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
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
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
~ Mrs. Codner
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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
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
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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!
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?
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.
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)
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)
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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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)
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)
Monday, February 2, 2009
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
~Mrs. Codner
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