It's already December!!

Oh my gosh, it's already December 1 and I don't have my Christmas tree decorated, outside lights up, Christmas cards addressed (might not get to this again this year), cookies baked or presents purchased. In fact the fall decorations are still in place...turkeys look weird in Dec. But I have taken the time to read a hilarious new Christmas book, Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb. Set in the sixties, a time when life was more simple, 5th grader Felix recounts several memorable experiences. Laugh out loud fun!

November Reads

Ok guys, here's what I've been reading in November...
I'm so hooked on Kristen Cashore's books. The companion book to Graceling, Fire, continues to amaze. Cashore grabs you from the start and won't let go until the last page is turned. Severe depression sets in when you release you must wait a year or so for the 3rd one. A lesson in patience?

Three others worth your time:

Hate List by Jennifer Brown...Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick Levil went on a shooting rampage 5 months ago in the HS commons before turning the gun on himself. In spite of the fact that Valerie was wounded the police, community & Val's family believe she played a role in the shooting. Valerie had started the Hate List as a way to record those that had bullied she & Nick and they talked about ways to get revenge. The author gives the characters names that reveal their personalities. Valerie Leftman (left behind), Nick Levil (evil), Val's psychiatrist Dr. Hielman (heals), and principle Mr. Angerson (angry)...kind of cool

Hold Still by Nina LaCour...she doesn't see it coming. Caitlin is devastated when her best friend, Ingrid commits suicide. When she discovers that Ingrid left her journal under Caitlin's bed the night before she commited the act, Caitlin realizes her friend had been struggling with depression for years and is leaving her journal to help Caitlin understand her actions.

Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis...what do you do when 1)your baby sister dies 2)your mother stops eating and basically living 3)your father can't cope so he leaves? Mazzy struggles to allude social service workers, avoid concerned neighbors and care for her severly depressed mother. Short book, similar to free verse...you'll breeze through this one in an evening.

Now, grab a turkey leg and piece of pumpkin pie...you're all set to read

So excited!! Heard from Sarwat Chadda. He asked for a recommendation to post on his website about his Sept. visit to KHS. I sent it and the Animoto video that I created from pics from the event. Sarwat loved it, and now KHS is part of his webpage...we are famous (ok, ok, I'll calm down now). The best news is that he promised to send an ARC of Dark Goddess in May when they are printed.
Here's the link to his page:

http://www.sarwatchadda.com/gallery/

Thanks Sarwat for an amazing visit...please hurry & publish the 2nd book!

Exciting...interacting with an author.

Sarwat Chadda @ KHS 09.29.09

National Book Tour for Devil's Kiss...thanks Blue Willow Bookshop for arranging the visit!

Something new from Scott Westerfeld!

Yeah! Finally, a new book from the author of the amazing Uglies series. Like Science Fiction? Then Leviathan should be on your short list of books to read. The setting is Europe at the beginning of WWI. It's the Germans with their huge metal Clankers against the British Darwinists with their fabricated animal weaponry. Fate takes our 2 main characters that are enemies and places them on a fantastical airship, the Leviathan, for an adventure full of suspence and action.
The eggs...what is going to hatch out of the mystical eggs on board the giant airship...if they survive the dangerous trip? Argh...we must wait for book 2 to find out.