Treat Tuesday #147 (Book Release Day)

Treat Tuesday - Paloma Cocktail

*We had this delicious cocktail over the holiday weekend.

*During one round we served as it is listed, and another round we served it with Vodka.  Either way is quite tasty!



Ingredients...
*2 ounces blanco or reposado tequila (or Vodka)

*6 ounces fresh grapefruit soda

*1/2 ounce lime juice

*salt for rimming (optional)


Treat Tuesday:  Middle-Grade Novel

Treat Tuesday:  Young-Adult Novel

Treat Tuesday:  Adult Novel

An Inside Look #4 (Interview with Cammie McGovern)

An Inside Look - With Cammie McGovern 
Author of Just My Luck


*The "Inside Look" posts have become a new favorite aspect of the blog.

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

*The more I interact with authors, the more I realize how giving, generous, and kind they are.  They give us, the reader, so much that adds to our lives.


*Here are the links to my first three interviews...

Interview #1 with Elly Swartz (Author of Finding Perfect)

Interview #2 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Serpent King)

Interview #3 with Nora Raleigh Baskin (Author of Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story)


*I read Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern a couple months ago.  I so enjoyed it and reached out to Cammie via Twitter to let her know how much I enjoyed the book.

*After a few "conversations" I asked if she would like to be an author for a "Inside Look" post on the blog.  She was kind enough to say yes.

*I was thrilled because I not only wanted to share her book, but her "inside" thoughts on the book.

*Here are Cammie's responses to my "Inside Look" questions...

Just My Luck by Cammie McGovern (Released February 23, 2016)

How did you come to “know” Benny Barrows?  

JUST MY LUCK is the closest I’ve come to writing about my own family:  we have three boys, like the family in the book, one of whom is autistic.  I wanted to write a story from the point of view of a character like my youngest son—to hopefully capture some combination of what is hard about having a sibling with special needs and also some of the freedoms and gifts it gives you. 

What do you think is Benny's most admirable quality?

Benny has a few qualities that I see and admire in MANY kids I meet who are siblings of children with special needs that all revolve around resilience and adaptability.  As a parent, it always catches you up short when your child demonstrates a better capacity for shaking off a failure or a setback than you do, but this capacity to put a larger picture into perspective is a real gift.

What do you think Benny can offer to other children and/or adults that have experienced similar situations to his?  

Oh I hope that Benny’s story will speak to other fourth and fifth graders who are just discovering certain academic (or athletic, or whatever) limitations they might have.   This seems to be the age where children learn exactly what they CAN’T do well.  This happened to both my younger sons and I wanted to tell a story that reassured them of the qualities and the strengths they did have (but might not necessarily show up on tests and grades.)

How did you “research” Benny and the circumstances he found himself in?

I had to learn a lot about brain aneurysms for Benny’s dad.   I still can’t spell the word without the help of spell check, but I do know a lot more about the fascinating ways a brain can get injured, and the compelling ways it recovers, as well.   It’s all very fascinating for the parent of someone with autism whose brain has worked differently from the beginning.

Do you and Benny share any similarities?  

I suppose we have the same sense of humor but I couldn’t make a lego-movie if my life depended on it!  (I wouldn’t have the patience—it takes a LONG time to make one.  I can testify to this based on watching my sons do it…)

What was the hardest scene to write about Benny?

The scenes with Lisa, Martin’s girlfriend were hard to write because we’ve had a few (though not many) encounters with kids who are so uncomfortable with themselves or any kind of difference, that they end up being much meaner than they probably realize.   Also, I had to re-write the ending scene with the carnival quite a few times to make sure it hit the right notes—where it wasn’t too sentimental but was also hopeful and uplifting.

Who do you think was Benny’s biggest supporter and why?

I think this book is in large part about the friendships he finds OUTSIDE the family (even though his family is obviously the most important element in his support system.)  I think Mr. Norris’ honesty by the end makes him a good teacher and a good friend.  But ultimately the most important characters for Benny are the ones who turn out to be surprising new friends:  Olga, Jeremy and Rayshawn.

Why do we humans try to have as much “luck” as we can in our lives?  

Ah, what an interesting question!   I don’t know the answer except that maybe real happiness comes from the luck we make for ourselves, right?

What do you think Benny is doing as this present time?  

I can tell you the two boys he’s based on are doing very well!   One just finished his junior year in high school and Henry, our youngest, is now a seventh grader at our Performing Arts High School.  I suspect Benny would be just now discovering the great world of possibilities for boys who aren’t terribly athletic and instead throw themselves all the joys of the arts—music, theater, visual arts. He’s already a bit of a filmmaker, so I think he’s got it in him…

Cammie McGovern Website

My Book Review

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (7/4/16)

Thanks to Jen and Kellee for hosting this idea on their site.  Here is a link to their site...

                

 http://www.teachmentortexts.com/

Books I Read this Past Week… 

Bright Side by Kim Holden

*Young-adult novel

*5 STARS out of 5 Stars!

My Book Review

Zoe in Wonderland by Brenda Woods

*Middle-grade novel

*5 STARS out of 5 Stars!

My Book Review

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

*Middle-grade novel

*5 STARS out of 5 Stars!

My Book Review

I Am Drums by Mike Grosso

*Middle-grade novel

*5 STARS out of 5 Stars!

My Book Review

Books I Will (continue to) Read this Week…    

Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson

*My Middle-Grade Novel

Gus by Kim Holden

*My Young-Adult Novel

The One-In-A-Million Boy by Monica Wood

*My Adult Novel

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

How I Heard About It:  This was another novel that was chatted about quite a bit on Twitter.  I was intrigued by the title, the cover, and the comments that were being made.  Once school got out for the summer, I ordered quite a "haul" of books and this was one of them.  

What It Is About:  The story takes us back to World War II in a small Pennsylvania town.  Annabelle is the only daughter in a family of three children including her two younger brothers.  Her life has been pretty "uneventful" until Betty Glengarry (don't you love that name) moves into town.  Betty makes life for Annabelle unbearable.  She teases, torments, and bullies Annabelle.  Betty also takes a boy named Andy under her wings to assist in her missions.  When a friend of Annabelle's gets hurt on the school playground, Annabelle knows Betty is behind it, but Betty turns the focus on a town resident named Toby.  Toby is a World War I veteran and has been the talk of the town's people as an "odd" man and people should keep their distance.  Annabelle befriends Toby and feels like she knows the "real" man.  When Betty disappears, everyone believes that Toby is responsible.  Annabelle and her family do everything in their power to help, hide, and clear his name before it is too late.  

What I Thought Of It:  I Tweeted last night around 1:30 AM that I was trying to finish the book, but my eyes were not cooperating.  I got up early this morning and finished this wonderful and powerful story.  I'm not normally a huge fan of historical fiction, but I absolutely loved this story.  The writing was beautiful, the characters were developed deeply, and the time and place worked perfectly.  The plot took its time to unfold, but never dragged or felt slow.  The mystery that Lauren Wolk laid out was thought provoking and engaging.  I was guessing how events would turn out until the very end of the story.  I always love when a book has a "tender" protagonist and an "evil" antagonist and this story delivered on both fronts.  One of the best middle-grade books I've read this summer.

Who Should Read It:  I'm so excited to use this novel when we cover our historical fiction unit next school year.  I'm going to use it as a read aloud and I know my fourth graders are going to love this story.  It has all the elements that I teach with historical fiction.  The book could be handled by independent readers that are in fifth and sixth grade.  If you know a strong reader in fourth grader, I think they would find it a satisfying read.  I highly recommend it to adult readers that enjoy strong middle-grade stories, strong historical fiction, and strong female driven stories.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Bright Side by Kim Holden

How I Heard About It:  I really can't remember how I heard about this book.  I think I actually heard about the second book in the series called Gus and then after doing some research realized this was the first book in the series.  I recently downloaded both Bright Side and Gus to my Kindle.  I didn't know much about either story, but knew they both received really great reviews so I was curious to try them.  I finished Bright Side earlier today and I'm still pretty drained from the experience.  

What It Is About:  Kate and Gus are best friends.  They have been their whole life.  Kate, her sister Grace, and their mother lived next door to Gus and his mother.  Kate and Gus shared many experiences throughout their lives together and are closer than most best friends typically are.  Gus is a few years older than Kate and a musician.  Kate also has a talent with music, but also wants to go to college.  After graduating from high school in California, she decides to attend college in Minnesota.  The only downfall of this decision is that she will be apart from her best friend Gus.  She recently lost both her sister and mother and feels a fresh start is what she needs.  They promise to talk, text, and Skype every day.  Kate hasn't had an easy life, but has a great outlook on it and makes the best of every situation.  When she arrives in Minnesota she makes a major impact on everyone she comes across.  This includes her roommate, two guys that live in her dorm, a new friend at a flower shop, and most of all Keller Banks who works on "Grounds", the local coffee shop.  Her freshman years begins with some ups and some downs, but behind the optimistic "face" that Kate portrays, she is keeping a major secret.  As she and Keller become close, she learns that he is also keeping a secret from everyone around him in Minnesota.  They both learn how to deal with these secrets and rely on new relationships that will bind them for life.  

What I Thought Of It:  What I thought was going to be a simple story about a girl going to college in Minnesota, became quite an emotional roller coaster.  Kate was a character that I liked right from the beginning.  It was such a joy to read about her friendship with Gus, the history they shared, and how they were to continue their intense friendship while separated by hundreds of miles.  Just when I thought the plot was going to be about Gus and Kate, in walks Keller Banks and the entire focus not really changed, but was added to greatly.  The first fourth of the book was pretty simple dealing with Kate starting at the college and meeting her new friends.  There were actually a few minutes when I was wondering what all the "fuss" was about this story.  Once I got past this first section of the book everything took a turn and I was completely hooked, absorbed, and obsessed by these three characters. The ending pretty much wrecked me and I was an emotional mess.  I'm now getting ready to read Gus and see how the story continues.  

Who Should Read It:  I'm not sure if this novel is geared toward the young-adult reader and/or the adult reader.  I could see both groups being perfect for this particular novel.  Since it is about a young girl going to college and her experiences, I think high school readers would be able to relate to it.  I also think they would enjoy the "love story" aspect of it.  The book is definitely not for readers that aren't in high school yet.  There are a few scenes that are "mature" in nature.  Adults readers will love everything about this story and will be come emotionally invested like I did.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

I Am Drums by Mike Grosso

How I Heard About It:  I believe it was a Twitter conversation I was following that included the author Mike Grosso.  I'm thinking it was during ALA in Orlando or just shortly before that.  Actually, it was during a MGDebut Twitter chat that I was first introduced to Mike and his forthcoming novel.  I asked about ARC's and it was cool enough to get his hands on one and send it my way.  It arrived this morning in the mail. After finishing my "chores", I sat down on the deck and read the entire book.  

What It Is About:  Sam (Samantha) is a sixth grader at the middle-school.  She is finding out that life isn't as easy there as it was in fifth grade at the elementary building.  Sam is sure of one thing.  Her passion is with drums and being a drummer.  She has even set up a "fake" drum set in her own room by using various materials.  After learning that the music program at her school might be cut, which will eliminate her chances of getting into one of the seventh grade bands, she becomes even more obsessed with drums.  Hiding the fact that she got into trouble at school by deleting messages from the principal, Sam complicates her life by getting a lawn job behind her parents' backs.  This lawn job is important because it allows Sam to take lessons from a well-known drummer teacher.  Her parents don't know about this either.  The only thing Sam can see in front of her is learning to be the best drummer she can.  Is she willing to risk her family life, her friendships, and a whole lot more at school?  

What I Thought Of It:  When I opened the package this morning and saw the cover of the book, it just made me happy.  Before I even started the story, I knew it was going to be great.  I finished the entire 250 pages during this afternoon while sitting out on my deck enjoying this beautiful summer day.  I love music, but really know nothing about it.  I was never in the band, but did take piano lessons as a young boy.  It was so interesting to learn about drumming and how Sam was so inspired and driven to be the best drummer she could.  The supporting cast of characters that surrounded Sam were interesting, necessary, and filled the story with suspense and support.  There are some great themes and life-lessons used in the story and I found myself rooting for Sam and her success.  This is Mike's first novel and I think he did a bang-up job.  It must be that he is a fourth grade teacher like myself.  Ha!  You could tell he "gets" kids and what they will do in order to achieve their dreams.  Loved the entire book and can't wait to share it with my students in the fall.  

Who Should Read It:  This really can be a story for anyone.  I can see readers in third through sixth enjoying it.  Middle-school readers will also gain satisfaction with the novel.  There is nothing questionable for any reader to be able to handle.  Adult readers that enjoy middle-grade fiction will enjoy Sam and her journey.  As I was reading it I kept thinking it would make for a great read aloud.  There is a lot of suspense and chapter endings that leave you wanting more.  I find these are the perfect novels to use for read aloud.  Look for this book in September.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Friend Friday #146 (The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles)

Hi!  I'm Shaeffer and I read the book called The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles written by Julie Andrews Edwards.  


I think this book is adventurous because the characters in the story go on fun and dangerous journeys.  


My favorite part in the story is when the three kids meet the Whangdoodle because the Whangdoodle is a fanciful creature and I would like to meet this creature if I could.  



The character that I liked best was The Professor because he helped the Whangdoodle with his wish.  The Professor found the secret of life and was able to make a female Whangdoodle to marry the Whangdoodle.  


I think the author wrote this book because she wanted kids to use their imagination to look further at things instead of just looking at it in a normal "boring" way.  


I would recommend this book to my friends because it shows kids how to use their own imaginations and the things they can accomplish if they use their own imagination.  


Reading to me is magnificent because some things in books can be really fun, interesting and "fanciful" to read about and experience.  


*Shaeffer is Sutton's brother and Sutton was my "Friend Friday" guest blogger last Friday.
*Shaeffer just finished third grade and is excited to be a fourth grade reader in the fall.
*He and his family spent several days with us last weekend.  They were visiting from Colorado.
*When Shaeffer isn't outside playing enjoying the Colorado weather, he loves to read.  
*I loved that one of his favorite books is a "classic".