Texas 2X2 and Bluebonnet Displays 2011-2012

These are pictures from my 2X2 display.  We ordered the books that we felt would be most appropriate for our students from the 2011 2X2 List, and created a display.  Each of the books that we purchased had a bin next to it with a picture of its cover.  In the bins, I placed similar titles - either titles with the same theme, genre, or other books by the same author.

For my Bluebonnet display, I wanted something interactive.  The book covers all have a summary on the back, and the pages spin.  I also had Readers Advisory cards that gave other titles in the library that were similar to the Bluebonnet books, as well as subjects to search using the card catalog.

Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Summary: Sequel to Divergent. Tris Prior survives the Erudite simulation attacks that occur during the time she expected to be celebrating her achievement of being ranked first among the initiate class of her chosen faction, Dauntless. Even though the Dauntless have been freed from Erudite mind control, a war develops and secrets emerge.

I had the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book at TLA.  I started reading it as soon as I got back to my hotel, and then when I got home, I purchased the hardcover and handed it to my husband to read.  Meeting Veronica Roth and listening to her speak about Dystopian Literature was one of the highlights of TLA for me.  This sequel to Divergent drops you right into where the story left off.  There is no summary, which makes this book begin quickly.  Often, the second book in a trilogy leaves something to be desired.  Veronica Roth is able to create a book that not only stands alone; it is able to continue the story of Tris and Four where the reader is eagerly anticipating the release of the third book.  This book is beautifully written, and I can't wait to read the yet untitled book 3.

Ditched: A Love Story

Author: Robin Mellom
Publisher: Hyperion

Summary: Justina wakes up in a ditch in the middle of the night after attending her senior prom and struggles to piece together the events--which seem to involve a three-legged Chihuahua, a demolition derby-ready Cadillac, and a fresh tattoo--that brought her there.

 Justina didn't want to go to prom...but Ian convinced her to go.  Told in a series of flashbacks, Justina tries to figure out how she ended up alone on the side of the road.  A fun read that fans of Deb Caletti will love.

The International Kissing Club

Author: Ivy Adams
Publisher: Walker Publishing Company

Summary: Best friends Piper, Mei, Izzy, and Cassidy of Paris, Texas, spend a semester studying abroad and track their romantic escapades on a Facebook fan page.

 Friendship and loyalty are tested when four best friends separate.  Three of the the girls go to study abroad while one has to stay home.  This book is about more than kissing a lot of boys - it is a novel that looks at friendship, self-confidence, and loyalty, with a couple of "pig kisses" along the way.

The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green
Publisher: Dutton Books

Summary: Sixteen year old Hazel, who has cancer, meets Augustus at a kids-with-cancer support group and as they fall in love they both wonder how they will be remembered.

I know when I pick up a John Green book, that I should expect the unexpected.  Green is a master of the plot twist, and I can almost remember the exact page when I figured out what was going to happen.  When I figured out what was going to happen, I wanted to toss the book across the library, but I couldn't force myself to stop reading.  Cancer books are almost all the same, and John Green is able to take a "cancer book" and turn it into a moving novel that will appeal to all teens.

Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Summary: Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunts and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.

 A perfect book. Palacio is able to balance every character in such a way that the reader can understand how it feels to be Auggie, how it feels to be Auggie's older sister, and how it feels to be Auggie's friend.  This book is insightful and moving, and should be required reading for teachers and students alike.

If you enjoyed reading Wonder, try reading Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper or Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine.

Article 5

Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller, living in a world in which the Bill of Rights has been revoked, is able to keep a low profile until her mother is arrested for noncompliance and she realizes the officer responsible is her first love, Chase Jennings.

 At times, the "flashback" letters are confusing, but once you get into the flow of the book, they fit into the story better.  The main characters are strong, and although the other characters are flat at times, the main character, Ember, is a full character that I was able to connect with.