Happy Holidays, Rattlers!

Enjoy the break, everyone. Relax, read, play and have a great time! Feel free to comment random tidings of great joy here as you see fit. See you in 2011!

Merry Merry! Joy Joy!
:)
Mrs. P

Bookies-- Reminder for Tomorrow

Don't forget to bring:

1. Snacks for potluck

2. Book for book exchange, gift-wrapped and pretty, and LABELED WITH THE RECIPIENT'S NAME SO HE OR SHE KNOWS IT'S FOR THEM. IT SHOULD ALSO HAVE YOUR NAME, SO HE/SHE NOW KNOWS WHO DREW HIM/HER! :)

Check the signup post and make sure you're good to attend... looking forward to it!

:)
Mrs. P

Bookies potluck signup!

So everyone seemed on board to have a potluck luncheon party on Thursday the 16th. Will you guys post on here what you're planning on bringing? Here are some suggested items that I think would be yummy:
1. Deli meats (for sandwiches)or other "main dish" items
2. Bread (3 loaves)
3. Veggies (for sandwiches)
4. Chips (assorted)
5. Desserts (")
6. Drinks (")

We've not ever done it this way before, so talk it over with your parents, see what you can contribute and add a comment to this post!
:)
Mrs. P

Winter Holidays book(ies) exchange

Hey book club kiddos,

We are meeting tomorrow as usual to discuss HP and where we are in the Deathly Hallows (and to collect permission slips if you haven't already turned yours in!), but here is an early heads-up about our 2nd Annual Winter Break Book Exchange:

1. Everyone brings a book to LEND for reading over break (it will be well taken care of), holiday wrapped and ready for choosing!

2. The book can be either one from your own collection or you may select a library book for your person to check out (meaning YOU check it out, gift wrap it, bring it in and when he/she chooses it, they will in turn check it out to get it off your account).

3. Please try to select something of a manageable size for all-- no War and Peace, no entire Lord of the Rings... you know what I mean! You may, however, select two books if they are very short.

4. Select a book that has meaning to you. Maybe it's a childhood favorite, maybe you read it recently and it's your IT book right now... something that separates it from all the other books you've read!

We will meet Thursday the 16th and do our drawing then. Why don't we make it a Holiday Potluck? Everyone brings in a drink or an eat and we party and exchange books? Sound good?!

Questions? Comments?
:)
Mrs. P

Need those permission slips, Bookies!

Get them into me ASAP so I'll know how many drivers we need, okay? And don't forget to bring $$ on Tuesday for concessions.
:)
Mrs. P

The Deathly Hallows

All right, guys--

There's not much to meet about, so let's talk about our goal for two weeks from now. Do we need to set page goals? Can we just finish the book? What's reasonable?

Your thoughts, please!
:)
Mrs. P

Bookies! Next book. :)

A new idea...
:)
Mrs. P

Countdown beginning soon to The Big Release of the Fall!

So I was very excited over the summer when I saw trailers in the theater, but lately it had slipped my mind. I just realized, however, that November begins next week, and that means the countdown commences! Anybody want to chat about the movie/book? I need to reread it, and quickly!

Have you seen the latest trailer, if not, check it out on IMDB.

My big question is this: They left SO much out of Half-Blood Prince, how are they going to tie those ends back together and make the story work? Hmm...

Let's chat!
:)
Mrs. P

Who wants to discuss Mockingjay?

*******HERE BE SPOILERS! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU PLAN TO READ!********

All right, I've finished the trilogy and I'm ready to chat about the books. Who'd like to get it started?
:)
Mrs. P

New Goal + Discussion Questions!

I got called out by Nathan for not updating the blog (and all of you Bookies have been called out for not participating on the blog!) so we all need to get it together. :) It's Book Fair week, Nathan, so cut us some slack and come see us Tues, Wed, or Thursday nights! We'll be open for conferences.

Okay, next page goal... Some folks have requested that we read to the end of the book, but let's do one more break. Please read to chapter 25, Westing's Wake, p. 154. And, in the meantime, let's discuss the questions below here:


1. There are many ironic situations and comments in this story---situations where there is a contrast between what it is and what it seems to be. What is ironic about Judge Ford's comment to Angela that "one of these tidbits might cheer you up .I hear you'll be getting married soon." Why wouldn't the Judge's efforts cheer up Angela?

2. Why does Mr. Hoo smile when Mr. And Mrs. Theodorakis's kitchen is ruined from the explosion?

3. After Sydelle was injured she doesn't jump at the chance to get attention for her injury. Why do you suppose that she plays down her pain this time?

4. How do the lives of Angela and Theo parallel those of Violet and Theo's father?

5. Of all the information supplied by the private investigator, which piece do you thinks is the most interesting and relevant to the mystery? Why?

6. What questions do you have so far? Thoughts? Theories? Let's chat!

:)
Mrs. P

Page Goal for Thursday the 7th

Great discussion today, Bookies! Let's extend the reading goal a bit and go to page 112, stopping at chapter 19, "Odd Relatives". I'll post discussion questions for this section later. Until then... happy Friday and weekend!
:)
Mrs. P

Oops. I've been blog-slacking!

All right, Bookies! We had set our second page goal at p. 68, "The First Bomb". I'll post discussion questions later today!

:)
Mrs. P

Books Tomorrow!

All right, everyone! We meet tomorrow to check out books and discuss a reading goal. This book is short, so we'll get through it pretty quickly, enjoy it thoroughly and then tackle something a little more challenging. Woohoo!

See you tomorrow,
:)
Mrs. P

Starting with The Westing Game

Okay, Bookies!
Looks like the votes for Westing Game were higher than our second choice, Two Little Girls in Blue. We can revisit all the options after we finish this one! I've got emails out to borrow enough copies for all of us; I'll let you know when they're in. IF WE DON'T GET THEM IN BY THURSDAY, WE WON'T MEET. So again, I'll let you know ASAP.

I finished reading Girl with a Dragon Tattoo (adult book-- NOT for kiddos) this weekend, and now I am FINALLY beginning to read Catching Fire. I'm very excited!

:)
Mrs. P

Book Club-- 1st Pick VOTES ONLY HERE

Book Club Vote--1st Book!

Sorry I missed our first meeting, guys! To make it up to you, tomorrow we will have hot drinks on me at our meeting. :)

Welcome to all the new Bookies-- we are very glad to have you joining us this year!

Looks like a great list you generated of suggested titles. Unfortunately, I had to eliminate some right off the top, either due to appropriateness for middle school (Kenneth, I LOVE Cat's Cradle, but there's just no way!) or due to the fact that I just can't get enough copies of the suggested book (sorry, Kaari! Only 11 copies of Leviathan in the district, and several of them are checked out), but here's the ones that we can definitely discuss and my thoughts on each as a pick:

1. The Hobbit-- I am a big Rings fan from way back, and I certainly wouldn't mind reading this one again. I would suggest, however, that it not be our first pick; it is long and can be a bit... well, long at times. :) This would be a much better second or third pick, I think.

2. The Westing Game-- This is my pick! I haven't read it, I've wanted to read it, I've heard good things about it, it would be a quick first pick to read, and I know I can get copies. :)

3. Hurt Go Happy-- I don't know much about this book, but did any of you read it in 6th grade? I think they have a literature set of this... Let me know.

4. Ender's Shadow-- We could read this, if you guys decide that is what you want to do. Personally, I would like to start off with something new and different, but we shall let majority decide.

5. Two Little Girls in Blue-- I know next to nothing about this book, so I'm going to ask whoever suggested it to tell us why they picked it for us to read as a group! Sounds interesting on Amazon...

6. The Host-- This book was written for adults, but I didn't see anything overwhelmingly inappropriate when I read it, but it is LONG and I didn't know if we would want to start with a super-long book.

7. The Odyssey-- Hmm... Although my initial response was NO, I am now rethinking that. I still say we should ease our way in with something a little lighter, though!

Okay, you guys have my vote. Let's hear yours! Look the books up on Amazon and teenreads.com to get an idea what you're choices are. Use this post to argue your pick for our first book, and use my next post for VOTES ONLY. Sound good?

Woohoo for Book Club!
:)
Mrs. P

Summer is OVER.

Here we are... Back to work. I know you guys have a day to two of sweet sweet summertime left, but I'm back under the fluorescent lights. I can't complain, though; I had a lovely summer! So how is everyone? Analie, you sound fantastic, and I'm jealous of your travels. Let's hear from everyone else! What's new? What have we been reading? I read my six YA books for my class-- Going Bovine (good for you 9th graders, certainly, but a little mature for our collection), Gym Candy (about HS steroid use, very interesting), Fat Cat (chick lit but VERY smart-- loved it!), The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (good if you're into historical fiction), Fire (companion to Graceling-- liked it very much) and Bystander (quick, interesting read about bullying). Unfortunately, I didn't get anything else read this summer, and I really wanted to get Girl with the Dragon Tattoo under my belt so I can watch the movie. That's what fall is for, I guess!

All right, I have to get back to work, but you guys tell me your plans and what you've been up to!
:)
Mrs. P

Summertime Conversations!

Garrison just called me out on my slackerness! :) Actually, thanks Garrison-- I've been busy doing this and that and have only thought about the blog when I'm driving which is not conducive to actually working on it. I've updated the design to give it a summertime look-- you like? :)

All right you guys, what have you been up to? What's new? What are you reading? I've taken a trip to Texas to see family and friends, gotten Mia out almost every day, played a lot of tennis and gone to the pool to lounge in the sun and read. It's been really nice! I'm doing my Altona Summer Book Club again, so I'll be reading six Children's/YA books this summer.I just read Fire, the companion novel to Graceling, and I really liked it. I've just begun The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (people have been RAVING about this book, so I've got to see what all of the noise is about!). Wimbledon begins Monday at 4:30 in the morning, so that will keep me busy for a fortnight. Don't know what a fortnight is? Look it up! :)

Let me hear from you guys! Garrison, what Blue Spruce books have you read? Were they good?

Happy Summering!
:)
Mrs. P

Pizza and Movie party tomorrow!

Hey guys!

Check your email, or have your parents check theirs; I just sent one out detailing tomorrow's 3rd period events. Allow me to reiterate a key point, however: I will NOT be providing desserts! If you guys want something sweet, please consider bringing your own or providing enough to share. :)

Woohoo!
:)
Mrs. P

Meeting Tomorrow! And we're finished.

I've gone back to the happy picture. :) All right, guys-- it's been a long time on this book, but it's time to call it a day. Let's meet tomorrow, discuss the book ending and plan movie watching/pizza eating, okay? And bring your books-- I want to check them back in.

See you tomorrow!
:)
Mrs. P

Finishing the Book for Friday!

All right, everyone! Let's sally forth and finish this book. After it is done, we'll have a pizza party and watch the movie over a couple of lunch/SSR days... sound good?

New Page Goal for Friday!

I can't remember who I told that I would use the movie art this time, but here you go. :) All right, folks-- we're reading to p. 375, Part IV, "Hazel-rah". Let's all try to:
A. Meet the page goal, and
B. Be at the meeting!
We WILL watch the movie of this when we finish the book, so let's get on it!

:)
Mrs. P

2nd Reading Goal Discussion

Heya Bookies!
Sorry I missed the meeting today; I was really looking forward to discussing the book. For others not in attendance, we decided to go with a small reading goal for next Friday of p. 300 (chapter 33, The Great River)so that hopefully we can all get caught up and be on the same page. Here were my discussion questions for the 2nd reading goal:

1. The rabbits show amazing powers of adaptation. What have been some of the ways they have adapted to survive so far?

2. Kehaar is one of my favorite characters! What do you guys think he means by “iron road”? What did you think of the author introducing him to Hazel’s warren?

3. Hazel takes a big risk in freeing the hutch rabbits from the farm. Why does he do it?

4. Fiver’s character is changing as this story moves along. How do you see him now as opposed to the beginning of the story?

5. This book was originally written in 1972. What historical situations might the author be referencing in the story, particularly with General Woundwort’s warren, Efrafa?

Have a wonderful weekend, you guys!
:)
Mrs. P

New Stephenie Meyer novella!

Did you guys know this is coming out? Check out Stephenie Meyer's website to get all the cool details! Very interesting.

:)
Mrs. P

Meeting this Friday!

Hey Bookies!
So we will have our first meeting in quite a while this Friday. Everyone should have read to Part III, through page 269; please try to be there so we can have a meaningful discussion about the events so far. I'll post some discussion questions for this last reading goal on Thursday.

There is an animated movie version of this book that we can watch as our celebratory wrap-up event; as I recall, it can be pretty brutal in parts as you might be getting a sense of, so as you read be thinking about whether or not you're interested in some lunch-time movie watching. :)

Okay, so gut-check time-- what page are you guys on? Post here and let me know. Any questions about anything? Concerns? Comments?

Hope you guys had a great spring break!
:)
Mrs. P

Bookies-- Is anyone reading this wonderful book besides me?!

I can hardly put it down! Okay, it feels weird putting another post on here about reading goals when I don't know where any of you are at this point and no one has responded with any answers to the first round of discussion questions, but here goes. Let's make the goal for the end of spring break to be Part III--Efrafa (p.271). That is a spot that makes sense. I'll post questions for the second reading goal later this week, if and when I hear from some of you and it sounds like you're ready or close-to-ready.

Hope you all are having a wonderful spring break!
:)
Mrs. P

1st round of discussion questions

There's a lot of setting and character building at the beginning of this book-- very heavy on the exposition, but you'll be glad for it later. So, let's start with some pretty basic questions:

1. How does Hazel end up being the group leader? What are his personality traits that allow him to lead? Does Fiver have something to do with Hazel being leader?

2. Rabbits are creatures of habit. How is it that such a relatively large group of rabbits is willing to leave with Hazel and Fiver?

3. Cowslip's warren is very, very strange. Discuss the ways this warren is different from Hazel's.

4. Fiver compares Cowslip's warren to "trees in November" (ch. 14). What does he mean?

5. Both Dandelion and Silverweed recite in the great burrow. How are the two different?

Okay, I'll post some for the next section of reading later this week!
:)
Mrs. P

Bookies! There's a glossary!

I forgot to tell you this, and it's fairly important: If there are words you don't understand, please check the "lupine glossary" at the back of the book-- It's very helpful!

Kaari, give Bailee her book back for the next set of pages. :)

To one and all-- it sounds like most of us aren't where we said we would be, and some of you have grumbled that the book is slow. GIVE IT A CHANCE. Outside of our last book, which I really don't claim as my own pick, have a ever steered you guys wrong? You will like this story, trust me! It's worth your time and effort.

All right, next page goal... What should it be? I say we go to page 173, ch. 22 ("The Story of the Trial of El-ahrairah"), only due to the fact that, once you get to p. 150, you won't want to stop there-- at all. Trust me on that too!

Let me know if you think it's do-able.
:)
Mrs. P

New Book!

I am excited about this one, folks! It's been a very long time since I have read it, so I am looking forward to the reread. We discussed today that you will have some serious reading time with CSAPs, so we've chosen p. 119, ch. 17 ("The Shining Wire") as our goal. We will not, however, be meeting on next Friday due to CSAP lunch schedule, so please check the blog starting Wednesday to see what discussion questions I come up with. And hey, if you have any suggestions for questions, post them here!

Here we go, into the land of Hazel and Fiver and all the rest...
:)
Mrs. P

Wrap it Up

So, we had a small meeting today due to everyone's work load. That's okay. I don't think the book inspired much enthusiasm, generally speaking! But, to stick a fork in it and call it done, let's give it a rating:
~Pulley's Rating System~
5=Most Awesome!
4=Excellent
3=Good...Good but not great by any means
2=*shoulder shrug*
1=Two Thumbs Down! (this should be very difficult to get)
So give it a number and explain, and we will move along.
:)
Mrs. P

What Page Goal?

Okay guys,
I had enough books to get them checked out to all of you, but that left none for me. :) So you'll have to tell me... how far do you want to read by next Friday? I'm going up skiing for the long weekend, so I won't be on the blog, but you can discuss amongst yourselves!

Happy weekend, you guys!
:)
Mrs. P

Bookies-- Mystery+Horror+Suspense!

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn-- it's pretty short (187 pages), which means we'll finish it before CSAP (and get to start another one as planned!), neither Bailee nor Kaari has read it yet, and I've heard it is pretty darn good. And age appropriate. Now, I do believe it's a ghost story (see hyperlinked title)... what do you guys think? Are you game?

:)
Mrs. P

Who's seen It? What do you think?

All right, people-- What's the verdict? 4 stars? 3? 2? 1? Do tell!

:)
Mrs. P

What do you think about this one?

Okay, so I admit, I read this book around five years ago; therefore I am breaking my own rules. I was telling my husband last night that he should read The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night-time after we watched the new HBO movie, Temple Grandin (she's an autistic professor at CSU who revolutionized the way with think about animals and livestock-- look her up!), and it occurred to me: Hey! What about Book Club? It's got elements of a mystery to it, for sure, and it is such a different narrator... it would be a world-view changer for many of you, I am sure. Now, this book is YA, so I want you to do some research and make sure you and your parents are comfortable with you reading it. Then, let's have a vote! Who wants?

:)
Mrs. P

Bookies, let's pick something different.

All right, we're having WAY too much trouble hunting down copies of ABC Murders, so I'm demanding we pick a different book. :) I'm also issuing an edict that from now on we only pick books that I know I can get enough copies of to take care of everyone! :) So, the book I wanted to pick next, Leviathan, is not widely available yet... I'm hoping the book fair will have it, and then I'll pick up a set of them. Until then, anything you guys are dying to read? I know you wanted a mystery, but I say we open it back up to anything and everything. Any ideas?

:)
Mrs. P

We Have Chosen!

All right, folks, I'm excited about reading this book, but it may prove to be a little difficult to find copies for all of us. The school district has five available copies-- ours included. Do any of you go to the public library often? As you will see from the hyperlink to their catalog, they have a few available copies and I would really appreciate you trying. Can anyone else think up a way to get some copies besides purchasing them? Post here and let us know!

The district ones should be here tomorrow...
:)
Mrs. P

Bookies! What mystery will it be?

Sorry guys-- I've been seriously slacking on All Things Blog and Book Club. We're getting AR (Accelerated Reader) up and running in the library, basketball season is in full swing, Mia's obedience classes are now on Tuesday nights, tennis preseason is upon me, and the Australian Open just started. I'm not short on excuses! Anyway, we decided at the last meeting to read a mystery, and it was stated and agreed that something age-appropriate (YA or 5-8) would be appreciated. I said I would come up with something, but I'm now saying that I will take suggestions. So, what are you interested in reading that you haven't read yet? Post here and let's discuss!
:)
Mrs. P