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March 2011

Hi folks!

I hope you all are enjoying a ton of books. Anyone who knows me knows I like to read for quantity, and that is why it is appalling that I have been so slow to finish the Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1. Let’s just say that while Twain is very witty, his life is taking some time to get through. Still, I push on!

Anyhow, enjoy this month’s book selections below. I hope you are all reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me all about them. If you're an author or a publisher and would like to send me review copies of your book(s), please send them to the address listed for authors and publishers.

I hope you are reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me about them by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Have a wonderful March, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
Revolution: The Year I Fell in Love and Went to Join the War

Revolution: The Year I Fell in Love and Went to Join the War

By Deb Olin Unferth 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

Say that title five times fast. I am a sucker for travel memoirs, especially ones with “quixotic” journeys (“quixotic” is such a wonderful word, and I find I get to use it so infrequently). I had read some of Unferth’s fiction, and she brings her solid writing to this wonderful story of her idealistic travels throughout Central America in the late 80s with her boyfriend. Both were looking for a worthy cause to fight for, and, like any good travelogue, this one features plenty of bumps in the road that should garner tension and laughs.
Buy on Amazon
Transformations

Transformations

By Anne Sexton 128 pages Adult

Danny Says

Sexton presents a brilliant retelling of Grimm’s fairy tales from her own demented and talented pen. I think this might be one of my favorite new books to teach older students on how to see things from different perspectives and how to use poetry as a journal.
Buy on Amazon
Discover Your Inner Economist: Use Incentives to Fall in Love, Survive Your Next Meeting, and Motivate Your Dentist

Discover Your Inner Economist: Use Incentives to Fall in Love, Survive Your Next Meeting, and Motivate Your Dentist

By Tyler Cowen 245 pages Adult

Danny Says

My inner economist told me to buy this book because it was on the cheap rack at Barnes & Noble (you’d be amazed how many random, brilliant books you can find for under $5). Cowen writes like Malcolm Gladwell about principles popularized by Freakonomics, and I found myself thoroughly entertained and intrigued throughout this delightful read. Cowen also convinced me that I shouldn’t feel badly about watching only parts of movies or putting books down after a few chapters.
Buy on Amazon
Hole in My Life

Hole in My Life

By Jack Gantos 224 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Gantos wrote the wonderful Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, and I think this memoir makes for even more riveting reading. Jailed briefly as a young man, Gantos paints a picture of prison that is sure to make it feel like the last place any teenager wants to go. Essential reading.
Buy on Amazon
Just Like That

Just Like That

By Marsha Qualey 240 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I am not usually one who goes for drawn-out prose, but Qualey is such a gifted writer that I do not mind that she takes her time. Protagonist Hanna is a teenager whose guilt consumes her after witnessing the deaths of two teens along a lake. When another witness, Will, tracks her down, the two deal with the issues together.
Buy on Amazon
Fat Girl: A True Story

Fat Girl: A True Story

By Judith Moore 208 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

I have battled with my own weight issues throughout my entire life, and that may be why I could not put down Moore’s highly gripping memoir of her lifelong battle with obesity. I have so much empathy for her and so many others whose drug of choice is food. A great story for classroom discussions.
Buy on Amazon
Pop

Pop

By Gordon Korman 272 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Big print – don’t worry! Your boys will love this book about a teenager trying out for the high school football team and the eccentric old man who teaches him all he knows. Plenty of football for the boys, plus a great (and refreshingly deep) story of an unlikely cross-age friendship.
Buy on Amazon
St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day

By Gail Gibbons 32 pages Children

Danny Says

Erin go bragh! I just love all of Gail Gibbons’s books. She is very dependable with simple illustrations and texts, and this is a great book for students interested in learning the basics of this essential holiday for the Irish (why is it important, what do certain symbols represent, etc.).
Buy on Amazon
Your 21st Century Brain: Amazing Science Games to Play with Your Mind

Your 21st Century Brain: Amazing Science Games to Play with Your Mind

By Michael A. DiSpezio Children

Danny Says

If you are a teacher or a parent, if you breathe air or eat, YOU MUST PURCHASE THIS BOOK. I love it! It is loaded with great activities for kids (and adults) to better understand how their brains work. I’d like to send a copy to every Federal official in charge of education policy in this country, as DiSpezio never once mentions the relationship between standardized testing and optimal brain function. Very kid-friendly, and – for that matter – parent-friendly, as well. By the way, DiSpezio has loads of other great science books.
Buy on Amazon
Melvin Might?

Melvin Might?

By Jon Scieszka 44 pages Children

Danny Says

Not that he needs my help, but Jon Scieszka is one of my favorite children’s authors, and this is yet another example. Melvin is a cement truck and a constant worrier who makes even the trucks around him worry. The illustration dream team of David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon makes this an easy purchase for any parent or teacher.
Buy on Amazon

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