How to Survive Middle School

Donna. How to Survive Middle School Delacorte Press, a division of Random House, Inc. New York, N.Y.


Annotation:
David Greenberg struggles through the horrors of beginning middle school.  Most of his friends have gone to the other middle school in town.  David's best friend disowns him, and he unexpectedly finds himself with a new girl best friend.  Just when David thinks life can't get any worse, he finds himself targeted by the school bully.




Book Talk:
David is your average, ordinary, every day sixth grade student who aspires to be a talk show host when he grows up.  His goal is to one day take over the Daily Show from John Stewart.  In preparation for his future career plans, David produces his own web video entitled "Talk Time", where he interviews magazine covers of his favorite stars, adds his daily top 6 1/2 list, includes a daily zit forecast, and edits in footage of his hamster, Hammie.  He then posts "Talk Time" to YouTube, where it sits, ignored by everyone.

But when middle school starts, David finds his life is suddenly more complicated than he ever imagined.  His best friend has deserted him.  He is the target of the school bully, Tommy Murphy.  And, he finds himself with a new best friend - a freckled red head named Sophie. 

When Sophie begins e-mailing out links to David's Talk Time videos to her friends, well...David's life takes some twists and turns he never expected.  Could his video truly be going viral?  Could that truly be the newspaper calling to ask him for an interview?  Could any of the kids at Harman Middle school care less?


Author's Web Site:
Donna Gephart
Be sure to check out the Hammie Time video on her web page!

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Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia

Paolini, Christopher Eragon's Guide to Algaesia.  2010.  Alfred A. Knopf, Publishers.  New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-375-85823-9.  Hardback, $24.99.

Annotation:
A pictorial guide to the mythical land of Algaesia, the setting for the Eldest Trilogy, written by Christopher Paolini.



Book Talk:
Eragon was a boy like any other, living with his uncle and cousin outside of a small town, deep in the Spine Mountains.  Eragon loved the land around him, and enjoyed hearing the tales of the old story teller, Brom, who lived in the village.

And then, one mystical day changed Eragon's life forever.  Startled by the sudden appearance of a beautiful large rock in the mountains one day while hunting, Eragon decides to take the rock home to see if he can sell it.  Once he brings the rock home, Eragon discovers that it contains a secret... a life altering secret.  For the rock is actually a dragon egg.  And once Eragon and the baby dragon meet, Eragon becomes a dragon rider.  As the only living dragon rider aside from the king, Eragon's life and destiny change forever.

This book introduces the reader to the land of Algaesia, and the rich history of the continent, the elves, the dwarves, and the history of the dragon riders.
Richly illustrated throughout, this book contains detailed maps, stunning artwork, and dozens of "lift the flap" type pages within pages of still more information about the mystical, magical land called Algaesia that readers yearn to know more about.

Reviewer's Note:
This richly illustrated book is best shared in a face-to-face book talk.  The illustrated pictures of the knights, the fold out pages that reveal more detailed information, and the textured cover as well as tactile samples within the book make this a true treasure that any Eragon fan will find difficult to put down.

Author's Web Site:
Christopher Paolini

The Adventures of Jack Lime

Leck, James.  The Adventures of Jack Lime.  2010.  Kids Can Press, LTD.

Annotation:
Written in the style of a 1940's Hollywood Detective movie, this short story collection of mysteries involves the teenage detective, Jack Lime.  Jack solves mysteries surrounding his high school - Iona High School.

Book Talk:
Jack Lime is a gumshoe, or a P.I.  He solves problems for his classmates at Iona High School.  Jack is new to the school, and the students have decided that he is the perfect outsider to help them solve problems.  Join Jack as he solves three mysteries: The Case of the Broken Lock, The Case of the Daily Telegraph, and The Case of the Big Dupe. 

As of this writing, this author does not have a web site.

A.D. New Orleans, After the Deluge

Neufeld, Josh. A.D. New Orleans, After the Deluge. 2009. Pantheon Books, New York, NY.

ISBN: 978-0-307-37814-9. Hardback, $24.95.

Annotation:
A.D. follows the lives of 5 different families in the days before and after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. This graphic novel vividly details the destruction, and the lives of the survivors who stayed through the hurricane, and of those who left just ahead of the storm.

Book Talk:
Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on August 25, 2005. With winds topping 140 miles an hour, the storm brought tremendous devastation. When the levees were breached and the city flooded, life changed forever for those families who called New Orleans home.

Follow the stories of 5 families as they face the indecision in the days before the hurricane struck to the tragedy that followed the hurricane. Whether you left ahead of the hurricane or stayed behind, the hurricane has left an imprint upon the souls of thousands of New Orleans residents.

Reviewer's Note:
This book is hard to book talk. The pictures speak for themselves, but since this is a copyrighted book, I can not publish the pictures from the book here. If I were to booktalk this in front of a real, live group of kids, I would open this book to the pages of the Hurricane striking New Orleans, and the pictures of life in the city in the days immediately after the levees were breached. I think seeing those pictures would be enough to get anyone to want to read the book. I also believe that I would read the "who's who" section of characters at the beginning of the book. This is a powerful book. The cover drew me in, and once I started reading it, I could not stop until I finished it. Set aside the time to read it in one sitting.

Second Note:
The author of this book is a Red Cross volunteer. He was in the Gulf Coast in the days immediately after Katrina. The events in this book are all true. The stories are the stories of Katrina survivors. Names and some details have been changed to protect privacy. But, when you read this book and realize that it is TRUE....wow. It is a humbling, must read book for all of us.

Author's Web Page:
Josh Neufeld Comics and Stories

The Guardians of Ga-Hoole

Lasky, Kathryn. The Guardians of Ga-Hoole, The Capture. 2003. Scholastic. New York, New York.

ISBN 13: 978-0-439-40557-7. Softcover, $5.99.

Annotation:
Soren, a young barn owl is kidnapped by the evil owls of St. Aggie's. If he is to survive with his mind intact, he must find a way to withstand the cruel treatment he is undergoing. With the help of a young pygmy owl named Gylfie, the two owls struggle to survive the nightmare that is St. Aggie's.

Book Talk:
The loving barn owl family in the kingdom of Tyto has just welcomed three new hatchlings into their family. Kludd, Soren, and Eglantine. Each of the nestlings was hatched a week or more apart from the others.

Soren is the middle owl. Full of love for his young sister Eglantine, and curiosity over the beatiful world in which he lives, Soren rejoices in each new ceremony. First meat, first insect, first fur on meat, first meat on bones, branching....all of these ceremonies help a young owl grow up and prepare him for life in his own hollow.

However, there is a mystery afoot. Hatchlings are disappearing out of the nests. Eggs are being taken. No owl family is safe.

On the fateful day when Soren tumbles out of the hollow and to the ground far, far below, his quiet simple life is changed forever.

Snatched by the owls from St. Aggies he is taken to an orphanage to be indoctrinated. Subjected to moon blinking, moon scalding, and other mind-washing techniques, Soren struggles to maintain his true identity.

Soren is fortunate when he finds Gylfie, a pygmy owl who is able to withstand the mind control techniques. Together, Soren and Gylfie discover the horrible, terrible truth of what is going on in St. Aggies. They begin to plot a desperate plan of escape.

Reviewer's Note:
The Guardian's of Ga'Hoole will be released as a movie at the end of this month. I have enjoyed this series since it was first released, and I chose to reread the book for this review because it will be a movie. However, I don't know that I will ever see the movie. It has been my experience that very, very few movies ever live up to the promise of the book. The plot is frequently twisted and watered down in order to make the tale fit the constraints of a 2 hour (or less) time limit for a movie.

Don't get me wrong, the previews of the movie look amazing. The digital animation is nothing short of astounding. I'm just worried about how well the tale will be told. I hope someone who is a die-hard fan of the book who does go see the movie will let me know what they think. :)

Author Web Site:Kathryn Lasky