Amulet

By Kazu Kibuishi

My boy recommended this one to me. And when we went to the LIT QUIZ this year there was practically a whole section dedicated to it.
This is the first book in a series and it's a goodie. The illustrations are wonderfully done. The dialogue sharp, the story begins explosively and doesn't let you go. 10/10

Synopsis

THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGE BEHIND THE BASEMENT DOOR...
After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin and their mother move to the ancestral home to start a new life. On the family's very first night in the mysterious house, Em and Navin's mom is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. Now it's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!

Author

Kazuhiro "Kazu" Kibuishi is a Japanese–American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper.

Other works

• Flight, Vol. 1 (Flight, #1) 2004 
• Daisy Kutter: The Last Train 2005 
• Flight, Vol. 2 (Flight, #2)2005 
• Flight, Vol. 3 (Flight, #3) 2006 
• Flight, Vol. 4 (Flight, #4)2007 
• The Stonekeeper (Amulet, #1) 2008 
• Flight, Vol. 5 (Flight, #5) 2008 
• The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet, #2) 2009 
• Flight, Vol. 6 (Flight, #6) 2009 
• The Cloud Searchers (Amulet, #3) 2010 
• Copper 2010 
• Flight, Vol. 7 (Flight, #7) 2010 
• The Last Council (Amulet, #4) 2011 
• Flight, Vol. 8 (Flight, #8) 2011 
• Prince of the Elves (Amulet, #5) 2012 
• The Mystery Boxes (Explorer, #1)2012 
• The Lost Islands (Explorer, #2) 2013 
• Escape from Lucien (Amulet, #6) 2014 
• Firelight (Amulet, #7)2016 
• Supernova (Amulet #8) 2018

Novel Study

Amulet Book One Reading Guide: This is a reading guide for book one of the Amulet graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi. The guide is broken down into eight days of assigned reading pages and corresponding comprehension questions.

A series of Unfortunate Events

By Lemony Snicket

I've had a wonderful holiday week with my boy. We've done some lovely things despite it raining non-stop for 5 days.
He's reading the Lemony Snicket books at school then, during the holidays we discovered the NetFlix series starring Neil Patrick Harris.
What a brilliant series. Although I have not yet read any of these books beyond "the bad beginning" my boy assures me this series plots very closely to the original books. Each book is covered through two episodes of the series.
It was great to see Rhys Darby in an episode or two. It's always nice to see a New Zealanders in such successful shows.
We watched 8 episodes, the first four books, and the first thing we did when we'd finished was check on iMDB to see if they were planning on televising the whole series… it looks promising.
(Update: It certainly is, the next 8 episodes are out on Netflicks now, and we are enjoying those too) 

Synopsis 

Dear Reader,
 I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
 In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast. It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect, Lemony Snicket

Novel Study

This is a literature guide to A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. This novel unit would be great for use in a literature circle or novel study group. Activities contain higher level thinking reading comprehension questions, vocabulary, as well as extension activities. A complete answer key is included in page format, so pages with answers could be printed for students with IEPs.

Author 

Daniel Handler is an American writer, musician and journalist. He is best known for his work under the pen name Lemony Snicket, having published children's series A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions under this pseudonym.

Other novels 

The Bad Beginning (1999) 

The Reptile Room (1999) 

The Wide Window (2000) 

The Miserable Mill (2000) 

The Austere Academy (2000) 

The Ersatz Elevator (2001) 

The Vile Village (2001) 

The Hostile Hospital (2001) 

The Carnivorous Carnival (2002) 

The Slippery Slope (2003) 

The Grim Grotto (2004) 

The Penultimate Peril (2005) 

The End (2006)

Zoo

By James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge 

Even though by the time most of you will read this the Hastings District Libraries reading programme will well and truly over I still want to share this post. In fact the category listed as a reading challenge “Watch a movie or a TV programme based on a book or vice versa” has made me consider this new category of TV/MOVIE as something I want to expand now that the initial challenge is over.

Being on holiday has really given me a chance to catch up on not only my reading but binge watching some series on NetFlix. I’ve come across this programme Zoo, based on the James Patterson/Michael Lewridge collaboration. I’ve just finished the first season and I was propelled through it with ferocity of an Alex Cross novel. But now I’ve reached season 2 and I don’t know if I’ve tired of the concept or if the second season has strayed too far from the original idea. Either way, I’ve slackened my pace. It’s still good but… not quite the same somehow.

Synopsis 

All over the world, brutal attacks are crippling entire cities. Jackson Oz, a young biologist, watches the escalating events with an increasing sense of dread. When he witnesses a coordinated lion ambush in Africa, the enormity of the impending violence becomes terrifyingly clear. With the help of ecologist Chloe Tousignant, Oz races to warn world leaders before it's too late. The attacks are growing in ferocity, cunning, and planning, and soon there will be no place left for humans to hide.

Author 

James Brendan Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is a prolific American author and philanthropist. Among his work are the Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women's Murder Club, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, NYPD Red, Witch and Wizard, and Private series, as well as many stand-alone thrillers, non-fiction and romance novels. His books have sold more than 300 million copies and he was the first person to sell 1 million e-books.

Michael S. Ledwidge is an American author of Irish descent. He wrote his first novel, The Narrowback, while working as the back elevator operator for a Park Avenue Coop apartment building. His novel, Bad Connection was written while working as a lineman for the telephone company in NYC.

Other novels 

Haunted (Michael Bennett, #10) (2017)
Chase (Michael Bennett, #9.5) (2016)
Bullseye (Michael Bennett, #9) (2016)
Alert (Michael Bennett, #8) (2015)
Burn (Michael Bennett, #7) (2014)
Gone (Michael Bennett, #6) (2013)
 Zoo (2012)
I, Michael Bennett (Michael Bennett, #5) (2012)
Now You See Her (2011)
Tick Tock (Michael Bennett, #4) (2010)
Worst Case (Michael Bennett, #3) (2010)
Run for Your Life (Michael Bennett, #2) (2010)
Daniel X: The Manga, Vol. 1 (Daniel X: The Manga, #1) (2010)
SeungHui Kye Step on a Crack (Michael Bennett, #1) (2007)
The Quickie (2007)
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (Daniel X, #1) (2007)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By Douglas Adams

Back in the age of the dinosaurs, when I was about 12 I was given this book on tape. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but later I discovered it was the BBC radio play and I promised myself that one day I'd buy the book and read the original novel. I still laughed out loud in places. (is wrong to laugh when the Earth gets destroyed by a Vogon construction fleet, making way for a new intergalactic by-pass?)
The reason I decided to read it now was because I've just signed up to the Hastings District library adult reading programme called "Turn Up the Heat with our Adult Winter Reading Programme!"
There are all sorts of different challenges from simply reading a book of your choice to reading a memoir or biography. I decided to fulfill the "Read the Book that's been on your To Be Read list forever". Its not quite forever but I figured 30 years was long enough. 

Everyone remembers the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything"... I remember the question too, but I was mightily disappointed to discovered I'd 'mis-remembered' the character who came up with it. 

Synopsis

Seconds before Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. 
Together, this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by a galaxyful of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox- the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian (formally TriciaMcMillan), Zaphod's girlfriend, whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone.; MArvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot  (whose voice I can still hear from that radio play); and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student obsessed with the disappearance of all ballpoint pens he's bought over the years. 
Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time in between wearing digital watches? For all the answers, stick your thumb to the stars! 

Author

 

Douglas Noel Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001) was an English author, scriptwriter, essayist, humorist, satirist and dramatist.
Adams is best known as the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which originated in 1978 as a BBC radio comedy before developing into a "trilogy" of five books that sold more than 15 million copies in his lifetime and generated a television series, several stage plays, comics, a computer game, and in 2005 a feature film. Adams's contribution to UK radio is commemorated in The Radio Academy's Hall of Fame (Wikipedia)

Books by the Author

• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979) (novel)
• The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980) (novel)
• Life, the Universe and Everything (1982) (novel)
• The Meaning of Liff (1983 (book), with John Lloyd)
• So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984) (novel)
• Young Zaphod Plays It Safe (short story) (1986)
• Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987) (novel)
• The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (1988) (novel)
• The Deeper Meaning of Liff (1990, with John Lloyd)
• Last Chance to See (1990, with Mark Carwardine) (book)
• Mostly Harmless (1992) (novel)

Under the Mountain

By Maurice Gee

I'm not a fan. I'm really not a fan. I just don't know yet whether I'm not a fan of science fiction or just not a fan of Maurice Gee in particular. I found the whole premise outrageous, but then its science fiction, perhaps that's the point. But giant worms, good grief! I understand that it is a New Zealand children's classic that has appeared in study units over the years, but what I don't understand is, why?
I have not read any other Maurice Gee so I don't want to judge the author too harshly but suffice to say that, in my opinion, Under the Mountain is not worth a look unless, for some reason you have been force-ably required to by some curriculum or other.
Its the story of two twins that communicate with aliens from another time, another world, who have been conscripted by a 'watcher' to, literally, save the world from giant worms who are eating it from the inside-out. But I return to my orginal point: giant worms, good grief!

Leave a comment and tell me about the books you've had to read in school.

Synopsis

Beneath the extinct volcanoes surrounding the city, giant creaturesare waking from a spellbound sleep that has lasted thousands of years. Their goal is the destruction of the world.
Rachel and Theo Matheson are twins. Apart from having red hair there is nothing remarkable about them - or so they think. They are horrified to discover that they have a strange and awesome destiny. Only the Matheson twins can save the world from the terror of what is under the mountain.

Author

The Big Season(1962)
A Special Flower (1965)
In My Father's Den (1972)
Glorious Morning Comrade (1975)
Games of Choice (1976)
Plumb (1978)
Under the Mountain (1979)
The World Around the Corner (1980)
Meg (1981)
The Halfmen of O (1982)
Sole Survivor (1983)
The Priests of Ferris (1984)
Motherstone (1985)
The Fire-Raiser (1986)
Collected Short Stories (1986)
Prowlers (1987)

The Invisible Boy

 by Sally Gardner

So I suddenly find myself at the library. What book to get out? I figure I’ve nearly finished the one for Book Club this month and I must get another. However, there are a few on the kid100 that I could do with reading. But I can only remember two from the list, one of them is on loan and the other is The Invisible Boy.
In The Invisible Boy, Sam is left in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom when his parents go missing on a trip to the moon, and makes friends with a little alien calls Splodge who shows him how to become invisible. It’s a great little story for a seven or eight year old. It has humour, a little friendly alien and a grumpy neighbour. What more is required? It’s a 100 odd pages and I polished it off in a day. So an easy read, one that can easily fill a week or two of ‘novel study’ I feel, perhaps at the start next year.

Have you read a story about a special kid or one with super powers? 

Synopsis 

Sam's mum and dad go missing during a trip to the moon, leaving him in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom. But theings begin to get better when Sam meets and alien in his back garden. The alien's name is Splodge, and he knows how to make Sam invisible...

Author

Sally Gardner,like me, is ‘blessed’ with dyslexia. She was said to be word-blind, whatever that is. She’s an artist and has worked in theatre for many years. She has written a range of children stories, specially written to be high interest and dyslexic friendly. She the winner of the Costa Children's Book Award (2012) for Maggot Moon.  There is nothing worse than being an older kid and being stuck with just reading ‘the baby books’.

‘Magical Children’ books by the author 

The Smallest Girl Ever
The Boy with The Magic Numbers
The Boy with the Lightning Feet 
The Invisible Boy
The Strongest Girl in The World 
 The Boy Who Could Fly