THE FIVE: Fantasy Books On My To-Read List

One summer, I very systematically went to the local library and read every YA fiction book I could get my hands on with the keyword dragon in the card catalog description. Secretly, I hoped learn how to obtain my very own dragon by reading as many books related to the subject as possible. Or at least know what to do when I, inevitably, would encounter one. (Now, looking back, my plan was rather shoddy — I should have looked in the nonfiction section, obviously). That was the height of my fantasy and science fiction fandom, and my favorites included the Dragon Chronicles by Susan Fletcher and the Redwall books by Brian Jacques.

Fantasy books were my favorite genre for a while, but since I've become a "grown-up" — *shakes fist at Time* — I just haven't made the time to read that many fantasy books. Well, that's all about to change!  Here are five Fantasy books that are on my "to-read" list:

THE FIVE: Book-Based Movies Starring . . . Me

The top five book-based movies I'd want to star in:

5. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Yes, I know there already is a movie and Dakota Blue Richards was actually a really good Lyra. But the movie ending was totally different from the book ending, and that was a big problem for me! I think they should remake the movie with the correct (i.e. book) ending, and this time I get to play Lyra. Although, it might be interesting to play Mrs. Coulter too. . .

4. Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
Because I have always wanted to be a princess in an enchanted castle. And a movie version of this book would totally bring it to life!

3. East by Edith Pattou
East is like a combination of The Golden Compass and Beauty, so in this movie I would get to be a princess in an enchanted castle AND ride cross country on the back of a talking polar bear.

2. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers
Theodosia is my new favorite female character. She is kind of like an old-fashioned Hermione Granger if she were stuck with Muggles her whole life, and her best friend was Indiana Jones instead of Harry Potter. Theo’s parents are archaeologists and bring back cursed amulets and stuff from Egypt, but only Theo can tell they are cursed. Of course, they don’t listen to her so she has to deal with the black magic all by herself. She ends up having some pretty awesome adventures. . . . which I would have no problem translating on the big screen!

1. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pierson
This movie would be so cool to star in, kind of like a combination of Pirates of the Caribbean and Peter Pan. I would get to fly, swim with mermaids, talk to dolphins, be chased by pirates, and captured by cannibals (ok maybe that part wouldn’t be so cool). And if I could make a suggestion to the Casting Director . . . Johnny Depp would be great as the pirate Black Stache!

If you could see your name in lights, what book adaptation would YOU want to star in?

— Sonja, Scholastic.com Editor

A Day in the Life of a Scholastic.com Editor

As the editor of the Books & Authors website for Teachers on Scholastic.com, I have a really fun job. I get to read all the books I could ever want — for free — before they are even published! (BTW Inkdeath is amazing. You are going to love it!) But the best part of my job is when I get to meet authors and talk to them about their books, which I did a few weeks ago at the American Library Association Conference in California. Here is how my day went:

• 8AM Wake up and get dressed
• 9AM Eat breakfast in the hotel
• 10AM Set up video equipment to tape the interviews with the authors
• 12 Interview Kazu Kibuishi. He was really sweet and talked about his graphic novel series Amulet. He even showed us his notebook where he sketches all his ideas before they make it into the final book.
• 1PM Interview Holly Black. She is so cool. She talked about The Spiderwick Chronicles and her new teen graphic novel series The Good Neighbors (for ages 12 and up) which is also about faeries, but the darker more evil side of faeries.

THE FIVE: Places in Books I'd Like to Visit

Drumroll please . . .

5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (overnight sleepover!), From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

If I got to pick one place in the entire universe to reside in for the rest of my life, I'd be merrily imprisoned in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This place simply rocks. It's one of the few buildings in the world that could claim an Egyptian temple, a hall full of medieval battle armor, and French Rococo living rooms with fancy jewel-encrusted tea sets, all under one roof.

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