Paper Towns- John Green: (fiction, mild language)  Warning ahead of time, there are a couple of spots in this book where they use language I certainly wouldn’t want to hear at school and some very “high school” material, so be forewarned.  That said, when I first grabbed this book, I thought for sure by looking at the cover that I wouldn’t last long on this one, but I was proven wrong.  I really like the part when Margo goes on an all-night revenge mission with her neighbor Quentin (a.k.a. “Q”) against everyone that didn’t tell her that her boyfriend was playing the field on her.  If I knew her in real-life, I would NOT want to cross her.  When she disappears, it is up to Q to piece together the trail of clues to find her.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow- Jessica Day George: I’m still working on this one, but it is a nice mix of fantasy set in a fairy-tale mythical land that makes me think of Scandinavia.  The main character, last daughter of nine children, is born and her mother is so disgusted to have another daughter that she doesn’t even give her a name.  Through a mystical relationship with the White Reindeer and the Isbjorn (Ice Bear), she is not only given a secret, special name, but she also learns how to understand when animals speak.

Curious Minds- How a Child Becomes a Scientist

I have had my eye on this one for some time and finally got a copy for myself.  This book is a compilation of short auto-biographies of renowned scientists in various fields.  Each author talks about their upbringing and the moment(s) that made them realize that they wanted to be a scientist.  For some, it was by a lucky chance, for others, it was the influence of their parents & family, and in one story, it all boils down to a girl.

Airman, by Eoin Colfer

Airman- Eoin Colfer:

(fiction, science fiction)  I really enjoyed this story which takes place in a fictional island off the coast of the U.K. & Ireland.  Wrongfully imprisoned for the death of the king and assumed dead by his family, the protagonist eventually escapes and is able to save the kingdom, reunite with his family, and, most importantly, achieve his dream of building a flying machine which he uses to implement his plan to revenge against the evil adviser who framed him.  Definitely worth a read.

I am eagerly awaiting getting my hands on the new “Superfreakonomics” book, having read the first one multiple times cover to cover.  I’m sure I’ll have some feedback on that one in the near future.

The Protector- Jen Ruth:

(fiction, quick read)  It is *so* cool that one of our own teachers at Esco is a published author!  I recently read Mrs. Ruth’s book The Protector and, although I am not known as a big fan of fiction, I could not put this one down. This book has a little bit of everything; fantasy, action, romance, and mystery.  Set here in Vegas, the main character uses her magic skills to fight off bad guys both corporeal and spiritual as she continues to fight off a mystery villain intent on  wiping out anyone in town who uses or promotes magic.

Shift- Jennifer Bradbury:

(fiction, easy-read, mystery) The by-line on this book says it all:  “some friends fade away…others disappear.”  Two friends graduate high school and decide to go on a cross-country bicycle trek before heading off to college, only one of them never makes it back.  Agents are investigating and clues are surfacing as to what happened to Winston (Win) that day he passed Chris and was not seen again.  Not only does the pair go on a great adventure, but you are compelled to keep reading on to get the details of what really happened.

I have a couple more interesting titles I’m working on, one by Eoin Colfer, the author of the Artemis Fowl series, and a really interesting one called “Mexican White Boy”, about a Hispanic boy trying to fit in and figure out his cultural identity.  Until next time…

Thoreau at Walden- John Porcellino:

(graphic novel, poetry, easy read)  I admit it.  I don’t think I ever read thoreau as a student in middle or high school.  I’m pretty sure I thought, “Poetry- how boring.”  But, I actually wanted to read this one.  This author took the writings of Henry David Thoreau and put them in the format of a cartoon/graphic novel.  If you’ve never read Thoreau, this is your ticket into reading one of the best American poets.

The Surrender Tree- Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom- Margarita Engle:

(poetry, non-fiction)  This book uses poetry to tell the story of Cuba’s struggle for independence.  The main character is Rosa who is a healer who uses natural remedies from wild plants, using hidden caves as hospitals.  It is a unique approach to painting the picture of a war-torn country fighting for its independence from Spain.

Before Their Time- The World of Child Labor- David L. Parker:

(non-fiction, pictures, easy read)  They say a picture can speak a thousand words.  This book would be saying a lot.  Each chapter gives a brief background into an area of labor such as mining, agriculture, textiles, garbage picking, etc. and then gives some realistic and sometimes frightening black and white photos of children workers working dangerous and laborious jobs.  Did you think that child labor was a thing of the past?  Guess again.  These photos for the most part are all less than 10 years old.

For Boys Only- The Biggest, Baddest Book Ever- Marc Aronson & H. P. Newquist:

(non-fiction, easy-read, illustrated)  Are you that person in a group who knows all kinds of random facts about things?  Do you wish you were?  This book is a lot of little pieces put together, covering all sorts of things from the most venomous snakes, to the fastest supercars, to how to get out of quicksand, to the only four sports dynasties worth mentioning, to how do IPods work.  This is right up my alley as far as books go.  This book captured my attention and I kept saying to myself, “OK, I’ll read one more page.”  I love all the cool stuff in here!  This book may say it is for boys only, but I bet a lot of girls should know this stuff too.

The Trouble Begins at 8: A life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild, West:

(non-fiction, easy-read, illustrated)  How did I not know that Mark Twain spent time in Nevada before becoming a writer?  This books does a great job of including the interesting parts of Samuel Clemens’ (a.k.a. Mark Twain) life and adventures without getting mired in any boring details.  I also didn’t know that he used to be a full-fledged riverboat captain and was involved in a few get-rich-quick schemes.  Good thing he never hooked up with Bernie Madoff!  Mark Twain’s quick, witty comments are some of the best quips ever.  As he once said, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

2G2BT- too good to be true

^5- high five

IMAO- in my arrogant opinion

MTFBWU- may the force be with you

MUAH- multiple unsuccessful attempts at humor

Have a great summer- see you all in August!  MTFBWU!

What the World Eats- Peter Menzel & Faith D’Aluisio:

(easy read, non-fiction, pictures) This book really gave me a new appreciation for the living conditions in many parts of the world and how fortunate we really are to live in the United States. With LOADS of photographs and graphics, this book documents what a typical family in 25 different parts of the world eats. It tells how much is spent on groceries and gives a unique insight into daily life for the people. It is a quick read for all reading levels. My favorite part was looking at all the prepackaged and junk food the typical families in eat in each of the developed countries.

Far From Home: Latino Baseball Players in America- Tim Wendel & José Luis Villegas:

(easy read, non-fiction, pictures, sports) Calling all baseball fans! If you root for Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz (GO RED SOX!) or Vlad Guerrero, this book will walk you through the humble history of latino baseball and the rise to prominence of latinos in the major leagues. If you claim to know about baseball and don’t know who Roberto Clemente, Luis Aparicio, or Tony Oliva are, then pick this book up! Filled with lots of gritty, real-life pictures of baseball in the farm leagues and the developmental leagues outside of the U.S.

WAR IS- Marc Aronson & Patty Campbell:

(non-fiction, adult language) Without taking any sides or espousing any political views regarding war, this book talks about the realities of enlisting, fighting in battle, war wounds, and the after-effects of fighting in a war. WARNING- there are a few instances of inappropriate language in this book, but such are the realities of war. There are lots of first-hand accounts of people’s experiences, letters from the battlefield, and stories of heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice. My favorite part is where the book answers questions like: “How will my body react to combat?”, “Will it feel like a video game?”, “What does it feel like to kill someone?”, and “Will I be afraid?”. Tough questions and tough answers.

Read any of these books?  What do you think about them?

I am thankful, first of all, to have a great family at home, with my wife, Kristen, Anna, Andrew, and (soon to be) Zoe.  I am fortunate to get to come to a job which I find fun and challenging, and get to work with people who are smart and fun to be around.  I love getting to work with kids all day; I feel like it keeps me energized and keeps me “young.”  (Hey, no age jokes…)  I am thankful to feel like I can make a difference each and every day I wake up.

What are you thankful for?  What excites you and keeps you going?

1.  Many people know that I am currently completing coursework towards a doctoral degree at UNLV.  One of the best books I read this summer was Unfinished Business.  It really opened my eyes as to some of the systemic issues in education which perpetuate the achievement gap.  We have been talking about many of the ideas in this book and how they apply to Esco.

2.  Ghosts of Spain.  I have a special place in my heart for Spain, having visited a few times.  I greatly enjoy the culture, food, lifestyle, and history of the country.  This book talks about some of the more scary aspects of Spanish history and how they continue to echo in today’s Spanish society.

3.  Traffic (why we drive the way we do and what it says about us).  Are you an early or late merger?  Is hands-free calling safer?  Do SUV drivers drive faster than car drivers?  All answers are revealed.

4.  Physics for Future Presidents.  What you need to know about science if you want to understand why decisions are made they way they are.

So, what did you read this summer?  What would you recommend?  Let me know!