New Book Monday Nov 23

Every Monday I highlight books being published this week. I try, whenever possible, to focus on one young adult and one middle grade book. I also briefy share what "new" book I've started reading this week.

My current read: I'm not reading it, but I'm listening to it while working out - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.  I tried reading this book when it first came out and just couldn't get into it.  I thought maybe listening would be better.  So far so good.  I know plenty of kids that have read, and loved, this series.  What I really love are the new covers they have.  The old ones were boring.  See:

                The old one is on the left and the new one on the right.

I think with Thanksgiving not many books are coming out this week, but I did find a few to share. 

Title: The Fourth Apprentice (Warriors: Omen of the Star Series Book #1)

Author: Erin Hunter

Publisher: HarperCollins

Released: November 24

These books - there are multiple different series within this premise - have been very popular within the middle grades.  What I like about them is that there are so many, so if one of my students likes a book from it they have plenty more to go to next.  That is always a postive!

From Goodreads:

       Four warrior Clans have shared the land around the lake as equals for many moons. But a prophecy foretells that three ThunderClan cats will hold the power of the stars in their paws. Jayfeather and Lionblaze know that they are two of the cats in the prophecy. Now the brothers must wait for a sign from StarClan to discover the identity of the third cat.

      Meanwhile, Dovekit and Ivykit—kin of the great leader Firestar—are poised to become ThunderClan apprentices. Soon one sister will have an ominous dream—and will begin to realize that she possesses mystical skills unmatched by any other cat.
     In the midst of a cruel season that threatens the lives of all four warrior Clans, bonds will be forged, promises made, and three young cats will start to unravel the secrets that bind them together.

Title: The Seven Rays
Author: Jessica Bendinger

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Released: November 23 BUT I think it's already out

This book looks interesting.  I haven't heard much about it, so I'll be on the lookout for reviews.

From Goodreads:

You are more than you think you are.

THAT IS THE ANONYMOUS MESSAGE that Beth Michaels receives right before she starts seeing things. Not just a slept-through my-alarm-clock, late-for-homeroom, haven't had-my-caffeine-fix kind of seeing things. It all starts with some dots, annoying pink dots that pop up on and over her mom and her best friend's face. But then things get out of control and Beth is seeing people's pasts, their fears, their secrets, their desires. The images are coming at Beth in hi-def streaming video and she can't stop it. Everyone thinks she's crazy and she's pretty sure she agrees with them. But crazy doesn't explain the gold envelopes that have started arriving, containing seeing keys and mysterious tarot cards. To Beth, it all seems too weird to be true. You are more than you think you are? But here's the thing: What if she is?

In My Mailbox or Shopping Bag Nov 22

This is a weekly meme inspired by Kristi at The Story Siren and Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. In it we share what books arrived at our house via mail, bookstore or library. I got several books this week. Here the we go!

Remember to click on the title to be taken to the Goodreads page about the book.

Bought:

Fade by Lisa McMann

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Going Bovine (CANNOT waitt to read this!) by Libba Bray

Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed (this looks soooo cute)

Books for Grabs:

I Am a Genious of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President by Josh Lieb

Fun stuff

Pin from Hunger Games - bought at Borders

Bookmarks for a few books

And lastly my owls of the week.  Etsy is horrible for my owl need.  Found these cute bookplates there.  I only got ten, so I'll have to decide where they'll go.

Friday's For the Guys: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

Every Friday I highlight books and authors that are ones boys might really enjoy. I'm not saying girls wouldn't read these books, but they are clearly "guy" books. This Friday I'm highlighting:

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

OK FAIR WARNING! I'M GONNA GUSH FOR A MINUTE! I completely love this series! Yes LOVE it.  When I read the first book I was like "Hey this is pretty good." then the second I was "whoa!" and the third: I was about ready to park outside the bookstore then and there so I could get the fourth as soon as possible. Plain and simple - this is a great series. (and I love it if you haven't guessed)

You know what I like? Vlad.  Vlad is real and like-able.  He's not perfect or cool or in control.  He's picked on and messes up.  He doesn't always think, but you know he's just trying to do the best he can.  When the series begins Vlad is an 8th grader and struggling with all the things 8th graders struggle with AND all the issues with being a vampire.  I know middle schoolers, and they have enough to deal with without also having to hide being a vampire.  You really feel for him.

As the series goes along you get to see Vlad grow and mature. He gains confidence in who he is and in his ability to cope with the extra difficulties in his life.  That doesn't mean he has it all figured out - he doesn't.  He still has plenty of self doubt that leaves him scared and uncertain much of the time.  But by the end of the 3rd book, you know he's on the right path and are cheering him on.  I cannot wait to see what more there is in store for him for the last two books.  I know Vlad will be ready and able to handle whatever is thrown his way.

Why boys will like it - a great male character that they can relate too.  He's not unrealistically popular or perfect.  He struggles with all things teenagers struggle with.  They'll also like the humor between Vlad and his best friend Henry.  Plus it's got a lot of action and suspense. 

To learn more about the series and the author Heather Brewer check out her website here. 

pssssst - if you missed it I LOVE THIS SERIES!!

A Zombie Here a Zombie There

Besides angels popping up in otherworldly books, zombies seem to be crawling out of graves all over our books, movies, tvs and even clothing.  I have been telling my 7th graders that zombies are becoming the new vampire.  I prove this point by showing them everything zombie I've been seeing.  If you doubt this, let me show you some of the zombie items out there.

When searching Amazon for zombies this is what comes up:

49,000+ Books
900+ Toys and Games
1200+ Clothes and Accessories
600+ Movies

Books
Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
Zombies for Zombies: Advice and Etiquette for the Living Dead by David P. Murphey

And my favorite:
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies by Michael P. Spradlin. This book takes 12 Christmas songs and rewrites them zombie style!

Best Toy:

Bag O' Zombies.  Remember the bag of soldiers you could buy? Well how about adding to it with a bag of zombies!

And of course you need the I Love Zombies coffee mug!

So are ya with me?  Are zombies taking over?  Where have you seen a zombie lurking around?

Cover Thoughts: Linger

Each week I ask my 7th graders to give me their thoughts about a book cover. Do they like it? Find it boring? Love it? HATE IT? And also why. They have strong opinions, and those opinions DO affect whether they find any interest in that book.

Well this cover sure created a buzz! But unfortunately it wasn't good buzz.  Sorry cover creators for Linger, but according to my 7th graders - you got it wrong. Here's what was said:

Needs something to pop like color

Same as the first so it's just ok

Kinda plain (plain was used a lot)

Too much like Shiver so it's getting really boring

Boring (3 times)

Plain and like the first one

Too green (a few times - they really didn't like the green)

So as you can see they weren't impressed by it.  This suprised me, but it shouldn't have because 7th graders are very unpredictable.  Now, they understood that it should look like the first book because it is part of a series, but for some reason the way they went with this one wasn't what they wanted.  They said "the blue was better" and "I liked how the leaves were hearts on the first one." From what I could get, a lot of it was the green.  There was just too much of it.

Now the GOOD NEWS - not liking the cover didn't affect whether they would buy the book or not. "It's a sequel to Shiver!!!" was all I heard, and it was usually followed by a squeal and jumping up and down.  One said it was the best news she had heard all day.  To those girls the cover didn't matter - the story did.  Now only if that were true all of the time!

Review: Need by Carrie Jones

Title: Need

By: Carrie Jones

Published: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Otherworldly Creature: Pixies

From Goodreads:
     Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

     Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

I read this book last school year after I had read Twilight and was looking for something more.  I thought "pixies" hmmmmmm this could be cool.  It ended up being a really quick fun read.  I went into it expecting it to be a light and entertaining, nothing more, and it delivered that.  The action starts pretty quick and doesn't let up much.  If I remember correctly the whole book takes place in less than a week.  I also enjoyed the different take on pixies.  The ones in this book don't resemble Tinkerbell!  I only had a few complaints about the story.  Sometimes Zara did things that were pretty, well, dumb.  It made her seemed a bit impulsive and not as smart as she was.  Also, the ending seemed overly simple - like it couldn't be that easy.  I'm guessing that since there is a sequel the characters will learn it wasn't as easy as they thought either!

Bottom Line: Read it for fun because that what it is.  I liked it enough to want to read the sequel.

Best for ages: 13 (at least)+


Coming January 5th the sequel Captive.  Some blogs have been having contests for this book.  I would so love to win it!!!! Here's what Goodreads has to say about it:

     Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

     A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick

that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

See I knew it couldn't be that easy :)