Literature Young Adult Fiction » Buried Treasure http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com YA Readers Reviewing Books Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:22:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 6 Reasons Why I Like to Read http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/6-reasons-why-i-like-to-read/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/6-reasons-why-i-like-to-read/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:22:33 +0000 CaptainYarr http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=78

buriedtreasure

by Captain Lyaf Yarr

There are lots of books, authors, publishing houses, libraries, and readers out there! That’s because many people like to read. Everybody likes to read for different reasons.

Here’s six reasons why I like to read:

  1. Reading allows me to enter into new worlds and new lives. I can be in Middle Earth or in Scotland going to a wizarding school. I can be a girl learning to be a princess or I can be a boy lost in the wilderness. I can enter these worlds and see them through the eyes of the characters any time and it’s never boring.
  2. When you read it increases you vocabulary and you sound smarter. If you listen to audio books you’ll be able to pronounce these new words without even thinking about it. I like that!
  3. It’s fun and enjoyable see other point of views. I will never be able to guess what an author or character will do because I would do them differently. I wouldn’t have it any other way or reading would be boring!
  4. Books contain useful and important information. You can learn things in fiction as easily as you can learn things from school books and non-fiction literature. Authors do lots of research to make their worlds accurate and interesting.
  5. I get to see the big picture. As the reader I sometimes get to see things the characters don’t see. I also know their story is finite- there’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most times it’s happy, even when it looks dark for the main character. That’s good to know!
  6. Reading is something to do. I can read when friends are busy, when there’s nothing else to do, and sometimes even when there’s other things to do!

I’ve shared my reasons now tell me yours! Why do you like to read?

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by Captain Lyaf Yarr

Have you ever thought of the process of writing a book, getting it published, and making a movie out of it? Well, if you have (or haven't) then I have another question for you. What job in the process would you want to do? You could be so many things from being the author, the narrator, the main character (in the book or movie), with the publisher, or the director.

  1. Be the author of your favorite book. I would love to be the first person to come up with the idea and have others love my writing, wouldn't you? It's a lot of tough work though involving many solitary hours spent writing. Then you have to go through the process of finding an agent and/or publisher and face a lot of rejection before (if you're lucky) getting picked up. After that is all the time spent on revisions and editing and rewriting. It's not for the fainthearted.
  2. Be the narrator of the book. I like reading aloud! So being able to read my favorite book and have people listen to my favorite book to would be awesome! It too is a lot of tough work because you're not just reading, you're acting. I know my mom says I'm a chatterbox but Jim Dale beats all. I heard somewhere that when prepping for an audiobook he talks nonstop for eight hours at high volume for several days before starting. He also does a huge amount of research into his voices.
  3. Be the main character in your favorite book. I think it would be fun to have the same experiences as the main character in some of my books. They are always doing something interesting and they always win in the end. At times it might be terrifying, but as the main character you'd be secure in the knowledge that you'd make it through and have a happy ending.
  4. Be the actor/actress depicting the main character in the movie based off of a book. I could play Bella or Hermione! Okay, so I look nothing like either of them, but still, it would be great fun! Because not only would I be able to play on the sets of my favorite books but I could become famous or work with famous people! Robert Pattinson anyone? I'd play female lead to his male lead anytime!
  5. Be the agent for your favorite author. You are on the front lines as an agent talking with authors, helping them sell their books, being in contact with publishers. There's a lot you got to know, but it sounds like so much fun, doesn't it? Wouldn't you feel great helping an author become famous?
  6. Be the director of the movie based off of your favorite book. To be in charge of such a project would be beyond amazing. Think of all the decisions and control you have in bringing to life a treasured tale to the silver screen?
  7. Be the cover artist or illustrator. If you're a creative soul but writing isn't your outlet, this would be an fabulous job. You create the illustrations and book jacket for books and get to read everything first without the pressure associated with ensuring the story is perfect.
  8. Be with the publisher. There's lots of jobs within publishing and I certainly don't know them all, but I think it would be exceptionally cool to work with a publisher or to run my own company. Nothing is better then being one of the first people to read a bestselling book.

Is there something I missed? Do you work with books? What do you do? Tell everyone about the job! Share below in the comments!

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]]> http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/what-book-related-job-would-you-rather-do/feed/ 0 Unanswered Harry Potter Question #14: How Did the Bloody Baron Get Covered in Blood? http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/unanswered-harry-potter-question-14-how-did-the-bloody-baron-get-covered-in-blood/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/unanswered-harry-potter-question-14-how-did-the-bloody-baron-get-covered-in-blood/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:06:52 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=1750
  • Unanswered Harry Potter Questions – Upcoming LYAF Event
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  • Unanswered Harry Potter Question #18: How Do You Kill a Dementor?
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  • When Did You First Read Harry Potter?
    • ]]>

    Unanswered Harry Potter Question #14: How Did the Bloody Baron Get Covered in Blood?

    (This article is humorous, not factual.)

    The following is an article in the Quibbler, Hogwarts True History Revisited edition:

    THE TRUTH ABOUT BLOODY BARON

    Murderous Maniac or Messy Masticator?

    Hogwarts’ Slytherin House Ghost, the Bloody Baron, has terrified children and Peeves, the poltergeist, since he died in the 11th century. For the longest time even ghosts, like Gryffindor’s Nearly Headless Nick refused to ask him about the redish stains on his ghostly form. Last year when Voltyshorts was at his height, Harry Potter, The Valiant Victor, uncovered the story that is in circulation now among the students, terrifying them even further.

    WHAT STORY DID POTTER UNCOVER?

    According to Mr. Potter, the Bloody Baron, a Slytherin while alive, killed Helena Ravenclaw, Hogwarts’ Founder Rowena Ravenclaw’s daughter, when she refused to return to England. Apparently staying in Albania wasn’t an option. After realizing what he did the Baron killed himself. Helena’s blood is what covers the Bloody Baron today. Or is it?

    LUNA LOVEGOOD DISCOVERS THE TRUTH

    I have never taken a story at face value and while this reporter can claim friendship with The Valiant Victor, she had to verify the story herself. A talk with Rowena Ravenclaw’s portrait at Hogwarts and a brief interview with the Bloody Baron himself has revealed a different answer.

    The Bloody Baron isn’t covered with blood at all, but ketchup! Always a messy masticator, the Bloody Baron was participating at a competitive eating contest for French fries and ketchup, a sauce invented in the 11th century by wizards that’s only recently been adopted by muggles. The Bloody Baron died on a fistful of fries and declares most heatedly that he would have won had he not choked.

    Not so terrifying now, is he? That’s what I thought too. I bet the Baron will have trouble with Peeves from now on when word of this gets around the student body.

    Luna Lovegood, editor of the Quibbler

    Find answers to other Unanswered Harry Potter Questions

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    4. Unanswered Harry Potter Question #4: Has Anybody Ever Woken up from the Draught of Living Death?
    5. When Did You First Read Harry Potter?
    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/unanswered-harry-potter-question-14-how-did-the-bloody-baron-get-covered-in-blood/feed/ 0     Unanswered Harry Potter Question #18: How Do You Kill a Dementor? http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/unanswered-harry-potter-question-18-how-do-you-kill-a-dementor/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/unanswered-harry-potter-question-18-how-do-you-kill-a-dementor/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:04:06 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=1727
  • Unanswered Harry Potter Questions – Upcoming LYAF Event
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    • ]]>

    Unanswered Harry Potter Question #18: How Do You Kill a Dementor?

    (This article is humorous, not factual.)

    The answer can be found in a 1733 Daily Prophet article. I have transcribed and pasted it below for your convenience.

    DON’T PANIC, KISS BACK!

    Who can suck face with a soul sucker?

    Ever since Patilda Azkaban, the architect of the wizarding prison of the same name, discovered how to bargain with Dementors, the magical community could breathe more easily. But giving the Dementors control of Azkaban and its felons was not enough for the Ministry of Magic. They wanted a foolproof way to frighten the unfrightenable—to gain the loyalty of a creature so foul, so twisted, so dark, that they devoted an entire room in the Department of Mysteries to study Dementors.

    AND WHAT DID THE DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES DISCOVER?

    It seems that this crazy bid for control of the horrible wicked creatures has paid off, but how likely is the knowledge going to save you, the average witch or wizard who finds themselves attacked by a Dementor?

    George Percival, Head of the Department of Mysteries, reports their findings, “Simply put: you kiss it back. If you can do so, it will be unable to take your soul.”

    This also explains why it hasn't been done before, if you ask me. I mean, how many people actually have the presence of mind to kiss a Dementor when it's right in your face, sucking your soul out?

    I urge you, my readers, to contact your Ministry representative and demand that the Department of Mysteries find actionable methods for fighting Dementors.

    Pax J. Pearson, Ministry correspondent for the Daily Prophet.

    *Update from another article written in 1815: The currently accepted method for fighting a Dementor is the Patronus Charm. It does not kill the Dementor, but it does repulse it giving you time to gather your senses and flee.

    Find answers to other Unanswered Harry Potter Questions

    Photo Credits: www.hp-lexicon.org

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    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/unanswered-harry-potter-question-18-how-do-you-kill-a-dementor/feed/ 0     Have You Ever Read a Book on a Field Trip? http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/have-you-ever-read-a-book-on-a-field-trip/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/have-you-ever-read-a-book-on-a-field-trip/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:47:37 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=2306
  • Review: The Field Guide by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
  • Why Read a Summer Book List
    • ]]>

    I’ve always been the kid on the field trip with a hefty sized book on her person. If the book was too big though, I usually stowed it away on the bus. I love to read and usually on field trips, even noisy, fun, rowdy ones, there’s going to be down time.

    It’s normally on the bus ride at some point. Your friends get tired, try to nap, zone out to their headphones, spend the time checking their phones, watch the movie projected on those tiny TVs, etc. When that happens it’s nice to have a book handy to read.

    I wouldn’t normally take the book off the bus, though it’s been known to happen if the field trip wasn’t a theme park! How about you? Have you ever brought a book on a school trip before?

    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

    Photo Credits: larryvincent

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    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/have-you-ever-read-a-book-on-a-field-trip/feed/ 0     5 Ways to Set and Meet Reading Goals http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/5-ways-to-set-and-meet-reading-goals/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/5-ways-to-set-and-meet-reading-goals/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000 CaptainYarr http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=158
  • My Reading Resolutions
    • ]]>

    buriedtreasure

    by Captain Lyaf Yarr and First Mate Keira

    Most kids need motivation to start let alone finish a book. I’m going to share tips with on how to set and reach reading goals. I hope they help you!

    1. Required Reading for School: When you get a new book divide that book into how many days you have to read it in. Put sticky notes or index cards or bookmarks to mark those sections. Then read one section a day and read all the pages in that section. Pretty soon, before you know it, you’ve read the whole book. Congrats! Extra tip: be sure to start well before report is due! No stress that way.
    2. Reading More Books: First, decide how many books you want read in a week or a month. Now refer to tip one and figure out how many days in the week/month you have for each book. Be sure to start and finish your books within the time frame you figured out so you can reach your goal. You can even use this idea for a yearly book reading goal!
    3. Daily Reading: Set aside time in your day for reading. When this time comes, stop what you’re doing and read. I suggest setting aside an hour of reading time for when you first wake up or before going to bed. By reading every day you’re not going to forget anything about the book and have to start it over or backtrack and waste time.
    4. Listening to Books: Audio books are a great nook and cranny way of fitting in more books. You can listen to them while cleaning your room, when riding around in a car, while exercising, and simply hanging out at home. However you can fit it in is great just make sure you’re doing something where you can listen and pay attention.
    5. Nook and Cranny Reading: Read whenever you have a chance. Carry a book with you in your backpack, purse, bag, carrying case, whatever, just make sure you have one! There are so many places to read and many moments of time you can snatch for reading. For example: you can read in a car trip, when you are in line for something, before class starts and even before you go to bed.

    Now that I have told you some of my tips for reading goals tell me yours. What do you do?

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    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/5-ways-to-set-and-meet-reading-goals/feed/ 0     How Many Books Do You Read in a Month? http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/how-many-books-do-you-read-in-a-month/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/how-many-books-do-you-read-in-a-month/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:32:54 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=1848

    I heard that most people don't read more than 10 books in a year. I can't imagine reading so few books. What do you do with your time? Watch more TV?

    I read on average about 15 books a month, which means by the end of January I've read more than most people read by the end of December. Inconceivable! ;)

    That's not to say I always read 15 books a month. My monthly reading rate fluctuates. I sometimes read more; and I sometimes read less, but usually 15 is pretty much right on the money.

    This year I challenged myself on Goodreads to finish 150 books. I've read 70 books so far and am about 17% ahead of schedule. February was a good month for me. I read 22 books.

    How about you? Do you read a lot of books?

    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
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    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/how-many-books-do-you-read-in-a-month/feed/ 0     Have You Ever Cheated on a Book Report? http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/have-you-ever-cheated-on-a-book-report/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/have-you-ever-cheated-on-a-book-report/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:39:31 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=2296
  • How to Get Through a Bad Book
    • ]]>

    Confession time! When push comes to shove, was there ever a time when you cheated on a book report? Did you only read the cliff notes and not the book? Did you ever watch the movie instead of reading a book? Or get your report from some place or places online? Or have your parent or guardian put it together for you?

    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

    If yes, were you caught?

    Photo Credits: Alex E. Proimos

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    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/have-you-ever-cheated-on-a-book-report/feed/ 0     30 Book Series for Boys You Shouldn’t Miss, Part 3 http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/30-book-series-for-boys-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-miss-part-3/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/30-book-series-for-boys-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-miss-part-3/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:25:56 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=1695
  • Review: I, Q: Independence Hall (I. Q. the Series, Book 1) by Roland Smith
    • ]]>

    Continuing on from last time's 30 Books Series for Boys You Shouldn't Miss, Part 2, today's list also features books recommended for boys by boys (and grown-up boys).

    1. Dark Tower Series – The seven books that make up Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series follow a Gunslinger on his quest toward a physical and figurative tower. The series is inspired by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and this is reflected in naming and language. Buy: Dark Tower Series
    2. Dark Elf Trilogy – (Homeland, Exile, Sojourn) Drizzt Do'Urden (from Icewind Dale Trilogy) becomes the main hero in this series. Readers follow Drizzt as he goes to the drow home city, Menzoberranzan and tries to find his place in the world. Along the way he acquires a magical panther called Guenhwyvar. Buy: The Legend of Drizzt Boxed Set, Books I-III
    3. Star Wars Books – Enough said? Check out Wikipedia’s List of Star Wars Books. Buy: Star Wars Books
    4. Star Trek Books – Again, I think enough said. Check out Wikipedia’s List of Star Trek Books. Buy: Star Trek Books
    5. Myth Adventure Series - Robert Asprin’s fantasy novels take a humorous slant on puns. Skeeve is a bumbling magician apprenticed to a demonic teacher stripped of his powers known as Aahz. Together they battle with an insane wizard who is determined to drain the world of magic. Buy: Myth Adventures
    6. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – A trilogy in five parts, begins when characters visit a legendary planet called Magrathea, home to a collapsed planet building industry. There they learn about a computer named Deep Thought, built to calculate the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. When Deep Thought revealed the answer to be 42 another computer was designed to calculate the question for the answer. The computer, Earth, was obliterated to make way for a hyperspatial express route minutes before the conclusion of its 10-million-year program. Buy: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    7. The Seventh Tower Books – These six books by Garth Nix follow two children from different societies in a world blocked from the sun by a magic Veil. These two children discover an evil long thought vanquished is back threatening their world. The books are as follows: The Fall, Castle, Aenir, Above the Veil, Into Battle, The Violet Keystone.
    8. The Brain & Brawn Ship Series – From wikipedia:

      The stories of this series deal with the various adventures of 'shell-people' who, as infants, due to illness or birth defects (genetic or developmental), have had to be hard-wired into a life support system. With sensory input and motor nerves tied into a computer, they serve as starship pilots or colony administrators, seeing and feeling the colony or ship as an extension of their own body. They perform this job to pay off their debt for education and hardware, and then in whatever capacity they choose once the debt is paid, as free agents.

      Buy: Brain and Brawn Ship Series

    9. Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey’s science fiction fantasy world combines two genres in one series. Humans and their dragon companions live in fear of thread, a dangerous and lethal material that falls sporadically from space. When thread fails to fall for a long period of time, people forget and when it returns humans and dragons must fight together once more. Buy: Dragonriders of Pern
    10. Dresden Files – This book series was recently made into a TV series starring Paul Blackthorne and Valerie Cruz. Jim Butcher’s Urban Fantasy series follows Harry Dresden, a wizard working as a paranormal private investigator. Buy: Dresden Files

    What else would you add? Share in the comment section below!

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    ]]>     http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/30-book-series-for-boys-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-miss-part-3/feed/ 0     13 Ways to Beat the Summer Slide http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/13-ways-to-beat-the-summer-slide/ http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/13-ways-to-beat-the-summer-slide/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:08:04 +0000 First Mate Keira http://www.literatureyoungadultfiction.com/?p=1125

    by First Mate Keira

    Most students see summer vacation as the time to cease all things educational. They refuse to do anything that feels like school work and unfortunately this includes some pretty important subjects and activities they should be practicing. This decline in grade level equivalency is what educators call the summer slump or summer slide. And did you know that by the end of elementary this could result in a two year deficiency in your reader?

    What is the Summer Slide?

    It’s important to note that most kids learn at the same rate during the school year. Summer slippage causes students to fall behind which causes a host of problems for the student once school restarts.

    It’s a significant loss of learning retention across several core subjects like reading and math. Summer slippage usually affects lower-income students and is a big factor for achievement gaps seen at school. Bad reading habits over the summer can cause summer slippage in other less disadvantaged students too.

    I’ve seen various claims but the general idea is that students lose approximately 1-3 months of learning due to bad summer habits. On the other hand, students who read over the summer actually make learning gains.

    Considering a school year in America is 9 months that is a severe loss for a student especially if their classmates are readers. Not only will they be behind, but their friends will be ahead. Your student will be fighting to get back on top all year only to end up behind again because they see summer as the time to stop thinking about learning.

    Why is Maintaining Reading Levels Important?

    Reading is a skill. If you don't practice, you won't get any better. You won’t develop the skills reading teaches or obtain the ease and speed that comes with time.

    "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." ~ Joseph Addison

    Reading makes all class assignments easier and that is why this post is focused on ways to combat the decline in literacy over the summer.

    13 Ways to Stop the Summer Slide

    Preventing summer slippage is easy. Reading consistently is the key. Look below for ideas on how to increase your child’s exposure to reading over the summer.

    1. Visit the Library and Get a Library Card
    2. Read a Book a Week
    3. Read a Summer Book List
    4. Write Mini Book Reports
    5. Start a Summer Book Club
    6. Listen to Audio Books
    7. Hire a Tutor
    8. Make Reading Play-Dates with Friends
    9. Go to Summer School
    10. Go on a Book Shopping Spree
    11. Read Together
    12. Host an Audio Book Party
    13. Have a Reading Picnic

    Your turn: Do you have a child who hates reading? What have you done to encourage reading over the summer?

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