Guardians of Ga'Hoole - The Capture

Many of us have heard the phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Well... that is exactly what I did here. In all honesty, I saw the owl on the front cover and I found it intriguing, causing me to check this book out from the library. I also was intrigued by the fact that this book is now a movie, I have never heard of it, but I certainly want to check it out! I am only a few chapters into this book, but I love it already.

Owls are very majestic and mystical creatures, in my opinion. They seem to sort of go under the radar, this may also be due to the fact that many owl species are endangered. The Capture by Kathryn Lasky is a story about a family of barn owls, focused mainly from the point of view of a young owl named Soren. The family lives in the magical forest of Tyto, home to many barn owls. Life has been good here for the owls, but something is beginning to change. There are owls going missing and eggs being snatched from their nests. I wonder who is taking the owls?

This book begins when Soren is only 2 weeks old, he is witnessing his baby sister, Eglantine, hatch from her egg. Amazed by the process, Soren struggles to believe that he did this same exact thing only 2 weeks ago and now he is starting his flying training. The first step towards flight is called branching, "The young owlets would begin by hopping from branch to branch and flapping their wings." Soren's father, Glaux, "was the most ancient order of owls from which all other owls descended." Glaux fills his children's heads full of legends and stories from the kingdom of Ga'hoole. Will these legends and stories cause his children to get into mischief?

Not only does this book provide you with some background knowledge about owls, but it also provides you with mystery and suspense. If you're an animal lover and a thrill lover, this may be the book for you. I can't wait to keep reading and find out what evil is lurking in the forest of Tyto.

Ms. Joni is a Phony!

I absolutely loved this book! Ms. Joni is a Phony by Dan Gutman, is the 7th book in the My Weirdest School series. One thing is for sure... this is one weird school.

The narrator, A.J., is a quirky, overexaggerating, sarcastic, mysterious 3rd-grader. I find this little guy to be hilarious. Some of his comments throughout the book had me laughing out loud. I grew up with an older brother and I was always around boys. I have always been referred to as more of a tom-boy, especially throughout my elementary schooling experiences. I was able to relate to many of the comments made by A.J., having more of a "boy-mindset."

It is picture day at Ella Mentry School (clever name), and A.J., like any 3rd-grade boy, is not thrilled to have his picture taken. All of the girls are excited to be all dolled up for such an event, "the picture that we will keep forever." The moms are the most excited, taking their boys shopping for suits and ties, crying when they look "so grown up." Of course, picture day is a hot mess, as it always is. The crazy professional photographer, Ms. Joni, does not help the process either. I would love to share more details, but I don't want to spoil the crazy turn of events throughout the eventful day.

The author does a great job of making it feel like the 3rd grader is actually telling the story. The quirky, sarcastic comments through the book took me back to when it was acceptable to make comments like these (I still do, just in my head). This book was such an easy read, I loved it! I can't wait to read more books from the My Weirdest School series.

Sassy - Little Sister Is NOT My Name by Sharon M. Draper

A book suggestion from my mom led me to find myself looking at the books written by Sharon M. Draper. Draper is a resident of Cincinnati, the greatest place on earth and my hometown. A book titled Sassy - Little Sister is NOT My Name caught my eye. I was instantly intrigued by the word "sassy," a word that should be my middle name. So I thought to myself, let's give this a try.

Draper created this series of Sassy books to tell the ups and downs of a 4th-grade girl. Sassy, being the youngest of 3, goes through many struggles at home and at school. She shares with us on what it can feel like being the youngest sibling. "I'm the one who has to settles for the last piece of the chicken on the plate, usually the wing. I'm the one who's stuck with the last slice of bread in the loaf. I'm the one who gets the last choice of jelly beans in the candy bowl," states Sassy. Many of us can relate to that feeling, or a similar one when it comes to being the youngest child in the family. This brought me to wonder about this can impact a child's behavior, especially in the classroom. The tone Draper uses throughout the book takes you back to your younger days, allowing you to connect Sassy's experiences to your own. 

This book takes you through Sassy's home life, her friends, and her schooling experiences. Sassy loves sparkles and bright beautiful colors (much like her personality), which is why she alway carries around her Sparkle Sack made of satin, silk, and velvet. Sassy says that her Sparkle Sack carries about 2 million items, preparing her for almost every situation. Sassy states, "Every girl in my class wishes she could have one just like it, but my sack is one of a kind." This sack was made for Sassy by her grandmother, who has just recently made an appearance in the book. Sassy's grandmother is a professional story teller who is heading to Sassy's Elementary School as the visiting storyteller. I am intrigued to see what happens when her grandmother comes to school. 

So far, it seems as though Draper is sharing some of her experiences about growing up through Sassy. Sassy is a dreamer and a reader, able to solve her problems with items found in her Sparkle Sack. Sassy is annoyed to no end that her family consistently calls her "little sister." Will Sassy find a way to get her family to call her by her name? What adventure will happen next when her grandma visits her school? I guess I will just have to keep reading to find out!