Boys Rule Boys Read!: 48 Hour Book Challenge for the Iron Guy--

Saturday, May 24, 2014

48 Hour Book Challenge for the Iron Guy--

Once again, boys, it's that time of year--the time when the Iron Guy tests his endurance, stamina and determination to the utmost limits of his iron abilities.Yes, it's the annual 48 Hour Book Challenge, the weekend in which a lot of kidlit bloggers try to read as many hours as they can over a weekend. I've done this before in 2010, 2011,and 2013. (things were too busy in 2012) So, as in those three glorious years, I'm going to accept the challenge to read, read and read some more. The event will happen in two weeks. That means it's from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8. Technically, bloggers have from 7:00 am of that Friday until 7:00 am of the following Monday morning. The requirement is--brace yourselves--12 HOURS OF READING. That's right--a full quarter of a weekend! "Amazing!" you may say. "It can't be done!" others of you may think.

HA!! It's merely a trivial test for--

The IRON GUY!

The good people who have organized the Challenge this year have picked out the theme of diversity. I've got a list of books to reflect that worthwhile theme and here they are:

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Black Diamond: The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues by Patricia C. McKissaack and Frederick McKissack, Jr.

Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis (sorry if the picture isn't very clear)

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

and The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Now I know that these last three may stretch the definition of "diversity" a bit but here's how I look at it--one takes in medieval Poland (a different time in history), one has a main character who isn't even a person (pretty diverse), and the last one--well, I just wanted to read it. OK, you could say that one character is a piece of origami and that qualifies (possibly). Besides, it's part of my 2014 resolution and I'll have time to actually get to it.

Will I read ALL those books? Maybe. But I will give it a MANLY try. So come on, June 7--9. The IRON GUY is ready for you!!

BUT WAIT--THERE'S MORE!

I've got a challenge for YOU, reader guys. I want to see if you've got what it takes. Want to know more? Then read the post under this one!

4 comments:

Ms. Yingling said...: Whew. You've got some heavy reads, Iron Guy! I am saving up piles of easy reads for the challenge. I hopesome of your patrons are uo for the challenge, too.; May 24, 2014 at 3:44 PM
Iron Guy Carl said...: Bah! Nothing's too heavy for the Iron Guy! Actually, I'd be surprised if I got through all of them. And these look like very interesting books and should keep my attention. And the Origami Yoda book would be entertaining. Hey, ask some of your boys if they'd like to participate. Did you read the post under this one?; May 26, 2014 at 10:28 AM
Anonymous said...: Ha! I love your photos.
And I own "Heart of a Samurai" and have been meaning to read but it just keeps getting put off. I've heard only good things! Hopefully you will say more good things -- THE good things that will finally make me read it. :)

Good luck with the challenge!; June 7, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Paige Y. said...: Great choices! Origami Yoda is a favorite of mine and I can't keep it on my shelves.; June 8, 2014 at 6:52 AM

Post a Comment

Here's How Our Blog Works

If you don't know how to post comments or reviews to our blog or if you want to read what we and other boys have written, here's what you do:

1. Every post has a place underneath it that says "Comments". Click on it and it will take you to a place in which you can write something. When you're done, click on a way to identify yourself. You don't have to create a Blogger/Google account (unless you already have one); you can click on "Name/URL" or even "Anonymous." Then click "Publish Your Comment." We try to get your comments and reviews posted right away, but sometimes we get busy with other duties. So, if you don't see your comment right away, don't panic. We'll post it soon.

Don't forget--any boy can get a free book the first time he writes a review. If you live too far away to come to the Myers Park library, go ahead and write to us anyway. We'll try to find a way to get a book to you. Besides, all the other boys out there would love to hear from you.

When you tell us about a book, please give the title, author, what the book is about, and why you did or didn't like it.

2. Blogs go "front to back"; that is, the newest post comes up first and the older ones are put further back. You click on the "Blog Archive" to read older articles. The posts for this month have the titles listed. You can click on other months to catch our other posts. (Our introduction is in June of 2007; if you're new to this blog, you might look it up.)

3. Underneath each post you'll see a line that says "Labels" and several other words such as "graphic novels" or "Andrew Clements." These extra words are links to a subject; for instance, if you clicked on "graphic novels," it would pull up all the posts about graphic novels. There's also a section below on some of our best posts on the most popular subjects

4. Did you notice that the posts from last year don't show up month by month as they did before this year? If you click on the triangle next to the previous years, the months will drop down and you can go back and see what we and your fellow readers have written.

The Iron Guy's Review Policy

1. Since the Iron Guy works for the terrific Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, I review only books that the library already has or will get soon.
2. If you are an author or publisher or agent and think you have a book that boys will go crazy over, please leave me a comment (with your email address so I can contact you) under any post. I will look and see if we have the book. If not, and if the book looks good, I will contact Those Who Order Books and see if CML would be interested. (Please note--CML does not usually order self-published books) PLEASE do not just send me a book! I appreciate the offer but but first I want to see if CML has it or will get it soon.