The 1st 5 Books of Stenson's Summer

Super exciting stuff...

1. I'm 5 for 5 with books this summer. I've been on a roll. Some of them are really just for grown-ups, but the two I'd recommend for kids are The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (though I don't need to talk it up that much...it's a huge hit that I'm just getting to) and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (a book written for all ages, brilliant writing, a fun and feisty protagonist, and an amusing caper).

2. Have you heard of Animoto? Love this free site where you simply upload picutres, pick the music, add some text and submit it all. A funky, original video appears after a few moments. I can't wait to use this in Room 103 with 7th grade readers. Here's a peek at what it can do. *It was my first attempt, so please just humor me. You can watch by clicking on the image above....

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Flavia, the protagonist from the mystery The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, made me laugh, made me want to study Chemistry, and made me keep reading until the caper was solved. I really fell in love with little Flavia. Feisty, smart, fun- this little girl has two sisters she's constantly trying to poke, pinch, and prod and a father she is constantly trying to delight and charm. The family lives in her deceased mother's family's estate in 1940's Britain.

Day by day, Flavia is entertained mostly by the chemistry lab in the family mansion, but all of that changes one day when she stumbles upon a dead man in the garden of the estate.

Flavia is part Scout, part Sherlock Holmes, and part Marie Lavoisier (don't worry, I didn't know who that was until I read this book either), and she pulls you right into her mind, her home, and her life- a land where emotions though rare sneak out, observations are detailed, complete, and funny, and the story, like the mystery at the center of it, only gets better and better.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is definitely a challenge book (those of you who have had me as a teacher will know what I mean) because I think it's intended audience is grown-ups. However, this delightful tale will be enjoyed by all ages, and the writing is simply too brilliant and too fun to not be shared by everyone of all ages.

Enjoy! The book is a part of a series so get excited for all sorts of amusement.

Please visit the sit for more information about this charming, fun series. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. The picture above was taken from the site linked to the left: www.flaviadeluce.com.

Keep reading!

-stenson

Summer!

It's getting really close to summer break, so I thought I'd highlight to perfect books for summer.

Both written by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty and It's Not Summer Without You are flying around my classroom these days. I must admit I have not read them yet (but I did just download the first book on my iPod), but my students say the books have realistic characters and suspenseful, heartbreaking plots.



Here's what the author's website says about the first book The Summer I Turned Pretty:

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

For more information about these books, click here to go to the author's site.

Pick up the book, give it a try, and let me know what you think.

Think summer, keep reading!
-stenson

*The photo is taken from the author's website too!

Skeleton Creek and Ghost in the Machine

It's been awhile since I've posted a good book, so I better make it a good one. I think I know just the one (actually, two).

Every time I hear about this book, I think about the movie Disturbia because just like the main character in that movie, the main character in this book is trying to solve a mystery but he is constrained to his own home. Apparently, that is not the only hint of horror movies you'll find in this book. Consequently, I haven't read it. I'm too chicken! But I hope you do.

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman (for more information, click here)



During first hour today, 3 out of 18 kids were reading it, and another kid couldn't get it at the media center because all the copies were checked out. I urge you to try your neighborhood library. Let me know what you think.

Happy reading, everyone!
-stenson

The Last Dog on Earth

Publishers Weekly calls it part-Sci Fi, part Gary Paulsen. It reminds me a lot of the best "boy and his dog" coming of age stories that I've read. Anyway you look at it, The Last Dog on Earth by Daniel Ehrenhaft is a great read.



The main character, Logan, gets along with nobody, least of all his step-father. When he finally gets a break- the chance to get a dog- he is happy for the first time in a long time. Until it's clear that a deadly virus is spreading through dogs in the state, and the authorities want every dog dead. Logan and his dog go on the run. But how long can they last? What will happen? Will a cure be found?

Who doesn't love a good story with a loyal canine companion in the middle? Enjoy the book. Keep reading everyone!

-stenson

Telling Christina Goodbye

Real life can be hard. So can real love. I didn't have enough good recommendations for my girls when they asked me recently. Here's a book that looks to be full of romance, heart-break, and real teen issues.

Bookreport says this about Telling Christina Good-bye by Lurlene McDaniel
Christina, a senior in high school, seemed to have it all: she was beautiful, popular, and intelligent. Unfortunately, Christina had one shortcoming that proved to be fatal. She fell in love with a controlling, hotheaded guy named Tucker whose reckless driving killed her. This is not really Christina's story though. It is an examination of the other occupants of the car as they recover physically and emotionally.

Let me know if you give it a try. Or if you find other real-life, romanc-y books about teens.

Keep reading everyone!
-stenson

Ender's Game

According to Nancy Keane, a reading pro, this book shouldn't be missed. I'm adding it to my FBL!

It seems to be Harry Potter meets Space Warfare. Ender Wiggins is chosen by the world government to help save the earth. He is sent to Battle School for military training in the form of computer war games. He proves to be a genius and is looked to as a future military leader. But the fate of the human race on your shoulders is a scary prospect! Simulated war games are one thing, but what will happen in real combat?

If you read it, let me know. Or if you've read it, share your opinion. Keep reading, everyone!

-stenson