Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Monday, March 4, 2019

An Inside Look #80 (Author INTERVIEW)

Inside Look with Allison Varnes
(Author of Property of the Rebel Librarian)  

*During the summer of 2016, I added this feature to the blog which was called "Season #ONE".  This first season ran from June of 2016 to March of 2017.  

*I started up the interviews again in June of 2017.  It was great to get back to Season #TWO.  This season ran throughout the summer.  

*Season #THREE ran during the school year of 2017/2018.  


*The next season (season #FOUR) of interviews took place during the summer and fall of 2018.  With each interview I became more and more impressed with the authors I was having interactions with.  

*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the NINTH interview of what I'm calling Season #FIVE.

*Thank you to Allison Varnes for being the Eightieth author that I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  

*Here are links to the first Seventy-Nine interviews…

SEASON #ONE

























SEASON #FOUR

Interview #53 with Preston Norton (Author of Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe)

Interview #54 with Jonathan Auxier (Author of Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster)

Interview #55 with Sharon Creech (Author of Saving Winslow)

Interview #56 with Stacy McAnulty (Author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl)

Interview #57 with Kelly Yang (Author of Front Desk)

Interview #58 with Jennifer A. Nielsen (Author of Resistance)

Interview 59 with Christina Collins (Author of After Zero)

Interview #60 with Eric Walters (Author of Elephant Secrets)

Interview #61 with Phil Bildner (Author of The Rip and Red Series)

Interview #62 with Erin Soderberg (Author of Milla in Charge)

Interview #63 with Laura Shovan (Author of Take Down)

Interview #64 with Donna Gephart (Author of In Your Shoes)

Interview #65 with Alan Gratz (Author of Grenade)

Interview #66 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Wonderland)

Interview #67 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Just Like Jackie)

Interview #68 with Katherine Marsh (Author of Nowhere Boy)

Interview #69 with Dusti Bowling (Author of 24 Hours in Nowhere)

Interview #70 with Christina Uss (Author of The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle)

Interview #71 with Adam P. Schmitt (Author of Speechless)



SEASON #FIVE

Interview #72 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise)

Interview #73 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #74 with Abby Cooper (Author of Bubbles)

Interview #75 with Abby Cooper (Author of Friend or Fiction)

Interview #76 with Padma Venkatraman (Author of The Bridge Home)

Interview #77 with Anne Ursu (Author of The Lost Girl)

Interview #78 with Corey Ann Haydu (Author of Eventown)

Interview #79 with Jeff Zentner (Author of Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee)


*Any novel that centers around children and books, has me before I even start.  I so enjoyed this novel and know it will be one that I share with my students.

*After I finished the book, I reached out to Allison Varnes and requested an interview about her story and character.  She was kind enough to give me a quick YES!  

*Allison Varnes was kind, gracious, and giving with her answers to the questions.  It is an honor to post her responses here on the blog.  

*Thank you Allison for writing this book...
Property of the Rebel Librarian
by Allison Varnes (September 18, 2018)


What do you think is June's most admirable quality?
I think June's most admirable quality is the ability to speak up for what she thinks is right, even when it is at great cost to herself.



Is there anything you wish June would have changed or done differently in her story?
 I don't have any regrets, and neither does June!



What do you think June can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?
I hope June's journey will inspire kids to speak up for what they believe in.



How did you research June and the circumstances she found herself in?
I worked in a school where my freedom to teach Harry Potter was abruptly taken away. I understand what it is to lose the freedom to read, and unfortunately, so do my former students. I wrote Property of the Rebel Librarian from this unfortunate real-life perspective. I also had lengthy conversations with a school board member and librarian friend to make key scenes as real as possible!



Do you and June share any similarities?
Yes. I'm a former marching band geek. Don't tell me what to read.



What was the hardest scene to write about June?
The middle scene in the last chapter. I won't go into detail to prevent ruining the ending for those who haven't read it yet!



Who do you think was June's biggest supporter and why?
Oh, that's a tough question! June makes some new friends who support her endeavors, but I believe her sister, Kate, is her biggest cheerleader. No one else understands exactly what June is up against at home.



Why do you think some young people, like June, are able to step out and fight for a cause they believe in, when others stand back and do nothing?
I wish I knew! Maybe some kids just haven't found their voices yet!



What do you think June is doing at the present time?
She's operating another secret library, of course! 
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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (3/4/19)



Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to the site...
                
Books I Read this Past Week…



The Current by Tim Johnston

*Novel Published for Adults

*4 STARS out of 5 Stars!






Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

*Middle-Grade Novel

*4 STARS out of 5 Stars!







Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week…
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle

 *My Middle-Grade Novel









The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried 
by Shaun David Hutchinson

*My Young-Adult Novel (Audio)








the beautiful land by alan averill

*My Novel Published for Adults






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Sunday, March 3, 2019

Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

How I Heard About It:  One of my favorite middle-grade novels is The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.  My students have been lucky to Skype with Dusti about that novel.  I was thrilled when I became a member of the launch team for the sequel.  The novel Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus brought me hours of reading enjoyment.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  

1.  *This sequel brings back my favorite characters of Aven, Connor, and Zion.
2.  *The three of them have finished middle-school and are beginning their freshman year.  Aven and Zion are going to one high school while Connor is starting a new school where his father lives.

 3.  *Aven was comfortable with herself and the fact she doesn't have arms, but now that she is starting high school; she begins to worry about what the other students will think.  

 4.  *She relies on her friendships with both Connor and Zion.  Connor is making a new start and Zion tries to support Aven the best way he knows how.  She isn't always able to "take-in" what her two best friends have to say.  

 5.  *While living at the Stagecoach with her adoptive parents, Aven starts to question who her father was and how he fits into her life now.  


What I Thought Of It - FIVE Observations/Reflections:

1.  *Reading this sequel brought back such great memories of reading the first book.  I enjoyed getting back to Aven and her two best buddies.  

 2.  *I liked that Dusti took these characters into high school and presented the challenges that go along with that.  The writing was accurate and spot on.

 3.  *Continuing Aven's life at the Stagecoach was interesting, thought-provoking, and entertaining.  As a reader, I got to find out about Aven's family and was able to find out even more in this second story.  

 4.  *Dusti did a tremendous job of describing the heartache that Aven had to deal with while at school and at Comic-Con.  My heart hurt when I experienced those moments.  

 5.  *Aven's story is an important one and one that all young readers, and adults, should experience.  Well done Dusti, well done!  


Who Should Read It:   Readers need to have read The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus before they continue the story with this sequel.  The books are appropriate for students in grades four, five, and six.  Of course middle-school students would also be perfect for the novels.  Happy Reading!   


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars!




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The Current by Tim Johnston

How I Heard About It:  I read several positive reviews of this "new and current" title.  The story sounded incredible and I decided to download it via my Audible app.  I have been listening to it over the last several weeks during my commute to and from work.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  

1.  *Audrey and Caroline are college friends.  They are driving to Audrey's home to see her sick father.  On the drive home they are run off the road and end up in a lake.  Caroline doesn't survive, but Audrey does.
2.  *Ten years earlier Holly Burke was found dead in a body of water.  Audrey's father was the sheriff at the time, but wasn't able to convict anyone for the crime.  Gordon Burke, Holly's father, was never able to forgive Sheriff Sutter.  

 3.  *After Audrey's recovery from the accident in the water, she begins a journey in which she investigates Holly's death, Holly's father, and the man they think committed the crime.

 4.  *Despite their differences, Audrey and Gordon Burke, "team" up and begin to unravel what really happened to both Holly and Audrey herself.  They may have more in common then they think.

 5.  *Several of the town's people become suspects and their secrets may be revealed for all to see.  


What I Thought Of It - FIVE Observations/Reflections:

1.  *This was a phenomenal read/listen.  

 2.  *I enjoyed the "current" story of Audrey and how it related to the story ten years earlier.  

 3.  *The writing was detailed, but read easily and flowed from page to page.  The format of switching between time periods worked well and made for an intriguing read.  

 4.  *The author did a wonderful job of portraying the characters; both the positive and the negative.

 5.  *The mystery and suspense began on page one and last until the very last word.  I would say that makes for a strong reading experience.  


Who Should Read It:   The novel would be perfect for any adult reader who enjoys a well-told mystery with a strong plot, great characters, and lots of twists and turns.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars!
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Friday, March 1, 2019

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

How I Heard About It:  After seeing this novel written up with a positive review, I decided to choose it for the next selection of the BBC (Boy's Book Club).  We will be discussing on our winter guy's weekend March 8-10th.  I hope the other "boys" enjoyed it as much as I did.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  

1.  *Alicia Berenson is a famous artist.  She is married to a famous photographer.  One night when he returns home, she shoots him and doesn't utter another word.  
2.  *Alicia is committed to a private facility where she remains silent and doesn't show any kinds of signs of recovery or progress.  

 3.  *Theo Faber is a psychotherapist who has always had in interest in Alicia's situation and how she got to where she is.  

 4.  *He secures a position at the medical center where Alicia lives and does everything in his power to obtain access to the notorious killer and find out what truly happened to her and her dead husband.  

 5.  *Theo and Alicia begin to work together.  Day after day he peels away the layers of Alicia, her husband, and what brought them to the fateful night.  


What I Thought Of It - FIVE Observations/Reflections:

1.  *It has been quite some time that I have put a complete page-turner in my hands.  This was that page-turner that I needed.  

 2.  *I enjoyed the mystery, the suspense, and all the intrigue that was contained within the pages.  

 3.  *The plot wasn't your typical "who done it".  The writing was fresh, the characters were unique, and the twists and turns were original.  

 4.  *As I look back at the reading experience, I'm surprised I didn't see what was happening right before my eyes.  That seems to happen to me a lot.  I don't always see the obvious.  I'm not sure what that says about me as a reader.  

 5.  *I'm looking forward to chatting with the other members of my book club and digging into the story and getting other readers perspectives.  


Who Should Read It:   I can't imagine any person not enjoying this story.  It really is the perfect mystery.  I could see new readers enjoying it as well as the avid reader who tears through book after book.  This novel published for adults is a must-read.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4+ STARS out of 5 Stars!


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Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Wonder Wednesday #255 (Breakfast with Books)

Wonder Wednesday - Saving Marty by Paul Griffin

 *We had our fifth "Breakfast with Books" book club on Friday, February 22, 2019.

*We were lucky that author Paul Griffin agreed to join us via Skype.  My class resides in the Twin Cities while Paul lives in New York.

*His novel Saving Marty, is one of my favorite middle-grade stories.  I was excited to announce it to my students and have them experience the magic of Paul's writing.


*The readers came together before school to enjoy some breakfast treats, chat about the story, and share their comments/questions with author Paul Griffin.

*The hour was delightful and Paul was completely engaging.  The readers not only loved his novel, but the time he spent with us.

*Here is a peek inside our book club discussion...

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