Tween Fiction

tween  (twn) n. A child between middle childhood and adolescence, usually between 8 and 12 years old. 

What is it about kids these days?  They think they need to grow up so fast!  Try as we might, we just can't convince them that there is no hurry.   I have noticed these days that my "tween"readers (ages 8-12) are quick to jump in to books that are intended for young adults!  (They ask me for Hunger Games and Twilight!) Young adult fiction is geared towards kids ages 14 to 21.  Tween readers are ages 8-12.  

Today I will let you in on a little known librarian secret: we trick kids.  That is right.  We trick them into thinking they are reading books that are meant for older kids.  I bet you didn't know that, did you?  So, today I open my bag of tricks and give you 9 books that I use to trick these "children" into thinking they are reading "young adult" books... if you are a kid, this blog post will self destruct in 10 seconds and you will have no memory of what you've just witnessed. 

Realistic Fiction 

Draper, Sharon. Out of My Mind
 Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient fifth-graderwith cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.  Starred Review.  

Lord, Cynthia. Touch Blue 
When the state of Maine threatens to shut down their island's one-room schoolhouse because of dwindling enrollment, eleven-year-old Tess, a strong believer in luck, and her family take in a trumpet-playing foster child, to increase the school's population. 

Willner-Pardo, Gina.  The Hard Kind of Promise
California seventh-graders Sarah and Marjorie made a promise in kindergarten to always be friends, but Marjorie is weird and Sarah, wanting to be at least somewhat popular, makes friends with a fellow choir member.  Starred Review  







Science Fiction 

Buckingham, Royce. The Dead Boys
Timid twelve-year-old Teddy Mathews and his mother move to a small, remote desert town in eastern Washington, where the tree next door, mutated by nuclear waste, eats children and the friends Teddy makes turn out to be dead. 

Landon, Kristen. The Limit
When his family exceeds its legal debt limit, thirteen-year-old Matt is sent to the Federal Debt Rehabilitation Agency workhouse, where he discovers illicit activities are being carried out using the children who have been placed there. 

Lupica, Mike. Hero 
Fourteen-year-old Zach learns he has the same special abilities as his father, who was the president's globetrotting troubleshooter until "The Bads" killed him, and now Zach must decide
whether to use his powers in the same way at the risk of his own life. 






Historical Fiction

Fawcett, Katie Pickard.  To Come and Go Like Magic.
Chili Sue Mahoney longs to escape her tiny Kentucky hometown and see the world, but she also learns to recognize beauty in the people and places around he.

Klise, Kate. Grounded 
After her father, brother, and sister are killed in a plane crash, twelve-year-old Daralynn's life in tiny Digginsville, Missouri, proceeds as her mother turns angry and embittered, her grandmother becomes senile, and her flamboyant aunt continues to run the Summer Sunset Retirement Home for Distinguished Gentlemen, while being courted by the owner of the town's new crematorium.  

Wittlinger, Ellen. This Means War
In 1962, when her best friend Lowell begins to hang around new friends who think girls are losers, Juliet, a fearful fifth-grader, teams up with bold, brave Patsy who challenges the boys to a series of increasingly dangerous contests. Starred Review

Top Ten for Tuesday, March 8, 2011

This week at The Broke & The Bookish, the Top 10 is:

Top Ten Dynamic Duos

These are the BFFs, partners in crime, powerful couples, and general groups of awesome people that I just can't get out of my head!
And, Amanda over at Oh Amanda! Lists her 10 favorite books to read with an accent!  
Ohhhh... I will do that next week!   

Charlotte & Wilbur in Charlotte's Web (F WHI)

This one is pretty obvious, right?  Where would Wilbur be without Charlotte there to comfort him and build his self esteem?  She is the kind of friend that is there for you when you need her most, and she is not afraid to tell you how it really is.  The hardest part about their friendship is how it ends...

Jess & Leslie in Bridge to Terabithia (F PAT)
May be my most tragic duo.  Jess struggles to find a place where he fits in until Leslie moves in.  They complement each other so well, that you can't imagine them ever NOT being friends.  I haven't seen the movie, but I have heard that it is mostly about their make believe kingdom- but that is not what the book is about.  The book is about a deep friendship that ends tragically, with me in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. 

Harry & Ron & Hermione from Harry Potter (F ROW)
I know 3 isn't a duo, but these 3 go together!  Whether it is Harry & Ron getting into trouble or Harry & Hermione solving a mystery, they are better together.  The way Hermione teases Ron through the first few books, you never would imagine that they... oh, spoiler!  Never mind!  Read the books!

Katniss & Peeta from The Hunger Games (F COL)

I can't believe I am putting Peeta on this list, because my heart aches to put Gale with Katniss- they are meant to be.  But, the government put Peeta and Katniss together and their survival depends on their friendship.  At the beginning of The Hunger Games, the friendship was rather one sided, but I do believe that by the end of the trilogy Katniss truly loved Peeta.

Dwight & Yoda from The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (F ANG)

Who is in control in this relationship?  Dwight, who wears the Yoda finger puppet, or Yoda who answers the most difficult questions?  This is clearly a dysfunctional relationship, because Yoda doesn't give Dwight very good advice.  Yoda is there for everyone else, but when it comes to his BFF, Dwight, he seems to let him down.  Or, does Dwight choose not to take Yoda's advice?  Either way, they couldn't make it without each other. 

Trixie & Knuffle Bunny from Knuffle Bunny (E WIL)
This is definitely my cutest duo.  Trixie grew up with Knuffle Bunny!  He has been there her entire life, given her security and comfort.  Even though Trixie manages to lose Knuffle Bunny numerous times, they manage to find one another in the end

Okay, who did I miss?  What characters would you add to the list?  I know I need 10 and only have 6, so give me your ideas!  I will add to my list as the day goes on!

Sody..Sody...Sody Sallyratus!

One of my ALL time favorites to read with kindergarten is Sody Sallyratus by Teri Sloat (398.2 SLO).  Sody Sallyratus is an Appalachian Folktale about a family and their pet squirrel who want to have bakin' soda biscuits.  Well, they are all outa sody, so the old lady sends each family member into town to fetch some.  Each of them meets their fate when they are eaten by a big black bear who is hiding in the berry patch.  Even the bossy old lady gets eaten!  The squirrel is the hero and tricks the bear, saves the family and is rewarded with lots of extra biscuits.  In the olden days, baking soda was called sody sallyratus.

We talked about how we use soda in baking to make our food fluffy and airy- like cookies and cake.  To show how soda adds an airy texture to out food, we did this experiment together:

Each kindergarten student will be bringing home instructions tonight so you can try this experiment at home.  Thanks to Science Explorer for the great handout!

July 12 is for Diaper Babies

While over at Book(re)marks, I discovered this video of author Dav Pilkey illustrating the cover of Super Diaper Babies II!  2nd grade boys rejoice!

Follow Me Friday

This is my very first Follow my Book Blog Friday!  Welcome to the Lemme Libary!  If you are stopping by for the first time, take a look around- leave a comment, I'd love to come and visit your blog! 

What embarrassing thing have you done on cold medicine? 

Hmmm...well, I have terrible allergies, and one day I just couldn't take it any more.  I took 2 Benydryl and it knocked me out!  I woke up from my nap, went to the bathroom, and when I stood up, I fell forward and my head hit the towel rack.  I bent the towel rack in half and got a big bruise on my forehead.  I had to explain that one to my husband and my landlord.  

Book Blogger Hop, March 4, 2011

This week, the Book Blogger Hop question is: 

"Who's your all-time favorite book villain?"

What is it about villains that we love?  My husband gets frustrated with me because I always like the bad guys in a movie.  Does this make me evil?  I think not.  I love a complex character and a great villain is complex.  I guess that makes me... complex?

Here are my criteria for great villains.

1.  A great villain has a past.  The story is written in a way that we learn what makes the villain so bad.  If we know the villain's past, we can feel sympathy for them.  If we feel sympathy for them, we can root for them a little bit- even if we hate them.  Take Helen in Wait Til Helen Comes.  Helen dies in a fire when she is a girl.  We find out that she started the fire, and her entire family dies in the fire.  I hated her up until that page- and then I understood why she was so evil. 

2. A great villain has motivation.  There is something they need or want.  I think motivation makes us relate to a villain on a more human level- because we may have the same motivators in our life- wealth, power, strength, knowledge.  The Warden in Holes is so motivated by wealth that she is blinded with rage and anger.  This makes her a great villain, because deep down, we can feel that same desire for wealth.  We still don't like her, but we understand her.  

3. A great villain is ALMOST pure evil.  They are about 99% evil.  They can level an entire city, but then turn around and save the puppy from drowning in the river.  Just when we think we know them, they surprise us.  That makes us wonder if there is more there than meets the eye- if there is something more to love.  Do you agree with me and who are your favorite literary villains? 

My favorite villain is:

President Snow in The Hunger Games.
I detest that man.  He is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, yet he is smug and full of himself.  The way Katniss describes him- just makes my skin crawl... I love to hate him.  Spoiler: In the last book, Mockingjay, he redeems himself on his death bed.  He reveals information to Katniss that forever changes her life.  He didn't have to do that... was it kindness or him being vengeful?  We don't know, but we thank him for his confession.   

Happy Birthday, MiMi, My Bookworm!

Leah will turn three tomorrow! I can't believe how grown up she acts. She is sassy and has plenty of attitude (I don't know where she got those 2 traits). Even with all of her sass, she is an avid reader and has memorized several books. When you hear her, it sounds like she is actually READING the book. So, in honor of MiMi (Leah), I give you a list of her favorite books... books I could read in my sleep, and can recite without the book in front of me. Read to your kids! What are your favorite books to share with your children?

Pinkalicious by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann (E KAN)

Leah's favorite color was purple until she read this book!  Now she can't get enough pink!  This year, her birthday cupcakes were replicas of the cupcakes made in the book.  She can recite this book word for word!  The paperback version of it is on its last leg at our house, so I will need to buy another copy soon.  Don't tell her, but I got her the Pinkalicious doll for her birthday!  We watch this video at least 2 times a night! Pinkalicious Pink-a-boo!

David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon (E SHA)
Leah enjoys all of the books by David Shannon, but right now, this is her favorite.  I think she delights in watching other kids get in trouble for a change!  I didn't mean to!

The a Monster at the End of This Book by John Stone

I remember reading this Little Golden Book when I was a kid!  I had my copy for ever- even though it was tattered and torn.  Leah loves this book, and hates monsters.  I think she likes the safe anticipation she has while she reads it... knowing that there really won't be a monster at the end of the book.  Oops- I hope I didn't spoil it for you!

If you Give a Pig a Party by Laura Numeroff (E NUM)
There are so many Mouse Cookie books!  Leah loves them all, but her very favorite is the story of Pig.  She wants a party and needs to invite all of her friends- of course, she is easily distracted and they end up playing hide & go seek in the woods.  Did you know that all of Pig's friends are hidden on this page?  I didn't, until I read it with Leah.  Her dad didn't either, but she showed him every single one!  Can you find them? There are lots of fun games to play and pictures to print over at Mousecookiebooks.com! 

Strega Nona by Tomie DePoala (398.2 DEP)
Ah, Strega Nona... I can't say her name without going into my best Italian accent.  In fact, I read the entire book in my Italian accent!  Big Anthony gets into a heap of trouble when he can't be trusted with Strega Nona's magic pasta pot.  He learns his lesson the hard way when he has to eat sooooooo much pasta!  Click on this link: Strega Nona to listen to the author read the story!

Heckedy Peg by Don & Audrey Wood (E WOO)
This book is a little creepy for little kids, but Leah loves it.  7 children are left alone in their cottage while their mother goes into town.  She warns them to not touch the fire and to not let strangers in... of course, they do both!  A witch (creepy)  comes into their home and turns them all into food so she can eat them (creepy).  The mother goes into the dark forest (creepy) to rescue them, but the witch won't let her in.  She pretends to cut off her feet (super creepy) so the witch can trust her not to chase her.  When the mother sees her children, she knows just what to do to save them.  Then, together, they chase the witch out of town- she jumps in the river and drowns (creepy).  I can just hear Leah say "I'm Heckedy Peg, I lost my leg... let me in!"  (creepy!)

Happy 3rd birthday, Leah Avery

Green Eggs & Ham

Rachel Ray reads Green Eggs & Ham this month on Barnes and Noble Storytime Online!  

 Click on the link below to watch the video!

Green Eggs and Ham