Closed for the Season

Some 7th graders stayed after school today for a book discussion on Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn. This was a really creepy mystery about an unsolved murder, missing (embezzled) money, and also themes like friendship and loyalty. One of the things we talked about was staying true to yourself and standing up for what you believe in. I'm always proud of my kids when we have a discussion and I find that they've grasped these important points on their own.

Because an important location in the book was a closed, rundown theme park where a lot of the action takes place, one thing we talked about was local legends about haunted buildings and unsolved mysteries. We managed to creep ourselves out, and while I had one story that they'd never heard - the house that turned around - they also had plenty that they all knew, independently of each other. It was a lot of fun.

Paper Towns discussion

I had a really good GMBA book discussion with some high school kids last week. They took home John Green's book to read over February break, and we met with snacks after school to talk about it. They had a lot of good insight, and they all pointed out that John Green does a really great job of writing realistic teenagers. Also, he is hilarious. They all know him because we watch vlogbrothers videos all the time too, so that makes him an extra real person. In our discussion we talked a lot about the ways we can never really know somebody, only our perception of who we think they are. As John Green writes, "'What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person". I also spent some time making a page for my students with links, videos and pictures of references from the books. How cool that they now get to know the Mountain Goats!

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

We recently completed a book discussion at school for this DCF nominated book. 7th and 8th graders attended and we had a great conversation. Besides discussing the plot, we also talked about how Modo's appearance affects his life and makes him sympathetic to the plight of the orphans, whether Mr. Socrates acts ethically in purchasing Modo and training him to meet his own ends, and some of the gender roles during the Victorian era. 

The Hunchback Assignments is an exciting steampunk adventure, full of villains and heroes, as well as romance and intrigue. The hideously ugly orphan Modo, purchased from gypsies at age 5 by his benefactor Mr. Socrates, spends his life in isolation, rigorously training for he knows not what. After being forced to survive on his own in London for six months as a test, Modo finds himself using all of his intelligence and fighting ability to try to save missing street children from the nefarious clutches of The Clockwork Guild.

My library

The Eternal Smile: three stories by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim

These three slightly connected but very different stories are humorously entertaining. The first, Duncan's Kingdom, follows classic fairy tale/fantasy form but with a surprising bonus. The second, Gran'pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile, appeals as a mix between Scrooge McDuck and The Truman Show. The third, my favorite, titled Urgent Request, is a charming tale of a meek woman who finally, and surprisingly, grows a spine when the reader is all set to be disappointed in her. The three stories have very different voices and styles, and so are worthwhile reading in order to enjoy the differences.

The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd

Initially reminiscent of Life as we knew it even though the disaster situation is not identical, The Carbon Diaries 2015 follows a year in the life of British teenager Laura Brown as the entire country is put on carbon rationing. I ended up liking this better actually, as there is more character development and the narrator has charming elements of the Georgia Nicholson voice. There were times when the book teetered on the edge of didacticism but it was clear that the author was trying not to go down that road. Overall, it was enjoyable and was a good example of what could happen to the earth if we don't change our daily behavior and habits immediately.

Fade to Black by Alex Flinn

Although not as perfect an example of the unreliable narrator as Inexcusable, Fade to Black nevertheless raises lots of questions. With an HIV positive main character, this book forces readers to think about their perception of people living with the disease. For example, Alex's family is insistent on making it clear that he got it from a blood transfusion, because that somehow makes it seem less his fault than if he got it another way. I think this is a very good choice for a lot of our students here in Vermont who often aren't exposed to people unlike themselves. Plus, Flinn's writing is always enjoyable, and while the content might be challenging, she knows how to draw in the reluctant readers.

DopeSick by Walter Dean Myers

A graphic portrayal of the way the decisions we make affect our lives, DopeSick illustrates how we are all responsible for our own actions, and it's never too late to change the direction of our lives.

Just After Sunset by Stephen King

The master's latest short story collection. Brilliant as ever.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Fantasy combined with realism, Impossible illustrates a legend behind the classic song Scarborough Fair. Although I found it a bit heavy, readers who enjoy fantastical elements in their realism or fairy tale retellings should find something to like in Impossible.

The disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks: a novel by E. Lockhart

At times charming, other times too smart for her own good, Frankie Landau-Banks tries to find her place in the world, or at least in the small corner of the world that is her prestigious New England boarding school. The best thing about Frankie's character is her fallibility. Although she wants to do what's right, she never comes across as annoyingly self- righteous, yet neither is she altruistic or looking out for the common good. While she has an admirable and concrete purpose for her actions, it's clear that she doesn't always know how to solve her problems the right way, and she must stand by the consequences of her actions. However, she still is better off than if she had passively accepted her situation.

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

A disturbing look at life within an extreme religious sect. Although sometimes melodramatic, The Chosen One offers readers a glimpse at a world they could never begin to comprehend but also will hopefully lead the way to an understanding of the extremes to which some people are pushed. Although fairly sophisticated in theme, The Chosen One is written at a middle school level, making it accessible to more readers.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

This is one of those books that helps readers see that ethics aren't always a simple matter of right and wrong, good and bad, or left and right. Certain to prompt discussion or thought, especially in our era of genetic ethics.

Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

My main problem with reading this was that it had been years since I read Good in Bed where Cannie Shapiro was introduced, and then all Weiner’s other books in between, that I had a lot of trouble remembering exactly where the story was picking up in Cannie’s life. Unfortunately, Weiner’s books suck me in so much that I actually couldn’t stop reading Certain Girls long enough to pick up a copy of GinB to reread. Her writing is so delicious and captivating that I always have trouble putting the books down and forcing myself not to skip ahead. I managed to piece enough together from context about Cannie’s life to make sense of the book, but unfortunately it looks like I might have to reread both books at some point in the near future.

Because the story jumps back and forth from the point of view of the now all grown up Cannie and her adolescent daughter Joy, I did have a little bit of trouble identifying 100% with either of them. Weiner effectively portrays Joy’s teenage sullenness and resentment of her mother in a way that is all too familiar, and she also evokes Cannie’s all encompassing maternal love as well as shows her having realistically progressed since the end of GinB.

I felt that Cannie dwells on her weight and appearance too much for it to be interesting. It’s definitely an issue that I can identify with, but it’s too boring to obsess about so much. There are way more interesting things in life. And by this point in Cannie’s life it doesn’t seem like it’s much of an issue to anybody but herself, save for Joy when she feels extra bitchy and embarrassed by her mother.

I felt like near the end of the novel Weiner aims kind of a low blow at the reader, but to be fair this is realistic fiction. I just wish it and life could be more sugar coated. Afterwards though, Joy becomes much more mature and the characters exhibit the human resliiency that makes them believable.

Even though the character of Joy isn’t especially likable on the outside judging by her actions, her narrated sections show her vulnerability and lack of self-awareness so that the reader can’t help but like her and sympathize with her.

Basically, I would read the back of a cereal box if Jennifer Weiner wrote it.

Bone by bone by bone by Tony Johnston

I found this book evocative of Harper Lee’s South, which is a testament to the author that I don’t necessarily think she did it on purpose.

David is the white son of a doctor in 1950s Tennessee, and has been forbidden to bring home his best friend and blood brother, a black boy named Malcolm. His father’s original edict prevented David form even playing with Malcolm, but the boys simply couldn’t resist one another’s company, so his father clarified that Malcolm would be shot on sight if he ever crossed their doorstep.

While respecting his father, David questions his father’s beliefs along with the mores and standards of the society to which he belongs.

Bone is a touching almost coming of age novel that proves that life is complicated and that it’s not always easy to tell right from wrong. The ending is a satisfying yet realistically complicated finish to this short but worthwhile story.

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

This book was quite short and super quick to read, but I enjoyed plowing through it. Up until the end at least.

It's told from the perspective of two teenagers- Kyle Kirby and Cass McBride, and alternates chapters between their two points of view. It turns out that Kyle's younger brother David has recently committed suicide and he holds the popular social butterfly Cass to blame. He comes up with what he considers a fitting punishment, and as the drama unfolds through the narrative, police detectives are working to uncover exactly what happened before it's too late.

Throughout the course of the story, both of the main characters reveal more about themselves and their motivations than they intend to, and it seems that they both have reasons for behaving the way they do.

This was a good story throughout, but I was quite disappointed by the ending. I felt it took what could have been a greater book about serious issues and turned it into an episode of Without a Trace, and sort of made light of the serious actions and consequences of the story.

Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja

Buddha Boy is a YA book about bullying that takes a different and refreshing look at a common topic. Justin, the narrator, is a sophomore at a typical high school in an affluent community, where he is just trying to make it through the year without garnering excessive attention. He has a couple of close friends, Jakob and Megan, and the three of them form a tight knit group. As far as Justin is concerned, the three of them only need each other.

That is, until Jinsen arrives on the scene, a strange new student with no self-consciousness, who begs at lunch tables and who seems impervious to taunts and harassment. Justin doesn't think it's funny when the jocks make fun of Jinsen and throw things at him, but there's nothing he can do about it except not participate. Justin and Jinsen end up paired in a group project, and Justin reluctantly gets to know his partner better. Jinsen turns out to be a fantastic artist and attends the Buddhist temple. It's his faith that enables him to ignore the mistreatment of his peers, but as Justin comes to know, like, and respect Jinsen, it's not as easy for him to put up with the ignorance and bad behavior of his classmates.

Because the narrator was a separate character from the kid who was getting bullied, I was worried for a lot of the book that Justin was only describing events as they occurred and that something really bad was going to happen. Luckily, over time Justin became more involved in the story and was a more active participant, and I felt like this happened at a realistic pace. I enjoyed reading about a kid who felt the peer pressure but didn't necessarily buy into it. Justin was also confident in his friends even though they were less accepting of Jinsen at first, and he was lucky to have a supportive, functional family.

I ended up listening to the book on tape because it was more readily available than the print version, and I am not an audiobook kind of person. I enjoyed the story well enough but I would have probably liked it much better if I had read it on paper. I was never able to go back and check something I had read earlier as I often do. The vocies were distracting as well- they often didn't have the tone or inflection I would have expected. I wouldn't choose a full cast reading if I listened to another audiobook. But I feel like they are worth trying every so often considering their popularity.

Arrogant Invader by Jenny Arden

For one I don't know why I let this book get to me, and for two my life would be so much simpler if I could resist reading everything I see in print. I would never have inflicted this book upon myself. I don't even know how it got into my house- it's a Mills & Boon title from 1990 that I saw lying under some other books, including a Christopher Pike behind a bookcase between my room and my brother's.

Usually I can give this type of category romance some leeway in the realism department because I know what to expect, but lately I haven't able to take them with a grain of salt, which is why this book irritated the crap out of me.

The story opens with Gwenyth and her fiancé Marc flying into Wales from France where they met and fell in love during her junior year abroad. G is taking M home to meet her family as a surprise. So far everything seems good- G & M are in love, he has a successful career in France, she's sporting a big old rock on her finger, he's French and she's a French major. As far as I'm concerned, that's an HEA right there. However, when they land expecting to be greeted by G's father, they're surprised to see Jeb, the arrogant jerk who bought out G's father a few years back when he was injured at his slate quarry.

The antagonism between J & G is palpable as he begins subtly taunting her, slipping into an old familiar pattern. Apparently he's amused by her irritation and dislike of him, which is bad romance shorthand for a latent sexual attraction that she's too sweetly naive to pick up on. J is snide to the fiancé, harasses G when they're alone together, even casting aspersions on M's ability in bed even though G's obviously a perfect virginal heroine, and otherwise comes across as a rude, arrogant jerk, except around the rest of the family who finds him charming and generous.

This is how the book proceeds- J's harassing G left and right, grabbing her and kissing her until she submits to his will, making fun of her fiancé, and eventually blackmailing her, virtually forcing her to dump M and marry him. The one advantage I found him to have over M and which apparently proves that M is bad husband material, is that J wants G to finish the last year of her degree before spending the rest of her life as a SAHM, while M wants her to begin the SAHM part immediately and to quit her fourth year of studies. She already knows French after all, so why get the piece of paper to prove it? I'm inclined to agree with M in this because it's not like she needs the degree to pursue a career or anything; she's never going to work outside the home and she's already successfully been living in France.

But of course J eventually convinces G that M will stifle her and would otherwise be wrong for her. He also issues a challenge to M saying that he plans to court G himself. This made me so mad! He should have respected the ring on her finger. If he had been nice to her at any point during the years of their acquaintance, that would have redeemed him more than his eventual confession that he did it all for love. Not to mention the blackmail- her father needs a job at the quarry because of bad investments, and J says he will offer the job if G agrees to marry him. I can't see a heroine falling in love with a man like that, but more likely with a man who would help her family out because it's the right thing to do.

J and G have their sham of a wedding but she is unable to go through with the wedding night because she has gone and fallen in love with her masterful new husband. After her tearful confession he professes his long hidden love and they proceed to have the best sex ever, and presumably live happily ever after.

I hated that J couldn't just be nice to the woman he loves, and I hated G's lack of self-awareness- apparently all the bad feelings J made her feel were really the hots that she had for him. This is a common romance novel heroine theme- they hate the hero, don't get along with him despite his cold handsomeness, they get angry whenever they're around him, and then one day this is all magically converted into true love. This seems like laziness on the writer's part- the better writers are able to make a conflict out of something believable and can make a budding attraction feel like something delicious and worth exploring.The book really is typical for its time, and I certainly took it way too seriously and personally, but I'm glad category writing standards have come so far since then-well, some of them anyway.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

This book was absolutely captivating and well-written. Everything about it just fit together so well. Green did an excellent job of both characterization and scene-setting.

Colin has just finished high school and been dumped by his 19th girlfriend named Katherine. He's at a loss of how to spend his summer when his best friend Hassan proposes a road trip. They end up in the hick town of Gutshot, Tennessee, where they decide to settle down for a while.

The thing is, the author could have written any series of adventures for these characters and it would have been equally as entertaining. Colin's a former child prodigy who feels that since he has outgrown his prodigy-hood, he has nothing else interesting or unique to show the world. To me it seemed like he had a touch of Asperger's, but that is never mentioned in the book. Hassan is his devout-Muslim-when-it-suits-him friend who graduated from high school a year prior and although he's smart, he specializes in laziness. He's the fat funny kid. The author does really well at showing people's common insecurities, and he effectively deals with the theme of being able to be yourself. All the main characters deal with some form of this issue.

I would absolutely love to read a sequel to this book- I just want to know more about Colin's life and see how things turn out for him.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock

This YA novel was a very enjoyable story that ended too quickly for me. I read it because I had to and didn't expect to like it, or really to sympathize with the protagonist who farms and plays football, but I really ending up liking her, and I felt the author captured the voice of a teenage girl very well.

D.J.’s father is waiting for a hip replacement and is unable to get around without a walker, so D.J. is basically running the family’s dairy farm on her own. A close family friend who happens to be the rival high school’s football coach in a town where high school football is taken very seriously, sends over his quarterback to help out with the chores but also to teach him how to work. D.J. is nonplussed at the idea of training a privileged, lazy town kid the ropes of haying, baling, and milking and makes this clear through her superior attitude, but D.J. and Brian eventually learn to at least get along and work side by side, whether they’re thrilled about it or not. At the same time that she is trying to sort through her own feelings about life and choices we make, she realizes that not only would she make a good personal trainer for Brian but also that she might make a pretty good football player herself.


D.J. has an engaging and amusing personality; she is self-aware but not unrealistically so. She is aware of her shortcomings, often judging herself too harshly. Although she sometimes wishes things were different, like her looks, her family’s lifestyle, her social life, she doesn’t spend time complaining or sulking but has a pragmatic attitude and does what she needs to. She is an admirable character and speaks in a refreshing voice. There is much description of football and of farming, and while it’s clear that the author is knowledgeable about both, her tone is neither condescending nor didactic. Murdock describes both these subjects in a conversational way so the tone of the story is never interrupted but the description is all there. I also loved the way she didn’t sugarcoat anything; she was frank about the hardships people face.


D.J. was a character I would have still enjoyed reading about even if the book was more serious or weighty, which is often not the case with YA novels. I would love to read more about her.