I've been deep in the depths of revision for the past few weeks -- polishing up a picture book and a middle grade mystery. They are both done (*pause for cheering & confetti here*) and on submission now, and I have big plans for a post-revision reading binge. But before I do that, I want to talk about a handful of books I've read lately that you might like, too. Ready?
Amy Ignatow's THE POPULARITY PAPERS: RESEARCH FOR THE SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT AND GENERAL BETTERMENT OF LYDIA GOLDBLATT AND JULIE GRAHAM CHANG is the book to hand to your girls who are fans of the Wimpy Kid series. It's that same diary/graphic novel blend that keeps even reluctant readers turning pages and laughing like crazy. Interestingly enough, the main characters in this are in fifth grade, but it's going over really well with some of my 7th grade girls, even though they're a bit older. (Due out from Amulet April 1st)
I can't keep Lisa Schroeder's CHASING BROOKLYN on my classroom library shelf - it's one of those books that gets handed from kid to kid in the cafeteria and never makes it all the way back to my classroom, and that's just fine. I understand why the kids love it, too. Set at the same high school as Lisa's I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, her latest YA novel-in-verse is about love and loss, remembering and moving forward. It left me in tears, but they were good ones - the kind you cry when you've just read an amazing book that's full of sorrow and beauty and hope all at once. It's a a beautiful, beautiful book. (Available now from Simon & Schuster)
Fans of Jerry Spinelli's MILKWEED and Lois Lowry's NUMBER THE STARS will love ONCE by Morris Gleitzman. One of my 7th grade students absolutely devours historical fiction set during the Holocaust, and she was waiting for this ARC, standing at my desk, tapping her foot as I turned the last page.
The main character, Felix, begins the story as a unique (and heartbreaking) unreliable narrator. He's a Jewish boy, hidden in a Catholic orphanage, and utterly unaware of the danger he's facing. When he sets out to find his parents, he sees evidence of the Nazis destruction but misinterprets much of it, placing himself squarely in harm's way. Ultimately, though, he's faced with too much reality to go on believing the stories he's told himself, and from there, the book chronicles his loss of innocence and his coming of age in the worst of times. It's beautifully written and though like many books set during the Holocaust, it's tough to read at times, it's certainly not without hope. Highly recommended, it comes out from Henry Holt March 30th.
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Blog: bloomabilities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: video, book trailer, Happyface, Shark vs Train, Halloween, Add a tag
By: Alvina,
on 3/23/2010
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By: Kate Messner,
on 3/24/2010
Blog: Kate's Book Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: white cat, nothing, once, chasing brooklyn, the popularity papers, shark vs train, book review, Add a tag
Blog: Kate's Book Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: white cat, nothing, once, chasing brooklyn, the popularity papers, shark vs train, book review, Add a tag
Blog: bloomabilities (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: video, book trailer, Happyface, Shark vs Train, Halloween, Add a tag
Yes, we're silly. During our office Halloween party last year, I decided we should take advantage of our costumes and film a few impromptu book trailers. First, here's one for SHARK VS. TRAIN by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld.
voiceover: Connie Hsu
Shark: Alvina Ling (aka, the editor of the book)
Train: Maria Mercado (aka the designer of the book)
And here's one for HAPPYFACE by Stephen Emond
Singer: Alvina Ling
Happyface: Connie Hsu (aka, the editor of the book)
And here are our costumes:
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