The Danger Box & Darwin

I am almost done this book and had no idea that Charles Darwin was such a deep ad empathetic man. He was a family man who lvoed his children and was devastated by the loss of his 10 year old daughter. He also knew his theory of evolution would be contreversial and was a man of science. For as much as his theory is discussed and even sadly discounted, but then so is global warming and we can actually see that for ourselves; I had no idea how interesting and complex Mr. Darwin was personally till reading this book. I love the idea of the kids "Gas Gazette" and it took me some time to realize..................................

******SPOILER************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** who they were describing. This may also be because I did not read any backround on the book was just handed it since my collegue and the school librian knows I have really enjoyed Blue Balliet's other books. Additionally, I can also see a nice tie in with core common standards and Science in middle schools or a nice G/T activity as well. The writing in this book is not as deep or philosphical as the other three books of hers I have read but it still will appeal mainly to 7/8th grade readers and younger high readiung level and interest readers! Images courtsey of

The Danger Box

Moving On by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, I read it at 25 or so and could not put it down. I lost my copy, and now want to reread it. Though the whole time I was reading I kept hearing the Paul Simon song: "Train in the Dostance". The two stories entertwine so well, that I went out and got Negotioation and Love Songs!
" Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance.....Negotiations and loesongs are often mistaken for one and the same..." Paul Simon

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Skinny by Donna Cooner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Phenomenal book! I cannot believe those who felt she did not deleve deep enough into the Mother death issue. The whole book was about that, she ate because of it. I loved the writing style, the skinny voice in her head was wonderful aspect to the novel. I think it was interesting how she was able to grow as a person and realized she imposed much of the social barriers herself. In fact, I find myself still thinking about the book days later! I reccomend it for the young adults and adults alike.




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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I reread this book because my 11 year old is reading it and there was some concern about how dark it would be for her. I would like to say I think I see it with a darker more experienced view than my daughter does, but she too, hopes she never has a friend so depressed and one that no one realizes is so depressed. It is a great read but very emotional. I cannot reccomend it highly enough!

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The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was excellent. I think it is a very mature reader for middle school. It would require high interest and upper level reading skills. That said, it was well done, had very interesting theories. It would make a nice GT unit with books like A wrinkle in Time. I also enjoyed hte ending and hope it hints of more to come. I also found it to be seasonally approriate. I will say that it did start a bit slow but I reall liked how it picked up at about page 60 or so.

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The End of Everything by Megan Abbott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this Megan Abbott book. I also loved that i met her and got it signed at the Albany Bouchercon. I picked this up this week and could not put it down. It is haunting. I loved the quality of her writing, the perspective and the questions it left me with at the end. I could not decide what I thought, I am still mulling it over as I finished it this afternoon.
I would reccomend it very highly! A dramatic and intriguing book that makes you remember and question your childhood.

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The Wright 3- By Blue Balliett

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Picked up The Wright 3 in the school media center. I loved Chasing Vermeer, I mean I LOVED it. So well written, smart, Funny interesting, the type of book I would have devoured at 11 and in fact did devour it.
This book picks up with the same awesome pace and interesting history, math quotes and art! Frank Lloyd Wright has always been a fascinating persona and this book highlights it!
I loved this book. It is a great read and really enforces the importance of math and geometry. It also introduces architecture as a career option for young kids!
Additionally, who does not love a book that brings up the Fibonacci sequence! " Fibonacci numbers appear in nature, particularly in spiral shapes..."
Finally one of the best lines from the book was:
"Coincidence reminds me of the repetitions of geometric patterns in the Robie House. The more you look the more you see it." It also made me think about fractals which all go along with it, so once again coincidence, repetition and math are everywhere in life!
Of course now along with The Calder Game I need to read the Invisible Man!


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Robie House is so cool!

"I checked out the Robie House by Frank L Wright online tonight! Super cool and I could see the rhombus windows and the art glass! LOVE LOVE LOVE! I want the lego set! They have one! I also want a set of pentonomies and think the discussion about patterns and the Fibanocci sequence is fabulous introduction to how cool math is for YA readers!"Robie House

On Wright 3

""Everything fit,-almost like  one of those three dimensal brain-tickler cubes. To even think about taking it apart was sacarliege!" "There is no such thing as a diamond in geometry. A rhombus is a parrlellagramwith equal sides." How great is a book that use real math term, makes geometry into Architecture and math into literature. Her books rock!"

Wright 3

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Picked this up in the school media center. I loved Chasing Vermeer, I mean I LOVED it. So well written, smartm, funny interesting, the type of book I would have devoured at 11 and in fact did devour at ....
So far this book picks up with the same awesome pace and interesting history, math quotes and art! Frank Lloyd Wright has always been a fascinating persona and this book highlights it!

Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great middle school, read. The author writes well and includes a lot of fun and interesting quotes in the book.

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Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First book read on my Kindle. As with all of Maron's books, well written, good character development and quick interesting read. One of my favorite authors. Got her picture with Kennedy at a book signing!!! She put it on her website.....

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Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not since watched the "Usual Suspects" have a Liked and disliked a book and an ending so much. It is well written, masterful and filled with interesting details that mean much more in retrospect! I am sorry so many did not like it but I think they were appalled by the dark portryal of humanity more than the writing style or skill. It is dark, and intersting and filed with many twists and turns. You certainly will have a strong feeling about the ending!

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The Ruby Red Trilogy- The Green Emerald

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emerald Green gets 4 stars. It is a well written book from Kerstin Gier. It is told from the persepective of a 16 year old girl who suddenly finds herself with the ability to time travel and some other things that would count as spoilers.
I enjoyed the English setting and the historical back and frth. I also have to say it is techinically a YA book, however, I had no trouble likig the keads and rooting for them. I loved Lucy and Paul but wish they ahd been more developed. I also think should she want Ms. Gier could definitlely write another book with Lucy and Paul as the main protagonists.
One of my favorite characters however was not only not human, but a demon! Xermerious was the best!
As far as translations go, this one was superb, if I had not had to wait for it to be translated into English I would have nver known. Flawless work!

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If you Were Here

If You Were Here by Alafair Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this newest book of Ms. Burke's. There has been a lot said about the lead character, McKenna Wright "not being comfortable in her own skin" or "jumpy and not focused"; I agree with these sentiments! However, instead of finding fault with the writing or book based on these assertions, I actually felt it made the character more relatable. Who can keep their focus and not jump to conclusions when emotionally invested in the subject? Which of us does not have flaws we need to overcome as a person? For me, these made the character more real and her flaws drew me into her. I wanted to see her grow; I wanted to see her gain perspective. In fact, McKenna is described as a character who hates to NOT excel and will give up on something if she cannot be the best. Therefore, as we watch he story progress she and the reader can see how these choices have hurt her and that she needs to work hard to overcome them.

Additionally, there were a lot of storylines, and possibilities, I felt Ms. Burke, tied them together and handled them well. They were well described and tied together. I loved that she kept me guessing till the end. In fact, I was so into the characters, at one point when I felt the book was going in a specific direction I was upset and rushed to read to the end putting everything else aside in my life to finish it! In fact, even though she was not "there" I felt that Susan Hauptman was well developed and allowed for emotional insight and attachment in spite of her role in the book as a character that is really not seen.

I have to say for me the fact that McKenna screws up, jumps to conclusions, and goes with her gut makes me LOVE her. Ms. Burke portrays her lead characters emotional attachment to the subject. No one is objective when they are emotionally connected to a story or incident. I think McKenna nails it. I like a character that has flaws, who of us does not have flaws? The book allows us to see McKenna’s growth! I could not read it fast enough and cannot recommend it more!


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Too Loud To See Too Bright To Hear

Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See by Juliann Garey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was incredible!  I could not put it down.  It was disturbing, intriguing and so terribly sad.  I found myself enthralled that one could go on that long with that serious of a bipolar disorder.  I was also saddened by his lost relationship with his daughter.  I think now that I am a parent, the thought of being without my children for any extended length of time or missing any of the important milestones of their lives made it particularly piognant.  Still it is without a doubt one of the most interesting trips inside someones mind.  I was left with one important thought that followed me through the entire novel, I find it hard to believe that the author could write this without experiencing this either as a child of a parent of mental illness, a spouse, or the as one who struggles with a serious mental illness.  Her insight into bipolar was so much more than I even have after 10+ years of working with mental illness as a counselor.


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