MrsK Books: 03/01/2018

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Open a World of Possible by Lois Bridges

Open a World of Possible: Real Stories About the Joy and Power of Reading

Lois Bridges

ISBN: 9780545799935

Publisher's Synopsis:

This anthology of true-life stories by some of America's leading literacy advocates, authors and poets celebrates the joy and power of reading. Informed by the great pleasure that they derive from their own reading, these innovative thinkers are dedicated to helping young people discover and create their own rich lives as readers.

MrsK's Review:

This book is a perfect read for every educator and librarian. Author's discussing their favorite reads. Author's supporting reading environments at home. Author's recalling their cherished moments with book titles that all of us have experienced or will experience right away.

This is a book to pick up when you are just browsing to pass the time in line, in a office waiting room, on a night when you just can't sleep. It is a book to own, because you will not have enough yellow stickies for all of the great titles, yes, you will need to write in the margins and star those titles that you want to experience for the first time or be so touched by their recall you want to revisit an old friend.

With all the books on your "keep" shelves... You should invest in this delightful find!

MrsK

Amazing read

Added to my shelf!

Meet the Author: Dr. Lois Bridges, former teacher, teacher educator, and literacy publisher, promotes editorial and marketing initiatives for Scholastic’s Classroom and Community Group. She’s intrigued with language: how it develops and serves as our most potent learning tool.

Last Stop in Brooklyn by Lawrence H. Levy

Last Stop in Brooklyn (A Mary Handley Mystery, #3)

Lawrence H. Levy

ISBN: 9780451498441

Publisher's Synopsis:

It's the summer of 1894, and an infidelity case has brought PI Mary Handley to a far corner of Brooklyn: Coney Island. In the midst of her investigation, Mary is contacted by a convicted man's brother to reopen a murder case. A prostitute was killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat years ago in her New York hotel room, but her true killer was never found. Once again it's up to Mary to make right the city's wrongs.

New York City's untouchable head of detectives, Thomas Byrnes, swears he put the right man behond bars, but as Mary digs deeper, she finds corruption at the heart of New York's justice system, involving not only the police, but the most powerful of stock titans. Disturbing evidence of other murders begins to surface, each one mimicking Jack the Ripper's style, each one covered up by Thomas Byrnes.

As Mary pieces together the extent of the damage, she crosses paths with Harper Lloyd, an investigative reporter. Their relationship grows into a partnership, and perhaps more, and together they must catch a killer who's still out there, and reverse the ruthless workings of New York's elite. It'll be Mary's most dangerous, most personal case yet.

MrsK's Review:

Mary Handley mysteries have been such a delightful reprieve from many of the books I review. Once you get to know Mary, her quick wit brings a smile to your adventure. She is a brilliant and relentless pursuer of the truth and there is no villain that she can't best. Even though she is hired to find out the truth about a certain cheating husband, she quickly gets involved in solving a killing that closely resembles those of Jack the Ripper. If she decides to re-investigate the case of the man who went to prison for a killing years ago, will she be able to reopen the investigation and put the real killer behind bars? Can she get past those officials whom quickly put a possible innocent man in jail? Will she be the real killer's next victim?

Russell Sage is high end businessman that is demeaning, calculating, and only focused on his well being (investment deals or steals you choose). Will he deserve the threats that cause him to look over his shoulder?

Inspector Thomas F. Byrnes is hailed as a "giant in his time." This man is such a player. Respect for his office has been exchanged for his keeping the elite living a life style that isn't always legal. He is one of the most sleezy and slippery guys on his force.

Harper Lloyd is a "smug reporter," who just happens to cross Mary's path in quite a comical and unfortunate moment. He quickly learns that Mary has quite the talent for getting into predicaments that ensures a rapid fire exchange with words. These two have encounters that will lead them beyond their quips and into a "life-threatening" investigation.

Written with strong characters, excellent setting details, and a story line that is historically defined are the strengths for this series. What was a bit unsettling for this reviewer, was the additional language and sexual explicit scenes.

You decide if Mary's third investigation is your next choice, personally I would start with the first two...
MrsK

Good Mystery with a some language/sexual aspects.

Second Street Station (A Mary Handley Mystery, #1)

Brooklyn on Fire (A Mary Handley Mystery, #2)

Mary Handley Mystery link

Meet the Author:

LAWRENCE H. LEVY is a highly regarded film and TV writer who is a Writers Guild Award winner and a two-time Emmy nominee. He has written for various hit TV shows such as Family Ties, Saved by the Bell, Roseanne, and Seinfeld. Last Stop in Brooklyn is his third novel in the Mary Handley Mystery series.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)