Reading Resource Link

Thank you Colorado students and Miss Hill for this excellent Reading Resource Link. You live in a magnificent state. I love backpacking in the summer. Above is a picture of me near the top of Hurricane Ridge. The Olympic Mountains are in the background. For those of you looking for excellent Reading Resource websites, click here for several very valuable links. Enjoy your summer and don't stop reading!

Open Wounds

Cid Wymann, a scrappy kid fighting to survive a harsh upbringing in Queens, NY, is almost a prisoner in his own home. His only escape is sneaking to Times Square to see Errol Flynn movies full of swordplay and duels. He's determined to become a great fencer, but after his family disintegrates, Cid spends five years at an orphanage until his injured war-veteran cousin “Lefty” arrives from England to claim him.

Lefty teaches Cid about acting and stage combat, especially fencing, and introduces Cid to Nikolai Varvarinski, a brilliant drunken Russian fencing master who trains Cid. By 16, Cid learns to channel his aggression through the harsh discipline of the blade, eventually taking on enemies old and new as he perfects his skills.

Evocative of The Book Thief with a dash of Gangs of New York, Open Wounds is the page-turning story of a lost boy's quest to become a man.

This unique book is by Joe Lunievicz. Joe has excelled in many areas over the years – as competitive fencer, public speaker, yoga instructor, and improvisational actor – but in his heart he always knew he was a writer. For years he wrote early in the morning before work and then, after his son was born, late into the night.To learn more about Joe's book, click here.

Brothers of War

The Civil War started 150 years ago today. To help boys develop an appreciation for this tragic American conflict, try our book Bothers of War. Below is some rave:

"My son was enthralled with Brothers of War! He read it cover to cover in an evening. The material presented was appropriate for a pre-teen, while the writing and plot were complex enough to hold his attention. He (and I) can't wait for more of Martin's writing."

— Catherine Sovocool, Piedmont, CA

Boys as young as nine years old participated in this American conflict. We have no accurate records of how many boys enlisted for the Northern or Southern armies. Over four hundred thousand were involved directly in the war. National laws now prevent boys from participating in American wars.

Andersonville was one of the largest Confederate military compounds. The site has an award-winning lesson plan for teaching about historical places. More than forty-five thousand Union soldiers were confined here. Over thirteen thousand men died within the prison walls from disease, malnutrition, and gross overcrowding conditions. The prison is now a National Historic Site; and the National Park System has honored it by designating its hallowed grounds to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.

To learn more click here.

Small Saul

From the creator of Binky the Space Cat, comes this hilarious story about an unconventional little pirate. When Small Saul joins the crew of The Rusty Squid, it doesn’t take long for the other pirates to notice something is very different about this tiny fellow. He was born to sing sea shanties, bake pineapple upside-down cakes and redecorate, not to hold a sword and plunder. Being rough and tough just isn’t in his nature.

Small Saul learned at Pirate College that pirates only care about three things: their ship, being tough and lots and lots of treasure. Can Small Saul show these ruffians that despite his gentle spirit, he’s worth his weight in gold? With treasure chests of laughs, Small Saul’s high-seas adventure is a lighthearted celebration of individuality, perseverance and being true to one’s self.

Ashley Spires is the author and illustrator of Penguin and the Cupcake and the illustrator of numerous other picture books. Small Saul is Ashley’s most autobiographical character to date. As a child, Ashley much preferred picking flowers on the baseball field instead of watching the ball. She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

To learn more about Small Saul, click here.

The Celebrities of Summer

Thirteen year-old Will Ryerson has come to terms with the fact that he's not much of an athlete, will never be part of the school's "cool" crowd and is an average student at best. When he discovers that he's failed 8th grade science, he is devastated. He sits in the back of his summer course classroom and keeps to himself.

But when his beloved dog Riley goes missing, Will is surprised to find that a few of his classmates come to his aid. Equipped with cameras, cell phones and the latest gadgets, his new buddies help him find his dog, and at the same time open a whole new world to Will: the world of the internet. Using YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and all that the internet has to offer, the new friends soon find themselves at the center of attention as they embark on an adventure that will propel them way beyond the "cool" kids and into the ranks of celebrity status.

This unique book is by Ofer Aronskind. Ofer was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and came to the United States at the age of six. He grew up in Little Neck Queens NYC and now lives in Short Hills, New Jersey with his three sons.

To learn more about Ofer and his books, click here.

Dreadful Fates

Here's one for the boy who loves non-fiction. A darkly funny collection of stories about bizarre, ridiculous and completely unexpected fates.

Dreadful Fates is that very rare combination — a book all about death that gets funnier with every page. There's even a chapter about people who laughed themselves into the grave!

You can also read about unusual funerals and curious coffins, murders and executions, fatal mistakes and ironic fates. Plus, find out how the animal kingdom is out to get us, and much more. Read with caution: this book may prove to be fatally hilarious.

Click here to learn more about Dreadful Fates.

Invasion

Colt McAlister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.

After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.

Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.

Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn't just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.

This is a cool book. Click here to learn more about Colt's adventure.