Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

  It's Monday, and that means it's time for us to tell you all about another wonderful Middle-Grade Book.  This meme was started by Ms. Shannon and she's gotten a lot of other bloggers to join in.  This is a great meme for discovering new books that are just for Middle-Graders.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for the list of all the bloggers. http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

           Marsh & Emiline

Who is J.K. Rowling?

By Pamela Pollack and Meg Belviso

            Who is J.K. Rowling? is a great biography about the author, J.K. Rowling.  It tells all about what she went through and her inspiration for Harry Potter.  I enjoyed this book because I love Harry Potter and wanted to know more about the author.  My intention is to be an author and I want to know the flips and turns of being an author.  I liked that I could learn more about the series of books, also.  I recommend this book to Harry Potter fans everywhere.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

  It's Monday, and that means it's time for us to tell you all about another wonderful Middle-Grade Book.  This meme was started by Ms. Shannon and she's gotten a lot of other bloggers to join in.  This is a great meme for discovering new books that are just for Middle-Graders.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for the list of all the bloggers. http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

           Marsh & Emiline

Emiline's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday pick is Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes.

     I chose Ninth Ward as my MMGM because it has part of history--the history that's sewed into the brain of the brain of the country-- the history of Hurricane Katrina.  When my grandmother first introduced me to Ninth Ward, I remembered the spinning of the hurricane in the distance and I knew the book was going to be good.  And it is.

     This was a very emotional book and most of the time I was concerned for Lanesha.  I didn't want such a creative, beautiful mind to go to waste.  When I was reading, sweat was beading on my forehead.  A very terrible vision flooded into my head--the never ending line of cars and driving into New Orleans and seeing everything wrecked.  I was struck and I couldn't stop reading.

     The thing that brightened things up was the relationship between Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya.  Because of them, this is a book about hope and friendships.  I recommend this book to every American.

     This MMGM is dedicated to the people who did not survive in the hurricane.  

I got this book from my grandmother, who is also my school librarian.  She recommended this book to me.  You can find Ninth Ward at your school or local library, or your favorite Indie Bookstore.

Please visit the author's site for more about the book:

http://jewellparkerrhodes.com/children/books/ninth-ward/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays

     It's Monday, and that means it's time for us to tell you all about another wonderful Middle-Grade Book.  This meme was started by Ms. Shannon and she's gotten a lot of other bloggers to join in.  This is a great meme for discovering new books that are just for Middle-Graders.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for the list of all the bloggers. http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

           Marsh & Emiline

Marsh's MMGM is Odd and the Frost Giants written by Neil Gaiman

 and illustrated by Brett Helquist

     The Avengers was a huge summer movie and one of the main characters is Thor, so why not talk about Norse Mythology?  If your looking for this particular mythology then check out Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants.  Odd is a twelve-year-old boy who has to save all of Asgard from frost giants.  This is a great short read.  I really enjoyed how Gaiman made the legends come to life.  My favorite character was Odd.  I really admired his confidence and his soaring intellect.  

I give Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman Five Monsters.

To find out more about this book and Neil Gaiman please visit:

http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/Odd+and+the+Frost+Giants/

Here's a funny picture of us in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot.

Emiline's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

     It's Monday, and that means it's time for us to tell you all about another wonderful Middle-Grade Book.  This meme was started by Ms. Shannon and she's gotten a lot of other bloggers to join in.  This is a great meme for discovering new books that are just for Middle-Graders.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for the list of all the bloggers. http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

           Marsh & Emiline

     Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams's Artemis the Loyal is a great book! You can actually learn some things about great mythology and I love the illustrations. Once you start reading this book, you can't stop. If you have kids that don't like reading, you can give them this and they will love it. It's not a serious book at all. It's just fun. I'd read this if you are a fan of Percy Jackson or Allie Finkle.

 Emiline

Visit Joan Holub's site here: http://www.joanholub.com/index.html

Visit Suzanne Williams's site here: http://www.suzanne-williams.com/books.html

Marsh's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

Welcome to A Monster Ate My Book Report!  It's Monday and that means it's time for us to tell you all about a wonderful book for Middle-Graders.  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, who is the author of her own Middle-Grade book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of bloggers that are sharing their own Middle-Grade picks, so make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for all the buzz!

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Marsh & Emiline

My Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Book is Forge (Seeds of America #2)

By Laurie Halse Anderson.

     I am currently reading Forge, by Laurie Halse Anderson.  It is based on the battle of Valley Forge.  It is a great book so far and I have really been enjoying it.  I like how courageous Curzon, the main character, is and how he is not afraid to stand up for himself.  I also really enjoy the details.  It makes you feel like you are standing in the boots of an American soldier.

     If you like books about history and war, you will definitely enjoy Forge.  It is set in the Revolutionary war.  The main character is a former slave that joined the army!  I am very eager to finish this book.  Remember to check out the first book in the series, Chains.   

     

Here's the link to Laurie Halse Anderson's website:

http://madwomanintheforest.com/

        I picked up a paperback copy of Forge at my favorite bookstore, Little Shop of Stories, after seeing in on a display.  It is also recommended reading for Middle-Schoolers. You can find Chains and Forge at you local library or at your favorite bookstore. 

Welcome to A Monster Ate My Book Report!  It's Monday and that means it's time for us to tell you all about a wonderful book for Middle-Graders.  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, who is the author of her own Middle-Grade book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of bloggers that are sharing their own Middle-Grade picks, so make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for all the buzz!

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Marsh & Emiline

    I chose The Phantom of the Post Office (43 Old Cemetery Road #4) written by Kate Klise and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise for my MMGM this week, because of the new invention that I think is really cool-- VEXT MAIL.  But, I think I will stay with writing letters like Olive C. Spence, the ghost of 43 Old Cemetery Road.  I like that this book has a new character, Wy Fye and she learns the joy of writing letters from Seymour Hope.  I think you'd like this book if you like ghosts and writing letters, so why don't you read this book?  I think you will love it!

Emiline

You can find out more about this series by visiting the author AND her sisters, the illustrators website:

http://www.kateandsarahklise.com/index.html

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

     It's Monday, and that means it's time for us to tell you all about another wonderful Middle-Grade Book.  This meme was started by Ms. Shannon and she's gotten a lot of other bloggers to join in.  This is a great meme for discovering new books that are just for Middle-Graders.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for the list of all the bloggers. http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

           Marsh & Emiline

Emiline's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Book Pick is

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

     I love The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a wonderful collection of wizarding tales by J.K. Rowling. The stories are like fairy tales for wizards.  I love it because you can connect to the wizarding world.  It's like everyone's coming out of the book.  It just feels so real.  
     I love that the book has a straight connection to The Deathly Hallows; because now, not only can you hear great wizarding tales, you actually feel like Dumbledore's back with you because of his commentary.  And everyone knew Hermione was going to publish a book eventually!  She translated it from ancient runes!
     I liked that J.K. Rowling wrote another Harry Potter book.  I love her books.  If you're sad the series had to end then read the real ending to the story with The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

 

It's Monday! That means it's time for us to tell you about another fantastic Middle-Grade book.  We aren't alone.  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon and there are lots of us that want to share our picks for Middle- Grade Mondays.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon at http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/ to see all the bloggers who are participating.

Marsh & Emiline 

Marsh's MMGM is Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Collins

  So many of you have read The Hunger Games, but have any of you read Suzanne Collins's other series, The Underland Chronicles?  It is about a boy named Gregor who goes into a grate in his apartment, falls way down, and finds a whole world underground.  He is in one of the Underlanders prophecies and now he is involved in a conflict between giant rats and humans.  This is a great series packed with adventure and I recommend it for all fans of Suzanne Collins.

Marsh

This is the first book in the series and we are giving it away to one public follower!  Just leave us a comment, and make sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner.

Happy Memorial Day!

It's Monday, so that means it's time for us to tell you all about another Marvelous Middle-Grade Book, but we aren't alone in this, make sure you go and visit Ms. Shannon Messenger's blog and see the list of all the bloggers who have found great Middle-Grade reads to tell you about. 

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

Happy Memorial Day!

     I picked We Were Heroes: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, a World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 by Walter Dean Myers for my MMGM.  I loved this book.  It was factual, yet entertaining at the same time--  that's a first!  I liked how you were reading about the battles from a soldier's point of view.  The author made you feel like you were actually there in the middle of the battle.  I thought this book would be great for my Memorial Day MMGM because it's all about our courageous troops.

Remember WHY it's Memorial Day,

Marsh

Summary of We Were Heroes: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, a World War II Solidier, Normandy, France, 1944 taken from Scholastic:

A Tale of Courage in the Face of Impossible Odds, Told by a Newbery Award-Winning Author!Follow one soldier's path to safety through World War II's most lethal battle! At the height of World War II, Scott Pendleton Collins signs up for the Army. After all, both his father and grandfather fought for their country. But at first the only enemy he faces is boredom. He and his unit want to be out in the fields, doing something to help the Allied forces, but instead they meet with endless delays.There's a rumor that something big is coming, and finally Scott discovers what it is. In the dead of night, he and his comrades find themselves on a boat heading to Normandy, France. At last, as his boat approaches the beach, Scott suddenly realizes what they are up against. Nothing in basic training, nothing he's heard from other soldiers or from his father or grandfather, nothing he has ever experienced could prepare him for what awaits on Omaha Beach.As D-Day rages around him, Scott is separated from his unit. Lost in the bloody chaos, he must find a way to live through the battle.

When I started to research this book I found out that it is a part of a series, My Name is America.  This series has lots of interesting books about Americans and who we are. 

This is a great discussion and activity guide for this book:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/journal-scott-pendleton-collins-discussion-guide

This is the author, Walter Dean Myers website:

http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/index.html

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

It's Monday! That means it's time for us to tell you about another fantastic Middle-Grade book.  We aren't alone.  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon and there are lots of us that want to share our picks for Middle- Grade Mondays.  Make sure you visit Ms. Shannon at http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/ to see all the bloggers who are participating.

Marsh & Emiline

     I chose THE GIRLS' GHOST HUNTING GUIDE by Stacey Graham as my MMGM because of it's scary potential.  It has everything from scientific evidence of the existence of ghosts to urban legends!  After you've read this book you'll be a ghost expert.  It's a great book for sleep overs because of its urban legends. (Have you ever heard of resurrection Mary?)  I liked that the book had questions that girls of all ages responded to with logical explanations.  You are going to love this book if you are fascinated by graceful creatures who lurk in haunted houses, aka, ghosts.  I think if you are a creature of reading (who prefers horror), you should read this.

     CAUTION, not for people who are scared easily!

 Boo! Emiline

If you are interested in this book you really need to check out the Girls' Ghost Hunting Guide Site!

http://www.girlsghosthuntingguide.com/

and the author has a really cool site too:

http://weeghosties.blogspot.com/

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

If it's Monday then that means it's time for Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday! We love this meme and all the bloggers that participate, so make sure you go to Ms. Shannon Messenger's blog to see the list of the bloggers that have GREAT Middle-Grade Books to tell you about.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

This week my MMGM is Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life.  Our Horizons class was assigned this book to read since we are all getting a little excited about going to Middle-School next year.  This is a really short book, so if you aren't really excited about reading this one might be a gook book for you.

Marsh

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Authors: James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

Illustrator: Laura Parks
MMGM review by Marsh

Rafe has suspended his operation to try  to break all the Hills Village Middle School rules.  He's all done because he wants to be normal.  What fun is that?  Now his best friend, Leo, is giving him the silent treatment.  He's also stopped selling Zoom in his locker--that means no more sugary goodness at school.  Many hope he will restart his operation, but many people think not.  W have lost hope of him breaking every single rule in the HVMS conduct book.

I really like this book.  It is super witty.  I really liked when Rafe was in detention and the author portrayed him as a knight fighting a dragon (the teacher).  I also enjoyed it because it had a Diary of a Wimpy Kid kind of mentality.

For more information about this book visit: http://jamespatterson.com/books_middleSchool.php

The second book in this series just came out too.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

It's Monday, and that means we have a fabulous book for Middle-Graders to tell you about!  This is our favorite meme started by Ms. Shannon, and there are so many wonderful bloggers and middle-grade books to tell you about, so make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's Blog to see what's happening!

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Emiline's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Pick is:

Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

     Have you ever felt misplaced or ODD?  Well then, Oddfellow's Orphanage is the perfect place for you.  It has classes on monsters, fairytales, and even contellations. There are bears, and Onion Boys, and Baby New Years, oh my!

     If you are familiar with Emily Winfield Martin's paintings then you will love this book.  It's really cute, because of all the mysterious things in it.

Emiline

This is MY picture!

If you need to give somebody a gift you should get this book and the paper doll book for them.  I love her characters and her art.  I've had lots of fun playing with the paper dolls.

You can find out more about Ms. Martin by visiting her website:

http://www.emilywinfieldmartin.com/index.html

Make sure you check out her Etsy page for some fantastical pictures! I want them all!

You can see pictures and find out more about the characters from Oddfellow's Orphanage by visiting the Oddfellow's Orphanage site:

http://www.oddfellowsorphanage.com/home.html

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.

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.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

It's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!  We have so much fun participating in this MEME started by our friend, Ms. Shannon at http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/. Please check out her blog to see the full list of blogs that participate in MMGM.

http://www.stephanieburgis.com/

Emiline's Pick for MMGM is:

Renegade Magic

(Kat, Incorrigible #2)

By: Stephanie Burgis

     Kat is back.

     After Lady Fotherington ruins Elissa's wedding by telling Fredrick's mom that Angeline is a witch, his mother drags Fredrick out the door.  So the whole Stephenson family travels to the dangerous city of Bath to find Angeline a new fiance.  But how will Kat fight the danger of Bath when she got kicked out of the order and only knows one spell?  And Angeline has a scheme that will embarrass the whole family in front of society while they stay at the Wingate's (Stepmama's relatives) house.  All the while, Kat has to face the wild magic all around Bath.  But who sent the wild magic there?  And will Kat ever be able to restore her powers?  Find out in Renegade Magic.

     I like Stephanie Burgis's way of describing things, not to mention that there's always some magic in Kat's life.

     I recommend this to all people who like Harry Potter.  

This is the second book in the Kat, Incorrigible series.  Please check out my review of the first book, Kat Incorrigible.

http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2012/03/emilines-review-of-kat-incorrigible.html