Blog news

It has just recently been decided that my school's mascot will no longer be the Knights after this year.  Well, pooh.  Kinda takes the fun outta the blog name, now doesn't it? 

Actually I've been feeling like a change was needed for quite some time.  It took me a while to come up with just the perfect new name for the perfect new blog, but at long last I'm happy to announce it:

The Sassy Bibliophile
(go ahead, follow the link!)


Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?  And just describes me to a "T"!  To borrow a phrase from the immortal words of Karen Carpenter, I've only just begun to work on this new blog, so it isn't actually all that sassy yet.  But soon, my friends and readers, soon. 

So, we'll be moving, but just down the block as it were.  You can just click the oh-so-sassy name and follow it to my new space which should be really sassified and open for business soon. 

Thanks!

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

So, here is my official Lone Star animoto for the fabulous book, The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima. I love the book (yes, Lauren, I LOVE this book!) and hope you enjoy the video.


It's always just a bit nervewracking to create a digital book talk--particularly when it will be shown to the huge crowd at the Lone Star book talking session at TLA this year and then posted on the website. Especially when so many librarians (and others) are out there creating AMAZING digi projects. So, in between carting my older daughter back and forth to church choir and making the baby happy and getting dinner cooked (okay...heated up) and reading over hubby's grad school assignment this is what I came up with.

Hope you like it. Really hope you'll read the book--man, is it ever amazing.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Oh my goodness!  Look how cool this website is!!!


Go watch the movie trailer and "wimp" yourself!

http://www.wimpyourself.com/

I, Q book TWO!

Great news!  A sneak peek at the second (l-o-n-g awaited!) book in the I, Q series has arrived!

Since the first book in the series was our One Book, One School book this year and fabulous author Roland Smith came to visit, I know the kids at my school will be thrilled to see it. 

The book will be released on April 15th...and I'll be first in line to get my copy!

a few fabulous updates...

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For you Hunger Game fans (isn't that everyone?) here's some news about the final book in the trilogy:


Also, check out this link to info about the Greater Houston Teen Book Convention--really cool!  Sharon Draper, among other fabulous authors will be there (!) and it's FREE!

For all you Percy Jackson fans, let me know how you liked the movie and how well you think it matched up with the book!

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Okay, so I KNOW we aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, BUT....how cool is this cover?  Man, just looking at it makes me feel intrigued and settle down on a cold and rainy day (such as today---36 degress for our high here in Nacogdoches, Texas!) to read this one (kudos to whomever designed the cover art--truly genius!).

The book tells the story of twins born into a family with an important mystical history which the girls, of course, know nothing about.  As the tale unfolds you find yourself in the midst of a web of intrigue & deception and a battle between good and evil that could...quite possibly...mean the end of the world as we know it. 

I know, I know...it sounds amazing, doesn't it?  Well, it IS!  So, what are you waiting for?  Grab it off the shelf before there's none left, brew a hot latte and head for the comfy chair to settle in for a long winter's read. 

Knights Read It Forward

I am excited to announce that MMMS will participate in a Read-It-Forward activity this spring using the new Lone Star book, Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill Alexander!!!

If you are a MMMS student be sure to blog about your read-it-forward adventures at our special read-it-forward blog at:
http://www.knightsreaditforward.blogspot.com/

continuing on...

I've been sidetracked by life and a few good books, but we're back on track going over the 2010 Lone Star list!  Today's pick...Pop by Gordon Korman. 

As you can tell by the cover, Pop is a book about football--and it is phenomenal.  Gordon Korman is a master at the craft of writing, and it is evident in this wonderful book. 


16-year-old Marcus is new to town and practices for upcoming team tryouts in the park by himself until he meets the town eccentric and hometown-boy-made-good, Charlie "Pop" Popovich,  Pop is a former NFL player who meets Marcus in the park and not only plays football with a fearlessness Marcus rarely sees.  It is weird, though, how Pop almost acts like a teenager himself, and comes and goes throughout the town as he pleases, with no seeming rhyme nor reason.  


At football tryouts it is evident that Marcus has made an enemy---unfortunately this enemy also happens to be Charlie's son Troy.  Determined to keep the family secret, Troy is guarded and unfriendly. 


In the end, Marcus learns the truth--that his friend is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease and that the cause of it is his beloved POP--not only his nickname, but the sound and feel of helmets and bodies crashing into each other on the field.  It is what Charlie, and Marcus too, have lived for.  This leads to some very difficult decisions for Marcus.  What is betrayal of a friend?  What is really in his best interest?  Does his family always get the last word--and do they really know what's best for Pop?


This book is a wonderful and touching story of football and friendship. I highly recommend it!   

coming soon....

Rick Riordan's wildly successful and fabulous Percy Jackson series is coming soon to a theater near you!  the movie opens on February 12th, so time is running out if you haven't yet read the first book, The Lightning Thief.  

This is a fantastic adventure story in which the Greek gods are alive and well and living in New York City.  You simply MUST read this series...I cannot stress it enough!

Follow THIS LINK to see information on the cast and crew, view movie trailers, etc. 

Follow THIS LINK to visit the official Percy Jackson & the Olympians website.

One of the Survivors by Susan Shaw

I have a history of loving Susan Shaw's work, so when I pulled this new one out of the box I couldn't wait to get started.   And even though I knew...knew that it wasn't going to be one of those happy happy joy joy books, it hit me like a sucker punch.  Gut-wrenching is perhaps the word that describes it best.  Poignant and thought-provoking and hard and real are others that come close. 

I've experienced the frustration of the office testing and retesting the fire alarm system all day.  Of the constant interruptions on the loud-speaker.  THIS IS ONLY A TEST.  again and again and again until you are ready to scream.  It is equally trying for the teachers and students, too.  You just want it to shut up.  Pretty soon you ignore it as best you can. 

I've also had the experience of my school burning down.  My situation was different, though, because it happened on a holiday and no one was in the building.  We were all safe, unlike Joey and Maureen's classmates. 

Joey has recently lost his mom in a house fire, so he jumps everytime it sounds.  Even with his history teacher droning on and on.  Even when they say its just a test. 

And then...it sounds again...only this time the message is garbled.  static in the background.  What are they saying? is it just an alarm again? surely it is.  right? 

Joey knows he can't stay in that room. Every instinct is pounding in him to GET OUT.  He, along with his best friend Maureen leave despite the promise of detention from his yelling teacher who refuses to leave.  No one else defies the teacher.  No one else survives.

Survivor guilt coupled with hate-filled shouts of "murderer" make life incredibly difficult for a while.  And then, through journaling and artwork healing slowly beings.  And Joey is invited to speak at the tree-planting ceremony at the memorial for his lost classmates.

"They want me to come and talk about the sketch and why I drew what I drew. That picture. I bled to draw it. Those pencil lines are my blood that flowed from my veins. I didn't draw it to be smart or funny or creative or because I was bored or anything like that.  I had to record that moment. It was important, maybe the most important thing I've ever done.  That drawing shows all there is to show the moment that everything changed." 

Read this book.  It will change you.

not a 2010 Lone Star, but...

I just can't wait any longer to tell you guys about Scott Westerfeld's steampunk brilliance....LEVIATHAN.

The lush cover hints at the fabulousness of the book itself---and even better, there are more illustrations within.  (short brag moment...I was able to see the full-color original drawings for this work at TLA last year where Scott was showing them around at a dinner party...I know, I know...fabulous!)

Set in an alternate version of World War I, this work deftly weaves history as we know it with steampunk elements and the addition of a few purely fictional characters.  It tells the tale of a prince who must make an escape so secretive that even he doesn't know about it, as well as the story of a young girl with a dream that is impossible for a girl to achieve at that point in history--so she disguises herself as a boy in order to join the British air service. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and am eagerly awaiting the second installment! 

Check out Scott's official website, too...it has an amazing amount of great information on it.

For those of you not familiar with steampunk, you can read more about it by following the link. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year's Day is a time for both reflection on the past year as well as looking forward and setting goals for the year ahead.  And today is especially special, if you will, since it is the dawn of not only a new year, but a new decade, as well. 

I've had the joy of having a great family, an amazing job (well, most of the time anyway), and the pleasure of reading some fabulous books this past year.  I've even had the time to read a couple of "grown up" books over the holidays--both fantastic--The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and An Echo in the Bone--before I begin this year's Lone Star hopefuls reading in earnest.

Speaking of Lone Stars...this is the beginning of my final year on the committee. Man, it just about breaks my heart to say it---I have been challenged and have grown so much from being on this committee and working with the amazing people who have been a part of it. 

I've heard it said that the way you spend your time on New Year's Day is an indication of how you'll spend the entire new year.  If that's the case, then I'm definitely covering my bases....reading, writing (journal and attempting a novel! as well as blogging, spending time with friends and family and just taking some quiet time to think and BE.  Oh yes, I ate my black-eyed-peas and cabbage today, too...yep, covering ALL my bases!

A happy new year to all...may 2010 bring to you the wonders of your mind and the joys of your heart. 
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The Season, once again!

As part of my look at the new Lone Star titles, I've linked to my previous review of The Season by Sarah Maclean. 

I loved this book, and its perfect for holiday reading.  Okay, it's perfect for anytime reading, but that includes holidays, does it not?

Also, here is a new video for your enjoyment!  Love the song--it is actually in another of the videos posted in this blog from way back in the beginning.  :) 



yes, it is a librarian book cart drill team competition....we have those here  ;)

The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw

I love ghost stories.  I love the whole creepy factor, the spine-tingles, the chills. 


The hunt for the seventh is a unique ghost story---not to give too much away, but there is a rather unusual twist. 

After the death of their mother, Jim and Sal have moved to an estate with their father, who has been hired on as the groundskeeper.  The owner of the home, Lord Minerva, is a regular creep-meister.  Seriously cranky and not a man of laughter by any means. 

Although Lord Minerva has forbidden the children from roaming the grounds, Jim finds himself desperatly needing to do so in order to "find the seventh".  Several children (um, guess how many) have died tragically on the property through the years.  Jim goes on a quest aided by Lord Minerva's son to solve the many mysteries surrounding the property and the family who owns it. 

A great spine-tingling story made for rainy nights when the thunderclouds roll in and the lightening dances through the sky.  Read it by candlelight... if you dare!

North of Beautful by Justina Chen Headley

Amazing. 


sometimes a book hits you over the head with its truth and beauty.


this is one of those books.


for every girl who longs to be beautiful. to be loved.
to be ENOUGH
 just as she is
        by
                her  parents,
                      her friends,
                              her boyfriend
                                      her self.


This book is for you. 


I HIGHLY recommend this book to 7th grade and up. 
It is a lovely and beautiful read. 

Bullrider by Suzanne Morgan Williams

Bull Rider, by Suzanne Morgan Williams is the second of the 2010 Lone Star books on my blog. 

Let me just say that I love this book.  It is a great layered story that goes beyond the title of Bull Rider....one of family and their expectations of who you should be versus who you are; of strength and trials of life; of military service and dreams deferred. It is, ultimately, a story of familial love and hope. 


Cam O'Mara comes from a ranching family with a proud bull riding heritage that he really wants no part of.  Cam is a skateboarder, not a bull rider.  His older brother Ben is serving in the military in Iraq, and when Ben comes home with a tramatic injury that changes his life drastically--no more championship bull riding for him--and falls into despair questioning who he is now and what kind of future can he possibly have?  Cam makes a pact with Ben dealing with bull riding and not losing hope which involves lying to get into a bull riding competition in order to win the large prize purse. 

While this is a "guy" book, it isn't only for the guys, I assure you.  While this is a book about bull riding and the military it isn't only for bull riders and military families, either. 

It is a book for everyone that has ever had family expectations, a dream for the future, and hard knocks to overcome. 

 In short, it is a book for everyone. 

Just me...

thought perhaps I ought to make this VERY clear (no, I'm not in trouble or anything...I just got to thinking about this over the holiday and thought I ought to post it) ...the reviews I post about each book--Lone Star made-its, Lone Star hopefuls, or otherwise---are just my thoughts...they do not represent the committee officially, unofficially, or as a whole....

Just me....and I did it

(groans at the ready, please...)

my way.



Go find something to read now. :)

Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill Alexander

We begin the list of 2010 Lone Star books....

At the center of Sweetheart is Austin, a 14 year old girl determined to be the next FFA (Future Farmers of America for all you non-rural folk!) sweetheart.  'Course she first has to join FFA to have a shot at that, and joining FFA means she needs to...well, raise something.  She settles on raising a rooster and gets one from a local Cajun fella--a wise soul if ever there was one.  As you might imagine mayhem soon ensues with Charles Dickens, the aforementioned rooster, smack dab in the middle of it all.


Living in East Texas, myself I can attest to the trueness of the characters and situations in the book.  I felt like Austin was in some ways a remembrance of my teenage self---man, I wanted to ride in a convertable in a gorgeous dress waving to the crowds in my small Texas hometown, too, only for us it was all about homecoming instead of the Christmas parade. 


One of the many things I love about this book is that it isn't just about a teen with a dream of FFA royalty.  It has a great mother-daughter storyline and a bevy of strong women (we Texas women like that, y'all!) who make it through tough times and learn to trust one another, trust themselves, and let go of past hurt in order to move on and really live.  And, as if this even needs saying...you don't have to be a Texan, live in a rural community, or even like chickens for that matter in order to L-O-V-E this book! 

I had the pleasure of meeting Jill Alexander at the Texas Library Conference last year and she is as warm, witty, and wonderful to chat with in person as this lovely book is to read.  Enjoy!

the 2010 Lone Star List

The Lone Star Committee met last weekend in Austin, Texas to choose our 20 picks for pleasure reading for the middle schoolers of the great state of Texas.  This is not to say older kids won't enjoy these picks, as well...and in a few cases, some younger ones, too. 

We discussed the numerous nominations for HOURS (no worries...the chocolate and caffeine were abundant, ensuring the "discussions" didn't get too out of hand!) and ended up with our final list a mere 7 hours or so later.  In case you haven't seen the list yet, you can check it out here.  I'm going to make it a priority to discuss these books on this blog rather quickly. 

Whether you live in the Lone Star state, or not, this is a great list for PLEASURE reading.  Also, and I can't stress this fact enough, not all books on the list are for all kids.  Seriously.  What the committee attempts to do is to find a balance of books--some that will appeal to the lowest 6th grade readers, up to the highest 8th grade readers.  Some for boys, some for girls, some for both.  A variety of genre, too. 

Some teachers and librarians mistakingly have the idea that if its on the list, it is suitable for all readers.  uh-uh.  nope. 

Hopefully, there is at least one book on the list for each of your readers....enjoy!

and so time goes by...

have been reading, reading, reading to get all my Lone Star hopefuls reading done.  Now that the committee has met and our new list is out (a fun, but exhausting process!) I should have more time to get back into blogging mode.  I have hundreds (quite literally) of books to discuss with you!

Now for your enjoyment...check out this vintage Sesame Street video featuring the ever-talented Cookie Monster   :)




By the way, my library WILL have cookies...now that Natalie is a Daisy Scout.  Come by in January to put your cookie order in....pick up some books while you are there!


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