"I've read many more books than you. It doesn't matter how many you've read. I've read more. Believe me. I've had the time."
First Pages: Eleanor & Park
First Pages: Eleanor & Park
"XTC was no good for drowning out the morons at the back of the bus."
First Pages: Twilight
As promised, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight is the second book in our first pages study session this month in honor of National Novel Writing Month. Why? Again because both the Harry Potter series and The Twilight Saga were instrumental in changing the face of children's book publishing.
"I'd never given much thought to how I would die--though I'd had reason enough in the last few months--but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this."
First Pages: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
First Lines: In the years I've participated in National Novel Writing Month in the past, I was part of a large group of women writers who would send messages of encouragement during the month. One of the first posts was inevitably "First Lines" in which we would share the first lines of the novel we were working on. I thought it would be fun to dissect and discover the First Lines/First Pages of some of the best YA/middle grade novels.
The first? Harry Potter, of course.
The Hate U Give Read-Along, Part 2
For this part of the discussion of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, I want to talk about family. Last post, I talked about the strong sense of community that Thomas wrote about. The center of it all is the Carter family. I mention it in our part one discussion, but I think this strong sense of community and family really comes into fruition in the second half of the novel.
Leo, A Ghost Story
It's the time of ghost and goblins and ghouls. And it's also the perfect time for me to recommend Leo: A Ghost Story to you all. Currently I've been fangirling (Is fanboying a saying too?) over picture books that have a very specific monochromatic color scheme. And picture books that are more than what they seem. Leo: A Ghost Story encompasses both of those things!
Fridays I'm in Love
On Fridays on my way to work, I see the same man walking toward the cemetery with a huge bunch of flowers. I only see him if I go to work after dropping off the girls, but like clockwork, he is there with his fisherman's vest on, and that bright bundle of flowers. Every time I see him, I can't help but smile. But it's a bittersweet smile.
The Hate U Give Read-Along, Part 1
Dr. Bookworm hosts her second epic 'read-along'. Come join our virtual book club in discussion ofAngie Thomas' The Hate U Give.
Still I Rise
Dr. Bookworm's take on Banned Books Week.
The Unicorn Doctor and Uni the Unicorn
One of my patients calls me 'the unicorn doctor'. It's true. And, it's oh so flattering.
In honor of my little patient, I'm going to do a review recommendation of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Uni the Unicorn
The Hate U Give Read-along
What does Slytherin House have to do with The Hate U Give? Join Dr. Bookworm's read-along of Angie Thomas' novel to find out!
Music to Boogie To
Laurie Berkner (along with the Laurie Berkner Band!) has a knack for creating music that is age-appropriate, catchy, and fun to sing along and dance to. Yes, even for adults.
What Do You Love About You?
What Do You Love About You? by Karen Lechelt starts off with a little girl and her kitten next to a pile of stuffed animals. (And the author's dedication "To My Moon" stole my heart from the very beginning.) The girl then asks each animal friend in turn what they love about themselves. Each animal then answers, and in doing so shows us what diversity can bring into our lives, but also teaches about loving ourselves too. Such a simple yet heartfelt message that isn't too didactic or over-the-top.
The End of Twilight
I STAND CORRECTED!! I can admit when I'm wrong. In an earlier post, I note (complain) that Edward doesn't tell Bella that he loves her, but he DOES. It just takes a while for him to say the actual words. Also, page 363 holds a steamy--but not R-rated--kiss that I thought was written well.
We Learned From the Best
There are many things I could admire about Lola, especially today on what would have been her 96th birthday. I could admire the fact that she had a PhD, at a time when attaining a higher education for a female could not have been easy. I could admire the way she traveled the world with my Lolo, and then continued to do so years after he passed away. She lived for 17 years after him, and I can only imagine her grief. Even now, for me, she has been gone for 16 years and I miss her every single day.
What I choose to remember most and admire the most about my Lola is her generous spirit.
Storytellers--Encouraging our Kids to Let Their Imaginations Roam
We're all storytellers in the Bookworm household, but I know that storytelling doesn't come as easily for all little ones.
How can we continue to spark the imagination? How can we encourage our kids to write and tell stories?
Monsters, Not Incorporated
As you may know, dragons are very popular here in the Bookworm house. And, true to form, Steve Light's follow-up, Have You Seen My Monster? is just as delightful as the first book. Whereas the dragon book follows a dragon and his boy around the city, the monster edition is set at an idyllic county fair.
How Ice Cream Saved My Marriage Before It Even Started
True fact: minus one week of not-being-broken-up (maybe), Mr. Bookworm and I have been together since we were dating. And while I have my faults, I like to think that Mr. Bookworm has helped me become a better person.
So don't judge (too much) when I tell you the story of how ice cream saved my marriage. Or rather, how ice cream saved my wedding to Mr. Bookworm.
Triangle versus Square
At the heart of Triangle is a story about one friend playing a prank on another and having it backfire on him. But, are Triangle and Square friends?
And So The Lion Fell in Love with the Lamb....
Welcome back to our EPIC read-along of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. When we last left our two love birds, well, they were just starting to become love birds. In this section, Edward declares his undying/immortal love for Bella. Wait, that didn't happen. HE NEVER TELLS HER HE LOVES HER! This bothered me so much the first time I read Twilight that I kept having to re-read the meadow scene. Why can't he say the words?!! Is it because he's a teenage boy? Albeit, he's lived longer than I have, but vampires don't change, right?