Birthmarked

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien is another book that I couldn't resist from our Scholastic Book Fair.  (BTW, Great job, Mrs. K.!)  In this futuristic novel, a girl named Gaia, is following in her mother's footsteps to becoming a midwife.  The setting of the book is pretty grim.  It is about 300 years into the future, the sun is harsh, and the Great Lakes are now "unlakes." Gaia lives in the outskirt of a city that is walled in.  The only time she enters the gate is to deliver babies who fulfil the "Enclaves" quota of the first three babies a month.  Then, Gaia's parents are arrested and she is interrogated.  This is the first book of a trilogy.  I can't wait to read the second book. I'm not the only one who loved this book. See below!
Readers who enjoy adventures with a strong heroine standing up to authority against the odds will enjoy this compelling tale.”—School Library Journal

“A wonderful addition to the dystopian genre.”—TeensReadToo.com

“Reminiscent of both 1984 and a Brave New World, this gripping page-turner is a perfect intro to futuristic, dystopian fiction. . . . Readers accompany the novel’s inspiring heroine on an undertaking brimming with danger, intrigue, and romance.”—Education.com

“O’Brien’s . . . impulsive and spirited heroine . . . is the kind readers adore.”—Booklist

“This science fiction adventure is a brisk and sometimes provocative read, thanks to solid pacing, a resourceful heroine, and a few surprise twists.”—Publishers Weekly

“Well-written and fast-paced.”—VOYA

“In grand dystopic tradition.”—Kirkus Reviews

“It was a very good book that made me think.”—Abby, age 12

“I love dystopian futures. Birthmarked is great dystopian future.”—Sam, age 16

Exciting New Updates!

"CAT FIGHT- about the only good thing that can happen the first day of school."

 So begins Janet Nichols Lynch's Messed Up.  I may not have liked the questionable language and borderline "school inappropriateness" but I could not stop reading this book! At the start of the book, the protaganist, R.D. gets suspended for helping break up a fight.  Not fair, you say? Well, nothing in R.D.'s life is fair.  He has never met his father, his mom is in jail, and he is repeating the 8th grade again.  R.D. is living with his grandmother's boyfriend who is not in the best of health. Will R.D. make it?  Read this very realistic novel today to find out.

The Line

"What lies on the other side of the line? There's only one way to find out..." I recently finished Terri Hall's The Line.  I had some trouble with this one. It was my favorite genre of post-apocalypse dytopian society yet there just weren't enough details to make the horrors of the society seem real. I guess that sometimes not knowing can be worse than knowing but in this case, I wasn't feeling it!  I liked the plot, I felt like something was missing.  Maybe I couldn't connect to the characters or feel the suspense?  Anyway, I would suggest this book to those who liked Compound. 

Maybe others will like this book more than I did?  If there is a sequel, I would read it.

Beastly

I just finished Beastly by Alex Flinn.  This book was based on the classic tale "Beauty and the Beast."  However, I really liked the modern twists and turns in the novel.  Now, I want to see the movie.

I just started the Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.  I don't know why I am on this books made into movie kick.

Scholastic Book Fair

I finished I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore last night.  I loved it.  I know the movie is out and I certainly want to see it soon.  I am passing on my copy to Mrs. S. but they might be selling copies at the book fair.  Remember, we are going to the book fair for half the class on Tuesday. 


The genre is science fiction.  I really don't want to give away much in the plot.  Here's a link to the movie trailer:
http://www.findnumberfour.com/
http://iamnumberfourfans.com/pittacus-lore/

I downloaded You Don't Know Me by David Klause onto the Nook Color. 

http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0374387060.asp

I really think we should read this INSTEAD of the Ron Clark book in period 2.  However, I will not disregard "the vote." Technically, the R.C. book was #2 after the recently ditched Graveyard Book. (Sorry, J.G.! You're sick one day and we veto the book...)  What do you think?

New Study: The Flu Increases Reading!

So I made up the title!  I don't know if most people read more when they are sick but I certainly do.  Since Friday, I've read: 

Holly's run away before, but this time she actually gets away...

Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

My name is Shawn McDaniel.  I'm 14 years old.
  I think my father is planning to kill me.

Nobody expected the end to come this fast!

Empty by Suzanne Weyn 

and


How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl fare as on of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse?



Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler.  I'll post comments on them on my Shelfari (on right).  However, I think that Runaway was my favorite.  Stuck in Neutral was an amazing, quick read.  Empty was scaring. (It's not if, it's when...) Hunger was really disturbing. 

Now, I'm reading I Am Number Four.  So far, it is really good. 

Persuasion

Today, we are in the computer lab using the Holt Online Essay Scoring. This is a part of our online Holt textbook where students can write an essay and the computer will "score" it for them.  This gives students instant feedback so they can improve their writing.  Is it worth the time and effort?  We shall see! So far, we have had a few issues.  One essay disappeared. Another essay froze and could not be thawed out.  Yet another essay was written in all caps and could not be scored. 

Students have been using the online graphic organizer.  We just figured out that you can copy and paste from the graphic organizer into the text box.  So far, I like the Holt Online Essay Scoring.  What do YOU think?

P.S. Make sure you print, write your name on your essay, and then read the model essay.  What could you improve on next time?