Austin Teen Book Fest 2009!

On Saturday, October 24, 2009 Ms. Thibodeaux and Ms. Hill brought 19 of our students to the Austin Teen Book Festival to meet 16 authors of Young Adult books. The event, held at Westlake High School, included panel discussions with the authors, 5 local teen bands and books, books, books!

The day began with a brilliantly funny and touching speech by the Keynote, Libba Bray. Ms. Bray is the author of a popular series in the fantasy genre, as well as her latest work, Going Bovine. She then participated in the fantasy panel discussion with Rick Yancey (Alfred Kropp series), Lisa McMann (Wake, Fade) and Justine Larbalestier (Liar).

The Young Adult Real Voices panel included Matt De La Pena (Ball Don’t Lie, Mexican White Boy), Terra Elan McVoy (Pure), and Deb Caletti (Honey, Baby, Sweetheart). This panel discussed writing about real life events, when they began writing and also shared personal stories about family and the first time they were published.

The Zombies vs. Vampires panel included Heather Brewer (Vladimir Todd series), Cynthia Leitich-Smith (Eternal), Daniel Waters and Carrie Jones. This panel conducted an exciting discussion on whether zombie or vampire books are better.

The Local author panel consisted of Varian Johnson (My Life as a Rhombus), Shana Burg (A Thousand Never Evers), April Lurie (Brothers, Boyfriends & other Criminal Minds), and Jennifer Ziegler (How Not to be Popular). This group discussed what it is like to be a writer in the Austin community. The Book Festival was awesome and we can’t wait for ATBF 2010!

I want to say thank you to Ms. Woollven and Ms. Adonyi for coming to the book festival with us and I also want to thank the ELA department at EMHS and the administration for supporting the trip!

Favorites from Summer 2009

I guess I should have posted this entry first, but I guess it's never too late to share great books!

Julian Carax is an author from Barcelona who wrote a book named The Shadow of the Wind and then mysteriously disappears, along with copies of the book. In 1945 a boy named Daniel comes acroos the book and falls in lovee with the story. He becomes determined to find out about the elusive author and why there aren't any other copies of this book anywhere. Through many years of his life, Daniel continues to follow the only clues he has about Carax and about the mysterious people and events that have plagued his life. Does Daniel finally find Julian Carax? Is his life in danger with every step closer he becomes? Read this book by Carlos Ruiz Zafon to find out!

 This book is brilliantly written as a series of letters between the main character Juliet Ashton and several of the people who live on Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is the story of how these people survived the German occupation of their home during World War II. Through letter correspondence, Juliet, a writer who is researching Guernsey to write about it, becomes close friends with some of the most vivid, unforgettable characters who live there and are members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Juliet eventually visits Guernsey to meet all of her newfound friends. What will finally meeting each other face to face be like for all of them? How will it change their lives forever? Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows take the reader on a journey to the Channel Islands they won't soon forget!

First Post of the New School Year!

I read this book with my Lunch Time book Club at the high school where I am a librarian. It was their pick out of 5 options I gave them and I have to say it wasn't what I expected. It is written from the perspective of several characters all dealing with the loss of a teenager named Miah, who was shot to death by two policemen in a case of mistaken identity. His perspective is also captured in the book as he is watching the people that he loved deal with the loss. It was a very emotional portrayal of dealing with death and the unexpected loss of someone so young. The circumstances surrounding Miah's untimely death are woven in throughout the story but are not the main focus, the pain and process these people are going through remains at the forefront.

The Hunger Games is a fascinating tale of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark from District 12 who are representing their hometown in the annual, Capitol City run Hunger Games. This is a government controlled “game” where 12 people from the age of 12-18 are randomly chosen in a lottery to hunt and kill each other until only one is left standing.

This year’s game has an unexpected twist; Katniss and Peeta both have a chance to survive. Can they win the Hunger Games against 22 other contestants? Will they both be allowed to live if they can pull it off? What will they all have to do in the process of the games? Will they be able to live with their actions when the games are over? Check it out!