Book Trail

Book Trail has moved!

2010-07-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Click on this link to find Book Trail. Due to EGUSD technology policies, Book Trail is now featured on edublogs. Book talks continue on the trail. Follow us!

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

2009-10-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

As he returns from an unsuccessful climb of Mt. Everest, Greg Mortenson becomes lost in Afghanistan and wanders in to the village of Korphe. Here Mortensen meets Haji Ali. Ali's family takes care of Mortenson and finds him a way back to Pakistan. Before he leaves the little village of Korphe and Ali's hospitality, Mortenson promises to return and build the village a school. This promise will change Mortenson's life forever.

One Child by Torey Hayden

2009-10-29T13:26:00.001-07:00

Author Torey Hayden teaches specials needs students at her public school. It's a new school year and her students are doing well and getting along. That is until six-year-old Sheila arrives. Sheila's violent and unpredictable behavior sets the class on edge and it is up to Torey to break through Sheila's tough exterior. Sheila has issues. Sheila was abandoned on the side of a road by her mother and is now being raised by her alcoholic father. She is one angry little girl. If you enjoy books by David Pelzer such as A Child Called It, then you might try this one.

California Blue by David Klass

2009-10-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

John Rodgers loves to run. On one of his runs through the redwood forest of his small California town, John notices a beautiful blue butterfly. Later in Biology class, John discovers that the butterfly is an endangered species. The butterfly's habitat is threatened by the local logging industry. This pits environmentalists against the locals, and John is right in the middle.

Diary Queen by Catherine Gilber Murdock

2009-10-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

DJ lives and works on her family's dairy farm. She has spent the summer running the farm while her dad recovered from an operation. A football coach friend of her father's loaned the family the services of Brian Nelson, the cute quarterback from Hawley High. Brian helps DJ with work around the farm and she, in turn, helps him train. DJ knows football. Her two older brothers are attending college on football scholarships and her dad is a former coach. Training Brian and all the hard work on the farm has DJ in great shape, so DJ decides to try out for the Red Bend team. A girl trying out for the football team! DJ is the talk of Red Bend.

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

2009-10-28T14:48:00.001-07:00

Julianna has had a "crush" on Bryce ever since she saw him when she was seven and they were in second grade. But Bryce, being a typical second-grade boy, would have nothing to do with Juilianna. Bryce and Juilianna are now in eighth grade. Bryce's grandfather has moved in with the family and he has noticed what a wonderful young lady Julianna is. Bryce notices that Julianna no longer follows him around like a puppy dog any more. She's moved on to other interests. Bryce finds himself thinking quite a bit about Julianna. Bryce has fallen in love with Julianna and the roles have flipped!

Feed by M. T. Anderson

2009-10-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Titus and his friends all have "feeds". Feeds are brain implants which are connected to a computer network that runs 24/7 advertising everything Titus and his friends would ever want or need. Titus and his friends no longer have to speak verbally with one another. They communicate telepathically. The "feed" keeps everyone occupied and compliant. On a trip to the moon with his friends, Titus meets Violet. There's something different about Violet that catches Titus's attention. Violet has an older feed and has been home-schooled by her father who is a professor. When Violet contracts a virus that causes her feed to fail, she comes out fighting against the feed leaving Titus with a decision to make. Should he join Violet's rebellion?

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis

2009-10-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Luther Farrell has dreams. Dreams of winning first place in the Science Fair (by besting his rival and love interest, Shayla), of attending Harvard, and of getting out of Flint, Michigan. But if the Sarge has her way, Luther will be shaving and bathing elderly men at the Happy Neighbor Group Homes in Flint forever. Sarge is Luther's mom. There's a reason she's called The Sarge. To make is dreams come true, Luther is going to have to muster up the courage to stand up to Sarge.

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

2009-08-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

World War II ends leaving Beverly and Evie Spooner's anxiously awaiting the return of their solider. Evie's step-father, Joe, returns a year later. When Joe finds out that an old war buddy, Peter Coleridge, is trying to track him down, Joe plans a spontaneous vacation to West Palm Beach, Florida. When Peter shows up at their hotel in West Palm Beach, Joe seems very tense. Evie falls head-over-heels for the handsome and gregarious young man against Joe's wishes. Perhaps Peter isn't exactly who he seems to be. When a tragedy occurs, Evie finds herself having to make some hard decisions regarding her family and Peter.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2009-08-11T13:14:00.001-07:00

Katsa has a grace as is evident in her eyes. Each of her eyes has a different color. Katsa has been graced with superior fighting skills and her Uncle Randa uses Kasta as his enforcer in the kindgom of Middluns (one of the seven kingdoms.) Working as King Randa's enforcer bothers Katsa to her very core, so she and her team of four friends have formed an underground network called The Council that fights for the underdog throughout the Seven Kingdoms. On a secret mission for the Council, Katsa and her team rescue an elderly Lienid who has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner in King Murgon of Sunder's dungeon. It is during this rescue, Katsa battles a graced Lienid whose skills are close to her own. This encounter spins Katsa's life in a different direction. Read Graceling to follow Katsa's amazing journey.

Bliss by Lauren Myracle

2009-07-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

Bliss In The Morning Dew, who has been raised in a commune, finds herself living with her proper Southern grandmother when her parents skip out to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War. Bliss's grandmother has enrolled Bliss in the prestigous Crestview Academy for high school. But Crestview has a history and Bliss with her sixth sense hears and feels an evil ghostly presence in one particular school building. Bliss's new friends have a history too. Bliss, set in the '60s, brings together many issues of the time, as the tale gets creepier and creepier.

The Circle of Blood by Alane Ferguson

2009-07-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

This is Alane Ferguson's third forensic mystery featuring Cameryn Mahoney. Cameryn is an assistant county coroner in Silverton, Colorado working for her father. Cameryn plans to be a forensic scientist when she graduates from high school. Cameryn and her mother, who has just recently returned to Silverton after a long absence, are getting to know one another and working on building a relationship when a mysterious hitch-hiker is found dead. The last person to see the hitch-hiker alive was Cameryn's mom, Hannah, who gave the young lady a lift. As evidence is uncovered, Cameryn must decide whether to share information that may incriminate her mother.

The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas

2009-07-06T10:18:00.001-07:00

Antonia Lucia Labella wants to be a saint, a living official saint! She also wants to receive her first kiss. Antonia knows all about saints and frequently writes the Vatican suggesting new patron saints and "humbly" nominates herself to take on the job. She constantly prays to saints to intercede on her behalf to make her first kiss a reality with one handsome baseball player from Bishop Francis, Andy Rotellini. Be careful what you wish for!

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

2009-07-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Book Five of Percy Jackson and The Olympians series finds Percy and his friends taking on Krono's army in New York City. Percy and the other young demigods must protect Mount Olympus while the other Olympian gods battle Typhon, another one of Krono's monsters on the loose. Will the prophecy come true? Read the last book of the series to find out Percy's fate.

The Lightning Thief (Book One) movie is scheduled for release in February 2010. Read the series before the movie comes out because you know the books is always better than the movie. Check the internet for more information on the movie.

The Secret of Priest's Grotto by Peter Lane Taylor with Christos Nicola

2009-04-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing story of survival. Cavers Peter Lane Taylor and Christos Nicola heard tales of Jews who survived the Holocaust by hiding in Ukrainian caves. Nicola, determined to find out if these tales were true, began investigating the Popowa Yama story. In 2002, four years after beginning his investigation, Nicola received an e-mail from a man claiming to know a Priest's Grotto Holocaust survivor. Nicola and Taylor visited the Stermer family in Montreal, Canada to learn more of this incredible story of survival. From 1943-1944, three Jewish families survived the Nazi occupation of the Ukraine by living underground in caves. Read The Secret of Priest's Grotto to find out how they survived.

Check out this National Geographic article to learn even more.

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu

2009-03-29T17:49:00.001-07:00

Charlotte's cousin Zachary is coming from "across the pond" to live with her family. Zee, as he is called, is an outgoing, talented soccer player. He fits right into life at her high school. He fits in better than Charlotte. But the students are getting sick at school. Zee shares that it happened at his school in London and Charlotte begins to wonder what is going on. When two strange looking men attack Charlotte and Zee, Mr. Metos, their English teacher, intervenes. Charlotte and Zee share their suspicions with Mr. Metos. Mr. Metos warns them of the shadow thieves and confirms their suspicions. Soon Charlotte and Zee find themselves swept up in a plot to overthrow Hades in the Underworld.

If you enjoy Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympian series, you should find The Cronus Chronicles entertaining as well.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2009-03-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Capitol requires each district to send to representatives between the ages of twelve to eighteen to play in the Hunger Games. In the Hunger Games the participants fight to the death on national television. When Katniss Everdeen's younger sister, Prim, gets chosen in the lottery to represent District 12, Katniss steps forward to take her place. But Katniss has skills, she's been providing for her family for years using the knowledge her father taught her. The Hunger Games is Survivor with an edge!

Vampirates: Blood Captain by Justin Somper

2009-02-17T10:43:00.001-08:00

Twins, Connor and Grace Tempest, continue their adventures in the third book of the Vampirates series, Blood Captain. Grace, along with the Captain and other members of The Nocturne, takes blinded Lorcan to the Santuary in hope of a cure for his failing health. While at the Santuary, Grace meets interesting characters, learns more about her healing abilities and struggles with her place in the vampirate world. Meanwhile, Connor aboard the pirate ship, The Diablo, prepares for an exciting mission that will test his commitment to his life as a pirate. Twists and surprises will keep pages turning in this thrilling adventure.

The Children of Alcatraz by Claire Rudolf Murphy

2009-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock portrays what it was like for children to grow up on Alcatraz Island. The book covers different time periods in the island's history from use as a light house, a military post, disciplinary barracks, U.S. penitentiary, site of a Native Amerian occupation, and to its current status as a National Park. Murphy provides interesting photographs of the children who lived on Alcatraz including one of actor Bejamin Bratt who took part in the American Indian occupation of Alcatraz as a child. This book is a perfect non-fiction companion to Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

2009-02-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

Todd Hewitt is the only boy left in Prentisstown, a town full of men. Prentisstown is a settlement town in the New World where Todd's mother and father were pioneers in search of a new simple life. But a germ on the planet killed the women of Prentisstown and now all the men hear each others thoughts and the creatures that live on this planet in a never-ending stream of noise. Todd is just a month away from his special birthday. On this birthday, he will become a man. But Prentisstown has been hiding something under all the noise. Something terrible that has Manchee and Todd fleeing Prentisstown for their lives.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2009-01-20T06:45:00.000-08:00

A young toddler wanders away from his home during as a killer has murdered his family. He toddles up the street to the old graveyard with the killer on his trail. The residents of the graveyard sensing danger, hide the toddler from the killer and raise him. Nobody Owens has the protection of the graveyard and its residents. The ghosts assign Bod parents and guardians, teach him what they know and keep him away from the killer who is still searching for Bod. The Graveyard Book is a magical and thrilling read. Come check it out.

Guys Write for Guys Read edited by Jon Scieszka

2009-01-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

Jon Scieszka has put together a collection of guys writing for guys about being guys. The entries a short and "sweet" to borrow a term from Napoleon Dynamite. Each includes a biography and bibliography about the author. So you guys will enjoy pieces by Chris Crutcher, James Howe, Anthony Horowitz, Gordon Korman, Walter Dean Myers, Kenneth Oppell, Darren Shan and other favorite authors. It's an entertaining read. Check it out!

Runt by Marion Dane Bauer

2009-01-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

The smallest pup born into a wolf pack that lives in the Minnesota woods is given the name Runt by his father King. "He may be Runt for now," Silver (his mother) said, laying her chin across this lastest arrival, "but who knows what gift he may bring to the pack?"

Runt, his brothers and sisters, Leader, Sniffer, Runner and Thinker, learn the ways of the pack. Their parents, Silver and King, with the help of Bider, Hunter, and Helper raise the pups and teach them to hunt. Runt continually strives to earn King's approval and to find out what will be his talent to contribute to the pack.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

2008-12-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

Despereaux Tilling is a small, sickly mouse with big ears who breaks all the Mouse Council rules by interacting with humans. Interacting with humans is potentially dangerous for mice that live in castles, so when Despereaux falls in love with Princess Pea, the Mouse Council sentences him to death by the rats that live in the castle's dungeon. Despereaux is a brave and special mouse. Will his love of the princess conquer the obstacles he must face?

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

2008-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

When Molly and Michael's mom remarries and they have to move with her new husband, Dave and his daughter Heather to the country, they are not overjoyed. This has spoiled their summer plans with friends. Living in the country is boring compared to the big city but they try to make the best of the situation by exploring their new environment. The family's new home is an old coverted church which comes with its own graveyard. Molly notices a change in Heather's behavior after a visit to the graveyard and the discovery of a small tombstone. Strange things begin to happen around the house and Heather blames both Michael and Molly. Tensions begin to rip the family apart. Heather continues to manipulate the adults and threaten her new siblings with "Wait till Helen comes!"

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

2008-11-17T11:32:00.001-08:00

The final book of the Inkheart trilogy, finds Meggie and her family still in Ink World. Mo is being hunted by the Adderhead, who wants Mo to rebind the book that has given him immortality. The Adderhead is furious over the trick that Mo and Meggie played in Inkspell and is wreaking havoc in Ink World. Fenoglio has lost his control over the story. Mo, as the Bluejay, and the Black Prince try to fend off attacks by the Piper and others sent by Adderhead to capture Mo, Meggie and Resa. Meanwhile, Elinor is stuck in our world wondering what is happening to her loved ones. This is an exciting end to Funke's extraordinary fantasy.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

2008-11-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

Quince's parents died in a car accident three winters ago. The most important thing she has left of them is the Italian restaurant that the family owns, which is now being run by her Uncle Davidson until Quincie turns twenty-one. Business has been slow in the downtown Austin restaurant, so Uncle D has decided to change Fat Lorenzo's into a vampire-themed restaurant. Sanguini's seems cursed from the start when Vaggio, the head chef, is violently murdered in the kitchen and the police begin to suspect Quincie's best friend and love interest, Kieren, as the murder. It doesn't help that Kieren actually is a hybrid-werewolf. When the new chef arrives and murders in the downtown area continue, Quincie finds her life taking a very unsettling turn.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

2008-10-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

Capricorn Anderson has lived a very sheltered life at Garland Farm with his grandmother, Rain. Garland Farms was once a thriving commune in the 1960s but now just Cap and Rain work the farm. Cap is homeschooled and hasn't had much contact with people. When Rain breaks her hip from a fall off a ladder in the orchard, Cap finds himself living in foster care with the Donnelly family and attending Claverage Middle School. He might as well be living on another planet! With his long blonde hair, tie-dyed clothes and woven sandles and his non-violent, trusting and naive personality, Cap is the perfect specimen for Zach Powers eighth grade prank. But Capricorn Anderson may have a few surprises in store for Zach and the other 1,099 students at C average Middle School.

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

2008-10-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

The Cahill family has gathered in the Great Hall for the reading of the will of its matriarch, Grace Cahill. Grace gives her last instructions to her family via a previously taped video. She offers them each a million dollars or 39 clues which lead to a secret that will make the individual or team that finds it the "most powerful and influential human beings on the planet". Dan and Amy Cahill loved their grandmother Grace and miss her greatly. They know that she was secretly training them for this mission but they must pit their wits against other more savvy members of their family to find the clues.

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

2008-10-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Vladimir Tod lives with his Aunt Nelly since his parents were killed in a house fire. Vlad has a secret. He's a vampire. His father was a vampire and his mom was human. Vlad is the first known case of a vampire actually being born and not "created" through a vampire bite. So some consider Vlad special while others detest his existence.

Nelly, a nightshift nurse, keeps Vlad stocked in packets of blood from the hospital. She only takes the ones that will be destroyed because the packets are about to expire. Vlad has never killed anyone to feed. Vlad's best friend, Henry, knows his secret, too. But odd things soon start happening in Vlad's town. Mr. Craig, a favorite middle school teacher, is missing. His substitute, Mr. Otis is very different and Vlad believes Mr. Otis is on to his secret. The vice principal watches Vlad like a hawk just waiting for him to mess up so he can administer a severe punishiment. Mark and Todd, the school bullies, continually pick on Vlad for his "goth" appearance, while Vlad longs to have the courage to speak to his crush, Meredith. And, as his vampire powers become more prominent, he longs to know more about his father and his background. Check out Eighth Grade Bites to find out how Vlad handles it all!

Acceleration by Graham McNamee

2008-10-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Duncan works in the lost and found at the Toronto Transit Commission. Items that are lost on buses and the subways are brought to the subbasement of the Bay subway station, and it is Duncan's job to retrieve them from the bins when a person comes to request their lost item. Sometimes when work is slow, Duncan sets a lawn chair up in front of the book bin and searches for an entertaining book. A plain brown leather journal catches his eye. As he flips through the journal, he finds newspaper clippings and very disturbing journal enteries. Duncan believes the journal writer is just one step away from committing murder but because he has a juvenile record Duncan thinks the police will not believe him if he brings the journal forward. But Duncan has a plan.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dressen

2008-09-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Macy is all set to have an uneventful summer. Her brilliant boyfriend, Jason, is off to Brain Camp. She's filling in for Jason at the public library reference desk. Boring! In the evenings, she studies vocabulary for the upcoming SAT. Yawn! Macy and her mother don't really talk much since the loss of her father. They haven't truly dealt with his death. When an opportunity occurs for Macy to work with Wish, a very disorganized but close-knit catering company, she decides to take it on. Through Wish, Macy meets Wes. Wes and his Truth-telling game help Macy break down the wall she's built up to hold back her feelings.

Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

2008-08-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports is James Patterson's third book in the Maximum Ride Series. Max and her flock are genentically-altered humans that have wings. Yes, they can fly and each of these extraordingay kids as other powers. They are on the run from their enemies, evil scientists who want to control the world. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, Angel and her talking dog, Total set out to save the world from the over-zealous scientists. Max struggles with trust issues. This third installment is action-packed. Check out the whole series: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, School's Out Forever and The Final Warning.

The Case of the Missing Marquess:An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer

2008-04-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

Enola Holmes wakes up on her 14th birthday to find her mother missing. Her two older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, find clues that suggest Mrs. Holmes has run off and plan to send Enola to boarding school. Enola deciphers clues left for her by her mother and decides to run away herself. On her journey, she gets involved in another mystery involving the missing Marquess of Basilwether, a young boy who's parents fear has been kidnapped.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

2008-04-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

"...a car accident...called the ambulance...intensive care...nothing anyone could do...so sorry." The voices of the police at the door at three in the morning drift up the stairs to Alex as he listens from his bedroom door. Ian Rider, his uncle and the only parent he ever knew, is dead. But circumstances of his death don't sit right with Alex. Ian Rider, a banker, always wore his seat belt and he made sure Alex wore his; but he wasn't wearing one the night of the accident according to the police. Then when Alex returns from the funeral to see a Stryker & Son moving van pulling out of their home and discovers Ian's upstairs office is empty, Alex decides to do some investigating on his own. He locates Ian Rider's BMW at J. B. Stryker Auto Wreckers and discovers the driver's side has been riddled with bullets. After narrowly escaping danger in the wrecking yard, Alex is summoned to the Royal & General Bank, where Alex learns that Ian Rider was not a banker but a spy for the British Intelligence Agency, MI6. Ian was undercover on a case investigating the release of the Stormbreaker computer when he was killed and MI6 needs Alex Rider's help to finish the job.

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

2008-02-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

"You are so lucky."
Ellie's best friend Nancy tells her. Ellie Harrison gets a chance to start over at her new high school while her parents (college professors) are on sabbatical near Washington, D.C. Ellie has spent most of her summer in seclusion floating on a raft in the pool, but that will change when she starts Avalon High.
At Avalon High, she finds herself attracted to Will whose girlfriend, Jennifer seems to be attracted to Will's best friend, Lance. Complicated? That's just the beginning. Ellie soon discovers that she is wrapped up in an old legend. Will she have the courage to step-up when she is needed?

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata

2008-01-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

When Willie Stetson finds out he can't keep his beloved German shepherd in his new apartment, he decides to give Firecracker to the United States Army. Cracker is paired with Rick Hanski, her handler, and together they train to become part of the Scout Dog platoon destined for Vietnam. After a slow start Cracker and Rick become a great team, pass their training and ship out to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Cracker and Rick head out on different missions where Cracker alerts the team of booby-traps and the enemy. Both Rick and Cracker experience the intensity of warfare but they help each other through.

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

2008-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Ingrid's parents are always running late. Unlike most students, she doesn't have a cell phone to check to see where they are. If she misses soccer practice, she'll be benched for the next game, so she decides to run to practice. On her way to practice she gets turned around and ends up lost in the Flats, a neighborhood in her Echo Falls community. Cracked-Up Katie, a woman who has seen a lot of hard times, helps Ingrid out by inviting her into her home and calling her a cab. The next day, to her horror, Ingrid sees Cracked-Up Katie's picture plastered across the front page of The Echo. Katherine Kovac was murdered! Ingrid, whose idol is Sherlock Holmes, launches her own investigation into Kate's background to discover why someone would want to kill her. Will Kate's killer feel that Ingrid is discovering too much?

The Convicts by Iain Lawrence

2008-01-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

Tom Tim's father, Captain Tim, has been taken to debtor's prison in London because of the debt he owes to the calculating Mr. Goodfellow. His mother has been paralyzed with grief from the loss of his sister, Kitty, in a drowning accident years before and isn't much help. It is up to Tom to find a way to pay the family's debt. So Tom leaves home to find away to make things right for his family. Tom finds himself down by the river while contemplating what he should do next, he notices a blind man poking his cane in the mud to find coins. Tom decides to do the same and while walking barefoot in the mud finds a large diamond. The blindman laying claim to the area goes after Tom to get the treasure. Tom fights off the blindman and loses him on the streets. There he meets Worms who gives him a ride in exchange for some help with a job and a small payment. Worms is a grave robber and he needs help stealing a body. A body that turns out to be a dead ringer for Tom. In a rush to escape being caught at the grave, Tom leaves his coat with the diamond in the pocket. Events in the story escalate with Tom getting accused of murder and continually getting mistaken for someone called "Smasher". Who is Smasher and why won't anyone believe his story? How will he get out of this mess?

The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

2008-01-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

The Fairy-Tale Detectives is the first book in a series about the Sisters Grimm. Sabrina and Daphne Grimm have been shuffled around from foster home to foster home and back and forth to an orphanage after their parents just disappeared. Ms. Smirt, their caseworker, delivers the girls to a woman claiming to be Grandma Grimm. Sabrina, the eldest, is skeptical that this woman is her grandmother because her father never talked about her. Daphne likes the kind but strange old woman who takes them to live with her, Mr. Canis (her assistant) and a Great Dane named Elvis. The town of Ferryport Landing isn't like most towns and Grandma Grimm has lots of rules, secrets and locked rooms in her home, weird things happen around the house, and odd people keep visiting Relda Grimm. Grandma Grimm informs the girls that they are the descendants of the Brothers Grimm, the ones who wrote the fairy-tales and they are not tales but true incidents. Now Sabrina believes that the old woman is crazy and decides to run away from Ferryport Landing the first chance they get.

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

2008-01-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

Pretties continues the story of Tally whom Scott Westerfeld introduced in Uglies. Tally is a pretty and she hopes to join the Crims. The Crims are a group of Pretties who plan and execute edgy tricks to make themselves feel "bubbly". Her friends, Shay and Peris, are Crims. Does Zane think she has what it takes to become a Crim? Zane plans to let her know at the masquerade bash at the Valentino mansion. While searching for Zane in the mansion, Tally notices she is being followed by someone dressed as a Special. The lurker appears again right as Zane is about let Tally know if she made it into the Crims. Tally leaves Zane in mid sentence and chases after the lurker who has a message for Tally. A message from her ugly past.

Pretties is part of the Uglies series. Read Uglies, Pretties, Specials and Extras to find out about all of Tally's adventures.

Blizzard! by Jim Murphy

2008-01-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

On Sunday afternoon , March 11, 1888 the Great Blizzard hit the East Coast. Snow and wind whipped through cities and farms for four days dumping 40-50 inches of snow. Winds swept through the cities at up to 45 miles an hour snapping powerlines. Snowdrifts, some up to 50 feet high, blocked buildings. Transportation was shut down when trains could not move along the blocked tracks. Big cities like New York looked like ghost towns. Jim Murphy relates first person accounts of how different people experienced the storm that confined people to their homes for a week and froze the East River solid for a short period. If you find natural disasters intriguing, you should enjoy reading Blizzard!

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

2008-01-06T09:48:00.001-08:00

On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, a small fire broke out in the O'Learys' barn in Chicago, Illinois. Due to weather conditions and human error the fire became a roaring inferno that burned for 31 hours causing 100,000 people to flee the deadly flames. Through Jim Murphy's skillful writing, the reader experiences the confusion and terror of four characters as they flee the great fire. Illustrations, photos and maps enhance this Newberry Honor Book.

The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn

2008-01-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

Diana and Georgie watch from the shadows of the woods as the new caretaker, his daughter and dog move into the trailer on Oak Hill Manor. Diana knows that caretakers never stay long because the Old Willis Place, as Oak Hill Manor is more commonly known, is haunted. But Diana decides to make friends with Lissa Morrison, the caretaker's daughter, even if means breaking all the rules.

Stormwitch by Susan Vaught

2008-01-04T11:40:00.001-08:00

Ruba senses something wicked is coming to Pass Christian, Mississippi. Something that will take all her courage, strength and knowledge of magic to fight. After the death of her Grand-mere Ruba Cleo in a violent storm in Haiti, Ruba has left the world she knows and understands to live with her Grandmother Jones in Mississippi in 1969. Tensions between the blacks and whites in the small coastal town are high, and the fact that some of the "dangerous" whites in the town see Ruba as a "juju" girl intensifies emotions. Grandmother Jones has forbidden Ruba to use any of the old ways Grand-mere Ruba Cleo has taught her. Without using the magic that has been passed down to her from generations, how will Ruba fight the Stormwitch?

Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor

2007-11-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

Alyss of Wonderland has just regained the thrown from her evil Aunt Redd. Redd and the Cat escaped through the Heart Crystal but are now trapped within the crystal. Hatter Madigan is on a retreat. Homburg Molly, Alyss's bodyguard, is off sulking after a reprimand. Alyss is even managing to find some time to spend with Dodge as she settles into the demands of running her queendom. And then it begins, brutal attacks on Alyss's soldiers by Glass Eyes and phantom sightings have the Wonderlanders wondering, "Is she back?" Seeing Redd is book two of The Looking Glass Wars.

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney

2007-11-03T09:35:00.001-07:00

Mr. Lynch's science research assignment on contagious diseases requires that students use at least four books.
"Books?" questions Mitty Blake. "Nobody uses books anymore. They're useless, especially in science. Facts change too fast." But Mr. Lynch wants students to use books for their report and not rely totally on the Internet. Mitty, a master procrastinator and slacker when in comes to school assignments, finds himself in a jam because he doesn't have any books on smallpox and it's the weekend and he's at his family's vacation home without access to book stores or libraries AND he has to show Mr. Lynch the books he's using tomorrow. So Mitty decides to use some of the antique medical books his mom uses for her interior decorating business. When he opens Principles of Contagious Disease, printed in Boston in 1899, Mitty is skeptical that he will find any useful information. Within the book he finds an envelope and hand-written upon the envelope in fountain pen ink is the label "Scabs--VM epidemic, 1902, Boston". Mitty opens the envelope, handles the some fragile scabs which crumble in his finger tips, and rubs his itchy nose. Has Mitty just infected himself with variola major, an airborn virus? Will he be the new Typhoid Mary of New York City? Code Orange will keep you turning pages to find out what will happen to Mitty, his parents, his friends and classmates and New York City.

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

2007-10-28T09:30:00.001-07:00

Sixteen-year-old Estrella DeMadrigal writes, "I thought I knew the world. I thought I knew myself. I thought I knew my dearest friend. But I knew nothing at all." Estrella's life is changing. The fervor of the Spanish Inquistion has reached Encaleflora, her beautiful village in Aragon. Estrella witnesses the flames of persecution spark in the Plaza one day, as soldiers burn the books of an old Jewish man, and then beat him. Soon the evil flames are burning out of control; pitting neighbor against neighbor, bringing fear and deception to the once beautiful village. Amid this turmoil, Estrella discovers a dangerous secret.

Cover-up by John Feinstein

2007-10-27T12:49:00.001-07:00

Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Robinson, teen journalists, get an opportunity of a life time to cover the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Susan Carol will be covering the event for Kid Sports on USTV while Stevie recently fired by USTV will be covering the Super Bowl for the Washington Herald. This is the duo's third adventure together. In Last Shot, they covered the Final Four and in Vanishing Act they covered the U.S. Open. Trouble seems to follow the pair wherever they go, and it isn't any different at the Super Bowl. Susan Carol soon uncovers some information that will make national news and ruin careers. Information that certain people will do anything to keep out of the papers.

How Rude! by Alex J. Packer

2007-09-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

The official title of this humorous but helpful book by Alex J. Packer is How Rude! The Teenager' Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior and Not Grossing People Out. Everything is covered in this book from how to be polite in daily life with your family and at school to how to be a gracious guest in a friend's home. If you have ever had any questions about how to handle different types of situations from hygiene to what to wear to different types of occasions to dating, this book covers all these topics and more in a humorous, fun-to-read style. If you think good manners aren't important any longer, Alex Packard offers a top ten list of "Why Good Manners Are Good for You" with quotes from teens sharing how good manners worked positively for them.

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Jason Somper

2007-09-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean follows the story of the fourteen-year-old Tempest twins, Connor and Grace, as they make their way in the world. When their father dies, they leave their lighthouse home to get away from their only choices: an orphanage or adoption by an uncaring couple. They steal their father's boat and head out to sea. When a violent storm capsizes their boat, Grace and Connor are separated. Connor is rescued by pirates and Grace is rescued by a mysterious ship with a ghastly crew.

Follow up this adventure with the sequel, Vampirates: Tide of Terror. Connor considers joining the Pirate Academy while Grace struggles with visions of the Vampirate ship and her connection to Lorcan.

If you like The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, you should enjoy the Vampirates series.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

2007-09-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

The Golden Compass is Book 1 in the His Dark Materials trilogy. This holiday season it will be released as a major motion picture. Now's your chance to read Lyra's story before you see the movie!

Lyra Belacqua runs freely at Jordan College in Oxford, England with her daemon, Pantalaimon. (A daemon is connected to a person much like a soul. As Lyra's story progresses the reader learns that children's daemons may change their animal shape but when one matures his or her daemon settles on one animal shape.) When Lyra's powerful uncle, Lord Asriel, visits the college, Lyra learns of the dust. Dust that is feared by some and others find intriguing. Lyra is pulled into a world of Gobblers who steal children, of witch clans, and armored bears. Her journey takes her to the cold far North and to her destiny.

If you enjoy, The Golden Compass, you will want to follow it up with its sequels The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

Chasing the Jaguar by Michele Dominguez Greene

2007-07-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Fifteen-year-old Martika Galvez has been having strange, vivid dreams about a jaguar and the jungle. Then she has another experience that sends tingles down her spine. One Saturday when helping her mother, Aurelia, clean a big house in Pacific Palisades, Markita picks up a bracelet she finds on the floor in one of the rooms she is cleaning. A vision flashes before her eyes and she drops the bracelet. "What is happening to me?" Markita agonizes. After her quinceanera, Markita and her mother, Aurelia, are called to Ted Colton's house. His daughter has been kidnapped and Ted is contacting anyone who might have come in contact with her. Does this have to do with the visions and dreams Markita's been having?

Read Chasing the Jaguar to see how this Los Angeles mystery is solved!

Poison by Chris Wooding

2007-07-25T07:53:00.001-07:00

Poison lives in the village of Gull in the heart of the Black Marsh with her father, step-mother and baby sister, Azalea. When the Scarecrow steals Azalea on Soulswatch Eve and leaves a changeling in her place, Poison consults Fleet, a wise old man in the village, about leaving the village and traveling to the Realm of the Phaeries to bring her sister back. Fleet gives her infromation and finds her a ride out of Gull with Bram, the wraith-cather. And so their journey begins, once upon a time.

Poison is not your average fairy tale. It is a much darker. If you like the Harry Potter series or books by Cornelia Funke, you might want to give Chris Wooding's books a try.

The Freedom Writers Diary by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell

2007-07-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

After watching the movie, I decided I wanted to read the book. As always, there was so much more in the book. If you saw the movie, you will notice some liberties taken by the screenwriters. The Freedom Writers's Diary begins with a chapter entitled "Freshman Year - Fall 1994". It's Erin Gruwell's first year teaching English at Wilson High. She asks her students to keep journals. All of the journals in the book are numbered and anonymous. But these journals give you great insight as to what it was like to be a teen at Wilson High in Long Beach, California. It is an inspiring book.

If you like Go Ask Alice or books by Sonya Sones, you might enjoy reading this one.

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

2007-07-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

(originally posted May 29 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

The Oracle spoke: "Five shall go west to the goddess in chains, One shall be lost in the land without rain, The bane of Olympus shows the trail, Campers and Hunter combined prevail, The Titan's curse must one withstand, And one shall perish by a parent's hand."
Percy Jackson's best friend, Annabeth, is missing after a recent quest. The goddess, Artemis has dissappeared. Zoe Nightshade and Bianca Di Angelo, hunters, join Grover and Thalia on a quest to fulfill the Oracle's prophecy. Percy has been ordered to stay behind. But, it wouldn't be a story about Percy if he followed orders, now would it?
Rick Riordan's third in the series about the Olympians, is a great read. Which one of the three books is your favorite?

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

2007-07-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

(originally posted May 16, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

When Matt and Callie witness Murdoch McIlvane defuse a situation between an abusive father and his small son at the Cumberland Farms convenience store, Matt knows he must to get Murdoch to help Callie, Emmy and him get away from Nikki. Nikki, their unstable mother, would be a fantastic villian if this story was a fantasy, but this is realistic fiction and Nikki is down-right scary. Matt doesn't trust the system and won't go through the regular channels to seek help. When he finally does involve Murdoch, Nikki ups the level of her psychotic game. Werlin keeps you turning pages to find out if these kids will ever be able to break away from Nikki.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2007-07-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

(originally posted May 9, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

Life As We Knew It is a remarkable book that makes you think about life as we know it.
A meteor is heading toward the moon. Science teachers have been talking about it. It's on the news. Families gather outside to view this phenomenon. But something unexpected happens when the meteor crashes into the moon! The moon is knocked out of its orbit closer to the Earth. Then things start to go crazy. Tsunamis, earthquakes, and other natural disasters happen all over the world. Miranda, her mom, and her brothers, Matt and Jonny switch from living an every day-type of life to survival mode. Would you be prepared to face what Miranda and her family are facing? Would you have the courage and the intelligence to survive?
Life As We Knew It is told through Miranda's journal entries. It pulls you in and keeps you turning pages to find out what will happen to Miranda and others in her Pennsylvania town.
Have you read anything good lately?

The Crane by Jeff Stone

2007-07-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on April 17, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

The Crane by Jeff Stone is the lastest book in his The Five Ancestor Series. The series introduces five brothers, Fu, Seh, Malao, Hok and Long, who were raised by the Grandmaster at the Cangzhen monastery. Each brother was taught an animal style of Kung-fu by the Grandmaster and finds the need to use it throughout their adventures. When the Cangzhen monastery is attacked by the emperor's soldiers led by a traitorous older brother, the younger brothers must flee. Each brother scatters in a different direction and each book tells the tale of their adventures as they search for one another with hopes to reunite.
The Crane is Hok's story and Jeff Stone's lastest installment.
I suggest you start with the first book, The Tiger. Then if you want to find out the rest of the story, like I did, read The Monkey, The Snake and The Crane.

The Trap by John Smelcer

2007-07-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on April 16, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

I recently finished reading The Trap by John Smelcer. If you like Hatchet, you should like The Trap. Albert Least-Weasel is out checking his traplines in the Alaskan wilderness as he has always done for the past sixty years. When he doesn't return as scheduled, his grandson, Johnny Least-Weasel begins to worry. The temperatures are steadily dropping. Should he follow the advice of his uncle and wait or should he follow his heart and go look for his grandfather?
There are several attributes that make this book an interesting and enjoyable read. The story is told in alternating chapters, one in Albert's voice and the other in Johnny's voice. Each chapter begins with a Native American legend which gives you an additional tale. The harsh setting of the Alaskan wilderness adds to the intensity of this survival tale. For those of you who love survival and adventure, try out The Trap.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

2007-07-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

(Originally posted on March 20, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

Imagine having a voice so wonderful, so incredible that when you read aloud from a book some of the characters would appear in this world. Meggie's father, Mo, a bookbinder, has this gift. But this gift also comes with a curse for when one character from the Inkheart's world appears in our world, someone from our world disappears into Inkheart's world. Two characters, Dustfinger and Capricorn, have been released from Inkheart into Meggie's world and Meggie's mother has disappeared. Capricorn and his gang are searching for Mo. They have an evil plan for our world and Mo's gift is needed to set the plan in motion.
Follow up this great read with the sequel, Inkspell. Meggie reads herself in Inkworld and a new adventure begins.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

2007-07-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on March 20, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

The beautiful and mysterious Alaizabel Cray is discovered by seventeen-year-old Thaniel, the wych hunter, while he was on the trail of a cradlejack, a vampire-like creature. Alaizabel has been possessed by Thatch, an old wych, who along with a sinister society have evil in store for Victorian London. Thaniel and his colleagues rally to save Alaizabel and the city from a host of murderous fiends. If you like gothic horror tales, you should enjoy this one.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

2007-07-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

(originally posted March 18, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

I just finished reading the Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. I actually had a chance to meet the author at the Comic Convention in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. He gave me a 60 second synopsis of the book, enough to make me curious and purchase the book. He plans to write a triology and he is working with others on a comic book series that is already out entitled Hatter M based on Alyss's bodyguard. I'm intrigued with the concept of having cross-over characters in the novel and comic book. Those of you who are familiar with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass should read Looking Glass Wars just to see how Beddor uses familiar characters and the setting of Wonderland to take us on a whole different journey. And now for Looking Glass Wars...
At Queen Genevieve's command, Hatter Madigan, the Queen's faithful and loyal bodyguard, snatches up seven-year-old Princess Alyss and flees through the Pool of Tears to keep her out of the clutches of her vicious Aunt Redd. After emerging from the portal, Alyss finds herself separated from her bodyguard and alone in Victorian London. In London, she meets the author Lewis Carroll to whom she entrusts the terrible story of the Wonderland coup. Alyss hopes that someone will read the tale, come to her rescue, and return her to Wonderland. Lewis Carroll publishes her story as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and he gets everything wrong including the spelling of Alyss's name. Meanwhile, Wonderland has come under the cruel rule of the Queen of Hearts, Alyss's Aunt Redd. Will those loyal to Alyss be able to find her in time to return her to the throne? Will Wonderland ever return to its former glory? Check out a copy of The Looking Glass Wars to find out.
What have you read lately?

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2007-07-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on March 9, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

Well, the gods of Mt. Olympus have been at it again. They've been interfering with the lives of mere mortals. Poor twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of yet another boarding school for causing trouble during a class field trip. But he had to defend himself against his pre-algebra-teacher-turned-monster. After all, she was trying to kill him! When the Minotaur chases Percy to a summer camp for half-bloods, Percy begins to understand the life he has been dealt.

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

2007-07-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on February 22, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

What are you willing to sacrifice for your best friend? Cirque du Freak, The Saga of Darren Shan, Book 1 is the first book in the twelve book series by Darren Shan. As the series begins, Darren is just an ordinary guy who likes hanging out with his friends doing guy stuff. One night Darren and his best friend, Steve, sneak out to watch a visiting freak show. That's when events start to go wrong for Darren. Throw in a vampire and a giant spider, and suddenly Darren's life starts to sprial out of control.
If you've read any of the Cirque du Freak series, let us know what you think. But remember, don't give everything away!

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

2007-07-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on February 20, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

I just finished reading Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt. If you like romance, you should enjoy this book. Keturah Reeve, a peasant girl, wanders away from her loving village out into the forest following the legendary hart and soon she is lost. After three days of wandering deeper into the forest, Keturah weak with fatigue and hunger realizes she is dying. When Lord Death comes to claim her, Keturah uses her storytelling skills to gain another day. She strikes a bargain with Lord Death that if she can find true love, he will have to let her go. Lord Death returns her to the edge of the forest close to her grandmother's cottage after Keturah promises to return the next night to finish her story and to be claimed by Lord Death. Will Keturah find her true love in just a day?
What have you read lately?

Starting Out on the Trail

2007-07-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

(originally posted on February 17, 2007 on BookTrail@edublogs.org)

What have you read lately? Share it on the Book Trail blog. Harris and Trail students, faculty and staff are invited to discuss what they are reading with others in our reading community. Just remember to follow the rules posted on the netiquette page. Don't forget to tell us the title and author of what you are sharing. And for you enthusiastic readers, please don't spoil the book by telling us too much about it. So let's get started talking about what you are reading. Come join us on the Book Trail!