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I was reading one of my favorite authors blogs today and she was talking about a topic that I’ve been pondering about myself. There have been several books that I have started this year that I could only read about half-way in before I just couldn’t read anymore. It wasn’t that the books were bad, just that I couldn’t get into them. Kristin Cashore (author of Graceling and Fire) apparently has been having this same problem. She said, “About the books I abandon — I think my abandoning them is more a reflection on me than on the books. No book is for everyone. When you read, there’s something you’re looking for, and it’s not the book’s fault if it’s not there; it just means you need to keep looking.” I admire this statement. It reminded me about something I learned in Library School about a guy named Ranganathan who came up with 5 laws related to books. Two of them really make since to me. I’m paraphrasing: Rule 1=Every book has it’s reader. Rule 2= Every reader has his/her book. Basically I believe this means that even though we might not like a book, that doesn’t mean someone else wont love it. Plus I think there are some books that have to be read at a certain time in our lives to be appreciated. SO if you don’t like the book you are reading, its okay to put it down. There is a book out there that you will love you just have to find it, so don’t give up the search for that perfect book that has everything you are looking for.
If you want to read Kristin Cashore’s Blog post fully go to her blog site http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/ the post is called “Shaking up the Blog…” posted January 7, 2010.
Tags: abandoned books, ranting, unputdownable
ok, so there’s a 6th grade girl who reads everything(!) . her reading level is 11th grade, but her mom doesn’t want her reading stuff with certain subjects (you know what I’m talking about) in it. what kind of books do you think she would like?
post here or email me at ambaug@aurora.lib.il.us
thnx
 Picture used with permission from Arrowhead Library System
ESCAPE WITH A BOOK
January 11 – March 5
Escape the dreary winter with these reading activities!
It’s easy…
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Pick up a winter reading log.
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Escape by completing 3 winter reading activities on a log card (3 cards per log)
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Turn in a log card (only 1 per week) for a chance to win a gift card.
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When all 3 cards are done pick up a new log.
 Prizes:
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First drawing ( week 4 ) $25 Best Buy gift card
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Second drawing ( week 8 ) $50 Border’s gift card
 The more you participate, the more chances to win!
Tags: Winter Reading
When Cody’s girlfriend gets shipped off to boarding school in New-England and he gets hurt playing football Cody decides there is no reason for him to be in school anymore and drops out. Soon after he finds out that his ex-girlfriend Clea has gone missing. Knowing that he still loves her he drives across country to discover the truth about what happened and see if he can find her. As he tries to blend in to the search efforts he learns more about what Clea meant in her last letter to him, not everyone in the town is trust worthy. But, while everyone else is giving up can Cody follow through and find Clea, dead or alive?
This mystery was good, but I figured out what was happening long before the end. That may have to do with the fact that I listened to it on audio. It was a good story and if you like mysteries then you should definitely try this one. This is a story of true love that surpasses the classes.
-Hannah
Check out the authors site: http://www.peterabrahams.com/
Tags: Book Review, Hannah's Reviews, Peter Abrahams, Reality Check
Nora is a girl who has never fallen for a guy at her school, but when the coach, who teaches her science class, switches the seating chart and she ends up partners with the new guy Patch she starts to feel an attraction for the broody insulting boy who keeps hitting on her and making her emotions go haywire. The biggest problem she sees with being with Patch is that she is starting to think he is out to kill her… Someone is following her. Someone ransacked her room. Someone attacked her best friend who was wearing Nora’s coat. Some one attacked her in her car. It was always a man in a ski mask, but could it be Patch or is someone else out to kill Nora?
Well now, where do I begin with this book? It very much reminded me of Twilight. The cover art is what drew me into this book. It called my name and I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but this one said that the story inside is SOMETHING, READ ME! I’m glad I did. The writing style bugged me for some unknown reason, but the story was fantastic. The sequel should be really good considering the ending of this one.Â
-Hannah
Check out the author’s site: http://beccafitzpatrick.com/
Tags: angels, Becca Fitzpatrick, Book Review, fallen angels, Hannah's Reviews, Hush Hush, mystery, romance
Maggie is the victim of a hit-and-run accident that irrevocably changes her life, and it’s her best friend’s brother, Caleb, who does it. He also lives right next door. And his bedroom window faces hers. How much worse can it get? Then, he goes to work for her boss and they’re thrown together on a daily basis.
This story is already pretty far-fetched, but then they become friends…and more. what are the chances of that actually happening in real life? I’d say slim to none, but it’s a nice concept. The end is actually the most realistic part of the book.
Although most of the story is a bit too much for the average reader to be expected to believe, the relationship Maggie develops with her no-nonsense employer is empowering for her, and a very touching one. It and the ending help to balance the fantasy-like story of Maggie’s rapidly blossoming love for Caleb, the guy who wrecked her life.
Tags: Book Review
I saw the movie Friday Night. The screaming fans were a lot to take in for some of the movie goers, but over all going to the movie opening night is always fantastic. I got to see fans of the books show just how much they love the characters in a large group setting. The movie met most of my expectations and I think I have finally come to grasps with the “sparkling” that they do… but when the Pack came out in their cut offs and nothing else I could only hear the screams of what seemed like hundreds of screaming girls.Â
When I saw Twilight on the Big Screen I waited a while before going. Still when I went to see it there were fans screaming and one teen even went up and petted the screen before the movie started. This time there were only massive amounts of screaming fans and no open seats. Opening Night is an experience that everyone should have at least once. Especiallywhen it is a movie like Twilight or New Moon.  I loved the movie, but I think that you have to at least see the first one to get the whole point of it across.
If you saw the movie, tell us what you thought… How does it compare to the book?Â
-Hannah
Tags: movie, New Moon, Stephenie Meyer, Twilight
Fifteen year old Clary Fray thought she was a normal girl with an average eccentric mother. She never thought that Demons, Angels, Fairies, and Warlocks really existed. Then one night at a club with her friend Simon she sees a blue-haired boy about to get murdered by three teenagers. That is the moment when her life really changes. Her mother is frantic about leaving their home and Clary decides to go to an Open Mic Night with Simon instead of packing. When her mother calls and screams after telling her not to come home, Clary goes home only to find a creature that wants to eat her. Thus begins her journey into the Shadow Hunter World.
I am listening to this on audio right now and am on disk 9. So far I love the story! Yet another series I will have to read in full. Let me just say that Jase is the ultimate Bad boy with a heart of gold (at least so far as I know at this point)
 Check out her site: http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/home
-Hannah
Tags: Book Review, Cassandra Clare, City of bones, Hannah's Reviews
Grace has watched the wolves ever since she was nearly eaten by them. One wolf with yellow eyes saved her as a small child. Now a teenager she still watches them every winter when they appear.  Especially her yellow eyed wolf.   So when a local boy is killed by the wolves, a hunting party if formed. Grace tries to save her wolf by telling the hunters her friend was in the woods taking pictures. And when a naked yellow eyed boy her age is laying on her porch, shot, grace knows it is her wolf.
This book has a Twilight-esc feel to it, only instead of vampires it is all about the wolves. There were certainaspects of the book that I thought could have been done better, but I really liked the story line. The ending threw me for a loop after all the build up. If you are looking for a book with surprises this is one that could very well give them to you.  Book 2 comes out in Fall 2010.Â
Check out her site at: http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/
-Hannah
Tags: Book Review, Hannah's Reviews, Maggie Stiefvater, Shiver, wolves
