Let's Booktalk: Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Courtesy of Amazon.com
Click HERE to read the e-book.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein, creating life one monster at a time.

Born to a wealthy Genevese family, Victor was no stranger to the world. How the world worked inspired him, even more so after meeting scientists who would show how the world around him was a natural supporter of life. After suffering great loss, he would journey into the world of medical science not to save life, but to bring it back from death.

Dr. Frankstein's story is vivid with discovery, love, loss, fear, guilt, and how he will journey to destroy the monster he created.

Let's Booktalk--Animal Farm by George Orwell

Courtesy of ObeyGiant
Click HERE to read the e-book.

No humans allowed, this is our farm, the "Animal Farm".
 
Manor Farm is your typical farm, there are cows, chickens, horses, dogs and pigs. Mr. Jones is it's owner and works at farming the land and his stock, but he is not the kindest of owners. The animals live in fear of being sold off for meat or to be made into glue, so what though, they are animals after all.
 
Major, is an old pig, although even in his twelve years of age, he is a "majestic-looking" and "benevolent" pig. He will organize the animals in an uprising against their oppressor Mr. Jones. He will lead them to a society that gives care, freedom, and fair treatment to all animals. But, he will always be and act like a pig.
 
Will the animals find solace and freedom from tyranny in their newly formed society?  Or will Major only prove to be an even greedier and crueler owner than the human? Can the world be made better at "Animal Farm"?

Let's Booktalk: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitisyn

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Imagine your perfect day. In your perfect day do you imagine a fish head in your dinner rations, having the job of keeping the fire going while the others lay bricks in the snow and wind, or getting two extra cigarettes toward the end of the day?

For Ivan Denisovich Shukhov today was a perfect day for these things and more. A prisoner of a Siberian Gulag camp in Russia, a prisoner rarely feels like it is there day. Some have been there so long, they do not know what to do with themselves when they leave.

                                              

"The end of an unclouded day. Almost a happy one. Just one of the 3,653 days of his sentence, from bell to bell" (Solzhenitsyn 98).

 

Conversation Starter--Teens talk about reading

Courtesy of Ms. Stimpson's 7th hour Language Arts Enrichment

So, what about teen reading? I sat down with some teens ages 15-16 (sophomores in high school) to talk about there reading habits and what they like or dislike about some of the books that are out there.

 Why do you read?

5 of them said they read for fun, while 13 of them said they read if they have to, such as for a class assignment.

Some genres you like to read...

“I like comedy.” –Alvaro C., age 16

 “I like stories that are true.” –Monic J., age 16

 “I like fiction, like fairy tales and fantasy and stuff.” –Andrea G., age 16

“Umm.. I got to think about this hold up, I’m not sure. There are so many out there. I like to read a lot. Like emotional books.” –Selena A., age 16

“Me, mystery.” –Andrea Z., age 15

Others mentioned were mystery, horror, suspense, contemporary ("None of that old stuff." –Juan A., age 15) and romance.

But, what about the classics? What do you like or dislike about them?

“The hard thing about reading these stories, like Shakespeare, is it's hard and really confusing language.” –Andrea G., age 16

“I read them to know how things were back then (in the past).” –Monic J., age 16

“It just depends on the story.” –Juan A., age 15

“I love classics.” –Lauren A., age 16

 “They are original. They usually make movies out of it, and then they ruin it. Then you have to read the book and people say the book is better than the movie…You’re basically creating your own movie in your mind.” –Selena A., age 15

Any favorite classics?

Alice in Wonderland was talked about by Destiny T. (age 15), Andrea G. (age 16), Lea M. (age 15), and Lauren A. (age 16).

“I like how the cat disappears...and the crazy old rabbit.” –Lea M., age 15

“The red queen is cool...also the tea party.” –Andrea G., age 16

“My favorite part is when Alice freaks out because of the cat disappearing.” –Destiny T., age 15

To Kill a Mockingbird was also given a mention by Juan A. (age 15), she said, "It was good...Boo Radley stood out to me in the story the most."

Other books were Wizard of Oz and The Scarlet Letter.

So, what do you look for in a book?

“Interesting plot points.” –Monic J., age 16

“I like good authors. Good story line, and a nice cover.” –Selena  A., age 15

“I like it when we can watch the movie after (reading) the book.” –Andrea G., age 16

“A good ending.” –Lauren A., age 16

“I don’t know.” –Andrea Z., age 15

What can reviewers do to get your attention to read about a book?

“What grabs my attention is the back of the book.” –Destiny T., age 15

“Use good quotes.” –Juan A., age 15

“Tag lines, like with movies.” –Jose L., age 15

“Really what grabs my attention is the title of the book.” –Selena A., age 15

Lets Booktalk: Daniel X--Game Over by James Patterson and Ned Rust

Courtesy of Goodreads
Click HERE to see James Patterson's Facebook page.

Daniel X is your typical teenage boy. He plays video games, is interested in sports, and hunting the occasional alien hell bent of destroying the world.

“There were hundreds of millions of GC games and consoles in the world. If the company was able to just flick a switch and turn every player into an armed killer… GAME OVER” (18)

So, are you one of the millions out for the ultimate gamer experience? Or are you going to save the planet with Daniel X? 

“ ‘Although, if you start to feel overstimulated…try some off-line games too’…with that steel shutters dropped across the store windows, and two security guards pulled out their sidearms and began blasting away. At me (Daniel).” (175)

Daniel X, saving the Earth, one alien created video game at a time.

Let's Booktalk--Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author) , Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Courtesy of Goodreads

“Cause I could not wait a minute longer

to burst on the scene, and 2:30 a.m.,

April 7, 1915, was as a good a time as any

 to grasp my first breath, cry my first chard.” (12)

When a voice like Billie Holiday, nee Eleanora Fagan, comes into the world there is no better way to do this than through the prose of poetry. She was a voice no one could forget, but she first had to grow up and experience the world in all its glory and prejudices to become one of the most predominant singers of Jazz music history.

“The jazz bug bit me good

when Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five

swaggered through “West End Blues”

and turned music on its ear.” (39)

Let's Booktalk--Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood by Tony Lee, Sam Hart, & Artur Fujita

Courtesy of Goodreads
Click HERE to hear
the story read to you.

Every legend has a beginning, but not every outlaw will become a legend…unless you are Robin Hood.

What is it about a guy with a hood and a bow that just makes us root for the outlaw? Could it be because he robbed from the rich to give to the poor? Could it be because he always gets the girl, and defeats the evil sheriff? Or maybe, its because he lives in the woods with other people who are outlaws just like him?

Robin of Locksley was born the son of an Earl, but as a man he would see war, poverty, famine, and corruption. Robin has returned from the Crusades to find his country home of Sherwood being ruled by a tyrant, who will kill before granting mercy and takes what he wants, especially the beautiful Maid Marian. So, can an outlaw change things for the better?