See You in 2017!

Book Review #6 by Loan Huynh

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

There are 12 districts and every year the capitol picks two tributes from each district to compete in a Hunger Game. Primrose, Katniss’s 12 year old sister gets chosen but Katniss can’t bear the thought of Primrose in the Hunger Games so she volunteered in her place. But will she survive?

I give this book 5 stars. I enjoyed reading about the sisterly relationship between Katniss and Primrose. The fact that Katniss risked her own like for Primrose showed her love for her sister. However, I wished the authored went into even greater detail throughout the story.

  

  You can check out Hunger Games in our Library!

Book Review #5 by Trang Nguyen

The Testing (Testing Trilogy) by Joelle Charboneau

Malencia Vale, more commonly known as “Cia”, is choosen for the testing, a rigorous but mysterious process designed to find the country’s future leader. In the process, she will battle her peers and fight for survival.

I give this book 4 Stars. I liked how descriptive the author is. She makes readers feel as if they are actually in the world of Cia.  My favorite part is when Cia is fighting for her life in the wilderness. This book is super action packed and ends in a true cliffhanger! …so glad I was able to read the sequel immediately!

You can check out the entire trilogy in our library! 

Look at What Mrs. Daigre (Our Librarian) is Reading!

The Boy in the Black Suit

by Jason Reynolds

Annotation from CCBC Choices 2016

After his mother dies, Matt finds comfort in an unexpected place: the neighborhood funeral parlor. Owner Mr. Ray offers Matt a job, and in addition to helping get things ready for the post-funeral receptions, Matt likes sitting in on the services. Observing other people who are grieving gives Matt a way to see his own pain from the outside in. Mr. Ray becomes a surrogate father to Matt. It’s a role Matt welcomes since his own dad, also devastated, has started drinking again and ends up in the hospital. Meanwhile, at one of the funerals, the principle mourner is a teenage girl named Love. Soon Matt and Love become friends and are on their way to falling in love. It’s a sweet romance between two smart, singular, not-quite-alone-in-the-world teens. Matt and Love need, and can rely on, the larger community to take an interest in them, and vice versa: Love was raised by a grandmother who taught her to do good deeds in the world, and she draws Matt into that service. The sense of this New York City community as something both sustained by and sustaining of individual lives is beautifully rendered in Jason Reynolds novel, even as it doesn’t shy away from some of the challenges and dangers in a place where there are many struggles. Distinctive, well-developed characters, including Matt’s mother—a presence through flashback—populate this poignant, sometimes funny, emotionally true and tender story. (Age 13 and older)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2016

Book Review #4 by Ivan Chanchavac

When a Hero Dies by Anne Schraff

In this book - Tony, a high school track runner grieves the death of his best friend and mentor, Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson is a local grocery store owner who Tony looks up to like a father. He was killed while someone robbed his store. But who could the killer be? Could it be Zenza or Reggie? Maybe Dwight? Whoever Mr. Jefferson’s killer is, Tony vows to find out.

Although I would have liked more action, I give this book 4 stars because it has an interesting twist.

You can check out this book and more like it in the library! 

About the Author:

https://urbanfiction.wikispaces.com/About+the+Author-+Anne+Schraff

It's FALL Y'all!

Book Review # 3 by Judith Rodriguez

Three sisters: Stevie, Alex and Joey have formed a club…. a club in which they let each other in on their deepest secrets. Stevie is the middle sister and main character. Throughout the story, Stevie wonders a lot. After a weather unit at school, she wonders about the weather, clouds and if she is ready for a boyfriend when she realizes a boy at school likes her a lot. But her older sister Alex is way ahead of her on knowing what she wants. And her younger sister Joey couldn’t be less interested in relationships. One very stormy night, the girls decided to make a wish. Alex wished that she would get the part in an upcoming play. Joey wished for good luck and Stevie wished that something new and exciting would happen to her. Find out if their wishes come true in Cloudy with a Chance of Boys by Megan McDonald.

I give this book 4 stars. It was really interesting and true to life! And it can be checked out…in our library! 

Listen to an excerpt by clicking here: 

TeachingBooks.net | Cloudy with a Chance of Boys

Book Review #2 by Valerie Brown

Pink and Green is the New Black by, Lisa Greenwald

8^th grade student, Lucy Desberg wants her last year in Middle School to be perfect!  But her now high school boyfriend, Yamir hasn’t talked to her for weeks. So to keep her mind away from relationship troubles, she starts planning for the 8^th grade Masquerade - using her talents in designing make-up as an escape. But will she be successful in ignoring her problems to make them disappear? Or will she learn valuable life lessons?

I give this book 4 Stars… Even though this was a good book, I would have liked more specific details throughout the story. But overall, I really like it. Check it out in the library! 

Magazines!

We have several magazine titles to choose from in the library! Come by at your leisure and peruse our collection! Titles include:

(for adults)

Mathematics Teacher

The Science Teacher

Ebony

Scholastic Teacher

Music K-8 Marketplace

Consumer Reports

School Arts 

(for students) 

Sports Illustrated for Kids

Girl's Life

Zoobooks & National Geographics for Kids 

(for all)

Arts & Activities

Faces: People, Places & Culture

Dig into History

Lucky Puppy

Dogster

Cobblestone 

Book Review #1 by Sergio Mendez

The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series) 

This story is about a boy named Greg Heffley, whom some may know from the previous Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Greg and his family go on a road trip in which Greg doesn’t like. The trip starts off bad and then gets worse. During the trip Greg makes a series of bad decisions which leads to several unfortunate events. The funniest part is when Greg makes his dad mad and also he causes an incident in the minivan involving a group of seagull.

While their minivan was being repaired, Greg’s family decide to visit a waterpark. While there, their belongings were presumed stolen by another family who is said to have stolen the key to their locker where they had placed all of their personal belongings. Frustrated, the family decided to head home. But the adventure doesn’t stop there! You’ll never guess how this story ends!

I give this book 5 stars because it is filled with comedy and funny situations. I think everyone likes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books so much because most kids can relate to Greg Heffley and the things he goes through in each book. 

Teachers....Come Get Them!!

If you are looking to begin or expand your classroom libraries, stop by the library and to see what we have available. We have been weeding old books like crazy but some of them may just suit your needs. Feel free to stop by and grab what you want at any time! *Located in the back of the library*

Welcome to the TJMS Library!

We are so happy that you you have chosen to view our blog! This blog is not only for our Book Club members but for the entire Thomas Jefferson Middle School Community to enjoy. We will post updates on what's new in the library, book reviews and share useful resources that may be of assistance in the classroom and at home. So add us to your "favorites" and check in with us weekly for updates! You may also join blogger to make comments or to give us feedback! We would love to have your participation and support. Also, be sure to visit our webpage for resources that you can use: http://www.paisd.org/domain/1845