February 2010 Archives

MACBETH by William Shakespeare

By Fran Jackson on February 28, 2010 1:51 PM | No Comments
MACBETH GRAPHIC NOVEL.jpg
MACBETH is one of the greatest plays to ever be written. This play was written by a very famous man named William Shakeesphere. In this play is all about a line from the beginning of the play. The line is as follows, "foul is fair and fair is foul." Many of the events in the play happen relating to the famous line. The play is about a brave and courageous warrior named Macbeth. Macbeth recieves predictions from three witches. These predictions state that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor, which is a promotion from his current position. After a while the prediction comes true and Macbeth is promoted. The second prediction states that he will become King. After waiting for some time Macbeth gets so obessed with the thought of becoming the king that he murders the current King Duncan. Macbeth finally gets the position of King, Buthelezi this is just the start of bad events yet to come. What will happen to Macbeth, find out by reading it today.

I recommend this book for people who have a great vocabulary and a thorough understanding of the English language in depth. I say this because the book is very arduous and can not be understood in one reading.


By Yash Shah
Grade 8
W.T. Clarke Middle School

Continue reading MACBETH by William Shakespeare.

THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES by Ray Bradbury

By Fran Jackson on February 27, 2010 10:53 AM | No Comments

THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES Jacket COVER.jpg
THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES by Ray Bradbury is an assortment of similar stories that all include human like Martians from Mars, and human astronauts from Ohio. Honestly, if I saw this book right on the shelf I would not bother to read it, because I am not a fan of Science Fiction. After I read this amazing book my mind totally changed. Now I like reading Science Fiction and am glad that I did not judge the book by it's cover. In three space ships, the astronauts arrive on Mars looking for a place to begin a new civilization. On Mars there are Martians who are amused to see life coming from Earth. The Martians could not believe their eyes because they believed that life could not be retained on Earth because of high oxygen levels. The Martian Chronicles has a couple of great comparisons that show the similarities of Earth and Mars. One of the comparisons being the setting which is buildings, rivers, and the landscaping. The genre of the novel would be a mix of mystery, science fiction, and fantasy because just in one chapter the story would change drastically.

Since this book was so entertaining I would recommend it for young adults from the age of 11-14. When this book ended I wished there could have been a sequel.

Matthew Brass
Woodland Middle School
Grade 8

2010 MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD

By Fran Jackson on February 8, 2010 4:11 PM | No Comments

PRINTZ AWARD LOGO.gif
<
big>The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association.

This year's Printz Award goes to

GOING BOVINE Jacket Cover.jpgGOING BOVINE by Libba Bray Cameron Smith, a disaffected sixteen year-old who, after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital in an attempt to find a cure.


This year's honor books include:

CHARLES AND EMMA: the Darwins' leap of faith by Deborah Heiligman Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma, were deeply in love and very supportive of each other, but their opinions often clashed. Emma was extremely religious, and Charles questioned God's very existence.

THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST by Rick Yancey
In 1888, twelve-year-old Will Henry chronicles his apprenticeship with Dr. Warthrop, a scientist who hunts and studies real-life monsters, as they discover and attempt to destroy a pod of Anthropophagi.

PUNKZILLA by Adam Rapp
"Punkzilla" is on a mission to see his older brother "P", before "P" dies of cancer. Still buzzing from his last hit of meth, he embarks on a days-long trip from Portland, Ore. to Memphis, Tenn., writing letters to his family and friends. Along the way, he sees a sketchier side of America and worries if he will make it to see his brother in time.

TALES FROM THE MADMAN UNDERGROUND: an historical romance 1793 by John Barnes
In September 1973, as the school year begins in his depressed Ohio town, high-school senior Kurt Shoemaker determines to be "normal," despite his chaotic home life with his volatile, alcoholic mother and the deep loyalty and affection he has for his friends in the therapy group dubbed the Madman Underground.

THESE TITLES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

Orson Scott Card: Stonefather

By Fran Jackson on February 3, 2010 6:09 PM | 8 Comments
Raise your hand if :

Your midterms stressed you out?

You're looking for a way to escape and unwind?

You want a quick read before your homework piles up?

Well, we've searched the stacks and found a great short Fantasy book that's not a thousand pages long, or a trilogy wide.*
Perfect for the semesters end and beginning, this book is a quick and engaging otherworldly read.

Look no further my friend and try STONEFATHER by Orson Scott Card.

stonefather.jpg


We start off with the main character Runnel, the simple and poor mountain boy born into an abusive family that considers him the unwanted child. On a walk one day, he leaves his home and takes a random path out of the mountains and into the city of Mitherhome, where he discovers so much more to the world than his simple mountain life.
He meets a young servant girl who helps him get a job with her master, the Stonemage Lord Brickel. As he progresses in this new land, far away from his family, he comes to the realization that the people of Mitherhome are not what they seem and that his true heritage may be very ancient and very magical.

" A great story to read when you're pressed for time, or low on energy; it picks up quickly and is extremely charming. It's a book that cannot be forgotten." -Mrs. Hirsch, YA Librarian

Recommended for grades 11 and up.

*Note: reviewer is not responsible if Orson Scott Card later decides to make Stonefather the first book of a possible new series called Mithermages. I can only hope he does.

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