Fly on the Wall, by E. Lockhart Posted by Ashley D, 8th Grader

FLY ON THE WALL, by E. Lockhart

AR: Yes

Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades



This book is really rather funny. It's about a girl who wishes she could be a fly on the wall in the boys' locker room at her school. her parents just told her they were getting a divorce. Her only best friend is avoiding her, so she makes this wish and it comes true. She sees all the boys in her school that go to gym. When I say she "sees" I mean she sees everything! I'd love to tell you more, but if I did, you wouldn't have any reason to read the book--and you gotta read it!

Glass, by Ellen Hopkins Posted by Hannah L., Senior

GLASS, by Ellen Hopkins
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

I cannot explain how much I loved Reading this book. Every page, every word, left me wanting more. I have never in my life read this long of a book in less than two days until I read this series. If you haven't read the first of the series, CRANK, it was amazing and this book, GLASS, is the perfect continuation. This book digs deeper into the life-altering addiction to drugs. GLASS doesn't just scratch the surface of what being a slave to Crystal Meth is really like, but tells of a girl and her feelings and emotions throughout her addiction. I couldn't help, but to feel at times that I was a part of the book, I was so into it. All in all, this series is the best series I've ever read and I encouage high school readers and up to read it. I hope you get into it just as much, if not more than I did...if that's at all possible.

Heaven Posted by Mrs. Schauer

HEAVEN, by Angela Johnson
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

Heaven is the name of the town in Ohio, where fourteen year old Marley lives with her family. One day her family receives a letter from Alabama, from the pastor of a church that's been burned down. He says he needs a copy of Marley's birth certificate because hers was destroyed in the fire. Marley finds out that her parents are not actually her parents--and that she's been adopted. She also finds out that Jack, an uncle who writes letters, but she doesn't remember, is actually her father. I don't want to give to much of this wonderful storyline away--so you'll have to read the book to find out the rest!

The Boy Book Posted by Ashley D., 8th Grader

THE BOY BOOK: A STUDY OF HABITS AND BEHAVIORS, PLUS TECHNIQUES FOR TAMING THEM, by E. Lockhart
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

This book is the sequel to THE BOYFRIEND LIST and it is just as good. It apparently has the same girl--Rudy Oliver. She is a junior in high school in this one and she is still dealing with more problems. She is still seeing the "shrink" and she's still trying to get over Jackson. She and her friends invented this thing called the Boy Book. The book is guidelines and tips about boys and it has stuff about all their boyfriends, past and present. That's all I'm going to tell you though--read the book!

The Boyfriend List Posted by Ashley D, 8th Grader

THE BOYFRIEND LIST, by E. Lockhart
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

This book is about a girl named Rudy Oliver. She is a sophomore in high school. She goes througha lot of drama. She gets a boyfriend named Jackson Clark and he is a jerk. She doesn't realize he's a jerk until he breaks up with her and goes out with her best friend Kim. Rudy gets so worked up by it that she starts having panic attacks and has to start seeing a "shrink." To find out more, you'll have to read the book!

Exposure Posted by Amanda L, Sophomore

EXPOSURE, by Patricia Murdoch
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

EXPOSURE is a book that's based on revenge. Julie (the main character) gets picked on a lot by this girl Dana (the popular girl) all the time and Julie never sticks up for herself. One day her brother Zack comes home early ona weekend, which is odd. Zack tells Julie that a guy names Scott threw a crazy party and that DAna let him take graphic pictures of her, but then the party got busted and luckily he got away. Come to find out, Zack had the camera in his backpack with scandalous pictures of Dana on it. So....will Julie expose the pictures for revenge on Dana, or will she give in and feel sorry for her? You'll have to read the book to find out! This book is another one of those books that sucks you in and keeps you there. I love books like that!

Second Helpings Posted by Erica H.

SECOND HELPINGS, by Megan McCaffertey
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

I read Second Helpings and loved it! It really does give a good description of what HIGH SCHOOL life is really like. I really liked that I could related to it because it kept me really interested. The narrator is really smart and kind of nerdy but she still has all these issues and a lot of drama to deal with, but she never lets it get her down.

Sticks and Stones Posted by Hannah L., Senior

STICKS AND STONES, by Beth Goobie
AR: yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

This book gives a very clear representation of how hard high school and a girl's life can be at that time. The trials the main character, Trudy goes through happen ever day thoughout many high schools. Trudy's life becomes altered when a rumor is started bya boy who didn't get what he wanted from her. In my opinion, this book shows how much boys at this age can be jerks. All in all, I would suggest reading this book becasue it's very relative to a lot of people.

My Sister's Keeper, Posted by Shay M, 8th Grader

MY SISTER'S KEEPER, by Jodi Picoult
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

This book takes you into the world of a family whose sister, daughter, and friend has had Leukemia since childhood. Her name is Kate and in order to stay alive, she needed a bone marrow transplant. When no donor could be found, her mom decided to have a baby--A girls named Anna--just to provide a source of bone marrow for Kate. In time, the family begins to fall apart. Anna has an arsonist for a brother, a father who is, ironically, a firefighter and a mother who is unsure of anything but a desperate need to save her first daughter. Anna files medical emancipation against her parents so as to save herself after a secret promise to her sister that she would do it. This is a great book and it takes you into a tragic life asking if it's correct to do anything to save a child's life--even if it means ruining the life of another.

Vampire Kisses, Posted by Amanda L, Sophomore

VAMPIRE KISSES--the series

1. VAMPIRE KISSES

2. KISSING COFFINS

3. VAMPIREVILLE

4. DANCE WITH THE VAMPIRE

AR Quizzes: Yes

Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

VAMPIRE KISSES is a very suspenseful series of vampire books. If you like love, romance, crazy adventures,a nd most of all vampires, then you will love this book. Raven is the main character in this book and she is kinda odd. Raven has wanted to be a vampire since before she could remember. Will she every be a vampire? Will she get her wish? You'll have to read the books to find out!

I think these are the best books I've ever read because they contain all the things that interest me--all in one book. I recommend it to everybody because the books pull you in and keep you there and leave you wanting more.

The Lost Boy, posted by Cat P, 8th Grader

THE LOST BOY, by Dave Pelzer
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

This book is the sequel to A CHILD CALLED IT, which I blogged last week. It is about the same boy as the first book, only now he's been placed in foster care and he has to overcome difficult tasks. He misses his mommmy who gave him a sincere goodbye, and for the first time she meant it. This book is a really good book so please read it. I loved this book and hope that you will too, but it is about child abuse, so if that bothers you, you might not to read this one.

Lurlene McDaniels, posted by Raquel S., Senior

Books by Lurlene McDaniels
AR Quizzes Available
Many Titles Available in the HS Library
Interest Level: Middle to Upper Grades

Lurlene McDaniel's books are some of the best books I have ever read. In almost all of her books someone dies, but it is how the other characters deal with their death that makes the books so darn great. They aren't depressing at all--they are just the opposoite. They just show how death isn't a bad thing, but a blessing in disguise. The reason I say this is because most of her characters have cancer or some other deadly disease. Her books tell what they go through physically and emotionally, and how amazing friendships help them deal with their illness.

Go Ask Alice, posted by Hannah L, Senior

GO ASK ALICE, author Anonymous
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Literacy Skills Quiz Available

This book is honestly one of the craziest books I've ever read. The book is a real life diary of a girl caught up in the world of drugs in the 70s. Alice, the main character, goes from being a pretty much perfect girl that's adored by her parents, to a girl who gets completed mired in the drug scene of the 1970's. Alice eventually gets help with her problems, but is still faced with the aftermath of her decisions. I liked this book mostly because it was a real life diary of a girl who struggled with something that kids I know have gone through. In the words of Tony the Tiger, even though it was sad in places, this book was GRRRRRREAT!

Sixteen, posted by Ashley D, 8th Grader

SIXTEEN, STORIES ABOUT THAT SWEET AND BITTER BIRTHDAY
Edited by Megan McCafferty
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Uppper Grades

This book has a bunch of different stories that are written by 16 really good authors. Some of the authors are Sarah Dessen, (THAT SUMMER) Ned Vizinni (BE MORE CHILL), Carolyn Mackler (THE EARTH, MY BUTT AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS), Sonya Sones (WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW). The book has stories about girls and guys who turn sixteen and what they go through. It is easy to read, and it's really good. One of the best parts about it is there are so many different stories in it, and the stories are all pretty short. The best part about the book is that you can really relate to what happens to the different characters. READ IT! READ IT! READ IT!

Absolutely Normal Chaos, posted by Mrs. Schauer

ABSOLUTELY NORMAL CHAOS, by Sharon Creech
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Audio Book Available in HS Library

I listened to this on my way to Sam Houston this weekend. It's the journal of Mary Lou Finney, a thirteen year old girl who lives in a small midwestern town. It's summer vacation, and her English teacher has given them the assignment to keep a summer journal. This is Mary Lou's...and she talks about all of her feelings...from being exasperated by her family, to developing her first crush, who becomes her first boyfriend. Then there's Carl Rey, her 17 year old cousin from West Virginia who comes to stay with Mary Lou's family for the summer and begins dating Mary Lou's 13 year old, boy crazy friend Beth Ann. I loved this book...and think middle school girls will enjoy it as well. Now I can't wait to read WALK TWO MOONS, which is in my library...and also features Mary Lou.

CRANK, posted by R. Manuel, Sophomore

CRANK, by Ellen Hopkins
AR: Yes
Interest Level: UPPER GRADE

If you have ever thought about trying drugs cause you think it is cool, then you definitely need to read this book because I think it will change your mind. It is about this girl who is 16 fixing to turn 17 when she goes to visit her dad who does crank. (crystal meth) She starts hanging out with people who do the drug, and when she tries it she gets hooked on the monster. The story goes on to tell of how horrible the drug is. It totally consumes her life and nothing else matters. She goes from being a straight A student to down the drain real fast. There is also another book called GLASS--it is a sequel to this book.

Vanishing, posted by Mrs. Schauer

VANISHING, by Bruce Brooks
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Book on Order, Audio available in HS library

This is the story of 11 year old Alice, who is starving herself as a means of keeping herself in the hospital, rather than being forced to go home to her alcoholic mom and her sadistic step father. She entered the hospital after a terrible bronchial illness, but decided that she would do whatever it took to not be forced to go home to a place that was so unhappy and scary for her. While in the hospital, she befriends Rex, who is dealing with a terminal illness...and whom she knows will die very soon. Rex helps her to understand that you have to take life--whatever it gives you included--because any life, is better than no life at all. I don't have this book in the library yet, but I do have the audio book available for checking out if anyone's interested.

Maximum Ride...the Series, Posted by Jeff M, 9th Grader

MAXIMUM RIDE--THE SERIES
by James Patterson
AR Quizzes Available

Hey there Pettus! How are we doing?...Well, I just wanted to say hi and talk about a couple of things. For one, there is a great book series out there and you have probably seen me reading them over the past few weeks. The books are called MAXIMUM RIDE. These books are amazing and I just can't wait for the fourth book to come out which is going to be out on March 17th. Maximum Ride is about this girl Max and her "flock" of six: Max, Fang, Iggie, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel. These kids are actually avian hybrids. (for those who don't know what that is, it is a mix of human and bird--half man/half bird) Yes, these "kids" have wings and can fly. Max has a wingspan of 13 feet and Fang's is 15 feet across. (read the books to find out more!) They fight the Erasers, who want to take them back to "the school." Erasers are half wolf, half man. The school is where the evil scientist who created the flock live, but now they want to kill them. (how ironic!) There is so much more for me to say but maybe you should just read the books. Another thing, I wanted to see if maybe I or we could start a Book Club. It would be really fun! There are a lot of interesting books in our library and maybe we could get more! Well I'll talk about my next idea for the Book Club on my next blog tomorrow. See ya! Bye! -Jeffy-Jeff.

Bloody Jack, posted by Mrs. Schauer

BLOODY JACK, by L.A. Meyer
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades
Audiobook Available in HS Library

I knew that several of my students had read all five books in this series, but they didn't really grab my attention---and the list of books on my "have to read" list always seems to be growing, so I never got around to reading this one. Then, before I left on a trip to Sam Houston, I asked Dr. L. to recommend an audio book for my drive. She had just come back from ALA, where she had been on the committee that awarded BLOODY JACK an Odyssey Honor Award, (for more info, click on the link at the bottom of this entry) so that is what she recommended. Wow! What a fantastic listen! I will admit that I stopped listening on about disc 5, because I wasn't paying attention and got lost. Then, other stuff (like my kids)took over the audio in my car and I never finished it. Anyway...During TAKS testing I decided to pull the book off my shelf and find the place I went astray. I ended up reading the rest of the book and LOVED it. After listening to most of it, I was able to hear the narrator's voice in my head while I was reading it, which was an added pleasure.

Bloody Jack is the story of an orphan girl names Mary Faber who struggles to survive on the streets of 18th Century London after her entire family dies. She manages to escape a life of begging in the streets by posing as a boy and being hired on as one of the ship's boys on the British warship the H.M.S. Dolphin. She is hired because "he" can read--and signs on under the alias Jack ("Jacky") Faber. She and the other ship's boys enter into a brotherhood of sorts...but she's always having to hide her true gender from them. Sticky situations ensue....I won't give away any of the story, but what a fantastic book. I can't wait to listen to the rest of this series!




http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/odyssey/2008odyssey.cfm

Maximum Ride The Angel Experiment, posted by Amannda M, 8th Grader

MAXIMUM RIDE, THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT, by James Patterson
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle and Upper Grade
Vocabulary Quiz Available

This is the first book in a series, and if you're looking for a fast paced book, James Patterson has written just the book for you! The characters are Max, (Maximum Ride) Fang, Iggy, Nudge, and Angel. What makes these kids different is that they are genetically different more along the lines is that their DNA is half human and half bird so they have bird-like abilities and wings. They are on the run from the school (you find out what kind of school if you read the book) with more messed up kids chasing after them like wolves--pun intended. As they are on the run more things lift them up and others come crashing down. I won't give you the story, you'll have to read it yourself to find out. So get going on this book--I promise you you'll finish it quick because you won't be able to put it down!

A Child Called It, posted by Cat P, 8th Grader

A CHILD CALLED IT, by Dave Pelzer
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available
Literacy Quiz Available

This is a very good book it is very sad though it is a book that you will feel depressed but your emotions will change throughout the book you will like the different themes and characters although the mom is very weird and you will not understand her because I didn't but this is a VERY good book based EXTREME child abuse!!!!!!

Cirque Du Freak, posted by Calleigh W, 8th Grader

CIRQUE DU FREAK, by Darren Shan
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle and Upper Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available

This is a book that the point of view turns around a lot. Sometimes you think one thing is going to happen and then you change your mind. It all starts off when they sneak out to go to a freak show. Then one of them notices that one of the freaks is a vampire. So after the show he goes back and he wants to become one. But I don't want to tell you the rest because then you will know.

The Boy From the Basement, posted by Cat P, 8th grader

THE BOY FROM THE BASEMENT, by Susan Shaw
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle to Upper Grades
Vocabulary Quiz Available

The boy from the basement is a very intense book, although it was very confusing so if you can comprehend easily it is a book you need to read. This book is about a boy whose father would put him in the basement for a punishment. He was never exposed to the real world and knew nothing about himself except his first name.

Define Normal, posted by Ashley D, 8th Grader

DEFINE NORMAL, by Julie Anne Peters

AR: No

Interest Level: Middle and Upper Grades

Vocabulary Quiz Available

This book is about a quiet girl and a punk rocker girl. They have to do peer counseling with each other and they go through some troubles. It turns out the punk chick loves to play the piano and the only people that know it is quiet girl and punk girl's parents. The punk girl does not like her mother because she thinks she is too controlling. The quiet girl's mother is an alcoholic and quiet girl has to take care of her brothers but I don't want to tell you everything cause it will ruin it for you.

Who Owns Kelly Paddik, Posted by Mrs. Schauer

WHO OWNS KELLY PADDIK?
by Beth Goobie
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grade

As this book opens, fifteen year old Kelly Paddick is arriving at the Marymound School for Girls. She's been living in a group home, but she tried to slash her wrists, so now she's going to be locked up--there's wire mesh on the windows so she can't break out and she's under the watchful eye of the home's staff constantly. She's a mess of emotions--her heart is full of things from her past that threaten to consume her--until she finally opens up and starts to talk. Once she talks about her past and what her dad did to her, she starts to heal.

Post a Blog....Get a Pickle and Popcorn!

Have you read any great books lately? Do you have a favorite book that you just loved? Don’t keep it to yourself…blog about it! For the month of March, Mrs. Schauer will give a freshly popped bag of popcorn or a pickle for every posted blog. See Mrs. Schauer for details. C'mon...you know you're dying to blog anyway!

TWILIGHT....The Movie!!!

After devouring all three of the books in this amazing trilogy, I was extremely excited to hear there is going to be a movie based on Twilight. (Release is slated for December of this year) I checked out Stephenie Meyer's website and was a bit let-down by the photos of the cast. In my mind, the Cullens were dark haired and eyed--although I think it mentioned somewhere that they were actually blonde--when I pictured them in my head, they were dark. In any case, I felt a little better after viewing the trailer. I hope they stick close to the book...and that it being "based on" the book doesn't mean the screenwriters had total freedom to change it completely. In any case, there are some links listed below. The first is a link to the trailer and the second is a link to Stephenie's website. What do you think? Do the characters cast in the movie fit your mind's perception of how they should look? (A bit of trivia: Did you know that the third installment, ECLIPSE knocked the last Harry Potter book from the nunber one spot on the NYT bestseller list?)

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/twilight-movie-trailer-with-official-bella-kristen-stewart/675314893

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_movie.html