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The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
Barnett, Mac. THE TERRIBLE TWO New York : Amulet Books, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.9 ISBN 1419714910 It was the first day of school, and Miles Murphy faced it with a sense of dread; he had just moved to the cow town of Yawnee Valley from his beloved home town back in Florida. Miles looked around and saw all the typical school stuff: typical marquee, typical flagpole, typical bunch of kids milling around, typical school entrance blocked by the typical principal’s car high up on the steps…huh? Wait a minute…what a fantastic prank! The only trouble was, it wasn’t his prank! Back at his old school, he was known as the master of pranks…who was the mastermind here at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy? He had to find out! The one person he was sure it couldn’t be was Niles Sparks, the designated School Helper. Every school has one: the suck-up, the do-gooder, the snitch… Can Miles be out-pranked? This book is funnier than a rubber chicken… and contains some interesting facts about cows! Hilarious for all ages…fun illustrations. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Monday, June 1, 2015
Book of the day 06/01/2015
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Book of the day 05/31/2015
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Lovejoy, Sharon. RUNNING OUT OF NIGHT
Lovejoy, Sharon. RUNNING OUT OF NIGHT New York : Delacorte, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 5.2 ISBN 0385744099 Her mama died in childbirth when she was born, and her pa and older brothers didn’t think enough of her to give her a name. They simply called her “Girl”. She grew up in fear of them, suffering their unspeakable abuse and serving as their slave, guarded by two vicious bloodhounds. The day Zenobia knocked at her door, Girl’s life began to change. Zenobia was a runaway slave, whose family had all been separated and sold away to cruel plantation owners. The two girls, of disparate color and background, forged an unlikely bond of friendship. Zenobia gave her a new name: Lark, because she sang like a bird. Together, they made their escape by night, using just their wits and a great deal of courage. They endured many hair-raising close calls, even as they received assistance from some Quaker families on the Underground Railroad. Did they successfully elude their pursuers and make it to freedom? A gritty, well-told historical novel, filled with high adventure. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Book of the day 05/30/2015
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Murphy, Gold Rush Dog by Alison Hart
Hart, Alison. MURPHY, GOLD RUSH DOG Atlanta : Peachtree Publishers, 2014 IL 3-6 RL 5.5 ISBN 1561457698 Nome, Alaska, 1900. The end of the earth, where gold lies waiting on the beaches, and people race to the lawless town to stake a claim. Young Murphy, a sled dog cruelly abused by Carlick his owner, arrives in Nome bloody and battered with his team. There, he escapes to the streets and meets eleven-year-old Sally and her mother who’ve come north to build a new life together. Needing a protector in that dangerous town, the two take Murphy in. But Carlick hasn’t given up searching for his dog. And when Sally, who falls in love with Nome and the wilderness, decides to run off and hunt for gold on her own, it’s Murphy who must live up to his role of protector. Murphy tells this solid story, filled with adventure, history, a feisty outdoor-loving girl, and one very brave dog. The short chapters and artwork, as well as the happy ending make this a good choice for younger readers. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Friday, May 29, 2015
Book of the day 05/29/2015
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Korman, Gordon. MASTERMINDS New York : Balzer + Bray, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 5.2 ISBN 0062299964 Your life is perfect- Your town is perfect- Serenity, … New Mexico. Population- 185. Kids-30. No crime, no poverty, no unemployment, what more could anyone want or need? Why would anyone want to leave Serenity? Could they leave even if they wanted to? 13 year old Eli and his friend Randy soon discover mysterious illnesses occur when the kids try to pass the town border. Eli is hit with waves of crampling nausea and paralyzing pain. Memories become vague. Randy doesn’t seem to suffer the same illness, but fate has something else in store. Within days, Randy leaves town. No one has ever left town. What could this mean? As Eli discovers the clues Randy left behind for him, he enlists the help of an unlikely crew of his peers. The clues mount, and evidence is gathered as the kids discover Serenity may not be crime free after all. Slowly they realize the grown-ups they trust might just be the criminals they should fear. Follow the journey of Eli, Malik, Hector and Tori as they slowly find out the town’s secrets and unravel the mystery of the disappearance of their friend Randy. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Book of the day 05/28/2015
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Weeks. Sarah. HONEY New York : Scholastic, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.8 ISBN 0545465575 Ten year old Melody, lives in Royal Indiana where life has always been simple. It’s been just her and her dad. Then her dad’s mood starts to change. He becomes forgetful and starts singing for no reason. Melody overhears strange calls at night. “Who was on the phone?” she asks. “Wrong number,” her dad says. Even groggy Melody knows she heard her dad say Honey. Does dad have a girlfriend? Who could it be? Why all the secrets? Join Melody and her pal Nick as they start gathering evidence and putting the pieces together. But do the pieces really fit they way they think? (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Book of the day 05/27/2015
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The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Gemeinhart, Dan. THE HONEST TRUTH New York : Schholastic Press, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 4.0 ISBN 0545665736 We all have our bad days. Days when we feel like we’d love to just walk away from everything—school, family, even friends… Mark is a good kid, but when he finds out that he’s going to have to be admitted to the hospital again, he makes a decision. He’s been fighting this disease for so long---maybe it’s time to walk away…from days in bed, treatments that make him sick, and from everyone who means well but doesn’t understand. He’s always dreamed of climbing nearby Mt. Rainier. Maybe now is the time to make that dream a reality—even if it’s the last thing he ever does. With only his dog for company, Mark sets off on his journey, seeking to evade all the well-meaning people who try to stop him. Only his best friend Jessie has a clue as to his intentions. Will he manage to make a success of this final trip? Will Jessie be able to keep her suspicions to herself, or will she decide to point the searchers in Mark’s direction? The most meaningful journeys teach us something about ourselves. Mark has a lot to learn---if he can just survive. His epic journey will keep you riveted from the first page to the last. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Book of the day 05/26/2015
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Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by. George Hagen
Hagen, George. GABRIEL FINLEY AND THE RAVEN'S RIDDLE New York : Scwartz & Wade, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.8 ISBN 0385371039 Ravens love riddles. This is the way they can tell the good ravens from the bad. Long ago, ravens were our best friends…they watched over us and conversed with us easily. That was before a phantom raven named Corax went rogue and lured some others to the dark side. His new disciples were called valravens… Gabriel Finley knew little about ravens, but was soon to learn a good deal more. When he rescued an orphaned baby raven named Paladin, he discovered his family’s long-kept secret: the Finelys had a special bond with these birds…they could talk with them, receive their protection, and even briefly blend into the bodies of their familiars for adventures in flight. Gabriel loved riddles…his father had been a master of riddles right up until the day he disappeared. Aunt Jaz seemed to know a lot more than she was telling about his dad’s current whereabouts. With the help of Paladin and a very reluctant writing desk, he just might be able to rescue his dad from the clutches of the evil Corax. From Brooklyn to Aviopolis, a thrilling adventure, indeed! (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)