ON VINEY'S MOUNTAIN by Joan Donaldson Blog Entry by Amannda Murie, PHS Sophomore

ON VINEY'S MOUNTAIN, by Joan Donaldson
AR: Not Yet--book is slated to be published on October 1st
Interest Level: Middle Grades and Up

I was twitchy all day Saturday because I was busy most of the day around the house when all I wanted to do was go out to our barn and sit atop the hay and have this book with me.

ON VINEY'S MOUNTAIN, by Joan Donaldson is a tale about Viney, a sixteen year old girl who has the odd view for the era that she can take care of herself and her mountain without the help of a man. This changes whensettlers start coming to builda town, which has an effect on Viney's mountain. At first she looks at this negatively becasue they are ruining her home. Then, she meets Charlie--and falls in love.

This is one of the few books that are entwined with history that I've truely enjoyed and it left me thinking about the lesson of Viney's experience. Viney...many people (including me) can relate to her easily because at some point in life, everyone goes through the confusion and turmoil of trying to figure out exactly what they want.

Donaldson's setting and plot are in essence simple. A beginning settlement and the trouble that follows, and Viney's love story in the mix make it easy to follow; but how she describes this through a first person perspective gives it the complexity that makes this book unique. Her writing is fluent and clean, never being being so simple that it becomes boring, or so complex that it requires the reader to have to fully concentrate on deciphering the vocabulary. This book was slow only in the first chapter, but then it had me until I finished it. I hope to see this book , published and on the shelves at PHS so others can enjoy this wonderful story that Joan Donaldson has created.

THE CHOSEN ONE, by Carol Lynch Williams Trailer created by Sherry Thompson

Check out this FANTASTIC book trailer for THE CHOSEN ONE, by Carol Lynch Williams. The trailer was created by Sherry Thompson, librarian at Flower Mound High School, in Flower Mound, Texas. There is also a blog entry for this book: http://pettushs.blogspot.com/2009/05/chosen-one-by-carol-lynch-williams.html There is an AR quiz available, and the interest level is for Upper Grades.

ON VINEY'S MOUNTAIN by Joan Donaldson Blog Entry by Carol Riley Cain, PHS English Teacher

ON VINEY'S MOUNTAIN
by Joan Donaldson
Blog Post: Carol Riley Cain, PHS English Teacher
AR: Not Yet
Interest Level: Middle Grades and Up
NOT PUBLISHED YET....WILL HAVE BOOK IN OCTOBER

Take a 16-year-old “spinster”, drop her smack dab into the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee in 1879, and you have the premise of On Viney’s Mountain by Joan Donaldson. In spite of it being a Young Adult book, it is engaging and captivating for all readers. Told completely from the point of view of Viney, the spinster in question, this story will capture your interest before you finish the first chapter.

Viney, the youngest of three siblings, has been raised by her aunts after her mother dies in childbirth and her father leaves the mountain. Now that they are grown, these three teens live in their father’s cabin and work hard to support themselves. Viney is unusually independent for a girl of the 1800s, and does not think all women have to marry. She is determined never to be like her older sister, who can’t wait to marry, and has hopes of finding a suitable mate in the group of settlers.

Filled with a deep love for her mountains and the nature around her, Viney harbors strong opinions when that nature is encroached upon by a group of English immigrants, intent upon creating an Utopian settlement practically in Viney’s back yard. Determined to do what ever it takes to rid her community of these encroachers, Viney is quite taken aback when she finds herself with feelings for one of the settlers.

The author’s realistic writing style combined with the use of authentic dialect throughout the story made me feel as if I was watching a movie. I was sad when it ended, as you will be if you read this book. I wanted to read more. Will we find a sequel in the future? Do we get to discover if Charlie returns to wed Viney? Only the author can tell.

Book Trailer for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman Trailer created by Dayna and Karin Greene

Check out this trailer for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman. The trailer was created by Dayna and Karen Green of Comstock ISD in Comstock, Texas. Click on the following link to visit their library page: Comstock ISD Virtual Library This book has an AR quiz and the interest level is upper middle grades (6th-8th) and up. Enjoy!

Trailer for THE LAB by Jack Heath Trailer by Robin Henry

Check out this trailer for THE LAB, by Jack Heath. The trailer was created by Robin Henry. Mrs. Henry is the librarian at Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas. Visit their blog at: http://wakelandlibrary.wordpress.com/ AR: Yes Interest Level: Middle Grades