Buddy Reading- MS/ES

We celebrated Picture Book Month in the MS/HS Library by inviting our ES friends up to read with us.  Buddy reading is our most requested library activity (by both MS and ES students!)  Fun times were had by all.

Denton Little's Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin

This is the sequel to Denton Little's Deathdate.  Read my review for the first book here.

You only live once—unless you’re Denton Little!

Denton Little lives in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day on which they will die. The good news: Denton has lived through his deathdate. Yay! The bad news: He’s being chased by the DIA (Death Investigation Agency), he can never see his family again, and he may now die anytime. Huh. Cheating death isn’t quite as awesome as Denton would have thought. . . .

Lance Rubin’s debut novel, Denton Little’s Deathdate, showed readers just how funny and poignant imminent death could be. Now in this sequel, he takes on the big questions about life. How do we cope, knowing we could die at any time? Would you save someone from dying even if they were a horrible person? Is it wrong to kiss the girl your best friend is crushing on if she’s really into you instead? What if she’s wearing bacon lip gloss?

Why you should read this book:

• It is laugh-out-loud funny.
• Made me think (when I wasn't laughing) about what it would be like to know your death date.
• This is a YA book with high school boy situations and humor.
• The author, Lance Rubin, is an actor and also writes sketch comedy.  You can watch some video clips at his website: http://www.lancerubin.com/videos/

Find Denton Little's Still Not Dead in our library at: SCI-FI F RUB

When Dimple me Rishi by Sandy Menon

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

Why you should read this book:

• Dimple is a strong female character with an even stronger personality.
• There are lots of parts in the story that made me laugh out loud.
• The two main characters make each other better people.
• It's a love story...I love a good romance!

Find When Dimple met Rishi in our library at: ROMANCE F MEN

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Image from: Amazon.com

Alex, Approximately is a modern teen take on the movie "You've Got Mail."  (If you haven't seen it, you should!) Every chapter starts with a quote from a classic movie, which is fun.
Bailey moves across the country to the same California town as her online crush and fellow movie buff, Alex.  In order to scope him out first, Bailey doesn't tell him she's moving to his town and proceeds to spend the summer searching for him using clues from his messages.
Then, Bailey meets irritating surfer-boy Porter at her summer job and slowly begins to fall for him.
Now she has to decide between Porter, who is hiding a secret of his own, and Alex.  But...things aren't always as they seem because Porter is Alex!  (This is not a spoiler because it says so on the book jacket!)
I finished this book in 2 days.  It's an easy, fun summer read.   Find it on my recommendation shelf or in the library at: ROMANCE F BEN

Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer

 Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer was my first spring break read and one of our new books to arrive in the mid-year library order. 

I am admitting my age, and lack of TV series knowledge, by saying I did not know Chris Colfer was an actor in Glee until I conducted a quick Google search about him.

I picked up this book because I  have a weakness for books about famous people and thought: "TV star on a road trip...sounds fun!"  Plus, it had just arrived in the mid-year order and I love new books.

Stranger Than Fanfiction was a fun book and the best part about it were following the storylines/lives of all five characters.  The stories of each character are a bit over-the-top but that is what makes it fun and also thought-provoking because I think all readers can find something relevant to their life in the life stories of the characters.

Try this book out for a fun read!

Find Stranger Than Fanfiction in our library at: REALISTIC F COL

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald

(Amazon.com)

Both my son and I recently finished Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald.  It was actually read several times in our house.  Once by my son, once by me after great reviews from him, and once as a read-aloud together.  This book left us both laughing about life in middle school as Charlie Joe Jackson tries to figure out how not to read anything...ever.  My son, who loves to read, liked the funny ideas on how to trick your parents into thinking you are reading.  He was concerned over the price of the bribe for getting Charlie's friend to read the book for him being raised to two ice creams.  My son read this book in a day and is now on to the second in the series.  I liked that this book was funny, easy to read, and high interest.  I will be recommending this book to other boys (and girls too!) in Grades 4-7.

Find Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading in our library at: HUMOR F GRE

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

(Amazon.com)

The Great American Whatever was the first book I read over the holiday break.  I wasn't sure I'd like it after reading the "blurb" but I ended up loving it.

Quinn had always wanted to be a Hollywood writer.  That was before the death of his sister and then his father leaving.  Now, Quinn doesn't leave his house. Luckily, his best friend drags him out to a party where he meets a very cute guy, his first love interest. Through his friendships and his new relationship, Quinn starts to accept his grief and start living life again.

This is a funny, uplifting story that I think will appeal to many of our avid readers!

Tim Federle also wrote the Better Nate Than Ever series if you remember that from elementary school.  This is his first YA novel.

Find The Great American Whatever in our library at: REALISTIC F FED

Denton Little's Death Date by Lance Rubin

(Image from Amazon.com)

Halloween is coming so how about a creepy, but funny, sci-fi read?  Denton Little's Death Date by Lance Rubin, was not a novel I thought I'd like at first, but I was surprised how engaging it was.  Even though the title sounds morbid, this book kept me laughing.  I'll definitely be reading the sequel, Denton Little's Still Not Dead

This summary is from Amazon because they say it so much better than I do:

Denton Little’s Deathdate takes place in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day on which they will die. For Denton, that’s in just two days—the day of his senior prom.

Despite his early deathdate, Denton has always wanted to live a normal life, but his final days are filled with dramatic firsts. His anxiety builds when he discovers a strange purple rash making its way up his body. Is this what will kill him? And then a strange man shows up at his funeral, claiming to have known Denton’s long-deceased mother, and warning him to beware of suspicious government characters. . . . Suddenly Denton’s life is filled with mysterious questions and precious little time to find the answers.

Find Denton Little's Death Date in our library at: SCI-FI F RUB 

Beat the Band by Don Calame

(Image from Amazon.com)

Beat the Band is the second book in the Don Calame's series that began with Swim the Fly.

Another hilarious book by Don Calame that made me laugh out loud!  It's the beginning of tenth grade and Coop gets a semester-long project in health class about safe sex.

He's paired with "Hot Dog" Helen for the project and decides the only way to win back his reputation is to win the Battle of the Bands contest at school.

Unfortunately, none of his band members actually play an instrument.  "Will Coop regain his “cool” before it’s too late? Or will the forced one-on-one time with Helen teach him a lesson about social status he never saw coming?" (Amazon.com)

A very funny book that is great for middle and high school boys!  Find Beat the Band, and the rest of this series, in our library at: HUMOR F CAL.

"Swim the Fly" by Don Calame

(Image from Amazon)

The adventures of Matt, Coop and Sean had me laughing out loud!  Their summer goal?  To see a real live naked girl.  This is a big challenge since none of them have even been on a date before. Matt's other goal?  Swim the 100-yard butterfly to impress a girl on the swim team.  Mr. D read this book in a weekend and thought it was as funny as I did.  A must read if you like hilarious books!

Find Swim the Fly in our library: HUMOR F CAL