August 31, 2009
posted 8/31/2009 11:06 AM

The Roar

So, do you believe everything you see on TV or read on the Web?  The people in this future world in The Roar by Emma Clayton do.  They have been told they need to live behind The Wall to protect themselves from The Animal Plague.  Conditions behind The Wall are not too pleasant; it's cold, damp and very cramped.  Can you imagine living in something called a "folddown"?  Well, it's an apartment where you fold down the type of room you need and then fold it back when you're done. 

Mika lives in this world and the living conditions are not his only problem.  His twin sister has been missing for a year.  Everyone but Mika believes she is dead.  He's determined that he is going to find her and he thinks that a virtual reality game competition that the government has set up may lead him to her.  Mika's nightmares may very well come true as he begins to meet the people from his nightmares in this strange world.  Once you begin to read this book, you'll want to stay with Mika on his journey to his sister and the truth! I'm guessing there will be a sequel to this book, so stay tuned!

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Seer of Shadows

I added this book to my list of "want to read" when Avi was presented during the 6th grade Author Study lesson.  Horace Carpentine is 14 years old and living in New York City in 1872.  His dream is to become a photographer and he becomes an apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photograher.  Enoch gets a request from Mrs. Von Macht to have her picture taken.  Mrs. Von Macht's daughter, Eleanora, has recently died.  Enoch schemes a way to take advantage of Mrs. Von Macht by using trick photography to include a picture of Eleanora in her portrait.  He doesn't know that Horace is a "seer of shadows" and each time he takes a picture he is bringing Eleanora's ghost back to life!  Horace learns that Mrs. Von Macht is not the nice person she appears to be and Eleanora wants to come back for revenge!

Because Horace is telling his story and is living in 1872, the language that he uses reflects his time.  There may be phrases and words used that will be new to you, but, you will learn much about life in N.Y. in the post Civil War days.  Avi, through Horace, tells a tells a wonderful story that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next!

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Cricket Man

Well, I hope anyone going into 8th grade is having a better summer than Kenny Sykes in Cricket Man by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.  Kenny is spending the summer watching his younger brother while his mother takes classes and saving the crickets from being killed in the filter of his pool.  Kenny has just moved into a new neighborhood and school so he doesn't know too many people.  He likes to spend time at night out on the roof outside his bedroom window.  It's there that he first sees Jodie, the HS junior who lives across the street from him who also likes to sit on the roof.  He notices that she looks a little sad.  Once school starts, Kenny decides he is on a mission; to help save Jodie from whatever is disturbing her.  He's also determined to improve on his skateboarding with his 2 new friends.  Kenny's 8th grade school year is not as he thought it was going to be and he learns more than he expected.

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Rivers of Fire

This is the second exciting book in the Atherton Trilogy by Patrick Carman. The House of Power is the first in trilogy, so I won't disclose too much if you have not the read the first book.  Atherton is a world that was created by a mad scientist, Dr. Harding, because Earth or the Dark Planet has been destroyed by pollution and overpopulation. Edgar, Samuel and Isabel live in this strange world.  Atherton has 3 levels separated by cliffs; the Flatlands, Tabletop and the Highlands.  The Flatlands is the home to a group of monster like creatures called the Cleaners.  They are a hungry group of meat eaters that will not let anything come between them and their next meal.  Tabletop is where most of the people live; they are poor and must work hard to grow food and livestock.  At the top is The Highlands where the privileged and powerful live.  They control the amount of water that the people in Tabletop receive.

In Rivers of Fire all of the levels in Atherton are beginning to collapse into one. This means the Cleaners are free to roam and search out new food; including the residents of Tabletop.  Edgar, Samuel and Isabel are trapped in the Highlands as it begins to fall down.  They begin a mysterious journey to get back to Tabletop and as they travel they begin to learn many of the secrets of their home and the man who created it. 

Read this series if you like science fiction adventure and suspense!

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Chasing Lincoln's Killer
 

James Swanson draws you into the mind of John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin. Booth’s story in this biography begins a few weeks before he murdered Lincoln.  Booth was a 26 year old actor who was sympathetic to the Confederates and their beliefs in slavery and secession.  He was a superstar of his time; he loved clothes, having fun, being recognized by his fans and was taken by romance of lost causes.   He developed the plan to kill Lincoln and several other important government officials like he was rehearsing for a play.  He saw this as the greatest role he would ever have and he hoped that it would motivate the Confederates to continue their fight!  Booth rehearsed his role right up to the killing, but, he didn’t plan for things to go wrong and for the manhunt that would follow!  For 12 days Booth is chased and pursued, but his ego will not let him recognize that his plan is not going well and that he is not the hero in the story, but the villain.  

If you like history, fast action and suspense, then you definitely should read this book!

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What I'm Reading This Summer

I'll be sharing what I'm reading this summer.  Hope to hear from you to learn what great books you've found!

If you're looking for a book to give you the chills on a hot summer day, then you need to read Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman. You will be guessing what happens to Ryan and Sarah up to the last page!  Keep your computer handy because in order to understand what is happening in the book you need to view the videos posted by Sarah.  But, don't watch them alone at night!!  This is definitely a fun book!  Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

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