Small Steps

Small Steps

By Louis Sachar

Published by Listening Library (audio), (2006)

Genre: Multiculturalism, friends and society, Body and self, accomplishment

Disclaimer: Violence

# of cd's: 5

Theordore, also known as Armpit, is trying to put his life in order. He remembers the advice given to him by a counselor, "take small steps", so Theodore has set some goals for his life (one of them is to get rid of the name armpit) and is taking small steps to reach them. He is friends with the little girl next door, named Ginny, that has cerebral palsy. His friend X-Ray show up and wants him to get involved in a scalper business and sell tickets for the Kaira DeLeon concert. Armpit ends up going to the concert with Ginny and through some unfortunate problems, he fortunately get to meet Kaira and they become friends. Throughout the book, armpit has to make choices that question his small steps and define how he has grown and what he has learned from his past mistakes. This is a sequal to the book Holes.

I loved Holes, I was really excited about this book. One of the things I found cool about it was how the author used Kaira's songs to help tell the story. I really liked how the book ended, usually don't like ending like that, but I like that it gave Armpit more opportunity to grow, and Kaira as well.

A play for Small Steps will premier this month in Oregon: This is a video with them working on the script and music for this play.

This video is actually from the movie Holes, inspired by the book. It makes me happy so I thought I would include it.

Carver a Life in Poems

Carver a Life in Poems

By Marilyn Nelson

Published by Front Street imprint of Boyds Mills Press (2001)

Pages: 103

Genre: Biography, Poetry

This book is about George Washington Carver. It talks about his parents leaving him and being brought up by another couple. He had a love for learning and worked hard. He went to college and became a professor eventually. Carver was a good example of charity and did a lot of work teaching others. He also discovered a lot of things to do with peanuts. His life is told in poems from the point of view of those that knew him.

I thought this was a good book and easy to understand and I loved the poetry! I didn't know very much about Carver before I read this book but I was impressed with what I learned. Not only did he do a lot of research, but he was a good person and he impacted all that came to know him because of his love for God and man. This book gave me a drive to be a better person.

Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars

By Gary D. Schmidt

Published By Clarion Books (2007)

Genre: humor, family, friends and society

Disclaimer: So funny that you might cry from laughing so hard.

Pages: 272

Holling Hoodhood is in the seventh grade and he is sure his teacher hates him. He is the only student that has nowhere to go on Wednesday afternoons so his teacher has to come up with things for him to do. He gets to learn Shakespeare and clean erasers. He also lives in the Perfect House. His dad expects him to takeover the family business when he is old enough and his sister is hippie, to the dismay of the father. Through the semester he learns several skills and gains many experiences because of his Wednesday afternoons with his teacher. Many happen in a humorous way.

I loved this book. It had so much wit and humor. I was reading it in class and started laughing so hard my face turned red and tears rolled down my face because I was trying not to disturb the people around me. I thought I was going to need to excuse myself. There are also some amazing messages shared through this story and so much to take away. I also found out my sister read this book in school and she enjoyed this book as well. READ IT!

A fan made video I thought was cute.

Other books by Gary D. Schmidt:

• Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
• The Wonders of Donal O'Donnell
• Mara's Stories: Glimmers in the Darkness
• Pilgrim's Progress

Donna Parker in Hollywood

Donna Parker in Hollywood

By Marcia Martin

Published by Whitman Publishing Company (1961)

Genre: Accomplishment, Mystery

Donna goes to California to visit her aunt and uncle. Her parents give her a little Ganesha from their trip to India to give them. On the way to California she meets a boy named Bruce and has some fun running around Chicago with him. When she finally makes it to her aunt and uncle's home she has lost the Ganesha. She spends a lot of time looking for it and is helped by a new friend, Mike. She makes friends with the neighbor girl, Jennifer, and is confused by the man hiding in the tree across from Jennifer's home and by that fact she is never allowed in Jennifer's home or that the mom stays inside. But Donna gets to visit Hollywood and meets a few celebrities. She even learns some lessons while on her trip.

I actually really liked this book. It reminded me of the books I used to read in middle school. It shows a different way of thinking at things and it is overall good and wholesome. I would recommend this book to younger teenage girls.

The Donna Parker Series:

• Donna Parker at Cherrydale
• Donna Parker Special Agent
• Donna Parker On Her Own
• Donna Parker A Spring to Remember
• Donna Parker In Hollywood
• Donna Parker Mystery at Arawak
• Donna Parker Takes a Giant Step

War is...

War is...

By Mark Aronson and Patty Campbell

Published by Candlewick (2009)

Genre: nonfiction, war, informative

Disclaimer: Language, violence, sexual content

Pages: 288

This book is series of stories about war and those involved with war. It talks about things from an antiwar perspective and also the perspective that war is unfortunately necessary. It goes over the realities of the military contract and the things experienced physically, emotionally, and mentally during battle. this book covers post-traumatic stress disorder and things women face in the military. It has a little of everything.

Not my favorite book to read, but it is a book that I think those considering the military should read. This book made me take time to think about how I feel about war and why we have it.

Peter and the Starcatchers

Peter and the Starcatchers

By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Published by Disney Editions (2004)

Pages: 452

Genre: Fantasy

Disclaimer: violence and flying crocodiles

Peter is an orphan that is sent on a ship named the Never Land that is headed to Rundoon which is rules by King Zarboff who is rumored to feed people to his snake. Several other orphans from St. Norbert's are traveling with him as well. On their ship was a daughter of a British ambassador, Leonard Aster. Also on this ship is a mysterious trunk that was supposed to be on the other ship, known as the Wasp, with her father. Conditions aren't very good for the boys and Black Stache, the notorious pirate, is looking for the trunk. They end up on a island and then things really get crazy.

I didn't want to read this book for a long time because I love the original Peter Pan story and I didn't want it ruined, but I really enjoyed this book. There is so much that happens in this story and the action seems to never stop. I love the crocodile! and the Indians! This book offers so much.

This video isn't really exciting, but I love the music and it shows the next books in the series.

Steel Trapp

Steel Trapp

By Ridley Pearson

Published by Disney Editions(2008)

Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery

Disclaimer: some Violence

Pages: 324

Steven "Steel" Trapp has a photographic memory with perfect recall. He goes with his mom to an national science challenge. On the train there he sees a lady leave a suitcase. He tries to return it to her and she denies that it is hers. Steel has a perfect memory so she was obviously lying. He takes the suitcase back and finds out what is inside and it changes the course of the trip for him as he is plunged into a mystery, where a lady's life, maybe even his own is a stake.

This book was good. It had a fun story line and I liked the characters. It was really cool how he pulls it all together in the end. Yay, sequal! Steel Trapp: The Academy

Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn

Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn (audio)

By Ridley Pearson

Published By Brilliance Audio (2008)

Duration: 6 hrs, 48 min.

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Supernatural

Disclaimer: May give the reader longings to go the Walt Disney World.

Overview for the series: This is a futuristic fantasy that happens in the Walt Disney World amusement park. The DHI's are Holograms designed to be interactive tour guides. Five kids make it through the auditions and provide the models for these Interactive Hosts. They got money to help with college and gold tickets for themselves and their parents that allow them to come to the park anytime they want. What they didn't realize is that being a DHI would require more than they thought. When the kids go to sleep they "cross over" and become their holograms. They learn there is real magic at the parks and that the attractions come to life when all the guests leave. Soon they are doing their best to keep the "over takers", a bunch of evil magic doers, including Maleficent, from taking of Walt Disney World.

Disney at Dawn: I listened to this one on CD. In this adventure the kids are trying to find an ally that has been kidnapped by the Overtakers. Their hunt leads them to Animal Kingdom. They learn that the overtaker now have their own DHI technology and their own DHI's but they have also taken over the server for their DHI's so there is no telling what would happen if they fell asleep.

I loved the first book because it was Disney and I used to work there and I loved it! So it made me very nostalgic. The second one happens at Animal Kingdom and that was my least favorite of the parks so I was a little sad about that, but I thought he did a really good job using the setting. And really, Animal Kingdom is the largest of the Walt Disney World parks mileage wise. I wouldn't recommend listening to it like I did, because it was harder to follow, but I would definitely recommend it as a read.

Ridley Pearson with Maleficent

One of my favorite things to do in Disney Parks is collect Pins. This is the Kingdom Keepers Pin.

Other Books By Ridley Pearson:

• Starcatcher Series (with Dave Barry)
• Neverland Series (with Dave Barry)
• Steel Trapp Series
• Science Fair

The Perilous Gard

The Perilous Gard

By Elizabeth Marie Pope

Published by Houghton Mifflin Company (1974)

Pages: 280

Genre: Fantasy

Kate is sent to a place known as the Perilous Gard when her sister wrote a letter to Queen Mary about how unfair she was being to her sister the Princess Elizabeth. The Perilous Gard has many secrets and, for the most part, she is skillfully kept from them by the gentleman in charge of care of the estate. She starts to talk to Christopher Heron, and learns about the disappearance of a little girls. Kate learns more than she should and her and Christopher Heron are taken to the land of the fairies so the teind could be paid and the fairy's secrets could be kept.

This book is best read in the dark. It leaves so much for the imagination to work and you can almost feel the weight. I love this book. There is so much in it. I love the character of Kate and how she changes through out the book. Christopher is also quite the character and he changes as well. I would recommend this to those who want to read it.

Also written by this author: The Sherwood Ring

The Giver

The Giver

By Lois Lowry

Published by Dell Laurel-Leaf (1993)

Pages:179

Genre: Science Fiction, Utopia

Jonas lives in a community where his whole life is ordered, from meals to school to what day he gets his first bike. It's a world of black and white. When Jonas and his class mates receive what jobs they will be trained for, Jonas is given the job as the receiver of memories. He meets with the Giver every day and learns what true living is. He learns about things like color, true cold and snow and heat and joy and pain. He even gets to learn what love is. During his time when he is training with the Giver his Dad brings a baby home to help him learn to sleep through the night. Jonas becomes attached to this baby as he shares with it the memories the Giver has shared with him. Then he learns about what it means for someone to be "released" and decides to save this baby before it is released.

I had heard about this book for a long time. It was a really interesting idea. For me it was really interesting to think of this "perfect" community and realize how imperfect it really is. The ending did drive me crazy. I dislike endings that leave me hanging. But it was still really good and I would recommend it to others.

Other Books by Lois Lowry:

• Gathering Blue (part of The Trilogy)
• Messenger (part of The Trilogy)
• Number the Stars
• The Anastasia Series
• The Sam Krupnik Series

How Joe Succeeded

How Joe Succeeded

By Mary Morrison

David C. Cook Publishing Company (1905)

Genre: Journey, Accomplishment

Joe's Uncle decided Joe needed to leave and find his own way so he send Joe to work as a lumberjack. Before he leaves Grandma gives him her Gold Bead necklace because he liked it when he was a little boy. Joe soon gains the reputation as a good worker and he is happy with the money he is making. Soon he has the opportunity to not only help this company, but save a life as well.

I liked this book, I thought it was fun. Definitely a different way of looking at things. I thought that Joe's aunts and uncle were cruel in how they thought of Joe and the way they treated him, so I was glad he had to leave to be a lumberjack.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights

By Philip Pullman

Published by Scholastic Point 1995

Pages: 399

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Disclaimer: Violence

Lyra grew up at Jordan College. She learns about dust and Gobblers and she is the leader of her band of friends. One day a lady comes with her daemon (a creature that makes up part of the soul of a person) and invites Lyra and her Daemon to live with her so she can live with her and teach her. Lyra eventually learns the lady, Mrs. Coulter, is the leader of the Gobblers. Lyra runs away so she can save her friend that had been taken. She joins up with the Gyptians and they take her along on a rescue mission to save all the kids that had been taken way up north because of her ability to read a golden compass that will answer any question. Along the way she becomess friends with an armored polar bear and learns what happens to the kids that are taken. This book is known as The Golden Compass in the United States.

I liked this book. It was one that was difficult to put down. I thought the idea of daemons was very interesting and thought it would be fun to have one of my own. I liked the polar bear, that was a way cool idea and his fight towards the end of the book is way intense. I also love how smart Lyra is. The little girl that can do anything. This is a way fun book.

This is from the film The Golden Compass and it is about Daemons

Megiddo's Shaddow

Megiddo's Shadow

By Arthur Slade

Published by Laurel-Leaf (2008)

Pages: 290

Genre: Death, Violence, Journey, Historical Fiction, War

Disclaimer: Violence, Death

Edward is very upset when he finds out his brother died in the war. He feels that he has the duty to avenge his brother's death so he enlists in the army. He has a glorified idea about what war is and is excited to get in the thick of things , but he is sent to train horses instead. He eventually is put in a horse regiment. He falls in love with a nurse and tries to keep a correspondence through mail. He eventually discovers army life isn't what he thought.

This book made me cry. It was incredibly moving. Through the whole book I just wanted to shake Edward and tell him the realities of war, the things his friends and his family had tried to tell him, but I knew he would eventually figure it out. I feel that I learned lots from this book, not only about the realities of war and the frailness of life, but also about true brotherhood and friendship.

The Alchemyst

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

By Michael Scott

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (2008)

Pages: 400

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Supernatural

Disclaimer: Violence

Josh and Sophie are staying in San Francisco while their parents are on a dig. They get jobs to earn money for a car. Sophie works at a tea and coffe shop and Josh works at a book shop for a couple named Nick and Perry. One day a creepy man shows up to get a book called the Codex and in the process kidnaps Perry and the kids get mixed up in it all. They end up on the run with Nick who ands up being the immortal Nicholas Flamel. They find out that fate has plans for them and their special talents and they are just pawns in a prophecy that was given so long ago that it is older than Nick!

This is definitley a book to keep you on your toes and I'm excited to read the rest of the series. It thought it was really interesting that as you read the book they would talk about well known characters from history or myths, folk tales and fairy tales and but let you know that you really dont know those characters. Who would have though Bastet lived under San Francisco? Anyhow, it was a really fun book. I can't believe that only part of the series is written and that I'm going to have to wait to read the rest!

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series:

• The Alchemyst
• The Magician
• The Sorceress
• The Necromancer (Released May 2010)
• The Warlock (Release date not yet announced)
• The Enchantress (Release date not yet announced)

Becoming Naomi Leon

Becoming Naomi Leon

By Pam Munoz Ryan

Published by Scholastic Press (2004)

Pages: 246

Genre: Multicultural, Family

Disclaimer: Incredibly cute book

Naomi and her little brother, Owen, live with their great grandma in a trailer next to an avocado orchard. her little brother was born with some birth defects and it makes him a little different. One day a strange lady comes and claims to be their mother, which she is. They have not heard not heard from their mother for several years. She wants to take Naomi to Las Vegas with her and her boyfriend to get government money. To get away from their mother they go to Mexico to find their dad.

This was such a sweet story. I thought the author did a great job developing the characters and allowing them to progress through the story, especially Naomi. I loved the way she changed and grew. I also really like the idea of positive thinking. Reading this book also gave me a desire to learn to carve. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Other Books by Pam Munoz Ryan:

• Esperanza Rising
• Paint the Wind
• Riding Freedom

Skellig

Skellig

By David Almond

Published by Laurel-Leaf (1998)

Pages: 192

Genre: Family, Fantasy, Supernatural

Awards:

• Printz Honor (2000)
  
• Carnegie Medal (1998)
  
• Whitbread (Children's Book, 1998)
  
• Zilveren Griffel (2000)
  
• New York Times Bestseller (Children's Paperback, 2000)
  
• Garden State Book Award (Teen Fiction Grades 6-8, 2002)
  
• A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2000)
  
• Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2002-2003)
  
• 1001 Children's Books You Must read Before You Grow Up (2009)
  
• ALA Notable Children's Book

Disclaimer: Reading this book may cause crying.

Michael's new baby sister is born right after their family bought and moved in to a run down house they had planned to fix up. The new baby has serious health troubles and Michael and the whole family are concerned about her. During this Michael decides to search the garage and he finds a man with wings that loves chinese food and is so week he can barely move. So, Michael and his new friend, Mina, take care of this man called Skellig.

I thought this book was beautiful. That's all there was to it. I loved the way Michael tried to help his little sister and how Skellig helped all of them. There are so many beautiful images that the author is able to portray in this story, it is a book I would highly recommend.

This is a trailor for the movie.

The First Part Last

The First Part Last

By Angela Johnson

Published by Simon Pulse (2004)

Pages: 132

Genre: Family, Friends and Society, Accomplishment

Disclaimer: sexual content, some violence, language

Bobby is a 16 year old boy that is trying to raise his baby girl named Feather. Half of the book is about his challenges after Feather is born and the things he feels and experiences as he does that and also the things he is learning about responsibility and love. The other half of the book is about events leading up to him getting a child.

I thought this story was beautiful. It was good to see the ways Bobby changed and his desire to be a good father and also balance the other thigns in his life. I wish he had given Heaven up for adoption, but then we wouldn't have a story.

Other books by Angela Johnson:

• Heaven
• Sweet, Hereafter
• Looking for Red

Stuck in Neutral

Stuck in Neutral

By Terry Trueman

Published by Teen Harper (2001)

Genre: Family, Body and Self

Disclaimer: violence, some sexual content and swearing

Pages: 128

Shawn has cerebral palsey and has no control of his body. His mind is very active, but becasue his body wont cooperate no one knows. He has frequent seizures during which he feels is free, others don't know that and thinks he is in pain. His dad has a hard time coping with his son's condition and Shawn feels his dad wants to kill him.

I wasn't fond of this book. I didn't like Shawn. I thought he was in appropriate. Actually I thought there were alot of inappropriate things in this book. I thought the discription of the seizures were cool, but that was it.

Also wrote:

• Inside out
• Cruise Control
• Hurrican