I Read Because

Last month Ms. Farrell and I went to a Young Adult Book conference at Wells College. The presenter, Kathleen Odean, closed the day with this quote from Richard Peck. He won the Newbery Award for his book A Year Down Yonder. I wanted to share this because it sums it all up...

"I read because one life isn't enough, and in the page of a book I can be anybody;
I read because the words that build the story become mine, to build my life;
I read not for happy endings but for new beginnings;
I'm just beginning myself, and I wouldn't mind a map;
I read because I have friends who don't, and young though they are, they're beginning to run out of material;
I read because every journey begins at the library, and it's time for me to start packing;
I read because one of these days I'm going to get out of this town, and I'm going to go everywhere and meet everybody, and I want to be ready."

~Richard Peck, Newbery winning author

Welcome 10th Grade!

A few of you have already posted on the "Best Book I Ever Read" post but the thread is getting long. If you want to post here, that would be great but I hope you will still take the time to look at what other folks have been reading.
~ Mrs. Codner

Literary Criticism Stuff for Mrs. LeVick

Literary Criticism
What is it?
Why do we need it?

http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/whatislit.html

Easier - Literary criticism is a view or opinion on what a particular written work means. It is about the meanings that a reader finds in an author's literature.

Harder - Literary criticism is an attempt to evaluate and understand the creative writing, the literature of an author. Literature includes plays, essays, novels, poetry, and short stories. Literary criticism is a description, analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of a particular literary work or an author's writings as a whole. Literary criticism is usually expressed in the form of a critical essay. In-depth book reviews are also sometimes viewed as literary criticism. (http://42explore.com/litcrit.htm)

Database Sources:

Start-Programs-Library Online Databases-

Gale Group-
Twayne’s Authors Series

Contemporary Literary Criticism

EBSCO Host
Use Advanced Search, use “Criticism” as one of your search terms, select Full Text


GOOD Internet Sources:
http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/guide.html

http://www.enotes.com/guides/criticism

http://42explore.com/litcrit.htm

http://www.bookspot.com/litcrit.htm

Check out Groton Public Library!

Check out some of the shiny new books at Groton Public Library. We have a whole shelf dedicated to new graphic novels and we even have some books on how to draw manga, if that's your thing. Plus, some cool non-fiction books with fun projects for when you're bored. If you don't see something here that interests you, come visit the library and we can show you how to order a book or movie from another library. Did you know you can also get Wii games by placing a hold on one in the online catalog using your library card? We can show you how at the library!

New Fiction:

The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman
What would you do to avoid being sent back to juvie? Read about Gecko, Terence, and Arjay and their crazy adventures avoiding the police while romance, fame, and the lure of crime get in their way.

Beige by Cecil Castellucci
Dad’s an aging L.A. punk rocker known as the Rat. Daughter’s a buttoned-up neat freak who’d rather be anywhere else. Can this summer be saved?

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos
Rico is beat up on a daily basis at his school in Harlem. He decides to find a way out, even if it means leaving the life he knows to live in rural Wisconsin. Will he be able to make a life for himself in a strange place, and, more importantly, finally figure out who he is?

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
A 13-year old slave named Isabel must choose between saving herself and remaining loyal to the patriots who are leading the Revolutionary War against the British. Which side will she choose?

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Clay Jenkins is one of the reasons his classmate Hannah killed herself. He, along with 12 of his classmates, listen to audiotapes she recorded of her last days and her reasons for taking her life. What are the 13 reasons why Hannah killed herself, and what could her classmates have done to stop it from happening?

New Nonfiction:

What It Is by Lynda Barry
This book by artist Lynda Barry is part comic, part collage, and entirely awesome. It's not a typical book, but it will inspire you to be creative and challenge the critical voice in your head that most of us find difficult to ignore.

Sew Subversive by Melissa Rannels, Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng
Want to create fabulous new clothes and accessories but don't know how to get started? Look no futher than this book, with 22 projects that are easy, fun, and fast. You'll also learn about how to hand sew and use a sewing machine.

New Graphic Novels:

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Jim Rugg
In the lunch room at the reject table transfer student Jane finds her tribe: three other girls named Jane. Main Jane encourages them to form a secret art gang and paint the town P.L.A.I.N.–People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the hell that is high school? (from Powells.com)

Prince of Persia by Jordan Mechner, written by A.B. Sina, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland.
In this graphic novel adventure based on Jordan Mechner’s classic, multi-million-copy-selling Prince of Persia video games, two princes, in different centuries of historic Persia, despair over the corruption gnawing at the heart of their worlds and their way of life. When everything they believe in begins to fade and decay, they find that only they can stand against the twilight of their eras (from Powells.com)

Crogan's Vengeance by Chris Schweizer
"Catfoot" Crogan is an able-bodied mariner plying his trade for a dastardly "legitimate" captain with a grudge against Crogan for a slight committed well before he was born. But when his ship is taken by pirates, will Crogan stay loyal to his law-abiding, if despicable, captain or will he find a new life on the high seas living by the "Pirate's Code"? (from Powells.com)

The Best Book I Ever Read!!

What do you think Folks? What is the Best Book You Ever Read? My problem is, I can't decide. I think I may have to go with To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I love the idea of those kids trying to get Boo Radley to come out of his house and everything she has to say about how we should treat other people. Have any of you read this book?

~Mrs. Codner

Twilight

Guest Blogger Sandra Quints:

The most recent Twilight Book Club meeting was held on Wednesday, November 19th at the Groton Public Library. We had the average amount of members attend...about 8...and engaged in many interesting discussions about the book. Some of the questions were:

Did this book change your views on vampires?

Do you think Bella is a strong or weak woman?

Was Carlisle's action in changing Edward a selfish one?

If you have any more questions or would like to know more about the book club, email grotonbookclub@aol.com

-Sandra Quints

Mrs. Codner adds:

If you saw the movie this weekend, I want to know what you thought...as good as the book? Post your questions and thoughts right here, get your name in the drawing for free hot chocolate!!

New Books Are Here!

Speaking of Twilight, keep your eyes open for posts from our guest blogger and Twilight Book Club founder, Sandra Quints!

Mrs. Dates has been very busy getting the new books ready for you to check out. Here are a few of the more interesting ones....

Identical : by the author of Crank, Burned, and Impulse. " Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who? "

Breaking Dawn: the final chapter in the Twilight series. We have all the books but they are hard to come by....

The Guy Book: "Loaded with information about puberty, personal hygiene, dating, sex even the prom Mavis Jukes's The Guy Book: An Owner's Manual puts boys in the driver's seat."

Generation Dead: "Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent...and dead. "

Game: by Walter Dean Myers. " Drew Lawson knows basketball is taking him places. It has to, because his grades certainly aren't. But lately his plan has run squarely into a pick."

All reviews from Amazon.com.

Sandra Quints said...
Here are some great books and series I recently read and reccommend =)
IDENTICAL: Ellen Hopkin's latest book, written in verse. It is an extremely twisted story about two twins, and I think it might be her best novel.
THE LUXE (series): This book was written by a very young author, and it is set in the late 1800's. I personally love this time in history, and reading about the societies. If you are interested in culture of this century you should read the series. (next book is Rumors)
A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY (series): A series of three books, probably mostly enjoyed by girls. The books are about a young woman who can travel into a different world while attending a private school in England. This is also set in the 1800's, giving you another look at women's roles in society in the past
THE HOST: Stephenie Meyer's only book that is not a part of the Twilight series. This is more sci-fiesque than mythical, and is intended for adults. I didn't see anything that could be misconstrued as innappropriate, but this book was about a time where parasitic aliens live inside humans and control their thoughts and actions