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  

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  
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