This blog is moving!

Check us out in our new home at http://blog.mpcsd.org/tpiombo I'll keep posting book recommendations as well as research info and tips. See you soon!

Raven's Gate, by Anthony Horowitz

After he is caught stealing, Matt seems to be let off easy: he is sent to a farm to do work for a certain Mrs. Deverill. But when she turns out to be as sinister as her name suggests, Matt tries to escape and finds that all roads just lead back to her place in the town of Lesser of Malling. Turns out that the residents are trying to awaken an ancient evil and they have a deadly role for him to play...

• Book one in the Gatekeepers series - fourth book JUST out and NOW available at the Hillview library!
• Check out the website.

Kucklehead, by Jon Scieszka

You probably grew up listening to stories by Jon Scieszka - The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheese Man, etc. Now hear stories about how he grew up - or almost DIDN'T grow up - as the second oldest of six brothers - nearly blowing up their basement, risking their lives when forced to wear the dreaded bunny costume at Halloween, or taking up a scary teacher's offer to "share that funny joke with the class." Also, find out what "crossing swords" means and how "Stop breathing my air" became a family mantra. Check out his website here. **** Also, our favorite knucklehead is partly responsible for the Guys Read movement.

Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod), by Heather Brewer

What could be worse than being a skinny, pale, awkward 8th grade boy? Being a skinny, pale, awkward 8th grade vampire. Vladimir Tod has managed to keep his identity a secret from everyone except his guardian and best friend, and he curbs his appetite for live human blood by hiding blood capsules in his peanut butter sandwiches and twinkies. But now a new substitute seems to be onto his secret, and what's worse, seems to be intent on blowing his cover. And maybe worst of all, the school bullies are after him and the girl he is crushing on seems to like his best friend. **** First in a series, the author is clearly going for a Buffy the Vampire style combination of humor, action, pathos and horror. She almost succeeds, even though I got tired of reading every other page that someone was "smirking" or had "twinkling eyes." So, not great literature, but a fun, fast read nevertheless. (Enjoy the references to Stokerville and Nosferatu.) Check out the author's website and blog.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

It's 1967, and the Vietnam War is raging. Holling Hood Hood thinks he has bigger things to worry about. Like the fact that his teacher Mrs. Baker is at war with him. She hates his guts because he's the only seventh grader that doesn't leave school early on Wednesdays, so she has to watch him. Every week she thinks up more and more dull and disgusting things for him to do, and each one seems to get him in trouble with his classmates, so now he's at war with everyone. The worst seems to be when she has him read Shakespeare, and that gets him into his most embarrassing moment ever - playing a fairy onstage wearing yellow tights with feathers - well, you don't want to know where the feathers are. But gradually, Holling begins to see that not everyone you seem to be at war with hates your guts, and that life can be as cool as a Shakespeare play. He's just not sure whether his life is going to be a tragedy, a comedy, or a little of both. ****October's book club pick.

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

As the first free-born child in a Canadian settlement of escaped slaves, Elijah is expected to be a model citizen. Instead, he is a fragile boy prone to fits of fear and crying. He's trying to be stronger, and has the perfect opportunity to test his courage when he accompanies a friend on a dangerous mission across the border into America to recover stolen gold. *** As always, Curtis blends humor, action, realistic details and unforgettable characters into a seamless and satisfying whole.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 8th grade book club

After the environment is destroyed, all that is left of the United States are 12 struggling districts controlled by a vicious Capitol city that keeps the once rebellious districts in line through the Hunger Games. Every year two teenagers from each district are randomly chosen to compete in a televised gladiator-style competition to the death - only one will survive to bring glory (and food!) to his or her home town. Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the Hunger Games after her younger sister is chosen. Growing up in one of the poorest districts taught Katniss some survival skills, but she is up against teens from the richest districts, who train as professional killers and volunteer for the thrill of it. And soon Katniss realizes that Peeta, the boy sent from her district, is in love with her... *** A cross between Survivor and "The Lottery," with a little Lord of the Flies. Definitely not for the faint of heart! The sequel, Catching Fire, is great too. Be forewarned, though - it's a projected trilogy and the third isn't out yet!

True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

After aliens take over the world, a girl named Gratuity Tucci sets out to find her missing mom on a cross country trip in a floating car named Slushius with a rogue alien named J Lo and a cat named Pig. Along the way they visit Happy Mouse Kingdom and Roswell, eat roadside delicacies (such as urinal sanitizer soaps) and save the world from another race of nasty aliens with weak immune systems. *** Especially for fans of Terry Pratchett and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. *** Adam Rex also writes awesome picture books with teen appeal. Check out his cool website at: www.adamrex.com Very funny video here.