gobble gobble

 This will not be me this year.  I spent the past weekend in Dallas with the family so that I have FIVE days off.  After cleaning and cooking for the husband and the dogs, I plan to read.  The only question is, what?  Here's what's on tap:

Where'd you go, Bernadette?
  Actually, I've already started this.  Highly readable, as they say, but I'm not quite hooked yet.  Bernadette is a brilliant architect who, despite her young age, has seen her best years.  I can't figure out if she's a genius or insane, or a little of both.  It seems that most geniuses are a mix, doesn't it?  I guess it's that  their brains are wired differently than everyone elses.  At any rate, Bernadette disappears right before she is to take a trip to the Antartic with her family.  The story is told via letters and emails from the various figures in her life.  I do like the varying points of view that provide inside to the many facets of her personality...kind of reminds me of a Tom Robbins character.  We shall see!

Reconstructing Amelia
See earlier post (the one right below),  but this one I can't wait to get my hands on!


Anna and the French kiss
  Recommended by John Green, this sounds like just the thing for this Francophile to escape into over a nice relaxing break.  I've spent some time on Perkin's blog, and I already like her.  Can't wait to get started on this one!

So.  Thanksgiving break will be spent with Books, The Husband, The Dogs and The Cat.  All of which I am very, very thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

PS What are YOU reading?  I usually don't post responses because this is a "school" blog, but I'd at least love to hear what you're reading.

Now I feel like a *smart* 9th grader

I finally did it.  I re-read Animal farm and boy am I glad!  It has really piqued my interest in the Russian Revolution.  I hate to expose my ignorance, but did you know Stalin was responsible for more deaths than Hitler?



Since I am wholly ill-equipped to discuss the Revolution (or Stalin, or Trotsky <though I love saying "Trotsky">, or Lenin and the rest), I feel a Russian reading list comin' on.

Dr. Zhivago
"Dr. Yury Zhivago, Pasternak's alter ego, is a poet, philosopher, and physician whose life is disrupted by the war and by his love for Lara, the wife of a revolutionary." (Goodreads.com)  I want to curl up with  my dog and a cup of hot tea beside a fire, and read this NOW.  As a child I had a music box that played Lara's Theme.  To this day I think of the pirouetting ballerina when I hear the music.

If you're feeling lazy, there's always the movie.  They almost make freezing temperatures look fun and stylish.


Crime and Punishment

Another uplifting Russian tale of, you guessed it, crime and punishment. "Through the story of the brilliant but conflicted young Raskolnikov and the murder he commits, Fyodor Dostoevsky explores the theme of redemption through suffering. Crime and Punishment put Dostoevsky at the forefront of Russian writers when it appeared in 1866 and is now one of the most famous and influential novels in world literature." (GoodReads.com)

War and PeaceWar, war - what is it good for?
"Tolstoy's epic masterpiece intertwines the lives of private and public individuals during the time of the Napoleonic wars and the French invasion of Russia. The fortunes of the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys, of Pierre, Natasha, and Andrei, are intimately connected with the national history that is played out in parallel with their lives. Balls and soirees alternate with councils of war and the machinations of statesmen and generals, scenes of violent battles with everyday human passions in a work whose extraordinary imaginative power has never been surpassed. " (Goodreads.com)

I've always wanted to read some Checkov.  I just figured it would make me sound smart.  Check out (ba dum dum) this site with links to 201 Checkov stories.

I'll end the list with a modern tale.  
Absurdistan
"Open Absurdistan and meet outsize Misha Vainberg, son of the 1,238th-richest man in Russia, lover of large portions of food and drink, lover and inept performer of rap music, and lover of a South Bronx Latina whom he longs to rejoin in New York City, if only the American INS will grant him a visa. But it won't, because Misha's late Beloved Papa whacked an Oklahoma businessman of some prominence. Misha is paying the price of exile from his adopted American homeland. He's stuck in Russia, dreaming of his beloved Rouenna and the Oz of NYC. " (Goodreads.com)

I admit to starting this book a few years back, I was hoping it would be like A confederacy of dunces; yet I had to put it down for some reason and never picked it back up again.  Maybe because I had to read Animal farm.

Хороших выходных, все!

I feel like a 9th grader

 I should be reading Animal farm to prepare for a lesson (it's in public domain so you can read it online here), but I kinda don't want to.  OK, I actually do. not. want. to.  But I must. I read it in 9th grade and, well, I don't remember a thing.


Why, you may ask, do I feel compelled to read it again?  Well, I'm leading a lesson that Mrs. Bligh created later in the week so I think I should have an idea as to what I'm talking about.

My fellow 9th graders, I feel your pain.

Here is what I would rather be reading:

Where'd you go, Bernadette?
I read the first page in my car while waiting for a red light, and I'm already hooked.

Y
I've started this, also.  Lyrical, haunting and very well written.  Shannon's mother leaves her swaddled in a blanket at the YMCA just days after her birth.  Shannon then endures abuse at a couple of foster homes before experiencing a tenuous happiness with Miranda and her daughter.  Yula's story, Shannon's birth mother, is interspersed throughout. Read brief excerpt below.  I've never thought so much about a letter.

“Y. That perfect letter. The wishbone, fork in the road, empty wineglass. The question we ask over and over. Why? . . . My life begins at the Y.”   

No more dirty looks
The book penned by the authors of the above blog,  for clean, green make up and body products.  I swear by these ladies.  They're awesome.

Reconstructing Amelia (I always want to say "de"constructing...not sure if that says I'm negative or too into Woody Allen)
This has been on my bedside for quite a while, can't wait to start it!  Amelia has been caught cheating and her mother is summoned to school.  Before her mother arrives, Amelia has jumped out a window - or has she?

Maybe I'll reward myself with some fun reading after I get through five chapters of AF...

Who knew Meat is Murder could be romantic?

I'm not the first to extol the virtues of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park; actually, after reading John Green's review I feel like I should just stop here.  I can't do the book the justice Green does.  So I'm going another route.  I'm going to gush unabashedly.

I lovelovelove this book!!!!!!

One: I identified with Eleanor and I feel most girls will.  No, I don't have red hair and I'm not fat.  (Though I wonder how overweight Eleanor really is - but I'll save those theories on a post about eating disorders and the insanity that is the current ideal beauty.)  We may not have cruel nicknames or people outwardly hostile towards us, but most of us feel like an outsider at some point in time.  Sadly, Eleanor is an outsider even in her own house (her mother is pretty awful, btw).

Two: Park is such a tender and interesting boy (yes John Green, who likes "good music" <see review above>), and Rowell's writing so honest, that his gradual connection with Eleanor is as tangible as the cord that links their headphones.  The cover couldn't be more perfect.



Example: Park has made a mixtape (I miss the 80's!) for Eleanor and wants her to listen to it at home.  She has no cassette player.  He insists she take his Walkman.  She argues she'll wear out his batteries.  She refuses.  Park goes home and plans his birthday request to his grandmother: batteries.  Here readers sigh, or text their best friend to tell them how much they freakin' love the book.

This tale of star-crossed lovers, thwarted by the unfairness of life, is timeless (but if you're into the 80's, time itself is a selling point of  E&P), touching and affecting.  It's a wallop of a book.

So, the cover says it all.  This is up there with The fault in our stars.  It's a must-read for anyone with a heart (that should cover just about everyone, right?).

Go read it now, please, so we can talk about it.

Wonder has rolled out

 Be still my  heart.  We have FINALLY received our 200 copies of Wonder by RJ Palacio.  I don't want to overstate the case, but this book has the potential to change lives.  I fell in love with Auggie from the get-go. A ten-year-old about to enter public school for the first time after years of homeschooling due to his cranio-facial difference (and ensuing operations).  He's nervous, as we all would be.  Some kids are kind, some are not.  There are some real heartbreaking scenes in this book, I won't lie (not to mention the dog, my God the dog), but it is a story with appeal for all ages.


Personally, I identified with Via. I, too, am the older sister of a brother who has a physical difference that causes insensitive people to gawk.  He is smaller than average.  I had my share of verbal fights with idiots (Actually, I had one a few weeks ago, too.  You're never too old to protect your "little" <he's 42> bro.).  So yes, Via spoke to me.

There's a bully, Julian.   As a reader, we have the opportunity to hear Julian's point-of-view.  I can't say I find him particularly sympathetic, but I do find him human.  As we all are, of course.

We meet Auggie's friends, some so-called friends, parents, teachers...basically, everyone who enters his life.  We meet them through a variety of narrative tools, but the end is the same, glimpses into the lives of others and how one life can affect us all.

The book's theme is taken from Dr. Wayne Dyer, "When given a choice between being right and kind, choose kind."

Thus, RRISD has used our HEB grant money to purchase thousands of copies of Wonder in an effort to get our entire district to read it.  And - exciting - we are hosting the author on Mon., Feb 10th at the Round Rock Sports Complex (it's still being built, we'll be among the first to see it!)

MN has lots of activities planned around this novel.  The first being Auggie's birthday party this upcoming Th., Oct. 11th.  Our students need to check their school gmail accounts for details on how to score an invite.

More to come, so stay tuned!

Yes, libraries sometimes "throw away" books - it's called *discarding*

Now that I think about it, I've posted on this topic before.  Most people are outraged when they learn that libraries cull their collections, weed out unnecessary, unused and inaccurate titles to make way for the new, relevant and accurate books.

Sacrilege.

Sometimes this can be taken perhaps a bit too far, as evidenced in the Fairfax County library system that "destroyed" 250,00 books.  



Or was it?

I recommend that the library system hire a PR coach, or perhaps the article did not include the director's entire response.  Sam Clay (director) said something like this:

"... it was a necessary part of bringing the libraries from 'a print environment to a digital environment' and an unfortunate consequence of budget cuts. 'We’ve got decrease after decrease.'” 

To fully represent both sides, the article should mention why fewer books save money.  If the library is moving digital, they may not have people to work behind the circulation desk to actually check out books.  The article also states that several "highly relevant" titles were found in the dumpster, such as Harry Potter and a Charlie Brown book (thanks to a suspicious dumpster diver, the books were found).  My question is, how many of these titles remain on the shelf?  They may have 55 copies of Harry Potter and discarded 5, hardly a crime.

Finally, for an answer as to why these books weren't given to the Friends of the Library for fundraising purposes, one need look no further that this article.  An  uniformed, or misinformed, public and lousy journalism that only paints one side can get people all into a tizzy.  Don't we clean out our closets and give to Good Will?  Throw a garage sale?  Our libraries are not second hand stores.  Our patrons deserve sought after books and current, accurate information or else we aren't doing our job.  Libraries are dynamic, constantly changing centers of information and discarding reflects that. Period.

Update for HYH day...

Jazzy J's visit in the library for Hug your Hound Day was pawsitively delightful.  She reads!

It's hug-your-hound day

Friday, Sept. 6th is Hug Your Hound day.  Give your hound a hug!  We're considering all dogs "hounds" in this scenario.   In honor of HYH day, we're giving away Scooby Snacks to all students who check out books on this day.

Look at that BMC (Black Mouth Cur, if you're not in the know) to the right there.  My husband and I rescued him from Austin Pets Alive! this summer.  He's a handful.  Of joy, that is.

Yeowzah.  I better include Charlotte in this or her feelings will be hurt.  I suspect she gets online during the day when I'm not at home.  I think she orders steak and other treats on the sly.  At any rate, here is my number one love, Charlotte Josephine Glaser Falli:

One story that  illustrates the complete acceptance that dogs have for us  is that of President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.  According to my memory, Clinton remarked that during those dark (for him) days, Buddy was the only one who would have anything to do with him.  

Of course he was.

Some great dog books:

You had me at woof

Julie Klam, former David Letterman Show writer, recounts her adventures in fostering dogs.  Funny, touching and inspiring.

Marley and me

You saw the movie, right?  Annoying puppy Marley grows up to be the BEST DOG. Ever.

With love from Bagdad

American soldier stationed in Iraq takes in a stray puppy and fights the red tape-laden American government to bring him "home" to America.

And there are many more where those came from!

Here is Mrs. Bragham's dog, Tarzan.  He's a sweetie-pie!  His tricks include: eating socks, catching frisbees and - get this - opening his family's gate with his paws.  Yep.  He's talented.

And Mrs. Bligh plans to bring Jasmine, or Jazzy J as we say, up here tomorrow to give out free hugs and licks.

So come on down, check out a book, meet Jazzy J, get a Scooby Snack and then go home and HUG YOUR HOUND.

Oh wait, I think I'll include a vid of Archie playing in puppy class.  He's the little brown bruiser beating up on everyone.  After that day, they moved us to a class with bigger dogs so they could "correct" him.  Except the dogs didn't "correct" him.  And Archie is only getting bigger and bruisyer.  He's a nut.

Update, Jazzy J's visit to the libera

I have a new hero

Just in time for a new school year, which is great because I could use some inspiration.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

Next time I think I'm inconvenienced or put upon, I'll just be grateful that I'm not in a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean fighting sharks, dodging bullets (shot at SIX times by the Japanese) and breaking the necks of fetid birds for sustenance.  For FORTY-SEVEN days.

Actually, I think a more fitting title for Louis Zamperini's biography would be relentless.  It hurts just to listen to it.

If you don't have the patience to watch the above clip, or for some reason are just uninterested, let me tell you this about Louis Zamperini:

1. Olympic runner (shins slashed by meanies while running and still qualified)
2. bomber pilot in WWII
3. crashed into Pacific and survived on raft with two, then eventually one, fellow soldiers for FORTY-SEVEN days
4. all that stuff above about the sharks, bullets and putrid birds PLUS
5. sunburn, starvation and hallucinations
6. finally rescued, but not really because the Japanese found him and he became a prisoner of war
7. EXCEPT that the Japanese used some fancy thinking to claim he was not a prisoner of war but a person with necessary intelligence (or some term I forget) so, you know, rules of war didn't apply and he was tortured

I could go on, but that's as far as I've gotten.  

Oops, forgot one strange twist of fate: one of his captors was a college friend who was actually working as a spy during their college days.

Oh yeah.

Like Seabiscuit (Hillenbrand's earlier book), this bio screams to be made into a movie - and - it is.  All I know Angelina Jolie will direct it.

And just look at this little cutie, still spunky at 95!

Parting is such sweet sorrow...but you gotta do it. Return ALL library books!

People laugh, but I like Mr. Bookman!

Yeowza, the library has 451 books still checked out and only about 5 good days in which to collect.  If the average book costs $20.00, that's $9020.00 in books (or let's say, taxpayer money,) that the school and YOU lose if they are not returned.  Not to mention the overdue notices that have gone out, the bills about to go out (paper, stamps, labor, $$$).

Save the trees; turn in library books TODAY.

*The Ruining*

Well, The Ruining started out promising.  After reading the flap, I was intrigued (sounds like the author is living the life, "Now she lives, writes and au pairs in Paris,"  big sigh.).  Annie Phillips is thrilled to escape impoverished  trailer park life she shares with her drunken mother and equally drunken, slovenly stepfather (who sexually abused her?  It's a little foggy.).  She jumps at the chance to nanny for the picture-perfect Cohens in sunny, glamorous and richie rich Belvedere Island off San Francisco.  With promises of a paid education, time off and the chance at normalcy (if you're super rich), who could say no?

Once you learn that Libby Cohen, the mom, knows that Annie suffered the trauma of losing a little sister to a drowning, while the sister was under her care, you get a little suspicious.  Quickly, the picture perfect life starts to unravel.  Libby plays mind games such as referring to Annie as "Nanny", as if that's her name.  Libby thwarts all of Annie's attempts at finding friends.  Libby has the door to Annie's bedroom removed...getting the drift?

Poor Annie doesn't.

I'm not in the habit of ruining endings, so I won't.  But I think this is summer read worthy;  though not un-put-downable such as the titles Divergent, Matched or Ashes.

If you're into the nanny, au pair thing you may want to check out  The Nanny Diaries or The Au Pairs (forgive the cover, but it's indicative of what's inside -there's a reason for the saying...).

Son and the lost art of THE END

Lowry brings her Giver quartet to its conclusion in Son, the story of Claire, Gabe's mother.  (If you remember, Gabe is the baby with whom Jonas b escapes in The Giver.)  Personally, I found the beginning to be the most interesting part.  I just like it when everyone is on "the compound" as I call it (but since there is never rain, it isn't a natural place and I'm not sure what word I should be using).  Very Handmaid's Tale.  I'm not going to give you a synopsis here, just being the conclusion to The Giver really should be enough to recommend it (and I do!), but I found this New York Times book review podcast interview with Lois Lowry to be particularly enlightening. (she is the first interview on the podcast so, mercifully, you don't have to ff)

Apparently, Lowry's adult son died when training for the military in a routine exercise, due to a mechanic's error.  Not in the line of duty.  The case was brought to trial in Germany and Lowry was called to testify but refused. On the first day of trial, the accused shot himself in the head.  As evidenced by this man's suicide, the accident had more than the direct victims.  The ramifications of this error are manifold, and tragic.   Lowry saw no good coming out of her testifying.

"I cannot kill someone, he thought."

In the above podcast, the interviewer makes a parallel between Lowry's personal passivity (as in, non-violence, not as in "no-action") and her characters'.  Indeed, with its Faustian quid pro quo element, Lowry drives home the message that without something to feed on, evil dies.  Love is more powerful than hate.  Mercy, more powerful than revenge.

 I suppose that to some extent, Lowry's personal views are reflected through her novels, and aren't most authors?  I know that for me, listening to the interview added yet another layer to this quartet that has forever colored the way I view young adult literature.

And the ending?  THE END says it all.  Is it just me, or has the finality of an ending become pass?

YAB Fest, YAB Fest, YAB Fest - say it quickly 3 times

The Book Spot, Round Rock HS and other district librarians have organized what will be an *awesome* young adult book festival this Sat., May 11th.  

(it's free)

I met two of the attending authors at our TLA conference a couple of weeks back, Jessica Lee Anderson (are you reading this?  Thanks for the great conversation - I'm hopeful!) and PJ Hoover (I hear her new book Solstice is "like crack" - that's according to Mrs. Hance over at Grisham).

(it's free)

Who will be there?  Only fabulous authors such as the above mentioned, Greg Leitich Smith, Rachel Harris, DAVID LEVITHAN (Mrs. Bligh's bff after one dinner)  (if he remembers her) and many more.  Read the poster.

(it's free)

Stop by, chat with an author, get a book (like say, Calli or Solstice) signed and do something different.  Have fun!  Opportunities like this don't happen every day.  Who knew we had so much local literary talent?

May 11
9:00 am-5:00 pm
1100 Building of RRHS off Deepwood Dr.

It's FREE people.

I heart testing! Or, How I Learned to Love Testing Because I Recommend Books to Students Who are Forced to Read

Here are two books I not-so-subtly passed on to students to read after STAAR:
 "Wonder" - is it possible that I haven't blogged about this book yet? The book that got me back into ya lit? (I admit, I've been reading more non-fiction than anything else lately.) Please watch the above trailer. If you have a heart, you'll love Auggie. Love his sister. Understand his friends. Your heart will break (but it will be repaired). You may cry a little. You'll cheer. You'll even find some sympathy for a bully.

Lovelovelove the book.

Be on the lookout: RR librarians and others are planning on making this our first community-wide read beginning in the fall.  I expect some great things to come out of this!

 So yes, I threw Wonder at someone. My next victim, I mean student, got into Fallen Angels (and oldie but goodie). So, given my druthers, here are a few books I have lying around for those students testing in the library with "nothing" to read:

Orange is the new black: One year in a women's prison  - true story (self explanatory, no?)


Fitz
A father.  A son.  A gun.


For ambitious readers (those who brought a book and have finished it already - and those who seem super cool and can handle it):
The brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao 
I read this one twice, back-to-back.  Love it.  Love Oscar.  Love Junot Diaz.  Diaz was my John Green, before I knew John Green.


My lobotomy
Dr. Walter Freeman performs a lobotomy on twelve-year-old Howard.  You don't know what a lobotomy is?  It's when part of your brain is removed.

I'm not kidding.



Ack.  I think I'm on the verge of a dark theme again....maybe it's the testing getting to me.  I promise that my next post will feature sweet books with hearts and rainbows.  Except for my review of Son (sequel to The Giver).  I am this close to finishing it.   I love the book, but surprise!, it isn't a lighthearted one.

We're baaack

Mrs. Bligh and I had a great, I mean, productive and educational time in Cowtown for our annual Texas Library Association conference.  I had the pleasure of hobnobbing with authors such as K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr of the recently penned, Loki's Wolves.  It sounds great!  Many thanks to the lovely women at Little Brown who graciously invited me to dinner (at Ruth's Chris, nonetheless) and gave me the opportunity to meet the authors and get an autographed copy of the book.  I'm a sucker for those.



I attended the annual, much anticipated Teri Lesesne booktalk in which she gives a quick rundown of the top one hundred or so of the newest must-reads.  Although self-titled the Goddess of YA Literature, no one would argue with that moniker.  My book list for next year is already growing.  But please stop by so we can talk about everything coming out!

I also think I'm going to undertake suggesting a library social media policy for the district....we'll see.  Lots of things to think about.  Whoops, how can I forget?  Mrs. Bligh and I want to be the first school in the district to create a mobile app for the library.  What features would you like to see?  Off the top of our head we're thinking: holds, re-checks (no more overdues, dreamy) and book requests - in addition to database access, etc.  Your thoughts?

We did miss you all.  But not the testing.

PS If you are reading this at all, you have Mercedes to thank.  I took a break from the blog life last year, but once I heard Mercede's story (and she said I could share) I decided to pick it back up.  As a newbie to McNeil, Mercedes spent her summer looking up stuff about MN and other local schools to figure out where she wanted to go.   As a library frequent flier, as we like to say, she spent time on our site and reading this blog.  That's when she knew she wanted to go to MN.

Makes your heart swell just a bit, doesn't it?  So to Mercedes and my two other readers, this is all for you!  Thank you for reading.

Going once!

Some of our most recent discards.  Hmm, seems that the puppet circus craze has died down and the middle book there hasn't been checked out in over 10 years.  AND, there was a surprise in the card slot in the front of the book (for the old fashioned pen & paper check out) , but discretion prevents me from going into more detail.

Going, going, gone!

Often, people are surprised or express dismay/disapproval because we discard books.  Yet, if we didn't, we would have books that say, "One day, man will land on the moon..." (forgive my unimaginative example) taking up room on the shelf and where would our new books go?  The books with updated, current information?  (Fiction is another story before you debate, "But Paradise Lost isn't 'new'.)  So if you see a book with DISCARD stamped all over it in red, please leave it alone.  Stories of well meaning people finding discarded library books, in say the trash or river, going to great lengths to return them are nice in a people-really-are-good kind of way, but I'm over that at this point.



During my days in HEBISD, a janitor fished a paperback out of the toilet and returned it to me in a plastic bag.  The  Toilet Book was on my desk for I don't know how long. Thanks, but no thanks.


Out with the old, in with the new.  Allow me to highlight a few of our new titles:
Plane wreck.  Ocean. Sharks. Island.  Need I say more?

Old, but new to me (and MN).  Apparently, when published in the 70's Zoo Station was widely read in Germany, where Christian F. lives.  At the age of 13 she was addicted to H and would do anything to get her next fix.  Fans of Tweak and the like may want to check this out.  It's written in a more sophisticated way, and her story is much, much darker than Nic's, but it is certainly keeping me up at night.

I'm hoping Triggered is as good as The Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood, I'll find out this summer when I have the time to read it.

Happy and safe prom, Mavericks - have a great weekend!
Oh wait, one more book, aptly entitled Prom.  A documentarian view of prom in America as a rite of passage of sorts.  If you're not the prom type, you may find this more interesting than most.

John Green has my heart

I know, I know.  I'm a late-comer to the John Green craze.  But I am so glad that I finally jumped on the bandwagon.  Not only is TFiOS (Come on people, you know what I'm talking about; if you don't - look it up) one of my favorite y.a. books of all time, but it's soon to be a movie.

If the movie is a bust, it will break my heart.  I'm not kidding.  I felt the same way about Holes, and that turned out OK, so fingers crossed.

As soon as I finished TFiOS, I started listening to Paper Towns via Playaway.  (Tricky thing with Playaways, I have no earthly how far along in the book I am and our print copies are currently checked out so I can't peek - frustrating.  I'm a print girl, what can I say?)  My dog is getting much longer walks these days so I can listen to it, thus, CharChar has become a JG fan by default.

Not only is JG a fabulous author, as evidenced by his many  fans (and who knows better than our students???) and sales, but he's a history buff so I can't help by have an author-crush on him.  I used his Crash Course French Revolution for our Tale of Two Cities anticipatory project.  (More about the project later.)  I'm looking forward to hearing how Tale is going and will start grading those tonight.  Good luck, my freshmen soldiers.  I know Tale can be a bit rough, but it is SO worth it.  One of the best stories ever told.



The French Revolution Crash Course Video from Troy Sayre on Vimeo.