Shug by Jenny Han

It looks like there are some good books that are 2009 Caudill Award nominees. I read Shug by Jenny Han last weekend, and I thought it was so good! I talked to several Highland girls this week, and all of them really liked it too.

Here's what I wrote about the book on my LibraryThing page:
Shug (Annemarie) is getting ready to start junior high. When the story begins she has just discovered that she is love with her best friend, Mark. However, in junior high everything is different. Her parents are not getting along, her mom is drinking a lot, her sister is out of the house as often as possible, and she is worried about what will happen with her best friend Elaine, who is clearly meant to be in the popular crowd. I loved the story with her arch-enemy Jack. This was just an all around enjoyable, touching read. I'm glad it is on the Caudill list! The girls at my school are really going to love it.

Image Citation
"Shug cover." Online image. LibraryThing. 16 May 2008 http://www.librarything.com/work/book/30408308.

Personalized Summer Reading Lists

On a daily basis, I help a lot of people find books to read. I love connecting students with books they enjoy. It is one of the best parts of my job! I've started worrying about what Highland students would do over the summer. We have a great public library in Libertyville, and I hope a lot of students will get involved in the summer reading program and talk to the fabulous librarians there too!

So, crazy as it may seem, I'm offering personalized summer recommended reading lists for interested Highland students. I'm just asking that students give me a little information to help guide me as I create their list.

Here's the form I'm asking students to fill out:

Name: ________________________ email: _______________________
LA/Lit Teacher: ______________________

What genres do you enjoy reading? (circle all that you like)
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Science Fiction
Non-fiction
Biography
Other_____________

What were the best books you read this year?
1.

2.

What’s your favorite movie/TV show?


Any other information that will help Ms. Wyatt create a list for you. (For example, you love sports books, series, problem novels, a variety of books…)


Of course over the summer, you can always check this blog and my library thing page to see what I've been reading for other ideas. We'll see how this reading list idea works out!

300 students and a dog

Friday morning the entire seventh grade was in the Learning Center
to see Karen Land and her dog, Borage. Karen Land is a musher and has raced in the Iditarod several times. She shared stories of the race, showed us the gear, and even dressed Charlie up in some of the many layers a musher has to wear while on the race. Language arts and literature teacher extraordinaire, Carey Fox, arranged the event.

The Highland students really impressed me with all they knew about the race after their study of the Iditarod.