Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Last year, lots of my students loved the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I wasn't convinced, but one day while my students were at recess, I picked up one of the books on a student's desk to glance through it. And it was hilarious. I decided I might as well give them a try. So, here I am, reading book 4 in the series after being on hold at the library for at least a month. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are about a boy named Greg and his middle school life, entertaining family, and weird friends. The books are written in the form of a diary with little doodles.

This book was entertaining. I couldn't help but laugh aloud at times. I really think this author is a complete goof, and I have no idea where he comes up with this stuff. But it's funny. The best thing about these books is that they take less than an hour (easily) to read. (Then I don't feel that bad about wasting my life reading it.) An enjoyable read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Savvy

I chose to read Savvy by Ingrid Law because it was a Newbery Honor book. This book is about Mibs Beaumont, who is anxiously awaiting her very near 13th birthday. In her family, turning 13 is special because that's when you discover your savvy. One of her brothers can control electricity; another can start hurricanes. Then, days before her birthday, her dad ends up in the hospital in critical condition--leaving Mibs without her parents on her big day. This book follows Mibs's adventure as she comes to discover her savvy.

This book was okay. It took me a long time to get through (even though it's not a long book). It had some fun ideas, and a few really likeable characters (particularly Will Junior, who crushes on Mibs). Overall, though, I didn't feel like the plot or story line was exceptionally strong. I liked reading it most of the time, but I didn't feel there was anything too wonderful or special about it. I really feel like Newbery award winners (medals/honors) are hit and miss. Some I absolutely LOVE, and others, I really don't know why they were winners. Good thing I'm not a judge.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay.)

Twilight

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is one of those books everyone has read and was shocked that I hadn't read. I decided to read it because so many people recommended it and said that I'd for sure like it. For those who don't already know, Twilight is the story of a girl named Bella who moves to a new town and meets and falls for Edward--a vampire. The book brings you into the world of vampires and what choices Bella will make when her boyfriend loves her for both love and lust (ie., wanting to eat her).

This book was a fun read--it definitely brought out smiles and laughs. It is for sure a chick flick, which I can't help but enjoy. It's not the best written book in the world, but that was kind of a nice change from all the "polished" books that are normally popular. However, it's hard to read a book after seeing the movie. It just makes it hard to enjoy the book as much. I'm a big believer that books are always better than movies--but I think that you can only appreciate that when you read the book first. My plan is not to see the second movie until I've read the second book. But I don't feel a huge urge to read the second book right away. We'll see what happens.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is the sequel to The Hunger Games, a book Connor and I read last year after hearing a lot about it. I don't want to summarize Catching Fire since that would completely give away the first book--so I'll summarize The Hunger Games so you can get the gist of it. The Hunger Games is about a society consisting of the Capitol and 12 districts where the Capitol is in complete control of all the people's lives. To show its great power and dominance, the Capitol hosts the "Hunger Games" every year where 2 children ("tributes") from each district are selected (in a lottery system) to participate in a fight to the death. This "game" is broadcast on television for all the districts to watch and to entertain the Capitol. The games end when one tribute has survived--and the other 23 have been killed. Hunger Games tells the story of Katniss, one of the tributes, and her fight to survive.

Catching Fire (like Hunger Games) was a book that I both hated and loved. (Meaning I loved it.) Such terrible things happen in the book that I have to cry or be completely angry. But the book is so engaging that from the time I started it yesterday to the time I finished it today, it was all I thought about. I dreamt about it last night; I woke up with the story consuming my mind. This book is a wonderful read because the situations are compelling and the characters are real. Unfortunately, both books in this series so far have ended less than ideally because they leave things wide open--forcing you to eagerly await the next book in the sequel. So...I will wait.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it in a hating way)

The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke was a book recommended (and given) to me by students. I was in between books so pulled it off the shelf and decided to read it. It is about two boys who are orphaned and expected to go into the custody of their unkind aunt and uncle. Instead, they run away to Venice and join a group of orphans who live in an abandoned movie theater, led by a boy who calls himself the Thief Lord. This books tells of how the orphans get involved in some deals and mysteries that could deeply change their lives.

I really liked this book. It had interesting, likable, believable characters and a unique story. I was kept guessing throughout the story and enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately, it took me for-ev-er to get through it. At first I thought it was just because I've been kind of busy lately, but now I'm thinking that it just wasn't quite top-notch in its engagement level. But, it was still an enjoyable book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Charlotte's Rose

Charlotte's Rose by A.E. Cannon is a book I've owned for a few years but never gotten around to read until now. It's the story of a 12-year-old girl named Charlotte who leaves her home in Wales and travels with her dad and other Mormon converts to Utah. As the handcart company starts on the journey in America, one woman dies giving birth and her husband is in deep mourning, so Charlotte offers to take care of the baby for the rest of the trip. She volunteers to prove she is grown up, but once she starts caring for Rose, she finds that it is much harder than she anticipated. This book tells Charlotte's story of how she comes to love Rose--even though her dad and others remind her that this baby will have to be returned to Rose's father when he's ready.

This book was beautifully written and just touching to read. It was really neat to see what it could have been like for these pioneers in their journey and to get to know all the different characters in the handcart company. It was a wonderful story that had me both smiling and crying. (Also, FYI: This isn't a Mormon fiction book written specifically for a Mormon audience. It's a general historical fiction book that happens to be about the Mormon pioneers.)

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

A Christmas Carol

I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens for a book club, but it's also a book I knew I really needed to read. I'm sure everyone knows the story of A Christmas Carol because of all the movies based on it, but in case you forgot: Selfish Scrooge is visited by 3 Christmas spirits to help him understand the meaning of Christmas.

This was a fun, quick book to read. It's interesting to read a book after seeing tons of different movies based on it. I found myself picturing the muppets and other various characters as I read. I enjoyed reading a couple parts that I never remember seeing in a movie. It just added a little more to this great story.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)