Jessica Haight's Blog, page 15

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: At the Stroke Of...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We're staying up past midnight next week. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into Lizzy's middle grade book review. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Time to sleep; time to play—two hands strike this twice a day. Picnic lunch or ghostly ball? Depends upon which one you call. Day and night are in the middle; the start and end to this riddle. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Midnight!

Fairday's Riddles: Volume 1

62 Riddles and Illustrations

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Fairday's Riddle: The Hour of Power...

 

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? It's a magical time, if you can catch it.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Aven Green has gone to school with the same kids her whole life. It’s been a long time since she’s had to answer people’s questions about her lack of arms. Back when she started kindergarten she had to answer all kinds of crazy questions from other kids about not having arms. She got tired of answering questions, and started making up wild tales. The other kids loved her sense of humor and great imagination. Plus, Aven is a star on the soccer field, even if she thinks not having arms actually gives her an advantage. But, when her parents tell her they are going to be running an old rundown western village called Stagecoach Pass in Arizona, Aven is concerned. She will be moving across the country and going to middle school with all new kids. She knows there will be lots of questions.  Starting her new school brings a lot of changes. For the first time, Aven is afraid to eat in front of other kids, who she knows will watch her to see how she does it. Hiding out in the library leads her to meet Connor, a boy with Toruette’s who barks frequently and feels uncomfortable in front of others. Connor and Aven have an instant connection. He’s impressed with Aven’s attitude and can’t resist her smart and sassy sense of humor. When her days are tough she visits a tall cactus on a hill near her house and thinks about how the cactus doesn’t care about the events in her life, and this helps her feel better. One day she finds a necklace buried in the sand and it turns out there are other secrets hidden at Stagecoach Pass and Aven and her family are in for some big surprises. Will her family be able to make Stagecoach Pass a success? Will Connor and Aven get the courage they need to face their fears? Will Aven ever feel like she fits in at her new school? Are there any more friends in store for Aven? You will have to read this amazing story to find out.  

I've had The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusty Bowling on my TBR list for a while. I don’t remember exactly where I heard about it, but I am so glad I did! What a book! I really enjoyed Aven and her go-getter attitude. She really brings out the best in other people. Her parents were amazing, and I loved hearing the story of her adoption and how they felt about raising her to be so independent. The friendships in the story were awesome and very believable. I really learned a lot about Tourette’s, Arizona, and what it would be like owning a tourist attraction. The portrayal of middle school is so realistic. It’s definitely not an easy time in most people’s lives, and Aven had more challenges with her move and needing to get to know all new kids. I highly recommend this book to anyone in fifth grade and up (Aven is in middle school). This was one of my favorite books of 2020, and Aven is a character that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I found out there is a sequel about Aven in high school, and I look forward to being able to read that book when it comes in at my local library.

Has anyone else read The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus? Or have you read another book by Dusty Bowling? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~ L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Sticking Point...

Sorry! I thought I'd posted the riddle answer on Friday, but it must have slipped past me.

Fairday's Riddle: Sticking Point...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? It's smart to handle these with care.  ~ F

I may stick out a prickly thumb. To pick me up would be dumb.

What am I? Stop by Friday for the answer.

I gave you a clue! 



FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Margo's Musings: Will Sweetie Get Her Wish?

We are still getting curbside pickup from our local library. We make a few requests and then ask our librarian to select 5 surprise reads for us. All the books are awesome- but the unexpected books make us doubly happy.   
We were so entertained by Dandy written by Amy Dyckman and illustrated by Charles Santoso. We've read a few of Amy’s books before, so we figured we were in for some fun. Looking at the cover Margo guessed that the book was going to be about her favorite flower, the dandelion. She loves them because she loves yellow and bumble bees, and she knows they are so bright they can cheer you up just looking at them.  

In the story, Daddy is looking out his window at his meticulously groomed lawn when he is horrified to spot a dandelion. A weed! In his gorgeous yard! So he rushes out to get rid of the eyesore ruining his lawn. Just as he gets out to the dandelion, he sees his daughter, Sweetie, and she's introducing him to Charlotte, her new best friend. Charlotte is the dandelion. Daddy is on a mission to get rid of the offending weed, but he doesn’t want to do it in a way that will upset Sweetie. He devises plans to get rid of it, so she won’t know it was him. All his friends from the neighborhood can’t get over the horror of having a dandelion right in the middle of a perfect yard, and so they watch Daddy with lots of anticipation. What is Charlotte’s fate? You will need to read this sweet picture book to discover what happens when you want to spread some beauty.

Dandy is such a cute book, and I love the messages. Sweetie’s love for her dandelion is so adorable and Daddy’s obsession with his lawn is something a lot of people can understand. Seeing all the ways that Daddy tries to get rid of Charlotte had us cracking up. We were hoping he would change his mind and let Charlotte live, and I won’t give anything away- I don’t want to ruin the twist and turns of the story.  But I will say- there were some fun surprises towards the end of the book. The story makes you think about what you would and wouldn’t do for those you love.  It also makes you see that what one person sees as a terrible weed- another sees as a beautiful flower. The illustrations are fantastic. The characters’ feelings are expressed perfectly and the style really goes well with the messages embedded in the words.  Overall, the story makes you think about dandelions and how they came to have such a bad rap. People go to such pains to get them out of their lawns, and they have many important functions. Dandelions have health benefits to people, but they also make your yard healthier for other plants. So much good! This was a big hit for us, so I expect Margo will be finding her own Charlotte when we go outside. Of course, we will be putting in an order for more books written by Dyckman when we go to the library next week.


Has anyone else read  Dandy? Or have you read another book written by Amy Dyckman or illustrated by Charles Santoso? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!
~F

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Flower Power...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We'll be tipsy-toeing through the dandelions. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Make a wish and blow.
Swirl off on a wild wind now.
Yellow spot in sun. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Dandelions!



Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrationsFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Fairday's Riddle: Wish On A Wild Wind...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? A haiku for you.

YA Review: The BALLAD of SONGBIRDS and SNAKES

This week, Stephanie and Jess are reviewing the prequel to the Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins, because, frankly, it's brilliant. These stories are written for young adult readers who have a mature reading level. Stephanie and Jess have both read and loved the Hunger Games trilogy, and here are their thoughts on the prequel...
Jess: I was excited to read this book when it came out, and I was not disappointed. The prequel to the epic Hunger Games trilogy took the story to a whole new level. Seeing the games play out from the perspective of a teenage Coriolanus Snow was fascinating. He was such a compelling character to follow along with, and it was interesting to experience the situations he goes through knowing his true feelings. Coriolanus conjured up mixed feelings in me throughout the story, and there were times when it was hard to accept his actions. He had to tackle concepts of control vs. chaos by participating in games that tested the limits of civilized behavior, making him question human nature. The characters in the story are complex, and there's tons of symbolism woven in, plus plenty of references to the other books, which, of course,  now I have to reread. I'm hoping Suzanne Collins writes more books to follow this telling prequel. The story wrapped up in the end, but as any good book should do, it left me anticipating what happens next. Bravo, Suzanne Collins!

Stephanie: I received the prequel as a birthday present, which made the book even more special. I had been anticipating the story for a year, and it did not disappoint. While the Hunger Games trilogy is told from Katniss Everdeen's point of view, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is from President Coriolanus Snow's perspective, but long before he becomes president. Seeing the Capitol and the districts through his teenage eyes definitely explained a lot about who he becomes and why.  I have to applaud Suzanne Collins for making such a compelling story. It is an amazing thing to want to read a book when the main character has traits you do not like. There are characters in the prequel who come up in later books, and it was interesting to learn what they were like so long ago (and yes, I will be rereading the trilogy now). I also liked how different the Hunger Games themselves were from the ones readers are familiar with when Katniss is in them. I hadn't really ever thought about how the games had evolved and what it was like for the tributes back when the games were newer. There are some evil characters who repulsed me, but there are characters with so much heart fighting for a better world who I was cheering on. This is a book that made me think about relationships, decisions people make and why, and what survival looks like for different people. A captivating read, and I would love there to be more books filling in the time until we meet Katniss. If you are a fan of the Hunger Games trilogy- then you won't want to miss this one. 
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Core Vibes~~~

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We'll be exploring the vast complexities of human nature with a special YA book review on Monday, so stay tuned. See you all around the book block. ~ F







Born with the will for another day—an inherent need to seek and stay. Rise, then fall, and do it again; repeating patterns start to end. Mind runs on its endless tales, but outside body instinct prevails. Does chaos rule without control? Who, in time, collects the toll? Depending on your inner core, you'll find out what's in store. And what you'd do remains unknown, until you must stand alone.

What am I referring to? Answer: human nature



Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrationsFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED