Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Covey for Teens


By Dewey! Another pick from the 100s:

This book was a great idea! While teens can read Stephen Covey's original "7 Habits," his son Sean has adapted it for teenagers today. The book is immediately gripping, with real life stories of successful teens, cartoons and quotations. The seven habits are the same: Be proactive, Begin with the end in mind, Put first things first, Think win-win, Seek first to understand and then to be understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw. They're applicable to all of us, and this book for teens presents them in such a lively and interesting way that anyone could enjoy and prodit from this book.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Can't Wait for Iorek!


St. Dunstan can't wait till he sees the movie -- opening Friday! If you can't wait either, then here are links to the top two fansites and another great page of resources:
Horn Book HDM Page, with links, interviews, and more

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Waiting for "The Golden Compass": The Date is Set!


The much-awaited film version of The Golden Compass, the first volume of His Dark Materials, is opening in less than a week, and the very next week we're going to see it! That is, the eight graders, Mrs. Morrison, Mr. Uhler, and Mrs. Hyde are all going to see the movie in Asheville. Why? Because we're all reading The Golden Compass for the 2008 North Carolina Battle of the Books. Our first team, some years back, starred Ms. Tillett's son Aaron (now a graduate of Brown), won its local championship. Since then the trophy has been in other hands, but we always read and we always take part in the Battle!


This year's 8th graders are an especially perspicacious group, and we have high hopes for them in the spring.


What better way to kick off the battle training season and the holidays than by seeing this sure-to-be-fine movie?


St. Dunstan suggests that each of you get a copy of this book -- a terrific adventure set in an alternate Oxford,England, and involving gypsies, polar bears, children, sinister adults, witches, zeppelins and one Texan balloonist, all involved in a fantastic and breathtaking adventure. Believe me, this story will entrance all ages. But don't believe me -- go see the movie, and read the book!