Helen's Book Blog

Sunday Salon: May 27, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sun, 27 May 2012 12:46:00 +0000

What's going on in my personal life:

Thursday night was the 6th grade play at my daughter's school. I'll confess I thought I was in for an hour and a half of awkwardness: forgotten lines, hokey costumes, and props that fail. WRONG! I think I smiled and laughed the whole time.

It was the final show for the music teacher, Pam, after 40 years at the school so the curtain call was long and huge and tearful. The fun part is that Pam was my music teacher when I attended the school.

This weekend we're at the Disneyland Hotel in Los Angeles attending the Showstopper Dance Competition. My daughter is doing two solos (jazz and contemporary) later this evening, but it's been fun hanging out with our friends, watching great dancing, and being on a mini-vacation. We are not going into Disneyland at all: too tiring and expensive in amongst the competition. I'll have to post later in the week how she does since her second dance is at 9:30 tonight.

What's going on in my library at work:

Quite a tiring week at work since I spent two full days doing workshops on our new learning management system that starts up in August. Two full days with no breaks, no lunch, no down time. And I am doing it again this coming week.

What's going on with my reading:

With all the business of the week I've only read a bit. I had high hopes and brought Zeitoun with me, but haven't had 2 minutes to myself this week. I have book group on Thursday though so I need to get going on it!

Saturday Snapshot: May 26, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:10:00 +0000

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home with Books. Photos only need to be taken by us, not random shots from the internet. Enjoy!

Last week I mentioned that my daughter did a photo shoot with a senior dancer at her studio. Here's one of the shots:

I really love this one as her eyes are smiling

Book Beginnings: May 25, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:18:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Rose City Reader

How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading. Include the title and the author so we know what you're reading. Then, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line, and let us know if you liked or did not like the sentence. The link-up will be at Rose City Reader every Friday.

I've heard good things about this book so am really glad that my book group chose to read it. It's due this coming Thursday so I hope to delve into soon!

"On moonless nights the men and boys of Jableh, a dusty fishing town on the coast of Syria, would gather their lanterns and set out in their quietest boats."

Dave Eggers is so good; I hope that this is a "story well told." I do like the opening. I feel like he is painting a picture.

Review: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:47:00 +0000

Title: How to Save a Life

Author: Sara Zarr
Year Published: 2011

Genre: YA fiction

Pages:341

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Challenges:
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (Colorado)

FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library

Summary (from the back of the book): Jill MacSweeney just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what its like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems.

Review: I read this book because I had finished a book at work and it was staring me in the face from the "new books" shelf at my library. And the woman I work with in the library read it and liked it. I am glad I picked it up.

Jill and Mandy are both believable and likable characters. They are human in that they are certainly flawed and I liked that. Jill is grieving the death of her father, pushing everyone away even though she is angry and lonely. Mandy lies... a lot. But, it is a protective behavior brought on in reaction to her living situation. Her mother's entire existence is based on looking good for men and she has instilled that belief in Mandy. Mandy has been told she is stupid and worthless, has been abused by her mother's boyfriend, and feels that she isn't worth the time and effort Jill's family is giving her.

The themes of this book are self-acceptance, learning to trust, moving on and learning from tragedy, and how taking charge of one's situation and attitude can make a huge difference. Both Jill and Mandy learn to trust others as well as themselves. What I really liked was that even though there are important "lessons" in this book, the story is a good one. I wanted to know what Mandy and Jill were going to do, who they would date, and how it was all going to end.

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:40:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey

I have not done this meme is so many weeks; it feels great to have books to list!

Books read last week:

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Books currently reading:

Girlchild by Tupolo Hassen
And I am watching "An Idiot Abroad" (3 episodes in)

Books waiting in the wings:

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Sunday Salon: May 20, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

What's going on in my personal life:

This section of the post is going to show you how crazy busy (and daughter-oriented) my month has been so I thought I'd start out with photos from Mother's Day. We ended up on the beach after dinner, which was a fabulous and relaxing way to end the day. We even saw some dolphins, which always makes me feel good.

May is the craziest month, I think it is even more full than December. Work has been really busy (see the section below) and so has our personal time; I feel like I hardly have time to breathe (in fact, I am doing this at 6:00am on a Sunday so that I can fit in the rest of the day!).

This past week was filled with tech rehearsals for my daughter's dance shows so every day we were at the theater after school in full costume and make up. Wednesday she had a photo shoot for a student's photography project, and Friday the actual shows began. Friday had a dress rehearsal and the senior show while Saturday had 2 dress rehearsals and 2 shows! I even volunteered my time, working from 8:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday.

My daughter and I are very on time people. In fact, we're always early. We were so pleased that there were a couple hours between the youth show and her next dress rehearsal so we went home, had snacks and relaxed. Oops, turns out we were an hour late to the last dress rehearsal and she missed 2 of her dances! I have never done that in my entire life. Luckily everyone knows how on time we are and they were worried something bad had happened and they weren't mad at all. My daughter's main show was Saturday night and it went really well, she has improved so much this year and it's really fun to watch her perform!

Now it's Sunday and we're spending our day down in Westlake with a private to prepare for next weekend's competition and a couple master classes. The nice thing is it means I get to read and/or hang out chatting with the other nice moms (we are so NOT "dance moms")

What's going on in my library at work:

In amongst more AP testing (thank goodness that's done since it means the library can be open all the time again) I was doing trainings for our staff so that they learn how to use our new learning management system for next year. I am really looking forward to this new Tech Coach job working for next year so that I can concentrate on being a Teacher Librarian for half the day and then a Tech Coach for half the day instead of trying to do both while being a full-time Teacher Librarian. I really feel like I am cheating the library this spring.

What's going on with my reading:

I read a couple books this week and am finally getting around to reading a book that a friend recommended. It's one of her favorite books so I hope I like it.

Review: Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:37:00 +0000

Title: Close to Famous

Author: Joan Bauer
Year Published: 2011

Genre: YA fiction

Pages: 250

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Challenges: YA Awards (Schneider Family Award)
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (West Virginia)

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book and am donating it to my school library

Summary (from the back of the book): Foster McFee dreams of one day having her own cooking show like her idol, celebrity chef Sonny Kroll. Her new friend Macon's goal is to be a documentary filmmaker. Her mother, Rayka, longs to be a headliner instead of a back-up singer. And Miss Charleena plans a triumphant return to Hollywood. Here in the tiny town of Culpepper, it seems that everyone has a dream, but nobody is even close to famous. Until some unexpected events shake up the town and its inhabitants--and show that sometimes the most important thing is having a big heart.

Review: If you are looking for a quick, easy, enjoyable read then this is the book for you. On the outside it is about Foster, a twelve year old girl who has just moved to West Virginia from Tennessee. She is new in town, trying to make friends and find her way in a small town where everyone seems to know everyone else and she knows no one. However, this story is so much more.

The first person narrative makes the read enjoyable while real issues (abuse, illiteracy, and whom to trust) are dealt with. Foster must navigate her way through new friends, putting herself out there and taking risks, as well as standing up for herself and her mother. What I liked is that Bauer doesn't make Foster wiser than her years. She is a junior high kid with fears, issues, and junk that hold her back. She doesn't save the world, invent something beyond believable, or miraculously come back from almost dead. She just is. She deals with the stuff lots of us deal with on a daily basis and we like her throughout it all.

I wanted Foster to be successful, but not in a fake way. If by the end of the book she had her own TV show I would have been so bummed. Instead, she is still twelve and still hoping to be famous.... some day. But, along the way she has figured out that lots of people have stuff to work through and that a community can come together to help one another.

Saturday Snapshot: May 19, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:37:00 +0000

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home with Books. Photos only need to be taken by us, not random shots from the internet. Enjoy!

On Wednesday my daughter was asked to be part of a photo shoot for a fellow dancer's photography final. They got to have their make up done at Nordstrom (you should have seen it in person: smokey eyes on an 11-year old)

It was fun to watch them all work together and I can't wait to see the final photos!

Book Beginnings: May 18, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:28:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Rose City Reader

I have had this book sitting on my stack for a while now. I believe it counts for one of my challenges (YA Awards?)

"The last place I thought I'd be when this day began is where I am, which is in a car. Mama's car to be exact, and she's driving headstrong through downtown Memphis with an Elvis impersonator on our tail."

Good start, right? Turns out the Elvis impersonator is the ex-boyfriend who just hit her mom so they are fleeing. So far this is a quirky little book and I am enjoying the fast read.

Review: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Title: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Author: William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Year Published: 2010

Genre: Adult non-fiction

Pages: 292

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Challenges: Alex Award, YA Award
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): Malawi

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book and am donating it to my school library

Summary (from the back of the book): William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic rules and modern science was mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger. But WIlliam had read about windmills, and he dreams of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only two percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water. His neighbors called him misala-crazy--but William refused to let go of his dreams. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks; some crap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him.

Review: William's story is so much more than the story of one boy and his brilliant quest for a windmill. The first half or more of the book is William's story: of his village, his family, his friends, and what his day to day life is like. And, life wasn't easy.

The descriptions of education are the ones that struck me as students who want to go to school are denied entrance or are barred from attending because they cannot pay tuition or don't have the proper uniform. The schools do not have proper supplies, books, or even desks. These are conditions that we wouldn't stand for in the States, but in Malawi, it is par for the course. The fact that William was a drop out from age 13 through 18 is even more testament to his resiliency and drive to learn. He went to the local library to check out physics books because that's the stuff that interested him! What teacher wouldn't want a student like that?!

The other stories that broke my heart were those of the famine suffered by the Malawians in the mid-2000s. As I think whenever stories such as these hit the news, there is no reason for people on this planet to starve. We have surplus in other parts of the world and if we had a better system of sharing and caring, we could save the lives of so many.

I thought the last quarter of the book, when William attends various conferences about science, technology, and innovation, was really interesting, not only because of the opportunities he received, but because of his insights into Malawi itself. He writes of how the electricity he provides his village is more reliable than the government provided electricity in the cities, how his government has only a few huge computers while the rest of the world has laptops. The dichotomy between opportunities for rural Malawaians and those of us in the "western" world are painfully obvious.

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:12:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey

I have not done this meme is so many weeks; it feels great to have books to list!

Books read last week:

Eden's root by Rachel Fisher
Queer Greer by AJ Walkley
Commercial Breaks: Famous for Thirty Seconds by PG Kain

Books currently reading:

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
And I am watching "An Idiot Abroad", which is very funny so far!

Books waiting in the wings:

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Sunday Salon: May 13, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:01:00 +0000

What's going on in my personal life:

It's Mother's Day here in the US and I am one of those people who has secret expectations, but in reality isn't very supportive of the whole thing. I believe every day is mother's day, especially since I live in the same house as my mother and my daughter. That said, I'll be grocery shopping, doing laundry and other really boring domestic stuff. I am hoping for a long walk along the bluffs or beach to make me feel like it is my day (for at least a little while).

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the other moms out there

What's going on in my library at work:

Lots of AP testing going on, which closes the library for long periods of time. Boring!

What's going on with my reading:

I do believe the slump is over! I managed to read and enjoy three books this past week!

Review: Commercial Breaks by P.G. Kain

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Title: Commercial Breaks: Famous for Thirty Seconds

Author: P.G. Kain
Year Published: 2012

Genre: YA fiction

Pages: 292

Rating: 4 out of 5

Challenges: author request
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (New York)

FTC Disclosure: I was given this book by the author for review

Summary (from the back of the book): Brittany Rush has been appearing in commercials and print ads since her backside was the official derriere of Simply Dry Diapers. When she showed up at a callback, girls would get up and go home instead of competing with her. But when her family moved to Hong Kong for a year, Brittany was forced to take an agonizing break from her commercial career. Now she is more than ready to return to her steady diet of go-sees, auditions, callbacks, and bookings in New York City. Brittany expects the spotlight to shine on her again, but instead, she finds that she's changed from being the cute kid to watch out for to just one of the many pretty girls waiting her turn. Will Brittany be able to steal back her spotlight? Or will she discover there's more to life than being famous for thirty seconds?

Review: This book is perfect for middle grade students since it is a nice story with good characters, a fun plot and no sex, drugs, drinking, or smoking. Actually, it's very refreshing to read a "nice" book where families get along and the worst thing going is not getting the star role in a commercial.

Brittany is not only talented and well known in the commercial world, she knows it and expects everyone to appreciate her. In fact, her attitude and self-confidence are awe inspiring for most of the book. But, when things stop going her way, she gets quite vindictive. I am glad to report that in the end, things work out well, Brittany sees the worth of a variety of hobbies (not just doing commercials), and it doesn't all feel too quick or too pat.

There is a sequel in the making, with a sneak peek at the end of this book. I think it will be a successful series since I am sure there are girls and parents are both yearning to read books about "normal" girls who aren't vampires, living in dystopian worlds, don't do drugs, and have fun-filled lives. What a concept, right? I really enjoyed reading it and am now going to pass it on to my daughter.

Book Beginnings: Commercial Break by PG Kain

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:43:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Rose City Reader

I am finally starting to get through the review requests that I have. The last two were good and so far this one is fun. It's for junior high level or even upper elementary, but I am enjoying the story.

"You know me. You don't know how, but you definitely know me."

It's about a girl who is the "it" girl for commercials (TV and print) until she leaves the country for a year only to return to discover she isn't "it" anymore. It's for junior high level or even upper elementary, but I am enjoying the story.

Review: Queer Greer by A.J. Walkley

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:04:00 +0000

Title: Queer Greer

Author: A.J. Walkley
Year Published: 2012

Genre: YA LGBTQ fiction

Pages: I read it in kindle format so don't know the page amount

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Challenges: author request
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (Arizona)

FTC Disclosure: I was given this epub by the author for review

Summary (from Amazon): Greer MacManus is uprooted from her childhood home in South Carolina when her father is determined to fulfill his strange but pressing dream to become a border-crossing coyote. Her parents take her and her younger sister to Prescott, Arizona to start a new life closer to the border. Greer enters a new school with the hopes of reinventing herself from the wallflower with one friend to speak of, to a social butterfly. She soon finds herself among the company of athletes, a swimmer herself. While Greer tries to get comfortable in her clique under the admiring eye of Cameron Keeting, the most attractive jock in school, she becomes increasingly interested in someone else. Rebecca Wilder, the beautiful swim team captain and infamous lesbian in town, befriends Greer, taking her under her wing. A love triangle soon overtakes Greer's world leading to drug experimentation and mental confusion as she comes to grips with her sexuality as her world starts to fall apart. Without anyone to turn to, Greer must find an inner strength and the courage to be herself in a society that doesn't always understand.

Review: This book is a quick and fun read with lots going on! Greer is a very likable character who is trying to work out where she fits into the grand scheme of her family as well as high school, stumbling along the way, but slowly figuring out who she is and who she wants to be. Luckily, by the end of the book she begins to realize that she is really the only one she needs to satisfy rather than the masses around her. However, that doesn't mean that the book has an easy happy ending, just that the reader has hope that things will eventually work out.

I posted an interesting guest post from AJ Walkley that is a great companion to reading this book (OMG, I just realized it was also a give away, I must get on that). Anyway, Walkley tackles many difficult subjects that are sure to resonate with readers: sexuality; fitting in; dealing with parents; heart break; cutting; and self-acceptance. While this seems like a lot, it all fits together well in this book.

The only part I didn't love, but it's what I don't love in most YA is the drug use. At least Greer is trying it (and anything sexual) for the first time as a junior in high school, but she very quickly makes smoking pot a habit.

I think having a character that is bisexual is good because it is unusual for YA literature where the characters are either homosexual or heterosexual. I also like that although Greer's sexuality is a main focus, other issues also come into play. Another aspect of this novel that I liked was the dialogue, which seems natural.

Review: Eden's Root by Rachel Fisher

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:02:00 +0000

Title: Eden's Root

Author: Rachel Fisher
Year Published: 2012

Genre: YA dystopian fiction

Pages: 366 (in an epub)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Challenges: Dystopian
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (various locations)

FTC Disclosure: I was given this epub by the author for review

Summary (from Amazon): It is 2033, and world hovers on the edge of explosion as unexpected crop deaths lead to severe global shortages. In the United States, the Sickness is taking lives slowly, creeping its way into every family. Fi Kelly has already faced the Sickness in her own family, toughening her beyond her years. But a shocking confession from her dying father will push her toughness to its absolute limits. Saddled with an impossible secret and the mission of saving her little sister, Fi sets out to transform herself into the warrior that she must become to survive the coming collapse. Along the way, she will discover that evil can be accidental and that love can be intentional.

Review: I have been in a reading slump and have had this book on my iPad for SO long! My apologies to Rachel Fisher, but I finished it and enjoyed it!

YA Dystopian fiction is all the rage right now and it is so refreshing to read one that is different from all the rest. While Hunger Games and Divergent (both of which I loved, don't get me wrong) take place after the "great disaster," Eden's Root takes place during the apocalyptic events that will surely change the US.

I liked finding out what the apocalyptic event is that will send this book's society into a dystopian world and it definitely wasn't what I expected. Fisher drew from our reality of genetic engineering of our crops, the processed foods we eat, and the chemicals in our lives causing cancers, crop failure and other illnesses and took it to the extreme (famine and Sickness). Good dystopian is science fiction, but it must be rooted in reality and this one is.

Though Fi is only 13 turning 14 she takes on the role of family leader in order to get her mother, sister, and family friends to safety. Safety is Eden, a colony set up by scientists with organic farming, clean living and a chance to survive. While this seems so far-fetched, it was believable as the Family (as they are called) works their way across the US encountering gangs, Others, survivalists, famine, destruction, and death.

I like that Fisher didn't just give us a dystopian novel of death and destruction. She weaves into it the concepts of family and friendship, commentary on our current approach to food (without being preachy), attitudes toward women and what people/families often need to do to survive. The characters are likable and well defined and don't deal with all-out war, but the more subtle experiences of a country on the edge (picture the Riots in LA after the Rodney King incident with looting, beatings, and killings).

I don't think I am giving any plot away when I say that they do make it to Eden, where life isn't as perfect as they all hoped. There is definitely room for a sequel.

Travel, blogging and iPads, oh my!

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:57:00 +0000

I am going to England this summer and am taking my iPad. I'll obviously load it up with books but I don't want to be away from my blog for 2 weeks (does that mean I have an addiction?). So, here are my questions...

If I've got wi-fi on my iPad I can do email, etc on the iPad even in another country, right?
What blogging program do you use on the iPad? My blog is hosted on Blogger

Thank you for any advice you can give me!

Sunday Salon: May 6, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:19:00 +0000

What's going on in my personal life:

How are the weeks flying by so quickly? I can't believe it will be summer in just a month! And, there is so much going on between now and then. This past week my MUS moms book group met (and I hadn't read the entire book due to my slump) and we realized that we won't meet for a few months since summer is right around the corner. I also worked the play at the high school where I work (Kiss Me Kate), which was really fun.

Now, Santa Barbara doesn't have a Target. Did you read that correctly? We. Do. Not. Have. A. Target. I know, right? We have to drive 30 minutes, so to go to Target takes effort and we went on Saturda, which was fun: a little outing. Last night I watched The Iron Lady about Margaret Thatcher (I thought Meryl Streep was fantastic and the movie was okay) and checked out the amazing moon.

What's going on in my library at work:

We've been really busy in the library as the school year comes to a close. Projects are coming to a head, students are rushing to get the final assignments in and the library is humming! One day we had over 100 students in during a period.

What's going on with my reading:

The slump is slipping away very slowly. I am reading Eden's Root, a book I got from the author. I feel so bad that it has taken me forever to read this book, but I am enjoying it and hope to finish it in the next few days. So, the slump isn't over, but there is hope.

The fact that this stack of books keeps staring me in the face is a bit intimidating. The top half are books that either friends or the authors have given me to read and the bottom half is what I bought myself at Costco yesterday. Buying books during a slump? Summer must be getting closer....

Answering Five Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:13:00 +0000

I saw this post on Bonnie's Books and loved her answers so when she said she could ask us five questions I jumped at the chance.

1. Your grandmother lives in England and your brother lives in London, so how did you end up in Santa Barbara?
My father is from Scotland and my mother is from Wales. They got married in Britain and immigrated to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1963 when my dad had a post-doc at the University of Michigan. (An interesting side note: they took the train to Scotland to say goodbye to family and were greeted by my uncle with the words "your president has been shot." It was November 22, 1963). I was born in Michigan and when I was only 6 weeks old we moved to Santa Barbara because my dad had his first job as a biology professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He worked there until just last year when he retired. My mom also worked there (more on this in question 4) until she retired about 6 years ago.

So, all my relatives live in Britain (and one set in Salzburg, Austria). We try to get over there every other year, but that doesn't always happen. Britain really is like a second home to me, especially now that my brother and his family live there (they moved over almost 3 years ago).

Cambodia

Oman

Salzburg

2. You seem to enjoy traveling; where are some of the places you've been?
It's funny, I love traveling and I love coming home. I love planning a trip, thinking of all the possibilities that await us, exploring new places, meeting new people, and then after about two weeks, I am ready for my bed, my stuff, and my regular life. Then, once I am home, I start thinking of where we can go next.

Growing up we visited Britain often (see question 1) and we had a cabin that we shared with another family in Inverness, CA so we went there every summer. Since my dad is a professor we took sabbaticals every 7 years. At age 5 we lived in England for a year. When I was 12 we did it again and my dad had a Guggenheim Fellowship to travel throughout the "third world" to do research. We took 3 months off school and traveled with him to Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong (where a set of cousins was living at the time). This trip taught me the love of travel and an interest in other cultures.

As a junior in college I lived in Germany and Austria, traveling to Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, France and the Netherlands.

My brother and his wife have lived abroad a few times so I took advantage of that visiting them in Peru, Vietnam, and Cambodia. My ex-husband's family now lives in Oman so I've also been to Oman and the UAE in the Middle East. Since then I've added other European countries, a bit more of the US.

Places I'd still like to go? All the US states, Australia and New Zealand.

3. What did you like or dislike about teaching History and Government?
I really enjoyed being a high school World History and American Government teacher. I enjoy working with teenagers, talking about the history, getting them excited about how our government works (or doesn't) and helping them become informed voting citizens who want to participate in a democracy.

What didn't I like? Discipline. It just isn't in my personality to be strict; I am more laid back and relaxed and expect people to behave themselves since it's the right thing to do. That didn't always work out the way I wanted it to.

4. How did you get into the technology side of your library job?
I have always been drawn to computers since my mom ran computer labs out at UC Santa Barbara. I am comfortable with trying new things, figuring out how to make them work to my advantage, incorporating them into the curriculum, and exploring. The use of technology fits really well with the Teacher Librarian job so it's been a natural fit for me.

5. If "they" let you "read all day" tomorrow, what would you choose to read?
Perfect timing on this question since Veronica Roth's book Insurgent came out yesterday and I bought a copy for my school library. It won't make it to the school until after the weekend since I am going to read it first! I would also start to tackle the adult lit books on my TBR shelf. I tend to leave them until vacation time when I feel I have more time to read.

Here are the rules of the game, in case anyone else wants to play:

Leave me a comment saying "interview me" and include your email address
I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions
You will update your blog with the answers to the questions
You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post
When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions

April Wrap-up

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I am participating in Sheila's Where Are You Reading Challenge this year so I am going to use it as my wrap-up at the end of each month. I am really having fun posting each book I read to my Google 2012 Reading Map.

Here's where I read in April:

This is what a reading slump looks like...

Europe:

United States:

Mississippi and Iowa--Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
California--The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Latin America:

Asia:

Pacific Nations:

Australia--Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Middle East:

Africa:

Challenge Update:
Bold means I've completed the challenge

ALA Award Books--3 of 9
Alex Award Books--0 of 3
Chris Crutcher--6 of 13 (ongoing)
Dytopian--3 of 5
Middle East--3 out of however many I want/can
Non-Fiction/Non-Memoir--4 out of 5
War Through the Generations (WWI)--1 of 3
What's in a Name 5--6 of 6
Winter Olympics 2014--4 out of 29 (goes until Feb 2014)

Sunday Salon: April 29, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:03:00 +0000

What's going on in my personal life:

I had a nice week with a book group meeting, which is always good for the soul even though I hadn't read the book. I went to the dentist and have no cavities (again, another positive). Yesterday was a fun day with my daughter's school carnival. While she has outgrown doing all the carnival stuff ("oh mom, that was fun when I was little"... remember, she is 11 years old) she performed with her dance group and really enjoyed that. She did a hip hop group number and a hip hop duet with one of her best friends. The two girls choreographed the duet so they had a really great time performing it in front of their friends and school mates.

My daughter is the one that starts out on the left, the shorter one.

After the carnival we went down to Westlake so my daughter could take a technique class. The other moms there are really nice so I have a good time just socializing while my daughter dances.

I also booked tickets to the Harry Potter studio tour in London for this summer!

What's going on in my library at work:

We've now got a mobile iPad cart with 40 iPads on it and we've been checking it out to teachers. The students and teachers are all enjoying using it in the classrooms, but I am finding the organization and upkeep of it to be much more work than I expected (downloading requested apps, cleaning, charging, maintaining, etc). I do think it's a good thing and look forward to the day when all our students have their own iPads (perhaps a pipe dream).

Oh, I was chosen as teacher of the month and I found out I'll be honored this coming week with a PTSA honorary service award, so that feels nice.

What's going on with my reading:

After weeks of reading nothing and feeling very frustrated by it, I finally finished a book! I am hoping that Nina LaCour's The Disenchantments will have broken my slump... only time will tell.

Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:40:00 +0000

Title: The Disenchantments

Author: Nina LaCour
Year Published: 2012

Genre: YA fiction

Pages: 307

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Challenges:
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (California)

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book and am donating it to my school library

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: Graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: She's abandoning their plans--and Colby--to go her own way in the fall. But the show must go on, and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already growing distance and the most important question of all: What's next?

Review: I have been in a reading slump for the past three weeks and haven't had time to read anything. The few moments I have had have been depressing since no book has hooked me. Then I went to an author event last week where I heard Nina LaCour, Gayle Forman, and Stephanie Perkins speak (I know, right?!) and I bought this book hoping it might get me reading again. Bingo!

This book is light and serious, fun and sad, poignant and flip. The story is narrated by Colby and it was nice to have a male narrator for a change, especially for a "coming of age" novel. Colby 3 best friends are Bev, his BFF since forever, and two sisters: Alexa and Meg. I really liked the relationships among these four friends while they were on tour. They were supportive, honest, moody, funny, and inquisitive with one another. I guess the best word to describe them is real.

Reading of their adventures reminded me of time I spent in the San Juan Islands and on some road trips. They have crazy adventures that seem like they couldn't happen, but they do. They aren't really on a schedule and are open to trying new things, going to new places, and this attitude means that they meet interesting people. Having the open minds to go somewhere off the beaten track means being open to all the possibilities and that's what this story is all about.

These four friends discover more about one another, themselves, and their friendships through a one-week road trip that I was really glad to be on with them.

Book Beginnings: April 27, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:14:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Rose City Reader

I recently wrote about my reading slump and perhaps writing about it helped motivate me. I actually read for half an hour yesterday, something that hasn't happened in 3 weeks!

"Bev says when she is on stage she feels the world holding its breath for her. She feels electric, louder than a thousand wailing sirens, more powerful than God."

I got this book last week when I met Nina Lacour at an author event.

To read or not to read...

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:21:00 +0000

To read or not to read, is obviously not the question because my answer is instinctively "to read." However, for the past three weeks it turns out the answer is "not to read." What?! How is this happening?

I want to read and am carrying my books around with me, rotating the books in my purse hoping that will help the non-reading situation. But nothings seems to be working.

I feel guilty. I am stressing myself out. I fall into bed at night thinking I should read then fall asleep. Life is just so buy right now that reading isn't happening and it makes me sad.

And the worst part? I have some wonderful books staring me in the face, some of which are review copies (hence the guilt).

Any advice?

Guest post and give away

noreply@blogger.com (Helen's Book Blog) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:56:00 +0000

I am really excited to have author Alison Walkley contribute a guest post today about her YA book Queer Greer. If you'd like a chance to win an electronic copy of the book, leave a comment. Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you.

Queer Greer and Coming Out in High School

By A.J. Walkley

When I think back on my teenage years, I can’t help but acknowledge the fact that my high school was not exactly inclusive of all of the students walking through the halls. While I was personally still closeted at that point in my life, it did not occur to me until after I graduated in 2003 that there was never a Gay/Straight Alliance, or any other safety net for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students enrolled there.

The importance of having such a group for LGBT students to be welcomed into cannot be stressed enough, especially today when stories of bullying and teen suicide as a result of such bullying are being publicized more than ever before. More often than not, the source of such bullying is a student’s perceived sexuality. It is not only vital for teens as a whole to become well-acquainted with the trials of being a sexual minority in the realm of high school, but high school teachers as well, so as to be able to appropriately deal with any discrimination they see in the classroom and to stave off potential tragic consequences before they reach that breaking point.

When I wrote my book, Queer Greer, back in 2007, I did so for one overarching reason more than any other – there was no literature I had found at the time that properly spoke to what it was like to come to terms with your sexuality and come out of the closet as a teenager. While there are many more books out there now that tackle this subject, they are still few and far between.

The plot of Queer Greer surrounds the protagonist, Greer MacManus, when her family moves to a new state and she enters a new school her junior year of high school. While she starts to date a football player named Cameron Keeting, her sights soon fall on another – her swim team captain, Rebecca Wilder. The book details the rollercoaster ride Greer finds herself on when attracted to both a boy and a girl, and what that means to her, identity-wise.

I wrote the book that I wish I had had to read when I was coming to terms with my own bisexuality over the course of high school and college. I wanted to make sure that the next generation of LGBT youth coming up and out after me had something to turn to if they needed it – a character that they could relate to and see themselves in.

I don’t think I’ve spoken for everyone in the LGBT community by any means with Queer Greer, nor did I intend to. I do think I’ve written a very realistic portrayal of some of the issues being LGBT raises as a teen, both internally and externally. I hope those currently dealing with these types of issues will read it and take solace in the fact that there are so many others living with similar questions, slowing making their way to their own answers. No matter where you are in the process, it does get better.

I’m happy to report that the high school I graduated from all those many years ago founded their own GSA just about three years ago. I hope it’s helping LGBT students now, even if it didn’t exist for countless others before. I also hope many more schools are following suit.

A.J. Walkley is the author of Queer Greer and Choice. She is currently writing her third novel, Vuto, inspired by her experience as a U.S. Peace Corps health volunteer in Malawi, Africa. Follow her on Twitter @AJWalkley and Facebook at facebook.com/ajwalkley.

Link to buy Queer Greer: http://bit.ly/zsnW8Y