School Library Journal» James Dashner

Pick of the Day: Infinity Ring, Book 1: A Mutiny in Time (Audio)

SLJ — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:40:41 +0000

Infinity Ring, Book 1: A Mutiny in Time. By James Dashner. 4 CDs. 4:31 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2012. ISBN 978-0-545-46633-4. $49.99.
Gr 4-6–History is broken and it’s up to kid geniuses and best friends Dak and Sera to fix it. When Sera fixes the Infinity Ring, a time travel device created by Dak’s parents, a secret society called the Historians recruit them to save the world. A destructive organization known as the SQ has somehow altered the course of history, causing breaks in Earth’s time line. Earth gets closer and closer to catastrophe as natural disasters increase and people become fearful. Dak’s love of history and Sera’s passion for science are a perfect combination as they set out with teen Historian, Riq, to fix the breaks and set history straight. Their first mission is to make sure that Christopher Columbus discovers America. Will three kids be able to fix all the breaks in history and save the world? The first book (Scholastic, 2012) in Dashner’s series sets listeners up for quite an adventure. Though this story is set in an alternate reality, kids won’t have any trouble figuring out what is going on. The plot is fresh and the appealing characters are self-professed “nerds” who use their abilities to save humankind and the planet. Dak’s sarcastic inner monologue is especially humorous. Dion Graham is an excellent narrator, changing voices for each colorful character. There’s also an interactive website (infinityring.com) that kids will enjoy. A great kickoff for what is sure to be a rollicking adventure series.–Jenny Ventling, Dayton Metro Library, OH

Video: ‘Middle School Snake Charmers’ Hold Forth at SLJ Day of Dialog

SLJ — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:53:05 +0000

The prospect of working with adolescents may inspire fear in some, “but for a small, dedicated group of us, middle school is where it’s at,” said librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan, who gleaned some insight on engaging young readers from panelists Sharon Creech, Eoin Colfer, Rebecca Stead, Joan Bauer, and James Dashner at SLJ‘s event held June 4 at the Javits Center in New York.

See also:

SLJ 2012 Day of Dialog: Keeping Middle Schoolers Engaged

Rocco Staino — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:01:21 +0000

From Left: Sharon Creech, Joan Bauer, Eoin Colfer, James Dashner, Jennifer Hubert Swain, Rebecca Stead

Middle school students are a “hormonally charged” bunch who are “full of complex contradictions” and just “want a voice,” say authors who participated in SLJ‘s 2012 Day of Dialog on June 4 at New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Rebecca Stead, winner of the 2010 Newbery Award for When You Reach Me (Random, 2009) and a panelist in “Minding the Reading Gap: How to Keep Middle School Readers Engaged,” says she draws on her own childhood experiences when writing to “build a story out of small moments.” Her latest, Liar & Spy (Random), a funny tale about destiny, goofy brilliance, and courage, is expected this August.

Joan Bauer, who received a 2001 Newbery Honor for Hope Was Here (Putnam, 2000), says she was haunted by “middle school ghosts” during a recent visit to her old school, where she was reduced to a “social zero.” She now uses the power of fiction to share her past experience and give readers hope that the pain does end.

Sharon Creech, 1995 Newbery winner for Walk Two Moons (HarperCollins, 1994), says during author visits, she often sees a shy child holding one of her books close to their chests, and then approach her to say, “How did you know this was what I was thinking?”

Eoin Colfer, author of the “Artemis Fowl” series (Hyperion) says he still can’t understand why he was forced to read classics such as Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady, ” about an American heiress who travels to America, instead of Nobel Prize-winning English author William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, about British schoolboys who are stranded on a tropical island. His favorite reading spot was the trunk of his family’s car.

James Dashner, who writes the “13th Reality” fantasy series, describes himself as “supernaturally dorky” during his middle school years. His “most magical” moments growing up in Georgia were spending his summers sitting in front of the air conditioner and reading.

The topic of ebooks drew mixed reactions from panelists, with Colfer warning that books shouldn’t compete with technology. Dashner agreed, adding “anything that gets kids reading can’t be bad.” Meanwhile, Stead sees the convenience of ereaders, saying she was touched when her son, a middle schooler, recently put a paperback to his nose and remarked on the distinct smell of print books.

To see what other had to say about this and other Day of Dialog panels on Twitter using the hashtag #SLJDOD.