SMS Guys Read

SMS Guys Read Takes the 2010 YA Reading Challenge

Greetings Readers,

I came across a cool reading challenge while I was reading Ms. Yingling's review of Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz.  Ms. Yingling has a sidebar link to the 2010 YA Reading Challenge.  I checked it out and think it would be great for the lads at SMS Guys Read.

Each of the guys will pick a level and then post their thoughts from time to time over the course of the next year.

I will personally sign on for the "Just My Size" level, which is 25 books over the course of a year.  I might be able to do more than that, but I am giving myself a little wiggle room.

So check back in coming in January to see what we come up with.

Read on,

Mr. H

SMS Guys Read Talks Up Leviathan

Hello Readers,

Yesterday afternoon the members of Guys Read met once again, and after the short formality of signing our new GR charter, we got down to the task at hand...discussing the great steampunk novel Leviathan.

Take a look at our video discussions on Leviathan.  The first video is about five minutes long and the second video is about a minute long.  We had to divide it because a school announcement came on toward the end of the first video.  You know how schools are...

Anyway, enjoy the videos and let us know what you think about Leviathan.  Have you read it?  Would you read it?  Hit that comment button and let us know.

Read on,

Mr. H

Reading Leviathan and Our New Comment Challenge

Hello readers,

Here we are on October 20, 2009 and many of our members have a copy of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan with them right now. 

I did hear one guy claim his mom would not buy it for him and he was broke, hello library!  On that front, though, another lad claimed to be the fifth on the list for our media center's copies, which are somewhere in book order limbo.

So far Leviathan is a great read.  I am loving the adventure and mystery involved in the two intertwining stories of Deryn Sharp and Aleksandar Hapsburg.  My absolute favorite, so far, is the idea of the Flechette Bat, which the Darwinists use in combat.  The bats eat small, sharp metal bolts and attack buy releasing them...naturally, if you know what I mean.

We here at SMS Guys Read are also big fans of Neil Gaiman and his stories.  Recently he challenges us all to keep his Newberry Award winning novel, The Graveyard Book on the Ny Times bestseller list.  He said if the book stayed on the top ten list for one year there would be pie.  Just recently he had to make good on the challenge a supply pie for everyone at his publisher's office.

The guys and I have decided that we need to keep this idea going on our blog.  So our new comment challenge is that if we can get 10 comments of quality on our blog then at the next meeting their will be pie, or brownies, or candy or some other tooth rotting concoction.

So help us out and make a comment of quality so there will be pie on November 3!  Have you heard of Leviathan?  Would you be interested in reading this steampunk gem?  Give us some of your thoughts or let us know about another book we might be interested in.

Read on,

Mr. H

Leviathan...Is Here!!!

Hello loyal readers,

The timer has finally reached absolute zero.  Welcome to the real world, Leviathan.

As you all know we here at SMS Guys Read will be using Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan as our first group read novel.  We have listened to the opening read by Alan Cumming and look forward to the rest of the novel.

I procured my copy this morning at our local Borders after being teased by the nice cashier lady over the weekend.  The Borders bookshop is having it's teacher appreciation week (which this year got me 30% off and made the hard cover Leviathan almost affordable for a lowly teacher) and my family and I were checking out on Sunday afternoon and I noticed a stack of Leviathan copies behind the counter.  I asked the nice lady if I might hold one for just a moment, but alas no was the response and I had to wait until today to get my hands on this beautifully produced book.

I can't wait to get into the story and share some of the cool extras Scott Westerfeld added to his blog over the weekend.  I will be interested to see how many guys from the club remember to get the book and have it read when we meet again on October 20.  I will also be interested to see how many guys enjoy this novel.  The steampunkgenre is really taking hold with some out their and I will be intrigued to see if a middle school guy is someone who grasps the idea.

Here I am, sporting my traditional track-out beard (I'm off until Oct. 19), standing with the new book.  You will notice the upshot angle as my five year old daughter is the photographer for this pic.

Read on steampunkers,

Mr. H
 

One Week to Leviathan!

Hello Readers,

I just realized that one week from today...October 6, 2009...Leviathan will be in our hands. 

We here at SMS Guys Read are all  a twitter to get our hands on our copies.

Visit Scott Westerfeld’s website!  

 

So don't forget to grab that copy next Tuesday!

 

I know we said that The Hunger Games and Catching Fire would e our next book club books, but I have come across a few other gems that we will need to keep on the horizon...

 

Odd and the Frost Giantsby Neil Gaiman

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

 

Anyway...Read On,

 

Mr. H

After Leviathan...What's Next?

Hello Readers,

As you all now know we will be reading Leviathanby Scott Westerfeld when it comes out in early October.  We took a little time out of our last GR meeting to discuss what we would read after Leviathan.

The final decision fell to three senior members of SMS Guys Read, Koko B Ware, The Junkyard Dog and Ricky the Dragon.  Check out the following video to see which of these three guys won final veto power.

After the nail biting, down to the wire rock, paper scissor duel Koko B Ware explains the novels we will attack after reading Leviathan together.

So what do you think of our choices. Are you interested in Leviathan like we are? What do you think of our choices for after Leviathan? Hit that comment button and let us know what you are thinking.

Read on,

Mr. H

formerly Rowdy Roddy

SMS Guys Read 2.5

Hello Readers,

Have you missed us?  SMS Guys Read has been on a short hiatus as our school year reset and we got back in the swing of classes and actually getting out of bed in the AM.

We are back with a slightly different schedule and purpose this year.  First our illustrious leader, Rowdy Roddy, from here on know as Mr. H, is unable to meet weekly so we are now a typical monthly meeting club.  Second we are going to attempt to read the same books for once and comment and have discussion related to a single story.

The novel we have decided to kick this new phase of SMS Guys Read is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld.

We talked about the new genre of Steampunk last year and now we are very excited to get our hands on this exciting new series on October 6.

The next time we meet won't be until October 20, so we will have a few days to get the book read before our group meets again.

Visit Scott Westerfeld’s website!

A new take on EEEEVVVILLL!!!!!!!!

        I recently finished a very cool book called H.I.V.E, also known fondly as Higher Institute of Villainous Educations.  I would really like to share a site, but my good friend Google didn't search harder.  I did find one though, but they seem to want to trick us in a devious plan to buy their ill sold book.  But onto the Ricky the Reviewer review.  Taken from their homes, young prodigies of technology and skills are taken to a secluded island to train in many villainous skills.  But six years of enduring this is too much for the four main villains, and they decide to escape.  Armed Guards, miles of water around them, and all the time being watched by the never sleeping H.I.V.E Mind.  I don't want to spoil too much, so go read it!

Have you read this series? Let us know what you think?

Your dear Villian

Ricky the Dragon

Reflecting on a School Year

Hello readers,

We are quickly approaching the end of our year-round school year...I will pause to let the din settle across the SMS Guys Read crowd... and we are thinking we should reflect on our year in reading.

I have asked each SMS Guys Read member in attendance today to think back over the books they read over the school year and decide which book they liked the best.  This can be a hard task for a group of guys that read as much as we tend to! 

Each guy will write about one book that they really enjoyed, and if I can get them to expand (remember they are two weeks to the end of school and their brains are starting to go on summer, jelly mode) on why they liked that book so much.  If the guys have a few extra minutes they will list out some books that are on their summer and future reading lists.

So to begin I will share the book that most moved me this school year.  I had a tough time, sort of, narrowing it down to just one book, but after thinking for about five seconds I realized that no other book could really hold a candle to Science Fair by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

Science Fair is one of those books that you have to read dry.  That means you better not be drinking anything while reading or that liquid is coming out your nose, it is seriously that funny.  How can you go wrong with a group of snobby rich kids who get it in the end, a crazed scientist, a group of backwards Krshptskanians, an insane Star Wars collector with his Wookie companion and a huge nuclear mentos to cap off the action?

I have handed this book to many students this year and kid and kid has devoured the book and shared it further.  Do yourself and favor and check it out this summer.  You will not be disappointed.

As for my summer reading list I am excited to finish Airman by Eoin Colfer and then I want to move on to Roar by Emma Clayton.  Airman is a wonderful retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo that just keeps on getting better and better.  I have heard great things about Roar and look forward to picking it up next.  If you liked The Hunger Games I think The Roar might be for you.  I also need to finish off the Percy Jackson series with The Last Olympian.

On the horizon I am excitedly awaiting two books that will be published this fall.  They are Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  both look like great books to keep me reading.

So guys what books did you like the most this school year?  What books are you going to read this summer?  What are you looking forward to?  Hit that comment button and let us know.

 

Read on,

Rowdy Roddy

Adam Bomb and Undertaker's tips for nagging, take two

    Time for some new and improved nagging tips, straight from the begging bros, Adam Bomb and the Undertaker. For that second book you're trying to get, we have decided to come back and help. So we talked, and now...WE'RE BACK BABY!!!!

 Tip #7:

 The 'cold shoulder' is a good, but last resort, to getting a book. If you do it well you will get the book, but it could take days or your parents could get upset.So remember, LAST RESORT.

Tip #8:

This is an IF: if you have an afterschool activity that you participate in and you NEVER practice say" Mom I'll practice my _________if you buy me This book".

Tip #9:

This is the foolproof plan of all the people who have EVER begged for a book, I am talking about the jewel of the begging world!!! Yes I am talking about ANNOYANCE!!! It never fails(if you use it well) all you do is annoy one of your parents. For example, if you refuse to go somewhere, such as the store, she will get annoyed and give in.

Tip #10:

Tell your parents you'll pay them back soon or say "buy it now and hold it in your room while I work for the money" You'll earn it(eventually).

This is Adam Bomb and the Undertaker and we'll be back with more tips later.

   From your friendly neighbors,

    Adam Bomb and The Undertaker