Monday, February 6, 2017

The FUNNIEST Book I've Read in a Long Time!


The Funniest Book I've Read in a Long Time!

Calame, Don. Dan vs. Nature. Somerville, MA, Candlewick Press, 2016.


The. Funniest. Book. Ever.

Seriously, this book kept me laughing from the first chapter until the last.  Dan Weekes is a shy, skinny teenager who only wants two things:  to date the gorgeous Erin Reilly and to be a famous graphic novelist.  His best friend and fellow victim of chronic bullying and harassment is Charlie Bungert, an aspiring journalist.  Dan's mom, Sarah, is a serial dater only whose only goal is to find and marry the perfect man after dating a string of losers.  

After an afternoon of particularly brutal (and gross) bullying, Dan's day goes from bad to worse.  He arrives home to find his mom with the very handsome Dr. Hank Langston. His mom and Hank announce they are getting married and Dan knows how this will end:  a broken heart for his mom.  He has to do something to break up Hank and his mom.

Before Dan can talk to his mom about how his feelings over the engagement, she surprises Dan with a birthday present.  It's a survivalist camping trek for him and Hank in Idaho's backcountry so they can bond.  Dan and Charlie come up with Operation Torment Crusade, a plan so devious that Hank is sure to flee and leave Dan and his mom in peace.  Operation Torment Crusade is full of pranks and stunts that escalate in grossness, embarrassment and hilarity.   Somehow through intestinal distress in front of a pretty fellow camper and being stalked by a psychotic bear, Dan's survival now depends on Hank, the very man he's sworn to get rid of.  

This book makes me think of Hatchet and Diary of a Wimpy Kid all rolled onto one book.  If crude humor doesn't bother you, then you will definitely enjoy this book. Come see us in the library to check in out.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry
Razorbill, 2016


What would you be willing to sacrifice in order to save the one you love, even if the one you love may not be real?


This is the question Natalie Clearly must answer.  Along with Megan, her best friend, and Matty, her recent ex-boyfriend, Natalie has just graduated from high school in her small Kentucky hometown and has just a few weeks of summer left before leaving for college.  Parades, parties, and dances for the graduates are just a few things they are enjoying until Natalie starts to experience peculiar phenomena.  Natalie sees things and people in places and times they shouldn’t be.  Is it just hallucinations brought on by the stress of separation she and Megan are about to face?  Is it the pressure she feels from Matty to rekindle their high school romance into something more?  Her still deep feelings for Matty become further confused when she meets the mysterious Beau, an attractive but troubled boy with whom she shares an instant connection.  But is he real or just another unexplained vision?  Stranger yet, Natalie starts to receive nighttime visits from “Grandmother”.  Grandmother has visited Natalie before when she was younger, only at night, and only Natalie could see her.  When she was younger, Grandmother told her stories.  Now, Grandmother comes with a warning, “You have three months to save him.”   Save who?  Matty, the sweet boy she has loved for so long, yet who wants more than she can give?  Or Beau? But what if he’s not real, how can you save someone that may not exist?
Emily Henry’s skill in storytelling is without question.  She uses issues such as adoption, Native American legends, and family relationships to deftly craft her first book.  Grandmother’s stories help Natalie find the truth about who she is, just as stories help all of us learn about ourselves.  And this is one great story.
Recommended for HS
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Tuesday, November 3, 2015


Ahh.... Finishing a great book is just like the quote above.  It's a little bittersweet to have a great story end, but also exciting because you can start a new adventure with a new book.  Check out these books from the Eagle Library to enjoy a great story!


A word of caution: 
Do not start these books when you know you have a lot of school work to do.  Do not start these books when you know you have chores to do.  Once you start, you will not want to stop.  They're that good!



The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 

When you're born as a Red, life is hard.  You're born poor.  You're born to serve or die, or both.  When you're born a Silver, you're born to rule and live in luxury, using the abilities you're born with to rule the Reds.

Mare Barrow is a Red, dreading her mandatory enlistment to the military because she knows it means sure death.  She'll do anything, say anything, be anything to avoid that if she can.  Even if it means joining the Scarlet Guard, a secret society fomenting rebellion against the Silvers.


Prince Cal, heir to the throne,  and Prince Maven, Cal's younger brother, are Silvers.  By chance, they meet Mare, who has come to the Silver Palace to serve the royal family.  Through extraordinary circumstances, Mare is found to have abilities, just like the Silvers.  Mare must now live a lie as a Silver and  navigate the treacherous waters of palace life, while hiding her true feelings for the prince.  But which prince?  And what does it mean for a Red to be born with Silver powers?  Is Mare sthe only one?

Check out the Red Queen to find out!



An Ember in the Ashes by Tahir Sabaa


Laia is a Scholar, a people defeated ago by the Martials.  Instead of studying art, history, languages, and science as her people did in the past, Scholars are forced to eek out an existence by servitude or begging.  A few even sell themselves to slavers to survive.  Becoming a slave is what Laia does in order to save herself and her brother from death.  Laia's  brother is imprisoned by the Martials and to free him, Laia must infiltrate Blackcliff Military Academy and spy for the rebellion.  She does so as the personal slave of the horrifically cruel Commandant of the Academy.  While at the Academy, she encounters Elias Venturis, a senior cadet of the academy and the Commandant's son.  Elias, the Academy favorite, his friend Helene, and two other cadets are chosen to compete for the title of Emperor by the Augurs, but not everyone wants Elias to win and become  emperor.  Dangerous missions, secrets, hidden alliances, and unrequited feelings keep this fast paced story moving and the reader on the edge of his or her seat.
Do not wait to read this book!  If checked out, put it on hold!


The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Picture it... you're a beautiful young woman, getting ready for your wedding, the lavish wedding feast at the palace of the handsome young groom, and your imminent demise.  This retelling of The Arabian Nights is how you meet Shazi, the sixteen year old bride of the Caliph of Khorasan.  Khalid, the Caliph who weds a new bride every day after executing the previous one, is a monster.  Or is he?  What would drive a ruler to kill his new wife every day, one of whom was Shazi's best friend?  Shazi escapes her impending death by telling a story to Khalid that lasts the night and at dawn, she lives to see another day.  She continues her story and lives each day, knowing it could be her last.  How will Shazi's family and Tariq, the man to whom she was previously betrothed rescue her?  Ahdieh's  debut novel is a version of The Arabian Nights will leave you eagerly awaiting the sequel. 


Check these great books at the Eagle Library.
 





























Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Fall into the Eagle Library...If you dare!


https://pixabay.com
Fall is in the air at the Eagle Library and there are many activities in which students and staff can participate.


#EatonREADS is our reading challenge this year at EHS.  To log your books, go to this link and log you books electronically:

For every 5 books you read and log, you will earn one of our fabulous prizes!  Tweet or Instagram what you're reading and see what other Eagles are reading using #EatonREADS, @eatoneaglesread, eatonlibrary. 
 


Our North Texas Book Battle team is forming and beginning to read some fantastic books for the competition in the spring.  Any student that wants to participate and join our team still can do so, just see Mrs. Thomasson in the Eagle Library.  The books we are reading are:
     Rook by Sharon Cameron
     The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard - Watch for a book review in next weeks post!
     Razorhurst by Justine Larbelestier
     Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
     Chocolate:  sweet science and dark secrets of the world's favorite treat by Kay    Frydenborg
     Jackaby by William Ritter 
     The Taking by Kimberly Derting
     Magonia by Maria Headley
     The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks (Suspenseful!)
     I Was Here by Gayle Forman
     Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
     Need by Joelle Charbonneau 

 

Star Wars Reads Day is Saturday, 10.10.2015!  We are celebrating Star Wars Reads Day in the Eagle Library on Friday, 10.9.2015.  Come to the library and take a Stars Wars Selfie and tag us using eatonlibrary on Instagram or on Twitter using @eatoneaglesread.  May the Force Be With You!


Coming soon...
    Book review of An Ember in the Ashes
    Book review of Red Queen
    Teen Read Week 10/18 - 10/24
    Fright Writes 10/27
    Mix It Up 10/27