TN #12: Virals

Wow!  I made my goal - 12 books in one month.  I know, I really need to get a life.  I guess I will spend July trying to do that...

I'm going to go a little backwards here, as I normally go with a topic and then lead into the book.  But in this case, it seems that introducing the book works a little better.  So first, I have found a interview with author Kathy Reichs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UhfdBZyTvE&feature=related

As Ms. Reichs mentioned, she is the author of the Bones series.  Before Bones was a series on Fox, it was a book series, that is still in publication.  In fact, she has another Bones book coming out in August.  As much as I enjoy the television series (when I can actually watch normal adult programming), I haven't had a chance to read any of the books.  Maybe I will have to add them to my list.

Ok, Virals, is based on Temperance Brennan's great niece Tory Brennan.  The book does explain that she doesn't get the name Brennan from her father's side, but from her mother's side, even though she is related to Dr. Brennan through her father.  Talk about family issues.  Tori lives with her father, who she has only recently met, after her mother is killed by a drunk driver.  Her father is a Marine Biologist studying marine life on a remote island on the outskirts of Charleston, South Carolina.  When Tori and her friends decide to track down some information at her father's lab, they find a lost wolfdog cub and decide to take the wolfdog cub with them. From there, their lives change forever.

Why was the wolfdog cub at the lab?  The story tends to revolve around the Canine Parvovirus.  A flu-like virus that attacks wild and domesticated (the type you may have at home) and causes high fever, vomiting, diarrea, chills, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and a few other things.  Not very pleasant and can lead to death.  There is a vaccine for this virus and as long as the animal has been vaccinated, they usually should escape the virus.  Or so my vet tells me when I have to get my dog vaccinated for different things each year.

Those of my students who enjoy some aspect of science will really get into this book, as many different scientific ideas come up throughout the book.  It also makes for a nice crime investigation book.  So a little science, a little crime fighting, oh and some mean girls (can't have a teen book without those).  This makes for a well rounded story.

And a good place for my little green post-it note to get retired...

As always, let me know what you think and hopefully you have read enough of the Truman Nominees to be able to vote this coming Spring.  Who will you vote for?  Well, that is up to you...

Works Cited 

"Follow Us On Twitter @ExploreCHS." Charleston, SC. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://www.charlestoncvb.com/>. 

"Kathy Reichs | Welcome To Kathy Reichs." Kathy Reichs | Welcome To Kathy Reichs. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://kathyreichs.com/>. 

"Kathy Reichs Discusses Virals Series." YouTube. YouTube, 29 Dec. 2010. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UhfdBZyTvE>. 

"Marine Careers :: Marine Biology." Marine Careers :: Marine Biology. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://marinecareers.net/field_marinebiology.php>. 

"An Overview of Canine Parvovirus." Http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/. Cornell University, 2007. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1089>. 

TN #9: The Gardener

I really meant to read yesterday...

And I actually did.  Problem was, it wasn't a book on the list, it was something that I had been reading at the gym while working out on the elliptical.  Yes, I read while I am working out.  No there is nothing wrong with me (at least I think not).  I actually read because it makes the workout go a lot faster.  Forty minutes go by really fast when you are reading.  Anyway, the book, while was only slated for keeping me coming back to workout grabbed my attention and I just couldn't put it down.  So I finished it last night and got back to work on my little list of books.  To which my husband commented that "haven't you been reading that book for days?"  Nope, just today...

Anyway, so this morning I picked up The Gardener (with my little green post it) and got to work reading.  At first, it was work.  This seemed like a very strange book to me.  A lot of scientific stuff going on and then there was this football player who had a huge scar on his face.  How in the world did these two things go together?

The story drawls you in, so many questions?  Who is the girl?  Why isn't she eating?  What is Mason's mom hiding from Mason and why?  Who is the Gardener?  Those are just some of the questions that I had.  I'm sure there are more that you will have as you read.

http://records.viu.ca/~soules/medi402/walker/borg1.GIF

Then there is the Star Trek aspect.  I'm not sure how many of you have ever heard of the Borg.  They are these genetically altered humans (think part human/part computer) who went around assimilating species to add to their "collective" (something like a beehive).  Anyway, these were probably one of the most evil things in the new Star Trek Universe.  And they didn't just add to their numbers by force, they also grew babies cyborgs into adult cyborgs.  All this I know because I must have watched every episode of Star Trek:  The Next Generation at least ten times.

So how does this fit into the story (other than being mentioned at least twice in the book)?  The front cover of the book says it all - This Greenhouse...Grows Humans.  I don't know about you, but that is just a bit disturbing.  The book is about a company that is growing humans.  For what?  I can't tell you that.  It is for you to find out, if you choose to read the book.  I for one, would like to hear your thoughts.

Anyway, here is a little video someone made about the book.  It's about two minutes long, but it is a nice setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLFYdCeEyPU

So, what did I find out about the author, S. A. Bodeen?  Well, first it seems that she like to write books that are a little disturbing. She also has a book called The Compound (2008) and another book coming out shortly called The Raft (2012).  But while she writes these books, she also write sweet little children's books.  Interesting combination.    Anyway, you can learn more about her at her website: http://www.rockforadoll.com/.  

Time to move that little green post-it.  

Bodeen, S. A. The Gardener. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2010. Print.

Naomibates. "The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen." YouTube. YouTube, 19 Oct. 2010. Web. 16 June 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLFYdCeEyPU>.

"Children's Author Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen Is Available for School, Author Visits -- Books, Reviews, Honors, Awards." Children's Author Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen Is Available for School, Author Visits -- Books, Reviews, Honors, Awards. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012. <http://www.rockforadoll.com/index.html>.

"Star Trek." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 June 2012. Web. 16 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek>.

"The Compound [Hardcover]." Amazon.com: The Compound (9780312370152): S. A. Bodeen: Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2012. <http://www.amazon.com/The-Compound-S-A-Bodeen/dp/0312370156>.

TN# 6: Paranomalcy

So I have this little green post-it bookmark that I have been using for most of the books that I have been reading so far.  I say most, because it is the second, the first died a tragic death in a freak water accident (I.E. - it got dropped in a lot of water).  So why am I talking about a green post-it note.  Maybe because I would like to see this normal little sticky piece of paper last forever, but nothing last forever, does it?

In the books we read and the stories we watch on TV and in the Movies things do last forever.  Immortals, Fairies, things we have yet to invent or learn about, they last.  Ok, what's up Mrs. Levey?

In our world, these are very strange and abnormal things, but in the latest book that I have read about a young girl named Evie, to her these are the norm. But all she really wants is to be a normal average teenager.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEfkhm97vus

Welcome to the world of Paranormalcy!  Where those who are different from us hide their differences behind something called glamour.  It makes vampires attractive, werewolves a lot less hairy, and boys made of water look like anyone they have ever seen.  Interesting right?

This book is probably going to interested the girls a lot more than the boys in my class.  Why?  Because, at its core, it is a book about a teenage girl wanting to be a teenage girl.  She wears pink, watches teen soap operas, and dances with fairies (or at least she used to).  Definitively a girly type of book, with not enough action to keep the boys interested, so I won't even try to push it on my guys.  But for my girls that like a bit of romance and the idea that they feel out of place, this should be your book of choice.  Plus, there are two sequels to keep you busy, should you want to read on about Evie and her connection to the fairies.

• Supernaturally (2011)
• Endlessly (2012)

As always, I have found the author's blog at http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/p/paranormalcy.html.  As I was reading a little bit about her, I felt a bit of a connection.  Here is someone who is married with two kids, likes to write (don't tell my professor), and views herself as funny (even if not everyone around her agrees).  Gotta love it.

I wish I had time to write more, but my kiddos want to go to swim class and if I don't get them going soon, I have a feeling WWIII will be starting soon.  So I'm going to move my little green post-it note onto my next book and I will write soon!

Oh, I almost forgot - Paranormalcy has been optioned and according to Mrs. White, the first draft of the screen play has been written, with the hopes of seeing a movie sometime in 2013.  That might be interesting!

• White, Kiersten. Paranormalcy. New York: HarperTeen, 2010. Print.
• TeenLitCentral. "Paranormalcy Book Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 03 Aug. 2010. Web. 13 June 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEfkhm97vus>
• "Kiersten Writes: PARANORMALCY Trilogy." Kiersten Writes: PARANORMALCY Trilogy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 June 2012. <http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/p/paranormalcy.html>.

TN#3: Dark Life

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a place in my heart for Science Fiction stories.  Blame my mom, she took me to my first Science Fiction movie, Star Wars, before I was even born.  Still, only certain Science Fiction stories can qualify.  So with this high standard in mind, I read the next book on the list of Truman Nominees, Dark Life.


Here is a book that was so greatly received that it had a film deal with Disney and Director Robert Zemeckis even before the book's initial release in 2010.  Well, it is 2012 and after some not so extensive looking, it doesn't look like it has gone into production yet.  Unfortunately I can't find a reason for the hold up, so we will just have to keep waiting.

Waiting for what?  I can hear you saying that now.  Especially since I haven't said anything about this book yet.  Ok, here is the trailer I found for the book:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCjp2JdIz48

Interested yet?  Don't worry if your not, it took even a big sci-fi fan like me a few pages to get interested.  But first, I had to put my imagination to work.  I had to see the story come to life while I was reading it, which was a little hard as the author tends to only give you bits and pieces of the puzzle at a time.  Most likely a way of keeping you interested.  Good hook idea, but a little frustrating at times.  Everything does finally come together in the end, just like any book, as long as you give it a chance.  This is definitely not one of those books you can decide what you think about it in the first 50 pages.  So if you are skeptical, give it at least 100 pages.  Then again, you may be hooked from the start, especially my guys out there.

Here we have a boy, named Ty, who was born and raised underwater.  Underwater, by the way, is the new frontier.  So this should catch the interest of those who like westerns.  Back to the story.  Ty, lives with his parents and sister at their underwater ranch, while eagerly awaiting his eighteenth birthday when he will be able to make a claim on his own piece of land.  One day, while out exploring beyond his area (something he's not supposed to be doing), he comes across a young lady from the Topside (above the water) named Gemma.  With this chance meeting begins an adventure that Ty will never forget.  He comes in contact with Outlaws, while coming to deal with what it really means to be a pioneer underwater.

So, as always, before I read the book I researched the author and what I could about the book (see above mention of a possible movie).  I will have to tell you as a teacher I was quite excited.  You see the author, Kat Falls has quite an extensive website (www.katfalls.com).  I was even able to download a Discussion Guide on this book that has lots of great test questions.  Will I use those?  Who knows?  I highly suggest you check out her site, there is some interesting links about the story.  Plus, you can learn more about aquatic life and the sequel to Dark Life, Rip Tide(2011).

Questions to ponder and look up?

1)  What are some of the aquatic life that Ty and Gemma encounter throughout the book?

2)  What is the cause of the Rising?  Could it happen in real life?  How does this relate to the idea of Global Warming?

As always, I look forward to your thoughts, responses, and recommendations!

Falls, Kat. Dark Life. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print.

Falls, Kat. Rip Tide.  New York: Scholastic, 2011. Print.

"Kat Falls." Kat Falls. Web.  06 June 2012. <http://katfalls.com/>

Life As We Knew It

http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328012816l/213753.jpg

May 29th

After I finished my last post, I took a little time to play with the kids and then it was time to pick up the next book on my reading list.  This one, a Truman Nominee from 2008-2009, Life As We Knew It has an interesting cover with a giant moon on it.  Wondering what it was going to be about, somehow I forgot one of our best ways to learn this information - read the back cover.  Oh well, I started reading without this information and only finally turned the book over after about 50 or so pages into the book.

The back cover reads as follows:

"When a meteor hits the moon and knocks it closer in orbit to the earth, nothing will ever be the same.  Worldwide tidal waves.  Earthquakes.  Volcanic eruptions.  And that's just the beginning."

What this tells me is that I have jumped head first into the Science Fiction genre of a world after a disaster.  My first thoughts, this book has to be a cross between the movies Deep Impact (1998) and Armageddon (1998).  The more I read though, I learned that while this is quite similar, this gives us a first hand account from the point of view of a 16 year old girl named Miranda, as she writes about her family, friends, and neighbors and their experiences through the events after the night the moon gets hit by a meteor in her journal.


Something that I have noticed that plays out is Mom's views on the world around her and how they are changing as the story progresses.  Can you name some of those views and changes?

May 30th

Last night I must have read more than half the book between going to yoga and sleep.  The back of the book did mention something about not being able to put it down, its that or I just like to know the ending of any book that I start.  Anyway, after dropping my girls off at their respective schools, I took the morning off from going to the gym and continued reading Life As We Knew It.

Life has not gotten any easier for Miranda and her family as many people have left their small hometown for a "better" life.  I only say that because better in this book is an unknown.  It is something that we the readers and our protagonist, Miranda, can only imagine.

Can you imagine what life would be like without contact to anyone beyond Springfield?

Also, did you notice how I wrote these as journal entries?  That is because this the way the story is written, as if we are reading Miranda's journal of accounts from beginning to end.  While I was reading this, it made me start thinking of events in my life as journal entries, so I wondered if it would cause my students to think the same way.  I even thought it would be interesting to see if those who read this book would do what Miranda did and write in a journal each night about what happened to them throughout the day.  Hmmm...that would be some interesting reading.

Some notes on the author.

Susan Beth Pfeffer is the author of over 70 young adult fiction books.  Currently (as I am writing this) she is working on the rewrites to her next book, Shades of the Moon.  I am a little perplexed about this next book as Wikipedia said that it was scraped in February, but according to her blog post on May 29th (http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/), she was working on the final rewrites.  I guess I will have to do a little more research.  

If you like this book, here are the other books currently in the series:

• The Dead and the Gone (2008)
• This World We Live In (2010)
• Shades of the Moon (2012?)

I'm trying not to rush out and buy the other two books, but as I said earlier, I really like to know how things end up.  So I guess you will have to ask if I was able to help myself or not. :)