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A lot of you saw the movie Rags and said it was one of your favorite movies ever. We interviewed the beautiful Keke Palmer, and now we have an interview with Max Schneider who plays Charlie in the movie, and also plays Zander in How to Rock.
You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.
Today's Readalikes are for the classic mystery detective Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene. 18-year-old Nancy Drew is beautiful, bold, intelligent, wealthy, and can pretty much solve any mystery that gets thrown at her. Even though these books were first published in the 1930s, Nancy Drew is still the ultimate teen detective.
There are a bunch of books in that series, as well as the movie Nancy Drew. But once you've finished all those, what to read next? Try these other mysteries with super-smart detectives. Click on the book cover below to see a whole bunch of other Nancy Drew Readalike books you might also love.
Hope you enjoy our Readalikes!
—Amanda, Scholastic Booktalker
Trivia: Leap Second . . . & Leap of Faith!
On February 29, we posted Leap Year Trivia Quiz because 2012 is a Leap Year. Did you also know that 2012 has a Leap Second? A leap second is one second added to clocks worldwide to compensate for the slowing of Earth's rotation.
Believe it or not, there is an International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service, or IERS for short. (Wow! I wonder how I get a job with them?!) They determine when to add a leap second. Since 1972, a total of 24 seconds have been added to the clock. And the next one will be added on the last day of June. So on June 30th, 2012, there will be 86,401 seconds instead of 86,400!
In honor of cosmic leaps, we have some wacky Leap Second Trivia for you. Imagine if there were other things you could leap. For instance . . .
Let us know your Leap Answers and any other wacky Leap Questions you can think of in the Comments below.
Don't forget there's one extra second on June 30th. Spend it wisely. Myself, I think I’m going to use it to eat an extra Hershey's Kiss . . .
— Ratha, STACKS Writer
Million-Dollar Writing Prompt
Today's Write On Writing Prompt comes to us from WhiteBlack7 who challenges us with a question I would looooove to have to answer some day.
What would you do if you were rich?
Maybe you would give money to charity? Or buy lots of new stuff? Bling out your wardrobe? Help your family? Or a specific cause? The sky's the limit. We can always dream!
Give a shout out to WhiteBlack7 in the Comments below with your answer. Inquiring minds want to know!
— Ratha, STACKS Writer
Scottish warrior movie BRAVE!
About a year ago, I gave you a sneak peek of the upcoming Disney Pixar movie, Brave. Well, now it's finally here! The U.S. release date is June 22, 2012, and I think it looks really good.
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida confronts tradition, destiny, and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh, and cantankerous Lord Dingwall.
Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.
When you see the movie, you may recognize some of the voices because 3 of them were actors in the Harry Potter movies! The actors who played Ravenclaw's ghost (The Grey Lady), Professor Trelawney, and Hagrid all voice characters in Brave. Leave a Comment if you recognize their voices, and can tell which characters they play in Brave.
Image courtesy of Disney/Pixar
Human Rights: Did You Know . . . ?
We know you care deeply about things. In addition to having fun just being kids, you want to actually do something to make the world a better place. We here at the STACKS are super-proud of you!
Today, we are talking about human rights. The United Nations has a Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says that all people are born free and equal and deserve the same rights no matter who they are. Sadly, not everyone actually gets these human rights.
Here are just a few facts about human rights around the world. Just talking about these things can make a difference, so go out and inspire your friends and family to do something about human rights!
Did you know . . .
Discover More Technology
Have you ever wondered what the inside of a Smartphone looks like? Or how an Xbox Kinect works? Or who invented the iPod? Find out all this and more in Technology, the latest book in the Scholastic Discover More series.
After you read Technology, use the digital code to redeem the free companion digital book, Cool Tech Heroes, onto your Mac or PC. In the digital book, you can read about the inventor of Facebook, the guy who invented Super Mario Bros.TM, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female astronaut.
Take a special sneak peak at Technology!
--Miriam F., Scholastic Nonfiction Publisher
Summer Word Scramble Game
Happy summer, everyone! Last week's Trivia Quiz was a two-fer from AmberBlack111 from the STACK Back Message Board. You got a summer-themed word scramble game AND a Would You Rather quiz. How did you do?
Here are the answers.
Writing Prompt: Book Setting
Today's Write On Writing Prompt comes to us from Skyelark Moon who asks an interesting question . . . not which character would you be, but which place would you go?
If you were to go to any place in a book, where would you go? What characters would you like to meet? What would you like to do? Would you go on an adventure the character went on and change the whole plot of the book?
I couldn't decide between Hogwarts (from Harry Potter) and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). In the end, my sweet tooth won out. Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory just seems so fantastical that I wouldn’t be able to resist! I'd love to lick the lickable wallpaper, float along in the chocolate river, and sample sweets to my heart's content.
What about you guys? Let Skyelark Moon know in the Comments below!
— Ratha, STACKS Writer
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, Maurice, and, yes, the penguins are back in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted! The animals have all escaped from the zoo, and Scholastic Kids Press Reporter Dani Bergman Chudnow got to escape school for a "press day" with all the actors who voice the characters in the movie. She met the actors in a hotel in New York City and videotaped her interviews with them. SO LUCKY!!!
My favorite part of the video is when she asks all the actors, "If you had to run away and join the circus, what would be your act?" Their answers are hilarious!
June 20 is World Refugee Day
According to International Law, "a refugee is someone who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality." In other words, a refugee is someone who must leave his or her country because life is too dangerous there.
How awful to have to leave your home! It is estimated by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants that there are 6 million refugees in the Middle East, over 3 million in Africa, and another 3 million in Asia. And many of them are children just like you!
While it's impossible to truly imagine what it is like to be a refugee, reading books about their stories can help you to get a better understanding of what their lives are like. Here are some amazing books to get you started.
Mystery Series! Sleuth or Dare: Partners in Crime
Norah and Darcy have been best friends since third grade when Darcy moved in next door to Nora. They are two of the smartest girls in 7th grade, but they couldn't be more different. Norah is a goodie-two-shoes math whiz who wants to be an astronomer one day. Darcy is a spunky computer hacker whose "moral compass leads to trouble." At times, Norah can't believe she's friends with Darcy.
As part of a Social Studies project, the girls decide to create a website promoting a fake detective agency called "Partners in Crime". Everyone seems to like it – a little too much. Before they know it, Norah and Darcy receive an email about their first real case! They don't know what to do! They're not really detectives, but the case is too good to pass up. "Please find my twin sister."
Partners in Crime is the first book in Kim Harrington's new detective series Sleuth or Dare. Join Norah and Darcy in their next adventures, Book #2: Sleepover Stakeout and Book #3: Framed and Dangerous.
--Elysse, STACKS writer
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