Marvelous Middle- Grade Monday

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon at http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/, so you should visit her and see the list of all the other blogs that are talking about books that are great for Middle- Graders.  All the cool bloggers are doing it!

This week our pick for MMGM is The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math by Sean Connolly.

We interviewed Mr. Connolly at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia.  You should watch this.

     Did you ever think math was dull and boring?  Well, Sean Connolly changed that.  He made math fun in his book, Perfectly Perilous Math.  In this book he explains problems and makes them very engaging.  He even writes scenarios to describe why you are doing the problem--like escaping vampires or destroying asteroids.

     Connolly even wrote some Totally Irresponsible Science Experiments that are fun for everyone, and they use everyday things.  My personal favorite is the Mentos and cola experiment.

Marsh and Emiline

 Here we are with Ms. Krista, the manager at our FAVORITE bookstore, Little Shop of Stories.  She's the best.  She always has great recommendations for books we need to read.

That's us and Mr. Connolly at Little Shop of Stories.  If you see that he is coming to a bookstore near you then you should go, because he is really fun and does some great experiments.

If We had a Magic Lamp

It's Friday and that means it's time for If I Had A Magic Lamp Meme started by Ya-Aholic.  To find out more about this meme please visit http://www.ya-aholic.com/.  This is a really fun way for us to be creative and make 3 wishes!  Here's our very own genie, Emiline to grant some wishes.

Marsh is reading Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WW2 Invasion by Samantha Seiple and his wishes are:

1.  I wish the United States would have barricaded Alaska to prevent the Japanese from  any further attacks on Alaska.

2.  I wish the people of U.S. could have known about the secret attacks on Alaska during World War II so they could contribute money, food, and weapons to help the soldiers stationed in Alaska.

3.  I wish the Navy could have created a blockade they could have shot the planes out of the sky and saved civilian lives and helped prevent minor panic in Alaska. 

Emiline is ALMOST FINISHED reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling and her wishes are:

1.  I wish I was at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry so I could play Quidditch with the Griffindor Team.  I would love to soar through the sky on a Firebolt!

2.  I wish I could meet Harry Potter and tell him as much as I know about You-Know-Who as I can.

3.  I wish I could stop everyone from calling Luna "Looney Lovegood".  I really like Luna and she's very nice.  We are a lot alike and it's okay to be yourself.

Marsh's Book Review of Catching Fire

Here are the MONSTER Tributes!     

NO SISTERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO

NO SISTERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO

(Warning: Some SPOILERS ahead)

Marsh's Book Report on Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

     In Katniss's last Hunger Games she caused a spark with her trick with the berries.  It has caused an outburst in the districts.  A group of rebels has formed and Katniss is the face of it.  

     The capitol has created a new style for the Hunger Games--the Quarter Quell.  Each district has to forfeit two of their victors from the past Hunger Games--old and young--to fight in the arena.  They have done this to drag Katniss back into the arena where they hope to eliminate her.

     I really enjoyed this book.  I enjoyed it because I was glad to see Katniss back up and fighting.  I was very surprised that she was back in the arena but I was rooting for her the whole time.  I really liked this book but I still think The Hunger Games is my favorite.

I give Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 5 MONSTERS out of 5.

This is a video from Scholastic's site of Ms. Collins addressing the age range for these books and violence.

Visit Scholastic's site for more information about The Hunger Games Trilogy:

http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/index.htm

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

It's time for MMGM at A Monster Ate my Book Report!  This is our favorite meme, probably because we are Middle-Graders.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog to see all the other wonderful blogs that are featuring books for Middle- Grade.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Marsh's MMGM pick for this week is First Kill  by Heather Brewer!

     Heather Brewer's writing is always good and I especially enjoyed it in this book. She is very descriptive.  I could picture all of her scenes perfectly--as if I were there. I really liked how the main character, Joss, is strong, courageous, and strong-willed.  He is overall a very likeable character, so much so that people have started teams for Joss as well as for Heather Brewer's other book-series' character, Vlad From the Chronicles of Vladimir Todd.  (Trust me, even though there are teams, no one wants this to turn into Twilight.)  I was honestly blown back by her new writing in these books and some moments shocked me so much that I was paralyzed.  I liked how this book was from Joss's point of view so I could see his side of the story.  I am really glad to have this as my MMGM pick this week. 

 

Visit Auntie Heather's Blog, because she's hilariously strange:

http://www.heatherbrewer.com/

And then there's this.....

In October the second book in the Slayer Chronicles comes out.

What if we had a Magic Lamp?

http://www.ya-aholic.com/

Welcome to A Monster Ate My Book Report!  We found this meme at Ya-aholic, and we thought this is a great thing for us to have a little fun with.  It's fun to be creative!  Please visit Ya-Aholic to see what other bloggers are wishing for.

Marsh & Emiline

Marsh's Magic Lamp Wishes:
I'm reading The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, and if I was a character in this book my wishes would be:

1.  I wish that Will would not try to get Stephen evicted from the town by saying Stephen was doing things like threatening him with a knife and starting fights.

2. If I was in that world, I would wish they had places like Outback Steakhouse on the road so you could just go in, sit down, eat a nice dinner, and go back to scavenging.   

3.  If I was a character in the book, I would wish to have planned ahead. That way I would know something was going to happen to us when we nuked China.  I would have fortified a small area and stored up weapons and ammo and placed turrets outside the gate so no infected people would be tempted to get in.

Emiline's Magic Lamp Wishes:
I'm reading Harry Potter and the Half- Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling and my wishes are all about the magical world of Harry Potter.

1.  I wish that Malfoy wasn't so mean.  He has actions that will backfire on him.  But he'll deserve it!

2. I wish Snape wasn't a Death Eater.  It ruins me to know that somewhere in our world Snape is spying at Hogwarts.

3.  I wish Harry would've accepted Sirius's house for full time so he could get away from the Dursleys.  But then again, he is protected at the Dursley's.  

Emiline's Review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

   

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

by J. K. Rowling

Review by Emiline

     Harry Potter has been warned by the Malfoy's house elf, Dobby, that he mustn't go back to Hogwarts, because the Chamber of Secrets has been opened, but Harry longs to see his friends because he is stuck at the Dursley's.  Harry ignores Dobby's warning and returns to Hogwarts.  Danger strikes, someone is turning Hogwart students into stone, and the Chamber of Secrets has been opened by the heir of Slytherin.  Who is the Heir of Slytherin?  Draco?  Or who everyone thinks--  Harry Potter?  And who is turning everyone to stone?

     I love J. K. Rowling's way with words.  She describes the people and places as if she's really there!  She's a stunning writer.  My favorite new character in this book is Fawkes the Phoenix.  I also loved  how J. K. Rowling had a young Tom Riddle, but to find out more about that read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

If I could give the whole series 1,000 out of 1,000 MONSTERS I would, but it only goes up to 5, so I give Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

This book is for people who believe in MAGIC.

Marsh and me in the castle.

Me and my mom at Hagrid's.

 Visit Scholastic to find out more about this series:

http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/

Guess what? Pottermore is finally open!! So make sure you sign up.

http://www.pottermore.com/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

It's time for Marvelous Middle- Grade Monday and this week I have picked the newest book in the Goddess Girls Series,  Medusa the Mean by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.  This is our favorite meme, and there are lots of other bloggers that are really nice that also participate, so make sure you visit our friend Ms. Shannon's blog to see the list.  http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

     You all know the myth of Medusa, but is she misunderstood?  I picked Medusa the Mean for my MMGM.  The book gives you an explanation for why she's so mean.  I like everything about this book!  I love the cover illustrations, and I love how it's a part of a series too.  And, in this book Zeus and Hera get married!  It's a stunning book.  I hope you read it.

Emiline

If you you are interested in this series, I also reviewed Aphrodite the Beauty and I was even Medusa in the video!  You should definitely check it out.  http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/emiline-reports-on-aphrodite-diva-by.html

To find out more about this series visit:

http://series.simonandschuster.com/Goddess-Girls/books

And find out more about the authors, please visit their blogs:

http://www.joanholub.com/

and

http://www.suzanne-williams.com/

If We Had a Magic Lamp

http://www.ya-aholic.com/

Welcome to A Monster Ate My Book Report!  We found this meme at Ya-aholic, and we thought this is a great thing for us to have a little fun with.  It's fun to be creative!  Please visit Ya-Aholic to see what other bloggers are wishing for.
Marsh & Emiline

Emiline's Magic Lamp Wishes:
I'm reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the marvelous J. K. Rowling.  And my wishes are . . .  (drumroll)

1.  I wish Sirius Black didn't die.  He was important to me and to Harry.  It makes me so sad.

2.  I wish that Umbridge hadn't been Headmaster!  She was a terrible woman.  How she treated people was horrible.

3.  I wish I was there when Harry was being punished by Umbridge and he had to get "I must not tell lies" carved into his hand.  I would have stopped her.

4.  I wish Snape wouldn't have stopped teaching Harry his occlumency lessons, but I'm not going to say why in case you haven't read it.

5.  I wish James Potter wouldn't have been so mean to Snape.  That's why he doesn't like Harry. 

Marsh's Magic Lamp Wishes:
I'm reading Fake Mustache by the hilarious Tom Angleberger.  My hairy wishes are...

1.  I'd wish for a Heidelberg Handlebar Mustache.

2.  I would also like a "man about town suit" that is pin striped.

3.  I would love to get $400 for my birthday so I could buy a whole season of the Jodie Rodie Show.

Marsh's Book Report: Behemoth

Marsh's Book Report on Behemoth (Leviathan #2) by Scott Westerfeld

     Deryn and Alek are in the Ottoman Empire where they get mixed up with Turkish Rebels.  They have to help them take down the German's Tesla cannon with their secret weapon while trying to keep the Ottomans from becoming Clankers.  It is important that the Ottoman Empire remains neutral in the war--or that they join the Darwinists to help fight the Clankers.

     Behemoth was all I was looking for in the sequel to Leviathan.  It had more epic battles between the Darwinist and Clanker armies.  There were also new characters introduced like Lilith, Lilith's father and her Grandmother.  I liked how Lilith was sneaky and watchful.

    

 I give  Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld 5 MONSTERS.

This is an awesome book trailer for the Leviathan Series by Westerfeld, you really need to watch this:

Marvelous MUSTACHE Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to MMGM at A Monster Ate my Book Report! 

This week we have picked a FAN{TACHE}TIC book by one of our favorite authors, Mr. Tom Angleberger, Fake Mustache.  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger and there are lots of other blogs that participate, so make sure you head on over to Ms. Shannon's blog to see the list! http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

     I am very excited about Tom Angleberger's book Fake Mustache.  I just started to read it, and let's just say, it's very humorous--and hairy.  I think it is a really good book and, right now, everyone seems to be going through mustache fever, so it has come out at just the right time.
     Once again, I am very impressed with Mr Angleberger's writing and I encourage him to keep doing it.

--Marsh

     Mustaches are in--and so is Tom Angleberger's new book, Fake Mustache.  It's filled with hairy adventures.  I can't wait to read it.  It will be so much fun.
     If you love mustaches, read Fake Mustache.  If you don't, read it and then you just might wake up with a mustache of your very own.
     Read it, before it's too late to start your obsession with facial hair.

--Emiline

Make sure you check out Tom Angleberger's site:

http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

We have also reviewed Mr. Angleberger's other books, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back.  If you haven't heard of these or just want to watch our funny videos click here:

http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/strange-case-of-origami-yoda.html

and

http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/09/our-book-reports-on-darth-paper-strikes.html

We love to meet authors!  And Marsh was lucky enough to meet and interview Mr. Angleberger at The Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, Tennessee.  It was a great opportunity and super cool that he took  the time to meet with his fans.  If you want to see the interview you can click here:

http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/10/our-interview-with-tom-angleberger.html

Summary of Fake Mustache taken from Goodreads:

Award-winning author Tom Angleberger flexes his comic muscle in this hairy adventure story with twists at every turn.

     Regular kid Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend—Casper, a master of disguise and hypnosis—and world domination. It all begins when Casper spends money from his granny on a spectacularly convincing fake mustache, the Heidelberg Handlebar #7. With it he’s able rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president. Is Lenny the only one who can see through his disguise? And will he be able to stop Casper from taking over the world?

We are on Vacation!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break and a Happy Easter!

We are going to take a little blogging break so we can enjoy some time on the road. We might not have internet-- GASP-- so we will be back next week with our MMGM.

Marsh & Emiline

You can follow Emiline on INSTAGRAM at Emilines_monsters to see all our adventures.