Mailbox

Last week, I was lucky enough to attend a YA workshop offered by BER (the Bureau of Education and Research). At this workshop, a woman named Patti put my independent reading to shame. Seriously.. She reads something like 300 books a year. That is almost a book a day! Incredible! I just wanted to sit there and ask her about title after title. She knew authors, characters, and basic plot lines of a myriad of books. It was astonishing and made me quite envious.

While listening to her speak on some of her most memorable reads of the year, I took 24 pages of notes on the books and strategies on how to incorporate them into my classroom (Posting proof of this later...). Needless to say, after the workshop, I went straight to Barnes and Noble with the intention of spending $$$ on many of these new titles.


So, there I am, camped out in the middle of the YA Fantasy aisle with my BER book, personal writer's notebook, and about 12 books scattered in front of me, when I realized that I could probably get more online for cheaper. That night, I logged on to Amazon and ordered 3 new titles.

Then I came home from work today...

AND THREE BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!

Eek! I feel like the punchline of a weird joke about people who read too much, but I really could care less. I have been loudly anticipating this package since Saturday, and I am so anxious to get started reading. 

The titles I picked out to tackle first are: 

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I am so excited to finally see what Tris is going to do as her world has fallen into mayhem. I did read a sample of the eBook, but I knew for sure that I would want this one in print. Can't wait to see what Book 2 has in store!

 One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. 

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. - from Amazon

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

Patti told us so much about this book, but to be honest, Endangered has been on my TBR list for months. I was waiting for its publication in October, and then completely forgot to order it. Shame. On. Me.

It is a 2012 National Book Award Finalist, Young People's Literature, but Patti divulged to us that many reviewers are also pushing people of all ages to pick this one up and learn more about the Congo and its inhabitants. 

"Schrefer (The Deadly Sister) shines a light on an oft-overlooked part of the world with this intense adventure set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Sophie, a half-American, half-Congolese 14-year-old, visits her mother at a bonobo sanctuary, her biracial origins make her feel out of place, but she finds purpose by bonding with and caring for Otto, an abused juvenile bonobo. Civil war breaks out while Sophie’s mother is away, and Sophie is inadvertently trapped in a country beset by starvation, roving bands of killers, and natural hazards. To stay alive, Sophie and Otto live off the land, travel in secret, and coexist with other bonobos, while seeking escape or refuge from the chaos. Schrefer spares no detail, fully exposing the horrors of war as he chronicles Sophie’s struggle for survival. This drama is clearly written from the heart, smoothly educating readers about the perilous dichotomy of the Congo and the heart-wrenching plight of the endangered bonobo, without sacrificing the intensity of the story. Sophie, meanwhile, demonstrates herself to be tenacious, resourceful, and strong, making decisions that, while not always smart, are driven by compassion. Ages 12–18. " - Publishers Weekly starred review

I Hunt Killers by debut author Barry Lyga

When Patti was telling us about this one, I knew I HAD to get it ASAP. The book trailer is amazing (see it below) and my students are going crazy for it. Patti mentioned something about the TV rights already being purchased for this title, and after some mini-research, the title is in fact an option for Warner Bros.

It was a beautiful day. It was a beautiful field.

Except for the body.

Jazz is a likable teenager. A charmer, some might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, "Take Your Son to Work Day" was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminals' point of view.

And now, even though Dad has been in jail for years, bodies are piling up in the sleepy town of Lobo's Nod. Again.

In an effort to prove murder doesn't run in the family, Jazz joins the police in the hunt for this new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows? - from Amazon

The sequel, Game: A Sequel is scheduled for release April 23, 2013. 

Until next time, happy reading!

Kim