Book Review: Gregor the Overlander

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

I enjoyed the book, though it took me a few chapters to really get into it. The language used by the Underlanders was fun to read. It was English, just grammatically different. 

To read a full review please click here. I read this for my Fill in the Gaps Project. 

Book Review: A Single Shard

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

I read this book for Fill in the Gaps, so you will need to click here for a full review of it. 

Normally, I only review one book per post. And usually, that book is from my Fill in the Gaps reading list. Today, though, I have one from that list and one that isn't on that list. I added the second one because, I just thought the book was great..and fairly new.

1. The BFG by Roald Dahl

I thought this was a great book to read out loud to children. Loved the language that was used. If you want to read more about this book, you will need to click here.










2. Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen

Book Description: Kevin has learned the art of lying. He calls it "common sense." He only lies to make people feel good or to keep himself out of trouble. Sounds good, until his lies become out of control in the attempt to convince a girl that he is "the best potential boyfriend for her."  Can he unravel the mess he's gotten himself into?

My Take: I previewed this book for the library and found it to be really funny! Kevin is a likable character that is well developed by Mr. Paulsen. Kevin is a true middle school boy with all the thoughts and feelings that go with it. The ending wasn't an easy one for Kevin, which made the whole story believable. This is a very quick read...like in a few hours, if that. If you need a good chuckle, read it!

Book Review: Planting the Trees of Kenya

Planting the Trees of Kenya by Claire A. Nivola

This is a great little picture book about Wangari Maathai, first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.  This was on my FitG list, and I need to make a confession...I'm not sure why I put it on the list. With that said, though, I enjoyed it and learned something new. So, it was NOT a waste of time. 

You can find my full review here at Fill in the Gaps Project.

Book Review: Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis

This was one of the many books that I read this summer. It has been on my TBR shelf for a few years, so I put it on my FitG list to get it read.
I enjoyed reading about China in the 1920s from an author who had actually lived there during that time. The descriptions of the people and the city were easy to visualize.

If you want to read a full review, then you can go here on the FitG site.

Thursday QBR

Yes, it's the Quick Book Review again this week. I have only finished one book this week. It's the Christmas season and I am trying to catch up on the baking that I missed out on last week with the stomach flu. 
So here it is....Matilda by Roald Dahl.  Matilda, the child genius that every teacher wishes they could have once, has started primary school. But, what to do when the parents don't care and the headmistress thinks Matilda is trouble?  If you want to read more about it click here. This was one of the books on my FitG list.

There is still time to enter the giveaway celebrating Matthea's feeding tube being removed. Click here and comment if you haven't gotten the chance.

4 QBR (Quick Book Reviews)

The first two are from Fill in the Gap. You can read about them by clicking on the title.
1. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
2. The New Kid at School by Kate McMullan

3. The Nina, the Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure by Jill Santopolo

This was a good mystery for upper elementary students.  The Christopher Columbus exhibit has gone missing from the town museum.  Alex Flint wants to be a super sleuth and this is his chance to crack a case. Alex and his sidekick, Gina, collect clues together to find the missing artifacts.  Will they catch the thief and recover the stolen exhibit in time?







4. Falling In by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Isabella Bean is not the popular kid at school. In fact, she is not liked at all.  But, she hears a buzz. It's not an ordinary buzz.  She finds herself falling into a janitor's closet and into another world. The world where fairy tales and witches live.  When she if found, the children there all believe that she is THE witch.  She has to convince them that she isn't and help them locate the real one.
I liked the story quite a bit. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but this one got me (which surprised me) I sort of liked the narrative excerpts, where the author talks to the reader. Changed it up a bit, which was interesting.
If you are more interested, check out Marcia's blog site for another book review and giveaway.

NaNo...week 2

Postings are choppy and very random this month because I need to stay focused! =)

WIP: Work In Progress
Otherwise known as NaNoWriMo.  I'm doing ok with my word count, I think.  I'm at 18,760 words when I stopped last night.  I wasn't able to write this past weekend and won't be able to write this weekend either, or the following...so, early mornings and late nights for me to push this through. But, so far all is good. Coffee is my best friend right now.  At the end I'll post what I've learned during my first NaNo experience.
PiBoIdMo is going ok, too.  I'm at 12 ideas and it is day 10, so I'm hanging in there. But, again, this is harder than it sounds.  I'm still so thankful for the daily prompts from other authors that is blogged about.

QBR: Quick Book Reviews
1. Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford
Who does not love Stuart Little? I had to find out why Moxy didn't like him. He'd been with her all summer - she was suppose to read the book over the summer. But, isn't there always some distraction for anything you have to do? (like NaNo?) Same for Moxy..fun, easy upper elementary read.

2. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
This book made me laugh out loud in the hospital lobby. To read more about it click here.

TGC: Tips, Giveaways, and Contests
Tip:  Comes from my 9 year old. The Son tells me the best way to up my word count is to write "do not" instead of "don't"...smart little cookie, ya think?  Bless his teacher's heart. HA!

I don't really have any contests or giveaways to report this week. I did win one though. I will be receiving Audra Harders' book Rocky Mountain Hero when it comes out in January.  This contest comes from Seekersville...thanks so much!

Btw, Mom, I'll let you read it first if you want before you mail it here. ;)

WIP: NaNo Fever!

WIP: Work in Progress

Well it is NaNoWriMo Time!  I have had to slow down today because of doctor appointments (which Matthea is healing slowly, but still ok. We see Dr. again on the 17th), feeding the family, and now am just waiting for the Son to finish his homework and get to bed. Then I can pour a cuppa tea and enter "NaNoLand".  It's best if I can enter when all is quiet in the house. And tonight is especially quiet...the hub is out working and the two little lassies are in bed asleep. YES! (now if they'll just stay that way tonight)

I'm a newbie at NaNo and feel fairly good about the first two days.  I ended day two with 5090 words. But, is that because I'm a fast typist or winded with words. Time will tell as I plod along the path of my storyboard.  Yes, I thought I'd be a little organized for this event. Check out the tips section because this week's tip is on storyboards.  And I found it to be very helpful in planning. It has been quite useful already keeping me focused and going forward, not sideways or backwards.  Here's a picture of what mine looks like. Yes, it's sticky tacked up to the wall.  

As for getting out the other two magazine articles...well, that just didn't happen.

QBR: Quick Book Review

Just Grace Walks the Dog by Charise Mericle Harper was a fun quick read that I'd let my 3rd grader read. Although he probably wouldn't because the MC is a girl. Great illustrations that helped show how Grace tries to convince her parents that she is responsible enough to own a dog.  They even build a life-sized one out of cardboard and tape him to a skateboard to take on "walks". 

Sheep by Valerie Hobbs tells the story about Jake a sheep dog that looses his parents as a puppy and goes from one owner to the next. Some are good and some are mean.  He ends up at a ranch that does not have sheep-but orphan boys.  He meets Luke here at this ranch and finds a friend and a home.  

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood is a historical novel for YA. I liked this book quite a bit. I'm not into theatre, but liked the history part of it.  If you want to read a full book review on this book click here.

TGC: Tips, Giveaways, and Contests

Tips today come from Ali Cross.  She had two very great tips that have helped me start this NaNo writing mania. They were on storyboards and based on the book Save the Cat by Blake Synder.  To read this two part series click Part 1 and Part 2 to read more.

Giveaways~

1. Angelina Ballerina Nutcracker Sweet DVD.  Click here for more details. 

Contests~

1. Ali Cross is giving away The Lost Hero signed by Rick Riordan!  Click here for a chance to win!

And the Boy is ready for bed...in a few minutes you'll find me in Nanoland....

WIP, QBR, and TGC

WIP: Work in Progress
Still working on the pre-writing journal of my MC. It is going really well and I've enjoyed this part of the writing. But, I'm anxious to get started on the actual novel...I feel like I'm a kid who just got a new bike and needs training wheels...only her parents haven't bought them yet, so she's knows she should wait a day longer until her dad puts them on...but her heart just wants to jump on and give it a try.  Not sure if I'll listen to my head or heart on this issue...may just jump in and start writing.  But, I do have a goal to finish this journal exercise by the end of this month....it's gotta end sometime soon.

QBR: Quick Book Review
I read Three Cups of Tea, the Young Reader's Edition by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin and adapted by Sarah Thomson.  If you want to read the review...well you have to go here at FitG to read the full review. But, the quick version is, "Inspiring!"

TGC: Tips Giveaways and Contests 
This is a new category I am starting...seems like a good place to start it. It will mainly pertain to writing and reading...but could include homeschool and randomness...
Today's Tip comes from my very wise 9yr old. Last night he started reading The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischmann. I had him read aloud to me. After the first chapter this is what he says, "Mom, do you know how important the first two sentences are of a book? That is why I liked this book and want to keep reading it."  (Yes, my mouth hit the floor!)
So, the tip? Nail those first few sentences. I know we hear that over and over and trust me, I know this...but to hear it out of the mouth of my son scared the socks off me. I wanted to run to all my stories and rehash those first sentences. Btw, where did he get this from? His teacher...nice job, Mr. Klump!

Giveaways: I was giddy as a girl who'd just won a good book a few days ago....because I DID win a book. I won It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder from Marcia Hoehne's blog.  It's my first blog win and it's so exciting....

Contests: I have a few here that are writing contests that all start November 1st ...
1. PiBoIdMo: Picture Book Idea Month.  30 picture book ideas in 30 days.  Check out the details here.  I'm thinking about doing this one.
2. NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month.  Right a novel in 30 days...I'm tempted, so very tempted...just might do that one, too! Which would mean not jumping on the bike and taking it for a ride...Want more details go here.
3. Young Adult Novel Discovery Contest 2010.  This is a fun contest to go along with NaNoWriMo! For more details go here.

WIP, QBR, and the NTUH

WIP: Work In Progress
Well, I believe I shared that I got my novel synopsis back from my instructor with some good critiques.  I've spent the last two weeks keeping a journal of my main character from three years ago in his life. I'm hoping this bit of pre-writing will help to enter the brain of my MC.  It has been good, but I haven't been able to write everyday like I wanted to. So, my goal is to be able to spend time everyday working on it, even if I can only get 100 words in.

QBR: Quick Book Review
I did some reading while we were on vacation. None of which were on my FitG list, but good reading just the same.
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass was a fun read. I was curious throughout the whole book as to why the two kids kept repeating the day of their 11th birthday.  And I loved the use of consequences throughout the whole book...lots of examples of bad and good choices and their consequences.







The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischmann was a fast read.  Loved the fascinating fact that many princes actually had whipping boys instead of receiving the swat themselves. Great story using a true fact.

















It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder was a great read! I love the book cover! That was why I picked it up at the library. I wanted to go and make cupcakes while reading the book...cool thing is that there are cupcake recipes at the end of the book!  Oh, if you want a free copy go on over to Marcia Hoehne blog. She is having a giveaway contest that ends on Oct. 17th for this exact book!
And one other fun things...there is a sequel coming Fall 2011: Sprinkles and Secrets.  Can't wait!






NTUH: National Taiwan University Hospital
Yes, we had to go and see the doctor this week.  Both my son and daughter had issues. My son has complained about his ears ever since we've returned from our vacation. So, off to see the ear doctor. Marcus was a brave guy.  They brought out a metal tongue depressor that was "L" shaped. They sucked the water out of his ears. The pushed and pulled on them.  No tears...told you he was brave. But after all that, we learned that the ear canal is swelled and they couldn't see inside. (I say they, because two different doctors looked at him).  He has antibiotics to decrease the swelling. We go back next week. YEAH...not really. Matthea has been coughing since our vacation. And the night before she had a fever with it. So, her appointment consisted of x-rays, which is like a torture chamber for her. And her diagnosis is....Bronchitis.  So, a bag full of meds for her. I was loaded down with medications by the time we left. And this all took only 4.5 hours to complete (this does not include the half hour trip there and back). We ended up eating at the hospital....thank you McDs!

So that wraps up my week....I'll probably post a homeschool review either later tonight or in the morning. It all depends on how much I get done today and if the little patient is feeling up to doing anything more today...

Book Review, WiP, and VACA

Book Reviews:
OK, so here it is...I actually finished reading a few books this week.  But only one was on my FitG list.  The other two are books that I pre-read for my son's school library.  I'm helping them read through the new chapter books to help them determine which category they should go in.
For the school, I read Report to the Principal's Office! by Jerry Spinelli and Help! I'm Trapped in Obedience School" by Todd Strasser.  I'd have to say, they are both just ok books. Not page turners or anything, but both a fun read.  My husband is a principal, so I'm always curious how authors portray them. In this book, the principal is new at a brand new middle school.  He starts a lunch group with four very different personalities from the sixth grade class. You read as these four change and help each other out and eventually become friends.
Todd Strasser's book is not as well developed, I feel. Three guys hang out as friends, but you see them argue a lot. Jake takes them to see an experiment that their science teacher has been working on.  One of the boys hits the switch and causes the other boy to change places with the Lab puppy.  The other two have to hide this fact and get them changed back before his parents return.  It has some interesting twists that do keep you wondering at the end. These are definitely middle grade books and I think that kids of that age would have a quick fun read with them.
I read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane to my nine year old son.  I always read a chapter or two from a book before bed. He was a bit annoyed with me that I had chosen this "bunny kid book" to read. But, he loved it and so did I. If you want to read the rest of the review click here.

WIP:
I'll start with the hard thing...rejection letter. Yep, got one for my magazine article. That's ok, I'm sending it onto the next magazine on my list and we'll see from there.  But this letter made me wonder if this story should be a picture book instead....time and other rejection letters will tell. I refuse to be down about it...will just try a different path.
As for good news...I got a good critique back from my synopsis outline. Did my instructor say it was wonderful and perfect? NO, (are you kidding?).  But, she did give me some really good and brilliant advise. And the best news is that it isn't a flop...my idea is good, just needs some fine tuning and character development. YEAH, I'm so ready to start the writing of it....this is my first, so here's for the long haul...

VACA:
Ya, I know, we just had summer vacation. But here in Taiwan, we get a fall vacation over their National Day. And it's a week.
So, we are camping.
In a tent.
Two nights.
Two locations.
With three kids.
In the mountains.
Taking our bikes...
Here's to an adventure...(or maybe a nightmare...HAHA!)

So, with that, I won't be posting until we get back...and I won't be working on my WIP (well, maybe I'll take along the laptop)...but I will be reading, so hopefully, I'll be knocking out some more of my fitG list.
If you want a sneak preview of where we are going...here is one of the places....my favorite so far...Taroko Gorge.

Taken a few years ago.

Until next week...