answers when it comes to being a teen. (Starred review from School Library Journal.)

Short, short summary: Valerie is getting ready to start her senior year in high school, which would normally be an exciting time for any girl. But this is not the case for Valerie. From page one, you learn that at the end of her junior year, her boyfriend Nick pulled a gun in the Commons and shot their classmates as revenge for the way he and Valerie were treated. Nick wound up shooting Valerie in the leg when she tried to stop him and then took his own life. Besides dealing with mental and physical pain, Valerie must also deal with the fact that many people at her high school and in her community (including her own family members) think she knew what Nick was planning and that she was a co-conspirator. Turns out, Valerie and Nick had a “hate list,” a notebook full of people they hated, and those same people were targets of the shooting. In Hate List, Jennifer Brown reveals what happened on that tragic day last May and how everyone is dealing with the aftermath. You follow Valerie through this book, hoping that somehow she can overcome one of the worst nightmares anyone has ever had to face.

So, what do I do with this book?

1. When you read a book like this with teenagers, they are bound to have strong opinions on Nick, Valerie, and the “bullies.” Some people will identify with Nick and Valerie; others will identify with the victims of the shooting. Brown does a good job of showing the reader that everything is not always as black and white as it seems, and I think this will bring out even stronger reader reactions because Brown has written a realistic book. Students and teens will need plenty of time to process, write about, and discuss this book. As a teacher or parent, you will want to give them space and time to express themselves without being hurtful to others. Set some ground rules, suggest students jot down notes or even free write before discussions take place, and try not to let it get too personal (as in naming teens) in your classroom. Students who need to talk personally could schedule a time with you, or you could put together a small group that you think would work for this type of discussion. Some themes to discuss: forgiveness, bullying, hate, divorce, honesty, and friendship.

2. Valerie uses art to help her through the healing process. You can do several things with this theme, depending on if you are using this book in a classroom, homeschool, or mother-daughter book club. In a smaller setting, you could give teens an opportunity to paint eith