Spring Break....Bonus reading time :)

Spring Break is a fantastic time to catch up with reading...especially when it's cold and rainy!

I made a trip to Barnes and Noble at the beginning of the week and found OCDaniel by Wesley King. What a wonderful story! A humorous story with a male protagonist exploring Zaps he can't explain. A great introduction to what OCD really does to a person with a side of teen romance. Highly recommended!

My daughter, Celine, found Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Realistic fiction with Romance....but that's not the main story line! I am not a big fan of Romance but this book was well worth the read. Not recommended for Middle Grades due to some content. This "content" happens off page.

I am so pleased to have read both these books...can't wait to share more!
Happy Reading!

Books on the horizon...

I am currently reading Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, which is a recommendation from a student. Thanks Emma!

Shatter Me falls into the Dystopian Thriller category...I would add Romance to the list. It is the first in a series of books:

Next on my list: Joust by Mercedes Lackey.... also a recommendation from a student. Thank you Laura!  This one falls in the Fantasy category...which explains why it has taken me 4 years to read it! (Not my favorite genre!)

What's next? A few books that seem like they might be interesting:

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

Illuminae_1.0 by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

I learned of these at a recent conferences who's presenter, Patti Tomjsland, spoke highly of!

What's on your book shelf?

My latest reads.....

Thanks to all the great adult and student fans of Middle Grades and YA books I am surrounded by daily, I was encouraged to read a lot this Winter. The following are the the books I've read:

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
George by Alex Gino

Happy Reading!

Character Ed. books....well worth recommending!

In a time where published literature for YA is full of frivolous drama, character education titles are a welcome sight. Books like Bruiser by Neal Shusterman and We are all made of molecules by Susin Nielsen promote deep thought and a segway to deeper understanding of others.

In schools, we try to guide students towards good decision making, positive self-image and acceptance. Creating education can be incorporated into lit. circles, independent reading selections and/or as novels in the Language Arts curriculum. Books such as Wonder, by R.J. Palaccio, Candymakers by Wendy Mass, Fish in a tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea are great examples of Middle Grade books which are wonderful reads for any student.

As our students' world gets more complicated and parents have less time with their children to have those deep conversations, schools can broach the topics with stories that reflect on difficult moments in characters' lives and the choice they have to make.

Character ed. books are always a worthwhile addition to anyone's library.

Happy Reading!

Impactful books are rare but memorable

When I was a young, my father always gave me books in hopes I would read them. I never did. I was more entertained by comic books like Calvin & Hobbs, Garfield, Lucky Luke, Asterix & Obelix, etc... To my father's dismay, he kept handing me books, and I put them on my book shelf...unread. He loved Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham...and I perused Tin Tin until the wee hours.

To humor him, I would read 20 pages and then give up. He never stopped offering books, saying: "You haven't found the right one yet!" Over time, I got discouraged...then one day he handed me The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. BINGO! I was hooked. This book spoke to me. The main character was inquisitive and didn't fit in. That was me! I connected with the character and the book...and this gave me strength...it told me I was not alone. I wanted more. The next book: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. At first, I thought it was just a short book about birds....
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a fable in novella form about a seagull learning about life and flight, and a homily about self-perfection.... 
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way".” 
.... and  BINGO #2! I discovered the love of reading!

Connections to books can come in different forms but they are generally emotional. However, emotions and states of mind are ever changing. I reread The Witch of Blackbird Pond when my children read it in 4th grade and was surprised that the book didn't have the same effect on me. I am in a different place now and my emotions are no longer attached to an uncomfortable tween. I still enjoyed the story and appreciated my children's first experience with the book, but the memory of the impact of that book on my life still exists and it reminds me of how far I've come.

Have any books impacted you deeply?

"My friend recommended this book but I don't like it!"

     Book recommendations represent an effort on someone's part to share likes, preferences or opinions. Oftentimes, a recommendation as a result of "I loved this book, you HAVE to read it!" will result in a total bust.

When students or adults recommend a book, the person getting the recommendation must realize there is a reason the reader enjoyed the book. Did the reader connect with the book? What was it about the book they liked? Case in point: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

A fellow teacher HIGHLY recommended this book. We both discovered our love of Mysteries, particularly who-dun-its.  I took the recommendation and read The Westing Game. There was action and intrigue....a plot twist to boot....I HATED it! The shock was that we both loved mysteries but I truly could not say I liked this book. What was it that made two fans of Mysteries not like the same book? I spoke to her about why she liked it. Her reasons were different than mine. I then realized that the reasons I disliked the book were specific to my needs as a reader: I like being able to solve the mystery, which I could not do in this book. Another issue was the number of main characters (10+) and I lost track of who was who. Someone else reading the book may enjoy the same genre as I (Mystery), even a sub-genre - Adventure, but the delivery of the story can still vary two people's likes and change someone final opinion about the book.
   
Even though we disagreed on "liking" the book, we did enjoy debating the merits of the story...and still do to this day! Are you team Gander or team Igel?
Happy Reading!

"I didn't know this movie was a book!"

Many YA books have been turned into movies...MANY!  Then the debate ensues...what was better, the book or the movie?

I used to think the movies were better. I was always fascinated by how a cinematographer et al...could create a much more vivid visual representation than I could in my mind. Special effects were always a phenomenal addition...and the score...I never had Dolby Surround Sound in my head!  However, today, I would have to argue that the books are better than the movies. The movies are still great but the extended story lines and the intertwined relationships between the characters make the written stories better. I realize the feature-length movies have a time limit, which at times push the envelope (Lord of the Rings, etc...) but I find the complete omission of certain characters upsetting at times.

Obviously, being a reader, I will read the book before seeing the movie. Some might think that this ruins the movie. It, in fact, does not. I can still enjoy the movie. I just walk away with a smile knowing that I have a deeper connection with characters and that I will keep their secrets.

What are your thoughts?

"I want a book that will make me cry!"

When I get one on one time to help a student find the right book I always begin with the following:
1) Name two books you read that you liked.
2) What did you like about them?

To most, this would sound like a simple question of likes and dislikes. What I am listening for is commonalities between the stories. Sometimes, I can identify a genre, other times students are looking for a feeling they get when they read.

An example I use to help students or teachers understand is Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, because everyone has either read the book or seen the movie. Hunger Games has 5+ genres floating around: Dystopian - Adventure - Mystery - Romance - Drama - SciFi. When a student tells me "I liked Hunger Games and Matched" I know they like Dystopian & Romance. If they say "Maze Runner & The Hobbit" I know they lean more towards Fantasy and Adventure...and maybe even Mystery.

Matching students with the right book takes two things:
1) Reading A LOT of books, so that I have a working knowledge of numerous story lines
2) Listening to WHY someone liked a book

There is nothing as exciting as having someone come back to tell you how much they loved a book you recommended.

Happy Reading!

Welcome!

Welcome to my Blog!

My name is Laurence Bernier Gander. I am a Media Specialist in a Middle School in New Jersey. I have been a Media Specialist since 2008. I really LOVE  my job... 

I look forward to sharing what I've learned with other Media Specialist, avid readers and students. I especially look forward to getting book recommendations!

Happy Reading!

Laurence