Girls Read, Girls Rule (The World)

Sweaty Manly Dolls? What??

2010-02-11T08:03:00.001-08:00

Hey all! I just flew in from outer space, and boy are my arms tired! Not funny? You're right. I've been missing in action for too long, and I am quite sorry about that. I'm back again with some news, reviews, and previews, of course.

First of all, Percy Jackson and the Olympians comes out TOMORROW. I know many of you plan on going and I hope you're not disappointed. Remember that movies are rarely ever as good as the books, but they can still be fun. Let me know what you think!

Second of all, the boys over at Boys Rule, Boys Read have nominated this blog for two awards: The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award and the Manly Sweaty Doll Blogger Award. Interesting combination, right?

Awww!

Um, eww?

Well, one of the conditions of accepting this award is that you have to answer at least 4 of these questions: Tell a couple of things about yourself, the name of your favorite guy book, your favorite sports moment, favorite MANLY MAN movie, favorite manly music, and your Favorite Food With No Nutritional Value.

So, here goes nothing:

1) I have a detailed zombie attack plan if there's ever a break out, and it involves a lifetime supply of chocolate. (Actually, a lifetime supply of chocolate is just a plan on its own.)
2) My favorite guy book is probably The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney.
3) My favorite sports moment is when the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup last year.
4) My favorite manly movie has to be Jurassic Park, though I have a soft spot for Masters of the Universe from my childhood.
5) My favorite manly music would probably be Black Sabbath.
6) And of course, my favorite food with no nutritional value has to be pepperoni pizza with extra extra extra cheese.

Now for a quick book review.

The Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac
Okay, this book is by far one of the scariest ones I've read, and that makes it AWEsome. Molly's parents disappear, and she is stuck staying with a very odd relative. Her great-uncle is pale, stick-thin, and way too similar to the villain in one of her father's tales. Locked in her bedroom each night with only her dreams and wits to help her escape and find her parents, Molly never gives up. Can she outsmart the Skeleton Man? Read and find out.

P.S. I am SO excited about this movie:

Percy Jackson Update!!

2009-09-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Since there are 80 million billion fofillion Percy Jackson fans out there, here is the newest extended trailer for the movie. Enjoy!

Pirates, Princesses, and a shark named Mr. Fishy.

2009-09-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Ahoy ladies...join us on Monday, September 28th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an AMAZINGLY fun time. It's Pirate and Princess Day, and we here (the boys, me, and rest of the staff), will be dressing up and acting like the crazy pirate princess people we really are. We'll be playing games (Pirate Rock Band), making cool stuff, and watching Peter Pan (new and old). If the puppet show above doesn't convince you to come, I don't know what will. Darth Bill dressed as a Princess? No? Eww, no, no. Come and enjoy!

Surviving Summer Reading.

2009-08-11T08:27:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone has had an excellent summer and spent some quality time with many good books.

Somehow the summer slipped by with no updates and I have no idea how that happened. It's been crazy around here, but I should have been better about posting. Sorry, everyone. At least I got out alive this year. And now that school is almost back in session for you (sorry about that, too), I should have more time to keep up with the blog.

To make up for it, I plan on having at least one Girl's Movie Afternoon, possibly in October, and I'm thinking about showing "Inkheart" for it (and offering yummy snacks, too). We also have two official G.O.O.F. off days, one on September 28 (with a Pirate and Princess theme) and another one on October 29 (possibly Harry Potter themed) that will be full of programs and even movies that you all would enjoy.

Keep checking the site, because I promise to update it more often, and also, my next update will probably have a video of The Carlman from the Boys Rule, Boys Read Blog that you shouldn't miss!

Percy Jackson Update

2009-07-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

So, I know most of you girls are wondering, why does this lady only post Percy Jackson news??

Yes, Ms. Leah is a bit obsessed with PJ(Percy Jackson). It looks like the movie will be coming out in February of 2010 on Presidents Day!!

If you would like to see a short trailer, and catch a glimpse of Logan(The actor playing Percy), take a look here!

Percy Jackson Trailer

The summer is upon us!

2009-06-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

Which means more time for reading books, right? Well, hopefully for you all, because our Summer Reading Club gives away prizes when you girls read. And the best part is you can read WHATEVER you want. Even boy books. :-P

It seems everyone had a lot of opinions on the upcoming Percy Jackson movie. Did you all read the last book in the series yet? I've heard good things so far, but I'm still curious.

I also heard excellent things about the movie "Up" which I plan on seeing soon. Here's a preview:

Should we talk books? Well, this is a blog about books, so I'm thinking that's a good plan. Check these out:

One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath

I recommended "Everything on a Waffle" by this author not too long ago, and I'd like to recommend this book as well. It takes place over one summer and follows twelve year old Jane Fielding as she experiences different adventures. While she wants one hundred of them, she ends up with fourteen, but they pack a pretty powerful punch. This is a good beach read for the summer (partly because it takes place on a beach).

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley

I'm going to throw this one in as another excellent beach read, because it does involve the ocean, plus magic, mystery, and a little bit of romance (not in a yucky way, though, I promise). Corinna disguises herself as a boy in order to be the Folk Keeper, someone who keeps the "evil folk" from doing terrible things. She is in orphan, and her journey throughout this book has her facing many challenges until she is brought face-to-face with her true heritage. Corinna's story is one you won't forget.

Happy reading and watching, ladies. Also, we have some Kit Kittredge shirts here at ImaginOn. If you want to send in some book reviews, I can hook you up with some free t-shirts or some free books...maybe even BOTH. So what have you been reading lately?

Movies, Books, and Boys.

2009-04-27T12:27:00.001-07:00

If we're going to talk a little about movies we're excited about, I'm going to take just a brief moment to say I am TOTally ready for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!! They pushed the release date back way too far, but it's coming up soon. Hooray! Here's the trailer:

Also, I'm SUPER excited about the next installment of the Twilight Saga: New Moon. There's not an official trailer up for it yet, but there are clips and updates about the cast. If you're a fan, click HERE to see the latest updates on the movie! What do you think is better? Harry Potter or Twilight??

Okay, so I still haven't gotten the boys...and I have found the girl's display soiled countless times with stinky, smelly boy books, so something really has to be done. But what? Well, while I'm thinking about it, here's a book YOU should read.

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Kelley is an understudy in the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in New York. When she is called upon to play Titania, queen of the faeries, she learns that the characters and story are actually quite real, and quite dangerous. She becomes involved with Sonny Flannery, a guardian of the gate in between the human world and the Otherworld, who tells her that she is actually a changeling from the world of faery. Now she'll need more than her acting skills to save herself...and possibly mankind.

Happy reading and movie going!

Percy Jackson Movie News!!!!

2009-03-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Hello Girls,
So, unfortunately the BOYS broke this first but, I had to put an update on here. Being the resident actress!

The Casting for The Lightening Theif movie came out last week.

I hope you girls have read it! In my opnion, the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series, is the best series to come out in a long while!

Here is the casting for The Lightening Thief Movie so far:

Sean Bean as Zeus

Kevin McKidd as Poseidon

Melina Kanakaredes as Athena

Alexandra Daddaris as Annabeth

Pierce Brosnan as Chiron

Brandon T. Jackson as Grover

Uma Thurman as Medusa

And Last, but not least.....

Logan Lerma as Percy Jackson

I think the best part about this casting is that alot of these people are not the most well known! To me that makes watching a movie so much more interesting!

What do you all think?

Ms. Leah

The Cosmic Court of INjustice.

2009-03-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

I have kept silent long enough after being accused by the mean and smelly boys. Carlman, Darth Bill, and even Master Jedi Zack all think that I committed the terrible crime of placing a PRINCESS book on the Boys Rule shelf here at ImaginOn. We even had a trial to determine my innocence...or in the case of the MEAN boys who didn't even listen to my case...guilt. Here's the video...

Now, girls, let me explain something to you. Our display here at ImaginOn is TWICE as big as the boys'. Yes, that's right. And there are NO princess books on that display. Ever. (Not that there's anything wrong with them, if that's your cup of tea...) And I haven't reviewed any princess books on this blog, either. So why on earth would I put a princess book on the boy's puny little display?? I WOULDN'T.

There's a poll up now on the boy's blog to decide whether or not I'm guilty. I'm sure we can all guess what the boy's have been voting...and they've also taken to calling me "Evil Ellen" thanks to Darth Bill. Yes. A Sith calling me evil. That's just wrong. AND NOT TRUE. Cunning, yes. Good looking, of course. Hilarious, you bet. But evil? I think not. And Ian called me "revolting" and said that my glasses "didn't work for me." That's a low blow to a librarian, indeed. And just mean. Like boys.

I have no interest in taking over the boy's blog. I have this one. And I have no interest in taking over their display, as it's small and smells funny. And ours has cooler NON-princess books. About strong, smart girls who, as we know, secretly rule the world. So there. But they didn't listen. I have been falsely accused. The boys started the war. I will finish it.

Be afraid boys. Be very, very afraid.

But onto something positive, as Ms. Fabulous wrote in a while back and said:
Ms Fabulous here and I have to comment that Cornellia Funke is my FAVORITE author and I am so excited to see Inkspell in the movies... but I bet the book is better!I really liked The Thief Lord about orphans in Venice, Italy. It's a city that is built on the water and I've been there and absolutely loved it. I could just imagine running the streets and hiding out in that amazing city.I finished The Luxe and it was a fantastic read. I can not imagine growing up as a girl there and having to be so proper and marry for money to save my family fortune... the ending has quite a twist and I didn't figure it out until the end! If you are wondering about liking boys and breaking social rules... this is a must read.I am nearly finished reading the last of the Eragon books Brisinger... it's as good as the first book! I read it all through the snow day we had. The author of this book amazes me because he wrote Eragon when he was only like 17. Well... off to finish reading!

Well, Ms. Fabulous, I just started reading The Luxe, and I'm enjoying it immensely! Anyway, off to plot my revenge against the boys...

It's all Greek to me!!

2009-02-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

Let's take a moment to travel in time, way way back. I mean, WAY back. To Mount Olympus. We'll open Pandora's box, meet the Olympians, and maybe even voyage to the underworld. Well, at least we'll read about it.

Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

So we all know the story of Pandora, right? She opens a box she's not supposed to, and bad stuff happens. Well, maybe that's the version you heard, but this book explains things differently. Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena (who goes by Pandy) is a thirteen year old girl who is a rather plan demi-god, set on pleasing her parents and not being teased by her classmates. So, she decides to bring a box to school for a special project. This box, of course, contains a bunch of horrible, evil, no good stuff, and somehow it accidentally gets opened...and then it's up to Pandy to collect everything that escapes it. Can she do it in a year's time? Read to find out!!

Demeter and Persephone: Spring Held Hostage by Justine and Ron Fontes

The story of Persephone being kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld is one of my favorite Greek myths. This graphic novel is a FANTASTIC retelling. Demeter, Persephone's mother, misses her daughter so much that she causes droughts and kills farmer's crops. She begs the Olympians to help get her daughter back. Read this book to find out if Persephone is safely returned to her mother.

The Shadow Thieves by Ann Ursu

Charlotte Mielswetzki is followed home one day by a man in a tuxedo. This is only the start of weird occurences. Her cousin Zee arrives from England, and brings with him news of sick children...and then discovers that the disease is spreading in the U.S. too. What's causing this weird illness, and what does it have to do with the man in the tuxedo? And who is Philonecron, and why does he want to overthrow Hades? How can Charlotte and Zee help? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?!??! Read this book to find out.

Snow Day! HOORAY!!!

2009-01-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a fun and not-too-cold Snow Day yesterday. I enjoyed the day off by cuddling with my cat and, of course, READING! I would have gone outside and played, but...this looked COLD to me...

Anyway, for future snow days (if we're lucky this year), here are some good reads:

Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary

Ramona is probably one of my favorite literary characters. I grew up reading her, and this book is the newest book in the Ramona series. She's nine now, and determined to make fourth grade the best year EVER. Will a new teacher, a new baby sister, and the Yard Ape prevent that from happening? Oh Ramona, what trouble will you get into this time?

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Told in both words and pictures (though not a picture book), this book is the amazing journey of Hugo Cabret. He is an orphan who keeps the clocks running at a train station in Paris. He's also a thief. His shenanigans make him cross paths with a well-read girl and an old man who runs a toy both. Both may help him solve the mystery of a cryptic drawing, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and how they all connect to each other and Hugo's father. I couldn't put this book down, and the ending was so amazing, it quite literally almost blew my mind. This is a book you DON'T want to miss.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Think you've got it bad? The Willoughby children definitely have it worse. Their parents want to get rid of them. And honestly, they'd be quite happy without their parents. The question that often comes up in this book is "what would good old-fashioned people do?" The book offers many answers, from a kind nanny, to a candy bar inventor, to many other odd characters that the children come across. This is a fantastically funny read, but very different from Miss Lowry's other books. It constantly pokes fun at "classic" children's literature, especially where there are orphans involved. A good read indeed.

Enjoy these books, or whatever you're reading, and stop in at ImaginOn this Friday, Jan. 23rd, for a super fun G.O.O.F. Off Day that celebrates the Chinese New Year.

~Ellen

Let's go adventuring, shall we?

2009-01-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I hope everyone's 2009 is going off without a hitch so far. Aside from the fact that it rained for like, two weeks straight (what WAS that anyway?), things are going well here at ImaginOn.

Is anyone else excited for the movie version of Inkheart? I know I am!

I'm also excited about sharing a few books with you. Let's go adventurng, shall we?

The Lighthouse Family by Cynthia Rylant

Pandora is a lonely cat who tends to her lighthouse on a small island, until Seabold, a sailing dog, crashes on her shore. Together, the two friends adopt three orphaned mice children: Whistler, Lila, and Tiny. In each book of this series, the family finds new adventures on the island, and meets many interesting animal friends along the way!

The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

Join Sabrina and Daphne Grimm as they move in with their Granny Relda in Ferryport and learn about their famous ancestors (the brothers Grimm) . Will the girls be able to handle being swept into a world of the real Prince Charming, the Three Little Pigs, the Magic Mirror, and many more fairy tale creatures? (Well, it IS an entire series, so apparently they CAN handle. Though that shouldn't ruin it for you, it's a fantastic and fun book!)

Finally, I would like to say hello and welcome to Ms. Fabulous, who left us a great comment with some cool recommendations:

"I am Ms Fabulous and NEW to this blog, although I have members of my family that are SMELLY and GROSS and are BOYS!!! Ewwww. One of them actually gave me a COLD... yuck, so I have made myself some jasmine tea. I actually do have an anti-boys spray I use often when I am reading and don't want to be disturbed that smells of lavender and works marvelously. BUT I just finished reading the most delicious book called The Alchemyst and I couldn't put it down! It's about a brother and sister that are twins and have magical powers... truly a gripping and terrific read. I actually read it in two days! The Morrigan wears a cape of black feathers who is wickedly powerful. There is also a sphynx that has the head of a woman and a goddess with a changing form from woman to old maid to girl. VERY cool. Now I am reading Luxe... so I will pop in and tell you about that when I am finished. So far it's set in the late 1800's in NY and the girls have silk gowns and boys who are rich and dashing and servant boys that are strong and adventurous. So far I love it. I just want one of the silk dresses, the fancy parties and champagne. I know the girl dies because the beginning of the book says so... but so far I can't figure it out. This weekend I borrowed the movie, from the Mint Hill branch, Ballet Shoes because I had never finished the book . I REALLY enjoyed this movie and highly recommend it for a chick flick on a cold winter night. I just returned it to Imaginon today if you want it!See ya... beware of BOYS...-Ms Fabulous"

Okay, so ALL of those recommendations sound great, and I'm going to have to add to my growing list of things I HAVE to read or watch. Thank you Ms. Fabulous, and we look forward to hearing from you again!

Until next time, I wish you good reading adventures and some extra anti-boys spray!

Well, I have to apologize too!! But Book Reviews Inside!!!

2008-12-10T07:14:00.001-08:00

Hello Rockin' Girls!,

I guess since Ellen apologized I have to apologize too. But, I don't have a great excuse like school... I have just been busy READING!!!!

So, here goes Ms. Leah's reading list as of late

Charlie Bone and The Shadow by Jenny Nimmo

If you haven't read the Charlie Bone series---Where have you been! As much as I love Harry Potter for me, Charlie is where it's at. If you aren't familiar with him, here's some background.

Charlie is known as one of the 12 children of the Red King. These 12 have different magical gifts. Charlie's is that he can travel to, and communicate with, people in paintings and photographs!

These 12 all attend a special school called Bloor's Academy. Run by the not so nice Dr. Bloor and his family.

Needless to say Charlie has many run ins with the Bloors but, that's not all he has to look out for. Under his own roof there is trouble as well! With the likes of his Aunts Grizelda, Lucretia, Eustacia and Venetia.

Book 7, is just out, and titled Charlie Bone and The Shadow. I won't get into what it's about because I want you to read it! But, trust me, it's well worth it!

Find out more about the Charlie Bone series by going to http://www.scholastic.com/charliebone/index.htm

Now, I am still in the middle of this book, and it's a YA title but, I love it so far!

It's called Avalon High and it's by author Meg Cabot. She has also written the Princess Diary series! This one jumped out at me because I absolutely LOVE King Arthur Tales!!!

This one is based around a girl named Ellie. Her parents are both medival history professors. When they decide to take a year off to do a sabatical(it's when teachers do research projects) they move Ellie away from all her friends to Annapolis, Maryland. New town means new school right? So, Ellie is enrolled as a Junior in Avalon High.

Now, just as she thinks things are a bit normal, she meets A. William Wagner. The handsome captain of the football team, senior class president and valedictorian.

When they meet, they both feel a strange connection. But, they know they have never met.

Things begin to become more clear when one of their teachers Mr. Morton begins to unravel a plot that connects some of Avalon High's students to a modern repeating of the King Arthur legend!

Once I'm done I'll be sure to post a real review but, so far I'm hooked!

That's what I've been up to so far!

I am also going to be doing a program about some cool Virtual Worlds! Once I get that together I'll be sure to post them here!

See y'all soon!

Leah

FREEDOM!!

2008-11-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I'd like first and foremost to apologize for being completely absent from this blog. You see, I was bogged down in school. (You know, school. It's that place you have to go to learn stuff, but really, you'd probably rather be reading? But you have to go to become "smart.") But now I am officially done, and free at last!! I want to celebrate!

I also want to put up a book review that Sophia wrote a while ago for the boys' site (why not for us, Sophia? whhhhhyyy??). I won't be a mean and sneaky girl and leave out the part where she talks about how awesome the Boys Rule Boys Read site is, because she's right! Again, I'm so sorry for not doing it sooner.

Island: Book One: Shipwreck
This book is by Gordon Korman. Even though this isn't about the book, I need to explain something to you guys. OK, so I'm a girl, that doesn't mean I want to take over your website. I just think your website is totally awesome! I love reading. Now, Shipwreck is the first book in the Island series. It's about a bunch of of boys and girls who were on a boat, then the boat got in this storm, and the six kids got washed up on a deserted island.
I think you should read this book, it's awesome and I love it!! Gordon Korman is a very good writer and I think you should read all his books. The ones I like are his Island series, Dive series, and his Everest series.
Most likely they're at the library, but if you want, you could also buy the books. They're cool. In the Island series, there are two girls and four boys. In the next book, Survival, they have to survive on the island until they can Escape, book three. Gordon Korman writes awesome books!!

Now that I am finally done with school, I plan on reading a lot more books...for fun. And posting the reviews on here, of course. And any more recommendations you want to throw my way, I'll actually have time to read now!

Free Movies, Books, and Popcorn! (You can't beat that!)

2008-11-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Girls! I apologize for the long gap between entries. I need to fix that, and add some goodies to this site.

I just wanted to let you all know that on Tuesday, November 11th, we are having another G.O.O.F. Off day here at ImaginOn, which means LOTS of great stuff to do. For starters, we'll be showing the movie Shrek at 10:00 a.m. and passing out some movie trivia sheets to see if you all can keep up with how many fairytales are mentioned. At 2:00, we'll be showing The Lion King 1 and 1/2. Did I mention there will be lots and lots of free popcorn, too?

In the meantime, you ladies now have an OFFICIAL display (and yeah, it's totally bigger than the boys' display, so there) and many bookmarks (way cooler than the boys'). Please come by and visit, or send in book reviews, and I'll hook you up with some free books (just like, you guessed it, the BOYS!).

Here are some rockin' recommendations from me.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

So Emmy's parents have been really distant, and her nanny is HORRIBLE. On top of that, she can hear the class rat talking (and he is NOT very nice). When Emmy discovers that her nanny may be drugging her parents to make them forget her, will she be able to save the day and get her family back? Read this book to find out.

Hat e That Cat by Sharon Creech

I was a huge fan of Love That Dog by Miss Creech, and I was pleased to find this sequel in a stack of new books. It is about the same boy who is writing poetry about how much he dislikes cats and misses his old dog, Sky. When he gets an adorable kitten for a Christmas present, will he be able to resist the temptation of the fluffy cuteness? (I mean, who can resist that, really?)

Horse lovers, take heed.

2008-10-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Beth, and I'm a librarian. But I started out as a lover of horses! I shall always be a lover of horses and books!

Growing up, my book shelf was home to all of the Walter Farley “stallion” books- Black and Island; Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty and Marguerite Henry’s books- Misty was my favorite- maybe because as a child I got to go to Chincoteague Island and take part in Pony Penning Day.

The horses in my life had names like Why Wait, Oh Daddy, On Easy Street, Sandstorm, and Tar Baby not Flame, The Black, Merrylegs or Beauty. I recall how they were often woven into my daydreams- Alec and the Black and me and On Easy Street galloping along a deserted beach near my home. While watching Why Wait, Sandstorm and Tar Baby grazing nose to nose in the pasture, I was reminded of passages from Black Beauty.

If you are a lover of horses and of books you, too, might enjoy…

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
This story comes “straight from the horse’s mouth!” Joey, the horse, recounts his life story- the idyllic days as a beloved pet on an English farm, the horrifying events he endured as a cavalry horse during World War I and the heartwarming reunion with his first master.
This story reminds me of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty.

A Blu e for Beware by Jessie Haas
In this sequel to Beware the Mare, Lily and Beware are ready to put themselves to the test- entering a show for the first time. Lily wonders if all her hard work will be rewarded , "can I keep Beware in check around other horses, will she take the jumps or refuse?” Young readers will be cheering Lily and Beware as they prove themselves inside the show ring.

My Kingdom for a Horse : an anthology of poems about horses edited by Betty Ann Schwartz
The reader encounters a herd of horses- real and imaginary. Poems celebrate the race horse, the farm horse, the work horse, the circus horse and the new born foal. The poets include Robert Frost, Jack Prelutsky, Walt Whitman and William Shakespeare.

Hello Friends!

2008-10-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hello All Girls of the World!
I am Leah, one of the Senior Library Assistants here in the Spangler Library at ImaginOn.
I am so glad that Ellen has started this blog because it's been long overdue!
I wanted to give a short intro about myself so, all of you in Girls Read, Girls Rule(The World) land can get to know me.
I am the resident music maven here in Spangler. I play viola, violin, piano and sing. I am also the director for the awesome band The Imagineers. It's a band we have put together here at the library and we are always looking for new members! Check out us playing Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

I also love acting, poetry and of course....READING!!!

Some of my favorite books include The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence and The Royal Diaries Series by various authors.

I look forward to hearing about what you all are reading and getting to know you!

Leah

READ THEM!!! Or...something else.

2008-10-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

Greetings and salutations, girls। I hope all is well out in your world.

This past weekend was my first official Book Brunch and Wordplay Saturday, and it was so much fun! I hope you all had a chance to come out. The highlights for me were hearing Magaret Peterson Haddix talk about her Shadow Children series (Among the Hidden, Among the Betrayed, etc.) and hearing Josh Elder talk about his Mail Order Ninja graphic novel series. I have to admit I now have a bit of a crush on Mr. Elder.

I may or may not have doodled that above image in my notebook. Okay...moving on...

I MUST post two book reviews sent in by the lovely Miss Sophia. Thank you so much for passing them on, and I do in fact plan on reading these books when I get a chance.

Nicholas on Vacation by Rene Goscinny ****
This story is about a little boy named Nicholas. He's out of school and on vacation. This book is actually about two vacations, one on the beach and one to camp. It's number three in the series of Nicholas books, in which he always tries to have some fun (except Nicholas ends up in trouble). Even when it's raining outside, Nicholas almost always finds ways to amuse himself. I think you would really like this book because it's really funny, wonderful and amusing. Rene Goscinny is a very good writer. If you do like this book, try to read Nicholas, Nicholas Again, and Nicholas and the Gang. Read them! Read Them! READ THEM!!!!

So, Miss Sophia, I get the feeling that you want us to read the Nicholas books. :-P

Everest, Book One: The Contest by Gordon Korman
There are a bunch of kids who want to climb Mount Everest. But there's also this very stingy director named Cap Cizero. And while all the kids want to have a place on the team so that they can be the youngest to get to the summit, they have to be chosen by Cap, who's very harsh and stubborn. I really like this book, which has a lot of action (like the rest of the series). All three of the books in this series by Gordon Korman are excellent. I strongly encourage you to read them. I guarantee you'll love them. Or else...stop and read something different.

Miss Sophia, I hope you consider becoming a librarian someday. You certainly can talk people into reading some books.

All right girls, I'm off to go do great librarian things...but just so you know, I have made some "Girls Read, Girls Rule" bookmarks that are here at ImaginOn for whenever you stop in (and I hope that's soon)। I'm also working on making some suggested reading lists and creating a display JUST FOR GIRLS!!! Are you as excited as I am? I hope so. :-D

****Just a quick note, PLCMC does NOT own Nicholas on Vacation, so pictured here is Nicholas, the first book in the series. Sorry!

Hostile Takeover? No Way!

2008-10-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "Girls Read, Girls Rule (The World)." As the mighty creator of such an AWESOME site, I bid you girls hello and would like to say that this site is just for YOU. Consider this a clubhouse with a giant "No Boys Allowed" sign over it. :-) Heehee.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ellen, and I work at Spangler Children's Library here at ImaginOn, part of the PLCMC system. After hearing Carlman, Darth Bill, and Master Jedi Zack go on and on about this ridiculous hostile takeover the girls were planning, I had to start this blog.

All right girls, let's set the record straight. We never intended a hostile takeover of the Boys Read, Boys Rule site. We simply needed our OWN site. A place where we don't have to become "honorary boys" to read or write book reviews or talk about all the cool stuff happening at ImaginOn.

So now, here is your very own special place to come read about good books (I never recommend bad ones) and to share some of your favorites. Please leave comments, if you wish, and together we'll show the boys that we can all get along and maybe even work together.

Besides, if we're planning a takeover, and I'm not saying we are, it wouldn't be of "Boys Read, Boys Rule." It would be of the world...

With that in mind, my first two book reviews will be totally girl power.

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

A totally fantastic book that is a companion to The Giver (another favorite). It is set up in a similiar futuristic society, with a girl main character (woohoo!). Kira has a bad leg and is newly orphaned, so she is sent to live in the Council Edifice to restore the pictures on the historical robe worn at the Ruin Song Gathering each year. This robe shares the history of their world's past, which Kira soon learns is full of many lies and coverups. Will Kira be able to expose these dark secrets and change her society? Read this book to find out.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

Primrose is an eleven year old girl who lives in a fishing village in British Columbia. When her parents get lost at sea, everyone assumes they are gone for good...except for Primrose. While she waits for her mom and dad to return, she meets an interesting cast of characters, from her business not-so-savvy uncle, to Kate Bowzer, who owns a restaurant that really serves EVERYTHING on a waffle. Pick up this book if you want a good laugh, but also if you've ever believed something when everyone else doubted it.