12-16 and birthday books

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is the second book in a series about what would happen to the world as we know it if the moon were knocked just a little closer. This installment is set in New York City, where Alex Morales struggles to keep himself and his sisters alive through the first cruel winter. His struggles and experiences are quite different from Miranda's were in the first book. His mother is at work and his father is out of the country when the asteroid strikes the moon, meaning that he is the man of the house. He is able to rely on the Catholic church for awhile, but eventually even that chain of command breaks down and he is launched into a desperate struggle to get out of the dying city. I can't wait to see what the third book brings!

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

Written in classic Conroy style, this story touched on a new topic: homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's. I saw echoes of Beach Music and The Prince of Tides in the characters and events. In particular the beautiful and damaged heroines with their sibilant names seem as though they could walk in and out of each other's stories: Shyla, Starla, Sheba, and Savannah. Conroy's description of the hurricane which rips through Charleston captivated me and reminded me of the scene from Beach Music in which Shyla and Jack dance in the beach house as the waves tear it apart during a similar storm. It's fascinating to see so many symbols and devices used in so many different ways.

When the Wind Blows by James Patterson

I haven't quite finished this one, but I am enjoying it immensely. It's written in standard Patterson style: short chapters, lots of action and dialog, fast moving story, nice blend of science fact and character-driven morality. Also, I am confused by what I once read, that the Max in this book is not the same Max in the Maximum Ride books. I think that this cannot possibly be true, as she is nearly the same character! The other bird-kids are different, but really in name only. (And I think I prefer their names in this to their names in the YA books.)

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

As usual, this came out right before my birthday and Mom and Daddy gave it to me as a gift. I enjoyed it, although I am getting a little frustrated that the characters (specifically Morelli and Ranger) are completely static at this point. I would like to see them grow and change, as real people do in real life.

One Second After by William R. Forstchen

This is definitively the most amazing book I've read yet this year. It tops Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, although in truth the two are related. In One Second After, an EMP is detonated over the United States, destroying all electronic devices in an instant. The novel, which is set in Black Mountain, North Carolina (a place with which I am reasonably familiar), then describes the efforts of the people there to survive as their world is thrown into chaos. The threat of an EMP is very real in our world today, where people rely increasingly on electronics to complete simple tasks and the generation which knew how to complete those tasks without electronics is dying out. This should be required reading for every American. It's simply terrifying, beautifully written, and compelling.

5-9

From reading my poor blog, one might conclude that I haven't opened a book since January! This is far, far from the truth, but I have been a bit on the busy side. I submitted my National Board portfolio over spring break, took my students to a Science Olympiad competition, and helped my husband survive another play at his school. It's been a busy busy spring. But enough about me...on to the books!

Scat, Carl Hiassen - Every time I read a Hiassen YA book, I want to go out and buy one of his adult fiction pieces. I absolutely love the way he writes. I enjoy the blend of nature and psychology and 100% believeable characters. This one in particular has a boy whose father lost an arm in Afghanistan. He binds his arm behind his back to more accurately experience what his father is experiencing. It's a very moving gesture and it makes him seem very human. The environmental side of this story is intriguing as well! I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

Science Fair, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson - This is another fantastic collaboration between these two authors. I loved Peter and the Starcatchers and look forward to getting around to the rest of that series. Science Fair takes off in a completely different direction and never stops. It's the story of three middle school science geeks who struggle to keep the bumbling spies from Krpshtstan (in Eastern Europe, sandwiched between some other "-stan"s?) from taking over the world by taking over their school science fair. Throw in a guy who dresses like Darth Vader (D. Arthur Vaderian) right down to the voice distorter, a levitating frog, and some really stinky cheese, and you've got a hilarious good time!

Wixard's Holiday, Diane Duane - I like this much, much better than A Wizard Alone. It's completely cool! I loved the world that Kit and Nita visit, and I loved the changes their friendship begins to experience. I am really, really anxious to get my hands on the eighth book, and the ninth book came out today!

Max, James Patterson - This installment of the Maximum Ride series made me inexplicably happy. I suppose in truth I'm just a terrible, terrible sap and I liked seeing Max and Fang start to fall in love. I can't wait to get my hands on Fang, but I am hesitant to buy it in hardback...these books aren't worth quite that much.

Food Rules - An Eater's Manual, Michael Pollan - This is such a clear, distilled version of In Defense of Food. It's fantastic! The rules are so easy to follow, and even if you only choose to incorporate a few of them, you'll immediately be healthier and save money.

Hmm...

I wanted to say "Surely I've read more books than that in May!", but the truth is, I probably haven't. I will blog about one in a minute, but somehow I feel like it doesn't count.

Anyway, I have BOUGHT a lot of new books in May. :) Sigh. I am hopeless.

Peter Pan J M Barrie - A classic, of course, and irresistible!

The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling - Another classic, which I may have read once upon a time, although Riki-tiki-tavi made much more of an impression.

Three Willows Ann Brashares- From the author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this book is about a new group of girls in the same town. I want to give it a chance, and it was on super sale at B&N.

Something Blue Emily Griffin - A lightweight summer read. I've read one of the others by this author, I think Something Borrowed, and enjoyed it.

Bartholomew and the Oobleck Dr. Seuss - I bought this to use when I make Oobleck with my kiddies at school. Hahahaha. I love the wizards.

The Lake House James Patterson - Another Max book, this time for grown-ups! Supposedly they are "completely" unrelated to the YA books. Imagine, two completely unrelated series of books about a winged teenager named Max and her five winged "siblings". Whatever.

Bobby Rex's Greatest Hit Marianne Gingher - I found this at Ed McKay's and had to buy it! I went to high school with the author's son! I surely wish I had known then that his mom was a famous author; or even in college, when I could have taken one of her writing classes!

Lock and Key Sarah Dessen - Another UNC link! I love her books, so I am really looking forward to this (borrowed from Lindsey).

8 - Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

This was another fun Maximum Ride book! This is really something kids can get into, right down to checking out Fang's blog online.

After examining the blog myself, I might have to check out a couple more of Patterson's series: The Dangerous Days of Daniel x and Witches and Wizards. Hmm.

Bookstore: the magic word

Mom called yesterday and asked me to go out to the bookstore with her. Of course, I couldn't say no. So I have new books!

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
Step-by-Step Yard & Garden Projects by Better Homes and Gardens
All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
The Southern Gardener's Book of Lists: The Best Plants for All Your Needs, Wants, and Whims by Lois Trigg Chaplin

6 and 7 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney and Maximum Ride: School's Out - Forever by James Patterson

Clearly, I've been in a series mood. Actually, I bought both these books at the spring book fair at school last week, and I loved them both!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw has taken my classroom by storm! I really like these books. They are relatively simple to read, making them kid-friendly. Also, they are about the hilarious hijinks of a kid everyone can relate to: the dorky, unsure, slightly clueless kid. We all feel that way sometimes. I'm so excited that there are two more books in the works! The next one comes out October 12!

Maximum Ride: School's Out - Forever is an example of a series continuing the way it ought to. I've been really disappointed by some series lately (Vladimir Tod and Uglies, to name a couple) which start out really great and by the middle of the second book are boring, unlikely, or just plain weird. Maximum Ride on the other hand, has staayed strong! I'm really excited to read the rest of the books!