Holiday Reads

The days of snuggling up with a good book and warm coffee are upon us! Here's a couple more titles to add to that lengthy holiday reading list from two of my favorite authors, Rainbow Rowell and Markus Zusak:

Keeping up with kids, work, and a marriage is like juggling ice cream. You're doing good to keep it all in the air and it's never clean. Rowell grapples with these issues in Landline, as late-thirties, sitcom writer, mother of two girls, wife of one stay-at-home artist, Georgie, scrambles to sort out the mess that is her life. This book takes a hearty stab at magical realism, as Georgie puts the pieces of her crumbling marriage back together by connecting with the younger version of her husband, Neal, on the landline at her Mom's house. Georgie has made the decision to bail on Christmas with her family in Omaha in order to complete writing a pilot with her best friend and writing partner, Seth. Instead of completing the pilot, she spends the next few days reconnecting with the man she fell in love with twenty-some-odd years before and reliving a pivotal moment in their relationship; a moment when Neal made a grand decision that would forever change their lives. These conversations bring what is truly important into focus for Georgie. This story will resonate with anyone that has ever found that life and love takes more than luck and it's set during Christmas, though, it isn't all twinkling lights and mistletoe.

Life is a fight and the Wolfe brothers are going out swinging. Cameron and Ruben's father is unemployed, but refuses welfare, their brother has just moved out, their sister is out at all hours, and their mother is out-to-lunch; leaving the two boys to figure out how to hold onto the little pride they have left. The two begin boxing (illegally) for a some extra cash, they claim, but, in reality, it's to hold onto their sense of self. Cameron is doing good to stay alive, but Ruben is a king when he steps into the ring. He fights with a fire that can't be contained and becomes something of a cult hero. All the while, the fight raging within him to find a place in the world, despite a crumbling home life, leaves him scrambling. This story goes to the heart sibling bonds and the need for all people to keep their dignity, no matter the price.

4 Book Challenge over the Break

Venn Diagram

Internet Librarian 2014

It's been a busy week to say the least. On Sunday I flew with my Mom and daughter to attend and present at the Internet Librarian Conference in Monterey, CA. This was my first time to present at a conference (I'm not counting standing by a tri-fold or reading a paper), my daughter's first time to fly, and my Mom's first time to see sea lions. We now have a checkmark by all three!

I presented Getting the Word Out About Ebooks. Everything from using LibGuides as our website to creating our library app was discussed. After running through the presentation several times for family members and countless times in my head I was worried about filling the 45 minutes with useful information. Thankfully, I ended with a couple minutes for questions (phew!). My presentation was the second of the first day, so I felt that I could relax and learn. 

As the sessions continued, I began to see some trends: social media, memes, infographics, big data and eBooks were all hot topics. However, one that I didn't expect, but trended throughout the sessions and keynotes was the power that tactile (print) materials and face-to-face contact had and have on all ages. 

Brendan Howley, a content designer, discussed the power of stories. As libraries we must tell our own story in such a way that people make a connection and spread that story within their networks. We must aim to "Share the why of the how of what we do."

Evelyn Schwartz, a librarian at Georgetown Day School, discussed ways in which big data can be personalized, noting we must make information multipurpose, accessible, and participatory. I was blown away by Ngram Viewer, Wolfram Alpha Facebook Report, and how to Twitterize Yourself. 

Nina Simon, Director of Santa Cruz Museum for Art and History, brought her organization back from the brink in a couple of years by making use social capital by way of bridging relationships between people who's paths wouldn't usually cross at "deliberately unhip" events held throughout the city.

Carolyn Foote, a librarian at Westlake High School, who did a big ebook promotion in her library, reported the dishearteningly low ebook usage statistics from her campus alongside the 2013 PEW reading study. Mirroring our own observations that many students prefer print over electronic.

Josh Hanagarne, a librarian at Salt Lake City Public Library and the final keynote speaker, discussed the social media addiction sweeping the world and the ramifications of people no longer reading and writing for extended periods of time, but consuming and producing minute bits of information; information that is often useless, leading to the question, "Is something useful if it's not being used?"

As we made our way back to Texas, my head was filled with more questions than answers, but one thing I know for sure is that just because something is new, doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Also, if you have to pick one location to have a conference year after year, Monterey, CA is a good one.

Celebrating Writers and Writing

We're celebrating NCTE's 6th annual National Day on Writing, October 20, this week by finding out more about authors using the ThingLink mentioned previously and reading biographies and books about writing.  

Authors on ThingLink to Celebrate National Day on Writing

A Sudden Light, by Garth Stein

"Everything is everything is everything" is how Trevor now views the world; years after his perception of his family and the line between the living and dead was brought into focus and blurred simultaneously. People, places, plants, and time are all connected. Trevor begins to put the pieces of his intricate and ill-fated family history together when he visits Riddell house with his father, Jones, in the summer of 1990. The massive estate, situated by Seattle's Puget Sound, is all that remains of the Riddell timber fortune. Jones hasn't been back since he was 16 and returns with his son in tow, intending to only stay long enough for his father, Samuel, to give him the power of attorney in order to develop the estate. This is a last ditch effort by Jones to save his marriage that is on the brink after his boat-building business went under.

Thus, Trevor is thrust into the odd world of Riddell house, unprepared for what he will find. From the beginning he finds himself intrigued and (uncomfortably) attracted to his Aunt Serena, who has stayed in the crumbling mansion to care for Samuel, diagnose by Serena (not a doctor) to have dementia. Trevor unearths old newspapers, letters, and diaries found in the local library and stuffed between the pages of books and the bottom of ancient trunks that reveal the series of events that led to the sinking of the Riddells. However, the clouds of his family's legacy part when the spirit of his deceased Great-Great Grandfather, Benjamin, visits him.

Ultimately, the fate of the family and the sanctity of the land is put in Trevor's hands. Elements are so organically intertwined by Stein that the mechanical tone at various moments in the book is odd. The gradual unveiling of the extent of Serena's insanity is exquisitely unsettling and the notion that all will return to the earth is played out to the end, as the flames rise and the ash settles.

Fall Break

Modern Mythology

Kids have been asking about Rick Riordan's fifth book in the Heroes of Olympus series, The Blood of Olympus, since LAST SPRING. I'm not even kidding. Many of them keep up with series and authors like it's their job...making my job a lot easier.

Today was the big release day and I went to B&N to pick up an armful of books around 9:30 (over an hour after a student had already asked for the book). I wasn't all that excited until I came upon the Riordan table, with a book spread like a Thanksgiving feast! Everything from graphic novels to mythology books were piled deliciously high. The store had only been opened thirty minutes and they were already having to replenish the supply.

Suddenly, I realized this is a big deal. Sure, it's just the most recent release of a teen author, but the fact that people, kids at that, are still buying and checking out books, not only in e-format, but in print, is noteworthy.

Though, I'm a proponent of reading in any format, I think the idea that print should be done away with entirely is short-sighted. The electronic format is not preferred or economically viable for all and that includes the younger generation.

Pew backed up this idea with research findings discussed in"Younger American's Library Habits and Expectations" in which they noted that Americans under 30, "are now significantly  more likely than older adults to have read a book in print in the past year (75% of all Americans ages 16-29 say this, compared with 64% of those ages 30 and older). And more than eight in ten (85%) older teen ages 16-17 read a print book in the past year, making them significantly more likely to have done so than any other age group."

This could be explained away by saying they are required to read for school, but I know plenty of kids (and adults) that don't complete required reading. One could also say that they simply have more financial constraints and must checkout print rather than purchasing eBooks. Yet, both formats are made available by libraries, so that doesn't quite work. Why not, instead, accept the facts at face value: young adults read a lot in a variety of formats.

Pew also noted that the younger crowd has, "a broad understanding of what a library is and can be-a place for accessing printed books as well as digital resources, that remains at its core a physical space." Maybe, we should all take a queue from Riordan, who makes modernizes mythology in his books, and realize that we too,young or old, can have the best of both worlds: print and electronic/ physical library and virtual library.

Works Cited

Zickuhr, Kathryn, Lee Rainie, and Kristin Purcell. "Younger Americans' Library Habits and Expectations." Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew Research Center, 25 June 2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2014. <http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/06/25/younger-americans-library-services/>.

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond

If there's one good thing about a long commute, it's having plenty of time to listen to audiobooks. When it comes to nonfiction texts, like Guns, Germs, and Steel, I often find my mind wandering as I turn the pages. Thus, the audiobook option for this chunk of a book was perfect. 

Diamond is possibly one of the most methodical writers I've encountered. He lays out the book, chapters, and paragraphs as if he's charting a conquest himself. Not only does he tell you what he will be discussing in the coming pages, but summarizes what he has discussed a the end...such a teacher. 

This epic journey through time and the rise and fall of peoples around the world is spurred by a friend in New Guinea wondering why his people are behind Westerners. Diamond speculates that these people are actually more intelligent that the average Westerner. He uses this as his reference point throughout the book. The main areas of focus are the domestication of food and animals, the diffusion of information, the migration of people, and the variation in population numbers, location, and mindset. 

I'm not a huge history buff, so a lot of the information was new to me. A few standouts:

• The theory that Eurasia developed faster than the Americas, because the continent is longer East  to West rather than North to South. Therefore, since more land is along the same latitude, the knowledge of how to domesticate crops and animals spread faster. 
• A number of people adopted and then abandoned certain tools, weapons, and modes of transportation. This was interesting, given the current state of the world where everyone is always looking for the next best thing. Also, it made me think of the Amish.
• Most diseases that wiped out massive amounts of people originated from people living in such close proximity to livestock and their own filth. Europeans were among the first to domesticate animals and live sedentary lives. A lot of them died, the ones that survived were immune, and those same diseases wiped out people without the immunity. 

Long story short, the people that are the best off in the world came by it due to circumstance, not because they are smarter. 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz

Love isn't easy to come by when you're an overweight nerd like Oscar, but it's even more rare when you have fukú to deal with. The friendly narrator in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, who has such a conversational tone that you feel like you've been sitting on his couch listening to the whole story in person, introduces us to history of this curse. We learn that it made it's way to the Dominican Republic and surrounding islands with the Europeans and cuddled up with the dictator at the time, known as Trujillo, who killed, raped, and doomed thousands of families to endure the wrath of fukú. 

Oscar is part of one such family and the story of each of its members is told from their perspective. We learn of Lola's trials with her hateful mother and being sent back to the DR to spend time with her grandmother. Beli, Lola and Oscar's mother, is tough as nails and mean to boot as a result of the death of both of her parents, abuse, and betrayal. Her saving grace was La Inca, her aunt and adoptive mother, who is the glue that holds the family together. Then, there's Yunior, who is revealed as the narrator partway through the book. He was Oscar's roommate at Rutgers and dates Lola for a few years before his cheating ways finally catch up with him. 

As the stories of these characters and many more are told we begin to realize that fukú is truly inescapable. It's something beyond this world that lives in the fantastical realm that determines one's fate before they are even born. Diaz brings mythology into the modern day with his magical way of melding history, reality, and mysticism; all held together with a spattering of expletives. 

The Book Whisperer, by Donalyn Miller

With the 40 book challenge well under way, it's about time I finished The Book Whisperer, by Donalyn Miller! I've never taught English Language Arts or Reading before, but I would say anyone who is, has aspirations of doing so, or works with those that do (librarians) should take the time to flip through the pages of this book.

Miller draws a great deal from her own experiences and practices while weaving in research and findings from scholars in the education field. There is no denying her passion for igniting a passion in every student to not only read in her class, but continue to devour books long after they leave her room. Miller discusses how reading is not only a proven way to perform better on tests, but to connect with students and friends, stating, "If I have ever brought you a book unasked for, know that I cared. I said everything to you that I wanted to with that book" (172). 

As teachers, we (maybe it's just me) often think that we aren't doing our job properly if we aren't at the front of the class talking away. To allot large chunks of time for reading seems lazy(?), but Miller assures us that this is time well spent. This is time that the instructor can use to meet with students, read their journals, or read themselves in order to better recommend books to students with any and all tastes. 

I know that this a book I will reference for years to come and I can't wait to crack open her most recent book, Reading in the Wild! 

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon, brought the idea of destiny to my mind time and again. Though, Chabon never says outright that it was fate that Josef (Joe) Kavalier and Sam Clay's lives merged at just the right time, it's understood. Maybe, it's because the circumstances that brought the two together were wrought with life-altering heart-ache that "destiny" doesn't seem quite appropriate.

Their journey begins as Hitler is taking over in the late 30's and Joe miraculously makes his way out of Prague and to the warm bed of his cousin, Sam. At 19, Joe has left behind his entire family and his only chance at a livelihood is his art, which he has been honing at the Art Institute in Prague. Sam, who has been working for Empire Comics, wastes no time teaching Joe the way of comics. Soon, the two concoct the storyline and artwork for the first comic featuring the Escapist. A superhero fashioned after Houdini that is able to outwit the Nazis time and again.

The Escapist mirrors Joe's own life, featuring the Golem, which Joe actually had a hand in saving from Prague. Also, Joe practiced magic under the tutelage of a famous magician, Bernard Kornblum. As the story progresses Joe and the Escapist blend into one. In the beginning, Joe refuses to perform magic, stating that his best magic trick was making it out of Prague. As time goes by, he starts performing at Bar Mitzvahs and manages to keep a man from detonating a bomb and eventually sets his mind to bungee jumping from a building; like a superhero or a Dad trying VERY hard to impress his son might do.

During this transformation, Joe falls deeply in love with a fellow artist, Rosa, who he leaves with child, unbeknownst to him, to join the Navy in order to "kill the Nazis" after the ship carrying his younger brother and hundreds of other refugees is bombed. Sam, whose lovely companion Tracy Bacon is killed in the war, marries Rosa to save face and raises Tommy as his own until Joe reappears twelve years later.

This is a masterful work that connects historical events, art, comics, love, loss, religion, and fantasy in such a way that you can only pick your jaw off the ground and grin. 

The Fire Within, by Chris D'Lacey

When David is scouring the newspaper for a place to live while attending college, one catches his eye that seems just right, stating that one must be good with animals. Dogs and cats are nice, "why not," he thinks. Little did he know that he would be dealing with dragons!

The Pennykettles, Liz and her daughter Lucy, are eccentric to say the least. Liz spends her days making clay dragons while Lucy spends hers chasing after an injured squirrel. David is soon wrangled into the search and inspired to write a story about a squirrel named Snigger. Meanwhile, he's becoming more closely acquainted with the dragons of the house; especially the one that has a penchant for stories, named Gadzooks.

Oddly enough, their real lives begin to look a lot like the David's story and the lines between reality and imagination begin to blur as David's learning goes beyond his college work and into the fantasy land of dragons.

I've wanted to read The Fire Within series for a while, now, since I see the kids check it out year after year. I'm not sure that I'll make it through all seven any time soon, but I can now recommend it from first-hand-experience rather than the fact that it's popular. D'Lacey makes what could possibly be a very silly story about clay dragons into an endearing quest bouncing between this world and those only imagined.

stop and smell the books

It's been another busy week in the library! Between 6th grade coming to the library computer lab to begin their science literacy and the ongoing rollout of the 40 book challenge and Biblionasium, Mrs. Woody and I haven't had much time to stop and smell the daisies...or books?! So, it felt good to look down this morning and soak in the lovely view of a library packed with reading kids. A number of kids are already a few books deep into the challenge and the goal is to read one book this weekend!

40 Book Challenge!

Today, we kicked off the 40 Book Challenge for 5th graders! Teachers and students, alike, accepted the challenge to complete 40 books in various genres by the end of the school year. It's not a question of IF they will finish, but WHEN they will turn the last page on that 40th book. 

Everyone will keep track of their books by genre and number with the following sheets. In case you were wondering, yes, our theme is bowling this year!!

Students will move their bowling pin from one section to the next as they increase the number of books they have completed. These challenge boards will live in the each of the pods, so that we can all see the progress being made. 

 Here's to a long weekend and knocking out the first 2 books toward the 40!

First Days

The first day back was busy, full of smiles, and fun! So much fun, in fact, that I didn't find the time to post until today...the second day of school. Mrs. Palmer and Mr. Jenks got the year off to a comedic start while introducing new faculty and students and the theme for the year: gratitude.

I have a lot to be thankful for, but I don't always take the time to let those around me know how much they mean. I plan on doing a better job of writing notes and telling people in person or on the phone when I have the chance. I sent my first notes yesterday and I  think it made me feel as good as the people I sent them to. A kind word or note can make all the difference in the quality of a day for me, so it would be nice to maybe turn a day around for someone else.

When you think about it, life is simply a long line of individual days, so we might as well make the most of them. As for the coming days of this school year, I can't wait for all of the learning and memories that will take place. It's going to be a good school-year!

Liar & Spy, by Rebecca Stead

Georges (that S is silent), named after Georges Seurat, a French artist, is a loner. The name certainly doesn’t help. He finds somewhat of a place after meeting Safer, a boy who lives in the same apartment complex as him. Safer gives Georges the mission of uncovering the mystery that is Mr. X, a man that has been observed to lead people into his apartment, but never lead them out. Georges jumps in feet first. Being a detective of sorts offers much needed distraction from the fact that he rarely sees his Mom due to her odd hours at the hospital, he doesn’t have much of a place at school, and his Dad’s job prospects are few and far between.

Though, Liar & Spy lacked any real surprises, it does make us question how far we should go for a friend and how much we should ask of our friends. It’s good to realize that we all perceive situations, relationships, and stories differently based on our previous experiences and personalities. So, sometimes the mystery is not quite as dense as once thought. At times, the mystery is us.

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt

This captivating work of art, The Goldfinch, begins and ends with a boy, Theo Decker, trying with all of his might to hang onto the only sense of belonging that he's ever known, his mother, by way of a masterpiece: The Goldfinch. When he narrowly eludes death, that finds his mother, due to an explosion in an art museum, he talks with an old man, Welty, during his final moments on earth. This conversation forever shifts the direction of Theo's life.

Since his father abandoned him and his mother to feed his gambling addiction in Nevada, Theo is left in the care of a wealthy family of a friend. He's a fish out of water in the posh home, surrounded by kids whose greatest concern is scoring a high SAT score. Theo's dad pops back into his life and whisks him across the country to live in the foreclosed desert of abandoned mansions that is Las Vegas with him and his drug-dealing girlfriend. Theo latches onto a worldly kid, Boris, who has been shuffled from one country to the next by his mine drilling alcoholic father. Along with many languages, Boris has also picked up a penchant for stealing, drinking, and living each day as though it could all be gone the next.

Theo eventually, miraculously, makes his way back to New York and to Hobbie, the partner of Welty, who  teaches him the antique trade of purchasing and restoring old furniture. He finds himself consumed by a swirl of unrequited love and an underworld of illegal art trade and theft.

This is one of the most gripping tales I've ever taken in. Evocative characters are staged around love, loss, and deceit with the dexterity of a master philosopher and storyteller. 

A Dog Called Homeless, by Sarah Lean

Sometimes, a dog seems like the only one that understands what you're going through. In Cally's case a stray wolfhound, that she calls Homeless, is the only other witness when the her mom's spirit appears. Since her passing, Cally has filled the void by trying to the be center of attention at school and home, so all are surprised when she accepts a challenge to remain silent. She no longer sees the point in explaining herself since no one believes her when she tells them that she has seen the ghost of her mom.

Cally works through feeling disconnected from her dad and moving out of her beloved house and into a new apartment with the help of her partially deaf and blind newfound friend, Sam, and his mom, Mrs. Cooper. She's free to be silent around them without ridicule and opens Sam up to a new sense of freedom from his mom. The pair ultimately find out the connection between Homeless and Cally's mom.

Dog lovers will adore A Dog Called Homeless and it's fitting for those coping with loss. Lean focuses on the fact that life can be hard at times, but a good friend and a good dog can make all the difference.

A Snicker of Magic, by Natalie Lloyd

People fill their homes with their most prized possessions, but since Felicity Pickle has never stayed in one place long enough to call it home, she collects words; words that dance, laugh, and glow right before her eyes and are arranged in poems, on her shoes, and in the stories she tells her little sister, Frannie Jo. So, when Mama packs up to hit the road to a new town, school, and house, Felicity is ready for a place full of people she’ll never have a chance to really know; instead, they stop at Midnight Gulch, Mama’s hometown where everyone has a snicker of magic...or did at one time. Aunt Cleo wraps them in arms as warm as the quilts she makes.

Felicity’s problem with voicing the words she collects usually keeps her on the outside, but the magical people of Midnight Gulch, like her teacher, Miss Divinity Lawson, her friend, Jonah, and her Uncle, Boone, allow her to find her voice as she helps them to uncover the curse that has fallen on this magical town.

A Snicker of Magic is simply delicious. The characters are heartwarming and the plot is full of wonder. Lloyd plays on the heartstrings in all of us that search to find a place, person, or feeling like home, noting, “Home isn’t just a house or a city or a place; home is what happens when you’re brave enough to love people” (302).