We the Children by Andrew Clements

by Carol7 Comments
We the Children by Andrew Clements (Suggested reading level: Grades 3-6) This is the first in a new series featuring Benjamin Pratt. His harbor-side school is about to be demolished to make way for a nautical theme amusement park.  Ben is not a big fan of change, especially with his parents' recent separation, and when an dying janitor entrusts him with a gold coin he knows he has to do something. He read aloud, still whispering, "'If attacked, look nor'-nor'east from amidships on the upper deck.'" He turned the coin over. "'First and always, my school belongs to the children. DEFEND IT. Duncan Oakes, 1783.'" (pg 6. Advance Reader's Copy) The school is definitely under attack and it's up to Benjamin and his friend Jill to decipher the clues, find out what's going on and save the school. Can they do it? I assume so, but we don't find out in this book. Like I said above, it's the first in the series and there's...
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The First Time We Met by Maria Deira

by Carol4 Comments
"The First Time We Met" by Maria Deira Elena has a gift: her saliva can heal cuts and scrapes. When she and Hector, the story's narrator, first meet, she licks a deep cut on his forearm, leaving only a faint trace of the gash. Needless to say, Hector was surprised, confused and attracted to her. The story switches from the present, 15 years after that first meeting, and incidents in their life together. I'm always amazed how much we can learn about the characters in a short story. Here we learn about their history, but also about how even though their comfortable now with each other, some of the passion has left. Also, Elena is losing her gift and doesn't know who she is without it. In some ways, Hector wants to leave her, but in some ways he can't. I don't know what to say. She's both right and wrong. I'm right and wrong. At this moment, I can't go anywhere. I'm...
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Cinderella

by Carol5 Comments
"Cinderella" is another of those fairy tales that we all know or at least think we do. It's also a story that's been told in countless countries in countless ways. I read a few versions this week. The one I was most familiar with was written by Charles Perrault around 1697. His story includes the evil stepmother, the fairy godmother, the pumpkin and animals being turned into the coach and servants, the glass slippers. The father is alive, just not present in the story. These fairy tale fathers and their lack of any kind of backbone is astonishing. How he could let his only child, the daughter of his dead wife, be abused in his own household, given the most menial chores, be lower than a servant? I also read a Grimm's version, which is entirely different, not the story I knew. Cinderellas' mother dies and on her deathbed she promises, "Dear child, remain pious and good, and then our dear God will...
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Jordan by Susan Kearney

by Carol16 Comments
Jordan by Susan Kearney I am definitely a fan of this series, a unique futuristic romance series where humanity and their allies are fighting against the Tribes who conquer or destroy planets across the galaxy. I've read all three in order, but I think you could probably jump in at this one and enjoy it. This third installment focuses on Jordan, who has been present in the first two, but not in his very sexy human form. Jordan has lived 1600 years, helped King Arthur, understands the war that humanity is fighting with the Tribes and realizes he is the only hope for defeating the Tribes once and for all. He will do whatever he has to to accomplish his mission. Once again, Kearney falls back on kidnapping, unfortunately. Jordan basically kidnaps Vivianne and a whole crew of people, forcing them to head out into space aboard a ship he helped design and build, the Draco. I don't like the kidnapping scenario, but...
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World Read Aloud Day

by Carol8 Comments
I'm a big fan of reading aloud. David or I have read aloud to Amber  almost every day since she was born- that's ten years of books and stories, poems and even a play or two, classics, graphic novels, you name it. Today is World Read Aloud Day, sponsored by LitWorld, "to celebrate and encourage the invaluable practice of reading aloud and to bring attention to the importance of literacy across all countries and for all of humanity. Reading aloud brings us together—brings meaning, enhanced understanding, and shared experience to our words and our stories." I wish I had known about it earlier, but make the time to read aloud to someone today, child or adult. And if it's not today, do it tomorrow, or the next day. Reading and sharing the love of books and words is just so important. We all love a story. As for me, I'll be reading aloud from Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. We're on Chapter 2....
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