Contest--Win a copy of 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

Did you ever wish you had the chance to do a day over? You can read the book REWIND or
11 BIRTHDAYS to see what that is like. Here is a chance to win 11 BIRTHDAYS. Name the author of REWIND and 1 other title that we have in our library by that author. Do not repeat a title.
If all the titles have been used you can say what other books by Wendy Mass we have in our library. Please remember to include your first name, last initial and teacher in your comment.
Contest ends 11:59 PM on Friday, November 5.

The Genius Files : Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

In THE GENIUS FILES : MISSION UNSTOPPABLE by Dan Gutman Coke and Pepsi are almost 13 year-old twins. They have scored extremely high on standardized tests and have been recruited into a secret organization of genius children whose mission is to save the world. Their family is traveling across the U.S.A. from California to Washington D.C. with plans on visiting tourist attractions along the way. Coke and Pepsi receive and solve codes and ciphers and save themselves from getting hurt by people who apparently are against The Genius Files. This book is filled with excitement and adventure and reminds me of STORMBREAKER by Anthony Horowitz. What makes it even better is Dan Gutman's sense of humor and the fact that he made this book interactive. Readers are encouraged to follow the trip with mapquest, google maps or an atlas. Gutman is willing to wait for the reader to look up trivia facts if they don't believe him. As a parent it is hard to believe that their parents can be so naive. However it is easy to believe that Coke and Pepsi can handle themselves in no matter what situation they fall in due in part to Gutman's convincing writing. This is a fun read and kids will gobble it up and clamor for Part 2. I read it as an e-book arc from netgalley and it will be published in early 2011.

Contest--Win LUNCH MONEY by Andrew Clements

Do to poplular demand contests are back! The winner of the first contest of the year will win a copy of Andrew Clements LUNCH MONEY. For one chance to win LUNCH MONEY name another book by Andrew Clements. Do not repeat a title once someone has written it. IMPORTANT-you must include your first name, last initial and teacher's name to be in the contest. Contest ends at 11:59 Friday, October 29.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

It's 1962 in this documentary novel entitled COUNTDOWN by Deborah Wiles. John F. Kennedy is the president. Martin Luther King Jr. is just starting to speak his message. Pete Seeger is writing folk songs. And Franny is a girl who loves her family and Nancy Drew books. In school Franny and her classmates are taught to "duck and cover" when air raid sirens go off. She's fighting with her best friend, has a crush on the boy next store and is afraid that Cuba and/or Russia will drop an atom bomb on America. Franny's story is told interspersed with news articles, lyrics to songs, maps and illustrations in quite an amazing book. For a different kind of historical fiction book check out COUNTDOWN.

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz

by Laura Amy Schlitz. Flory is a night fairy who loses her wings in a run in with a bat. She winds up in a garden and is determined to survive in a world of giants (humans). A squirrel becomes her mode of transportation but Flory wants to fly again and tries to get a hummingbird to carry her on its back to fly. What will happen to the hummingbird when it's caught in a spiderweb? Will Flory ever fly again? The author Laura Amy Schlitz wrote this book for all the girls in her library asking for books about fairies.
A fun read.

The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest

Do you want to participate in THE GREAT SCAVENGER HUNT CONTEST? You can view the list of books on line and print the challenge.

Go to www.kaycassidy.com/hunt. Click on middle grades/tweens for the the books. Click on a title to print the challenge. When you turn it in to me please put your name and age on it.

Thanks and good luck.

SHOOTING KABUL by N.H. Senzai

In SHOOTING KABUL by N.H. Senzai Fadi and his family leave Afghanistan weeks before September 11, 2001. His father has been asked to join the Taliban and instead he chooses to leave the country. On the evening of their escape, Mariam the youngest child accidently is left behind. Each member of the family feels responsible for what happened but Fadi most of all and this is his story. Filled with Afghani history, religion, family and food this is a wonderful story. When I finished the book I wanted more. More of Fadi and life in the US. And perhaps Mariam's story too.

KEEPER by Kathi Appelt

When I finished reading KEEPER by Kathy Appelt was relieved. Sometimes 400 page books take me so long to read that I just want to be done already. Then I was confused about my feelings on the book. Did I like it? Did I not like it? So I reread the editorial reviews and some amazon reader reviews and saw I was not alone. While the critics love it other readers are like me. It is a wonderful poetic book with strong characters and a charming story. Mermaids, a loving (non-traditional) family, life by the sea, surfboards. However, it is not an easy book to read and many children will not stick with it long enough to really enjoy. However, strong readers who love mermaids and long stories will love it and that's who I recommend it to.

Battle of the Books

The Yorba Linda Public Library is hosting the 3rd annual Battle of the Books. This fun reading competition is open to all students in grades 4-12. There are three battles.

4th-6th grades

6th-8th grades

9th-12th grades.

Go to www.yorbalindalibrary.com for titles of books, important dates and more information.

Design a T-Shirt Contest

Have you read the Gallagher Girls books by Ally Carter? The first one is I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT I'D THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU. Or THE HEIST SOCIETY? Do you like to draw or design clothes?
If yes to any of the above check out this contest. You can win $200 to your favorite book store and your shirt will be printed and sold on line. You get a free one. Interested? Check the link below. Hurry, the deadline for entries is October 24.
http://www.allycarter.com/blog/its-t-shirt-contest-time

The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest

Attention attention: Fifth and Sixth graders. You are invited to participate in
THE GREAT SCAVENGER HUNT contest. Stay tuned for all the details.