Red Riding Hood- Sara Blakely-Cartwright/David Leslie Johnson

This is a novel written AFTER a film was already made.  It actually began as a screenplay written by David Leslie Johnson, who had based it off an idea from Leonardo DiCaprio.  The screenplay was made into a film by Warner Brothers and directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the director of Twilight.  That team sounds like the perfect formula for a successful teen novel.  As the movie was being filmed, Harwicke invited her friend Sara Blakely-Cartwright to interview the actors (like Amanda Seyfried) to get further into the emotions and motivations of the characters.  The finished product doesn't quite achieve the feeling of suspicion that the film does, but it certainly gives the reader a greater understanding of the love triangle.  It also clarifies the actions of certain characters, like Father Solomon.  I recommend watching the film and reading the novel, because there are differences between the two that are immediately evident to the consumer who enjoys both. 

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Dan Brown- The DaVinci Code

Join Robert Langdon in an adventure through history, discovering buried secrets and conspiracy that spans time and space.  Hopefully you will be as inspired as I was to read all the rest of his books.  Happy journey!

Iqbal Masih- A Child Hero. YOU MUST READ THIS!

There are some books that make me realize just how good my life is.  This one makes me grateful for my country, my family, and my freedom, in a way that I can’t even put into words.  Iqbal Masih is a hero.  Not only did he survive a horrendous experience, but he took action.  He was just a kid, and he was willingly risking his life to save others.  He paid for his cause with his life.  This child martyr deserves to have his story be told, for the children that he worked so desperately to free.  This story should be passed along because Americans should be aware of the way some children are treated in other countries.  We sometimes forget that all children aren’t privy to the traditional American lifestyle, and that even the poorest of children here are better off than those in other countries.  This is the one non-fiction book that I believe everyone should read.  It’s short.  It’s powerful.  It’s worth it.  Read it.

James Patterson- Witch and Wizard

I had the sublime privilage of listening to James Patterson's keynote speech at Scholastic's Literacy Leaders conference this month. Wow!  He is one of the most witty, intelligent people I've ever met.  So, although I had never read any of his other books, I immediately went home and read my signed copy of this book.  Patterson explained that it really isn't about witches and wizards, but more about what society would be like if all freedoms were taken away.  The two main characters, siblings Whit and Whisty, find out that they have powers as they are being taken away to jail.  They have to overcome an oppressive government, breaking out of a high security prison.  And they aren't even out of high school yet!  Apparently, someone in Hollywood agrees that this series is worth knowing, because the movie is set to come out soon.  Check out the movie trailer below, but heed its advice: READ THE BOOK FIRST!

Witch and Wizard   

Lisa McMann- Wake

I was drawn to Lisa McMann's book Wake because of the haunting cover.  Honestly, that's why I picked it up.  I was having a bad day, and I wanted a murky novel.  One that would let me watch someone else whose life was worse than mine overcome something (as is expected in any good story).  As I read, I thought the main character, Janie, was a bit odd.  It wasn't just her ability to enter other people's dreams that made me think that, either.  It was her whole line of thinking.  Definitely not a girl who is like me.  Yet, that was what was intriguing about her.  She came from a rough background, a mom that didn't care about her, and an absent father.  She doesn't sleep well, because if she's in the same room as another sleeping person, she gets sucked into their dreams.  She suffers through nightmares that aren't hers all the time.  Cabel, an outcast-turned-hottie, starts to notice her strange behavior.  In the process, they fall in love.  How sweet.  But he's hiding some secrets of his own.  The language in this one is easy to read, and made me want to keep reading.  I'd recommend this to anyone who feels like they just don't belong.

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Laurie Halse Anderson- Speak

Laurie Halse Anderson has many books that are worth doing a book talk over, but for this screencast I focused on Speak.  You can find Anderson's website at: Laurie Halse Anderson

Note: I used jing to capture the screen and my voice, and then converted the .swf fil to a .mov file.

Introduction

Welcome to Virtual Book Talk.  I'm a secondary English teacher and a Language and Literacy doc student, seeking to find new ways to engage students to be lifetime readers and writers.  After watching Penny Kittle speak at the NTCTELA Literacy and Learning Conference this summer and going through the National Writing Project Institute, I felt inspired to make a collection of online book talks.  I believe technology can be a tool to help teachers accomplish great things with students.  Hopefully, you'll either use my book talks to share with your students or, you'll make some of your own.  Happy browsing!