Hit Me With Your Interaction! #2

DAY TWO: Super fun play for kids…

HIT ME *** HERE*** WITH YOUR FAIRY TALES

Hit Me With Your Interaction!

DAY ONE: Interactive fun…for all ages…

HIT ME ***HERE*** WITH NARRATIVE

That’s Funny!

Sick and silly!

Happy Halloween

Where do you find inspiration?

Click here!

Or here!

Or here!

Spectacular Color App!

Explore color and tricks of the eye on the Ipad because its very cool. An app for all ages and it’s free. 

Young People’s Literature – 2011 National Book Award Finalists

Though I haven’t read any of these, it’s always good to know what’s getting praise, so here’s the National Book Award finalist. Sometimes I find these choices are hit and miss because they are chosen for import, politics or skill in writing – not story. Story and being compelling is more important to a good read than anything. 

MY NAME IS NOT EASY By Debby Dahl Edwardson

Age Range: 10 – 14

The story of three Iñupiaq children (then known as Eskimos) living above the Arctic Circle who are sent to a Catholic boarding school with other children, white and Indian.

OKAY FOR NOW By Gary D. Schmidt 

Age Range: 10 – 14

It’s 1968.

SHINE By Lauren Myracle 

Age Range: 14 – 18

When her gay best friend is brutally beaten in contemporary Black Creek, N.C., a withdrawn teen tracks his assailant.

CHIME By Franny Billingsley

Age Range: 14 – 18

“I’ve confessed to everything and I’d like to be hanged. Now, if you please.”

INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN By Thanhha Lai

Age Range: 9 – 12

An enlightening, poignant and unexpectedly funny novel in verse is rooted in the author’s childhood experiences.

FLESH AND BLOOD SO CHEAP The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy By Albert Marrin

Age Range: 12 – 18

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911 resulted in the greatest loss of life in a New York City workplace until the 9/11 attacks nearly a century later.

Best YA Books You Probably Haven’t Read

RUBY HOLLER by Sharon Creech

THE HOUSE OF MANY WAYS by Diana Wynn Jones

THE MAGIC PUDDING by Norman Lindsey

TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN by John Marsden

MORTAL ENGINES by Phillip Reeves

PLAYING BEATIE BOW by Ruth Park

THE WILLOUGHBYS by Lois Lowry

* Check back on this one as I will be updating the list as I remember them. 

I Love Lists!

Here’s a great resource for Young Adult Books.

THE HUNGER GAMES vs. LEVIATHAN

IT’S BOOK SMACKDOWN TIME!

This is my first book smackdown, in what I hope will be many more. Basically, I take similarly themes YA novels and compare them. At the end, I’ll tell you my favorite and why.

“THE HUNGER GAMES” vs.”LEVIATHAN”

Themes:
The Future vs. The Future Past

Science Fiction Vs. Steampunk

Female Protagonist Vs. Male & Female Protagonists

Society as Villain Vs. Politics as Villain

High Personal Stakes Vs. a Higher Social Stake

Light Sci Fi tech Vs. Super Sci Fi Biology tech.

With very similar ideas of the future, both novels explore human’s tampering with biology and DNA. “LEVIATHAN” is set in 1913 where Europe is on the brink of the Great War and divided by Germany’s severe religious views regarding anti-genetic engineering Vs. Darwin’s England with spliced animals flying bigger (Inspired by the demon above) and greater the any Zeppelin. England rules the skies with hybrid animals. Stuck in the middle is a runaway prince whose parents have just been assassinated in order to start war. “THE HUNGER GAMES” starts simple, an older sister volunteers to take the place of her younger one in a teenage death match. Katniss (A flower as pictured above) is paired with a boy who once helped her when she needed it most. The Capitol separates society in a severe class structure in order to prevent uprisings.

THE WINNER!

“THE HUNGER GAMES” is grounded in emotions. We care for the characters and we want them to survive. The writer never forgets that we must like and understand our heros in order to enjoy the journey. READ IT!