I recently found out that we can post blogs here! With we I mean other than the awesome librarians that started this book club! So, I have finished Speak, and the book has now landed in the large group of my favorite books. After, reading Speak I read this other book that was kind of like Speak. But, this book wasn't about rape, it was about suicide.
It's called Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. The book happens in the present but always goes back to the past. This guy named Clay receives a shoebox with seven cassettes. And, when he starts listening to them he realizes that a girl, Hannah Baker who two weeks ago took her own life, recorded them for thirteen people. These thirteen people had some part in why Hannah commited suicide, hence the title of the book. Clay realizes that he is one of those reasons. So, he "borrows" his friend's portable tape player and walks around town with a map, going to each of the places Hannah describes on the tapes. I don't want to give any more away, but once you start reading the first chapter the book grabs you in and you can't put it down til you finish reading.
I can't wait until the next meeting! See you all there!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
2008 Michael L. Printz Award
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean has won the 2008 Michael L. Printz Award. The Michael L. Printz Award is given by the American Library Association for excellence in young adult literature.
About the book: Fourteen-year-old Symone's exciting vacation to Antarctica turns into a desperate struggle for survival when her uncle's obsessive quest to find the legendary Symme's hole (which is supposedly an entrance to a hollow Earth) leads them across the frozen wilderness into danger.
About the book: Fourteen-year-old Symone's exciting vacation to Antarctica turns into a desperate struggle for survival when her uncle's obsessive quest to find the legendary Symme's hole (which is supposedly an entrance to a hollow Earth) leads them across the frozen wilderness into danger.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
ONE BOOK YA SELECTION
One Book New Jersey
Featured Young Adult Book
Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
About the Book
Teen conservationists Semi, Miranda, and Arnie board a plane bound for the Ecuadorian rainforest. As part of a prize-winning team gathered by the TV show Planet Savers, they begin an amazing hands-on ecology experience. But their trip-of-a-lifetime quickly becomes a fight for survival as they find themselves on a remote island, the only survivors of a devastating plane crash. And this is no ordinary island - it is the home of a mad scientist, anxious for subjects for his ghastly experiments. Unfortunately for Semi, Miranda, and Arnie, the three teens are the perfect candidates for his interspecies tests.
About the Author
Ann Halam (a pseudonym used by Gwyneth A. Jones) is a prolific author of fantasy and science fiction for readers of all ages. Born in Manchester, England, she has been writing since the age of fourteen, when she won a writing competition run by the Manchester Evening News. She has won numerous awards, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of her books, including Dr. Franklin's Island, were named ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She now lives with her husband and son in Brighton, England.
More information about Ann Halam/Gwyneth A. Jones and her books can be found on her website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gwynethann/.
www.onebooknj.org
Featured Young Adult Book
Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
About the Book
Teen conservationists Semi, Miranda, and Arnie board a plane bound for the Ecuadorian rainforest. As part of a prize-winning team gathered by the TV show Planet Savers, they begin an amazing hands-on ecology experience. But their trip-of-a-lifetime quickly becomes a fight for survival as they find themselves on a remote island, the only survivors of a devastating plane crash. And this is no ordinary island - it is the home of a mad scientist, anxious for subjects for his ghastly experiments. Unfortunately for Semi, Miranda, and Arnie, the three teens are the perfect candidates for his interspecies tests.
About the Author
Ann Halam (a pseudonym used by Gwyneth A. Jones) is a prolific author of fantasy and science fiction for readers of all ages. Born in Manchester, England, she has been writing since the age of fourteen, when she won a writing competition run by the Manchester Evening News. She has won numerous awards, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of her books, including Dr. Franklin's Island, were named ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She now lives with her husband and son in Brighton, England.
More information about Ann Halam/Gwyneth A. Jones and her books can be found on her website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gwynethann/.
www.onebooknj.org
ONE BOOK NEW JERSEY
Press Release:
The One Book New Jersey program is a fun and exciting program sponsored by the New Jersey Library Association with generous support from the New Jersey State Library. The goal of the program is to bring people together by encouraging them to read and participate in discussions and other events about the same book. Although this program is modeled on other "One Book" programs throughout the country, New Jersey's program is rather unique. We involve not just one community, but the whole state. We also felt it was important to reach people of all ages, so although we still call our program "One Book," it is in fact four books: an adult selection, a young adult selection, a book for older children and a read-to-me selection.
This year, 2008, will be our sixth year.
The selected books this year are:
Adult: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
Young Adult: Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
Middle Grade: The Sisters Grimm: Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
Read to Me: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Janet Stevens
In the past, over six hundred programs or events were held in every county of the state at a majority of the 464 public libraries in New Jersey. These events ranged from book discussions to storyhours, from contests to film showings for people from preschoolers to senior citizens. One Book New Jersey selections for the past five years have been:
2007:
Adult: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Young Adult: So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
Middle Grade: Whales on Stilts! by M. T. Anderson
Read to Me: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
2006:
Adult: The Ditchdigger's Daughters by Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D.
Young Adult: Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald
Middle Grade: Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
Read to Me: Wild About Books by Judy Sierra
2005:
Adult: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Young Adult: Dunk by David Lubar
Middle Grade: The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater
Read to Me: Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
2004:
Adult: The Pine Barrens by John McPhee
Young Adult: The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
Middle Grade: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Read to Me: How the Cat Swallowed Thunder by Lloyd Alexander
2003:
Adult: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Young Adult: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Middle Grade: Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
Read to Me: Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
More information about the One Book New Jersey program can be found on ourwebsite: www.onebooknewjersey.org
The One Book New Jersey program is a fun and exciting program sponsored by the New Jersey Library Association with generous support from the New Jersey State Library. The goal of the program is to bring people together by encouraging them to read and participate in discussions and other events about the same book. Although this program is modeled on other "One Book" programs throughout the country, New Jersey's program is rather unique. We involve not just one community, but the whole state. We also felt it was important to reach people of all ages, so although we still call our program "One Book," it is in fact four books: an adult selection, a young adult selection, a book for older children and a read-to-me selection.
This year, 2008, will be our sixth year.
The selected books this year are:
Adult: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
Young Adult: Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
Middle Grade: The Sisters Grimm: Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
Read to Me: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Janet Stevens
In the past, over six hundred programs or events were held in every county of the state at a majority of the 464 public libraries in New Jersey. These events ranged from book discussions to storyhours, from contests to film showings for people from preschoolers to senior citizens. One Book New Jersey selections for the past five years have been:
2007:
Adult: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Young Adult: So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
Middle Grade: Whales on Stilts! by M. T. Anderson
Read to Me: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
2006:
Adult: The Ditchdigger's Daughters by Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D.
Young Adult: Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald
Middle Grade: Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
Read to Me: Wild About Books by Judy Sierra
2005:
Adult: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Young Adult: Dunk by David Lubar
Middle Grade: The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater
Read to Me: Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
2004:
Adult: The Pine Barrens by John McPhee
Young Adult: The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
Middle Grade: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Read to Me: How the Cat Swallowed Thunder by Lloyd Alexander
2003:
Adult: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Young Adult: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Middle Grade: Regarding the Fountain by Kate Klise
Read to Me: Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
More information about the One Book New Jersey program can be found on ourwebsite: www.onebooknewjersey.org
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hi Everyone!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Hopefully, the New Year will bring everyone happiness, good health and good fortune. I sat down with my family yesterday and we all wrote down three goals that we would like to accomplish in 2008. It was a great way to start the New Year and will hopefully keep us all focused and on the right track. One of the goals that we all wrote down was to read more; not school or work related reading, but reading for pleasure. Does anyone else think about or write down goals for the New Year? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Also, if anyone is having any trouble with this blog or if you know anyone that hasn't been able to access it, please e-mail me @ mrs.hoffies@gmail.com.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Hoffman
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Hopefully, the New Year will bring everyone happiness, good health and good fortune. I sat down with my family yesterday and we all wrote down three goals that we would like to accomplish in 2008. It was a great way to start the New Year and will hopefully keep us all focused and on the right track. One of the goals that we all wrote down was to read more; not school or work related reading, but reading for pleasure. Does anyone else think about or write down goals for the New Year? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Also, if anyone is having any trouble with this blog or if you know anyone that hasn't been able to access it, please e-mail me @ mrs.hoffies@gmail.com.
Have a great day!
Mrs. Hoffman
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