Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell

This books follows the exploits of Guster Johnsonville to find a good meal.  He is starving for food, but finds most things his mother makes appalling.  His mother finally takes him to New Orleans to walk around the streets to find a meal.  He does end up smelling mouthwatering food from a patisserie (pastry shop).  Although this is great food, he also finds trouble, which launches the entire family on an adventure to find the ingredients to the One Recipe created by Archedentus, the most amazing and talented chef to ever live.
The thing I liked most about this book were all the food tie ins for digestion or related to eating.  Including the Gastronimatii, which is a group of villains also seeking the ingredients to the One Recipe.  My favorite name of a character in the book is a Martha Stewart type character named Felicity Casa or "Happiness House."
If you like adventure, that is a little far fetched and silly names, you will like this book.

Pop by Gordon Korman

I read this book for Battle of the Books.  I am not usually a fan of any books dealing with sports because I don't get into the feel and excitement of the game.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
I will try to not give away too much, but this book has multiple layers to it, it is not just about sports.  It deals with a frustration of the main character being forced to move to a new community.  Even worse, he has to struggle to make the varsity team in his new town because the coach and the team is not willing that adding anyone to the lineup to a successful team is a good idea.  In fact, they feel that you shouldn't mess with perfection. 
Plus, there is the mystery of the 50 year old that keeps appearing to practice with him in the local park.  This mystery 50 year old teaches him to love a different aspect of football.  He teaches him to love a good tackle, which provides him with a skill that the team does need.
I would recommend this book to any student, but especially those that want a book about sports that explores more than just the game.

Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival by Arthur Slade

Something I miss from my childhood is the wonderful desert thunderstorms that would role over the mountains and into the valley in Tucson or Bisbee.  However, if I was like Newton Starker, I would probably never learn to love the beauty and power of a thunderstorm.
Why?...Because Newton's ancestors have mostly died from lighting strikes, including his mother.  Arthur has decided to enroll in the Jerry Potts Academy of Higher Learning.  This school is not your typically academic only school.  This school is designed to teach the attendee how to survive.
Newton has a big job ahead of him.  Will he become a victim to the lighting around him.

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Wow, what a great ride.  Unfortunately, it ends with an enormous cliff hanger for Jason and Percy, the Roman and Greek versions of a myth.
This story begins where the previous book left off with the trireme from Camp Half Blood moving toward New Rome nestled somewhere in the Oakland hills.
New Rome has just finished a mammoth battle with the Gaea's forces as they continue to try to resurrect her from her banishment.
Well, things go wrong, of course, otherwise the story would be over.  They begin a new quest, no surprise, but Riordan continues to pump out good stories.  He reintroduces us to some of these ancient myths and legends throughout his stories.  I finally downloaded a copy of Bullfinch on my kindle to begin reading these old myths.  You may also want to look for a copy of Ingri D'aulaire's Greek Myths.
This is longer than some of his other books in the Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus series.  This is about as long as the Kane Chronicles.  However, sometimes the Kane Chronicles drag, not this series.  I read this book in a few days.
When does the next one come out, so I can check on my favorite heroes?

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Hilarious and ridiculous circumstances cause Donovan "Donnie" Curtis to end up in the district school for gifted and talented students.  Like Wonder this book is told by different characters in the book.  It is also set mostly in a school setting.
Unlike August in Wonder, Donnie is perpetually making bad choices.  He is impulsive.  He ends up in the gifted program due to a fluke.  He and his friends the Daniels are wandering around campus, after they have convinced Donnie to climb out the window from the detention he is serving.  His teacher left "briefly", but they suspect he slipped out to watch the basketball game and will not be back for a while.
The Daniels frequently dare Donnie to do crazy stuff.  Sometimes Donnie thinks up these things, sometimes he thinks of them, but wouldn't do them if the Daniels were not encouraging him.  Like whacking the statue of Atlas statue in front of the school on the bottom. Think of mythology, Atlas is bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. The statutue had, yes had a large globe on its shoulders until Donnie spanks the statue with a large branch. The globe begins to careen toward the parking lot. A lucky bounce?, redirects the globe toward the gym. The superintendant corrals him into his office. Donnie is expecting severe punishment, but the super gets called away and punishment is delayed, for now. In the meantime the list of gifted and talented students needs to be sent in. Well the paper with Donnie's name is the one sent. He likes ancestors.com and has even found a namesake, "Donovan Curtis", who survived the sinking of the Titanic. He knows he is not gifted, but he believes he is like his ancestor, a survivor.

New school year new books

I hope you did a lot of reading over the summer.  I mostly read books I have read before.  However, there were a few outstanding books I loved.  I hope you will visit often to see what I  read.  Also, I hope you will come make recommendations to me. 
I already have two good recommendations from students.

One is the latest recommendations is from sixth grader TM.  He recommended Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord.  She also wrote Rules.  If this book is only half as good as Rules, I will love it.  Plus, I just love the cover with my favorite Monopoly pieces pictured on the cover.  Do students still play Monopoly?  Come tell me if you "like" Monopoly.

Another recommendation from a student was Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead.  She wrote the Newbery winner a couple years ago When You Reach Me.  Surprisingly, When You Reach Me connected with students even though much of what is in the book is happening during my childhood.  I especially liked the reference the $20,000 Pyramid.  I loved watching this show. 

I am looking forward to a new book by Gordon Korman.  This book will be available in the book fair (October 22-26).  It is Ungifted by Gordon Korman.  His books are delightfully and cleverly humorous.  If you liked Schooled, my guess you will like Ungifted.  His humor is similar to the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinny, but a slightly higher reading level.

Plus, like a few of you, I am looking forward to the last of the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie. Reached is being released November 13.  Maybe we can preorder at the book fair?  I am hoping it will be possible to put this in the library.  Hunger Games lovers may like this book.  It is kind of a cross between Hunger Games and Twilight without the paranormal.  It is definitely dystopian.  For my dystopian lovers, remember this is a catagory in our catalog.  I have yet to read Maze Runner by James Dashner. Honestly, I have delayed because the reviewers write that it is definitely Young Adult.  One dystopian book that I couldn't put down was Little Brother by Cory Doctorow.  (Also, Young Adult for violence and adult relationships.)  I reviewed this book last year in November if you want to read my review.

Well readers, watch for updates on what I am reading this year.  I am always looking for the next great book I will love, so tell me what you liked!  Even if it doesn't turn out to be my all time favorite book, it will help me make recommendations to your classmates.  WATCH FOR BOOK CLUB SIGN UP'S!

Wonder by R.A. Palacio

August is going to school for the first time in his life.  This is not particularly amazing until you learn that August has never been to school.  He has always been home schooled.  His sister has always gone to public school though.  Why not August?
August was born with a physical deformity that affects his face.  The author never actually describes what August looks like, just that he has this condition.
However, the reaction of students to August makes the reader squirm a little wondering what their reaction would be to August.
His sister is also going to a new school.  She has decided to not talk about her brother at her new school.  She has only two classmates that know about August.  Both of these classmates have always been friends, but like happens sometimes to friends when they are thrust into a new environment they grow apart.
This book is told by different characters.  They narrate the story and sometimes will enlighten the reader about another perspective about the same event.
All in all good realistic fiction.  If you liked Wendy Mass' books you will likely like this one too.