“No matter how busy you may think you are, you 

must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to

 self-chosen ignorance.” — Confucius

I'd Rather Be Reading!!

     Hello fellow Young Adult readers!  Well, it has been a busy couple of weeks around here.  Between school getting back into session for me and the kids and soccer, softball, volleyball, and running, I have not had as much reading time as I would like to have.  I do enjoy those few minutes even more when I don't get a lot of them though.  
     I'm currently reading The Final Four by Paul Volponi.  This book is a great choice for your sports-minded, reluctant readers.  The books looks at one basketball game and the lives of four of the major players in that game.  I have already suggested it to a couple of the freshmen in my Indiana Studies class this semester.  I only have about forty pages left, and am hoping the books ends how I want it to end.  Don't you love when you "talk to the author," before you are even finished with the book, about the ending?  I always have to chuckle at myself when I do this.

Book Review:

     Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different
              by Karen Blumenthal

     Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
     Date: 2012
     Biography
     YALSA: Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Finalist
     Lexile Range: 1110






     This biography of Steve Jobs tells the story of his life in a very fun and fascinating way.  The author uses three stories that Jobs tells during his 2005 speech, as the commencement speaker, at Stanford University to illustrate various life lessons. Today's teens use the products that made Apple and Steve Jobs, but how did the company and the man get to this point?  How does he go from a college drop out to a billionaire by age twenty-three?  I don't know about any preconceived notions you may have, but when it comes to Steve Jobs, you might as well throw them out.  I was really surprised about the fact that he seldom bathed, had a bad temper, and was not easy to get along with.  I loved seeing how the Apple products and Pixar came about.  Photographs throughout the book highlight Jobs as well as his products.  Through good and bad times, Steve Jobs reveals that he may not be the most laid back person, but he is on a mission to create lasting devices to make things easier for the individual user.
      Steve Jobs has made a huge impact on how we communicate, listen to music, and even watch movies. This great read for teens or adults will show them that there is no sure route to success.  However, with hard work, determination, and a different way of thinking about things, all things are possible.
     This book offers a lot of resources for the reader right inside the book.  There is a glossary of computer related terms, a timeline of events that deal with Apple and Steve Jobs,  a complete bibliography, and notes for each chapter for those readers who want to find out more about Steve Jobs.  Pictures throughout the book show how the technology of Apple has changed as well as how Steve Jobs changed in looks.
     Availability: Steve Jobs The Man Who Thought Different is a available at:
                                 Amazon
                                 Barnes and Noble
                                 iBooks

What was your first series?
I can remember getting the Little House on Prairie box set for Christmas when I was around nine years old.  I read each of those books a couple of different times, and was always glad I did not live back then.  I loved reading how they had to make their clothes and build their cabin.  I still remember when Pa got hurt building the cabin.  I love how in a series you can learn even more about the characters and follow their lives for a longer period of time.  I was able to see Laura grow up and even experienced some of the same growing pains all those years later.  So, the book "geek" in me was so excited to give these books to my daughter last year for Christmas.  She is in fourth grade this year and is now reading all the books.  We have talked about the books in general, the characters, and about life during that time period.  I love sharing these books and my love for reading with her.

Happy Reading :)
Jennifer
     

I'd Rather Be Reading!!!

Hello fellow Young Adult readers!!!  This blog is for lovers of Young Adult literature.  My name is Jennifer Cornelius and I love to read YA!!!  Although I mostly read fiction, I have found in the last few years that I do enjoy reading narrative nonfiction and a little nonfiction.  So, let's talk books, share what we are reading, and do some book reviews.  Each posting I will share what I'm reading, do a book review, and pose a question.  Hopefully this will help us find the next great book that we will each read.

Right now I'm currently reading Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent and  listening to Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.  I have not had much time to listen lately, so although I'm really enjoying Girl of Fire and Thorns, it is taking me quite awhile to get it finished.  

Book Review

Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust  by Doreen Rappaport



Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date: September 11, 2012
Historical Nonfiction -- Juvenile
Booklist Editor's Choice
Lexile Reading: 1030L

     As a U.S. History teacher I was very excited to read this book.  Many students are under the false impression that all Jewish people, "went like lambs to slaughter."  Beyond Courage is broken down into five different parts: The Realization, Saving The Future, In the Ghettos, In the Camps, and Partisan Warfare.  This nonfiction resource provides the reader with various examples of how the Jewish people resisted the genocide that was attempted by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party during the World War II time period.  From continuing to practice their religion after it was banned to actively fighting back and killing their oppressors, many Jewish people resisted in one way or another.  The resistance that most touched my heart was the number of Jewish parents who gave up their children to try and save their lives.  Those children who could pass as Christian were given false documents, a new name, and a new family.  Other children were hidden in safer areas.  As a parent of three children, I know this would be a horrifying, yet very brave decision to make.
     In order to ensure that young people get a more clear understanding there is a timeline of important events, an index, a pronunciation guide, source notes, and maps and pictures throughout the text.  This would make a great addition to any Holocaust or World War II collection.  It looks at the resistance of the Jewish people from a variety of countries during World War II.  It is important that students get a more clear understanding that the Jewish people in many countries were impacted by Hitler and the Nazi Party.  This topic is studied in various classes at the high school level, including tenth grade English, U.S. History, and World History.  Therefore, many classes and students would benefit from this resource.
     Beyond Courage is one of the potential books for the Eliot Rosewater High School Book Award List for the 2014-2015 school year.  Although I probably would not have read this book if it had not been on my assigned list, I am very glad that I read it.  I also plan on advocating for this to make the list.  This is the first time that I have felt passionate about an explanatory nonfiction book, which I'm still very surprised about!!
     Availability: Beyond Courage is available from Amazon.  
                                                                           Barnes and Noble
                                                                            Audible  (requires a membership)

Where is Your Favorite Place to Read?

     I love to sit on my front porch and read.  It's always best to head out there in the morning or later in the evening during the hot summer months.  In the spring and fall I will head out there as long as I can sit comfortably in a sweatshirt.  I remember one year I had the flu bug for a few days and actually spent the last two days I was at home recovering lying on my swing with a blanket and pillow.  I had been cooped up in the house for too long at that point, and just wanted to be outside.  

Happy Reading :)

Jennifer