2011-2012 School Year
I am excited to begin our third year of book club at WJMS. I talked to all classes about joining during our media center orientation this year and I’m looking forward to working with another great group of kids. I’ve been reading all summer and have picked out some pretty good novels for us to read together. No hints will be given though so don’t ask! 
Students may drop by the media center to pick up a book club contract. They are located on the circulation desk between the two laptops. The deadline for returning them is Friday, September 2nd. Once I know how many I will have this year, I will be able to order our first book. I plan to distribute our first novel sometime in September.
Since I want to provide free books to club members, I am working on funding for their purchase. Last year our RIF funding was cut but I was able to secure a grant to pay for our books. This year I will be trying for grant funding again so keep your fingers crossed! If I am unable to get a grant this year, I will have to use Book Fair proceeds for books. This may limit my choices so let’s hope the grant funding comes through for us!
Our first meeting will be on Thursday, August 25th after school in the media center until 4:15. This will be an introductory meeting to discuss what book club is all about and to get to know each other. Those who have not already picked up a Book Club Contract will receive one. Contracts must be signed and returned by next Friday, September 2nd so that I may order the correct number of books.
Getting to Know Book Club Members
1. What is your favorite fiction genre? Is mystery, historical, adventure, science fiction, etc. Least favorite?
2. What is your favorite book of all time?
3. Do you have any book suggestions for the club to read?
4. Why do you want to be in book club?
Alphabet Soup Activity
Book club will meet Monday, October 3rd to receive their first book. I’m so sorry it has taken so long to get books to you but they have been on backorder! I have big plans for the reveal of the book though. Has anyone ever heard of QR codes? Following a series of clues revealed by QR codes, book club members will find out our first book of the year.
I had a great time with Book Club members using QR codes as clues to find out the name of our first book. We are reading The Great, Wide, Sea by M.H. Herlong. The kids were excited to find out we would be talking with the author via Skype too! Our next meeting will be Wednesday, November 2nd until 4:30. We will be discussing the book and gathering questions for our author. Our Skype visit with her will be on Wednesday, November 16th.
Soon after their mother’s death, 15-year-old Ben and his two younger brothers are stunned when their father sells their home, buys a sailboat, and announces that they will live on board and cruise the Bahamas for the next year. Wrenched from everything he knows and forced to obey his father-captain’s orders, Ben starts out angry and finds no escape. As he says, “We were always together.” When their father sets a course for Bermuda and disappears overboard one night, the boys have little time to wonder if he jumped or fell before they’re struggling to stay afloat in a fierce Atlantic storm. Lost at sea in a damaged boat, they find their way to an island where they are stranded with little food, little water, and little hope of rescue.
Our Skype session with M.H. Herlong was wonderful and the kids were fantastic. Since they read the book at the same time, we were able to video conference with Southeast Bulloch Middle School’s book club too. Students were able to ask her questions about The Great, Wide, Sea that the group had wondered about since reading the book. Being able to incorporate technology in the meeting enabled us to get up close and personal with her as well. We even found out about her family and her pets…and got to see the room where she writes! Huge thanks to the author for working with us to make the event happen. I could not sum up the event better than a student’s comment to me after the meeting, “Awesome, Mrs. Borck!”
Before the holidays, Book Club members met to receive their next book. During the meeting students were challenged to figure out the next selection by unscrambling words that were clues. Since this was a timed event with a prize for the winner, they enjoyed the competition. After revealing the answers, students were still unsure about the book title described by keywords such as Winnie the Pooh, state fair , and hula hoop. The final step in solving the mystery involved Googling combinations of the keywords to figure out the title of second book was Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. I read a selection of the book to them and showed them the movie trailer. They were excited to hear the movie starring Mira Sorvino will be released directly to DVD in March.
We are on the hunt for mutant candy!
Our next meeting is Tuesday, January 31st. We will be discussing Jeremy Fink and the meaning of Life so make sure to bring your book with you. Be prepared for our hula hoop contest and don’t forget to bring your mutant candy too!
Book Club met on Tuesday, February 28th to receive their new book. I have chosen realistic fiction this time and I hope all my students enjoy it as much as I did. Our third book of the year is …..
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Book Club met on Monday, March 26th for a special activity related to the current theme for the media center. Students gathered to participate in the WJMS version of The Hunger Games. For more information about the event, see the current post on the main page with some great pictures.
2010-2011 School Year
I want to welcome everyone to the second year of book club. Since we lost our RIF funding, I am very excited to be able to continue working with a group of fellow bibliophiles. Students will meet once or twice a month after school in the media center. Club members will receive free books to use for our book discussions. Once students have been given a new book to read, they may use this blog page to hold discussions about the book until our next club meeting. I will post thought-provoking questions to lead discussions. If you are interested in joining, see Mrs. Borck in the media center.
The first meeting will be held in the media center from 3:45 until 4:30 on Thursday, August 26th. I will talk about the changes to book club for this year and I will distribute the Book Club Contract. All contracts are due September 10th so make sure to get yours in on time.
Book Club ContractI have great news…we won the Foundation Grant to help us pay for books! Now that we have money, I have ordered our first book. I am keeping it a secret though because I want it to be a surprise. One hint …think about what holiday is coming up. Our next meeting will be October 7th until 4:00 for book distribution.Our First Book Is….
Book Club is reading The Crossbones, the third installment in the Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman. In addition, we will be talking with the author about his book on Tuesday, October 26th via webcam.
Four of the most haunted places in the United States are talked about in The Crossbones. Go online and see what information you can find about them.
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Bachelor’s Grove, Chicago
Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas
Winchester House in San Jose, California
Central High School in Springfield, Missouri
Portland Underground in Portland, Oregon
What about Statesboro? Do you know of any haunted places here? I’ve done some research and I have a few to share!
We are meeting on Wednesday, February 23rd to discuss our second book, The Compound by Neal Shusterman.
I have our third book ready to distribute too!
Unwind by Neal Shusterman-link is to my post on the book including book trailer. One of my favorites for the year for sure!!!
Our last book of the year will be The Alchemyst by Michael Scott. Pizza and coke for our last meeting and book discussion!
The book we just started is great also the story line is awsome nice job on the book selecting Mrs. Borck
I’m so glad you are enjoying it Grayson. What do you think about the book’s format (part book, part video)?
i think this book was good i am soooooo sad that i have finished it and it leaves me wondering what will our next book be
what do you think will happen in the raven??? i think ryan will meet his friend that worked with him and his dad will try and kill ryan.
I love this book its fun and creepy at the same time!!!!
So glad you like it, Gabe. Is it keeping you up at night?
The book had a pretty good formatt, it was full of mystery, and no it did not keep me up at night. I just had some wierd dreams.
The book talks about four of the most haunted places in the United States. This is NOT fiction! Everyone do a Google search on them and see what you find.
Are we going to read other books by Carman Patrick?
Probably not. I want to give you guys different genres to read. I promise the next one will be just as awesome!
the book is going so great but i havent finshed it yet the wed chat with patrick carmen was awesome
i think the format of the book is cool. i hate looking at tiny print all the time. the format of the book adds to the voice wonderfully
Meeting patrick carman was really awesome i hope we will talk about some of his books in the distant but yet cool future. I also i am going to find proof that aliens exist and type it up on this very blog first!!!!!!!!:)
I’m looking forward to this “proof” Gabe.
are going to read another book of the same author
No, I want you guys to read another great book by another great author. More soon…
I loved how in the last Crossbones Film The Apostle shot fire and burned the card that was in his hand. Also, I found the way Ole’ Joe Bush’s Ghost jumped Ryan.
I read this book in one night! I had to read with a flashlight so that I wouldn’t get in trouble, but it definetly left an impression, maybe because I was reading in the dark… I didn’t go to sleep until two o’clock in the morning and I have to admit I kept peeking under my eyelids to look for Old Joe Bush! I adored it so much!
Ithink that the crossbones books are interesting enough but i like howw Pattrick Carmen involuntarily puts himself in the book’s characters. He makes it more real.
the book was great it gave a back ground story and helped people understand the back ground of the series the format is great and very fun to watch videos and read it gives new light to type of books that want to give the story life and real life relation
meeting with the author Patrick Carman was exciting and amazing because you usually dont get do do that the next book he gave hints on was amazing and fun to listen to i cant wait for the next book
i read the whole book in two days! it was awesomeee
this book is awsome, but 2 sad that my pastor stoped me for reading it. I was sad at first cause i wanted 2 read somemore of it.i stoped on page 52 I was suprised that I got that far.
I am going to read all of his books
thanks for the book Mrs. Borck thanks for the talk with the author
I lllllllllloooooooooovvvvvvvvveeeeee tttttthhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiissssssss bbboookkk!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the idea of the book was great. The whole adventure is very interesting to me. I would like to vist some of the places that this takes place in. I realy like the book and look forward to reading more.
I cant wait for the next book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):)
I actually want to meet some of the places that were in the book!?
Is our next book going to be a horror story like the crossbones?
I haven’t chosen our next book yet but I try to give you guys different types of books to read during the year.
OOkk
is our next book going to involve a holiday like the crossbones
probably not
Ok. Well i am trying to figure out the next boookkk??????????
me too cant wait
I love this book and i want to see the next book
the best book ever ! what is the next one I can’t wait
I’m not telling, Grayson!!
love the book cant wait till we read our next one
who do you thnik is the stronger charactor? Sarah or Ryan. I think that sarah is the stromger charactor because she is more out going than ryan
13 we didnt see sarah on any of the videos in this book. why not? the reason why she didnt show her face was because if someone found out about it and got ahold of a password they would not know who did it.
10# How would you react if your parents tried to separate you from your best friend like Ryan’s and Sarah’s parants have? I would kill them
1. why do you think Patrick Carman chose to have Sarah go on the road trip across the US instead of both of them?
I think the reason he did that was to make the book more interesting and what it is like to hear and see the action but not do it like some kids and it also gives a more interesting story line to
How would you react if your parents tried to separate you from your best friend like Ryan’s and Sarah’s parents have?
I will be mad and sad, for one that person is my best friend and probaly like a sbrother or sister 2 me.Plus that person the only fiend I have
#2. Who do you think is the strongest character ,Sarah or Ryan?Why?
Ryan , probably because you read his side of the story and you dont here much of sarah.
the book was awsome i cant wait to read another book i want to visit some of those places
I love the new book
So glad you are enjoying it, Gabe. Make sure to comment on specific parts of the book you like or dislike.
hey why does he mention Springfield Missouri in the book?
I don’t remember where they mention it. Where is this in the book? Page?
I love the part where Eli puncheed his dad ,because his father lied to them about there being a nuclear war;}
Really?! While I agree that it was pretty twisted of his dad to lie to them for YEARS, I’m not sure punching a mentally unstable man is the answer. Thoughts?
is his dad really ill or mental?why would you lie about a nuclear war ?
I would question anyone’s mental state who tells a lie of this magnitude for years. Think about the children! What do the rest of you think about it? Great thoughts Samantha. Keep them coming.
wow that would be horrible to have a father who has lied to your whole life like that
would you be able to live with a father who has lied to you ?
it was cool but i think we should have read at least one more book
The books were okay
Wider lecetion required
I like the books
Some people talk too much
i loved book club this year i would for more kids to come to book club next year BOOK CLUB RULES there is nothing u need to change
Me too Ton-ja…help me get the word out in the fall!
Book club was really funt this year! I thought we got a lot of good books. Interesting…. But for next year I think we should have more meetings!
Book Club was awesome and ALL the books were great.
i want to be in book club
That’s great news! Stop by the media center and pick up a contract. They are on the purple sheets between the two laptops on the circulation desk.
im so ready tro read books this year cant wait
hi this is me
hey mrs.borck
1. i like scary fiction stories. my least favorite is nonfiction
2. twilight series
3…….twilight? i dont know
4. because i like to read
1-adventure/historical
2-The Ga’hool Tree Sieries
3-no
4-Because i love books
1. mystery
1. science fiction
2. unwind
3. i want to live/ raven/ i know what you did last summer
4. to read more and become smarter
1.mystery/ fiction
2 dear dumb diary
3 shadow
4 because im exited to read more books
My favorite fiction genre has to be horror
my least is historical
a great book is defensless
a book that bookclub should read is willow
i want to be in book club because i love to read and i also need somthing todo after school once in a while
1.Adventure Fiction.
2 Warriors series by Erin Hunter
Mysterious bendict society by Trenton Lee Stewart
3.Warriors.Everyone in book club will love it from adventure to romance to surprise.
4.To read and discuss good books.
favorite fiction genre:mystery/thriller
least favorite genre:girly
book suggestions:none
why do you want to be in book club:i need some suggestions on some good book.
favorite book:harry potter/skeleton creek
I love all
the magazine
I love the bio books.
I love all the Harry Potter books.
I want to be in book club because I like to read books.
zaykeese.
1.) My favorite ficton genre is realistic fiction
2.) My least favorite fiction genre is mystery
3.) My favorite book of all time? Hm. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
4.) My number one suggestion for book club is: Magyk
5.) Why I want to be in book club: I love to read and Mrs. Borck always picks out the best books for us to read. (Not sucking up) Every book we got in the previous years of boo kclub were good, and I always look forward to it
1) Hey Mrs.Borck I really like girly books
2)These Boots are made for stalking
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Last Song
Harry Potter
Runaway
Being Nicki
3) I want to read books like “Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy” those type
4)Because I Love Reading!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite genre is realistic Fiction
I don’t have a favorite book because I like all of the ones i’ve read
I think we should read some books by Erin Hunter.
I want to be in book club because I like books but I don’t know any series that are very good.
i love the book!!!!
this book is confusing,but i LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mrs.Bork,
I have a question about the book.What kind of book is it?
Danielle, it is considered adventure fiction or realistic fiction.
I think the Dad fell of the boat or commited suiside and jummped off.
That is one part of the story that I think the group will have different opinions on.
i love this book
The Great Wide Sea is kind of dull and it doesn’t have that many really happy parts in it. Also the dad is grouchy all the time.
i think it dose. it gets better in the later chapters:)
Ok! Thanks alot so I can keep reading.
i wonder how the other book club members like this book:)
This is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):)
I looooooovvvvvvvvveeeee this book!
claire
i think mabye it will get better too
dose anybody think that gary will learn how to swim
Is Gerry the person that almost drowns?
claire i think that gary is the one who drowns
hi
this book is full of boat talk
yea it dose have a lot of boat talk.its annoying
I dont understand boat talk either.
im sooo happy i finshed the book! everything falls into place in the end! but i did hate the part with the cliff because it was discusting.:@
but all in the end it was a great book.
I don’t get the storm part and I don’t get what happened to their dad.
I have two comments:
1.) When I read this book, it’s hard because my mind wonders off.
2.) It is very disturbing when Ben has to help Dylan’s leg.
It is very disturbing when Ben helps Dylan’s leg!
Yeah reading the part about the leg is weird
the book we are reading in book club is so awesome!!!!!!!!!! i <3 it
I thought the part were the islander tried to braid their hair!:)
WAS REALLY FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
i love this book. i love all the details she put in it so that i can picture the book inside my head. this book is awsome mrs.bork.:)cant wait to meet the authur!!!!!!!
hi mrs.bork this is nae^nae. just saying that i love the book and cant wait to meet the authur!!!!
HI
Why did the author write the book?
what made you write this book and will this be a series?
why in the story did the dad just disappear
Is anything in this story true in your life??
What inspired you to write this?Did you experince something as painful as this yourself?
i really want to know do you have any more books that relate to the great wide sea but it was really a happy/sad book
What inspired her to write the book? And why?
Where did you get the Idea to write this book.
i really want to know where did you get the book name from
Why did the author write the book?
1.) Why did she choose all boys?
2.) Why is the dad so grouchy all the time?
3.) Do you have any boys?
at one point she uses the word gun a lot like in gun cay and speare gun why
Why did you decide to write about this particular story?
question(s) to author
what made you want to make the story?
did anyone in the book come from your life?
have you ever been to the ocean or sailed there?
What inspired you to write about such a tradgedy?
I loved it! I finished it in two days!
i dont get how they made the water with the plasticwrap and sea water, did it evaporate? please answer imediatly
1. have you ever did our known someone to do the things in this book?
2. what inspired you to write this and book and many others?
3. what made you write you 1st book ever?
4. when did you start writing?
what made you think to write about this?
do you have another book comming out?
if so what will it be about and when will it come out?
what character do you think is most like you?
how long have you been writting?
what inspired you to be an author?
the best book ever but where did you get the name from and hearing that his leg was sad cause it was sad
hi its me again i just want to say hi
1.Do you have any pets?
2.Do you have any other jobs?
3.What does M.H stand for?
4.Why three boys
sinserly,
Danielle Arnett
2
What advise would you give other authors? I love your book ‘The Great Wide Sea’ and would appreciate it if you could tell me how you got your ideas.
i rate the book a four star
I can’t wait till M.H Herlong comes to william james!!!!!:)
It was a very good book with a great story line, plot, and setting, however; it doesnt describe the characters enough so when something happens, you don’t really get the deep-hearted emotions that us wanted from books. so if you, as the author, describd the characters more, there is more reader-character relationships, therefore; making the book better.
What happened after the story? Did the dad remarry? What happened to the boys? Did they each find someone and get good jobs and go back to real school or do they stay homeschooled? Will you write a second book, making this a series? Will you do an alternate-ending book where Ben doesnt find a ship or village while his brother is dying? Will this book become a movie?
I finshed the book like two weeksago and loved it!!!!!!!!!!:)
My faverite part was when they went to the building and got kind-of arrested!
My faverite caharacter is ethir Lizzy or Mr.Oswaled:)
If you havent finshed the book you need to because whats in the box is totally unexpected!!!!!And its a really great book!!!:)
I haven’t found any muntant candy, but I’m going to collect mine when I get all the candy in my stockings.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When are we getting A NEW BOOK?!?!??!!?
I have your next book on order and hopefully it will be in soon. I want to meet with you guys right after the break but it will depend on when they arrive.
Love your site!! Did you make or buy your Academy Awards statue? We need one for our prom. Thanks, Janie Gomillion, Jay High School, Jay, FL
Thank you, Janie. Our “Oscar” was made by one of the very gifted art teachers in our county.