Monday, September 30, 2013
And if you have any more time for Pinterest....
This is a compiled list I made from all the wonderful suggestions from librarians. Give me a weekend without interruption!!
The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb: Narrative Non-fiction
The men that played pivotal parts in the "Final Solution" were a group of high-ranked Nazis, given the task to eradicate the Jews. They were the faces of darkness and evil, burned into the memories of the Jewish people who went through the process of genocide. Adolf Eichmann was one of those faces burned into survivors' memories. As head of operations for the "Final Solution, he showed no emotion as he lied to Jews and sent them to be killed without a second thought. At the end of the war, Eichmann went into hiding and was never seen again...until thirteen years later...
While some people actively sought out where he was, there were others who happened to stumble upon the information, and once Eichmann was identified, Israel began an incredibly detailed plot to find, capture and bring him to justice on Israeli soil. This is their story.
But Bascomb also writes a multi-layered non-fiction book that shows different viewpoints of Jewish survivors, leaders of nations, Nazi war criminals and their families, and innocent people who played a pivotal role in Eichmann's capture. It's also a book about spies and one of the best kept secrets of the time. From Germany to Israel, the United States to Argentina, Bascomb takes the reader on an epic journey to find justice to many who still bore the tattoos of survival. While teens today look at World War II as history from a long time ago, the day Eichmann was sentenced for his war crimes was only a mere fifteen years since the ending of the war and the horrors and scars the Nazi party left behind.
Taking cues from traditional history of World War II, Bascomb builds on it with the most sensational news and retribution the Jewish nation of Israel went through in the early stages of building a nation. The spies who undertook this effort not only underwent physical stress and turmoil, but it also took an emotional toll on them by forcing them into Eichmann's life and looking into the eyes of the man who killed their families and friends.
This is one of those non-fiction books that will reach out to YA readers and keep them riveted until the last page. And when they're doing reading, this story will take them online to find out more. That's the first thing I did after reading the citations (which are interesting in and of itself). It's hard to wrap my mind around this hatred and cold-heartedness of the Nazis, and there were moments in the book that chilled me, but that's what a good book will do. HIGHLY recommended!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Stung by Bethany Wiggins
2013, Walker Childrens.
Fiona wakes up to a world of horror. Dust, death, decay...and demonized humans. She can't possibly understand how or why she ended up here. And it's not a nightmare either - it's real. Looking down at her hand, she sees a tattoo, an oval with five lines extending from both sides. What is it and why is it there? She has no idea about anything and feels more than lost in a world she didn't fall asleep in.
Enter the new world of Denver Colorado. Those who live inside the walls are protected, making sure they aren't contaminated. There is food, medicine, clean water...everything one needs to live a healthy life, ensuring that humanity has a chance of survival. The Bowen brothers are part of the militia willing to die to keep their city safe, including taking the most dangerous jobs available - guarding the gates from the humans turned monsters.
Then there are those outside of the wall. They fight to survive, and many don't make it. While some on the outside aren't as brutal, there are those who have no more understanding. They've been completely taken over by the virus and have becoming killing machines. Besides survival, the only common thing the Others have is that everyone of them bear the tattoo, some with two marks, some with five, some with ten. And it's the Level 10s that are the deadliest, leaving no survivors...
The time it took for everything to change started slow and then overwhelmed. The near extinction of bees prompted government intervention, which turned deadly. Those who received treatment from deadly stings had no idea what it would do to them until it was too late. Fiona was one of the unlucky ones.
Now, she's running on the outside trying to survive. The more she runs, the closer she gets to the gates of the wall. She knows there are things about her that's aren't normal, some things that have changed, making her anger dangerous. And she's about to meet the militia head-on....
Wiggins writes a book full of intrigue and adventure and the path to world destruction was believable. She lures the reader into not only a world divided, but one where trust is the most valuable commodity and the world isn't the only thing that's turned ugly. Although the book begins slower that I anticipated, it didn't take long for me to visualize the world the main character now lives in. The only disappointing factor was that Fiona is far different from those of Katniss and Tris. While they are kick-A girls, Fiona is much more feminine, not bearing the marks of a strong female equal in strength to strong male characters. I'm sure the author took into consideration the circumstances of
Fiona's character and wrote about someone just entering this world, not having grown up in it. I'm hoping to see changes in Fiona in the next installment. Regardless of what type of girl it is, those readers who live and breathe dystopia will enjoy this story to the end.
Fiona wakes up to a world of horror. Dust, death, decay...and demonized humans. She can't possibly understand how or why she ended up here. And it's not a nightmare either - it's real. Looking down at her hand, she sees a tattoo, an oval with five lines extending from both sides. What is it and why is it there? She has no idea about anything and feels more than lost in a world she didn't fall asleep in.
Enter the new world of Denver Colorado. Those who live inside the walls are protected, making sure they aren't contaminated. There is food, medicine, clean water...everything one needs to live a healthy life, ensuring that humanity has a chance of survival. The Bowen brothers are part of the militia willing to die to keep their city safe, including taking the most dangerous jobs available - guarding the gates from the humans turned monsters.Then there are those outside of the wall. They fight to survive, and many don't make it. While some on the outside aren't as brutal, there are those who have no more understanding. They've been completely taken over by the virus and have becoming killing machines. Besides survival, the only common thing the Others have is that everyone of them bear the tattoo, some with two marks, some with five, some with ten. And it's the Level 10s that are the deadliest, leaving no survivors...
The time it took for everything to change started slow and then overwhelmed. The near extinction of bees prompted government intervention, which turned deadly. Those who received treatment from deadly stings had no idea what it would do to them until it was too late. Fiona was one of the unlucky ones.
Now, she's running on the outside trying to survive. The more she runs, the closer she gets to the gates of the wall. She knows there are things about her that's aren't normal, some things that have changed, making her anger dangerous. And she's about to meet the militia head-on....
Wiggins writes a book full of intrigue and adventure and the path to world destruction was believable. She lures the reader into not only a world divided, but one where trust is the most valuable commodity and the world isn't the only thing that's turned ugly. Although the book begins slower that I anticipated, it didn't take long for me to visualize the world the main character now lives in. The only disappointing factor was that Fiona is far different from those of Katniss and Tris. While they are kick-A girls, Fiona is much more feminine, not bearing the marks of a strong female equal in strength to strong male characters. I'm sure the author took into consideration the circumstances of
Fiona's character and wrote about someone just entering this world, not having grown up in it. I'm hoping to see changes in Fiona in the next installment. Regardless of what type of girl it is, those readers who live and breathe dystopia will enjoy this story to the end.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
YA Non-Fiction: love it, don't leave it!
No ,this isn't just another bomb book. It's more than that....
Sheinkin starts this book off with intrigue. A map falls out of a book, and a spy a caught. This is just the first of many Russian spies caught during a time when the US was secretly making the nuclear bomb. While not the highly publicized Rosenberg cases, the spies written about in this book have built an intricate web of deceit and information that slowly reveals itself to the reader to show the scope of the damage and information these spies created.
Another viewpoint of this book is the race itself. Germans may have discovered how to split atoms, but who would build the ultimate bomb? The race was on and what was at stake was the world. Would Hitler or Russia win? How close were they compared to the United States? At what cost would the United States pay to be first? And just how close were the enemy to their final product? All of these questions and more are answered in this riveting narrative of a piece of history that made a huge impact. The impact affected not only technology advances, but human lives and the future of the world. I can't even imagine where we'd be now if Germany had won this deadly race...
Packed with stunning photographs and individual narratives from key people in the story (from scientists to spies to officers in the Armed Forces), Sheinkin will take you back to the beginning of it all and immerse the reader with rich stories. Highly recommended JH/HS
Just what any teen wants to read for pleasure...another biography of a dead president. But oh, contraire, let's just stop right there and really take a look at this awesome book for YA.
This is a story about two men who were destined to meet. It's also a story of timing and coincidences. O'Reilly takes the reader on two different paths, parallel to each other but distinctly different.
President Kennedy's life from his early days until his death are chronologically written in a style that will attract YA readers . But it's chapter two that creates the whole foundation for the book. Right beside Kennedy's life is that of the life of Lee Harvey Oswald in the same time frame as Kennedy's. From their family life as a child to their service to the military; from marriage and children to personal thoughts and outlooks; from the troubles each faced personally and professionally to the final outcome of their lives, the author weaves a story from both sides, allowing the reader to understand the whole story, not just one point of view. And that is what will capture the reader's attention. Not so much the assassination, but the small things that led up to this fateful meeting and how it changed America. No textbook writing here...it's so much better and the images are stunning. Highly recommended JH/HS
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Fall 2013 Booktalk!!
This is my favorite time of the year and I can't wait!! One of my major goals is to collaborate more with public YA librarians and this time I have the awesome Sarah Thompson from Roanoke Public Library talking it up with me! Here are the books we'll be sharing...time to get extra copies!
Friday, September 6, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
There is such a thing as a Freebie - 10 Great online storage sites
I don't know about you, but I have a drawer full of jump drives and little SD cards that I have saved anything and everything to. The only way I know what's on a specific gadget is to insert and look at the files. How tedious is that?
Not only that, but have you ever lost a storage device and FREAKED becaue it contained your whole life? Yup....it's happened to me before as well.
And don't even get me started on having files that are too large and won't fit, corrupted gadgets, getting a nasty virus...you name it, it's happened or will eventually.
But there IS a solution! Instead of paying money for a jump drive, SD card or other some such, try using the free accounts online to store and access. Here are just a few:
http://drive.google.com offers 15G
http://hightail.com offers 2G
https://www.sugarsync.com/free/offers 5G
http://www.idrive.com/ offers 5G
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmore offers 5G
http://www.4shared.com/ offers 10G
http://evernote.com no limit, but limits content uploaded monthly
http://dropbox.com starts at 2G
https://skydrive.live.com offers 7G
http://bitcasa.com offers 10G
So overall, you could potentially have over 60G of storage for FREE!!
Additionally, most of these services are online applications, which means that you can store and save from any device (ie smartphone, table, desktop, laptop) and open it from any of these as well using an application that allows use over multiple devices and platforms.
Not only that, but have you ever lost a storage device and FREAKED becaue it contained your whole life? Yup....it's happened to me before as well.
And don't even get me started on having files that are too large and won't fit, corrupted gadgets, getting a nasty virus...you name it, it's happened or will eventually.
But there IS a solution! Instead of paying money for a jump drive, SD card or other some such, try using the free accounts online to store and access. Here are just a few:
http://drive.google.com offers 15G
http://hightail.com offers 2G
https://www.sugarsync.com/free/offers 5G
http://www.idrive.com/ offers 5G
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmore offers 5G
http://www.4shared.com/ offers 10G
http://evernote.com no limit, but limits content uploaded monthly
http://dropbox.com starts at 2G
https://skydrive.live.com offers 7G
http://bitcasa.com offers 10G
So overall, you could potentially have over 60G of storage for FREE!!
Additionally, most of these services are online applications, which means that you can store and save from any device (ie smartphone, table, desktop, laptop) and open it from any of these as well using an application that allows use over multiple devices and platforms.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Book Trailer: The Living by Matt de la Pena
Also available to view on Schooltube: http://www.schooltube.com/video/1f98e3c6eda442c9914a/The%20Living%20by%20Matt%20de%20la%20Pena
Can be downloaded on the NHS Library Digitalk Booktalk page: http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/3590
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Throwback Thursday: Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi
Eight years ago today, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The loss was overwhelming. Author Paul Volponi clearly captures the story of one young man's fight against not only nature but humanity as well. Here's a book trailer I made many years ago for his book, still a great read
Rotten by Michael Northrop
JD is coming home. After a long summer away from his real life, he's ready to come back. He just isn't sure if a life is waiting for him. How will his Mom react to his being home again? What about his friends? And very importantly, did Janie forgive him? Did she wait for him to come home or did she start another life?
When his mom picks him up, he knows something's up. She tells him there's a surprise waiting for him at home, and with his sketchy past, he isn't sure if he'll like it or not. When JD opens the door, he hears it first and then sees this gigantic creature....a Rottweiler, standing in the middle of the room, taking up all the space. His mother explains that he's a rescue dog, taken from a home of severe abuse. JD decides he has the perfect name for this dog who doesn't like him: Johnny Rotten, JR for short.
With only five days before school starts, JD begins to live life again, but slowly. He dodges the questions his friends ask him by telling them his spent time with his aunt. Everyone knows it's a lie, but they don't know the truth either, and it's something JD isn't willing to tell. One trip to Janie's house is all JD needs to know that her parents want him out of her life. The only relationship that seems to hold promise is with Johnny. The dog is getting to JD, and trust is slowly starting to build.
But one day can make a big difference. One bite of a friend's hand can ruin relationships. And one lie can cost a life. JD knows the truth, but how can he prove it, especially when his past catches up to him?
Taking cues from real life stories of "bully breeds" like Rottweilers and pit bulls, Northrop weaves a solid story about how stereotypes can lead to devastation. There is a lot both JD and JR have in common, and it's this relationship that Northrop writes about so clearly. The parallels are evident and readers will begin to understand the underlying theme that springs from the symbiotic relationship between both guy and dog. With such a short novel, Northrop packs a punch, leaving the ending up for grabs until the very end. This is one teens will rush to. Can't wait to booktalk this one! Recommended JH/HS
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Hannah can't seem to get away from the tragedy of losing her best friend, Lillian. Friends since they were little, Hannah saw what was slowly happening to Lillian, but never tried to help her. Six months ago she died, and everyday since then, Hannah has to live with the ghost of what was her best friend...literally.At first, it was shocking, but both of them seem to have a symbiotic relationship with their newfound "friendship."
Now, it's summer and a deathly hot one in the city of Ludlow where Hannah lives with her mother, step-father and sister. She spends her time working for her aunt Kelly and trying to keep up with her twelve year old sister Ariel. But it's a strange kind of summer....especially with the chokehold of a horribly hot season ahead of her.
Hannah prefers to spend time alone more than with the group of friends she and Lillian hung around with. As the alpha in the group, Lillian took control, but with her gone, they've all changed, but not Hannah. She doesn't take part of the corporate teen look and basicallydoesn't let anything get to her. It takes a sensational story in the news; a glimpse of hidden photos at work, and a strange boy to change Hannah's summer into one she wasn't ready to have.
A murdered girl is found in Muncy Park, surrounded my cheap plastic toys everywhere. In her hand is a clumsily made Valentine. Although this frightens most people in town, it's nothing when compared to their reaction of a second victim, staged the same way. Then a third....
Hannah is drawn deeper into the murder through coincidence and circumstance, and the more she knows, the closer the killer gets to....
Part supernatural, party mystery, Brenna Yovanoff spins a tale of intrigue set on a foundation of friendships and relationships. Hannah is definitely the central character, but she wears so many hats (from sister, to daughter; friend to enemy; stranger to family) that what could be a flat plot turns into one with many different paths that will ultimately lead to the unexpected inevitable. Good girl gone wrong or wrong girl looking for good? The reader innately knows the outcome, but it will come as a surprise nonetheless. Great book for readers who enjoy both genres.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
No matter where the setting is or who the main character is, teens will always be teens. It's not about the accent, the home, the culture, but the psychology and emotional stage teens are in that makes a book not necessarily set in the United States a good read for teens living here. The problems don't change, and teens will always struggle to find who they are across the globe. So, let's get started with our travels, shall we?
Alfred A. Knopf, 2012
Amelia isn't lonely. She has friends, a family, and co-workers at the local grocery store she works at. At 15 years old, she is more mature than most and unlike other teens her age, she excels in school, reading the classics such as Great Expectations and enjoying the story.
She's a good daughter too. She doesn't stay out all night and party, she doesn't do drugs, and she doesn't ask for allowance. The only thing missing in Amelia's life is more attention from her parents, and most importantly, love.
Chris is lost. He isn't sure where or what he wants to be or how to get there. Everyone around him seems to be on the right track, but he still lives at home with his parents and works at the local grocery store to make money to go to the university. His sister just moved out and is on her own and he desperately feels the need to flee, especially at 21 years of age. But right now, when school is out, Chris is going to enjoy his life in the pubs, at parties, and getting control of himself after a terrible break-up with the love of his life. The only thing missing from his life is independence, and he isn't quite sure if he's ready for love.
As co-workers, Amelia and Chris spend a lot of time together working side by side, taking breaks together, and talking about the finer points of literature and life. But how they react to each other is very different. Chris's feelings for Amelia are out in the open - he dubs her Young One and looks after her like an older brother would.
Amelia, on the other hand, keeps her feelings for Chris inside. So what if there's a six year age difference? Amelia is quite sure how Chris feels about her. Why else would he give her so much attention and confide in her more than any of the others they work with?
But love is fragile for anyone at anytime, and both of them will find the different types of loves in life as they discover themselves along the way.
Set in Australia, Buzo writes with realism, plain and simple. She captures the main characters in her book not only by their age and actions, but also by contrasting them with other characters that create a juxtaposition readers will understand in order to see the characters become more transparent. This book has the same theme as so many others, and while that may make it a typical read, what does stand out is how close to home Buzo gets when it comes to teens and relationships. Her writing style includes different voices as well as journal and letter entries that allow readers to read "differently" and learn the intricacies that create the whole picture. Is this a book about romance? Hmmmmm....that's where you get to decide.
Amelia isn't lonely. She has friends, a family, and co-workers at the local grocery store she works at. At 15 years old, she is more mature than most and unlike other teens her age, she excels in school, reading the classics such as Great Expectations and enjoying the story.
She's a good daughter too. She doesn't stay out all night and party, she doesn't do drugs, and she doesn't ask for allowance. The only thing missing in Amelia's life is more attention from her parents, and most importantly, love.
Chris is lost. He isn't sure where or what he wants to be or how to get there. Everyone around him seems to be on the right track, but he still lives at home with his parents and works at the local grocery store to make money to go to the university. His sister just moved out and is on her own and he desperately feels the need to flee, especially at 21 years of age. But right now, when school is out, Chris is going to enjoy his life in the pubs, at parties, and getting control of himself after a terrible break-up with the love of his life. The only thing missing from his life is independence, and he isn't quite sure if he's ready for love.
As co-workers, Amelia and Chris spend a lot of time together working side by side, taking breaks together, and talking about the finer points of literature and life. But how they react to each other is very different. Chris's feelings for Amelia are out in the open - he dubs her Young One and looks after her like an older brother would.
Amelia, on the other hand, keeps her feelings for Chris inside. So what if there's a six year age difference? Amelia is quite sure how Chris feels about her. Why else would he give her so much attention and confide in her more than any of the others they work with?
But love is fragile for anyone at anytime, and both of them will find the different types of loves in life as they discover themselves along the way.
Set in Australia, Buzo writes with realism, plain and simple. She captures the main characters in her book not only by their age and actions, but also by contrasting them with other characters that create a juxtaposition readers will understand in order to see the characters become more transparent. This book has the same theme as so many others, and while that may make it a typical read, what does stand out is how close to home Buzo gets when it comes to teens and relationships. Her writing style includes different voices as well as journal and letter entries that allow readers to read "differently" and learn the intricacies that create the whole picture. Is this a book about romance? Hmmmmm....that's where you get to decide.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
It's That Time of Year!
When the world falls in love. Every song you hear. Seems to say. Merry Christmas May your New Year dreams come true....
It's what I instantly think when I hear those five words, but it's not Christmas yet. It's the season of school bells ringing and keyboards tinkling and all the kids come back from summer. The big question is the recurring one of how or where do I start?
Think globally - even if it's in your own "backyard." See if there are colleagues new to your school and take time to sit and collaborate with them. You may be new to the profession (I see these names and faces popping up on listservs right now) and will need a mentor to help guide you. Collaboration doesn't stop there though. As librarians, look at those people you've worked with for awhile and create a profession learning community in your district to share ideas, work through problems, and create a bank of projects or lessons that can be used by everyone.
Forward thinking for your library - Any school is run by bells, but more than that, they are run by schedules and calendars, which fill up quickly. Take time now to look at the district and campus calendar and find time to schedule ahead to make the library stand out. This is the perfect time to put down potential dates for authors, speakers, Skype visits, special projects, lesson collaboration with teachers, quick PD for teachers, conferences, and anything else that may come up. Between state tests, local benchmarks, student programs and more, you'll need time to showcase, participate and collaborate.
Leftovers from last year - When I mention this word to my family, a quiet groan fills the room. They'll eat it, but prefer fresh. It's the same way with our professional life. There are those things that are left undone and we need to take time and create goals to finish them. I know there is no way I'm going to sit down the week I go back to school and catalog all of the books I had left from last semester, but I know I'll eventually have to do it. Sometimes small bites are better than large ones (at least in this case) but there are some I'll "eat" whole. But like edible leftovers, if they sit too long...well, you know what happens. If this happens, re-evaluate the importance of them to see if they need to be rehashed (a little food humor there) or need to be done away with to make room for other things.
Oh, the joy of lists! - Even in the age of technology, I still keep a running list on paper, sticky notes and in notebooks. Looking at the lists, I have great satisfaction of running a line through the ones I have fulfilled. Sometimes, those lists get looooong, so I try to make it a habit to only make a list with five things on them. Each week I find time to finish them, whether they be presentations, book trailers or contacting people; sitting down for meetings, collaborations or teaching a lesson; learning new technology, finding new sites and apps, or reading for my profession.
Create a booklist - This is by far the hardest one for me. I can have a stack I'm going to read, then see 10 more that just came in that I want to add! By then, I'm knee deep and desperately trying to keep up. I've found what works best is to find five from different genres and read those. It's a catch and release type of reading I do now. Once I'm finished, I get let it go and fish for another good read. The titles add up but more than that, I'm adding to the walking repository in my head that I can use to put teens into books they'll enjoy. That is the concept and the glue which is most important to a library - making connections with your students.
My Golden Rule of Technology - there is just TOO MUCH out there to know everything! You may have heard of something fabulous in a workshop, read about it online through a PLN, discovered one on your own, but everywhere you turn these days, there is always a "Top 25" list of best apps or sites. Throughout the years, I've adopted this rule that has slowly added up to a powerful and useful compendium of tech sites and apps I know today. If anything, learn just TWO THINGS and learn them well. Become an expert at them. See how they can be used in different areas. Demonstrate them to the teachers on your campus. Think beyond the box. Put effort into learning two things and passing them around to teachers and it will make a difference. Of course, this number isn't a limit. You can go beyond two things, but what matters is the depth of knowledge you know and can share. Don't make it surface material, but ingrain its potential into the library and classrooms. This year my focus will be infographics in all curricular content :)
Lastly, always remember why you chose being a librarian as your profession. As with all things, there will be changes...in staff, in attitude, in responsibilities, but if you have the passion, it makes everything else so much nicer regardless of any negativity you may run into. Yeah, kind of syrupy, right? But I'd rather have sugar than vinegar. And in reality, vinegar by itself is very sharp and acidic. But add sugar to it and it makes it so much more savory, especially when mixed with other great ingredients.
It's an exciting time of year, but it never has to be a season. It can last so much longer. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
It's what I instantly think when I hear those five words, but it's not Christmas yet. It's the season of school bells ringing and keyboards tinkling and all the kids come back from summer. The big question is the recurring one of how or where do I start?
Think globally - even if it's in your own "backyard." See if there are colleagues new to your school and take time to sit and collaborate with them. You may be new to the profession (I see these names and faces popping up on listservs right now) and will need a mentor to help guide you. Collaboration doesn't stop there though. As librarians, look at those people you've worked with for awhile and create a profession learning community in your district to share ideas, work through problems, and create a bank of projects or lessons that can be used by everyone.
Forward thinking for your library - Any school is run by bells, but more than that, they are run by schedules and calendars, which fill up quickly. Take time now to look at the district and campus calendar and find time to schedule ahead to make the library stand out. This is the perfect time to put down potential dates for authors, speakers, Skype visits, special projects, lesson collaboration with teachers, quick PD for teachers, conferences, and anything else that may come up. Between state tests, local benchmarks, student programs and more, you'll need time to showcase, participate and collaborate.
Leftovers from last year - When I mention this word to my family, a quiet groan fills the room. They'll eat it, but prefer fresh. It's the same way with our professional life. There are those things that are left undone and we need to take time and create goals to finish them. I know there is no way I'm going to sit down the week I go back to school and catalog all of the books I had left from last semester, but I know I'll eventually have to do it. Sometimes small bites are better than large ones (at least in this case) but there are some I'll "eat" whole. But like edible leftovers, if they sit too long...well, you know what happens. If this happens, re-evaluate the importance of them to see if they need to be rehashed (a little food humor there) or need to be done away with to make room for other things.
Oh, the joy of lists! - Even in the age of technology, I still keep a running list on paper, sticky notes and in notebooks. Looking at the lists, I have great satisfaction of running a line through the ones I have fulfilled. Sometimes, those lists get looooong, so I try to make it a habit to only make a list with five things on them. Each week I find time to finish them, whether they be presentations, book trailers or contacting people; sitting down for meetings, collaborations or teaching a lesson; learning new technology, finding new sites and apps, or reading for my profession.
Create a booklist - This is by far the hardest one for me. I can have a stack I'm going to read, then see 10 more that just came in that I want to add! By then, I'm knee deep and desperately trying to keep up. I've found what works best is to find five from different genres and read those. It's a catch and release type of reading I do now. Once I'm finished, I get let it go and fish for another good read. The titles add up but more than that, I'm adding to the walking repository in my head that I can use to put teens into books they'll enjoy. That is the concept and the glue which is most important to a library - making connections with your students.
My Golden Rule of Technology - there is just TOO MUCH out there to know everything! You may have heard of something fabulous in a workshop, read about it online through a PLN, discovered one on your own, but everywhere you turn these days, there is always a "Top 25" list of best apps or sites. Throughout the years, I've adopted this rule that has slowly added up to a powerful and useful compendium of tech sites and apps I know today. If anything, learn just TWO THINGS and learn them well. Become an expert at them. See how they can be used in different areas. Demonstrate them to the teachers on your campus. Think beyond the box. Put effort into learning two things and passing them around to teachers and it will make a difference. Of course, this number isn't a limit. You can go beyond two things, but what matters is the depth of knowledge you know and can share. Don't make it surface material, but ingrain its potential into the library and classrooms. This year my focus will be infographics in all curricular content :)
Lastly, always remember why you chose being a librarian as your profession. As with all things, there will be changes...in staff, in attitude, in responsibilities, but if you have the passion, it makes everything else so much nicer regardless of any negativity you may run into. Yeah, kind of syrupy, right? But I'd rather have sugar than vinegar. And in reality, vinegar by itself is very sharp and acidic. But add sugar to it and it makes it so much more savory, especially when mixed with other great ingredients.
It's an exciting time of year, but it never has to be a season. It can last so much longer. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Shards & Ashes edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong
This story collection features some of YAs most popular authors of supernatural and dystopian literature. Nine short stories + nine amazing authors = a book you'll read cover to cover.
The best part of any story collection is that when one of them captures the reader's attention, it becomes a bridge into other novels written by that particular author, which can became a gateway into a genre they can revel in. All it takes is about 40 pages per short story and the hook is cast. And these short stories have some excellent authors luring readers into a world of dystopic proportions.
Below is a short synopsis of all of the stories within this collection. The best part? Asking the students which stories they liked best...
Also, think of the pairing and even book displays you can create around a story collection like this! Ideas are churning....
Recommended for JH/HS
Hearken by Veronica Roth: Darya has to make a choice in a post-apocalyptic world to be a Hearkener, listening to people's life or death songs in a world struggling to survive. It's her decision, but will she make the right choice?
Branded by Kelley Armstrong: Inside the walls you're safe, but The Outside is where the unnatural try to survive amid the ruins of the Old World. Braeden was found guilty, and Priscilla will stop at nothing to find him again. He can survive outside, but can she?
Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl: If you live hard and fast enough, you will be dropped. Everyone only has so many credits until it's their turn and living beyond the safety net requires more credits. Jai has lost her brother to the drop, and now faces the cruel reality that Z, the one she loves most, will be next. Jai must choose between loving and trusting someone so reckless. But at what cost?
Dogsbody by Rachel Caine: Corporate handed out free tickets to those lucky enough to get them from the lower levels, but Zay saw the horrible slaughter that occurred when the train stopped. The only way against the Corporate is to infiltrate it from within. Little does he know about political maneuvering and how truth is told through lies.
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder: Dana scavenges as much as she can from the debris of the city. Alex knows the life of expensive cars and jet planes. Together, the two possess a power they don't understand, but will lead them to the border or magic and reality. Is it too late, or has the border been breached?
Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr: Harmony's sister was killed by the Others, and now she has taken her place, along with Chris, to destroy as many corpse eaters as they can. But a traitor will rock their world and place them in the path where they become the hunted. They have survived so much loss and death, are they ready for theirs?
Burn 3 by Kami Garcia: Phoenix and Sky live inside the Dome where the UVA rays can't scar their skin as much. Everyone has scars, but Phoenix has protected her little sister, a rarity with blond hair and blue eyes. Now Sky is missing and Phoenix goes down into the Abyss and finds out the awful truth of what happens in the Dome. Is Phoenix too late in saving her sister and can she battle the Protectorate to do so?
Love is a Choice by Beth Revis: He narrowly escaped death by the hands of the Eldest and now hides in the Recorder Hall, where the long forgotten literature of the Sol-Earth resides. Mag finds him there and joins him in pursuit of the truth, but at what cost? Will she be the end of him or his strength in time of rebellion?
Miasma by Carrie Ryan: Frankie saw the doctors and their beasts arrive. They came to sniff out those who have lived too near the decaying and rotting ruins of the Old World in the miasma. The only way to save her sister from death is to steal from the wealthy she works for. But when she's caught, Frankie knows all hope is lost. Can she outwit the dark arrivals in their beaked masks or will she become their victim?
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey and Throwback Thursday Steampunk list
Simon Pulse, 2013
London, late 1800s....
Meg is still in mourning. She lost her family, her life, everything she's ever known to a devastating fire. After this tragedy, she only has memories of her parents and grandfather (who passed away not so long ago) and one memento from her father's workshop...a filigreed locket .
Her life doesn't get any easier either. Without her parents, Meg was certain to be an orphan, but a kind and mysterious benefactor has taken her under his wing. Now, she serves as a housemaid on an estate of a man who knew her father, but regardless of past affiliations, Meg doesn't really like or understand her new position. Tip a glass of wine over, don't disturb the vase shards on the floor, never replace the burned down candles...She feels like she works and is trapped in a mausoleum. But one event and person changes it all.
Meg soon learns her locket is more than it appears. It's a key to some very mysterious places and things. The clock she unlocks on the estate leads to a very odd room, filled with incredulous inventions. But it's her covert encounter with a stable hand named Will that becomes a coincidental relationship with side effects.
Small clues, including a letter from her grandfather, leads Meg down a path of danger and death, only if she can avoid it. First in a series.
It's been awhile since I read steampunk, and this novel deftly implements modern technology in a Victorian world. Not only does Kristin Bailey add elements of technology, but with forward thought, she also begins to slightly alter social roles within the cast of characters along the way that reflects new thought in an age full of tradition and modicum. Once I began, this book quickly became a fast read, only so I could find out the secrets the characters encounter and the traitor within the story. As a YA reader, I found this novel more appropriate at a middle school setting, but fans of steampunk and Victorian England can enjoy this regardless of higher grade levels.
Need some more steampunk? Try this YA titles from the past! Regardless of when steampunk books are published, they are timeless because of their historical fiction background and elements of steampunk continue to defy age because of their quirky inventiveness:
The Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld
The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
Airman by Eoin Colfer
Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
Steam on!!!!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Digital Curation presentation
This is another presentation I'll be doing this summer for professional development. It's all about digital curation but more than that, it's giving educators some tools before school starts so they can begin to explore the possibilities, get hands-on learning, and think about incorporating projects into lessons or even begin to collaborate with others to think above and beyond
If you can't see this, try the link: http://prezi.com/tibk6zdnmgov/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
If you can't see this, try the link: http://prezi.com/tibk6zdnmgov/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Monday, July 8, 2013
Looking Back: My Year of Technology in Review
Every year, I am always eager to try something new, learn something different, and really know a new site or app that I can tell teachers and students about. This year has been no different, and I am excited about the possibilities of teaching and learning more about them! Here are the sites/apps I looked into from August 2012 to June 2013. Some of them are pretty commonplace now and I'm on the prowl for new sites and apps for next year . I recommend any and all of these :)
Apps: Sites:
Doceri/Reflector EdCanvas
Haiku Deck Scoop.it
Vine Piktochart
Smart Office 2 Smore
Pic Collage StudyBlue
Videolicious
Educreations
iPAD APPS:
Doceri and Reflector are two great ways to show your ipad or desktop via data projector through tandem connections between the two. Of course, the paid apps are much better than the free, but both are top-notch. If you like to walk around and talk with an iPad, check into these.
Haikudeck started out as a simple presentation app that included CC images from Flickr. Since its debut, it has become so much more, including private and public notes and other enhancements. Easy to use, free....what could possibly be better?
Vine is a quickie six second video. If you have creativity and imagination, you can make six seconds really count. I was blown away by the amazing things people created! Hmmmmmm....I've been thinking about a Vine book trailer....
Smart Office 2 is a paid app but if you were lucky, you got onto this one when it was offered free. iPad doesn't come with an office suite, but if it were to, this one would be THE one to use. Includes Word, Powerpoint and Excel. There are so many suites out there to choose from, but this one works
Pic Collage is an app where the sky's the limit. You can collage pics together to send out, but more than that, you can also use this to make a quick and handy infographic. This is a product driven by your creativity.
Videolicious is an app I came across as I was looking for an alternative to create book trailers using an iPad that I didn't have to pay for. Simple and easy, this will do the trick for that project and so many other ones from different curriculum areas. Point and shoot with built-in music so all is fair use.
Educreations is the to-go whiteboard. Draw and record, use voice over, and share. It'll also add text to the page. Think about the flipped classroom for this tool or use it with Doceri or Reflector to real-time teaching and archiving
SITES:
Edcanvas is the tool I think about when I think digital curation in the classroom. It truly is a white canvas that you paint how you'd like by adding video, text, links, websites, quizzes and uploads. Compartmentalize, collaborate - this is a curation tool that can do no wrong.
Scoop.it is another curation tool I've come to love. Although it only gives you five topics, that's more than enough to curate on different ideas, thoughts, technology, professional sites and so much more. Follow those who have the same passion as you, curate through personal searching or recommendations, and leave feedback and comments to make each "scoop" timely.
Piktochart is the infographic tool I fell in love with. While the free site is great, the paid site is even more excellent! Use this to create an eye-popping infographic from any source. With your thoughts and creativity in condensing information and pairing it with graphics, it becomes a tool to use in any professional situation.
Smore is another excellent infographic tool. Simple and easy to use, an infographic is just minutes away from creation. Share, post, watch your analytics built into your site...so much you can do with this. Although images are not part of the package, you can upload them onto your infographic (just make sure you teach CC and copyright free image searching!)
Study Blue is a site I stumbled on when searching for infographics, but it's so much more than that. Create a class and add materials such as flashcards you create or uploads for students to access. Search the archive for lessons already created or classes you can join. If you need something free to create an online class, try this one. You can also upgrade to a Pro account if you like it.
Apps: Sites:
Doceri/Reflector EdCanvas
Haiku Deck Scoop.it
Vine Piktochart
Smart Office 2 Smore
Pic Collage StudyBlue
Videolicious
Educreations
iPAD APPS:
Doceri and Reflector are two great ways to show your ipad or desktop via data projector through tandem connections between the two. Of course, the paid apps are much better than the free, but both are top-notch. If you like to walk around and talk with an iPad, check into these.
Haikudeck started out as a simple presentation app that included CC images from Flickr. Since its debut, it has become so much more, including private and public notes and other enhancements. Easy to use, free....what could possibly be better?
Vine is a quickie six second video. If you have creativity and imagination, you can make six seconds really count. I was blown away by the amazing things people created! Hmmmmmm....I've been thinking about a Vine book trailer....
Smart Office 2 is a paid app but if you were lucky, you got onto this one when it was offered free. iPad doesn't come with an office suite, but if it were to, this one would be THE one to use. Includes Word, Powerpoint and Excel. There are so many suites out there to choose from, but this one works
Pic Collage is an app where the sky's the limit. You can collage pics together to send out, but more than that, you can also use this to make a quick and handy infographic. This is a product driven by your creativity.
Videolicious is an app I came across as I was looking for an alternative to create book trailers using an iPad that I didn't have to pay for. Simple and easy, this will do the trick for that project and so many other ones from different curriculum areas. Point and shoot with built-in music so all is fair use.
Educreations is the to-go whiteboard. Draw and record, use voice over, and share. It'll also add text to the page. Think about the flipped classroom for this tool or use it with Doceri or Reflector to real-time teaching and archiving
SITES:
Edcanvas is the tool I think about when I think digital curation in the classroom. It truly is a white canvas that you paint how you'd like by adding video, text, links, websites, quizzes and uploads. Compartmentalize, collaborate - this is a curation tool that can do no wrong.
Scoop.it is another curation tool I've come to love. Although it only gives you five topics, that's more than enough to curate on different ideas, thoughts, technology, professional sites and so much more. Follow those who have the same passion as you, curate through personal searching or recommendations, and leave feedback and comments to make each "scoop" timely.
Piktochart is the infographic tool I fell in love with. While the free site is great, the paid site is even more excellent! Use this to create an eye-popping infographic from any source. With your thoughts and creativity in condensing information and pairing it with graphics, it becomes a tool to use in any professional situation.
Smore is another excellent infographic tool. Simple and easy to use, an infographic is just minutes away from creation. Share, post, watch your analytics built into your site...so much you can do with this. Although images are not part of the package, you can upload them onto your infographic (just make sure you teach CC and copyright free image searching!)
Study Blue is a site I stumbled on when searching for infographics, but it's so much more than that. Create a class and add materials such as flashcards you create or uploads for students to access. Search the archive for lessons already created or classes you can join. If you need something free to create an online class, try this one. You can also upgrade to a Pro account if you like it.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Unremembered by Jessica Brody AND Throwback Thursday!!
Macmillan, 2013She woke up in a sea of dead people, clinging to a piece of debris. The only survivor of Flight 121, she was rescued and taken to California. People wondered how she survived with barely a scratch on the surface. But under the surface, there is damage. She can't remember her name, where she lives....nothing. Her memories have all disappeared. There is one thing that survived with her. A pendant with nothing in it, but a piece of paper with strange markings, numbers she can't decipher, and the word "trust."
They dubbed this beautiful girl Violet because of her eyes. Amidst the paparazzi, she tries to cling to reality and hope, but without any memories to aid her, Violet is hopelessly lost in re-learning things that should come naturally. When Violet is finally released from the hospital, Social Services puts her in the care of a foster family, remote from all cameras and hubbub. Violet enjoys her family, especially Cody, her 13 year old "brother." She is struggling to remember her past, and with the help of Cody, she begins down a journey of discovery. First the airport and the reason why her name wasn't on the manifesto. Then the internet and conspiracy theory sites. But nothing seems to jog her memory...until she meets Lyzender.
He calls her Sera and tells her to trust no one except him. Although she doesn't want to, Sera can't help but feel a connection, both physically and emotionally, with him. How does he know about her locket? What else does he know?
Soon her life is turned upside down. At first she notices subtle things, such as her ability to speak many languages and solve extremely difficult mathematical equations. But when strangers begin chasing her, her only instinct is to run... Will she ever be able to understand her past, her future, and her present?
Jessica Brody writes an incomparable science fiction book blended with a sense of mystery. The beginning of the book will grab the reader simply because they will want to know who Violet is, and why she survived. The more you read, the deeper the intrigue becomes, and that is what compels the reader forward. Brody handles the nuances of science fiction well without being over the top. Like the main characters, the reader will not know who to trust and not trust, which builds a memorable relationship between author and reader. This is great science fiction writing teens will gravitate to. This first in a series and recommended
And what better way to re-introduce the past than by pairing it with another excellent science fiction book by Mary E. Pearson. Written in 2008, this book has a lot of the same characteristics as Brody's but with a completely different spin. Pearson has since rekindled this book by writing a sequel, The Fox Inheritance (2011, Henry Holt) as part of the Jenna Fox Chronicles. Below is a book trailer I created back in 2008 for Pearson's book....this is definitely a throwback to my early days of book trailer creations!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Ten Best Apps to Travel With
Right now I'm about to pack my bags to get ready for summer travel. A top priority is technology. They can take a long car drive or bump in the road go by faster. I love my iPad, but unfortunately, I don't have a connection to it (unless there's free Wi-Fi). My iPhone does connect, but who really wants to squint that long? So, here are my top ten apps (in no particular order) you don't need to have a connection for to get me from the beginning to the end of any journey and they won't cost a penny:
1. iBooks - find books or documents online and load them before you go. iBooks will allow you to read anything you place there without connection. Search and download now before you go and you'll have a free library traveling with you.
2. Paper 53 - feel the need to get creative? Use this simple and easy app to doodle, draw, and paint in personal moleskins you create. Your creativity can be personal or something you'd like to save and use in presentations or websites when you get a connection.
3. ShowMe - if you'd like to create an online recorded presentation, this app is what you're looking for. Upload photos from you album, write, draw and highlight and record. Try this only when everyone has their earphones on and quiet reigns.
4. Videolicious - This handy app has so many possibilities. Make a simple book trailer, stitch pics together to highlight your trip, or just be creative with what you can do. The tutorial is also available offline as well
5. DaVinci Note -this app will create beautiful collages or notes you can create now and upload later. Use the images on your iPad, type your own thoughts and create beautiful pages to share when connection is available
6. Fast Food - it's inevitable...while on the road you have to eat. If you're watching your weight and trying to avoid eating unwanted calories, this app has most fast food restaurants listed along with what they serve and how many calories, fat, and carbs are in that item.
7. Candy Crush - this popular and addictive game can be played offline! That's all I have to say about that :)
8. Minion Rush - this is a new game based off of the Despicable Me movies. Play with these cute minions anytime with a great graphic interface. Perfect for children and adults alike (another great alternative would be Subway Surfers, which can also be played offline)
9. Snapseed - if you have pictures and want to make them pop, use this app to modify your images with different tools and filters.
10. iDice4 - for the more traditional gamer, this is the equivalent of Yahtzee, where you can play by yourself or with others in the car just for the fun of it.
Like packing, make sure you download whatever you may need on your iPad before hitting the road, the ocean, the air or the tracks. And always (and most important!) keep a charger handy - you'll need it.
Safe travels!!
1. iBooks - find books or documents online and load them before you go. iBooks will allow you to read anything you place there without connection. Search and download now before you go and you'll have a free library traveling with you.
2. Paper 53 - feel the need to get creative? Use this simple and easy app to doodle, draw, and paint in personal moleskins you create. Your creativity can be personal or something you'd like to save and use in presentations or websites when you get a connection.
3. ShowMe - if you'd like to create an online recorded presentation, this app is what you're looking for. Upload photos from you album, write, draw and highlight and record. Try this only when everyone has their earphones on and quiet reigns.
4. Videolicious - This handy app has so many possibilities. Make a simple book trailer, stitch pics together to highlight your trip, or just be creative with what you can do. The tutorial is also available offline as well
5. DaVinci Note -this app will create beautiful collages or notes you can create now and upload later. Use the images on your iPad, type your own thoughts and create beautiful pages to share when connection is available
6. Fast Food - it's inevitable...while on the road you have to eat. If you're watching your weight and trying to avoid eating unwanted calories, this app has most fast food restaurants listed along with what they serve and how many calories, fat, and carbs are in that item.
7. Candy Crush - this popular and addictive game can be played offline! That's all I have to say about that :)
8. Minion Rush - this is a new game based off of the Despicable Me movies. Play with these cute minions anytime with a great graphic interface. Perfect for children and adults alike (another great alternative would be Subway Surfers, which can also be played offline)
9. Snapseed - if you have pictures and want to make them pop, use this app to modify your images with different tools and filters.
10. iDice4 - for the more traditional gamer, this is the equivalent of Yahtzee, where you can play by yourself or with others in the car just for the fun of it.
Like packing, make sure you download whatever you may need on your iPad before hitting the road, the ocean, the air or the tracks. And always (and most important!) keep a charger handy - you'll need it.
Safe travels!!
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