Unleashing Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Scariest Topics

October 27, 2015 by Kellee

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Scariest Topics

These topics give us nightmares.

Ricki

1. Serial Killers

Ever since I was very young, I’ve found the idea of serial killers to be terrifying. Books about this topic scare me!

2. Death of Family Members

Because this is my greatest fear, reading about others who have lost family members makes me feel a wealth of terrifying emotions.

3. Drownings

Luckily, many books don’t feature drownings. When I was about five years old, I almost drowned, so reading drowning scenes makes me very frightened.

4. Bugs

I am embarrassed to say that I am very frightened by ladybugs. If a book has a bug scene, I flip a few pages.

5. Scenes in the Woods at Night

Do the woods creep anyone else out? I won’t go camping with my husband because of it.

Kellee

1. Realistic Apocalypse

I can read dystopian books without ever being afraid, but a realistic apocalypse in a novel freaks me out because there is such a chance those events could happen. The Living and Life As We Knew It are the ones that scare me the most.

2. Poltergeists

I don’t believe in ghosts, but I don’t not believe in ghosts, so realistic ghost stories with freaky poltergeists can give me some interesting dreams.

3. School Shootings

As a school teacher, this is too close to home.

4. Breaking & Entering & Killing

This is a real life fear, so anytime it is in a book, it really freaks me out.

5. Children Dying

No words for how terrifying this is. Sad and scary.

What topics give you nightmares?

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/26/15

October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

CONGRATULATIONS

Vicky R.

for winning a copy of Frozen Wild!

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Ten Wishes We’d Ask the Book Genie to Grant Us

Wednesday: Little Tree by Loren Long

Thursday: Blog Tour and Review! One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck

Friday: Happy birthday, Mercy Watson! Review and Giveaway!: Mercy Watson and Deckadoo Drive Books by Kate DiCamillo

Giveaway open until Friday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Why Read (And Write) Fantasy” by Dorothy Winsor, Author of Finders Keepers

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I am doing better at balancing reading, blogging, and life, so I am happily reading more which makes my soul happy! I think I just needed to get into the swing of the new year and my new schedule at school. This week I read a novel, a graphic novel, an early chapter book, and four picture books!

First, I read the four monster books we will be reviewing on Friday. I love monsters in general (Monsters, Inc. is one of my favorite movies!), and these four very different monster books were so much fun to read. I also read Baba Yaga’s Assistant which I am reviewing this week. The third book I read was A Wilcox and Griswold Mystery: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman and illustrated by Deborah Zemke. I want to read more of Wilcox and Griswold’s books! They are a fun duo, and the book is filled with humor and puns.

Last, but definitely not least, I read the second book in Roland Smith’s Peak series, The Edge, and it was as good, if not better, than the first! Peak finds himself in Afghanistan on a charity climb, but it definitely does not go the way they have it planned. The suspense just built and built throughout the book–so good!

Ricki: This week, I read Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson. I like Hannah’s description of the book on Goodreads: “Once upon a time I met my best friend through fandom, and we wrote a book about two girls who meet their best friend through fandom.” The book is told entirely in blog posts, chats, texts, letters, etc., and I thought it was executed very well. Like Kellee, I also read the four monster picture books (see below) that we will be reviewing on Friday. They were all very fun, and my son loved them.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am currently reading my last book for my ALAN panel: The Lost Tribes by Christine Taylor-Butler. It is an interesting mix of science fiction and history/archaeology. After I finish the books for my panel, I have a pile of Women Who Broke the Rules to read, and I cannot wait! Additionally, I ordered the second book in Hook’s Revenge and the third book in The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series because I just love them both so much (and the authors are just rock stars!).

Ricki: This week, I’ll be continuing to read adult nonfiction bestseller Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It is excellent, but I am so troubled by the text that I take frequent breaks. I will also be starting Surviving Santiago by Lyn Miller-Lachmann.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Scariest Topics

Wednesday: Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola

Thursday: Monstrous Fun by Travis Nichols

Friday: Reviews and Giveaway! Monster Books from Sterling Children’s Books

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Games to Battle Writer’s Block” by Madelyn Rosenberg, Author of How to Behave at a Dog Show and Nanny X Returns

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Author Guest Post!: “Why Read (And Write) Fantasy” by Dorothy Winsor, Author of Finders Keepers

November 29, 2015October 25, 2015 by Kellee

“Why Read (And Write) Fantasy”

Not infrequently, I run into adults who are clearly skeptical about fantasy novels. Sometimes they even ask why I write fantasy rather than something “real.” These same adults roll their eyes when their kids read Rick Riordan or J. K. Rowling and say, “Well, at least they’re reading,” as if a fantasy novel is some sort of lesser book that might build a bridge to “real” reading.

In at least one way, I understand that skepticism because I’m an intensely practical person who’s uncomfortable with too much magic. At some point, I reach the end of my willing suspension of disbelief, and that point comes sooner for me that it does for many other people. As a matter of fact, I started reading fantasy only when my son was a young reader who was entranced by it.

I’ve come to see that fantasy is a good way for a middle-grade or tween reader to try out adult responsibilities and see kids take actions with real consequences.

Middle-grade and young adult fantasy allow a writer to put young characters in dangerous situations they wouldn’t face in Ames, Iowa, for instance. If the writer is clever enough, fantasy lets them take a dilemma a young reader might face in our world and show it acted out in a way our world doesn’t allow.

Readers can follow characters is stressful situations because in a quasi-medieval world, young characters aren’t stuck in school all day. Anyone who remembers high school or middle school knows that being locked up there can be pretty maddening. Adults boss you around and you have to do what they say no matter how unreasonable it is. And that doesn’t touch the jungle world of life among your fellow adolescents.

But in a traditional fantasy world, characters take on responsibilities that we reserve for adults. Most notably, they work, meaning they interact with adults and wider events. Their families often depend on the results of their labor to survive. They sometimes have to make decisions that affect another character’s survival or the way a war will turn out. In other words, in such a setting, a writer can up the stakes and strengthen tension.

For example, in Finders Keepers, Cade takes a delivery boy job partly to earn enough to eat and partly to search rich people’s houses for his missing mother. There’s no adult to check his less considered actions because he and his teenaged brother are on their own, a situation unlikely to occur in our world. That lack of guidance lets Cade get into situations that make for a much more entertaining story.

Urban fantasy achieves the same goal by throwing powerful supernatural creatures into our world, so the young character has to engage in a bigger than life struggle.

Given how crappy school can be, readers may be relieved to identify with someone not slumped in a desk. As a writer, I like being able to expose a character to danger and increase what’s at stake if the character screws up.

Additionally, both urban and traditional fantasy situations can be used as metaphors for normal life. For instance, when Cade learns he’s a Finder, he’s horrified because he’s been taught Finders are stone-mad and destructive. Through the story, he learns to accept what he is and be proud of it. Most readers aren’t going to learn they’re from a group their society imprisons, but they are going to find they’re nerds, or fat, or gay, or unacceptable in some other way, and maybe Cade’s situation will speak to them. So the fantasy genre gives me a way to treat a common young person’s need in a more intense, metaphorical way.

Not all genres speak to all readers, but for me, fantasy isn’t “unreal.” Rather it’s a way to get at reality in a more vivid and heartfelt way.

About the Author: Dorothy A. Winsor spent years as a technical communications professor, studying the writing of engineers, before discovering that writing YA and MG fantasy was much more fun. Finders Keepers is Winsor’s first novel, though if you look closely, you can probably find a literal million words of Winsor’s Tolkien fanfiction posted somewhere. Winsor lives in Iowa.

140-character story pitch: Boy senses presence of heart stones. Girl recruits him to steal some. World ends at New Year if they fail. Boy also rescues mother. Tricky.

Summary of Finders Keepers: The eight gods that govern the world are tricky and fickle, and even the most innocuous of their blessings comes with consequences. Those who find a blessing are cursed to dance on strings in exchange for good fortune. Which raises the question: is finding one good fortune at all?

Cade lives a simple life with his mother and brother, but when he finds a heart stone, he wonders if he can’t change that. Heart stones are said to bring luck to those who hold them, and Cade’s tiny family could surely do with good fortune.

But heart stones aren’t just tokens of good luck; simply tracking one down is a sign of a special gift. Cade is a Finder, just like his mother before him, but this gift is hardly what is seems; if the larger community finds out about this, Cade’s entire life will change.

And not for the better.

Now he lives outside the law, struggling to find a way to repair the disaster he brought home to him family, all while fending off a new hardship that he never anticipated: an overwhelming desire to have heart stones in his hands.

No matter the cost.

Thank you to Dorothy for her post!

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Happy Birthday, Mercy Watson! Review and Giveaway!: Mercy Watson and Deckadoo Drive Books by Kate DiCamillo

October 23, 2015 by Kellee

One of the most popular chapter book series for newly independent readers turns ten

And beloved creators Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen give fans even more reason to celebrate with a new spin-off series Tales from Deckawoo Drive

Mercy Watson, the best-selling early chapter-book series written by the two-time Newbery Medal winner and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Kate DiCamillo celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Launched in 2005 the fun-filled stories aimed at readers age five to eight star Mercy Watson, Deckawoo Drive resident, lover of hot buttered toast and the most single-minded of pigs when it comes to the pursuit of adventure – and treats. Illustrated in full color by award-winning artist Chris Van Dusen in his signature retro style, the Mercy Watson books are a popular choice with younger readers making the transition from picture books to chapter books.

Although the sixth and final Mercy Watson installment was published in 2009, the series continues to attract new fans and is published in ten languages with sales of over two million copies worldwide. Last year Kate DiCamillo reunited children with Mercy and her neighbours in the first book in her spin-off series, Tales from Deckawoo Drive. Once more illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, and with all the rip-roaring adventure of Mercy Watson, the series is aimed at older readers of six to nine. The longer chapters and fewer illustrations allow Kate DiCamillo to introduce another level of pathos and sentiment to this series of funny, touching stories starring some unforgettable, heart-warming characters.

The first title in the new series, Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, became a New York Times bestseller and Amazon Best Book of the Year. Leroy and his rusty rather than trusty steed Maybelline star in this love story bursting with impassioned declarations and plenty of hilarious horsing around. This summer saw the release of book two, Francine Poulet meets the Ghost Raccoon, which also joined the New York Times Best Seller list earlier this month. Francine Poulet is the greatest animal control officer in Gizzford County – but it looks like she may finally have met her match. Funny, fast-paced and with an empowering message at its heart, readers are reunited with some familiar characters amid some riotous raccoon wrangling!

Tales from Deckawoo Drive is the perfect follow-on for original fans who grew up with Mercy Watson and are ready to move on to a longer read. And for those readers new to Deckawoo Drive, this series is a wonderful introduction to a warm and witty world where readers are left feeling all buttery-toasty inside.

My Review: The characters in this story are so endearing. Even Eugenia! The antics of Mercy within these pages mixed with DiCamillo’s way of writing really push the Mercy Watson books past all the other early chapter books into its own league. No wonder Mercy is considered a porcine wonder!

Discussion Questions: What makes the Watsons love Mercy so much? What makes Eugenia dislike Mercy so much?; Did Mercy actually save the day or do you think it was all a coincidence?

We Flagged:

“Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson have a pig named Mercy.

Each night they sing Mercy to sleep.

‘Bright, bright is the morning sun,” sing Mr. and Mrs. Watson,
“but brighter still is our darling one
Dark, dark is the coming night,
but oh, our Mercy shines so bright.“

Goodreads Summary: Yippie-i-oh! Saddle up for the first in a spin-off series starring favorite characters from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Timesbest-selling Mercy Watson books.

Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso, and boots. What he doesn’t have is a horse — until he meets Maybelline, that is, and then it’s love at first sight. Maybelline loves spaghetti and sweet nothings, and she loves Leroy, too. But when Leroy forgets the third and final rule of caring for Maybelline, disaster ensues. Can Leroy wrestle fate to the ground, rescue the horse of his heart, and lasso loneliness for good? Join Leroy, Maybelline, and a cast of familiar characters — Stella, Frank, Mrs. Watson, and everyone’s favorite porcine wonder, Mercy — for some hilarious and heartfelt horsing around on Deckawoo Drive.

My Review: Leroy is just so darn loveable. His personality shines through the pages and you just are so happy that Leroy and Maybelline found each other. Also, Kate DiCamillo has a way with voice! I can always hear her characters talking in my head, and they each are so very distinct. I also love her use of vocabulary and humor–perfect! This one is going to be loved by many!

Discussion Questions: Why do you think that Maybelline is the perfect horse for Leroy?; Was Leroy truly prepared to have a horse? How do you know?; Why does Leroy want to be a cowboy?

We Flagged:

“Leroy Ninker said ‘Yippie-i-oh’ because Leroy Ninker had a dream. He wanted to be a cowboy.

On Wednesday nights, the Bijou Drive-In Theater ran a Western double feature, and Leroy Ninker Stood and watched in wonder as the great white expanse of the Bijou screen filled with purple mountains, wide-open plains, and cowboys.

The cowboys wore ten-gallon hats. The wore boots. They carried lassos. The cowboys were men who cast long shadows and knew how to fight injustice. They were men who where never, ever afraid.

‘Yippie-i-oh,’ Leroy Ninker whispered to the screen. ‘That is the life for me. A cowboy is who I was meant to be.’”

Goodreads Summary: Deckawoo Drive’s intrepid Animal Control Officer meets her match—or does she? A funny, heartfelt, and fast-paced romp from the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Francine Poulet is the greatest Animal Control Officer in Gizzford County. She hails from a long line of Animal Control Officers. She’s battled snakes, outwitted squirrels, and stared down a bear. “The genuine article,” Francine’s dad always called her. She is never scared—until, that is, she’s faced with a screaming raccoon that may or may not be a ghost. Maybe Francine isn’t cut out to be an Animal Control Officer after all! But the raccoon is still on the loose, and the folks on Deckawoo Drive need Francine back. Can she face her fears, round up the raccoon, and return to the ranks of Animal Control? Join a cast of familiar characters—Frank, Stella, Mrs. Watson, and Mercy the porcine wonder—for some riotous raccoon wrangling on Deckawoo Drive

My Review: Kate DiCamillo has a special way of writing stories. Her characterization is amazing which leads to truly full characters. Her vocabulary always pushes the reader yet never leaves the reader out of the story either. Her voice rings throughout the pages to where you can hear the narrator in your head. In this book, Francine Poulet is a character that all readers will love. She is determined, good at her job, and loves what she is doing. But then she faces her adversary. What happens after is what truly shows what type of person Francine Poulet can be.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Francine does her job because she loves it or because she felt pressured to do it because of her father and grandfather?; What vocabulary words do Kate DiCamillo use throughout the book to add more descriptive language and imagery to the book?; How would you describe Francine? Frank? The raccoon?

We Flagged:

“Francine put the net on the ground. She took the binoculars. She held them up and looked through them. She saw the raccoon sitting on the roof, staring at her.

The moon was bright, and it was shining on the raccoon’s fur. The raccoon shimmered.”

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers’ Guides for Mercy Watson, Leroy Ninker, and Francine Poulet can be found on Candlewick’s website:

Mercy Watson:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763636444.btg.1.pdf

Leroy Ninker:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763663395.btg.2.pdf

Francine Poulet:
http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763668869.btg.1.pdf

Read These If You Loved: Lulu series by Judish Viorst, Frankie Pickle series by Eric Wight, Bramble and Maggie (series) by Jessie Haas, The Princess in Black (and #2!) by Shannon Hale

Recommended For:

Giveaway!

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**Thank you to Alice at Candlewick for providing copies for review and for giveaway!**

Blog Tour and Review!: One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck and Yasmeen Ismail

October 23, 2015October 22, 2015 by Kellee

One Word from Sophia
Author: Jim Averbeck
Illustrator: Yasmeen Ismail
Published June 16th, 2015 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Sophia tries varied techniques to get the giraffe she wants more than anything in this playfully illustrated story about the nuances of negotiation.

Sophia has one true desire for her birthday. But she has Four Big Problems in the way: Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad…and Grand-mama.

Will her presentations, proposals, and pie charts convince them otherwise?

Turns out, all it takes is one word.

Ricki’s Review: As teachers, we are always asking students to expand their ideas and add detail. To be perfectly honest, I never taught brevity, and this is reflected in my constant battle to stay under word counts! This text will open up valuable conversations about how we can use a variety of methods to persuade our audience. Sometimes, being direct and brief is the best route. It might be confusing to kids who constantly hear the opposite, so I would work with students to analyze this text. I loved the way the author integrated great vocabulary words. Along with those words (which he defined), there are other great words for students to grapple with. I would read this text with my students to help them with the language. I had a lot of fun reading this text, and I think kids will love it, too.

Kellee’s Review: This is a book that adults will find funny and kids will connect with because they all want something. I enjoyed the introduction to the cast of characters and how Sophia changed her speech depending on who she was speaking to. It shows the importance of audience when speaking or writing. I also loved the way that each character had a very set personality which was showed in their behaviors, words, and looks.

I really love the artwork of One Word. The crazy lines and paints mixed with pencil really add character to the book. I liked the facial expressions, as well. This really added to the characterization within the book.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might consider using this book to introduce a persuasive writing book or to teach a lesson about audience. The students can discuss the different ways they might persuade their audience and how they have to consider what is and isn’t appropriate for the task.

Free Skype visits with Jim to support the diversity initiative (Thanks, Jim!):
http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/p/mirrors-and-windows-diversity-initiative.html
A video for SOPHIA
- http://books.simonandschuster.com/One-Word-from-Sophia/Jim-Averbeck/9781481405140 (S&S page)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG5M6KdL7A0 (youtube)
SOPHIA is being used for an initiative to promote diverse books
- http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/68135-indie-booksellers-announce-diversity-initiative.html
SOPHIA being used in high school AP English classes
- http://www.slj.com/2015/09/books-media/teachers-find-many-reasons-to-use-picture-books-with-middle-and-high-school-students/
Downloadable Teacher’s Guide: http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/p/resources.html
Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions: Why must we always consider our audience when we write? In what ways does Sophia try to persuade her audience? What works in the end, and why?; Which method would have worked best to persuade you?

Video:

Blog Tour Stops:

10/19/2015 – Jen at Teach Mentor Texts

10/20/2015 – Jennifer at Reederama

10/21/2015 – Franki and Mary Lee at Two Reading Teachers

10/22/2015 – Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers

10/23/2015 – Crystal at Reading Through Life

10/24/2015 – Alyson at Kid Lit Frenzy

Jim Averbeck’s Website: http://www.jimaverbeckbooks.com/

Jim Averbeck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimaverbeck

Yasmeen Ismail’s Website: http://www.yasmeenismail.co.uk/

Yasmeen Ismail on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yasmeenmay

Simon and Schuster: One Word From Sophia

Simon and Schuster Kids on Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonkids

Read This If You Loved: I Wanna Iguanna by Karen Kaufman Orloff, Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book by Richard Scarry, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Jen Vincent for hosting the blog tour and to Atheneum Books for providing copies for review!**

Little Tree by Loren Long

October 21, 2015 by Kellee

Little Tree
Author and Illustrator: Loren Long
Expected Publication: October 27th, 2015 by Philomel Books

Goodreads Summary: In the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. Life is perfect just the way it is.

Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree’s leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. But not Little Tree—he hugs his leaves as tightly as he can. Year after year Little Tree remains unchanged, despite words of encouragement from a squirrel, a fawn, and a fox, his leaves having long since turned brown and withered. As Little Tree sits in the shadow of the other trees, now grown sturdy and tall as though to touch the sun, he remembers when they were all the same size. And he knows he has an important decision to make. From #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long comes a gorgeously-illustrated story that challenges each of us to have the courage to let go and to reach for the sun.

Kellee’s Review: Loren Long’s books, Otis and The Little Engine That Could, are household names, and I believe Little Tree will find its home along side these books. Little Tree is a sweet, little story at the surface, but it is really very deep. The story can be read as a story at bedtime to talk about nature or as a starting point for a discussion about growing up and/or making hard choices. The illustrations are beautiful yet simple, so that the readers eyes are drawn into Little Tree and its friends.

Ricki’s Review: This book represents everything I love in literature. From the moment I cracked the cover, I was whisked into the quiet story, and I felt a bit of a rush as I turned each page. The publishers graciously sent me a print from the book, which I plan to hang in my son’s bedroom. My advisor has the print resting behind her desk in the office. Kellee accurately described this book. While it seems simple, there are so many ways this texts could be used to promote quality conversations in the classroom. This would be my mentor text to teach personification.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Little Tree will be a read aloud favorite for many teachers and students, but it can also be used to promote great discussions. At the surface, the book is a great jumping off point to talk about the seasons and nature and how nature changes throughout the seasons and would be a great companion to nonfiction books about the seasons. If you want to go a bit deeper, there is definitely a message in Little Tree about letting go, growing up, and making choices that may not be easy.

Discussion Questions: Why did Little Tree not want to let go of its leaves?; What happened as a result of not letting go of its leaves?; What does the author want you to think about after reading Little Tree’s story?

We Flagged:

little tree image — From http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/11/books/review/13bookshelf-lettinggo.html?_r=0

Read This If You Loved: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Loren Long, The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, Frozen Wild by Jim Arnosky, Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt, and other nonfiction texts about seasons

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Penguin for providing copies for review!**