Dear America: The Diary of Piper Davis

Dear America: The Diary of Piper Davis: The Fences Between Us
     written by Kirby Larson

The Dear America section of our library now takes up 4 full shelves, and the books are regularly checked out every week. Here is the newest in the continuing series and it takes place in 1941 during World War II.

In 1941 Piper is worried about her older brother based in Pearl Harbor on the Arizona, a battleship based there. As most students of history know, On December 7, 1941 the Japanese attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack. Piper notes it in her diary along with what she hears on the radio. She has neighbors who are Japanese who are members of her church, and she and her family later follow them into the incarceration camps.

I will be giving my mom a copy of this book to read because it is her life too! And I'm curious to compare her first hand experience (primary source) with this historical fiction piece.

You see... my mom was 16 on Pearl Harbor Day in 1941 and she opened her present (a radio, an expensive gift in those days) plugged it in only to hear about the bombing. Many of her friends from high school were in the service, and some of her friends who were Japanese "disappeared" from school. She never knew what had happened to them until later as an adult, her family didn't speak about it at the time. They too were worried because my mom's brother was in the service and faced many dangers. He was in General Patton's army and never spoke of the war after he came home.

It was an important time in history, and to know about it first hand is important. I'm interested to know if my mom feels the book reflects her life at that time, and how accurate the diary entries and events are compared to her personal experience.

Let me know what you think of the book after you read it, and check to see if anyone in your family remembers about World War II and what their thoughts and memories are.

ISBN: 978-0-545-22418-5

Clone Codes

Clone Codes
     written by Patricia, Frederick, and John McKissack

It is the year 2170 and cyborgs and clones are treated very similar to slaves, and there has been an organized underground movement to fight for their freedom. Leanna's mom has been arrested for treason, for helping the movement. Leanna finds herself running from a bounty hunter chasing her down.

In a world saturated in technology and with  time travel availability, but without her friends or family, Leanna must take stock in herself, face the truth about her identity and who she really is, and try to survive. This is a first of a new series created by the family McKissack

Roald Dahl: The Missing Golden Tickets

Roald Dahl: The Missing golden Tickets and other Splendiferous Secrets
    

If you are a Roald Dahl fan, and frankly, who isn't, then you simply have to read this book!

Inside you will learn all about the "missing children" from "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

Roald Dahl said" Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Did you know that:

• Willie Wonka's Oompa Loompas were originally called Whipple Scrumpets?"
• Roald Dahl wanted to get rid of history teachers and replace them with chocolate teachers?
• At age 13 Roald Dahl did not get good grades in school? His teachers wrote"ideas limited" "consistently idle and too pleased with himself" and "rather dazed...might work harder" yet he grew up and became one of the world's most beloved authors
• Roald Dahl kept two idea books that he wrote in for over 40 years

Also inside the book you'll see Willie Wonka recipes, information about his illustrator, secret writing tips, Charlie's Quiz, and the missing chapter with the original ending to "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"

So go to the Roald Dahl display in our fiction section and check out your copy today!

ISBN: 978-0-14-241742-3

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg Heffley Went to Hollywood
           by Jeff Kinney

REVIEW.
With the popularity of the Wimpy Kid Series, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came knocking on Jeff Kinney's door. But the author had no clue about how a movie is made, and so he decided it would be fun to write about the new adventure as a companion to the series.

Written in the now familiar format of the Wimpy Kid series, Jeff Kinney guides the reader through the movie-making experience including each major element along the way, starting with the evolution of Greg Heffley, the main character himself..."born" as a stick figure that would evolve and change many times before becoming the beloved figure we know today and was cast for a movie about him and the series.
This book includes the familiar format with an important plus....color photos from within the movie-making process itself, so the reader can truly experience the creation of the movie from start to finish.

Chapters include the original doodlings that led to the series itself,  sceenwriting, including how the script was "pitched" to the studio executives, casting process, location selection, storyboarding, the process of shooting, retakes, and out-takes of the movie, the role of the propmaster in film, and of course the unforeseen and spontaneous movie moments of moviemaking.

Not only is Jeff Kinney a great writer for tweens, he communicates directly and clearly to them. Although the book is close to 200 pages, it is filled with visual photos and illustrative treats of book and movie realia that few of us on the outside of production rarely see, with text concise to clarify what the reader is seeing, making the complex process of writing a book, converting it for film, and the process of filming understandable to the tween population and any age reader. Entertaining and informative, with the familiar literary character of Wimpy Kid adds up to a great nonfiction read!


                               

Nancy Drew Mysteries and Files

Nancy Drew Mysteries
   written by Carolyn Keene

REVIEW.
Nancy Drew mysteries have been around since 1930...that's 80 years ago!
In our library as you can see in these photos, the Nancy Drew series is alive, well, and flourishing in our reading community at Bay Farm School.

We have an entire bookcase dedicated to mysteries with each side containing our favorites, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, A-Z Mysteries, and Bailey School Kids to name a few.  One and a half sides are filled with Nancy Drew alone!    Many of our copies have been lovingly donated from parent/children collections...second or third generations down! And our students love them!

The series has managed to remain current with each generation. The series has been modified, updated, and re-created over time which has kept the series current. On our shelves we not only have the original series, but also Nancy Drew Notebooks, Nancy Drew Files, Pocketbooks, and now, even graphic novels!    

Over time, Nancy Drew has aged from 16 to 18 years old and has solved well over 350 mysteries. Her favorite color is blue, she is wealthy; but doesn't hesitate to roll up her sleeves and is not afraid to get her hands dirty or take risks to solve a crime.

When first written, Nancy Drew challenged the stereotypes of the day regarding young girls' gender roles. But in many ways, she represents what everyone can be, boy or girl...curious, thoughtful, independent, polite, justice-seeker, sensitive, adventurous, brave, trustworthy, and a critical thinker/problem-solver.

Nancy Drew Notebooks were first published in 1994 to give our youngest readers a glimpse into Nancy when she was eight years old.

The first book in the series " The Secret of the Old Clock" is now 80 years old and our copies are still checked out on a regular basis in our library.

In addition to the original series, there are combined collections with the Hardy Boys, a TV series, many movies, and Nancy Drew Mystery games. There is even a website dedicated to the series and her author Carolyn Keene. Check out the website to find out about the real author of the series and many other trivia facts you may not have known about the classic series!

Nancy Drew Website: http://nancy-drew.mysterynet.com

Bites: Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into/ Bones: Terrifying Tales to Haunt your Dreams

Bites: Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into
 Bones: Terrifying Tales to Haunt your Dreams
    a flip book edited by Lois Metzger
                      
  Guaranteed to tickle your horror bone, here is the ultimate flip book of scary stories from familiar tween and teen authors and screenwriters. 14 stories are shared, seven each flip.

From the "Bites" Side you are forewarned with the following advise:
1. It's not enough to watch your back....Watch your neck too!
2. There isn't always honor among vampires.
3. Do not become the "guests of honor" at a vampire dinner.
4. Stay out of direct sunlight. At the very least wear sunblock.
5. Never remove the silver bullets from a dead werewolf body.
6. Don't steal...especially rare artifacts.
7. You can't teach a ghost dog new tricks.

There are seven stories about bites on this side of the book....but as the author states, " Sometimes, one bite is all it takes!
Read on at your own risk!

The flip side of this book is "Bones," the author lets you know that none of the stories really happened so the reader can relax and enjoy....except that the eye-witness descriptions are chilling and seem based in real events and happenings...so could it be that the goal is to lull the reader into a false sense of security???? Seven more stories of ghosts, hauntings, and stalkings so be sure to keep looking ver your shoulder, someone might be following you after all!

Included at the end of each flip side are bio trivia about each of the authors including their other works, horror or not. I especially liked these sections so that if the reader liked a particular story, the author is right there to recommend other titles that particular author has written. Great idea!

ISBN: 978-0-545-27651-1

Two Minute Mysteries Collection

Two Minute Mysteries Collection
           written by Donald Sobol

If you enjoyed the classic series "Encyclopedia Brown" and enjoy solving mysteries then this book is for you! More than 200 mini mysteries (hence the name 2 Minute Mysteries) packed into this book. Each mystery has the solution at the end of the mystery with a simple flip of the book so the suspence won't go on forever or stop you from going on to the next exciting mystery! Interpret the clues shared by the narrator and inspector and see if you can solve each mystery as Haledjian does throughout the book. What's your success average at solving the Two-Minute Mysteries?

The Collection includes all three or you can purchase them separately
Two Minute Mysteries Collection ISBN: 0-439-70991-1

Two Minute Mysteries ISBN: 978-0590447874
More Two-Minute Mysteries ISBN: 978-0590447881
Still More Two-Minute Mysteries ISBN: 978-0590447867