Smokin' Sixteen

Today I read Janet Evanovich, Smokin' Sixteen.  Loved it to say the least.  It is not on the booklist, but needed to read an old favorite over Thanksgiving.  For some reason Stephanie Plum sucks me in and I can't stop until there is not more.  Ranger and Morelli kind of remind me of Edward and Jacob for Bella in the beginning of the Twilight series.  Who should be chosen?  Morelli?  Stable, good job, great guy.  or Ranger?  Not stable, great job, great guy, mysterious.  The seventeenth book came out last week, I can't wait to check it out from the library.  :)

Twilight The graphic novel...

I will just begin with wierd...

You hear me?

Hmm...what to say about the book "You hear me?"  Sometimes while reading this book, I wanted to not hear what the boys were saying.  It was hard to think that teenagers have to deal with problems like these.  My Garrett is about to be a teenager.  He is not eloquent in his writing, so I could not see him doing anything like what I read in this book, yet, on the other hand, if he had to deal with some of these subjects, he would talk to his dad or I about it.  I just don't know that he would.  Did I like it?  It was made of good writing, people need to talk about such subjects to get it off their backs, to get help with the issues they have to deal with on a day to day basis.  I just can't say that it was my fav.  I guess.

The Kite Runner

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Award:  Challenged Book

The Kite Runner is about a little boy named Hassan.  His father serves Amir's (Hassan's best friend) father.  The story is about their life together in the streets of Kabul.  The story takes a turn when Amir sits and watches as Hassan is abused.  This part of the book was very disturbing to me to say the least.  Amir eventually comes to America and always looks back and thinks of Hassan and what has happened to him. 
One of my college friends read this book and gave it to me quite awhile ago.  I never got around to reading it until I saw it on the challenged book list.  I did like the book, but didn't like parts of it.  I can completely understand why it was on the challenged book list. 

Hosseini, K. The Kite Runner. Riverhead Trade, 2004.

ISBN:  9781594480003

A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet.

Author: Stephen T. Johnson

Award: Notable Book Award

A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet is a wonderful book filled with ABC's for older kids.  This is not an early reader kind of book like I would think the name would suggest.  Each page has a photo of some art, like a sculptor or a painting. The author then created a description of that art work using the letter on the page.  The description uses mostly words beginning with that focus letter.  The words are for older kiddos. 
I made the mistake one day in my Kindergarten class of thinking I would read this book to my kids without reading it myself before hand.  I opened it up and read the first page, and was NOT pleasantly surprised by how it is NOT your typical ABC book.  It is a neat book with great letter usage, and wonderful artwork.  It is just not for younger students.

Johnson, S. A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet.  Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2008.

ISBN: 9780689863011

Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name

Author:  Tedd Arnold

Award: New York Times Best Seller

Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name is a book about a little girl who has everything going against her.  She is lanky, awkward, her eyes go in different directions, he legs aren't the same length and more.  When she grows up, she is still different, yet gets married to a guy named Smith.  This is the funniest book.  I read it to my class EVERY year, sometimes more than once.  All of my students know this is my most favorite book.  On a good day, I might even sing it to them. My book even has huge google eyes on the front cover.  Love it!

Arnold, T. Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name.   Scholastic, 2006.

ISBN: 9780590109944

Bud Not Buddy

Author:  Christopher Paul Curtis

Award: Newbery Award Winner 2000

Bud 'not Buddy' is a story about a little boy who is 10.  His mother has died, and his foster homes have been anything but desirable.  Bud 'not Buddy' has a poster of a musician that when his mother looked at it, she had gotten very upset.  Bud decided this was his father so he goes off in search of him.  The story tells of his trials along the way. 
This book was one our family listened to on CD on a trip to Nebraska for Christmas many years ago.  When I brought it home from the library, my kids wanted me to read it out loud so they could hear it again.  It brought back quite a few memories of the trip.  Funny how a good book can bring a whole family together.

Curtis, C.P. Bud Not Buddy. Laurel Leaf, 2004.

ISBN: 9780553494105