The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt

Two 14-year old best friends from St. Paul stumble into the ride of their lives when they find themselves in the middle of a stolen art mystery.  The books takes readers to Paris, London, and Amsterdam as they follow the protagonists trying to uncover the mystery of the "Gallery Guy".  Many aspects of this book are enjoyable:

• the friendship the girls have...it's not perfect, but it's reflective of how friendships go in 9th grade.
• the history of art lessons...I didn't know I was so interested in classic, museum-esque type art!
• the places the book takes you...I can't wait to go to Europe to see those places for myself
• the mystery...I love a caper!  
• the MN connection...since these girls live in St. Paul, there are references I recognized from being a St. Paul-ite myself.  Fun!

Hope you enjoy it.  It looks like it's going to be the first in the Lucas and Kari series. Just another reason to fall in love with this book.  Let me know if you pick it up!  Keep reading, everyone!

thanks to letsbuyit.co.uk for the image!

Harry Potter Books 1-3: Winter Break 2010

Harry Potter and friends have been keeping me company this winter break.  The series has swept me up, and all I can hope for is for 2011 to be filled with as much fun, adventure, and wisdom as these books.  I would love to have some students join me on this ride.  The magic, the wizards, the legends will captivate you!

While I had hoped to read the first five books over break, I got sidetracked by some other grown-up books.  Moonlight Mile by one of my favorite authors Dennis Lehane and National Book Award Winner Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  But like I said, I don't think middle-schoolers will like these but I do recommend these to my grown-up reading friends.

Keep reading, everyone!
-stenson

*Photo found on wizardingworldpark.com

Extra! Extra! Hear all about it!

'Tis the season for the Best of 2010 lists!  I can't get enough of these recommendations, and it's fun to see what titles show up on a bunch of these lists. There's gotta be something for everyone.  Check it out.

Here's the list from the Reading Rants blog.  Enjoy!

cool chic with a megaphone image is from the Reading Rants website too.  Pretty cool pics AND very good books...gotta love the site.

Where did November Go?

Oh my goodness!  I feel terrible for not posting anything last month.  I guess I was too busy reading my own grown-up books that I forgot to tell blog about books that should not be missed by kids.

Since it is already December!, I guess I'll steal, copy, cheat my way to the first post in this last month of 2010...

This article includes books that seem more like high school books than middle school books, but I can't leave a "Best of" list alone.  Here's the first one of the season, found on NPR.com written by Gayle Forman (author of If I Stay).  Enjoy!

This is the picture from the article.  Love it!  Aaron Meshon is credited with the work.  If only my students' lockers looked like that! 

Not Without Hope by Nick Schulyer

Oh man, what a tragic story.  It's a tragic, true story about four young, strong, athletic, fit guys stranded at sea.  Only one survived.  His memoir is harrowing, chilling, and heart-breaking.  It's a book that will appeal to boys, but it will make all readers appreciate their good fortune, friends, and family.

As I finished the epilogue of the book and put the book down, I considered how lucky I am to be alive and healthy and safe.  The deaths of the three former football players shown below will be a constant reminder of how valuable life is.  Celebrate it with family and friends, and even when life is the darkest, carry one with hope.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Top Five Reasons to Read this Book:
5. The narrator is a kid who doesn't take himself to seriously, so he'll make you laugh.
4. There has never been a better time to talk about acceptance and tolerance in our schools.
3. Because the narrator is a boy, boys will like it.
2. Because the star (no pun intended) of the book is a girl (and because the narrator falls in love with her), girls will like it.

1.  and the best thing about this book is the way Stargirl remains true to herself. She is a character I'll always remember. And I'll look for bits of her in my own students.

Go on. Read this book. Try it today. Or tomorrow. Just enjoy it.

Keep reading,
stenson

If I Stay by Gail Forman

Of all the things I had heard about this book BEFORE I read it, the two that stand truest to me are:

it is "achingly tender" and though the story was told by a narrator on the verge between life and death, "it is a beautiful story about life".

I loved this book and I found it a mesmerizing tale.  I am not certain it's for all 7th graders because it is a sophisticated book about a mature high school girl. However, nothing is unrealistic or overly inappropriate.  In fact, I suspect, many girls will relate to Mia's insecurities, feelings about love, and complex relationships within her family.  She is a girl to look up to for many reasons--mostly her strive to be an excellent musician and her level-headed-ness about teenage relationships--and it is for that reason I feel compelled to recommend this book for those ready to read it.




Keep reading, everyone.
Stenson

p.s.  This book will probably not be in our media center, as it is a mature book.  Ask your parents to take you to the public library to get a copy.