The Gamer Squad Books 1 & 2

The publisher sent me these books to review but I'm glad they did because I might not have picked them up otherwise. Yes, in many ways I might be considered a geek. I love Star Wars and Star Trek and all things tech and sci fi and fantasy. But I don't necessarily love gaming. I think it has to do with my lack of a sense of direction. Truly. I can get lost in my own backyard. The times I've tried to play Minecraft or SW The Old Republic or even Cars Driven to Win my little nephew wanted me to race with him ... I turn around and walk into walls or drive into walls constantly. Can't find my way around the virtual world and never tried the augmented reality world. When there were rumors of a Harry Potter version of a P.Go type game I was ready to get lost as I went "hunting" but that never ended up happening, now, did it. BUMMER.

Puzzle games, maybe. But any other type of video game not so much. So gaming books I might not have picked up without a little encouragement. And they are so fun! I think kids will really like them. The question will be ... do I now give them to a niece or nephew? Or a colleague for their classroom? Or a student?


Book one brings monsters to real life and book two brings aliens to planet earth.

I thought the discussions of coding in book two were actually a nice addition. There ARE kids who know an awful lot about all the coding languages!

I mean, grand classical literature they are not. No huge metaphors for life or beautiful turns of phrase. But you'll laugh. You might bite your nails a couple of times when the main characters are in trouble. And for sure you will recognize student bullies and geeks and "popular" kids as well as kids just trying to navigate the late elementary/early middle school years.
I would say ... fourth or fifth grade? Up to mid-sixth grade. By seventh the books would seem a little young, I would think. A strong third grade reader, maybe, though the second book talks a lot more about "liking" each other, just as an FYI.

Who is this Veratrum Games Corp that keeps releasing these popular pastimes that end up causing so much trouble? That's what I'd like to know. And the teaser for book three's "big baddie" had me hooked.


The author, Kim Harrington, has written several other YA novels and another middle grade series.

Carbonite: Part Awesome and Part Sloth #backupyourdata Also JEDI ACADEMY

Tech Rant ahead then books at the bottom ...

My first hard lesson was 4 years ago in October. A jerk broke into my house and loaded up a car with TVs, jewelry, cameras, and computers.

Lost a lot of pics and files that day that I can't get back. :(

So when I got a new computer I was NOT EVER going to have that happen again. Enter Carbonite! Automatic backup of anything I ever save. Don't even have to set up Time Machine (Mac). LOVE that. Always remind everyone ... "Back up your files OFF site!" I'm lucky they didn't see the external drive or they might have taken that, too ... along with the $100+ in bookfair change I had ready for the following Monday. But I wasn't good about regularly backing stuff up on that drive so it was very hit and miss.

(insert mental picture of Han Solo here ... can't find one that embeds neatly)

But (and there is a BUT here) ... OH MY WORD CARBONITE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SLOW! I'm remembering now. It took it three weeks just to back up the files I DID have. Three weeks.

And now? Moving files over from one machine to another? Going to take even longer as I have more files. #Sigh They say they released the "throttle" on data but gotta say ... not seeing it. And I have high speed internet that allows multiple devices to stream video and direct downloads of individual files are super fast.

Attempts to use the Mac Migration Assistant were also less than primo. Software and I can be friends. But hardware related? #notasgood

So. All this just to say ... it's better than not backing up. But it could be better.

I finally read the first Jedi Academy book yesterday. And the second. TOO FUN.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Too funny. I can't believe it took me so long to get around to reading this one. First I got an early egalley and then I've actually owned a copy since ... last fall's bookfair, I think.

Roan is hilarious. Readers will need to be at least somewhat familiar with the SW universe. After that, though, the story stands as a sci-fi Wimpy Kid. Only less annoying.

Must get a couple copies for the school collection!


This one isn't quite out yet. I received an advanced e-copy via Netgalley.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After taking almost a year to read the first one (which really I can't explain because I am a SW fangirl) I managed to read both 1 & 2 this afternoon.

Too fun. It does take a little getting used to, reading all of the SW names in a handwritten font. That will cause some issues for some readers. But beyond that? TOO FUNNY. I love the characters. I love the references to classic SW moments. I love the "Holobook" and the lessons Roan and his classmates have to learn about being kind and to use an oft repeated phrase ... "seeking first to understand, THEN be understood."

Will definitely be getting both of these books for our school collection.




PS The Carbonite link is not a referral. Could have been but I'll leave it up to you. I LOVE it for the peace of mind. I am ready to scream at it for being so slow.

What Are You Reading? Monday

Thoughts ... all reviews in limited weekly posts (like this one?) or lots of shorter posts throughout the week? I see pros/cons to both. Easier to search on separate posts. Slightly overwhelming on multiple posts. Though once school starts I won't have as much time to read. :/

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Picture
Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh ... Dog is back. And he gets to go on a fun adventure!

This could be a fun introduction to "writing" for little ones who don't quite have the letter formation/spelling/handwriting skills to express the stories their heads can create. They may not be able to write the word "train" but they can try drawing one. Practice expressing their stories whatever way they can express them will give them the confidence and skills to transfer over to writing when the time comes.

The book could also be used in a lesson with the kids who can already write. When Dog isn't quite sure what to draw in his new sketchbook? He gets some great advice.

Must go pre-order this one right now. :]


Oh, No! by Candace Fleming
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one begs to be read aloud to an audience who will delight in repeating the "Oh no!"s over and over. I can hear them already

Plus I love the illustrations. My favorite is ... I think it's a lemur? I'm no animal expert but her name is Loris.

Middle Grade
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am curious to read more of Zita's adventures.
And I like the friends she makes along the way.




The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel by Jeanne DuPrau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

SQUEAL! Got to see a preview of this one.

The good ... the graphic novel style? It's totally growing on me. The artwork in this one is COOL. Managed to totally convey the sense of place without giving everything away.

The not quite as good ... for the sake of space (I would guess) some parts of the story were abbreviated. Now, if you hadn't read the original you may not even notice it. But if you HAVE read it ... I kind of felt like it left the pacing and FEEL of the story a little wanting. Examples include how fast they decipher the clues in the note. Lizzie's friendship with Looper. (Is it just me or is it so quick here it's a little untoward?) Lina telling Doon about her grandmother.

To me? It's kind of like the difference between a movie and the book. Both are different art forms and have strengths and weaknesses. So your best bet? ENJOY BOTH.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a beautiful little story. Very well written and very different from Clementine (which is the author's work I was previously most familiar with.

Just ... sad. So very sad along the way.



One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hmmm.
I thought this book was HILARIOUS in some places. I haven't read Everything on a Waffle but I have read some of her other books and she just does quirky and funny turns of phrase so well.

So ... rating for me? Four stars. I started taking some screen shots in Skitch (since you can't bookmark or make notes electronic advanced reading copies, which is how I was reading it) of the funniest lines. I was going to quote a couple of them here.

But there were so many! And having to retype everything ... no. I'll just say funny and share one. The scene where the two people are over having dinner and it is not going so well? Some of them start talking just to fill the silence. "Uncle Jack alone retained his savoir faire as if he were completely at home with people who would really be better off heavily sedated" (p 29 in the advance copy). And do NOT miss the town meeting which was, sadly, a "pastryless event" (p 118).

BUT ...
I really can't think of an elementary student to share this with. I've tried to share some of her books in our collection but haven't ever really found the student that connected with them. Who is the intended audience? The main character is twelve. Do middle school students like her writing? In terms of kid appeal a three.


The Classroom by Robin Mellom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked Trevor. The slightly nerdy total worrier is a bit overdone but that's OK. We like underdogs, don't we?

This book is set in seventh grade (which is the first year of middle school in this setting) and his best friend Libby decides they need to expand their friend horizons and hang out with other people. They will no longer be friend friends Oh. And they each have to get a date to the dance on the first day of school.

Molly? I was not quite as fond of Molly. Though you have to feel a little bad for her seeking attention like she does.

The doodles and stage directions (for some reason this is set up as a documentary ... which I don't really think was necessary but it wasn't a terrible choice, either) were kind of fun.

Wilson and Marty were two of my favorite characters.

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lots of imagination in this one. Fun little twists and turns and candy elements. Likable characters.

Just couldn't quite ever get over 1)kids breaking the rule DON'T TAKE CANDY FROM STRANGERS; 2)not quite getting Dart's role in the whole thing; and 3)the time travel explanation made my head hurt!

YA
The White City by John Claude Bemis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nice finish to the trilogy. Some unexpected parts ... some for the good and others less so. Still. For a random pick off the shelves I'm satisfied!





Solitary by Alexander Gordon Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

OK. I'm starting to get annoyed now.

WILL ANYTHING EVER GO RIGHT?

And still a little grossed out. It's a morbid curiosity, for sure.


Death Sentence by Alexander Gordon Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I stayed up Way. Too. Late. last night reading (well ... let's be honest ... skimming parts of) this one.

Something about the story keeps me fascinated. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I want an at least semi-happy ending.

But there are still some gory scenes that I skip over. Ugh. And I'm still a bit frustrated--is it a spoiler if we already know there are at least two more books to say there is still NO CLOSURE?

Curious as to what this author is like in "real" life. This is one messed up story.

But you still keep rooting for the main characters. They made some BIG mistakes. But not to the point where they ever even remotely deserve what they are getting. You want the bad guys to pay for what they've done. In a court of law. Would a court of law ever be able to properly punish the warden? And ... the blacksuits? What about them?


Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

I'm going to have to think about this one and get back to you. I liked some things about it. I didn't like a lot of things about it.






Still Plugging Away

In Pictures and in Words: Teaching the Qualities of Good Writing Through Illustration Study by Katie Wood Ray

So interesting. Help teach little ones to WRITE by teaching them about illustration. Love it!




I See What You Mean: Visual Literacy K-8 by Steve Moline

Teaching kiddos to take their info and make it visual. I really do want to incorporate more of this but I have to think it through myself. I am a word person. Not a really a graph or timeline person. Maybe a diagram.






Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston

How we talk to kids. Yes! It matters.






Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Listening to the audiobook (cause COME ON IT'S WESLEY CRUSHER aka Wil Wheaton). Could do without some of the language in it but besides that ... COOL.








Next Up

Ascension
Ripper
The Last Echo
Haunting of Apartment 101
The Great Unexpected
however many Babymouse and Lunch Ladys I can get my hands on (almost done but not quite!)
perhaps a visit to B&N for some picture books?
Closer
Freefall



PS Can you tell I am excited? Get them here.

PSPS And a reminder!

Go here for more info on my presentation and here for all of the webinars. You will have to give them your email so sometimes (shh!) I just delete messages they send without reading them. And sometimes I read them and they offer useful information. It's up to you!

Creating Book Trailers with Elementary Students

If anyone is interested I just agreed to do this.
#eeeek #startthenervesnow #nobutreallyIdohaveacluewhatImtalkingaboutIDO

Apologies for the double posting two days in a row. That's what happens when you schedule posts ahead of time! And if the linked image doesn't work (which I'm guessing it might not but you can't tell in the preview ... but a comment from a lovely reader gave me an explanation that made more sense than anything I ever saw when googling) go here for more info on my presentation. Then here for more on the rest of their webinars. The Day of Learning stuff is free. Just a note ... they will send you plenty of emails for more free resources AND for the stuff they'd like it if you paid for ... but you can easily delete them if you are not interested. Shhhh! That's what I do. :]

The Aviary

The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can think of several students who would enjoy this one.

A bit of the gothic. A bit of fantasy. A bit of adventure.



I do wish that some of the letters contained in the story had been printed in a different script. The cursive made them hard to read ... and I'm an adult! Still. All in all that's only what, about 10 pages total?

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End of the World Club

The End of the World Club by Jon Voelkel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well. Pretty much feel the same way about this one as the last.

Lots of fun adventure and funny lines. Way cool.

Lots of totally ridiculous past the point of even slightly believable in a book parts. Way uncool.


So ... the two averaged together come out as a low to mid three stars. I will keep reading. I'll just curse myself a little bit every time.


Don't have a copy of this in our library collection. Send the kids to Jake Ransom And The Skull King's Shadow. But our public library has these. And if I found a student that was interested in the Maya I'd suggest this series as a second fiction read.


Still remember seeing who I guess now was the author dressed up in the most ridiculous sort of Mayan costume at ALA a couple years ago.


pg 98
"She cupped her hands around her mouth to make the sound of a howler monkey, the loudest animal on the planet. And if Santino Garcia was surprised to hear the girl of his dreams roaring like an angry dinosaur, he was too polite to mention it."


(a very very SMALL spoiler)

pg 333
"We're becalmed in the Sea of the Dead, off the Coast of Death. That can't be good."

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The One and Only Ivan

I used to see Ivan at the B&I when I lived in WA state. He looked lonely. I don't remember much about his space other than it was sort of gray (cement?) and barren. Somewhere I read it was "state of the art" in the 60s when it was built ... but then never upgraded. And they also had a machine where if you put in a quarter the floor would heat up and a poor chicken would be forced to "dance." Also sad.
I am glad to hear that Ivan's story had a happy ending in Atlanta.

Anyway. Back to the book 'cause that's what's important. LOVED IT. Can't wait to share it with the kids at school. I totally wish I could get someone else to take over running the school announcements. Then I'd do a read aloud of it in the mornings.

 


This would be a great example of voice in a writing class. Each of the animals and human characters have a distinct personality that comes through in everything they say (or do not say ... so there's some inference practice).

More important than any curriculum connections, however, are the emotions and principles behind the story. We could all use a little more empathy. We could all show a little more charity to those around us. And by charity I don't mean like giving money ... I mean like showing that we CARE. We're watching out for each other, human and animal alike!

(Unless you are a snake. Then I'm afraid I'm not much for watching out for you other than to stay away! ;])

Here is the Atlanta Zoo's page on gorillas. Did not know they have the most gorillas of any zoo in the nation. Our zoo has monkeys but no gorillas. I thought it was cool the webpage had a list of recommended books for kids (find it HERE) though they obviously need to update it to include this one!


(Totally for my own curiosity ... I did some Googling. The Tacoma Public Library had a few archived photos of Ivan's earliest days that were kind of interesting. I don't have any pics of my visits. I don't remember really even liking that mall ... the whole thing was kind of run down--not just Ivan's cage--in the late 80s/early 90s when I was there. That was before the days of camera phones that document every small moment of our lives!)

Eye of the Storm

Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just finished this last night ... and it was a nail biter!

As a fan of dystopian fic I'm glad to see a newer one that we could put in the elementary library. I would say later fourth grade or fifth ... there is just a TAD (only a tad) of romance so I don't think it's a third grade book.

And the kiddos probably would need a reminder that some of what is portrayed in the book is not possible. Yet. (And hopefully never!)

But I like how it incorporates students who are proficient in science (both girls and boys) and makes that OK. And it does talk a lot about some real meteorological principles. So a book group might be able to do a bit of fact and fiction comparisons, among other things.

Just Skyped with the author on Friday (more about Marty McGuire than this one but we did touch on it). Such a great opportunity. Looking forward to more of her work!

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The Apothecary

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Oh, this was a good story! It was late and I should have gone to sleep but I didn't want to put it down last night. Finally conked out and finished it this morning.



Mostly fantasy (truly!) with a dash of some history thrown in. Solutions that will turn you invisible or into a bird or make you tell the truth. Parents accused of being Communist even through they were not. CAN'T wait for the next one. And now, of course, after finishing the book and reading the author's note I totally want to visit the Chelsea Physic Garden.







Only ... one thing that I will have to think about. Our public library had it in the juvenile section. And it mostly is ... only not to spoil anything but there is some romance in there. It's definitely secondary to the main plot ... but I'm still not sure. If I get it for our school collection I can guarantee third graders will be picking it up. Some when they shouldn't because they can't read it ... but some really could. It's seriously secondary so I can't believe I'm even wondering about it ... but could they understand the kissing? Ugh. Drives me nuts when other people nitpick about small things in a book. Here I am doing it myself.



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Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Well ... drat. I hate to say it but I did not like this one nearly as much as Birthmarked. (On a side note ... why has Goodreads lost all of my star ratings? I think that one would have been a four or five, even. Not this one.)



Felt very ... preached at through the entire story. That's my first impression. It's hard to write about why without giving away some major plot points of the story. Characters did not feel genuine to the traits and motivations from the first book without any good explanation for their changes. And again ... I just felt really preached at. There is a hot topic challenged in this book. I'm glad the author brought it up as we can't just ignore topics that cause differences of opinion. But please don't make me feel betrayed by a character I empathized with when she really seems to change her mind on said topic.



Perhaps that does not make any sense? Still working on review writing without spoiling.



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The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I do enjoy a good Victorian England mystery, and even better a ghost story.



I liked the sort of bookended prologue and epilogue. And I enjoyed many parts of the story ... Abi's interactions with Lizzy, Adam, Lord Greave, and Samuel. There seemed to be genuine affection.



I was not as fond of the ways the "ghost" communicated with Abi, or the "doctor" who gave her the Ouija board. Much of that seemed ... forced. Can't quite put my finger on what but it wasn't entirely believable.



All this said ... I would pick up something from this author again. Won't necessarily go running to look for it, but I think there was enough good about the book to merit a second look. I just won't be running out immediately tomorrow to do it.



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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Finished! Couldn't sleep so I finished. Creepy! Do not read late at night. The photos will give you the willies.



It always takes so much longer to read when you stop and make notes ... but there are some really cool descriptions in here and I'd like to remember at least a few of them. So jealous of people who can write!

"In the distance I saw a little harbor bobbing with colorful fishing boats, and beyond it a town set into a green bowl of land. A patchwork of sheep-speckled fields spread across hills that rose away to meet a high ridge, where a wall of clouds stood like a cotton parapet." (p 67)



"A vast, lunar bog stretched away into the mist from either side of the path, just brown grass and tea-colored water as far as I could see, featureless but for the occasional mound of piled-up stones. It ended abruptly at a forest of skeletal trees, branches spindling up like the tips of wet paintbrushes, and for a while the path became so lost beneath fallen trunks and carpets of ivy that navigating it was a matter of faith." (p 78)

I wonder if his descriptions have anything to do with his filmmaking or photocollecting hobby. You know ... knows the power of a visual image so well it inspires him to make that part of his story?



AAAACK! I just read a few lines further.

"What stood before me know was no refuge from monsters but a monster itself, staring down from its perch on the hill with vacant hunger. Trees burst forth from broken windows and skins of scabrous vine gnawed at the walls like antibodies attacking a virus--as if nature itself had waged war against it--but the house seemed unkillable, resolutely upright despite the wrongness of its angles and the jagged teeth of sky visible through the sections of collapsed roof." (p 79)



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Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Liked it. Didn't love the ending. Well ... didn't really like Grace in this one, either. Why does Sam care about her so much?



Didn't take any notes on this one so I don't have any quotes to share. Not that there wasn't good writing in here.



Can't wait for The Scorpio Races!



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The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoying this series ... Raina, Han, and Amon all experience problems that made for some interesting twists.

I might have the page numbers mixed up ... reading on an e-reader often messes that up.

(p 67) "But it's not enough to know right from wrong. You need the strength to do what's right even when what you want most in the world is the wrong thing."

(p 81) "Rulers don't get to do the easy thing. You don't get to do what you want to do."

(p 212) "You should dress like who you aspire to be."

(p 215) "Killing is one way to handle a rival, but it also shows respect. It shows he's important enough to have a chat with. A better way is to humble him. Make him look a fool. Show him that the price for coming after you is his reputation."

(p 240) "The new dawn found ... [can't say who or it's a spoiler!] awake, exhausted, and completely empty of dreams."



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Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Finished on the plane today. OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS SO GOOD. Don't have any quotes jotted down because it was dark (read on my Nook ... hooray! Great for night flights, not so great for beach reads) and I was barely coherent (flying overnight will do that to you) but this was so good I couldn't put it down even though I was so sleepy.


I won't bother with a plot recap. Just ... READ THIS BOOK!



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Neptune's Children by Bonnie Dobkin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Picked this one as a sort of finally go back and hit up some of my really old to read titles.



I liked it. As many of the other reviews will tell you ... it's sort of a cookie cutter dystopia meets Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm. No one needs to have all of the power.



Creepy setting the whole thing in a Disney-land type location. But I guess that dichotomy adds to the suspense.



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Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm beginning to think I read too much paranormal/supernatural (what is the difference) fic. I need to branch out. It's like chocolate.



That said ...

1) FUNNY! Really, it was.

2) Can't say I would have caught it on my own but somewhere I heard the title and chapter headings were references to songs.

3) What is up with the offensive "whatever the Mormons worship" on page 172? God and Jesus Christ. Unnecessary dig, in my opinion.

4) Would not have recognized this quote, either. Which is kind of sad. "'Begin at the beginning,' I said, 'and go on until you come to the end. Then stop.'" (p 136 and apparently a reference to Alice in Wonderland)

5) Does have werewolves. But necromancers. That's a new one.





Obviously set up for a sequel.



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Third Grade Part 3

Science Fiction and Fantasy