What a fantastic book! This was an unexpected surprise because I thought it was just going to be a book about the supernatural. What I found was a combination of World War II, supernatural, and an odd island as well as a family with real problems. Everyone feels their life is boring or typical, but when you find out you have a gift which is more like a curse, you must decide how you will fit into everyday living. Especially when it is something which no one would ever believe. I hate to tell to much if anything because this book really needs you to take a blind leap of faith, and open the cover and dive in. Utterly fascinating story which assaults the mind and really makes you think. The photographs throughout the book are a wonderful addition and they only add to the story. Please read the note in the back about where the photos came from.
 - Mrs. Daugherty

I found this book a great story of self discovery and coming of age. Will is the only ward of the kingdom who has no idea where he came from or what his last name is. When the children are old enough to be selected for their apprenticeship, Will finds that he is too small to go to Battle School even though this is all he has ever wanted. Instead he finds himself an unlikely candidate for the Ranger apprenticeship.
Will develops his skills and his body under the watchful eye of Halt. Even...moreI found this book a great story of self discovery and coming of age. Will is the only ward of the kingdom who has no idea where he came from or what his last name is. When the children are old enough to be selected for their apprenticeship, Will finds that he is too small to go to Battle School even though this is all he has ever wanted. Instead he finds himself an unlikely candidate for the Ranger apprenticeship.
Will develops his skills and his body under the watchful eye of Halt. Even most of the time he feels like an underpaid servant, Halt has reasons for everything that he does. Halt discovers that Will has a knack for the bow and arrow, more so than even Will is ever made aware. Perhaps he has found his calling in the Rangers. But Will still has much to learn about the world and friendship.
As the story progresses, the reader has the ability to follow two of the wards and see them struggle to discover themselves.
Horace was Will's tormentor before they departed for their apprenticeships. Their changing roles, as Horace moves on to Battle School and Will works on being a Ranger, will find them together once again under more extreme circumstances. Time adds maturity to both boys and a surprising twist will form an alliance between the two former enemies. Everything in this book is moving toward a higher purpose. Each detail is a planned step to the metamorphosis of the two characters and their amazing life changing episodes.
- Mrs. Daugherty

New Year/New Reads!

Book reviews from librarians and students!


 Since so many students are actively reading, we have decided to add regular book reviews of books both in and out of your local LJHS library.  We will also be asking for student volunteers to help with the reading and reviewing of these books, so don't be surprised if you see some familiar names along with the reviews!  Feel free to ask them what they thought of the book when you see them in the halls and maybe they might have a few suggested reads for your as well! 

New Reading Challenge

I'm joining a new reading challenge and this one should be an easy one for me since almost all of my books come from a library. I use the Rolling Prairie Library System and encourage my students to use it too. It's a great resource as most books can be found on it. Every now and then I am unable to find a copy of the book I'm looking for and then I "break down" and actually purchase a book. This reading challenge is hosted at J. Kaye's Book Blog. I'm going to pick the Just My Size- check out 50 library books.

1. Rescuing Sprite by Mark R. Levin
2. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
3. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
4. Testimony by Anita Shreve
5. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
7. Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren
8. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
9. The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley
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2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge

The 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge, hosted by J.Kaye, is all about exploring young adult novels. Here are the guidelines:

• Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate. –Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.
• There are four levels:
• The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
• Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.
• Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.
• Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.
• Audio, eBooks, paper all count.
• No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
• Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.
• When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your Young Adult novels will be listed. Include the URL so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

Sign up is at J. Kaye’s Book Blog! My list will be below — I’m choosing the Mini YA Reading Challenge option:

1. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
2. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
3. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
7. Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren
8. Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
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Audio Book Challenge 2010

Since I received a brand new purple Ipod this Christmas, I decided to join the Audio Book Challenge. This challenge is being hosted at the Royal Reviews. I've been enjoying listening to audio books on the Ipod while doing housework and driving in the car.

Here are the guidelines...

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Listen to 3 Audio Books.

-- Fascinated – Listen to 6 Audio Books.

-- Addicted – Listen to 12 Audio Books.

-- Obsessed – Listen to 20 Audio Books.

3. Audio books only.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to the post about the Audio Book Reading Challenge. Include the URL so that other participants can find join in and read your reviews and post.

I'm going to shoot for Addicted-12 books


1. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
2. Testimony by Anita Shreve
3. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
4. The BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker
5. UR by Stephen King
6. Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Greg Heffley is at it again in the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book #4.

Here's what an editorial review on amazon.com had to say about this book:

"It’s summer vacation, the weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where’s Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn. Greg, a self-confessed “indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ideal summer . . . one packed with outdoor activities and “family togetherness.” Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?"

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days will be released on October 12, 2009. I think it's time for another library giveaway and this time it will be a brand new copy of this book. Check back here at the LJHS Library blog for details!

p.s. Did you know that the author of this series is also an online game developer and designer?