Blood of My Blood - A Review

Lyga, Barry. Blood of My Blood. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2014

The conclusion to the I Hunt Killers trilogy is a tough and compelling read; I could not put it down. Jazz Dash is on a mission to hunt one of the nation’s most notorious serial killers and his gang – the man who raised him, his father.  He is wounded, on the run from the police and the FBI, and completely uncertain if he is the killer his father believes he is or a kids who has strength through friends to rise above his father’s madness.  The book is an adventure packed and brutal look at unspeakable crimes and criminals.  The voice of the killer is distinct and chilling. The voice of his son is intense and confused, heartbreaking.  As Jazz unravels the clues left by his dad to lure him into his web of killers the mystery of his identity intensifies. This kind of dark story is often meant for adult readers, but my mature readers will surely be drawn to this complex and rich story that challenges us to consider among other things nature vs. nurture and the complexity of interracial dating. While I will certainly recommend this to them, I am unlikely to carry it in my 7-12 library because many of my younger readers would just not be ready for the content.

Poetry Matters...to W.S. Merwin

In this fascinating article, Pulitzer Prize winning poet W.S. Merwin, 86,  says of poems, "I wrote the last one about 10 days ago, it doesn't stop and and don't know where it comes from..." 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/prize-winning-poet-still-age-86-124924676.html

He further discusses his motivations for writing and his hopes for his next collection.  He notes that he must write in increasing larger longhand as his eyes are not what they used to be.  In a world where I continue the discussion about the relevance of poetry, this article was a refreshing read!

Tweens or Teens?

Publisher's' Weekly takes on the question that is often on my mind as a 7-12 librarian.  How do we draw lines between books intended for middle school kids and those for high school kids.? I suppose even more importantly, we sometimes question whether or not we should even draw these lines.  Much needs to be considered in school library land: community expectations, parent expectations, teacher expectations, student expectations.  We are often dancing on that fine line as we try to meet the reading needs of our wide variety of students.  Librarians of a more public library leaning often gasp and wonder if we school libraries are censoring our. Our world is and must be different in the public school system.  I confess that I rely just a bit on reading programs to steer my younger kids toward age appropriate titles. I am relieved at some level to read that book store folks think seriously about this issue as well.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/63358-middle-grade-and-ya-where-to-draw-the-line.html

Contaminated 2: Mercy Mode - A Review

Garner, Em. Contaminated 2: Mercy Mode. New York: Egmont USA, 2014. Ebook.

ISBN 978-1-60684-357-4

Summary from Amazon:

"Seventeen-year-old Velvet, her little sister, Opal, their mom, who is recovering from the Contamination, and Velvet's sweet boyfriend, Dillon, are attempting to build a new life amid the rationing and regulations of the post-outbreak nation. But the outbreak isn't over: more people turning into "Connies," more madness erupting, more killings occurring. And what they are being told is not the truth; the truth is far darker and more threatening."

What an intriguing take on the current dystopian trend!  Admittedly, I was a bit cynical, as I have read quite a few books in this genre in the last year.  These authors have to work a bit harder to get my attention.  Garner succeeded! I liked, very much, that the book is not set somewhere in the distant future.  These events could conceivably be happening in our world right now.  Such timeliness will engage student readers. Initially, I was pleased that Velvet was just a “normal” kid working to survive in a world gone mad, and that pleased me.  Without a spoiler, her status changes a bit in the course of the novel, but in a way that is believable. Students will relate to her struggles and her triumphs. I worried a bit that a typical sort of “love triangle” was being set up, but I am relieved that such is not the case. While my students will likely enjoy the developing romance a bit more than their cynical teacher, this relationship and others are nicely developed throughout the series of adventures. The detailed writing, especially when Velvet is undergoing experiences as a captive made me cringe. Well done. While this book is the second in a series, background information is skillfully woven in so that it can be successfully read as a standalone. While I felt the narrative drug just a bit here and there, enough twists and turns surfaced that I will be adding this series to my collection. Fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer and Veronica Roth will be lining up for this one!

I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Can Creativity be Learned?

For a variety of reasons, I have been pondering the idea of being creative and creativity during my time off from school this summer.  I have pondered earlier in this blog whether or not early and consistent exposure to technology stifles creative thought in our children.  The article here http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/can-creativity-be-learned/372605/#comments by Delistraty attempts to answer the question - "Can Creativity be Taught."  He cites studies that seem to indicate that the brains of creative people are simply wired differently. Other researchers suggest that while opportunity and practice enhance creativity, creative people are simply...creative. What are the implications for teachers and librarians?