Alas, Babylon

In 1959, I was in first grade in Ottumwa, Iowa. I loved going to school and everything about it. During that time we practiced duck-n cover drills, because we knew that the Russians were trying to destroy and kill us all. About once a month we would have these drills, just to be on the safe side. I also remember the shelter sign that was posted on my elementary school. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank was written in 1959 and tells the story of America being hit by an hydrogen bomb.

Randy Bragg is the brother of military man Mark Bragg. When Mark sends his brother a telegram, which ended with their family' private signal "Alas Babylon", Randy knew the country was in big trouble. Mark immediately send his wife and two children to Randy for safe keeping.
As predicted, those Russians hit the United States with multiple bombs, wiping out major cities and communication signals. The residents of Fort Repose, Florida, are left to survive without knowing what is going on in the rest of the country.

This is a great book that I read for my f2f book group and I am anxiously waiting our discussion.
Before 9-11, no one believed it could happen here, now we are all believers. Scary, thought-provoking book.

Copper Sun

I generally don't write to authors, but I just finished this great book, so I had to. Copper Sun by Sharon Draper is the story of Amari, a fifteen year old African girl who is stolen from her village and sold to the highest bidder. She is given to the master's 16 year old son as a birthday gift. Amari learns that even in captivity there are people who love her, but nothing is more important than freedom.

Even though this book is considered a fiction title, the facts of the story are true. During the 1700s in this country slave trade was a booming business. Draper tells the story about Fort Mose, two miles north of St. Augustine, Florida where if slaves could make it to Fort Mose they were free. I had never heard of this town before, I thought all slaves headed north, not south.

Draper includes many resources; including books and web sites, for teachers to use in continuing the study of slavery in America. I highly recommend that this book be used as a companion book for US History teachers and students.

The Lightning Thief

As a lover of great books, I often find myself reading the same type of book over and over and over again. This year I decided that I would try and expand my horizon and diversify my reading habits. Reading The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a book for young adults that I never would have read if I hadn't tried to expand my reading habits. It was a delightful book and I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series when it comes out in April 2006.

Percy Jackson is a 12 year old boy who has ADHD and is about to get kicked out of boarding school... again. Percy can't just stand by and let a bully at school pick on his scrawny best friend. Percy lives with his mother and his loser stepfather, who can't stand the sight of Pearcy. On his way home from boarding school mythical creatures begin popping up everywhere. Percy then believes that the Roman and Greek gods are alive and well in the 21st century. And he realizes that he has made one of them very very angry. Percy sets off on a quest to find Zeus's stolen lightning bolt and return it to him. He also finds out that he may be the son of a god!!!

This is a really good book and would be a great companion book to use when teaching the Greek and Roman gods. It places the gods during our time and the reader see how the gods would work and play in our society.. Great book.

Flight

I love good picture books. Books, where the text and the illustrations go hand in hand, to tell a great story.. Flight, by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Mike Wimmer, is one of those stories.

Flight is the story of twenty five year old, Charles Lindbergh's trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris, France. Young and foolish, many thought; especially when he left without a radio and a parachute. "Oh that crazy kid!" But he had a dream and he had to try. The rest is history.

This book wouldn't be complete without the pictures of Mike Wimmer. The illustrations are bold, vivid, and dramatic...

This is a great story for those who have a dream and won't let it go, until they follow their dream.

Young Adult Literature in the Classroom

Young Adult Literature is one of the newest genre in the literary world. It has a great following by teachers, librarians and young adults. It is so popular that all teachers should be looking at what is and how do I use it in my classroom.

Young Adult Literature in the Classroom edited by Joan Elliott and Mary Dupuis is a book that I highly recommend for all teachers of middle and high schools. Librarians should read it, too. This book has great ideas for teachers and librarians both. It is a way to keep young people reading when reading isn't always "cool".

Teachers will find the information vital to developing students who enjoy reading and becoming lifelong readers. Great book.

Vegan Virgin Valentine

Sometimes you read a book and you aren't for sure what to say about it.Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler is one of those book. Mara Valentine is your typical over achiever. She is always in control. She is shooting for being number one in her class, on the year book staff, is dually enrolled in high school and college, and has a job. She has already been accepted to Yale and plans on attending John Hopkins for summer classes. She has the final months of her senior year planned out and nothing is going to get in her way.

WRONG! Coming to live with Mara and her parents; is her pot smoking, super slutty, pain in the butt niece, V. One the first day that V is at school, she is making out with Mara's former womanizing boyfriend. Oh the shame!

Before you know it, Mara is dreaming about boys, grilled cheese sandwiches, and not going to John Hopkins over the summer. V is getting serious about school and even tries out for the school play. What is the world is going on!

This book is humorous and will delight those who are around 13-18 years.