Team OWL Review: Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

Today I have a Team OWL review by a great 5th grader I have!

Destiny, Rewritten

Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice

Des·tin·y: |destinē/
(noun) The hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate.

Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn’t even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then a seeming tragedy strikes: just after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she accidentally loses the special copy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used bookstores and thrift shops all across town, Emily’s understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself in a marvelous new way.

          Emily Elizabeth Davis is named by her mom after Emily Dickinson. She loses a book that contains her fathers name which her mother will not tell her. Her father had left her and her mother even before Emily had been born. As her and her friends look for the book of famous Emily Dickinson poems in every bookstore in town, she has begun to understand what her destiny means to her life. She can change her destiny or leave it the way her mom meant her destiny to be.

This book tells a heartwarming story about destiny and I believe that it can touch lives. Why I believe it can touch lives is because it tells a story that could be true. It tells that your destiny is a thing that you can control in your life and also change.

The plot of the story is very cool and also complex. I believe that this story could not have a better story behind it. You can relate to the story and compare events in your life. Kids with divorced parents that some have not met their mom or dad will probably be able to relate very well because Emily has been raised by her mother and does not know who her father is. But she still believes that someday she will meet him face to face.

The setting in the story is very realistic because Kathryn Fitzmaurice tells the story in the world of today not in the future or the past. You can relate to your life in the book. That is why the setting in the book fits it so well in many ways!

What age range I think it would be best for is 9-12 because it would be a little too young for high schoolers and to old for 8 and younger. Why I think that it is too old for 8 and younger is because it talks about some older stuff but definitely not upper YA. For high Schoolers it may bore them and not be very interesting.

I think that the gender that this book fits is girls because it is related around a girly topic and boys could read it but I recommend girls.

If you would like to learn more about Destiny, Rewitten please visit www.kathrynfitzmaurice.com  to learn more.  

Team Owl Review: The Golden Door by By Emily Rodda

Today I have a review from one of my 6th grade boys on the book The Golden Door by Emily Rodda.  

If you aren't aware, she is the same author of the Deltora Quest books (I have several students who LOVE those books).  

This her newest book.  

Three magic doors you here behold,

Time to choose wood, silver or gold?

The Golden Door

By: Emily Rodda

272 pages of a great book

In the Golden Door, the first story in the trilogy of the three doors, the story begins in the household of young Rye, the main character and the quest issued by the Warden for those who are 18 and older.The quest is to find and stop the person sending the skimmers, which are scaly winged creatures who hunt in the night. Written by Emily Rodda, the author of the series Deltora Quest, the story has Rye set out to find the villain behind the attacks, and to find his brothers who went out and did not come back. 

In a thrilling and action packed adventure, Rye journeys outside the walls of his safe city Weld and goes to explore the wondrous island of Dorne. I think the setting and storyline are a wonder to behold. Rye is the man for the job, because he is persistent and brave, and a true fighter until the end. He will do anything to find his brothers and be the hero he always wanted to be. 

I think this book is definitely a good read for people who like science fiction and fantasy. The Island of Dorne is a great setting for this adventurous boy who wants an adventure, full of danger and mystery and the great things in a book with this great quality. 

I would recommend this book to the middle grade section, about the ages of 10-13. Some parts,( I won’t mention, I’m not going to just tell you.) are a little frightening for anyone scared of ,well, scary monsters. It is not a terribly frightening book, but it is not the perfect one either. 

I think this book is geared to more boys then girls, because of the action, but some girls who like action might enjoy Sonia, the other main character. All of these qualities, and those you only get by reading the book, are enough to make me rifle through the pages, and I think it will make you do this too.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this book!!!!

Team Owl Review: Finally (11 Birthdays #2)

Title: Finally

By: Wendy Mass

You can pierce your ears when you're twelve. You can go to the mall with your friends when you're twelve. You can babysit little Timmy next door when you're twelve. You can get a cell phone when you're twelve. Hey, you can even ride in the front passenger-side seat when you're twelve .When you're twelve, when you're twelve, when you're twelve . . .         My name is Rory Swenson, and I've been waiting to turn twelve my whole life. In exactly 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, it will finally happen.            My life will officially begin.

Wow! This book was amazing! Where do I start? How about the beginning.

I have to admit, at first I didn’t know what to think about this book. I thought what could be so interesting about a girl stuck in a drain pipe? But little did I know what would be happening. Rory Swenson is an ordinary 11 year old girl counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until her twelvth birthday. To her, when you turn twelve you can pierce your ears, you can ride in the front seat, get a cell phone, wear makeup, attend boy/ girl parties, and basically get to have and do whatever you want.

So… Rory makes a list of everything she wants and keeps adding along the way until she reaches 12 wants or nessesities of life as Rory called it, split into two categories, an important, and a not as important but still very useful. Some of the things on her list include a cell phone, riding in the front seat, getting your ears pierced, getting a cute white fluffy bunny, attending her first boy/ girl party, and much, much more.

Alright now let’s get this show on the road. It all started on a field trip to the wildlife reserve. Rory decides to go rest on a rock because her legs were starting to get sore after all that standing and walking. Or what she thought was a rock. She sat down and SWOOSH! Rory got sucked into a drain pipe. I know your thinking how could a girl mistake a rock for a drain pipe? Now I don’t want to give any spoiler alerts so if you think I’m going to tell you anything, just move on. So now she’s stuck abandoned by her classmates until an old lady with white hair and a birthmark shaped like a duck that wiggles when she talks sees Rory. She helps her out, and tells her ‘You won’t get what you want, until you see what you need.” Now this sentence carries Rory on basically throughout the entire story, but she is skeptical on what it means.

My favorite event that happened in the story was a movie tryout to be an extra with starring teen sensation Jake Harrison! So of course, Rory and a few of her friends try out. I mean that’s just like walking into school and seeing Justin Bieber or whoever you totally dream about and getting the opertunity to be a movie star and get to meet that famous person.. 

Tryouts are in this cold dark gym that smells like sweat and has been in their middle school for years. The tryouts go fantastic for Rory and her friends.  Of course now you have to shave your legs, get your hair done, do your nails, get your ears pierced, and buy makeup in order to get the part of the movie while still impressing the famous Jake Harrison. That’s exactly what Rory does and if I was her, I would regret ever even trying out for the play. But Rory keeps going. She starts by shaving which is not a good idea for someone who is alone shaving for the first time. After that tragic accident, Rory keeps going hoping for something better.

Along the way, Rory does get a lot of the things on her list but everything goes wrong. In the end, Rory realizes, she hasn’t gotten what she wanted, because she hasn’t seen what she needed. This is a warming, book on friendship, and love. Mainly suitable for girls ages 10-13. Or for people that just want to have a funny but serious book to fulfill your taste buds with the joy of reading. But I have to warn you…Warning This Book May Cause You to Never Stop Reading Due To Its amazing Events, Details, Humor, And the Way It Connects to Many Peoples Lives!!!

          Tell the world! This book is here. Share it. Read it. Achieve It. I hope this story is here generation after generation        so millions of billions of people can experience the joy of not only reading this book, but the many books to come.               

This book is truly amazing. When I read this, every page I would stop and say, ‘that sounds like me.’ I really connected with this book in a feeling type of way, and events that have happened to me and Rory. Praise the author Wendy Mass for creating these awesome books. She has a wide variety of amazing books that I would recommend to anyone. I hope you truly connect with this book as much as I did.

Team Owl Review: Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

TITLE:     The Cinderella Society

AUTHOR:   Kay Cassidy

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

In the book The Cinderella Society, Jess Parker survives high school by staying invisible. Jess is new to the school and doesn’t have any close friends, because she stole Lexy Steele’s spot on the cheerleading squad. By stealing the spot, she and Lexy became enemies.

 One day, Jess gets an invitation to join the Cinderella society, a secret club run by some of the popular girls. The goal of the Cinderella society is to get girls to feel good about themselves. There is also a rival club called the Wickeds, and the Wickeds goal is to treat innocent girls badly just to get what they want.

 It’s a battle between Good and Evil, and the Cinderella society needs   Jess more than ever.  

I think the book was an awesome book because its genre was some realistic fiction mixed with a little bit of a fairytale.

 I think that this book is considered a girly book, for young adults.

Teacher note: I absolutely LOVE this book!!!!!

Team Owl Review: Ghost and the Goth

Title: Ghost and the Goth
Author: Stacy Kade

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

Another interview form Team Owl Review :)

Why did you decide to pick up this book and read it?

Ms. F showed me the book.

Did you like the book? Please explain why you liked it or not.

I thought the book was really good. It made me not want to stop reading. In the book it reveals some things at the end (but I can’t tell.) When I finished reading it I wish there is another one because it is an amazing book.

Tell me what you thought of the main character(s). Did you like him/her/them? Did you like how they acted/reacted to events in the story?

I think Alona is my favorite character, because a lot can happen to a girl in a little bit of time.

What part did you like the best and why?

My favorite part would be when Alona was trying to figure out what is Junie up to.

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

Yes, because my friends are into the same kind of books I am into. So I think this would be a good book for one of my friends.

Tell me anything else about the book and your opinion of it that you want to share!

In the end you find out something that happens to Alona in the beginning of the book.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!!!

Team Owl Review: Front Page Face-Off

Title: Front Page Face-Off

Author: Jo Whittmore

Twelve-year-old Delilah James is one of the top reporters at Brighton Junior Academy and dreams of becoming a Junior Global Journalist. But when an international rival named Ava invades her newsroom and takes over her crush, Delilah finds an unlikely ally in the Debutantes - a.k.a. the Little Debbies.

Front Page Face-Off is a one of-a-kind book. Jo Whittemore has outdone her self! If you like books about a newspaper war, middle school DO-NOT-DO's, romance, and a little of suspense, this book is for you. 12 year-old Delilah James is in 7th grade and lead reporter on Brighton Academy's school newspaper. Well, until Ava comes along. Ava is an exchange student from France and Delilah is sure she is out to get her newspaper, and her new crush, Ben. When Delilah is invited to an elite group of populars also known as the Debutantes, things get a little out of hand. Brighton Acadamy turns into a war zone between Ava and Delilah. With only one spot as the Lead Reporter, who will win with the best article? 

Delilah is a kind of girl you don't mess with, and if you do, Good Luck! But despite her "evil" side, Delilah is a normal person too. She has feelings too. I think this book is best for girls because it's about crushes, and everything you would expect in your middle school time. My thoughts on this book are all good. Jo Whittemore seems to know what it's like to be a 12 year old in middle school again! She knows how to string the words together just right and I'm sure once when you read this book you will know it's phenomenal as much as I do. Front Page Face-Off is for girls around the middle school age. 

Thank you so much for reading my review on front Page Face-Off by Jo Whittemore!

Team Owl Review: Fracture

Title: Fracture
Author: Megan Miranda

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

This Team Owl Review is in the form of an interview.

Why did you decide to pick up this book and read it?

I decided to read this book because my language arts teacher told the class about it and she had just gotten it so I decided to try it out. It sounded like a suspenseful book and it got a lot of good reviews.

Did you like the book? Please explain why you liked it or not.

I loved this book! There is a lot of stuff going on but it's a page-turner and you can't stop! It's not ANYTHING you'd expect at ALL! It's a book about love, relationships, teenagers, suspense, and curiosity. You get the full package with this book! :)

Tell me what you thought of the main character(s). Did you like him/her/them? Did you like how they acted/reacted to events in the story?

I think since the main characters are teenagers, the author made a good job of making it seem like an actual teenager and her thoughts and feelings and things she goes through. Delaney goes through a lot with her friends and emotions and family after her accident and I love how Decker is a caring friend, even as a guy.

What part did you like the best and why?

The part I loved the most was either when she explained what had happened during her accident and at the end, Troy's accident.

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

I definitely would recommend this book to people of all ages because it's a nonstop page-turner and it tells a really good story and plot line.

Tell me anything else about the book and your opinion of it that you want to share!

I thought it was a magnificent story to be told and it definitely made an impact on my life and how I think about related events in my life and others!

Thanks for your thoughts.  Every student I've had that had picked this book up and read it has LOVED it!

Team OWL Review: Kill Order by James Dashner

I have loved The Maze Runner series, and I have a ton of kids that have loved it today.  The prequel, The Kill Order, came out recently, and I have a great review by a Team OWL student!

Take it away!

The Kill Order

By James Dashner

The Kill Order, a prequel to the Maze Runner trilogy, begins with a new character named Mark who has survived the sun flares. The small settlement in which he lives with his girlfriend, Trina, and his other friends, Alec, Lana, Misty, and the Toad, plus other survivors, is assaulted with virus-carrying darts in a plan to wipe out half the human race. But as the bodies pile up, the plan goes horribly wrong, and Mark and his friends must learn to survive in a world filled with crazed people who have been infected.

           

I thought this book was excellent because it  keeps you on the edge of your seat  throughout, and I couldn’t stop reading. Everything was described really well. I believe that this book was just as good as the Maze Runner books, maybe even better. James Dashner paints a world in which I would not like to live, and creates an exciting thriller with many twists.

The plot describes Mark’s life after the sun flares and the journey he makes to survive, and also shares his memories from the time during the sun flares and a brief period after. This vivid story captivates you and keeps you reading for hours. The setting, which is supposedly in the future, is based in the United States  and provides a large area for this breathtaking series to take place.

           

Mark, the main character, was a great  choice because of  an unrelenting devotion to his friends. He is very capable and trustworthy, and he doesn’t give up easily. Mark pulls the whole story together through his determination to stay alive.

           

I think this book is more appropriate from age 13 up. It is graphic and paints very vivid pictures of zombie-like people, which means blood and gore is described. This book is a good read for both boys and girls and proves to be a good but serious read.

NOTICE: Read the top-secret files in the back of the book for an interesting revelation.

About the book

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

Team OWL Review: Eragon

Today I have a great review by one of my 7th grade students! She's reviewing a book I haven't read yet - Eragon!

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

This book starts out with the main character, Eragon, hunting in The Spine, a supposedly haunted mountain range. He discovers a polished blue egg which delivers a dragon hatchling. Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. With only an ancient sword and the guidance of an old story-teller, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. As he travels throughout the world of Alagaesia, he meets adversaries and comes ever closer to the enemy…

This book was beautiful. It will captivate readers who loved The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Paolini illustrates a whole new world in which I would love to live in. There are so many reasons why this book is a wonderful piece of literature. His words make Eragon’s world come alive and are vivid in your mind. This book will keep you burning the midnight oil to finish.

The plot is that Eragon is the last Dragon Rider and he must make a dangerous choice, whether to serve evil or defeat it. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. The setting is in medieval times where there is an tyrant king who rules all of Alagaesia. All of the magical beings are in hiding from him. A group of rebels called the Varden wants Eragon to join them and fight with him and he has to make that choice.

I think that Christopher Paolini chose Eragon to be the main character because in the beginning, Eragon doesn’t believe himself to be special. When the dragon hatches, he wonders why it had chose him to be its Rider. As the story progresses, he grows stronger and believes in himself more. He wasn’t incredibly confident in the beginning. That is how most people are when they face a new, unfamiliar situation. He is not an immediate hero. Though, he becomes one.

The age range I think it’s best for is about 11 and up because there are battles and Paolini has a wide and advanced vocabulary in the book. Though, if a younger student would want to read it they definitely should. It is also a boy and girl book, anyone can read it. Even though, it may look long and hard it is most definitely worth the time to read.

Next time you go to a bookstore or a library, make sure to look for a copy of Eragon!

Team OWL Review: Uglies - Shay's Story

Title: Uglies: Shay's Story
Authors and Illustrators:  Scott Westerfeld, Devin Grayson, Steven Cummings

“This whole game is just designed to make us hate ourselves.”—Shay 
 
Uglies told Tally Youngblood’s version of life in Uglyville and the budding rebellion against the Specials. Now comes an exciting graphic novel revealing new adventures in the Uglies world—as seen through the eyes of Shay, Tally’s rebellious best friend who’s not afraid to break the rules, no matter the cost.
 
A few months shy of her sixteenth birthday, Shay eagerly awaits her turn to become a Pretty—a rite-of-passage operation called “the Surge” that transforms ordinary Uglies into paragons of beauty. Yet after befriending the Crims, a group of fellow teens who refuse to take anything in society at face value, Shay starts to question the whole concept. And as the Crims explore beyond the monitored borders of Uglyville into the forbidden, ungoverned wild, Shay must choose between the perks of being Pretty and the rewards of being real.

I have a great guest review by a student of mine who was really interested in this book and then wanted to review it!

Why did you decide to pick up this book and read it?

A teacher recommended it and asked whether I would like to read it or not. I was really happy she showed me this because I have read the Uglies, Pretties, and Specials series and I have to admit I was curious about Shay’s story and they have it so that was exciting to see.

Did you like the book? Please explain why you liked it or not.

Yes I did like this book it was really cool to see what happened in Shay’s point of view versus Tally’s in the book series. Shay is Tally’s best friend. It showed how they got together like how they met and the story of Uglyville. Since it’s a graphic novel it gives you a good idea what this place looks like and the difference between pretties and uglies. Shay questions whether she should be real, herself or on her sixteenth birthday, should she go through this surgery called the surge for short. It also has a tad bit of romance in it which was really cool.

Tell me what you thought of the main character(s). Did you like him/her/them? Did you like how they acted/reacted to events in the story?

Shay and Tally were the mainish characters. I did like them especially Tally but in the end 

(WARNING SPOILER ALERT) 

was confused why she had betrayed Shay and many others in the "smoke" I liked the characters determination for the truth though. It was cool to see it in their view.

What part did you like the best and why?

My favorite part would have to be when Shay would sneak out on her hoverboard and go to new pretty town to see the pretties and the better living style they got because it was nice to see the comparison between the two "categories”.

Tell me anything else about the book and your opinion of it that you want to share!

I don’t know I just liked that the author had created something like this because it’s nice to know that he knows what his readers might like and that he creates what he thinks his readers might like. I really liked the fact that it was a graphic novel because it gave really nice pictures to the read and for those who don’t like reading that much it still gives you a great story with not as many words.

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

Yes even if they haven’t read the series it’s a good place to start if they are interested in reading it, and if they already have read it and are curious about Shay it answers a lot a questions I had in the book series and I’m sure they would like it too.

Thanks for that great review!!!!!!!

Let Me Explain My Blog to You

As I'm looking at the new school year starting, I'm also thinking about my blog.  Here's why.  

This school year I will begin teaching one class each of 5-8th grade high potential students.  For the last 10 years I've taught straight 7th grade with one class a day of readers who struggle.  This school year is going to be different, challenging, scary, AMAZING! But I couldn't be more excited about it.  The thing is that as I look at changes as a teacher, I'm looking at changes in my blog.  

As I've always said my blog reviews middle grade books (MG), but I have a waaaaaaaaaaay different definition of middle grade than the publishing industry.  I want to try to explain it.

The industry classifies MG as 9-12 year olds and YA as 12+ or sometimes 14+.  When I taught 7th graders only I had 12-13 yr olds.  Do you see how that crosses both definitions????  And some kids were completely on that YA end while some were completely on the MG end.  If you've never taught middle school or had a child in middle school you know how different kids this age can be.  Well now this year add in the fact I'll be teaching 10 and 11 year olds on the young side and 13-14 year olds on the old side! That's a span of 10-14! Now 21-25 year olds - they aren't that different.  But 10-14!!!! OH YIKES!!

That means the type of books I'm looking at just widened by a ton.  

What does this mean for the blog???? You'll see:

• Way more diversity of what I read and review.  It may seemed very unfocused to you, but for mean it will be my job :)
• You'll see more clear marking of what books are for what ages.  I may label a book YMG (young middle grade) or OYA (old young adult), so you know where it falls.  Just typing this now makes me realize I should create a four label system and put it in my sidebar.  Using baby owls to older owls would be cute.  Hmmmmmmmmmmm :-D Maybe I could even get a boy owl to mark a book "guy friendly". 
• I might be asking you for more help when it comes to finding books.  Especially as I navigate the younger crowd.  I have NEVER taught anyone younger than 12!!
• And you may see fewer posts.  I try to post every day, but as I'm learning this new job I may not have the time,

I know that the diversity of books I'll be looking at may lose me some followers that are really only looking for one more specific level, but my hope is that others will find more of what they need!

Thanks for sticking with The O.W.L.  As excited as I am about my new job, I'm also excited about what it means I can bring to my blog.  It's going to be a fantastic year!!!

To kick this off - can you tell me:
a great MG book you've read lately? 
or What cute labels would you give to the different levels of books I'll review? 
or Your sympothy for going from teaching one prep to 4! 
or Good luck!  

And maybe, just maybe I'll pick a responder and give them a prize.  What is that prize?  IDK we'll see!

7's UP Guest Review: My Favorite Mistake

Today I have a review from one of my great students! 

She is reviewing

My Favorite Mistake by Georgina Bloomberg

What I love is that she rides horse, so reviewing this book was perfect for her.  

Title: My Favorite Mistake

Author: My Favorite Mistake
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Tommi, Zara, and Kate are all elite riders on the A Circuit. Tommi, the billionaire heiress, is training a young horse to prove she can make horses a real career. But when her new beau, Alex, convinces her to skip a horse show to party in the Hamptons, the results could be disastrous. Zara, the celebutante wild child, is finally taking her riding seriously. Until the new "nanny" her dad hires threatens to upstage Zara's party girl status. Then there's Kate. She doesn't have money to burn like the others, but she does have Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy. But when the pressure of being a working student builds, Kate's perfectionist tendencies threaten to get in the way of her relationship and her riding.

Readers who are growing out of the Canterwood Crest series or searching for an A-list fix have found just what they're looking for in the A Circuit series.

Take it away Miss K!

Why did you decide to pick up this book and read it?

I read the first book and loved it and when my teacher said she had been asked to review it I offered to do it for her.

What part did you like the best and why?

The part I like best is really when ever Fitz around and adding commentary, because Fitz just doesn't have any care and is just funny to listen to.

Did you like the book? Please explain why you liked it or not.

I really liked this book. I liked i a lot because it was fun to read and the characters are really fun, and realistic. I also like how the story was set up, it was new a different from other pieces I've read, especially books with horses as their focus.

Tell me what you thought of the main character(s). Did you like him/her/them? Did you like how they acted/reacted to events in the story?

There's three main characters Tommi, Zara, and Kate. I actually like all three which is odd because main characters that are girls tend to get on my nerves because they whine a lot and a really needy. But all three are fun to read about and very rarely make really stupid decisions.

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

I would recommend this book to friend because even though they don't ride the book dose a nice job explaining what they mean when they use riding terms others may not be familiar with. Also its a fun read, with good humor in it.

Tell me anything else about the book and your opinion of it that you want to share!

Loved the book soooo much!!!

I love what she has to say about actually liking all three main girl characters.  Miss K comes in my classroom to talk books a lot, and I know whiny, weak, indecisive girl characters.

Team OWL Review: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Today I have a guest review from a 7th grade student.  She is here to review Dreamland.

Title: Dreamland
Author: Sarah Dessen

"Wake up, Caitlin." My English teacher wasn't the only person who'd noticed. 

"Caitlin!" the dance coach barked as I flubbed another cartwheel. 

"Caitlin?" Rina, my best friend, asked. "Hello? 

And finally, the one voice to which I snapped to attention, every time.
"Caitlin," Rogerson said, and I listened so hard, trying to tell just by the cadence what might happen when we were alone. 

What they don't understand is that Caitlin can't afford to leave this dreamland, this half-sleeping state where everything and everyone can be kept at arm's length. Because then she'd have to face the ugly truth about her relationship with Rogerson: magnetic, fascinating--and very dangerous--Rogerson. What is it about Rogerson Biscoe...and why can't she leave him? 

Guest Review


Why did you decide to pick up this book and read it?

I was looking at Ms.F's bookshelf and I saw it and I heard that Sarah Dessen is a good writer so I read the back and the first 2 pages and I really like the book.

Did you like the book? Please explain why you liked it or not.

The reason why I like the book dreamland is because it made me want to keep reading.

Tell me what you thought of the main character(s). Did you like him/her/them? Did you like how they acted/reacted to events in the story?

I like the main character she had a lot of different things that I didn't except to happen.

What part did you like the best and why?

I think my favorite part in the book dreamland is when the main characters older sister runs away and then her mom and the main character find out that her sister is on a TV show.

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

Yes I would because my friend it is hard for her to find books that she really likes and I think that she would enjoy reading the book dreamland.

Tell me anything else about the book and your opinion of it that you want to share!

It’s hard for me to find books that I really like but Sarah Dessen I think is a good writer and her books make me want to keep reading.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Dreamland! I have so many girls that love Sarah Dessen books! Especially my ones that don't like books that aren't "real"!