Adventure – Page 8 – Unleashing Readers

National Geographic’s 100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up

June 22, 2016 by Kellee

Nonfiction Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up
Author: Lisa M. Gerry
Published March 8th 2016 by National Geographic Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary: It’s fun to be a kid, but are you ready for what comes next? Challenge yourself with these 100 things and you will be! Jam-packed with tips, tricks, and skills that every kid should master before turning 18, this is the ultimate guide to becoming a fun-loving, well-rounded, totally competent and confident young person. Complete with expert advice from real life explorers, adventurers, and masters of their craft, it’s perfect for jump-starting an amazing life!

Kellee’s Review: I love books that push students to be more than what they already are. This book is one of those. It has such a crazy variety of things that kids can learn to do and overcome and try throughout their childhood: from making a bed to learning to say no to trying yoga. There were things in the book that I am not even good at, but I wish someone had helped me learn how to do as a kid like how to remember names or how to deal with change. I am always impressed with National Geographic books because they are all so unique and well done, and this one is no different!

Ricki’s Review: Typically, I review books and then donate them. I am hanging on to this book because I think it is a great one to share with my children. I loved that some of the “things to know” were abstract like being brave and some were much more concrete like trying another country’s cuisine. I think it would be really neat to use this book as a bucket list. All of the things in this book are experiences and ideas that I want my children to have.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: 100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up is a great inquiry project jumping off point. Students could definitely take these 100 things and choose a favorite to research then share with the family. The book would also be a good read aloud for the beginning of each day to have a class discussion. It would be interesting to see what students already know how to do, if they think that everything listed is important, and work on learning new things.

Discussion Questions: Which of the things listed do you already know how to do?; Is there anything you would add to the list that you think you need to know before you grow up?; Which of the things do you want to learn how to do first?; Do you think all of the items listed are important to learn?

We Flagged: “#31. How to Be Brave

Everyone feels afraid from time to time, but it’s how you respond to that fear that shows who you are. Being scared is an uncomfortable feeling, so it makes sense that you’d want to avoid it. But the only way to conquer a fear is to do the thing that scares you. As Mark Twain said, ‘Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.’

People Profile: Malala Yousafzai

Malala is the youngest person to have ever won a Nobel Peace Prize. She won it in 2014, when she was just 17 years old. Malala was born in Pakistan in 1997. She attended a school founded by her father and quickly became an advocate for a girl’s right to get an education. However, the Taliban, a violent political group in her country, believed that girls should not go to school…” (p. 80-82)

*Disclosure: This quote cannot share the entire feeling of the book without the photos. See the published book to see the amazing photographs.

Read This If You Loved: 31 Ways to Change the World by Candlewick Press, Mastermind by National Geographic, Weird but True series by National Geographic, Be Changemaker by Laurie Ann Thompson, Almanacs, World Record books

Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Karen at Media Masters Publicity for providing copies for review!**

Agent Darcy and Ninja Steve in Tiger Trouble! by Grant Goodman

May 20, 2016 by Kellee

Agent Darcy and Ninja Steve in Tiger Trouble!
Author: Grant Goodman
Published May 4th, 2015 by CreateSpace/Smashwords

Goodreads Summary: SECRET MISSIONS. SPIN KICKS. SINISTER GHOSTS.

Thirteen year-old Agent Darcy is one of the top students at the Bureau of Sneakery, where there are three rules every agent must follow: never make friends with an outsider, never speak of the Bureau, and never reveal your real name. Lately, Darcy has hit a rough patch: her rival, Agent Serena, keeps outdoing her. If things keep going this way, Darcy is convinced that no one will ever assign her a real mission.

Ninja Steve’s city, Ninjastoria, is the home of sword fights, throwing stars, and Tae Kwon Donuts. Unlike his genius older sister, twelve year-old Steve isn’t the best ninja student. He’d rather be swinging a sword instead of taking notes in class. Steve, however, is about to learn that being a true ninja means far more than being able to use a sword.

When Darcy is sent to Ninjastoria as an exchange student, it will turn both of their lives upside-down and raise all kinds of questions: What do the mecha-moles want? Who is the man in the gray mask? What do ninjas eat for lunch? And why is there a menacing tiger on the cover of this book?

Time to read and find out!

My Review: This book was such a fun read! Goodman had a very easy flow of writing that made the story so smooth and fast-moving. I ended up really liking the story for a few different reasons. First, it was action-packed and kept me reading. Although it was the exposition of what I assume will be a series, it never was slow or boring. Goodman introduced aspects of the plot in clever ways. Second, I love that there is a boy and girl narrator. It is not gender-oriented at all. The book and the cover both are perfect for all types of readers. Aspects of both characters will be easy to relate for all readers. Darcy is competitive and a hard worker. Steve is living in the shadow of a sibling. All gender neutral feelings. Finally, I love the humor in it. Goodman did a great job throwing in zingers and laughs throughout the book to make it just that more entertaining.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This is a book like Alex Rider and Percy Jackson that kids are going to love to read. It will be great for a middle school read aloud and should be accessible to kids.

Discussion Questions: What are the differences between Ninjastoria and the Bureau of Sneakery?; How are the expectations different for the kids who live in each place?; How did Agent Darcy being sent to Ninjastoria propel the action of the story?; Even though Steve wasn’t as genius as his older sister, he has talents that helped them on their journey. How did each character effect the outcome?; How did Darcy and Steve cause the mayhem that ensues in the book?; How is Darcy and Steve’s confrontation with Toran like redemption for their parents?

Flagged Passage: “Steve held his position. Sensei Raheem nodded.

‘On three,’ Sensei Raheem started. ‘One. Two.’

The ground lurched. Steve wobbled. The ground split open. Steve fell. His instinct took over.

On the way down, he sheathed his sword and made sure he was right side-up, ready to deal with the impact. There was a red light coming from below, and Steve braced for landing. He hit the gravel-covered bottom and broke into a roll to the side.

Steve got up and brushed some gravel off his arms. He wished now that he hadn’t worn his short sleeve black ninja shirt. Some rocks had dug deep into his skin.

The air he breathed was thick and smoky. The soft red light came form everywhere and nowhere at once. No matter which direction he moved in, he couldn’t track the source of it.” (Location 753-765 on the Kindle Version)

Read This If You Loved: Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, Moonshadow series by Simon Higgins

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Shannon Thompson and Grant Goodman for providing a copy for review!**

Review and Giveaway!: Bucky and Stu vs. the Mikanikal Man by Cornelius Van Wright

May 12, 2016 by Ricki

Bucky and Stu vs. the Mikanikal Man
Author and Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright
Published: July 28, 2015 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Goodreads Summary: It’s the adventure of a lifetime when best friends—and self-proclaimed superheroes—defeat bad guys of their own invention.

It’s wonk ’em time when Bucky and Stu have to stand up to Phat Tyre, TrashMan and Hose-Nose. No matter that the bad guys are all made out of household items that Bucky and Stu have assembled themselves—these bad guys don’t stand a chance against the boys’ power moves. Still, it’s quite a surprise when their latest villain, the giant Mikanikal Man, gets zapped during a lightning storm and comes to life! The battle—and thrill—of a lifetime ensue. Full of surprises and laughs, this upbeat, action-packed story celebrates imagination, creativity, and friendship in even the most unexpected forms. Cornelius Van Wright’s hilarious illustrations are full of surprises and are perfect for portraying the high-speed antics of two enthusiastic boys.

About the Author:

Cornelius Van Wright (www.corneliusvanwright.com) wrote and illustrated When an Alien Meets a Swamp Monster, and has also illustrated several other picture books, including Princess Grace (by Mary Hoffman) and Jingle Dancer (by Cynthia Leitich Smith). His work has appeared on Reading Rainbow and Storytime and has been exhibited with the Society of Illustrators. He lives in New York City.

Ricki’s Review: For me, this book celebrates the imagination. These two boys build their own villains out of household items, and the end results are hilarious. My son enjoys reading this book, and after our first reading we created our own villain out of couch cushions, a colander, and other cooking tools. While many readers will automatically attribute this book to boys, I think girls would love it, too! Who doesn’t love creating a monster out of every day items? Next winter, I plan to read this book with my son and take him outside to create an imaginative snowman. It will be the hit of the block!

Kellee’s Review: What a perfect book to review to coincide with the release of Captain America: Civil War! It highlights how anyone can be a superhero if they use their imagination and whatever they can find! I know that this is going to be a favorite of parents who like comic books and will be a reading ladder to super hero comic books because the next step after fighting Phat Tyre is Green Goblin! I also think that the story will really get kids’ minds reeling and get them playing! Too often I hear that kids aren’t playing enough anymore, but I believe that is because video games and TV are so stimulating. Bucky and Stu is imaginative enough that it will stimulate the minds of its readers and get them playing.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be a great choice to kick off a unit on imagination. Some elementary schools do invention fairs, and this would be a great book to initiate excitement in the fair. Further, with the highlight on STEM in education, teachers might consider pairing with a robotics teacher to show students how robots were made. It would be really neat if they could try their own hand at creating their very own robot! Now THAT is authentic learning!

Check out the downloadable CCSS-aligned curriculum guide at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/310658230/Bucky-and-Stu-vs-the-Mikanikal-Man-Curriculum-Guide

Discussion Questions: How does using our imagination help us in life? When have you had to use your imagination creatively? What famous people (current or in history) are known for their imaginations?; How might this book inspire you to make your own invention?

Book Trailer:

This made us giggle and highlights the good fun of this book!

Read This If You Loved: The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers, Journey by Aaron Becker

Giveaway!:

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Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing copies for review!**

Blog Tour, Character Interview, Giveaway, and Review!: The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin by Elinor Teele

May 5, 2016April 15, 2016 by Kellee

The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
Author: Elinor Teele
Illustrator: Ben Whithouse
Published April 12th, 2016 Walden Pond Press

Goodreads Summary: A quirky, humorous, whimsical, and heartwarming middle grade debut about a young boy who runs away from home with his sister to escape working in the family coffin business—and discovers even more adventure than he bargained for.

John Coggin is no ordinary boy. He is devising an invention that nobody has ever seen before, something that just might change the world, or at least make life a little bit better for him and his litter sister, Page. But that’s only when he can sneak a break from his loathsome job: building coffins for the family business under the beady gaze of his cruel great-aunt Beauregard. Having lost their parents when Page was a baby, how else are they supposed to survive?

Perhaps by taking an enormous risk—a risk that arrives in the form of a red-haired scamp named Boz. When Great-Aunt Beauregard informs John that she’s going to make him a permanent partner in Coggin Family Coffins—and train Page to be an undertaker—John and Page sign on with Boz and hit the road. Before long, they’ve fallen in with a host of colorful characters, all of whom, like John and Page, are in search of a place they can call home. But home, they realize, isn’t something you find so much as something you fight for, and John soon realizes that he and Page are in for the fight of their lives.

Elinor Teele’s picaresque debut is a rollicking tale filled with wild adventures, daring escapes, and—thanks to Boz—more than a little catastrophe.

My Review: One thing I’ve noticed is that so many orphans in stories seem to always get into some sort of trouble and then go on amazing adventures. Like Annie, Grubb from Alistair Grim, and Peter Nimble before him, John Coggin, a recent orphan, finds himself in quite a predicament of a situation when he is forced to work for his great aunt’s funeral home. It is the last straw when Great Aunt Beauregard tries to force Page, John’s sister, to go to work with them, and that begins the adventure! Elinor Teele takes us on quite a journey! With Boz, the comic relief with an amazing vocabulary, our three main characters meet some unique characters along the way.

Teele’s ability to weave such an odd story together and make it seem seamless is remarkable. John, Page, and Boz have about 5 stops along their journey all with a wide-variety of characters who all are a bit quirky but also relatable and you end up loving all of them. Although everything that happens is quite farfetched, you end up believing it all because you just want John and Page to be successful!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: In the classroom, I think this book would be a perfect opportunity to discuss ways to determine unknown vocabulary within a text. Boz has QUITE a vocabulary and uses words that will be unknown to many of the middle grade readers the book is aimed for; however, the author does a fabulous job of having context clues or restatements of what the words mean. I would love to use passages of this book for vocabulary instruction.

It could also be used as a mentor text for imagery, specifically character description. Like I said, throughout the book we meet some very odd characters, but they are all described so well you can picture them. Same with John’s contraptions and the setting. Elinor Teele’s specific word choice really brings the story to life.

Lastly, I think it would be fun to compare/contrast the orphans within middle grade novels and discuss why orphans are chosen for so many adventurous books. Peter Nimble and Alistair Grim along with John Coggin would definitely be a great place to start, and you could even tie it in with “Annie.”

Also check out the Educational Activity Kit based on the book for more ways to use the book in the classroom or library.

We Flagged: “”Up and at ‘em, troops! The back of a new day is already broken, and time marches on!’

Boz blew into the barn like a category five hurricane and came to rest at John’s feet. ‘Where are the foundations of your perambulation?’ His baffled face collapsed even further into itself.

‘Where are the what?’ John asked blearily. The bright summer sun was making fireflies of the dust around Page’s hair.

‘Your shoes, young man, your shoes.’

‘I threw them outside.’

‘Well, find them! We go, we see, we conquer!’” (p. 58)

Special Guest! Q&A with Boz (by Elinor Teele): Boz may, in fact, be the worst interviewee on the planet. It was barely possible to get him into a hotel lounge and almost impossible to keep him there. And his hair! It seemed to have a life of its own. After this experience, I am firmly convinced his only future is a career as a human firework.

Q. So, first I’d like to ask… Boz? Boz! Could you please stop swinging from the chandelier?
A. Of course, profuse apologies my Fallonesque friend. I was merely trying to pump some blood to my knee joints. I ingested a box of sugar-coated hookoo grubs yesterday and I fear they have inflamed my rheumatics.

Q. Where did you get a box of hookoo grubs?
A. A gift from the Queen of Samarrand. She says she misses my winsome ways.

Q. How did you become friends with a Queen?
A. Oh, I have roamed the bureaus and boards of many a parliament. From the sweat-soaked slums to the blasted heaths, I have crisscrossed this great globe itself in eighty days and under. “A wandering minstrel, I…”

At this point in the interview, Boz yanked open the door to the lobby and vaulted onto the hotel’s front desk. From there, he sang operettas to incoming guests until security guards brought him back into the lounge.

Q. I don’t think the concierge enjoyed your singing.
A. It’s a waste of vitriol trying to please critics. Besides, it gave me an opportunity to relieve him of his time commitments.

Q. You stole his watch?!
A. You may say that, but I couldn’t possibly clarify.

Q. Well, what can you comment on?
A. Anything that tickles your pearly whites.

Q. Okay, how about this? Some people have said that your way of speaking is far too complicated to understand. They point out many kids have enough trouble with basics, so why make it harder?
A. I grant you that my vocabulary may be a little bewildering, but why not be wild? There are so many beautiful words in this world that go a’begging. As my dear friend Dodo Dodgson often opines, “Look after the senses and the sounds will look after themselves.”

Q. Yes, I noticed you tend to appropriate phrases from famous writers.
A. Who was it that said that bad artists copy and great men steal? Or was it that the immature youth imitates and the mature matron plagiarizes? I can’t remember.

At this point in the interview, Boz once again made a grab at the chandelier. This time – thanks to the force of his liftoff – he was hurled round and round the room like a demented tornado.

Q. Are you insane? Should I call the fire brigade?
A. Wouldn’t do that, my dear boy. They’re still irked about the incident with the propane and the propellers.

Q. What did that involve?!
A. A gaggle of insurance investigators, apparently.

Q. I give up. I don’t know how John Coggin put up with you.
A. But John and I are friends! Buddies of the bosom. Compadres of the cabana. Say what you will about my ethical standards, but I always believe in my friends!

This was a revealing comment, and I would have liked to ask Boz more about it. Unfortunately, he had let go of the chandelier and was already rocketing skyward through one of the open windows. I last saw him passing a goshawk.

Walden TV Features John Coggin: http://waldentv.com/video/rtwt-john-coggin/

Find Elinor Teele at her website.

Recommended For:

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Don’t miss out on the other blog tour stops!

April 11 – Bluestocking Thinking
April 12 – Novel Novice
April 13 – This Kid Reviews Books
April 14 – Maria’s Melange
April 15 – Unleashing Reader
April 18 – Next Best Book
April 19 – Foodie Bibliophile
April 20 – For Those About to Mock
April 21 – Walden Media Tumblr
April 22 – Charlotte’s Library
April 25 – Flashlight Reader
April 26 – Teach Mentor Texts
April 27 – Librarian’s Quest
April 28 – Kid Lit Frenzy
April 29 – Novel Novice

**Thank you to Walden Pond Press for providing a copy for review and giveaway!!**

Author Guest Post!: “Visiting Schools” by Iain Reading, Author of The Dragon of the Month Club

March 6, 2016 by Ricki

“Visiting Schools”

I know, I know… it’s been said a hundred times before… One really great way to get kids in schools interested in reading is to invite some authors to come in and talk to them. But at the risk of beating a dead horse by raising this topic again for the hundred-and-first time, let me just say that one of my absolute favourite things in the world is visiting schools and talking about my books and how I ended up writing them.

When I visit schools I have a checklist of things that I always bring with me:

– Many copies of my books to give away. Check.

– Dragon of the Month Club membership cards to give away. Check.

– Trading cards for each of my books to give away. Check.

– Wristbands for my books to give away. Check.

– Pendants from designs from my books to give away. Check.

(As you can see, I always bring lots of stuff for giveaways. Kids love it.)

But even with all the free stuff the kids get I think the most memorable thing for them (although they never really show it – you know how kids are) is when the story in the books I’ve written actually take place right there in their own hometowns and neighbourhoods. One of my own most memorable visits was to a small school in rural Ireland where the kids were amazed to hear that one of the books in my Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency had several scenes that took place just a few miles away. And they couldn’t believe that the boring tiny little village where they lived was actually one of the most favourite places in all the world of some writer they never heard of from Canada.

On visits like these I always have a great time and so do the kids and teachers too. There are writers everywhere in the world. And writers tend to write what they know, so they’ve probably written something about every corner of the world where there’s a school. And I bet they’d love to come out and talk to students about their books.

And if not…. well, give me a call… maybe I’ll be in your corner of the world sometime and I can drop in and give away a bunch of stuff.

The Dragon Of The Month Club, by Iain Reading, was published in February 2015 and is available for sale.

Synopsis:

The Dragon Of The Month Club is the exciting first installment in a new book series that tells the story of Ayana Fall and Tyler Travers, two best friends who stumble across an extraordinarily magical book and soon find themselves enrolled as members of a very special and exclusive club – The Dragon of the Month Club.

On the thirteenth of every month a new dragon conjuring spell is revealed and the two friends attempt to summon the latest Dragon of the Month. The varieties are almost endless: Air Dragons, Paper Dragons, Fog Dragons, Waterfall Dragons, Rock Dragons, Tree Dragons – not to mention special bonus dragons for all the major holidays, including a particularly prickly Holly Dragon for Christmas.

But one day when a conjuring spell somehow goes wrong Ayana and Tyler find themselves unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical world of adventure based on the various books scattered all across Tyler’s messy bedroom. Travelling from one book-inspired world to the next with nothing to rely on but their wits and a cast of strange and exotic dragons at their disposal they must try to somehow find their way home again.

Drawing inspiration from some of literature’s most memorable stories – from 19th century German folktales to the streets of Sherlock Holmes’s London – the adventures of Ayana and Tyler bring these classic stories to life in delightfully strange and unexpected ways. Filled with fascinating detail and non-stop action these books will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages to inspire a life-long love of reading and seeking out books that are just a little bit off the beaten track.

Praise for The Dragon of the Month Club:

“No other book bonds together so many stories in such a fashion that is actually readable and enjoyable at the same time. With the title being The Dragon of the Month Club, many might think this is a book strictly about magic and dragons, yet you will find that what’s inside this book will leave you awe struck.” – Red City Reviews

“Iain Reading has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I started reading his Kitty Hawk books and now I’m introduced to a fantastical world. This is the type of book I would have spent hours in my room, wishing I could slip into the pages and have an adventure.” – Sandra Stiles

“The Dragon of the Month Club is a very enjoyable read. I’m a grown adult and I enjoyed it. It reminded me of a Harry Potter meets Goosebumps (the part where the books come alive) meets Sherlock Holmes. I found the book to be engaging and kept me wanting to read on. This is a wonderful series for any young reader.” – sgebhard

Contest:

There is an ongoing contest for readers to win a one-of-a-kind hardcover version of The Dragon of the Month Club with their artwork as the cover.

“Draw a picture! Write a story! Take a photograph! Bake some cookies! Mold a dragon out of clay! Knit one out of yarn! Make one out of LEGO! Whatever you want! Just let your imagination run wild because anything goes – the more creative the better! Send your dragon in and then on the 13th day of every month one entry will be chosen at random and featured on the official Dragon Of The Month Club website. Each month’s lucky winner will also receive a free one-of-a-kind personalized hard-cover edition of The Dragon Of The Month Club book featuring their winning artwork (or other creative content) on the cover or inside the book itself,” says Iain.

To learn more, go to http://www.dragonofthemonthclub.com/

About the Author:

Iain Reading is passionate about Root Beer, music, and writing. He is Canadian, but currently resides in the Netherlands working for the United Nations.

Iain writes middle grade and young adult books. His published works include the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series, The Wizards of Waterfire Series, and the dragon of the month club. To learn more, go to http://www.amazon.com/Iain-Reading/e/B00B0NGI6Q/

Connect with Iain on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

**Thank you, Iain, for this fantastic post!**

and

Over the River & Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure by Linda Ashman

November 18, 2015 by Kellee

Over the River & Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure
Author: Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Kim Smith
Published October 6th, 2015 by Sterling Children’s Books

Summary:

Pack up the pooches and load the van.
We need to leave by eight!
There’s so much to bring.
Do we have everything?
Come on, we can’t be late!

The classic song gets a fresh new twist! The fun begins when Grandma and Grandpa send invitations to their far-flung, modern, and multiracial family: Come to our house for the holidays—and bring your favorite pie!Off everyone goes, driving down snowy roads, riding the train, boarding a plane . . . even sailing along in a hot-air balloon. As each family faces an obstacle that delays their trip, they learn that sometimes the most old-fashioned form of transportation works best . . . NEIGH!

About the Author: Linda Ashman has written more than 20 children’s books, including Creaky Old House; Stella, Unleashed; No Dogs Allowed!, and TheTwelve Days of Christmas in Colorado (all Sterling). She lives in Chapel Hill, NC. Visit Linda online at lindaashman.com.

About the Illustrator: Kim Smith has a fun and vibrant extended family, perfect as inspiration for this book. This is the fourth children’s book she has illustrated, along with A Ticket Around the World (Owlkids Books), The Raven and the Loon (Inhabit Media), and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada (Sterling, NYP). Kim lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, Eric, and their one-eyed goldfish named Goulash.

Kellee’s Review: Holidays are a great time to celebrate spending time with families, and Over the River & Through the Wood highlights the highs and lows of traveling to see family for the holidays. Told in the same rhythm as the original song, the book has been modernized to include families coming from all different places to go visit family. I also loved the different types of families that were represented in the book. It shows real families and how they are all so different.

Ricki’s Review: This text emanates warmth. I pulled my little guy onto my lap, and we cuddled as we read it together. I enjoyed the sense of adventure, and I might read this book before we go on a big family trip. While my son is only two, I had a nice time discussing what the family was doing and how our family holidays are similar and different. As a teacher I might include this with other holiday books to give a rich sense of different customs and practices of holidays.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Since the book is written to match the original song, it’d be fun to have students write their own version of the song that fits their experiences at the holidays. Or, they might take another song (holiday or not) and adjust the words to fit their culture/customs/experiences.

Discussion Questions: How do different families’ experiences differ during the holidays in the book? In real life?; What different types of families are in the book? In real life?; What differences are there between the original song and the book?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Other versions of Over the River and Through the Wood including those by Lydia Maria Francis Child or John Steven Gurney

Recommended For:

and

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

Kellee’s ALAN Panel: Keeping ‘Em on the Edge of Their Seats with Michael Buckley, Roland Smith, and C. Taylor-Butler

November 15, 2015November 13, 2015 by Kellee

In addition to my NCTE sessions about Bridging the Gender Gap with humor and the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, I am also moderating an action/adventure panel during the 2015 ALAN Workshop! During the panel, we’ll be touching on how to add suspense to novels, writing techniques when writing action/adventure, characterization vs. plot in action/adventure novels, and how to keep an action story fresh through a series.

I am looking forward to presenting with these authors, and I wanted to take a day to share their wonderful (and action-packed!) books with you all.

Undertow
Author: Michael Buckley
Published May 5th, 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s only hope of survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.

Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders.

My Review: What a unique book! I was intrigued with the whole concept from the very beginning, and I had to know what was going to happen to the characters. Mer-people have begun living on the beaches of Coney Island, and Americans, instead of trying to understand, have fought and banished them; however, as Undertow starts, we learn they are trying to integrate the schools. Lyric is our protagonist and has a secret that makes this integration dangerous for her. Her adventure through Undertow definitely held my attention! Although Buckley built an entire new mythology of merpeople within the book, the characters and plot are strong enough to make the mythology seem seamlessly part of the world Buckley has created. Lyric is quite an interesting character, but the more you learn about her, the more it makes sense. I also found the integration aspect of the novel a bit reminiscent of school integration in the 60’s and would love to know if that is what Buckley intended.

Peak: The Edge
Author: Roland Smith
Published October 6th, 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: The International Peace Ascent is the brainchild of billionaire Sebastian Plank: Recruit a global team of young climbers and film an inspiring, world-uniting documentary. The adventure begins when fifteen-year-old Peak Marcello and his mountaineer mother are helicoptered to a remote base camp in the Hindu Kush Mountains on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. When the camp is attacked and his mother taken, Peak has no choice but to track down the perpetrators to try to save her.

My Review: Though The Edge is the sequel to Peak, it could definitely be read as a stand-alone, though I highly recommend reading Peak as well. The Edge was one of the most intense reads I’ve read in a while. As soon as the attacks happen, I could not put the book down because I needed to know what, why, and how: what happened?!; Why did they do it?!; and How are they going to save them?! Smith’s ability to write characters the reader cares about mixed with his ability to build suspense just makes this a book that definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat!

The Lost Tribes
Author: C. Taylor-Butler
Published March 25th, 2015 by Move Books

Goodreads Summary: Five friends are in a race against time in this action-adventure story involving ancient tribal artifacts that hold the fate of the universe in the balance. None of these trailblazers imagined their ordinary parents as scientists on a secret mission. But when their parents go missing, they are forced into unfathomable circumstances and learn of a history that is best left unknown, for they are catalysts in an ancient score that must be settled. As the chaos unfolds, opportunities arise that involve cracking codes and anticipating their next moves. This book unfolds sturdy, accurate scientific facts and history knowledge where readers will surely become participants.

My Review: This book surprised me! I cannot tell you what surprised me because I want it to surprise you, but the book ended up being very different than what I thought it was going to be. The book introduces us to Ben who is given a computer game to solve from his Uncle Henry. Ben just wants to impress Henry, so he vows to complete the game. Along with his 3 friends and his sister, Ben immerses himself in the game only to find out it is more than he could even imagine. The book has riddles, codes, and information throughout, and I definitely could see fans of Tombquest or 39 Clues enjoying this adventure. But, once again, this book isn’t as it seems!

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