Cafe Library

February Cafe Library Pick

2012-01-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

Alex convinced me to select Looking for Alaska by John Green for February's Cafe Library. Alex is a senior and to say the least LOVES John Green's work. He often visits Green's vlogs online and keeps me up-dated with what's going on in his world. The other reason I chose Looking for Alaska is that Alex volunteered to lead the discussion!

Summary: "Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash. "

Seems like John Green has the right combination of humor and real world issues for teens. I'm looking forward to Alex's discussion.

Bruiser

2011-11-17T13:36:00.001-08:00

December's Cafe Library read is Bruiser by Neal shusterman. Here's a brief summary: "Inexplicable events start to occur when sixteen-year-old twins Tennyson and Brontë befriend a troubled and misunderstood outcast, aptly nicknamed Bruiser, and his little brother, Cody." Ok, that's a pretty lame summary...I got it from my library online catalog...not my original record!

But, this really is a good read...very different than anything I ever read. I'd give it two thumbs up! BTW, it's a Battle of the Books book too!

November Cafe Library Book

2011-10-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

We are reading Room by Emma Donoghue for November's Cafe Library. This is also a Battle of the Book title so kill two birds with one stone! I have to admit I didn't want to read this book because the premise is a bit depressing/scary but after I started reading it, I could not put it down! I was going to write Battle of the Books practice questions for my WEMTA battle committee but I didn't even want to stop to write the questions I was so engrossed with the book. Here's a summary: "Five-year-old Jack has spent his life living in an eleven-by-eleven foot space his mother calls Room and while Jack uses his imagination to create wondrous fantasies to entertain himself, his mother dreads the day her son begins to question why they must remain in Room and tries to find a way to escape.

First Cafe Library of the Year!

2011-09-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Our Cafe Library president, Carly, selected our first Cafe Library book of the 2011-2012 school year...Tuesdays with Morrie. Summary: "This novel tells the true story of retired sociology professor Morrie Schwatz and his relationship with his students. On his graduation, Mitch Albom, the narrator, tells his favorite professor, Morrie Schwartz, that he will keep in touch. However, Mitch doesn't contact his professor until one night when he sees Morrie being interviewed on T.V.. It turns out that Morrie has developed ALS, a terminal disease, and is in a wheelchair. Mitch begins to visit his professor and soon realizes that, though he has grown remarkably, he still has a lot to learn from Morrie."

It looks like the start of a great year for Cafe Library as Carly is full of great ideas for our group!

Last Cafe Library of the year! :(

2011-06-01T12:29:00.001-07:00

We had our last Cafe Library meeting of the school year today. Ashley led our discussion of Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin. There was a request to list all of our books that we read this year, so here it is.

October
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
November
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
January
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
February
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
March
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
April
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
May
Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Fallen Angels

2011-04-15T08:49:00.001-07:00

April's Cafe Library book is Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers.

Listen to Carly's Voki to learn more about the book. Check out a copy today!

March Cafe Library Book

2011-03-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small is the March Cafe Library Book.

Ashley L. is going to lead the discussion. So far, 3 Cafe Library members finished the book and LOVED it. I too, really liked it and graphic novels are not my favorite genre. This memoir chronicles the life of American author and illustrator David Small, detailing his sickly childhood and teenage years, relationship with his parents, his cancer, and more. There are several twists and turns that even this librarian didn't see coming. I think this book will be interesting to discuss.

Feb. Cafe Library Book

2011-01-26T13:51:00.001-08:00

Take a look at this Voki made by two students at LMHS. They are excited about the new Cafe Library book, Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick.

Shiver

2011-01-04T07:51:00.001-08:00

The January Cafe Library book is taking the students by storm! They are loving Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Take a look at my Voki to hear a summary.

2010 BOB Titles Using Tagxedo

2010-09-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

What I Read this Summer!

2010-09-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

I was able to read quite a bit this summer. Take a look at the titles below.
Even though these were all great books, my favorites were: Purple Heart, The Monstrumologist and The Good Soldiers.

I have all these books in the library for you to check out so please stop by! Also, there are many more new books for you to browse.

1. The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
2. Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
3. Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
4. Diamond Willow by Helen Frost
5. Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
6. Hate List: A Novel by Jennifer Brown
7. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
8. The Monstrumologist Rick Yancey
9. Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos
10. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
11. The Good Soldiers by David Finkel
12. The Nazi Officer's Wife by Edith Hahn Beer (Actually, this is the only book on this list we don't have in our LMC.)
13. Travels with Charley: in Search of America by John Steinbeck

New Voki

2010-05-17T11:22:00.001-07:00

Click on this Voki to hear the book promo for our May Cafe Library!

Get a Voki now!

Last Cafe Library Book of the School Year

2010-05-03T06:09:00.001-07:00

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is our last Cafe Library Book of the 2009-2010 school year. Preliminary reaction is good. Rachel and Thea both really liked it. I am going to start reading it this week. The link above gives a good idea as to what this book is about...quite a hook!

Pick up a copy in the LMC today.

National Library Week!

2010-04-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

Friday's book-related trivia question: What popular book begins with these lines?

"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim's warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of the reaping."

Be one of the first three people to post the answer to this question and win a fabulous prize! Click on the Post a Comment link below. You can be anonymous but leave your first name in the post.

Mrs. Bade

National Library Week

2010-04-13T11:57:00.001-07:00

Thursday's book-related trivia question:
What famous book begins with these lines?

"The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead."

Be one of the first three people to post the answer to this question and win a fabulous prize! Click on the Post a Comment below. You can be anonymous but give your first name in the post.
Mrs. Bade

National Library Week

2010-04-13T11:40:00.001-07:00

Wednesday's book-related trivia question:

What famous book begins with this line?

"When he was nearly thirteen my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow."

Be one of the first three people to post the answer to this question and win a fabulous prize! Click on the Post a Comment below. You can be anonymous but give your first name in the post.

Mrs. Bade

National Library Week!

2010-04-12T18:17:00.001-07:00

Tuesday's trivia question is: What famous book begins with this line?

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense."

Be one of the first three people to post the answer to this question and win a fabulous prize!

Click on the Post a Comment below.
You can be anonymous but give your first name in the post.

Mrs. Bade

It's National Library Week!

2010-04-09T16:09:00.001-07:00

It's National Library Week @ your library!
To help celebrate NLW, I am going to post one trivia question each day on this blog. Answers can be found in books in the LMC, in databases that the library subscribes to or perhaps on the Internet.

The first three people who post the correct answer on this blog will receive a fabulous prize from Mrs. Bade.

You do not have to join this blog to answer the question...just click on the Post a Comment link below.

The first question is: Where is Tornado Alley and why is it called this?

A big thank you to Ms. Sobolik for creating these questions!

P.S. Great pic above, Ms. Hart! You're so cool!

Wintergirls

2010-04-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Only two Cafe Library Book Club discussions left for this school year! Wow, what a fast year but what a great year of reading.

April's pick is Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book had good reviews from Horn Book (starred!), Booklist (starred!), Kirkus Review (starred!), School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly and Library Media Connection.

Take a listen to my Voki for a summary.

March Read = Cafe Library

2010-02-19T12:11:00.001-08:00

We're going to read Thirteen Reasons Why: a Novel by Jay Asher for March. It was a Battle of the Book book and everyone I've talked to really liked it.

Here's the summary from the online catalog: "High school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing seven cassette tapes recorded by his crush, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide, and spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death."

Rachel led our Feb. discussion of The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. She did a fabulous job! Thanks, Rachel!

Hope eveyone can read Thirteen Reasons and attend the meeting. The meeting date is to be announced.

The Long Walk by Stephen King

2009-12-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't read this book, but was looking at the description because one of my students is reading it. It sounds quite similar to The Hunger Games, except of course that Stephen King wrote this in about 1967!

Here's a link to the reviews on Amazon:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ydyxb44

Here's the Complete Animoto Video

2009-08-29T17:03:00.001-07:00

Click here to see the full Animoto video featuring all of the 2009-2010 Battle of the Books titles.

Any high school student that would like to join BOB, please see me in the LMC.

Summer Reading!

2009-08-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a LONG time but I have been reading! I mostly read 2009-2010 Battle of the Books books. I don't think teams will be disappointed this year. There are lots of good titles on the list. Here are the BOB books I read this summer:

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zanatti
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Fire From the Rock by Sharon M. Draper
Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
No Choirboy: Murder, Violence and Teenagers on Death Row by Susan Kuklin
Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-To Guide for Underground, DIY, and Indie Bands by Travis Nichols
Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Click here for a complete list of the high school BOB reading list.

I put together an Animoto music video of the books listed above. All of the books on the BOB list can be found in our high school library. Read on!!!

(I just thought that maybe I should have added ALL the BOB books on my Animoto video! I'll do another one and post it here.)

Last Cafe Library of the School Year

2009-05-05T04:29:00.000-07:00

We're going to read Paper Towns by John Green for our last Cafe Library book of the school year.

Summary:
One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.

I think most people will like this book. John Green seems to know what young adults like to read.

We're meeting for lunch in the LMC on Tues. May 26th.

I'll post a Battle of the Books 2009-2010 list in a month or so for a great summer reading list.

2009-04-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

Like reading graphic novels and looking for something different? Consider reading Aya by Marguerite Abouet. Studious Aya and her party-girl friends live in a poor section of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The story looks at the ups and downs of teenage life in 1978 and has some laugh out loud funny moments.

The Hunger Games

2009-04-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

I re-read The Hunger Games over spring break and I decided to do some digging as to when the sequel would be out. Well, turnes out it's a triology and the next book will be out September 1st of this year! There is also going to be a movie, due out in 2011. They will be printing 250,000 copies of Catching Fire, and the next book is tenatively scheduled for 2010. Read more about it http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631377.html <---- there.

The Big Read

2009-03-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

LMHS is participating in The Big Read!

The Big Read is aimed at inspiring people across the country to pick up a good book. Activities include: listening to radio programs, watching video profiles, and reading brief essays about classic authors.

The Big Read books is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

One of the activities associated with this program is a Jeopardy-style game where trivia questions will be asked to teams of no more than four participants per team. There will be a teacher team from LMHS consisting of: Ms. Hart, Ms. Morris, Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Bade. We also have enough interest at LMHS to form four student teams.

The teacher team will compete at UW-Whitewater on April 7th and the student team will compete on April 28th.

LMHS will be STRONG competition!!!

Let's Team up with the Public Library

2009-03-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

Cafe Library is going to team up with the L.D. Fargo Public Library in April. We're reading Jazz by Toni Morrison. The public library is conducting a series called, Let's Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness in the Light of Death,
sponsored by ALA and the Fetzer Institute.

Jazz is just one book in the discussion series being held at the public library. Ms. Vicki York, librarian from the L.D. will lead our discussion.

Summary from the back cover: "A mysterious voice weaves the story of an African-American door-to-door salesman of beauty products who shoots his young lover, and his wife who tries to disfigure the corpse with a knife in the winter of 1926."

BTW, Kelsey did a GREAT job leading our discussion of Naughts and Crosses in March. Several more students are now hooked on this series. Way to go Kelsey!

Mr. Gerard Saylor Leads Book Discussion

2009-02-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

Gerard Saylor, director of the L.D. Fargo Public Library led our discussion of Feed by M.T. Anderson. The discussion was lively as several people really liked the book and others disliked the book quite a bit.

We're reading Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman for March. Kelsey will be our discussion leader. This book is described as a futuristic Romeo and Juliet story but has a thriller twist to it. I can't wait to get started reading this! Thanks for the suggestion, Kelsey!

The Hunger Games Was a BIG Hit!

2009-02-04T12:38:00.001-08:00

We had our first all thumbs up for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Everyone had good things to say about the book and voiced interesting comments at our discussion. Mr. Gerard Saylor, Director at the L.D. Fargo Public Library, was in attendence. He read the book and liked it. He even blogged about it on his What to Read blog. Mad props to Mr. Saylor for recognizing Cafe Library!

Our next book is Feed by M.T. Anderson. Mr. Saylor agreed to lead this discussion. Here's a brief summary: "In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble."

We're meeting in the LMC for lunch on Tues. Feb. 17th. Can't wait to hear everyone's take on it.

MOLLY WALSH IN ALTERNATIVE PRESS!

2009-01-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

The next time you're in the library, look at page 24 of Alternative Press magazine! Molly commented on The AP Poll and it was published in the magazine!! There's a picture of her, you can't miss it!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

2009-01-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

I read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby. This is an amazing true story of a French journalist who has a stroke that leaves him totally paralyzed except for his left eyelid. This is called locked-in syndrome. He is able to commuicate by blinking his left eye. Through this mode of communication, he wrote this book. It's beautiful as well as heart-breaking.

I'm thinking of suggesting it for my Teacher Book Club although I think the Cafe Library group would enjoy it too!

Cafe Library Discussion a Hit

2008-12-15T06:41:00.000-08:00

Superintendent Dean Sanders led our discussion of Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Great discussion questions and answers!

Click here to view Beah talking to John Stewart on The Daily Show.

December Cafe Library

2008-11-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

We'll be reading A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah for December's Cafe Library. Our superintendent, Mr. Dean Sanders will be our guest discussion leader. To read more about this book, look at the previous post from Thursday, August 21, 2008. I hope everyone can make the December 9th meeting!

Click here to view Beah talking to John Stewart on the Daily Show.

Taylor, Awesome Job!

2008-11-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

Taylor did an awesome job selecting a classic mystery, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie for November's Cafe Library. She also led the discussion and did a great job. The book kept us guessing, "who done it." Most of the group would read another book by Christie.

Rachel did an EXCELLENT JOB!!

2008-10-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Rachel led our discussion of Sold by Patricia McCormick. She did an absolutely wonderful job!!
Thank you RACHEL!

A Long Way Gone

2008-09-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

A Long Way Gone: Memories of a Boy Soldier is really good. However, it is also really graphic. Some of the stuff that happens in it is so brutal and awful. It really makes me sad knowing that stuff really did happen in real life. But, i am glad i am reading it because it gives me a lot of new knowledge about a topic i really didn't know a lot about. I like to expand me horizons, hahaha.

Breaking Dawn

2008-09-09T19:01:00.001-07:00

Breaking Dawn, the last book in the Twilight series came out this summer. I read it when it came out and thought it was fantastic. There were just a couple of things that bugged me about it, however I won't say what they were because I don't want to ruin the book for everyone. This book is worth reading!

Shackleton's Stowaway

2008-09-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan is a great adventure story. I just finished rereading this book and had forgotten how suspenseful the story is. The book is a based upon factual events of Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition to Antarctica in 1914-1916.

"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."

This is a quote taken from an advertisment for one of Shackleton's expeditons. Even though the description is factual, the story of the men's journey and survival is very compelling.

Here's a Google Earth Community placemark which shows the events of the story.

This novel is also a Battle of the Books selection for the 2008-09 season.

Kabul Beauty School

2008-09-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Behind the Veil by Debbie Rodriguez is a non-fiction account of a mid-western beautician who goes to Afghanistan to help the women there. This book talks about the treatment of women in Afghanistan before the Taliban, during their reign of terror and after. By opening a beauty school, Rodriguez has helped many women not only feel better about themselves but earn a living for their entire family.

Rodriguez tells how she came to Afghanistan as a relief worker but ended up opening a beauty salon and school. The author befriends many women and tells their stories. Even though some stories are sad and eye-opening, this is a book of hope for many women.

Being

2008-08-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just finished Being, by Kevin Brooks. This was an interesting book in that it was a fast-read, a somewhat thriller and somewhat of a sci. fi. book. It's about 16-year-old Robert Smith, who goes in to see the doctor for a routine scope exam but what the doctors find is anything but normal. It is revealed that Robert has filaments, moving metal parts and plastic casings inside of him. Robert wakes up during the point in the exam when the doctors find all this stuff. He also overhears that they want to do further experiments with him to find out just what type of being he is. He also surmises that all the doctors in the room aren't doctors at all but perhaps some men he can't trust that work for the government or a private group. Robert panics and decides to get out of there as fast as he can. To do so, he has to take one of the doctors hostage. This spins out of control for Robert as he needs to steal cars and dodge the doctors that want to explore him.

Bastard Out of Carolina

2008-08-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, Bastard Out of Carolina is an intense book! Dorothy Allison wrote a gripping story of a young girl who is sexually and physically abused by her step-father. Set in South Carolina, this book depicts a family that knows poverty but still tends to strong family ties. I will tell you that this is a chilling book and very realistic. You won't know what happens at the end until the very last page. BTW, Bastard Out of Carolina was made into a movie.

Two Human Rights Related Books

2008-08-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

I read Sold by Patricia McCormick and A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. Ms. Onsrud read Sold and posted about it a while back so I'll refer you to that post. I really liked this book although it was a bit hard to take because of the treatment of the girls.

Long Way Gone was also excellent. It is a story of Ishmael, a 13-year-old from Sierra Leone who is forced into becoming a boy soldier for the government. (I had always thought it was only the rebels that pressed boys into service!) This is a memoir so it is Ishmael's remembrance of what happened to him between the ages of 13-18. It's heart breaking and also raw. (He does state in the book that he has a photographic memory so it would seem that the events he describes are pretty accurate.)

The book begins in Ishmael's village in Sierra Leone and takes the reader through the horrific tragedy of civil war. It ends in another country but in between, Ishmael has to come to terms with feelings of guilt and the psychological flash-backs that war can incur.

I'm thinking that this would be an excellent Cafe Library book.
BTW, this is a 2008-2009 Battle of the Books book.

Speaking of books that have been made into movies...

2008-08-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

I read Girl With a Pearl Earring recently, by Tracy Chevalier, and really enjoyed it. I wanted to read it because I had seen and loved the movie with Colin Firth (yum!) and Scarlett Johannson.

The book is about a middle class Dutch girl in the late 1600s who has to take a job as a maid because her family has fallen on hard times. She is hired to clean the studio of the famous painter Vermeer, and they share a certain fascination for one another. It's sort of a coming of age story as she learns what is important to her as well as what is possible for her in the society she lives in.

I really enjoyed getting more insight into the main character, which was possible because the whole story is told from her point of view. Naturally, many aspects of the story were developed in more detail than in the movie; however, it was gratifying to know that the movie had remained true to the spirit of the book. Both versions of the story give insight into gender and class restrictions, while also delving into ideas about art and religion. Fascinating and melancholy.

Memoirs of a Geisha

2008-08-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

I finally read Memoirs of a Geisha by Aurthur Golden this summer. I've had the book since the movie came out several years ago and have been wanting to read it ever since. If you have seen the movie and loved it, I recommend reading the book. The book pulls you in even more than the movie as you follow the life of Chiyo (Sayuri) from her poor childhood to her life in the okiya becoming a geisha. Even though I know very little about Japanese culture, Golden places enough history into the novel to give you a sense of what was happening in their lives.

If you want a book to get lost in, this tome is for you and there is still time to read it before school starts!

Julie Anne Peters

2008-08-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

I read two books by Julie Anne Peters: grl2grl and Keeping you a secret.
grl2grl is a collection of short stories about coming out, first time adventures, a transgender teen longing for a sense of self, a girl whose abusive father has turned her to stone, and much more. This book is filled with teens making their way through relationships and the search for identity. Of the two Peters's books, I liked this one better. It seemed more true-to-life.

Keeping You a Secret is one young woman's coming out and what that means in her life. As she begins a very tough last semester of high school, Holland finds herself trying to sort out her future and intrigued by a transfer student who wants to start a lesbigay club at school.

Three Bags Full

2008-08-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Leonie Swann's Three Bags Full. It was a very different murder mystery where a flock of sheep try to solve their shepherd's murder. The cast of sheep characters number 19; all with distinctive personalities. Othello the "bad boy" black ram; Mopple the Whale, a Merino who eats a whole lot and remembers everything, Miss Maple, the cleverest sheep in the flock, maybe in the whole world who is the lead detective in this mystery.

I had a hard time trying to figure out this book at first but when I got rolling, I didn't want to put it down. There are a few LOL moments...I LOVE to LOL.

The book received lots of starred reviews. I encourage you to check it out.

Hurt Go Happy

2008-07-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby is a story about friendship and love--the love of a parent and child, sister and brother, and a young deaf girl, her elderly neighbor and his sign language using chimpanzee. It's funny, horrifying, compassionate, and full of twists and turns. The first time I read it, I enjoyed it. The second time (in one sitting) I cried in sadness and joy (even tho I knew what was going to happen) and wanted to learn more about chimpanzees.

Hurt Go Happy is one of the Battle of the Books selections for the coming school year. One of the the reasons it was chosen is because it has won the teen Schneider Family Book Award, an award given to an author or illustrator who artisically expresses the disability experience for children and young adults.

Do NOT checkout this link or this link until you have read the book !!! Did you know that Wisconsin has a primate research laboratory?

Ender's Game

2008-07-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a science fiction book that was written in 1977 but remains timeless. The main plot of the book is that the government on Earth needs a savior to keep the planet from being overtaken by "buggers"-- alien-like invaders from a far-away planet. Ender is carefully groomed to be that savior beginning at the age of 6. He is put through many trials and games, often grueling and cruel, to prepare him for the final battle with the buggers. There is a great twist at the end of this book that even suspicious me didn't expect.

There is loads of symbolism in this book and it has been used to study literary elements in some schools.

I read this book because it is one of the Battle of the Books books for the 2008-2009 school year. I also wanted to read this book because the author was recently under fire for being honored for his lifetime contribution to young adult readers with the Edwards Award. The controversy stems from Card's extremist personal views. To learn more about this, read this School Library Journal article.

The Other Boleyn Girl was fantastic!

2008-07-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

I finished The Women in Red and I thought it was okay. However, I thought The Other Boleyn Girl was fantastic. Everyone should read it, my mom thought it was a little slow in some parts but I disagree. Has anyone read The Book of Ruth? I am almost done with it and I thought it was really boring.

Three Books Read

2008-06-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

I want to share three books that I just finished reading:
Extras by Scott Westerfeld, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

Extras is the fourth book in Westerfeld's Uglies series:
Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras
This book is about Aya, who wants to become more recognized (popular), so she can have the status and all that goes along with it in her society. Aya's avenue to popularity is to go undercover with a daring group (Sly Girls) who shun recognition. Aya's plan is to report the story of the Sly Girls and make it public on the feed (sort of like our TV) thus gaining recognition.

I thought this was a fast read. If you like futuristic books (and even if you don't) you might want to pick up Extras. I don't think you need to read the whole series; you can enjoy the books individually.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semiautobiographical novel about Arnold Spirit, a 14-year-old Spokane Indian living on the rez in WA. Arnold, born with "water on the brain," is the frequent recipient of bullies. Arnold transfers to the rich, all-white high school in Reardan where he expects disaster. But he does manage to make friends with geeky and popular kids alike. Arnold grapples with what it means to be an Indian and what it means to be a tribe and have a sense of community.

I really liked this book. Sherman Alexie took a serious topic and was able to tell the story with humor and sensitivity at the same time. (I also liked his movie Smoke Signals...I haven't read the book yet but I saw the video twice!)

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel that weaves three different storylines in one book. One is the Chinese folk hero, Monkey King who aspires to be a god; another is Jin Wang, a lonely middle school boy who wants to fit in with his white classmates; and the third is a sitcom of Danny, an all-American teen and his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (an ethnic stereotype).

This book is about breaking down stereotypes and self-acceptance. I thought this was a powerful read in a very different format...not only graphic novel but also weaving three different storylines together.

Rachel

2008-06-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

I am glad you liked Nineteen Minutes, Mrs. Bade. And I agree with you that she dragged some stuff out a lot and the book could have been shorter. I just bought The Other Boyln Girl and The Women in Red and I am really excited to start reading both. I think they are going to be good. I also added The Catcher and the Rye to my list of books in need to read.

Nineteen minutes

2008-06-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

I finally finished Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. It was my pick for the last Cafe Library discussion meeting of the 07-08 school year. The book was about a school shooting where a high school boy who had been a victim of bullying his entire school career finally snaps and shoots and kills ten students and wounding many more. Of course, in Picoult's almost formula manner, there are major twists in the book. I do like those twists and I usually can't guess what they are going to be.

I do think that this 450 page novel could have been just as nicely done in 350 pages.

I would recommend this book. It is a very current issue in our world and Picoult handles it full steam ahead. (Can't think of a better way of putting it!)

Bad Monkeys

2008-06-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff was a very strange, weird book. It's about Jane, a girl, who gets recruited by a secret organization that fights evil. The organization is called Bad Monkeys...they hunt and kill evil people whom they call Bad Monkeys (I know, confusing...) The whole book is set in a jail's psychiatric ward where Jane is being questioned by a doctor to determine if she is telling the truth, crazy or lying about her involvement in Bad Monkeys. There are major twists in this book and you will need to pay attention to characters. I would classify this book as a psychological thriller.

It is quite different from anything I've read in a long time and therefore I'd recommend it.

The Catcher in the Rye

2008-06-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Somehow in my years of HS and college English classes, it was never suggested that I read the classic The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. If you don't read it in HS, I suggest that you do read it sometime in your life. Through the narratives of Holden Caufield, you learn a lot about who he is, what has happened to him in his life, and the people who have come in and out of it. All of this takes place in the span of a week. Holden makes you love him and feel sorry for him, while keeping you glued to the page. Salinger's style of writing makes this book a fast read.

Hanna....

2008-06-04T16:49:00.001-07:00

Ok, Hanna...
It's your turn to blog.....YeeHa!
Mrs. B.

Mrs. Bade, it finally woked!

2008-05-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Bade!!!
It finally worked! Next year for Cafe Library I think we should read Angles and Demons and The Da Vinci Code.

Last Cafe Library for the school year

2008-05-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

Please join us tomorrow for our last book discussion get-together of the school year. We're going to discuss any Jodi Picoult book you've read. Hope you all have a great summer filled with lots of reading!

Henry's Book Club

2008-05-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Just in case y'all are interested in animal-related books, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has its own book club, called Henry's Book Club.

Also, here's a bit of my latest ASPCA email telling about the special upcoming event organized by Henry's Book Club:

Animal lovers ages 13 and up are invited to attend a live chat with author Cristina Kessler next Tuesday, May 20, from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST. The award-winning author will discuss her book, Our Secret, Siri Aang, about a 12-year-old Maasai girl who finds a mother black rhino and her tiny baby hidden in the African bush. Kessler will also be happy to answer young readers’ questions about life in Africa, native wildlife and what it’s like to be a writer. For more information, please visit Henry’s Book Club online.

Project Paris

2008-05-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

Several months ago now (work got in the way :) ), I started reading Project Paris. This week I picked up the book again to continue the story. At first I wasn't hooked, but with the last chapter I read, it has become more interesting. The lead character, Imogene, goes to Paris to work in fashion, her dream. Not everything is so smooth, though. She is almost sent back to New York because fashion week is canceled (quel horreur!) when she stumbles upon a new "designer". I'm excited to see how the rest of the book turns out.

Hello From Voki

2008-04-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

Get a Voki now!

Finished Atlantis Found

2008-04-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

You are going to want to come to the next Cafe Library! Mr. Quinn is re-reading his selection, Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler. I didn't think I'd like to as much as I did. There were two distinctly funny things that happened in the book that made me LOL! I told my sister about the funny things (I'm not going to tell you what they are right now!) and we laughed until we had tears in our eyes!!!

I can't wait to see what Mr. Quinn does for the discussion!

The Spellman Files was a Fantastic Book!

2008-03-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. It was really a great, satisfying read. I can't wait to read the next one, Curse of the Spellmans. (Yes, I have it on order!!)

The main character, Isabelle, is kind of a scrappy, tom-boyish private detective. She isn't into fashion or saying the politically correct thing very often but I LOVED her and I think it would be a blast to be in her shoes for a day (or longer).

I hope everyone gets a chance to read it before our next meeting which I think I'll schedule for March 31st after spring break.

Be sure to stop by the LMC and pick up a copy. You won't be sorry!

Note the newest Spellman Files book: Curse of the Spellmans, coming to our LMC soon!

Slavery still exists???

2008-03-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

I just read a fantastic memoir by Francis Bok about his life as a slave, and later, an escaped slave. It's called Escape from Slavery. Bok is from Sudan, and was captured in 1986 (yes, only 22 years ago!) when he was only 7 years old. Now he lives in the US and works with the American Anti-Slavery Group to end slavery all over the world. His story is so inspiring because he always remained determined to be free and never gave up on himself. This would be a great topic for English 9 students for their Human Rights Project during 4th quarter, but it's also just a gripping read and an important topic for anyone to learn about.

March's Cafe Library book

2008-03-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

We will be reading Lisa Lutz's mystery/detective book, The Spellman Files for March. This is a bit of a divergence from our last Cafe Library book. Last month's The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon is a true account of the author's attempted suicide by dousing himself with gasoline and lighting himself on fire. The majority of the book is Runyon's 14-year-old self coming to terms with what he did emotionally, psychologically and physically. See January 25, 2008 blog entry.

While deciding if she should quit working for her family's private investigation firm, Izzy Spellman copes with meddling parents, an alcoholic uncle, the disappearance of her younger sister, and her own problems with men and drinking. (Summary from the LMC catalog.)

The Spellman Files has gotten good reviews; always a plus for a book club pick. It also won the 2008 Alex award given by the Young Adult Library Services Association. An Alex Award is given to a book that is written for adults but has appeal to young adults as well.
Find out more about the author, Lisa Lutz on her webpage.
There are copies available for check out behind the circulation desk. Please pick one up!!

3rd Clue to the Mystery Discussion Leader for April

2008-02-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Click on the Gabcast icon to the right to hear the latest clue for the Cafe Library Mystery Discussion Leader for the month of April.

OK now it's working

2008-02-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

The Gabcast icon is apparently working now!
Click away!!

Second Clue

2008-02-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

Click on the Gabcast! Cafe Library #1 on the upper right side of the blog to hear your second clue for the Mystery discussion leader for the month of April.

For some reason I was able to click on the Click to Play icon after I posted my first clue. Hmmm. ..don't know why this changed.

Anyway, hope you listen and try to guess. The next clue will narrow your guesses.

Gabcast Clues

2008-01-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!
I added a new Gabcast to the Cafe Library Blog. I'm going to give you several clues in the next couple of weeks to our mystery discussion leader for April. I have a bulletin board with the clues listed by Mr. Schuenke's room. But, I'll reveal the mystery discussion leader here first!

Click on the blue Gabcast icon to the right that says, "click to play", then click on "play" on the next screen.

Sorry this first episode sounds like there is a thumping rabbit in the background. I hope to resolve this problem!

Mrs. Bade

The Moon is Down

2008-01-31T15:47:00.000-08:00

I just reread The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck, which is one of the selections the English 9 students can choose from for their 4th quarter Literature Circles. It's about a small town occupied by foreign soldiers during a war.

Every time I read this book, I like it a little more. I love the way Steinbeck creates complex characters who are believable, and how even the "villains" are not flat characters. I also enjoy reading about the history of this novel, which Steinbeck originally wrote as anti-Nazi propaganda. I think it's interesting to read about the controversial reviews, its success in Europe, and to think about how its ideas are still very relevant today.

February's Cafe Library Selection!

2008-01-25T08:41:00.001-08:00

January's Cafe Library discussion will center around 5 different books. Members picked one book to read (actually several members read more than 1 or 2!).

The choices were:

My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Can You Keep a Scecret? by Sophie Kinsella
Tongue in Chic by Christina Dodd
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Discussion will be more of a book talk about the book(s) people chose to read. Of course, there will be a yummy dessert (healthy) served.

OK, for February: We're going to read, The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon. This is a non-fiction piece about a 14-year-old boy who tried to commit suicide by burning himself. The book is about how he deals with this after the fact.
The book is was reviewed very well! It was also a Starred choice from School Library Journal.

Hope you see many people at that discussion!!

Looking for Alaska

2008-01-25T08:35:00.001-08:00

Looking for Alaska by John Green was a pretty good read.

I think most high school students would agree.

This book takes place at a boarding school in Alabama. Sixteen-year-old Miles and his good friends pull some awesome pranks but they also search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.

Tongue in Chic

2008-01-14T18:25:00.000-08:00

I'm about half way through Tongue in Chic for this month's Cafe Library. I have to admit, when I read the first 50 or so pages, I wasn't convinced this was a book I was interested in, but decided to keep reading. Carina blogged about the book here: http://lmhscafelibrary.blogspot.com/2007/12/yo-im-new-homie.html

Now that I'm farther into the book, I have to agree with Carina. It does have intrigue. Good choice! I can't wait to find out how it ends.

Stoner & Spaz

2008-01-06T19:03:00.000-08:00

Stoner & Spaz by Ron Koertge is a story about a teen aged boy with cerebral palsy who is trying to find himself and fit in. He reaches self-acceptance with the help of a drug addict girl from his high school.

I thought of using this book for Cafe Library but after reading it, I decided against it. I thought it didn't have enough substance for my seasoned readers. It's a really fast read. I would recommend it.

The Pillars Of The Earth

2008-01-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

I started reading The Pillars Of the Earth. Its kind of hard to summarize effectively without giving anything away though. Its also 973 pages. Kind of long but VERY good.

White Oleander

2008-01-03T13:19:00.000-08:00

I read White Oleander by Janet Fitch over break. I read it a number of years ago but I thought I'd read it again because it is one of the selections for Cafe Library for January.

It is quite an intense book. Astrid's disturbed mother murders her boyfriend and is sent to prison. This leaves Astrid to the foster care system. She is abused physically and mentally at several placements. The one placement that seemed perfect came crashing down when the foster mother committed suicide. This is a book about survival and forgiveness.

Sold

2007-12-24T06:31:00.000-08:00

I finished Sold by Patricia McCormick yesterday. Lakshmi is a 13 year old girl who lives with her family in a small mountain village in Nepal. They are a poor family, but Lakshmi is still able to enjoy the simple things in life...including taking care of her goat. This doesn't last long, though, once the monsoons wipe away their crops and her step-father says she must leave the family and find a job. This job, of course, is not a desirable one. Lakshmi, like many young girls, is sold into the slave trade of India. The story is told from Lakshmi's point of view in the form of a journal that makes it an easy, but powerful read.

A couple fast reads

2007-12-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of children's literature (as my French students probably figured out when they wrote them) and have been wanting to read three books for awhile now. I've had the chance to read two and recommend them.

Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins is a story about a Bangladeshi girl, Naima, who wishes she were born a boy so that her father doesn't have to work so much. Naima is a clever girl, always coming up with schemes - the biggest one when she decides to drive her father's rickshaw disguised as a boy so that he can have a break. Instead she crashes the rickshaw and disgraces her family. What happens next is a good twist to the story that I won't give away. Rickshaw Girl is a short, but powerful book.

The Cat with the Yellow Star by Susan Goldman Rubin and Ela Weissberger is a true story about Ela's life as a Jew taken to Terezin. It follows her life from the time she arrived, her experiences in the camp, the liberation and her life since. The book is fully illustrated with items from the camp which add to the realism of the story.

Kvetha Fricäya. Greetings Friends.

2007-12-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

As many of you have heard, I am writing the final chapters of Book Three, which will be published September 23, 2008. Earlier this year, I realized that I had too much story to fit into one volume and that a fourth novel was necessary to complete the adventures of Eragon and Saphira as I originally envisioned them. Therefore, what began as the Inheritance trilogy has become the Inheritance cycle.
I know from your letters that you are curious about the name and cover design of Book Three. The decision to add a fourth book to the Inheritance cycle has affected many things, this included. I promise you'll be the first to hear as soon as the title of Book Three is announced. And, like you, I am excited to see what the cover will look like!My friends at Random House have some exciting pre-publication activities planned for 2008. You can anticipate that something new and interesting will be revealed each month, beginning in January.I wish you a happy holiday season, and . . .May your swords stay sharp!

Christopher Paolini
p.s. The picture above, taken in snowy Montana, shows me holding the Hawaii Nene Award plaque for Eragon.

That ^^^^^ is an update from Christopher Paolini!
Alex just emailed it to me and I signed up to the mailing list now.

Saint Iggy

2007-12-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

I finished Saint Iggy last weekend. It's by K.L. Going. It's about a teenage boy who is supposed to be a senior in high school but because of lots of skipping school etc. he is classified as a freshman. Iggy's parents are drug addicts who constantly owe their pusher money. Iggy gets suspended from school for a minor altercation with a teacher. He really wants to finish school and contribute to society. Iggy hangs around a person who was supposed to be his, "Big Brother" but is also a druggie.

This is definitely a book about good vs. evil and overcoming circumstances in one's life. What will triumph is Iggy's life? Read it and find out! Our library has two copies.

Very fast read!!

The End of a Childhood

2007-12-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

Just finished this book. It's written by a local Lake Mills man. Basically it's about how his mother and sister are driving him to college and how he remembers his childhood along the way. I enjoyed several chapters; in particular, the chapter where he wrestles for the regional championship for the L-Cats. The other chapter I liked was the one where he and his emotionally distant dad go to Boy Scout camp.

I think this is a good read for townies like me.

yo im new homie

2007-12-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

ello im carina and im a senior at lake mills high school. and im mrs.Bade favorite student. lol. i am recently reading new moon by stephenie meyer. i finished the first one and loved edward is so amazing. he goes through so much to try to keep bella out of danger. and he trys so hard to not give into tempatation. but when i started reading new moon and edward left i was devistated i didnt want it to be true. so yeah im glad i am reading it.

xoxo
carina
ps. for any one out there who wants a good read check out tounge and chic by christina dodd. fantastic book let me tell ya.

Freak Show good read

2007-12-04T19:08:00.000-08:00

I finished Freak Show by James St. James tonight. It was a light, oftentimes funny read. It's about a gay high school boy, Billy Bloom, who has moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to live with his dad. Billy has a hard time fitting in with his conservative peers especially since he is a known drag queen, but not only that, Billy decides to run for Homecoming Queen at his elite school.

Mrs. Bade

2007-11-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Mrs. Bade ummmmhm I think the snack should have something chocolate in it yummmy!!!! But Are we having a pizza party for jim Divita or what let me know!!!

Peace Like a River

2007-11-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

I finished Peace Like a River tonight by Leif Enger. It was really good! I loved the way the author used words. Here's a few examples: "...it was so cold frost paisleyed the gun barrels." "It was well-used which gave all our imaginations a pleasing slap." And, "We tiptoed through that town like a fat boy through a wolf pack."

This story is about 11-year-old Ruben, an asthmatic boy whose brother shoots and kills two boys from their small Minnesota town. After being jailed, Davy breaks out and escapes west. Most of the book traces the Land family's cross-country search for Davy, who has been controversially charged with murder.

Been awhile

2007-11-19T10:14:00.001-08:00

Hi guys wow its been a couple days since i posted woohps anyways hope all is well and i'm so happy that I am almost finished with The Silenced it is very good wow!!!! So next subject whats everyone doing for thanksgiving break? hopefully shopping ooo sales!!!! So Ms. Bade whats the snack going to be for the next Cafe Library meeting???

wow

2007-11-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

its been a while! my laptop wouldn't let me on and it said that i had to update this thing and it would cost money and yadda yadda yadda. BUT I'M BACK NOW!! *celebratory music*

I am almost done!!!!!!

2007-11-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

I am almost done with Memoirs of a Geisha it is really good. It has gotten a lot more interesting and fun to read. I am also totally stoked for Jim Divita!!! Mrs. Bade, that is so cool that you went to Japan for 6 weeks. I bet it was so much fun, went I went to Italy for 2 weeks I had the best time ever!

The Silenced

2007-11-11T14:31:00.001-08:00

Chris Crutcher @ SMHS

2007-11-11T14:29:00.001-08:00

Meeting

2007-11-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

Hi guys whats up I just wanted to say wow the meeting for Under Orders was pretty great mostly bacause of the fantastic peanut butter cake thanks Mrs. Bade and Ms.Onsrud
I'm out

Lindsayo

Ms. Onsurd

2007-11-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

I like Memoirs of a Geisha, but I think it started out kind of slow. It is getting a lot better now. After I finish the book I am going to watch the movie. I hope it will be really good, that's what a lot of people are telling me. I think the book is very interesting.

The Silenced????

2007-11-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

Im just here to say that wow the Silenced is such a weird book jeez, it starts out as like a regular nice novel and then wow it's kinda of really strange anyways I guess its good but....im not used to reading books like this, so basically thats what i had to say thanks!!!
Lindsayo

Mrs. Bade

2007-11-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

I agree with you, I liked Twilight better that New Moon. Eclips is fantastic!!! I was a little suprised when you remembered Memoirs of a Geisha because if it was me I totally would have forgotten. It is ok so far, it started kind of slow but it is picking up now. I am definatly going to watch the movie after I am finished with the book.

Gabcast

2007-11-05T18:23:00.001-08:00

I'm looking for students who are interested in adding to my Gabcast section of the Cafe Library blog. I'd like to see if anyone wants to promote books this way. It's kind of fun and we can actually do it at school and then later when you get the hang of it, you can do it on your own from home.

Any takers????

Look to the right on the main page to see my first trial Gabcast. Just click the white arrow to begin.

Twilight series

2007-11-05T06:53:00.001-08:00

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclips are FANTASTIC books!!!! I read them all the time when I am bored. I can't wait untill Midnight Sun and Breaking Dawn come out!!! If you haven't read these books you definalty should. I would have to say right now these are my favorite books.

Progress

2007-11-05T06:49:00.001-08:00

The book The Silenced is pretty good so far I am only about 10 pages in but Mrs. Bade I have a suggestion for one of the next Cafe Library book, White Oleander by Janet Fitch it is such a good book I reccomend it to everyone!!!!!!
Lindsayo

Thank You Mrs.Bade

2007-11-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks for letting borrow your book, Memoirs of a Geisha.
I heard it was really good so I am excited to read it!!!

The Silenced

2007-11-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

The Silenced was so good!!!!
I really really liked it, and I can't wait for Jim Divita to come.

2007-11-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

srry this post was an accident woops