Marva S

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Would've given this a higher rating if I liked the narrator more, but just thought he was a bit crude (hello, he's a teen boy) and also not that likable (his fave activities are bubble baths and video games). BUT I think this will appeal to teens, so... three stars! A nice story with a...”

“Would've given this a higher rating if I liked the narrator more, but just thought he was a bit crude (hello, he's a teen boy) and also not that likable (his fave activities are bubble baths and video games). BUT I think this will appeal to teens, so... three stars! A nice story with a suicide--or was it murder?? But also family drama and a bit of romance and a guy narrator!

Booktalk: Guy Langman is lazy. He likes spending 90 % of his time playing video games if at all possible. I won't tell you what he spends the other 10 % doing... He also likes taking loooong luxurious bubble baths and looong naps. Definitely lazy--and he freely admits it. But his best friend, Anoop, is definitely NOT lazy. Anoop convinces Guy to join the Forensics Club after school despite Guy's anti-anything-active policy. Turns out Guy could use the Forensics Club because someone breaks into his house and steals his dad's 300 year old sunken treasure. That's right, you heard me, 300 year old sunken treasure. Can I say the word treasure again? Treasure. Thank you. THEN Anoop and Guy discover a dead body--an actual dead body--and despite some very girly screaming--mostly done by Guy--they decide they must be the ones to discover who done it. Now, crime-solving aside, this book is hilarious! If you like campy jokes, that is... and really who doesn't??”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“I love this book... the main character is so me.”

“I love this book... the main character is so me. ”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Irreverent (obviously) and hilarious, a great book. Not entirely sure of the point of it, but I don't care much since it made me laugh a lot.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“This one is a great read-alike for Hunger Games fans. Some time in the future, Saba lives in a place called Silverlake, a "dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant dust storms." Her story starts with a bunch of strangers kidnapping Saba's brother, Lugh, from their home.

Read page 31-32. ...”

“This one is a great read-alike for Hunger Games fans. Some time in the future, Saba lives in a place called Silverlake, a "dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant dust storms." Her story starts with a bunch of strangers kidnapping Saba's brother, Lugh, from their home.

Read page 31-32.

When Saba sets out to find her twin, she herself ends up getting captured... and thrown into cage fights, where the crowd is hopped up on a drug called chaal and they go wild for blood. But Saba knows she must get out. She has to find Lugh--before it's too late. 460L”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Suspenseful, romantic, and very cool. I love the characters and the plot. On to the second one... and that is saying something!”

“Suspenseful, romantic, and very cool. I love the characters and the plot. On to the second one... and that is saying something! ”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Booktalk book--SPOILERS below
Main character: Ambrose, fatherless twelve year old boy, allergic to peanuts. Pulled out of school by overprotective mom (professor of english lit) because three bullies almost kill him by sneaking a peanut into Ambrose's sandwich. Excellent Scrabble player. ...”

“Booktalk book--SPOILERS below
Main character: Ambrose, fatherless twelve year old boy, allergic to peanuts. Pulled out of school by overprotective mom (professor of english lit) because three bullies almost kill him by sneaking a peanut into Ambrose's sandwich. Excellent Scrabble player. Friendless. Likes to wear purple cordoroys. Forced to do correspondence school by mom instead of actually going to school.

Mother of Ambrose: Paranoid ever since Amrbose's father died of a sudden brain aneurism. Likes to knit. Cooks...but not well. Starts to date Amrbose's principla, Bob. Works as an English Lit professor as a sessional (like part-time/temporary work) and moves them around a lot.

Mr. & Mrs. E.: Greeks who rent Ambrose and his mom their basement. Mr. E watches The Amazing Race and doesn't speak English too much. Mrs. E. cooks lots of Greek food--and cooks very well. They have several children all grown up.

Cosmo: Son of Mr. & Mrs. E. Just released from prison for B&E, former drug addict. Jobless in beginning but gets a job in construction. Owes former druggie/B&E friend Silvio $2000 but cannot pay him back immediately. Plays scrabble, has tattoos and a Camaro.

Amanda: Leader of the Scrabble club that Ambrose convinces Cosmo to take him to. Cosmo falls in love with Amanda. Amanda works in a knitting store and leads Stitch and Bitch sessions. Cosmo lies to her and tells her that he is Ambrose's "Big Brother" and gets her to go out with him bowling and to a climbing gym... but Amanda eventually finds out that Cosmo had a drug problem and is an ex-con... then Ambrose comes up with the idea to serenade her to win her back... (after he stops Cosmo from going back to his drug addiction that is!).

Summary: Ambrose is a word nerd. He loves to dissect words, to split them up and make new ones, and most of all he loves to play Scrabble. Trouble is the only person he has to play with is his mom. That is until Cosmo moves back into the neighborhood--Cosmo, ex-con and drug addict... and Ambrose's only friend.

Booktalk idea: make large sign with the word "LGRYALE" on it.... then ask the class to raise their hand if they can make a word out of the letters on the board. Write down the words they come up with on the board (have the following words on the back: early, ale, all, gall, gel, leg, real, gear, largely, lag, gale. Finally spell out ALLERGY. Then tell them: Throughout the book WORD NERD, each chapter starts with a scrambled up word that Ambrose rearranges to form words. Clearly, Ambrose is a word nerd. He loves to dissect words, to split them up and make new ones, and most of all he loves to play Scrabble. Trouble is the only person he has to play with is his overprotective mom. That is until Cosmo moves back into the neighborhood--Cosmo, ex-con and drug addict... and Ambrose's only friend.
”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Lovely little story to define a rainbow and show colors.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Pictures in this one lovely and explosively imaginative story. I loved it.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Pretty good overall story. Nicely fleshed out relationships, non-nuclear family (dad has passed on), clearly written, well-defined characters, especially Emma Jean. The story reminded me of a child's version of Austen's Sense and Sensibility.”

Sarah E has read a book. (see 4 more books added to shelf)

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Start reading pg. 16, with "That door...," I said. "I wonder where it goes." end with All this time I was still struggling to pull my hand free. Victor doesn't know it--but this is the beginning of his quest for the alchemical recipe for eternal life: the Elixir of Life. Soon after this,...”

“Start reading pg. 16, with "That door...," I said. "I wonder where it goes." end with All this time I was still struggling to pull my hand free. Victor doesn't know it--but this is the beginning of his quest for the alchemical recipe for eternal life: the Elixir of Life. Soon after this, Victor's twin, Konrad, becomes deathly ill--and Victor must go back to this room, to this trap, to do research in the dark library hidden in the basement of the Frankenstein mansion. He has to save his brother--but his brother's illness is moving so fast. Can Victor make the elusive Elixir of Life in time to save him? This is a dark, suspenseful read with a twist at the end.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“This was a great read! Though the tension was similar to the first book, the plot did advance. I think there'll be a third book, but I hope the narrator is a different girl because this girl was kind of weak. The writer's voice through the narrator just wasn't very original to me. The...”

“This was a great read! Though the tension was similar to the first book, the plot did advance. I think there'll be a third book, but I hope the narrator is a different girl because this girl was kind of weak. The writer's voice through the narrator just wasn't very original to me. The character keeps using the phrase "And then I realized..." which bothered me too. But other than that, very suspenseful read. A page-turner that I couldn't wait to finish. I am eager to read the next book and find out if it takes place in the Dark City and what exactly they can do to stop the zombie apocalypse. ”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“An excellent historical fiction book--even for me, who NEVER can like historical fiction in general. This book is journal format, funny, and insightful. Plus there is a nice historical endnote by the author.”

“An excellent historical fiction book--even for me, who NEVER can like historical fiction in general. This book is journal format, funny, and insightful. Plus there is a nice historical endnote by the author. ”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Absolutely beautiful storytelling. I love the premise of it completely: a severe bullying story where the character works toward an epiphany about who he is and how to deal with the bullying... WITH weird little metaphorical dreams throughout that show his subconscious process. It's just sooo...”

“Absolutely beautiful storytelling. I love the premise of it completely: a severe bullying story where the character works toward an epiphany about who he is and how to deal with the bullying... WITH weird little metaphorical dreams throughout that show his subconscious process. It's just sooo good. So good. Beautiful characters, like Ginny whose a hair model who sneaks out at night to act in the Vagina Monologues. It even has ninjas: kindness ninjas. :) Best book I've read this year so far.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“Beautiful real-life pictures, great information about wolves. Could be a little more in-depth but there are great sources in the back for more info, including some great web sites. Though a tad preachy about conservationism and protecting wolves, this is an overall top-notch book.”

“Beautiful real-life pictures, great information about wolves. Could be a little more in-depth but there are great sources in the back for more info, including some great web sites. Though a tad preachy about conservationism and protecting wolves, this is an overall top-notch book. ”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“This book made me think about my own old best friend. Thoughtful and sad, a lyrical tale that tells about a past way of life in a different place. A lovely story. Though the end was a little too directive/pedantic for my taste, I was sorely tempted to send a copy to my ex-best friend as a...”

“This book made me think about my own old best friend. Thoughtful and sad, a lyrical tale that tells about a past way of life in a different place. A lovely story. Though the end was a little too directive/pedantic for my taste, I was sorely tempted to send a copy to my ex-best friend as a compassionate way of saying, "I'm sorry." ”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“One of the most awful books I've ever read. Plot parts worked alright but were drowned in pretentious, bizarre characters. Thank goodness it was so short. The only reason I read the whole thing was for class.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“A surprising book. The characters are unique and crafty and they grow as the pages turn. Excellent novel, beautiful Caldecott winner.”

Sarah E reviewed a book.

Sarah E reviewed a book.

“pretty awesome. not my fave of hers but still good.”