Issue 15 - Mash-Up

We read lots of books throughout the year and many times we fall in love with a story, but since we theme our issues of WRN? we often times have no where to place these stories that have captured us in one way or another because maybe the timing is off. Like Inside Out and Back Again or Chained could have been in our One World issue, for sure, but they came along just after we put that up. And, sometimes an author or book doesn't fit neatly into a genre, like Matthew Quick or A Monster Calls.

So, we’re super-excited to do a mash-up issue where we can bring you some of these oh-so-awesome titles. We’re pretty sure you’ll fall in love too. Happy mash-up reading, y’all.

Inside Out And Back Again

by Thanhha Lai

Reviewed by Kristina Miranda
Chatted by Michelle Delisle, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Kristina Miranda

Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, is a beautifully written, middle grade novel in verse. This Newbery Honor and National Book Award winner is the story of ten year-old Hà and her journey from life in Saigon during the Vietnam War to her experience as a new immigrant in the United States. Despite the war closing in, and her father missing in action since before Hà can remember, Saigon is still home. The place where her beloved papaya tree grows, and her mother and three older brothers do their best to maintain Vietnamese traditions as they wait for word of their father. As Saigon falls, the family has no choice but to flee on a ship headed for safety. Without much more than the clothes on their back, they eventually arrive in Alabama and experience complete culture shock. Hà faces her new reality—the food, the language, the cruelty and kindness of strangers—with bravery and spunk. With breathtaking prose, Lai expertly immerses the reader in Hà’s emotional journey. From start to finish, every word is to be savored.

Kerry: WRN'ers, we've got a guest chatter today. You've read her articles on our website before and she's sorta a full-fledged WRN girl anyway. Welcome Kristina Miranda.
michelle: yay, so excited kris is here!!!!!
Kristina: Thanks for letting me chat with you today about this awesome book!
Kerry: We're gonna get you an official WRN badge soon enough.
Kerry: lol
Kristina: I'll wear it proudly!
Kerry: Girls, did you just love this book?
Kristina: I fell head over heels in just the first few pages. I love it!
michelle: absolutely -- one of the best things i've read in a long time
Kerry: Same. Not only for the story itself and the cover, but I was blown away at her ability to tell a complete story in so few words.
Kerry: I've never even read a book in verse before this. Felt weird at first, but then…beautiful!
Kristina: The language was so beautiful, her choice of words. It was the first time I'd read a book in verse, too.
michelle: it reminds me of aleutian sparrow by karen hesse ...another favorite

Matthew Quick

Interviewed by Jill Mackenzie

Hey there WRN’ers. I am so absolutely excited, elated and generally all-around ecstatic to have one of my all-time fave authors, Matthew Quick, here with us today. All three of his divine reads, THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, Sorta Like a Rock Star, and his newest novel, Boy21 have all rocked me through my core in their own way. Yep, they’re all that good. Whew. Okay, deep breath.  Here we go

Q…first off, we always want to ask our authors…Whatcha Reading Now?

I’m reading DAYTRIPPER by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. I told a good friend that I love reading graphic novels but hardly ever read them. I asked her, “Why is that?” Because my friend is kind and amazing, she sent me DAYTRIPPER in the mail. I’m really enjoying it. Cool artwork.  Mind-bending story.

A Monster Calls

Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd
Written by Patrick Ness, Illustrated by Jim Kay

Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

I’m a huge fan of the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness, so when I saw he had a new book being released I had to read it. 

A Monster Calls is unlike anything I’ve ever read.  It’s a fairy tale masquerading as a horror story, or maybe vice versa.  It tells the story of thirteen-year-old Connor who begins to have recurring nightmares about a monster after his mother is diagnosed and begins treatment for cancer.  One night at precisely seven minutes after midnight, he awakes groggy and afraid as he realizes a real monster has come to call.  This one, ancient and wild, promises he will spin three tales, stories that chase and bite and hunt.  Then, Connor must tell the monster a story, the boy’s own truth that he hides of what scares him most. 

More than a children’s book, A Monster Calls creeps along with beautiful, lyrical writing about grief and loss all the while increasing the tension to a gut-twisting level.  The idea for the book was conceived by young adult author Siobhan Dowd, who died at forty-seven of cancer before she could tell this tale and so the responsibility was passed to Patrick Ness. The story is accompanied by Jim Kay’s stark pen and ink drawings, which are hauntingly powerful.  It’s remarkably done, an exceptional book and one that will linger for a long, long, long time.

Chained

by Lynne Kelly

Reviewed by Kerry O'Malley Cerra

There are literally millions of great books out there, but every once in a while a special one comes along. A book that simply stands out. I’m never good at explaining what it is that makes a book so great. It’s kinda like, “You have you read this. You. Just. Have. To!” That’s how I feel about Chained. There are so, so many things to love underneath that sweet cover.

The story is one of an unlikely friendship between Hastin, a ten-year-old boy, and an elephant named Nandita. Hastin, man of the family since his father’s death, must take a job as an elephant keeper far from home to pay off a family debt. Though he’ll miss his mom and sister, Hastin is excited for the adventure that awaits. But nothing could prepare him for the cruelty both he and Nandita endure. Their bond is tighter than the shackles on her feet and their love and friendship allow them to bear captivity and abuse. But Hastin knows neither of them will survive like this forever. They must try to escape.

Author Lynne Kelly uses beautiful language to illustrate a world so vivid and honest; with scenes so deeply created you’ll be able to smell the sweet mangos boiling at breakfast. As I said, there’s much to love, but mostly you’ll root for Hastin and Nandita to finally break free. Warning: this book requires tissues.

If Rocks Could Sing

by Leslie McGuirk

Reviewed by Jill Mackenzie

Don’t ask me why, but I’ve always had a total thing for books that use real-life photography in place of illustrations. And more so for ones that take inanimate-objects and cleverly place them in active, everyday settings while making them look natural and organic in those settings.

But these attributes don’t even begin to convey why I think If Rocks Could Sing is pure genius. I’m not kidding when I say I read this book cover to cover ten times (I’m reading it now for the eleventh time) before even showing it to my five year old…and it’s an alphabet book no less!

But it’s not the photographs thing or the inanimate objects thing that truly makes this read just… special. It’s that you can’t shake the slow realization that the creator, Leslie McGuirk, must have spent hours and weeks and years (yes years, when it comes to finding that mysterious, often enigmatic letter K) scouring Florida beaches in search of rocks (not shells) to ignite her pristine, precocious sense of imagination.

C is for cat? Phht. Who needs it? Honestly, who wouldn’t rather pour over the laugh-out-loud photo of a precisely (couch) potato-shaped rock chilling on a mid-century lounger.

G is for girl? No way--not to McGurik it’s not. Ghosts all the way for this author, especially when you’ve found sixteen mis-shaped rocks all purposefully punctured with little ghoulish eye-holes.

Yep. No doubt about it. This is the alphabet that my kids will enjoy reading. If they can get it away from me, that is…

The First Time

edited by Jessica Verday and Rhonda Stapleton

Reviewed by Michelle Delisle

The First Time is perfect for this issue because as an anthology of twenty-five different authors it’s ridiculously mash-up. Each author tells the story of a “first.” First kiss. First job. First love. Okay, you get it. But other than a “first” common thread, it’s mashy, mash-up.

Reviewing this book is so different from most. I can’t talk about character or plot. So, this is what I’ll say. I laughed my butt off at Kristin Springer’s “Cart Princess” about a first job as a bag girl. I loved Lauren Bjorkman’s “The Shark King,” which has an indigenous fairy tale feel. There’s mystery in Jackson Pearce’s “Turn Here,” a story about a GPS that leads a mother and her beauty queen daughter on a life changing hunt.

And that’s only three of the stories! In fact, I’m not even close to finishing this book, which would seem like the wrong thing to say in a review, but trust me it is the absolute right thing, because if this The First Time were in print, it’d be like 900 pages or something. At least that’s what it looks like on my Kindle. So for a bargain of a price, I’ve read five or six stories and still have reads by Stacey Jay, Carrie Ryan, Kurtis Scaletta and editors Rhonda Stapleton and Jessica Verday. Plus a mash-up of others. This book has allowed me to discover and read authors I haven’t tried before. How cool is that?

It’s way cool.

And, the best thing about this anthology is that when I don’t have the time to fully immerse myself in a novel, I have a lot of awesome quick reads.

by Cindy Gress

When the Whatcha’ Reading Now? team invited me to submit an article for the current issue, I admit I was a tad bit nervous. What contribution could I really make? I jumped from teaching kindergarten (for the past eight years) to teaching literature to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders this year. I spent years introducing kindergarten students to the vibrant artwork of Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle, the story-telling of Jan Brett, and the humor of Jack Prelutsky. What with planning, searching for technology-rich classroom activities, and grading, who has time to read middle grade books?   

However, one of the unexpected joys of teaching middle school students who can already read is that they like to share their favorite books with me! Many of my students are Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans (me too!) but I have been introduced to a few new authors. I read a sweet book this year called Heartbeat, written by Sharon Creech. The story, told in free-verse, is about a girl who loves to run for the pure happiness of running.  While she runs, she lets the readers know about her relationships with the important people in her life. 

Another great book I came across this year was Gordon Korman’s Schooled. In this book, a boy who has grown up in a commune and been homeschooled by his grandmother experiences “the real world” and middle school, after his grandmother is hospitalized.  The main character, Cap, is guileless and sweet and his arrival at Claverage Middle School causes an unintentional uproar. I enjoyed this book so much I plan to add it to my students’ summer reading list.

Whew, I made it!  Even though I was nervous about trying something new, I’m thrilled to have the chance to push myself—in the classroom and with this article.  And, both experiences have been rewarding.  Happy Reading!!

Vlogging in Schools

by media specialist Cathy Castelli

Vlogging is so much fun, I’m hooked.  I take out my Kodak Playtouch camera and a fantastic book I’m really excited about. I sit in front of the camera, press record, and I’m ready to talk. Once I’ve finished, I upload the video to both www.youtube.com and www.schooltube.com. Then I blast out the information to everyone on email and Facebook.

As a high school media specialist, I have a new way of reaching students with my videotaped book talks. In the past, I created video book talks on VHS tapes so teachers could share them with students. It was a bulky, old-school way of doing things. However, this year I simply uploaded the video and sent out the link to the teachers. You could almost hear the thunder of footsteps outside the media center doors as students raced to check out copies of CJ Omololu’s Dirty Little Secrets.  Once they heard about Lucy’s mom who wouldn’t let her clean to the point of living in filth, they had to read it. The vlog is a great way to reach readers.

As a writer myself, I have enjoyed connecting with the writers who so carefully craft their books. I was motivated to contact writers this year to ask for reasons behind the books they wrote dealing with bullying. I was awed by not only the depthful novels dealing with the subject, but also by the generous responses these authors were willing to share with me about their own journey to write. I was able to create five different videos on bullying books. I was especially moved by Julie Anne Peters’ By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead in which Daelynn is so committed to killing herself that she joins an online suicide pact counting down the days until she makes her final attempt. Her parents try to understand but can’t, and Daelynn’s last attempt has damaged her esophagus so badly, she can’t talk. One thing Julie Anne Peters shared with me is how she wishes that parents and teachers were more concerned about the psychological well-being of the children in their care. I’m grateful that students can find solace in book that they may not be able to find elsewhere.

I’m always reading. I guess it’s an occupational hazard. But if I didn’t have this kind of job, I wouldn’t have a good excuse to read outside of my favorite genres. I never, ever, would have read a zombie book, but now I’m so glad I did. Jonathan Maberry’s Rot & Ruin is such a fantastic zombie story that I can’t wait to read the sequel Dust & Decay. Oh, and just so you know, if zombies attack, I am so going to trip you.

I upload a new vlog each week at http://www.youtube.com/user/CathyCastelli?feature=watch and http://www.schooltube.com/organization/131771/

by Meredith McCardle

Since this is the mash-up issue and anything goes, I figured I’d tell you about two great reads I recently discovered. Both take place in the future and both are certified page-turners.

What if Cinderella was a cyborg and her prince a young ruler debating war with the moon? That’s the question presented in Marissa Meyer’s Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles, an amazingly imaginative twist on the Cinderella fairy tale. In the near future, humans and androids live along side each other in New Beijing. Prince Kai, heir to the kingdom, takes an interest in Cinder, a young but talented cyborg mechanic he meets in a crowded marketplace. And then when the plague that’s wreaking havoc on the New Beijing forces Cinder and Kai together again, the results have consequences no one can see coming.

I loved everything about this book. Stated simply, it’s impossible to put this book down, mostly because of the main character, Cinder. She’s so believable—strong when she needs to be, wounded by her past, soft toward the people she cares about. Cinder carries the book, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be reading it late into the night.

Another great future read is Legend by Marie Lu. Set in 2130 A.D. Los Angeles, Day is a notorious outlaw, most recently wanted for the murder of a soldier. June is tasked with bringing Day down. She’s also the sister of the murdered soldier. But when June and Day discover there’s more to the murder than they’re being told, their game of cat and mouse takes an unexpected turn.

This book is action action action. Literally. On every single page, you’ll find yourself gasping or quickly flipping to the next one with your heart in your throat. There are chase scenes, narrow escapes, street fighting, building scaling, and that’s only in the first few chapters. If you like books that grab you on page one and don’t let go, you’ll love Legend.

Belly Up

by Stuart Gibbs

Reviewed by Joshua Wolf

Living at the country’s number one zoo, Fun Jungle, is not something that your average kid gets to do in their life. But Teddy Fitzroy does not have an average life. When the zoo’s famed hippo Henry is found dead in his tank, Teddy takes it upon himself to find the truth. With help from a new friend, Teddy embarks on the most dangerous adventure of his life, with many twists and turns that will keep you guessing and reading on.

In Belly Up, author Stuart Gibbs writes an unconventional murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Filled with suspense and even a bit of humor, Belly Up is ideal for people of all ages. Whether you’re a teen or younger, this book should not be missed.

Hush Hush

by Becca Fitzpatrick

Reviewed by Krista Clay

Who knew that finding your true love would come with such a high price? In Becca Fitzpatrick's first novel, Hush, Hush, Nora Grey is a sophomore living in Coldwater, Maine. She had never been particularly attracted to any of the boys at her school, but after getting forced to be lab partner's with Patch Cipriano, the new senior, all of that changes. But not until after a series of terrifying encounters, which leave Nora unsure of who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. When Nora finally finds out what Patch has been hiding from her will it be too much for her to handle? Will she even survive to see her junior year?

This book is based off of fallen angels, an element taken from the Christian Bible, and spun into a romance- not unlike the vampire romances out today. Honestly, it wouldn't be surprising if fallen angels are the new vampires. The book is packed with suspense, with layers of action and love. Just when you think things have taken a turn for the best, Becca is sure to throw in another surprising twist.

Hush, Hush isn't your typical paranormal romance. It is filled with action and a climax that might make your heart skip a beat! This book is great because it shows how important it is to trust. Trust could even be a life threatening choice sometimes. This book has to be one of the best books I have ever read! It is partly great just for the magical way it is spun together. Once I picked it up, I just couldn't put it down!

When we were putting together this mash-up issue we weren’t sure what to do for our lists. Finally, we decided we’d all just throw out books that we’d recommend as “gotta reads”, so these are some of our favorites of all time and we hope they become books you love, too.

Teen Reads
Middle Grade Reads
Picture Books