Campus Kindness

It may not be yours... and you might not want to do it... but picking up trash on our campus makes it a better place for you and for me.  Please remember to put trash where it belongs- in the trash can. Don't pass up trash on the ground~ pick it up. Your simple act of campus kindness will go a long way! Keep our campus clean Bulldogs!

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

Looking for a good read?

Colleen Houck has written an amazing series that I HIGHLY recommend.  Tiger's Curse, Tiger's Quest, and Tiger's Voyage offer suspense, emotion, well-developed characters, excellent figurative language, and of course...romance! Get to your nearest bookstore and pick up this fantastic series!  My review will follow in just a few days!!!

Red Ribbon Week

Vista Academy Celebrates:

Red Ribbon Week

Make smart choices
Don't let others negatively influence you... ever!
Stand up for what's right, and be proud!
Don't compromise your character for anyone or anything.

Do the right thing when EVERYONE is watching~ and when no one is watching. 

Don't talk about what's right- DO what's right.

Be the Difference ~ and Make a Difference. 

Cinda Chima Author Visit

Cinda Williams Chima

Author and Book Goddess!

Today's visit with author Cinda Williams Chima was outstanding!  We learned a lot about what inspires her, the writing process, publishing, and even a little about her personal life. Look for more pictures on the News and Fun Pics pages, and stay tuned for the video segment that includes her special Bulldog News interview with Hannah.

Chima-Nix-Williams Event

Wednesday, October 26th

6-8PM

Come meet these wonderful authors and add their books to your collection.

Simone Elkeles Event

I wanted to give a BIG Bulldog Thank You to New York Times best selling author Simone Elkeles for coming to our school and book signing event.  We enjoyed our time with you- and kids around the campus are already digging into your books! Watch for the video interview to be posted on our News link. 

Net Galley Review: Tris and Izzie

Title: Tris and Izzie

Publisher: Egmont USA

Pub Date: 10-11-11

ISBN: 9781606841730

Author: Mette Ivie Harrison

Category: FICTION-JUVENILE

http://tweentribune.com/content/tris-and-izzie

“Good work, Izzie,” she said. “Amazing work, actually. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who survived an attack by a slurg.” She kissed me and rubbed her cool hands over my hot forehead. “Except you dad.”

            That was all I remembered for three days.  Pg. 82

If you’re a real witch, you don’t need to visit www.lovepotionsandmore.com to find a love philtre.  Unfortunately Isolde, or “Izzie,” is just a normal girl that wants to help out her best friend who is down on her luck.  Never in her wildest dreams could she of imagined that her measly attempt at magic would unleash a secret that would change her life forever. Izzie learns that she IS magical, and as a result, she connects with Tristan, the newest student at her high school.  He sees her magic, and he knows her past. Soon Izzie realizes that she must put aside the life she has been living to face her destiny.  With Tristan at her side, Isolde reaches inside herself to find and control the magic that has been dormant since the death of her father.

Together, Tristan and Izzie walk into the dragon’s lair to confront the evil being that took the lives of their loved ones. Can Izzie learn to use the powerful magic inside of her in time to save her life and Tristan’s?  Or will they die like their fathers before them in the dragon’s fire?

Triz and Izzie is a quick read that tweens will enjoy. The plot is somewhat predictable, making this a good [but not great] read.  I liked the idea of the undiscovered magic within Izzie, but plot points were revealed early, resulting in little suspense between the characters. 

Simone Elkeles Signing

Put it on your calendars... this Thursday~ Simone will be signing books at the Oceanside Barnes and Noble from 6-8 PM. See you there!

Bulldog News Tee & Sweatshirt Design

Here are the designs for our News Tee and sweatshirts!  Thank you Paul Bordas for helping us! Kids- if you're writing checks, please make them payable to : Paul Bordas

Net Galley Review: Crave

Title:  Crave: The Clann

Publisher:  Harlequin

Imprint:  HarlequinTEEN

Pub date: 10/25/2011

ISBN: 9780373210350

Author:  Melissa Darnell

Category: FICTION-JUVENILE

http://tweentribune.com/content/crave 

         “You were born freak.  That’s more than enough reason to make every member of the Clann hate you for the rest of our lives.  Now get .Out. Of. Our. Way!” pg. 21

Getting married in the fourth grade is an exciting adventure- especially for Savannah Colbert and her best friend, Tristan Coleman.  Unfortunately, the honeymoon is cut short when Savannah’s friends, including Tristan, abruptly cease all contact with her.  Now in high school, Savannah still hurts from the incident, and to make things worse, she continues to harbor a secret and forbidden crush on Tristan.  Savannah begins to experience extreme pain when Tristan is near her, and following her 16^th birthday, she becomes extremely ill. Savannah learns that she is a Clann member, just like Tristan, and that her sickness is caused by magic clashing in her body.

Tristan knows he is forbidden to speak to Savannah, and is carefully watched by the Clann. When Savannah comes back from being sick, Tristan feels an attraction so strong he cannot resist her. Ironically, every male in Savannah’s high school falls for her, and her “gaze daze” eyes hypnotize every boy in sight. Unaware of her Clann status, Tristan and Savannah start to see one another, but the secrets they uncover about their love, their families, and the Clann could shatter their chance at a relationship forever. 

“O.M. Freakin’ G.”… I LOVED this book! It has all the right ingredients for a best seller: strong characters, forbidden love, addicting plotline…and hysterical one-liners.  The relationship between Tristan and Savannah is electrifying, like “red velvet cake, chocolate meringue pie.. and apple pie a la mode combined”. Tweens…teens…and YA fans everywhere are in for a treat with Crave. Melissa Darnell~ you hit a grand slam!

I give this book my highest rating: A+

Author Signings in October

Simone Elkeles ~ October 13th from 6-8

Cinda Williams Chima~ October 26th from 6-8

Oceanside Barnes & Noble

2615 Vista Way, Oceanside CA

Come meet two of the HOTTEST YA authors in the teen book scene!

Wishes and Ice Cream

Cold Stone Make-A-Wish event on Sept. 27, 2011

Check out the Community Service link for more pictures and info!

Thank you Bulldog News and VAVPA families for making this event so successful! We helped raise close to $1,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego... how COOL!

Marco... you are SO COOL! Thank you for being YOU!

Can YOU go the Distance?

Finding and Achieving your personal best..

Last week we talked about setting goals- and that your job this year [and for the rest of your lives] is to work hard- do your personal best- and INVEST in your own success.  As we approach Benchmark #1~ I want to encourage you that no matter what your track record has been in the past , you have the opportunity to change your academic success today. Not only will I encourage you- I EXPECT you to work hard~ no complaints! You + me =WE... and together, we will do great things!

Nerd Day-Complete Success!

Nerd Day was a HUGE success!  The costumes were totally geektastic- and the pep assembly ROCKED! The Amazing Cheeto Head game was so much fun- thank you to the kids who wore the shower caps & threw the Cheeto balls! Great job ASB! Go to the Fun Pics link for more pictures!

Net Galley Review: Every Other Day

Title: Every Other Day

Publisher:  Egmont USA

Pub Date: 12/27/2011

ISBN:  9781606841693

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Category:  FICTION-JUVENILE-Action and adventure

            Who was I kidding? By the time the ouroboros symbol appeared on a person’s skin, it was too late for medical science to intervene.  The only thing that could save Bethany Davis’s more-popular-than-thou, oh so-charming personage was a trade, and even that was supposed to be pretty much impossible. But hypothetically, if the chupacabra did find someone it liked better, it might leave Bethany before it sucked all of the life out of her.

And if that person happened to be me…pg 43

            Kali D’Angelo goes to school, has a father, and is normal in every way… every other day that is.  On the “other” days, she is a fierce hunter, seeking out supernatural creatures to spill their blood. An unfortunate side effect to her condition is the inability to make and keep friends, until she moves into a new town where she is asked by her father to look out for Bethany Davis. Kali realizes that Bethany is “marked” and will soon die unless she invites the blood-sucking demon to enter her body instead. It takes the bait, and along with the demon comes a group of friends that have Kali’s back [Whether she likes it or not].

            Another addition inside her body [keeping company with the blood-sucking demon] is Zev- a voice of reason in her head. He is a mystery to Kali, and as she is forced to learn about her past, she also learns more about Zev and his mysterious connection with her life. Between fighting hellhounds, zombies, basilisks and ice dragons, Kali learns to trust her friends- and understand who [and what] she really is. In order to stop the illegal and immoral reproduction of preternatural creatures, Kali and her friends willingly walk into danger and risk their lives to rid the earth of these evil beasties.

     I loved this story.  It was so good, I read it in one sitting.  Jennifer’s style of writing is so fresh and clever, readers young and old will devour it.  Kali’s character kicks butt- [literally] and I cheered for her from the first page to the last. Every Other Day is a refreshing, addicting read that will thrill YA readers everywhere.  The zombie killing, hellhound whooping action will have you hooked immediately!

I give this book an A+ … it’s a winner!