Love, Stargirl

It has been a few years since I read Stargirl, and I was intrigued when I saw that Spinelli came out with a companion novel from Stargirl's perspective. Even with curiosity, Love, Stargirl has been sitting in my to read pile for quite a while.

This month as I realized that I am cutting it very close to complete my deadline for 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge motivated me to pick it up once and for all. For some reason I was under the impression that it would be the same story, but from Stargirl's perspective. Instead it was a glimpse into her new life in Pennsylvania, still getting over Leo. Through a letter that she adds to all year long we meet Stargirl's new friends and see into her mind as she considers if it it time to move on from Leo, if a new boy Perry is exactly who she needs. A creative cast of characters, and Stargirls distinct uniqueness, makes this companion book a joy to read. All week long as I have been reading the book I keep trying to remember to reread the ending of Stargirl at school, but I always forget. My memory of the conclusion is a little hazy. Bits and pieces come back to me, but I want to experience Leo's concluding thoughts once again. I love the feeling that both books leave me with about refocusing on what is really important in life.

Right after I finished I stumbled across this YouTube trailer for the book.

The Luxe

I had heard many mentions of The Luxe novels, especially on The Reading Zone. I finally picked up the first in the series and it was easy to see what all the rage is about. To start with, I absolutely love the cover with the beautiful flowing dress. As if it was not stunning enough closed, it is even more breathtaking with the book open to see the fuller view of the dress.

The novel set in Manhattan 1899 with the wealthiest families begins with a funeral, outlining the way the most prominent guests appear. However, there is one little detail - the casket is unusually light because they have not actually found the body of Elizabeth Holland after she fell into a river. With interesting tidbit in the prologue, it is easy to entertain the possibility that maybe she is not really dead. It then flashes to chapter one backing up in time to outline Elizabeth's life prior to the funeral.

The book from a third person narrator who shadows alternating characters by chapter. Everybody has a secret, and it is fun to see how the lives weave together and the effect the decisions of one has on the others. The different twists and turns leave the reader thinking of multiple possibilities. I have always loved reading books set back in time, especially when they focus on society and balls. I look forward to eventually reading the rest of the books in the series.

Abandoning 2009 Diversity Rocks Challenge

I am officially abandoning the 2009 Diversity Rocks Challenge, at least I am not going to be reading my original challenge list of books by the end of 2009. Below is what I said in a post earlier this fall, when I realized that I would probably not meet the deadline.

"The thing is I have been reading plenty of multicultural lit over the year. I always do. I have been drawn to seeing the world through different lenses and exploring different cultures for as long as I could remember. Growing up my mom always bought us books representing a wide variety of cultures and geographic locations. I currently own all of the books on my challenge list. However, I am coming to realize that they are not necessarily on the top of my TBR pile for now."

While I will not be officially completing the challenge, I am still glad that I initially signed up. At the start of the challenge I had already owned some of the books, but there were other books that I searched for and then acquired because of the challenge. For that I am thankful to the challenge.

Road to Tater Hill

Road to Tater Hill is one of those books that I have had for a couple of months on the book shelf of my computer desk just waiting to be read. Especially with the start of the school year I had not been able to read as much middle grades/young adult novels. Yesterday I was home sick, so I did a lot of reading. I cannot believe I did not read it sooner. I loved the book from start to finish.

The book hooked me from the beginning as Annie narrated, "For months I had wished and wished the baby would be a girl, a little sister. Maybe I shouldn't have wished so hard. A boy might have lived." Annie is grieving for her baby sister Mary Kate, but it is hard to do so as her father is away to Germany in the military, her mom is barely talking or looking at anyone, and her grandparents will not have a discussion about the baby with her either. Her summer is filled with twists and turns while staying with her grandparents. She begins to cope by holding a rock that is about the same weight as a baby, and she also meets a mysterious woman that she visits in secret. In addition she is trying to navigate a friendship that has become tense since the baby died.

Hemingway wrote beautifully and I was able to visualize so much of the story. In addition she also had a map of the setting at the beginning of the book, and I have always enjoyed that. I love it when I can see glimpses of the author's real life in books, and I noticed at the beginning that the book was dedicated to her parents and in memory of her baby sister, Mary Kate. I often read the author information before starting as well, and from that I knew that she grew up in Florida and spent summers with her grandparents. They lived close to Tater Hill where they would go blackberry picking. She is also learning to play the mountain dulcimer, which also comes up in the book. It was apparent that her personal experiences and emotions were key to bringing rich details to the story, although I realize that there was probably a lot that came from her imagination as well.

This is another book that I am excited to introduce to my classroom library.

2010 Debut Author Challenge Reading List

Here is my working list of possibilities for the 2010 Debut Author Challenge. I will be editing this list as I go along, but here is my starting point. My goal is to read at least 20 books.

JANUARY
Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham

FEBRUARY
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage

MARCH
Under My Skin by Judith Graves
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
The Line by Teri Hall
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

APRIL
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter
Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

MAY
The Beautiful Between by Alyssa Sheinmel
Faithful by Janet Fox
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

SPRING
Change of Heart by Shari Maurer

JUNE
13 to Life by Shannon Delany
Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai
Everlasting by Angie Frazier

2010 Debut Author Challenge

The last two years I have absolutely loved reading books from debut authors, especially those from Class of 2k8 and Class of 2k9. I was excited to see that Kristi over at The Story Siren will be hosting the 2010 Debut Author Challenge.

I am going to challenge myself to read at least 20 books during the challenge. Right now I am not sure which books I will be reading. I just realized that the Class of 2k10 site is up and running. The last time I checked it was not ready yet. I am so excited to start exploring the site. I am sure that I will find many books to add to my list!

Lockdown

A couple of years ago, one of the 7th graders in my ESL reading class read Monster. He told me that he had never read a book beginning to end before, but he flew through Monster. Because I know that Walter Dean Myers has a way of reaching young adults, I jumped at the chance to review his forthcoming book, Lockdown.

The book pulled me in from the first paragraph. The quick chapters outlining fourteen-year-old Reese's life inside of a juvenile jail shows raw details of what is is like for youth who find themselves in these circumstances. As a reader I was cheering for Reese to make good decisions and to rise above his challenges. I winced at the times when he was not able to do so and was on edge waiting to see what the consequences would be for his behavior. I hoped that he would find the inspiration to make changes, even though his situation was bleak. Throughout the book the characters were developed well, showing the multiple dimensions to each one. I have no doubt that readers who loved Monster will fall in love with Myers writing all over again with Lockdown.