Doll Bones Book Review

The debate was whether we get the title for a lit set or not.  The cover, though relevant to the story, makes one think the book is "girly" (even if the doll looks a bit creepy).  That sadly enough nixed the book--in which case, I had to read it because I wanted to know what it was about.  The actual plot of Doll Bones by Holly Black--three middle school friends embark on an adventure to find out the truth about the mysterious doll known as the "queen."  Zach, Poppy, and Alice turn the story from imaginary kid play to a full-on traveling adventure.

What helps balance the story is that its 3rd person perspective follows Zach, a middle school boy, struggling between playing a game using imaginative stories through "doll play" with his friends, Poppy and Alice or taking on a more stereotypical middle school boy persona and hanging out with his basketball teammates.  There's a moment of harsh reality when his deadbeat father trashes his dolls telling him it's for his own good.  I could feel Zach's anger radiate off the page...that's descriptive character writing.

The story progresses into an adventure because of Zach's secondary reaction to his dolls being destroyed, which is to tell Poppy and Alice he doesn't want to play the game anymore.  The next thing you know is that Alice and Poppy are standing underneath Zach's window telling him the ghost of the "queen" has spoken to Poppy and she wants them to bury her in her lost grave.  The journey the three friends find themselves on is wrought with mystery, suspense, and the challenge of facing adulthood.

Needless to say, I'm recommending it as a lit set. 


Image from blackholly.com.

The Fantastic Flying Books

"Can I have the name of the movie?"  I was asked by one of my students for the title, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," which is completely understandable since it's an extremely long title.  We had just finished watching the animated short and already students wanted to see it again.  One of my students thanked me and others kept asking for the title, so they could watch it again later or look for the book.  Not all of them had this reaction of course, but everybody has their own taste in movies.

For those of you who are not in the know with this title, it is a story about a young man who gets blown away to another land where he becomes the inhabitant of this immense library where the books can fly and have emotions.  It shows the intricate relationship an individual can have with a book...and it doesn't even use the spoken word!!  It is a gorgeous story.

I introduced the book first (if time, I read it) and talked a little more about the author, William Joyce.  I explained that he also wrote the book, A Day With Wilbur Robinson, which the movie "Meet the Robinsons" is based upon and The Guardians of Childhood series which the movie, "Rise of the Guardians" is based.  After I got there attention with that, I explained that they'd be able to go to the nearest library and look for the titles.

The majority of my students got into the film and even those that were questioning the lack of speech, were crying out when I stopped the movie early because we had run out time.  There was some good conversation generated by the film.  Many students wanted to know why there was no talking during the film to which I replied by asking if they could understand the movie without speech and they all shook their heads yes.  One of my students asked me why the people (aside from Mr. Morris) were in black and white, which caused us to look more closely at the film and notice that once an individual had a book in hand, they changed to color (and then we though about what that could mean).  

At the site, morrislessmore.com, you can find more information about the book, movie, and app.  The site also introduces you to additional films by Moonbot Studios.


Image from http://books.simonandschuster.com/

“LIM” Like You’ve Never LIM-med Before (Oh Wait, You Haven’t!)

Recommended for grades 7-12

I had to reread Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell—it’s one of those books that I plan on rereading every few years.  It was a book club pick at my work and I’m thrilled with just how much I enjoyed the book.  I bet you’re wondering what “LIM” stands for…well, I’ll tell you later.

Here is the general gist of the book: Vassar Spore has planned life out for herself, almost as if it was a science.  Some of her goals include, “Graduate valedictorian from Seattle Academy of Academic Excellence (with a minimum 5.3 GPA).”, “Publish the definitive book on (TBD) by age 37”, “Receive Pulitzer prize.”  Vassar is what you would call an overachiever (and I wonder why I like the book so much).  But, you come to realize she is a bit overprotected and sheltered…that is until her Grandma Gerd blackmails her parents (something to do with “The Big Secret”) into letting Vassar fly to Malaysia to trek around looking for “found art”. 

The novel only gets better…Vassar’s three girlfriends won’t let her escape the summer without arranging how she can pull off being valedictorian instead of Wendy Stupacker (the resident popular girl).  It is decided that Vassar will write a novel about her adventures in Southeast Asia—she has no idea just how unbelievable her novel will be! 

Vassar flies half-way across the world and meets Grandma Gerd, who is aloof, a non-planner, and artsy—the opposite of Vassar.  Grandma Gerd leads Vassar through several regions of Southeast Asia—Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos.  If you don’t read the book for the humor (and it’s RIPE with humor), adventure, and the personal journey Vassar goes through (if I used the word “on”, I feel like it’s implied she wanted to go through it), then please, PLEASE read it for the setting—Cornwell outdoes herself, from the dirt streets with the outdoor make-shift cafes and tiny-market vendors to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat—she definitely earns the title “travel junkie”.

Cornwell does a great job developing the main characters, as well—Vassar, who is so preposterous at points that even when her friends read about “Sarah” (the protagonist Vassar secretly pins herself as), they think she’s a “goody-goody”, which puts Vassar out a little, especially since they all LOVE Aunt Aurora (Grandma Gerd), and Wayne (Hanks)—Vassar’s guide turned love interest, who also happens to be a Chinese Malay cowboy (with chops and Godlings)!  Even as I’m thinking about what else I want to write about the book, it has me smiling and chuckling…

….I suppose I can let you know what “LIM” stands for now—its Grandma Gerd’s acronym for “Live In the Moment!” 

Cornwell, A. (2007). Carpe diem. New York, NY: Square Fish.