Book Review: How Angel Peterson Got His Name

Title: How Angel Peterson Got His Name: and other 

Outrageous Tales about Extreme Sports

Author: Gary Paulsen

Publisher: Yearling

Genre: Memoir

Age Range: 10 - 14

I don't normally review older books, but this one is such a gem I couldn't resist...

In a series of shorts, Gary Paulsen relives his young adolescence growing up in small-town Minnesota after the Second World War. If the movie A Christmas Story were crossed with a written version of America's Funniest Home Videos, it would be this book. Paulson as narrator sounds very much like Grandpa sitting in his rocker with wide-eyed (and eared) youngsters gathered around as he spins elaborate tales of the mischief he and his friends created for themselves growing up. The dedication reads "... to all boys in their thirteenth year; the miracle is that we survived it," a thought that will percolate continually through any adult's mind as they read or listen to this book, even as they can't help but laugh at Paulsen's boyhood antics. From unintentionally hang-gliding halfway across the county to wrestling a bear to a homemade bungee jump, Angel Peterson will have readers and listeners alike in both tears of laughter and expressions of awe. An absolute must-read, must-recommend, particularly for middle-grade and middle school boys as well as a wonderful read-aloud. Particular appeal for reluctant readers as a short, easy read with high interest and a quick pace. Once again, Paulsen demonstrates a true mastery of his craft. Five stars.

Recommended: reluctant readers, boys, humor, short reads

Read-Alikes: Guys Read, The Great Brain

Book Review: Retribution Rails

Title: Retribution Rails

Author: Erin Bowman

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Genre: Western

Age Range: 14+

Erin Bowman returns to the Arizona Territory a decade after the events of Vengeance Road with a new set of characters and another run-in with the brutal outlaw band, the Rose Riders. Reese Murphy, the “Rose Kid” wants only to break free of the gang that has held him hostage for years. Charlotte Vaughn is determined to rescue her mother from her evil uncle’s clutches and prove herself a reporter in the same vein as Nellie Bly, her hero. Though it’s hate at first sight for this unlikely pair, their growing friendship creates a strong undercurrent to this action-packed shoot-em-up story perfect for introducing teens to the genre. Fans of Vengeance Road will be delighted to reunite with favorites Kate and Jack, now married, expecting a baby… and in hiding from the rest of the Riders. Bowman has once again created an intricate, convoluted plot that is perhaps better than its predecessor, taking the time to develop itself well without sacrificing the high-intensity action characteristic of Vengeance Road. Reese and Charlotte are fully-fleshed with the quirks, motives and inner conflicts that will cause readers to sympathize with both of them in turn.

Recommended: high school, fans of the Western genre, readers who enjoy a lot of action and adventure, readers looking to branch into historical or western fiction

Read-Alikes: Walk on Earth a Stranger

Program: Origami Tsunami

Origami club has been a new initiative for us this year. The germ of it started about a year and a half ago when, on a whim, I put up detailed 3D directions for several simple origami models in our Teen Room, along with origami paper and a small display of books. We received some feedback in our suggestions box asking for more origami. Accordingly, we planned an origami program for the spring, which ended up overflowing with kids -- we had to turn people away. Several of the children and parents asked then if it would be a regular event, so after some online research, our Origami Tsunami club was born.

Origami Tsunami meets on the first Thursday of the month and follows the same format each month. I keep a running list of "members"; each new attendee receives their club folder on their first visit, while returning members are asked to bring their folders back. Some do, some don't, but they only get one folder for the year. I put materials out across the front of the room with signs listing how much of each they need to take. Generally we have the following out:

• Folders for new members with a Sharpie or two out for labeling them
• Plain copy paper, pre-three-hole-punched
• scrap paper cut into squares for practice folding
• black pens
• glue sticks
• origami paper in a variety of colors
• large or double-sided paper if a specific project requires it

The rest of the table space is for the ELMO where models and folds are demonstrated, and a book display our members devour after class and take home to practice.

We start class by learning a couple new folds and/or bases. The kids write the name of the fold on the top of a piece of paper, fold an example using the scrap paper, then glue the sample onto the paper. These papers go in their folders so they have a growing reference folder of models they have made. I also post my examples of each fold and base on the whiteboard so that we can refer to them as we're folding our projects. Today we learned the Preliminary Base, the Petal Fold and the Bird Base.

We were packed with kids today, about twenty, and we had an exciting meeting because I have started handing over the reins of the club to some of our more experienced teen and tween origami lovers. Last month, two kids volunteered to present this month, so at our meeting this time they presented the flying crane model and a jumping frog model. I based the folds and bases for the first part of class today on the models they demonstrated to me when they volunteered to teach. Both presented so well; I was really tickled with how seriously they took their presentation and how careful they were to make sure everyone was able to follow along. I didn't even need any of my fallback models! Moms were really excited about their boys having the opportunity to present to a crowd also, so it added some nice public speaking and direction-creating practice in a real-world setting. Value added! And we have a new member who asked to do a demonstration next month. I've been looking at ways to make the club more sustainable for all levels of folders -- this is a great step in that direction, I think. 

Book Review: The Boomerang Effect

Title: The Boomerang Effect

Author: Gordon Jack

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Humor

Age Range: 14+

A book that succeeds in being both humorous and reflective, The Boomerang Effect was a fun and enjoyable read. Lawrence is a funny and sympathetic character who grows significantly through the book. I appreciated that he suffered through several temptations to go back to his drug habits, even if they felt slightly superficial. Lawrence as a character may not be entirely believable as the popular, wealthy party boy reformed, but readers will appreciate his struggles to turn a new leaf while everyone around him is determined to pigeonhole him into his old roles. And it has a mad attack chicken... who doesn't love those?

Recommended: high school, boys, reluctant readers, readers who enjoy comedy.
Read-alikes: Carter Finally Gets It, Don't Get Caught

Library Display: Reading Makes You Bright!

January is finally here! With it comes a new way to connect, communicate and contribute to my professional community. I am the teen and tween services librarian for one of the busiest libraries in the state of Oklahoma, and our library is always bustling!

January is packed full of activities. Origami club is continuing, and our journal art/maker program is coming up the week after. We'll also be trying our hand at a Minute to Win It program and fill out the month with a HUGE movie release event for The Death Cure. I'm a little overwhelmed!

I started the month off by modifying a beautiful display from Literary Hoots. It was a holiday display but everyone likes glitter and lights in the new year, right? It was a great spot for all my bottom-shelf books that are less than two years old but not circulating well.

We have a bit of an odd display space in the teen area, but this sign can be seen from almost all over the library when it's on. Very attention-getting! Although Ms. Emily was right about the glitter; our office may never be the same.

Here's a close-up of the top. I adore bamboo skewers for displaying things in odd spots. They're cheap and help add dimension and interest quickly.

I think if I were going to do this again, I would adjust the proportions slightly (and make sure my letters were straighter!). It was a fun display to make -- I used foam core, cardstock and corrugated cardboard for the big letters.