Boy Grammarian

Something amazing happened at work today, which I just can't wait to share with you. 


I work in a concession stand at a movie theatre. Anyway, I was selling a slushy to a young boy. He must've been around eight years old. Where I work, we call these things Frozen drinks. We know what you mean when you order a slushy, but we order them and ring them up as frozens. Don't ask me why, we just do. 


I sell this young boy a frozen drink and before I run off to get it for him i say, "I'll be right back with your frozen drink, sir" (he may have been young, but he seemed like a 'sir') He decides to meet me where the counter ends and where I have to go to get his frozen *ahem* slushy. Before I can even hand him the drink he says to me, "You know, "frozen" is an adjective not a noun." 


I almost peed my pants he was so cute. I just looked at him and said, "you are absolutely right sir, how could I have been so silly? What do you suggest I call this drink for you?" Little grammar boy says, "it's a slushy."


Why is this so amazing you might ask me? I guess I was just so overwhelmingly happy that this young boy was so taken by grammar. I too love grammar. I mean, I'm no grammarian, but I do enjoy the rules of grammar. There is nothing more handsome than a boy with proper grammar and this boy was surely a gentleman. It was so happy to have met someone who was so confident about his language. Too bad he was eight years old (haha. just kidding. I have a boyfriend.) 

I found this image here

I guess all I'm trying to say is that grammar is cool. Teach it to your kids so they can sound cute and sway all the ladies with their smooth words.

Blast from the Past

You know those books that you read as a child? Maybe someone was even kind enough to read them to you. When's the last time you read those books? I recently pulled "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein out of my closet and was like "Whoa! I used to LOVE this book!" I sat down and read a few of the bookmarked poems. It was a great little blast from the past. The nostalgia washed over me and I was beaming on my way to work.

Do you remember your favorite book as a child? When is the last time you read it? I bet if you pulled it out now all of those wonderful memories would swarm in front of you. It's such a great feeling!


Has this happened to you recently? What do you feel when thinking about your old favorites?

Review: A Spell for Chameleon [the first Xanth novel] by Piers Anthony

A Spell for Chameleon (The First Xanth Novel) by Piers Anthony

Pages: 344

Published by Random House Publishing, 1977

Borrowed from Andra Lyn of the Unabridged Andra Lyn

Goodreads Description:

Xanth was the enchanted land where magic ruled--where every citizen had a special spell only he could cast. That is, except for Bink of North Village. He was sure he possessed no magic, and knew that if he didn't find some soon, he would be exiled. According to the Good Magician Humfrey, the charts said that Bink was as powerful as the King or even the Evil Magician Trent. Unfortunately, no one could determine its form. Meanwhile, Bink was in despair. If he didn't find his magic soon, he would be forced to leave...

My Review:

I think the first thing I need to say about this book is that I have never read anything like it before. It’s really, just…WOW. I loved it.

Readers are thrust into the world of Xanth – a magical and dangerous world. It’s especially dangerous if you don’t have any magic, which is exactly Bink’s problem. Uh-oh. Bink (and you reading it) is obviously quite anxious about his lack of magical ability. Not only is Bink’s life in Xanth miserable due to the dangerous teasing of some of his peers, but also if he doesn’t prove his magical ability by his 25^th birthday he gets exiled. You read correctly, exiled. Bink must cross the protective shield of Xanth into the non-magical world of Mundania. To prevent this from happening, Bink starts an incredibly dangerous journey to visit the good magician Humfrey. Humfrey may be able to tell Bink what his magic ability really is. The only problem is getting there isn’t easy when every part of nature is designed to attack you. Bink must be careful not to stand to close to a tangle tree lest he get strangled to death, or drink from a magic spring lest he be transformed into a fish forever. Really, there are a lot of ways to die in Xanth, but Bink manages to get to Humfrey’s castle in one piece. As it turns out, Bink does have magic, powerful magic, but since he can’t prove it to the king he is exiled to Mundania. Bink’s loyalty and fight for Xanth never stops even after his exile. The dangers of Xanth continue outside his exile. Bink really needs to discover his magic talent if he wants to protect his country, but can he?

Piers Anthony has crafted something incredibly witty. The first Xanth novel is nothing short of amazing. His writing is comical and even a bit ridiculous at times. Anthony’s wit made this book the most enjoyable. It is not your average hero on a quest story, although it resembles it nicely. The puns really make this novel.

The characters are like nothing I have read before. This novel may look like a hero on a quest story, but often the hero is undefined. When Bink has to defend his beloved country against a seemingly evil power, the protagonist becomes confused--is it Bink, is it the supposed evil force he his preventing, or could it even be some hidden magic that is putting everything in its place. I think Anthony’s confusion of good and evil was central to this book. There are many things going on beneath the surface of this book that makes me want to even read it again right now. I’m not certain how Anthony intended readers to interpret this however, especially among such comical writing. This may represent a problem, or perhaps I a missing the point. I’d actually really like to develop my thoughts on this aspect of the novel a bit. Have you read it? What do you think of the blurring of good and evil?

Something I read a lot of in other reviews was Anthony’s sexist nature. I did notice that the novel lacked a true feminine hero. However, this really did not disturb my reading at all. Agreed, his failure to understand women was a flaw of his. However, this particular detail did not ruin the novel for me. I think there are a lot of redeeming qualities to this book. On that note, I would love to discuss these thoughts further. There just is not enough room here to say all that I would like to, so leave a comment and I’d be happy to chat about this issue sensitively.

One more thing, the magic in this book is everywhere. EVERYWHERE! Really, I was enthralled. If you like magic read this book. There is your traditional magic such as basilisks, dragons, and harpies. But then, Anthony gets creative and invents magic in unlikely ways; there are fabric plants which produce clothes to wear, grass that binds you in your sleep and devours you, and even the dreaded wiggles that cause catastrophe by zapping invisibly from one place to the next and impaling anything in their way. There is so much magic in this book, it’s like the book itself is magic.

There is so much to love about this book. I can’t wait to check out the rest of the series.

I give this book a four out of five foxes. It follows all the traditions of magic and quest, but then twists them slightly in places for a comical and even satirical effect. This is a magical book and I am hoping the rest of the series is just as magical. I was initially confused by the blurring of good and evil in the novel, but am convinced it is part of Anthony’s scheme to redefine the protagonist and to question interpretations of what is power. Also, the issue of sexism really can’t be ignored. While I don’t find it a severe flaw to the reading of this novel, it had its moments of abrupt crudeness.  I hope you will check out this novel and tell me your thoughts. There really is a lot going on in this novel, and it is definitely worth reading.

Review(ish): When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

**I forgot the image when I first published, hence the update

Review(ish): When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

199 pages

Published by Wendy Lamb Books, 2009

Source: novel read for class

This is a book that I read for my Children’s Lit class this spring semester. It’s been a little bit since I read it, but I keep thinking about this story and wanted to share a little blurb about it here.

Goodreads description:

Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: 

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

  

My blurb:

When I was assigned to read this book for class, I was already reading another book for a different class and struggling to keep up in some of my other classes. I honestly thought this one just one book I would have to skim or not read altogether, which is not something I like doing. When my classmates began discussing the book in my next class, I really didn’t feel compelled to read it. They talked about time travel, and how the setting was only set on a three-block radius. Also, the main character’s name was Miranda, which for whatever reason I just thought sounded funny. Please don’t ask me why. It was silly, I know. However, I loved my professor’s choice of novels for all of the class, and I decided to just take a peek at the book. I ended up finishing it one sitting, which is uncommon for my hyperactive self.

When You Reach Me really embraces the life of the growing child. I think Stead was spot on when dealing with the struggles of children around the age of eleven. She showed the difficulty of making and keeping friends, she even discussed the relationships one builds with adults at that young age and how important they become. When reading, I remembered being that age and I completely sympathized with the characters. I even related with Miranda on a certain level in my current situation; through Miranda, Stead addresses the complexities of making new friends and understanding people who are different. Stead also addresses one’s self-consciousness of his or her class, and other complex issues such as racism. This book has so much going on it that makes it a worthwhile read for any age group, but it is especially comforting and challenging for children who can relate to Miranda and her friends.

Since it has been some time since I read this story, I will not be making this a detailed review. I just wanted to share this novel with anyone who is looking for something new to read. This book will NOT disappoint.

I would give this book a five out of five foxes. The plot and characters are almost real to me. And, like I said, I haven’t stopped thinking or talking about this story since I read it months and months ago. Oh! And did I mention this book won the John Newbery Medal for 2010? Way to go Rebecca Stead!

For those of you who have read it, I have an analytical question I would like to share with you. I did this for homework, but ended up writing a paper on it. Since I have written that paper, I don’t want to let the subject drop and would just love to discuss it further with anyone else who has read the story or plans too. Here is my question:

In Rebecca Stead’s novel When You Reach Me, how are cycles employed? The cycle of the key, first hidden in the hose, then stolen, then gifted to Richard parallels the relationship of Miranda and Sal, which was falling apart before Miranda even knew it, and then healed. What is the significance of this cycle and how do each of the characters mature from it? What does Stead say about cycles and things that had been lost? Where else are cycles found in the story? How are they different from each other? How are they similar to the cycle of the key? What do these similarities and differences argue about the stages of life?

Review: Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile

Review: Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile

Published by Candlewick Press in 2010

Pages: 81

Source: I purchased this book for my Children’s lit class

Goodreads Description:

Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile.

My Review:

This story, written like three smaller stories, is about two friends whose imagination allows them to enjoy their friendship and go on mini adventures together. The two are quite hilarious and caring at the same time.

Bink, the younger of the two friends is full of wild notions and demands Gollie’s attention. Her energy is contagious throughout the pages. Even her appearance was energizing. Her hair stands in every direction and her mismatched clothes and socks set her as the comical character. Bink is the initiator, she always devising new plans and creates excitement in the most mundane occurrences such as buying a pair of socks.

Gollie, on the other hand, is much more reserved. She is the mature one of the pair and appears more stable than Bink; She even looks after Bink in an older-sister sort of way. They make a great pair. Gollie is taller than Bink, has straight brown hair that is topped off cleanly with a bow. Her appearance, like Bink, suggests the type of character she is. Each girl has a real character flaw; Gollie is a tad controlling while Bink is stubborn. I was glad to see these characters in a children’s story because they were people I already knew and I’m sure children could relate to these qualities. I’ve worked in daycare, and I know children do NOT always get along.

As for the plot, it was a laugh fest. From buying outrageous socks, climbing the Andes Mountains, and ice-skating with a goldfish, the two friends are impossibly hilarious. What I love about this story is that Bink and Gollie’s friendship isn’t just a wacky adventure all the time. They have their disagreements and real struggles.

Also, DiCamillo and McGhee do not shy from a mature voice just because it is a children’s book. I think this is necessary to challenge children. For example,

“And I’ve removed one of my outrageous socks,” said Bink. “It’s a compromise bonanza!”

This book is the best friendship story I think I’ve ever read.

One more thing I would like to comment on is the story’s illustrations. Fucile did an amazing job with the illustrations in this story. Since the two friends are the only characters in the story, they are depicted in their very own world. It is sketched and left in black and white with gray shading. Bink and Gollie are almost always depicted in color along with any element in the story that is directly related to the two of them. Fucile’s use of color emphasizes the energy the two girls have together and of the imagination that bodies forth throughout the novel. On page 22 Fucile depicts the two girls as separate using borders around them. This is when the two were in dispute. Beneath this drawing however, the girls are drawn completely gray and the borders are lost. I think Fucile really understood the theme in his art because, based on the previous description I shared, the grey depicts the loneliness the friends felt without the other and that, despite their differences, they were the same in their need for the other.

I give this a five out of five foxes. I think Roald Dahl would be really proud of this story. Even though it is a children’s story, I enjoy reading it still and will most likely read it again in the future. The story is full of compromise, and the adorable and innocent play of the two friends. The story regards children with maturity and the ability to come to compromise on their own. This is truly a marvelous book and a treasure for any bookshelf. 


Want to read it?? Check out the Bink and Gollie website here

Review: The Fossegrimen Folly (Camp Lac Igam Book 1) by Michael Almich

The Fossegrimen Folly: Camp Lac Igam book 1 by Michael Almich

Published by Michael Almich at Smashwords, 2012

215 pages

Received as a gift from the author

available as an ebook only

Goodreads Description:

Shy didn't want to go to summer camp. Beyond the cabins in the trees and the new friendships, he discovers that Camp Lac Igam is different. Adventures and mythical creatures abound. 

This first installment of the Camp Lac Igam series is a rollicking adventure at summer camp that forces young Shy to learn to deal with bullies, believe in himself, and be courageous for his friends. When he discovers his special ability to see through fairy deceptions, he finds himself face to face with the mythical fossegrimen. The treasure hunt begins, but can they survive the consequences of what they find?

My Ramblings:

When I began reading Almich’s novel, I was nervous about reading a book whose target audience was middle-grade boys; I thought I would get bored reading it, but to my great surprise the story was incredibly entertaining.

The Fossegrimen Folly is a great story for any reader looking for a fast-paced story. Camp Lac Igam is a place I think ANY person would love to visit. It is a place filled with magic, danger, and trap doors. Shy is a wonderful character that I related to and sympathized with, and I think Almich did an excellent job with the plot and characters of this novel.

There are so many things I would like to say about this book, but I’ll try to keep this review short. What I liked best was that I immediately fell in love with Camp Lac Igam. I want to live in the Lake cabins with the other girls and experience the secret passageways between cabins like in the Forest cabins. I was also very happy with the Fey; Almich did a great job portraying the good and scary aspect of the Fey (mythical creatures) and their interactions with humans. The fairies and monsters fit so well in the scenes that Almich created. There was even a nice little bit of folklore history sprinkled in the story, which I think any reader can appreciate.

I also loved the protagonist, Shy. Shy is a perfect hero because of his modesty, braveness, and even his flaws. Much of the conflict is created by Shy’s ability to see through the Fey’s “glamour.” However, Shy learns that is special ability is both a blessing and a curse, and if he does not listen to the advice of others he could very well start a war. I liked Shy because he grew throughout the novel and as a reader I was glad to witness his steps toward maturity. Even if he did make a few mistakes along the way, that only makes Shy more relatable.

There are many other wonderful things about this novel, but you will just have to read it to find out.

What I didn’t like was the number of grammatical errors. As unfortunate as it is, too many grammar mistakes can completely halt one’s reading and cause unwanted disruptions. I did experience a few of these disruptions, but the plot was compelling enough to move me past the mistake. Also, the number of exclamations in this story was dizzying, I felt like I had to be yelling half the sentences in my head; it was tiring. I began to ignore all the enthusiasm in the novel because I was distracted from the story. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think swallowing toothpaste is really exciting. Anyway, that is a bit picky, but it did disrupt my reading.

Also, as much as I loved each of the characters, I was hoping to know a little more about some of the supporting characters and even Shy. I think each character had his or her fun quirks, but I think the characters could have been created with a little more depth. However, on that note, I’m sure the sequels will reveal more and more about the characters.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good adventure story. It is especially well written for boys around the age of 11. I know I will be waiting for the sequel to this book. After reading the cliffhanger at the end of book one; I can’t wait for book two!

I give this book a three and a half foxes. The setting was entertaining and the characters were lovable.The plot was compelling and fast-paced, but the grammar mistakes often distracted me from the reading.


UPDATE:
Want to hear the thoughts from Almich's intended audience? Hear this review from my ll-year old brother, David. 

You can find Michael Almich on Goodreads or read his blog here

London in the Fall

Since I will be studying in London in the fall, I felt it necessary to prepare myself. Now I'd like to familiarize myself with some good British literature. Any suggestions?