Weekly Wrap Up (2)

Here is my Weekly Wrap Up for this week!

Anna.

Weekly Wrap Up (2)

Here's my Weekly Wrap Up vlog for this week. :)

What I Read This Week:

I read and completed So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti.

What I Am Currently Reading:

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (for AP English)

What I Hope to Finish by Next Friday:

Between Here and Forever

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg (for my Outside Reading Novel for AP English)

Anna.

I Know It's Not Tuesday...

Hi Everyone! I know it's not Tuesday, but I was just checking to see if anyone stops in here anymore or reads these posts! It's been over a year...

So here's a little plug...head on over to Larkin's Book Bloggers! We're currently doing a book giveaway and some swag giveaway for the new novel Clarity by Kim Harrington. Haven't heard about it? Check out the review on our blog as well! One winner will receive an autographed copy of the novel, a sticker, and an autographed bookmark! Two other winners will get an autographed bookplate, autographed bookmark and a sticker!

http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin


Come check us out and restore my faith that people still hang out at Teen Tuesday!

J. Larkin

HELLOOOOOO Teen Tuesday!

I just finished an excellent book - The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. It's her debut novel and it is fantastic.

Violet can find the dead bodies of people who have been murdered. She senses their "echoes" and the imprints they leave behind on their killers. Only her family knows her secret. Entering her junior year in high school, Violet has enough to worry about - including a hard core crush on her best friend since forever, Jay. But a serial killer is now on the loose, and Violet becomes tied to the case when she discovers the dead body of one of his victims. Searching for echoes and imprints leads her deeper and deeper into the investigation. Can Violet stop him?

Seriously - this book had me reading non-stop. Violet was a great character and the plot was fast-paced and suspenseful. There were some great twists and turns, and of course the romantic twist with Violet and Jay provided some funny moments! I also liked how the author mixed in some chapters that were told from the perspective of the killer - especially at the part in the novel where Violet is at the party. The echoes and imprints was also interesting and added a lot of drama at different parts - especially when Violet didn't know what she was sensing.

Definitely read this - if mystery/suspense/drama is your genre, you won't want to miss this one.

It Is Teen Tuesday, Right?

Well, we've been reading too many books to write about here...head on over Larkin's Book Bloggers to read more about Creepers, The Clearing, Once, and MORE!

http://http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin/

Lucky Enough to Read the ARC of Linger!

A couple of weeks ago I traveled to Boston with our school's libarian/media specialist and attended the ALA's midwinter conference. I was in HEAVEN! We received tons of ARCs and copies of newly released books. However, it was when we went by the Scholastic booth that we really got excited...there on the table was the ARC for Linger! Yes, Linger - the highly anticipated next book of the Shiver series. I devoured it in one day - and all I'll say is...awesome. A little predictable in some areas, but I loved the new male wolf character, and the love story is still what drives the heart of the story. I also loved the ending - the drama of the hospital, conflict with the parents, and the cliffhanger which means - another book!

Check out our blog...Larkin's Book Bloggers -

blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin

My middle school students will be posting a review soon - of Linger and many other new novels! And watch for a new contest soon...we'll be giving away an ARC of Linger!

Checking in on Teen Tuesday...

So I just finished reading My Most Excellent Year - A Story of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park. And I LOVED it. Growing up in New England and a huge fan of the Sox myself, the setting of Brookline, Boston, and other parts of MA appealed to me - as did all of the Red Sox references! I loved reading about TC - dealing with his mother's death, finding Augie, falling for Ale, finding Hucky - his whole journey was amazing. Augie was hysterical and having a gay main character was great - not something you commonly find in today's YA lit. Hucky and Mary Poppins - what a sweet storyline - and the ending wrapped that up so nicely. A definite read if you haven't done so already!

Next up is Bloom - recommended by one of my students! Thanks Gabby! Has anyone out there read it yet?

Blog updates and such

So, you all know about the BIG FAT NERD JOURNAL:



but a friend and I have started another blog called THE CRAZIES, in which we basically post little half-written stories, poems, etc. We're also working on an interactive story, so check that out:

http://thecraziesdotcome.blogspot.com/

Happy Tuesday,
Danielle

Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Have you ever dealt with addiction? Has it had an impact on your family or someone close to you? I just finished Last Night I Sang to the Monster and I really enjoyed it. Zach, the main character, tells us a fragmented story as he attempts to put his life back together. We meet Zach inside a treatment center as he battles alcohol addiction. We also meet many other interesting addicts - especially Rafael and Sharkey. But Zach's story is different, as he doesn't remember how he got to the treatment center - what happened that finally set him over the edge?

The beginning of the story was slow going - I had a hard time connecting with Zach. The story was very choppy and his expressions just became repetitive and boring. But as each character told their story during therapy ("Storytime"), and as we learned more about Zach, I really became attached and cared about what happened to each of them. Like Zach, I was upset when Sharkey left and cried along with him at certain key points in this story. And it is very powerful when he finally reveals his story and what caused him to end up where he is. I loved the character of Adam and how he was such a positive character in the story. Definite 4 out of 5 - thanks to Benjamin Alire Saenz for a great story about addiction, battling addiction, and survival.

Check out our blog as we're currently giving away THREE novels!

http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin/

The Big Fat Nerd Journal--Sign Up TODAY!

Hello, all. For anyone who's been reading le blog, this is old news. But, since I'm pretty sure that's none of you, I'll explain anyway.

The Big Fat Nerd Journal is just that--a journal. A plain, marble one that you can get for fifty cents at a Stop and Shop (though, depending on the economy crisis, things might be getting a tad steeper). It looks like this:



The lowdown is that I will send this journal out to one person across the Americas. They will carry it around for as long as TWO WEEKS, scribbling and doodling and just generally writing whatever happens to be on their mind (limited to three pages, please). Then, when they are done, they will take a picture with the journal. It can be anything--the journal with their cat, their house, their bed, computer, stack of books, on a bench, on a rock, in the kitchen...etc etc etc. They will then email this picture to me, along with a few words on their "experience" with the journal (which I will post on the Offical Blog). I will in turn give them the address of someone else, and they will send it to that person. Rinse, wash and repeat. The goal is to get this journal to as many people, places and countries as physically possible. I think it will be a fun way to connect to other folk around the world. It's also a way to plug your blog/website, or any other buisness endeavers. I would really appreciate if you were to check out the site to sign up, and I look forward to seeing what you scamps have to say!

(international participants welcome)

Danielle

Helloooooo Teen Tuesday!

Whew! It's been awhile since I've posted! Let's catch up...

First, check out our blog for a review of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.

http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin/

I finally finished the book Liar by Justine Larbalestier. And if I said I loved it, I'd be a liar. The story is about Micah, a high school student and a compulsive liar. When her "secret" boyfriend is killed, Micah takes us through her story...her history, as we try to discover the truth behind how and why Zach was murdered. Told in alternating times - Before, After, History of Me, etc., the story drags and you never know when Micah is really being honest. And then the book shifts in a totally different direction when Micah reveals something about her true self - and the story becomes even more crazy. I was bored by the story and it took me forever to finish this book. I really wanted to love it - but I didn't.

I also finished the book Looks by Madeleine George. This is a story about two high school girls who don't fit in. Meghan is extremely overweight and is either completely ignored by the student body, or tormented by them. Aimee is the new girl and is the complete opposite - she's anorexic. After Aimee is seemingly accepted by a popular girl, she then gets backstabbed and bands together with Meghan to get revenge. The book barely gets started and then ends - leaving so much unanswered - does Cara get away with it all? What happens with J-Bar? What happens between the English teacher and "coach"? This novel had a great start, but finished on a weak note.

Currently I'm reading Deadline by Chris Crutcher...I'll catch you up on that next time!

:) Enjoy the Tuesday!

This week has been a little bit more eventful...

Well as the title of this post says this week has been pretty eventful. I got some cool stuff in the mail which you can find here. And I got another book in the mail today but your just gonna have to wait until Sunday to see what that was, and also what else, because I am expecting some more stuff soon.

As far as books that have been read, I finished Alis by Naomi Rich and reviewed it, and I am currently reading Need by Carrie Jones. I am going to try and kick things up and get at least two books in a week. Depending on how hectic my schedule is.

I think that's it this week. If I think of anything else, I'll update!

Also I dont know if it was like this last week, but I updated the look of my blog so check it out and let me know what you think of the new layout!!

Teen Tuesday, really, really slow!!!

Ok so I did not post anything last week because honestly, I had nothing to talk about. I didn't post any reviews last week or anything. The book that I just finished, I didnt really enjoy so it took me a while to read it. I did finally finish it though, and got the review of it up here. Other than that I can't think of anything that has happened. I did get a book in the mail today and I am expecting more through out the week but I dont want to ruin it by posting them today. I think that I am going to wait until Sunday and see what I can do for my IMM. I am thinking about doing a Vlog but I dont know how well that will go. I can never upload video from my camera to Youtbe.

Another Teen Tuesday Is Flying By...

Hi Everyone! I forgot today was Tuesday until just a few minutes ago...we had Friday off, Monday off, and then today was a professional development day - so I've been losing track of days.

This week I finished Hunger - the sequel to Gone. I talked about Gone in my last post. So if you haven't read it yet, I don't want to reveal too much about the next book. But, our characters are still living in the FAYZ, they are still without adults, and the conflict between Caine and Sam is still out there. But in Hunger, add in starvation, growing violence between the "humans" and the "freaks", and the added mystery of the Darkness - or gaiphage...and this series continues strong. I didn't like it as much as Gone - but it was still good. And by the end, with the resolution (or so we are led to believe) of one conflict - what will happen now? How will the kids escape the FAYZ? Will powers continue to grow? What will happen between Caine and Sam now? The series is a definite read - I would recommend it.

Next up is Liar - and with all the hype I'm hearing about this book, I hope it's fantastic.

Talk to you next week -

Is anyone posting anything?

I GOT MY COPY OF CATCHING FIRE IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!!

...but I also have to read A Seperate Peace. I guess it evens out.

Have a nice Tuesday :)

Teen Tuesday..... kinda slow week.

Well it has been a some what slow week. I only got one book in but let me tell you it was good. And what would that be, you may be asking??
Well it would be CANDOR!! This book actually just came out last Tuesday, the 22nd. I read this for the 1 ARC Tours. You can check out my review of it here. It took me a little while to get into but once I did it was great! Other than that nothing that I can think of has really happened. I started Madapple by Christina Meldrum today. I read a review of it on Goodreads, and just from the first paragraph of that I can't wait to finish it and see how it goes. If anyone has read it, please let me know what you thought.

~ Jordan

I'm hosting a giveaway, foolz!

Well, if you don't read my blog, Opinionated? Me?, then you probably don't know I'm hosting my first ever giveaway:



Details here!

--Danielle

Seems like a slow Teen Tuesday...wait, it is Tuesday, right?

So in the middle of a very hectic week...NYC on Friday, field trip to URI on Monday, off to a Red Sox game tonight...I did manage to sneak in one book!

I just finished reading Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs. Think female Percy Jackson - Phoebe, the main character, discovers that her mom has fallen in love, is getting married, and they're moving to some random, mysterious Greek island. But wait, that's not all. Once she arrives on the island, she discovers that it's filled with descendants of Greek Gods and Goddesses - and they have powers. As the only mortal girl on the island, Phoebe is definintely feeling a little self-conscious about entering the ultra-exclusive Academy - her alternative high school for the next year. So what's in store for Phoebe? Will she make any friends? Will her new step-sister fit the typical evil step-sister stereotype? Will she ever see her friends from back home again?

First, let me just say that I love the Percy Jackson series. So I was definitely psyched about reading this. And it didn't disappoint! While the Percy Jackson series is more action-adventure and mystery - this is more high school girl romance. The jokes, jabs, insults and super power demonstrations were definitely funny and I really liked the character of Phoebe. I'll be getting a copy of the sequel...Goddess Boot Camp.

Up next...Slob by Ellen Potter and Hunger - the sequel to Gone.

Teen Tuesday...well, Thursday!

I know, I know...it's not Tuesday! But things got crazy here at school this week and I couldn't get to my computer - so Thursday it is!

I just finished Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. Not typically my type of genre, I really liked it. I loved the dynamic between Auden and her mother - and then later with Auden and her father. The picture of step-mom Heidi that I had created in my head was quickly blown to smithereens once we actually first meet her...overwhelmed and stressed as she's become a mom and deals with a newborn. There's some great interaction between Auden and the beach girls - Esther, Leah, and Maggie - especially after Auden's embarrassing first-night hook up. And what can I say about Eli? Loved him. A great, easy, quick read.

I'm 10 pages away from finishing Gone by Michael Grant...AND I LOVE IT!!!!! It's like The Stand combined with Girl Who Owned a City with Lord of the Flies with lots of awesomeness and super powers!! What more could you want. Next in my "to read" pile is the sequel, Hunger!

That's it! Don't forget to check out my blog for my contest...we're giving away an autographed copy of Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen!

http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin/

Teen Tuesday (4)

This week has been kind of busy. I had been gone for the last two weeks and brought lots of books with me and came home to some that I got in the mail. To find out what those books are you can check out my In My Mailbox post for this week.

I finally finished Envy by Anna Godbersen. I was hoping to have it sooner but I had the flu and was so sick that all I did was sleep. I had a constant fever and couldn't eat anything, and it was bad! But I'm all better now, so I'm back to reading. And anyways I linked the review for that about. I also read a book that I didn't plan on reading but I was glad that I did. It was actually one of my sisters school books. It was called Behind Rebel Lines by Seymour Reit. It was a non-fiction book about a woman who disguised herself in the Civil War. I didnt review this one but I did enjoy reading it, though it was short. The woman who it was about actually wrote her own book but it was made more than 120 years ago and you cannot find it. I linked the book on amazon in case anyone was interested.

Right now I am currently reading Candor by Pam Bachorz for my 1 ARC Tours. I am only on the third chapter but it is ok for only being that far. I hope that it gets good, which from the reviews that I have seen, it will. I should have the review for this one up in a couple day so be looking for that.

And last but not least I am holding a Michelle Moran contest. It will be for a paperback signed copy of The Heretic Queen and a signed hardback copy of Cleopatra's Daughter. I will be reading and reviewing these in the near future and let me tell you I am so excited to read them. If you are interested head on over and check it out.

That is all that I can think of that has happened in the last two weeks. I would like to say that I am sorry for the delay. I just got back yesterday and am trying to get back into my routine .

~Jordan