tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65557457247427515652024-03-13T11:12:01.846-07:00Mrs. Senechal's BookshelfHave you ever wondered what books your teacher likes to read? Starting in June 2009, I began blogging about the books that I think my students will enjoy. I hope you'll add a comment about any books that you've read, and you can choose to "follow" this blog to get an e-mail every time I add a new book to the list. Have fun!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-88928141633173979452016-08-31T15:11:00.001-07:002016-08-31T15:11:34.426-07:00A Single Shard<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Linda Sue Park</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tree-ear has lived under a bridge with his friend Crane-man since he was very little. Crane-man is wise but crippled, and Tree-ear is an outcast as an orphan. They spend their days </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">scrounging for food and living the best they can. Tree-ear is in awe of the local potters, especially Min. When Tree-ear accidentally breaks one of Min's works, he offers to work for Min to pay the debt. Tree-ear continues to work, hoping that Min will teach him how to use the pottery wheel.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This book drew me in right away. The setting is Korea around 1000 A.D. It was amazing to read about the many difficult steps the potters went through to make their beautiful pots. I also loved the two main characters, Crane-man and Tree-Ear. In addition, this book won the Newbery Award in 2002! If you like historical fiction and descriptive writing, you will love this book.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>**Our school is attending the <a href="http://www.cune.edu/about/conferences-and-camps/plumcreek/" target="_blank">Plum Creek Literacy Festival</a> at Concordia University, in Seward, NE. We will get to go to a session led by this book's author, Linda Sue Park!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-91331137617352316912016-08-31T14:59:00.000-07:002016-08-31T14:59:37.286-07:00Ragweed<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Avi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Illustrator: Brian Floca</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ragweed is a young mouse from the country who is ready to explore the world. He leaves </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">his home and family, boards, a train, and stops in the first city. However, this town has Silversides, a cat who wants to get rid of mice. Ragweed's first experience in the city is being chased by Silversides! Luckily, his second experience is getting rescued by a city mouse, Clutch. Ragweed meets many new friends and learns many new things, but eventually he will face Silversides again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I loved this adventurous book! The author does a great job of describing life from a mouse's point of view. In addition, all of the characters were very different and interesting. There were also great moments of suspense that made me want to keep reading to see what would happen. While this is a chapter book, I loved that there were also illustrations - they really helped the story come to life.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>*Our school is attending the <a href="http://www.cune.edu/about/conferences-and-camps/plumcreek/" target="_blank">Plum Creek Literacy Festival</a> at Concordia University, in Seward, NE. We will get to go to a session led by this book's illustrator, Brian Floca!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-15258195123149708862016-07-11T08:02:00.000-07:002016-07-11T08:02:15.661-07:00The Case of the Case of Mistaken IdentityBy: Mac Barnett<br />
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Steve loves to read detective stories. His favorite series is "The Bailey Brothers". Steve has <br />
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memorized all of their detecting strategies and believes that one he will be a great detective as well. Unfortunately, at school, Steve draws the topic of "quilting" while his best friend gets the topic of "detectives". Steve heads to the library, checks out the only book on quilting, and suddenly is captured by a SWAT team of librarians! They believe that Steve is working for Mr. E. and trying to steal top secret government secrets.<br />
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Mrs. Senechal says:<br />
This was a fun book to read. If you like mysteries with a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this book. If you happen to like "The Hardy Boys" series, you'll also see hints of those books throughout this story. I liked that Steve was a realistic kid who learned that not everything you read in a book will turn out the same way in real life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-42115783239350590272016-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-04T07:00:36.369-07:00Storyteller<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Patricia Reilly Giff</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When a business trips sends her dad out of the country, Elizabeth must stay with an aunt </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">she barely knows. At her aunt's home, Elizabeth is captivated by a drawing of a colonial girl hanging on her aunt's wall. Suddenly, she realizes the girl in the drawing looks almost exactly like her! Elizabeth's aunt shares that this girl was known as Zee and is an ancestor of hers from the time of Revolutionary War. Then, staying with her aunt didn't seem so bad as Elizabeth tried to learn everything she could about Zee.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The author tells this story in two parts - from the perspective of Elizabeth in modern times and from the perspective of Zee in the late 1700's. It is really interesting to see how each perspective adds details to the story and helps solve the mystery of who Zee was. The author does include some of the historical challenges and tragedies that were a part of the Revolutionary War. However, she also captures the fierce spirits of the colonists as the fought for their freedom.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-84021212033691423612016-06-29T06:05:00.001-07:002016-06-29T06:05:57.337-07:00Sweet Home Alaska<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Carole Estby Dagg</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Terpsichore's family is struggling to make ends meet in their small town in Wisconsin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> When her father learns of an opportunity to receive land and supplies to move to Alaska, Terpsichore looks forward to a grand adventure. Her mother, on the other hand, does not want to leave the civilized things, like her nice dishes and piano. The family agrees to try Alaska and stay through the first harvest, and then they will decide if they will stay permanently. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This story is based on actual government program from the 1930's. The plan moved about 200 families to start a new community in Alaska. The author does an excellent job describing the difficult conditions and unexpected challenges that these settlers faced. I have not read many historical fiction stories from this time period, so I found it fascinating! If you like the </i>Little House on the Prairie<i> series, you will love this book, too!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-83335463311448691682016-06-29T05:49:00.003-07:002016-06-29T05:49:59.426-07:00Fish in a Tree<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ally hates school. She is always in trouble, the kids don't like her, and she can't read. But, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">not being able to read is a secret Ally hides very well. Her mother and teachers keep telling her to try harder, but when Ally tries, the words seem to move around the page and it causes her terrible headaches. After another trip to the principal, Ally is moved to a different classroom. She is surprised when her new teacher, Mr. Daniels, doesn't force her to read or write the way other teachers have. Instead, he give her choices and support and begins to earn her trust.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The author does an amazing job of describing what a struggling student can be thinking and feeling. The author also creates a great group of classmates with many different strengths, weaknesses, and personalities - just like in a real classroom. As a teacher, I loved reading this book - Mr. Daniels is my hero! I think this is a book all students should read!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-29422488291640940512016-06-22T08:19:00.000-07:002016-06-22T09:01:54.899-07:00The Letter for the King<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By: Tonke Dragt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tiuri is about to become a knight. All he must do is keep watch a full night. But when </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">someone comes to the door begging for help, Tiuri cannot ignore them. Suddenly, he carries a message that must be delivered or the kingdoms of his realm will fall. Tiuri immediately leaves his home behind and begins this enormous journey. Within hours, enemies appear who will do anything to make sure Tiuri's quest will fail.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>This story was originally written in Dutch in 1962 and was just recently published in the United States. I really liked this story because of all the unique characters that Tiuri meets - the author makes it difficult to know who to trust! Tiuri also makes a great hero because he is so honorable. This book is full of constant adventure and action. Fans of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings will definitely like this book, too! Thanks to Samuel for sharing it with me!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-49912131094893475132015-09-20T17:59:00.002-07:002015-09-20T17:59:31.291-07:00Voyagers Book 1: Project Alpha<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: D.J. MacHale</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a year of testing, only eight 12-year-olds remain. Four of them will be chosen for a </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">journey in outer space to retrieve a fuel source to save the world. Dash wants desperately to be one of the four, but he knows he is up against some serious competition. The challenges and tests get more difficult. But, Dash and his friends also realize that there are many unanswered questions.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was honored to receive an "Advanced Reader Copy"! I think my students will love this book, the first in the series. There is lots of action and suspense and some amazing futuristic tools, vehicles, and gadgets. There are also codes to break and the ability to participate online! Fans of the 39 Clues series will really like this series, too.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-20923711721123437552015-09-20T17:48:00.001-07:002015-09-20T17:48:06.811-07:00Fish<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Gregory Mone</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Fish tries to retrieve a bag of stolen coins that he was supposed to deliver, he never </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">suspects it will land him a job on a pirate ship! While trying to get the coins back, Fish also makes friends and enemies aboard the ship. Soon, he and his friends are trying to figure out if these coins reveal a mysterious treasure and they have to stop a mutiny at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This story really draws you in! The author does an excellent job of creating lots of interesting characters - good guys and bad guys. I liked trying to figure out the mystery right along with the characters. You'll also enjoy the excitement and humor throughout the book.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-45554256427731554142015-07-20T16:05:00.001-07:002015-07-20T16:05:11.139-07:00The False Prince<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Jennifer A. Nielsen</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sage has lived a tough life as an orphan - he is used to stealing, fighting, and outwitting to stay alive. Without warning, Sage is kidnapped along with three other orphans. They soon </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">learn that their captor, Conner, plans to overtake the kingdom by claiming that one of them is the lost prince. Conner makes it clear that any disobedience will be punished, and those who are not chosen will be disposed of. Sage finds himself competing to be a false prince and just to stay alive.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What a great read! Sage and the other orphans are all likeable and make their dilemna seem even more difficult. And, Conner is truly cruel and masterful villain. If you like adventurous and exciting stories, you will definitely like this book. The final twist at the end of the story caught me completely by surprise - I love that!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-77029436616278184032015-07-20T15:18:00.001-07:002015-07-20T15:18:57.170-07:00The Island of Dr. Libris<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Chris Grabenstein</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Billy is NOT excited about spending the summer at a cabin with his mother. During the first day, he breaks his iPhone and has a run-in with bullies. In desperation, Billy explores the </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">library - quite an amazing place compared to the rest of the cabin. As he begins to read the books, he thinks his imagination is running wild - he can hear the characters and feel the ground shake! Billy looks outside at an island in the middle of the lake, and is shocked that he can even see the characters from the books. Billy rows to the island to investigate and then the adventure really begins.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If you like to read, you will love this book! If you don't like to read, this book might convince you that books are more exciting than you realize. The author weaves famous literary characters into an exciting and modern story. I think it would be awesome to be in the worlds and meet characters from my favorite books. I highly recommend this book!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-56021955007539383622015-07-20T15:05:00.000-07:002015-07-20T15:05:48.299-07:00Jinx<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Sage Blackwood</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jinx's life has a tragic beginning - losing both parents and living with stepparents who only see him as an extra mouth to feed. Finally, Jinx's stepfather takes him out into the Urwald, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the forest filled with horrible, frightening creatures. Jinx is rescued by Simon, a wizard. At first, Jinx just does chores for Simon. But, he has a warm home and good food. Soon, Simon is teaching Jinx magic and eventually Simon puts a spell on Jinx - one that Jinx desperately wants reversed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Filled with good and evil and characters to love and hate, I think you will really like the book, Jinx! The author kept me turning pages by constantly changing which characters to trust. The detailed descriptions helped me picture this magical setting. The author is not afraid to use challenging vocabulary - I learned a few great new words, too!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-66319160183034918212015-07-20T10:06:00.001-07:002015-07-20T10:06:20.075-07:00The Scavengers<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Michael Perry</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Maggie, a.k.a. Ford Falcon, lives "outbubble". That means her family chose to survive on their own without the assistance and safety the government promised. That means that </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ford's family raises and grows their own food and scavenges for items to use or trade. Add to these challenges solar bears, unpredictable weather, and GreyDevils. Ford and her family rely on the expert help of their neighbors to survive. One day, Ford's mom and dad disappear. Suddenly, Ford must take all that she has learned and rescue her family.</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mrs. Senechal says:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved this book! The author has created unique characters who you will love getting to know. The setting of a world where you choose safety and prosperity OR freedom is very intriguing. I enjoyed reading about all the accommodations that helped the characters to protect their belongings and provide for their needs. The end of the story left a lot of questions, so I hope there will be a sequel with more adventures!</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-11378807099944761942015-07-16T09:54:00.002-07:002015-07-16T09:54:46.998-07:00The Blackthorn Key<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Kevin Sands</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Christopher grew up in an orphanage in London in the 1660's. While this was difficult, it was safer than being on the street. He often worked in the kitchen and had a real knack </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">for cooking. When members of the apothecary's guild visited, one apothecary noticed Christopher's skills and suggested he pursue joining their guild. This was a big honor - Christopher studied diligently and was accepted. He began an apprenticeship with Master Blackthorn. Christopher was treated well, learned the recipes, codes, and secrets of an apothecary, and made friends. All was going well until apothecaries around the city were being murdered.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This book will be available to the public in September of 2015. It was fun to preview a book! This story is filled with suspense and mystery. The author creates a variety of great characters who draw you into the story. I love the historical information about what it would have been like to be an apprentice or an apothecary at that time. The mystery takes many unexpected turns. Also, this will be a series!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-77218645039116371982015-07-16T08:16:00.002-07:002015-07-16T08:16:50.459-07:00The Missing: Books 1-3<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Margaret Peterson Haddix</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jonah has always known he was adopted. His parents love he and his sister very much! One summer, he receives a strange message in the mail: You are one of the missing. Jonah, his </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">sister, Katherine, and new neighbor, Chip, laugh it off as a silly junior high prank. But the Chip also receives the same message. This causes an argument with his parents through which he finds out he is also adopted. Within days, the FBI, vanishing janitors, lists of witnesses and survivors make them realize something very strange is going on. The friends agree to figure this mystery out together, but they have no idea what they will uncover next!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Wow! This series starts with a bang - I actually read Book 1 in one day! While this is a science fiction series, there is also a lot of historical fiction mixed in. The imaginative futuristic technology is exciting and thinking about how one tiny thing could cause a huge change in history will keep you reading. So far, there are four more books in this series, and I fully intend to read them all!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-82445982611182141532015-06-25T09:16:00.001-07:002015-06-25T09:16:52.776-07:00The Chronicles of Egg: Deadweather and Sunrise<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Geoff Rodkey</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Egbert has grown up on the dirty, sweltering, pirating island of Deadweather. His father, a </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">former pirate who now runs a farm with workers who were also former pirates, and a sister and brother who constantly pick on him. One day, Egbert's father surprises the family with a boat trip to the nearby island of Sunrise - Egbert is thrilled! Sunrise is beautiful and full of rich people and wonderful places. While there, they meet the Pembroke family, including Millicent who catches Egbert's eye. But, this meeting leads to the loss of Egbert's family and people trying to kill Egbert!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This was a fun adventurous story with great twists on the typical pirate tale - the action will certainly keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships that grew throughout the story. The author also created some great fictional settings with the two islands of Deadweather and Sunrise. I definitely will be reading the other books in the series!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-38970495467778358672015-06-20T14:25:00.003-07:002015-06-20T14:29:59.730-07:00The Scorch Trials & The Death Cure<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: James Dashner </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every time Thomas thinks it's "over" a new challenge is thrown at him. In these two </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">books, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">from </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Maze Runner</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> series, Thomas continues to fight for his life at every turn. But, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">now, he doesn't know who to trust. Is WICKED bad or good? Which events are real and which were set up as another test to see what he will do? Thomas, Newt, Minho, and Teresa continue to battle for survival, meet new friends, and confront more obstacles.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> This series is full of the action and suspense I love! At each turn, I was right with the characters trying to determine who they should trust and what they should do. The characters also have to make a lot of tough decisions, and as a reader, I like to imagine what I would have done in that situation. As with the first book, I recommend this series to those junior high age and older.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-37199630941104289522015-06-18T08:17:00.001-07:002015-06-18T08:17:46.194-07:00The School for Good and Evil: A World without Princes (Book #2)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Soman Chainani</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Agatha and Sophie returned home, leave The School for Good and Evil behind them. But, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Agatha finds herself wishing that her "happily ever after" included Tedros, the prince who could have been hers. Little does she know that this secret wish could reopen her fairy tale and instantly change everyone's lives. Now Agatha and Sophie must decide if they should trust each other, their friends, their professors, the new Dean, or the boys!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This was a great sequel - I was surprised by so many things! The author makes it difficult to figure out who is good and who is evil. Just when you think you have a character figured out they do something unexpected and the plot twists in a new way. Once again, the ending left me waiting for book #3 (due out in July of 2015)!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-78836902146995498542015-06-14T16:52:00.002-07:002015-06-14T16:52:37.193-07:00Schooled<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Gordon Korman</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Capricorn "Cap" Anderson has lived with his grandmother, Rain, on a community farm. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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But, when Rain falls, breaking her hip, Cap is forced to live with a foster family during her recovery. This also requires him to attend the public middle school - up until this point, Cap had been homeschooled. It is not the academics that cause him trouble, it's the students. Cap doesn't know anything about football, dances, or popularity. His fellow 8th grade classmates think Cap will make the perfect, ridiculous class president, and they are completely surprised how it turns out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I have attended private and public schools and was even homeschooled for one year. All forms of education have their advantages, but the transition between them can be challenging. I loved seeing Cap's innocence in so many areas - it makes me wish that no student would have to worry about popularity or bullies. I also appreciate how Cap sticks to his beliefs and shows how honesty, patience, and kindness can change the culture around you! </i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-85619343212541106162015-06-10T15:49:00.000-07:002015-06-10T15:49:10.961-07:00Loot<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Jude Watson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">March was raised by his father, Alfie, a master thief. While trying to complete a heist his</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">dad falls to his death. He has a few words for March, and it's over. March is amazed to find out he has a twin sister! Even more amazing, they realize their dad has left them clues to a treasure worth millions. But, they quickly find that Alfie's former partner, their mom's sister, and a TV reporter are all after the treasure as well!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I love a story where the usual bad guys, in this case thieves, are actually the good guys! The author creates unique and interesting characters and keeps the suspense high. There were many unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. Watson is one of the authors of </i>The 39 Clues<i> series, and this book was just as exciting!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-5149107181775976212015-06-07T08:55:00.000-07:002015-06-07T08:55:44.941-07:00The Glass Sentence<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: S. E. Grove</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sophia has lived with her uncle since her parents disappeared on an exploration mission </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">when she was three years old. But, her parents were not just exploring new regions, they were even venturing into other Ages. "The Great Disruption" threw the countries, continents, and people of earth into chaos. No one know how or why it happened. Sophia's Uncle Shadrack is one of the best cartologers who has attempted to map these new ages. Suddenly, Shadrack is kidnapped, and Sophia must decide who to trust as she attempts a rescue.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This is a great science fiction book! The author creates a completely new idea - the earth separated not only by distance but by time. I was quickly drawn into the new characters and lands. The suspense in the story also made it hard to put down this book! I was enjoying the ending when all of the sudden - cliffhanger! I hadn't noticed that this is Book One in a series. I'm just glad the second book is due out in July 2015, so I won't have to wait too long. </i>The Glass Sentence<i> will probably be more enjoyable to advanced readers due to more challenging vocabulary.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-3841978150473475182015-05-25T18:41:00.000-07:002015-05-25T18:41:22.972-07:00The Candy Shop War<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Brandon Mull</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Visiting a new candy shop after the first day of school, Nate, Trevor, Summer, and Pigeon </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">get much </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">more than expected. The shop owner, Mrs. White, begins to ask them to do tasks for her, and she rewards them with her special candy. This candy is not only incredibly delicious, it is magic! The four friends think this is wonderful until Mrs. White begins to ask them to break in to places and steal things. As they consider backing out, they find that magic candy is a lot more then they had imagined!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This was a great start to my summer reading! The story really drew me in, and, just like the main characters, I had trouble knowing who to trust. The author includes many twists and turns in the plot which kept me wanting to read. This is the first book in the series, so it will be fun to see what happens next. The author has also created an app and card game to go along with the series.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-68185518606748802592014-09-21T16:19:00.000-07:002014-09-21T16:19:51.773-07:00The Maze Runner<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: James Dashner</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thomas wakes up in a steel box that is moving upwards like an elevator. When the top </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">opens he sees the faces of many boys near his age. While Thomas seems to have some memories, he has no idea what is going on. It soon becomes obvious that he and the other boys are trapped inside a deadly maze. Some of the boys have been trying to get out for two years. The day after Thomas arrives, a girl is sent in the box - the first time kids have arrived on back-to-back days, and the first girl, and they know nothing will be the same.</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mrs. Senechal says:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have seen the previews for this movie, and I wanted to read the book first. If you like mystery and suspense, you will really like this book! From the first moment, I was trying to figure out what was going on. This is the first book in a series of four, and I look forward to continuing the series. I would recommend this book for students in junior high.</span></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-83299926637457651812014-09-07T08:54:00.002-07:002014-09-07T08:54:35.470-07:00The Name of this Book is Secret<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Pseudonymous Bosch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you choose to read this book, you will know secrets that could put you in danger. But, if </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">you are brave enough, you will become part of the team trying to protect the secret from many enemies. Cass and Max-Ernest find out quickly that trying to solve a magicians codes will lead to great adventures and great dangers. Their adventure begins by finding the "Symphony of Spells" and leads to spying, kidnapping, and more!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thanks to Nick, Ella, and Will for encouraging me to read this book! The mystery will draw you in to the story from the beginning! The author does a great job of telling you just enough information to make you more curious about what will happen next. I will definitely continue reading the series!</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555745724742751565.post-38180400235773466392014-07-10T14:51:00.002-07:002014-07-10T14:51:57.431-07:00The Cheshire Cheese Cat<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Skilley is a street cat who wants to become a mouser at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - a well-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/files/2011/08/cheshirecheesecat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/files/2011/08/cheshirecheesecat1.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">known London inn that attracts cheese-lovers and authors. However, Skilley does not really want to catch the mice - he wants something else and is willing to make a deal with Pip, the leader of the mice. Along the way, there are other problems and mysteries to be solved.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mrs. Senechal says:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This was a fun story with great animal characters! In addition, the reader gets a different perspective on the famous author, Charles Dickens. I like how the different events and characters tie together, and there is plenty of suspense to keep your attention.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0