The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson

Interest Level: 5-8 grade

Reading Level: 4.2 grade

Lexile: 660

Genre: Historical Fiction

Currently on pg. 32, chapter 4

This book is about the cholera epidemic that happened in London in 1854. There is a mixture of fictional characters and the people that lived during that time. The main character Eel is fictional. I love historical fiction but this is a heavy topic. I am hoping that there will be some joy in this story as well.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Finished the book

This book might not have been my cup of tea but I could see others loving it. I won't be reading the series but I will be purchasing the second book for the LRMS library. SPOILER ALERT - It frustrates me that Carriger never tells us what the prototype is.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Currently on pg. 221, Lesson (ch.) 14

I have now officially been introduced to the term "steampunk." Steampunk refers to a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. I am finding Etiquette & Espionage interesting but it has not grabbed me yet.


I like the characters of this story, They are interesting and I do care what happens to them. Sophronia is a tomboy in a time (the 1800's) when it was not acceptable. I like Vieve. She is also a tomboy. I can relate to the tomboy characters. Soap is a character that has great potential to grow. With a little under 100 pages left, we will see if Carriger convinces me to read the next book in the series.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Interest Level: Young Adult
Reading Level: 4.8 grade
Lexile: 780HL
Genre: Science Fiction/Historical Setting

Currently on pg. 38, Lesson (Chapter) 3

Fourteen year old, Sophronia is enrolled in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy. The school does not seem to be your average finishing school. The book is set in 1851 but there are robots, werewolves, and vampires. I am skeptical. Keep your fingers crossed.

Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Finished by book

Yet another text-to-self connection is made. Business owners give Willow some assistance with a community project she takes on. When it comes to paying them for their donations, one of the businessmen tells her it is part of the "favor bank." My brother and his friends are also members of this bank.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. Why not 5? Well, it is predictable. However, it is also highly entertaining. I chuckled out loud often. And I cared about the characters. I highly recommend this book.

Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Currently on pg. 201, chapter 34

In my previous post I said that Willow reminds me of my youngest daughter. On page 134 Willow observes Pattie (her friend's mother) talk with a women from a state children's agency,
The woman does all the talking, and Pattie doesn't respond.
She doesn't even say "uh-huh," or "I understand."
She is like me.
Silent.
I admire that in a person. The ability to keep your mouth shut is usually a sign of intelligence.

When Willow arrives at the Jamison Children's Center, she see that day's newspaper. There on the front page is an article about the car crash that killed both her parents complete with a picture of her Dad's wrecked truck. Another personal connection with the story. Something similar happened to me.

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Interest Level: 5th - 8th grade

Reading Level: 5.3 grade

Lexile: 770
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Currently on pg. 80, chapter 11

Willow Chance is a twelve year old genius who does not relate to other people well. I like Willow. She is a bit odd. She reminds me of a more severe version of my own daughter. At the beginning of the book, Willow's parents dying in a car crash. The book then takes you back to Willow's first day at Sequoia Middle School. With only 5% of the book read, I already care about Willow. I so badly want her to find a way to fit into society.

Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet by Andrea Cheng

Finished the book

I no longer have any ill feelings toward novels written in verse. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So far, it is my favorite book of the ORCA books that I have read so far. I highly recommend this book.

Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet by Andrea Cheng

Interest Level: 5th - 8th grade

Reading Level: 5.0 grade

Lexile: 790
Genre: Nonfiction

Currently on pg. 23

This book is written in verse from the viewpoint of 13 different characters. Each chapter/poem is in the voice of a different character. The story follows the life of Dave beginning with his being bought at auction by Dr. Abner Landrum, the founder of Pottersville Stoneware Manufactory. At first Dave digs and hauls the clay from the riverbed. Then Abner taught him to throw pots.

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Finished the book

YEAH!!!

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. It had its good points. I wasn't going to put it in the library collection but a librarian can not only get books she likes. I did some research and read some reviews. Although I will not be reading anymore of this series, there might be a student that likes the book. So, I will put this book in the collection and see how it flies before I buy anymore of the series. Thank goodness I'm done!

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Currently on pg. 310, chapter 18

Only 61 more pages to go. Now I have to finish the book. Not reading"Unhinged," the next book in the series. Not putting it in the LRMS collection.