tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83101120575221625422023-11-15T12:22:11.945-06:00NHS Book ClubCheck up on what's happening with the Nixa High School Book Club or log your comments and observations about this month's selection.Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-50102175229346614022010-09-23T14:09:00.004-05:002010-09-23T15:20:28.871-05:00A Book Called HeartbreakingThe next selection in our series this year is Dave <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pelzer's</span> <em>A Child Called "It." </em>In this book, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pelzer</span> describes the severe physical and emotional abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother. Happiness morphs unexpectedly into terror when his mother singles him out and begins to starve him and subject him to torture.<br /><br />With this selection, we attempt to understand the experiences of those among us who have suffered from abuse. What is most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">difficult</span> to comprehend is his mother's reason for such cruelty.<br /><br /><span style="color:#339999;">Join us for the discussion of this famous and disturbing account on Wednesday, October 13.</span><br /><span style="color:#339999;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Some stats:</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, in 2006 there were 3.6 million reported cases of child abuse; approximately 905,000 of those cases were substantiated. In that same year, 1530 children died as a result of abuse. Over 70% of those who died were between the ages of 0 and 3 years.</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Thought question:</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Why is it important to be aware that some people in America are being abused or have survived abuse?</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-78452569730819443802010-09-01T08:48:00.003-05:002010-09-01T08:58:12.755-05:00The First Book of the Year!Our first selection this year is Sherman Alexie's <em>The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian</em>. <br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">From Alexie's site:</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.</span><br /><br />The book is funny and sad and truly speaks to those of us who at one time or another felt we had to turn our backs on our heritages or families to live our own dreams.<br /><br />If you like this book, you may also like an earlier Book Club selection <em>My Name is Asher Lev</em> by Chiam Potok.<br /><br />Discussion meeting for <em>Absolutely True. . .</em>: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Wednesday, September 8</span>, after school, in the library.Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-73020457684414321992010-08-12T13:14:00.002-05:002010-08-12T13:30:06.427-05:00Ignorance is not bliss.The Book Club theme for the 2010-2011 school year grew out of the book that will be our first selection this year (which I will keep secret until the first Book Club meeting for suspense-building purposes and because it's just more fun that way). The book deals with the struggles of a 17-year-old boy who is trying to exist in two different cultures at once. He worries that he is betraying his family and friends when he seeks a better education, and he feels very much a fish out of water at his new school. The book is funny, honest, and sometimes sad. <br /><br />When I read this book, something was really brought home for me: While we Americans share a common country, we have very different American experiences. Therefore, this year, we will read books written by or about people for whom the American experience is not a "typical" one (immigrants or children of immigrants, persons living in very urban or very rural areas, people who have disabilities, for instance). The goal will be to learn about people whose experiences are different from ours and seeing that, despite our differences, we are all pretty alike at the core. I will need a great team on the selection committee as we decide what experiences to explore and which books to read, so consider helping out in that capacity.<br /><br />Our first meeting of the year will be <span style="color:#990000;">Wednesday, August 25</span>, after school, in the library.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I hope</span> to see you there!Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-27956074768926403962010-01-26T13:50:00.003-06:002010-01-26T14:20:36.464-06:00<strong>One Blink at a Time</strong><br /><br />This month the Book Club invites the French Club to join us for the reading of <em>The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,</em> the poetically written memoir of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor of French <em>Elle Magazine</em>. After suffering a stroke, Bauby finds himself "locked in:" he is of sound mind but is unable to communicate because of paralysis caused by the stroke. Without the ability to speak or write, Bauby uses a system of blinks to dictate his story letter by letter. The story he tells is both beautiful and terrifying.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Book discussion: Wednesday, February 10, in the library, after school</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Film viewing: Thursday, February 11, in Mrs. Everett's room (250)</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-11304450923154200232010-01-06T13:32:00.003-06:002010-01-06T13:45:52.489-06:00<strong>Hello, Dave.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Arthur C. Clarke's groundbreaking 1968 novel <em>2001: A Space Odyssey</em> set the standard for the sci-fi literature that was to come. In begins in prehistory. Moon Watcher, and ape-man discovers a mysterious, dark monolith near his cave home. Millions of years later, a similar monolith is uncovered on the Moon. Next, a ship is sent to Saturn under the guise of collecting information about the planet; however, the HAL 9000, the ship's computer, knows what it's real mission is, and it cannot allow the ship's captain, to get in the way of that mission.<br /><br />Join us for the discussion of this novel on Wednesday, January 13, and for the film version on Friday, January 15.<br /><br />If you enjoy this novel, check out (pun intended) its sequel, <em>2010: Odyssey Two. </em>Very fitting given the new year.Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-28436505919838649392009-11-30T13:31:00.005-06:002009-11-30T13:36:29.256-06:00One Flew East, One Flew West, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nestfrom Barnes and Noble.com:<br /><br /><br /><br />Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey's <em>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</em> is the seminal novel of the 1960s that has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time. Here is the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially the tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the struggle through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the awesome powers that keep them all imprisoned.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Join us for the discussion of this novel on December 9 and for the Everettberg Theater premiere on December 11.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-59118583874547748912009-10-20T13:34:00.003-05:002009-10-20T15:24:16.472-05:00October = Halloween and Stephen KingWe are celebrating the month of All Hallows Eve with a novel by the Scare Master himself, Stephen King. After much weighing of the many frightening possibilites, we settled on <em>Pet Semetary. </em>Below is the novel's synopsis as it appears on King's website:<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The road in front of Dr. Louis Creed's rural Maine home frequently claims the lives of neighborhood pets. Louis has recently moved from Chicago to Ludlow with his wife Rachel, their children and pet cat. Near their house, local children have created a cemetery for the dogs and cats killed by the steady stream of transports on the busy highway. Deeper in the woods lies another graveyard, an ancient Indian burial ground whose sinister properties Louis discovers when the family cat is killed.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span >What this synopsis does not reveal is that Louis visits the burial ground on a second occassion; this time instead of the family pet, he brings family.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />Join us for the discussion of this novel on Wednesday, November 11.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Everettberg Theatre premier of <em>Pet Semetary</em> will be Friday, November 13.<br /><br /><br /><br />Click the link on the right to watch the movie trailer.Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-68838247430289947642009-09-23T09:09:00.004-05:002009-09-23T10:21:36.300-05:00Will the jury think it was a time to kill?Carl Lee Hailey (played in the movie by Samuel L. Jackson) is on trial for murdering the young men who abducted and assaulted his daugher. To complicate matters, Hailey is black; the men he killed are white. And this is all taking place in Canton, Mississippi.<br /><br />Jake Brigance (played by Matthew McConaughey) takes on Carl Lee's case, despite the danger to him, his family and his career.<br /><br />Ellen Roark (played by Sandra Bullock) is a spunky law student from Massachussets who offers to help Brigance with the case.<br /><br />The author, John Grisham, was a lawyer before becoming a writer, and nearly all of his books feature a riveting court case and/or the struggles of a young lawyer. If you like this book, you may also like <em>The Firm</em> and <em>The Testament</em>. His book <em>A Painted House</em> is a step away from this theme.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Join us for the discussion of <em>A Time to Kill</em> on Wednesday, October 14, in the library after school.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-34180591917768980892009-09-11T09:53:00.003-05:002009-09-11T09:58:54.998-05:00Nothing gold can stay.Our first book of the year is <em>The Outsiders</em>. The book is narrated by Ponyboy, a greaser who lives with his two older brothers. The greasers, known as such because of the hair oil they use, are often taunted by the town's Socs (short for Socials). After Ponyboy and Johnny are seen walking a couple of Soc girls home, they are jumped by the girls' boyfriends. This sets in motion a series of events that changes things forever. As Cherry Valance says, "Things are hard all over."<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">The meeting to discuss <em>The Outsiders</em> will be held after school in the library on Wednesday, Sept. 16.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Film and Food Friday will be Sept. 18.</span><br /><br />We hope to see you at both!Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-10323041630984418112009-08-20T09:02:00.004-05:002009-08-20T09:06:56.573-05:00New Year, New ThemeWelcome back to school and back to Book Club!<br /><br />The first meeting of the year will be <span style="color:#3366ff;">Wednesday, September 2</span>, in the library after school.<br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">This year's theme is "Don't judge a book by it's film</span>." We will read books that have been adapted into movies, then watch the movie versions on Film and Food Fridays.<br /><br />The first book of the year will be announced at the first meeting.<br /><br />Mrs. Richart, Mrs. Price and I hope to see you there!Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-4687962458927736602009-04-16T09:29:00.003-05:002009-04-16T09:41:33.961-05:00Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas SwarupSometimes the quest to survive gives answers to unsuspected life questions. A poor orphan is thrown in jail when he is accused of cheating because of his ability to answer the questions on a television game show. Find out in the pages of this novel if good wins over evil in one boy's quest for survival.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Join us for the discussion of this book on May 13 in the library, after school.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-14505235400359949042009-03-13T13:12:00.002-05:002009-03-13T13:17:58.866-05:00The Host by Stephanie MeyerLove sends two minds "hosted" by one body on a quest for the man of their affection.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Join us for the discussion of this book on April 8 in the library, after school.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-31309035519986342802009-03-11T09:05:00.003-05:002009-03-11T09:30:34.688-05:00Go Ask Alice by AnonymousThe diary of a young girl who is innocently lured into the world of drugs shows the struggles she faces as her life becomes a wild roller coaster ride. Will she conquer her addiction or will her addiction conquer her?<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Join us for the discussion of this book on March 11 in the library, after school</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-27877646615513376362009-01-21T09:06:00.006-06:002009-01-21T09:31:11.212-06:00The Book Thief by Markus ZusakThis novel, narrated by Death, tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl who is orphaned during World War II. Shortly after her parents' deaths, her brother, too, dies. At his funeral, Liesel steals a book that has been left behind by the grave digger. With the help of her foster father, Liesel learns to read and is soon stealing books from Nazi book-burnings and other places where books are found. Eventually, her foster family agrees to hide a young Jewish boy in their basement, and he and Liesel become friends. <br /><br />For Liesel, her foster family and her friend, these are dangerous times, and these are very busy times for Death, who incidentally, is a reluctant collector of souls.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Join us for the discussion of this book on February 11 in the library, after school</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-38298608872705474232009-01-14T09:28:00.001-06:002009-01-14T09:39:10.477-06:00The Name of the Wind - The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One<p class="MsoNormal">Kvothe, a hero and villain who is presumed dead, tells his life story to Chronicler, a biographer.<span style=""> </span>Learn of his quest to receive his education at “the University” while trying to discover as much as possible about the demons (Chandrian) who murdered his family.<span style=""> </span>Will his magical powers be of benefit in his quest?<br /></p> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Join us on January 14 for the discussion of <em>The Name of the Wind</em>, the first novel in The Kingkiller Chronicles trilogy.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-53762014373303276792008-12-03T22:44:00.005-06:002009-01-14T09:33:00.372-06:00Storm Front - Book One of the Dresden Files<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Join us on December 13 for the discussion of <em>Storm Fron</em>, the first novel in Dresden File series.<br /></span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-57714426407741156182008-10-14T19:06:00.003-05:002008-10-14T19:15:53.075-05:00Is it just a game?From the cover:<br /><br />Recruited for military training by the world government, Ender's childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School. Among the elite recruits, Ender proves himself to be a genius among geniuses. In simulated war games, he excels. But is the pressure and loneliness taking its toll on Ender? Simulations are one thing. How will Ender perform in real combat conditions? After all, Battle School is just a game. Right?<br /><br />Search for self:<br /><br />As Ender trains to become a soldier, he begins to loose part of himself, and he deeply fears becoming like his worst tormentor--his brother, Peter.<br /><br />This sci-fi classic will make you consider the possiblities for our future and make you examine the reality of your present.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Join us to discuss this novel on Wednesday, November 10, in the library after school.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-85788697795083395252008-09-14T21:16:00.002-05:002008-09-14T21:18:56.311-05:00She is on a quest for freedom.At the age of twelve, Mende was taken captive, separated from her family and sold into slavery. The year was 1993.<br /><br />Seven years later, she began her run--her quest--for freedom.<br /><br />Join us to discuss her journey on October 8 after school in the library.Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-68683837083980705312008-08-20T21:46:00.003-05:002008-08-20T21:49:00.674-05:00Happy New Year!The first Book Club meeting of the 2008-09 school year will be Thursday, August 21, in the library after school, at which time I will reveal the first book selection. Students will determine the theme for the year and the selection committee (anyone in Book Club can be a member) will begin choosing upcoming books. <br /><br />I hope to see you at the meeting!Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-69256509065634678702008-04-20T00:21:00.004-05:002008-04-20T00:38:17.016-05:00Our Final Destination<em>The Red Tent</em> tells the story of Dina, the daughter of the Biblical figures Joseph and Leah. Dina, the only daughter of Joseph's four wives, looks on as her mother and her aunt Rachel, her father's favored wife, love, care for, and envy eachother. Anita Diamant does an amazing job of bringing these characters to life.<br /><br />The red tent is the tent in which the women segregate themselves when they are menstruating and after they have given birth. There the women nurture one another and pass on their beliefs and religious rituals. The women still pray to multiple gods, but Joseph is beginning to accept the singular god of which Abraham spoke. The women are not entirely trusting of this new god.<br /><br />The novel is about sisterhood, insecurity and love; the tale of Dina is a compelling one.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Join us for our final meeting of the year on May 14 in Mrs. Everett's room after school.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Also, join us at the local bowling alley on April 25th after school for some bowling fun as we say farewell to our graduating senior Book Club members. I am going to miss them tremendously.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-3576246810616624822008-03-27T14:05:00.002-05:002008-03-27T14:16:26.591-05:00From here to TransylvaniaThis will be my first time to read <em>Dracula</em>, so I cannot provide much insight. I am looking forward to becoming acquainted with this classic.<br /><br />Question: How did you feel about the format (journal entries, for example)?<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">The discussion of the novel will be April 9 in the library after school. If all goes as planned, we will watch the film after school on the 11th. </span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-22583456693674238262008-02-25T13:26:00.002-06:002008-02-25T13:30:51.059-06:00On to ChinaFrom the back cover:<br /><br />Set in England and Hong Kong in the 1920s, <em>The Painted Veil</em> is the story of the beautiful but love-starved Kitty Fane. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. Stripped of the British society of her youth and the small but effective society she fought so hard to attain hin Hong Kong, she is compelled by her awakenng conscience to reassess her life and learn how to love.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Join us for the meeting to discuss this novel on March 12, in the library after school. On the following Friday, we will watch the film version.</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-6845842881347440612008-01-29T15:31:00.000-06:002008-01-29T15:43:32.644-06:00Next stop: Vietnam<em>The Things They Carried by</em> Tim O'Brien is a collection of short stories drawn from O'Brien's experiences during the war in Vietnam. The book is both a series images that brings to the reader the vivid realities of war and a statement about writing and the nature of storytelling. <br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Join us for the discussion of <em>The Things They Carried</em> after school on February 13.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Question: Did he or didn't he kill the man with the star-shaped hole where his eye had been?</span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-44406895280828527322007-12-12T08:18:00.000-06:002007-12-12T08:23:13.650-06:00Traveling to Japan via BookI first read <em>Memoirs of a Geisha</em> several years ago, and I can't wait to read it again. It provides an intimate look into the world of the geisha house, of relationships among women, between men and women and the role of geishas in Japanese culutre. <br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">Join us for the discussion of <em>Memoirs of a Geisha</em> on January 9 after school in the library.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"></span>Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310112057522162542.post-53284291476519415262007-12-12T08:16:00.000-06:002007-12-12T08:18:47.436-06:00I'm definitely looking forward to today's discussion of <em>The Golden Compass</em>. I have enjoyed the book more than I thought I would.<br /><br />Be sure to see Mrs. Richart in the library to reserve your discounted ticket to the film version of <em>The Golden Compass.</em> We look forward to seeing you there on Friday, December 14.Ms. Everetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06539192413746662431noreply@blogger.com0