First Paragraph Friday - "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

This week I previewed the awesome Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick. This is another great realistic fiction book and it even has a sequel!

Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.

I love the reason that Sonnenblick gives about why he chose to write Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie:

First Paragraph Friday - "Legend" by Marie Lu

This week I previewed Legend by Marie Lu. Legend is the first book in a trilogy (the next two books are Prodigy and Champion) and is narrated by alternating narrators - Day and June. It's a great series with lots of twists and turns!

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Marie Lu has another series called The Young Elites. The third and final book is being released on October 11!

First Paragraph Friday - "Unwind" by Neal Shusterman

This week I previewed Unwind by Neal Shusterman. This is a super interesting and creepy book and is the first in a series of four. I highly recommend it!

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them 

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away. 

Here is Shusterman talking about his inspiration for the Unwind series:

You might also be interested in a short film that was inspired by a chapter in the first book. 

First Paragraph Friday - Wonder by RJ Palacio

This week's First Paragraph Friday is Wonder by RJ Palacio. This is such a fantastic book; every student should read it!

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. 

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. 

If you've already read Wonder but want more, check out Auggie & Me, Three Wonder Stories!

Here is the author talking about the book:

And here is a book trailer from the publisher:

First Paragraph Friday - Alabama Moon by Watt Key

This week, I previewed Alabama Moon by Watt Key. This is realistic fiction and will probably appeal to readers who enjoyed books like Hatchet or Holes.

For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store. When Moon's father dies, Moon follows his father's last instructions: to travel to Alaska to find others like themselves. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he doesn't know or understand; he's become property of the government he has been avoiding all his life. As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constables, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends, and true enemies, he adapts his wilderness survival skills and learns to survive in the outside world, and even, perhaps, make his home there.

Alabama Moon was made into a movie a few years ago. You can watch the trailer below:

First Paragraph Friday - The Compound by SA Bodeen

Our inaugural First Paragraph Friday was The Compound by SA Bodeen. This is definitely one of my favorite books to recommend to students!

 

Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy. No amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, only his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day. As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary―and their sanity―Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside. Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe―really?