Story of a Girl, by Sara Zarr Posted by Cat P. 8th Grader

STORY OF A GIRL, by Sara Zarr

AR: Yes

Interest Level: Upper Grades

This book is a very good book. It is about a sophomore in high school who made the mistake of going too far with a Senior in high school when she was in the 8th grade. The senior also happened to be a friend of her brother's and her dad caught them together. After they got caught, Tommy (the senior) told everyone about it and ruined her reputation. Her dad won't forgive her even though she's regretted it ever since she did it. When she sees Tommy again for the first time since their dad caught them, chaos stirs up. So, if you like this blog, then you should read the book--it is very good and I really enjoyed it.

Call Me Hope, by Gretchen Olson Posted by Danielle H, 8th Grader

CALL ME HOPE, by Gretchen Olson
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

CALL ME HOPE is a book about a girl whose mom is verbally abusive. her mom calls her stupid and an idiot. In the book she is trying to get through life without her mom noticing that the words hurt her. While Hope tries to get through her life she makes a point goal that helps her get through her hard times. She also meets new friends at a store called Next to New. So she gets really close to these two ladies that treat her very nicely. At the end of this book she gets back from a think called Outside School and her mother tells her nice things because she has been taking parenting classes. This book was really good and heartwarming. I would recommend it to anyone.

DAIRY QUEEN, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Posted by Mrs. Schauer

DAIRY QUEEN, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

AR: Yes

Vocabulary Quiz: Yes

Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

I have had this book on the shelves since I came to this library, but no one has ever read it. I had heard a lot of good things about it, but never took the time to read it. Well, I finally read it and I loved it! I put a different cover here--because I think this cover makes you want to read the book more than the cover that's on my library copy--it's got a picture of a cow.... In any case, this is a great book--it's about the summer of a 15 year old girl named D.J. who lives on a dairy farm. She's not very popular and she doesn't consider herself as pretty--she more of a jock. Her life is forever changed when Brian Nelson, the star quarterback for a neighboring school comes to work on her father's dairy farm. They develop a friendship, that starts to turn in to more...or at least it almost does. Brian kisses her one day and she is so shocked that she jumps up and gives him a bloody nose! The drama really starts to unfold when D.J. decides to try out for the varsity football team...I'd tell you more, but then you wouldn't need to read the book! Like I said, I loved this book, and am currently reading its sequel, THE OFF SEASON.

Night, by Wiesel, Elie Posted by Ryan B, 8th Grader

NIGHT, by Elie Wiesel
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades
Voc Quiz: Yes
Literacy Skills: Yes

A young boy named Eliezer, a Jew, gets taken away after someone warns them that the Germans are coming to take all of them and put them in a concentration camp called Buchenwald. They were taken off in cattle cars to a camp and were treated like animals. When they got to the camp his family was separated into two lines. One line was headed to the crematory and the other was the people who would live to make it another day. The places they stayed in were almost nothing. They only got to eat bread, and sometimes if they were lucky, they got to eat some soup, but the soup was never good. They ran them like cattle all over the place from camp to camp. As they ran there would be something called a selection. They would pick the weak and kill them and keep the strong so they could work them. This is a book that from the cover doesn't look very good, but if you read it you will find out that it is a great book. I wish I could tell you the ending but you will have to read the book to find out what happens.

Be More Chill, by Ned Vizzini Posted by Derek W.

BE MORE CHILL, by Ned Vizzini

AR: Yes

Interest Level: Upper Grades

BE MORE CHILL is a great book. In the beginning of the story a teenager has trouble dealing with his popularity issues and his family. He is always getting bullied by the jocks, preps, and gothic kids at his school until one day he finds a solution to his problem from one of his friends. His friend tells him about the "Squip" which is a pill that implants a tiny computer in his brain when he swallows it. It tells him what to do and say and how to act. Instantly he is friends with the jocks and the popular kids, and can have any girl he wants. Then it starts to catch up with him. he gets drunk at parties and enjoys himself until the "Squip" malfunctions and starts shutting off and speaking in different languages and he can't figure out how to fix it. When the "Squip" malfunctions he is at a party and the house of the party burns down. This book is great and it has a good ending, but I can't tell you about it, because then you won't read it!

The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold Posted by Shay M, 8th Grader

THE LOVELY BONES, by Alice Sebold
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

This is a story told by a young girl names Susie. (Who, by the way, is dead and in heaven.) In this book she tells your the story of her rape and death, which was caused by her neighbor, and the aftermath of what happened to her body. All the while she is watching over her family's forever changed life. She watches her family slowly falling apart and the investigation to find her missing body, all the while questioning herself why. Why hadn't she done what she was supposed to do, why hadn't she noticed that something was wrong? This book is verrrrrrry good and brings you to think that it could be about anyone--even yourself--even those close to you could be dangerous. This is the very first book that I read from Mrs. Schauer's collection and I loved it--and recommend it.

SPLIT IMAGE by Mel Glenn Posted by Ashley, D--8th Grader

SPLIT IMAGE, by Mel Glenn
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Upper Grades

Split image is about a girl named Laura Li. She is Asian, and she have everything--she's beautiful, popular, lovable, and has a picture perfect life. Or so everyone thinks, anyway. She has a split-life in a lot of ways. On the outside, everything looks perfect. In reality, her dad is never around and her mom makes her take care of her older brother because he is sick.

This is a great book--and it's very easy to read. It's a story written in poems, and from different character points of view.

OK PETTUS! GET READY, GET SET, READ!! Posted by Jeff Mathis

But OK, for real! We finally have a book club! The name, for right now, is "Pettus High School Library Book Club, but we might decide to change it. (hint, hint!) We made a blog just for the book club: http://pettuslibrarybookclub.blogspot.com/. We, would love to have you join the book club--Right now there are about eight students interested. We are trying to decide between two books at the moment...there is a poll posted on the book club blog. I am hoping we can meet at the high school library every Wednesday during High School lunch. During book club meetings we will eat lunch and talk about the book we are all reading. (Everyone will read the same book) Right now we are trying to figure out how we are going to pay for the books. We have had a few people volunteer to donate money--and as soon as we have enough, and we know who is going to be in the club, Mrs. Schauer will order the book and we'll start reading.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, email me at angel_of_angels@yahoo.com, or Mrs. Schauer at tschauer@pettusisd.esc2.net. Or you could just stop me and talk to me, or go by the library and talk to Mrs. Schauer.

Thanks!
-Jeff

WANTED: READERS Posted by Mrs. Schauer

If you are interested in being part of a high school book club, let me know. What exactly does a book club do? Well, basically, we'll decide that once we get our group together and figure it out! First, we will decide on a book that everyone wants to read. Once we choose the book, I'll order enough copies of it so that everyone will have one of their own. Then, we'll read, and meet once a week to talk about what we're reading....Interested? Let me know!

Kiss & Blog by Alyson Noel Posted by Cat P, 8th Grader

KISS & BLOG, by Alyson Noel
AR: Yes
Interest Level: Middle/Upper Grades

This is a very good book about two girls named Sloane and Winter who are considered losers. When Sloane gets accepted to the "A" table in the cafeteria, Winter finds herself all alone. Then she meets a boy who is considered to be an even bigger loser than she is. He won't leave her alone, and she starts to like him, but then she gives another girl her permission to go out with him--which is a huge mistake because she starts to realize that she really is in love with the guy--even though everyone else thinks he's a loser. Winter starts a secret blog where she writes about everything--the guy situation, the "A" table, and lots of other stuff. To find out more, you'll have to read the book...and you should...it's a great book!

Farewell to the Old English Biddie*

As I sit here typing this, I still can't believe it. A legend of English Literature will no longer walk the halls of Pettus High School. Future Juniors and Seniors will not have the privilege of listening to the perspicacious* pontification* of our beloved, illustrious*, if sometimes (admittedly) cantankerous* and crotchety* Mrs. Karen Johnston.

After years of tenaciously fighting her deteriorating health in her quest to enrich the great minds of upperclassmen here in Pettus, she has finally decided enough is enough--she must retire in order to maintain her health and quality of life. While I know this is the best decision for Mrs. Johnston, I am saddened almost beyond words by the realization that she won't be here anymore.

This wonderful lady and I go back more than ten years in our friendship, and we've had our share of laughter as well as tears. Knowing her as I do, I know that her heart is breaking with the knowledge that she will no longer be here for the students of Pettus High School. I know that this decision was the hardest decision of her life--and she didn't make it lightly.

Mrs. Johston pushed her students--sometimes beyond what they thought they (or anyone else!) thought they were capable of. If there is one special talent she has, it's making classic literature comprehensible and even likeable to people who otherwise would not have a clue. Her sardonic* wit and sarcasm are legendary...which leads me to the reason behind this blog...

What are your favorite memories of Mrs. Johnston? Do you have a favorite line that she always used? Let's take some time to do our own reflecting and pontificating on our beloved Mrs. Johnston.

My favorite line: "You're just a bunch of gargooters...and to think y'all are the future of America..." (gargouters? How do you spell that and just what is a gargooter anyway?)

Now's your chance...post your favorite memory or recollection of Mrs. Johston....Just hit "comment" and type away! Remember, Mrs. Schauer has to approve all comments...so keep 'em clean!

* Biddy: a fussy old woman
* Perspicacious: having keen mental perception and understanding
* Pontificate: to express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way
* Illustrious: highly distinguished; renowned; famous
* Cantankerous: difficult to handle
* Crotchety: bad-tempered
* Sardonic: cynically mocking