Using Google Apps to Manage Your Student Work: Infinite Campus Ad Hoc Reporting, gClassFolders, Doctopus, and Goobric

We haven't posted in a while because we've been busy! One of the things we've been busy doing is helping teachers with 1:1 dilemmas. Below is one example.

How do teachers manage the plethora of files shared with them in Google Drive? The directions below will show you how to do the following:

• Extract student information (first name, last name, school email, class name, and period) to a spreadsheet using Infinite Campus Ad Hoc reporting
• Create a Google Drive assignment folder automatically for each student in your classes (gClassFolders)
• Send documents in Google Drive directly to each student's individual Google Drive folder automatically (Doctopus)
• Grade student work right in Google Drive using an actual rubric (Goobric)

You can find more information about these processes at http://youpd.org and on Google+ in the gClassFolders community.

Summer Reading: Free Audiobooks Each Week with SYNC

As the school year comes to a close, we must find ways to supplement our literary proclivities. Luckily, Audio File Magazine has a great program online called SYNC. They are at it again this year by releasing two audiobooks for download each week throughout the summer. What's the best part? IT'S FREE! Click on the picture below to view the schedule of books you can download. Enjoy!

Image by www.audiobooksync.com

Also, don't forget that the Wisconsin Virtual Library and the John Muir Library have tons of books available for download throughout the summer. Visit bit.ly/jmlibrary and hover over "Books" for more information. Have a great summer!

What Is Google+ and How Are Districts Using Google Apps?

Image by gplusinfo.com

What is Google+ and why should I care?
Google+ is basically Google's answer to Facebook. It is essentially a social networking environment where individuals can collaborate with one another through forums, shared pictures and media, links, updates, and more. You can organize the people or organizations with which you collaborate or follow by putting them into "circles" with names you choose. For example, I share certain posts with librarians I know from outside the Wausau School District in my circle entitled "Librarians Outside District." Therefore, only those specific people that I've put in the circle will be able to view that post.

One of the reasons you should care about Google+, in my opinion, is that it is an excellent collaboration tool that is customizable by you based on your affiliations and interests. If you're interested in special education, follow some of the big names on Google+ to see how they're changing the world of spec ed. Interested in assessment? Search Google+ for assessment gurus and let the updates come to you. Google+ at the Wausau School District allows us to keep our posts within a specified domain, so as long as our posts say "Wausau School District" beneath them, only people in our @wausauschools.org domain can view them. You can make them even more specific by sharing information to a particular circle of people that you have created.

Another reason you should care about Google+ is because of Google Hangouts, which is a powerful video calling service that allows nine people to communicate with one another live. Google+ is required to engage in Google Hangouts. One of the best things about hangouts is that they can be recorded "On Air" so that tutorials and collaboration can be captured in the hangout and uploaded directly to YouTube for others to view asynchronously. You can share your screen, collaborate on documents in Google Drive, watch YouTube videos together, chat, and more. It's a great way to collaborate with teachers across the district or the world, and it doesn't require you to download any software. It works on your PC, Mac, Chromebook, iOS device, and many cell phones.

Hangouts allow users to share ideas, documents,
and more with up to nine people at once.
Image by 9to5google.com

How are districts using Google Apps right now?
Google recently organized some Google Hangout sessions with teachers across the country for Teacher Appreciation Week. Some of them feature what teachers have done specifically with Chromebooks; however, if you remember our last JMMS library post, You Have a Chromebook Already--Basically, you know that you can do any of what these teachers are doing as long as students have access to a computer. All they need to do is log in to their Google Chrome browser.

Here are the featured Google Hangouts facilitated by Google representatives but featuring actual teachers. How do I know these are actually teachers? One of the English teachers in the language arts Hangout is my old cooperating teacher from Fond du Lac. Her middle school does not have a 1:1, but despite that fact, she has been able to do some impressive things with collaboration in writing and practice for the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Just an FYI, each video is about 60 minutes or so because around five teachers have the opportunity to present how they've been using Google Apps in their subject.

Monday, May 6 - Mathematics http://youtu.be/DG25m0gmYWU
Tuesday, May 7 - Science- http://youtu.be/z7blur1o2RM
Wednesday, May 8 - Social Studies & Foreign Language - http://youtu.be/XEB7AfJklQE
Thursday, May 9 - Special Education- http://youtu.be/nGdDEvZZZa4
Friday, May 10 - Language Arts - http://youtu.be/GP5IYVM32nU

Special thanks to Bryon Kolbeck for compiling these videos.

You Already Have a Chromebook--Basically...

What some people don't realize is that they already have access to a Chromebook, or what is basically a Chromebook, each time they use their current PC or Mac. When you log into Chrome, the browser, not just Gmail or Google Drive, you open yourself up to a world of powerful web applications and browser extensions. Unlike iPads, you don't need a Chromebook to learn how to use a Chromebook--all you need is what you already have--a computer. The learning curve for Google Chrome is surprisingly small because you've already been using a browser for years--most likely Internet Explorer. When you're ready, consider dabbling with Chrome and allowing your students to open up their web experience as well. If you learn Chrome, the browser, you will know 95% of what Chromebooks have to offer. One of the best parts is that the only cost to you is time. Don't know how to login to Chrome? Here is some help.

Below is a YouTube playlist that provides explanations of how Chrome differs from other browsers, and it even provides tutorials on how to install extensions and web applications. If you don't know what those are, have no fear; the videos explain that, too.

The John Muir library is dedicated to helping staff learn more. Therefore, we're spending time curating some of what we consider to be the most important extensions, apps, and scripts available in Google Chrome. Remember, if you can use it in Google Chrome on your PC or Mac, there is a very good chance students will be able use it on a Chromebook. 

Click banner above to view the JMMS Chromebooks Muir page

New Issues Books & Assessment Books, More Library Changes, and Google Drive File Management

We haven't posted for a while in the LMC on account of being a bit busy. Our Twitter feed, Scoop.it feed, and Pinterest boards have all been active, however. If you haven't viewed them, you might learn a thing or two from them. This post is multifaceted--a sort of menagerie of updates--without the animals. Here's a mini TOC:

• Issues Books
• Professional Development Books (Assessment and Common Core)
• Library Changes
• Google Drive File Management and Assessment Strategies

Issues Books

We just received over seventy books on important issues going on in the world. These books illustrate a variety of different opinions, and each one is framed with two based questions that speak to the opposing sides of each issue. Great text features, strong thesis arguments, and a combination of facts and opinions make these books great options to support a number of different modules in the curriculum companion as well as Common Core standards in many core subjects. In the fall, we will have three new issues database subscriptions containing thousands of articles on debatable topics. If you have only used Google as your research engine, considering looking at what is available at http://bit.ly/jmdatabase. We're always happy to help researchers find academic resources they can trust!

Over 70 new issues books added to the library to support research modules in Common Core.
Click the picture to enlarge!
*Original image by C. Jeffers made with FrameMagic on the iPad.

Professional Development Books
Thanks to the John Muir Assessment PLC we have two copies of two different books that may help guide you through some of the educational philosophies and strategies behind the shift to new, effective methods of assessment. These are important reads, and we're happy to have them in our professional collection. Furthermore, we're happy to offer a copy of Lucy Calkins's Pathway to Common Core: Accelerating Achievement.

Image by www.bn.com

Image by C. Jeffers

Library Changes

We have made two changes in the library layout since the past blog post. First of all, we've made a periodical section by the south exit of the library. For now, it is mainly magazines, but we'll be adding newspapers shortly. Also, all Chromebooks are in and ready for staff checkout. Meanwhile, we've repurposed the old study consoles and made some more private research stations for a quieter environment. Lastly, we have removed the old graphic novel shelf by the main entrance and placed all of the mangas, graphic novels, Orca books, Stone Arch books, and audiobooks where the magazines used to be. We're almost finished with the renovation...

Private Chromebook stations for quiet research
Image by C. Jeffers

Finally a separate area for all of the magazines
Image by C. Jeffers

Google Drive File Management and Assessment Strategies

Despite whether you're piloting iPads in a 1:1, experimenting with Chromebooks, learning new web technologies, or trying to bury your head in the luddite sands, one thing remains constant, technology is playing a bigger part in the way we educate. The grand finale Appy Hour of 2012-2013 at Muir (Advanced Google Drive-ing | Wednesday, May 15 at 3:15-4:30) will feature three Google scripts (gClassFolders, Doctopus, and Goobric) that will help you with managing student files, generating student portfolios and folders, and keeping better tabs on your feedback of student work. If you intend to have students share documents with you in Google Drive, you will be interested in how these scripts work. Here is a brief description of each:

gClassFolders

This script allows you to take a class roster in a spreadsheet and automatically generate assignment folders for each student. It automatically names the folders based on the students' names in the roster, and it even places them in the correct class periods in which you have each of these students. After you run gClassFolders, students can simply place any document, picture, word file, pdf, etc... into their assignment folders, and it will automatically be shared and organized for the teacher to view. No more trying to find student assignments in Google Drive.

Doctopus

This script allows you to create an assignment template, multiply it to all the students in your class roster, name the file based on student's first name, last name, and period, and automatically place one individual copy of each file into a specific designated student folder for each student. Furthermore, it places a link to each of the individual student files for that assignment into a spreadsheet that you can sort by class period or student name. Therefore, you can grade each student's work from one spreadsheet. 

Goobric

This script/extension in the Google Chrome browser allows teachers to attach a more detailed rubric to an assignment and grade the assignment electronically using the attached rubric. The rubric appears as a drop-down menu on the right-hand side of the browser, and once a teacher fills in all of the point values, a copy of the rubric is emailed to the student and copied onto the document that is being assessed.

You can get the May 15 Appy Hour instructions here. Have a great weekend!

God Grew Tired of Us - Book Review

image from http://www.johndaufoundation.org/

Dau, John Bul., and Michael S. Sweeney. God Grew Tired of Us. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2007. Print.

God Grew Tired of Us, takes readers on a journey of hope. John was born into a life of poverty and starvation.  At a young age, his native village was attacked by Arab soldiers. Dinka villagers were forced to evacuate the area, causing John to be separated from his parents. John was forced to head north where he met Abraham, a former friend of his father. The pair made their way to Ethiopia for a place of shelter, and then to a refugee camp in Kenya where he met with other “Lost Boys”.  Later on, John was one of the select few to immigrate to America where he faced a drastic change in his lifestyle.

God Grew Tired of Us, is an inspirational adventure that captivates readers with its humbling plot. This is a first person account of what it was like to be in Africa during a time of civil war. I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of perseverance and rising up against slim odds. God Grew Tired of Us also tells of John’s culture shock and his peaceful but lonely life when he moved to America. This gives the audience a unique perspective on change.

John Muir Library Gets Chromed!

listen to ‘John Muir Library Gets Chromed!’ on Audioboo

February was an exciting month for the JMMS Library as far as technology. We were lucky enough to receive a Reach for the Stars grant courtesy of the Wausau School Foundation, which enabled us to receive 13 additional Google Chromebooks for a grand total of 21 in the LMC by the end of the year. Nine of those machines have already arrived, and the integration into classroom use has been seamless. The pre-loaded apps like EasyBib, Diigo, Adblock, Select and Speak, and Google Dictionary make for a very enriching learning experience, and students are able to begin working much faster than before due to the ultra-quick boot speeds of Chromebooks.

Image by Google

Another thing we're proud to announce is the first app in the Google Chrome Store created specifically for students at the Wausau School District who attend John Muir. The John Muir Middle School app is ready for download in the Google Chrome Store, and it will help students cut down significantly on the time it takes to navigate to important websites associated with JMMS. Download it today for Google Chrome. Simply search "John Muir Middle School" in the Chrome Web Store or click this link.

The JMMS Library Hits the Chrome Web Store to Speed Up Access to Important Resources

Also, if you haven't seen it already, Mrs. Lind's 4-5 block has done an excellent job publishing a variety of book reviews as guest authors of the JMMS library blog. Students learned how to cite book sources quickly by using ISBN codes in Easybib's link to WorldCat. In addition, students learned to import pictures and create captions on Blogger, create labels to organize their posts by genre, and some even learned a little basic html to customize their posts. Give them a quick browse at http://bit.ly/14bUDwN.

The Scorch Trials- Book Review

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Dashner, James. The Scorch Trials. New York: Delacorte, 2010. Print.

     “Other sounds snuck their way into his consciousness. Thumps. The clang of metal against metal. Something shattering. Boys shouting. More like the echos of shouts, very distant, muted. Suddenly they became more like screams. Unearthly cries of anguish. But still distant. As if he’d been wrapped in a thick cocoon of dark velvet.”

     This eye-opening third book in The Maze Runner series gives you an inside peek on the world years in the future. Sun flares have left most of the Earth dry and desolate. Food and water is scarce and it's every man for himself. On top of the ravaging heat, a terrible disease nicknamed the Flare spread across the planet. The Flare is a disease that attacks the brain, slowly driving you insane.

     In the Scorch Trials, a group of boys called the Gladers are supposedly rescued from the terrible experience of being trapped in the Maze, as described in the second book. The boys find out that they are actually part of a big experiment. An organization called WICKED took them from their parents at a young age and wiped their memories. WICKED then put the boys in a series of tests. WICKED’s ultimate goal is to try to find a cure for the Flare by monitoring the Gladers brain waves. After they escape from the Maze, the Gladers are finally rescued, fed and dressed in clean clothes. Everyone feels safe for the first time in many months. When Thomas, the main character, hears disturbing sounds arousing his well needed rest, he knows something is wrong. Are the tests really done or have they just started?

     The Scorch Trials is a fantastic read. I couldn’t put it down as soon as I started. Dashner does an amazing job of leaving you guessing the entire book. I recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction and action. The Scorch Trials is one of my favorite books and I will be reading it over and over.

             

Sweet Venom - Book Review

http://teralynnchilds.com

Book Review

Childs, Tera Lynn. Sweet Venom. New York: Katherine Tegen, 2011. Print.

“Horror stories? Absolutely. To share? Not on your life.” 
Grace's move to San Francisco was supposed to be an exciting new school experience, but when she begins to see Minotaur roaming around downtown, her life turns completely upside down. Her long lost sister, Gretchen, was adopted by Ursula years ago, and has pursued her destiny of being a huntress. To be a huntress means to defeat mythical creatures, and dispatch them back to Tartarus. Things have grown quite peculiar until Gretchen acquires the reason why. While seeking out a monster, Gretchen stumbles upon her look-alike, Grace. Both girls are shocked with the unsettling news of being twins.When Grace agrees to accept her fate as a huntress, they begin training to fight the creatures. Everything is going smoothly, when they discover a third sister. The triplets need to unite in their darkest hours, but, the third sister, Greer doesn't think so. In addition to all the madness, all three girls have “admirers.” It’s difficult to date when you're chasing monsters through the night.

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs is a very intriguing book. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fantasy and romance twisted together. This breath-taking novel is sensationally written in a pleasing style readers can relate to. Sweet Venom is the first book in Tera Lynn Childs’ series, and the ending leaves you wanting more.

Among the Hidden - Book Review

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Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. New York: Simon & Schuster  for Young Readers, 1998. Print.

“I will never be allowed outside again.  Maybe never again as long as I live.”  I’m not a person who spends most of their time outside, but this was something that instantly made me wonder what could have caused this to happen.  As I found out, Luke Garner is an illegal third in a country that only allows two children per family.  He lives in constant hiding in his attic with nothing to do except to fear the Population Police that kill any third child, just for being alive, and also severely punish the family.  He hides in the attic with no hope in what his life will become, until he sees a flicker of movement in a house next door, when everyone is supposed to be gone.  Suddenly, Luke has hope that there are other kids like him, that he is not alone.  Eventually, when no one is around, he works up the courage to sneak into the house and finds...a girl.  He finds out that she is another third child setting up a revolution for third children to rebel against the government.  Suddenly Luke is caught up in a world that much bigger than he ever imagined, with fake ID cards and double agents.  They realize that to complete their goal, they will have to overcome impossible odds...and then some.

This book was a great read for me.  Initially, I only read this because I had to for school, but I was instantly hooked.  This book is actually the first book in a series called “Shadow Children.”  This is a great series about overcoming obstacles and trusting other people.  They are not long books, but there are enough in the series that you will be occupied with these books for a while.  I’m really not someone who enjoys dark plots, but there is  this is a story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I would recommend this to students looking for a series of shorter realistic fiction books.  One thing that  Margaret Peterson Haddix does well, especially in this series, is taking an extreme circumstance and making it into something you can relate to.  She is a great author, and this is a great book and series to get into.

Keeping the Moon - Book Review

    http://marjoleinbookblog.blogspot.com

Book Review
Dessen, Sarah. Keeping the Moon. New York: Viking, 1999. Print.

Colie doesn't fit in. Ever. First, it’s because she was fat. Second, for a reputation no good girl should ever get. And although her mother is Kiki Sparks, the woman that went from 300+ pounds to a tiny waist, it makes no difference at all for what people say about her. In fact, it makes it worse. So when Colie goes to her extravagant Aunt Mira’s house in a small town called Colby, she doesn't expect, well, anything.

But Colby turns out to be something good that she doesn't predict. On a mere coincidence, she lands a career at Last Chance Bar and Grill (where they have the BEST onion rings). While working, Colie meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, 2 girls that teach Colie what life (and friendship) is all about; along with learning how to appreciate who she is, and who she can be.

 I loved the book Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen! It has something for everyone, even if you aren't fat and don't have a bad reputation. She is a very funny author, and she adds a touch of romance to every book she writes (if that's a turn-on girls?!). So, if your heart desires a book that is close to home, and something that will make you laugh and cry, this is what you should be scouring for!

Lock and Key - Book Review

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Dessen, Sarah. Lock and Key: A Novel. New York, NY: Viking, 2008. Print.

All Ruby wanted was to be alone. She didn't have tons of friends, and was very independent. Ruby didn't want to rely on anyone for anything, and her mom abandoning her did not help that. It used to be Ruby, her mother, and other no-name men Ruby's mother dated.  Now Ruby has to go live with her "hands off" older sister Cora, who is currently living with her husband. Cora left Ruby and their mom when she went to college. Ruby has to live with Cora because she is not old enough to live alone. While there, she doesn't like it at first but soon meets new friends and even has a new boy in her life. Ruby slowly becomes a completely different person and has a new and improved definition of family.

Lock and Key is one of my favorite books. It is very descriptive and is hard to put down. The author, Sarah Dessen, describes all the events perfectly and is able to move events along in an easy to read way. Readers are able to relate to Ruby and other main characters.  After reading the book, I wanted the author to write a follow up book. I recommend this book to any girls looking for a "hard to put down" book.

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer - Book Review

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KidWorks Cited Grisham, John. Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer. New York: Dutton Children's, 2010. Print.

The novel, Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer,was a book that I really enjoyed reading.  The International Bestselling Author’s novel starts when Theodore Boone’s town of Strattenburg, Pennsylvania,  has the most serious crime in its history.  Mr. Duffy, a rich millionaire, is accused of murdering his wife.  Theodore, or Ted,  is very interested in Law, so he wants to catch every bit of the trial.  Meanwhile, Theodore’s mom serves dinner at the homeless shelter once every week.  Theodore helps a kid named Julio, who also goes to his school, with his math homework.  One day at school, Julio tells Ted that his cousin was a witness to the murder.   Julio’s cousin doesn't want to come forward, because he is an illegal  immigrant. Just before Mr. Duffy is proven innocent, Julio’s cousin comes forward with his story. It could change the whole outcome of the biggest crime in Stattenberg’s  history.

One reason why I enjoyed reading this novel,  was because it explained how a court system works, something that I didn’t know.  It was kind of like a fun way to learn the court system. The mystery  made the story extremely realistic.  An example of how the book explains how a court works would be, “At the top, in the center here, is the bench.  That’s where the judge sits and controls the trial,” and “This is the defense table, where Mr. Duffy, the man who is accused of murder, will be seated,”   That’s how the whole system was explained.  I really liked that.  The author also didn’t give too much information right away.  He made you read on to gather clues to the mystery.  I liked that about John Grisham , and will surely read more of his books.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth - Book Review

                 

                                       http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com


Roth, Veronica. Insurgent. New York: Katherine Tegen, 2012. Print.

“I open my eyes, terrified, my hands clutching at the sheets.  But I am not running through the streets of the city or the corridors of Dauntless headquarters.  I am in a bed in Amity headquarters, and the smell of sawdust is in the air” Insurgent By: Veronica Roth is a sequel to the book Divergent,  about a girl named Beatrice Prior.  Beatrice or Tris is in the midst of a surprise attack on the Abnegation faction.  She is what most people call “Divergent”  which means that she is not affected by simulations.  Beatrice wakes up one night in the training facility in the Dauntless faction with all other members being mind controlled by the Erudite faction.  The Erudite wanted to have more food distributed to their faction and more government control, so they put the entire dauntless faction into a simulation or so they thought.  Tris and her boyfriend Four or Tobias and a few other Divergent,  Dauntless members were unfazed by the simulation. Tris and Tobias fight their way to the leader of Erudite,  Jeanine Matthews.  When they reach she puts Tobias in another simulation which works on him and she makes him control the larger simulation while she attempts to murder Tris.  Tris escapes from Jeanine to find her mother who dies trying to help her to a safehouse in the Factionless Sector.  Tris and Tobias Destroy the simulation and try to kill Jeanine Matthews in order to find out what’s outside the fence borders.

This book was very fast pace and very detailed.  I loved this book and the first book Divergent.  This book never got dull and kept having small climaxes all leading up to one big surprise.  Overall the book was a great read and i would recommend this book to everyone.          

Magyk - Book Review

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Sage, Angie, and Mark Zug. Magyk. New York: Katherine Tegen, 2006. Print.

“Tell no one you found her. She was born to you. Understand?"
Marcia Overstrand, the ExtraOrdinary wizard who was fond of pointy purple python skin shoes, told this to Silas Heap the night he found a newborn baby girl laying abandoned in the snow. The girl’s name was destined to be Jenna. As Silas got to his door in the Ramblings, he was almost knocked over by the Matron Midwife, who was carrying the seventh son of the seventh son, whose name was Septimus Heap. She ran down the hall crying over and over one word - “dead!”.

Ten years later, Jenna finds out that her mother was assassinated by thugs working for DomDaniel, a Necromancer who wishes to take over the Castle. The Assassin is coming for her. Marcia and Jenna go to Wizard Tower and, at the entrance, find a boy, frozen and barely alive. They take him inside and all he will say is that his name is Boy 412 of the Young Army, an army made of children. Soon Silas, his wolfhound Maxie, and his sixth son, whose name is Nicko, show up. The sextet get out of the Castle, pursued by the Hunter and DomDaniel's apprentice. As soon as they were out of sight of the Castle, DomDaniel showed up. The sextet went to Aunt Zelda’s cottage in the Marram Marshes. Boy 412 found a golden dragon ring that he thought was magykal. Before he jumped off Wizard Tower years before, DomDaniel said to his former apprentice, Alther Mella, “ I will be back with the seventh of the seventh.” Throughout the book, they were helped by the ghost of Alther Mella. Marcia once said “Things have a habit of working out, you know. Eventually.”

In this thrilling opener to the series “Septimus Heap” by Angie Sage, secrets will be revealed. I could not put this hilarious and suspenseful book down and would definitely recommend this book to everyone who wants a seat-of-the-pants adventure, humor, a great plot, fantasy, and magic. This is the world of Septimus Heap. You want magic? This is Magyk.

The Fault In Our Stars - Book Review

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Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. Waterville, Me.: Thorndike, 2012. Print.

 

"Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death."

Sixteen year old Hazel is a teen struggling with the troubling effects of thyroid cancer which she was diagnosed with at age thirteen.  Living with cancer certainly hasn't been easy.  Hazel must carry around an oxygen tank at all times and now Hazel’s mom is having her attend a support group Hazel’s mother thinks will help Hazel become less depressed.

Hazel is reluctant to attend the support group, but finds herself going anyway. Hazel meets her friend Isaac at the support group, who will soon be getting surgery on his eyes that will leave him blind for the rest of his life.  Isaac has brought along his friend, Augustus, to the support group who had osteosarcoma and now has a prosthetic leg. Isaac introduces Hazel and Augustus and they are instantly friends. Little do they know that they will soon be on the adventure of a lifetime, but have many problems to face along the way.

The Fault In Our Stars, written by John Green, is a sensationally written novel filled with humor, tragedy, and most certainly suspense. However, it's not the normal kind of suspense. This kind of suspense is the type you didn't know the book had until you have rushed through every page. I was disappointed to meet the end of this amazing, New York Times, best-selling book.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a realistic fiction story.  It is simply amazing and John Green definitely hasn't failed to make another one of his spectacular, heart-stirring novels.

I Am The Wallpaper- Book Review

Image By: imagesbn.com

Hughes, Mark Peter. I Am the Wallpaper. New York: Delacorte, 2005. Print.

At the beginning, you meet this happy young lady as it it shares Floey’s recollection of
her thirteenth birthday party, in which her loving sister turns it into a Lillian party. Floey receives a training bra from her Aunt Sarah which is much too small for her by that time. When she poses for a picture while wearing it, her best friend Azra sends it to Aunt Sarah, with a note: “Dear Aunt Sarah, thank you for the wonderful training bra. It was sweet of you to remember my birthday. P.S. It’s just what I need, now that I’m in training.

Little did she know sweet Auntie would be coming, for Lillian’s wedding with Floey’s evil cousins. The worst part? The little devils have to stay for three extra weeks after while Sarah goes on a trip. Actually, that’s not the worst part. The absolute worst part is that her life becomes published. All of it, not just what an outsider sees, but everything; diary included.

I really enjoyed this book because Hughes really put everything in perspective. To me, this would be considered chick lit, simply because of Floey’s journey to discover and become her true self. With the way he describes Floey’s “situation” to put it lightly, he sounds as though he’s experienced the same thing. That’s probably because he grew up with his mother and sisters. I loved I Am The Wallpaper because it spoke the truth about how your family can do weird stuff, but everything works out in the end. "If all is not yet well, it is not yet the end." This was an amazing book!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - Book Review

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Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Scholastic, 2003. Print.

“I see a few friends--people I used to think were my friends--but they look away!” Melinda’s freshman year started out horridly. Ever since the night of the party, everyone at school has shunned her. Even her best friends didn't want to be caught with "her." So now Melinda has been left friendless and alone. Never mind the fact that her parents didn't know that she went to the party, or that she has sentenced herself to silence since the party. As Melinda fights the fact that she’s falling further and further into a pit of depression, she meets some acquaintances that help her along the way. The question is, though, are they really her friends, or just here to torture her?

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a must read book! This novel is filled to the brim with witty, entertaining, and sarcastic comments from Melinda as well as tear-jerking episodes throughout the book. This heart-wrenching story has a fantastic theme about identity and showing the world you aren't afraid of being yourself.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman-Book Review

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Gaiman, Neil, and Dave McKean. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins Pub., 2008. Print.

“The knife had a handle of polished black bone and a blade finer and sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, not immediately. The knife had done everything it was brought to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet.” The knife killed everyone in that house, except the baby that had crawled out the slightly open front door. He crawled up a hill, and into a graveyard where he ended up being raised by two ghosts named Mr. and Mrs. Owens. They named him Nobody, because he looked like nobody but himself. The ghosts gave him "the gift of the graveyard” so he can see and talk to ghosts even though he’s alive. Of course, he’s not raised like a normal boy. He loves school and wants to have friends, but can’t go for fear of being caught growing up without living parents. Then when he turns fourteen, he finds out the man named Jack, who killed all of his family, is still trying to kill him. Nobody decides to stop running away and finally face him.

I thought this was a great book that kept you interested until the very end. Sadness set in when the book ended because I enjoyed reading it so much. Fantasy books don't usually interest me, but this one was really entertaining. It was the first book I've read by Neil Gaiman, and I really like his style of writing. I wouldn't just recommend this book, but all books written by him. This book would be most enjoyed by kids in middle or high school. It doesn't really matter if you are a boy or a girl because I have met guys and girls that have read this book and they all loved it. I’m sure everyone who has read it, loved it.

Kira-kira- Book Review

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Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-kira. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2004. Print.

 “We got sent to bed without supper because my parents said hitting someone is the worst thing you can do. Stealing was second, and lying was third. Before I was twelve, I would have committed all three of those crimes.” That quote is from one of my favorite books called Kira-kira. This book is about two young Japanese sisters, Kate and Lynn. These two sisters are the best of friends, nothing could separate them. They would do anything for each other. When they move from a Japanese community in Iowa to Southern Georgia, their lives change dramatically.

Because of their move, their parents did not get well paying jobs. They work at a chicken factory, making minimal amounts. Sammy, the little brother of Lynn and Katie, gets his foot stuck in a bear trap, AND Lynn gets very, very sick. Everything seems to be going downhill, but little do they know, it will get worse yet.

I really enjoyed this book because the author, Cynthia Kadohata does a fantastic job writing this heart- wrenching piece. She puts the main character’s feelings right into your soul, and makes you feel depressed just like Katie, the main character. This book is for anybody who enjoys reading about how family relationships can impact your life. Try this book, it’s definitely worth it!

The Wednesday Wars - Book Review

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Schmidt, Gary D. The Wednesday Wars. New York: Clarion, 2007. Print.

“Mrs. Baker hates my guts.”  

That was the first thing Holling Hoodhood said when his father asked him how his first day of seventh grade had been.  Holling is just an average middle school student and he just knows that his English teacher is out to get him when she gives him “the glare” on the first day of school. This wouldn’t be much of a problem since she only teaches one of his classes, but the thing is, every Wednesday, everyone in his class leaves at 1:45 to go to either Hebrew School or Catechism, leaving Holling alone with Mrs. Baker. Holling just knows something awful will happen to him when she decides to reach into her cabinet in her desk...  

This book was probably the best historical fiction book I’ve read in a while.

Gary D. Schmidt does a very accurate job talking about many of the things that a seventh grader goes through on a daily basis, whether it is about that teacher who you are just positive has it in for you, or the apathetic sibling who just doesn’t really care about what goes on in your life.

The Future Of Us by Jay Asher - Book Review

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Asher, Jay, and Carolyn Mackler. The Future of Us. New York: Razorbill, 2011. Print.

Emma is in high school, and the internet is fairly new to the teenage world. She has just gotten a “guilt gift” from her dad, a computer. She gets a lot of gifts from her dad, I guess it’s his way of apologizing for moving away and leaving her. Last November, everything changed between her neighbor, also her best friend Josh. Ever since he brought up a question nothing has really been the same. Josh’s mom sent him over to drop off an AOL CD-ROM  for Emma’s new computer, and this is the first time they’ve talked to each other outside of school for months. Emma puts in the CD-ROM and logs in, but when she signs on it’s a website she’s never seen before. A website called “Facebook". A million things are going through Emma’s head. What is this website? Why is it here? She tells Josh about this website and they log in together. They figure out this website called “Facebook” displays their future lives, and every time they refresh the page a new future is presented. This book is about Emma and Josh’s adventure in a futuristic website and how their friendship grows stronger as they learn more about each other and themselves.

I loved this book, Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler really keep the reader’s attention. I think this book explains well  how some things can make or break a friendship and the ups and downs in a teenage life. I would recommend this book to readers who like a little science fiction mixed with realistic fiction.

The Rise of Nine

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Lore, Pittacus. The Rise of Nine. New York: Harper, 2012. Print.

It started with Number Four.  Then six.  Soon after, they found Seven, Nine and Number Ten.  They think they’ve found another, a strong other.  They have to find him.  If they find the last two, then they only have to find Setrackus Ra.  Unless, of course, he finds all of them first...

Numbers Six, Seven and Ten as well as the guardian of Ten had to find numbers Four and Nine.  They were split up and were trying to survive.  The larger of the two groups was tracking Eight and was close to finding him.  When they found him they tried to get back to America.  In the process, Six was captured by Setrackus Ra, the strongest of the enemy called the Mogodarians.  The Mogodarians are the enemy because they go from planet to planet and use it’s resources until they’re gone.  Once they’re gone they move onto the next planet.  These teenagers had their planet taken over and they’re the last of their kind.  They are trying to save Earth using their powers and hopefully, one day, they’ll be able to return to their planet.  When Four, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten finally found each other, they set off to the Mogodarian base to save Six..  Right where Setrackus Ra was waiting for them.  They had to try to defeat him without Number Five, to save Six from Setrackus Ra.

This book was fabulous, and as a result I never wanted to put it down.  The book left me hanging, so I wish the author was out with the next book.  I loved everything about this book.  It had every component of a fabulous book that you have to have.  It had romance, action, and a great plot.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action-packed suspenseful books.  I love the author Pittacus Lore and how he incorporates himself into these books.  The I am Number Four series is probably Pittacus Lore's most successful and most popular series.  He writes great books that kids my age can enjoy.  Read this book, before someone else does!

The Lightning Thief - Book Review

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Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Miramax /Hyperion for Children, 2005. Print.

“My name is Percy Jackson. I’m twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding student at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York.” That’s one of Percy’s smallest problems, though. Percy is a half blood. Being a half blood is dangerous, and his life is always in danger. His friend, and protector Grover has taken him to Half Blood Hill for protection. A camp where many other half bloods live. For years on end, Percy and the Half Blood Hill campers practice and train, hoping to someday go on a quest.

But matters get worse for Percy, he is accused of stealing the lightning bolt from master, Zeus. He has only ten days to return the bolt back to Zeus. If Percy fails this task, Zeus will unleash war throughout the entire earth. Percy will not finish his quest until he comes to terms with his father, Poseidon, solve a riddle which he has received from the Oracle, and most importantly, return the lightning bolt.

I was drawn into the book and was brought to life, because of the great characters and the writing style of Rick Riordan. The Lightning Thief is the first book in a five book series. This book was an amazing introduction to the series. This book and the rest of the series is an exciting journey through Percy Jackson’s young life and amazing quests. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a new and exciting series. Rick Riordan transforms this fantasy book into something very realistic and relatable.

 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - Book Review

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Asher, Jay. Th1rteen R3asons Why: A Novel. New York: Razorbill, 2007. Print.

Hello, boys and girls. Hannah Baker here, live and in stereo. Clay Jensen finds a pleasant surprise when he sees a shoebox of old tapes on his doorstep. Soon after, he realizes that Hannah Baker, a girl that committed suicide two weeks earlier, made the tapes, and that he is somehow responsible for her death. Through the night, Clay follows Hannah’s tapes throughout their town, and listens to a series of heart-wrenching events that caused Hannah to kill herself, from her not-so fantastic first kiss to her slap in the face. Literally. Clay’s journey causes him to learn things about people that he would’ve never imagined, about Hannah, about classmates, and about himself.

 Th1rteen R3asons Why is an amazing book! It is detailed, suspenseful, and addictive. I couldn’t put it down! Jay Asher’s idea about Hannah’s tapes is genius, and Clay’s reaction to the tapes is spot-on! It is brilliant and well-thought-out, and the characters are fully developed with personality and pizzazz. This book is an unforgettable read! Two thumbs up!

Catching Fire-Book Review

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Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire, Book Two. New York: Scholastic, 2009. Print.

 “No!” she screamed as she awoke from from her gory, terrible dreams, covered in sweat and fiercely shaking. Katniss Everdeen, a tribute from District 12, thought her living nightmare was over when she and her star-crossed lover Peeta Mellark were crowned victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games. She was wrong. Every 25 years, the capital holds a different kind of Hunger Games called the Quarter Quell. It’s different because the Capitol gets to make the rules on who goes to fight. This year, President Snow decides to send Katniss and Peeta back to the dreaded Games. Though Katniss is unaware of it, her allies and mentor, Haymitch, have made a plan that might just help help her to get the fire burning in the Capitol and control of Panem. Just what she wants to do; make Snow pay for his debts.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins was an amazing book! It’s detailed, suspenseful, and fast paced. So much can happen so quickly! New problems, new enemies, new deaths. The book is hard to put down, you’ll always want to know what will happen next! Characters like Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta are so well sculpted and formed, you would think they were based on real people, with real feelings and thoughts.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - Book Review

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Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride: A Novel. New York: Viking, 2009. Print. 

“I told myself it didn’t matter, that it was the equivalent of those couch cushions and cul-de-sac bike rides. But I still wondered, that night and so many others, what I was missing.”

Auden West never slept at night. At least not after the fighting started. After the divorce, she spent her days and nights studying to make her mensa level mother proud. Consequently, she never had friends or fun, and her childhood was deprived of many experiences.

Now, it’s the summer before college and Auden is preparing for it. However, Auden’s frilly and bubbly stepmother, Heidi, wants her to visit them in their small beach town, and Auden reluctantly accepts the offer. There, she meets mysterious and fellow insomniac Eli. Together, Auden and Eli go on a quest to live out Auden’s childhood and help Eli get over an accident that happened years ago. She starts to bond with her father and Heidi, along with learning that feelings don’t have to be pushed aside and not everything goes the way you want it to.

Sarah Dessen tells the story of the emotionally challenged Auden beautifully in the realistic fiction novel. She wonderfully illustrates how characters change throughout the story develop. The style of writing is easy to follow and flows well. I thought the novel was was great.

Hacking Harvard - Book Review

Book Review  
Wasserman, Robin. Hacking Harvard: A Novel. New York: Simon Pulse, 2007. Print.

"You want us to pull a prank on Harvard?!?" That was in fact what they were going to attempt. Max, Eric and Schwarz were going to put Clay Porter, a slacker, into Harvard. This was the most treacherous and costly plot ever attempted by these three high school kids. Schwarz, the insider,the student in Harvard, may even have a problem of his own. Even though the payoffs are huge, the chance of getting caught is more costly than they can imagine.The bet, for $25,000, is the motive to cheat their way into Harvard. But just when things start to roll along smoothly, things take a turn for the worse and are not good for these kids.

I thought the author had a good storyline and details to make the characters come alive as you get deeper into the storyline. Even though the plot was fiction and very realistic, my thoughts were that you would believe it wasn’t fiction if you didn’t know it was fiction. The details used in the setting were very descriptive and I felt as if I was there. The author really can grab your attention with the beginning and keep you reading with the middle of the book. The main character really can connect to you because the details let you get into the characters feelings and the emotions caused. I recommend this book to all readers. The book will keep you reading and satisfy your thirst for surprises.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Schmidt - Book Review

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Smith, Jennifer E. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. Print. 


“Hadley isn’t a big believer in things like fate or destiny, but then, she’s never been a big believer in the punctuality of the airline industry, either.” Hadley isn’t excited to go to London, she’s not excited to see her dad, and she’s especially not excited to see his new wife. When she misses her flight time by four minutes, she doesn’t care if she’ll miss the wedding, there’s always the reception. Does she really want to see her dad get married to a woman that isn’t her mother? Her answer: no. 
While she’s waiting for the next flight out to London, she’s sitting in the airport, hungry, tired, and completely dreading the next two days. Not only that, her claustrophobia has suddenly kicked in and she can’t leave her bags just sitting there. When a woman says it’s against the law for someone to watch her bags, Hadley stands up and takes her own bags to go outside, but then finds that she has too many bags for herself to carry. Oliver, a tall, brown-haired British boy volunteers to take that extra bag- and Hadley discovers he’s also on the plane to London.
On the plane, they sit next to each other and talk for the whole flight, and Hadley even finds herself sleeping on his shoulder. They also even had a moment by the bathroom, where Hadley was positive Oliver was going to kiss her. But, of course, the moment was ruined by a huge patch of turbulence. In London, while going through customs, Hadley loses track of Oliver, and she’s pushed around and shoved until she realizes that she will not be able to find him anywhere in that crowded airport. She finds herself thinking about him all through the wedding and reception; and wonders if she’ll ever be able to see him again. 
This was an outstanding book. Although I don’t really like books that are written in third person point of view, this was one of the very few that I actually liked. The way that it tuned into Hadley’s feelings and her memories was almost like it was in first person. The author was very descriptive and made it easy to channel into Hadley’s feelings. On the plane, when Hadley woke up and found herself on Oliver’s shoulder, I could feel the butterflies she got and I smiled with Hadley. Jennifer Schmidt did a great job writing this book, and it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.