Think Thor is the only game in town when it comes to Norse myths? Meet the Valkyries. Valkyrie Rising, by Ingrid Paulson Harper Teen, ISBN: 978 0 06202 572 2 Ellie will be spending the summer in Norway with her grandmother and her brother will join them. Yawn. But then it comes out that … [Read more...]
Sick
Dude. What to do when the kids in your school start turning into some sort of weird zombies? Sick, by Tom Leveen Amulet Books, ISBN: 978 1 41970 805 3 A few friends have figured out how to "escape" their very secure high school to skip a class, but when they return, they find the place has … [Read more...]
Infinite, Insane Action
When the teen materials people at the library put this one on a booklist and called it a mashup of kung fu, zombie, and blaxsploitation film styles, I had no idea what they were talking about. Then I pulled it off the shelf, and woah, the thing is huge. Jokes about infinite reading material ensued. … [Read more...]
Ultimate Dinosaurs Gone Wrong
Yep, this pair of novel for middle grades is just that - one step beyond Jurassic Park. Woah. Z Rex Z Raptor by Steve ColePhilomelISBN: 978 0 399 25253 2 Rex 978 0 399 25254 9 RaptorAudience: grades 4-7, especially great … [Read more...]
Blink & Caution
This teen novel takes two runaways on a crazy ride.Blink & Cautionby Tim Wynne-JonesCandlewick PressISBN: 978 0 7636 3983 9Audience: teensBlink has left his home and abusive stepfather behind, and is scraping by - barely - by snitching breakfasts in fancy hotels, and sleeping in a squat. One … [Read more...]
Action Bunny and the Super Geeks
Two great graphic adventures! Stone Rabbit series by Erik Craddock Random House Audience: grades 2-4For kids who love adventures that take them into a whole different world (think Magic Tree House or Knights of the Kitchen Table series), this fun and light series of graphic novels … [Read more...]
Learn to Love the Results
I can't tell you how many times I am confronted with the an individual that either balks at the idea of adding 'cardio' into their life or does it but quite obviously hates every minute of it. I then, with empathy in my heart, take some time to define cardio and then explain its importance in … [Read more...]
Have you Really Decided?
Do you have a health goal in mind? Are you committed to reaching it? Have you taken any steps towards reaching it? According to Anthony Robbins; "A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action. If there is no action, you haven't actually … [Read more...]
Motivation follows Action!
Motivation follows Action! By far this is one of my most favourite mantras and my belief in it has served me well time and again. Just today I woke up on what must have been the wrong side of the bed. I had low energy, my thoughts were less than positive and being self employed … [Read more...]