On Saturday, the Journal’s Meghan Cox Gurdon, who covers kids books for the paper, wrote a story called “Darkness Too Visible” in which she argued that fiction aimed at young adults in recent years had become rife with pathologies. “[K]idnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18,” she wrote. => http://on.wsj.com/kUUeID

"A heroine with spunk and spirit offers an inspiring lesson in perseverance and hope. First-rate."
"Connor has created a winning and positive father-figure/daughter relationship."
Read more ... or .... buy it from Amazon

The Goose Girl

by Shannon Hale

She can whisper to horses and communicate with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother.

More about the book, discussion notes, excerpt, and where to buy the book => http://bit.ly/e321wJ

The Wee Free men
by Terry Pratchett

A young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland

A Teaching Guide to Terry Pratchett
Spark discussion about A Hat Full of Sky, The Wee Free Men, and The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents with the pre-reading activities and discussion questions in this printable teaching guide to these books by Terry Pratchett.

Discussion module

Teaching guide

Secrets of The Wee Free Men and Discworld: The Myths and Legends of Terry Pratchett's Multiverse

You can buy from Amazon for US$9.99

or from me for US$7.50 --- click on the button -=>





maze_runnerThe Maze Runner is by James Dashner, and was released on October 6th.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Read more ...

Watch the book trailer video

play the game

Read an excerpt

Katherine, in the middle of her senior year in high school, finds herself strongly attracted to Michael, a friend, after a party. As their relationship unfolds, the issue of sex comes up early on, more as an emotional and health issue than as a moral one. Both of them are aware that physical intimacy is both common and complicated. Michael has been sexually active, Katherine hasn't. Their relationship progresses slowly; they are accompanied on various meetings by her friend, Erica, a realist, who has known Katherine since 9th grade and believes that sex is a physical act and not a romantic act. They are also joined by Michael's friend, Artie, who, with Erica's help, explores and acknowledges some uncertainty about his own sexuality.
When they do, by mutual consent, have sex on Michael's sister's bedroom floor, they are sure it seals a love that will be "forever." However, separated for the summer by work that takes them to two different states, Katherine finds herself aware of the limitations of the relationship and ultimately attracted to a tennis instructor, Theo, who is older and more experienced in life. She takes responsibility for breaking the news to Michael when he comes on a surprise visit, the summer she knew was over, and Katherine recognizes the loss as a stage in movement towards more complex, probably more satisfying relationships in the future.

more here => http://bit.ly/dwINKL

Now
By Morris Gleitzman

Morris Gleitzman's acclaimed story of friends Felix and Zelda in Nazi-occupied Poland has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide. In "Now", he delivers the final chapter, bringing this most moving of stories into the present day.

Check out this book here => http://bit.ly/a1TZ2i

See the rest of the shortlist, and information about the prize here => http://bit.ly/b3lY3k

Mockingjay (Hunger Games Trilogy) (Paperback)

By Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge...This thrilling final instalment of this ground-breaking trilogy promises to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.

Watch the trailer ...

You can buy the book here=> http://bit.ly/cOC2Na

Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex
Author: Eoin Colfer

Young Artemis has frequently used high-tech fairy magic to mastermind the most devious criminal activity of the new century. Now, at a conference in Iceland, Artemis has gathered the fairies to present his latest idea to save the world from global warming. But Artemis is behaving strangely – he seems different. Something terrible has happened to him . . .

Artemis Fowl has become nice.

The fairies diagnose Atlantis Complex – that's obsessive compulsive disorder to you and me – dabbling in magic has damaged his mind. Fairy ally Captain Holly Short doesn't know what to do. Because the subterranean volcanoes are under attack from vicious robots and Artemis cannot fight them. Can Holly get the real Artemis back before the robot probes destroy every human and life form.