If you like futuristic science fiction and you aren't too squemish about people providing body parts, you will like this book.
This book was hard to stop reading. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The hard part was getting through the surgery at the end of the book. I feel this book raises some good questions for discussion.
This book completes the set that is nominated for the California Young Reader Medal in the high school category. The other two are The Adoration of Jenna Fox and The Hunger Games. I know which is my favorite, but I am not telling. If only I could vote!
Ms. Davis, Sedona, & "Coper" Copernicus
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Wow! It was difficult for me to stop reading this book, just like Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Both of these books are nominees for the California Young Reader Medal in the high school category.
Jenna Fox can't remember her past. Things come to her in small unrelated and seemingly unimportant snippets, like shopping for socks. But, she can remember most of the writings of Henry David Thoreau. What happened? Why can't she remember? Why does Lily, her grandmother, seem to dislike her? Why does her mom fear her leaving the house? What is up with the computer with her name on it in her mom and dad's closet? Why did they move to California, espcially afer the devastating earthquake there a years earlier?
These are just some of the questions frustrating Jenna Fox. This is a great read!
All of the books in the high school category for the California Young Reader Medal for the 2o10-2011 school year are great reading. I love to read all the books in all the categories, but the high school books have been a challenge the last couple of years. Although all of them are great books, providing them on a large scale in middle school for book clubs would be difficult. The third book in this category is Unwind by Neal Shusteman, more about that one in a future blog.
Jenna Fox can't remember her past. Things come to her in small unrelated and seemingly unimportant snippets, like shopping for socks. But, she can remember most of the writings of Henry David Thoreau. What happened? Why can't she remember? Why does Lily, her grandmother, seem to dislike her? Why does her mom fear her leaving the house? What is up with the computer with her name on it in her mom and dad's closet? Why did they move to California, espcially afer the devastating earthquake there a years earlier?
These are just some of the questions frustrating Jenna Fox. This is a great read!
All of the books in the high school category for the California Young Reader Medal for the 2o10-2011 school year are great reading. I love to read all the books in all the categories, but the high school books have been a challenge the last couple of years. Although all of them are great books, providing them on a large scale in middle school for book clubs would be difficult. The third book in this category is Unwind by Neal Shusteman, more about that one in a future blog.
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Like Holes by Louis Sachar, I started this book several times. Unlike Holes, I didn't get into it and then not be able to set it down. I even started listening to tapes, but for me the story just didn't move fast enough.
This doesn't appear to be a good recommendation by me. Actually it is a good book. If you like Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stephenson or any of the books by Jules Verne you will like this book. Plus, I have several students that love this book. Two of our book clubs read this book this year. Most liked it.
This book has a great premise. Airflight is developed at the turn of the century, but not airplanes. Air travel is by airship. Matt is a cabin boy on the Aurora. Kate is a very wealthy passenger, who is determined to explore the strange creatures that her grandfather wrote about in his log while traversing the Pacificus in his air balloon, solo. Matt, just happens to be the last person to talk to her grandfather. The Aurora is the airship that attempted to rescue her grandfather.
While crossing the Pacificus on the Aurora, they are boarded by air pirates! Although the pirates promise to not hurt anyone, a storm pushes the pirate airship into the Aurora damaging her. Yikes they are on a crash course into the ocean. What next?
This doesn't appear to be a good recommendation by me. Actually it is a good book. If you like Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stephenson or any of the books by Jules Verne you will like this book. Plus, I have several students that love this book. Two of our book clubs read this book this year. Most liked it.
This book has a great premise. Airflight is developed at the turn of the century, but not airplanes. Air travel is by airship. Matt is a cabin boy on the Aurora. Kate is a very wealthy passenger, who is determined to explore the strange creatures that her grandfather wrote about in his log while traversing the Pacificus in his air balloon, solo. Matt, just happens to be the last person to talk to her grandfather. The Aurora is the airship that attempted to rescue her grandfather.
While crossing the Pacificus on the Aurora, they are boarded by air pirates! Although the pirates promise to not hurt anyone, a storm pushes the pirate airship into the Aurora damaging her. Yikes they are on a crash course into the ocean. What next?
London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
I finished this book a few weeks ago, but I am finally having time to sit to write a quick comment.
What I really liked about this book is Ted. Ted falls in the autism spectrum. He is brilliant, but not in a linear way. He is an observer. He notices things that others miss. Kat, Ted's sister, tolerates him mostly, but she truly begins to appreciate Ted's different way of handling things once their cousin Salim disappears.
Salim and his mother have come to visit Ted's family. They are on their way to New York. Salim is not happy about the move and you learn that he even asked his father to let him come live with him. While, Salim is in London, the families have decided to visit the London eye. The London Eye is a huge Ferris wheel near the river Thames. Passengers in the bus size Ferris wheel cars have a great view of the city. Ted, Kat, and Salim are waiting in line, when they are offered a ticket by a stranger for one of them to take a ride at an earlier time. Salim goes and he goes up, but doesn't come down...or does he. Even the police begin to appreciate Ted's keen eye to observe.
The only problem with this book is understanding some of the English cultural items. However, if you are an Anglophile, like I am, you will love this.
What I really liked about this book is Ted. Ted falls in the autism spectrum. He is brilliant, but not in a linear way. He is an observer. He notices things that others miss. Kat, Ted's sister, tolerates him mostly, but she truly begins to appreciate Ted's different way of handling things once their cousin Salim disappears.
Salim and his mother have come to visit Ted's family. They are on their way to New York. Salim is not happy about the move and you learn that he even asked his father to let him come live with him. While, Salim is in London, the families have decided to visit the London eye. The London Eye is a huge Ferris wheel near the river Thames. Passengers in the bus size Ferris wheel cars have a great view of the city. Ted, Kat, and Salim are waiting in line, when they are offered a ticket by a stranger for one of them to take a ride at an earlier time. Salim goes and he goes up, but doesn't come down...or does he. Even the police begin to appreciate Ted's keen eye to observe.
The only problem with this book is understanding some of the English cultural items. However, if you are an Anglophile, like I am, you will love this.
SLJ Battle of the Books
If you have been following the School Library Journal's Battle of the Books you will know that the winner is Marching for Freedom by Elizabeth Partridge.
There were some pretty close calls along the way. I hope to post comments about any books I have read. One I want to read from these is the Lost Conspiracy, plus I will need to read the winner to decide what I think of it as compared to the others. Stay tuned...
There were some pretty close calls along the way. I hope to post comments about any books I have read. One I want to read from these is the Lost Conspiracy, plus I will need to read the winner to decide what I think of it as compared to the others. Stay tuned...
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