Boys Rule Boys Read!

The Kids at MRSA Send Some Awesome Reviews!

2012-01-28T16:10:00.002-04:00

The fourth graders at Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy have sent us a bunch of really good book reviews. They sent so many, in fact, that I can't post them all at once. So I'm going to put ten at a time until they're all up. They've read some very interesting books, guys, so pay attention!

Before I post them, though, let me give you my progress on my New Year's resolution. (check out this post to see what it was) The Iron Guy has gotten into Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and finds that he's enjoying it a lot more than he thought he would. He's almost gotten to the point where the book crushed him the last time but yet he finds himself actually enjoying it this time.

Here he is, manfully reading along. (Notice that he has a paperback copy now to reduce the chance of book crushing)As the Iron Guy reads, however, he is remembering all the things about HP that he liked and all the things that irritated him to distraction. But you'll hear all about it in another post. Right now, let's get to those reviews! (they are in no particular order and each reader's name is in bold print)

SuperSam
The book I’m reviewing is Starting with Alice. The author’s name is Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. It is about a little girl named Alice that has an older brother named Lester. They live with their father and their mother died. Alice and Lester are new at their school and are having trouble fitting in. Alice has always wanted a pet and that’s why for her birthday present her dad bought her a cat. She invites some new friends over for a birthday party but does someone go missing? That question remains a mystery.

I wrote a review on this book because it is my favorite book. I love this book because it is reality, adventure, and mystery all in one. I love the Alice books because there really entertaining. I love how the adventure in the book is spread out all over in the book.

Ruta
I think that the Son of Neptune is an awesome book. Percy finds the roman Camp Jupiter and meets Frank and Hazel, who seem to have many secrets, though they’re as loyal as can be. As they go on their quest to save Death, they make allies and enemies. While they’re on their quest, all 3 wonder if they’ll even have a camp to return to. As Gaea sends an army to destroy Camp Jupiter, the group learns a lot about loyalty and duty. It’s a great sequel to The Lost Hero and is another awesome book by Rick Riordan.

awesomeeg
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice is a book about a young girl named Elizabeth Bennet and a nephew of a wealthy bachelor Mr. Darcy who has a relationship and the book tells about how they learn to deal with each other and how their relationship came to be and why. I enjoyed the book so much I decided to see the movie and both the book and movie was fantastic. I hope everyone gets a chance to read Pride and Prejudice.

Togo
The View from Saturday
By:E.L. Konigsburg
Meet the souls. A group of friends that meet all together and become friends at a tea party. here are thier names: Noah,Nadia,Ethan ,and Julian. How can thier teacher, Mrs. Olinski stand having these kids as thier students? Find out in this book!
I enjoyed this book because it had mischef and humor at the same time!

ipod n
Book Review - The People Of Sparks. By Jeanne DuPrau. This book was about 2 emberites that emerge from a hole in the ground that leads to an underground city called Ember, they are welcomed, however the town, called Sparks has limited resources such as food and space. In exchange the emberites have to complete there own work. But when resources are low the limited food leads to violence its up to Lina and Doon to stop war. The people of Sparks is the 2nd book in the sierise and i really enjoyed it, even though it starts off a bit slow in the start.

elite vivek

My favorite book is Billionaires Curse .The author of the book is Richard Newsome.
The book is about 13 year old Gerald who inherits one billion dollars, 3 estates, a super yacht and a Caribbean island from his great aunt Geraldine. But a robber steals a diamond worth a million dollars kills his aunt and is now is trying to kill Gerald. Now it is up to Gerald to retrieve the diamond and find out who killed his great aunt. I liked this book because this book had a lot of action and mystery and I really like those type of books. Also the book has so much detail that you get addicted to the book.

N/A

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a book by Trenton Lee Stewert and is the best book ever because there is just 4 kids in the whole world who can stop the evil Lathrode Curtain from controlling the world. These kids are Reynie , Sticky , Kate and the stubborn Constance. With the help of Milligan, Mr. Benidict, Rhonda, and Number Two. The kids must go to a mysterious school on a mysterious island.
I loved this book because there is a lot of adventure and I recommend it for fans of Harry Potter

Chuck the girl
The little princess by Frances hogins Bernet
Sarah has a perfect life In India, her dad owns jewel mines so Sarah is rich. Her mother died when she was born and now she is going to school. The kids there are nice. The head mistress Mrs.Michen is not. Sarah loves to play with her dolls but everything will change when here father dies leaving her no money.
I loved this book I loved it so much I read it in two nights, it’s just a page turner . I love it most of all I love that there action every ware you turn it’s a book of action, magic, friendship and believing.

Rocking Ryan

Title: Percy Jackson series
Author: Rick Riordan
One of my favorite books that I read was the Percy Jackson series. Percy is a teenage boy who is a Greek demigod. He goes to a camp called Camp Half-Blood and trains there for fighting (because Percy goes on multiple quests. He meets two friends at Camp Half-Blood; Grover and Annabeth. The three friends go on quests everywhere. They are always on dangerous missions. Sometimes, they even have to fight giants. Giants can only be killed by demigods and gods together. Will the friends survive all the quests that they go on? Read the book to figure out.
I liked this series because ther is action on every page. Plus I never stopped reading Riordan’s books. Rick Riordan is my favorite author.

Ife

My favorite book is Eldest. This book is about a 15 year old boy who adventures with his dragon Saphira. Galiborix the king of Alagaesia is trying to take all the dragon eggs. In the war Eragon fights against Murtagh which he finds out that he is his brother.
I liked this book because Eragon and His Dragon Saphirsa bond together and train to defeat Galiborix and overcome many difficulties that neither one of them could overcome by themself.

Thanks, everybody! All these books sound really good. So go out there and find them, guys! These are all kid-approved and not just pushed on you by some stuffy od grownup!

How Completely Cool Is This--an Interview with Lenore Look!

2012-01-23T14:19:00.001-04:00

Yes, indeed, guys, this is a great day for our blog because we have an interview with the one-and-only Lenore Look, author of those split-your-sides-funny Alvin Ho books. (if you haven't read them yet, rush out right away and get one!!) So let's not waste any more time; here's Lenore Look:

I’ve heard this nasty rumor that it’s uncool for boys to read. I bet you disagree. Could you tell us why?

An awful rumor, indeed! In many parts of the world, it’s uncool for girls to read, and it’s not a rumor, it’s the law. Reading is considered masculine. Reading is power. Reading means you’re educated. Reading gives you privileges. You can pass a driver’s test. You can vote. You can travel. You can tell people what to do. Most importantly, you can tell yourself what to do. You are male, and it’s your birthright to be free and powerful. But if you’re female, you’re out of luck. You’ll always be a second-class citizen because you can’t read. You have no power. You are not free.

It wasn’t so long ago that it was uncool (and illegal) for black people in our country to read, and we all know why – a reading person could never be enslaved. Worse, a reading slave had the ability to undermine the power structure altogether – by teaching another slave to read, then another, and another . . . .

So why is there a rumor that it’s uncool for boys to read? It’s all part of a top-secret plan by girls to take over the world, of course! Once you guys stop reading and can’t read (because it’s considered feminine), then we will RULE!

Reading changes everything.

You are so right—reading is power and it does change everything for the better. So keep reading, guys! (and you girls, too!)

What made you think of writing stories about a second-grade boy who’s afraid of everything? And how did you decide what to put in Alvin’s Personal Disaster Kit?

My editor asked me to write a “boy book” like my Ruby Lu books. “Just make him like Ruby, except a boy,” she said. But I didn’t want to do that. How can you make a boy like a girl? You can’t. So I decided to make him the polar opposite of Ruby. While Ruby is overly enthusiastic about everything, and it’s her enthusiasm that gets her into trouble, Alvin is enthusiastic about nothing, and it’s his fear of everything that has trouble chasing him like a fox after an egg.

BTW, Alvin isn’t a “boy book” any more than Ruby Lu is a “girl book.” If guys limit themselves to reading only about guys (which is another rumor I’ve heard), they’ll miss out on some really fantastic books, including Ruby Lu.

As for the gear in Alvin’s PDK, it’s all the stuff that Alvin thinks he needs for facing scary school without taking the wheelbarrow with him. They’re all small things that you can carry easily without having to ask the bus driver to lower the ~~wheelbarrow~~ wheelchair lift for you, which Alvin couldn’t do anyway without a voice.

You really know what second-grade kids are like. Have you had a lot of experience with them?

None. I never left second grade.

One of the very funniest things in these books is the “cursing” in mock-Shakespearean. Where did you ever come up with that idea?

My daughter came home with a worksheet on Shakespearean “curses” in the third grade. It even showed you how to DIY. It was fantastic! So I stole it. In some families the dog eats the homework; in mine, well . . . how could you not add that to your ideas folder? But poor Mady. I betcha she got an F.

Will people take tours of your house 300 years from now? And will you give tours (like Emily Dickinson)?

You mean Louisa May Alcott? Emily lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, which is also hard to spell, not Concord.

The last time I was in Seattle, a librarian told me that some enterprising kid in the hood where I grew up is doing a walk-by tour of the house where I lived as a child, and where my Ruby Lu books are set. For a fee, he will go down the sidewalk and point out the house to you. TGINLLT! Thank God I no longer live there! NILIAULDTEKE. Now I live in an undisclosed location due to enterprising kids everywhere.

OOPS! Got my authors wrong. Will there be any more Alvin Ho books or am I asking you a secret?

Oh yes! I hope there’ll be as many Alvins as there are Harrys! :D

Which do you prefer – cheeseburgers or pizza? What do you like on them?

PIZZA!!!! OH I LOOOVE PIZZA!!!! I can eat a whole pie (in two days). I love Pizza Bianca, Pizza Margherita, Pizza Spinacci, Pizza Funghi, and I super-duper love – gasp!—anchovies on my pizza. Mmmmm! I can tell when the crust is just right – chewy and crunchy, a little salty and olive-oily, thin, not bready and not soggy. The best pizza I’ve ever had was in Napoli, the birthplace of pizza. And I’ve eaten my way through the rest of Italy, surviving on the 1-euro slice. It’s fantastic!

You seem very cool. Could we make you an Honorary Guy?

It doesn’t involve an operation, does it? I’m allergic to major changes. Otherwise, I’d loved to be an Honorary Guy! My guy name will be Leonardo, as in da Vinci. Just call me Leonardo da Look!

Thanks, Lenny--I mean, Lenore! We really appreciate your taking the time to talk with us. For writing such terrific books, we're going to bestow upon you the greatest honor we can give and make you an Honorary Guy. Don't worry; it doesn't involve any operations. All you need to do is accept it with our thanks.

Yes, now you have the right to yell obnoxiously loudly at sporting events, crack all the stupid jokes you'd like, and eat insane amounts of food with no nutritional value. What a great life! And don't be shy about accepting the greatness of this honor; you've earned it!

In all seriousness, we'd like to thank you once again. Please keep those books coming! If you'd like to see reviews of the Alvin Ho books, click on the "Alvin Ho" tab underneath this post. And don't be afraid to check out the Ruby Lu books, guys.

A Shout Out

2012-01-18T13:06:00.001-04:00

The Iron Guy would like to give a great big shout out to the fourth-graders at Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy. They sent in a whole lot of comments yesterday and I was very glad to get them. Normally I'd try to write a post to include all of them but there are so many comments that I couldn't possibly include them all, so I'll just direct you to look at these posts and see what those guys and girls had to say:

Iron Guys' Top 5 for 2011 (they sent in a bunch of comments for this one)

SAMMER Starts the Year Right

The Iron Guy's New Year's Resolution

Thanks, everyone! Keep reading and writing and commenting!

The Iron Guy's New Year's Resolution

2012-01-14T15:34:00.002-04:00

This is the time of year when grownups like to make resolutions--you know, resolving that you'll do something better this year. Some people resolve to lose weight or exercise more or learn a new language. The Iron Guy has determined to finish a piece of unfinished business this year and wants to share it with all of you reader guys. This year I have decided to...to...

OH, NO, DON'T MAKE ME!! DON'T MAKE ME!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about that little outburst. I'm trying to stick to my resolution but some things are just so---horrible that even the strongest among will grow faint and whimper. But I'm the IRON GUY and will not flinch form this New Year's resolution. Therefore I will...

NOT THAT!!!! PLEASE, NOT THAT!!!!!!

Get control of yourself, man. (sounds of Iron Guy slapping himself)

There, now I feel better. OK, here's my resolution and I hope I have the courage to stick it out:

I'm going to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

THERE!! I've said it. Now some of you are wondering, "What's the big deal? We read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and liked it." Well, if you remember The Great Harry Potter Controversy from last summer, you'll know that I'm not a big Harry Potter fan. I don't think HP is terrible, I just wasn't bowled over by those books like everyone else in the world. BUT--I read only the first three and felt that I wasn't being fair. (I'm surprised no one called me on that during the Controversy) So I decided to read the other four books and give the good Mr. Potter a fair shot.

BUT----this is what happened:

I started off reading HPGF like the MANLY MAN that I am.

But the plot was so sloooowwww and the book was so looonnnggg and nothing interesting happened and it started to crush my will to read. I tried to man up and keep going but---

---it eventually crushed me and I never finished.

So you see why I've had such a horror of trying to read it again. But this is a new year! And I've heard so many boys and grownups tell how great the HP books are that I've resolved to read this one and see if they're right. Are you with me, men?? Can I count on your support? You know what--I trust you guys enough to put my feet to the fire. I've put a survey box in the upper left-hand corner of the blog to give me time time frame for reading the book. (there's agood reason why I'd want to finsih before February 5. watch for it in a nother post)I'll keep it up there until next Friday and act on your votes. that will give me the inner fortitude (aren't you impressed by the big words I know?) to get through this long nignhtm...I mean, this long book.

OK, here I go!!!! Will HP vanquish the Iron Guy once again? Or will he overcome in true MANLY MAN fashion?

SAMMER Starts the Year Right!

2012-01-10T11:07:00.000-04:00

Greetings, fellow reader guys, from the new year of 2012. Hope this one will be happy, healthy and have heaps of good stuff to read. Our good friend and regular reviewer Sammer has begun the year on a high note. Let's look at his review of the Fablehaven books:

I just finished reading The Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. They were a fabulous series about stopping the Society of the Evening Star from opening the Demond prison Zzyzx. It's a great adventure to see what they go through to stop them. The main characters Seth and Kendra think they just going to stay at their boring Grandparents house. When they are given a book with three keys to it with instructions to find the keys. They find them and open the book and there is nothing in there except three words in the back "Drink the milk." They atomatcly thought of the milk they see all the insects of the yard dricking. They drank the milk and they looked at the insects and they were different. They were faries! They went to their Grandparents and they explained about Fablehaven the magical preserve for magical creatures and Viola the giant cow. That is how the great adventure started. The first book is about stopping Muriel the Witch and Bahumat the Demond. The second book is about stopping Olloch the Gluton from eating Seth. The third book is about stopping the shadow plague. The fourth book is about recovering the key to the Obsidian Waste from the dragon sanctuary Wyrmroost. The fifth book is about finishing stopping the Society of the Evening Star from opening Zzyzx. I recomend the series and it has lead me to reading his new series The Beyonders.

Thanks, Sammer! These books look really good and I've heard good things about them. I hope you guys go out and get them. After all, they're---

Guy Tested--GUY APROVED!!

The Iron Guy's Top 5 for 2011

2011-12-27T14:38:00.014-04:00

Greetings, all you rocking and reading guys! I hope you all had great holidays and are enjoying the break. This is the time of year the grownups make Best Of or Top Ten lists for the year, so I'm going to present my Top Five books of 2011. (click on the titles to see the original reviews)

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff. Not only is it the top book of this year, it's one of the most remarkable books I've ever read. It starts off sort of slowly but, once the adventure starts, it's one wild ride!! I've rarely felt such suspense or danger in any book.

M ilo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by the terrific Alan Silberberg. Another remarkable and extraordinary book. You've got humor, a very touching story and some good lessons about life. I can't say enough good things about this book---and it's way better than the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books! (at least, I think so--go back and check out The Great Greg Heffley Debate from this year)

The Lost Hero. Another winner from the great Rick Riordan. Although The Son of Neptune has more humor, this one has more action and heroics. Jason is a hero worthy to be included in the Percy Jackson series.

Vespers Rising by various authors. The 39 Clues continues with new and even deadlier villains! This one gives the background on the Chaill/Vespers conflict. Lots of action and some real people from history.

How Football Works by Keltie Thomas. An informative and entertaining book. It's got enough information to satisfy new or long-time football fans.

OK, guys, what were your favorite books this year? Click on that Comment tab under this post and let us know!

Great for the Holiday Break

2011-12-20T14:47:00.002-04:00

Ah, yes, the holiday break should be in full swing for just about all of you. NO SCHOOL!! NO SCHOOL!! Ahhh--excuse me, I was just getting back in touch with my 10-year-old days. Anyway, there's two glorious weeks of NO SCHOOL!! and I thought it would be a good time to recommend some cool books and audiobooks. Audiobooks are great for those long rides in the car when you travel over the holidays.

So are regular books. The first is Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Disasters by Lenore Look. It's the third in the hysterically-funny Alvin Ho series. Never heard of them?? Well, then, you're missing a lot of belly laughs. Alvin Ho is one of the funniest kids I've ever met and his adventures (and misadventures) never fail to make me chuckle, laugh, and guffaw. I bet you'll do the same once you read these. (What??? You say you don't guffaw? You will when you read these books!)

Alvin Ho is a second-grader who's afraid of everything. I mean, really afraid. So afraid, in fact, that he carries around a Personal Disaster Kit. In this book, he gets invited to a birthday party, but not just any party--it's a girl party!! What do you do at a girl party? But there's another party for the guys at the same time. Which one should he go to? Will he do the right thing?
That might seem like an extremely brief plot summary, but, believe me, there's a LOT more that happens in this book. And all of it's funny!! Just wait until you read about his trip to the homes of dead authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Emily Dickinson (the authors dead for 300 hundred years), the cowboys and Indians game with second graders hyped up on sugar, what happens when Alvin sees Emily Dickinson at the mall, and the advice on what to do at a girl party. AND THEN---just wait until you see what happens when Alvin finally gets to the party!!!! I won't tell you which one and I won't tell you what happens, but if you don't laugh, well, you just can't laugh!

This book receives the Iron Guy Seal as One Terrific Book!

There's a new one out: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Dead Bodies, Funerals, and Other Fatal Circumstances. I've got a copy now and cant wait to get to it.

Speaking of Alvin Ho, there is a really great audiobook version of the first two books. It's The Alvin Ho Collection: Books 1 and 2 and it's read by an actual 10-year-old boy! It's really funny, especially when the reader tries to sound like Alvin's dad.

Another good set of audiobooks is the Hank the Cowdog series, written and read by John R. Erickson. These audiobooks are really funny. Hank is sort of a canine Barney Fife, all full of himself and not as smart as he thinks he is. The first audiobook is The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog. In this one, Hank, the "chief or ranch security" gets wrongly accused of killing a chicken and goes to live with the coyotes. But then the coyotes decide to rob the hen house and attack the ranchers. Will Hank join them? The second is The Case of the Falling Sky. The ranch's rooster tells Hank that the sky will fall but Hank is too smart to believe him--until Hank has a strange dream and Pete the Cat tells Hank that it's all true. What if they're right?? Hank will do whatever it takes to save the ranch, even if it means climbing on the roof of ranch owner Sally May's beloved and beautifully-waxed car. As I said, these books are funny and John R. Erickson does a good job reading them. And I've seen how much kids and grownups enjoy them--the kids in my wife's carpool beg for them, my father-in-law enjoys them, and I actually saw a kid snort macaroni through her nose while laughing at one!

Well, I hope you check these out but I especially hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season!!

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

2011-12-19T16:55:00.002-04:00

I may be Charlotte's # 1 Rick Riordan fan. The Son of Neptune is a good reason why. It's the latest in The Lost Hero series. AND--blow the trumpets--Percy Jackson is back in this one!!

Percy has two major problems as this book starts, though. First, he can remember who he is, where he comes from or why he has a pen that becomes a sword. Second, he's being pursued by the Gorgons, the two immortal sisters of Medusa. Why do they want to kill him? Why do they reform as soon as he kills them? The Gorgons eventually pursue him to Camp Jupiter, a place for demigods but with a big difference--everything in this camp is based on ancient Rome. In this camp, Percy meets two new friends, Hazel and Frank, who have strange powers of their own and some deep secrets. But soon they find that Gaea, the spirit of Earth, is waking and has sent an enormous army of monsters to destroy Camp Jupiter. If that's not bad enough, Death has been chained in Alaska or the monsters can never stay dead. Percy, Hazel and Frank are given the quest to unchain Death and return in five days. Can they get from California to Alaska and back in that short amount of time? Can they survive in an area that's outside the protection of the gods? Even if they do this, can they get back in time to save the camp? You'll have to read it to find out!!

If you do, you'll be in for a good time, as you always are with Rick Riordan's books. They are enough thrills, action, fights, danger, monsters, heroes, and impossible quests to satisfy any guy reader. PLUS--Percy Jackson returns in all his wisecracking and heroic glory! And when Percy is around, there's not only adventure, there are laughs! Just wait until you read about the Gorgon who wants to tell everyone about the low, low prices at Bargain Mart, the Roman ghost whose name means Mr. Underwear, or why why there is a feast for tuna. Thrills and laughs--how could you miss with a book that has all of these? Check this one, guys! Go Percy! SPQR!!!!

Needless to say, if it's by Rick Riordan, it's One Terrific Book!

OOPPSS!! Forgot to give the Seal!

2011-12-16T15:37:00.000-04:00

I forgot something very important last Friday--I forgot to give this book the Iron Guy Seal of Approval as One Terrific Book!

It Happened on a Train by Mac Barnett

2011-12-09T10:00:00.001-04:00

This has been a great fall and winter for new books. Especially new books in my favorite series. There was Goliath, last in the Leviathan trilogy, (see my review here), the latest Percy Jackson book, (I'm working on that one now!) and two 39 Clues books. But, if that weren't enough, we were also lucky enough to get the latest installment in one of my favorite new series, the Brixton Brothers mysteries. This one is called It Happened on a Train and it's by the highly-talented Mac Barnett. This book is so...

"Wait a minute," you say, "who are the Brixton Brothers?" Well, let me give you a little background. Steve Brixton is a 12-year-old boy living in California. He's obsessed with the Bailey Brothers books, a series of mysteries written in the 1950's. In the first book, Steve gets caught up in a mystery involving a book on early American quilts and national security agents (otherwise known as librarians). He solves that mystery and decides to set up his own detective agency called the Brixton Brothers. (Steve doesn't have a brother--he just thinks it sounds cooler) The second book involves another mystery involving the author of those Bailey Brothers books. (if you want to know more, see my review of the first book here and the second here)

Got that? OK, in this book, Steve takes all his beloved Bailey Brothers books out to the curb in a garbage can and decides he doesn't want to be a detective anymore (if you've read the second book, you'll know why!) His best friend Dana tries to talk him out of it but then a strange surfer dude pulls up, presents Steve with a really odd problem and asks Steve to solve it. Steve refuses, however, because he's a "retired detective." After that, Steve and Dana get on a train to go to a student United Nations but find some very mysterious things going on. Why is there an extra car on the train and why does no one want to acknowledge it's there? Who is the scar-faced man looking so intensely at Steve? Once Steve and Dana settle in to their ride, more mysterious things start to happen--Steve meets a girl who disappears (does it have something to do with that extra car?), finds out about a plot to steal fabulously expensive antique automobiles, and gets locked inside a sauna! Someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden. Will this be enough to bring Steve out of retirement? And, if so, can he survive it?

As you can see, there's enough mystery and suspense to get any guy hooked. But that's not all; you get a healthy helping of comedy thrown in too. And sometimes you get both at the same time! Just take the scene on the cover--there's Steve on top of the train, trying to track down the bad guy in just his bath robe and shower cap! This book will make you laugh, scratch your head at the mystery, and wonder how Steve will get out of his next tight squeeze. And the retro style of Adam Rex's illustrations fit the book perfectly. This is a great book for guys who like reading and even guys who don't. Some of the chapters are only two or three pages long and that helps the story move along as quickly as a train. So go check it out, guys! You will say, along with Steve and the Bailey Brothers, "This book is ACE!!"

PS--if you want to read an interview with Mac Barnett, click here.

PPS--Note to Sammer: I know you've checked out the Brixton Brothers books. Let me know what you think!

How Football Works by Keltie Thomas

2011-11-30T18:15:00.011-04:00

This is a great time of year to be a sports fan. You've got college football, pro football, college basketball and...well, we usually have NBA basketball now too, but this year it will be--different. (Don't get me started on that!) Anyway, Charlotte is a great place to be a sports fan. We've got the Panthers for football, the Checkers for minor-league hockey, and the Bobcats for pro basketball--that is, now that we finally get basketball! (Don't get me started again!) Plus, North Carolina has one the great roundball rivalries of all time--Duke and Carolina. So this is a good time of year to tell you about a really good book called How Football Works by Keltie Thomas.

It's only 64 pages long but it's chock-full of information and fun facts. You can find out about the basics of football--how it started, how the ball got its shape, what the playing positions are, etc. Then you can find out more, like information on the football field (how do they keep grass green in winter?) or what it takes to be a quarterback (you have to amazingly smart as well as strong) or just how much equipment a player wears (it's a LOT!) On top of that, there are very interesting sidebars, timelines, and a recurring section called Legends of the Game. This is an extremely interesting book and every football fan should check it out. If you're brand-new to the game, you'll learn what football is all about. If you're a long-time fan, you'll find out things you never knew. Either way, this book is a big-time winner. I was lucky enough to get a copy from the very nice people at Owl Kids Press, but you could find one at your local library. So hut one, hut two--make that run and get it!
(PS--there's even a sidebar about the Panthers's own DeAngelo Williams!)

This book get the Iron Guy Seal as ONE TERRIFIC BOOK!

Some Things This Turkey Is For

2011-11-23T13:11:00.007-04:00

There's a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week. Here are just a few:

I'm thankful that the I finally got the latest Heroes of Olympus book. It's The Son of Neptune by the unbelievable Rick Riordan. I'm only three chapters into it, but WOW, is it terrific!!

I'm grateful that the next Cahills vs. Vespers book, The King's Ransom, comes out December 6.

And that the fifth Erec Rex book, The Secret of Ashona, comes out February 5.

I'm thankful for reader guys like Michael and Sammer who regularly write in and tell us about very cool books.

And I'm also thankful that we live in a country in which we can read the books we like without having to worry if someone will break down our doors in the middle of the night because of those books. It's not like that everywhere, guys. A lot of people in this world are not free to read and we shouldn't take it lightly.

OK, everyone, enjoy the day tomorrow and, if you're not too busy chowing down, tell us what YOU'RE thankful for!

Michael Tell Us About More Great Reads!

2011-11-11T15:50:00.003-04:00

Once again, our good friend Michael, that book-reviewing machine, has written to us about more cool books. Let's see what he's liked lately--and get a load of his great new signature!

Diamond Brothers Mysteries, book 1

The Falcon's Malteser

by Anthony Horowitz

Meet 25-year-old Herbert Timothy Simple and his 13-year-old brother, Nick. After Herbert is fired from the police squad for incompetence, he changes his name to Tim Diamond and starts a private detective agency, Tim Diamond, Inc. But trouble soon brews as Tim and Nick are given a package by a man who is murdered the very next day. The two figure out that the package contains chocolate candy, and that somehow the candy is the key to a five million dollar fortune in pure diamonds. There are also gangters, famed killers, wanted criminals, and even a night-club singer after the fortune too, and they'll do anything to get their hands on the chocolate... even kill. Will Tim and Nick find the diamonds before it's too late, or will they be killed trying? This traditional-style mystery will have you wondering how the clues fit together till the very end.

Diamond Brothers Mysteries, book 2

Public Enemy Number Two

by Anthony Horowitz

Nick and Tim Diamond are back. When Nick gets framed for stealing a priceless jewel, he's sent to jail to share a cell with the mysterious Johnny Powers. What Nick wants to know is who Johnny and a bunch of other criminals are selling their stolen goods to. But Nick's quest for an answer leads him on a wild adventure that includes being cornered by a lion, jumping from a watchtower, collapsing a roof to a room underneath the thames river, blowing up a million dollars' worth of priceless items, burning Nick's French teacher with sulfuric acid, and much more! This is more of a thriller than a mystery, but it's one of the best thrillers I've ever read, and I highly recommend it to every reader out there! Great book!

Titanic, book 3

S.O.S.

by Gordon Korman

Paddy Burns, Alfie Huggins, Sophie Bronson, and Juliana Glam are in for the time of their lives. And not in a good way. They're all on the Titanic, which was deemed unsinkable, but is now plunging into the depths of the sea. There are almost twice as many passengers as there are lifeboat capacity, and only one of the four kids makes it to one of them. The other three are left to fend for themselves. But this book is far from boring historical fiction. While the kids are escaping the Titanic, they are also escaping the notorious murderer Jack the Ripper, who is traveling in disguise. Now that the kids know his secret identity, he is determined to kill them for good: no easy task on a sinking ship. Paddy, the stowaway, is also continuing his escape from Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller, who is determined to have him thrown overboard or killed. Help from another ship is on the way, but with hours to wait, can the four kids survive the horrible night of April 15, 1912? With startling true facts about the actual event, this book is a step up from the previous two in the trilogy, and it's bound to have you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath until the very last page!

Michael Lanier

Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist

Thanks, Michael! You're a man of many talents! These books really sound good. I'm glad that all three of the Titanic books were good. This one sounds particularly intense! And so do the Diamond Brothers bookS. Well, keep reading,Michael, and all you other readers guys out there.

Remember, these books are--

Guy Tested--GUY APPROVED!

Sammer Claims His Prize(s)!

2011-11-05T14:39:00.006-04:00

Our good friend Sammer came to the Myers Park library on Friday to claim his prize for winning The Great Greg Heffley Debate Giveaway. We were all glad to see him coming into the place like a victorious Roman general entering the city after conquering the barbarians. And, like the mighty man he is, he claimed not just one but two prizes from the ultra-cool prize box. Here he is with his trophies of victory:
As you can see, he's deliriously happy. And with good reason--he picked the second and third books in the Gregor the Overlander series, a true favorite with guys. While he was here, he checked out the first book, Gregor the Overlander, so he could read them in order. Wow, not only is he mighty, he's smart as well! (BTW, the second book is called Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane and the third is Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods)

Congratulations, Sammer, and enjoy your books! (and let us know how you like them!)

Sammer striking an Iron Guy pose

Sammer Does Not Rest on His Laurels

2011-11-05T14:35:00.003-04:00

No, indeed! He's not content to simply bask in the glory of his awesome achievement; he's out there telling us about more great reads. On the same day he claimed his prize, he sent us these two reviews. What a guy!

Wow I can't believe I got the prize. But I'm here to report two interesting books today.

Number One:From the Mixed up Files of Mrs.Basil E. Frankweiler. A great book where Claudia, the main character, doesn't feel treated well enough. So she gets her brother and they run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. There they find a statue named Angel and they want to find out if MichelAngelo carved it or not.

Number Two:Fablehaven.Another great book. Kendra and Seth are leaving to their grandparents' house where they find out it is a magical preserve for magical creatures such as plotting witches,saytrs[goatmen],and demonds. Will they survive? Read to find that out yourself.

Thanks, Sammer! Several guys have told about the Fablehaven books but you're the first to let us know about From the Mixed-Up Files...We always appreciate your reviews. Guys want to know what's good and you're here to fill us in. So remember, these books have been recommended by a reader guy just like you and not just a bunch of stuffy old grownups. Go find these books, men, and keep in mind that they are--

Guy Tested--GUY APPROVED!

Sammer Wins the Great Greg Heffley Giveaway!

2011-10-31T12:37:00.003-04:00

Yes, indeed, our very good friend Sammer wins the chance to pick out a prize from our ultra-cool and ultra-rocking prize box. He gave us the best reason why he likes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. (check out what he said here and here) OK, maybe he changed his mind a bit but that's just the sign of an open mind. Come on over to the Myers Park library and claim your prize, Sammer, and congratulations!

Michael Stikes Again!

2011-10-27T14:59:00.001-04:00

Time to take a break from The Great Greg Heffley Debate for some more first-class reviews from our good friend Michael. (King of Books and Time Travel) Michael always reads the most interesting books and has been good to tell us about them. Let's hear what's rocked him lately:

SPHDZ, books 2 and 3

by Jon Scieszka

Michael K., Bob, Jennifer, and Major Fluffy are nearing their 3.14 million and 1 SHPDZ brainwave. But Agent Umber is closing in, and ther's suspicious things going on. AAA Agent Hot Megenta knows she can find the aliens in a heartbeat, but the chief won't let her and won't tell her why. Plus, Michael K.'s earth friends TJ and Venus are coming closer to knowing the secret of Bob and Jennifer. Also, Dad K. and Mom K. are mixed up in a secret conspiracy, but what they don't know is that they're actually working against each other! How will this whole situation end up? Find out in these two great books. They are some of Jon Scieska's greatest writings. Don't miss out on these!

Guys Read, book 2

Thriller

by Jon Scieszka, M. T. Anderson, Patrick Carman, Gennifer Choldenko, Matt De La Pena, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Bruce Hale, Jarret J. Krosoczka, Anthony Horowitz, Walter Dean Myers, James Patterson, and Brett Helquist

This is a collection of ten short thriller stories by top best-selling writers. If you like book series like SPHDZ, The 39 Clues, Lunch Lady, The Missing, The Shadow Children, Daniel X, or anything like these, then this book is for you! These thrillers were written specifically for guys, because Jon Scieszka only picked authors that know what guys like to read. I was surprised to see a new story written by Walter Dean Myers. That guy's been a famous writer for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, I found only one story to be amusing and age-apropriate. That would be "The Double Eagle Has Landed" by Anthony Horowitz. It's the newest Diamond Brothers mystery. It was intruiging, funny, and it made my heart skip a beat. Everything else was not so great. I was shocked to see that even James Patterson failed to please. Horowitz put together a great tale, and I might just lok in to his Diamond Brothers Mystery series. Anyway, that's the only one worth reading in my opinion. The first book in this series was much better, Funny Business.

Thanks, Michael! We can always count on you to give it to us straight. And now I want to find out more about the SPHDZ. Don't you, guys?
But that's not all--here are MORE cool books he's read:

Stone Rabbit, book 6

Night of the Living Dust Bunnies

by Erik Craddock

It's Halloween in Happy Glades, and Stone Rabbit leaves his house covered in dust! He's too lazy to clean up once in a while. But he soon learns his lesson. Judy the duck has given Stone Rabbit a lamp that's powered by radioactive material. Well, what do you know, the lamp falls on Stone Rabbit's floor, which is covered in dust. The chemical reaction produces giant dust bunnies intent on eating everyone they see! Will Happy Glades ever be safe from these monsters? Read this hilarious comic book to find out!

Storm Runners, book 2

The Surge

by Roland Smith

Chase, Rashawn, Nicole, and Momma Rossi are safe in the Rossis barn during Hurricane Emily... or are they? The storm is throwing objects at the barn, and the lions and leapord from the Rossi Brother's Circus have broken out of their cages! Plus, the barn has light, but the generator is quickly running out of fuel. The only way to get more gas is to go to another building uphill, through the storm and wild animals. Will Chase do it? Is anyone safe from Emily? And will Hector the leapord and Simba the lion get a four-course dinner? Find out in this awesome book! Look for book 3, Eruption, plus Roland Smith will be writing a book in the Cahills Vs. Vespers series soon!

N. E. R. D. S., book 3

The Cheerleaders of Doom

by Michael Buckley

Gerdie Baker is trying to make a teleportation device. But when Heathcliff Hodges sends her the answer for her machine, it doesn't turn out to be teleportation at all. It's actually an interdimensional portal opener. Now, under the control of Heathcliff, Gerdie is taking over the multiverse! Who is Gerdie? What's Heathcliff up to? And will the NERDS actually help Heathcliff? It's all revealed in this amazingly written new book!

Wow, I didn't even know there was a N.E.R.D.S. book 3 until you told us! This is really good news. These books are awesome, guys--spies, comedy and action! And I've never read any of the Stone Rabbit graphic novels, although we have them in the library system. And Roland Smith is an author that I don't know about. He must be pretty good if he's going to write a Cahills vs. Vespers book.

So here you go, everyone--guy books recommended by a reader guy like you! Be sure to find them and check them out!

But Wait! There's More!

2011-10-27T14:55:00.000-04:00

There's no stopping our good friend Michael!! While I was putting together the post up above, Michael sent us even more great reviews. Tell us all about them, my man:

Three of Diamonds

by Anthony Horowitz

Nick and Tim Diamond are back in three short mystery stories! Find out who's responsible for a man being crushed under a steamroller. For that matter, see if you can find out who actually died in The Blurred Man. When Tim and Nick win a vacation to Paris, strange things start happening. See if they can bust the criminals and find out what the criminals are doing in The French Confection. Lastly, Tim's old class reunion takes a deadly turn. Who's responsible for seven murders, and worse, can Tim and Nick get off the island they're trapped on? Find out in I Know What You Did Last Wednesday. Although I don't care for some of the language, I found all three stories to be mysterious, thrilling, and hilariously funny. When it comes to mysteries, it doesn't get any better than this! And check out the first Diamond Brothers book: The Falcon's Malteser.

My Weirder School, book 3

Mrs. Lilly is Silly!

by Dan Gutman

Mrs. Lilly visits Ella Mentry School. She's a newspaper reporter, and she wants to help the kids make a school paper called The Ella Mentry Sentry. A.J. thinks she's awesome! She twists story lines hugely out of proportion. For example, Mr. Macky was seen kissing his wife, Ms. Daisy. So Mrs. Lilly wrote: Mr. Macky Kisses Married Woman! A.J. is loving everything about her, and, best of all, Mrs. Lilly hates Andrea! Could things get any better? What will happen to the paper? Will Mrs. Lilly manage to get it all over the world? Does Mr. Klutz really wear underwear? And, will Mrs. Lilly get away with printing untrue garbage? Find out in this awesome book! Dan Gutman's getting better with each book he writes! Don't miss out on reading this book!

Thanks again, Michael! A lot of guys like the My Weird School series, so it's good to hear that the school gets even weirder. Speaking of mysteries, I'd really like to know if you've read any of the Brixton Brothers books and what you thought of them. I'm reading the third one and really enjoying it.
All right, go check these out too! These books have been read and liked by a real guy just like you which means they are--

Guy Tested--GUY APPROVED!

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

2011-10-21T12:57:00.001-04:00

The Iron Guy has just finished a truly terrific book. It's Goliath by Scott Westerfeld and it's the third book in the Leviathan triolgy. I've been a HUGE fan since the first one, Leviathan , came out in 2009. (see my review here) Then came Behemoth last year (see that review here) and that left me waiting impatiently for this third installment. And, boy, was it ever worth waiting for!! All the thrills, excitement, action, battles are here as well as the incredible machinery and strange fabricated animals you saw in the other two books.

In case you're new to the series, here's the background--It's 1914 and the European powers are on the brink of war. Sounds like our own history, right? Well, this is an alternate history and the world is divided into Clankers, those who use walking war machines, and the Darwinists, those who manipulate DNA to fabricate animals. When Prince Aleksandar Ferdinand's parents are assassinated, the world plunges into war and he runs into the mountains to hide form those who don't want him on the throne. In the meantime, a Scottish girl named Deryn Sharp dresses like a boy to join the British Royal Air Service. An unlikely series of events throws them together and the first two books recount their adventures.

As Goliath opens, they are headed across Siberia en route to Japan when they get an urgent message from the Czar. They are to rescue Nikola Tesla, a brilliant and possibly mad scientist. Tesla claims to have invented a weapon (called Goliath) that can destroy whole cities. Prtince Aleksandar becomes obsessed with getting Tesla safely to New York, believing that the threat of such a weapon could stop the war. Deryn isn't so sure, though, but she has enough troubles of her own, trying not to let anyone know she's a girl. Does Tesla ever make it to New York? Will the great European powers just sit idly and let Tesla test his Goliath? Or will they do what they have to in order to stop him? And what will happen if people learn about Deryn's secret? And just what will Alek do if Tesla actually starts up his weapon of hugely-massive destruction?

This is just a brief description of what happens in this terrific book. Along the way, there's a battle off the coast of China, hungry giant Russian war bears, an attempt by Alek and Deryn to run a radio antenna on top of the Leviathan in the middle of storm at sea, and an intense ending that will have you gripping the book so tightly that you knuckles will turn white! Not only is there action and adventure, you also get to meet real people from history, like Pancho Villa and William Randolph Hearst. You science freaks will also get all the stuff about "aeronautics," that is, flying aloft in an enormous flying fabricated beast. So this book has something for everyone!!

Don't miss it, guys!! I had a LOT of fun reading Goliath and so will you. In fact--

Goliath receives the Iron Guy Seal as One Terrific Book!

So, achtung!! Get up and get it macht snell!! Don't waste any barking time!!

The War to End All Wars by Russell Freedman

2011-10-21T12:55:00.003-04:00

Attention all you Leviathan fans!! Here's a book about the REAL World War I--and it's a truly great read! It's The War to End All Wars by the very talented Russel Freedman. Don't know much about WWI? Well, you'll find out here and, once you start, you'll keep turning pages until you're done. This is amazing story and Mr. Freedman is a terrific writer.

As in Leviathan, the war begins in June 1914 with the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. The great powers of Europe think they have foolproof plans to conquer their enemies and that the war will be over by Christmas. They are not prepared for what happens, however. Technology has progressed and weapons have become more deadly and the Allies and the Central Powers become locked in a long and deadly struggle.

This book tells all about those struggles. You'll read about the Battles of Verdun, the Somme, and the battles at sea. There are tales of incredible endurance and heroism, arrogance and stupidity, and unexpected friendliness at Christmas. As I said, Russell Freedman is a very talented writer and he makes the events move right along. He doesn't give just a bunch of dry and dusty facts; he makes the story and the time come alive. He also quotes letters from the soldiers who were actually there, adding more depth and feeling to the story and making us remember that this is not just a story but real events that happened to real people. And I have to let you know that some of the events were terrible. War is an ugly business and some of the sights the soldiers describe are horrific. Keep that in mind when you check this out, guys. Or parents--you might want to check this out for older guys. But if you do, you'll find a book that you won't want to put down until you've read the very last page. I know that was true for me! And you'll find that this book is not thick, slow or boring. You could easily read it in one afternoon, just as I did. So check this out and learn a fascinating story about a time that a lot of people don't remember anymore.

The War to End All Wars receives the Iron Guy Seal as One Terrific Book!

More and More Voices in the Great Greg Heffley Debate!

2011-10-19T19:17:00.009-04:00

Yes, indeed, readers everywhere are knocking the doors to give their opinions in the Great Greg Heffley Debate. (don't forget that the one who gives me the best reason why the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are great or why Alan Silberberg's book Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze is better wins a prize!) The first person to weigh in Is Super Simran, who won the March Madness Contest this year:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is much better than Milo or whatever!

Thanks Super Simran, but we need a little more. We want to know WHY Diary of a Wimpy Kid is better. Write us back and tell us, OK? We'd love to know!!

The next person is someone new--lets' hear him:

Greg Rules. Yea thats the ticket!!!! Gimme Prize, Gimme Prize!!! This is not by the way, Library Ninja Bill, not at all. Don't even know the guy.

Karate Guy Will

Thanks, Karate Guy...WAIT A MINUTE!! This sounds suspiciously like my good friend Ninja Librarian Bill over at the Boys Rock, Boys Read! blog. Trying to sneak up on me to get a prize, huh?? Well, it won't work. The Iron Guy exercises his brain as well as his iron muscles and I see through your disguise. Nice try!!!
(BTW, there's a Great Greg Heffley Debate going on over there too. Take a look)

Next is our good friend Sammer, the first voice in this Debate:

I have never heard of the Brixton Brothers but, it sounds pretty good to me. I said I liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid but, I like Maniac Magee better. the 3 part thriller winning the newberry medal. It's like no other book I've read (Which is a lot.) so I'm on both sides of this.

You are so right--Maniac Magee is like no other book. A lot of thrills and a lot about growing up. Interesting comparison. (BTW, speaking of the Brixton Brothers--this is a BIG reason I run this blog--to tell other guys about books they don't know about)

Last of all is another good friend, Ms. Yingling. She's a librarian in Ohio and runs such a great blog--Ms. Yingling Reads--that we gave her the ultimate compliment and made her an Honorary Guy. Let's hear what she says:

Don't count me in the contest, but I have to agree with you that Greg is annoying. I want to slap him. I can't find him funny, because if he were a real kid he would be causing so many of his own problems. Milo was okay, but the one I really like is Big Nate. he means well and is so exuberant, but things just don't work out for him.

Well, all of the grownups seem to agree with me that Greg Heffley's a jerk (see my original post about him here) while kids seem to take the opposite tack. So am I wrong? Am I right? Tell us and you could win the prize in the Great Greg Heffley Debate Giveaway!

YES!! The First Voice in The Great Greg Heffley Debate! (and the new Brixton Brothers Book)

2011-10-14T15:45:00.005-04:00

ALL RIGHT! The first boy has responded to the challenge of The Great Greg Heffley Debate. That boy is none other than our good friend Sammer, who has sent us a lot of first-rate reviews. Let's hear what Sammer has to say:

I'm writing in from Orlando.I like the diary of a wimpy kid books because you never know what is going to happen next.Like when they go camping it just starts to rain.And that's why I like diary of a wimpy kid.

Thanks, Sammer!! We really appreciate your taking time out while in Orlando to write to us. You've made a good point--you never know what's going to happen in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. But I could also say the same about Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg. I was often surprised and amused by what happened to Milo. So what do you boys think?? Tell us why D of a WK are so great or why Milo is better. You have until October 28 (two weeks from today) to write in. The winner will get to choose a prize from our uber-cool prize box! (if you want to know more about The Great Greg Heffley Debate, click here)

And here's something else to get excited about--the arrival of the newest Brixton Brothers book. I'm a big fan and am looking forward to reading this one. (It's called It Happened on a Train and it's by Mac Barnett) Steve Brixton thinks he's retired from detective work but looks like the mysteries won't leave him alone. This books are great fun and, judging from the cover, this one should just as entertaining.

Have a great weekend and send those comments in!

We're Honored to Receive the Liebster Blog Award!

2011-10-14T15:35:00.004-04:00

One of our faithful followers, Readingjunky, was good enough to pass on an award to us back in August. It's The Liebster Blog Award, given to blogs with less than 200 followers. The purpose is to"shine a spotlight" on blogs that someone thinks should get more attention. We're honored that you thought of us, Readingjunky! Thanks a whole bunch! (and I'm sorry it's taken so long to acknowledge it--library life has been incredibly busy)One of the purposes of this award, though, is to pass it on to others. In fact, they want recipients to give this award to 5 other blogs. That's easy enough because there are lots and lots of good book blogs out there. So here goes:

Ms. Yingling Reads--a truly terrific blog that also focuses on guy reading!

SMS Guys Read--another of my favorites, run by a teacher and his boys' book club

The Lemme Library--a very fun blog, with good book reviews and general cool stuff

What All the Kids Are Reading--another blog with lots of good reviews of interesting books

Chocolate Air--it says that "Reading is like breathing chocolate air!" How can you not like a blog with such a logo?

Here's one more-- a terrific site for guy readers--TMC Guys Read (another site run by a teacher and his boys' book club)

And here's yet one more site. I can't nominate it because the Iron Guy and a friend work on it in their spare time (it wouldn't be right to nominate myself for this award) but it's a rocking site that every reader guy in the universe should know about--Boys Rock, Boys Read!

Thanks once again, Readingjunky, and be sure to check out these sites, guys!

The Great Greg Heffley Debate

2011-10-07T16:21:00.011-04:00

Sometimes, when the Iron Guy is not reading great guy books or pumping 16-ton weights, he helps work on a blog called Boys Rock, Boys Read. It's another blog for guy readers that a friend and I run. Recently we got into a debate about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Basically, I said that I don't like them because Greg Heffley's a jerk. My friend said that's the whole reason he likes them. Furthermore, I said that Alan Silberberg's book Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze is a whole lot better. There's much more to the debate, of course, and you can read the posts here and here. (you can also read my review of Milo here)

My friend and I also talked holding a debate and giveaway on our respective blogs. So that's what I'm going to do! As of this moment, the Iron Guy is throwing down the gauntlet to all you reader guys, especially those in the Charlotte and Mecklenburg county area. I want to hear why you think the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are great. Or why you don't. Or why you think Milo is better. And to make this debate sweet, I'm going to give the guy who writes the most convincing argument a chance to pick a prize out of our ultra-cool prize box!! There are books, t-shirts, and other cool things in there. And I'll give you three weeks to do it! So, come on, all you DofaWK fans. Tell us why those books are so great and make us believe it. Don't just say, "They're funny and I like them"--tell us why they're so funny. There are lots of funny books out there--what makes these better? Or why don't you like them? Or why is Milo better? The prize goes to the guy who, as I said, writes the most convincing argument on either side.

So hit that "comment" tab below and tell us. The Debate will go until 5:00 pm on Friday, October 28. The winner will be announced on Monday, October 31. (an auspicious day!) Then you can come to the Myers Park library in Charlotte and claim your prize! (if you absolutely can't get here, I'll find a way to get it to you, but it would be better if you can come here)

All right, guys, get those thinking caps on and those keyboards fired up and join in The Great Greg Heffley Debate!!

Michael Keeps Them Coming In with The Medusa Plot and Amulet 4.

2011-09-26T12:47:00.005-04:00

Do you remember how, at the end of the last post, I asked you guys to keep those reviews and surprises coming? Well, our good friend Michael (King of Books and Time Travel) has done just that! He's sent in not one but two reviews of some really good-sounding reads. Let's see what Michael has to say:

The 39 Clues: Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 1

The Medusa Plot

by Gordan Korman

The most anxiously awaited book of the year is finally here! The Vespers are a secret family that has been after the master serum for decades. But the Vespers aren't all related. They hire people to do their dirty work. So no Cahill is truly safe. The Vespers kidnap Fiske Cahill, Nellie Gomez, Reagan Holt, Natalie Kabra, Ted Starling, Alistair Oh, and Pheonix Wizard. Amy and Dan, having narrowly avoid kidnapping themselves, are recieving myterious mesages from Vesper One. They must do what he says and steal the famous painting "Medusa", or one of the kidnapped Cahills will be killed. Can Amy and Dan do it in time? Will the branches cooperate? And who is Vesper One? This new book is brilliantly written with more than five thriller scenes. Introducing new characters Pheonix and Leila Wizard and Evan Tolliver, this book is truly an instant classic that no one should miss out on! And be sure to look for book 2 in December: A King's Ransom by Jude Watson. And don't miss the epic movie saga starting in 2014!

Amulet, book 4

The Last Council

by Kazu Kibuishi

Finally Emma has arrived in Ceilis, home of the Guardian Council. Now all she has to do is warn them of the elf king, and everything will be fixed, right? Not so easy. Emma must undergo a series of tests put on by the Guardian Council against other stonekeepers. The strongest will survive, the weakest will die. It's possible for all the competitors to survive, but it's also possible that none should make it. And if the stonekeepers pass the tests, the reward will be far greater than any of them could imagine. Introducing new characters Ally, Vigo Light, Cecil, and Dagno, and featuring the return of Miskit and Cogsley, this book is beautifully illustrated and has incredible action and drama. So don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind graphic novel!

Thanks, Michael!! I have to agree with you totally about The Medusa Plot. It's really, really, really good and I can hardly stand waiting for the next one. There is a lot of action, as in all the 309 Clues books, and lots more secrets and mysterious characters. (Do you think Evan can be trusted? Why did they find a Lucian symbol in the factory? How old is the Vesper family? Could they really have had something to do with Mount Vesuvius?) Ah, there's a lot to figure out! (Although this book is not perfect--I had a very hard believing that the art thief, who had taken so much trouble to steal that painting, would stop looking for it because Dan "crashed" the boat)
And I've never read any of the Amulet graphic novels but you made me really curious now! May have to go and check them out.

Thanks again. Be sure to go and get these books, guys! You've heard from another reader guy (as well as the Iron Guy) just how good they are!

We Interrupt This Weekend to Bring You a GOLIATH-Sized Announcement!

2011-09-24T10:00:00.014-04:00

YIPPEE and YAHOO!! Or, I should say, Barking Spiders!! Am I ever excited!! The final book in the Leviathan trilogy has just arrived. It's Goliath by Scott Westerfeld and I've been waiting a long time for this. If you haven't read Leviathan or Behemoth, stop wasting time and go get them now. Macht Snell!! as the Clankers would say. Boy, oh, boy, I know what I'll be doing this weekend!!

PS--if you want to say my review of Leviathan, click here; click here for the review of Behemoth. (BTW, I'm writing this on Friday and setting it to post on Saturday so I don't step on Friday's post about Michael and his book. Go look at it!)

Michael, the Guy Full of Surprises

2011-09-23T15:30:00.002-04:00

This is amazing! Our good friend Michael (King of Books and Time Travel) has been sending us first-class reviews for a long time. But now I find out something new about him--not only has he been reading books, he's been writing them!! He recently sent me a preview of a book he wrote about two boys who fall into another dimension. Here you go:

Chapter 5

The two boys came out of the portal almost as fast as they had fallen in. They were immediately flying through a clear blue sky. It looked like they had nothing to fear; the portal only lead outside.

Yes, that’s what it looked like.

Almost without warning, Ben and Jack left the sky and fell through a forest of pine trees.

“Ooh, ah, ouch!”

Ben came out of the trees first. The trees had slowed his fall so that he wasn’t seriously hurt, but he still felt pain.

“Oof!”

Ben laid there for a minute. “Uuuugh...”

Then Jack landed directly on top of him.

“AH!” Ben screamed, more pain coming through.

After recuperating, the two boys got up and looked around. They were in a forest, all right, but it looked just like Earth. There were no forests anywhere near where Ben and Jack lived. Where were they?

“Maybe it’s North Carolina,” Jack guessed. “They have lots of forests there.”

“Who knows where we are?” Ben snapped, scared. “We could be in Washington for all we know!”

“Don’t be silly,” Jack said. “D.C. doesn’t have any forests.”

Ben sighed, annoyed.

“Well,” he finally concluded, “we might as well start walking. Pretty soon we’ll come to a police station or something.”

“Maybe Jen and Ellie have called someone to come get us, like the Navy.”

“The Navy? Jack, you do know we’re in the middle of a forest, right?”

Just then, two small objects came falling through the trees. The two boys examined them.

“Put this in your ear,” both objects said in synchronization.

The two boys did so.

“Those are communication devices,” came a voice in their ears. “This is Jennifer.”

The boys immediately brightened.

“Hey, Jenny.” “Wassup, Jen?”

“Jennifer will be just fine, thank you.”

“I think things are in order for an explanation here, Jen,” said Ben.

“It’s JENNIF— oh, fine.”

The boys smiled.

Jennifer explained. “You’ve fallen into another dimension.”

“What?!? NO!”

“Yes, it’s true. It’s a very dangerous place. Ellie and I can use our computers to make dimensional warps and time warps, but they happen naturally all the time. Be extremely careful.”

The boys pondered this. Would Ellie and Jennifer make up a tale like this just to get the boys off their case?

They looked at each other for a moment, and then Jack said, “It has to be true.”

“How do you know?” Ben asked.

“A story that ridiculous can’t be made up.”

Suddenly, a distant voice called, “Hello!”

“Someone’s coming!” Ben cried.

“Play it cool, guys,” Jennifer advised. “Whatever you do, don’t ru—”

“RUN!” Jack yelled.

Pretty good, Michael! Can't wait to find out what happens next! There's action and laughs here--just what every reader guy wants! BTW, do you all know that Michael is the second guy to send us a preview of a book? That's right--another reader and writer guy (who calls himself Dark Omen) sent us a copy back in November. Check out that post here.
This is great!! Keep those reviews and surprises coming!

A New Friend Tells Us About a Truly Terrific Book!

2011-09-19T13:19:00.000-04:00

I'm always excited when a new reader guy sends us a review and today a new friend, mathfan, has written to us for the very first time. He's going to tell us about a book that I really enjoyed. Let's hear it, mathfan!

THE LOST HERO

Imagine flying horses, goat men, and horsemen hovering around your cabin as you came out for breakfast. This is what it would feel like to be in the Lost Hero. Through my many years of reading, I have enjoyed many books, but the Lost Hero by Rick Riordan stands out.

The nail-biting fast-paced action, in-depth details, and the hints of Greek Mythology in Rick Riordan’s The Lost Hero impresses me immensely. The action is spread out all over the book; for example, Jason (the main character) and the sky-spirit Dylan battle it out in hand-to-hand combat. Another instance occurs when Jason impulsively jumps off of the edge of the skywalk to go save Piper, who falls off by mistake. When Jason jumps, he finds out his amazing power of being able to fly.

Given the fact that the book involves Greek gods, centaurs (horse people), and satyrs (goat people), I am instantaneously fascinated. Also, the really in-depth details bring these characters to life. For example, let’s describe the satyr. The satyr is half goat and half human. If you have friends who have really long hair (to cover their horns), always wear pants (to cover their goat legs), and eats cans and tin foil, you are likely to have a satyr on your hands. I like those characters because I am fascinated with Greek Mythology.

Another aspect of the book that I am fascinated about is the fiction and fantasy and that it is not like a boring history textbook. Rick Riordan is able to also push the limits by making fantasy sound like reality. For example, the setting of Camp Half-Blood may seem like a fantasy if someone else describes it, but the author makes the place seem like home. Camp Half-Blood is full of people in different cabins and is full of weird goat people. The Apollo Cabin practices archery and the Hephaestus cabin makes a celestial bronze sword. Jason thinks, “There is no way I can fit in here.” But he just has to wait and see. This is how the fiction and fantasy affects the book.

Having always enjoyed reading Rick Riordan’s books, I know that he is always going to be in the Hall Of Fame for writers. As you climb back into bed, overwhelmed with the sights, you now know all about the animals that live on the made-up land, of The Lost Hero.

Thanks, mathfan! I've always enjoyed Rick Riordan's books too and The Lost Hero is indeed full of "nail-biting fast-action." AND---did you know the next book in the series comes out soon? Like on October 4? Like in only fifteen days?? It's called The Son of Neptune and I can't wait!! And did you know you can read the first chapter online? You can go to the Heroes of Olympus website and click on the Sneak Peek icon. (although I had trouble getting it to work today) You can go the library's website at www.cmlibrary.org and reserve your copy if you live in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg county area. Or visit your local library or bookstore if you're out of town. Either way, be sure to get The Son of Neptune. From what I've read of the Sneak Peek, this one will be every bit as good as The Lost Hero.

Thanks, again, mathfan! I enjoyed your review. Let us hear from you again soon.

Michael Tells Us About a Couple of Winners!

2011-09-09T16:05:00.001-04:00

Howdy ho, gang! The Iron Guy has been busy once again, swimming laps around the Atlantic Ocean and checking out books for all the good people of Charlotte. I've been so busy, in fact, that I didn't think I'd have time to tell you about any more terrific books. But there was no reason to fear--our good friend Michael, (King of Books and Time Travel) has stepped in and written about two really good-sounding reads. Let's hear what he has to say:

Titanic, book 2

Collision Course

by Gordan Korman

With the notorious gangster Kevin Gilhooley in the brig of the Titanic, Paddy Burns is finally safe... or is he? He and Alfie have found a mysterious notebook belonging to a murderer from long ago. Is he onboard the ship? Alfie has his prime suspect: a grumpy old man with two lame legs. All the clues point to him, but could he really be a ruthless killer? Sophie and Julianna get caught up in the mystery too, plus, there are rumors about the ship of approaching ice glaciers. Is it true? Is the old man a murderer? And, most importantly, just how safe is the unsinkable Titanic? Gordan Korman takes his writing to new heights with incredible true facts and shocking twists and turns. You won't want to miss out on this exciting read! Also, look out for book 3: S. O. S.

The Missing, book 4

Torn

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Jonah and Katherine are trapped in time again. Only this time, they have no contact with JB, no helpful gadgets, and worst of all, no tracers! They've all disappeared! The two are trapped in 1611 aboard Henry Hudson's ship. But after the tracers disappear, things aren't as they seem. Hudson was supposed to be left in a rowvoat at sea, but instead, his ship came back for him! Plus, he's looking for the Northwest Passage, which doesn't exist, but suddenly, it appears out of nowhere! And one of the crew members on board isn't what he appears to be... or, more accurately, he isn't who he appears to be. How are Jonah and Katherine supposed to get time back on track? How can they survive on the ship? And how can they save JB and the rest of their friends who are still trapped in 1611? You can never guess what will happen next in Haddix's new masterpiece, plus, she goes even deeper in exploring new aspects of time. If you haven't read The Missing, you're surely missing out on one of today's greatest classics!

Thanks, Michael! You always find the best books. And you always make me want to read them! I read the first book in the Found series but haven't gotten around to the others. You really made me want to read this one. I'm also a big fan of Gordon Korman's Island trilogy. (If you want to find find out what we've written about Found or the Island trilogy or those two authors, click on the Labels section under this post) Well, back to checking out more books to our friends. Stand back, everybody--the Iron Guy can check out books only at supersonic speed, not light speed!

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze

2011-08-19T15:47:00.001-04:00

Hey, guys, I've been busy again, but I'm back and I agree with both of nboy's latest comments about the Great Harry Potter Controversy:

man this conversation is long i really dont like harry potter but jk and rick are both great but rick is greater

Right on, nboy! Rick is indeed greater and this conversation has gone long. Time to move onto something else, like telling you boys about great reads.

Attention all you Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans---here's a book very much in the DWK style but a whole lot better. It's Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by the awesome Alan Silberberg. There are drawings all throughout the book, like the DWK series, and lots and lots of very funny situations. And, like DWK, it's brilliant at catching those times when real life is like a cartoon, BUT--here's the kicker--it's MUCH better at giving you characters who act like real kids, grownups who sometimes act like grownups (which means they act like cartoons sometimes and also like real people), but Mr. Silberberg is especially good at giving us characters you really care about. By the end of the story, you REALLY want Milo and his dad to be OK.

The story starts out as Milo begins a year in a new school. He has all the trouble you'd expect in going to a new school--trying to fit in, finding new friends, etc. Besides all that, he's fallen for a very beautiful girl--who doesn't even know he's alive! Plus, the girl next door keeps leaving him notes all the time. What does that mean? Plus, he misses the school bus because he eats his Cheerios one at a time! But as you read, you find out there's more going on. The new house is the fifth one in the few years. The second was the "Fog House" because that's where he and his family lived when his mom died. Now his family is still trying to cope but they're like emotional zombies, going through life without any feeling. Especially his dad, who comes home, cooks dinner (the same three basic dinners), reads the paper for an hour and goes to bed. Will they ever be all right? Maybe--especially if Milo can be friends with the strange lady across the street.

I can't tell you how much I liked this book, guys!! It's touching and funny at the same time. It's touching, yes, because of all that Milo and his family go through but it is also funny. Like the first time the beautiful girl notices Milo (it's when he sneezes right in front of her!) And the illustrations are funny. Look at the different styles of haircuts for Milo's dad on page 125. Or the classroom picture on p. 63. But the two best illustrations are on pages 195 and 37. The first is the "Dad suit". Really touches your heart. The other is Milo and his new best friend sitting in front of a store and talking about junk food. We've all done this, guys. That's why this book is so great and why Mr. Silberberg is so brilliant--he perfectly captures the sweet moments of real life, the sad times, and the funny times when life is like a cartoon. You'll come away from this book feeling really good--and that's a whole lot more than I got from Greg Heffley. So don't sit around guys! Go get Milo and enjoy!

(BTW, my copy of this book was an ARC--that means it was an Advanced Reading Copy that Mr. Silberberg was nice enough to send me. These ARC's come out before the book is officially published. Sometimes the publishers make changes and corrections between the ARC and the official book, so the illustrations in your book may appear on slightly different pages. Don't worry, they'll be within a page or two of the numbers I mentioned)

This book earns the Iron Guy Seal as One Terrific Book!

Yet MORE Responses to the Great Harry Potter Controversy!

2011-08-09T15:51:00.006-04:00

Yes, everyone, the Great Harry Potter Controversy continues to draw comments from excited readers! First one to speak up is OG, who is obviously a super-cool librarian like the Iron Guy:

I'm definitely a Harry Potter fan and have read the books a few times. There's a comfort found in them that is rare in a lot of books. Percy Jackson is great, but it never quite reaches that comfort level that Harry Potter does. When I read Harry Potter, I feel like I'm exploring a world that I would like to visit. When I read Percy Jackson, I just feel like it's an exciting story, but I never fell in love with it. Yet, as a children's librarian, when it comes to recommending books to boys, I do find myself steering them more to Percy than Harry. But I think that's only because I don't feel like I have to steer anyone to Harry Potter, people know about it and always will.

As far as my real go to books for boys, however, Percy Jackson is one, but I also like the Alex Rider series, Artemis Fowl, and Cirque Du Freak, all of which are huge hits with boys. Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan is another one I've had a lot of luck with. It's a high charging steam-punk adventure that has Percy Jackson licked any day, in my humble opinion. And has anyone else read Ship Breaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi? It's for older readers, sure, but I think it might be a great one for high school age boys.

Thanks. OG! We really appreciate this, especially the good stuff for boys. I have not read Ship Breaker, though our brother bloggers at SMS Guys Read read it and liked it.

Then we have Domo, who accidentally misspelled the name as Doom. (Good name for a comic book villain--has anyone ever used it?)

SORRY MISPRINT it's Domo. Anyways, I remeber the first time I opened HP and The Sorcerer's Stone. I really got sucked into the magical atmosphere and couldn't wait to read the second. A few years later I read the Lightning Thief and enjoyed them about the same. I mean no offense Riordan fans but Riordan is sometimes a little sloppy in his writing. For example: Percy said "Hi"then he puts Annabeth said "hi" there's no real conversation. I remain neutral.

Thanks, Domo! Neutral is cool. NO one said you couldn't like both Percy and Harry.

OK, everyone, I might come back next time with more about good reads, but if anyone else has a burning opinion to express, feel free to hit that Comments section underneath this post!

Even MORE People Respond to the Great Harry Potter Controversy!

2011-08-03T15:48:00.001-04:00

Wow--what's a hornet's nest of controversy I've stirred up! (That's an appropriate phrase because Lord Cornwallis once called Charlotte "a hornet's nest of rebellion") I've recieved not one, not two, but FIVE responses since yesterday! It probably helped that Elizabeth Bird, one of the best book bloggers around, mentioned the Great Harry Potter Controversy in a post yesterday. (look about two-thirds the way down the post to find it) These are some widely-differing ideas, so I'm going to post them all at once:

Anonymous

I like the Harry Potter books a lot. They're wonderful, enthralling, complex books that are rich with detail and feature real characters with their own personalities, flaws and all. As Stephen King recently said, "Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity." What a wonderful message for a book series!

I've not yet read the Riordian books, but I'm quite willing to read and enjoy them as well. Other books I like include the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix, the Earthsea Cycle by Urusla K LeGuin, the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, and His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. All these series are quite different from one another, yet all enthrall me just as much on re-reads as they did the first time. I like them all for unique reasons. That's the great thing about books - it's possible to like more than one thing at the same time without having to tout one as better than the other. There's not much room in literary tastes for right and wrong. You aren't wrong for disliking Harry Potter, just as you aren't right about it. It's all a matter of personal taste.

It's okay to not like things! Just don't be a jerk about it. :)

Jana

I love them both. LOVE. I also LOVE Fablehaven and Artemis Fowl. There is room in my heart for all of them! I was as excited for each new book in each of these series. I just love to find something that hooks me and keeps me there for a bit. And I love that these series all have the ability to hook young readers and keep them reading!

Nicki

While I also enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, Rowling's writing, especially in the first two books, is far superior to Riordan's. The story is tighter, funnier and better researched. There are layers upon layers to Rowling's Harry Potter and her dialog is, in my opinion, better. Does it really matter, though. Kids are reading!

KateCoombs

I think people who like old school fantasy of the witches-and-wizards variety are more likely to get into Harry Potter, while action/adventure fans are more happy with series like Percy Jackson. I like them both! But for those who are wondering about the particular appeal of HP, it's creative details such as quidditch, the Marauder's Map, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans that grab me. Not to mention Hagrid on a flying motorcycle or Hagrid with his dear little pets.

Thanks, everyone! You all brought some good points. (and I hope I haven't been a jerk, Anonymous) Maybe our latest contributor said it best, though:

Doom said...: Boys, boys settle down. Riordan and Rowling are both great authors there is no need to take sides. You can both like both the same. everybody has their own opinions. no need to fight. Riordan has a bunch of creative ideas and thoughts, Rowling has created a series that has millions of potter fans worldwide. Domo remains neutral.

Well, it's hard to settle down when such a fierce debate is on. (BTW, is your name Doom or Domo?) I would agree that Rowling and Riordan are both great authors but I will STILL say that I'd trade a chapter of a Riordan for a whole HP book. Anyway, this is what GUYS do--we fight it out and then become best friends! So we can all disagree or agree and still be friends. And part of the fun of reading is arguing over favorite books and authors. So let's keep it up! Where do YOU stand on the Great Harry Potter Controversy?

The Beat--I mean, the Debate Goes On!

2011-08-02T15:03:00.002-04:00

Yes, indeed, the Great Harry Potter Controversy is heating up! We've had several people write in over the last few days. The first was our good friend Ms. Yingling, a grownup librarian who runs a mean blog. (go over to the Links section on the left-hand side of the page to check out her blog)

I'm not a fan of HP. Are they fine books? Yes. Did I read them all when they first came out? Yes. Will I ever reread them? No. Riordan's stuff is much more interesting and amusing to me. My daughter, however, is offended by anyone who doesn't think HP is brilliant. I liked Order of the Phoenix the best, but still it's not something I would go back to.

Good to hear another librarian agree with ME!! But then, two other reader guys sent very different views:

nboy said...

yeah i like percy jackson better than harry

Anonymous said...

I LOVE HARRY POTTER! i don`t like percy jackson at all

Oh, man, how could these guys be any more opposed? Wow, what a controversy I've stirred up! What about YOU?? Which side of the Hogwarts fence do YOU sit on? Or the Camp Half-Blood fence? Or the Alypium fence? (a sly reference for all you Erec Rex fans) Come on, let's hear more on the Great Harry Potter Controversy!

The Great Debate Starts!

2011-07-28T14:31:00.007-04:00

Yes, indeed, guys, the Great Harry Potter Controversy has begun. We've had three people weigh in already. They are in the Comments section under the last post; go ahead and look at them. In the interest of generating even MORE debate, however, I'm going to post those comments here as well. I hope that reading these comments will make you want to write some of your own.

The first comment was from cool dude:

You are right I like Percy Jackson way more than Harry Potter but I still like them.
P.S I am on the second book.
YESSS!! cool dude agrees with the Iron Guy! (who likes Percy Jackson infinitely more than Harry Potter)

Our next comment was from Brain Lair, a grown-up librarian. (you'll notice that if you scramble the letters to "librarian" it makes "Brain Lair")

I've been a Harry Potter fan since book 3. It's not so much the story line, which is classic hero's journey, but how she incorporated so many things into the writing. How when I go back to read them, after reading the whole series, I can see so many connections. Things she would mention and would come to mean more later. Her willingness to take some chances - I mean she killed a major character! I think any aspiring YA/MG writer could learn a lot from Rowling.

That said, I'm also a Rick Riordan fan. Have read all PJ plus Kane Chronicles and Lost Hero. I've actually read the KC twice. I think Rick displays more versatility in this series than in PJ.

Good point, Brain Lair. I just read a grown analysis of Harry Potter that tells about all the connections in the HP books. It may make me change my mind--but then I think about the time I tried to read the fourth book and it was so slow that it took as much effort as marching through a field of mud. It was so slow, in fact, that I never finished it! (BTW, Brain Lair--more versatility in KC than PJ?? Another good topic for debate! I still like PJ better, though I really enjoyed The Throne of Fire)

Our last comment comes from our good friend Sammer:

Harry Potter is one of my favorites but not my favorite.The 39 clues is a really great book seires.Dan and Amy have a grandmother Who is one of the Cahills Eurikta,Jaunus,Tomas and Luician.Dan and Amy travel around the world with their babysiter Nellie.It's a big Adventure.
Yes, it is a big adventure, Sammer. I'm a huge 39 Clues fan. (gotta look and see when the next one comes out)

All right, some agree with me and some don't. How about YOU?? Where do YOU stand on the Great Harry Potter Controversy? Write your thoughts in the Comments section under this or the last post.

I'm Back and the Great Harry Potter Controversy

2011-07-25T12:11:00.011-04:00

HEY GUYS!! It's me, Iron Guy Carl, and I'm back on the blog beat. I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in almost a month but, as I said Saturday, summer is the busiest time of year for the library. I've been busier than a centipede at a tap dancing competition! I'm sure you've wondered where I was. Our good friend Sammer came to the library one day said he's been reading the blog regularly and waiting for a post. So sorry, Sammer! Also, let me give an apology to the guy who sent in a review of The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones. It accidentally got sent to my spam file and was deleted before I could publish it. Would you send it again, my friend, and write it in a "comment" section under any post. I'll be sure to post it. Anyway, being busy is good--that means a lot of you are out there checking out books. So come on and keep me busy!

It's quiet today, though, so I thought I'd take this time to write about the Great Harry Potter Controversy. "Wait a minute," you say, "what Great Harry Potter Controversy??" Well, the one I'm about to start. I know that Harry Potter is one of the favorite book series for guys, if not the most favorite. Many, many guys have written and told us how much they like those books. So what I'm about to say may shock and startle you. Some of you might want to stop reading now because what I'm about to say could give you such a shock that you go into a babbling stupor. OK--are you sure you want to keep going? Very well, then, here it is:

I'm not a Harry Potter fan.

All right, you can all get up off the ground. I told you the shock would knock you flat!! But that's the whole truth. I'm not a big-time Harry Potter fan and never have been. Not when Harry made the cover of a major magazine. Not when all my fellow librarians were going nuts over him. Not even when kids (and librarians) lined up to get copies of the latest books at midnight. Not even when a blogger I respect and regularly read (her name is Elizabeth Bird) said she became a kid's librarian after reading the second HP book. ("I should tell you that this is a very personal book for me. It’s the book that turned me into a children’s librarian in the first place. In fact, if I were to be completely honest with you, I’d have to say that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets changed my life.") A Harry Potter fan? No, no, no, it ain't me, boys.

Now don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that I dislike these books. I read the first three and liked them. I liked the second book a lot. They're fun, fast-moving, and funny. (Except for that fourth one. I tried to read it and it was like swimming upstream) Anyway, I did enjoy those books but just wasn't blown away by them like everyone else. Maybe that's the most controversial opinion to have. Rather than going gaga-nuts over them like the rest of the world, I think they're---OK. I MUCH prefer the Percy Jackson books. For that matter, I like the Erec Rex books a whole lot more. SO HERE'S THE CONTROVERSY--I want YOU to tell me why I'm either right or wrong. Is Harry Potter the greatest thing since hot pizza?? Then make me believe it! Or do you agree with me? Do you have books that you like better? Tell us what they are and why you like them more.

All right, men, we're all waiting to hear from you! Who will be the first to weigh in on the Great Harry Potter Controversy?
PS--if you want to see what I and your fellow reader guys have said about HP, Percy Jackson and Erec Rex, go to the "Labels" section on the left-hand side of the page. I must warn you--there's a lot!

Still Here!

2011-07-23T15:53:00.002-04:00

Hey, all you reading fans, this is Iron Guy Carl and I'm still around. Summer is our busiest time of year, so I haven't been able to do much blogging. I'm got some things in the works, though, so stay tuned, especially this coming Monday. Hope you're enjoying summer and finding lots of good stuff to read! (and if you have, write in and tell us!)

Sammer Tells Us About Captain Underpants

2011-06-24T14:58:00.002-04:00

Our good buddy Sammer is really burning up the blogline this summer. (Summer--burning up? Oh, haaaa, haaaa, haaaa!!! I'm too funny for words!!) Anyway, let's see what he wants to tell us about today:

I've read over and over and over and am reading now...THE CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS SERIES!!!!! By Dav Pilkey.SNAP!!!!Mr.Krup is now....CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS!!!George,Harold and Captain Underpants go through many adventures fighting off evil people including The Wicked Wedgie Woman,The Bionic Booger Boy,Professor Pippy P. Poopypants,The Talking Toilets,The Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space and The Purple Potty People. Each are great books and if you read these books and like them, you might want to try RICKY RICOTTA'S MIGHTY ROBOT also by Dav Pilkey. There are EIGHT books total.I encourage you to read them.

Thanks, Sammer! Yep, Dav Pilkey seems to be a real favorite with guys. We can't keep the Captain Underpants or Ricky Ricotta books on our shelves because someone is always checking them out. Do we have any other Dav Pilkey fans out there? Let us hear from you!!

Sammer Tells Us About a Wimpy Kid!

2011-06-21T16:15:00.005-04:00

Our good friend Sammer is the first boy of summer to send us a review. Let's see what he's been reading:

I am reading the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series. My! They are so funny. The first book is called A Novel in Cartoons, followed by Roderick Rules. Then there is The Last Straw and then Dog Days. The last one is The Ugly Truth. In each book Greg Heffley keeps getting into more trouble in every single one and it keeps getting funnier and funnier. Greg was always pushed around by his older brother, so he thought he could do all the tricks to his little brother Manny that Roderick did to him. But his parents protected Manny like a valuable item that you would die if you lost it, so Greg is pushed around by his little brother too. If they sound interesting to you, you should go and get them at the library!

Thanks, Sammer! A lot of guys like the Wimpy Kid books. A whole lot of guys! That's why I hate to bring this up but----I'm NOT a Wimpy Kid fan. Sorry! Greg Heffley just doesn't do it for me. "Why not??" you ask. Well, I don't have time to talk about it now (the library is really busy today) but I will when I review another book later on this week. How's that for grabbing your attention? Stay tuned, reading fans--same book time, same book channel!

Summer Reading and The Throne of Fire

2011-06-14T16:35:00.001-04:00

WOO-HOO!!!! School is OUT!! Isn't that a great sentence? School is out and summer's HERE! What a great time of year--long, lazy days with no homework, lots of trips to the pool, time to hang with your friends, etc. etc. And, of course, time to READ!! Now sometimes, with all the fun stuff going on during the summer, reading can get sent to your brain's back seat. That's why the library offers a Summer Reading Program every year. We try to encourage guys to read by offering prizes for reading! You can get prizes for 10 hours and 20 hours of reading. It doesn't matter what you read--chapter books, magazines, graphic novels, biographies, nonfiction, whatever. The Summer Reading Program starts tomorrow, so go to any branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and pick up your reading record, which marks the number of hours you read. If you can't make it tomorrow, don't worry--Summer Reading goes from June 15 to August 10, so you have plenty of time. Got any more questions? Click here to find out.

And if you're looking for a good read to kick start your summer, you couldn't do better than The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan. It's the second book in the Kane Chronicles series. In the first book, Charles and Sadie Kane find out that their father was not only a famous Egyptologist but also a powerful magician who accidentally released the ancient Egyptian gods into the modern world. In this book, Apophis, the Serpent of Chaos, is about to break out of his ancient prison. If that happens, he'll devour the sun and end the world. Carter and Sadie race against time to awaken Ra, the chief Egyptian deity and the only one strong enough to oppose Apophis. But Ra has been asleep for thousands of years; if they do awaken him, will they get anything other than a doddering old man?

Rick Riordan has written another winner in this book. It's got everything you'd expect from the great Mr. Riordan--fantastic adventures, battles with monsters in the middle of big cities, secrets that get revealed slowly throughout the story, and humor that will make you laugh out loud over and over again. Along the way you get Carter and Sadie trapped in underground tombs by a zombie army, the two kids chased by a vulture goddess, and help from a very ugly dwarf in a Speedo! Laughs and action. What more could a guy want? If you've never read one of Mr. Riordan's books, you could start with this one and not miss anything--but I'd recommend you start with The Red Pyramid first. Or, better yet, get them both and read one after the other. You've got time--it's summer!

Michael Writes Again!

2011-06-06T22:05:00.001-04:00

The Iron Guy is not one to rest on his laurels. Lesser mortals would be content to bask in the glow of completing the 48 Hour Book Challenge, but not me. I'm back at it again, letting you boys know about more good books. Actually, it's our old friend Michael, King of Books and Time Travel, who's telling you today. He's written another of his first-class reviews.

Titanic, book 1

Unsinkable

by Gordan Korman

In this thrilling new book from Gordan Korman, four kids find themselves to be unlikely friends aboard the largest moving man-made structure ever built: the Titanic. Paddy is a stowaway escaping from a rich gangster that he stole from. The gangster is out to kill Paddy, but the boy is safe on the ship... right? Alfie is one year underage, but he's lied about it and is given a job on the huge vessel. But when Alfie and Paddy learn the truth about each other, will one turn the other in? Sophie is being kicked out of England because of her mother's obsession with women's rights to the point of breaking the law. Sophie becomes close friends with Juliana, or Julie for short. Julie is the daughter of the 17th earl of Glamford, but her father drinks and gambles, so how long can they afford their baord on the ship? And when the two girls find out about the two boys, who will have the upperhand on the other? It's a very well-written book to start off another one of Gordan Korman's famous trilogies! In the future look for book 2: Collision Course, and book 3: S. O. S.

Thanks, Michael! Gordon Korman is one terrific writer. I really enjoyed his Island trilogy. The Titanic storywould make for a very exciting read, especially in his hands. Can't wait to hear about the other two books! How about the rest of you? Have you read any Gordon Korman books? Let us know!

Got It Done!

2011-06-05T23:15:00.001-04:00

Yes, everyone, the Iron Guy may get tired but he does not flinch from his duty! I've come to the end the 48 Hour Book Challenge and have made not just 14 but a full FIFTEEN hours of reading, listening, and social network time. For all of you who may have worried that I would pass out from my exertions, put away your fears. I am fresh and ready to pick the next book worthy of sharing with all you guys--after a good night's sleep, of course.

Yesterday I put in 7 1/2 hours worth of time. Today I did the same. Here is what I read:

Lunch Box Dream by Tony Abbott (haven't finished it but it's good)

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (haven't finished this one either but it's good too)

The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer (a grownup book)

The Charlotte Observer (our newspaper)

The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States by Gordon S. Wood (another grownup book that's good)

and I listened to some more of The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis as read by Patrick Stewart (aka Captain Jean-luc Picard) It turns out that I was able to listen to one audiobook over the weekend, not just one hour as I said yesterday.

Some people kept detailed records of how much time they spent on each book and my hat is off to them. I didn't do it (it's hard to record time with the sweat of effort in your eyes) but today's time, as I said, amounted to 7 1/2 hours for a grand total of fifteen. Some people read 20 plus and 30 plus hours. Our good friend Ms. Yingling read 35 hours! My hat is wayyyy off to her.

My cause was the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The rules say that I'm supposed to tell you how much money was raised but I can't do that yet because I won't know for a while. Some people have donated already (including author and great guy Alan Silberberg) but several won't donate until after the Challenge is over and I notify them of how many hours I read. So I'll let you know when I find out. If you would like to donate, go this post and find out how.

Thanks to all you who have written and to those who have donated. Thank you, Ms. Pam of Motherreader for hosting it. This was a great experience and I look forward to next year's Challenge. And go out and find the books I've mentioned!

The Iron Guy Gets His Challenge On!

2011-06-04T20:39:00.007-04:00

All kidding aside, today really has been a test of my endurance and determination. I worked yesterday, so I planned on starting the 48 Hour Book Challenge today around 7:00 am. But in one of those oddball twists of fate, I just couldn't sleep last night. I lay there and couldn't sleep and couldn't sleep (or, at least, didn't sleep much), so I got up around 12:30 am and read. Then again about 2:00. Then again around 4:00. At 7:00 I took the dog outside and so started the day. It was hard being sleepy and trying to read as well as take care of obligations but, hey--I'm the IRON GUY! I got it done!

What did I read? Well, late last night I wanted to read a grownup book, so I got out The Philosophical Breakfast Club by Laura J. Snyder. I know that sounds like a highfalutin' title for a MANLY MAN like me, but the parts I read were very interesting, all about the founding of modern science. When I got up again, I finished The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan. During the day I read Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg. I'll give complete reviews another time but for now I'll say that Mr. Riordan has written another winner, full of magic, full-tilt adventure, and lots of what our good friend Ms. Yingling calls "snort-through-your-nose-funny" humor. And Milo will certainly appeal to all you Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans because it has that same words-and-picture format--except that Milo is 1000 times better. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration. Milo is at least 500 times better. It's one of those rare and wonderful books that leaves you feeling good. Greg Heffley could make you laugh but didn't make me feel good afterward. Have any of you read it? Do you agree? I cannot say enough good things about Mr. Silberberg's book. Oh, yes, I forgot one more thing. We are allowed 1 hour of audiobook time. I had to run an errand way across town, so I popped in The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis as read by Patrick Stewart. Was very good.

OK. Well, the grownups will let us spend 1 hour online writing to other bloggers for every 5 hours we read, so I'm going to get right to it. By the time I'm done, I will have 7 1/2 hours for the day. That's a little over halfway to my goal of 14 hours--15 hours if I can get it done!

Sammer Writes Again!

2011-06-03T16:36:00.001-04:00

Wow! Our good friend Sammer has written to us again! This guy's hotter than an afternoon in July!

I'm reading Harry Potter 4 by J.K Rowling. The Goblet of Fire shoots up parchment that says VICTOR KRUM,FLEUR DELECOUR,CEDRIC DIGORY and HARRY POTTER. Will he get through to the Tri-Wizard Cup or lose on the way. If you really want to know GO CHECK IT OUT! I'm reading Miami Heat by K.C Kelley. Heat on fire the Heat have made it to the championship again V.S the Dallas Mavericks.Just in 2006 the Heat faced the Mavericks for the championship and the Heat won in 6 games (4-2) will the Heat do it again? Read the book to find out,and if you want more background read Dallas Mavericks also by K.C Kelly.So try the books out some time and cheer for the Heat to win again!

Thanks, Sammer! I tried to stay up and watch last night's Heat vs. Mavericks game. The Heat played well and I thought they'd crush the Mavs but Dallas came back to surprise them. (I fell asleep before the game was over!) Can the Heat do it again? We'll see.
So you're reading Harry Potter 4. I'd like to hear from you again after you're done and see how you liked it. I might write a post about it this summer and stir up some controversy.
Gotta go now and prepare for the 48 Hour Book Challenge. Think I'll bench press Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to build up my muscles.

The Iron Guy Picks His Books for the 48 Hour Book Challenge!

2011-06-01T16:37:00.020-04:00

Yes, indeed, guys--I have picked the books I plan to read over the weekend of June 3--5 as part of the 48 Hour Book Challenge in order to raise money for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library. And a tough choice it was, too! I had to think long and hard about it. Not just any book could make the cut--these books would have to be worthy!! No, I didn't say wordy--I said worthy! The books for this weekend had be to worth reading, worth the Iron Guy's time and worth telling you boys about. There were so many choices; how could I ever hope to pick the right ones?? But after giving my brain the equivalent of a triathalon workout, I finally chose these four (in no particular order):

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

I'm a big fan of Mr. Silberberg. I reviewed his book Pond Scum a few years ago and gave it a big thumbs-up treatment. (See my review and interview with Mr. Silberberg here) Not only is he a terrific author, but he's also a great guy. He sent me a copy of this book to review but I've been too busy with library work to read it. So here's my chance. Besides, a lot of bloggers have raved about this one.

Lunch-Box Dream by Tony Abbott

I'm also a big fan of Mr. Abbott's books. Some of you have probably read his Secrets of Droon series. I bet none of you have read The Postcard by Mr. Abbott and that's too bad because it's one terrific book. (see my review here and an interview here) The author was good enough to send me an advance copy of his latest book called Lunch Box Dream. I'm looking forward to it. (The library hasn't ordered a copy of it yet, so I can't put up a link to it)

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

The Dark is Rising is, I've heard, a really great series. Everyone just goes on and on about how exciting those books are. Here's the chance to find out for myself. This is the first in the series.

N.E.R.D.S.: M Is for Mama's Boy by Michael Buckley

Boy, did I ever enjoy the first N.E.R.D.S. book!! (see my review here) In fact, I liked it so much that I held a boys' book club using it. All the guys liked it too. That's why I'm all excited about reading book 2. Secret agents, goofball humor, and lots of action--how could it get any better?

Will I get to read all of these?? Maybe. Maybe not. But I will do my best, my bravest, my boldest to get in as many hours as I can. My goal is 14 hours. Yes, you may gasp in amazement. "Can he really do it?" "Won't he collapse in an exhausted heap?" Fear not, fellow readers--when it comes to reading long hours for such a worthy cause as the library, I am--

THE IRON GUY!

PS--I will post all the results plus instructions on how to donate on Monday, June 6. If you want to find out more about donating, click here and read the post.

Go Panthers! Go Sammer!

2011-05-28T14:56:00.001-04:00

Rah! Rah ! Rah! Go team go! Run that ball! Read that book! Hey, guys, Carl here. Our good friend Sammer has sent us yet another good review:

I'm reading The Carolina Panthers by Mark Stewart if you are a Panther fan this is the book for you. It has a timeline and history and EVERYTHING you need to know about the Panthers and a little fact about every player. So if you are a Panther fan I think you should go to the Library and get it.

Thanks, Sammer! Good advice. If you're a football fan, particularly a Panthers fan, this would definitely be worth checking. There are about 16 copies in the library system, so you should have no trouble getting one. Unfortunately, those 16 books mean that the library has 8 times more books than the Panthers had wins last year!! Yeesh! Well, maybe they'll have better luck this next season. We've got a new head coach and a hot # 1 draft pick, so maybe things will pick up--if there's not a lockout! Double yeesh!!

We appreciate your letting us know about this one, Sammer, and can't wait to hear what other good reads you'll recommend!

Sammer Claims His Prize(s)

2011-05-23T14:06:00.001-04:00

Hey, gang, our new friend Sammer, who wrote that great review of The Thief Lord in the last post, came by the library last Friday and claimed his prize for sending in his first review. (As I have often said, any guy who sends in his first review to us gets a free book!) Here he is, smiling in triumph over his awesome achievement:
He's got a copy of Dude! --it's a book of stories and stuff that's all about being a boy. As a bonus, he also got a copy of the Sea Ghost comic,which is a part of the terrific Capt'n Eli series. (go over to the Links section on the left-hand side of the page and click on "The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli" to learn more) Congratulations, Sammer! We can't wait to hear from you again!

Sammer Writes About The Thief Lord!

2011-05-18T10:45:00.000-04:00

A new friend has just written to us. His name is Sammer and he has told us about a terrific book:

I am reading the Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. It's a great book. It has a lot of adventure. It's a very detailed book. It brings Venice to life as they tell the story of Bo and Prosper and the Thief Lord. Through the night the Thief Lord goes and steals stuff and brings it back to the "Star-Palace." It's a wild chase through Venice as Bo and Prosper run away from their Aunt and Uncle.

Thanks, Sammer!! We're always glad to hear from new reader guys. Don't forget that any guy who writes in for the first time gets a free book! Come to the Myers Park library and pick one out of our ultra-cool prize box. I sure hope we hear from you again! I enjoyed your review--it makes me want to go and find it. The library system has plenty of copies. They also have copies of the audiobook version as well as the dvd! Wow! I didn't know about all this. Thanks again for letting me find out, Sammer!

The 48 Hour Book Challenge--Again!

2011-05-13T14:44:00.000-04:00

I'm getting in total shape!!

I'm lifting huge stacks of heavy books to prepare!!

I'm flexing my powerful muscles that enable me to sit for long periods of time without tiring!!

That can mean only one thing---I'm gearing up for the 48 Hour Book Challenge!!!

Last year I participated in the 48 Hour Book Challenge, an annual event in which kidlit bloggers try to read as many hours as they can in a 48-hour period. Last year they let us use this event as an opportunity to raise money for our favorite charities. Guess what? They're doing it again! So I'm asking all you readers guys to donate however much money you and your families would like to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for every hour that I read. The event takes place over the weekend of June 3--5. I'll post the reuslts on Monday, June 6 as well as any reviews of books from that weekend. I'm already thinking of what to read. I've got several new books but there are some old ones that have been waiting for just such a long weekend.

Here's how you can donate:
1. Donate cash at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch closest to you. Please put the money in an envelope and make sure the envelope is addressed to Dick Pahle, Main Library, 310 N. Tryon. No need to put a stamp on it because you're not mailing it. In fact, you should NEVER send cash through the mail!! As long as Mr. Pahle's name is on the envelope, it will get to him. (He's in charge of all our fundraising) If your local branch has a cash donation box, you could put it in there or you could give it to the helpful, friendly librarian behind the desk.

(Here's a picture of your typical Charlotte Mecklenburg librarian)

2. Your parents could write a check. You can mail it or drop it off at your local branch. If you mail it, make sure it goes to Dick Pahle, Main Library, 310 N. Tryon, Charlotte, NC. 28202. If you drop it off, please be sure to put Mr. Pahle's name and Main Library on the envelope.

Whether you write a check or donate cash, please add a note that says it's from the 48 Hour Book Challenge.

3. Donate online. All the info for donating online is here. Online donations automatically go to Mr. Pahle. If you do this, make sure your parents know about it first!! Or your parents could make the donations, of course.

As I said, you can donate however much you'd like. You can donate on your own or this might be something you and your family/friends/school would like to do. We really appreciate it, guys! And any of you grownups too! (BTW, if you live outside the Charlotte/Mecklenburg county area, you are very welcome to donate. Just follow the simple instructions above) All right, stay tuned,everyone. The Iron Guy will need every ounce of his determination and endurance to meet this challenge but he doesn't mind. I will read until the books drop from my hand for the great cause of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library!!!

Micahel and the Iron Guy Write About Vespers Rising

2011-05-04T11:45:00.002-04:00

Our good friend Michael, King of Books and Time Travel, has sent us another first-rate review:

The 39 Clues, book 11

Vespers Rising

by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordan Korman, and Jude Watson

The Cahills have always had a secret enemy: the Vespers. They're a secret organization that hires the best people to do their dirty work. They want to be the most powerful people in the world. But they're not after the serum. Gideon Cahill had a ring that is much more dangerous than the serum. And the Cahills, generation after generation, have had to protect it from the clutches of the Vespers. This book takes you through four stages of Cahills, Vespers, and the ring. The first is Gideon Cahill, 1507, followed by Madeleine Cahill, 1527, Grace Cahill, 1942, and finally Amy and Dan Cahill, present. It's brilliantly written, and it's by the best authors to write it. Discover a secret more powerful than the serum. Discover the ring. Discover the Vespers.

Thanks, Michael!! He's hit it right on the head--this is a brilliantly-written book, full of mysteries, exotic locations, and the extreme action you've enjoyed in the first ten 39 Clues books. I was afraid of being disappointed because sequels are often not as good as the originals, but have no fear, bold reader guys, Vespers Rising is every bit as good and maybe even better!
So go get it before the Vespers discover the secret of the ring! And if you've read it, send us your thoughts in the Comments tab under this post. (and that goes for you grownups as well)