Poem in Your Pocket Day was SO FUN!

Today's Poem in Your Pocket Day activity was totally and completely awesome and fun. I LOVED to listen to students read me the poems they had in their pockets - some they got from other authors and some they wrote themselves. One student even wrote his own song and sang it. I also loved seeing all the staff members who were in on the act - listening to poems and giving out PAWS. It was a fantastic community building activity and I had an amazing day because of it.

Thanks to everyone who participated for making this such a fabulous place to be the librarian!

City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau

I read this book a long, long time ago - when it first came out even, if you can believe that. And my husband actually went on to read the whole rest of the series! I really liked the premise of this book, so I was pleased that our mother-daughter book club took this on as our choice for April. We've done such a wide variety of genres in our book club. It's been really great. And this book provided a lot of really great discussion material which was awesome.

We talked about things like how the earth today has many environmental and social issues and what sort of problems could have led to the building of the City of Ember. We talked about who might have built Ember and when does the story happens. Clearly, the city of Ember was built when people were worried that the human race might not survive. We wondered if this was a good plan and what about it was good/not so good. What job would we have been wanted to be assigned? Did Lina and Doon get the right things assigned to them? How did everyone there get along so well we wondered? And that mayor! The mayor is the most corrupt character in the novel. He squelches the thirst for knowledge and limits freedom, yet the majority of the townspeople just accept his behavior. Why did they act this way? How could they? How could Lina take Poppy and put her in such danger? Would we have done the same thing if she were our sister? What if she were your daughter, I asked the moms. They'd ALL have taken her.

This is a very interesting furturistic sci-fi book - although now that I say that, they're totally lacking on the science, which is kind of where their problem stems from...so I wonder what genrre this is classified in. I'll have to look this up. Anyway, whatever genre it is, I really liked it and thought it was great for discussion. I'm eager to see the movie now!

Braless in Wonderland - Debbie Reed Fischer

The title of this book makes it sound WAY more racy than it is, and it has me wondering why the editor, publisher, author, whomever felt the need to name this book in this way. Not to mention the GIANT font for the word Braless on the cover. Clearly sexy sells, just watch television for fifteen minutes, but can authors and publishers of quality books not just sell them based on the fact that they are actually writing quality? And doesn't using this sort of gimmick cheapen the whole endeavor?

I actually thought this was a good story with a main character who tries to remain true to her values and admits that some of the ways she's approached life might not be as great as she thought they were. I also think that a story about a regular girl who suddenly becomes a supermodel is going to appeal to a lot of girls. But I probably also will not buy it for my library simply because of the title. I think that's too bad.

If you're a librarian or an author I'd like to hear what you think of this issue.

Something, Maybe - Elizabeth Scott

This was a sweet little romance that's endorsed by Sarah Dessen, so of course I had to read it. It was in some ways super predictable and then in other ways a complete surprise. A nice combo.

Hannah is the queen of invisibility. She's built a wall around herself to protect her. See, her family's a little bit, well, unusual, and kids have made fun of her in the past for this. There are only a handful of other kids she even talks to - one girl at school, but just a little, one girl from her neighborhood, and two boys at work - Josh and Finn. Josh is ultra handsome and Hannah's sure he's her soul mate, so she tries as hard as she can to be what she thinks he wants. Finn just seems like a regular guy to her, but everyone with half a brain can see that he's the much better choice. Thoughtful, funny, kind. And even Hannah notices he's kinda cute.

Seems like an awful lot of girls do choose boys for the wrong reasons and set them up to be things they're not. Why DO we do that, anyway? Will Hannah figure out she's going for the wrong guy? What would it take to make her see?

Add all her family issues to the mix and you have a great plot in addition to the romance.

Recommended. Available at the Multnomah County Library.

Poetry Friday - End of April

Can you believe it's already the end of April. It's our last Friday in April!

End of April
Phillis Levin


Under a cherry tree
I found a robin’s egg,
broken, but not shattered.

I had been thinking of you,
and was kneeling in the grass
among fallen blossoms

when I saw it: a blue scrap,
a delicate toy, as light
as confetti

It didn’t seem real,
but nature will do such things
from time to time.

I looked inside:
it was glistening, hollow,
a perfect shell

except for the missing crown,
which made it possible
to look inside.

What had been there
is gone now
and lives in my heart

where, periodically,
it opens up its wings,
tearing me apart.



from The Afterimage, 1996
Copper Beech Press, Providence, RI

Copyright 1996 by Phillis Levin.

6th Grade Entry - The Bad Beginning

6th graders at WOMS were invited to write blog posts on books they've recently read. this is Jake's entry. Thanks, Jake.

A Series of Unfortunate Events
*The Bad Beginning*
Lemony Snicket
HarperCollins Publishers, 162 p.


The three Baudelaire children Violet, Klaus, and Sunny have the best life a child could imagine. The Baudelaire children have everything they could ever wish for: an enormous mansion and wonderful, caring parents. However their lives are changed forever, when Mr. Poe brings the children some terrible news. He tells the children that their mansion has burned down and their parents along with it. The children race back to the house only to find it ruins. Now they have no parents, nowhere to live and no close relatives to live with. The only choice they have is that they’ll have to go live at their busiest relative, Count Olaf. When the “orphans” arrive at Count Olaf’s, they think they’d be better off living at their burned down house. Count Olaf’s house is filthy with broken windows, chipped paint and eyes…everywhere from the door, to the walls, to the furniture. Count Olaf welcome’s them nicely but as soon as Mr. Poe leaves, Count Olaf treats them poorly and unfairly. He makes them do chores like fixing the windows and making him and his theater troupe dinner and only gives them one bed to sleep on so one of them sleeps on the bed while one of them sleeps on the floor. None of them get any sleep and they have to deal with Count Olaf 24/7. The real reason why Count Olaf treats the “orphans” with so little respect is that he is after their ENORMOUS fortune. The children must think fast if they want to stop Count Olaf from taking their fortune and worse. Their right to live.

Violet is the sort of person that likes to invent things. Klaus should know. Whenever she ties up her hair in a ribbon to keep it out of her eyes, you know she’s thinking hard. When she is older, she wants to invent things that can help people with their daily problems and make their lives easier.

Klaus, the middle child, loves to read books. Back when their parents were alive and their house was still up, the Baudelaires had an ENORMOUS library. Klaus would sit in the library almost every hour of the day, and whatever he read, he remembered.

Sunny, the youngest, had a completely different interest. She enjoys biting things with her four sharp teeth. She also had a whole other made-up vocabulary. Like when she says “Gook” she probably means “This tastes funny”

What I really liked about this book is that the author used strong vocabulary. I also admired the descriptions. Not only about the characters, but the multiple settings. I also liked how the author wasn’t afraid to write one sad thing after another. This book was extremely unpleasant, but it was well written.

This book was definitely sad and I definitely recommend this book to people who don’t mind reading so unfortunate and so sad. You might want to be a reader like that or else you would want to put the book down and find something happier to read if that’s your style.


Submitted by,

Jake N.

water cycle PPT for 7th graders

Water Cycle[1] Power Point

View more presentations from jwilliams25.

6th Grade entry - The Bad Beginning

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Brooke’s entry. Thanks, Brooke!

A Series Of Unfortunate Events
*The Bad Beginning* #1
By Lemony Snicket
Harper Collins Publishers Ink, 162pg

When the Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Sunny, and Klaus where at the beach they then received terrible news, that continues threw the story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say their always misfortunate. Even though how talented and smart they were, they couldn’t do any thing to stop it. The three then encountered a greedy and repulsive villain. That caused a disastrous fire, and a plot to steal their family fortune. But all they could have was cold porridge for breakfast.

Violet was the oldest out of the Baudelaire family and was 14 years old. She always made inventions. She then pulled her hair back before inventing a new device. Klaus was the middle child and wore glasses, which made him look intelligent. He was the only child in the neighborhood that ever read almost every book of any species. Sunny was the youngest and was only an infant, and very small for her age, scarcely larger than a boot. She was known for biting, she only had four teeth, but could brake threw anything, and couldn’t talk.

The book was always a mystery; I couldn’t imagine what would happen next! I couldn’t think of great children having to suffer that much, especially for having their talents they have. That’s what made it a great book.

I recommend this book to people that love mystery but also loving kinds of books, especially one's that have your mind thinking and wanting to read more about what would happen next.


Submitted by Brooke A.

6th Grade entry - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Hunter’s entry. Thanks, Hunter!

INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
By Suzanne Weyn
Scholastic Inc., 186 p.


Swashbuckling archaeologist "Indiana Jones" is back with another "glowing" adventure! The time is 1935. After a narrow escape from death in Shanghi, Jones finds himself in a secluded village somewhere in India. A strange shaman tells Jones that he has been awaiting him. He tells Jones that he and his comrades are destine to liberate the villagers.

Indiana Jones is the most interesting character in the book. He is brave and strong and always wears his hat and black leather jacket in his adventures. His trademarks are his hat and his bullwhip! He is a hero who always does the right thing. All of his adventures take place in exciting parts of the world and that is why I think he is so interesting.

The action is what keeps drawing me back to reading these adventure books. I like the authors style of writing and sentence fluency.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read adventure stories. The exciting places Indiana Jones travels to in his books are like taking a vacation to a foreign land with him. The book is full of action packed thrills on every page.



Submitted by Hunter N.

Poetry Friday - The Toucan

No one says poetry to kids as much as Shel Silverstein does, so here's to National Poetry Month and Shel Silverstein!




The Toucan by Shel Silverstein

Tell me who can
Catch a toucan?
Lou can.

Just how few can
Ride the toucan?
Two can.

What kind of goo can
Stick you to the toucan?
Glue can.

Who can write some
More about the toucan?
You can!

WOMS totally ROCKED THE DROP!!!!

I was thrilled by the amazing response to our book exchange! Students brought in hundreds of books, got their tickets, and came into the library at lunch today in droves to choose new books! Many students got lots of tickets and shared them with friends so even more people could benefit. I have to tell you that I love coming to this job every day, but days like this remind me even more that I really do have one of the best jobs EVER. It's great to be able to plan an event where kids are SO excited about books. And it's so awesome to work with kids who get excited about books. Of course, what's not to get excited about, really?

I also want to give major props to Readergirlz for planning Operation Teen Book Drop. Without their leadership, I probably wouldn't have gotten going on this project here at WOMS, and there would be 8,000 less books in hospitals for seriously ill children. It's pretty amazing that these divas and their clan have put this project together two years in a row. You can see more about the whole operation in this video if you're interested.

Here are a bunch of fun pics from today's festivites! Enjoy, and thanks to everyone for participating!


Getting the books ready!

The fabulous set-up girl, Katie!


Choosing books, books and more books!!!!





Look at all the tickets we used!!!

6th Grade Entry - Twilight

6th graders were recently invited to post entries on my blog. This is Kortnie's entry. thanks, Kortnie!

Twilight
Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown And Company
480 p.

In Twilight, Isabella (Bella) Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington. She moves to live with her dad in one of the wettest places in the continental U.S. But only to make her mom happy, which is traveling with Bella’s step dad. While in Forks, Bella has a lot of new things to adjust to, like hardly ever seeing the sun, living in a tiny town hidden by trees. Even living with her dad. Eventually Bella meets some new friends, almost gets crushed by a van, and then finally starts fitting in. But when she and Edward Cullen start going out, it seems like everything falls into place. That is until Edward tells Bella his families’ secret, they’re vampires!!! Then her whole life starts to change. It seems like Bella is always in danger, and Edward is constantly saving her.


One of the main characters is Bella Swan. Bella is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, where her mom and step dad live now. But she is currently living in Forks, Washington with her dad, the chief of police. She has long curly brown hair, and is mid height and slender. Since she’s new at her school, everyone’s interested in her and suddenly has like three boys asking her prom. Though most would, Bella doesn’t like all the attention. There is something very interesting about Bella; she has horrible balance and coordination. She can hardly go ten minutes without tripping, loosing her balance, or falling over. But the most unusual thing about Bella Swan is that she madly in love, and dating a vampire!!!!


My favorite parts in Twilight, were when Edward continuously tries to convince Bella to keep away from him. Because he’s a vampire, she could get hurt. But she keeps wanting and seeing them being together. She doesn’t care what he is, and knows he won’t hurt her. She also knows that he will always do everything in his power to keep her safe. For that reason they are together, and because he feels the same way towards her, they can’t stay away from each other. They love each other, and will always be there for each other.

My other favorite part is when you get to know the Cullen family. They are described as the most beautiful and graceful creatures on the planet. They are all Dr. and Mrs. Cullen’s adopted children. Even thought they live together, they’re all in couples (except Edward of course). Like Rosalie and Emmet are together, Alice and Jasper are together, and of course Dr. Carlisle and Esme. But they all have their own pasts of how Carlisle found them and changed them, because Carlisle would never bite anyone who didn’t have any other options and were going to die. But because Carlisle is as they call themselves “a vegetarian”, all of the Cullen family only drinks the blood of animals. They also each have a gift or power, Edward can read minds, Alice can see the future, and Jasper can calm people and make peace. Also Rosalie has the gift of tenacity, or being “pigheaded” as her family describes her, Emmet has his strength, Carlisle, his compassion, and Esme can love passionately. They are all immortal, and incredibly fast and strong.


If you love forbidden romance, attention-grabbing action, and fantasy that seem so real, this book is for you. Also for readers who love vampires, a book that keep them on the edge of their seat, and keeps you wanting more until you can’t put the book down, I recommend Twilight.



Submitted by Kortnie M.

6th grade entry - The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot

6th graders were recently invited to write blog entries on books they've read. this is Christopher's. Thanks, Christopher!

The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot
Robert Arthur
Random House, 158 p.

In the book, The Three Investigators in The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot, Mr. Fentriss is trying to steal seven parrots. He wants to see if they will say their line that the parrots trainer taught them. Each line is a riddle from an old movie and each riddle leads to a secret treasure. The three investigators are in this chase as well. The investigators are trying to get the parrots back.

Jupiter Jones is one of the three investigators. He has a stocky build and a round face. He is not known to be very smart, but is very friendly. This investigator is an adventurous boy and often finds himself getting caught, or in trouble. Jupiter Jones really likes solving each case and loves answering mysterious questions.

What I like the best about The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot is that it never gets boring. The book always has something going on, and something mysterious or interesting is happening. I also love how the investigators are not adults, but teenagers. But the one thing I really liked about the book is that the book actually teaches you a lesson.

I would definitely recommend this book if you like mysteries, funny, or intense stories. Readers would like this book because it could take you on an adventure without leaving your seat.

Submitted by Christopher T.

Jenny Han Haiku Contest!

Author Jenny Han is running a fun contest over at her blog. Being national poetry month and all, this is the perfect time to try your hand at writing a haiku and maybe winning a music soundtrack and a free copy of her new book The Summer I Turned Pretty! Read all the details here!

Library challenge

Mrs. Yingling, a librarian friend of mine in Ohio, is hosting a challenge in which she's asking other librarians to answer some questions and post some pics of their libraries. Here's my info.

1. List the number of students in your school and volumes in your collection. 450 6th-8th grade students; 20,737 volumes

2. State the year your library was built and/or refurbished. The building was remodeled and this became the library in 1992 (this space used to be the GYM!)

3. List one BEST feature and one worst feature of your library. The feature I like best is our new inviting, comfy seating area.

4. Tell us one dream you have for your library. One dream I have for my library is for it to be used by classes ALL day EVERY day. Other dreams are expressed in the picture captions below. Oh, that money were limitless!

5. Include a picture(s) if possible. Here are some pics of my library


These are the stairs down into the library. There are lots of great posters on the walls, but I sure wish my library were more central to the school instead of being way down in the dungeon. You really have to want to come here - you don't just stop by.


This is the entryway to our library. I love and adore the old fashioned card catalog,even though we don't use it at all anymore. And I love my rain gutters that my dad helped me hang to display books as the kids walk in. Everyone who sees that loves it. I got the idea from Jim Trelease. Usually it's less messy, but we're gearing up for our big book exchange this week, so those boxes are full of donated books for that! You can see the corner of the student self-checkout station there as well.


Here's our fun new seating area. We got a little grant to buy furniture and got a donated coffee table and bookcase. It's a comfy space for kids to hang out which we never had before. I have the new book section, the Battle of the Books spinner rack, the magazine spinner an the graphic novels all in this area to help draw kids in even more.


This is our study section with enough tables for a full class of students to sit and work or listen to booktalks or whatever. It used to be more crowded, but some serious(ly needed) weeding helped free up a lot of space since I could remove whole shelves. I have Internet, a laptop (old but it works) and a digital projector in this area for teaching.


The fiction section and science textbook storage area. At least they're brightly colored...


These are our computers. I'm grateful to have something in here for kids to use for Internet research and games at lunch, but these computers are old and slow, and I would love to find a stash of money under a rock I could use to buy all new computers in here - enough for a whole class, not just half the kids at a time.


Our Playaway collection which the kids really like and our high lexile books. I separated them out because there are some teachers who require kids to read at their lexile level, and the students with high lexiles were struggling to find books.

Book Exchange Thursday! BRING BOOKS ASAP

Reminder that we're rocking the drop here at WOMS on Thursday - Support Teen Literature Day!

Bring in books you're no longer reading (ask your parents first, please) and exchange them for others!

Bring all donations to the library to get your exchange tickets. We'll do the exchange at lunch!

6th grade Entry - Elephant Run

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Alex’s entry. Thanks, Alex!

Elephant Run
Roland Smith
Scholatic Inc.

In 1941 during World War II, the main character of the story, Nick Freestone, is in London. He is living in his mom's apartment while bombs are being dropped by the Japanese. Later he gets shipped off to his dad's plantation in Burma. After Nick's dad leaves the plantation, the Japanese take over, and Nick is forced to be their prisoner. Nick is not just a prisoner, he also has to tend to the plantation and work on the garden. Nick lives in fear of getting hit by a mean guard if he doesn't do the work by the guard's standards.
Nick Freestone is a fourteen year old boy. Before he moves to the plantation, he is a city boy but after he moves to the plantation he learns to work in the outdoors. Nick is forced to grow up quicker so he can survive the hard life on the plantation.
I like this book because it takes place during World War II. I learned about World War II and was able to understand what Roland Smith was talking about. This is a book with lots of action and I love action.
Someone who like history and enjoys reading about war time would be thrilled about this book. This book is also for people who like action and suspense. You also have to make sure to pay attention to details so you don't get lost.


Alex D

WOW! What a lot of great 6th grade entries

6th graders - I'd like to thank you for all the great entries! Sometimes the formatting was lost when I attached the pictures, but I didn't realize that until I'd done several of them. If you had paragraphs in your original posting, and they've disappeared, I apologize. I won't be marking down for lack of paragraphing this time since sometimes it was the computer glitch, not you, and I can't tell the difference.

It was great fun to read about all the different books you read. There was a nice variety of titles. If you're looking for your posting, you may need to scroll down and hit the older posts button because there were so many. Or you can use the archives section on the right hand side of the page. Take a look at some other entries, too. Give your friend a pat on the back (in the comments section) for a job well done. You might even find a new book you're interested in!

Enjoy, and thanks again for participating!

6th Grade Entry - Danial X

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Blake’s entry. Thanks, Blake!

DANIAL X
By: James Patterson

This book is about a bow named Danial. Danial is an alien hunter. In this book his parents where killed by the most deadly alien outlaw. His name is the PRAYER! He is a giant pray mantis with yellow broken glass bottle like teeth. Since then he has been on a hunt for this beast.

Danial is a blonde haired boy who is about 14-16 years and lives on his own. He has this power that can make any one appear with his mind. If he tried he could levitate other people.

My favorite part in the book is the part when Danial uses his level 3 strength and rips apart this big, giant ameba with his BARE HANDS.

He had to travel into the underground sewers of Portland to do it. When he got home there where cops outside his door waiting for him. They where waiting for him because he never went to school! (how awesome would that be!!)

I think that people who love action packed books would love it! Also people who love violence.

submitted by Blake J.

6th Grade Entry Marvin Redpost Alone In His Teachers House

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Keegan’s entry. Thanks, Keegan!

Marvin Repost Alone In His Teachers House
By: Louse Sachar
Publisher in the New York: Random House, 1994 83 Pages

1.) Marvin Redpost gets a job taking care of his teacher’s dog while she’s away on vacation. He’s going to earn three dollars a day, plus a four- dollars bonus if nothing goes wrong. He gets to be alone in Mrs. North’s house “his teacher”. Pretty soon it starts to look like Marvin won’t be getting that bonus after all. In fact, Mrs. North may never talk to Marvin again! Will she or not?

2.) Marvin redpost because, he’s nice, responsible, and loving. Also because he loves to take care of dogs and likes sports. He also a very smart and has red hair like me. Marvin is stupid at times and thinks he is the class clown, (witch he is).

3.) I love this book because it has humor in it and is out going. My favorite part is when Marvin’s best friends Stuart Albright and Nick Tuffle are jealous of Marvin, taking care of their teacher’s dog, “Waldo”. Also because I enjoy the author’s excitement however he does write mystery stories and those are good too.

4.) The person that I would be recommending for this book is someone that the reading level is at about 4th grade. Also someone how likes humor and non fiction books. I think people how like books that deal with school, training a dog, ect. P.S. IT’S A GREAT BOOK

Submitted By: Keegan.O

6th grade entry - Icefire

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Sam’s entry. Thanks, Sam!

Icefire By Chris d` lacey
Watts publishing group.
421 pages.

David is a 21 year old collage student. His family is everything but normal. They have little dragons made out of clay that can get into their imagination and help them. David’s dragon is named Gadzooks. He is a writing dragon (he helps David write stories). Then one day David makes a wish to his step sister’s wishing dragon. He wishes to find out about a thing called a fire tear. The fire tear came from the last living dragon on earth, and posseses great power. But then an evil sibyl (AKA witch) tries to steal it. Now David and his allies have to stop her. Will David succeed? Read this book and find out.

David is very smart. He goes to college and has a job. He is also pretty humorous and kind of wacky. He has a “goth” girlfriend (from his collage). He can think and react realy fast. For example in one chapter he doges a bunch of shots made by the evil sibyl and manages to hurt her a little (even though she is way more powerful than him).

The thing I liked most about this book is that it has nonstop “cliff-hangers” and lots of action. Then there were the character descriptions, they were so good I had a movie going on in my mind, and I could see the characters perfectly. This book is one of the best.

I would recommend this book to both genders and action lovers.

Submitted by Sam O.

6th Grade entry - Coraline

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Renee’s entry. Thanks, Renee!


Coraline by Neil Gaiman
HarperCollins Publisher (2004)
162 Pages in the book Coraline.

Coraline is a book about this girl named "Coraline" and she moves into her new house and discovers a trapped door hidden in her mom’s room. She entered the trapped door and finds out that, the universal world is a whole new place. Now Coraline is trying to get her way out of this different, because her other mother in the trapped door won’t let her out and wants to have a happy family with her but Coraline wants to be with her real parents, not them. And now it is a game to get out.

Coraline is a very brave and strong girl; she is not scared of anyone or anything. Coraline has brown hair and blackish, brownish eyes. But Coraline’s real mother finds her rather boring and never has enough time with her. She is very curious and asks a lot of questions. The grown-ups think she is never serious because of her age. Sure she might make mistakes but she is actually really fun.

My favorite part of the book is when she was on her dad’s back going down the hill and the bees nest got him as he let her down and ran away losing his glasses. I liked that part because it created a picture in my mind and it was a really cool description too

If you like mysteries and you have a feeling like what is going to happen next? I would recommend reading this book because right when you pick up the book you never want to put it down. It is probably one of my favorite books I've read this year and I'd think you would like it too so start Reading.

Submitted by Renee H.

6th Grade entry - Shug

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Yana’s entry. Thanks, Yana!


“Shug” is 248-page long realistic fiction, written by Jenny Han.

This book is about a girl whose real name is Annemarie Wilcox, but nicknamed Shug because she’s sweet as sugar. This story takes place ina small town called Clementon. What happens in this book is reallyabout changing; Shug describes life as she knows it as a twelve-yearold, how everything that was once so simple, is now so complicated.Shug is the girl who never cared about what she was wearing,back-talked to the boys, and didn’t have a care in the world.Everything seemed to have changed in sixth grade, and now Shug is veryself-conscious and positive she is ugly. She’s constantly thinking ofher true love, Mark, and tries to hang out with the cool girls. Elaine, Shug’s best friend has a boyfriend, Hugh, and Shug is very upset that her own friend is already dating. Life is complicated, and Shug falls in lovewith a boy even herself didn’t expect. Shug thinks growing up is hardand horrible, but a with a little persistence, Shug soon discovers thatgrowing up…isn’t so bad after all, and that maybe… she is beautiful. Igave this book a nine, because ever so rarely do I give tens, but thisbook seemed to deserve a nine. It was a great book, because it was sodifferent. Every chapter in the book was like reading Shug’s journal,and I absolutely loved Shug’s personality. Her personality is bubblyand pleasant, and the events in the book are funny and well written.The one thing I would change about this book is how Shug’s mom isn’taround very often, as well as her hard-working dad.. Perhaps relyingmore on her parents could’ve made Shug a little bit less stressed out.Overall, this was an enjoyable quick-read book and I would recommend itto any girl, for it’s about the true teen life.
-Yana G-

6th Grade Entry - Call Me Hope

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Jackie’s entry. Thanks, Jackie!

Call Me Hope
Gretchen Olson
Little, brown and company 272 p.

In the book of Call Me Hope, Hope is very abset because a bully is running eleven- year - old Hope’s life, and she doesn’t know what to do. She can’t even go to here mother for help, because the bully is her mother. To get through all those terrible she has to live her mom, hope develops a special point system. Nasty glare is worse 40 point. Sarcasm is wores thirty-five more points.
Hope is very gentle girl with lots of dreams one of her dreams is to make her mom change by how she is with Hope.

Some of the things I liked the most was when Hope met Anita. Anita was a clerk of a store called. Next to New. I liked this part because even though Anita didn’t really know Hope, she still gave hope an opportunity to believe in her mother!

I as a personal leader, really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to girls that like to read stories that are based on family problems. Because it is sad and touching it ends up with a wonderful ending!
Submitted by Jackie DLT

6th Grade entry - The Shack

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Daniel’s entry. Thanks, Daniel!

The shack
william p.young
windblown media 247pages

This novel takes place in the amarican northwest.
The main character is Mackenzie a father of five called Mack by his family.
Hime and his family were camping at wallowa lake two of his kids are in a
canoe and when it flips it almost drowns Macks son.
Mack is able to save his son by leaving his youngest daughter missy at the campsite.
They realize that missy is missing.They think
she is murderd by a sirial killer.

The main character is missy.Missy is a little girl.She is very bright for her age.
also when she dies she doesnt feel sad she feels happy.
It doesnt really say that much about her but you can still tell what she is like

I really liked this book mostly because it is very spiritual.
It is a good way to think of god.It tells you the difference between right and wrong.
This story even tells you how to forgive and forget.
I also really like this book because you dont have to be christain to read it and enjoy it.

I recommend this book to anybody who is a christain.
also anybody who enjoys a book with heartfelt momments and suspence.

submitted by Daniel O

6th Grade Entry - New Moon

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Nicole’s entry. Thanks, Nicole!

New Moon
Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown and Company, 563 p.

After moving to little town Forks, Washington, Isabella Swan meets the beautiful and incredible, vampire Edward Cullen. After their troubles with other vampires in the first book Twilight, Bella must now face the fact that she must forget her love for Edward when he and his family go away. After a few months without him, she must go by her father's rules and go out and spend as much time as possible with her friends. One day when Bella was going home from work she finds two old, beat up motorcycles, and she decides to have them fixed by her father's friends son, Jacob Black. Bella discovers that she has a true friendship with Jacob. And while she is doing things risky with him, she will have hallucinations and hear Edward's voice.

After a few more months with spending time with Jacob, she finds out a secret a few days before Edward returns. Now she must choose between her very good friendship with Jacob, or her love for Edward.

The main character is Isabella Swan, and she goes by Bella. She is always thinking of Edward and can't bare to live without him. She moved to Forks, Washington when she was a senior, to live with her father. She has a mother named Renee, and a step father named Phil. She enjoys spending time with Edward's adopted sister Alice Cullen, and loves to cook dinner for her father. She has friends at her school, that don't talk to her much because they don't enjoy her going out with Edward, but she works at one of her friends parents Sport Shop.

I feel sorry for Bella, because she has to decide whether or not if she wants to keep her love for Edward or her friendship with Jacob, and I think she's going through a hard time and it's hard for her to choose, and then she finds out more and more things, and it could really make it hard for her, and on top of that she's worrying about what her friends think of her, when she's not talking to them. And they give her a hard time at school, and at work.

I was very excited that I got to read New Moon, because it has stories in it that make it seem so real, and that the myths could actually be true and on top of that it has action in it, which was very cool. The author describes the story with SO much detail that it feels like I'm along side with it, like it's a movie, and it's so cool that the books actually do become a movie and it's filmed in Forks, Washington and some here in Oregon. Although I've never been to small town Forks, Washington, I felt like I was actually there along side with Bella and all that's happening.

I would definitely recommend New Moon to people who love to read romance, action, myths all together, and with characters that express them selves, and how they're feeling in one chapter. I would not recommend this book to kids younger then 10 years old to read it for there is some bad language and a too hard of grammar for them. Submitted by Nicole M.

6th Grade entry - Bunnicula

The plot of the book is that Bunnicula is a vampier.Bunnicula is a rabbit that is a vampier.Bunnicula is not your regular vampier,he is not a vampier that dricks your blood but the kind of vampier that drincks the juices out of veggies and drains them of thier color untill they are limp and gray.
My favorite charater in the book is Chester.Chester is the best friend of Bunniclua.He alos has no clue that Bunnicual is a vampier, untill he is one The thing I liked most about the book was that the book is told from the point of veiw of all the charater.It was also funny at times.And I thought it was going to be a very boring book,but I was wrong!I would recommend this book to people who love animals because this book is 90% about animals.

Samantha R.

6th Grade Entry - Ranger’s Apprentice The Ruins of Gorlan

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Kobe’s entry. Thanks, Kobe!

Ranger’s Apprentice The Ruins of Gorlan
John Flanagan
The Penguin Group

The Rangers keep to themselves. Some say they practice the dark arts, but now Will knows those are rumors and nothing more. Will at first wants to be a knight but his size makes it so he can’t. His curiosity, though, unlocks new doors like the door of the rangers. Will is soon battling monsters beyond compare as he fights the wicked Kalkara which it’s told hundreds of men have fought but all failed.

The main character, Will, has a small problem if he wants to be a battle school apprentice. He is very small for his age, he is smarter than all the other candidates (which is actually a bad thing) and he is curious.

I like the book very much. It’s action packed, a little romance here and there and it leaves it wide open for a sequel.

I think anyone who needs to just read would enjoy this book because it just keeps moving along.

Submitted by Kobie H.

6th Grade Entry - Lush

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Savannah’s entry. Thanks, Savannah!

Title: Lush
Author: Natasha Friend
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

It’s hard to be a thirteen-year old girl. But it’s even harder when your father is a drunk; Samantha is a teenaged girl with a fun personality and a younger brother. She has never told any one her secret before, she went to the library and found she didn’t have any one to talk to about her problem so she started to write secret notes to some quit girl that sits in the corner of the library next to the window, but Samantha later realizes that she is not talking to the quit girl in the corner, but some teenage stranger that works at the library. Samantha finds out that her dad is some what dangerous when her brother takes and unexpected trip to the emergency room.

The main character is Samantha and she is a carful and sweet, brave girl with a fun personality she can’t stand her dad when he is drunk which is most of the time.

What I liked most about the book is probably the way that the author wrote the book I felt like I was there first hand, and it seem as if it is a biography of the person because it tells of her problems and the way she handled them.

I would recommend this book to most people that enjoy fun and at times sad and novels with the author writing in first hand.

Don’t miss the other two books in the series perfect and bounce. enjoy! ☺. Savannah Y

6th Grade Entry - Twilight

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Taylor’s entry. Thanks, Taylor!

Twilight Stephanie Meyer Little, Brown and Company 498 pages Isabella (Bella) Swan has just moved to a small town called Forks, Washington to go and stay with her dad Charlie she went to stay with her dad cause, she didn’t want to travel with her step dad Phil and her mom. Bella wanted to go back home to Phoenix, Arizona cause Forks; Washington was one of the coldest places on Earth. That is what she thought before she met Edward Cullen. Bella knew Edward was hiding something from Bella, Bella could not figure it out so Bella decided to do some research on what she knew about Edward she knew incredibly fast, strong, and had cold skin. Will Bella find out what Edward is hiding from her or not?

Bella Swan is a 17 teen years old she junior in High-School. She has a crazy but loving mom and a step dad Phil is a baseball player. Bella has a great but weird family and she loves everyone in it. She didn’t want to travel with her mom and step dad so she went to stay with her real dad in Forks, Washington witch she didn’t like cause of the cold weather.

I love how the author Stephanie Meyer made the book seem so real. I’m very happy she writes such great books.

I recommend this book for people who like Mystery books people who like that kind of stuff will love this book Twilight.

Submitted by Taylor F.

6th Grade Entry - The Winged Colt of Casa Mia

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Thamara’s entry. Thanks, Thamara!

The Winged Colt of Casa Mia Betsy Byars Richard Cuffar Pg.127 During The Winged colt of Casa Mia, Charles comes to his uncles Coot’s farm for a holiday. His uncle Coot is very quiet so he doesn’t talk to Charles that much. During there ride to uncle Coot’s farm , Charles asks him if he is still doing his job(uncle Coot is a stunts man).His uncle Coot tells him he doesn’t any more because he got in an accident in a movie and that the horse had to be put down .So he doesn’t want that to happen again. So they get to uncle Coots farm. Charles wants to ride him, but Uncle Coot doesn’t want him to yet .Charles says that he studied all about how to ride them. Weeks pass and Charles sneaks into his stalls .He sees a beautiful tan, tall, and young horse sleeping in the stalls. He look at in very closely, it has wings. The horse wakes up and starts to scream. Uncle Coot wakes up and sees him .He get really mad. The next morning Mrs. Minney comes to the farm. She wants a horse for her grandchildren.Mrs.Minney sees the colt .She wants to buy it but Charles and uncle coot don’t want to sell the colt. Uncle coot doesn’t know what to do. He needs the money though. Mrs.Minney gives him a pretty good offer for the colt. Does he sell the beautiful colt or not? I think that Charles was like the main character. Charles is very curious and he likes to go any where he’s not afraid of anything. He wants to try thins that other people don’t want to do. Some parts of the story he was really sad cause he would miss his mom he would cry because his father died and he wasn’t there to say good bye. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Uncle Coot tells all the movies his been in. I like that part of the story because Charles says that he watched every movie and that he knew all the moves his uncle does. One of the movies that his uncle was in is Desert Flame, Thunder in Oklahoma, Bright Glory. There are other movies too but there was a movie were he had a big part in it is called Son of Thunder. I personally recommend this book to people who like to read about horses. The people who also like fantasy books and will one day make something that will help all horses one day .I think that people would like this book because in your mind you can imagine all of these place where it takes place, and if you like adventure you would like it too. Submitted by Thamara M

6th Grade entry - Jack's Run

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Cody’s entry. Thanks, Cody!

Jack’s Run
Roland Smith
Hyperion, 246

Joanne moves to California to pursue her acting and singing career. Her brother Jack has to move in with her because their parents are trying to put Alonzo Aznar in jail. When Joanne sings for American Idol, Alonzo hears her voice on T.V.
Alonzo goes to where Jack, Joanne, and Joanne’s friend lives and kidnap Jack and his sister. They let Joanne’s friend go. Alonzo takes Joanne and her brother to a place where no one knows where they are. He locks them in a room where no one can here them. After a day one of his workers Snake Eyes comes down to kill them. Jack is way ahead of Snake Eyes and has a plan to escape the room.
Jack Osborne is the main character in Jacks Run. He and his family are in the witness security program because his dad was into bad stuff with Alonzo Aznar. He has already busted his family once and they have been relocated twice. Jack’s under cover name is Mack. Jack is, most of the time, the main focus of the book. He is always thinking ahead and is very helpful to his family when they, and even when they don’t, need him.
The thing I liked best about the book is that no one gives up on what they want to accomplish. For an example Jack and Joanne never give up on getting away from Alonzo. Another example is Jack and his sister’s mom and dad never give up on finding Joanne and Jack.
I would recommend this book to my friend Dylan. I would also recommend this book to people who like intense books and attention grabbing adventures. This is definitely one of those “I can’t set it down, mom let me read for fifteen more minutes” book.

Submitted by
Cody W

6th Grade entry - Mystery Isle

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Alisa’s entry. Thanks, Alisa!

Mystery Isle Judith St.George Puffin Books 181 pages Twelve-year-old Kimball Ames Lauder did not want to leave New York City to go to Shag Island in Maine for the summer. The huge mansion called The Anchorage, that sits on the island has been in her family for many generations, but she soon finds out that her great grandpa, Lester Arnold Kimball, is selling it. Kim and her mom ready the house to be sold, but when Kim’s mom is called away on business, Kim and her great-grandpa find themselves alone on the huge island. That night, Kim and her great-grandpa see flashing lights, hear strange music, and find an exotic parrot, convincing Kim’s great-grandpa hes going crazy like his father before him. But Kim knew what she saw, and investigates, finding out that they are in great danger.

Kim is very adventurous and for her, curiosity usually overcomes her fear. She is one of those city kids who needs her iPod, television, internet, and the phone to really satisfy her. If she does not have those, she would pick up a book and start reading.

What I liked about this best about this book is how Kim is almost destined to figure out what is going on at The Anchorage. I also love how she is so curious about things, even if it isn’t her business. Her adventurous attitude is exciting and sort of keeps me anxious, waiting to see what happened next.

I recommend this to people who love mystery and suspense. I also recommend this to people who enjoy a little action in their books

Submitted by Alisa D.

6th Grade entry - The Spiderwick Chronicles

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Calvin’s entry. Thanks, Calvin!

The SpiderWick Chronicles
Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster publishing inc.107 pages

The Graces move into a creepy old Victorian house that belongs to their great aunt Lucinda, and Jared Grace is miffed at this. He didn't want to move from New York, where they lived before. Soon they begin to realize there is something going on (the siblings). Mallory's medal goes missing. They bust open a wall finding Mallory's medal on a dumbwaiter. There are many assorted items on the dumbwaiter, and there is a little nest. Jared, being daring goes up the dumbwaiter to an unknown room. In the room there are many books including: A Historie of Scottish Dwarves, A Compendium of Brownie Visits from Around the World, and An Anatomy of Insects and Other Flying Creatures. He sees a message in the dust that wasn't there before: Click, Clack, watch your back. Jared believes this as evidence of something there. Yet another misfortune falls upon Mallory. When she wakes up her hair is in spikes and tied to the headboard of the bed. Their mother immediately suspects Jared.

Later, Jared finds a chest in which there is a book called The Field Guide. It is a book about magical creatures written by Arthur Spiderwick, who lived in the house a long time ago. Jared reads it, and realizes that the creature that causes all the havoc in the house must be a brownie. He tries to set a trap for the creature. Unfortunatly he is caught and he is sent back to bed. In the morning, total hell breaks out. The entire kitchen is a huge mess with everything scattered. The mother, yet again, suspects Jared and instructs him to clean it up. Now, the kids write a letter to the brownie/boggart begging him to stop and to give back Simon's two rats, which he stole. Later, the note disappears. Eventually the Boggart shows up with Simon's rats. He says that the book is not for humans and it brings harm to all who keep it.

The main characters are Jared Grace: A 9 year old, distraught boy. The reason for much of his discontent is his parents' divorce. He is a brother of Mallory Grace and twin of Simon Grace. Simon Grace: A 9 year old calm boy. He has a great fascination with animals and is quite peaceful, unlike his other siblings. He is the first person to believe Jared about the books. Mallory Grace: A 13 year old girl and sister of Jared and Simon Grace. She is also an avid fencer, and fights with her brother, Jared. Helen Grace: The mother of the three siblings. She distruts Jared to some extent.

This book is an interesting read. It's odd to see that the mischievous character (Jared) is the one who finds out this incredible secret. I actually admire the brownie for the fact that he will go to many lengths to protect the book. So, I suppose that Thimbletack is my favorite character. I also like Simon because of his peaceful tendencies and his love for animals. The story is interesting and I think I'm going to read the other books to find out what happens.

Submitted by Calvin G.

6th Grade entry - Operation Stormbreaker

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Dillon’s entry. Thanks, Dillon!

Operation Stormbreaker
Anthony Horowitz
Penguin Group press, 234 pg.

In Operation Stormbreaker Harylod Sayles is a cruel guy. He has made these storm breakers that are advanced computers that put you in the game virtually. The problem is he is sending them to every school in London . The storm breakers are being injected with poison that will probably kill not thousands but millions of innocent children. All because when Darius was a kid he was picked on and bullied and now he is getting payback. Will he take the lives of millions of children.

Alex Rider is a fourteen year old special operations spy. He has blond hair and is adventurous and brave. He lives in London. He back talks and gets in a lot of trouble. Whenever he is told to do something he pretends not to hear the person talking.

I liked the characters and the way they acted. They were brave and courageous. They don’t listen to their moms and back talk all the time. I especially liked that they stand up for themselves and others. They’re good role models sometimes. Like Alex Rider he is a good role model because he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes and he stands up for people that are getting bullied I think that is what a good role model should be.

I think my friend would enjoy this because we like the same things. Were not afraid to stand up for what we believe in and we both like the same genre of books along with everything else in the world

Submitted by Dillon P.

6th Grade Entry - The Last Lobo

6th graders at WOMS have been invited to post guest entries on my blog for YA books they’ve recently read. This is Andrew’s entry. Thanks, Andrew!

The Last Lobo
By Roland Smith
Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 178 pg.



In the book, The Last Lobo, Jacob Lansa is a boy who travels from Brazil to see his grandfather. When he arrives at the retirement center, he finds his grandfather has moved out and gone to Arizona, the land of the Hopi Indians.

It is there where Jacob’s adventure begins. Jacob and his grandfather, Taw, go out to the Mesa Desert to search for a lobo (a wolf) that is suspected of killing the local farmer’s livestock.

Jacob is faced with many trials and obstacles as he tracks the lobo. If I tell you more, I might spoil the story.

Jacob, is a 15-year-old Hopi Indian boy who travels a lot between his family members. His grandfather, whom he admires, is teaching him history of the Hopi Indians while giving him guidance during the tracking of the lobo. It is through his adventures with the tracking of the lobo that Jacob develops into a young man.

This book really kept my interest because it was constantly changing with the unexpected. I always enjoy a book about wolves and wildlife. I studied the Hopi Indians a few years ago, which made this book even more interesting to me.

I think anyone of any age would enjoy reading this book. It brings to life the struggles of endangered animals and the problem to keep them alive when faced with people and civilization.

Submitted by Andrew T.