Monday, March 12, 2007

I should be writing reviews

Here is the problem, I start out to write some reviews, clearly defining the noble qualities of the novels I just finished but instead I get distracted by following links and I ended up here.

Maureen Johnson's posts on "How to be a writer" are perfection. I love the photos from movies which perfectly illustrate her points.

More amazing coincidences in my life.

I subbed at local area high school library Friday. It was an extremely busy day with three (count 'em three) classes in the house for research--the last day of school before spring break. (The English classes were working on the COOLEST project--they had to watch a movie with a historical context and then research the reality of the event/time period and point out the discrepancies in the movie.)

There were also study hall students there and even when they get to high school they still ask you questions like:

Girl: "Do you have any books on animals?"
Me: Yes, what kind of animal are you interested in?
Girl: "Snakes."

Now, every computer was occupied so she could not use the OPAC but luckily for this student I KNOW that snakes are in 597 so we moseyed over to the shelf to have a look-see.

As we contemplated the selection of reptile books, the girl asked me,
Girl: "What is that book under your arm?"

I had discovered Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes on the shelf and had been reading it during lunch and in between showing kids for the nth time how to connect to a printer and the other librarian had already said I could borrow it over spring break (it is not all roses having me as a sub) and I had already had the thought at least once that I wished the kids would leave so I could read the book because it was soooo... good.

Me: Oh, this book is so awesome! ...and then went on to give a synopsis of the first two chapters.
Her: "Wow, I would really like to read that."
Me: - sigh -
Me: Well, here. If you would like to read it, you can check it out BUT if you don't want it, give it back to me, Ok?

She checked it out.

We are going to the bookstore in a few minutes.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and so did both of my kids-- it's a purchase I don't regret.

MotherReader said...

You are a good person. And it feels great, doesn't it.

Once I was recommending the Angus, Thongs series to a reluctant teen reader and the first book wasn't in. So, I gave her a donated copy that I was planning to add to the collection, asking her to please return it to me if she could but if something happened and she didn't, not to worry herself. She brought it back two weeks later with my little sticky note with my name on it, and went to check out the next book. It felt good to have given her a positive library experience. That's what it's all about.

Don't worry about your reviews. Your library stories and your found links are what keep me coming back.

Michele said...

Loved the link to Maureen's Blog - thanks for sharing that (haven't read Envelopes, but did read Devilish for the Cybils.