A really good book is like rich dark chocolate.  It's smooth and velvety and so easy to sink one's teeth into and reach for more.  You can just forget about the real world with all its tedious necessities - that mountain of English marking, or those dishes that need doing.  For a few hours you can just let yourself slip into a new world; it's as close to dreaming you can get while still awake.  A bargain holiday.  Of course, even better than a really good book is a really good series, especially a good fantasy series.  The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, by Laini Taylor, is a really good series.  I devoured the first book, Daughter of Smoke and Bone in early December, and have just inhaled the second book, Daughter of Blood and Starlight.  The characters are odd and compelling, and the plot is exciting and suspenseful.  What makes these stories even tastier is that their premise is so very different than other supernatural fantasies I have read.  I have been enticed and intrigued throughout.  But, the drawback of reading a really good new series is that you have to wait for the next book.   Just like the aftermath of a sugar high, bitter reality hits when you finish your book and realize that a year or possibly two will have to pass before you find out what is going to happen to your beloved characters. And that realization brings the sudden and cold return to reality. But let's be truthful, all this sitting around reading, like eating chocolate (or perhaps, while eating chocolate), is a little hard on the waistline, so sometimes it's necessary to return to reality, finish chores, brush teeth, and get some exercise.

   Miss Peregrine's Home for Unusual Children by Ransom Riggs is a surprise from the moment you pick it up.  Looking at it, I assumed that it would be targeting an audience on the young side of young adult. But, while it's fantastic elements would certainly appeal to a younger reader, some of the issues it deals with - especially its gruesome aspects - are  probably best understood by someone older.
   The book centers around a teenager, Jacob Portman, who finds his beloved grandfather horribly murdered by what looks to Jacob as a monster.  In the aftermath of his grandfather's death, Jacob's family, and later, Jacob come to believe that he has had an hallucination because of trauma.  As part of the healing process, Jacob and his father travel to a remote island off of Wales, to an orphanage where Jacob's grandfather had found haven as a young Jewish refugee during WW2.  It is on this island that Jacob encounters mystery, magic and great danger.
   The story is exciting and mysterious.  The author has interspersed strange old photos in his story, which add interest and intrigue.  It's easy to suspend disbelief and follow along with this adventure, enjoying the magic and excitement.  As soon as the protagonist reaches the island, the story winds up with layers of history, mystery and suspense.  And like an elastic band that is overwound, it lets loose at the end with an explosion of excitement.
   I really liked the book.  It was easy to pick up and hard to put down.  My only real criticism is that it sometimes seemed like the author was not clear who his audience was.  At times, especially when meeting the peculiar children, the story seemed "cutesy" as if to appeal to a younger audience.  Yet it dealt with issues of real evil - ravaged sheep, horribly murdered adults which seem to require some maturity, even in this day and age.  As well, an understanding of history, especially Nazism in World War II, is necessary for greater understanding for some of the implications of the story.
  I did really enjoy this book, though, and am looking forward to the sequel.  4/5 stars

   

Christmas is approaching and I am starting to look forward to the holidays. At this time of year, I always have so many plans for the holidays - who I am going to visit, what projects I am going to start and finish and   what drawers I am going to clean.  Some how most of these things never get done for all sorts of reasons: I am tired, I enjoy spending time with my family (and apparently doing nothing), and the late nights turn into late mornings.  One thing I do have time for, though, is reading.  Currently I am reading a magical book called The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern .  It is a wonderful journey into fantasy and magic.  I am really enjoying it.



I am also reading John Greene's Looking for Alaska, and enjoying that.  Another book I have on my list to read is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
   Another thing I love to do during the holidays is re-read Christmas stories.  Obviously, A Christmas Story is lovely.  A great kids Christmas story with humor is Rover Saves Christmas by Roddy Doyle.  My kids love it.  Even now, we all re-read it.




A great Christmas short story is "The Gift of the Magi" by O'Henry.

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!

Now that we have things underway...

The rainy season is here, so now is the time to curl up in front of the fire with a warm blanket and a good book.  Spending a dreary day reading is one of my favorite things to do.  I don't feel like I should be outside working in the garden or going for a walk; instead I allow myself to immerse myself in another world and forget that I have a bunch of marking to do - at least for a short time. 

During the school year, I tend to read books that are easy and not too deep. I leave the more challenging reading for times when I can devote more of my brain to it.  I also read more than one book at the same time.  I pick them up at different times, depending on my mood.

The first book I am reading is called The Book Thief, by Markus Zuzak.  It's a book about a young German girl living through the hardships of Nazi Germany, before and during World War II.  The thing I noticed first about this book, is that the girl is not the narrator - death is!  It is quite cleverly done, and, as you can imagine, it's also tragic at times - which is why it's taking me a longer time to read it.  Sometimes I have to take a break and read something mindless.  But it is a great book about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.  I would recommend it to any reader who likes a serious theme and beautifully written language. 

Another book that I have been reading is called My Year of the Racehorse by Kevin Chong.  This is a great non-fiction read.  It is about a young man who buys into a racehorse so he can explore more about owning, and racing horses at Hastings Park in Vancouver.  I like that this is a local story.  Kevin Chong is a reporter and he has a way with words - he is both clever and funny.  I am early on in the story, but I think it would be a good book for anyone who likes language, whether they are interested in horses or not.

The third book I am currently reading is called Murder in the North End by PB Ryan.  This is my candy.  Its a book series about an Iris governess in Boston named Nell Sweeney.  I think this is the 4th book in the series I have read.  I have this book on my I-pad and I read it when I am making dinner or watching tv (during commercials) or doing anything else that doesn't require my full attention.  It's a highly enjoyable little series of mysteries - relatively intelligent, but not too taxing.  I can read one of the stories in a day or two without even trying.  If you like historical mysteries this may be the book series for you.

It has been a great summer.  I have had lots of time to hike, swim, go camping, hang out with friends, and, of course, to read. But now the fall is fast approaching and I'm turning my mind to the classroom and some of the things I want to see happening.

For me this year is a new beginning.  After 10 years, I am moving to a new high school.  In some ways I'm apprehensive about having to start over again.  But, for the most part, I am feeling really excited.  I am looking at the move to Kwalikum High School as a new beginning - an opportunity to shake myself up and try new things.  One of my biggest goals for this year is to see my students reading a lot more, and to that end, I am changing my practice to allow for more choices in reading.  Of course, choices are confusing, especially if you don't read much.  So I am going to begin with some book suggestions.  There are both older books, and some that are "hot off the press."

If you like science fiction:

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare is great to sink your teeth into.  The first book is City of Bones and there are three more (so far.)  I just finished reading City of Fallen Angels.  While I would say that the first book is the best so far, I have found all of the books to be page turners.  This series is about young adults with all sorts of amazing powers grappling with adults who want to control them for their own ends.  The hero, Clary is an entertaining narrator and there is plenty of excitement.

Another new book I read this summer is Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve.  It is a winding narrative of a young girl in a dystopian world.  Raised by a protective community of academic men, she is overwhelmed when she is thrust into the world of future London (a wild and scary place.)  By the end of the book, I really loved it - the combination of old, new, and other(!) technology is so imaginative and playful.  There is a second book out, and I wanted to get it, but it is still in hardcover, so that is a future purchase.

The House of Scorpion  by Nancy Farmer is another futuristic story based again on a dystopian theme. It follows a young boy growing up as a clone in a society that regularly makes clones for all sorts of disturbing purposes - for organs, as cheap labor etc.  The book makes you think about what makes a person human, and whether the clones of the future should have the same rights as us.  I found it fascinating.


If you like Horror or Fantasy:

Of course, if you are thinking of horror, the king of horror, Stephen King comes to mind.  Look at some of his earlier books.  The two I will recommend are Carrie and The Shining.  Stephen King has really set the bar for modern horror, and these two books are classic.

If you want something a little less skin-crawly, but you like the fantasy theme, look at Kelly Armstrong.   She has an amazing array of books.  Recently there is her Darkest Power series.  This is an entertaining series about a group of teens who have been used as a science experiment, and have developed powers beyond the abilities of the adults around them to control.  They find themselves in a struggle for their lives, not knowing whom they can trust.  It's fun.  Her earlier stories, beginning with Bitten are about vampires and werewolves (sound familiar? Did to me too!) They are also really fun reads.

If you like Realistic books:

A book I really enjoyed this summer was called Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby.  This book tells the story of two teenagers - a boy and a girl - who, through a series of unfortunate mistakes, find themselves stranded in the Florida Glades.  They have to make their way back to civilization, tackling all sorts of risks - from alligators and snakes, to dehydration and drowning.  It is really interesting - especially for someone (like me) who knows nothing about the Florida Glades.

Finally, I found a new favorite author of young adult books this summer.  His name is John Green.  The first book I read was The Fault in Our Stars.  This story blew me away.  I could not put it down.  It is the story of a 16 year-old girl dealing with terminal cancer.  I normally avoid 'sad' books about people with cancer, but this story was not like that at all.  It was insightful, funny, sarcastic, and, yes, sad too. It was a wonderful read.  Another book I read this summer was Will Grayson, Will Grayson also by John Green with David Levithan.  This story was hilarious at times, but also insightful.  The narrator is dealing with the challenge of having a gay best friend.  I loved both of these books and would highly recommend them!

So there are a few book suggestions to start out with.  I challenge you to find a book you will enjoy and start reading!