Guest Blogger: Dylan (my book-reviewing son)

I mostly like to read sci-fi and fantasy, so I don't know a lot of books on other genres. Here are my favorites.

* The Artemis Fowl series, by Eoin Colfer, as well as the Supernaturalist and the Wish List by the same author.
* The Inheritance cycle is very popular right now: Eragon, Eldest, and Brisengr by Christopher Paolini. A little thick, probably above the average 8th grader.
* The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel.
* The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerizzi and Holy Black. Lower level than 8th grade, but that means I've talked to some of my classmates, even a football player, who like this series.
* Harry Potter is, of course, world renowned, but I sort of think that if students were going to read these huge books, they would have done it by now.
* The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven. One of my favorite all-time books. However, it is sci-fi, and sort of redefines religion and belittles God, making him look like a nerdy twerp compared to other entities. (Yes, these are the kind of books I read.)
* The Land of Elyon series is good, a story for either gender, with talking animals. By Patrick Carman. One of the lower level books, they're around 250 pages each.
* The Olympians series is good, by Rick Riordan. It is about modern day gods, and kids who find out they are Greek demigods. First book: The Lightning Thief.
* The Bartimaeus Trilogy is awesome as well, by Jonathan Stroud. About slavery among demons.
* Another sci-fi slavery book is The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima. It has a theme, anti-prejudice among races. This is also a series.
* The Ranger's Apprentice, by Lohn Flanagan. It's sort of a medieval fantasy book. Comparatively short, but tough vocab.
* Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke. About a girl who with no mom, finds out that when her dad reads aloud, the characters come to life, lost her mom in a book. I think it even won a few awards a few years back. Sequel: Inkspell.
* This series, Warriors, is like Inkheart and Land of Elyon. Girls might actually read it. By Erin Hunter. About wild cats in clans who fight among themselves. Seems to address common issues like racism between countries, but with cats.
* Pendragon series. Hard core sci-fi. Multiple dimensions, time warps, and, of course, a guy who wants to rule all of them. By DJ MacHale.
* The City of Ember- Jeanne Duprau. This is a cool book, it's part of a series, and the movie is just out, so kids are more likely to read it.

I have four good books that aren't sci-fi--

* Alex Rider series, by Anthony Horowitz. Sort of a "if James Bond died and had a son" action-adventure book. Alex is blackmailed, and unwillingly put into the British secret service. He's like 15.
* Young Bond series. Not as good, but guys will read it because it IS about the kid version of Bond. By Charlie Higson. Just went on the site. Apparently, there are graphic novels out for his books as well.
* The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, by Rick Yancey. Very cool. Like a search for the Holy grail meets Indiana Jones meets James Bond.
* Last, The Series of Unfortunate Events. (a series) The author's pen name is Lemony Snicket. Cynical humor, most of the adults are bad.

Shiny, Happy Stories

OK. I've always said that I write for my students.
But Friday they threw me a curve ball.

Several ninth graders in 5th and 7th period told me they want more shiny, happy stories--where no one gets shot, eaten, exploded, and all animals featured in the story live happily ever after...including cats. Which is difficult for a language arts teacher whose definition of "fervent" is when your cat gets stuck in the heating duct. (That would be "fur vent" for those of you auditory to visual learners.)

So I accept the challenge. But only for a short story. Maybe something featuring Teletubbies or Barney. OR Teletubbies VS. Barney in an all out ninja war. No, no. that's not shiny, happy.

This will take some work.

Until I get a better one, I'll submit "Fishing for Corn" which they will see in January anyway.

And while that's stewing, I'll get back to the story referenced below containing grenade launchers and such.

See ya soon.

Insomnia and Grenade Launchers

So I'm at the point in writing the new story that I can't sleep. The characters are starting to keep me awake, and I have to get up at 4:30 to write things down.
Soooooooo. It's a really good thing that I plan my lessons before I go home the week before. It's also good that I have a lot of coffee.

I wonder if a hydropack will hold hot liquids.
hmmmmmmmmm....