May 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQzsQkMFgHE

Practical English

Surveys:  Complete everyone else's survey.

Kelsi and Aneta's:  http://surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=YyYUxC5eNcI3eXtert_2bafw_3d_3d

Tito and Clint's: http://surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=7Q6panW7KsramECfEUu0tQ_3d_3d

Andrew's: http://surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=b9bAdgM_2fvrUTqKyJpvz2zQ_3d_3d

Wouter's http://surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tsRAbUXm_2fJQZPDvNnzCyWw_3d_3d

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Arnold Spirit, a goofy-looking dork with a decent jumpshot, spends his time lamenting life on the "poor-ass" Spokane Indian reservation, drawing cartoons (which accompany, and often provide more insight than, the narrative), and, along with his aptly named pal Rowdy, laughing those laughs over anything and nothing that affix best friends so intricately together. When a teacher pleads with Arnold to want more, to escape the hopelessness of the rez, Arnold switches to a rich white school and immediately becomes as much an outcast in his own community as he is a curiosity in his new one. He weathers the typical teenage indignations and triumphs like a champ but soon faces far more trying ordeals as his home life begins to crumble and decay amidst the suffocating mire of alcoholism on the reservation. Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here. (Chipman, Ian from Booklist.com)

What a great surprise! This book made me laugh, then cry, and laugh again. It's well written and very real. I highly recommend taking the time to read this book.

What Happened to Cass McBride?

What happened to Cass McBride? Well, she has been buried alive by Kyle Kirby, who blames her for his brother David's suicide. After asking Cass out, David finds a note she leaves for a friend in which she laughs about an invitation from someone so low on the food chain. Then David hangs himself. Told in alternating voices, including that of a police officer, this intense story has some horrifying moments; readers will feel as terrorized as Cass as she struggles to survive, both physically and mentally. At the same time, there are plenty of psychological thrills as Cass tries to win her release by outwitting Kyle. In the teens' dialogues, it becomes clear that both have parents who have withheld love, and the brothers, especially David, have suffered extreme verbal abuse. The depiction of Kyle's mother goes over the top, but overall this packs a wallop. Readers won't forget David's suicide note, pinned to his skin: "Words are teeth. And they eat me alive. Feed on my corpse instead." (Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved)

This book is creepy! I couldn't put it down. It's dark and gave me nightmares. I still loved it though!

Totally Joe

Meet Joe Bunch. Lovable misfit and celebrity wannabe from Paintbrush Falls, New York. Like his longtime best friends Addie, Skeezie, and Bobby, Joe's been called names all his life. So when he's given the assignment to write his alphabiography -- the story of his life from A to Z -- Joe has his doubts. This whole thing could be serious ammunition for bullying if it falls into the wrong hands.
But Joe discovers there's more to the assignment -- and his life -- than meets the eye. Especially when he gets to the letter C, which stands for Colin Briggs, the coolest guy in the seventh grade (seriously) -- and Joe's secret boyfriend.
By the time Joe gets to the letter Z, he's pretty much bared his soul about everything. And Joe's okay with that because he likes who he is. He's Totally Joe, and that's the best thing for him to be.
Here is an exuberant, funny, totally original story of one boy's coming out -- and coming-of-age. (http://books.simonandschuster.com/9780689839573)

James Howe's use of Voice in this novel is outstanding! I loved reading this book. It was hilarious and heartfelt.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together...in The Invention of Hugo Cabret. (http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_hugo_intro.htm)

What a beautiful book! Its format is definitely unlike any book I have previously read.