This week I had the pleasure of attending the Hear & Now Author Series at the Peggy McConnell Arts Center of Worthington where Jack Gantos was guest author!  Mr.  Gantos signed books, including his 2012 Newbery award winning book Dead End in Norvelt, and treated the crowd to an inside look at his writing  process.  The  crowd was entertained by his informative and comical presentation and was able to ask Mr. Gantos many questions about his books, characters, and  inspiration.  The experience was  definitely worth the minimal fee to attend the event!

Hear Mr. Gantos read his Newbery Award Winning Book Dead End In Norvelt by clicking on the Battle of the Books page of this website.

I'm very excited to be the new Media Specialist for Walnut Springs Middle School.  I've spent a lot of time over the summer making some exciting changes to the library.  I hope the students really enjoy the transformations!

Over the summer, I was committed to read as much Teen and Young Adult as possible.  Thank goodness I’ve always enjoyed this level of literature and the books I read these past weeks were no exception!

Dead End in Norvelt , by Jack Gantos (2012 Newbery Medal winner) is a humorous and well-written novel about a boy growing up in the small town of Norvelt.  Jack immediately gets himself into trouble and ends up getting grounded for most of the summer.  The only escape he has from his parents is when he assists a local elderly lady write obituaries for the local newspaper.  Jack and others become suspicious when the elderly start mysteriously dying and Norvelt’s houses are relocated to a neighboring town.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (Amazon’s Best Teen Book of the Month – May) is a heart-wrenching story of female friendship during WWII.  Very detailed character development, and unexpected twists and turns make this book a great read!  This book is not for the weak-at-heart.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (YALSA Best Fiction for YA Top Ten Pick) is a coming-of-age story about a boy whose mother is dying of cancer and is struggle to survive the devastating realization of how is life is about to change.

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard was a recommendation by my 7th-grade daughter.  This is a story about teenage love and the dangers of being a siren.  Other issues dealt with include bullying, death, and friendship.

Mistaken Identity by Don & Susis Ryn.  This is a true story (adult) about the devasting 2006 auto accident involving a Taylor University College van carrying students – many whom were killed.  Two young women involved in the accident were mistakenly identified and this is their (and their families’) story.  Note:  Both families are strong Christians and there is a lot of religion throughout the book.

Araminta Spookie Series by Angie Sage (author of the Septimus Heap series).   These are short and humorous books about a young girl growing up in a haunted house.  Each of the five books in the series deals with a different adventure and/or mystery.  I read these aloud to my children (ages 12, 10 and 8) every night before bed and they really seemed to enjoy them.

I've recently started reading The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holt.  I'll try to post my thoughts once I'm finished.  If you enjoy reading reviews and are looking for some recommendations for good books (especially for boys), I highly recommend Ms. Yingling's blog.  Check it out!  And welcome back to school!