Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to NOT Reading by Tommy Greenwald

Charlie Joe Jackson may be the most reluctant reader ever born. And so far, he’s managed to get through life without ever reading an entire book from cover to cover. But now that he’s in middle school, avoiding reading isn’t as easy as it used to be. And when his friend Timmy McGibney decides that he’s tired of covering for him, Charlie Joe finds himself resorting to desperate measures to keep his perfect record intact.This is the hilarious story of an avid non-reader and the extreme lengths to which he’ll go to get out of reading a book. Amazon.com

Need I say  I was a bit reluctant to  recommend this book. It's hard enough to get some kids to read without having a book to give them ideas about NOT reading. However, this may be a really great choice for the reluctant readers out there. Charlie Joe keeps his chapters short (Charlie Joe's Tip #1) and interesting (Charlie Joe's Tip #19).  It also has a story kids can relate to (shh.... yes, I said there's actually a story line too!).


By the way, check out the cute book trailer I found on Amazon.com and also a promotional video for public libraries!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Overview from www.barnesandnoble.com

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

I wish I had something more insightful to add to this review but this description pretty much sums it up for me too. It's full of witticism and is eloquently written although maybe a bit above the comfortable language level of most students below high school reading level. It's easy to fall for the two main characters, Hazel and Augustus as they confront their own mortality while yearning for some semblance of normal.

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb

summary from www.barnesandnoble.com

Twelve-year-old Oliver Watson’s got the IQ of a grilled cheese sandwich. Or so everyone in Omaha thinks. In reality, Oliver’s a mad evil genius on his way to world domination, and he’s used his great brain to make himself the third-richest person on earth! Then Oliver’s father—and archnemesis—makes a crack about the upcoming middle school election, and Oliver takes it as a personal challenge. He’ll run, and he’ll win! Turns out, though, that overthrowing foreign dictators is actually way easier than getting kids to like you. . . Can this evil genius win the class presidency and keep his true identity a secret, all in time to impress his dad?

This book sparked my interest from the first time I saw it. I know, I know.... don't judge a book by it's cover. But this one lived up to its packaging. Oliver is a stereotypical evil genius with a blend of Stewie from Family Guy and Austin Powers's Doctor Evil complete with disdain for adult authority, secret hide-outs and high tech gadgetry. But the underlying story is a lot closer to reality. Read this book and find out why Oliver, the evil genius, has chosen to run for class president...


Just noted... it looks like they may be turning this book into a movie... I'll write more information  about this as it becomes available.

Merry Christmas to me!

Sometimes we have to splurge on ourselves, right? Our school library is introducing eBooks to our students this year! Our school system has received a technology grant. With the increasing popularity of eBooks, we thought it was time to embrace this new technology. The library media specialist has an iPad. I've been using googlebooks on my phone up to now. When searching for that perfect gift for my family, I saw the Nooks available at the nearby Barnes and Noble. Why choose Nook? #1 answer - Convenience. The store is nearby so if I should have any problems with my eBook, I could drive 10 minutes away for easy tech support.

The next decision? Which one to choose. I personally chose the Nook Simple Touch. I have a smartphone and a laptop. Although the Nook Color and Nook Tablet have intriguing features like color and... the sole purpose of my purchase was to have an eReader. The price was a factor too. (My trip out WAS to get Christmas presents for my family)

"Best e-ink reader" -CNET, 06/01/2011

• NEW! Breakthrough E Ink® 6" display-25% faster
• NEW! Best-Text™ - ultra-crisp, just like paper
• Ultra-light plus longest battery life-over 2 months¹ (courtesy of www.barnesandnoble.com)

Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

 Can I just say that this was a pure case of judging a book by it's cover (and pictures inside too)! When browsing Barnes and Noble for the newest arrivals, this book caught my attention. The story tells of Jacob, who's lived with his grandfather's tales of extraordinary children and the home run by Mrs. Peregrine, fondly called the Bird, as they stayed in off the coast of Wales (a part of the British Islands for those who need a geography lesson) When Jacob is young he believes the tales his grandfather tells, especially when his grandfather has pictures to prove it. However, as Jacob grows older he start to have his doubts. Jacob's father tells me of his grandfather's life as one of the many children sent away from their parents during World War II. But when Jacob witnesses his grandfathers tragic, horrific death it leaves him even more confused. Was the grandfather telling the truth? The solution, find the island and the Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

I certainly don't want to give away the entire plot. The story line is about as odd as the pictures added throughout the book. Did I like the story..... yes, I guess. The story line was weaker than I would like. What kept me reading was finding out how Mr. Rigg's managed to relate the pictures to the story. Would I recommend the book. Yes, to the right person. It was an easy read and would be a good book for those young reluctant readers who enjoy a photo to help the plot.