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March 26, 2009
TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Author Randa Abdel-Fattah has written another terriffic tale about being a Muslim teen. In her first book, DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? her heroine must decide how to show her faith without losing her personal identity. In TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME Jamilah, an Lebanese-Australian Muslim, just wants to fit in, so she becomes Jamie, to hide her true identity.
Jamie has dyed her hair blonde and wears blue contact lenses to hide her Muslim looks at Guildford high where she is in tenth grade. She wants to be part of the in crowd, but this group is lead by Peter Clarkson, an Aussie who believe non-Anglos aren't real Aussies. Jamie sees Peter as her ticket to coolness.
Outside of school Jamie loves her Lebanese heritage. She attends after-school classes at a madrasa, a Muslim school. Here she learns about the Koran, the Muslim culture and history, but most important is the music. She plays a darabuka, a goblet-shaped hand drum, in a band, a band that plans to play professionally.
To confuse her life Jamilah/Jamie must obey her father's rules. She is not allowed out after dark; she can attend daytime movies with female friends only; and under no circumstances are boys allowed.
How can she deal with her two lives? Peter has asked her out. The Band will be playing at her tenth grade formal. Will her worlds collide?
I RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL FOR GIRLS GRADES 7 AND UP.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2009
THE SWITCH by Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Horowitz, known for teen super spy, Alex Rider, has written a new tale of young teenage boys swapping bodies in THE SWITCH. Thomas Arnold David Spencer, aka Tad, returns home from a year at Beton Academy. He is the only child of the fabulously wealthy, charitable and knighted by the Queen, Sir Hubert Spencer. Tad is also overweight, very bright, spoiled, and not taken seriously by his parents. When he expresses an interest to visit the new theme park, his parents don’t want him on “those rides.”
Off in his room Tad murmurs, “It’s not fair.” He wonders why he can not do what he wants, and just before he falls asleep he wishes he was someone else.
Before he is fully awake, Tad knows something is different. He finds himself in the camper of two carnival workers. He is now Bob Snarby, uneducated, thin and very poor. Bob is also an accomplice to a petty thief. Tad’s first criminal attempt results in a murder, and Tad is now a felon wandering the streets of London. Maybe, his life was not so bad.
As always with classic trading places stories there is a reason for switch. For Tad this reason will change his life forever, be careful what you wish for.
I RECOMMEND THIS STORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN GRADES 6-8, WHO ENJOY A GOOD TALE.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 3:51 PM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2009
SCAT by Carl Hiaasen
For those of you who loved HOOT, where a young boy and his friends save owls from a construction site, SCAT by Carl Hiassen is the book for you.
Our hero, Nick Waters, doesn’t like his biology teacher, Mrs. Bunny Starch. Everyone is scared of her; once his classmate, Marta vomited when she had to answer a question in class, then Mrs. Starch made her “…write a paper on the five major muscles used in the act of regurgitation.” Bunny Starch is probably the most fear teacher at Truman School, but things start changing for Nick after a field trip to the Black Vine Swamp. During the visit to the Swamp a wildfire breaks out and Mrs. Starch disappears.
Certain Mrs. Starch has not left on family business, Nick starts snooping away. Could someone have done something terrible to his biology teacher? Top on Nick’s list is Duane “Smoke” Scrod, Jr., the baddest kid at school, known for starting fires and certainly not a friend of Mrs. Starch.
For Nick and Marta this is a once-in-a-life-time adventure, when they meet the tree-hugging millionaire driving Mrs. Starch’s car and tangle with some crooked oilmen.
SCAT is a fun book to read with a well-paced story that will keep you turning the pages until the end.
I RECOMMEND THE BOOK FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO LOVE SCIENCE, ANIMALS, MYSTERIES AND GOOD STORIES.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 5:46 PM | Comments (1)
March 6, 2009
NEPTUNE’S CHILDREN by Bonnie Dobkin
NEPTUNE’S CHILDREN by Bonnie Dobkin is a chilling story of a society of children.
The Virus was developed, so its victims would have no time to respond. Canisters were hidden in building ventilation systems on airplanes, and inside water towers. Each one had a programmed time to open. The creators had vaccinated their own populations, but when the virus was released, it spread so quickly and mutated so frequently no one was safe, EXCEPT THE CHILDREN.
It was a magical place, Isles of Wonder. There were five islands – Atlantis is the home of King Neptune; Inspiration has everything for the creative mind; Nightmare where things are dark and scary; Timescape is an isle for all eras; and Enchanted is a fairy land. Famlies flocked to this wonderful place, as did Josh, his sisters, Maddie and Caitlyn and their parents, but it turned into a nightmare. The virus spread and Josh and Maddie lost their parents and older sister. Only children and tweens were left. What could they do? How would they live?
With no other choice the children must create their own society, which barricades them from the outside world and its possible dangers. Led my Milo, the son of an Isles of Wonder engineer, and other tweens with Isles of Wonder ties, a society is formed with a simple government. All is happy, until there is the possibility of others living beyond the Park. When some want to leave to find out what is outside, this perfect world begins to shatter. Is the danger from the outside world or from within?
I RECOMMEND NEPTUNE’S CHILDREN FOR GRADES 7 AND UP. IT MAY APPEAL TO THOSE WHO LIKE THE KINGDOM KEEPERS SERIES BY RIDLEY PEARSON, BUT THIS BOOK IS DARKER AND HAS SOME VIOLENCE.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 3, 2009
ELDEST by Christopher Paolini
For those of you who loved ERAGON, here is a review of the sequel, ELDEST by Christopher Paolini.
Eragon has taken the legendary position as a Rider and has left the Varden in Surda with his companions to journey to Ellesmera in Du Weldenvarden, the homeland of the Elves. His quest there is to seek out the Elf Queen to ask for her assistance in the oncoming war against the mighty empire of the Dragon King Galbatorix and his Black Dragon Shruiken. While there he will further his studies in magic and in swordplay and learn what it means to be a Rider and somehow find a way to save all Alagaesia from the evil dragon king Galbatorix and his black dragon shruiken.
ELDEST is an action packed book with each page described in great detail making it feel as if you’re in this magical fantasy world of Dragons, Elves, Dwarfs and much more….will Eragon finally learn his linage?
Sherrod Falls
Grade 7
Woodland Middle School
Posted by fjacksonem at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)