WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #7

ALABAMA MOON by Watt Key is a book my students occasionally read. Not many choose it, but those who do read it, really enjoy it.

They tell me it is a great survival story about a boy who has to make it on his own after his father dies. It is often compared to Gary Paulsen's HATCHET.

I've got to get around to reading it soon.

REPLACING "TEASER TUESDAY" WITH "TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS"

I'm going to start a new Tuesday post called TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS in which I post the opening lines of the book I'm currently reading.

Every reader is different, but I know the opening lines of a book can make or break my reading experience. By sharing the first few lines of what I'm reading, perhaps I can tempt readers to check out a book they might otherwise have passed up.

Without further ado, here's TUESDAY'S TEMPTING TIDBITS #1. (I think you'll like it.)

SWIM THE FLY
by Don Calame

"Movies don't count," Cooper says. "The Internet doesn't count. Magazines don't count. A real, live naked girl. That's the deal. That's our goal for this summer."

SURF MULES by G. Neri

It's almost time for graduation, and Logan Tom has no idea what he wants to do. He's been accepted at one university but has no clue how he'll pay for it or if he even wants to go. All he really wants to do is surf.

Surfing with his buddies since age eight, Logan only feels alive in the ocean. Lately, his relationships have been pretty rocky, but he's hoping that will turn around. Z-Boy, Fin , and Logan have always been known as the three Musketeers, at least until the blow up with Fin. A girl was at the center of the fight, and Logan will forever have regrets. Those regrets are compounded by the fact that mere days before graduation, Fin is killed in a surfing accident that leaves Logan with doubts about his own life and whether having future plans even matters.

With money a huge obstacle in the way of college plans and relaxing days filled with surfing, Logan lets his friend Z-Boy talk him into a dangerous situation. With Fin gone, the two remaining friends are approached to replace him as "mules" transporting 100 pounds of marijuana from California to Orlando, Florida. Logan knows the decision is unwise, but the promise of quick cash is too much to resist.

A local distributor sets the plan in action and the two young men head off in a Crown Victoria for the two and a half day cross-country trip. Logan knows that with Z-Boy along almost anything is possible, and it doesn't take long for things to go terribly wrong. He just hopes they can successfully complete the delivery and return home safely.

Author G. Neri not only brings the world of surfing to life for his readers, but he also defines the true meaning of friendship and commitment. Readers will sympathize with the emotionally torn Logan, and at the same time enjoy the crazy antics of Z-Boy. The surfing backdrop provides an adrenaline rush that compliments the more serious subjects of uncertain futures and senseless tragedy. SURF MULES has me looking forward to whatever G. Neri has to offer next.

THE RING by Bobbie Pyron

Mardie is 15 and headed down a path to destruction. Constantly living in the shadow of her successful older brother, she is seeks attention in negative ways until she discovers boxing. It might just be the thing that saves her.

As the story begins, Mardie's grades are slipping. She has the attention of one of the most popular guys in school and finding ways to party with him consumes most of her time. Even though he is making it pretty obvious that he is interested in just one thing, she's enjoying the jealous looks she gets from every girl in school.

Life is becoming a series of lies told to her father and stepmother. Mardie's beginning to question whether the lies are worth it because so far she's had to call both her brother and stepmother to pick her up from parties where things have gone terribly wrong. The result - she's been grounded and lost her cell phone privileges. Being caught shoplifting $93 worth of merchandise was the last straw. Now it doesn't matter if she's invited to parties because her evenings are filled with walking the dogs and going to the local fitness center with her stepmother.

It's while hanging out at the fitness center, that Mardie discovers boxing. Tired of reading and doing homework, she wanders around and stumbles across a girls' boxing workout. Encouraged to join in by the instructor, Kitty, she's hooked. Convincing her father that it's a good idea is a bit difficult, but with the help of her stepmother, she succeeds.

Can boxing and training for an upcoming championship fight turn things around for Mardie? Will it be enough to help her learn to accept her stepmother, deal with her demanding father, and understand that her older brother is gay?

Author Bobbie Pyron takes readers into the unusual world of female boxers. She mixes the physical release of the sport with the roller-coaster emotions of a teenager. What the story lacks in depth is made up for in action and plot twists most teens will be able to understand. THE RING is a quick read that might open up new possibilities for those looking for something out of the ordinary.

WEDNESDAY'S WISH I HAD THE TIME #6

I'm a huge fan of Sharon Draper. I have been since I first read TEARS OF A TIGER.

My Wish I Had the Time pick this week is FIRE FROM THE ROCK. It's been on my classroom shelf for quite some time, and the students tell me it's very good, but so far there haven't been enough hours in my day to get to it.

Here's a summary courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

"Sylvia is shocked and confused when she is asked to be one of the first black students to attend Central High School, which is scheduled to be integrated in the fall of 1957, whether people like it or not. Before Sylvia makes her final decision, smoldering racial tension in the town ignites into flame. When the smoke clears, she sees clearly that nothing is going to stop the change from coming. It is up to her generation to make it happen, in as many different ways as there are colors in the world."

Hopefully, I'll get around to it soon.

EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL by Simmone Howell

Riley Rose is not what you would call a "happy camper." Her father and the woman she calls her "stepmother in training" have decided to ship her off for a week to a Christian camp. They want to have a little vacation getaway, and Riley's recent less-than-perfect behavior is just the thing they need to justify sending her off to the desert for an attitude adjustment.

Ever since her mother died suddenly of cancer, Riley has struggled to keep herself together. Overweight and rebellious, she has used crazy hairstyles, suggestive clothing, and troublesome behavior to mask her real feelings. With a bold and sassy exterior, she is able to hide the fact that she misses her mother more than she thought possible.

When Riley arrives at Spirit Ranch, she can't believe her bad luck. No cell phones, computers, or means of communicating with the outside world for seven days. Most of the kids at the camp are under the age of twelve, leaving Riley in a small group of teens who are veterans of the camp experience. She declares herself an atheist and is determined to avoid not only Bible related activities but also all physical challenges, social interaction, and friendships of any kind.

In the odd mix of campers, is Dylan, a wheelchair bound paraplegic. Still bitter and angry because of some accident that robbed him of the use of his legs, Dylan spends as much time avoid camp activities as Riley which results in the two spending increasing time together. Both have plans of escape that end in disappointment, leaving them with one more thing in common.

EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL takes readers into a week in the lives of Riley and Dylan. As they share their personal baggage, a friendship develops and an unbreakable trust they don't feel with anyone else. Riley's natural cockiness and Dylan's negativity may irritate the camp staff, but will no doubt intrigue readers as they bend and break the rules to gain a bit of freedom and release. This irreverent week at Spirit Ranch is definitely a worthwhile read.

"TEASER TUESDAY"

Here's my TEASER TUESDAY #19.

Once again the idea is the original creation of SHOULD BE READING.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Let the book fall open to a random page.
3. Share with us two "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
4. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from. That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
5. Please avoid spoilers!
6. Than add yours to the list at Should Be Reading.

EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL
by Simmone Howell
p. 21
"I'm an atheist, agnostic, irreligious." I couldn't remember the right word, but what I meant was this: I'm different. I don't belong here."