The Fourth Stall - by Chris Rylander - Releases 2/8/2011

Check out this video and the ever-changing facial hair of my good friend Chris Rylander. That's right, Chris, we're now GOOD friends whether you like it or not. His debut middle grade novel releases next Tuesday. Think of the Sopranos in sixth grade orchestrating mischief from the fourth stall in the boys' bathroom. Buy it! Read it! Talk it!

SEEING DR. SHAKESPEARE

After spending the last year and a half writing another middle grade novel (BIRD NERD), I'm moving on to something new. I've completed that manuscript, and eventually I'll cast a net and try to catch an agent. But for now I'm tossing around fresh ideas. I've had one idea bouncing around the room for a few years, but I'm not sure if I'm a good enough writer yet to pull it off. Neil Gaiman put off writing The Graveyard Book for nearly 20 years because he admitted he wasn't good enough. I'm feeling the same.

I'm going to start research for this project, maybe write the first couple chapters and see if anything sticks. I don't want to say too much about the idea, and I'm not one of those freaky writers who keeps everything hush-hush like they just came up with the next Harry Potter.

There is a clue to the idea in my letter below:

Dear Sixth Graders:

Thank you for coming to school when you're under the whether. Oh, did I spell 'weather' wrong? Now you know how I feel when I read your papers. Anyway, you've made me sick. Literally. My ears are ringing, my skin hurts, and my head feels like a wrecking ball. When I walk, I lean sideways.  When I run...well, my legs ache too badly to run. Thank you, you little walking viruses, for making me use another sick day when I'm actually SICK! I've come to the conclusion that I need a shot.  A vaccine. Not a flu shot. But a shot to ward off ALL prepubescent germs. Sneeze into your sleeve.  Cough into that space opposite your elbow.  For goodness sakes, keep your hands away from your face and your germs away from your papers with 'weather' spelled three different ways.

I'll see you tomorrow, dressed like a surgeon, ready to scrub in to Greek Mythology.

The teacher you most like to make ill,

Mr. W

P.S. My doctor is on a personal leave.  His replacement?  Dr. Shakespeare.

P.P.S. I did not make up the P.S.

       

Paolo Bacigalupi, SHIP BREAKER

Newbery & Printz Awards (Historical Fiction.... again)

The ALA announced the 2011 Newbery Awards this morning. I've only read one of these books, One Crazy Summer (Garcia). I had a feeling it would win, but, as usual, I was wrong. I'd say there are some surprises here, considering I haven't heard of the winner or three of the four honor books. I'll read them, like I always do. The people who participate in Newbery voting are avid readers and literature experts, so it's hard to discredit their opinions. Teaching sixth grade, I feel a little out of the Newbery loop. Many middle schoolers feel like they've outgrown the Newbery books. Cyberspace helps keep me informed (except for this year), so do the terrific librarians at my school (they were surprised too).  Historical Fiction reigns supreme again. Here's the list:   

Newbery Medal Winner:

• Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool

Newbery Honor books:

• Turtle in Paradise, by Jennifer L. Holm
• Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Preus
• Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen
• One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia

The Printz Award for Young Adult Literature goes to:

• Ship Breaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi  

I've heard a lot about Ship Breaker.  As you can see (to the right), I'm reading it now. I started it earlier in the year, but didn't get very far because of other reading priorities, so now I'm starting over.

Printz Honor Books (taken from ala.org)

Stolen, by Lucy Christopher, published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz, by A.S. King, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Revolver, written by Marcus Sedgwick, published by Roaring Book Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Nothing, written by Janne Teller, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Happy Reading.

LC vs Rowley

LC is sprouting teeth like my garden sprouts weeds. And his teeth look like Rowley's (from Wimpy Kid series).

Miniature Scantron Bubbles

On My Mind:

• Saying "Happy New Year" loses its meaning after you hear it for the 100th time. I just smile and say "Shalom."
• Why are these things called bullet points? They look more like darkened miniature scantron bubbles. 
• The last two books I've read blew me away for several reasons.
• The last two books I read were MILO, by Alan Silberberg, and SKELLIG, by David Almond. Skellig is an older book, Milo is newer. 
• What blew me away about them:
• first person voice
• breeziness 
• story structure
• recurring nouns (motifs)
• simplicity 
• emotional effectiveness
• creativity
• boats are scary
• So is rat poop
• how can something the size of a Tic-Tac be scary?