Book Blurb: The Missing Marquess

When Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared—on her 14th birthday nonetheless—she knows she alone can find her. Disguising herself as a grieving widow, Enola sets out to the heart of London to uncover her mother’s whereabouts—but not even the last name Holmes can prepare her for what awaits. Suddenly involved in the kidnapping of the young Marquess of Basilwether, Enola must escape murderous villains, free the spoiled Marquess, and perhaps hardest of all, elude her shrewd older brother—all while collecting clues to her mother’s disappearance!
    Taken from amazon.com



About the Author

Nancy Springer has published forty novels for adults, young adults and children. In a career beginning shortly after she graduated from Gettysburg College in 1970, Springer wrote for ten years in the imaginary realms of mythological fantasy, then ventured on contemporary fantasy, magical realism, and women's fiction before turning her attention to children's literature. Her novels and stories for middle-grade and young adults range from contemporary realism, mystery/crime, and fantasy to her critically acclaimed novels based on the Arthurian mythos, I AM MORDRED: A TALE OF CAMELOT and I AM MORGAN LE FAY. Springer's children's books have won her two Edgar Allan Poe awards, a Carolyn W. Field award, various Children's Choice honors and numerous ALA Best Book listings. Her most recent series include the Tales of Rowan Hood, featuring Robin Hood’s daughter, and the Enola Holmes mysteries, starring the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. Ms. Springer lives in East Berlin, Pennsylvania.

Taken from penguingroup.com

Meeting Musings: Maniac Magee

Another great meeting has come and gone.  We had a lot of fun making the headbands.  Here is the link to the instructions if you missed the meeting. 
http://youseriouslymadethat.blogspot.com/2011/02/knotted-headband.html

We had all types of yarn and they turned out really cute.

Our new book is The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer.  It's the first in a series of mystery books about Sherlock Holmes' little sister.  We don't have many copies at our library, so if you have to wait for a copy, check your school library.

The next meeting is on March 28, 2012 at 7:00 pm.  I hope to see you there!


Gloria

Get Talking: Maniac Magee

Here are some discussion questions for the book.  

What did you think of the book?  Did you like it?

Who was your favorite character?  What about your least favorite character?

Why did Maniac start running?

Lots of people in the book have nicknames.  How does Maniac get his?  What would you want your nickname to be?

Maniac lives with all sorts of different people in all sorts of situations.  Of all of them, who would you want to live with?

What is the difference between the East end and the West end of Two Mills?  Is there any sort of division like that where you live?

Maniac is happy living with the Beales, so why does he leave?

Why does Maniac take Mars Bars to the West end?

Why doesn't Maniac help Piper and Russell when they are in trouble?  What happens because of it?

At the end of the book, Maniac is offered a couple of permanent homes.  Why doesn't he want to live with the people who offer to take him in?

In the prologue, it talks about Maniac's legacy.  What was it?

Creative Crafting

For a while now, I've been trying to decide what to write in the blog for the extra week.  Good news, I finally decided!  I'm going to be giving a little taste of the craft or activity we will be doing in the meeting.  

The craft for this upcoming meeting is going to be really fun. We are going to be making these.

I saw these on pinterest and loved them.  I thought "Maniac Magee has a thing for knots.  These have knots.  Perfect!"

We will have a few colors of yarn available for you to choose from, but you can bring your own if you'd like.  It uses a normal yarn that has been crocheted into a chain stitch.  I'll show you how to do this at the meeting if you need me to.

I'll see you Wednesday the 22nd at 7:00pm!

Gloria

Book Blurb: Maniac Magee

"They say Maniac Magee was born in a dump.  They say his stomach was a cereal box and his heart a sofa spring.
They say he kept an eight-inch cockroach on a leash and that rats stood guard over him while he slept.
They say if you knew he was coming and you sprinkled salt on the ground and he ran over it, within two or three blocks he would be as slow as everybody else.
They say."
         ~From Maniac Magee


Jeffery Lionel Magee had a hard life.  Orphaned at age 3, he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle who hated each other.  They wouldn't speak to one another and only shared Jeffery because they couldn't split him in half.  After years of putting up with it, Jeffery couldn't stand it anymore and ran. 


This Newberry Medal winner is about the town of Two Mills as seen through the eyes of twelve year old Jeffery.  He struggles to make a life for himself while dealing with acceptance, family issues, racism, and personal identity.  As he struggles he not only changes himself, but the world around him.





About the author


Here's a link to Jerry Spinelli's webpage.   Go there to learn more about the amazing man who wrote this months book club book. 



http://www.jerryspinelli.com/newbery_008.htm

Gloria

Meeting Musings: Dragon Slippers

I have a great time at the meeting last Wednesday!  Dragon Slippers is a wonderful book and I really enjoyed reading it.  I love Creel.  She's not afraid to go after what she wants and doesn't put up with bullies. 

As we were discussing the book, we made paper shoes and decorated them.  Here are a few pictures.

All the shoes inspired by the book

Diane's and Lydia's shoes

Another close-up

We had a lot of fun designing the shoes.  I'm sad I can't wear some of them.  They will be on display at the St. George Library so come and see them!

Our next book is Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.  It's in honor of Black History Month.  Come pick up your copy at the library.  Our next meeting in February 22, 2012 @ 7:00 pm.  I'll see you there!

Gloria

Get Talking: Dragon Slippers

As you know, our next meeting is in a week and a half, so I thought I'd go ahead and post some questions to get you thinking about the book. 

(Here's the obvious question.)  Did you like the book?  Why or why not? 

Who was you're favorite character? What did you like about them? What about your least favorite character?

How do you think you would feel if you family decided to sacrifice you to a dragon or something equally unbelievable?

Shardas steals blankets and food from others but only steals from prosperous farmers. Is it okay to steal from the rich, or is stealing always wrong? Explain your answer.

At first, Creel is afraid of dragons. Until she gets to know Shardas, she worries he will eat her. Have you ever had the wrong first impression about someone? Has someone ever had the wrong impression about you? Explain.

Creel refuses payment from the princess for her slippers. Do you have a possession that you would refuse to sell for any price? What is it, and why is it so special to you.

Creel dreams of opening her own shop. What kind of shop would you open if you could? Why?

Dragons are collectors -- Shardas collects glass, and Feniul collects dogs.  What would you collect and why? Would your collection valuable monetarily or does it have sentimental value? Or both? Explain. 

Dragon Slippers is the first book in a trilogy, and the book ends with the hint of a new adventure. What do you think comes next in the story? What do you want to become of Creel? Luka? The book's other characters?


These are just a few questions for you to mull over.  I'm looking forward to hearing your answers at our next meeting.

Until then,
Miss Gloria