2012 in Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 5,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 8 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

13 Reasons Why- Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why

Review:

I had so many people suggest this novel to me that when I saw it on a clearance shelf I had to buy it.  I then decided it would be my gym read… this was probably a poor choice as it took me forever to finish, but I am glad I did.  The story follows a teen boy who has found 13 tapes in the mail.  They were recorded immediately prior to a classmates suicide and explain how many different events affected her.  There is interest and intrigue and you find yourself really invested in finding out what happens.  Why does he have the tapes- how did he contribute to her depression, to her ultimate suicide?  I think this would be a great discussion starter.  Too often our students don’t realize the affect that they can have on others.

This book is definitely a high school level book.  There are discussions of alcohol use, sexual encounters, sexual assault and other serious topics.  However, there are CLEAR consequences to these actions that I think are appropriately handled.  I think it would make a great classroom read.  The main character is a male, but the suicide victim is a female so I see it appealing to both genders.

The Lowdown (Via Scholastic)

Interest Level :Grade 9 (I would include 10-12)

Grade Level Equivalent: 3.2

Includes: Scholastic Reading Counts! Quiz , Accelerated Reader Quiz

CLICK HERE FOR A DISCUSSION GUIDE!

Awards: (List from official website)

New York Times Best Seller Publishers Weekly Best Seller

California Book Award Winner

Best Books for Young Adults (YALSA)

Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers (YALSA)

Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults (YALSA)

Borders Original Voices finalist

Barnes & Noble – Top 10 Best for Teens

International Reading Assoc. – Young Adults’ Choices

Kirkus Reviews Editor’s Choice

Book Sense Pick – Winter

Chicago Public Library Best Books

Association of Booksellers for Children – Best Books

State Awards – Winner (voted on by students): Florida, Kansas, Kentucky

Also, for further reading about using this book in your classroom, and or other resources for dealing with the topic of bullying, check out the July issue of NCTE’s English Journal…

English Journal, Vol. 101, No. 6, July 2012

Happy Reading!

Oops

I got a job!!! So I’m out of town at a training.  This means you have an extra week to enter my give away! Comment on my last post.  Good luck!!!

Happy 20k Giveaway!

So, as promised, I’m doing a GIVEAWAY since my blog finally hit the 20,000 hit mark!  The winner of this giveaway will receive a collection of at least four “chapter” books appropriate for grades 3-10!  Some are ARCs and some are not.  I wish I had the means to give a way more, but alas this is where I’m at.  

How do you win?  Excellent question.  Please post a comment on this post with what you’d like to see more of on this blog (other than reviews- I know that!).  What types of books should I review or what should I add to my reviews?  Any constructive criticism counts!  I will use a random number generator in a week to choose a winner.  Please leave your email address so I may contact you and get your mailing address.

Thanks for supporting me!  

Perfect Escape- Jennifer Brown

Perfect Escape

Finally another review!  My copy of Perfect Escape is an ARC that I received in the fall at the NCTE convention.  I decided to read it on my vacation since it said it was being released in July- wouldn’t you know I just looked and it was released yesterday!  The day I finished the book!  I love it when timing works out like that!

Anyways, onto the review….

Review:  Perfect Escape had me engaged from the beginning to the end.  It is the story of a girl named Kendra and her brother, Grayson.  Grayson has severe OCD and anxiety issues that have affected the entire family.  However, as the story begins we find out that some of Kendra’s problems have nothing to do with him.  The novel centers around the “perfect escape” that Kendra attempts and the relationship between the brother and sister.  There is a bit of mystery involved and a strong desire to find out what will happen next.

From my knowledge of anxiety disorders and OCD which is limited the book seems to do an accurate job of portraying a young (20) male suffering from the disorder.  I think this book really opens your eyes as to what having a mental disorder that is so debilitating might be like, for the individual who is diagnosed, and some of the people closest to them.

Based on the content of this novel I think it would be appropriate for 8th grade through 12th.  There are a few four letter words, but nothing extreme.  Within the story there is some discussion of romantic relationships but there are no explicit scenes.  I don’t think I would use this as a whole class novel but I would definitely put it on my classroom bookshelf and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to students.  It may appeal more to females, but I could see teen males enjoying it as well.

The Lowdown:

RL: My guess is about 4th grade
Interest Level: High School

Click Here for An Educator’s Guide!

Jennifer Brown has two other award winning YA books, Hate List and Bitter End that I’d like to check out now too!

Thank You Thank You!

Thanks for coming and checking out my site, this week, yesterday to be exact, I surpassed the 20,000 hits mark.  I know in the world of websites this is not much at all, but I have at least one visitor a day and I’m so happy with that!  I started this blog mainly for myself, but kept it public hoping that people would find it useful.  I truly hope you do.  I am on vacation now, but will be doing some sort of giveaway when I get home in celebration of this milestone so keep checking back!  I’d also love to hear any feedback.  I know I haven’t posted a review in awhile, but that’s about to change.  A review of Jennifer Brown’s Perfect Escape is coming up tomorrow!

 

Thanks again for reading!

Around the Web: Focus On: Book Blogs

Interesting post on book blogs.  What do you think?  Despite my lack of posting do I follow those rules?

Focus On: Book Blogs.