Sydney

=Book Log=
 * # || =Book Title= || =Author= || =E, JR, C= || =Date Completed= ||
 * ==1== || Crunch || Leslie Connor || JR || July,4 ||
 * ==2== || I Survived the shark attacks of 1916 || Lauren Tarish || E || Summer ||
 * ==3== || Lion of little rock || Kristin Levine || JR || September ||
 * ==4== || The New Girl || Nancy E Krulik || E/Jr || Auguest ||
 * ==5== || Autumn the falling leaves fairy || Daisy Meadowns || E || July ||
 * ==6== || Summer of Gypsy Months || Sara Penny Packer || JR || ? ||
 * 7 || Liar and Spy || Rebecca Stead || JR || Ditched ||
 * 8 || Silverwing || Kennth Opal || RA || October 24 ||
 * 9 || The Friendship Matchmaker || Randa Abdel-Fattah || E/JR || September 30 ||
 * 10 || The Candy Smash || Jacqueline Davis || JR || Auguest ||
 * 11 || White Fur Flying || Patricia MacLachlan || E/JR || October 1, ||
 * 12 || The Fenway Foul-Up || David A Kelly || E/JR || October 23 ||
 * 13 || Tortilla Sun || Jennifer Cervantes || JR || Confused ||
 * 14 || The Bell Bandit || Jacqueline Davis || JR || October 29 ||
 * 15 || Sprinkles and Secrets || Lisa Schroeder || JR || November 13 ||
 * 16 || What Ever After: Sink it or Swim || Sarah Mlynowski || JR || March ||
 * 17 || Because of Whinn Dixie || Kate DiCamillo || JR || December ||
 * 18 || What Ever After: Fairest Of All || Sarah Mlynowski || JR || January ||
 * 19 || Radio 5th Grade || Gordon Korman || JR/C || Ditched ||
 * 20 || Tucker Nuck || Emily Fairlie || RA || March 26 ||
 * 21 || The Secret Chicken Society || Judy Cox || E/JR || March ||
 * 22 || What Ever After: If The Shoe Fits || Sarah Mlynowski || JR || Ditched ||
 * 23 || The Penderwicks ||  || JR || Ditched ||
 * 24 || It's Raining Cupcakes || Lisa Schroeder || JR || June ||
 * 25 || My Brother Sam Is Dead ||  || RA || June 9, ||

Mrs. Palmieri recommends...
November 22, 2015 Hi Mrs. Palmieri!!!!
 * ==#== || ==Book Title== || ==Author== ||
 * ==1== || The Tale of Desperaux || Kate DiCamillo ||
 * ==2== ||  ||   ||
 * 3 ||  ||   ||
 * ==4== ||  ||   ||

How are you? We are well. Are you enjoying the school year? We are LOVING middle school. Is your class this year as crazy as ours last year. We miss you lots. Especially our snoopy friends back at Killam. We can't wait for Killam's open house so we can come visit. How is Liam doing? Have you played any of your snoopy movies with your classes.

We miss you a lot!

Your old friends, Sydney Maureen Cahill The Third and Grace The Machine Whalen

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ March 5, 2015 Hi Mrs.Palmieri!

I agree that Laurie is a little bratty and that Bud is kinda annoying. I like Tucker Nuck so far. Not loving it but liking it. It's a little boring and hard to follow. I am really confusing about what main characters are doing what. I have lately been reading Radio Fifth Grade at home. I like Radio Fifth Grade better now that we continued to read it. This story reminds me of Killam. For example I Radio Fifth Grade they have there own radio station. At Killam we have our own News website. I don't understand on page 33 in Radio 5th grade it says " Horse manure catches more flies than honey and vinegar put together?" I am so excited for the MCBA voting on Friday. I really enjoyed a lot of books from the list and can''t decided on 1. Are you excited to vote? Which book did you really enjoy? Also what kinds of books are YOU reading? Talk to you soon !!! Sydney Maureen Cahill

Hi Sydney-

I can't believe how fast this school year is flying! I am so glad that we read __Tortilla Sun__ too, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. It reminded me how fun it can be to read a book out loud "cold"- like I have never read it before so I get to ask questions and make predictions right along with you guys. __***I'd like to read another book by this author, Jennifer Cervantes,because I enjoyed the beautiful imagery she created when she described the village with such beautiful colors.**__ **On page 22 she describes Albuquerque from the airplane- "it looked like brown sandpaper stretched between a giant mountain in the east and a long green ribbon of trees in the west. The river beyond the valley curled back and forth across the landscape as if it were looking for a place to rest." That's one of the many beautiful descriptions I enjoyed.**


 * I'm glad that we made the decision to read another MCBA. I like __Tuckernuck__ so far. I wouldn't say I love it, yet. It's hard when a book doesn't grab you right away. I know many students have mentioned that this book is kind of hard to follow- and I agree. This might be another good reason that we are reading it together so that we can talk about and think about everything that is going on and help each other to understannd. Actually, I think one of the parts I'm struggling with most in the book are the main characters. When I read a book, I tend to like something about the main character right away- Ex. I love Shade and Marina.**
 * In Tuckernuck, I like and feel sympathetic to Bud; his mom is gone, dad seems intense, and other kids seem to think he's kiss up. But Laurie, I just don't like her. I feel like she acts bratty like on page 40 where she says, "Sorry Bud no dice. I found it, okay? All you did was act like a klutz. This paper means treasure, and sorry, I'm not giving it up." **


 * Do you this Laurie is bratty? Do you think Bud is annoying? Do you think they will change through this story?**


 * I would love to hear about your guided reading book or other books you are reading too.**


 * I would especially like it if you could find a quote like I did above to back up your ideas.**


 * Your friend,**
 * Mrs. P:)**


 * December 16, 2014**
 * Hi Mrs. Palmieri!**


 * Happy Birthday Liam!**
 * I am so glad you read __Tortilla Sun__ for a read aloud it is SO good!!I have never heard of the series you told me in your last letter. I love to read books in a series, but never hear of "Little House". Have you ever hear of "What ever after" series? For my booktalk I'm doing a book in that series called __Fairest Of All__. I have not started yet, but I have heard that Abby and her brother go inside the tale of __Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs__. Nicole did it last year and I've always wanted to do it for a 5th grade book talk. For the Secret Snoopy will this be done in the morning or end of the day?**


 * Sincerely, Sydney C**


 * December 14, 2014**
 * Hello Sydney!**


 * I guess I'm kind of glad that you and Sam both abandoned __Tortilla Sun__ because now we can read it aloud. I'm really enjoying it! I think the setting of this book, the little village in New Mexico, is important to the story as it's adding to the mystery and fantasy elements of the story. Izzy didn't know that her father had spent time there and that so many people would have known him and I predict that this is going to help her get to know the dad she never knew and maybe solve the mystery of the words on the baseball.**


 * I enjoy that I am reading this with you guys for the first time- it adds to the adventure for me too!**


 * I would like to think that I might get to read a book or two over vacation. It would be a great way to relax, but with the baby I'm guessing I might be too busy :) Sometimes right before Christmas, I like to read my favorite holiday sections of the "Little House" series. Do you know these famous books by Laura Ingalls Wilder? They are the description of her own growing up in the late 1800s in places like Wisconsin, Kansas and South Dakota. I enjoy how simple their life was and I love how she describes their festivities. For example- in**
 * __By the Shores of Silver Lake__, pg. 180, "Frost was thick on the windowpanes and frost furred the cracks around the door. Thickly against the clear upper edges of the windowpanes the snowflakes fluttered. But lamplight was bright on the red-and-white tablecloth, and the fire glowed behind the open drafts of the stove."**


 * Talk to you soon,**
 * Mrs. P**


 * December 2, 2014**


 * Hi Mrs.Palmieri!!!**


 * The books in your letter you were telling me about sounds so interesting. __Capture The Flag__ was one MCBA book that I haven't gotten the chance to read yet. I might read it but I might not. I bet __Tortilla Sun__ would be a great read aloud because nobody in the class has read it. The series you were telling me about sound interesting. I might read __Man Hunt__ because I have lots of memories from the past summer playing.**


 * Right now I'm reading __Sink it or swim it__ by Sarah Mlynowski. I like this part in the book when Abby and her brother have a mirror down in there basement. The mirror has a twist to it though. You would think an monstrous witch would appear when you look inside it but no. When you hop inside the mirror you fall into a fairy tale. [Rapunzel, Ariel, Belle]. I haven't gotten to far into the book but I like it a lot.**


 * Sincerely,**
 * Sydney C :)**


 * November 29, 2014**
 * Hi Syd-**


 * Since you abandoned __Tortilla Sun__, maybe that will be the MCBA that I read out loud because I think very few people in our class had read it. I don't remember to much of what it is about, but you mentioned that the author used some Spanish in it. DId you find it confusing because of the Spanish?**
 * I have known a couple other books like that- including __When Tia Lola Came to Visit__ and __Esperanza Rising__. Both of these books were former MCBAs that I really liked. They both have authors who have Spanish heritage so it makes sense that the would include that for their characters. I bet the author of __Tortilla Sun__ might be the same way.**


 * Have you read __The Lost Hero__ or any other books in the __Lightning Thief__ series? If you haven't, I'm not sure I would recommend reading**
 * __The Son of Neptune__ because it might be way too hard to follow. But I am definitely excited to see you interested in trying a more challenging book.**


 * One of the other MCBAs I read this summer was __Capture the Flag__. This story captured my attention right away as I have been to see the flag that they were describing being stolen. The real "Star Spangled Banner" is famous for surviving the War of 1812 and can now be seen at a very cool exhibit at the American History Museum (Smithsonian) in Washington D.C. One thing I really like about this book was how it started out with a lot of action and adventure and pulled you as a the reader right in. One thing I would have changed about the story was that it was slow in the middle and I had to push myself to stay interested and to finish it. I assumed that the author would make this into a series and I was interested to find her next two books are called __Hide and Seek__ and __Manhunt__. I like that her book titles seem to match with games that kids like to play- clever.** This book reminded me of several other series where kids work together to have some awesome adventures- like __Chasing Vermeer__ and __I.Q.__ ** Both books involve stolen famous artifacts or artwork, and if you like creative adventures with kids trying to solve the mysteries you would probably like these books too.

Talk to you soon, Mrs. P

November 25, 2014

Hi Mrs Palmieri!

I get stuck a lot too. Sometimes I'm reading a book and I'm in the middle and I want to quit because I find out about a new book that looks better. I liked the part in __Summer of Gypsy Months__ when the grandmother dies because the two girls had to start caring for each other more. I stooped reading __Tortilla Sun__ because it got confusing.I noticed the author used some Spanish in the book. A question I have about this book is did the girl ever go back to her home town? Also I was wondering if she had fun in California visiting her Grandmother. I'm so excited because I'm going to read __The Son of Neptune__. __The Son of Neptune__ looks like a more challenging book that I'm use to and it sounds good to.

Can't wait to get reading

Sincerely, Sydney C

November 21, 2014

Hi Syd-

Thank you for being the person who has written more on the wiki then anyone else! Yahoo! __Summer of the Gypsy Moths__ was one of the MCBAs that I really enjoyed last year. I was so shocked when the grandmother died, and the girls hid that secret for so long! Even though this kind of made this book sad and scary, it was nice to see how the friendship between these two lost girls grew. Did you enjoy this book- if so what did or didn't you like about it?

Right now I am slowly reading __The Mark of Athena__. I really enjoy Rick Riordan's books (__The Lightning Thief, Lost Hero__, etc.) I have always LOVED Greek Mythology and was excited to discover a series that included it in modern day situations. I say I am slowly reading as I find myself dozing off at night and also that I'm getting a little bored with the series. I typically love books that are in a series (do you like books in a series?) because I like to have characters that I'm familiar with and can get to know over a series of books. Sometimes I think authors who write very popular series (like J.K. Rowling and __Harry Potter)__ start to write books that get too long and maybe could stand to be edited/revised to make them a more concise story. __The Mark of Athena__ feels like it's just a recycled version of his other books. Demi god kids having adventures, fighting monsters, trying to solve some giant quest or task by the end of the book. I dislike these parts of the book because I feel like I'm bored of the same thing happening over and over again. I've been told by other kids that I should stick with this book and the rest of the series, and I probably will. I just feel a little stuck right now.

November 17, 2014

Hi Mrs.Palmieri! As you mentioned I did read Because of Whinn-Dixie. It was a couple of years ago. I enjoyed it a lot and are excited to read it again with my group. I would like to thank you for the reccomendation. I have read 2 books by Kate DiCamillo by not this one.

Yours Truly,

Sydney C

November 5th,

Hi Syd-

I know that you previously read Because of Winn Dixie

October 1, 2014

Hi Mrs.Palmieri-

Thanks for writing back to me!

I just finished The Friendship Matchmaker last night. I think the genre of this book is realistic fiction because some parts of the book could really happen and others not so much. I don't have a favorite genre but I sometimes like to read books with competition. So far I have read 5 MCBA books! My favorite is either __The Lions of Little Rock__ or __Crunch__. What is your favorite so far? I am so excited because I get the chance to finish The __Summer of Gypsy Months. Can't wait to hear back!__

Sincerely

Sydney C:)

September 30, 2014

Hi Sydney-

Thanks so much for your first letter.

I'm interested to hear more about The Friendship Matchmaker. This is one of the MCBAs that I didn't have the chance to read. What genre do you think this book is? I"m wondering if it is probably realistic fiction? Do you have a favorite genre to read? It's tough for me to pick one genre I like, but I would probably say historical fiction as I love books that take place in different time periods in the past.

Over the summer I read The Son of Neptune.

Septeber 24, 2014 Dear Mrs.Palmieri,

Silverwing is great so far.Thomas and I both agree that silverwing is a great way to start the year! The author got me interested when Shade finds out that his father is not dead. Right now I'm reading the Friendship Matchmaker. The story is about when Laura meets a new girl who has her own rules about how to make friends I like the part when Laura and Emily go into compatition for who is thr real Friendship Matchmaker.

Sincerly,

Sydney C :)

September 1, 2014 Dear Sydney,

I am so excited to be sharing __Silverwing__ with you this year as a read aloud. This is definitely one of my all time favorite books, which is probably why I can’t imagine starting a school year without sharing it with my class. *The genre of this book is definitely fantasy since I don’t believe that bats and owls have wars or detailed adventures together. I also consider this to be a genre of my own invention- called Animal Adventure. I love the character Shade; he’s one of my all time favorites. *If I could talk to Shade, I would ask him if he thinks it was worth it to break the law and see the sun, especially after what happens to his colony as a result. What do you think of __Silverwing__ so far?

Your friend in reading,

Mrs. Palmieri