Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat

Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat written by Gary Paulsen is a short story or play that takes part in a junior high bathroom.  There is an extreme weather warning and everyone at the middle school needs to take shelter until the storm cell passes.  The time was about an hour after school let out and all six of the students were there at the middle school after hours for various reasons.

The six students knew of each other but were not friends.  While sitting in the restroom waiting out the storm, they began to talk and share with one another.  Friendships were made over the time spent in the bathroom during the storm and they discovered new things about one another.  Avery carried around a stuffed cat, Jordan got bloody noses because he was anxious, Taylor pretended to be stupid so  he could hangout with and become friends with Mason, Mason is always on the look out for contacts (not friends), and Regan is always trying to get people to join a group of some kind.

In the end, they all become friends and discover very humanistic things about one another.  Rather than judging one another, they accept each other and become friends.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH:
This was one of Gary Paulsen's short stories.  It was an easy read and I finished it in a short amount off time.  The thing I  like about Gary Paulsen's stories is that they tend to be believable.  Living back east during my junior high years, I can easily relate to this story.  Although I never sat in the bathroom with five other guys during a sever storm, I have hung out at my friends house in the garage during a huge thunder and lightening storm.  We all stayed in the garage, talked, watched the storm, and waited out the storm.  As a middle schooler, your conversations go in all kinds of directions and tend to create a bond with those involved in the conversations.

At the end of the short story, Gary Paulsen wrote the  story in a play.  It is all mapped out so that a group of students could easily act out the story.  If I were a literature teacher and taught the  sixth or seventh grade, I would give this book and play a shot.  It would be fun to do as well as watch.

AR Quiz: 90%

Field Trip by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen

Field Trip is written by my favorite youth author, Gary Paulsen, and his son, Jim Paulsen.  Field Trip is the companion book Road Trip.  This book can be read after Road Trip but can also be read independently.  The only characters that move through both books are the two collies (Atticus and Conor), the dad, and the boy (Ben).  The readers are introduced to several new characters in this book.  The reader is introduced to the twins, Brig, and a new puppy.  The setting for this story is the road.  The dad decides to help Ben and two of his classmates, Jacob and Charlotte, catch up to the school field trip bus.  This adventure takes place in the new work truck that dad purchased.  This new truck is a used ice cream truck.  As they drive down the road to catch up to the school bus, Ben's dad gets side tracked by a flea market and hold house.  Charlotte arranges to buy the old house for $1 and they give it to charity.  Jacob gets a news crew out to cover the great story of fixing up an old house and giving it to a family in need.  On their way to the meet the bus, Jacob noticed a movies set out on the road.  Jacob always wanted to be in a movie so he convenced everyone to pull over and give it their best shot to be an extra in the movie.  It all worked out and everyone had a part and even Jacob got a speaking part.  After the movie adventure was over, Ben was able to swindle his way over to the hockey try-outs and trys-out even though his dad did not want him to try-out.  Try-outs went well and they liked Ben.  After the try-outs things were pretty quite in the truck as they drove on.  As they were driving by a animal shelter, Atticus began to bark.  They stopped there to pick up Ben's new puppy.  The new puppy's name is Puck.  As they drive home, Ben discovers that his mom had bought a new house for them to move into, a hockey rink is only a block away from their new house, there will be a 10-week hockey camp with real NFL hockey players coaching, and Ben gets a girlfriend (Charlotte).  Although they never caught up to the school bus and the school field trip, all things seemed to work out.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH:
I like how this book and the other book, Road Trip, was written by both authors.  It started out as an interest story sent by Jim to his dad, Gary.  Gary responded by writing the next chapter.  This went on until the book was finished.  This style of writing a story is interesting and keeps the ideas fresh but builds upon one another.  I definitely liked the way they were able complement each other throughout the story.  It did not give the reader the impression that there were two different trains of thought.  I also enjoyed the way they included the dog's perspective.  It was always nice to "get into" the minds of the dogs and know what they were thinking as things transpired.  If you are a Gary Paulsen fan, this is a must.  If you like taking semi-planned or unplanned road trips, this book is for you.  If you like dogs and family dynamics, this book is for you.

AR Quiz: 90%

Family Ties by Gary Paulsen

Family Ties is one of five books in this series written by my favorite author, Gary Paulsen.  The other books in this series written by Gary Paulsen were:  Vote, Crush, Flat Broke, and Liar, Liar.  All five books have Kevin Spencer as the main character and he is about middle school age.  He lives in a family of five - a mom, a dad, a brother, and a sister.  He is the youngest of the three children and plays the part of the glue that keeps the family together.  Each book is about a specific family/friend adventure.  Keven is hopelessly in love with a girl by the name of Tina.

In Gary Paulsen's book Family Ties, Kevin has been struck with the idea of reconnecting his dad with his brother Will.  Will and dad had a falling out in the past and has not been restored.  Kevin emails his Uncle Will and he agrees to come over to the house.  Will brings his new wife and the adventure begins.  Kevin recommends that his Uncle and new Aunt get remarried and Kevin begins the planning.  It turns out that their Aunt who lives above the garage has considered getting married also.  Kevin goes into high gear to organize the two weddings.  There are new characters introduced into the Spencer family and bring about some interesting, and funny, dynamics.  In the end, Uncle Will and his wife have to take their dog to the veterinarian because it was going to have puppies.  Kevin's Aunt who lives above the garage gets married and the Spencer family is there as the witness.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH:
If you like Gary Paulsen and his many youthful books you will enjoy this book.  In fact, I would recommend the series because the build upon one another.  Each book brings you into the life of Kevin and his desire to solve family problems.  You are left chuckling and laughing out loud because of some of the situations Kevin gets himself in.  I have read all five of the books in the series and enjoyed each one.

AR Quiz: 90%

Books I Hope to Read in January/February of 2018

I typically have two to four books in the hopper (in the process of reading). These four books always fall in one of the following five categories: children's literature, personal (self-help type books), religious, professional development, and other. Although this journey can be a bit cumbersome, I enjoy reading and the adventure that follows.  It is my hope that I can keep this going like I did year's back.  My life has begun to settle and my doctorate program has concluded.  Now I can read for fun, enjoyment, and self-fulfillment.  The reason I want to blog the books I read is so that I hold myself accountable as well as create a log of the books that I have read.  Then I can go back to the log entries and job my memory about the book I once read.

January/February books are:

*  Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary Paulsen
*  Family Ties by Gary Paulsen
*  Field Trip by Gary Paulsen
*  Wonder by R. J. Palacio
*  More Than a Bucket List by Toni Birdsong
*  What if God Wrote Your Bucket List? by Jay Payleitner
*  Magic Tree House - Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne
*  Magic Tree House - China:  Land of the Emperor's Great Wall by Mary Pope Osborne

*  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
*  The End by Mark Hitchcock

All of these books were either recommended by a friend, picked because I have a goal of reading the whole series, goal of reading every book by a specific author, selected due to an Amazon search, mentioned in a book I am currently reading, or a specific genre I am currently interested in.

Brian's Winter

Brian's Winter is one of several "Brian" books written by Gary Paulsen. Brian's Winter is the alternate ending to the well-known Hatchet book. In Hatchet, Brain was rescued from the woods near the end of the summer months; however, in Brian's Winter he lives through the winter and then returns to "civilization". In Brian's Winter, Gary Paulsen takes you through those cold months in the Canadian bush. Brian learns to weather seal his shelter, make arrows from stone, create clothing for warmth and how to hunt. In the end, Brian meets a trapping family, the Smallhorns, who hunt the area in the winter for food. The Smallhorns welcome Brain into their way of life. When the supply plan flies in to drop off supplies for the family, Brian reluctantly climbs aboard and flies back to civilization.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH:
It's no secret, Gary Paulsen is one of my favorite authors. In fact, the Brian Robeson series is one of my favorite series. I felt that Brian's Winter was a much better ending to Hatchet. In Hatchet, the end came abruptly and I felt as if I was abandoned. Brian's Winter continued as if Brian did not get rescued by the plane in Hatchet.

I love the mountains, enjoy camping, and am at peace when in the outdoors. I have often fantasized about what it would be like to run off and live off the land in some wilderness far away from civilization. Although this is not practical and I probably wouldn't make it past the first week, I have been able to vicariously experience this through Brain Robeson's fictional life. Gary Paulsen has the unique ability to paint detailed pictures with the words he uses to tell his stories. The words become pictures, these vivid pictures become moving pictures in your mind, and soon you are there with Brian, the bear, the moose or even the wolf. He is an amazing writer who pulls you along in his stories. I highly recommend this series for those who love the outdoors, especially hiking and camping.

Read Hatchet before you read this book. Once you complete Brian's Winter you need to read The River, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt (in that order).

AR Quiz: 100%
AR Vocabulary Quiz: 100%

The Brian Robeson series

Dunc's Doll

Dunc's Doll is one of many titles within the Culpepper Adventures series written by Gary Paulsen. In a nutshell, the Culpepper Adventures series is about two boys, Dunc and Amos, who seek out and solve mysteries both by calculated and accidental methods. Dunc and Amos visit a traveling antique doll show learn about a doll Charles Dicken's daughter owned. The adventure begins when the doll was stolen. Dunc and Amos set out to uncover the thief and return the doll. The boys develop a plan which includes dressing up like a girl and distracting a guard dog. Dunc's Doll will guide you through their hilarious adventure of solving the crime surrounding the stolen doll formally owned by Charles Dicken's daughter.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH:
As one of my favorite authors, I eat up anything he writes and publishes. The Culpepper Adventure series has to be one of my favorite series to read. They are short adventure packed books riddled with funny and identifiable moments. Dunc and Amos, the main characters throughout the Culpepper Adventure series, lead you through many engaging and hilarious adventures. Although Dunc's Doll is a book about a collector's doll, it is a book in which boys of all ages will enjoy reading. In fact, I am confident many readers will seek out other books within the Culpepper Adventure series so they can discover what Amos and Dunc are up to.

AR Quiz: 100%

The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech)

The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech) was published in 2006 and written by Gary Paulsen. This book is a twenty day journal of a boy in intermediate school whose name is Duane Homer Leech. During those twenty days he journaled, Duane compared his days of puberty with that of a young bird born on the ledge of his window. During those twenty days, Duane's voice began to crack, he saw the roster on the cereal box turn into an elbow, he spilled cafeteria food on the girl he really likes, he knocks over the bookshelves in the library, and it was believed he started a ringworm epidemic at his school. If it something could go wrong, it would go wrong for Duane Homer Leech. Fortunately, like the young bird, Duane will jump out of the nest of puberty and into young adulthood.


MY TWO CENTS WORTH:
I am not a fan of journal type literature and this was no acception. Although I really enjoy Gary Paulsen as an author, this book didn't grab me like many of his other books. I'm not sure what it was. My lack of interest or enthusiam could have been due to the topic of puberty or the journal-type writing. This book was not a hit with me. However, it is one I will keep on my book shelf because Gary Paulsen, in my opinon, is a remarkable author for young readers.

Lawn Boy

Gary Paulsen has done it again. In 2007, he has released another fictional book that will appeal to young male readers, especially those who have run into the biggest summer delima....no money. Gary Paulsen takes you on a six to eight week summer journey of a twelve year old boy and the business he incidentally started. Lawn Boy is a delightful read for those who love to read, laugh, and learn about money.

Lawn Boy is a fictional book about a twelve year old boy who begins a lawn service, the stock market, and sponsors a prize fighter named Joey Pow. The first problem this twelve year old faced was that he needed some cash to purchase an intertube for his bike. He has no money nor does his parents. Grandma gives the young man an old riding lawn-mower that used to belong to grandpa. As he is cutting his lawn one of the neighbors asked him to cut his lawn and the business began. The second problem the twelve year old had was were to put all the money he earned. Arnold, one of his customers who was a work-at-home stock broker, helped him invest his money as well as build his lawnservice business. A third problem this young man faced was the competition who wanted to extort money from his business and the workers. The last problem our entrepuner faced was how to tell his parents he had earned over $400,000 in six to eight weeks. All of the problems were solved in humorous ways only to create another problem to be solved.


MY 2 1/2/ CENTS WORTH

This is another delightful and enjoyable book by Gary Paulsen. I thoroughly enjoy these types of books. They bring back memories of boyhood delemas as well as inspire individuals to press forward despite one's circumstances. I think every young man with little to no money in his pocket should read this book and uncover the possibilities available as an entrepuner (sp).

Gary Paulsen: Real-Life Reader Biography

Real-life Reader Biography: Gary Paulsen was written by Ann Gaines and published 2002.

This biography was written for the elementary age reader who has become interested in the distinguished writer named Gary Paulsen. The book begins with Mr. Paulsen's experience in the Iditarod. Three of the chapters cover his younger years and the years as a struggling writer. The last chapter skims through the 1990's when his career as a writer skyrocketed. The children's author by the name of Gary Paulsen became well known by the students and teachers connected to the grades 6th - 10th.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH
As a young reader who wants to know more about the life of Gary Paulsen, this is a great introductory book. In fact, although I have read other biographies and autobiographies on Gary Paulsen, there were a few new bits of information I either didn't read before or simply skipped over them in the past. For example, I did not know the first book he wrote was The Special War. Now that I know this information, I will search for a reasonably priced hardback book. As of this writing, I have been unable to locate a hardback copy available.

The Glass Cafe

The Glass Cafe or, The Stripper and the Sate: How My Mother Started a War With the System That Made Us Kind of Rich and a Little Bit Famous was written by Gary Paulsen and was published in 2003.

The Glass Cafe was written in the style of an autobiography, however, it was not written about Gary Paulsen. The main character is Tony or formally known as Anthony Henson. The whole story has been written from his perspective and through his voice.

Tony is your typical elementary age boy who likes a girl and has a good buddy. He is average in school and enjoys reading. He lives with his mother who is raising him all on her own (no help from the state or local agencies). Tony's mother works several nights a week but always makes him breakfast in the morning, puts him on the bus to school, is home when he gets home, helps him with his homework, and eats dinner with him before she goes off to work.

One day a teacher of his, an art teacher, has a discussion about artists. The teacher mentioned that many artists sharpened their skills by drawing the bodies of people, specifically women. Tony decided he was going to practice drawing so he could become a talented artist. With his mom's permission as well as all of her coworkers permission, Tony went to work with his mom and stayed in the rehearsal room. Ms. Henson worked at the Kity Kat Club and was an exotic dancer. With the club's permission, Tony sat in the rehearsal room and began drawing. The pencil drawings were simple yet told a story. He visited a few more times and completed approximately 10 drawings.

The drawings were given to his art teacher, the drawings were fantastic and submitted in an art show. Someone noticed the age of the artist and made a formal complaint to the child protective services agency. The agency over stepped their authority, things went bazerk in the court room, and through the settlement the Henson's life had changed a little bit. Ms. Henson no longer was an exotic dancer, she reentered the doctorate program, started to date Mr. Miller, and Tony is still a kid who likes to draw.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH
Gary Paulsen has to be one of my favorite all time authors. I can pick up one of his books and find myself easily lost within the setting and life's of his characters. He has a way of transporting you from your world into the created world of his words. Mr. Paulsen has a way with words that pull young male readers in. From my limited perspective, Gary Paulsen's main audience is the young male (ages 9-18) who not only struggle to read but don't like to read. He has a way with identifying with this audience and pulls them along.

The Glass Cafe was written in a different style of writing. Due to my lack of knowledge and/or writing exposure, I don't know the technical name for this style of writing. It was written as if it was an autobiography but it is not an autobiography. I guess I would classify this as a fictional autobiography.

The one piece that intrigued me in this book was the concept of The Glass Cafe. In the last chapter (chapter 6) when we were in the courtroom scene, Ms. Henson used The Glass Cafe concept in her defense. Although I know little about this concept or line of thought, I do know that the Glass Cafe was a place in Beirut, Lebanon where they served coffee and people came to listen to professional story tellers. These storytellers were highly skilled. As they would tell their story, they gathered information about audience and matched their story-telling to the needs and wants of the audience. They knew when to hesitate and hold their audiences at bay until the people would place money in their cups so the story would continue or come to an end. The Glass Cafe concept sounds more like the art of reading your audience and responding to their inner needs and/or unannounced desires. The art of the Glass Cafe is something many of us can use when working with an audience of any age.

Murphy's Trail

Murphy's Trail was written by Gary Paulsen and Brian Burks. Murphy's Trail is one book in a series of books about a sheriff named Al Murphy. As of the writing of this blog, I believe there are seven books in the Murphy series. The first book in the Murphy series is simply titled, Murphy (1987). Murphy's Trail was written in 1996. I am not sure what number this book is within the series. The Murphy books have been written for those of us who like to old West, Gary Paulsen's humor, and his detailed story telling.

Murphy's Trail must be somewhere in the middle of the series of books. Although the book is a stand-alone book, one can tell that Al Murphy has had some tough experiences in the past and that there where more in the future.

This story begins in a small town named San Patricio. A friend from the past, Risa, pleads for his help to find her husband and two boys. A rich and powerful man has begun to muscle his way into the lives of the people in many of the small towns within territory. Ben King is his name. He has many people working for him both on the surface and under the surface. In other words, there are those who openly work for him and those whom get paid by him under the table. Ben King has been buying up businesses in the surrounding area. Not just in one town but in many of the small towns surrounding the area. Typically when his men come into town, the town's people shy away and let the men do their thing (i.e. drink, get rowdy, bully).

Risa takes some time to explain to Mr. Murphy what happened prior to her husband and son's disappearance. Murphy agrees to help investigate. Murphy soon discovers that Ben King has a silver mine operation and has enslaved many Mexicans and Apaches to work the mines. Ben King catches wind that Murphy is on his trail so Mr. King sets him up. In a very short period of time Murphy becomes a wanted killer, a fugitive, and horse thief. With the help of an unexpected foe and a group of town's people, Murphy shuts down Ben Kings operation and frees the people of his tyrannical rein.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, I liked it so much that I went on-line and bought four more Murphy books. Gary Paulsen is a talented writer. He is able to bring his readers "into" the story with his tremendous talent character development and attention to detail. If you enjoy Western type books about the old west (1800's) that are filled with action and a sense of realism, the Murphy series is highly recommended.

Launching, Floating High, And Landing -

In 1979, Gary Paulsen wrote the words to the non-fiction book entitled Launching, Floating High, And Landing: If Your Pilot Light Doesn't Go Out. This book was written for children who are interested in ballooning but know little to nothing about it. Gary Paulsen's humor oozes from the pages, thus it is a delight to read.

The story line of the book is simple: the balloon starts on the ground, you heat the air, the balloon goes up, you float, then as the air in the balloon cools you come down.

The pictures in this book where taken by Heinz Kluetmeier and they definitely date the book. The hair styles and clothes let you know the book was written in the late 60's to mid 70's.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH
Ever since I read the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen I was hooked. I think I have read every book he has published; however, there are those rare times when I come across a book of his I have not read. Thus, Launching, Floating High, And Landing: If Your Pilot Light Doesn't Go Out. I discovered this book one day when I was walking through our school library in the P section. Thrilled and ecstatic, I checked out the book and went straight to my office. Much to my chagrin, I zipped through the book in less than 4 minutes.

If you or a child you know has become interested in ballooning or would like to learn some basic information about ballooning, this is a fun book to begin your journey.