Balthazar

You can see influences from other international detective stories. Seeing the dead, talking to the dead, trying to solve murder of spouse by serial killer, falling for a person who is already married (but marriage is on the rocks), uses clever (not always real) forensic methods to solve cases. The people that created this French detective show used the best parts of several shows. Problems: the two main characters can't keep lusting for one another - it gets old. Second, the serial isn't caught even after season 2 - I think I know who it is too. Two seasons on Acorn. All in all, I say: SEE IT unless you don't like gore - it's got gore.

Far From the Tree

You will cry - warning. So, you've said it or heard. Teachers say it a lot. That student doesn't fall far from the tree. Meaning the kid is just like the parent. This is a series of stories of families where one of the children has fallen far from the tree. Autism, psychopathy, gay, and so on. It is heart breaking in parts. I can't even begin to imagine. IMDb writes, "Based on the NY Times bestselling book by Andrew Solomon, Far from the Tree examines the experiences of families in which parents and children are profoundly different from one another in a variety of ways." All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu

The Red Shoes

A maniac of a director wants to control everything about the people's lives in his production. He wants a composer and a prima ballerina that have no life except to dance and make music. The Red Shoes are based on a Hans Christian Anderson fable. A girl begs for red shoes and once she starts dancing she can't stop until it kills her. So, too late to say spoiler if you have already read the fable. This movie is painful to watch - 2 hours - wow. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I rented it on Amazon for a movie club meeting.

Shine

A short story about race and when we as children begin to notice the differences. It's so well written. Amazon writes, "Today is Ruth's first day of third grade at Dalton. The prestigious institution on New York's Upper East Side couldn't be more different from her old school in Harlem. Despite being the smartest girl in her grade, Ruth suspects that her classmates and teachers see only her dark skin. She also notices that Christina, the daughter of her mother's employer, treats Ruth very differently when they're hanging out with the popular girls rather than playing together. Ruth must navigate between two worlds, never losing sight of the dreams she has for herself - in hopes that someday someone will see her for who she really is.". All in all, I say: READ IT

Where There's Smoke

Another novella focusing on one of the characters from her novel on elephants which will break your break. Amazon writes, "Now, in this original short story, Picoult introduces Serenity Jones, one of the fascinating characters from her eagerly awaited new novel, Leaving Time.
Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she’s an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage - to both her reputation and her show - Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.". I love her stuff. Such a great writer. To get insight into characters that we might not really get to know in her bigger novels is a joy. All in all, I say: READ IT

Stone Mattress

I only read the one story, Stone Mattress. It's from an author we are all familiar with. It's well written and the surprises hit you paragraph after paragraph. It unfolds perfectly. I will give you just one clue as to what it's about. A Black Widow. All in all, I say: READ IT

The September Letters

A short story by an author you are familiar with. She teaches us a lesson about not being the only person in the world who goes through hard times. Everyone has their ups and downs. We may see someone and think, they have their shit together. It turns out they might not. Amazon writes, "It starts out like any other dull day in a busy airport bavr. James, the bartender, would much rather serve regulars at a local pub than cranky travelers. Katy and Colin have been involved in a longtime affair that comes to literal blows when he reveals that he hasn’t kept his promise to leave his wife. Between some quick thinking by James and the kindness of an American couple, Jean and Maurice, the situation is defused. And Jean’s insistence that they all stay in touch sparks friendships that are maintained across the ocean. But after nearly a decade of writing annual letters, she reveals a secret that casts the events of that day in a whole new light… “ All in all, I say: READ IT

To the Bright Edge of the World

Amazon writes, "In the winter of 1885, Lieutenant Colonel Allen Forrester sets out with his men on an expedition into the newly acquired territory of Alaska. Their objective: to travel up the ferocious Wolverine River, mapping the interior and gathering information on the region's potentially dangerous native tribes. With a young and newly pregnant wife at home, Forrester is anxious to complete the journey with all possible speed and return to her. But once the crew passes beyond the edge of the known world, there's no telling what awaits them.
With gorgeous descriptions of the Alaskan wilds and a vivid cast of characters - including Forrester; his wife, Sophie; a mysterious Eyak guide; and a Native American woman who joins the expedition - To the Bright Edge of the World is an epic tale of one of America's last frontiers, combining myth, history, romance, and adventure.".
I gave it five journal entries/letters and then decided I didn't care about this partial true story of the exploration of Alaska. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you like this kind of survival story.

Do the Kind Thing

Amazon writes, "When Daniel Lubetzky started KIND Healthy Snacks in 2004, he aimed to defy the conventional wisdom that snack bars could never be both tasty and healthy, convenient and wholesome. A decade later the transformative power of the company's "AND" philosophy has resulted in an astonishing record of achievement. KIND has become the fastest-growing purveyor of healthy snacks in the country. Meanwhile the KIND movement - the company's social mission to make the world a little kinder - has sparked more than a million good deeds worldwide. 

In Do the KIND Thing, Lubetzky shares the revolutionary principles that have shaped KIND's business model and led to its success while offering an unfiltered and intensely personal look into the mind of a pioneering social entrepreneur. Inspired by his father, who survived the Holocaust thanks to the courageous kindness of strangers, Lubetzky began his career handselling a sun-dried tomato spread made collaboratively by Arabs and Jews in the war-torn Middle East. Despite early setbacks, he never lost his faith in his vision of a "not-only-for-profit" business - one that sold great products and helped make the world a better place. 

While other companies let circumstances force them into choosing between two seemingly incompatible options, people at KIND say "AND". At its core this idea is about challenging assumptions and false compromises. It is about not settling for less and being willing to take greater risks, often financial. ".
I really liked the first chapter. I'm going to make copies to give to my students when we cover entrepreneurship. There are some good pieces of advice. Overall, though since I'm not a business owner or hope to be one - some parts were boring. All in all, I say: READ IT if you are interested in business and this kind of business.

Recursion

Amazon writes, "At first, it looks like a disease. An epidemic that spreads through no known means, driving its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. But the force that’s sweeping the world is no pathogen. It’s just the first shock wave, unleashed by a stunning discovery—and what’s in jeopardy is not our minds but the very fabric of time itself.
 
In New York City, Detective Barry Sutton is closing in on the truth—and in a remote laboratory, neuroscientist Helena Smith is unaware that she alone holds the key to this mystery . . . and the tools for fighting back.
 
Together, Barry and Helena will have to confront their enemy—before they, and the world, are trapped in a loop of ever-growing chaos.".
I get so frustrated with different timelines and time travel, so this was very frustrating. The ending was like groundhog day only painful. And the very ending - still doesn't make sense to me. The book explains why my reasons for how they could have stopped everything, but it didn't make sense to me. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you like that kind of science fiction.

Divorce is in the Air

This was translated into English. It has no chapters. It's from the point of view of a man that is in a rocky marriage. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I didn't make but 10 pages before I said to myself, I don't care. I hope he does get a divorce.

Last Bus to Wisdom

Amazon writes, "Donal Cameron is being raised by his grandmother, the cook at the legendary Double W ranch in Ivan Doig’s beloved Two Medicine Country of the Montana Rockies, a landscape that gives full rein to an eleven-year-old’s imagination. But when Gram has to have surgery for “female trouble” in the summer of 1951, all she can think to do is to ship Donal off to her sister in faraway Manitowoc, Wisconsin. There Donal is in for a rude surprise: Aunt Kate–bossy, opinionated, argumentative, and tyrannical—is nothing like her sister. She henpecks her good-natured husband, Herman the German, and Donal can’t seem to get on her good side either. After one contretemps too many, Kate  packs him back to the authorities in Montana on the next Greyhound. But as it turns out, Donal isn’t traveling solo: Herman the German has decided to fly the coop with him. In the immortal American tradition, the pair light out for the territory together, meeting a classic Doigian ensemble of characters and having rollicking misadventures along the way.".
I gave it five chapters and was like, WAKE UP HEATHER. No way. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Nashville Chrome: A Novel

Amazon writes, "Late in 1959, the Brown siblings—Maxine, Bonnie, and Jim Ed—were enjoying unprecedented international success, rivaled only by their longtime friend Elvis Presley. They had a bona fide mega hit on their hands, which topped both the country and pop charts and gave rise to the polished sound of the multibillion dollar country music industry we know today. Mesmerized by the Browns’ haunting harmonies, the Beatles even tried to learn their secret. Their unique harmony, however, was only achievable through shared blood, and the trio’s perfect pitch was honed by a childhood spent listening for the elusive pulse and tone of an impeccably tempered blade at their parent’s Arkansas sawmill.

But the Browns’ celebrity couldn’t survive the world changing around them, and the bonds of family began to fray along with the fame. Heartbreakingly, the novel jumps between the Browns’ promising past and the present, which finds Maxine—once supremely confident and ravenous in her pursuit of applause—ailing and alone. As her world increasingly narrows, her hunger for just one more chance to secure her legacy only grows, as does her need for human connection.
".
I gave it five chapters and was like, BORING and country music?! Nope. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Summer that Melted Everything

Amazon writes, "Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the summer of 1984: the year a heat wave scorched Breathed, Ohio. The year he became friends with the devil.

Sal seems to appear out of nowhere - a bruised and tattered thirteen-year-old boy claiming to be the devil himself answering an invitation. Fielding Bliss, the son of a local prosecutor, brings him home where he's welcomed into the Bliss family, assuming he's a runaway from a nearby farm town.

When word spreads that the devil has come to Breathed, not everyone is happy to welcome this self-proclaimed fallen angel. Murmurs follow him and tensions rise, along with the temperatures as an unbearable heat wave rolls into town right along with him. As strange accidents start to occur, riled by the feverish heat, some in the town start to believe that Sal is exactly who he claims to be. While the Bliss family wrestles with their own personal demons, a fanatic drives the town to the brink of a catastrophe that will change this sleepy Ohio backwater forever.".
I gave this 5 chapters and was like, oh hell no! Crazy. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

10 Mindframes for Visible Learning

The book asks teachers to always consider the "why". Let student know the "why" as well. Good work covers the 3 Es: Excellence, engagement, and ethics. Also, habit of saying not "yet"!
A. Impact
1. evaluate impact on student learning - reflect
2. assess - formative & summative & analyze data
3. collaborate - with other teachers
B. Change & Challenge
4. all students can improve - be a change agent
5. challenge students - push to do more than 100%
C. Learning Focus
6. feedback - immediate & meaningful
7. dialogue - discussions
8. what does success look like
9. relationships - with students
10. focus on learning

*Discussion, advanced organizers, study skills, peer tutoring, and small groups scored really high in their research.

Teachers: know what to do, how to do it, and why you're doing it.
All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's research heavy, hard to read, and you can just read my blog and know the contents.

Design Home

A game I started playing because my niece played. I have two other friends that play now as well. It's a quick, non complicated, nonviolent game where you design a room with certain criteria. You are judged and can earn prizes. I play on phone or iPad. All in all, I say: PLAY IT

Covet Fashion

I started playing this when my niece was playing. I thought we could bond somehow or at least do something we had in common. She doesn't really play anymore, but now I am the head of a fashion house and I play once a day. There are runway competitions, but otherwise you are judged based on being able to dress a model in a particular way. You have clothes that you win and earn. You change hair, skin tone, body shape, make-up, and so on. All in all, I say: PLAY IT - my house "Crows"

Forge of Empires

Now this is a social game. There are battles, but they are low risk and not violent really. It's mostly about making goods, capturing resources, having conversations and exhibitions with guild members and building a city (then moving it forward through the ages from Stone Age to the Future. It's a complicated, thinking game, but if you join a guild you will have help. It's a great community with its own page of help. Graphics on it get better and better every month. I'm addicted to this and could play for hours. It's been so tempting to spend money (real money) but I don't. All in all, I say: PLAY IT on phone or iPad.

Merge Dragons (game)

Not since tetras have a dreamed of geometric figures being combined. This game is not violent, has a variety of difficulty, doesn't take too much time. It pleases something deep inside me to merge multiple items to create one big item. I am cleaning up the board so to speak. I play it every day at least once. Easy on the brain. All in all, I say: PLAY IT - on Ipad

My Hospital (game)

A game I play on my phone. You make funny cures for funny aliments and diseases. You can decorate the hospital too. It's not violent. It's not time consuming. You cure and discharge patients. Light and easy and doesn't take brain power. All in all, I say: PLAY IT

Extraction

A made for Netflix movie starring Liam Hemsworth (Thor). He was fighting in the War in Afghanistan for a third tour when his young son died of cancer. Now he takes jobs as a mercenary in hopes of being killed perhaps. He takes a job in India rescuing the son of a drug dealer who was kidnapped by a rival drug dealer. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong. You don't watch this movie for plot. You watch this movie for the fight scenes which are so so good. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Into the Night

This is an international series on Netflix. A plane is about to take off from Brussels to Moscow when an Italian soldier with NATO grabs a gun and forces it to leave the airport ASAP. On board are Americans, Irish, Turkish, Russian, French, and a few more. They all speak their native language, but Netflix dubbed all of it in English. I was annoyed, but those who hate subtitles you will like it. Anyways...plot: the man forces the pilot to head west to avoid the sun. Polarities are Earth switched and intensified causing the sun to ionize or cook like in a microwave everything it touches. The only way to be safe is to be in a reinforced bunker under ground under a water source like a river. The plane and passengers keep fueling and moving west to avoid the sun. You can only imagine the problems they have on the plane and when they get off. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I hope there is a second season.

Jerry Seinfeld has 23 Hours to Kill

A good one hour comedy special on Netflix. I like him, so I thought it was funny. It's not crude or dirty which I appreciate. It's smart and fun and real. All in all, I say: WATCH IT

Winter

On Acorn - only one season. Winter takes place in Australian, and its a mystery show. She solves crimes. I only saw episode one and decided to skip it. It just seemed too similar to other things, and I wanted something more light. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power

Love, love this documentary about the life and works of Atwood. A powerful Canadian author and feminist who wrote and helps advise the show: Handmaid's Tale. She done poetry, novels, speeches, and comics?! Such a talented woman. This is on Hulu. All in all, I say: WATCH IT

Owly

Precious. I heard about this comic series from the author himself during my At Home Comic-Con. He self published until Scholastic took notice. The drawings are adorable. Owly is the sweetest thing ever - made me cry with all his kindness. Great lessons for kids. Love how the animals talk & Owly uses symbols. All in all, I say: READ IT

Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

What do grieving, cross country driving, and a cat have in common? Coyote Sunrise - the main character of this book about friendship, family, kindness, and grieving. It's funny, clever, and sad. It's a not too uncommon plot, but it takes place in an uncommon situation. Amazon writes, "Five years.

That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation.

It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash.

Coyote hasn't been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished - the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box - she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days...without him realizing it.

Along the way, they'll pick up a strange crew of misfit travelers. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. And then there's Gladys.... Over the course of thousands of miles, Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all...but that with friends by her side, she just might be able to turn her "once upon a time" into a "happily ever after."". All in all, I say: READ IT
P.S. It would make a great movie!

Steelheart

Love this concept: what if superheroes were the bad guys. A mysterious, perhaps alien, comet/star appears in the sky above Earth. Now people who were once ordinary are extraordinary. There's one problem - the more they use their powers the more evil and corrupt they become; the less they care about justice and human rights. How do you kill a superhero is is steel - every weapon has failed to kill him. Amazon writes, "How far would you go for revenge if someone killed your father?
   If someone destroyed your city?
   If everything you ever loved was taken from you?
   David Charleston will go to any lengths to stop Steelheart. But to exact revenge in Steelheart’s world, David will need the Reckoners—a shadowy group of rebels bent on maintaining justice.
   And it turns out that the Reckoners might just need David too.". All in all, I say: READ IT if you like superhero stuff.

Lost Boys (book)

Amazon writes, "Based on historical events, this unforgettable and inspiring tale for middle-grade readers is about a young boy torn from the only life he’s ever known and held captive as a prisoner of war. In 1982, twelve-year-old Reza has no interest in joining Iran’s war effort against Iraq. But in the wake of a tragedy and at his mother’s urging, he decides to enlist, assured by the authorities that he will achieve paradise should he die in service to his country. War does not bring the glory the boys of Iran have been promised, and Reza soon finds himself held in a prisoner-of-war camp in Iraq, where the guards not only threaten violence—they act upon it. Will Reza make it out alive? And if he does, will he even have a home to return to? Friendship, heartbreak, and Reza’s very survival are at stake as he finds solace through music and forges his own path—wherever that might take him." It's a short book, quick read.  It is horrible what happened to the child soldiers during the Iran/Iraq war. I never knew about this. All in all, I say: READ IT

Vox Lux

A movie about American popular culture, the music industry, and the long term effects of school shootings. Half of it is made to be like a documentary about a pops stars rise and fall. Half is touching scenes about this woman and the experiences that shaped her into what she has become. Natalie Portman and Judd Law appear together again (Closer). Willem Dafoe (Platoon) narrates the documentary parts of the film. It is predictable. The shooting itself was devastating to watch and made me upset. At the end though it seemed pointless to have watched it. I saw it on Hulu. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Untouchable

A documentary on Hulu about, as IMDb writes, "A look at the rise and fall of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein featuring interviews with former colleagues and those who accused him of sexual misconduct.". It has interviews with many of the women that were in it from the start. I also has several of the reporters. It's shocking all the people that kept trying to be heard and who were being silenced. It's horrible that someone like that can get so much power. It's heartbreaking - you will cry. I felt like I needed to be more informed. He is disgusting. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Trolls World Tour

I was pleasantly surprised by the first film and liked the soundtrack, so I eventually broke down and paid to watch the sequel on Amazon. The soundtrack is not very good in my opinion. It was an interesting concept. I didn't laugh though and found it to be predictable. I know it's a kids movie so it needs to have certain plot points and a certain ending. I guess I just thought I would be more invested. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Larger than Life

Using a character from her novel Leaving Time, Picoult shows the reader in this short story more of the life of elephants. It's just as sad and heartbreaking as the full novel. There are so cute scenes and it adds to the character. All in all, I say: READ IT

Mermaid

It's a short story about a woman who lost her baby. The entire story is a metaphor for the loss women feel when they lose a child. It's a little strange, but it's sad. All in all, I say: READ IT if you Picoult and need a thinker of a story.

Slacker

A funny and delightful quick read for YA audience. A slacker who wants nothing more than to be left alone to play video games gets sucked into a community service club. In fact, he is the President and by the end there is 100% membership from the kids at his school; much to his dismay. There are hijinks and a beaver in need of a lodge. It's a fast and fun read. Every chapter is a different persons point of view. All in all, I say: READ IT

The Traitor's Game

Another book that is trying to be more than it is. It's trying to be a futuristic fantasy novel. Nope - it just should have been a fantasy novel set in medieval times. Not a future world with occasional magic and everyone still living like in medieval times. I mean....what?! If you took out the oddly placed future animal/technology paragraphs and added a sex scene it was an adult erotic novel. I know it's Teen so there has to be some romance - it's just ridiculous. And just when you think you've gotten to the climax of the book - that everything will be resolved....it's not. It takes the entire book to get the secrets out and the main character is like I knew the entire time. And I'm like if you knew why didn't you tell us and saved me time having to read this. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Seafire

A teen book. It's supposed to be science fiction. It's set in the future - a future where although there seems to be modern technology people live like they did during the time of sea travel and pirates. A crew of girls sets out to get revenge against an evil captain for the deaths of their loved ones. It is painfully descriptive. Multiple times I groaned. It should have just been a fictional pirate story - all the additional stuff seemed unnecessary and ridiculous. I couldn't get into it. It takes forever to get to what you think is the climax and ...it's not. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary

First, let me write this here: I LOVE THIS MOVIE. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I have watched it a thousand times in the theatre and I own it so the watching continues. It's one of those that when I come across it on TV I stop and watch it. I can say a lot of the lines. The actors in this a amazing. Okay moving on. This is a documentary about how it has become a cult classic and favorite of fans everywhere. It has a lot of great interviews. It's so good. If you like the movie you have to see this. All in all, I say; SEE IT

Focused

A story about life with ADHD. It's told from her point of view so the reader really gets inside the head of a student with ADHD. It had the potential to be a really great and quick read. Problem was it dragged. There were scenes that I felt didn't need to be there. There were things in it that seemed to only be written in to make the book longer. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Harbor Me

A group of multi-ethnic students all go to the same school. They end up in a sort of "special" class and the teacher there allows them to meet (by themselves) to discuss anything they want. They become fast friends and share things about their lives. It's so good. Easy and quick read, but you get an appreciation for what some of our ELL kids go through. All in all, I say: READ IT - it's a YA novel.

#BlackAF

New to Netflix and starring Rashida Jones (Parks & Rec) this comedy lost my interest in the first episode. A rich family in the entertainment industry is being documented by their daughter for a project to get into film school. I think it's supposed to be funny. I was bored and didn't laugh once. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Briarpatch

I watch it on Hulu, but it was on USA. Rosario Dawson (Rent) stars as an investigator for a Senate Committee arrives in her hometown to investigate the murder of her sister - a local sheriffs deputy. There is a lot more to the small town than meets the eye. There are international criminals there and secrets from long ago. It tries so hard to be unusual and strange, but the strangeness is predictable if you get my meaning. I have been struggling to get through it. I do want to know why here sister died, so I guess I could just go to the end. Rosario keeps me trying one more episode though. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Divorcee

Norma Shearer (The Women) stars in this black & white 1930s film. Warning it is damaged, so it's a rough cut. I watched for a movie club I'm in, and I didn't enjoy it. A woman who is happily married discovers that her husband got drunk one night and slept with someone. He then immediately leaves on a business trip. Left with all her questions and feelings she too get drunk and has an affair. When he returns they argue and she admits what's she has done. He know think she's impure - double standard. The go their separate ways and it gets a little boring here. We are to believe that divorce leads to her becoming a slut and drunk. I guess because she's nothing without her husband. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Story Collector

A mystery set in the NYC public library. It's based on real people which is super cool. The idea of living in a library let alone one that size would have been cool. It's a YA novel about the family of the caretaker of the library. It was a decent book, and if you have a reader at home it gives other ideas of books to read based on interest. All in all, I say: READ IT

Seachange

This Australian show was on for three seasons and now it's on Acorn. The only issue I have with it - it's three seasons, but Acorn on Amazon only has 2 of the seasons. It was out in 1998 and starred Sigrid Thornton (A Man from Snowy River). Exciting news though - in 2000 a 4th season was aired sort of like a return to it. I can only hope that soon the other 2 seasons will be on or I may break down and try to buy it. A small town with a small but eclectic population of characters. It was light hearted and not too complicated. All in all, I say: WATCH IT

Zen as F*ck

A mix of inspirational quotes and statements (with cursing of course). There are also little acitvities mixed in. Writing, speaking, and thinking. It's colorful, short, and very Zen. All in all, I say: GET IT it's my kind of f*cking Ze.