Book Recommendations to Wrap Up 2017

For the History Buff

• Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the siege of Leningrad by M. T. Anderson. Ages 12 to 120. This impeccably researched book offers a rare look not only at the unimaginable suffering of the residents of Leningrad during WWII but also during Stalin’s merciless purges. The writing is amazing.
• The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller. Grades 7 and Up. All I knew about Lizzie Borden was from a schoolyard rhyme. I was surprised to read the real story. For instance, she was 32 years old when her parents were killed. Beyond learning about the murder and the ways in which it was reported in the news, I found the descriptions of 19th century police work and forensics fascinating. 

For the Social Justice Warrior

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Grades 8 to adult. Starr Carter lives in inner-city New York but attends a fancy prep school in the burbs where she is one of very few black students. Navigating too very different worlds is her superpower. But when Starr witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed childhood best friend she finds it increasingly difficult to keep her two worlds separate. When her friend’s death becomes a flashpoint for riots and protests that separation may be untenable and silence may not be an option. This title is a 2017 Goodreads Choice winner, among many other honors.
• The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater. Grades 7-12. Sasha and Richard both lived in Oakland, but it was as if they came from different worlds, but their paths crossed on their bus ride home for eight minutes. One day Richard's action would ensure that they would be linked for much longer when he lit Sasha’s skirt on fire. Their story is a story of justice and what it means to forgive. 
• Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu Grades 9-12. Vivian Carter discovered her mom’s Riot Grrl past while deal with misogyny at her Texas high school. Will her handcrafted ‘zines help start a revolution? A great choice for the teen feminist in your life.
• Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Ages 12 and up. Publisher’s blurb: "Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him."

For People Who Love to Cry

• Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. 13 and up. It’s John Green. Grab some tissues. Publisher’s blurb: “Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.”
• Satellite by Nick Lake. Grades 9 and up. Leo, Libra, and Orion are not your average teens. Born on Moon 2, they have been raised by a rotating set of astronauts, but as their 16th birthdays approach they prepare to return “home” to Earth. Although it is written in an unconventional manner, I promise that the emotional punch that the narrative delivers is worth reading all the lowercase i’s and u’s and ampersands.
• Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner. Grades 9-12. This makes be a great next book to pass on to the John Green fans in your life. This is a lovely portrait of grief and how one teen deals with it. The main character Carver lost his three best friends in a car accident. Could Carver’s text message have distracted the driver? Do the parents blame Carver? A great, powerful read.
• Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman. Grades 9 and up. James will do anything for his older brother, even deliver drugs and, when he’s caught, keep his mouth shut. But is he tough enough to survive in prison. This is a heart-wrenching story of an abused boy betrayed by those who should protect him.

For the Athlete

• The Quarterback Whisperer: How to Build an Elite NFL Quarterback by Bruce Arians and Lars Anderson. Ages 14 and up. The man who helped turn Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Andrew Luck into household names shares his philosophy, practices, and plenty of anecdotes. NFL fans will eat this up.

For Strong Women and People Who Love Them

• Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. Ages 12 and up. This is NOT a novelization of the movie and it is NOT a graphic novel. This is a standalone novel that features 2 badass females fighting impossible odds to save the world. If you like action, adventure, and good writing this is for you.

Book Review: There's Someone Inside Your House

One of my goals as a librarian is to read from a variety of genres so that I can be informed when I recommend books to students.  There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins is a type of book that I do not normally read.  One might call it horror, but it reminds me most of a slasher movie.

Makani Young has just moved to Nebraska from Hawaii in order to escape her past.  One day her classmate Haley was discovered murdered in her home.  The small town and high school were heartbroken, but when the second victim was found the town found itself seized with fear.  Subsequent murders occur each with increasingly gruesome results.  Makani and her friends find themselves trying to figure out who might be next.

This book isn't just blood and gore.  There is an element of romance as Makani grows closer with Ollie, the policeman's little brother.  Readers cannot help but root for the pair as they try to survive small town Nebraska with a teen serial killer on the loose. The mysterious killer and the mystery of Makani's past will motivate readers to keep reading towards the answer.

This is a great book for fans of horror movies.  

Available at AHS, BCHS, and GVHS.

YA Books We Are Thankful For

I asked the teacher librarians of Merced Union High School District to share the YA books that they are thankful for.  Here is what they shared.  

Mr. Harding, AHS Teacher Librarian

I am grateful for The Fault in Our Stars because it was the first YA book I had ever read. It represented a shift in my thinking towards YA literature and was partially responsible for my desire to become a school librarian. I found Green's telling of the tragic but hopeful story of two teenagers with life threatening cancer to be emotionally stirring and thought provoking. In this super popular YA book, I discovered that young adults need stories like the ones John Green tells. I am grateful to The Fault in Our Stars because it opened my mind to new possibilities for my life and career and for the students whom I care so deeply about.

Mr. Doyle, ECHS Teacher Librarian

• The Giver was the first YA novel I read in library school. I am a science fiction fan and it was the perfect entree into YA books. And it's a brilliant story.
• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. It got totally overshadowed by Harry Potter, but I thought is was better. It's a thinking person's book.

Ms. Cook, BCHS Teacher Librarian

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was the first YA book I read as a BC librarian. I didn’t realize how amazing YA literature was, now I virtually never read anything else.

Mrs. Edwards, LHS Teacher Librarian

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. Although this wasn't the first YA I'd read, it was out of my comfort zone as far as style and subject. I thoroughly loved the series and loved the detail the author put into helping me get to know the characters.

Mrs. Woodall, GVHS Teacher Librarian

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume.  This was probably the first YA book that I read as a kid.  I recall feeling like this was the first book that I read that just felt real.  It felt like the author wasn't talking down to me as a reader.  

All of these titles are available to check out from our library system. 

The MUHSD Teacher Librarians are also thankful for all of our student patrons.  We love helping connecting you with your learning needs.  Enjoy your break!

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Have you ever read a book that focuses only one 60 seconds of the main character's life? Seems kind of crazy, but Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a book that is mostly about one 60 elevator ride.

First you need to know that Will's brother Shawn has just been shot. You also need to know that the neighborhood rules are the following:

• Don't cry. 
• Don't snitch. 
• Do get revenge. 

Will is in the elevator on his way down so he can follow the neighborhood rules and get revenge when he is stopped at each floor by ghosts.

This novel told in verse is a quick but powerful read. At its heart, this is a story about grief and a neighborhood. I highly recommend this book to all students, but if you are someone who had witnessed or experienced neighborhood violence, this book may speak to you in a powerful way. This book is currently available at GVHS, ECHS, and BCHS, but students at any school can request it.

Other books written by Jason Reynolds include the following:

• All American Boys
• The Boy in the Black Suit
• Ghost
• Miles Morales
• When I Was the Greatest

Come to your library to check them out or put them on hold!

Books for Teenagers that love Hamilton!

If you love the Broadway show Hamilton from Lin-Manuel Miranda, you should head to your library to read more about the main inspiration. 

Miranda read Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton for inspiration.  We have two copies in our district at GVHS and LHS.  If you love history and want to know more about A. Ham, this book is for you.

If you want to learn more about Hamilton but aren't interested in a heavy biography, consider checking out a graphic novel version of his life called Alexander Hamilton:  The Graphic History of an American Founding Father by Jonathan Hennessey.  We have one copy at GVHS, but anyone in the district can request it.

Don't worry!  I'm not going to neglect those of you who want to read a love story!  Alex & Eliza:  A Love Story written by Melissa de la Cruz captures the story between Alexander and Elizabeth Schuyler.  Copies available at GVHS, BCHS, and MHS.

Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy

Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy

MUHSD Battle of the Books 2018 selection.

Yuri doesn't know how to swear in English.  In fact Yuri doesn't know how to do much of anything besides high level physics.  At 17 he is a professor at Moscow State University and is well on his way to a Nobel Prize when he is loaned to the United States to help stop an Earth-killing asteroid.  An accidental meeting with American teen Dovie and her brother Lennon introduce him to American culture and his first experiences of actually being a teenager, complete with sneaking out at night, going to prom, and meeting your girlfriend's parents.  In his spare time he is also trying to save the world-- and learn how to swear.

This story requires a fairly large suspension of disbelief, which is hard at first but easier as the story develops.  In the end the novel is the funniest apocalypse story you will ever read.  Yuri, Dovie, and Lennon are endearing characters whose hijinks will make you laugh and cringe in equal measures.  Highly recommended.

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner: A Review

Carver Briggs is one fourth of the Sauce Crew.  His three best friends Eli, Mars, and Blake comprise the rest.  Right before their senior year, Eli, Mars, and Blake died in an horrible car accident.  Carver wasn't in the car.  He was waiting for his three best friends to come pick him up. He was so impatient that he texted Mars "Where are you guys? Text me back."  

Did his text message distract Mars causing the horrific accident?  What if Carver had never sent the text message? 

The title of Goodbye Days refers to Carver spending a day with each grieving family saying goodbye. Yet each family seeks Carver's presence for different motives. Could they be trying to trick him into implicating himself as the cause of their sons' deaths? Could they be trying to understand the children that they lost?

A strong narrative voice coupled with powerful, complex conflict means that this was a book that I could just not put down. Not only was Carver dealing with the grieving parents of his best friends, but he also befriended Eli's girlfriend, Jessmyn.  Feelings develop between the two causing even more problems.

I'm a pretty cold-hearted, cynical reader, but this book really affected me. I found myself inexplicably engaged with all the characters. Interestingly, I was emotionally invested in not only the teen protagonist. I also cared deeply for the parents even when they were in conflict with the protagonist. Tears may have fallen. I can neither confirm nor deny. 

This powerful book will surely speak to teens. If you are a fan of The Fault in Our Stars, this book may be for you.   It's power is in its portraits of grief.

Come check it out from the library today.  Copies are available at BCHS, MHS, and GVHS.  If you don't attend those schools, you can still request a copy.  

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

The long-awaited new book from John Green is already here.  Turtles All the Way Down is the story of Aza, a sixteen-year-old girl who suffers from anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. She and her best friend Daisy decide to investigate the disappearance of a local billionaire in the hopes that they can collect a $100, 000 reward. 

During the course of the investigation, Aza reconnects with the lost billionaire's son, Davis.  They have previously met at sad camp (a camp for kids who have lost a parent).  This new connection provides both positives and negatives for Aza.  Will her anxiety get in the way or her relationship with Davis? How will it affect her friendship with Daisy? 

In true John Green fashion, this books will make you laugh and make you cry.  I was particularly impressed with how John Green handled the inner thoughts of Aza.  You are truly able to step into her mind and understand the spirals of her thoughts.  The storyline behind the relationship between Aza and her best friend Daisy was well done and should resonate with many teenagers.  Green's ability to portray how teenagers cope after the loss of a parent is beautifully rendered. 

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars or Looking for Alaska, I think this book is definitely for you!

If you want a preview, watch this video of John Green reading Chapter 1 in the video below.  

Available at BCHS, GVHS, and MHS currently.  Soon to be added at AHS, ECHS, and LHS. Contact your friendly library staff to check out this title or put it on hold today!

Bang by Barry Lyga

What is the worst thing that you think someone can do to their sibling? Embarrass them? Rough them up in a fight? Betray them? What about accidentally killing them with a gun? That is exactly what happened to Sebastian Cody when he was only four years old. He got a hold of his father’s gun and shot his 4 month old sister, Lola.

Ten years later, Sebastian is 14 years old living in the same house and haunted by the oppressive guilt of his actions so many years ago. His father has left years ago. His best friend is leaving for the summer. Sebastian sees only one way out. He figures that a gun got himself into this pain so a gun can get him out of it. Sebastian is planning suicide. But then a new family moves into his block, and a girl his age named Aneesa doesn’t know that he is the boy who killed his sister. She only knows who he is now. She likes his personality. Together they work together to become a bit of a YouTube sensation. It seems like this might be a turning point for Sebastian. But then school starts again in the fall and conflicts start. Will his newfound internet fame mean that Aneesa will discover his past? Will Sebastian follow through with his plan?

I feel like Barry Lyga tackled the topic of gun violence in an interesting way. Often young adult books deal with guns by having teens wield the weapons. This story starts when the teen protagonist was just a child. The big conflict is Sebastian dealing with the guilt of his actions so many years ago. This is ultimately a book about healing. What helps us heal? What is an obstacle to our healing?

Not only did Lyga handle the topic of guns and suicide ideation well, but he also touched on the topic of Islamophobia and bullying. I never felt like the book took on a preachy tone. Rather I found myself rooting for Sebastian. What I appreciated about this book was that, as a reader, I thought I had predicted how it would all resolve, but Lyga ending up surprising me.

If you are looking for a realistic young adult book that tackles tough issues with likable characters, this book is for you. This book is recommended for students who enjoyed books like I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson and Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner.


Available at AHS, BCHS, ECHS, GVHS, and MHS. If a copy isn't available at your site, talk to library staff about requesting from one of our other district libraries.

The Dorito Effect by Mark Schatzker

Flavors are killing us.  Specifically added flavors in processed foods and missing flavors in factory farm-produced foods.  It turns out that there is a link between taste and nutrition and our industrial-gastronomic system has short circuited that connection.  Flavors in foods signal our bodies that certain nutrients are headed toward the stomach.  By adding artificial and "natural" flavors to our foods we trick our bodies into thinking that we are eating nutritious food.  When the promised nutrients do not arrive in our gut (which has taste receptors!) the gut tells the mouth to keep eating.  Thus we end up eating the entire bag of Doritos, or Oreos, or whatever processed food we are eating.  So why add flavors?  Because modern industrial farming favors size and appearance over flavor and nutrition.  Everything from chickens to tomatoes are now much blander-- and thus less nutritious-- than they were 100 years ago.  Blander and less nutritious leads to more overeating.

This book was fascinating, informative, and alarming.  We are eating more and getting less out of what we eat.  Flavor science has co-opted our body's system for getting the nutrients we need and the result is a sicker and fatter population.  Read this and you will never look at a chicken nugget the same way. 

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

This is a fitting, and fittingly violent, end to an amazing trilogy.  Darrow, a.k.a. The Reaper of Mars, begins the book imprisoned and tortured by the Jackal.  A dramatic rescue brings him home to the Reds and the hidden center of the Martian rebellion.  With Sevro, Mustang, and Ragnar at his side he leads a rag tag cross section of society against the unbeatable Golds.  With all the requisite setbacks and miraculous escapes the rebels must persevere against nearly impossible odds to end the Gold tyranny.

Like the previous 2 volumes this is an exciting read with plenty of action and unexpected plot twists.  We are also treated to a more mature and thoughtful protagonist as Darrow becomes more focused on the future and building a more just society.  Fans of the first 2 books will eat this up.

Tech Tip Tuesday: Super easy screencasting with ViewedIt

Tech Tip Tuesday is brought to you by the MUHSD Teacher Librarians

ViewedIt

ViewedIt is a free Chrome extension that makes it quick and easy to create and share screencast videos. With the extension installed you can record your entire screen or just one window tab. ViewedIt will let you record yourself with your webcam too. The best part of ViewedIt is that you can track who watches your video. To record on ViewedIt you simply have to click the extension icon then choose what you want to record. When you're done recording your video is automatically stored on ViewedIt. From ViewedIt you can share your video via email and social media. If you choose to share via email, you will be able to track who watched your video.

Tech Tip Tuesday Bonus Edition: The Equifax Data Breach

Tech Tip Tuesday is brought to you by the MUHSD Teacher Librarians.

Last week it was revealed that the credit reporting company Equifax suffered a major security breach.  Data, including social security numbers, for over 1/2 the adults in the United States was stolen.  The implications are huge.  Chances are that you were affected and the data could be used by hackers for years to come.

What should you do?

• Learn as much as you can about the breach.  These articles from the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports are a good starting place.
• Visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com and click on Potential Impact then input your last name and part of your social security number to see if your data was compromised.
• Sign up for 1 free year of credit monitoring with Equifax at the above site.  That is not long enough but it is a start.  Consider purchasing credit monitoring services on a long term basis.
• Monitor your credit reports.  You can get a free credit report once per year from http://www.annualcreditreport.com/.  Many banks and credit cards give you free monthly access to your credit report.  If you have a Citi Visa from Costco you can get your FICO score every month.
• Place a Fraud Alerts or Credit Freezes with the major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).  A Fraud Alert forces companies to take extra steps to verify identity before opening accounts or giving credit.  A freeze prevents any accounts from being opened.  If you place a freeze it may take 3 days or more to unfreeze your credit if you are getting ready to open an account or apply for credit.
• Enable 2-factor authentication for your email and financial accounts.  When someone tries to log in to one of your accounts from a new device it will require a code texted to your phone.  This is not currently enabled for muhsd.org but it is for Gmail.com and most other services.
• Check your credit card and bank statements carefully every month.
• Contact your legislators and demand that the government tighten regulations regarding consumer financial security and make it easier for individuals to recover from identity theft. See this opinion piece from the SF Chronicle for suggested improvements.

The most important advice is to be proactive.  Don't wait for problems to arise before you act.

Tech Tip Tuesday 9/12/17: Google Drive Quick Search

Tech Tip Tuesday is brought to you by the MUHSD Teacher Librarians.

Did you know you can use your URL bar at the top of your browser to search your Google Drive on the fly?

Book Review: Ideh by Ethan Hawke and Greg Ruth

This well-researched graphic novel is based on true events that took place during the Apache Wars.  Cochise and Geronimo are featured as they fight to preserve their way of life and to avenge their murdered people.  Violence begets violence and atrocity begets atrocity as the war moves toward its inevitable conclusion.  Ruth's artwork is striking, bordering on haunting.  It is beautiful and brutal in equal measures.  The book is one of the few places the story of this war is told from the Apache perspective.  The images and the story will stay with readers long after the book is closed.

Salt to the Sea

Pop quiz:  What was the greatest (i.e. worst) shipwreck in terms of the number of people killed?  The Titanic?  No.  The Lusitania?  Nope.  It was the Wilhelm Gustloff-- by a huge margin.  In Salt to the Sea Ruta Sepetys takes us on board the ill-fated cruise ship in the days surrounding the disaster.  During the waning days of World War II the ship, designed to carry about 1,500 passengers is stripped down to carry 10,000 German and Eastern European refugees fleeing the advance of the Soviet Army as the Third Reich crumbles.  Four teens, each with something to hide, are brought together on the ship.  They must fight to survive this unimaginable and little known tragedy.

We have several copies in the library.  This book is not to be missed.

“Observations of war and loss, human cruelty, and hatred are unflinching.
But through the horror and heartbreak shine rays of hope: love, kindness, courage,
and sacrifice. Artfully told and sensitively crafted, Sepetys’s exploration of this
little-known piece of history will leave readers weeping.”
-School Library Journal (starred review)

#salttothesea #RutaSepetys #historicalfiction

Lit Circles in Mrs. Schneider's classes

Mrs. Schneider is starting Lit Circles today!  

Pre-AP students will be reading:

• Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee, about his escape from North Korea
• Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan, about an albino boy running for his life in Tanzania
• Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter, about her experiences in foster care and adoption.

English 1 students will be reading:

• Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena, about a mixed race boy dealing with issues of recial identity, family, and baseball
• Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin about 3 siblings trying to survive their abusive mother
• Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie based on his life growing up on a reservation in Washington state (my favorite YA book of all time!)

Chromebook Tips and Tricks

Tech Tip Tuesday from 8/22/17

https://docs.google.com/a/muhsd.k12.ca.us/presentation/d/1UAMAKXIqDjcco0U19nuaG0mowFWKSQO4PZ_7alWEMWk/edit?usp=sharing

Don't Kill the Chromebook!

Hey kids!  Don't charge your phone or any other device from the USB ports on your Chromebook.  The Asus and Dell devices will disconnect the battery to prevent damage.  The Chromebook will need to be disassembled so the battery can be reconnected.