Bookmarked

Vampire Kisses: Review

2008-12-19T10:51:00.001-08:00

Vampire Kisses: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-12-19T10:50:00.001-08:00

Twilight: The Movie: Review

2008-11-23T05:24:00.001-08:00

Twilight: The Movie: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

Sold: Review

2008-11-20T12:37:00.004-08:00

Sold: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T12:37:00.003-08:00

Such a Pretty Girl: Review

2008-11-20T12:37:00.001-08:00

Such a Pretty Girl: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

The Postcard: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T12:35:00.004-08:00

The Hunger Games: Review

2008-11-20T12:35:00.003-08:00

The Hunger Games: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T12:35:00.001-08:00

Vampire Kisses: Review

2008-11-20T12:30:00.003-08:00

Vampire Kisses: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T12:30:00.001-08:00

The Loud Silence of Francine Green: Review

2008-11-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Students study the McCarthy era in American history and when they read Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. The Loud Silence of Francine Green brings the controversies of that era to life.

The story takes place during Francine's 8th grade year, 1949-50, in a Catholic school for girls. Francine dreams of meeting movie stars. Sophie's father loses his job as a script-writer, and Sophie's neighbor is an actor blacklisted as a communist sympathizer. Francine accepts her father's advice to avoid controversy. Sophie questions everything, accepts no standard answers, and is punished regularly for stirring controversy.

Yet, when Sophie moves to Francine's school, the two girls become best friends. During their year together, Francine finds herself leaving the world of childhood innocence where Mom and Dad can make all bad things go away and entering a world where sometimes life isn't fair and the only right thing to do is to stand up for what she believes in -- no matter who disagrees with her.

Karen Cushman does an excellent job in this slender novel of bringing the time period to life. I can't help but see the similarities between post 9/11 America and Sophie's 1950 America. Cushman also does an excellent job of creating characters in Francine and Sophie that I wanted to spend time with and watch grow. dsm

The Loud Silence of Francine Green: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T11:33:00.001-08:00

Black Box: Review

2008-11-20T11:32:00.001-08:00

Black Box: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T11:31:00.004-08:00

Daemon Hall: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T11:31:00.003-08:00

Peeled: Review

2008-11-20T11:31:00.001-08:00

Peeled: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T11:30:00.002-08:00

Trouble: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T11:30:00.001-08:00

Trouble: Review

2008-11-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

Beastly: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T09:37:00.001-08:00

Beastly: Review

2008-11-20T09:36:00.004-08:00

Enter Three Witches: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T09:36:00.003-08:00

Enter Three Witches: Review

2008-11-20T09:36:00.001-08:00

Romeo's Ex - Rosaline's Story: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

Romeo's Ex - Rosaline's Story: Review

2008-11-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Zen and the Art of Faking It: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Zen and the Art of Faking It: Review

2008-11-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

This is the latest of Jordan Sonnenblick's young adult novels. I loved Notes from the Midnight Driver. I wasn't disappointed with Zen. In fact, I laughed out loud at many of the main character's (San Lee) observations. But, as he did in Notes, Sonnenblick again makes us laugh and think - about our own lives and who we often try to be - about the family and friends we think we know - about what it means to be truly honest. This book gets four stars from me. It's a quick read that will leave you smiling and thinking. dsm

Sunrise Over Fallujah: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-14T07:44:00.001-08:00

Sunrise Over Fallujah: Review

2008-11-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-14T07:37:00.001-08:00

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye: Review

2008-11-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

House of Night series: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-13T12:15:00.002-08:00

House of Night series: Review

2008-11-13T12:15:00.001-08:00

Maximum Ride series: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

Maximum Ride series: Review

2008-11-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

I loved this series. Very fast reading. Lots of action. Plenty of humor. -dsm

What do you think?

Twilight Saga: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2008-11-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am old enough to be Bella's mother, and some days I feel old enough to be Edward's mother, but I was still swept away with love story of teenage Bella, Edward, and Jacob.

I drove 70 miles (round trip) to buy New Moon within an hour of finishing Twilight because I couldn't wait for one of our three library copies to be returned. Mrs. S. and I spent many a morning before school in spirited debate about whether Edward or Jacob was the better choice for Bella. I read Eclipse in one long fall weekend and wept at the end because I thought no one should have to make the choice Bella had to make and face the hurt that her choice would cause. I chased a FedEx truck through town one Saturday morning, flashing my lights and waving my arms, trying to get him to pull over because he was carrying the school's new copy of Breaking Dawn and I had missed the drop-off by moments. After I lost him in Saturday traffic, I drove 35 miles to buy my own copy. I haven't been this wrapped up in a story or its characters since I read The Lord of the Rings. -dsm

What are your thoughts? What is your Twilight story?

Twilight:Review

2008-11-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

Those of you who are enthusiastic fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga may find this hard to believe, but there are still students who have not yet read Twilight. They come in to the library every day saying something like this, "Do you have Twilight? All my friends tell me I HAVE to read that book!"

So... post your REVIEWS here, but don't give away any details that a reader won't find out till later novels. Save your discussion of one book or of the whole series for the Spoiler Alert section.

Sam's Letters to Jennifer: Review

2007-09-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

I found Sam's Letters to Jennifer on the bargain books' shelf at Borders. What a find! This is the first James Patterson book I've read. I know he's very popular for the Maximum Ride series, but this romance novel is fabulous. So fabulous, in fact, that I read it in three days. I absolutely could not put it down. Half of the novel is written in regular chapter form, in 1st person, while the other half is written in letters to the narrator (Jennifer) from her grandmother (Sam), telling Jennifer about Sam's past. Jennifer was perceptive enough to ask her grandmother for her "real" story; Sam was clever enough to put it into letters. From the unexpected excitement of Sam's past to the suspense of Jennifer's present, this book is a must read! I especially recommend it for those who enjoy Nicholas Sparks' novels but would like a little change--you'll love Sam's Letters to Jennifer.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Review

2007-09-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you who love Harry Potter, the seventh and final edition is a must read. As a Potter fan myself, I had a copy ordered and shipped to my house on the day it became available. J.K. Rowling did not disappoint with the final installment of Harry's journey against evil. Along with his sidekicks, Ron and Hermione, Harry spends 759 pages engaged in a battle to the death with the dark lord--otherwise known as Voldemort, or "He Who Shall Not Be Named." Although a few parts were rather dry, the majority of the novel was absolutely wonderful. The 7th book is a must read for any Potter fan!

Heir Apparent: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT

2007-09-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

Author: Vivian Vande Velde

Science fiction typically makes me think. Heir Apparent is no exception. But, this is the first science fiction novel to make me laugh - out loud. Giannine's re-entrance to reality in the arms of Kenric, er... Nigel was a great touch. Even though I knew Vande Velde just couldn't kill a heroine as gutsy and sassy as Giannine, I was still worried that the scientists wouldn't get the equipment fixed in time.

I've always been fascinated with history. If I could play a total immersion, virtual reality game as Giannine did, would I? If I could experience life during the Middle Ages, would I? I don't know. As much as I'd love to dip into the Renaissance or see Abraham Lincoln "up close and personal," I don't know if I could ever willingly give someone else that much control over my mind.

What about you?

DSM

Heir Apparent: Review

2007-09-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Vivian Vande Velde

Four stars for this fun trip to the way-distant past from the not-so-distant future.

Giannine's birthday present is a gift certificate for time in a virtual reality, total immersion computer game set in the Middle Ages. As with any video game, she has to successfully complete tasks or "die" and start over.

However, because protestors, who want violent video games banned, break into the gaming center and damage equipment while she is hooked up, Giannine gets trapped in the game. She has to successfully complete the game in time or literally die with the damaged equipment.

Giannine's sassy comments from the perspective of a very modern young woman in a very old world sometimes made me laugh out loud. But, the clock ticking on her life and the fear of the game's creators as they try to free her had me anxiously turning the pages of this story.

DSM

Getting Started

2007-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Bookmarked

Basic Rules:

1. Use a nickname or first name only. This blog can be read by anyone.

2. Think before you write. All comments are sent first to your teacher's mail box before they are posted to the blog.

3. Some students will read the blog looking for reviews of good books. DON'T RUIN THE ENDING FOR THEM!

If you want to discuss the book and its ending in detail, click on the comment link under the Post with the book's title: Discussion: SPOILER ALERT in the title box.
If you want to do a book talk or review that will make others want to read the book you just finished, click on the comment link under the Post with the book's title: REVIEW in the Title box.

4. Only your teachers will be able to post the first blog on any particular book. If you want to discuss a book that hasn't yet been mentioned, let your English teacher or librarian know so that she can create the first blog for that book.