The Girl Who Drank The Moon

Title: The Girl Who Drank The Moon 
Author: Kelly Barnhill 
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers 
Publication Date: August 9th, 2016 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Novel  
GoodReads Summary: Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. 

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.
 The acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic. 
What I Think: I got lost in Xan and Luna's world which to me, illustrates just how effective Kelly Barnhill's writing is. She brings Xan and Luna and all the other characters to life and in so clearly developing the characters, she brings their world to life as well. Reading her writing had me looking at people and my own characters in a different way. I thought about what each of my characters want and what propels the story forward because of it. I noticed more in my own characters but also in people around me. I've never thought I could write fantasy before but this story has me believing I can. It's just so full of heart and rich with description.
    As a mentor text it's a remarkable text to help readers think about characters and how each character has to have his or her own story arc. Knowing what drives each character and motivates him or her helps to tell a more rounded story. I've thought about qualities of characters before but this is an amazing mentor text for thinking about what each character wants.
Snatch of Text: 
"The madwoman in the Tower could not remember her own name.
She could remember no one's name.
What was a name, anyway? You can't hold it up. You can't smell it. You can't rock it to sleep. You can't whisper your love to it over and over again. There once was a name that she treasured above all others. But it had flown away, like a bird. And she could not coax it back." (p. 127)

"For the people who loved Luna, time passed in a blur. Luna, however, worried that she might never be twelve. Each day felt like a heavy stone to be hoisted to the top of a very tall mountain." (p. 152)
Writing Prompt: Write about a character and what he or she might want more than anything.

The Tyranny of Petticoats Blog Tour

Title: A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls 
Publisher: Candlewick 
Publication Date: March 8th, 2016 
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Short Stories 
GoodReads Summary: From an impressive sisterhood of YA writers comes an edge-of-your-seat anthology of historical fiction and fantasy featuring a diverse array of daring heroines.

Criss-cross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell. 

With stories by:

J. Anderson Coats

Andrea Cremer

Y. S. Lee

Katherine Longshore

Marie Lu

Kekla Magoon

Marissa Meyer

Saundra Mitchell

Beth Revis

Caroline Richmond

Lindsay Smith

Jessica Spotswood

Robin Talley

Leslye Walton

Elizabeth Wein

Today I'm sharing a short question and answer with three of the awesome authors who contributed to A Tyranny of Petticoats: Katherine Longshore, Marie Lu, and Kekla Magoon!

Katherine Longshore - Hard Times 

Question and Answer with Katherine Longshore

What inspired you to write about this particular time and place?

My enduring fascination with both hobos (that is, people who hitch rides on freight trains) and old movies. At a very young age, I was given a book that included illustrations of hobo symbols, and I have looked for signs of train jumpers ever since. As a teenager, I was obsessed with Hollywood’s early golden age and binge-watched swashbucklers, musicals, and screwball comedies. That these two worlds coexisted during the Great Depression is a dichotomy I was eager to explore.

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while writing your story?

I don’t know if you’d call it research, but I was impressed by the number of people who have either jumped trains or know someone who did: from the family friend who remembers feeding hobos out of her back door in Ogden, Utah, to the critique group partner whose father rode the rails, to three famous Jacks — London, Dempsey, and Kerouac. For a while, it seemed that everyone I spoke to about “Hard Times” had their own rail adventure to tell.

Who is your favorite woman in history and why?

I don’t have a favorite — there are too many to choose from! — but I think my first historical crush was on Amelia Earhart, another 1930s icon. Even as a child, I saw her as a heroic figure and a star of feminism. Her courage, stubbornness, and mysterious disappearance make her endlessly fascinating.

Kekla Magoon - Pulse of the Panthers 

Question and Answer with Kekla Magoon

What inspired you to write about this particular time and place?

I’ve been interested in the 1960s and the Black Panther Party for quite a while. My first novel, The Rock and the River, and my third novel, Fire in the Streets, are about teens who become involved with the Black Panther Party in 1968 Chicago. When I thought about what historical moment I’d like to visit for this short-story collection, it was a natural choice. I hope that by writing about this topic, I can help introduce people to a slice of American history that often gets overlooked.

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while writing your story?

Most people are fascinated to learn that the Black Panthers were much more than an armed self-defense collective — they led community-organizing programs, provided free breakfasts for school children in poor communities, established free health clinics, created food pantries, published a newspaper, offered legal aid, established charter schools, and ran candidates for political office. Their work affected and supported thousands of struggling individuals and families in cities nationwide. I’m intrigued by the courage and sacrifice of these black activists, and I continue to be troubled by the lack of attention paid to this moment in history by mainstream education and storytelling. This short story allowed me to explore a character who is on the fringes of the Black Panther movement, which was a fun angle to consider after so much time spent looking toward the heart of black activism in the 1960s and the events and context that spurred the Panthers to turn to self-defense and community-organizing strategies to create change.

Who is your favorite woman in history and why?

There are so many amazing women in history. One of my favorites is Zora Neale Hurston, a black author, anthropologist, and activist from the Harlem Renaissance era (1920s and 1930s). She wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God and other things, but she wrote, spoke out, and made herself heard at a time when black women were discounted and overlooked even more than they are today. I also aspire to speak truth in the face of oppression and to be remembered for my voice, and she is an epic model of that specific achievement.

Marie Lu - The Journey

Question and Answer with Marie Lu

What inspired you to write about this particular time and place?

One of my favorite childhood novels was Jean Craighead George’s Julie of the Wolves, and I fell in love with it because of her portrayal of the life and landscape in Alaska. So when Jess first pitched the idea of A Tyranny of Petticoats to me, I immediately knew that I wanted to set my story there. The environment is just so magical, beautiful and wild and harsh — the name Alaska derives from the native Aleut word alyeska, which means “the great land.” I wanted to tell a story about what it might have been like during the time when Alaska’s indigenous people first started encountering outside explorers, and what that meant from various angles, including from the point of view of a young Inupiat girl.

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while writing your story?

There were so many! I especially loved reading mythology from the indigenous cultures, stories about why the stars and animals exist, what the dancing northern lights mean.

Who is your favorite woman in history and why?

Wow, it’s impossible to pick a single woman! My best attempts to narrow this down still end up with two: 1. Marie Curie, perhaps the first famous woman I ever read about as a little girl, and from whom I think I picked my English name to model, and 2. going more modern, Malala Yousafzai, who has already made history and will no doubt continue to for many decades to come. She inspires me every time I think about her.

Check out the other stops on the blog tour!

Date	Blog	Address
March 1	Nerdy Book Club	https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/
March 2	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust	http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/
March 3	Charting By the Stars	https://chartingbythestars.wordpress.com/
March 4	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
March 7	Teacher Mentor Texts	http://www.teachmentortexts.com/
March 8	YA Love	http://yaloveblog.com/

Wonder Light

Title: Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist 
Author: R.R. Russell 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 
Publication Date: May, 2013 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.

Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.

Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.

A baby unicorn. Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them... 
What I Think: I haven't read very many unicorn books in my life...it's been a while actually unless you cound Zombies Vs. Unicorns but that's a collection of short stories and for an older audience. What struck me the most about the stories in Zombies Vs. Unicorns and what is also evident in Wonder Light is that most of the authors take unicorns, these wonderfully magical beings but make them more hardcore. The unicorns in Wonder Light are definitely fierce and determined. The main character, Twig, finds herself off on an adventure with this mysterious boy, Ben, and her baby unicorn. I got sucked into the story, anxious to find out where the mystery and adventure would lead Twig and her unicorn. I think kids who like adventure and possibly horses would enjoy reading this book. You might warn them that if they read this book, they're going to be wishing the second book was already available.
Read Together: Grades 4 - 6 
Read Alone: Grades 4 - 6  
Read With: The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
Snatch of Text: "Twig didn't want to keep talking. she wanted to run out of that stable. But the solid wood of the stall door seemed to be enough to hold the animal back. The other girls whispered to each other behind her while she kept whispering nonsense. As she calmed the horse, Twig felt herself calming too. The other girls were transfixed, but not scared. If she could settle this thing like an ordinary horse, then maybe it was just an ordinary horse, not a ghost at all. Thought the word ordinary hardly fit such an animal." 
Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Making Inferences 
Writing Strategies to Practice: Personal Narrative 
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you were in a situation you didn't want to be in where you felt alone.
Topics Covered: Family, Friends, Adventure, Risk-Taking, Courage, Determination, Trust 

I *heart* It:

Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind

Title: Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind 
Author: Gary Ross  
Illustrator: Matthew Myers 
Publisher: Candlewick 
Publication Date: November 2012 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Illustrated Novel-in-Verse
GoodReads Summary: A soaring bedsheet carries a young boy on three incredible adventures in this compelling debut by acclaimed film director Gary Ross.

Bartholomew Biddle’s life has always been pretty ordinary, but when a huge wind blows past his window one night, he feels the call of adventure — and he can’t resist the urge to grab his bedsheet and catch a ride. Soon he’s soaring far above his little town, heading wherever the wind takes him! After spending time on an island full of pleasure-seeking pirates and at a prep school that boasts a hundred shades of gray, Bart finds himself in a mysterious cove where the wind doesn't blow. Stuck, Bart is forced to face the fact that his flying days might be over. Will he ever get home again?   
What Kellee Thinks: We have ourselves a modern day epic poem right here! There is so much going on in this book. Though it isn't a traditional hero's journey, it is a hero's journey like Where the Wild Things Are is. Maybe we could call it a child's journey. Bartholomew, like Max, thinks that the wild is better than home. He leaves home, finds fun, misses home, and... well, you know the story.
     One thing interesting about this book is that it is written by a film director and writer. This is his first book and although I didn't realize his profession before I began, it made complete sense when I found out. Bartholomew Biddle could easily be turned into a movie. Our 8th grade ELA teachers did a film unit this year discussing framing, cut, angles, lighting, suspense, etc. of films; all aspects that affect the tone and mood of a film. They started with film primarily, but then added in literature and students naturally connected what they'd learned about film to literature. By looking into all of these elements within film, students were essentially looking at subtle contributions to theme, mood, and tone thus making it so they could apply this new knowledge to literature. I think Bartholomew Biddle would be a perfect book to read in conjunction to this unit (as would Where the Wild Things Are). It would be brilliant to storyboard the plot, discuss when what angle would be appropriate, how we would light each scene, how to add suspense/humor/loss/excitement, and how to keep the book's tone authentic in general.
      Since the book is in verse, there are also all of the poetic elements that could be touched upon as reading. For the most part, the whole book is ABCB rhyme scheme which could lead directly into a writing activity. It is also filled with imagery, similes, and other figurative language.
What Jen Thinks: What an adventure Bartholomew has! Unlike Kellee, I actually recognized Gary Ross as a movie person and when I started to read this book, I was making connections to Save the Cat, a book I'm reading right now for Teachers Write that is all about screenwriting. In Save the Cat, the author, Blake Snyder, outlines different "beats" or parts of a screenplay. These beats are evident in movies no matter what the genre. I couldn't help thinking about the beats as I read this book, recognizing them along the way. I also found myself thinking about how I would read this with students. The book is divided loosely into chapters, different parts of the story. This definitely seems like a book I would read with older readers because of how much thinking they have to do about what experiences Bartholomew is having, how they are shaping him and what he is learning from each part of his adventure. Like Kellee said, I can see how breaking down the beats of Bartholomew would help student writers think about how their own stories move along. Bartholomew clearly has to muster up the courage to even start off his adventure and there we see the theme of accepting a challenge and being brave and then that follows Bartholomew throughout his adventure. 
     I love stories like these where as a reader we get to follow along with the main character on his or her adventure but when he or she gets back to reality, the whole adventure is kind of a secret between the main character and the reader. The main character has changed and the reader is changed, too...actually, it's kind of like reading a book in general! When I read a book, I get lost in its pages and rally along with the characters but then I close the book and am back to reality. Have you ever finished a book and stopped to smile and reflect on how much you experienced by reading it? I love that. Books are little time traveling machines that take us on adventures and forever impact who we are. Bravo to Bartholomew for letting me travel along on his adventure!
Read Together: Grades 5 - 12 
Read Alone: Grades 6 - 12 
Read With: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Sector 7 (and others) by David Weisner, Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Neverending Story by Michael Ende 
Snatch of Text: 

"The houses all looked

like the toys in his room.

If genies had carpet,

and witches had brooms,

then what was he doing

up here with a sheet?

He banked to his left

and looked down at the street." (p. 5)

Mentor Text for: Story Boarding, Suspense, Rhyming, Figurative Language, Tone, Theme, Mood
Writing Prompts: Write a narrative poem using ABCB rhyme scheme for each stanza. If you could catch a wind and fly out your window, where would you want to go? Write a story about what you would do on your own flying adventure. 
Topics Covered: Imagination, Adventure, Freedom, Home, Regret, Dreams

We *heart* It: 

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**Thank you to Candlewick for providing copies for review**

Platypus Police Squad

Title:  Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked
Author:  Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Illustrator:  Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Publisher:  Walden Pond Press
Publication Date:  May, 2013
Genre/Format:  Fantasy/Novel
GoodReads Summary: From the Files of the Platypus Police Squad - Case #1138 Detectives of record: Rick Zengo and Corey O'Malley
Case brief: A local schoolteacher is missing, and the only thing fishier than the circumstances surrounding his disappearance is the smell coming from the bag he left behind. All clues point to billionaire businessman Frank Pandini Jr.--but why would Pandini get his paws into the illegal fish trade?  
What Kellee Thinks: Things I loved about this book: 
-Cop show allusions ("This is the city. Kalamazoo City. Population: 75,000. By day, it's bright, vibrant metropolis, the kind of city where dreams come true. It is a mecca of business, the arts, sports, and cuisine, and, at the center of it all, the gleaming facade of Pandini Tower, the jewel of Kalamazoo City. Those who don't live here dream of making it here. And those who do, well, they know that there's just no city like it. 
But it is a different city once the sun goes down. The criminal element, asleep by day, haunts certain dark corners at nigh. Especially the run-down old docks on the south side of town, perhaps the darkest corner of all." p. 1) 
-Puns (specifically animal puns) 
-The sly inclusion of forensics
-Jarrett Krosoczka's illustrations
-Um... Platypi are awesome! (Or is it platypuses just platypus?) Specifically Zengo and O'Malley who are the typical old cranky cop and young anxious rookie who team up together to fight the crime of Kalamazoo City. 
-The mystery aspect which allows the reader to be part of the police squad and can make predictions about what the outcome will be. 
What Jen Thinks: Sometimes books with animal characters makes me think too much about how possible would be it and things stand out to me more than with human characters. I must be developing as a reader because I didn't struggle with reading this book with animal characters as much as I have with other books in the past. Something about the way Jarrett wrote the characters made me feel so connected to them. I love Zengo and that there is so much more to him then it seems at first. He's actually a pretty complex platypus dude. I like how readers uncover more and more about him as the story goes on. I particularly love that he drinks hot chocolate every morning. Now there's a great visual: a platypus chilling at the breakfast table with his mug of hot chocolate. Gotta love it. 
     As layered as Zengo is, so is the plot of this story. Throughout the book there is a dark, creepy feeling of not knowing exactly what's going on or who exactly is up to no good. The reader definitely gets clues along the way but there are so many little pieces to tie together. Overall, it reminded me of great mystery movies or shows where even the innocent people had their own stories to tell in getting mixed up in everything. 
      I love the characterization in this book. Jarrett brings some amazing characters to life. I know I'm not supposed to like them, but Diaz and Lucinni cracked me up. They're just so ridiculous it's hysterical. I also really loved Peggy the secretary. She reminded me of Roz from Monsters Inc or Grandma Ethyl from the old show Dinosaurs. 
     When it comes to kids reading this book, I think the are really going to enjoy the characters and the mystery. I have a feeling they'll get caught up in the plot. I'm fairly confident they'll be calling for a sequel. I know I am! Bravo to Jarrett and his foray into middle grade non-graphic-novel novels! *applauds*
Read Together: Grades 4 - 6 
Read Alone: Grades 4 - 6 
Read With: Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, Neversink by Barry Wolverton, Theordore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham, Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy,  Big Splash by Jack Ferraiolo
Snatch of Text:  
"He eyed the police-band radio and the dashboard like it was his birthday party right there in the car." (p. 27)
Mentor Text For:  Puns, Making Predictions, Simile, Activating Background Knowledge, Visualization, Characterization, Dialogue, Making Inferences, Identifying Character Traits, Expository
Writing Prompts: Choose a character from Platypus Police Squad and then explain what you infer about his or her character traits with specific text evidence.  
Topics Covered: Family, Friendship, Work Relationships, Adversity, Hard-Work, Determination, Trustworthy

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**Thank you to Walden Pond Press for sending us a copy for review!**

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle

Title: The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle 
Author: Christopher Healy  
Publisher: Walden Pond Press 
Publication Date: April 30th, 2013 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses - Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose - to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms. 
     But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening - even if no one will ever know it was they who did it. 
     Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination - it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes. 
What Jen Thinks: I was thrilled to see all the great characters from the first League of Princes book back for book two! What struck me so strongly about Saving Your Kingdom was how prominent the girls were in a book that describes itself as being all about the Prince Charmings. The girls are awesome! When it came time to celebrating the release of this book, the girls instantly came to mind. 
     Once thing that I marveled at as I read, was how Chris is able to keep all the characters straight. I imagine this might be difficult as an author. I know for my own writing, it really helped me to stop and freewrite about my characters so I could get to know them. I believe an writer has to know his or her characters. This book would offer a perfect opportunity to talk about character development and what authors do as background knowledge for themselves when writing characters. Students can draw what they would find in their character's closet, create a Facebook page or Pinterest board for his or her characters, or write a back story for his or her character. Writing great characters is so connected to understanding people and what influences and why they make decisions. Getting to know your characters is very important as a writer. 
What Kellee Thinks: A wonderful follow-up to the first Hero's Guide. I was worried that it wouldn't be as good (sequel-syndrome), but the characters grew, the story moved along nicely, and it made me even more excited for book 3. Everyone's place in the group is questioned in this book, including their place within their relationships. 
     I read this book for a different purpose than just to review, I wanted to really look at the princesses in the book for our girl power series and I was so impressed at the different personalities and how each princess is so unique. I am so excited about this week because we get to focus on these girls and how they are strong role models. 
     For the classroom, I am a fan of Healy's books because they are such a funny seamless stories, but are complicated in subtle ways that will make it easy to use as a mentor text and discuss in a classroom but also easy to use as a fun read aloud that can sneak deep discussion into the classroom. 
Read Together: Grades 4 - 8 
Read Alone: Grades 4 - 8 
Read With: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom  by Chris Healy, Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, Once Upon a Marigold (series) by Jean Ferris, fairy tales from around the world 
Snatch of Text:  
"Frederic wasn't always helpless. Sure, he'd spent most of his life having his servants cut the crusts off his French toast, and he once fained afer merely thinking he had a splinter in his finger (it was really a biscotti crumb). But then he joined the League of Princes and managed to hold his own against bandits, giants, trolls, and witches." (p. 9)
Mentor Text For: Activating Background Knowledge, Making connections (like fractured fairy tales), Characterization, Multiple Story Lines, Humor, Rhyming Poetry/Songs (p. 4 et al.), Foreshadowing, Letter Writing (p. 208), Grammar (Princes Charming, Dwarves), Idioms (p. 311), Synonyms (p. 361), Oral Tradition (the bards), Compare and Contrast 
Writing Prompts: Compare and contrast any of the characters in the book; what do you notice about how they are similar and what sets them apart? 
Topics Covered: Adventure, Loyalty, Honesty, Asking for Help, Relationships, Siblings, Trust

We *heart* It: 

*Thank you to Walden Pond Press for providing review copies of Storming the Castle and a giveaway for our readers. Please fill out the form below for your chance to win a copy!*

and

Kellee Rereads Hilda and the Midnight Giant

 

Title: Hilda and the Midnight Giant

Author: Luke Pearson

Illustrator: Luke Pearson

Publisher: Nobrow Press

Publication Date: April, 2012

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Goodreads Summary: In Hilda and the Midnight Giant, our protagonist finds her world turned upside down as she faces the prospect of leaving her snow-capped birthplace for the hum of the megalopolis, where her mother (an architect) has been offered a prestigious job. During Hilda's daily one-and-a-half hour trek to school she looks for ways to stall her mother's decision. She conspires with the beings of the mystical Blue Forest to delay the inevitable. Will they help or hinder her? More importantly, who is this mysterious Midnight Giant?

     This is the first part of the Hildafolk series, a series that follows Hilda on her many adventures and travels through the magical fjords and enchanted mountains of her birthplace as she unravels the mysteries of the supernatural world that surrounds her.

What I Think: When Hilda and the Midnight Giant was in Mr. Schu and Scope's Top 20 of 2012 and I hadn't heard of it, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Graphic novels are the most loved format in my classroom and I try to keep as up to date about them as I can. I went straight to my bookstore, ordered it, and waited patiently. When it arrived, I delved right in. On my first read, I just found the story odd and didn't find myself connecting to the story at all. I knew then and there that I needed to reread at a later date to see if my perspective changed, so when April came around again, I knew that I would be reading Hilda for "It's A-OK to Reread in April".  Like Penny Kittle says in Book Love, "Rereading is an opportunity to see more. On the first time through a novel I am trying to figure out who is who and what is happening. I'm too engaged in understanding to analyze the book well. ON a second time through, I see the whole and then the parts differently." And this was no exception with my reread of Hilda. 

     Hilda reminds me a bit of Coraline- she is independent, a bit quirky and loves rainwear. And just like Coraline, she has a fantastical world surrounding her and she doesn't even know it.  It took this second time for me to realize the magic within this story: the connection between Hilda's and the Giant's story, the love of the Giants, the magical world of Elves, and the fascinating Woffs.
     I read one review that said Hilda's fantastical world reminded them of Miyazaki's work and though I didn't see it the first time (I think I was just caught up in the oddness), I definitely saw it the second time. The Woffs reminded me most of him- silent creatures that play a small yet important role in the story.
     In the end, I am so glad that I reread Hilda so I could get the full magical experience and I definitely recommend it. 

Read Together: Grades 4 to 8

Read Alone: Grades 3 and up

Read With: Coraline by Neal Gaiman, Explorer edited by Kazu Kibuishi, The Arrival by Shaun Tan, Castle Waiting by Linda Medley

Snatch of Text: 

Mentor Text for: World Building, Paneling, Imagination/Fantasy, Predicting

Writing Prompts: Is there something that you viewed differently after reading/seeing it for the second time like I did with Hilda? If not, try rereading a story that you didn't like; see if your perspective changes. 

Topics Covered: Territory, Love, Home, Discovery, Imagination

I *heart* It:

The False Prince

Title: The False Prince 
Author: Jennifer Nielsen 
Publisher: Scholastic 
Publication Date: April, 2012 
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats. 
What I Think: I recently listened to The False Prince on audio and completely fell in love with this book. I'm so glad I picked up the sequel (which I'll be reviewing tomorrow) at NCTE in the fall. It's really hard to pinpoint what is so amazing about Nielsen's writing that brings these characters to life. When she describes what they are doing and saying and feeling, I can completely visualize the characters like I never have with a book before. What I think it comes down to is that she shows the reader what the characters are feeling. Every description isn't about what a character is doing, it's about how their emotions play out in their actions. During Teachers Write this summer, I read On Writing by Stephen King and he talked about what characters do allows readers to infer their feelings. I must say that Nielsen has this show don't tell thing all figured out. I know I'm going to be rereading this book as a mentor text because of how well she bring her characters and their emotions to life. I can't tell you how many times my heart felt like it was being squeezed into mush throughout this book. It's heart-wrenching but it's also an awesome story of determination and bravery.  
     While reading The False Prince, I made so many connections with one of my favorite books, Finnikin of the Rock, by Melina Marchetta. In both of these books, the main characters find themselves in situations where so much relies on them and yet they aren't officially ready or prepared or old enough or experienced enough or suited for what they have to do...and it doesn't matter, they still have to do it. And while feeling this strong sense of having to do what's right, they are also mourning and at the same time trying to figure out who they can truly trust. See what I mean when I say heart-wrenching? There are definitely enough things Sage has to deal with that made my heart just ache for him.
     Beyond all the intense emotions that abound in this book, there really is a lot of mystery and adventure. Don't mistake that all the raw emotions in this book mean it's not full of excitement! I loved the book the entire way through but by the end I was desperate to know what was going to happen. For me, this takes the book over the edge. Yes, I would definitely recommend it to students because I don't think any reader could help but connect with the characters, but even more than that, this is a book that will have readers hooked. Books that have readers on the edge of their seats are priceless. And this is definitely one of them.
     This is a book that deserves to be read more than once because after you get through the whole book and relish in the story, you can go back and appreciate everything that the author has done along the way to bring the reader along on Sage's journey. Excellently done.
Read Together: Grades 4 - 7 
Read Alone: Grades 4 - 9 
Read With: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore, Reckless by Cornelia Funke, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, Emerald Atlas by John Stephens, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher 
Snatch of Text: 
"If I had to do it all over again, I would not have chosen this life. Then again, I'm not sure I ever had a choice." p. 1 
Mentor Text For: Characterization, Making Inferences, Foreshadowing,  Personal Narrative  
Writing Prompts: We don't always have a choice in things we have to do but we can choose how we react or respond to things we have to do. Write about a time in your life when you were proud of how you handled a situation or when you wish you had handled a situation differently. Explain why you were proud or disappointed in yourself and how it will impact you in the future.   
Topics Covered: Family, Friendship, Loyalty, Trust, Honesty, Determination, Wit, Grief, Guilt, Bravery, Courage, Taking Risks

I *heart* It:

The Other Slipper

Title: The Other Slipper

Author: Kenechi Udogu

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Publication Date: September, 2011

Genre/Format: Fantasy/Novel

Goodreads Summary: When Jo finds a lone glass slipper on the night of the royal ball, she realizes that there is more to the seemingly ordinary object than meets the eye. Searching for its owner, she is led to the palace where the princess sets her on a journey that thrusts her into an unexpected world of magic and illusions. It soon becomes clear that there is a lot more to her mission as she discovers startling secrets about her past and struggles to embrace her destiny.

What I Think: We have all known the Cinderella story since we were little kids. Either through our parents telling it to us at bedtime or the Disney classic with Bipity-boppity-bo. And because this story has always been in our lives, we don't question much about it. But what happened in the castle before the ball? What happened after the ball? Where is Cinderella's other slipper? What is the prince like? All of a sudden, as I thought about it, I had so many questions that could be answered if someone else would tell the story. Now thanks to The Other Slipper, the spectacular adventure that we never knew happened. 

      Before I continue, I wanted to share a conversation I had just yesterday. Do we need to know the answers to questions? Yesterday at the Scholastic Warehouse sale, we got talking about prequels and if you should read them before the first book or after like the author wrote it. I really like prequels and sequels because even though I love having my own opinion on a book and predicting what I think is going to happen, but I also love hearing what the author had in mind. [And if you were wondering my opinion, I think you should read the prequel in the order that the author published it.]

     So, if you are like me, you love fairy tale retellings because it goes deeper into the fairy tale. The Other Slipper takes the very story of Cinderella that we know and shows us what is happening behind the scenes. Kenechi Udogu's story, though, is not just a story to live in Cinderella's limelight- it is a story that stands on its own feet and is actually a fun, fantastical adventure.

Read Together: Grades 6 to 10

Read Alone: Grades 7 and up

Read With: Cinderella, Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah, Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

Snatch of Text: "The girl who stepped down from the carriage was simply beautiful, a delightful combination of flawless skin and delicate features. Her hair was held up at the top of her head with strings of shiny pearls and her gown, like the carriage, was exquisitely detailed and in a unusual style." (Kindle Location 161)

Mentor Text for: Allusion, Point of View, Predicting

Writing Prompts: Take an object from a fairy tale that has some unanswered questions (Sleeping Beauty's spindle, Rapunzel's tower, etc.) and write your own fairy tale explaining what happened to them. 

Topics Covered: Choices, Cinderella, Family, Evil, Tradition

I *heart* It:

A 3.5 for me