Junior Owlets: The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

The March selection for Junior Owlets was The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo.

Peter has just enough money to buy some bread, but instead he gives his money to the fortune teller.  Peter is desperately looking for a sign that his sister Adele is alive.  The fortune teller reads that an elephant will appear and take him to his presumed-dead sister.  That very night, a magician brings an elephant crashing down on his audience.

Comments from the Junior Owlets:

- Beautifully written.
- Liked every character and the depth of every character.
- All characters seemed real.
-Magical story with realistic characters.
- Suspenseful.
- Would have liked not to know Adele is alive until the end.
- Would have it longer.
- Why did the magician feel he had to make an elephant?
- Dark story.
- Some confusion with so many characters.
- Found the plot too jumpy.
- Very descriptive.
- Are there too many characters?
- Problem was solved too easily.
- Loved the illustrations
- Very descriptive.
- Really liked how you wondered what would happen next.
- Wrapped up a bit too quickly.

Final score: 8.75 out of 10

The April book for Junior Owlets is 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass and we’ll be discussing it Saturday, April 14th at 9:00am.

Amanda’s eleventh birthday should have been a happy occasion. Instead she’s dressed in an itchy costume her mother picked out for her Hollywood-themed party (Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, even though the flying monkeys have always creeped her out). Meanwhile, across town, her ex-best friend, Leo, is celebrating their joint birthday with a huge bash that includes a hypnotist, a football star, a giant iguana, and a rock band. SO not fair! Amanda can’t wait for the day AFTER her birthday so she can stop thinking about the fight that led her and Leo to have separate parties for the first time in their lives. There’s just one problem. The next day is her birthday all over again.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlets, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on March 13, 2012 at 10:50 am  Leave a Comment  

Fledglings: Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka

Back in February, our teen book club, Fledglings, read Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka.

Celeste was born in Unity.  Taviana was brought into Unity from the outside.  Unity is an isolated community.  People live simple lives there as members of the Movement, a religious sect that practices polygamy.  Celeste wishes to believe and be pure of heart like her sister Nanette.  But Taviana’s stories have started Celeste asking questions and wondering about the world outside Unity.

Comments from the Fledglings:

- Introduced reader to a different culture.
- Made reader think and realize that people live by their beliefs.
- Gave insight into the life of religious sects and the lack of knowledge of the outside world.
- Enjoyed the three different perspectives, although at times the voices sounded too similar.
- Found the naivete of the women very upsetting.
- Felt that the author didn’t let Celeste reach her full potential.
- Wanted Celeste to run earlier
- Felt characters were shallow.
- Found language was unbelievable in points.
- Liked discussion potential.
- Liked three different narrators.
- Felt that the ending was rushed.

Final score: 6.8333333 out of 10

There’s still time to read the March selection before the meeting, though you can always come just to hear the discussion.  We’ll be talking about Fire by Kristin Cashore on Tuesday, March 20th at 4:30pm.

It’s not a peaceful time in the Dells.  Young King Nash clings to the throne, while rebel lords, in the north and south, build armies to unseat him.  War is coming.  The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves.

This is where Fire lives, a girl whose startling appearance is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Everyone…except Prince Brigan.

If you’re a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on March 12, 2012 at 2:07 pm  Leave a Comment  

Junior Owlets: Where the Moutain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

For January, the Junior Owlets read Where the Moutain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.

MinLi and her parents live in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, a bare mountain where nothing seems to flourish.  They work hard, but have barely enough to eat.  Every night, MinLi listens eagerly to the stories her father tells about the Jade Dragon, the evil Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man in the Moon.  MinLi’s mother hates the stories.  She says they are useless, and only make MinLi a dreamer.  MinLi decides she will find the Old Man in the Moon to try and change her family’s fortune.

- Really liked how the legends tied into the story.
- Liked the characters, particularly Minli.
- Really kept your interest.
- Liked mystical creatures & magic.
- Liked how the characters evolved and came to udnerstand the true meaning of happiness.
- Very thought provoking.
- Lots of adventure.
- Ended way too soon.
- Good book for all ages.
- Loved the illustrations.
- Liked the multiple storylines and how they tied up. Stories within stories.
- Loved the language.
- Feel good book
- Some parts were slower.
- Liked everything tied up together.

Final score: 9.166661 out of 10.

The next meeting of Junior Owlets will be on Saturday the 4th of Feburary 2012 at 9:00am.   The book up for discussion is Feather Brain and we we have a special guest, the book’s author, Maureen Bush!

From the book’s description:

Lucas has dinosaurs on the brain, but he’s a little short on friends. When he gets a new book on how to make model dinosaurs, he’s inspired to make one immediately. He’s not so inspired by his new dinosaur-making kit: all the box contains is a test tube of clear liquid and a few instructions. But when he mixes the liquid into his papier-maché goop, he gets much more than he bargained for, including the most unlikely friend.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlet’s, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 14, 2012 at 5:15 pm  Leave a Comment  

Senior Owlets: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

This month, the Senior Owlets read The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

Todd Hewitt has never seen a woman. His mother was the last to die. He doesn’t remember her. When his people came to the planet to colonize it, everyone was infected with the Noise germ. The infection caused men’s thoughts to become audible. The infection also killed all women. Todd is the youngest, counting down the days until his 13th birthday. The he will be considered a man, and let into the secrets. But the, Todd from the girl in The Swamp.

Comments from the Senior Owlets:
Believable characters.
Really liked the dog, Manchee
Author did incredible job with all characters.
Characters were all very distinct and believable.
Really liked the portrayal of The Noise. The different fonts helped.
Some parts dragged.
Possibly more for a male audience with some of the violence.
Very deep themes.
Very symbolic.
Great discussion.
Made reader think.

Final score: 8.025

For the next meeting (on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012) the book up for discussion is Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

From the book’s description:

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

If you’re a kid in grades 6 to 9 and are interested in joining Senior Owlets, we’d love to have you. Membership is free and you can join any time. If you’d like more information, call us at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just pop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 11, 2012 at 1:53 pm  Leave a Comment  

Fledglings: I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

In the hubbub of the holiday season, we’ve fallen a bit behind on posting the reviews from Owlets and Fledglings, but as they say: better late than never.

The December selection for Fledglings was I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

Ed Kennedy admits he is a screw up.  He drifted in school, didn’t go to university, and now drives a cab because it’s easy.  But all that changes when Ed is hailed a hero after stopping a bank robber.  And now he has received a card in the mail.  It lists times and addresses.  Should he follow them?  Ed is not sure what to do, or what it all means.

Comments from the Fledglings:

Liked the characters.
Characters had depth and reasoning.
Liked interchange between characters.
Found them believeable.
Ending was a bit confusing.
Opening chapters sucked the reader in.
The whole idea was intriguing.
Really liked the characters, the plot, the seting.
Believeable dialogue.
Very funny in places, poignant in others.
Even secondary characters were well done.
Kept interest to very end.
Even the stinky dog was great.
Very deep book, multi-leveled.
Really like the author’s self insertion.

Final score: 8.8928571 out of 10.

The next meeting for Fledglings will be on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.  The book up for discussion is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.

From the book’s description:

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm  Leave a Comment  

Senior Owlets: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

This month’s selection for Senior Owlets was The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.

The summer of 1899 was one of the hottest in rural Texas.  It was also the summer that Calpurnia (Callie) Tate, the only girl in a family of seven children, discovered her grandfather.  Grandfather had always lived with the family, but he was a distant, awe-inspiring presence that she and her brothers feared.  That summer, Callie and her grandfather became aware of each other when she asked the right question about grasshoppers.

Comments from the Senior Owlets:

Particularly liked the humour.
Great story.
Love the characters.
Granddaddy’s and Calpurnia’s relationship is such a joy to read about.
Characters well drawn.
A quiet novel.
Calpurnia symbolizes the evolution of the “new woman”.
Liked the scientific approach.
Like how the quotes from The Origin of Species foreshadowed what would happen.
Really good insight into the life of a young woman in 18993
Scientific detail was a definite plus.

Final rating: 8.3333333 out of 10.

In January, the Senior Owlets will meet to discuss The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn’t she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd’s gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.

If you’re a kid in grades 6 to 9 and are interested in joining Senior Owlets, we’d lo’ve to have you.  Membership is free and you can join any time.  If you’d like more information, call us at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just pop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on December 8, 2011 at 7:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

Junior Owlets: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

This month’s Junior Owlet’s selection was When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

Miranda’s world is turned down when her best friend Sal wants nothing more to do with her.  He won’t even talk to her and tell her why.  Now she has to find new people to eat lunch with.  She has to walk home from school by herself, and pass by the homeless man who is always saying weird things.  And who can she tell about the mysterious notes that seem to predict the future?

Liked how it wrapped up all the stories in the end.
Confusing in parts.
Characters were very well developed.
Laughing man was really scary at times.
Excellent book.
Really like concept.
Definitely a book for an older reader.
Really made you think.
Difficult read for younger reader.
More a thinking book then an action book.
Little difficult to understand time concept.
Really like the characters.
Really got a taste for Miranda’s life.
Dragged in places.
Does help if have read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Like it better if have read several times.

Final score: 7.917647 out of 10

At January’s meeting the book up for discussion will be Where The Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.

In the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life’s questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family’s fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlet’s, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on December 3, 2011 at 2:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

Fledglings: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Fledglings book club met this week to discuss The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. 

1899. Manhatten, New York.  The Holland family is the envy of many.  They are old money.  The daughters, Elizabeth and Diana are everything young debutantes are expected to be.  Society is unaware that the family is struggling financially after Mr. Holland’s death.  It seems Elizabeth may have to marry rich to keep the family afloat.  But Elzabeth’s carriage slips on the icy roads and overturns near the East River.  Her body is never found. 

Comments from the Fledglings:

Well written. 
Typical plot.
Loved the descriptions of settings and clothing. 
Very like novels from the late 1800s. 
Setting was the best part of the book. 
Story itself was quite predictable. 
Descriptions were fabulous.
Characters were very believeable.
All of the characters were well drawn and had both good and bad qualities. 
Definitely better than thought it would be.
Everyone loved the cover — DRESSES!
Not a typical teen roamnce. 

Final rating: 7.625 out of 10

The next Fledglings meeting will be Tuesday, December 13th at 4:30pm.  The book being discussed is I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. 

protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He’s pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That’s when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That’s when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission?

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on November 16, 2011 at 4:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

Junior Owlets: The Boggart by Susan Cooper

This month, the Junior Owlets (grades 3 to 6) read The Boggart by Susan Cooper.

When the Volnick family inherits a castle in Scotland, they have no idea tht is had been the home for centuries of a mischievious, pratcal joke loving shapeshifter known and the Boggart. Accidentally transported to Toronto, the Boggart finds many opportunities for mischeif making and trickery.  It’s up to the Volnick children to get him back home.

Comments from the Junior Owlets:

Loved all the characters.
Really enjoyed the humour.
Some parts slowed down, but if continued picked up again.
Computer part went on a bit long.
Some extremely funny parts.
Kept wondering what the Boggart would do next.
Glad that the Boggart got homesick at first rather than continuing to do tricks.
Liked the descriptions of the characters.
Liked how the Boggart’s description was elusive.
Would have liked more details.
Loved the theatre scene.  Good nex of funny & pathos.
Believeable characters.
Good build to climax.
Although an older book, it stands up well today.
Laugh out loud funny.

Final score: 9.1571428

The next Junior Owlets meeting will be on Saturday the 3rd of December at 9:00am.  The book under discussion will be When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

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, and they know who to avoid. Like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a kid on the street 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 a mysterious note arrives, scrawled on a tiny slip of paper. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. 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.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlet’s, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on November 5, 2011 at 3:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

Senior Owlets: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

This month’s selection for Senior Owlets was The Maze Runner by James Dashner. 

He wakes up in an elevator.  The only thing he remembers is his name: Thomas.  The door opens, and he steps out into The Glade.  There are other boys there.  They have all arrived the same way Thomas did, with their memories wiped clean.  Beyond the stone walls of The Glade is The Maze, where the wall change every night, where the Grievers wait.  Every day the boys run the Maze, trying to solve it. 

Comments from the Senior Owlets:

Really enjoyed. 
Well written.
Excellent concept.
Liked the characters. 
Left with more questions after reading. 
Interesting idea.
Makes one think of a great computer; Greivers were the viruses and kids were the programmes. 
Wonder about the mind cleanse…was it selective for each?  How did certain characters have skills such as cooking?
Who were the first kids?
Kept reader interested. 
Liked how you didn’t notice things until Thomas did.

Final score: 8.866 out of 10

The next meeting of Senior Owlets will be on December 6th at 4:30pm.  The book up for discussion is The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly. 

The summer of 1899 is hot in Calpurnia’s sleepy Texas town, and there aren’t a lot of good ways to stay cool. Her mother has a new wind machine, but instead, Callie’s contemplating cutting off her hair, one sneaky inch at a time. She’s also spending a lot of time at the river with her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist. But just when Callie and her grandfather are about to make an amazing discovery, the reality of Callie’s situation catches up with her. She’s a girl at the turn of the century, expected to cook and clean and sew. What a waste of time! Will Callie ever find a way to take control of her own destiny?

If you’re a kid in grades 6 to 9 and are interested in joining Senior Owlets, we’d lo’ve to have you.  Membership is free and you can join any time.  If you’d like more information, call us at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just pop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on November 4, 2011 at 9:35 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags:
« Older Entries