Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Michael L. Printz 2011 Award Winner

Age Range:  Young Adult

This was a wonderful, fast-moving, science fiction novel.  The entire book is action packed and you want to root for Nailer, the main character, the entire book.  The book is set in the future, on the Gulf Coast.  Cities like New Orleans have been destroyed by category 6 hurricanes.  Many people are left to make their living by scavenging old oil tankers for any copper or parts they can find--they are ship breakers.  Nailer works on the light crew and scavenges for copper.  After a horrible hurricane, Nailer and Pima find a ship that has been destroyed.  They think they have made a great scavenge, when they find Nita, a young-very rich girl that has survived the storm.  Nailer decides to keep her alive.  To escape Nailer's horrible father and his crew, they flee to Orleans by train hopping.  Nita tries to make it back to her people and is on the constant look-out for her own ships.  The ending is even more action-packed than the beginning of the book.  I loved the way things turn out for Nailer and his real family.

Ship Breaker has the elements of metafiction because of how the book is set in a futuristic society.  It makes the reader question if this is where the world is headed.  Will children in our future end up like Nailer and Pima? 

Here is a video from the author, Paolo Bacigalupi, where he talks about this book.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

Countdown is the first of a trilogy based on the 1960's.  This documentary novel, features what people of the 1960's dealt with and their feelings during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  The main character, Franny is 11 years old and lives with her parents, older sister, younger brother, and her Uncle Otts.  The book begins with Franny's class being at recess and hearing sirens for an air-raid.  All of the children have to duck and cover.  The feelings and fear of the students and teachers can be easily felt.  Franny just wants to be a normal 11 year old, but lives in constant fear that she is going to die and the world is going to end.  Her Uncle Otts, is a war veteran, and continues to deal with the stress of having been at war.  He tries to dig a bomb shelter in their front yard and then collapses suddenly.  Franny has to find her way through issues with her old best friend, Margie and attempt to live a normal life with her family when the world is full of chaos.

Metafiction is present in the book by the way the author brings in real life photos from the 1960's, advertisements, songs, and speeches.  These things are woven through the book and help better explain what Franny and her family are experiencing.  This novel will give students a real glance into what life was like in the 1960's. 

Here is a book trailer that I found on Book Trailers For All (http://booktrailersforall.com/) made by Sandy Noles. 

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

1996 Caldecott Medal Winner

Age Range:  K through 3rd grade

Officer Buckle and his police dog Gloria make a hilarious team in this book.  Officer Buckle shares his safety tips with the students of Napville School.  The children are usually very bored and often fall asleep--that is until Gloria comes along one day.  Gloria begins to add comedy and acts out the tips Officer Buckle is saying.  The kids fall in love with the team  and other schools begin to ask to hear Officer Buckle and Gloria's safety tips. 

Metafiction is present in this book through the playfulness that Gloria brings into the book.  Gloria adds comedy to the book and the kids love her as she helps the author get several safety tips across in this book.

It's a Book by Lane Smith

Age Range:  K through 3rd grade

With the way so many people read today moving to digital formats such as the Nook or Kindle, kids will love this book about a book.  There are two main characters in this book, a jackass and a monkey (a mouse plays a minor part).  The jackass and the monkey have a dialogue back and forth about the book the monkey is reading. The jackass tries to understand how the book works through asking questions like if it scroll's down, can it text or tweet, and does it need a password.  The jackass eventually reads the book and doesn't want to give it back to the monkey. 

This book is a great example of metafiction because it is a book that reflects on what a book is.  There is also a page from the book the monkey is reading featured in the book.  The book is playful through the dialogue between the jackass and the monkey. 

Here is a link for the book trailer from Amazon for this book:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m358EIEJ2K6MC1/ref=ent_fb_link. 
Here is a link for a clip from the author about this book:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m23D7IGMH6ISVL/ref=ent_fb_link

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Age Range:  Young Adult

Wow--this book is a completely new twist on a classic fairy tale.  The author, Adam Gidwitz, ties together different stories from the Brothers Grimm using the classic story of Hansel and Gretel.  Young adults that have heard the traditional version of Hansel and Gretel will enjoy hearing how their story really began and what happens to them after they leave the old ladies house that tries to cook them in the oven and then eat them.  Their story continues and many exciting and scary events happen to them.  Gretel has to cut off her own finger and has a part in a man being boiled alive.  Hansel gets turned into a beast that is shot and goes to Hell himself.  There is even a dragon they have to battle near the end of this book.  Throughout the book, the reader will wonder if Hansel and Gretel will get their happily-ever-after.

This book is a great example of metafiction.  The author directly interacts with the reader throughout the book.  The bold typed words that are interjected throughout the book are when the author directly talks to the reader.  By using this format, the author makes the book more interactive, suspenseful, and adds to the reader's understanding of the story.  Young adults will be drawn into this suspenseful and sometimes gory story and enjoy a new, creative way to read a fairy tale.

The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston

Age Range:  Young Adult

The Freak Observer is a book about coping with tragedy and finding a way to move past it. The main character, Loa is 16 years old and had to deal with several tragedies over the last few years.  The book begins with her coping with the death of her friend, Esther.  Loa was there when Esther died and has a hard time moving past this incident.  After Esther's death, Loa is given an extra credit project in her physics class to make up points.  She chooses The Freak Observer (Boltzmann Brain) and the book often refers back to this assignment.  Throughout the book Loa also explains the tragedy that occurred in her own family.  Her younger sister, Asta,  had Rett Syndrome and had to be constantly cared for by each member of the family.  Asta becomes the center of the family.  Once she dies the family falls apart as each of them tries to find a way to cope and move past this death.  Loa has PTSD and cannot sleep.  When she does she has awful nightmares and dreams of the Bony Guy (death). She tries to constantly stay awake so that she does not have nightmares.  She has a relationship with her debate partner, Corey, who suddenly has to move to Europe.  He periodically sends her postcards from abroad.  Her new friendship with Jack helps her move on.

Metafiction is present in this book through the opening page to each chapter.  A physics theory typically opens the chapter that makes the reader wonder how the chapter will tie in with the theory.  The book also provokes the question about whether Loa will be alright and be able to cope with her life.  In the end, the reader gets to see a small change in Loa that gives a glimmer of hope that she will be OK.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

Pura Belpre Award Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

This book recently won the 2011 Pura Belpre Award.  This is an amazing work of fiction based on the life of the world-known poet, Pablo Neruda. The book has many poems throughout with unique illustrations.  The entire book is printed and illustrated with green tones.  Pablo Neruda only wrote in green ink because it is the color of hope.

The book begins with the younger years of  Neftali Reyes.  He loves books and often writes down words that he likes on scrap pieces of paper that he keeps in a drawer.  He lives in Chile with his family.  Neftali constantly daydreams and often becomes distracted.  His father works for the railroad and is very strict on the children. They all seem afraid of him and rarely see a gentle side to him.  He is very intimidating and makes Neftali focus on his studies.  His father does not value Neftali's talent for writing and poetry.  Neftali always remains true to himself and finds time, even during the summers his family would spend at the beach, to read and write.  Neftali is later sent to the university to study business.  He eventually changes his name to Pablo Neruda so that his writing will no longer bring disappointment to his family.  Neftali goes on to be one of the most well-known poets in the world.  Metafiction is present in this book through Neftali himself.  The book provokes questions and makes the reader wonder if Neftali will ever be able to escape his father and write the way he wants to be able to.  It also makes the reader think of the open imaginary possibilities about what Neftali may become one day.  The poems themselves within this book are playful and often form their own picture in the book.  It was amazing to see a glimpse of this great poet's life through this book.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

John Newbery Medal 2011 Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

This is a wonderful story that switches back and forth between Manifest, Kansas in 1936 back to the town in 1917.  Abilene has grown up with only her dad, Gideon. They move from town to town while he works railroad jobs.  After an illness, Gideon sends Abilene away to Manifest without him.  She lives with the town's interim minister, Shady.  At Shady's house she finds a box under the floorboard in her room that contains various trinkets and letters between two men, Jinx and Ned.  Abilene later finds herself having to work off a debt to Miss Sadie, who is known as a diviner.  Miss Sadie shares the story of the town back in 1917 and the story of Ned and Jinx.  Through the story, Abilene gets to know the town and the people that lived there.  Most of them were immigrants from various different countries.  Throughout Miss Sadie's story, Abilene tries to find pieces of her father and his past.  She also wonders where she belongs and if Gideon will return for her.  This book is well-deserving of the Newbery Medal.  I loved how in the end, Abilene ends up where she belongs.  This book has several qualities of metafiction.  It provokes questions throughout the entire story that Miss Sadie shares with Abilene.  The reader wonders if Jinx or Ned could have something to do with Abilene...could one of them be her father?  By switching back and forth between the present and the story of the past there is a story within a story and gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like in 1917.

The Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Caldecott Medal Honor Book

Age range:  Grades K-3

The Interrupting Chicken is a playful, funny book that children will love!  The water colored illustrations are bright and colorful with different shades of red, green, and browns throughout.  The story begins with the Papa chicken trying to get the little red chicken to go to bed.  The Papa chicken reads many stories to little red chicken such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little.  The little red chicken interrupts each story with his version of the ending to that story.  Little red chicken decides to tell Papa a story when they run out of stories.  I loved the twist at the end of the book.  Children will love the little red chicken and laugh throughout this book!  Metafiction is present in this book because there are books within this one book.  The little red chicken is playful and offers a twist to the ending of each of these stories so that they can move on to the next one.  This book would also provide a great writing project where students could write alternate endings to their favorite fairy tales. 

Alchemy and Meggy Swan by Karen Cushman

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

Meggy Swann is a 13 year old girl who is sent to London to be with her father.  Meggy's grandmother is dead and her own mother is happy to see her go.  The story is set in Elizabethan London in 1573.  Meggy has bilateral hip dysplasia and must use walking sticks to get around.  Her only friend her goose, Louise, has a slipped wing and cannot fly.  Meggy's father is unhappy that she is not a boy and that she is crippled.  Her father, Master Ambrose, is an alchemist who attempts to turn metal to gold and find the elixir of life.  He is obsessed with his work and sinks all of his money into his research.  Meggy helps her father in his laboratory and runs errands for him.  Meggy is forced to virtually make it on her own in London.  Over time, she makes many friends through Roger, the Grimm family, the Cooper's family, and the Allen family.  Meggy becomes stronger and more independent as the story unfolds.  She sings and prints an original ballad to help save her father and a Baron.  Metafiction is displayed through the imaginary possibility that Meggy's father might actually find the elixir of life and also be able to turn medal to gold.  This book also provokes questions of whether Meggy will be able to make it in London with a father that does not care for her.  The transformation that Meggy makes from the beginning of the book to the end is amazing. 

Here is a link for a video where the author talks about and gives insight into this book:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m3U9YQM746MIL0/ref=ent_fb_link

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad Butler

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  K-3rd grade

This is an entertaining chapter book for students in the lower elementary grades.  The Buddy Files are a series of books about a special golden retriever named, Buddy.  The book begins with King (Buddy) at the pound.  His previous family went away and after being taken care of by many different people, King ends up at the pound.  He is very upset and wants to find his former family, Kayla and her dad.  A mom and her son, Connor, have just moved into town and they come to the pound and adopt King.  They don't know he already has a name and they name him Buddy.  Buddy is excited because Connor and his mom live in the same neighborhood that Kayla did.  Connor is very homesick and decides to run away from home.  Buddy, being the smart dog that he is, helps in the search for Connor.

Matched by Ally Condie

The New York Times 2011 Best Children's Chapter Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Below is a book trailer from "Book Trailers For All" created by Alicia Vandenbrook.

In Cassia's society, everything is chosen and decided for them. They are told what they can read, what songs they can listen to, and what they can eat.  She decided that she wants to be "Matched" and gets to wear a beautiful green dress to her match banquet.  At the banquet, she finds out that she is matched to her best friend, Xander.  They are both very excited and happy and find it a little strange that they can think differently about each other now.  The next morning, Cassia inserts her match card into the computer to find out the "official" details about her match.  After Xander's information comes up, a picture of Ky appears.  Cassia is soon contacted by an official who tells her it was all a mistake.  Cassia begins to question her match and decides to get to know Ky better.  Will she choose the safer, Xander, or will she follow her heart and choose Ky? 

This was my favorite book of the semester.  It is part of a trilogy.  The second book, Crossed, will be released on November 1st, 2011.  I can't wait! Here is a link to Ally Condie's website:  http://www.allysoncondie.com/. 

The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  3rd-6th grades

We all know who the famous author, Mark Twain was.  This book tells us about the biography that his daughter, Susy, wrote about him.  She wanted the world to really know who her father was.  Through her journal, she lets the reader see the different sides of Mark Twain.  One feature that this book has is that on many of the pages, there is a mini journal that is attached to the page with words from Susy's real journal.  When Mark Twain wrote his own autobiography, he included some of his favorite passages from Susy's journal.  The last page of the book gives kids a step-by-step guide on how to write a biography. 

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Please listen to my Voicethread above about this book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  5th-8th grade

Imogene's Last Stand by Candance Fleming

Please listen to Imogene above tell you about the book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range: K-3rd grade

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2011 TAYSHAS Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Once Was Lost is broken down into 16 days, each of them being a chapter in this book.  The main character, Sam, opens the book and is depressed and upset about how her life has ended up.  Her mother, after a DUI accident, is off in a rehab program.  Her father, is a pastor of a church, and tends to place the church and the congregation first.  His family comes in last place and he never seems to have time for them.  One afternoon, a young girl (Jody Shaw) from church is kidnapped.  The remainder of the book focuses on the community pulling together to help in the search for Jody.  Throughout this time, Sam questions her relationship with God, her parent's, and her friends.  She also hopes for a happy ending for her parents and desperately wants her mother to come home again.  This is a wonderful book about finding yourself.  Another great book by Sara Zarr is Sweethearts.

Here is a book trailer that I made about this book:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

The New York Times 2011 Children's Series Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

This was a very entertaining book that I couldn't put down!  The book begins with five best friends the summer after 7th grade.  Unexpectedly, one of them, Alison, disappears and her body is never found.  The disappearance really gets to the four remaining girls and they grow apart.  They all go their separate ways and the book picks up three years later.  Spencer, is expected to be perfect by her parents and is an overachiever and on the field hockey team.  Aria has recently moved back and falls in love with her high school English teacher.  Hanna is now beautiful and popular, but has an eating disorder to stay thin.  Emily is on the swim team and has a new best friend, Maya, who makes her question her relationship with her boyfriend.  All four of the girls have buried secrets that only Ali knew.  They begin getting text messages and emails from a mysterious "A" that mentions their secrets.  The ending of this book was a shock and not what I expected.  It does a great job of setting it up for the next book, Flawless.  Great book!

Goal! by Mina Javaherbin

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  Kindergarten through 3rd grade

This is a wonderful book celebrating soccer.  A group of young boys in South Africa love to play soccer together in the street and alley.  One of the boys, Ajani, has earned a new federation-size ball for being the best reader in class.  As the friends play, one of them stands guard and looks out for bullies.  A group of bullies interrupt their game.  The boys attempt to outsmart them and hide their new ball, in hopes the bullies will take their old ball.  Once the group of bullies leave, the friends go back to playing soccer (football) again.  Playing this game helps them to feel safe and forget their worries.  The illustrations have a bright blue sky in the background in contrast to the brown buildings that show the poverty of the town.  The facial expressions are life-like and you can see the emotions the characters are feeling.  This is a great book about soccer.

The Duchess of Whimsy by Randall and Peter de Seve

Meet Mr. Wizard above!  He will tell you a little bit about this book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  Kindergarten through 3rd Grade

This is an entertaining fairy tale.  The Duchess of Whimsy is very elaborate and loves unusual things.  She thinks the Earl of Norm is just too ordinary for her.  He tries several different stunts to impress her, but fails.  One day, when the cook is ill, the Earl of Norm makes a grilled cheese sandwich and shares it with the Duchess.  She begins to realize that maybe she likes normal things.  The Earl and the Duchess live happily ever after. 

Amazing Faces by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Chris Soentpiet

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  Kindergarten through 3rd grade

The poems throughout this book are from many different famous poets.  The illustrations in this book are painted and make the people in them look real.  There are many different topics covered by the poems.  Dreaming, being the new child in school, wanting friends, first loves, and a soldier returning home are just a few.  The illustrations help you feel the emotions that the people are feeling through these poems.  The remarkable illustrations and poems in the book will make any child drawn to it. 

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  Grades 3-6

This book of poetry is an amazing twist on the classic fairy tales.  The words of each poem are read, then reversed upside down to make an entirely new poem.  Classics such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rupunzel, Snow White, and Goldilocks are just a few of the poems you'll find in this book.  The illustrations are bright and colorful with primary colors that compliment each poem perfectly.  This would be a great book to use to introduce the fairy tales in a new way to kids.

of Thee I SING by Barack Obama

Above is a Glogster I made about this book.

2011 New York Times Bestseller Children's Picture Book List

Age Range:  Ages 5 to 8

This is a wonderful book.  On the left side of each page, Obama asks his daughters if he's ever told them if they are a certain quality such as creative or smart.  On the right side of each page, someone from history with that quality is described.  The illustrations are beautful and  feature many important people from our past.  Georgia O'Keeffe, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King Jr. are just a few of the people found throughout this book.  The ending ties it all together and talks about how America is made up off all kinds of people. 

Silverlicious by Victoria Kann

Above is my Voicethread about Silverlicious. 

2011 New York Times Bestseller Children's Picture Book List

Age Range:  Ages 4 to 8

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

2011 TAYSHAS Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

This is a great book centered around teen pregnancy.  The book is told from four different points of view.  Each chapter changes with a new person telling the story.  Ellie, is the one after a one-night stand who becomes pregnant.  Through her chapters, she explains the difficulties that come along with teen pregnancy.  She has to face everyone at school, seeing the father at school, and the choice of having an abortion or keeping the baby.  Corinne, is Ellie's best friend and helps her through everything.  She also explains the difficulty of having to watch her best friend go through this and trying to understand her decisions.  The pregnancy deeply effects her as well.  Josh is the father of the baby.  Through his story, the reader understands how hard it is to be cut out of any decisions and the feelings of a teenage father.  Caleb, is Josh's best friend.  He tries to help Josh through this. It was very interesting to see the different perspectives that are shown through this book.  All teenage girls need to read this book!

Here is a Wordle that I made about this book:

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

John Newbery Medal 2011 Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

This is a wonderful story that switches back and forth between Manifest, Kansas in 1936 back to the town in 1917.  Abilene has grown up with only her dad, Gideon. They move from town to town while he works railroad jobs.  After an illness, Gideon sends Abilene away to Manifest without him.  She lives with the town's interim minister, Shady.  At Shady's house she finds a box under the floorboard in her room that contains various trinkets and letters between two men, Jinx and Ned.  Abilene later finds herself having to work off a debt to Miss Sadie, who is known as a diviner.  Miss Sadie shares the story of the town back in 1917 and the story of Ned and Jinx.  Through the story, Abilene gets to know the town and the people that lived there.  Most of them were immigrants from various different countries.  Throughout Miss Sadie's story, Abilene tries to find pieces of her father and his past.  She also wonders where she belongs and if Gideon will return for her.  This book is well-deserving of the Newbery Medal.  I loved how in the end, Abilene ends up where she belongs.  Great book!

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery & Nic Bishop

Robert F. Sibert Medal 2011 Winner

Age Range:  3rd-6th grade

This book has amazing photos by Nic Bishop.  This is a touching story about the effort to save the Kakapo parrots of New Zealand.  The author ,Sy Montgomery, and the photographer, Nic Bishop were given ten days to follow the scientists, volunteers, and doctors that are all a part of the rescue effort for these parrots.  Only 87 of these birds exist today.  They are located off of a small island off the coast of New Zealand, called Codfish Island.  After these birds were nearly extinct, they were moved there for safety.  A team monitors, feeds, and cares for the new born babies all in an effort to keep these birds from extinction.  This book is well deserving of the Sibert Medal.  I'm excited that I just bought two new copies to add to our school library.  I can't wait to share this with the students. 

The Hallelujah Flight by Phil Bildner

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Nominee Book

Age Range:  K-3rd grade

Here is a Photo Story that I made about this book.  The images used are from this book that was illustrated by John Holyfield. 

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2011 TAYSHAS Reading List Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

I loved this book!  The book has a main character, Grace, who was attacked by wolves when she was young.  A certain wolf with yellow eyes stops the attack and saves her life.  Grace feels a bond with the wolves and is constantly watching for "her wolf" to appear in the woods behind her house.  This wolf appears throughout the winter months and watches over her, but disappears during the warmer summer months.  When Grace is 17 she meets Sam for the first time after he has been shot by a group of hunters.  He transforms from a wolf into Sam.  Grace falls in love with the human Sam as she finds out more about his life as a wolf and his past as a human.  Throughout the book, Sam and Grace cling to their time together and Sam constantly fights to remain human as the weather starts to turn colder.  Isabel and her brother Jack, come up with a possible cure to turn the werewolves back into humans permanently.  Isabel draws 3 viles of blood from a patient with meningitis with the hopes of bringing on a fever after it is injected.  Will this injection save Sam?  I hoped throughout the book that Sam and Grace will get their happy ending.

Here is a book trailer by Scholastic Teens for Shiver:

Alex Van Helsing Vampire Rising by Jason Henderson

2011 Texas Lone Star Reading List Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

This is a great action packed book that boys will love!  The main character, Alex, is 14 years old and sent to the Glenarvon Academy in Switzerland after getting kicked out of his last school. He is a Van Helsing, but has no idea about his family history of being vampire fighters.  On one of his first nights at the academy, he goes for a walk and runs into a vampire.  After a battle, he ends up killing her.  He begins to feel a static in his head that gives him a warning that danger is near.  It takes him a while to accept what is happening to him.  Two of his friends get kidnapped by the vampires.  They have a school under Lake Geneva.  The head vampire, Icemaker, wants to use them as a sacrifice.  Alex reveals the secret society that his teacher, Sangster, is involved in.  He also learns about his family history.  This book is action packed as Alex enters the vampire school, Scholmance, to try to rescue his friends.  They battle vampires along the way.  The ending definitely sets the scene for a second book about Alex.

Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick

Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Revolver begins with Sig's father dying on the ice near their home.  This novel is set back in 1910, but flashes back to 10 years earlier--1899 in Nome.  Shortly after Sig's father dies, a stranger from his past finds the family cabin.  Sig's father and the man, Wolff, had a deal from ten years ago.  Sig's father was supposed to hide gold away from his job and give part of it to Wolff.  All of a sudden, Sig's family disappears and Wolff can not find them.  Wolff spends the next ten years of his life tracking down Sig's family.  The flashes back to 1899 describe the gold that people are so desperately trying to find and the relationship between Sig's family and Wolff.  The book also centers around the revolver that is hidden in the family that was a gift from Sig's father to him.  Wolff demands that Sig tell him where his father has hidden the gold that he stole from him.  Sig's family has survived over the years in poverty and Sig knows nothing about the gold.  Throughout the book Sig contemplates if he can get to the revolver and use it on Wolff.  I enjoyed the twist at the end of the book.  The book also makes you wonder if there really ever was any gold.  The ending, years later, is perfect and reveals the answers about the gold.

The Wordle that I created about this book:

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Michael L. Printz 2011 Award Winner

Age Range:  Young Adult

This was a wonderful, fast-moving, science fiction novel.  The entire book is action packed and you want to root for Nailer, the main character, the entire book.  The book is set in the future, on the Gulf Coast.  Cities like New Orleans have been destroyed by category 6 hurricanes.  Many people are left to make their living by scavenging old oil tankers for any copper or parts they can find--they are ship breakers.  Nailer works on the light crew and scavenges for copper.  After a horrible hurricane, Nailer and Pima find a ship that has been destroyed.  They think they have made a great scavenge, when they find Nita, a young-very rich girl that has survived the storm.  Nailer decides to keep her alive.  To escape Nailer's horrible father and his crew, they flee to Orleans by train hopping.  Nita tries to make it back to her people and is on the constant look-out for her own ships.  The ending is even more action-packed than the beginning of the book.  I loved the way things turn out for Nailer and his real family.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan

Robert F. Sibert Medal 2011 Winner

Age Range:  Grades 3-6

This book is a wonderful informational book about the famous ballet, Appalachian Spring, created by Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi.  This book walks the reader through the entire process that goes into creating a ballet.  It takes the hard work of the dancers, the composer, and the set designer to make a ballet.  Martha's ballet tells the story of American living.  The ballet was first performed in Washington, D.C. on October 30, 1944.  The ballet was a huge success that has been performed by other dancers for years following.  The illustrations in the book are water colored and help tell about the making of this ballet. 

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Coretta Scott King 2011 Award Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

Click this link to hear the VoiceThread that I made about this book:
http://voicethread.com/share/1736068/

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Caldecott Medal Winner 2011

Age Range:  K-3rd grade

This is a touching book about the bond between Amos and the zoo animals.  Amos works at the zoo and helps the animals in many different ways.  He plays chess with the elephant, sits with the penguin, and helps the rhinoceros with his runny nose.  When Amos doesn't show up to the zoo one day because he is sick, the animals visit him.  They do nice things for him in return. The illustrations are what make this book---a well deserving Caldecott winner.  They are drawn with pencil and give each of the animals and Amos real emotions on their faces.  You can feel the friendship between them through the illustrations.  I can't wait to share this book with students!

How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart

2011 Texas Lone Star Reading List Book

Age Range:  grades 5-8

This book made me laugh and cry!  It also reminded me that I would never want to have to survive the middle school years again.  This book begins with the main character, David Greenberg, beginning his summer vacation before he starts middle school.  He is excited to spend his summer with his best friend, Elliot.  To his surprise, Elliot has become girl crazy and wants to spend the summer going to the mall to watch the girls.  At the end of the summer, David and Elliot have a falling out and are no longer best friends.  David begins middle school on a prank and wears a shirt that does not go with the school's dress code.  Elliot has teamed up with an 8th grader, Tommy Murphy, and they try to make David's life miserable.  David meets Sophie in his math class and they become friends.  David finally begins to understand why Elliot acted the way he did over the summer. 

David creates his own videos and posts them on You Tube.  His videos always mention The Daily Show, David's Top Six and a Half, and his hamster, Hammy.  Sophie passes his video's along to her homeschool network and David's videos start to get a lot of attention.  While his life at home is going great, his life at school is awful.  He eats lunch by himself, is constantly picked on by Tommy, and endures his first "swirly".  In the end he gets a nice surprise about his video and begins to come to terms with his mom and why she left them.  Great book told from a boys perspective!

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

John Newbery Medal Honor Book & 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Nominee

Age Range:  Grades 3-6

I was so excited to read my first Bluebonnet nominated book for the 2011-2012 list.  I run a Bluebonnet Program in my library and couldn't wait to get started on the books for this next year.  I finished this entire book in one night!  This book begins with Turtle headed to Key West to move in with her Aunt.  Turtle's mom is a housekeeper and her current employer does not like children.  Turtle's mom, Sadiebelle, is a dreamer and has had one failed relationship after another.  When Turtle arrives at her Aunt's house, she was an unexpected surprise.  She meets her three boy cousins and does not get a very nice welcoming into their home.  Beans is the head of the Diaper Gang, where a group of boys babysit local babies and receive candy in return.  They also hold the key to a great diaper rash cream that they refuse to share the recipe to.  Turtle tags along with them, but is not allowed to be part of the group since she is a girl.  Turtle meets many other residents, whom many of them she is related to.  She accidentally meets her grandmother (who she thought was dead), Nana Philly. After many visits, they form a bond with one another.  This book contains lots of adventure and even a treasure hunt.  Most importantly, Turtle discovers where she really belongs. I really enjoyed the surprise twist to the ending. 

Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

Here is my first ever book trailer about Lockdown. 

A Coretta Scott King Honor Book.

Age Range:  Young Adult

Lockdown gives the reader a glimpse of what life is like inside of the juvenile detention center, Progress.  Reese, the main character has been sent there for stealing a doctor's prescription pad and selling it.  He is allowed to work a few hours a week at Evergreen, a senior care center.  At Evergreen, he meets Mr. Hooft and helps clean up his room and care for him.  At first Mr. Hooft, dislikes Reese, but over time they develop a friendship.  Mr. Hooft shares stories of his difficult past with Reese.  Even though, Reese tries to stay out of trouble at Progress, trouble tends to find him.  Reese questions if he will ever be able to leave Progress or will he continue to do things in his life that have him ending up in places like Progress and later jail?  Reese's sister Icy, believes in him.  She wants to go to college and Reese promises to find a job to pay for her to go go college after he is released.  This is a great story about Reese finding the courage to believe in himself. 

The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle

Pura Belpre Honor Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

The Firefly Letters is a work of fiction based on Fredrika Bremer's three month visit to Cuba in 1851.  The story is told from three different points of view.  Fredricka is an upper class woman visiting from Sweden.  Elena is an upper class Cuban girl, whose family Fredricka stays with during her visit to Cuba.  Cecilia is a Cuban slave that works for Elena's family.  Despite the different worlds that these three women come from, they still manage to find a way to become friends with each other.  Fredricka enjoys sketching the Cuban country side and visiting with all of the local people there.  She constantly draws what she sees so that she can turn the pictures into poems later.  Cecilia is pregnant and accompanies Fredricka on her journeys to translate from Spanish to English for her.  They become friends and Fredricka worries about Ceclia's baby and her health.  Fredricka and Cecilia often free the Cuban fireflies (cocuyos) from animals and children, they are referenced throughout the book.  Elena is basically locked in her room and is not allowed out in public often.  She works on filling her hope chest with hand sewn clothes and embroidery.  Each woman expresses their own view of the slavery that goes on in Cuba and give the reader a glimpse of their daily lives.  This was a wonderful book about daily life and slavery in Cuba in the mid 1800's. 

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Caldecott Medal Honor Book

Age range:  Grades K-3

I really enjoyed this book.  The water colored illustrations are bright and colorful with different shades of red, green, and browns throughout.  The story begins with the Papa chicken trying to get the little red chicken to go to bed.  The Papa chicken reads many stories to little red chicken such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little.  The little red chicken interrupts each story with his version of the ending to that story.  Little red chicken decides to tell Papa a story when they run out of stories.  I loved the twist at the end of the book.  Children will love the little red chicken and laugh throughout this book!

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan & Peter Sis

Pura Belpre Award Winner

Age Range:  Grades 5-8

This book recently won the 2011 Pura Belpre Award.  This is an amazing work of fiction based on the life of the world-known poet, Pablo Neruda. The book has many poems throughout with unique illustrations.  The entire book is printed and illustrated with green tones.  Pablo Neruda only wrote in green ink because it is the color of hope.

The book begins with the younger years of  Neftali Reyes.  He loves books and often writes down words that he likes on scrap pieces of paper that he keeps in a drawer.  He lives in Chile with his family.  Neftali constantly daydreams and often becomes distracted.  His father works for the railroad and is very strict on the children. They all seem afraid of him and rarely see a gentle side to him.  He is very intimidating and makes Neftali focus on his studies.  His father does not value Neftali's talent for writing and poetry.  Neftali always remains true to himself and finds time, even during the summers his family would spend at the beach, to read and write.  Neftali is later sent to the university to study business.  He eventually changes his name to Pablo Neruda so that his writing will no longer bring disappointment to his family.  Neftali goes on to be one of the most well-known poets in the world.