Eliot Rosewater books: A Few Book Trailers

Here are just a couple of book trailers for this year's Eliot Rosewater nominees.  Have you read either of these books?  What did you think??





The Maze Runner by James Dashner





The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Hunger Games!!!

If you haven't read the Hunger Games series, you are missing out!  Check out the trailer for the movie coming out March 2012:

EduBlogs - 10 Favorite Activities

I LOVE EduBlogs!!  I used this with my fifth grade students when I was in the classroom.  The thing I loved the most is that I can have my blog with activities, directions, and class news while my students were able to have their own blogs to do activity responses, share books, and more.  I would love to use this again with maybe my book club or help another teacher start one with his/her class.

Check out Edublogger's list of the 10 favorite activities from their Student Blogging challenges.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Gist:  Rory Deveaux, fresh off the plane from Louisiana and on her way to boarding school, finds London caught up in a Jack the Ripper copycat slaying.  All that Rory wants to do it learn how to fit in and maybe catch the eye of a cute guy.  Instead, life gets more complicated as she becomes the only witness to the latest murder.

Opinion if you Please:  First thing I have to say...I wish our cover was more like the UK cover!  When I picked up the book, I thought I was going to be reading a historical fiction novel maybe with something supernatural. I was right about the supernatural part, but this story takes place in modern day London with Rory arriving at boarding school the same day a Jack the Ripper copycat begins his killing spree.  As a young adult librarian, I want books my students will pick up and give a chance.  The title and US cover appeal to a certain demographic...the UK cover mentions Jack the Ripper...now you've got our attention!

Ok...two words....PAGE TURNER!  I thought I would give this book a try then go about my normal day.  Next thing I know, I'm late to meet my friend.  There is something intriguing about Rory with her southern, Louisiana background adjusting to life with her fellow classmates.  There is a touch of romance that, as a girl, I wish was developed more.  The good news is that guys who avoid romances can still enjoy this story. LOL  The Rippermania is also interesting.  People literally waiting around to witness the next slaying, feeling guilty that someone is about to die BUT wanting to be part of it.  Maureen Johnson has done a great job of spinning a story that will keep you guessing until the end

Extra, Extra!

This is the first in The Shades of London series.  Stay tuned for the 2nd book, The Madness Underneath...unfortunately, it may be quite awhile as book one just came out in Septmember.  The good news, while the book ends with the possibilities of Rory's future, you are not left hanging in suspense.

Author's Blog

Author's Webpage

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

The Gist:  For the first time in 592 years, Lenah is able to experience human emotions, feel textures, and bathe in the sunlight.  Rhode, her beloved, sacrificed himself so that she could be human again.  Immersing herself in a normal 16 year-old's life, she attends school, becomes friends with Tony, and discovers it is possible to love again when Tyler helps her to feel fully alive again.

Everything would be perfect if it weren't for one tiny problem: the coven she created with the most evil intentions will never let her go.  They want their queen back, and no one can stop them.

Opinion if you Please:  I'm giving this book 4 stars.

A vampire book with a twist!  Rather than the human pining to become a vampire and live out their eternal life with their loved one, here we have Lenah willing to risk it all to become human again.  Complete with flashbacks to her long life as a vampire, we get a taste of what her vampire life was like while understanding what it means to truly feel, both emotionally and physically, again. 

At times I wished there was a little more drama or at least that things didn't just seem to work out so easily, a lot happens with more to come in the sequel!  You know I am a sucker for a sequel!!

Extras:

Series: Vampire Queen (book two: Stolen Nights release date pushed back to June 2012)

Author's Blog

Author's Website...albeit not much there at the moment

Pop by Gordon Korman

The Gist:  Marcus Jordan, new kid in town, finds a football drilling buddy in a middle-aged man, Charlie, who just shows up and disappears with no explanation.  Despite the man's odd behavior, Marcus soon finds himself a starting position on a team seeking their second straight perfect season thanks to what he has learned.

Charlie's full-blast tackles may set Marcus' head ringing, but he is learning to be the best football player that he can be. There's just one problem...or two...or three: Charlie gets him in trouble with the law, Charlie is the father of Marcus' arch enemy, and Charlie's family has a secret. 

Opinion if you Please:  I'm giving this book 3.5 stars.

This book is SO MUCH MORE than a kid fighting for a starting position on a top-notch football team.  There are definitely moments where I felt like this was beyond reality (Shop owners really allow Charlie to walk in and back out with stuff and not at least stop at the counter to tally up what he owes?? No one catches Marcus or Charlie "sugaring" the exterminator shop??). 

I didn't think I would love this book, but after finishing it in one sitting...you could say it drew me in!  Without giving away too much, there was one unexpected, emotional moment that caught me off guard.  Any book that can bring out an emotional response (whether that be anger, utter joy, despair, etc), earns a thumbs up from me.

Extras:

Read the first chapter

Author's Website

Book Trailers for 2011-2012 Eliot Rosewaters!!!

First question....What are Eliot Rosewaters???
Eliot Rosewater (Rosie's) nominees are books carefully selected as the 20-25 best Young Adult books in Indiana. High Schoolers around the state read the books and submit their votes. In May, all votes will be tallied and the top book will receive the actual Eliot Rosewater Award.

Last year, the 2010-2011 Rosie Award went to Hunger Games....AWESOME book!!

Next question...What are book trailers???

Think movie trailers, only for books!  These can be created by book companies, librarians, or even individual students that want to tell the world about the book!  Sometimes they include a series of pictures and words or short sentences...other times they actually use actors to play out scenes, just like a movie.

If you want to learn how to do this, just ask!!

Check out the book trailers for this year's Rosies created by a fellow librarian: http://tinyurl.com/3wjyuoe

A Word on GLOGS

What in the world is a GLOG???

Think of it as an online poster that allows the user to post pictures, articles, hyperlinks, video, podcasts, and much more.  No more one dimensional poster that no one takes a second look at.  The 21st century learner is all about diving deeper, exploring beyond the surface.  A well done GLOG can offer that type of experience.  

http://edu.glogster.com allows a teacher to set up a class and get the creative juices flowing among the students.  GLOGS can be interlinked to create a network of learning or can be a one-page-wonder.  

See below for two excellent examples of GLOGS...one done by a student for a project and another completed by a teacher for a kick-off to the new year.  



 

Forbidden

 

The Gist:  Brother-Sister-Love....yup, that's right.  Father dumps the family for a new one; mother looks to escape reality, partying and spending what little money she has to regain her youth.  Five children trying to survive, pretending that all is fine at home so that social services won't split them up.  The oldest has anxiety issues while he and his sister have basically been the parents for the last five years.  Did I mention that the middle child is hanging out with thugs and blaming his siblings for all his troubles?!?  

They know it is wrong.  They fight the urge to be together.  They make a plan...but plans rarely work out the way you hope. 

Opinion, if you please:   I give it a complicated 4 out of 5 stars.

Wow!  The ultimate taboo...it is so wrong yet their situation is so infuriatingly impossible, you can understand how it came to this...well, sort of.  This book will challenge you in unexpected ways.  Heartbreaking....subject well written (although a bit drawn out in the middle)...must read!  

Warning: there is sexual content but not overly done. 

Extras: 

Book Review by Maxie Magyx (love her reviews...what do you think??)

Tabitha Suzuma's website

**Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher after winning a book-blogger-give-away....and boy am I glad that I won it!!**

Hunger Games: The Movie!!

If you haven't read The Hunger Games trilogy, then you are missing out!  

As we are eagerly awaiting for the movie to get here, check out the actors playing Katniss, Peeta, and Gale.

http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/07/28/hunger-games-expert-weigh-in-on-gale-peeta/

What do you think?  Do they fit their roles??

Matched by Ally Condie

The Gist:  Picture a perfect world, where everything is just...well, perfect!  Everyone is in great shape and never has to cook because the Society provides perfect, well-balanced meals and a specialized exercise plan.  Everyone finds their perfect mate because the Society collects data on all individuals desiring a family and chooses their perfect match.  No need to be jealous of your neighbor as the Society provides everyone with the same clothes, the same housing units, and keeps any family heirlooms you may have safe and sound in a museum.  Worried about what job you will have?  No problem; the Society takes care of that too, assigning individuals according to personal skill levels. 

There is just one problem:  The Society made a mistake *gasp*.  Cassia was thrilled to find out her best friend, Zander, is her match...only another boy's face pops up on her screen.  Is there more to life than just going along with what the Society believes is best? 


Opinion if you please:  *Disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook, read by Kate Simses.  I believe her careful, articulate reading really brought home the point that this future world is a very cautious, practical place.**

I give it a 4 out of 5.  I'll definitely be continuing this series.

What can I say?  I love a good story on a dystopian future!   Ally Condie creates a world that is quite believable: far into a future where technology became so overloaded, society collapsed upon itself.  Recreated so that you only need the bare minimum to be happy, everyone within the Society happily and willfully complies.  Of course, this may have something to do with the use of force that no longer is needed. 

Some question how we could lose the skill of writing.  Let's think about that...anyone out that find themselves typing WAY MORE than writing by hand?  Recently, state standards have dropped cursive handwriting and replaced it with keyboarding.  Hmm...interesting...

The romance is rather weak, but I get it.  They must be very careful and abide by the rules for fear of endangering their families and each other.  I would have liked to see an uprising happening earlier in the story (such as in Uglies by Scott Westerfeld), but the next two books in the trilogy promise more than dutiful rule-followers.


Extra Info:

Follow Matched Trilogy on Twitter

Check out the Official Website - Got facebook?  The Society will help you find your optimal match. :-)


**I read (actually, listened) this book for the Eliot Rosewater 2012-2013 book selection committee.**

The Big Idea

So what is the big idea with this blog?

1. Share books that I've been reading: I read so many great page-turning novels only to turn around and forget the titles, authors, or details.
2. Connect titles with Book Trailers, authors' websites, and more.
3. Share fun online tools for school projects or just for fun.

I'm sure there will be a few surprises along the way.  I just want a place I can turn to for ideas o

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron Book Trailer

Overview:  Sealed for centuries, Incarceron was supposed to turn even the hardest criminal into the perfect citizen.  Instead it created a hostile environment for its own amusement.  You see...the prison is watching.

Finn doesn't remember anything before suddenly waking up inside a prison cell.  It is impossible to enter or escape Incarceron, so he must have been born of the prison, right?  


Outside the prison, Claudia is forced to keep up the appearances of living in an earlier period despite huge technological advances.  She soon will be sent off for an arranged marriage to the future king.  She is desperate to find where her father, the Warden of Incarceron, has hidden the entrance to the prison and find freedom from her own plight.


Soon Claudia and Finn are planning escape, but they must not underestimate Incarceron....you see, the prison is alive.



Opinion:  I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 star rating.  I appreciate the uniqueness to the storyline, but I was left with a take-it or leave-it feeling.  Taking place in a future, dysotopian society, the author leaves enough mystery that you are never completely sure if Finn is the missing (REAL) heir to the throne or not.  The biggest surprise...finding out where the Warden has hidden Incarceron.  Whoa!  The final test for me in whether a book was good or not is...do I want to read the sequel or not.  The answer is YES! 

More Info:

Author's website

Don't forget to read the sequel: Saphique

And check out her latest 4 part adventure: Relic Master (released May, June, July, and August 2011 consecutively.

Movie in the works!  Currently set to star Taylor Lautner as Finn.  Possible release date in 2013!!
  

**I read this book for the Eliot Rosewater 2012-2013 book selection committee.  I received a copy of Incarceron from the publisher for my consideration.** 

Tech Skills Broken Down by Grade Level

Check this blog entry out:  "Great Expectations: What Should Elementary Students be able to do and When?" written by Mary Beth Hertz



The time is NOW for all elementary students to learn what is considered to be the basics in computer use.  We can't afford to have our students waiting until middle school (or even later) to learn how to determine a valid website from erroneous information, how to protect their personal information, or even how to save files correctly.

Common Scenario...

Student:  My file is gone.  I KNOW I saved it.

 Me:  I believe you.  The question is, where did you save it to and what was the file type?

Student:  Huh??

There is no doubt that teachers across the board are being asked to cover more and more in a short amount of time.  The question is, what is more important?  Getting that research paper typed out or spending extra time on how to find expert information while avoiding plagiarism? 

One of the biggest mistakes we can make as adults is to assume that students have it all figured out when it comes to technology.  Many students spend a lot of time downloading music, editing self-created video, photoshopping photos, and perusing online.  Exploring and creating come naturally, but safety and analysis must be taught.