Escape Theory: A Keaton School Novel

During the first week of school, tragedy struck Keaton School as golden boy Jason Hutchins committed suicide.  Now peer counselor in training, Devon, not only has to resolve her feelings about the death, but also counsel other grieving students like his best friend, Matt, and former girlfriend, Isla.  But something doesn't ring true about this suicide.  Jason, or Hutch as his friends call him, was not known for drug use, yet he overdosed on Oxy.  He was seen stealing a pregnancy test earlier that day, but why?  And what if Devon had stopped to talk to him earlier that week when he called out to her, instead of waving and walking away?  Soon, Devon is flexing her detective muscles and trying to find out who could possibly want Hutch dead.

I talked about the pre-pub buzz on this book last week and seeing as how it took me nearly a week to finish this one, you might guess that I do not feel the same way as Octavia Spencer.  As a former peer counselor myself, let me tell you, it's nothing like Devon's experience.  She was acting like an actual counselor to her classmates and peers.  Normally, peer counselors are more like big sisters to younger students-high schoolers working with junior high students, or in rare cases, seniors working with freshmen.  Also, Devon was given way too much freedom, although it seems like too much freedom was a common theme in this book.  I didn't go to boarding school so I don't know what it's like but it seems to me like these high schoolers snuck around more than I did in college.

And what is going on with the barbed pet names between Devon and her best friend Presley?  Lindsey Whore-han, Drew Barry-whore, Barrack Ho-bama.  Really?  Maybe it is supposed to add some credibility to the book, maybe that's how teen girls talk when no one's looking but that honestly just made me want to slap Devon.

Speaking of slapping Devon, if she shared one perfect, beautiful night with Hutch freshmen year, why didn't it lead to anything?  What they just escaped from the kitchen and never saw each other again?  I understand that Devon is an outsider, an observer, at this school, but you make out with a guy and just don't acknowledge him anymore?  Weird, just weird.

I feel so mean about this book, but it didn't ring true, it didn't engage, and the killer was pretty obvious to me anyway.  I officially disagree with the book blurbs and the starred review in Publisher's Weekly, they are always too nice.  If you want an engaging tale about a girl detective, check out Also Known As and leave Escape Theory (what does that even mean?) behind.

Happy Reading!

Gadget's Garage: The Planning Phase

This year, in an attempt to simplify VBS, I'm digging up an old VBS kit:  Gadget's Garage from 2009.  I like this theme for a number of reasons.  

1.  Robots-who doesn't love robots?  

2.  The stories are great-no trying to explain the rapture to 3 year olds.  

3.  The snacks do not include trail mix!  

4.  The connections seem way less forced than in recent years.

5.  It's not overly elaborate.

After being involved at VBS at several different churches in recent years, I've noticed that VBS can get out of hand quickly.  Are we really teaching children about the love of God when they walk into a scale replica of the NASA space station?  Do children really understand Jesus' resurrection better when chowing down on Salvation Snack Mix?  Are all of the games, songs, decorations and crafts getting in the way of our message?  Maybe.  And it's sucking up my VBS budget like no one's business.

This year, I'm using an old kit.  I like still having some type of guidance and outline, even though none of the materials are available anymore.  Honestly, my church just buys the kits and gets creative from there.  The licensed VBS stuff gets really expensive and Oriental Trading is super smart to sell like items at half the price.  But next year, I'm going rogue!  No kits, no theme, no giant cut-outs for pictures, all simple!

Before I can dream about next year, I have to pull off this year and tonight is the first planning meeting. Some things that you need to know about our VBS first.  

1.  It's small.  My goal is 25 kids this year.  Last year we hovered right around 20.  

2.  Since it's so small, it's an all ages kind of thing-around 3 years old to 10 years old.

3.  We have unlimited outdoor space, but limited air-conditioned space.  

4.  My church is small but mighty.  I have dedicated volunteers that I need to use more!

Now that you understand what I'm working with, let's talk about this year, with another list.  (If you can't tell, I love lists.  I'm kinda a recovering list addict, so this post is probably not a good thing.)

1.  VBS will be four nights long Monday - Thursday with the church Ice Cream Social on Friday.  It's a great way for us to schedule because we can combine resources a little.

2.  We will again have evening VBS since I work, and we can maybe catch some cooler weather.  If we do it during the day, it's tough to get in any time before the day really heats up, unless we start at 6:00 am, and I'm not doing that!

3.  I'm still going to use passive activities.  This year I'm thinking sidewalk chalk and a coloring wall again, but also a Lego box for building before the lesson starts.  It was nice to have something for the kids to do while we were getting everyone signed in.  

4.  Craft stations are still a must!  We so few kids across a wide range of abilities, it worked really well to have different stations to keep them all busy.  We had a poster coloring station, card making station, random leftover craft station, and special craft station.  I think that the kids enjoyed having some options, and the only station that really required any prep was the special craft.

5.  Give each child a dedicated folder or bag for crafts so they aren't carrying them the rest of the night. This was a sanity saver last year.  Write their name on a bag or folder, toss the craft in there, or whatever is left of their snack sometimes, and give it to them at the end.

6.  More games!  We had more free time than I anticipated last year, which left me scrambling to come up with games off the top of my head.  This year, I'll be ready!

When you break it down, this is all totally doable!  I'll see what else the team comes up with this evening and report back later.  Until then, if you want more Gadget's Garage, check out my Pinterest board for VBS 2013. 

Happy Reading!

Book Blurbs

I usually receive a couple advance reader copies of upcoming books per month.  These books range from pretty good to alright to downright unreadable.  When I read the advance praise for this new book just hit my mailbox, I was intrigued.

"Escape Theory kept me up way past curfew, with no regrets" --Cecily von Ziegesar of Gossip Girl fame.

"Escape Theory is a riveting psychological journey"-Sara Shepard of Pretty Little Liars

"Margaux Froley's debut...is a sexy, smart page turner, a must read!" Octavia Spencer, Academy Award winning star of The Help

Let's play my favorite Sesame Street game One of These Things is Not Like the Other.  We have three book blurbs.  Two from formula fiction franchises (say that three times fast) and one from an actress.  Now, not that Octavia Spencer can't have a hobby, and I would personally welcome her into my book club, but what makes her a good person to blurb this book?  And, what did she say in the span of those periods.  Hmm.

This brings me to my main question:  Do you trust book blurbs?  If a book is recommended by your favorite author, is that an automatic read?  If your favorite actress endorses a book, or maybe the wacky weather man on a morning television show, does it go on your list?  Have you ever been let down by a blurb?  Do you have trust issues because your favorite fantasy author endorsed Fablehaven and you just hated it?  Maybe I was the only one that hated that book.

And reviews!  What about book reviews?  This is getting into dangerous territory for me because I do review books, both for fun here and for benefit for a company (not exactly monetary benefit, I'm kinda literally paid in books).  Escape Theory has earned a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, but I always found that Pub Weekly gave out stars like I give out treats to my dog, sometimes because she does the trick, and other times just to shut her up.  I personally trusted School Library Journal, The Bulletin, and Kirkus much more.  In fact, Kirkus was usually so mean, that if they liked it, I would buy two.  Also, the librarian at my best friend's school was an SLJ reviewer and I loved her!  If Elaine said buy, I'd buy, if she said it's an additional purchase, I'd pass.  That is some level of trust there.

Let's get back to the book in question-Escape Theory.

Here are the covers that I found on Goodreads.  I received the green cover which looks pretty marginal, especially since this is supposed to be about an upscale boarding school mystery.  Honestly, doesn't it kinda look like that Fiona Frost novel from months ago?

Maybe not, but the gate is what made me think of Fiona Frost. 

The other cover looks awfully grungy.  I feel like I should be listening to Nirvana with that cover.  

In the interest of full disclosure, I have not finished Escape Theory yet, although the more I type that title the more ridiculous it seems.  At first, I was really excited to read this book.  I have a strange affection for Gossip Girl and others like it.  But right away, Escape Theory is not hooking me.  It's brand dropping, but it's dropping middle class brand, like Ikea and Target.  Okay, that's already my life, so that's not fun.  The plot seems implausible at this point too, so I'll have to see where that goes.  I'll let you know what I think on Monday, but it's going to be an uphill battle.

Let's circle back to the original question:  Book Blurbs-yay or nay?  Do you trust them or do they make you extra wary?

Happy Reading!

Golden Anniversary!

Today is my Golden Anniversary!  Sort of.

Four years ago today, I married my husband Doug.  So that means we're married 4 years on 4-4.  If this were a birthday, you'd call it a Golden Birthday, so I'm applying the same logic to our anniversary.  Works right?  Doug doesn't think so and he kinda wishes that I'd stop saying this, but we'll have to live to be OLD to reach the real Golden Anniversary (50 years, right?), so I'm keeping my Golden Anniversary.

I already told you how we met on my Engagement Day post, so let's pick up where that left off.

 

Doug and I started planning our big day and our big life together, and while some girls would be overly concerned about the dress, and the flowers, and the venue, I just kept saying over and over, "I just want to get married."  That was the most important part of my day-that Doug was mine when this whole thing was through.

So April 4, 2009 dawned bright and beautiful and we all scurried around getting ready and everything. Well scurried might not be a fair description.  I had a cold, and since we were getting married, I shared with Doug.  Love means sharing, people.  So both of us were as excited as you can be with a runny nose.  My mom actually stuffed Doug's jacket with kleenexes and cough drops, but we didn't need them.

Doug and I did the old-fashioned thing and didn't see each other before the ceremony, so I was hid away in the church basement and Doug was hid away in the pastor's office.  It's worth mentioning here that the church we were married in has been my family's church for generations.  My grandparents and parents were both married here.  And I was baptized and confirmed here.  It's kinda a special place.

Honestly my favorite moment was when I walked down the aisle.  I walked down the aisle to Home by Vanessa Carlton.  Google it or something it's beautiful.  Honestly the first time Doug played me that song, I knew I'd marry him.  Seriously, I was pretty smitten pretty fast.  Anyway, the pianist started playing Home, which was the processional music for the whole wedding party and dad says "It's too nice outside to be in church today.  Who wants to go fishing?" and my best friend Sara yells "I'll go fishing Mr. Torbeck!".  What support.  Then when it was just dad and I behind the heavy wooden doors waiting for the crescendo he says to me "You don't have to do this, Patrick can grab the car and we can go fishing", to which I replied "I'm going down that aisle with you or without you".  He knew I meant business.  And I'm happy to say that he walked me down the aisle like I'd always hoped.  I'm a daddy's girl-get over it!

When I got to the alter, Doug said to me-you look perfect.  How's a girl going to respond to that!  I couldn't kiss him yet, that would be batting out of order!  As you can tell, I was really jazzed to say my vows:  For better or worse, in sickness and in health (that got some laughs), for rain or shine, Dave or Busters.  (Not that part, but that's how we tell it).

OH-I put the ring on the wrong finger!  Oops.  And I had to force it, so I was kinda afraid it wasn't going to come off when we learned my mistake.  Every wedding as a screwup and that one wasn't so bad.  

Apparently, Doug and I kinda ran and skipped out of the church.  I don't remember that but we're strange so that entirely could have happened.  Then we were married!  Whoo!  Then we had a party! Double whoo!

Our wedding was at a golf course, and we couldn't have had a more beautiful day.  Okay, it was a little windy, which made it a little chilly, but look at that sunshine!

And since Doug is a dancing fool (and I encourage him) we danced the Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire.  That elicited a lot of laughter.  

Then, off to Lake of the Ozarks for four days to recover from our colds and the wedding, and then off to be happily married.  I have to say that it's been four pretty great years.  More ups than down, more laughter than tears, only a few major snafu's.  All in all, pretty great.  Totally worthy of a Golden Anniversary!  

Doug's a pretty good husband.  He puts up with a lot from me I know.  I ignore him for hours at a time to finish a book.  I make him crazy Pinterest recipes that nearly kill us both.  I have a tendency to fill our home with weird tchotchktes and candles and stuff.  But in return he gets a funny girl that loves him no matter what (I love him even when our yard has a huge pile of dirt in it.  It's cool-I'm embracing the chaos of it).

One Golden Anniversary down, one to go!

Garden Ready

Actually, no, I'm not ready for my garden, or flowers, or a green lawn.  Actually our yard is a complete and total mess right now due to some projects, but since 2013 is The Year of the Yard in Ericksonland, I need to get myself ready, and what better way to do that than to put together a gardening story time!!

(What-you say that's not how to get a garden ready?  You mean I have to get my rake and gloves and shovel and dirt and pavers together and start bagging up all that junk from the bushes we dug out and tackle that huge pile of dirt in the yard.  Well that's not fun.  I'm sticking with my plan.)

First, pick your books!

 And here we have a lovely assortment of Gardening and Spring Books for your reading pleasure!

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden by Mary Quattlebaum-Old MacDonald's not the only one with skills, his niece is quite the farmer too!

A Good Day by Kevin Henkes-Everything comes together in a lovely way on this spring day.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes-Grow a garden your way in this wonderfully illustrated book.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming-Keep those pesky rabbits away from your carrots!

Tops and Bottoms by Jane Stevens-The Rabbit strikes again in this classic folk tale

and then it's spring by Julie Fogliano-A little boy anxiously waits for spring (I feel ya!)

Books down, now you need rhymes and songs.

The Farmer Plants the Seed (Tune:  Farmer in the Dell)
The farmer plants the seed, the farmer plants the seed.
Hi-ho and cheery-o
The farmer plants the seed
Other verses-the sun begins to shine, the rain begins to fall, the seed begins to grow, the flower grows up tall, and then make up some of your own!

Little Seed
Little seed in the ground, sitting so still
Little speed, will you sprout?  Yes I will!
(Crouch down on the floor until you jump up at the end!)

Bumblebee (Tune:  Jingle Bells)
Bumblebee, bumblebee, buzzing on my nose
Bumblebee, bumblebee, buzzing on my toes
On my knees, on my head, on my elbows
Bumblebee oh bumblebee, he buzzes and he goes!
(Make one hand a flying little bumblebee and buzz it to each body part)

And because gardening is dirty business,

This is the Way We Wash Our Hands (Tune:  Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands.
This is the way we wash our hands, after all our work.
Extras, dry our hands, wash our face, wash legs, wiggle our hands.  This can go on for a while!

Rhymes down so it's time for a craft!

I found this craft picture a couple of weeks ago and remembered how much I loved this one!

The Bee and the Flower

Pretty self explanatory right there.  Print out a black and white flower to color, cut a stem and leaves out of green construction paper or cardstock, cut a white strip from cardstock, and cut out a bee (either in color or b/w to color).

Give each child the following pieces:  B/W flower, green stem and leaves, white strip, bee and paper fastener.  Then, color the flower (and bee if you go that route), glue the stem and leaves to the flower, glue the bee to the strip, and connect the strip to the flower using a paper fastener.  Now your bee can pollenate the flower and you don't have to worry about allergies!  

And BAM you have a story time!  I wish that it's that easy to clean up my yard.  At least I have fun pink gardening gloves for this weekend.  You have to look good to do good work!

Happy Reading!

Unwanteds: Island of Silence

Now that Artime has been exposed to Quill and the Necessaries of Quill see how poorly they are being treated, Quill is a shell of it's former self and Artime is bustling with activity.  But for twins Alex and Aaron, life continues to be complicated.  Aaron, on the Quill side, has lost his position in the High Priests Palace and has even been sent out of university.  Alex, on the Artime side continues to grow as a magician, which leads Mr. Today to name him his heir, a title that Alex is not ready for.  Minor skirmishes abound as the Quilleans try to force their Necessaries back to Quill, but Aaron has a more exciting plan in mind.  He starts to gain the trust of other Wanteds and begins to build an army, all while Mr. Today looks to take a little vacation and leave Alex in charge.  Finally, a battle takes place that catches both sides by surprise and leaves the reader wanting for the final book.

I loved the first book in this series simply titled The Unwanteds.  The new residents to Artime spent their time learning spells and marveling that such a place existed.  Now in volume two, the novelty has worn off, and it seemed like this book was much more focused on keeping the peace between the two lands than forging new ground.  I can't say that I was able to maintain my interest in this book, despite the easy reading level.  I just could not bring myself to care.

So, when the action finally did pick up, when magicians become castaways on a silent island, when Simber falls out of the sky, when Mr. Today pulls a Dumbledore, I kept reading, but my heart wasn't in it.  The magic and simplicity of the first novel was not here.  This seemed too forced and deliberate to be much fun, and quite frankly, I think that I am done with this series.  It slumped a little too much for me to forgive.

All that said, it's still a magical adventure book, but I think that those books might be on the decline now.  If your library has the first, stick with it and there will be some readers for it, but this isn't the next Harry Potter.

Happy Reading!

Happy Birthday, Pigeon!

 

This is the little book that started it all!  The Pigeon is ten years old!  I am a huge Pigeon fan, and a huge Mo Willems fan in general.  I like that the books are interactive and absurd, and in my experience, children love to tell the Pigeon NO!  Children hear that word enough, so it's really fun for them to say it sometimes too.

In 2008 when our country went to the polls to elect a new leader, I am proud to say that I was the campaign manager for the Pigeon.  It was Pigeon against Duck (from Duck for President by Doreen Cronin) and it was a battle in my library.  It was a completely grassroots effort.  We designed our own posters, campaign buttons and slogans.  My slogan was Winnin' with the Pigeon.  Catchy right?  Our library even score a decommissioned polling station from the city, so it was a real set-up.  Children where really able to vote just like their parents.  

The campaign got a little nasty.  Some how a Squirrel got in the mix.  At first he supported Pigeon but then he went rogue.  Some posters were defaced in the staff areas.  Everyone was rocking their campaign buttons and the battle lines were drawn.  My co-workers did not pass over to my side of the work room and I didn't tread on their side.  It was great!

And when it came down to it, Pigeon won!  I attributed the win to my story time kids who loved the Pigeon just as much as I did.  And I read them Mo Willems constantly.  Since my kids were ages 3-5 (prime voting age in these type of elections) I was able to carry the vote.  My co-workers so supported the duck taught the baby story times, and a small but mighty first grade story time.  The baby vote just didn't turn out on election day!  

Anyway, back to the real pigeon.  So far the pigeon empire includes five hardcover books,

two board books,

 and one activity book.

And that's just the books we are talking about.  There is a plush Pigeon (which I own), and loads of other fun Mo Willems stuff from yOttOy.

There are Pigeon games available from Are You Game?.

And of course there is Pigeon apparel from Wonder-Shirts!

So much Pigeon!!  Can't get enough?  (Because I sure can't!) Head over to The Pigeon Presents for more fun, then check out Mo Willems Doodles, and Mo Willems Stuff.  

More you say, MORE!  Then just stop by Pinterest and search for Pigeon to find tons of pins on lesson plans and crafts.  

What will you be doing on the Pigeon's birthday?  I think I will hang out with my Pigeon plush, repeatedly telling it, NO, you can't drive the bus!  Come to think of it, I don't get to tell people NO enough in my own life, maybe that's why I like the Pigeon books so much too.

Go, celebrate!  Eat a hot dog, stay up late, and if you can, drive a bus!

Happy Reading!