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!