YA Review: "Debbie Harry Sings In French" by Meagan Brothers (rated 4 stars)

Debbie Harry Sings in French

by Meagan Brothers

Johnny turned 13…a week later he went to his father’s funeral. Three years have passed and his mom finally woke up from her grief-stricken stupor. All of a sudden, his drinking and partying is a problem. From a bustling city, she sends him to live with his Uncle Sam and cousin Bug in South Carolina.

Johnny’s small. He’s a bit effeminate. He dresses like a member of the 80s band, Blondie – skinny ties, skinny jeans, Chuck Taylors. He has to go to a prep school, a school filled with Old Southern money Skoll chewing jocks and cheerleaders or screw-ups. Johnny’s a screw-up.

Though he hates South Carolina and gets harrassed by the jocks, things are not as bad as it seems. There are some things that are good, like Maria, the Village Green and Rocksteady Records.

This is a fun and laugh-out-loud read. The chapters are taken from Blondie songs! I enjoyed it but I am not so sure that kids would understand some of the 1980s pop culture references. It is a boy book for that indie alternative music listening boy or girl.

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Apologies...

For those who don't know me, I apologize way too much. I apologize so much my friends have resorted to pinching me every time an "I'm sorry" escapes from my lips. I cannot help it. It's a habit that I am trying to break. But like all habits, it is a challenge.

But I do apologize for not writing more on this blog. This year, one of my goals, was to be a better teacher-librarian. If you are a teacher-librarian, you know how challenging this is. We are constantly having to learn new skills, relearn old ones, adapt to the ever changing world of education, librarianship, technology, etc. All this on top of our lives. I had to revisit my goals for the year and noticed that they were geared more towards the beginning of the year and not for what I should be doing during the year. Here are some of the things that are on-going:

• class management (it is working but the set-up of the classroom is a challenge but I have to work with what I've got)
• lesson preparation (i really do need a night to prepare but with everything else i rush through this)
• incorporate reflection and point out overlapping themes in regards to research and media literacy
• be a better guide for my students (i feel as if i am a product of the education i received - a talking head - students want to participate more)
• read more books on education, 21st century learning, etc.
• participate more in the field (i feel as if i just run out of time, but the "movers and shakers" never seem to sleep. maybe I shouldn't sleep)

That's it for now folks. Maybe you can give me some tips on becoming a better teacher/librarian...or just being a better manager or being a better human being. Thanks!

Going to China!

I'm so excited! I was chosen to go on a study tour to China. I've never been and I've also never gone on a study tour anywhere! I feel really honored because I seriously did not think I had a chance. But life is good and so this happened :)

But it looks like I'll be getting the new "e-passport" that has an RFID chip that contains my information. My friend, tiffanybbrown, sent me a link to this steel wallet from thinkgeek. It's $50 so being that I'm a teacher, I think I'll save up for it. Whoo-hooo! And maybe I'm just paranoid but really who isn't.