Goodreads- Vote for the Best Book of 2014!

Vote for the Best Book of 2014!

Page Turners- Book Choice #2 THIS DARK ENDEAVOUR BY KENNETH OPPEL!

Well, after some discussion and a vote, our next read will be This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel. It sounds very different from our first book choice, and we are all excited to get started! Please read the description below, and consider joining our club! New members are always welcome!

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life. With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake caves, and each sacrifices a body part.(goodreads).

PAGE TURNERS!

This year we decided to start a book club at Sheldon-Williams. We are called the Page Turners and we meet once every 3 wks to discuss our latest book, have treats, and enjoy each others company. We plan to take a few trips to places like Chapters, and Comic Readers, and we also plan to attend a few movies based on the books we read. In addition, we would like to do a few projects based on our book choices such as posters and book trailers. Our first book this year was Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes. We all loved it, and I think most of us cried at the end. Talk to anyone in the club about what a great book this is!!

 Outside, Anika Dragomir is all lip gloss and blond hair—the third most popular girl in school. Inside, she’s a freak: a mix of dark thoughts, diabolical plots, and, if local chatter is to be believed, vampire DNA (after all, her father is Romanian). But she keeps it under wraps to maintain her social position. One step out of line and Becky Vilhauer, first most popular girl in school, will make her life hell. So when former loner Logan McDonough shows up one September hotter, smarter, and more mysterious than ever, Anika knows she can’t get involved. It would be insane to throw away her social safety for a nerd. So what if that nerd is now a black-leather-jacket-wearing dreamboat, and his loner status is clearly the result of his troubled home life? Who cares if the right girl could help him with all that, maybe even save him from it? Who needs him when Jared Kline, the bad boy every girl dreams of, is asking her on dates? Who?

Anatomy of a Misfit is Mean Girls meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Anika’s hilariously deadpan delivery will appeal to readers for its honesty and depth. The so-sad-it’s-funny high school setting will pull readers in, but when the story’s dark foreboding gradually takes over, the devastating penultimate tragedy hits like a punch to the gut. Readers will ride the highs and lows alongside funny, flawed Anika — from laughter to tears, and everything in between.(goodreads).

BOOK OF THE MONTH- NOVEMBER- THE BOOK THIEF BY MARKUS ZUSAK

It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul. (goodreads).

BOOK OF THE MONTH- OCTOBER- MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN BY RANSON RIGGS

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores  its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows. (goodreads).

BOOK OF THE MONTH- SEPTEMBER-THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. (goodreads).

Welcome back Spartans! The library is up and running for the new school year. Our book of the month is The Giver by Lois Lowry.  In addtion, I have inlcuded a link here for other books you need to read before they come out as films in the theatre. Happy reading everyone!
Books to Read Before they are Movies!

IN THE WOODS BY ROBIN STEVENSON

 

"I just..." I can hear her take a deep breath, almost gasp. There's another silence. I'm about to say something when she clears her throat and says, sounding almost normal, "I need you to do something for me, okay?" And so begins the story of twins Cameron and Katie. As our story begins, Katie asks Cameron to go the woods, but she won't tell him why. What Cameron finds there is both shocking and mysterious- a baby abandoned in the woods. "Who's baby is it?" Cameron wonders. "Is it Katie's?" As the chapters unfold we learn the answers to these questions, and much more. 

I really enjoyed this story. It involved both a mystery and an important social issue which is teen pregnancy. The characters were interesting, and felt true to life. My only complaint is, at the end I wanted to know more, especially about the character of Katie.

Final Thoughts: There are many circumstances surrounding teen pregnancy. We should never assume anything is true or false. Every girl's story is different.

Riot Act by Diane Tullson

     When you have to make a tough decision about what's right, it can change your life. Daniel is 17,and loves hockey. When Riot Act begins he and his friend Nick decide to go to "the big game", but their team loses, and riots break out in the city.  Fires are started, cars are torn apart, and people are hurt. Daniel and Nick have been drinking, and at first, they both participate in the riot. Daniel is worried though; his dad is a cop, and if he catches them, they will both be in serious trouble. Daniel leads people into a pizza shop, and before he knows it, the shop is being torn apart. Nick is participating in the looting and rioting, but Daniel stops, finally realizing what's happening is awful, and he's part of it. Instead of continuing the destruction, Daniel helps to stop the rioters. Now, Daniel is being hailed as a hero, while Nick is condemned as a criminal. Daniel must decide if he's going to admit the truth to his parents and friends, or let Nick take the rap for everything.
Final Thoughts: This book will really get you thinking about how your actions have consequences, and you will probably ask yourself, "What would I do if I was Nick?"

Books into Movies

The Oscars are coming up March 2nd! Check out these popular books made into movies!
For copies of books made into movies come and see our display in the library. There's lots of great titles to choose from!

No Problem by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

     My latest book, No Problem, was enjoyable, and I think teenagers will relate to the issues Curt, the protagonist, is going through. To give you more of a background on Curt, he is a baseball pitcher, and he's not good- he's great. Unfortunately, for him, his dad was a great pitcher, but he never made it to the major leagues. Now, Curt's dad wants nothing more than for Curt to make it to "the big time." With all the pressure from his father Curt finds it difficult to even enjoy his baseball games, and he's not sure he wants to pursue a career in baseball anyway. Two bright spots in Curt's life are his new girlfriend Leah, though she does have a few problems of her own, and his best friend Stuart. In addition, he's just started a new job working with an intriguing "bad girl" called Rachel. So, how does Curt deal with all this pressure and his new relationship? He turns to drugs. At first it's just to deal with his sore shoulder, but as the pressure mounts, so does Curt's drug use. Will he be able to handle a new job, a new girlfriend, and a possible future in baseball?  Curt's answer: "No problem."
Final Thoughts: It's easier to get hooked on drugs than one might think. One small pill can lead you down a very destructive path.

Exposure by Patricia Murdoch

     Exposure has probably been my favourite Orca book so far! Meet Julie. She is slightly overweight, and Sammy is her only real friend at school. Everyday, she is tormented and bullied by Dana. Dana is pretty and popular. Some of the things Dana says to Julie are utterly horrific, "You know, no matter what happens my life, it's still better than yours. If I were you, I'd kill myself." Julie often wonders how she will face another day at school. Luckily, Julie's brother Zack goes to a party, and some explicit pictures of Dana wind up in Julie's possession. Now, Julie has to decide if she will get the ultimate revenge, or take the high road.
     I really like how Murdoch outlined the interactions of girls in a high school setting. All the conversations felt very real, and I could feel Julie's pain. I also enjoyed how the story played out in the end. It was different from other books I've read about bullying.
Final Thoughts: For all the girls who are bullies or victims of bullies- read this story. It might help you find a way through.

Learning to Fly by Paul Yee

 I've just finished my third Orca novel-Learning to Fly- Overall, I thought this story was fairly good. At the beginning we meet a Chinese immigrant by the name of  Jie-xin, Canadian name, Jason. He has recently moved to the town of Milson with his mother and his younger brother Josh. Jason's mom runs a deli in the mall, and Jason works there for free as the family doesn't have much money. Despite what his mom promised him, there are no other Chinese people in Milson, and Jason faces racism and loneliness on a daily basis. How does he decide to cope with all these issues? He smokes pot, which he purchases from "The Man", and he doesn't smoke alone. He has a few pothead friends that smoke with him- Chief (named because of his First Nations background), Pinhead, Danny, and Danny's girlfriend Shawna.
With everything going on, Jason is desperate to move back to China, but his mother wants them to make a life in Milson. One day, Chief asks Jason to pick up some "stuff" for the group, and things go from bad to worse.
I like how this book explores the immigrant experience, and how Jason and Chief connect over their shared isolation and experiences with racism. I think it's worth reading especially if you are a Chinese immigrant or of First Nations descent. My only criticism would be that I would have liked to learn a little more about the backgrounds of all the different characters.

Final Thoughts: I hope this book will make everyone take a moment and think about what you're doing to make our immigrant students feel welcome, and how much of an effort you make with students who may feel like they don't fit in. Please take the time to get to know these students! They're probably a lot more like you than you think, and kindness and compassion don't cost a thing!

Research (Essays, Projects)

Hello Spartans!

If you require help with research for a paper or project come see me in the library. I can help you to proofread your essay, and/or help you with in-text citations and citing your sources for your reference or works cited page. (APA and MLA).
In addition, you may email me at jennifer.lane@rbe.sk.ca and I will get back to you asap!!

Overdrive!

Hello all,

As I'm sure many of you are aware, Sheldon has recently acquired the new Overdrive program for e-book reading. What this means to you is, if you download the Overdrive app, either from the App Store, or the Playstore, you will be able to read new books right off of your tablet or mobile device. There are lots of great new books to choose from, and you also have access to Project Gutenberg, which will allow you to read classic literature, lots of Shakespeare,and much more! Come see Ms. Lane for more information on how to download Overdrive onto your device, or read the instructions below.

Overdrive/ebooks Steps to Sign Up

*You will need to know your student ID

*You will need your smartphone, iPad or tablet

**bring iPads if some students do not have a device

*MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON THE RPS GUEST NETWORK- AGREE TO THE TERMS

*YOU NEED TO GET AN ADOBE ID. IT’S FREE, AND YOU CAN USE YOUR IGO NAME AND PASSWORD. (Go to adobe.com>Get Started>Don’t have an Adobe ID>Create an Adobe ID>/Create).

1. Go to App store or Playstore

2. Download the Overdrive Media Console app (library) It’s a blue background with a white O.

3. Open Overdrive

4. Swipe

-THREE HASHES AT THE TOP

5. Add a library

6. In search box type in Regina

7. search

8. Choose Sheldon-Williams

-Choose Regina Public Schools

9. Tap to add a book

10. Enter your library card number which is your student ID.

*You can sign out up to 3 books at at time.

* You keep your book for 21 days

*It’s more convenient to download your books rather than read them in your browser, because you can read them off line.

?- HELPS YOU WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT HOW TO USE OVERDRIVE.

LITTLE PERSON- WILL GET YOU TO PROJECT GUTENBERG. THESE BOOKS DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS YOUR 3 BOOK MINIMUM, AND YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY AS YOU WANT FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT.

Edge of Flight by Kate Jaimet

     Meet Vanisha. She's in grade twelve and she's not sure what she wants to do with her life. Her mom is a professor, and she wants Vanisha to go to university. However, Vanisha's not sure university is for her. Things aren't all bad though, despite the fact they've moved again, to Utah this time, Vanisha has made some new friends, Jeb and Rusty, and they've taught her all about rock climbing. Jeb is a football player and a bit crazy; his goals for the future are to, "Sign up for high-def TV...and watch lots of sports." Rusty, on the other hand, is more thoughtful, and strategic. He plans to be an ambulance attendant, and has already been accepted in a program.
     As the story begins, Vanisha has decided that today will be the day she finally climbs Edge of Flight, a difficult climb that requires committment, and tenacity. Unfortunately, it's raining, so the three climbers decide to look for a safer route which leads them to what they least expect- a marijuana field. Now, danger is not only  climbing the mountain, but coming into contact with the biker gang who owns the field and will kill anyone who gets in their way. Vanisha and Rusty are smart enough to walk away, but Jeb, being the risk taker, insists on a further exploration of the field. Before he knows it, Jeb is shot, and it's up to Rusty to keep him alive, while Vanisha risks her life to save them all.
     I thought I wouldn't like this book because I'm not very interested in rock climbing, but on the contrary, I found myself becoming quite interested in learning how climbs actually work, and all the equipment, and the strategy that goes into each climb.  There are several rock climbing terms that are mentioned, but thanks to the handy dandy glossary at the back, you won't have any trouble understanding all this lingo. From the interesting twist, to the beautiful descriptions of the Ozark mountains, and the actual climbs, I feel Edge of Flight is worth reading.
     Will Jeb survive? Will the biker gang find Jeb and Rusty before Vanisha can hike back to town? Will Vanisha make a decision about her life, or die before she has the chance? These are the questions you will ask yourself as you read Edge of Flight!
Final Thoughts: Maybe I will try rock climbing....someday.  :)

Crash by Lesley Choyce

     Cameron is having a bad day . He wakes up to hear his mom and dad are splitting up, and his dad is moving to a new town. Now, Cameron is expected to move in with his mom's new boyfriend Nick. Cameron doesn't like Nick, and he knows his mom doesn't really want him to live with her.  He thinks, "She would have her little love nest with Nick, and I'd be out of the way." So, Cameron refuses to leave home. He decides to stay with his dog Ozzie, but life becomes too difficult. He can't afford food or the rent, so he is forced to live on the streets. Luckily, he meets a street girl called Mackenzie, she's not too willing to talk about herself, but she is willing to show him "the ropes" on the streets, and as Cameron learns about street life, so do we.
     Street life is dangerous, scary, and desperate. People don't really "see" you, and panhandling for money is degrading and humiliating. It's no longer the simple question of asking mom, "What's for supper?" Now, you not only have to figure out what you're going to eat, but how far you're willing to go to get it. In addition, you have to decide where you're going to sleep at night, and each choice, possibly an alley, an abandoned building, or a shelter, carries its own risks. As a young person on the street, you are vulnerable and exposed. You are no longer seen as a human being, but as a problem or, at the very least, an annoyance.
     I think you will enjoy getting to know Cameron and Mackenzie as they try to survive together on the street, and you may wonder: Is school even possible when they don't know where their next meal is coming from? Will they be able to stay together? How do you take care of a dog when you're homeless? Will Cameron make up with his mom, and what is the real reason the mysterious, and secretive Mackenzie is living on the street?
     Final Thoughts:  I think Crash will make you think. Think more about how you treat the homeless people in your city, and what you can do to help.

Orca Books

Hello all,

I wanted to let everyone know that I have started on a personal/professional challenge for myself. I want to read all the Orca books in our library at Sheldon-Williams, and give them a small review. Orca books are high-interest low vocabulary books written for reluctant readers. I have already started by completing two Orca books: Crash by Lesley Choyce and Edge of Flight by Kate Jaimet. I will post my mini reviews as I finish the books.

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett

And the Mountains Echoed Book Trailer- Mia

The Book Thief | Trailer US (2013)

Allegiant Movie Trailer