BlogLovin' Switch

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Now that Google Reader is on the verge of disappearing (it will no longer be available after July 1), I have made the switch to BlogLovin'. If you'd like to follow this blog and see its updates, you can click on the caption above or on the icon in the right-hand column. I hope you join us!

Movie Release Dates

Some of your favorite YA titles are headed to the big screen. . . and SOON!

Check out the book before seeing the movie. You know the old saying--"The book was better than the movie!"And since many of these titles are books in a series, you can continue to follow the stories of your favorite characters long after the movie ends!

Like the Percy Jackson series? Try These Similar Books!

With the release of the Percy Jackson movie coming on August 7, the book series is once again a hot topic. This movie focuses on The Sea of Monsters, the second book in the series. Check out the trailer below:


So. . . you're a fan and have read all of the Percy Jackson books--and The Lost Hero series, and The Kane Chronicles series--and you're looking for something else to read. How about these similar books?

Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard:  This first-in-a-series story is much like The Kane Chronicles but takes place in India and relies on Indian mythology as the backdrop.

Emerald Atlas by John Stephens:  This story features 3 siblings, and while it lacks the mythological content of Percy Jackson, it's still close to Riordan's story.

Magyk by Angie Sage:  The seventh son of a seventh son disappears the night he is born. . . and a strange baby girl is found in the snow that same night. A great read for Percy Jackson AND Harry Potter fans.

Savvy by Ingrid Law:  This has been dubbed "the country bumpkin version of Percy Jackson." The Beaumont kids all get a magical power when they turn 13 years old.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull:  A brother and sister discover their grandparents are caretakers for a preserve of magical/mythical creatures of good and evil.

Read these already? Want more suggestions? Click HERE to see more recommendations. Happy reading!

Summer Reading Lists

You've maybe heard of it--the "summer slide" students may experience in their time away from school.

The good news is that kids who read during the summer months have improved reading test scores and often perform better in school. So, what are you going to read this summer?

This Middle School Summer Reading List breaks down books in Grades 5 - 9 and provides a quick summary of some popular titles like these:

School Library Journal offers this list for those of you who prefer to read something funny, like these:

Finally, Barnes & Noble offers a great summer reading program with book lists geared at preK - 6th graders. Join their program and take advantage of prizes, too! Take a look at a few of their recommended titles:

Still looking for more to read? Check out the Grimes Public Library and Dallas Center Roy R. Estle Public Library for suggestions related to their summer reading programs (and their summer activities for kids!), or you can CLICK HERE for additional online lists. Happy reading! I'm eager to talk with you in August about what you read!