tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44510331518226740262024-02-06T23:44:40.482-08:00StoriesToldInStickFigures“To read voraciously for pleasure,
because there are so many great books.
To write or draw everything you think or feel or believe,
because your thinking matters.” –Linda Riefstoriestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-17170787835614034632016-08-18T21:27:00.002-07:002016-08-18T21:51:56.704-07:00Our Dav Pilkey Yarn<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In honor of one of my favorite writers, Maggie Stiefvater, I borrow her brilliant line from <u>The Raven King</u>: "Depending on where you began the story, it was about ____."</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about <a href="http://blogs.slj.com/theyarn/2016/08/01/25-dav-pilkey-captain-underpants-the-series/" target="_blank">The Yarn's 25th episode with Dav Pilkey</a>.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An eight-year-old boy and his stepmom listen to the podcast in the car, grinning at each other in the rear view mirror.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about a school visit. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An eight-year-old boy and his stepmom meet Daddy and Little Brother at a middle school in Naperville, Illinois, to see Dav Pilkey. The eight-year-old brings some of his artwork to share. He gets an advanced reader copy of <u>Dog Man</u> signed by his hero.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOHmxjlybAaTU7xEJy4qszFJZIBM7n9k-rL0KlintkSgLz1Lw665IwdJO5vOoaSJqeWHERSlCbE_Sj_1dHOZA8us1UIZwRldOKtu-pBDwA3YSR2ouRsiC0O329kwjIBNuXyevXdeyb2U/s1600/colin+dave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOHmxjlybAaTU7xEJy4qszFJZIBM7n9k-rL0KlintkSgLz1Lw665IwdJO5vOoaSJqeWHERSlCbE_Sj_1dHOZA8us1UIZwRldOKtu-pBDwA3YSR2ouRsiC0O329kwjIBNuXyevXdeyb2U/s640/colin+dave.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about being picked up from school. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An advanced reader copy of <u>Dog Man</u> awaits an eight-year-old at the curb, produced from his stepmom's bag. They are on their way to an author visit at a middle school.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBQIsHWOw8571kE7x1zXLw1pRDnxoBOIBBhu2hG2ME4HkfRlLaD3_dmE-pOI3LbR2ZxLKFlCHHpx-GsXnSMHB8H1tbZvQ3wuRs0Jle8L_A40uar9kafkxcYZsZt1jcaOVB-J59812u14/s1600/colin+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBQIsHWOw8571kE7x1zXLw1pRDnxoBOIBBhu2hG2ME4HkfRlLaD3_dmE-pOI3LbR2ZxLKFlCHHpx-GsXnSMHB8H1tbZvQ3wuRs0Jle8L_A40uar9kafkxcYZsZt1jcaOVB-J59812u14/s320/colin+school.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about a chance run-in. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A #nerdybookclub follower bumps into Colby Sharp and Travis Jonker at Book Expo America, a copy of <u>Dog Man</u> in her bag, an eight-year-old about to be dismissed from school.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfzg_HodZM4KPDGsd-_ohSEL-9h12GPBcBnggp4dk4d4FG8HxRyI-ZugEGd1A4hivT1Uyi4L7zXGl7ZCVYbCf2yJb8nvaUZwl1RkBPdb6NXwINp8r2J4MXSwG_fwdgS_8Yftc0LmuAuE/s1600/colby+travis+bea+twitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfzg_HodZM4KPDGsd-_ohSEL-9h12GPBcBnggp4dk4d4FG8HxRyI-ZugEGd1A4hivT1Uyi4L7zXGl7ZCVYbCf2yJb8nvaUZwl1RkBPdb6NXwINp8r2J4MXSwG_fwdgS_8Yftc0LmuAuE/s320/colby+travis+bea+twitter.png" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about Book Expo America. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A stepmom is determined to find a copy of <u>Dog Man</u> for Dav Pilkey's #1 eight-year-old fan. She stops by the Scholastic booth first, to no avail. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A second visit to the booth sees a man walking away from the table, the last copy of <u>Dog Man</u> in his hands. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The angel behind the Scholastic booth table sees it all happen, and without a word, walks behind the magic curtain and produces a single copy of <u>Dog Man</u> to present to a stepmom.</span> </span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0rEjfJJ71f0JBmU5nGO9BGR30uzJjrmACnuLUSsWW9YJWuX9B6Er7yWlrp3YX_G4EINO2eCihewRLL6du_8y09u6xgFeFBgmUq4Tvf2-7U2ytlN67P10_Y4Cj924M6cDshtBpx6nTBQ/s1600/dog+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0rEjfJJ71f0JBmU5nGO9BGR30uzJjrmACnuLUSsWW9YJWuX9B6Er7yWlrp3YX_G4EINO2eCihewRLL6du_8y09u6xgFeFBgmUq4Tvf2-7U2ytlN67P10_Y4Cj924M6cDshtBpx6nTBQ/s320/dog+man.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about a budding storyteller. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An eight-year-old is drawing scenes on a napkin, copies of <u>Captain Underpants</u> lined up on his bookshelf at home.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYsG6SFWN3wIiGKLIq1HqwzUTgrwpDm-fSl3BYnANxywYTRKA9uuFuRd2Icwe2tAYBl9Uz0x8ohCQE46m9hmy_SBhvAVXQYD2lSlbli6kwTCxLiSTBcwrxoqWNYMZl9StOiETw1GoA1k/s1600/colin+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYsG6SFWN3wIiGKLIq1HqwzUTgrwpDm-fSl3BYnANxywYTRKA9uuFuRd2Icwe2tAYBl9Uz0x8ohCQE46m9hmy_SBhvAVXQYD2lSlbli6kwTCxLiSTBcwrxoqWNYMZl9StOiETw1GoA1k/s320/colin+cartoon.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONBBLztosZW5UQOFjlMDyJk4oyjn-zTtrR1gZnnpw4Kxtcc6tRmI5ikVM2MOsatxinhXvvQyULw2bTAKrLyN5RmOjomQvLXl3m_7LUeeFBZC1jZxvK1zI89mxIxZHZcdRuIlv2zb1rPM/s1600/colin+cartoon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONBBLztosZW5UQOFjlMDyJk4oyjn-zTtrR1gZnnpw4Kxtcc6tRmI5ikVM2MOsatxinhXvvQyULw2bTAKrLyN5RmOjomQvLXl3m_7LUeeFBZC1jZxvK1zI89mxIxZHZcdRuIlv2zb1rPM/s320/colin+cartoon+2.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about a speech. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The stepmom of an eight-year-old listens, cries, and laughs as an author tells teachers and librarians the story of a boy who grew into a man who wrote stories that matter. She tells him this at the book signing after the speech and brings home autographed copies of <u>Captain Underpants</u> books.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYcYfPDH95O9J-yI1WHZWusmRIiuJIrl3670ApqxA1ARwWI9EEc2Ul5Kqd9_45hP0FmfzWccA5eeevn2gu7Bcg53K-ZRU6065oEaiLNtJLo4nartoZbQb30ccaqJHh2GciXctgssyhFA/s1600/dave+irc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYcYfPDH95O9J-yI1WHZWusmRIiuJIrl3670ApqxA1ARwWI9EEc2Ul5Kqd9_45hP0FmfzWccA5eeevn2gu7Bcg53K-ZRU6065oEaiLNtJLo4nartoZbQb30ccaqJHh2GciXctgssyhFA/s320/dave+irc.png" width="293"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Depending on where you began the story, it was about a boy.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVlDL-Wp0vxOj9mGFTOFFC264Wvb12l1q5Tq4UnRVX1xvWiAvRGKJXlKcayl_bxX7QL9zBoj9yX5BJxPz-nFpSbK3LQ0Obz72M-kTqCOtUrOVJmWXxm83w86wgtIDWKzj7k-LOiOVf_I/s1600/colin+dogman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVlDL-Wp0vxOj9mGFTOFFC264Wvb12l1q5Tq4UnRVX1xvWiAvRGKJXlKcayl_bxX7QL9zBoj9yX5BJxPz-nFpSbK3LQ0Obz72M-kTqCOtUrOVJmWXxm83w86wgtIDWKzj7k-LOiOVf_I/s320/colin+dogman.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you, Dav. Thank you, Colby and Travis. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From,</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This stepmom and an eight-year-old boy</span>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-11808560916216190882016-07-17T10:30:00.003-07:002016-07-17T10:35:56.467-07:00The Storyteller by Evan Turk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWOQHKfInJzMmDR3BgSx6h1I2STiPY9K9_rypiUc_bL3nP7ahPyB3T-vrCtnbVRmIfql5CKXeH7qkV0hD9ypapjDsuIqBh569dFU9ORc8BzH6rM7Defaq96riJnvGEulY6DGNj5FKWiY/s1600/storyteller+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWOQHKfInJzMmDR3BgSx6h1I2STiPY9K9_rypiUc_bL3nP7ahPyB3T-vrCtnbVRmIfql5CKXeH7qkV0hD9ypapjDsuIqBh569dFU9ORc8BzH6rM7Defaq96riJnvGEulY6DGNj5FKWiY/s400/storyteller+cover.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">simonandschuster.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"There's nothing else like it!" This is exactly what I wrote on a sticky note after reading Evan Turks's <i>The Storyteller</i>. This book is a gift in more than one way. First, the artwork (yes, I would gladly frame each page and hang them in my home library) is stunning. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKNQjKJTkCvqN5Hdzxn3aZUK7X1H8CuA_pPkVy4TjpO5eNWdnnuVhjvtUg1w1mz21987z5LU3roa_Ocya_NwMuKlmc9hbJcUYoexNS5IqyHru6VIeG5IYPlEkOFzCsreyuRp5TxNBohI/s1600/storyteller+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKNQjKJTkCvqN5Hdzxn3aZUK7X1H8CuA_pPkVy4TjpO5eNWdnnuVhjvtUg1w1mz21987z5LU3roa_Ocya_NwMuKlmc9hbJcUYoexNS5IqyHru6VIeG5IYPlEkOFzCsreyuRp5TxNBohI/s640/storyteller+women.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evanturk.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On one page, I left a sticky note that said, "I can barely follow the story; mesmerized by the illustrations/artwork!" At that point, I truly did lose track of the story because I was swimming in the art. It's a trip all in itself. One of the final pages is below. You could study it for days and find new intricacies to admire. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBB3P5DbbzeYnQJzdFm6rs06upGCy94ouRZ1r1DrOW44x-GBgn_EvyX_wING4JfS0QeM6D_sZ_hg_SoiiAO3hWglpOHYZtHqL5XJ7VHQKRzmwWTEePAPGfg1-AEUQ4Lm01nZFIbXWrzzk/s1600/storyteller+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBB3P5DbbzeYnQJzdFm6rs06upGCy94ouRZ1r1DrOW44x-GBgn_EvyX_wING4JfS0QeM6D_sZ_hg_SoiiAO3hWglpOHYZtHqL5XJ7VHQKRzmwWTEePAPGfg1-AEUQ4Lm01nZFIbXWrzzk/s640/storyteller+boy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">simonandschuster.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition to the beautiful artwork, the story itself is one book lovers, writers, and teachers will appreciate: the magic of storytelling and its power to transform. </span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is one to share with your students!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-85621086561418606652016-07-15T12:25:00.001-07:002016-07-15T12:25:42.340-07:00Defender by Graham McNamee<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nzIkaSky0FZp9D4sdFCsue2FzqX15Y8RAQsXRGhNxrUoHaVNTZmmg-qYu0Vz0AQTdHJwxf2WtwGY0x2yDUdlWHu1Cp2OtlGncmUucQeERDhIAZZin_UBves_hIX2HpW4bXWMQ8dopgw/s1600/Defender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nzIkaSky0FZp9D4sdFCsue2FzqX15Y8RAQsXRGhNxrUoHaVNTZmmg-qYu0Vz0AQTdHJwxf2WtwGY0x2yDUdlWHu1Cp2OtlGncmUucQeERDhIAZZin_UBves_hIX2HpW4bXWMQ8dopgw/s320/Defender.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">goodreads.com<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span id="goog_1163803483"></span><span id="goog_1163803484"></span>Defender</i> by Graham McNamee is just what I'm looking for to hook my seventh-graders! It takes less than 15 pages (of quick-paced writing) to get to the DISCOVERY OF THE DEAD BODY IN THE BASEMENT! I mean, what more can a girl ask for? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tyne (aka "Tiny") lives in a Toronto apartment building where her father is the super. As the oldest, Tiny does odd jobs around the building to help out. After the discovery of a dead body in the basement, Tiny runs to her dad, who goes to check it out alone, only to return to tell Tiny that there was no body to be found. However, when Tiny's dad starts acting suspiciously, she and her boyfriend Ricky (aka "Stick") start tracking clues, including going back to the scene to discover A FINGER!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's so great. This would have been on the shelf of my tween bookcase next to R.L. Stine's Fear Street Saga and my Christopher Pike books. So thankful to have discovered this at my public library! Buying a copy to book talk when school starts!</span>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-5385991211016469972016-06-30T18:21:00.000-07:002016-06-30T18:21:04.228-07:00Teachers Write Tuesday Quick-Write<a href="http://www.katemessner.com/teachers-write-6-28-16-tuesday-quick-write-with-anne-marie-pace/" target="_blank">Today's Prompt</a> led me to notice an ant carrying around a dead comrade. I had so many questions! Where was he taking him? How did he die? Are they going back to the colony or away? Here is what I wrote in my notebook:<br />
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I looked this up (arrow to my note: "Ant carrying another ant (dead)") to see if this was a common<br />ant "thing". It turns out scientists have discovered that ant colonies that don't remove their dead have higher mortality rates than those that do. I'm curious how the ants themselves discovered this. Is it a natural instinct? Where do they take their dead? Just "away"? Or do they have a "spot"? Is there an ant cemetery?<br />
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::looking up more info::<br />
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::found an NPR interview from 2006::<br />
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6603664<br />
(By the way, the opening to this story is fantastic)<br />
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One woman's name keeps popping up: Deborah Gordon (Stanford Professor of Biology). She is often interviewed by NPR, does TED talks about ants and so forth.<br />
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Apparently there is an ant cemetery. It's underground and there are ants that pile up dead ant bodies just to take the pile down again, move it, pile it up, take it down, and move it back again.<br />
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This could be because successful ant colonies have a surplus of ants and they just need something to do to fill the time! Fascinating.<br />
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Read more here about lazy ants:<br />
http://www.npr.org/2015/07/09/421528491/study-finds-most-ants-in-a-colony-are-slackersstoriestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-44419747809567521312016-06-06T21:13:00.000-07:002016-06-06T21:13:09.341-07:00Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Two White Rabbits</i> by Jairo Buitrago</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Two White Rabbits</i> by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, reads, at first, as a simple children's book about a young girl and her father and their time spent on the road as migrants. The text is spare since it is told from the young girl's perspective, but as <a href="http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/two-white-rabbits-jairo-buitrago-illustrated-rafael-yockteng-translated-elisa-amado/" target="_blank">this review</a> from Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center's BookDragon blog points out, the details emerge in the illustrations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read this book three times in a row and I am itching to reread it to pull out whatever details I couldn't catch in the first three readings. You will want to read it over and over as well, because there is more than one story going on here. On their journey, they encounter other travelers, soldiers, and symbolic figures that add depth and layers. I can't wait to analyze this with my students next year to discuss the symbols and perspectives shown.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some other resources I incorporate into my 7th-grade World Geography class when we discuss migrants and refugees include:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/07/refugee-crisis-country-music/399782/?utm_source=SFFB" target="_blank">Turning Refugee Crises Into Country Music</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/10/28/7084049/the-devastating-toll-of-closed-borders-in-one-map-migrant-death" target="_blank">The devastating cost of closed borders, in one map</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/where-the-streets-have-no-children/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=edit_tnt_20140409&nlid=61978278&tntemail0=y&_r=2" target="_blank"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/where-the-streets-have-no-children/?_php=true&_type=blogs&emc=edit_tnt_20140409&nlid=61978278&tntemail0=y&_r=2" target="_blank">Where the Streets Have No Children</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/14/border-challenges-responding-to-the-global-migration-crisis/?em_pos=small&emc=edit_ln_20151015&nl=learning-network&nl_art=0&nlid=68448007&ref=headline&te=1&_r=1" target="_blank">Border Challenges: Responding to the Global Migration Crisis</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ww2.kqed.org/lowdown/2015/0/09/mapping-refugees-worldwide-since-1975/" target="_blank">Tracking Four Decades of Refugee Migration [Interactive Map]</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150919-data-points-refugees-migrants-maps-human-migrations-syria-world/" target="_blank">The World’s Congested Human Migration Routes in 5 Maps</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, of course, there are many excellent articles from <a href="https://newsela.com/" target="_blank">Newsela</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I borrowed this from my public library's *New Books* display, but I will be purchasing it to pair with my copy of <a href="http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/migrant-by-jose-manuel-mateo-illustrated-by-javier-martinez-pedro-translated-by-emmy-smith-ready/" target="_blank">Migrant</a> for my Social Studies collection. </span><br />
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<br />storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-59731304786094924142016-06-01T08:38:00.002-07:002016-06-01T09:32:03.324-07:0010 Steps to Pull Off a Beach Book Bash<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">10 Steps to Pull Off a Beach Book Bash</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Pick a spot</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a pond on our school grounds that is perfect for this event. Find any space that works for you (water body or not) with plenty of shady spots nearby!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I usually create a digital flyer to pull up in class and use on social media and email to promote the event and remind students and parents. I used to use good old Microsoft Publisher, but now I love Canva for its beautiful images and fonts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Request contributions</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can't go to the beach without a stocked cooler! I set up a Google Form with Choice Eliminator (<a href="https://www.volunteerspot.com/" target="_blank">Volunteer Spot</a> works too!) for parents to sign up for drinks, snacks, and gift cards to Anderson's Bookshop and B&N for prizes. Here is an example of our sign-up from this year: <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/ipsd.org/forms/d/1RcJOaYa8xmT4rR4knBJNEXwzz_fVVhvEIx40-viQabI/copy" target="_blank">Beach Book Bash Sign-Up</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. Gather prizes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wouldn't be a Beach Book Bash without book-related prizes! Throughout the year, I'll use Scholastic Book Order points to snag some books to raffle off. I'll also keep my eye open for freebies from book stores like bookmarks promoting summer reading programs and YA author visits. This year, I hit the jackpot when I attended Book Expo America in Chicago. I was able to add a lot of promotional goodies to the Beach Book Bash prizes like stickers, pins, posters, water bottles, and even some autographed items! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. Plan games</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While some students will just want to chill on towels, we wanted to have some games and activities planned as well. This year, we used the Build Your Own Deck feature on the HeadsUp app on my iPad to build a deck of our favorite authors, titles, and characters from the year. This is one of my favorite moments to watch! There's something about a thirteen-year-old jumping up and down screaming, "He wrote <i>Booked </i>and <i>The Crossover</i>! He visited Granger!" at the top of his lungs. In the past, we've also gathered old t-shirts and showed students how to make a <a href="http://www.mommypotamus.com/no-sew-t-shirt-tote-bag-tutorial/" target="_blank">no-sew t-shirt book bag</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. Prepare students</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunburns are no fun, so we remind the kids (and parents) verbally and through emails and social media about the importance of bringing sunscreen and hats. We show them pictures from previous years of kids chilling on beach towels with their friends and favorite books. I'll bring some extra beach towels and sunscreen, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. Inform staff</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We let our teammates know well in advance when the Beach Book Bash is so they know how it may impact their math and science plans. We've done it as a whole team before (120 kids) and we've done it with just concurrent class periods (about 60 kids). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also check with the P.E. staff to make sure that the area isn't being used for P.E. classes that morning and also to borrow a few outdoor items like footballs and volleyballs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love to involve our LMC Director, too, because she is the heart of summer reading in our building. After textbooks and library books have been collected, she reopens the LMC for Summer Reading Checkout. On the Beach Book Bash day, we stop in the library first to stock up! She even orders shopping bags for the kids to take home their book stack! Readers can check out as many books as they like! And even during those hectic last days, she finds time to stop outside to visit the Bash and snap pictures of readers with their books inside her big picture frame. I love those photos!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8. Document!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of photos, either designate a parent volunteer or make sure you have lots of room on your phone to snap tons of pictures. I share them on <a href="http://gethomeroom.com/" target="_blank">Homeroom </a>for parents to see, on my class Instagram account, and add them (last minute!) to our end of the year slideshow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9. Celebrate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't forget to relax and have fun with your readers! It takes some planning and coordination to pull this day off, but we like to kick off our flip flops and chill on a beach towel for a few minutes with the kids before it's all over! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other ways to celebrate: share reading totals for the year, talk about summer trips and plans, and get excited about new books being published over the summer and at the beginning of the school year (Harry Potter, anyone?!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. Party on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't let the fun end at the Beach Book Bash! Share your summer reading plans with students! I stay connected with my readers through my class Instagram account and document my summer reading adventures there. You can find us at @walsh204ela on Instagram. After all, we do the Beach Book Bash to keep our reading momentum going!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you host a Beach Book Bash? I am always looking for new ideas! I'd love to see what you do! Connect with me on Twitter @storiestoldinsf</span></div>
storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-15617496359992782262016-05-31T21:04:00.001-07:002016-06-01T06:08:57.523-07:00Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C3aOvyZ4gPZo7dV62DyQgLk3PAIxlaSElfY1h03qJThCMzHDFKgU4UnaDCmDRLBG1sgDubCVwPPbOxmckDMShmrl88bjwC5Uppqbb2PZopDOnmYNh8R26YNYGs8I2EXFZtJCE0d_C9E/s640/blogger-image-511836605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C3aOvyZ4gPZo7dV62DyQgLk3PAIxlaSElfY1h03qJThCMzHDFKgU4UnaDCmDRLBG1sgDubCVwPPbOxmckDMShmrl88bjwC5Uppqbb2PZopDOnmYNh8R26YNYGs8I2EXFZtJCE0d_C9E/s640/blogger-image-511836605.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Stalking Jack the Ripper</i> by Kerri Maniscalco might have been a bad pick for my first summer read. Here's why:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was awesome. I feel bad for the rest of my to-read list. My next books have big shoes to fill. Fancy, blood-spattered 19th-century shoes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I saw this book at BEA, I had two thoughts: 1. Gorgeous cover. 2. Gorgeous title.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I mean, Jack the Ripper? You had me at hello. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Stalking Jack the Ripper </i>was everything I needed in a good YA Ripper book: a smart narrator, spooky London setting, and scalp-tingling JtR murdery grisliness. Some chapters featured a grainy black and white photo or diagram from the time period to set the mood and chapter numbers were set off with a blood spatter. Super creepy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The plot was tight, the dialogue was witty, there was great tension between the main character and her love/hate interest. I actually giggled out loud in one scene. It was smart, scary, and suspenseful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I loved it. I can't wait for the final version. I can't wait to share it with my students in the fall! </div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-84702116782062240402016-03-30T13:12:00.001-07:002016-03-30T13:12:36.135-07:00The Diviners by Libba Bray<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNl_1fGu8xmiOHv0iDhVsR0ujsVjSoFxlLLebTwq57165wdRTXO3gMB93Ol5qQSM8mNxnQFp_CA67AnsLbKo76YOvci5S30nVke2mh11QjH7r6ei6fBR_9tC4QD1uNcTr_cXHRlMNn-L8/s640/blogger-image-1811972047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNl_1fGu8xmiOHv0iDhVsR0ujsVjSoFxlLLebTwq57165wdRTXO3gMB93Ol5qQSM8mNxnQFp_CA67AnsLbKo76YOvci5S30nVke2mh11QjH7r6ei6fBR_9tC4QD1uNcTr_cXHRlMNn-L8/s640/blogger-image-1811972047.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I loved, loved, LOVED this book. Holy cow, it was long, but just so beautifully written. A masterpiece. I think Libba Bray has a deal with the devil when it comes to writing books. How can one person have so much talent?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The audiobook was performed brilliantly. Truly the best way to experience this book!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-40937573475747435802016-03-30T13:06:00.001-07:002016-03-30T13:16:35.718-07:00Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWo4RCaMjyuR81mb6LfvmIMUlMf-e_F3RIRKb2EFjCAkA3zLkhuOEPcVVFJLFLY5uMzHDhVhvuXhlm52a6D6-MRQT80sQKrlxcgU4B_Jik5F55cveqvogWD9GAazjg62HErw4qLf_rSo/s640/blogger-image-1493058446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWo4RCaMjyuR81mb6LfvmIMUlMf-e_F3RIRKb2EFjCAkA3zLkhuOEPcVVFJLFLY5uMzHDhVhvuXhlm52a6D6-MRQT80sQKrlxcgU4B_Jik5F55cveqvogWD9GAazjg62HErw4qLf_rSo/s640/blogger-image-1493058446.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I started reading this book 10 minutes after I bought it from Boswell Bookstore in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and didn't stop until I was done. A beautifully written novel in verse! My favorite lines:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You have a poet's heart, Lonnie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's what Ms. Marcus said to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have a poet's heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's good. A good thing to have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And I'm the one who has it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yes, Jacqueline Woodson. Yes. </div></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-80459320879283956322016-02-08T04:02:00.001-08:002016-02-08T04:02:29.638-08:002/8/16 It's Monday What are You Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88vuUcFCTWO_rbK3loghzTixvEDC4ohWmYaViojoljoD_ZEayV0BAWUcoMgCtsjvmVxm4k9fgYJu9xHRrOMytnRLKXgA-kNsG4uD0rLx0cak-cfnOcLz4N8uscOkvbK_PesdAstHCtz4/s640/blogger-image-273668633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88vuUcFCTWO_rbK3loghzTixvEDC4ohWmYaViojoljoD_ZEayV0BAWUcoMgCtsjvmVxm4k9fgYJu9xHRrOMytnRLKXgA-kNsG4uD0rLx0cak-cfnOcLz4N8uscOkvbK_PesdAstHCtz4/s640/blogger-image-273668633.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This week, I was able to finish an audiobook, a football fiction, and a novel in verse. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The one I'm most excited about finishing is <i>The Knights of Hill Country</i>. Not because it was my favorite, but because it was purchased with a certain student in mind who hasn't been able to find a text he could connect to yet this year. My goal was to get it in his hands today, so that motivated me to get through it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Up next is a student recommendation, <i>Pivot Point</i> by Kasie West, and I'm continuing to listen to Libba Bray's <i>The Diviners</i> on audio. I'm loving it!</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-61196102598137075072016-02-06T05:46:00.001-08:002016-02-06T05:48:40.706-08:00The Knights of Hill Country by Tim Tharp<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV_JkYpruJTHio5YctaX9DnKAnK3Ou3eBEhewrCMoGKHYzwuOTLqq-9GEwKWhbs9RJERovHTXCvwoQyYOnWw35vFlYjODFfuNtzhOPrphtIdrYM_PSvf7yOFegSZbFHCHlLMa1m4A_8Q/s640/blogger-image-1928465548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV_JkYpruJTHio5YctaX9DnKAnK3Ou3eBEhewrCMoGKHYzwuOTLqq-9GEwKWhbs9RJERovHTXCvwoQyYOnWw35vFlYjODFfuNtzhOPrphtIdrYM_PSvf7yOFegSZbFHCHlLMa1m4A_8Q/s640/blogger-image-1928465548.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div>The January slump almost killed this book for me, but I got back into it in February, and I'm glad I did. </div><div><br></div><div>Hampton Green (Hamp) is a star senior defensive player on his small town Oklahoma school's football team. His best friend Blaine is on offense and just like his father before him, he believes football is life. As the team tries to maintain their undefeated season, Hamp struggles with the effects his dad's departure left on his mother. Bouncing from guy to guy, she changes her interests to suit whomever she is currently dating, and Hamp is an afterthought. Unlike Blaine, Hampton does find more to life outside football, including Sara, who isn't the typical girl a Kennisaw Knight dates. She hangs out in the library, isn't wealthy, and doesn't look like she stepped out of the pages of a magazine. But Kennisaw Knights don't date girls like Sara, as Blaine reminds Hamp. As Hamp excels on the field and Blaine attempts to mask the intensity of last year's knee injury, the stress of college scouts begins to take its toll on the boys' friendship. Then a new man (an ex-Football player from town) comes into Hamp's mom's life, and Hamp begins to see that the culture of winning in Kennisaw may not be as perfect as they have been raised to believe. But he has his sights set on college and the world outside of Kennisaw. </div><div><br></div><div>Hamp reminds me of Ponyboy Curtis. The story is told from Hamp's perspective, written in the same Oklahoma-style that Hinton gave to Ponyboy's voice. ("Man alive, did them stands explode in cheers then.") And Hampton may look like the other guys on the outside, but inside he is a deep thinker, thoughtful and sensitive. And I haven't come across another character who could be Dallas Winston reincarnated like Blaine Keller. He has a fire, intensity, and recklessness that would make those two character fast and dangerous friends. </div><div><br></div><div>This would be a great read for any kid who knows what it's like to see your parents make bad choices or who feels the pressure to fit into the role your community or family has placed you in. There is a lot (a lot) of football dialogue and play-by-play narration during games, so a reader really needs to know their stuff to get through those scenes. This book has a lot of heart and when readers get to the final scene with Blaine and Hampton, it's hard not to go back to the Outsiders scene under the street light where a boy has to make a choice that could change his life forever. </div></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-84431002339286976192016-02-02T20:49:00.001-08:002016-02-02T20:49:31.305-08:00Slice of Life 2/2/16Today is 2-2. Twenty-two is my favorite, lucky, perfect, even, balanced number. <div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Today was not my favorite. It was not lucky, perfect, even, or balanced. Today was the perfect opposite of those. Today was a drainer. I was about to slide into bed and end this imperfect day when I remembered it was Tuesday and I RESOLVE to write a Slice of Life post on Tuesdays.</div><div><br></div><div>Sigh. </div><div><br></div><div>So close. </div><div><br></div><div>And then it happened. I realized I could fill myself up just a little bit before I call it quits. Because writing does that for me. Writing isn't like my number 22. It's not perfect, but it balances me. Sometimes I get lucky with it and dig out a new phrase or thought. </div><div><br></div><div>Today wasn't perfect. Today wasn't even close. But on a scale of 1-10, I think I'm at a 2.2 now. </div><div><br></div><div>I can live with 2.2. </div><div><br></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-5384818950303988072016-02-01T21:02:00.001-08:002016-02-01T21:02:34.364-08:00Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0_VpBVZXTLRMP1b0OP3ucAMOIF02lmVs98zYKnlgYlYDGzzc3w25dorg0FLGfnHzP-NqT_SHiTi5kHI5Q4NJud-oOpGLYbvggq-u9k4nNZCPase_10ZwvrVJ932B5r5aZBLCbg3Z2HI/s640/blogger-image--428416466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0_VpBVZXTLRMP1b0OP3ucAMOIF02lmVs98zYKnlgYlYDGzzc3w25dorg0FLGfnHzP-NqT_SHiTi5kHI5Q4NJud-oOpGLYbvggq-u9k4nNZCPase_10ZwvrVJ932B5r5aZBLCbg3Z2HI/s640/blogger-image--428416466.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Aria lives in a domed world that protects her and other Dwellers from the Aether storms and Outsiders who roam the wastelands of Earth. After losing communication with her mother (a scientist researching on location) and an incident that implicates a high-ranking official's son, she is sent away to perish in the outside world. She meets Perry, an Outsider/savage, who is on a quest to rescue his nephew. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I feel like I was just getting interested when the book ended. I had just started to like Aria and suddenly, the book stops in the middle of a scene. Optimistic about Book 2!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For fans of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. </div></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-39731943315676871932016-01-25T20:52:00.002-08:002016-01-25T20:52:16.468-08:00Slice of Life 1/25/16: Peal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzQKPs99ypIW835fgm6fQWNVGzcJgLUY81R0E_tnp-kiJFHHWz2daHdzl_QRZyvZltCc2vjovwD1o82nVmHqjYbPbvit3Yh67pC54NrE44aOWEQR49-oOEX53JVVv2txWGfZDgkuop6I/s1600/sols_5-years.gif" /></a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.8rem; line-height: 1.8rem; margin: 0px 0.2rem 6px 0px;">
peal</h2>
<div class="pseg" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden;">
<i style="box-sizing: inherit;">n.</i><div class="ds-list" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-left: 1cm; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden;">
<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">1. </b>A <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">ringing</span> of a <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">set</span> of <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">bells,</span> <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">especially</span> a <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">change</span> or <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">set</span> of <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">changes</span> <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">rung</span> on <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">bells.</span></div>
<div class="ds-list" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-left: 1cm; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden;">
<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">2. </b>A <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">set</span> of <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">bells</span> <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">tuned</span> to <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">each</span> <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">other;</span> a <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">chime.</span></div>
<div class="ds-list" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-left: 1cm; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden;">
<b style="box-sizing: inherit;">3. </b>A <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">loud</span> <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">burst</span> of <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">noise:</span> <span class="illustration" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #966a00; font-style: italic;"><span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">peals</span> of <span class="hvr" style="box-sizing: inherit;">laughter.</span></span></div>
</div>
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I hope I can always remember the exact pitch of his peals of laughter. The ones that escape him as I get him ready for bed at two years old. In 16 years, I want to hear his parrot-pitched squeals reverberating still in my eardrums, painful now, but a welcome echo of life and love from this tiny creature. I feel it slipping through my fingers. If I can cling to those peals I'll be able to hold on for just one more moment.<br />
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https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-67007372446209915322016-01-03T13:40:00.001-08:002016-01-03T13:40:24.579-08:00A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos WilliamsWritten by Jen Bryant <div>Illustrated by Melissa Sweet</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP3AfPy0FxdFbAmGT5ogLgWYjwwc3EvKQd7p6D62AraGpSh2bJHX7cOmlw6VADdwuo7UnET25kWiSa8wrCLf2riWLxJtm7zmvpdh3bORRJFwpLY1Xcwiw3vnkVH8gzp29UB3sr35BL-E/s640/blogger-image-1263809914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP3AfPy0FxdFbAmGT5ogLgWYjwwc3EvKQd7p6D62AraGpSh2bJHX7cOmlw6VADdwuo7UnET25kWiSa8wrCLf2riWLxJtm7zmvpdh3bORRJFwpLY1Xcwiw3vnkVH8gzp29UB3sr35BL-E/s640/blogger-image-1263809914.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Image from Amazon.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a beautiful picture book. I fell in love with the story of William Carlos Williams and his poems. I fell even more in love with Melissa Sweet's illustrations. With a mixture of paintings, sketches, and collage work, this book begs to be read at least twice. Once for the story, again for the art. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-49310551888121922492015-12-30T20:22:00.001-08:002015-12-30T20:22:19.587-08:00The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8os-PVdqKiZZME8cKV4dk0s-0p_Y5Q8Ai890rz1y8pa61keEkKEIj90n9esDuX5_scVS2lJmE6alKc0f12BLitBrjTbqzra47tOREIH5DBqo2v2JZcus1ZiO6sLee7j59LnxyS1VYmoo/s640/blogger-image--918017319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8os-PVdqKiZZME8cKV4dk0s-0p_Y5Q8Ai890rz1y8pa61keEkKEIj90n9esDuX5_scVS2lJmE6alKc0f12BLitBrjTbqzra47tOREIH5DBqo2v2JZcus1ZiO6sLee7j59LnxyS1VYmoo/s640/blogger-image--918017319.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A fantastic audiobook. Will Patton (Armageddon, y'all) was the perfect voice for The Raven Boys. A magical story, town, and characters. For supernatural readers who enjoyed Westerfeld's Midnighters series.</span></div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-58105725449460031002015-12-28T05:26:00.001-08:002015-12-28T05:37:19.427-08:00The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZeI2yinToq7m7Kj3WWtZgdtxeRAMHySeMS8YQ-C5OxPXJRENqE0mhT1ZktQXv4eHF0c29L3SMDRSkpYxwMoJTn1zLSshTKRGbo-wamSFYvZyyX8yYuw9fQI-pwKsQdM5k1jQ2p5Mq7M/s640/blogger-image-1877364588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZeI2yinToq7m7Kj3WWtZgdtxeRAMHySeMS8YQ-C5OxPXJRENqE0mhT1ZktQXv4eHF0c29L3SMDRSkpYxwMoJTn1zLSshTKRGbo-wamSFYvZyyX8yYuw9fQI-pwKsQdM5k1jQ2p5Mq7M/s640/blogger-image-1877364588.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Tess finds herself torn from her quiet ranch life and thrown into the privileged life of the Washington, D.C., elite. Tess ends up at the center of a mystery that involves murder, cover-ups, and the constant hunt for power. Tess is a strong female character who is loyal to her new friends Vivvie, Asher, and Henry. She is the teen Olivia Pope ("It's handled.") No romance for the main character in this one, but lots of action otherwise! A very different story from The Naturals series, but the same great writing style and psychological thriller elements are still there. The revelations at the end resolved some questions but left the reader ready for book 2 (June 2016)! storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-70825181648377173312015-12-26T08:23:00.001-08:002015-12-26T08:23:57.220-08:00Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QCDmxAOXdAn1JkjT4rVidqj_WxbhagGJIkQop302yNJO74nFZip8mGrBwMUx7foWg_M4mV-TLV7SCUFHlghlxfLRT23k_AP3qVpCwAnSFvWsFu99pauUCeXpchdqNQfz1Lzautdsu0Q/s640/blogger-image-1035728004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QCDmxAOXdAn1JkjT4rVidqj_WxbhagGJIkQop302yNJO74nFZip8mGrBwMUx7foWg_M4mV-TLV7SCUFHlghlxfLRT23k_AP3qVpCwAnSFvWsFu99pauUCeXpchdqNQfz1Lzautdsu0Q/s640/blogger-image-1035728004.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Juliette has been in confinement, alone, for a long time until Adam is thrown into her cell. When she touches someone, it bring immense pain, but she soon discovers that Adam, whom she remembers from her past before her confinement, can be touched by her with no pain. Together, they fight against the Reestablishment and Juliette discovers that her power may not be unique. For my dystopian, steamy guy readers, this is a good mix of both!</div>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-84868023946196236002015-08-02T20:23:00.001-07:002015-08-02T20:23:27.213-07:00THE LIVING by Matt de la Pena<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbJa2jRAPRzMZOABQW0ivHxEtCDchMBE6TOaWF_LjPvFeTT_jz04h2JoWuR4bxIZqHkbIt5XjNb3LmyjdKA92zzV6rm_mLegQtcYslvgzgrEhyQXrzh857mnGfAZtOQDDHWHqAO0NxPk/s1600/the+living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbJa2jRAPRzMZOABQW0ivHxEtCDchMBE6TOaWF_LjPvFeTT_jz04h2JoWuR4bxIZqHkbIt5XjNb3LmyjdKA92zzV6rm_mLegQtcYslvgzgrEhyQXrzh857mnGfAZtOQDDHWHqAO0NxPk/s640/the+living.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Living</i> by Matt de la Pena<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i><b>"Best prepare yourself, young fella. The sea is fittin' to make itself known tonight."</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're going to want to carve out some time to dive into <i>The Living</i> by Matt de la Pena. Not because of the length, but because you will be obsessed. Obsessed with the writing. Obsessed with the main character, Shy. Obsessed with starting the next chapter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matt de la Pena hooks you in the first chapter. Clutch for many readers. Shy is on his first run for his new job on a cruise ship to help his mom with money when he is involved in An Incident that serves as the catalyst for the rest of the book. De la Pena slowly reveals Shy's backstory and we learn that in the world of <i>The Living</i>, an epidemic called Romero's Disease is quickly spreading. Though seemingly removed from the issues going on back home, things on the ship rapidly decline and that's when I got sucked in. It was right around page 100 that I knew I wasn't stopping any time soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get <i>The Living </i>today. And while you're at it, you're going to want the sequel <i>The Hunted</i>, too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRjA9THl-ytSIH16OHIrpRoNNaiw94coTAF2dRIpompBdWXOj8862VcFfh1FfyL-DYmrBwpl0F7myW0WLpad0IG4kJhvbVrMnjBcEevdDxD2E-TqzykLhJ-4STc6rGbN5BVppKteM1-I/s1600/matt+de+la+pena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRjA9THl-ytSIH16OHIrpRoNNaiw94coTAF2dRIpompBdWXOj8862VcFfh1FfyL-DYmrBwpl0F7myW0WLpad0IG4kJhvbVrMnjBcEevdDxD2E-TqzykLhJ-4STc6rGbN5BVppKteM1-I/s320/matt+de+la+pena.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting autographed copies at ILA in St. Louis</td></tr>
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<br />storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-58015189408185124692015-07-31T20:08:00.000-07:002015-07-31T20:08:22.400-07:00THE CONSPIRACY OF US by Maggie Hall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFh7fWHDgQy_F6I2qy3N-TDlbYGt8_jMuHO99MH1x03lNck2VcdES5qIwfvZpdqg2Qqlp5JIIb47SZOrQN0Bo0yHFhtd6guxVDzjzcqcMNL95qUn_DgneRH4EDCR_CyMPWFK0EMJtxL8/s1600/the+conspiracy+of+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFh7fWHDgQy_F6I2qy3N-TDlbYGt8_jMuHO99MH1x03lNck2VcdES5qIwfvZpdqg2Qqlp5JIIb47SZOrQN0Bo0yHFhtd6guxVDzjzcqcMNL95qUn_DgneRH4EDCR_CyMPWFK0EMJtxL8/s640/the+conspiracy+of+us.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could not get enough of <i>The Conspiracy of Us</i>. It was <i>The DaVinci Code </i>meets <i>Red Queen</i>. Geography, history, and secret societies meet in Maggie Hall's fast-paced first book in the <i>Conspiracy </i>series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Avery West has moved around all of her life, and just when she gets asked to prom by the cute new guy, her mom gets another phone call and it's time to move. But, when Avery sneaks out to the prom to meet Jack Bishop, her life changes in an instant. She learns she is a relative of one of the families in the Circle of Twelve, an ancient society going back to the days of Alexander the Great. And when Jack tells her about the prophecy (the One and the girl with the violet eyes), Avery realizes that she is in way over her head. Once she reveals that her brown contacts disguise her real eye color - purple - Avery becomes the target of the most powerful families in the Circle of Twelve. Jack and Stellan (another Keeper) eventually help Avery escape the grasp of the power-hungry families, and in following the clues left behind from their common mentor, the three come to realize that Avery and someone she least suspects is the key to fulfilling the prophecy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Conspiracy of Us</i> ends on a total cliffhanger, and I am so excited to read the next book, <i>Map of Fates,</i> which comes out next year. This will be on the top of my stack of books to recommend to my incoming seventh graders when school starts!</span>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-28780662766944679162015-07-19T20:22:00.001-07:002015-12-31T07:27:19.816-08:00MICHAEL VEY: THE PRISONER OF CELL 25 by Richard Paul Evans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEika6h6YbcpDvvw-9ctCy2sO3-jvqpVc7_lczxpWtieIVhQE5RQdwHGPSYGFOAJWTjVJ-PKXCSGtVqHmIRv6VN7vMrCsh4Yje4FeWDZTxzKIQAG_RA2Yg5AgKHyRo6Tu9prU5Ced9bw-xI/s1600/michael+vey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEika6h6YbcpDvvw-9ctCy2sO3-jvqpVc7_lczxpWtieIVhQE5RQdwHGPSYGFOAJWTjVJ-PKXCSGtVqHmIRv6VN7vMrCsh4Yje4FeWDZTxzKIQAG_RA2Yg5AgKHyRo6Tu9prU5Ced9bw-xI/s640/michael+vey.jpg" width="456"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My students love this series and since Book 1 was on the Caudill list, I knew it was my chance! I snagged the audiobook from my library and over a couple of weeks in July, I read this book with my ears! Michael Vey can manipulate electricity with his touch. But soon, an elite private school wants him to enroll, and he realizes that his powers may not be a secret anymore. There's a good variety of characters in this book and some great action scenes. This is definitely a good read for X-men lovers and comic book readers looking to get into something lengthier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>
<br>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-90674886093687322722015-07-19T20:21:00.001-07:002015-12-31T07:30:26.591-08:00CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD by Anne Heltzel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWY-yB7yYHw36k36UEfO9ws7lADWbYgSXcgJucccz3ehWZQTQyr-CWSyudGDJWKEzGXOewEDzr3lVCwaooKEUYMwZQ8DTiLK7xuF9PTFP7xekoaQkLlBFUYDsWyJQ0IUOoAm41dlf93c/s1600/Charlie+Presumed+Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWY-yB7yYHw36k36UEfO9ws7lADWbYgSXcgJucccz3ehWZQTQyr-CWSyudGDJWKEzGXOewEDzr3lVCwaooKEUYMwZQ8DTiLK7xuF9PTFP7xekoaQkLlBFUYDsWyJQ0IUOoAm41dlf93c/s640/Charlie+Presumed+Dead.jpg" width="426"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I read this ARC in one day on the road trip back from IRA St Louis. It was a page turner! Definitely for lovers of Gone Girl but VERY mature young adult. High school and up!</div>
<br>storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-89497114912799761702015-07-09T19:38:00.001-07:002015-07-09T19:38:36.239-07:00I HUNT KILLERS by Barry Lyga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrLo3fPloW_1LmpNDrAlCtNWYfcVyn3AAetR9zJDDK3cvVavw_EfuOAP1XpFhY3Eo2JsKi_eON_hPyReR8TbPoj7AxuHzt8cVEuCuNQOCEThYjIjixJakRyEdXs4e_FfbqCMWjfYYFFc/s1600/I+hunt+killers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrLo3fPloW_1LmpNDrAlCtNWYfcVyn3AAetR9zJDDK3cvVavw_EfuOAP1XpFhY3Eo2JsKi_eON_hPyReR8TbPoj7AxuHzt8cVEuCuNQOCEThYjIjixJakRyEdXs4e_FfbqCMWjfYYFFc/s320/I+hunt+killers.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On my way to nErDcampMI, I got sucked into Barry Lyga's <i>I Hunt Killers</i> (2012). It was so good, I'm pretty sure I was the only one who wished I could be on I-94 longer just so I could keep listening! I am a Jo Nesbo fangirl, so this story about the son of a notorious serial killer warmed my cold heart. It was sooo good, and sooo creepy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spoiler!! Summary for myself:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jasper (Jazz) Dent is the son of Billy Dent, the worst serial killer in history. The story starts four years after Billy is caught by the small-town sheriff of Lobo's Nod, where Jazz and Billy lived. Until then, Billy hadn't murdered locally to remain hidden. However, for some reason, he started breaking that rule and was caught. Jazz is now around 17, and lives with his senile Grandmother, Billy's mom in Lobo's Nod. Growing up, Billy ("Dear Old Dad") taught Jazz the ways of a serial killer. But Jazz is determined to resist what may or may not be the same urges his dad faced. He wants to use his insider knowledge to track down a copycat killer who has begun to mimic Billy's early murders. With the help of his best friend Howie, and against the wishes of his girlfriend, Connie, Jazz tracks down the murderer. Just in time for his dad to escape prison. There are gruesome details about the murders, rough language when Jazz faces his dad for the first time in years (only making that character even MORE vile), but it is very suspenseful and intriguing.</span></div>
<br />storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-28392346965154050772015-07-07T04:18:00.000-07:002015-07-07T04:18:15.279-07:00Teachers Write 7/7/15Teachers Write Tuesday Quickwrite<br />
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http://www.katemessner.com/teachers-write-7-7-tuesday-quick-write-with-phil-bildner/#comment-71749<br />
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I love this prompt! So fun. I need, and will, do this more. Essential to writing authentic characters and dialog. Thank you! This is very rough. I look forward to playing around with it more!<br />
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Starbucks, Jackson, Michigan 7:00 AM<br />
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7:00 Two male customers already seated.<br />
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One female waiting for an order, nurse. She didn’t use the drive-thru option. Instead, opted to come in for her to-go order. Wearing scrubs; plain, no fun patterns. She must work with adult patients. Perhaps had a complicated order and didn’t want to hold up the drive-thru line.<br />
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7:06 My breakfast sandwich sat, unclaimed. Older male, on his way out for the morning, checked with myself and other remaining male guest for ownership. Kindly wished everyone a great morning on his way out. Casually dressed, tshirt and khaki shorts, sandals. On a Tuesday morning, he looks like he is on vacation or retired. He makes Starbucks his first stop in the morning. He reads the paper and catches up on the day’s news.<br />
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7:09 Young adult male walks in, black jeans, black tshirt, bookbag. He waves to the staff when he walks in. They say hello back. The barista asks, “Any breakfast?” He pauses. “No.” Mumbles order. Tired. Maybe a server who worked the late shift, and now, he is coming in to use the free wifi before he has to go to work later.<br />
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7:11 Order came up. “There you go, Drew. Thank you!” “Thanks.” Sat near first seated male. “Can I sit here?” “Sure!” Guys occupying the two leather, cushy chairs in the seating area. Young male has one earplug in. Both guys on devices! Come here for free wifi! But that’s why I’m here too!<br />
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7:14 Another female nurse in scrubs come in. Nurses and coffee save lives! "Hello!"storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4451033151822674026.post-28528786573482376942015-07-06T16:29:00.000-07:002015-07-06T16:30:09.403-07:00Teachers Write 7/6/15<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is today's Teachers Write post (An Invitation to Wonder): http://www.katemessner.com/teachers-write-7614-mini-lesson-monday-an-invitation-to-wonder/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if I could eat my way through the Panera menu.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if I will ever get enough sleep again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder how one becomes a songwriter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what it would be like to be the kid of a songwriter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what it would be like to be the kid of a celebrity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what would happen if music didn’t exist.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what why music brings back memories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what would happen if all of your exes were in the same room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what would happen if the songs that reminded you of your exes were compiled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if you could catalog happy and sad songs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if someone’s happy song could be someone else’s sad song and why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder why people have an internal reaction/pull to certain songs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder why some songs just make you want to dance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder why some songs just make you want to cry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder what would happen if you were sent on a trip to relive favorite songs from movies, people, places.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if I could remember specific people, places, memories that songs bring back.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<br />storiestoldinstickfigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486363549039699615noreply@blogger.com1