bigbookwurm

Inspired by what fifth-grader Dave found out, blabbermouth Dave tried to follow Mahatma Gandhi's step into spending one day each week not speaking just so he could get order in hi head. If you're a blabbermouth too just like Dave, you'd probably thought already that this is a tough act to follow but it's surprising what our hero found out after he practiced this: the voices of the other children in his school rings loud and clear.

Dave heard the loudest voice of all, it belongs to Lynsey Burgess, gushing about a sweater she wanted to buy. Before long, Dave is insulting her already and soon after challenges her and all the other girls in their class to a contest. Boys vs. girls. Who would last 48 hours with the fewest words? Soon enough "The Unshushables" are battling a silent war. This is definitely a hit book from reliable author Andrew Clements that every fifth-grader would surely love.

If you're a dog lover, you will surely enjoy reading Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's novel about the shy, abused beagle pup our main protagonist, Marty, found while walking up in the hills on a road past his old schoolhouse. when he called it, the dog didn't respond but when he walked away, the dog followed him. marty's father thinks that the dog belongs to their neighbor, Judd Travers, a man with a reputation for dishonesty, hot-tempered and an animal abuser.

At first, it was a dilemma for marty. Will he return Marty to his owner knowing that he will be abused again? Should he tell his parents? When he actually did, his parents insisted that he return Shiloh (Marty named him Shiloh) to its rightful owner. But Shiloh ran away for the second time and successfully found his way back to Marty's place again. this is where he started to hide Shiloh, determined to keep him for himself, he lied to his friends and family when asked about him. I won't give away the ending, go find it for yourself.

Tulip change her name to Hope when she was twelve years old, with the blessing of her guardian and aunt, Addie. Since her aunt was an amazing diner cook, Hope started working as a waitress at the age of fourteen, and at sixteen was already considered a waitress extraordinaire. But they son left their city life to head to a tiny town in Wisconsin to work at the Welcome Stairways Diner. The two didn't know that their lives are about to change. together, they transform the diner from food service into soul service.

Soon Hope finds herself getting involved in thesmall town's mayoral race when G.T., the diner's owner, surprised everyone with his entry in the race. See, G.T. has a leukemia and his opponent is a longtime undefeated mayor. Even though a lot of people though that G.T. was crazy, Hope sees the godness and power in him. This novel by Joan Bauer was a Newbery Honor Book in 2001, a story of perseverance, love and loss, abandonment and fulfillment.

I picked up an old copy of this novel and it turns out it's not that bad. This novel of Sandra Cisneros is a story about the coming of age of Esperanza Cordero, a pre-adolescent Mexican-American girl living in US. The good thing about this is that the book consists of forty-four mini chapters. An easy read that range from two paragraphs to four pages, written in such a simple language that every kid out there will enjoy.

Mango Street is populated by different people from different place, all with their own unique life stories, stories of hope and despair. There's Esperanza's own family, neighbor and friend Cathy who moved shortly thereafter, Rachel and Lucy who becomes her and Nenny's (Esperanza's little sister) best friend. The novel explores themes of cultural tradition, gender roles and coming of an age in a society that still hangs on to its past while integrating itself into the American cultural landscape.

Ever had a teacher that inspired you a lot? Helped you get through most of your schooling days whether you're the over-achiever kid or the fortunate underachiever of the class. In a way, The Wedenesday Wars by Gary Schmidt is like that although id did not start to be like that. It is about seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood who must spen Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. He is the only Presbyterian kid at his junior high school hence he don't attend the Hewbrew classes nor the Catholic classes. Holling thought that Mrs. Baker hates him, even though she does not.

At first, Mrs. Baker assigned Holling to do manual labors- punding erasers, cleaning out the rat cage, cleaning the classroom. But after hilarious and catastrophic results, she switches to making him read Skaespeare. She assigns different Shakespeare play each month for him to read and for the two of them to discuss. These exposure to Shakespeare gave him an insight into his everyday life challenges in Long Island during the year that brought bad news from Vietnam, assasinations of Martin Luther King and JFK. In a way, Mrs. Baker helped him achieve numerous personal triumphs like grappling with family issues, first love, bullies and literature.

Harriet Welsch may just be eleven, but that doesn't stop her of becoming a spy something, wanting to know everything. As in everything. She carries a notebook wherever she went and writes about what she sees and observes. She even has a regular route in her neighborhood, often spying on people who have no idea they're being spied on. Some of the people in her neighborhood she spies are Harrison Withers, a bachelor that has twenty-six cats, the Robinsons, a very wealthy couple but quite boring, the De Santis. an Italian immigrant family that runs a grocery store and their delivery man, Little Joe Curry, who is actually stealing foods from the grocery that he then gives to hungry children who visits him regularly.

But when she loses her private notebook while playing, Harriet lost her two best friends, Sport and Janie (because she also wrote an entry about them that hurt the two). The kids in Spy Catcher Club made her life miserable but after a while Harriet decided to get even at her former friends by thinking up a special punishment for each one. Adding up to her loss is the marriage of her nanny Ole Golly which made her really, really sad. This book is one that I would recommend to all kids out there. Makes you want to carry a notebook too all the time.

For this post I want to mention MoreDigital before I get back to my bookwurmish ways next time. A buddy told me about the company, saying that they contacted her and had asked to buy advertising on her website. This piqued my interest.

By the time I heard from moredigital.com, I was in need of a few extra pennies to buy a book or two with. It was explained to me that I should put an advert on my site and in exchange I would get paid.

First I made sure the scheme was not a scam, spam or a rip-off. Google is great for investigating this stuff. I found a few mentions of the more digital name and apart from the usual number of bad ones (not very many), the rest were unanimously great. It seemed like a good deal.

It was very easy to put the advertisement on my site – it didn't take long at all. They were right, the client they were advertising on behalf was reputable. Then my money came through, which of course put a spring in my step... as I made my way to the bookshop.

The book I read was A Life Drawing: Autobiography by Shirley Hughes. She is the English children's book author and illustrator who is responsible for the classic Dogger. This book is also a pleasure to look at and an enthralling read too.

Since I have nothing much to do today, I decided to arrange my bookshelf. I think it has been screaming "arrange me" for a long time now I just didn't care because I don't have to much time on my hands these days. Come to think of it, how come I don't have much time for myself now? Moving on. As I was dusting the cobwebs away and blowing the dust, I stumble upon an old copy of an Eloise book: Eloise's What I Absolutely Love Love Love and Eloise in Paris.

Eloise is this 6-year-old girl who lives in Plaza Hotel in New York with her beloved Nanny, her pug dog Weenie and her beloved turtle, Skipperdee. Some of the things our dear little Eloise loves are: New York, Paris, Moscow, Weenie's whiskers, Room Service in the Plaza, taking walks with Nanny and one more thing that she is rawther fond of. I guess my curiousity got the better of me so I decided to buy this book. I was wondering what else Eloise is fond of and I wasn't surprised with the result. reading the Eloise series was one memory I sure am fond of remembering up to this day because here is one kid who seem to be so rich yet we don't ever see her parents beside her, just the loyal Nanny, but she seem happy about it. Well. I would too if I can order my heart out in Room Service everyday.

If you want to forget your worries and just want to laugh your heart out and be purely entertained, Confessions of a Shopaholic is for you. This is the first among the Shopaholic series, chicklit novel written by Sophie Kinsella. Rebecca Bloomwood may be a sort of financial journalist in a magazine but all her financial ethics whatsoever (if she ever had one) fly right out of the window when she steps inside a shopping mall and see a beautiful scarf wonderfully marked down or shoes, clothes or household stuffs. She has a pretty glamorous lifestyle that her credit cards obviously cannot afford.

I enjoyed reading about Becky's mishaps, more like it's-the-end-of-the-world-woes just because she can't buy this certain shoes or skirt or scarf. Even though I don't share a bit of her craziness in shopping sprees I do understand that there can be people in the world who share her same sentiments about eating in posh restaurants, walking on a designer shoes and wearing dresses that are to die for. It's like having a good laugh over some other people's miseries but Becky in here, our heroine in the novel, of course managed to find a way to dig herself out of the debts she's in. All she need is enough determination and huge amount of will to stop herself from her impulses.

I admit. Most of the books lined in my shelf came from bargain sales, book sales even yard sales! It came from other people's collection first before they became mine when they probably decided that they don't want it anymore or they simply outgrew it. Whatever the reason anyway, I'm happy and proud to be the next owner. Some copies are already yellowing, some dog-eared copies, others look fresh as new as if I bought it myself. Some even have the names of their previous owners scrawled on the pages of the books. But I don't mind really.

Books are books wether they passed from hand to hand, 2nd or 3rd generation. I even remembered taking a book that has the pages starting at the back! I didn't mind cos I really liked the author plus it was on a bargain sale, probably the reason why it was sold in the first place. You can find real book gems in bargain sales and yard sales if you only have the patience to go through the stacks and if you're pretty much okay owning a second-hand book.

I was 12 when I wrote my first book review. Well, I think that it's not really a book I reviewed because it was just the feature section in Reader's Digest. Does that count? Anyway, whenever I remember what I've written, I can't help but laugh at myself because what I was reviewing was some sort of real-life story being told in the section. It was about some fearless hikers or mountaineers of some kind. I don't have much memory about the specific topic now.

What was funny was the way I wrote it. The usual summary of the story, what I think of the story and my opinions about it. I probably gushed in the review because it was an emotional piece (hello, Reader's Digest!), writing reall innocent remarks and heartfelt opinions. Well, I think it did pretty well upon submission, despite some wrong grammars. Only shows Reader's Digest's influence on me at such a young age.

Are you like me who, whenever I see book sales or libraries it's as if the world seems to stop? It might sound so superficial and over the top, but I swear that's what I feel whenever I'm in the company of books. I get lost with them. I don't remember who said it but somebody famous said that it is easy to get lost with books or reading because you go to unknown territories, along with your imagination without ever leaving your house.

Indeed. I like staying in public libraries, smelling the musty smell of books, flipping the old pages of old books, discovering something new everyday, expanding my vocabulary along the way. I hope to pass it along someday, my love for books. I quote Mr. Edward P. Morgan:

"A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. "

There are some books we read because we already know the author. Such is the case for me too. I sometimes check out all of the author's works because at least we know that they're decent authors or maybe it was just loyalty kicking in. In Ann Martin's case, author of popular The Babysitter's Club series, it was a good thing because she wrote a surprisingly well-written novel entitled A Corner in the Universe. It is a story set in the 60s about 11-year-old Hattie who learns that she has an uncle that she never knew it was almost like a secret.

See, her Uncle Adam is special because he is mentally handicapped but it's not as obvious as some people would think it was. He may be 21 years old in the outside but inside he has a child's heart. A lot of people don't understand Adam's situation and often judge him but Hattie is quite fond of his Uncle because of his easy smiles and happy disposition. she doesn't seem to understand why other people can't seem to love him, even her own family, treating him differently. I really enjoyed the book because of its strong message of treating everyone equally and not judging people before they know them, something every children must learn from.

Rachel Cooper did not also imagined taking care of her irascible but terminally-ill grandfather until he was diagnosed with that sickness. He is an old guy to please with a history of disowning a son. easily angered, judgmental and sharp-tongued. He seems to be alienating his family that's why Rachel is dreading Sundays when they have to go visit his grandpa Izzy. Intent on helping his grandfather despite his stubborn ways, Rachel comes often to his house to help him and take care of him.

After the Rain is another example of Norma Fox Mazer's attempts of making a sense out of this chaotic world. Mostly she writes about things that everyone can relate to, stories that brings us the essential human emotions we all share. The characters she makes also faces realistic problems that rely on the strength of their relationships to help them pull through trying times. Don't miss this coming-of-age novel that certainly has depth in its story.

A lot of people think that Lois Lowry's novel The Giver is not actually a book for children for it has met a lot of criticism when it first came out. Nevertheless, that did not stop it from becoming an international bestseller and garnering award such as the Newbery Medal. The Giver is a story set in a utopian community where the no one experiences pain nor fear, where all the needs are provided and decisions are even made for you. From education, family felings and personal emotions, it is somehow dictated to you. 12-year-old Jonas was appointed to be the Receiver which absorbs and hold all the memories of humankind, both good and bad.

While Jonas accepts the challenge it entails, once he had been trained he started to think that it was not fair for himself and the rest of the community to don't have feelings. The story poses important societal questions such as " would the world be a better place if there were rules and punishments to guide every person's actions?" or "are you willing to let go of the wonders of life if it meant not experiencing anything bad?" This is one book that will certainly make you think deep and look at life from different angles. A though-provoking novel that will leave you thinking until the end.

What's an heiress (that doesn't know she's an heiress) got to do when she founds out that the family's business is in trouble and she's the only one who can save the day? And so the heroine starts her attempt in pulling off the best Passover seder of the year from a family who don't really celebrate the Jewish occassion. It's bad enough that her family doesn't practice being Jewish much but what's more embarassing for Heather is when her Passover seder was attended by Heather's father's gay lover, a stoneid intern and an unfortunate young woman with a surname of Hitler.

This second novel from hit author Laurie Shapiro is a refreshing book from a dysfunctional Jewish family in modern metropolitan. It is a sharp, witty and very informative book when it comes to religion, Judaism in this case, and making it look interesting and modern in some sort of way. I think everyone will like it because t's not boring like some novels I've read who just looks interesting when you read the summary in the back cover jacket.

Ever wonder how come women comes in twos whenever they go to the bathroom? What goes on really in the bathroom when women start excusing themselves? It's not so much about gossiping always but sometimes, they do choose the bathroom to talk over some important stuff that they can't talk in fron of the table or anywhere else for that. This is something that urban girl Claire St. James realized when she returned to her hometown Austin, Texas. She had a brilliant idea of making a self-help novel for men in understanding the the mystery that is the women's restroom.

Claire has personally received the best, albeit drunken, advices in the bathroom where women mull over some of their biggest decisions such as "am I keeping this baby?", "sleeping with him tonight?" or “should I kiss him on the first day?". A bathroom is every women's ally when they receive bad news, it is their sanctuary when the world is filled with chaos. It is a novel that lets you see the women in a different light, a funny and light-hearted novel not bad from a newbie chiclit author Jo Barrett.

Have you ever felt the need to to make the world different or try to think of something new for fun? Fifth grader Nick Allen thinks so too. He's an average kid who is always full of ideas that he doesn't know where to put it. He always wonder why certain things are named the way they are like why is a dog called dog or why is a house called a house. He had this brilliant idea of changing the name of a pen to "frindle", even convincing other kids in the school to use the new word. Even the man in the grocery knows what he means when he asks him about frindle.

Everybody seemed to like his new word, well except for his Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Granger who doesn't like it a bit, keeping the students who uses the new word after school. Andrew Clements scored an interesting children's book in his novel that every librarian, teacher or principal would love to see every kids in America reading. Inventing a new word is not really a far-flung idea cos after all it was how the word quiz started.

What do you do when your mum calls you a "wild thing" and then send you to your room without supper? Well of course you get angry while marching over to the room. When you're a kid like Max who has a wild imagination, you'd find something to keep you busy too. So he turns his bedroom into an extraordinary setting, first a forest then an ocean where he sails on a little boat until he comes to a land where there are more "wild things". But they are no match to his powerful glance, all these creatures bow down to Max, thus becoming the king, the most wild thing of all.

Maurice Sendak's 1964 picture book is considered to be literary classic today, a book meant for young children everywhere. It is something that every kids can relate when in face of trouble. It is normal to feel anger and frustration when we are being told not to do something which is typical for kids. It is a simple book with simple and clear message, a book that will appeal to those with vivid imagination. Everybody should include this classic in their library.

In a glance, this novel by author Jill Smolinski may seem so simple with it's list to do things but what separates it to other book (or perhaps films) is the fact that the person completing all the 20 lists is not the same person who wrote it in the first place! It just so happened that Marissa, the girl who originally wrote the 20 lists before she turns 25, died in a car accident with June at the wheel after offering her a ride from their Weight Watchers meetings. And so, with guilt, June goes over Marissa's stuff to call her family but instead find the list with only two accomplished tasks.

I like June's character because despite being somewhat an underachiever, she's funny and witty. With a mission in hand, she's determined to accomplished it while remaining loyal to Marissa as attempts to fulfill Marissa's dreams. There's an apparent story here not just some bunch of things to do. With the help of a crew of good friends and a help from Marissa's brother, June sets off to meet her deadline not realizing that while she's trying to check off things on Marissa's list she also finds that her life has a new purpose and meaning.