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/

Comic Squad: Recess!

Title: Comic Squad: Recess!
Editors: Jennifer & Matthew Holm
Illustrators: (see below) 
Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Genre/Format: Comic Book
GoodReads Summary: A bust-your-gut-laughing graphic-novel anthology with original contributions from the most beloved names in the genre! * Jennifer Holm & Matthew Holm * Jarrett J. Krosoczka * Dav Pilkey * Dan Santat * Raina Telgemeier * Dave Roman * Ursula Vernon * Eric Wight * Gene Yang *
 
Wowza! Calling all kidz! Do you like comics? Do you like laughing till milk comes out of your nose?! Look no further—do we have the book for you! All your favorite comic creators are right here in this handy-dandy hilarious book! This all-star tribute to classic Sunday comics includes eight sidesplitting, action-packed stories about every kid’s favorite subject—RECESS! With popular characters from Babymouse and Lunch Lady and brand-new soon-to-be favorite characters from superstars including Dav Pilkey! Raina Telgemeier! Gene Yang! and many more! Comics Squad also features Pizza Monsters! Secret ninja clubs! Aliens! Talking desserts! Dinozilla! Death-defying escapes! Bad guys! Good guys! Medium guys! Superheroes! Bullies! Mean girls! Epic battles! True love! Outlandish schemes! Evil plans! Fun! Jokes! Terrible puns! And other surprises that will tickle your funny bone! WARNING: THIS BOOK MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE LAUGHTER AND POSSIBLE SILLINESS. No assembly required. (Pizzatron 2000 not included.)
What I Think: I was so excited when I heard about this amazing collaboration! What a fun idea to do a comic collection like this for kiddos. Both of my kids loved each of the stories and we reread them many times. I especially love that like the summary implies, there are all sorts of fun things going on in each of these stories. I think kids will love having so many different stories in one book. This will get them excited for another book/volume to be out and it's a great way to introduce graphic novel lovers to other authors. 
     I never wrote a full length novel until Teachers Write. I know there is NaNoWriMo Junior and I believe kids should definitely write longer stories but it seems like writing short stories is more the focus in schools (well...and non-fiction. Non-fiction is the rage right now.). I'm guessing kids mostly write short stories because of the time. Whatever the reason, I love that this book can be an example of some short stories students can write. They can show students how they can build a short story and see the arc of a short story as told with comics. There is definitely an art to a short story and I love this graphic novel collection of short stories!
Read Together: Grades 2 - 4
Read Alone: Grades 2 - 6
Read With: Babymouse (series) by Jenni and Matt Holm, Lunchlady (series) by Jarrett Krosoczka, Sidekicks by Dan Santat, Frankie Pickle (series) by Eric Wight, Smile and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman, Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey, Bird and Squirrel by James Burks
Snatch of Text:
In lieu of a snatch of text, please enjoy this book trailer...

Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you really wanted to be included in a club or a group. What did you do or not do to be part of the group? Would you do anything differently if you could do it again?
Topics Covered: Friendship, Adversity, Determination, Imagination, Courage

I *heart* It:

Bananas in my Ears

Title: Bananas in my Ears: A Collection of Nonsense Stories, Poems, Riddles, & Rhymes

Author: Michael Rosen

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: August, 2012

Genre/Format: Poetry & Short Story/Anthology

Goodreads Summary: A charming collection featuring free verse stories, rhymes, and poems from the renowned Michael Rosen and quirky artwork by Quentin Blake.

From the chaos of breakfast to the calm of bedtime, this whimsical collection, pairing two former British Laureates, is full of delightful moments. Explore the pleasures of acting silly and the pains of feeling ill, the camaraderie of siblings and strange goings-on at the beach. . . . All this and a trip on a flying bed, too!

What I Think: This collection of 'nonsense' stories, poems, riddles, & rhymes is actually much deeper than it seemed at first read. I'll be honest, I was not impressed with the first story so I did not have high expectations for the rest of the book; however, the second poem hit the ball out of the park and sucked me in.
      The book is broken into four sections (Breakfast, Seaside, Doctor, Bedtime) and within each section Rosen includes a variety of stories and poems. There are a few that weave their way throughout the book- "What If..." and "Nat and Anna".
     I, personally, loved the "What If..." poems the best because I think it is a wonderful way to have children not only think about amazing possibilities, but also is an easy format to duplicate to help students write their own poems. It would be so much fun to have students write their own "What If..." poems based on the unit's theme. It could also be pushed a little bit farther- it'd be a great way to discuss essential questions or to do an anticipation guide.
     The "Nat and Anna" stories also allow for a chance to discuss narrative elements as, with 4 short stories, you have quite a nice collection of stories about these two siblings. The characters have quite a dynamic relationship which could definitely lead to some great characterization conversations.
     One of the most surprising aspects, for me, were the more serious poems that are scattered throughout the book that are filled with imagery and alliteration:
"Over my toes
goes
the soft sea wash..." (p. 25)
"Outside after dark,
trains hum and traffic lights wink,
after dark, after dark." (p. 65)

Read Together: Grades K to 8

Read Alone: Grades 3 to 8

Read With: Revolting Rhymes and other books by Roald Dahl, Funny Stories by Michael Rosen, Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky

Snatch of Text: "What if
a piece of toast turned into a piece of ghost
just as you were eating it
and you thought you were going to sink your
teeth into a lovely crunchy piece of hot toast
and butter and instead this cold wet feeling
jumps into your  mouth
going
"Whooooooooooooooooo!"
right down into your stomach..." (p. 6)

Mentor Text for: Poetry, Short Stories, Rhyming, Humor, Imagery, Characterization, Alliteration (p. 25), Cause/Effect (p. 16)

Writing Prompts: Using Michael Rosen's format of writing "What If..." poems, write your own "What If..." poem and accompany your poetry with illustrations; Write a "Nat and Anna" adventure in a new situation. Make sure to keep their characterization the same as the author originally wrote them.; Finish the "What Happens Next?" poem with the effects that would happen based on the illustrations.

Topics Covered: Breakfast, Possibilities, Siblings, Seaside, Illnesses, Doctors, Dark, Bedtime, Fun

I *heart* It:

**Thank you to Candlewick for providing a copy for review**

It Seemed Funny at the Time

Title: It Seemed Funny at the Time: A LARGE Collection of Short Humor

Author: David Lubar

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 

Publication Date: October, 2011

Genre/Format: Short Stories-Humor/eBook

Goodreads Summary: David Lubar has gathered his best magazine pieces from the past fifteen years, tossed in his most popular works from the early days of online humor, bundled up the comedy material from his national conference talks, and stuffed everything in one juicy volume.

     Health care, telemarketers, celebrity picture books, Amish buggy rides, pigeon shoots, tasteless sneaker ads, inept Olympic broadcasters, and lots more -- it all seemed funny at the time. And, happily, it still does. Along with a ton of humor aimed at a general audience, there are special sections for computer geeks, writers, librarians, teachers, and fans of young-adult novels. Check it out. It's a lot of funny for just a little money.

What I Think: Although this book is not all completely appropriate for the classroom, such a wonderful portion of it is. David Lubar's humor radiates off of the pages and although much of it is very specific, you YA and Kid Lit lovers and teachers will love much of it. I also loved how he set much of it up. Most stories were set up with an introduction followed by a hilarious list. For example, he has a list of renamed books that have no chance of being banned, a list of "knockoffs", book and TV mix-ups, the next wave of edgy books, and more while in the kid lit section there are lists of Halloween books, horror cross-overs, and weird author pairings. In the other sections of the book, there are a smattering of other stories that can be used in a classroom as well like Poe humor, little-known literary facts, kids writing FAQ and high school humor. Many of these shorts will be great conversation starters and would be wonderful as read-alouds in the classroom. 

Read Together: Varies by story; primarily 6 and up

Read Alone: Varies by story; primarily 7 and up

Snatch of Text: "Think about it - a team named after a poem. But not just any poem. This poem was written by the man who invented the detective story, the man who gave us tales of such horror that they've become classics in the genre. 

     The Ravens won their first game this season. They lost their second game. But I'm a loyal fan. I won't desert them. But I'm hoping that they won't stop with just the name change. There is so much more potential if they stick with the Poe theme. So, as the number one fan of the Ravens, I'd like to suggest that they adopt the following ideas: 

     Forget about a digital time display on the scoreboard. Use a huge clock with a pendulum. For extra excitement, install a pendulum over each end zone.

     Every player should grow a black little mustache." (Kindle Location beginning 566)

"Don't you just hate having your day interrupted to deal with a book challenge? Whether it's in the form of a shouting parent, a sign-waving picket line, or a smoldering pile of burning books setting off the sprinklers in the YA section, there's nothing like a protest to put a crimp in a peaceful afternoon spent monitoring Internet surfing or helping ninety-six eighth graders find information about some obscure prehistoric trilobite that nobody except their teacher has ever heard of. It might seem as if every book is going to offend some group. But that's not the case. There are some books that nobody could possibly object to. They are ban proof. It is our pleasure to provide the following list. 

     Where the Mild Things Are — To help his parents cope with the stresses of life, a teen crosses the country in search of the blandest food, tamest tourist spots, and least-threatening people. He stays in the right lane throughout the book.

     Boy Meets Buoy — kids go for a swim. There is no horseplay, body contact, or Speedos. All characters remain in safe, shallow water throughout the story." (Kindle Location beginning 1935)

Mentor Text for: Allusion, Puns, Word Play

Writing Prompts: After reading "Mean"- In your life, what are some things adults say that really means something else?; Research a banned or challenged book. Why was it banned? Write a letter to a challenger stating why you think the book should not be banned.

Topics Covered: YA Literature, Kit Lit, Banned Books, Editors, Careers, Idioms, Prequels and much more

I *heart* It:

 

**Thank you to David Lubar for providing a copy of his book for review**

25 Days of Holiday Book Reviews: Classic Short Stories

I am so happy to be part of Maestra Amanda's 25 days of holiday book reviews! This time of year (the end of November to the first week of January) is by far my favorite time of the year - it is about family, giving and cheer. Last year when Jen and I participated in There's a Book's Twelve Days of Christmas I wrote about Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle and I wanted to write about something else this year. When I couldn't think of anything, I sent a text to my mom and we started reminiscing about holidays. First, we talked about movies, because that is really how we as a family bonded during the holidays. Then, I reigned in the conversation and asked her to focus on Christmas reads that we read when I was a child. She immediately listed 2 short stories and a book: The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, The Shoemaker and the Elves by The Brothers Grimm and Merry Christmas from Betsy (1970) by Carolyn Haywood.  I was so sad that I only vaguely remembered them, so I immediately got the two short stories and reread. 

Title: The Gift of the Magi

Author: O. Henry

Publisher: Various

Publication Date: 1906

Genre/Format: Romance/Short Story

Goodreads Summary: In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside.

What I Think: O. Henry has put so much emotion in a bit over 2,000 words. It is a beautiful story that left me tearing up and truly embodies the meaning of Christmas, the holiday spirit and true love.  You, too, can read this great story thanks to Project Gutenberg- http://www.gutenberg.org/files/7256/7256-h/7256-h.htm 

Snatch of Text: "One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.

     There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating."

Writing Prompts: Della wants to get her husband the best gift possible for him, so she was willing to sacrifice her most precious belonging- have you ever sacrificed a precious item to help you get something for someone else? If not, would you? For whom? What is your most precious belonging? 

Topics Covered: Love, Sacrifice, Giving

Title: The Shoemaker and the Elves

Author: The Brothers Grimm

Publisher: Various

Publication Date: 1806

Genre/Format: Fairy Tale/Short Story

Goodreads Summary:  The beloved story of a poor shoemaker, kindhearted elves, and the giving spirit of Christmas.

What I Think: When my mom mentioned this story, I knew the story and almost didn't reread it, but since I already had Grimm Fairy Tales on my Kindle, I decided to quickly read it. Although I did remember the gist of the story, I did not remember the ending and it just warmed my heart. You too should reread (once again available thanks to Project Gutenberg)- http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext04/grimm10a.txt

Snatch of Text: "In the morning, after he had said his prayers, and was just going to sit down to work, the two shoes stood quite finished on his table. He was astounded, and knew not what to say to it. He took the shoes in his hands to observe them closer, and they were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them, just as if they were intended as a masterpiece."

Writing Prompts: Write about a time when someone has helped you even when there was nothing in it for them. 

Topics Covered: Work, Giving, Income

I *heart* Them Both:

Happy holidays! 

Dear Bully

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Here at Teach Mentor Texts we are always looking for more ways to support teachers! We've found that teachers seem to be constantly on the lookout for great nonfiction. We know we are! To help with this undying quest for outstanding non-fiction, we are excited to participate in Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and The Nonfiction Detectives. Every Wednesday, you'll find a non-fiction review here - although it may not always be a picture book review. Please visit Kid Lit Frenzy and The Nonfiction Detectives to see what non-fiction others have to share, too.

Title: Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories
Author: Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones (editors) 
Publisher: Harper Teen 
Publication Date: September 2011 
Genre/Format: Non-Fiction/Short Story Collection
GoodReads Summary: Discover how Lauren Kate transformed he feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the "funny guy" into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Today's top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.
What I Think: I really think bullying is a problem..but here's the thing, when I started reading this book, I started to realize bullying isn't as simple or clear cut as I had maybe thought it was before. Now that I really think deeply about it, I feel like I lean towards defining bullying as big kids picking on little kids - either physically or mentally/emotionally. Obviously, it's much more than that...but it's actually waaaaaaay more than that. Reading the stories and insight in Dear Bully have made me truly stop and think about the different forms that bullying can take. Boys and girls can be bullies and be bullied. Something as seemingly trivial, like shutting someone out of a group of friends or giving someone a nickname in a split second but having that nickname stick like rubber cement, might seem too insignificant to be considered bullying, but it actually is.  
     Earlier this year, when I read Wonder by RJ Palacio, I had flashbacks to a girl who starting going to school with me in fourth grade when the elementary schools in our district combined for the intermediate grades. I read about Auggie and Julian and memories of this girl and myself flooded me. I clearly did not have the physical differences that Auggie has, but I still related to how Julian treated him. And don't we all have at least one person we can think of who made us feel yucky? Whether it was yucky or 100 times yucky - yucky is yucky. I'm not sure I had ever labeled my yucky person as a bully, but she totally was.
     What I love that this book addresses early on is the idea that we, as humans, have the capacity for compassion...but we learn the bullying behavior that exists. I recently found a YouTube video called The Empathic Civilisation that outlines how our brains truly are soft-wired for compassion and empathy. This book has it just right, we can empathize with others, but somewhere along the way we develop reasons and behaviors that don't reflect that. How sad, right? I hope readers pick up Dear Bully and stop and think about their actions - how do we treat others? how do we stand up for or defend others who are being bullied? how do we stand up for ourselves if we are bullied? We all need to stop and recognize our feelings and how others are making us feel but also to recognize when others need our help and, finally, how we are treating others. Just stop and think. Reflect on your interactions. How did you do? Can you be more compassionate?
     This leads me to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. What does it really matter if one small act of bullying continues or happens or is ignored? While Dear Bully helps us recognize how even small things are true acts of bullying, Thirteen Reasons Why reminds us why even the smallest acts of bullying need tending to. In Thirteen Reasons Why, we can see how ultimately all the little things can add up to a giant impact on a person. Is it worth it to ignore or be passive in regards to any kind of bullying? No, we need to address it all. Share this book with readers, help them see bullying for what it really is, help them think about ideas for stopping bullying and brainstorm ideas for combatting bullying. It has to start somewhere, I think it starts with recognition that bullying isn't an isolated event and that we all need to stand up for ourselves and each other.
Read Together: Grades 7 - 12 
Read Alone: Grades 8 - 12 
Read With: Speak and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, Dreamland by Sarah Dessen, Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod (series) by Heather Brewer, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga, Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, Wonder by RJ Palacio, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 
Snatch of Text:  
"I realized that I'm so much more than those insecure bullies ever deemed me to be. I'm special, and weird, and wonderful, all rolled into one. And I always have been. I think on some level, they knew that, and it frightened them. Maybe because deep down, they knew that they weren't."p. 71, from Heather Brewer's The Secret
Mentor Text For: Personal Narrative, Narrative, Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you felt bullied - think about the stories that you read and how bullying can exist in many forms.  
Topics Covered: Bullying, Friendship, Love, Courage, Self-Esteem, Identity, Feelings, Emotions, Pain, Adversity, Triumph, Perseverance, Unity, Support, Denial, Acceptance, Compassion 

I *heart* It:

P.S.

A ginormous thank you to Heather Brewer for sharing her story so candidly. 

I'm proud to be a minion for life.

The Infects

Title: Infects

Author: Sean Beaudoin

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: September, 2012

Genre/Format: Sci-Fi, Humor/Novel

Goodreads Summary: A feast for the brain, this gory and genuinely hilarious take on zombie culture simultaneously skewers, pays tribute to, and elevates the horror genre.
     Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an “Inward Trek.” As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of “infects” shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate “Zombie Rules” almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back.
     Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you won’t see coming, here is a savvy tale that that’s a delight to read—whether you’re a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten—and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us.

What Kellee Thinks: Sean Beaudoin definitely has a unique style that you cannot confuse with anyone else. It is like when you see a movie and you know who the director is - that is how distinct Sean's writing is. And what he does so well is keep his style yet still has characters that have distinct voices that you can distinguish between. He actually reminds me of John Green in that way; however, Sean Beaudoin is more of the underground, quirky, dry twisted humor sort of way. This book also reminded me of the humor you found in Libba Bray's Beauty Queens in that it is very much a parody of qualities of pop culture and primarily emulated at zombie flicks such as Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. 
     Once you get used to Beaudoin's style, the story sucks you in. An incomparable cast of characters takes us through a survival guide against those who want to eat you. You lose some you care about, you cheer when some turn and many will dream about one particular female. Between the cast of characters, the humorous plot line and Beaudoin's style, many will eat up this novel.
What Jen Thinks: I agree with Kellee, this is one of the most unique examples of voice that I have ever read. The whole novel exudes voice and energy. I felt like I needed to be running in place the entire time, it's completely an amped up book. I kept making connections with all the zombie stories I read when I read Zombies Vs. Unicorns. Those are some wild stories, it's amazing how unique zombie stories can be and reading all of those really expanded my whole thinking of zombies and of where they come from or what it means to be a zombie. It's an amazing exercise in writing - to think like a zombie and to try to understand a zombies hopes and dreams - they are...well, were...people, too. I love the idea of not simply accepting that a zombie is a dead person who's soul and essence are gone. What if when a person becomes a zombie he or she is still who he or she was....or that some people can become zombies but still act completely normal - like Edward is a vampire but has committed himself to not eating people. Is there a zombie who can withstand diving into a bowl full of brains? Talk about stepping into someone else's shoes and trying to walk about. I'm so impressed with Sean Beaudoin and what he has created with The Infects. I can completely see how readers are going to devour this book. Mmmmm...brains, I mean...books. 

Read Together: Grades 11 and up 

Read Alone: Grades 9 and up

Read With: Gaff by Shan Corea, Zombies Vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbastelier, Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe, Beauty Queen by Libba Bray, Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio

Snatch of Text: "But Petal Gazes was a whole other universe, a different orbit, a brighter sun. She was a tenth straight espresso, pure feedback, wet-toe-in-socket beautiful. 
At least to him. 
Which went directly against Nick's long-standing policy: Never Want Anything. 
Treeless Christmas? Eggless Easter? Toastless morning? 
It's hard to be disappointed when you don't give a crap. 
But now he really, really wanted something. 
Petal Gazes." (p. 8)

Mentor Text for: Voice, Style, Humor, Parody, Allusions, Word Play, Vocabulary, Flashback, Dialogue, Making Connections, Activating Background Knowledge, Perspective

Writing Prompts: Write your own short story about what would happen if you encountered a zombie. Write a short story from the perspective of a zombie, show the reader what he or she might not realize or appreciate about zombies. 

Topics Covered: Family, Friendship, Love, Survival, Courage, Zombies

Kellee and Jen *heart* It: 

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**Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing copies of The Infects for review**

Squid and Octopus Friends For Always

Title: Squid and Octopus Friends For Always     
Author: Tao Nyeu   
Illustrator: Tao Nyeu  
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers 
Publication Date: June 2012 
Genre/Format: Fiction/Picture Book 
GoodReads Summary: A friend for always is someone who... knows how to cheer you up when you're feeling droopy, usually sees things your way, and never lets a quarrel get out of hand. As you'll see in these endearing, silly stories, a friend for always is the very best thing in the deep blue sea. 
What I Think: I enjoy stories of friendship and Tao Nyeu has definitely added Squid and Octopus to the ranks of great book friends. First of all, I have to start by telling you how absolutely whimsical and wonderful the illustrations are in this book. They are beautiful. I love that the pages aren't stark white and then the hues of blues, greens, yellows and oranges are a mix of bold and subdued that are perfect. It's hard not to look at this duo and smile. They're full of adorable-ness.
     That said, this book is made up of four sweet mini-stories about Octopus and Squid and their friendship. They are friends who sometimes disagree and who can share their hopes and dreams and be honest about their fears. No matter what, in the end, they are the best of friends!
     I do have to say that I reread this book a few times to get the right feel for it. It's a cute collection from the beginning but the dialogue didn't flow well for me at first. I kind of felt like the dialogue for Squid and Octopus was the same, it was hard to recognize a difference in voice between the two characters. When I think of a book like Bink and Gollie, it's easy to tell who is talking based on the dialogue. For this book, the dialogue sounded like the same voice for both characters. I would pull this book out to study dialogue and voice and have kids decide how they author did. What a perfect book to match with Bink and Gollie or Elephant and Piggie to really study the author's work. I say give it a few tries, it's more endearing with every read!
Read Together: Grades K - 3 
Read Alone: Grades 2 - 3 
Read With: Bink and Gollie (series) by Kate DiCamillo, Scaredy Squirrel (series) by Melanie Watt, Elephant and Piggie series and Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator by Mo Willems 
Snatch of Text:

"Squid studied Octopus's mittens.

'Your mittens are nice, ' he finally admitted.

'those are great socks,' said Octopus.

'Should we...share?' asked Squid.

A splendid exchange of socks and mittens followed.

'Silly turtle,' said Octopus. 'Who ever heard of wearing scarves and earmuffs? Obviously, what we really need is a hot pot of tea.'

'And cake,' added Squid.

Octopus and Squid cozied up in their socks and mittens.

They sipped hot tea. They munched on cake. They were warm."

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Making Inferences 
Writing Strategies to Practice: Personal Narrative, Short Stories, Dialogue, Voice, Characterization 
Writing Prompts: Write about a time when you and a friend had a disagreement. How did you handle the situation? Would you solve the problem the same way next time or try to solve it differently the next time? 
Topics Covered: Friendship, Fun, Disagreements, Hopes and Dreams, Fears, Integration - Math - Knitting, Arts and Crafts, Sea Life

I *heart* It:

 

Guys Read: The Sports Pages

Title: Guys Read: The Sports Pages     
Edited By: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Publisher: Walden Pond Press  
Publication Date: July 10th, 2012   
Genre/Format: Sports Fiction/Short Stories 
GoodReads Summary:  Ten stories guaranteed to put you in the ring, under the basket, and right behind home plate, from the following perennial all-stars: Dustin Brown, James Brown, Joseph Bruchac, Chris Crutcher, Tim Green, Dan Gutman, Gordon Korman, Chris Rylander, Anne Ursu, Jacqueline Woodson
What Jen Thinks: I live with a PE teacher (my husband) so I was excited to get the opportunity to read and review Guys Read: The Sports Pages! In our house, we love football and basketball but my husband stays up to date on everything sports. I was excited to see the stories covered a range of sports and included different genres. I also liked that there are stories from current athletes as well as those who played before, who students may not recognize. 
It really doesn't matter what sport the stories are about, if you love sports, I think you will enjoy this book. Really, at the heart of sports stories is the main character. Whether the character is real or fictional, a player or a spectator, he or she has something unique to share about the commitment, the determination, and motivation, and the sheer love of the game. 
As I read, I found myself thinking about one of my students who loves to play hockey. Even though hockey is his passion, I think he would enjoy all of these stories. Last school year, this student wrote about what it feels like to get hit into the boards in a hockey game. We used Gary Schmidt's book Okay For Now as a mentor text and looked at how Schmidt stops a moment in time and explodes it with description. I can see how these stories would have been perfect mentor texts for this particular student who loves sports.
What Kellee Thinks:  I love baseball, so when The Sports Pages' first story was one by Don Gutman about baseball that cracked me up so much that I ran to the other room to tell my husband about it - the book had won me over. Realistically, like most short story collections, I found stories I really enjoyed and others I enjoyed less. Personally, I liked the baseball stories the most because I am a fan where others will like the football stories. Either way, this book has a bit of something for almost all sports lovers: tennis, hockey, basketball, baseball, football, and MMA.

As a teacher, I love short story collections because they can easily be used for read alouds or mentor texts. This particular collection has such a wide mix of texts.  Though I specifically feel that the pieces nonfiction are the best pieces in the collection to use as exemplar texts and each memoir piece is formatted differently- one more of an interview (with Dustin Brown), one more of a humorous narrative (by Don Gutman) and one a personal narrative (by James Brown). I will definitely be purchasing this book because it will be loved (and because the ARC is missing Chris Crutcher's story and I HAVE to read it!). 
Read Together:  Grades 3 to 8
Read Alone:  Grades 4 to 9
Read With:  Guys Read series edited by Jon Sciezska, Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher, Football Genius (series) by Tim Green, sports fiction novels by Mike Lupica, Tim Green, John H. Ritter, Carl Deuker, or John Feinstein
Snatch of Text:  "So what can we learn from all this? 
Nothing! What, you thought there was going to be some kind of moral or lessons in this book? Forget about it. It's just sports. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And sometimes you lose for eighty-six years in a row." (Dan Gutman, pg. 16) 

"My parents were right: focusing on getting the best possible education truly has provided me with the foundation to have enjoyed much more in life that I could have ever dreamed. 
Thanks, Mom and Dad." (James Brown, p. 160)
Mentor Text For: Memoirs, Personal Narrative
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you wanted something so badly - whether it's about being great at a sport or something else - and how determination felt to you.
Topics Covered: Sports - Baseball, Tennis, Football, Hockey, Mixed Martial Arts, Basketball; Identity, Rivalry, Competition, Humor, Bullying, Reflection, Revenge, Motivation, Friendship

Jen and Kellee *heart* It:

**Thank you so much to Walden Pond Press for giving us a copy of Guys Read: The Sports Pages to review and for providing copies of each of the Guys Read books for the giveaway!**

The giveaway is now closed! The winner will be announced on Monday, July 16th!

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