BookRoads

BookRoads is Moving!

2010-02-08T19:42:00.006-05:00

We are moving this site to goodreads, a book sharing site. Please find our BookRoads Group on goodreads and feel free to post books you've read, are reading or want to read.
Click here to access our new site. See you there!

Flush by Carl Hiaasen

2009-11-03T11:16:00.005-05:00

Noah's Dad is in jail and his family's reaction is, "Oh, no, not again." It seems Dad is always getting into trouble for fighting with people who destroy the environment on the Florida coast. Dad is in jail for sinking the casino boat, the Coral Queen. He suspected them of illegally dumping their bilge tanks in the basin.

Noah and his sister Abbey set out to find proof that this is true with the hopes of getting Dad out of jail. Mom seriously considers the "D" word because she is tired being married to a jailbird - not to mention that half the town thinks her husband is a lunatic.

Flush is a charming, funny story dealing with very real environmental issues and people who care about keeping the world pollution free.

This book is the One Book Crossroads selection for 2009-2010.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2009-11-03T10:37:00.004-05:00

The Graveyard Book begins with a really gruesome event. A man savagely kills an entire family except for a baby who unwittingly crawls his way to the nearby graveyard. The baby is quickly adopted by a resident ghost, Mrs. Owens, who renames him Nobody Owens. Thus, young Bod grows up in the graveyard and is taught ghostly skills like fading, haunting and dream walking as well as reading and writing by a whole cast of ghoulish creatures.

Neil Gaiman crafts a rich story that often makes the reader stop and say, I never thought of this before. What struck me is the idea that the ghosts go back to Ancient Roman times (the story takes place in England.) Nobody is thus schooled in history and has various learning experiences from different centuries.

In spite of the horrific first few pages, the rest of the book is scary but not grotesque. It is also quite suspenseful when the killer returns to the graveyard seeking to kill the one survivor, Nobody.

Gaiman is an incredible writer!

Heat by Mike Lupica

2009-11-03T09:54:00.010-05:00

I have wanted to read a book by Mike Lupica and Heat did not disappoint.

Star Pitcher Michael Arroyo has always had dreams of pitching in the Little League World Series. Just when it appears his dream might come true, an opposing team challenges his age. As a Cuban born immigrant, he has trouble proving his birth date. This is further complicated by a family secret which he cannot reveal.

Heat is a true baseball lover's book. Lupica, a sportswriter for the Daily News, definitely gets into the head of a pitcher in a most realistic way. This is not just a boy's book either. There is a good bit of romance with Ellie, the daughter of a very famous pitcher.

Heat is well written and entertaining, with many subplots, which make it a very quick read.

Feed by M.T. Anderson

2009-02-10T09:07:00.006-05:00

I only recently discovered the work of M.T. Anderson, and he has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He explores such diverse genres as vampire novels (Thirsty), young adult serial novel satires (Whales on Stilts, The Clue of the Linoleum Leiderhosen), and futuristic worlds-gone-wrong (Feed), all with humor, adventure, and empathy.

Feed paints a picture of Earth perhaps 1000 years in the future. Almost everyone on the planet has been implanted with a "feed," essentially a wireless Internet connection that connects directly into the brain. People can listen to music, instant-message, watch movies, see advertisements, and buy things simply by tuning into the "feed." While this might sound idyllic to those of us who are glued to our computers and hand-held "wired" devices, Anderson illustrates the downside of a constantly plugged-in and literature-free world. The characters, even the adults, speak in a childish, unsophisticated blend of "likes" and "you knows," and the one character who isn't plugged into the feed (and not coincidentally the only character who can read) is the object of distrust and isolation.

The dystopia depicted in Feed may sound bleak, but in our present existence of incessant text-messaging, "Twitter," and Facebook, it might not be too far away.

London Calling by Edward Bloor

2009-02-10T07:59:00.004-05:00

Having really enjoyed Bloor's Tangerine, and being a big fan of the classic Clash album, I was excited to read London Calling. Bloor's novel is a tale of courage, forgiveness, and family that crosses decades and oceans by means of a time-traveling radio.

Martin is a student at a prestigious private school in central New Jersey. He is content to spend his summer vacation cooped up in his basement, instant-messaging with friends and reading. When his grandmother passes away, though, and Martin inherits her 1940's Philco radio, his hermit tranquility is turned upside-down. Martin is thrown into a 60-year-old mystery that will reconnect him with his alcoholic father, his larger-than-life hero grandfather, and his genius older sister. He will also meet Jimmy, a boy about his age who died in the 1940 German bombing of London.

I highly recommend this spine-tingling book. Anyone who is interested in World War II or ghost stories, or who has ever felt wrongly accused of a misdeed, will find this a great read.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

2008-09-16T20:17:00.002-04:00

Imagine what it would be like to have wings and be able to fly like a hawk? On the one hand, you may feel a bit weird and awkward. On the other hand, it is pretty cool to be able to escape any situation by flying away.

Maximum Ride, the title character of this book, does just that. Max and her buddies are "birdkids." They grew wings as a result of a genetic experiment. The book begins with an attack on the "Flock" by a group of mutant wolf hybrids called Erasers. The Erasers kidnap Angel, the youngest of the "birdkids." Much of the story revolves around the search for Angel. As Max and her extended family fly off to rescue their genetically enhanced sister, she uncovers clues to their past and the experiment which left them 98% human and 2% bird.

Maximum Ride is a well written, fast paced adventure that is difficult to put down. The author, James Patterson, is famous for his many popular adult mystery thrillers. This is his first venture into young adult literature. We are very lucky he made the leap. Enjoy!

Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine

2008-08-10T08:57:00.011-04:00

Few periods in history have captured my imagination like the Cultural Revolution in China. Chinese culture has a long history placing value on education and the wisdom that comes with age. During the Cultural Revolution, however, having both a traditional education and rich life experiences was scorned. Most of the educated, accomplished professionals were sent to work camps in the countryside. Furthermore, young people were encouraged to turn against their parents and grandparents who were not complying with Chairman Mao's orders to burn their books and cut all ties with their bourgeois past.

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party tells the story of a girl named Ling who grew up in China during that time. Ling's parents are both doctors living a productive, happy life in Wuhan when one day, Comrade Li moves in. A member of the communist party, Comrade Li makes life difficult for Ling's family and neighbors. Ling's father burns all their books. It appears that Ling will not be able to attend school. Her father is arrested and the family has very little to eat. She is bullied endlessly because of her elitist past. Ling refuses to cut her long hair, despite the fact that her peers see it as a remnant of her privileged background.

The author's vivid storytelling makes us experience Ling's pain and sorrow as if we were living next door to her. We long for any chance to learn from teachers, peers, or family. Since food is so scarce, we yearn for the simplest of edible delights. It is no wonder that the author has also published several cookbooks. An excellent read!

The Pact: Three Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Drs. Samson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt

2008-08-06T11:39:00.006-04:00

Getting through college and medical/dental school seems difficult enough these days with the stiff competition. However, the authors of this book were able to accomplish this and more in spite of the fact that they all grew up in broken homes in Newark, NJ. The Pact is a non-fiction, first person account of their efforts to rise out of a neighborhood of drugs, gangs and violence to become doctors.

The authors all tested into Newark's University High, and like other high school boys were trying to get by doing as little work as possible. George went to a presentation for a Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental recruitment program at Seton Hall University. He was hooked and persuaded his two friends to join the program. The boys made a pact to support each other when the going gets rough so that they could fulfill their dream.

This is not a tale of all going smoothly and living happily ever after. Rather, it is an account of the difficulties they encountered. Many had family members and friends who were addicted to drugs. All three had little or no financial resources. Several got arrested. At one point, they were performing rap and toying with the idea of music as a career.

This book is about second chances and making the right choices. It is an inspiration to all.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

2008-08-06T09:59:00.009-04:00

One day the Overlords appear and park their space ships at strategic points around the world. Contrary to our pre-conceived fears about extra terrestrials, the Overlords come in peace with a desire to help humanity. They proceed to wipe out all violence, poverty, disease and war. How they do this is a very fascinating part of the story. Furthermore, the Overlords will not reveal themselves to humans for the first 50 years. When they do, again, we are faced with a peculiar interpretation of our own culture. With time, we discover the Overlords' motives for coming to earth and their final transformation of the human race.

Some of you may be familiar with Arthur C. Clarke's book 2001 A Space Odyssey which was made into what many believe to be the best science fiction movie of all time. However, for science fiction aficionados, Childhood's End is one of Clarke's most successful novels and a true science fiction classic.

Peak by Roland Smith

2008-08-06T09:46:00.012-04:00

Peak begins with fourteen-year-old Peak Marcelo climbing the Woolworth Building in Manhattan. The police arrest him and put him in jail. As part of his probation and in an effort to thwart copycat climbers in New York City, Peak is sent to the Himalayas to live with his mountaineering dad. His father, whose expedition business trains teams to climb Mt. Everest, decides that Peak could be the youngest person to reach the peak. He assigns one of the Sherpa guides to get Peak acclimated to the altitude and prepare him for the trek. Peak befriends a Nepalese boy named Sun-Jo and discovers that life in the Himalayas is not as beautiful as it appears in photos.

This is a great adventure story with many twists and turns. The book explores several timely themes and subplots. Is this father/son relationship based on love or exploitation? Are the Sherpas helped or abused by the mountain climbing tourists? How difficult is the political situation for the Tibetans? Check it out and see.

Many of you may have read this book after our thrilling author visit with Roland Smith in the spring. Click here to see Roland Smith talk about writing.

Exiled: Memoirs of a Camel

2008-05-11T18:46:00.003-04:00

Every time I walked through the library and saw this book title and the engaging cover image, I was intrigued, and I finally had a chance to pick it up and read it this weekend.

This delightful book, by Kathleen Karr, follows the adventures of Ali, a camel from Egypt who is brought to Texas in 1856 as part of a US Army experiment to see if camels would be useful in the opening of the Great American West. This unlikely tale is based on true events, but told from the perspective of Ali. His observations on the behavior of humans is insightful, and the descriptions of the Comanche people and the California Gold Rush are vivid and well-researched.

Exiled was a quick read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in animals or history.

Left for Dead: : A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis

2007-09-16T21:07:00.000-04:00

Growing up on the Jersey shore, I was never all that terrified of sharks. Most of my friends had the attitude, swim and let swim; or rather swim away quietly and let the sharks keep circling around off the jetty. This all changed when the movie "Jaws" was released. Mass shark hysteria hit the beaches and no one was allowed to swim very far offshore. Now, every time I went into the ocean, all I could see was the shark's underwater view of us just waiting to attack!

Jaws also made an impression on an eleven-year-old boy named Hunter Scott. It was when he first heard about the World War II sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the subsequent shark attack on the survivors. Scott turned his curiosity of this event into a history fair project and researched in depth not only the details of the shark attack but also the US Navy court martial of the ship's captain.

Author Peter Nelson uses Hunter Scott's research to write this captivating story. Left for Dead relies on oral histories of the survivors to retell the shark attack and shark behavior in general. For example, it is not only blood that attracts sharks but any body fluid. The book also describes the events leading up to the attack and the reasons the survivors were not rescued sooner. Hunter Scott made it his mission to find out what actually happened in the South Pacific. Was it really the captain's fault that no help came?

Read more and see how an 11-year-old middle school boy can make a difference in the way history is written and in the lives of so many men and their families. Also a Challenging Choice this year.

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

2007-09-11T19:38:00.000-04:00

If you were lucky enough to see Neal Shusterman at Crossroads last year, you will know that he certainly deserves the name Storyman. His latest book, Everlost, is yet another weave of stories with interesting characters in unique settings.

The book begins when Nick and Allie are both killed in a car accident. They meet as they collide on their way toward the "light" and are tossed into an alternate universe called Everlost. You can never stop moving in Everlost, lest you sink into the earth. You can't look for your home, although Allie is trying to find her family. She and Nick form a bond as they travel and look for answers to their plight. They encounter Mary Hightower, the leader of the lost children's souls at the World Trade Center. Mary seems to be their protector but the author plays with the idea of goodness itself. Then they meet the dreaded McGill, a monster who chimes children on his ship (certainly an interesting picture forms from Shusterman's description of life on the ship!)
This land-in-between proves to be unlike any place you can imagine and its bizarre inhabitants make Everlost a great read. It is also a Challenging Choice this year.

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg

2007-08-21T17:02:00.000-04:00

The one thing I love about summer is that I get a chance to go back and read books I have always wanted to read. E.L. Konigsburg’s Silent to the Bone is one of those books.

It begins with a call to 911 and an event that takes away Branwell Zamborska’s power of speech. The transcript of the 911 call is repeated at various times during the book as we all try to decipher who is to blame for his baby sister’s descent into a coma. The nanny claims that Branwell dropped her. Did Branwell do it? Is he refusing to speak or is he simply unable to?

Most of the story is told through the voice of Branwell’s best friend, Connor. It is Connor who insists that his friend is not capable of hurting his sister. And it is Connor who let’s us into the psyche of Branwell as he tries to help him communicate what really happened on November 25th at 2:43p.m.

This is truly a captivating story of a 13-year-old boy who is completely overwhelmed by a life-changing event.

The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

2007-08-21T16:54:00.001-04:00

It is 1942 and nine-year-old Bruno has just moved from Berlin to “Out-With.” “The Fury” transferred his father, a high ranking Nazi commandant. Bruno is incredibly unhappy here since there are no other children his age. Bruno goes exploring one day and meets Shmuel who lives on the other side of a long fence that separates his house from a sandy area with flat buildings. Shmuel is thin, pale and sad and is wearing gray, striped pajamas. Bruno brings him food. They exchange stories about each other’s lives. Neither boy has much of an understanding of the events which are actually taking place in “Out-With.” The story is told through Bruno’s eyes as a child who does not question authority. His innocence is believable and allows the story to unfold as their friendship grows. The ending is horrifying but believable.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It deals with the subject of the Holocaust in a unique, yet powerful account of a friendship between two nine-year-old boys who are yearning to connect.

Twilight & New Moon

2007-02-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

Two of the best books I have every read are Twilight and New Moon. They are both by Stephenie Meyer. Twilight is the first book and New Moon, which is pretty new, is the second. Twilght and New Moon are about Bella and the Cullen family. Bella is a normal human, until she meets the Cullen family, who are really vampires. Before she knows it, Bella has fallen in love with Edward, a vampire in the Cullen family. Their love gets them through some life threatening experiences but they still end up living happily ever after.

I did a little research on the book and the author. They are planning to make a movie on Twilight, which is a must see. I don't know when it's coming out, probably not for a year or so. I heard that Stephenie Meyer is currently writing a third book called Eclipse and is planning on a 4th and 5th book The Breaking Dawn and The Midnight Sun.

To find out more on Stephenie Meyer check out her site at www.stepheniemeyer.com.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

2007-01-24T11:06:00.000-05:00

Looking for a really creepy story? Neil Gaiman's "Coraline" is just the book.

Coraline is a young girl who moves to a new apartment. Bored and looking for something to do on a rainy day, she discovers and unlocks a forgotten door that leads her to a magical new place.

But any similarities to the Chronicles of Narnia end here.

Gaiman, who re-invented the graphic novel back in the 1980's with his ground-breaking "Sandman" series, doesn't shy away from the spooky stuff, even with his work for younger readers. In fact, the fariy-tale-gone-horribly-wrong tone of "Coraline" only adds to the shadowy eeriness of the book. He is one of those rare authors who understands that what makes a story really scary is the implied stuff, the monsters we don't really see, but know might be lurking under the bed, or behind the locked door.

Victory

2007-01-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

I am a big fan of Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series, so I was very excited to see that she recently published a new historical fiction/fantasy book. "Victory" tells two compelling inter-twining stories, set 200 years apart.

One story follows the adventures and hardships of Sam, a young boy living in England in the early 1800's who is drafted into the British navy to fight against Napoleon. He serves aboard Admiral Nelson's famed ship, the HMS Victory.

The other story tells us about Molly, a teenager from modern times whose parents have just moved from England to Connecticut. Homesick and lonely, Molly stumbles across a biography of Admiral Nelson in a used bookshop, and a magical link between Molly and Sam is formed.

You can tell Cooper did a lot of research on the tall ships from the age of sail, but don't be discouraged by all the nautical language. There is a glossary of sailing terms provided at the end of the book.

Being a guy, and a history teacher, I was naturally drawn to Sam's story of adventure and war on the high seas. I was surprisingly also drawn to the story of Molly as well. Any young person who has moved to a new place or has to deal with new step-siblings will relate to her experiences.

The Woman in the Wall by Patrice Kindl

2007-01-11T08:03:00.000-05:00

This book is about a young girl named Anna, who is very shy. She was so shy what most times no one paid her any attention. When she was seven her mother told her that she had to go to school and Anna became so scared that she hid inside the walls of their enormous house. Inside the walls of her house she builds hallways and tunnels she can see her family. One day Anna finds a note stuck inside a crack and she must decide if she wants to come out into the world which she was so scared of to begin with.

I enjoyed reading this book it was hard to put it down as I wanted to know what would happen to Anna as she lived in the walls of her house. Would she ever come out into the real world again?

A coal miner's bride : the diary of Anetka Kaminska by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

2007-01-10T10:09:00.000-05:00

This book was written by a young girl who lived in Poland with her grandmother and brother. Her mother had died and her father went to America to make a better life for his family. Anetka's father sends them a ticket to come to America and tells Anetka that when she arrives in American she will be married to a coal miner friend of her fathers. Anna kept an account of her daily life as a young girl, wife, widowhood and her true happiness that comes from working hard and staying close to family.

This book is a challenging choice.

I enjoyed reading this book. I could understand a lot of the coal mining information as I visited the coal mines in Pennsylvania. It was a hard life for the people who did this kind of work and for the many who still do.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

2007-01-09T09:50:00.003-05:00

Cole Mathews is angry: really, really angry. He has been in trouble for years of stealing and fighting. This time he beats up Peter Driscal so badly in the school parking lot that the boy may have permanent brain damage.

Cole is about to be sent to prison when his parole officer, Garvey, suggests a last chance alternative - send Cole to a remote Alaskan Island for a year where the Circle of Justice feels he might heal his horrid soul. Drawing on the Native American legend of a mysterious white bear, this book tells of Cole’s struggle to surivive the Alaskan winter and his own self defeating personality. Will Cole be able to accept responsibility for his actions?

Touching Spirit Bear is an adventure story, difficult to put down because you will want to see if Cole survives not only physically, but also emotionally.

This book is a Challenging Choice and a Character Ed book which illustrates responsibility.

Welcome to BookRoads

2006-12-18T13:20:00.000-05:00

How do you choose books? Do you value the recommendations of a friend, teacher or librarian? This blog is a space to exchange ideas about books you have read or may like to read. You may post recommendations for other readers or just browse to find a book that grabs you. If you would like to post information about a book you really love, please see Mrs. Nannini in the library.