This week, I am reading "The Unwanteds" by Lisa McMann. Kirkus Reviews called it: "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter," which made me very curious. Like Harry Potter, the main character, 13-year-old Alex, grows up in a world without magic--a world where any sort of free-thinking or creative ability is seen as dangerous. The beginning of the book is very dramatic, because Alex and a group of other 13-year-olds, including his identical twin, Aaron, are standing together, waiting to be sorted into three groups: Wanted, Necessary, and Unwanted. Aaron, who has always been a model citizen, becomes a "Wanted." Alex, whose spark of artistic ability labeled him as an "Unwanted" from an early age, is taken away from his family and sent to his death with the other Unwanteds.  

However, instead of getting thrown into the Great Lake of Burning Oil, Alex and the others are introduced to an amazing new world called Artimé. Mr. Today, the magician in charge, treats them kindly and for the first time in their lives, they are allowed to explore their creative sides without fear of punishment.

Of course, this secret magical world can only remain hidden for so long...

At the moment, I am reading the book "Les Mange-Forêts," by Kim Aldany.  In this French science fiction novel, an 11-year-old boy, Kerri, steadfastly believes that his parents are alive, even though the space station officials insist that they died on a mission to the planet Amazonia.  Desperate to find them, Kerri enlists the help of his friend, 14-year-old Mégane.  Together with a furry human-like creature called a "Maroufle," Kerri and Mégane stow away on a spaceship heading to Amazonia.  Their ship is soon fired upon and they realize that someone doesn't want them to make it to their destination.  Will they survive and find Kerri's parents?  Read the book to find out!

Well, it's back to school for me, starting today!  I hope everyone had a great vacation!

Today, I started "Bloomability," by Sharon Creech.  The 5th graders do a unit on her book "Walk Two Moons," so I decided to try another one of her titles.  Since I teach in an international school, it's fun to read about a similar school (though the book takes place in Switzerland, and there is a lot of Italian, rather than French, thrown in).  I'm enjoying the story so far!