Lanett Junior High Media Center

I haven’t read any of these books! So many books, so little time…I will be adding these to my reading list.

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Winner: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Honor:  Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose

Honor: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Honor: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Honor: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

Coretta Scott King Award recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults that demonstrate sensitivity to “the true worth and value of all beings”.

Winner: Bad News For Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshall by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Honor: Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis

Michael L. Printz Award: presented to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

Winner: Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Honor: Charles and Emma: the Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

Honor: The Monstrumologist by Richard Yancey

Honor: Punkzilla by Adam Rapp

Honor: Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

The William C. Morris Award honors a book written for young adults by a first-time, previously unpublished author.

Winner: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

Honor: Ash by Malinda Lo

Honor: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

Honor: Everafter by Amy Huntley

Honor: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

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Can you believe it’s already 2010? My husband and I were talking about how he could remember watching futuristic movies when he was your age that took place in 2010. And now it’s here! I didn’t get as much reading done during our holiday as I had wanted. I finished reading about Mina’s plight in It Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley and I am looking forward to the release of the next book about Mina scheduled for release in May 2010. I did not read the other books on my list-yet. Up next is Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Ms. Odom tells me I should have read it in junior high or high school…if I did I have no recollection of it. So I will be reading it soon! Happy reading!

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One of my favorite things about any school holiday is having extra time to READ! I found the Ultimate Teen Reading List at Teenreads.com and I am trying to read my way through the list! Here are the titles that I plan to read next.

• Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
• A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner
•  Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
• Anasi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Right now I am reading It Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire, Maybe by Kimberly Pauley.

Please post some comments and let me know what you plan to read on your holiday break! Or if you don’t plan to read, but you’ve got some other plans. I would love to hear them!

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted and it’s NOT because I haven’t been reading! I’ve just been so busy reading that I haven’t had time to write. So I thought I would give you the list of the most popular books that have been checked out this semester. So here goes…

• Anything by R.L. Stine      
• The Bluford Series     
• Hunger Games 
• The Clique Series   
• Scary Stories Series
• Airhead and Being Nikki
• Drama High Series                                                       
• Perry Skye Jr. Series

  If you read any of these books or if you have other favorite books to suggest, please leave me a comment!

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F COO
If you are a Caroline Cooney fan-be patient. You have to read a few chapters before it really gets interesting. But it is worth it. Rembrandt Marland is a girl on the edge of freedom-she’s almost ready to get her driver’s license. But to get it, she must make it through her Driver’s Ed class. Morgan Campbell is in her driving group and its hard to concentrate on driving when he’s around. They strike up a conversation and soon they are planning their first date. They have a great time and share a first kiss. But something they do on their date causes a terrible thing for someone else. You’ll have to read to find out more!

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F DUP

The residents of Ember are taught from an early age that their city is the only city that exists and outside of the city, there is nothing. The city does not have any natural light sources. Everything comes from light bulbs. From nine each night to six in the morning, the lights go off and the city is completely dark. There are no portable light sources in Ember.

Children go to school until the age of twelve, when they must pick a job from the mayor’s bag and go to work. Lina thinks the best job in the city is that of a Messenger, but when she pulls her slip from the bag it says Pipeworks. Lina’s childhood friend Doon wants a job that will help the city’s problems, but instead pulls Lina’s dream of Messenger. They decide to switch and off to work they go. Unfortunately, the city’s problems get larger, including long blackouts. Lina and Doon rekindle their friendship and try to find some solutions.

This is the first book in a series and I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to read the second book, The People of Sparks. Lina and Doon are great characters and readers will want to see them succeed and help their fellow citizens of Ember.

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F COL

This book takes place on the continent of North America, on the land once called the United States. The people in the United States did terrible things and now the place is called Panem. The people who rule this country live in the Capitol. The Capitol rules over twelve Districts that are spread over the continent and all twelve are required to participate in the Hunger Games. Each district sends one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to “play. The contestants are taken to an arena where they must fight to the death. That’s right. Only one out of the twenty-four participants can win the games. And the winner is the last one standing after he/she kills the others.

This story is told from Katniss Everdeen’s point of view. In a living nightmare, her twelve-year old sister is chosen to participate for District 12. She can’t bear the thought of young Prim going to fight, so she volunteers in her place. Soon she is on her way to the Capitol, along with Peeta Mellark, the boy representing District 12.  

Look for the Second Book of the Hunger Games-Catching Fire-in September!

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F DUP

This book picks up with the Lina and Doon after they have found their way out of Ember. <SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE CITY OF EMBER> Remember, at the end Lina and Doon drop their message into the cave and Mrs. Murdo catches it out of the air. She tells the rest of the Emberites and most of them find their way to Sparks. But how would YOU feel if four hundred strangers invaded your town, needing food, shelter and guidance in survival? Well the people of Sparks try to act kindly, but things don’t go so well. Will the Emberites stay in Sparks or leave to create their own city? Do they even have the ability to create a new city? Read the book to find out!

Although this book was not as good as The City of Ember, I still really enjoyed it. After all, you can’t read the first book and not want to find out how things work out!

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