Readicide by Kelly Gallagher

I am a recently converted Kelly Gallagher-ite. I also have started poking around his blog at http://www.kellygallagher.org. I just finished Readicide and, I must confess, found myself in a bit of a mid-life crisis. This book is all about ways for the English teacher to help students retain/gain a love for reading. The mid-life crisis part comes in when this book is paired with (1) the arrival of End of Course testing scores and (2) the graduation of the next to last class I will have taught.
The test scores affected me because I used to like getting them back. I know that is contrary to the popular belief, but I found them reassuring. I liked the concrete input from someone else saying that I was doing a good job. That just doesn't exist in the library. I don't get any feedback regarding how students perform as a direct result of my role in their lives. I don't know how to get this, but it is definitely something I miss.
Graduation made me sad this year. The faculty is always given an opportunity to choose students to whom one would like to distribute diplomas after graduation. Last year Dr. Pelham forgot to do this, and I had to email him about it. This year, I also sent a reminder email. When did the list get posted? On the day I was gone to Arkansas and was unable to sign up. By the time I returned on Monday, only kids I recognized (not felt connected to) were left on the list for me to choose. So, I spent graduation at a table next to 3 very connected teachers giving diplomas out to students who love them while I gave diplomas out to kids I had four years ago who didn't really like me then. What a drag! It totally deflated me. Next year's graduating class will be the last class of students I taught. I really hope I get to choose the kids I hand diplomas to! I also really hope I come to find a place within myself where I feel like I am affecting students in the library as much as I did in the classroom.
I know I was a great teacher, and I know I'm a good librarian (still figuring it out!). I just want to know I am loved by students again. I really miss their sense of reliance on me and the feeling that I made a difference in their lives.
This is a random post that really has nothing to do with this book. The book is great. If you teach English, you should read this book. It is revitalizing. That is another thing I miss about teaching. My favorite part of the year was reflecting on how I had done and planning for the next year. I guess that's the real source of this book's making me sad; I miss the chance try teaching some of my favorite titles again.
No one understands this. Susan and Mom think I'm crazy. Maybe I am, but it's still how I feel.

Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

This is the latest Hamish Macbeth mystery; the English title is just Death of a Sweep. I enjoy this cozy series. These books are easy reads and rather enjoyable.

I usually listen to these on tape, but I'm listening to Gabaldon's The Fiery Cross right now, I read this one. When I read these, I am more aware that they are not really mysteries with the same connotations as usual (think Hercule Poirot). There is no great reveal of the murderer. Hamish usually knows who the murderer is throughout most of the story. The real story comes in when you try to figure out the motive behind the murder. (I also enjoy the Scottish element and reading the dialect!)

Once again, Beaton is a tried and true reading escape! I read this series and the Agatha Raisin series. You can find all of titles in these series at http://www.agatharaisin.com/?section=home.

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

I read Aurelia after reading Academy 7. It took me longer to get through Aurelia because, honestly, it was not as well-written as Academy 7. Since Aurelia was Osterlund's first book and I really enjoyed Academy 7, I will say that I am really glad she grew as an author. Since I read on her blog that both of these works are intended to be the start of a trilogy, I am glad to know that any successive books will have better writing.
In addition to writing, I also feel that the plot of this work was weaker. The basic premise is that there have been a few attempts on a princess' life and a childhood friend is called in to keep any eye on her without her knowing. The friends haven't seen each other in a while, and, before you know it, romance is blooming.
This story is set sometime in the past (when carriages and swords were used), but the characters are very modern in their words, actions, and names. An interesting question to pose here for a book club would be: Were teens in the past really very different from modern teens or do we just think they were because of the books we read today? (If you comment, go on and answer that one.) I think that people have always been the same. I think their language and syntax would have been different from ours, but their thoughts were similar...as to whether or not they really said what they thought...I don't know. I wonder how much history books have glossed over reality for the sake of propriety.

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

This book is nominated for the 2011-2012 VSBA. I am starting to read them early!

I picked this one up first because I thought it looked like a historical fiction novel. I read the blurb on the book; it sounded like a teen love story, but nothing really to go on. As soon as I got into this book, I discovered that it is actually a work of science fiction. This is not my favorite genre, but I really enjoyed this book. It reminds me broadly of Stephenie Meyer's The Host in that it is a sci-fi story based on setting, but it is really a modern teen love story based on the plot.

This is the story of Dane, the rich son of a major leader in the universe, and Aerin, the fugitive daughter of a rogue trader. Based on their performance on an entrance exam, they are both placed in the most prestigious school in the universe: Academy 7. Dane needs to be there to be away from the shadow of his family and Aerin needs to be there because she has nowhere else to go. Initially the two conflict, but then...

I really did enjoy this book. On her webpage, the author states that this is part of a trilogy in her mind. I hope she publishes the rest!

I am hoping to change the format of our book club next year and, with the help of Limitless Libraries, have all of us read the same title at the same time. If we do, I really appreciate Anne Osterlund's posting questions on her webpage: http://anneosterlund.com/discussion_questions_academy_seven.htm.

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

This is a classic that I had never read. Both Gwen and Susan had recently mentioned it to me, so I took that as a sign to pick it up. It is one of those modern classics that I had not read (like The Witch of Blackbird Pond that I did not read until I was in my 20s; I've told Susan to read it).
I have now passed this book on to my Dad. He recently told me that there was a German POW camp near his hometown of Buhl, ID. Of course, he didn't know about it at the time (since he was born in 1942!). You can read about Camp Rupert at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Rupert.
This is the story of 12-year-old Patty Bergen, a Jewess in small-town Arkansas and her encounter with Anton, a German POW in the camp near her town.
This book is well-written. There are so many inferences to be made; I think it would be great for a 7-9th grade student.
I cried in several places when I felt that Patty was misunderstood by her family. The writing in those places is bare and painful. I would just be in tears thinking of things I wanted to say to her daddy.
If you read this or have read it in the past, please discuss the comparison of Patty's father to Hitler. Patty and Anton have a brief discussion about this. I also think that the discussion of how Hitler came to power can be compared to how it became acceptable for Patty's father to abuse her (gradual acceptance).

Somebody Everybody Listens To by Suzanne Supplee

This is the last book Suzanne Supplee has out right now. I plan to read any others when they come out.
Premise: This is the story of a girl from Starling, Tennessee (fictional location) who comes to Nashville (REAL location) to make it in country music. Once again with Supplee, this is no extraordinary tale; everything in this book could really happen. It is relatable, and that is why I like it. Sure, the occasional vampire novel is nice for escapism, but girls need these stories. Girls need to find themselves in a novel and see a life that is real.
Question: What dream did you have that you never accomplished? I wanted to study abroad, but I never did.

When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee

I REALLY like Suzanne Supplee...I've even sent her fan email...and she writes back! Here is an interview with her: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000070368,00.html?sym=QUE. Her website can be found at http://www.suzannesupplee.com/. I am currently reading her book Somebody Everybody Listens To.

This is a breezy novel in a series I didn't know existed: Students Across the Seven Seas. I am glad to discover this series because not every teen girl wants to date a vampire or really be a fairy. I think it is kind of like Sweet Valley High for exchange students. They can be found at http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/teens/features/sass.html. I am trying to get them ordered by Limitless Libraries for our school's library!

I sometimes toy with the idea of writing. I had that bad experience with the writing competition a few months back, but I am still VERY happy with my short story that came of it. I have an idea for a book of similar short stories...maybe that will happen this summer. What I like about Supplee is that her stories are real. I have another idea for a novel I've been toying with but afraid to start it because it was just real, as opposed to extraordinary. Maybe I'll write it anyway.