Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee

Although I'm seriously behind on writing my review blurbs - this will be corrected when school ends next week - I have to give my shout out to an awesome book store we visited while in Milwaukee this weekend for the wedding of a former student. Boswell Book Company is on a cool street that was worth the short drive from our hotel. Stacie William's short story book display caught David's eye, and although we once again had promised we were not there to buy books, Stacie's recommendations sent us home with Volt, a story collection by Alan Heathcock that David started on the plane. Check out their Boswell's book blog.

Senior Tribute First Period

First Period Senior Slideshow

Senior Tribute Third Period

AP English Third Period Senior Slideshow

Citrus County by John Brandon

Citrus County (McSweeney's Rectangulars)

This one took me by surprise. I ran out and got Citrus County from the library when I read that John Brandon had been named one of New York Public Library's Young Lion Award winners and novel is published by McSweeney's. An awkward middle school boy named Toby is the protagonist at the center of this equally hilarious and disturbing tale. I want other readers to have the same reaction I had when I got to the end of the first chapter and realized this book would be a wild ride.

The Uncoupling by Meg Wollitzer

The Uncoupling
Meg Wollitzer loves to tackle the awkwardness of sexual relationships. Her new novel is about a high school whose production of Lysistrata causes a spell to be cast over the whole suburban neighborhood. Suddenly wives and girlfriends lose interest in sex! Amusing premise and clever characters, especially the husband/wife English teacher team, kept me chuckling through this novel.

No Permanent Scars by Michael Hemery

No Permanent Scars
Michael Hemery is a former student and very good friend, so unbiased praise for his memoir about growing up in the same town where I teach and live is impossible. Sorry! But I enthusiastically recommend it to any one interested in reliving a lazy summer day of bicycle riding in the suburbs, or the agony of a poorly timed allergic reaction, or the wrath of an evil music teacher. Mike's combination of nostalgia and coming-of-age experiences vividly recreate not only his childhood, but the childhood of any one blessed enough to grow up the only child of loving parents who never sugar coated life's lessons. Perhaps because I am also an only child, the book rings true. The cover photograph only shows the hands of Mike's dad, whose memory the book is dedicated to, and whose wisdom and frankness permeate the vignettes.

Mike Hemery's website

The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To by D.C. Pierson

The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To (Vintage Contemporaries)