Maria's Mélange

Short story anthologies are sometimes a bit hit or miss. You may adore a few stories in the bunch, but find some of the others rather forgettable. The latest anthology in the Guys Read series, though, is a work of art all the way through. Guys Read: Other Worlds   (Guys Read Library of Great Reading) by Jon Scieszka , Tom Angleberger (Goodreads Author), Eric S. Nylund (Goodreads Author), D.J. MacHale , Neal Shusterman (Goodreads Author), Rick Riordan , Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author), Shaun Tan , more… (side note from me - the "and more" includes a masterful story by the classic author Ray Bradbury!)  Hardcover, 352 pages Published September 17th 2013 by Walden Pond Press ISBN 0061963801 (ISBN13: 9780061963803) Source : I received an ARC from the publisher, but I've also asked my classroom parents for a copy of the newly released book for my library!  Summary :  There isn't really a "summary" of this book to share, since it is ...

I’ve done a lot of reviews for science fiction here as part of my mission to spread the word about the amazing things this genre can do for the curiosity and critical thinking skills of students - but this is the first time I’m featuring a short story.  The story, “They Might Be Dangerous” - by Kate Messner, was featured as part of the Scholastic Storyworks series. The story is designed to be read partnered up with a nonfiction piece called “Planet Hunters”. (The links for the pieces and extra resources are at the bottom of the post) Is there life on other planets? Will we ever meet with it - interact with it? What will that life look like? Will humanity have overcome enough of our prejudice and bias to reach out in friendship to life that evolved on another world? These are the very questions I wrestled with as a child. I can’t even begin to tell you how many drawings, stories, and poems I wrote about alien life in elementary and middle school. Kate’s story is exactly wh...