Jordan Sonnenblick Visit

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Jordan Sonnenblick Visit

• April 22, 2009

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Biography

• Born July 4, 1969
• Lives in Bethlehem, PA
• Plays drums and guitar
• Was a middle school English teacher
• Says, Thankfully, I've never met anyone who was
  sad 24/7/365. So even the most serious novel
  should have some humor in it.
• Has written 4 books

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Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie Jordan Sonnenblick

• Steven has problems-he constantly strikes
  out with Renee Albert, the hottest girl in the
  8th grade, and his four-year-old brother Jeffrey
  is always getting into his stuff. Steven often
  has to rescue his belongings from Jeffreys
  escapades, like the infamous dangerous pie that
  Jeffrey used Stevens prized drumsticks to
  concoct. But then Jeffrey gets diagnosed with
  leukemia, and Steven finds himself trying to hold
  everything together (school, music, girls)
  while his family deals with a critically ill
  family member. As he deals with his brothers
  illness, Steven must make a heartbreaking
  decision, while facing an uncertain future.

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Notes From The Midnight Driver
16-year-old Alex decides to get even. His parents
are separated, his father is dating his former
third-grade teacher, and being 16 isn't easy,
especially when it comes to girls. Instead of
revenge though, Alex ends up in trouble with the
law and is ordered to do community service at a
senior center where he is assigned to Solomon
Lewis, a "difficult" senior with a lot of gusto,
advice for Alex, and a puzzling (yet colorful)
Yiddish vocabulary. Eventually, the pair learn to
deal with their past and each other in ways that
are humorous, entertaining, and life changing.

• When I was writing Notes From the Midnight
  Driver and reading it aloud to my class, I
  threatened to name the bully after two of my
  students, just to have something over them.
  (Note from Jordan)

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Zen and the art of faking it
13-yr-old San Lee has moved many times in his
short life so he considers himself something of
an expert at being the new kid. However, this
time, he decides not to try and blend in or even
to disappear into the background. He decides to
win friends by being unique. And what better way
to accomplish that goal than to pretend to be a
Zen Buddhist master? Its harder than it sounds!
Video Interview
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Dodger and Me
I bet youve heard the story of the guy who
rubbed the lamp and a genie popped out to grant
him three wishes. And I bet youve thought about
what you would wish for if it happened to you.
So you can imagine how disappointed Willie Ryan
is when he picks up a soggy fast food bag in the
middle of the woods near his house, and instead
of a genie Dodger pops out ready to help
Willie solve a couple of problems hes been
having. Instead of an all-powerful genie, Dodger
is a bright-blue chimpanzee who wears orange
surfer shorts and an eye-patch (cause it makes
him look cool). And instead of granting him
three wishes, Dodger throws Willies life into
complete chaos!
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Book Sale

• March 16th-20th
• Borders will bring books here.
• If you bring money you will be able to buy books
  during lunch in the cafeteria.
• Mr. Sonnenblick will autograph his books on the
  day of his visit!

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Prices

• Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
• Paperback - 5.83
• Notes From the Midnight Driver
• Paperback - 5.83
• Zen and the Art of Faking It
• Hardback - 13.78
• Dodger and Me
• Hardback - 13.78
• (prices include tax)

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Authors Lunch

• Some students will be able to have lunch with the
  author in the Media Center. Lunch will be
  provided, and you will have the opportunity to
  have your picture taken with the author. We will
  also play a game of Sonnenblick jeopardy.

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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket

• Write an essay describing why you should be
  chosen
• Create a movie poster
• Design a board game
• Make a Photo Story
• Write a song or rap
• Create a recipe for your own version of
  Dangerous Pie

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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket

• Write an essay describing why you should be chosen

Directions Write a one page essay explaining why
you should be chosen for the authors lunch.
Entries should be turned in to the media center
by April 15, 2009. You may type your entry
(Times New Roman font 12, double spaced) or you
may submit it in blue or black pen on this page.
Maximum of one page please.
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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket
Create a movie poster

• Directions Read one of Jordan Sonnenblicks
  books. He has written Drums, Girls, and
  Dangerous Pie, Notes from the Midnight Driver,
  Zen and the Art of Faking It, and Dodger and Me.
  After reading one of his books, create a Movie
  Poster for the book you read. Think about which
  actors should play which characters in the book.
  Think about the setting in the book and where you
  would like to shoot the movie. Decide on a movie
  slogan based on the books theme. Now using your
  artistic skills design a movie poster for one of
  Jordan Sonnenblicks books. You may want to look
  at some sample movie posters on-line before you
  design your own. Movie Posters are due to the
  media center by no later than April 15, 2009.

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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket

• Design a Board Game

Directions Read one of Jordan Sonnenblicks
books. He has written Drums, Girls, and
Dangerous Pie, Notes from the Midnight Driver,
Zen and the Art of Faking It, and Dodger and Me.
After reading one of his books create a game
board based on the events, characters, and
setting of that particular book. Your board game
could resemble Monopoly, Clue, Trivial Pursuit,
or design your own. Make it bright and be
creative. All game boards should be turned in to
the media center no later than April 15, 2009.
If time allows at the authors lunch you and a
few other students may have a chance to play your
board game, so be sure to include instructions.
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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket

• Make a Photo Story

Directions Read one of Jordan Sonnenblicks
books. He has written Drums, Girls, and
Dangerous Pie, Notes from the Midnight Driver,
Zen and the Art of Faking It, and Dodger and Me.
After reading one of his books use the Photo
Story software to create a presentation that
summarizes the books major events, characters,
setting, and theme. Save your Photo Story
presentation onto a thumb drive so it can be
saved onto the student drive. Be sure to alert
Ms. Bauleke, the media specialist, that you have
a photo story presentation by April 15, 2009.
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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket

• Write a song or rap

Directions Read one of Jordan Sonnenblicks
books. He has written Drums, Girls, and
Dangerous Pie, Notes from the Midnight Driver,
Zen and the Art of Faking It, and Dodger and Me.
After reading one of his books, write a song or
rap based on the books major events and themes.
It is recommended that you find a well-known song
and use its beat and tempo. Look up its lyrics
and then following the pattern from that song
insert your own lyrics based on one of
Sonnenblicks books. For example, below are the
lyrics from My Girl by the Temptations. You
could use this lyrical pattern, but change the
words to reflect the events or themes in one of
Sonnenblicks books. You dont have to use a
songs lyrical pattern. You could create your
own original song as well. If you want you can
perform and record your song using the Audacity
software. All raps or songs are due to the media
center by no later than April 15, 2009.
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How To Win An Authors Lunch Ticket

• Create a recipe for your own version of
  Dangerous Pie

Directions Read Jordan Sonnenblicks book,
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. The little
brother in the book describes the dangerous pie
he invents. Write your own recipe for dangerous
pie. Be creative, but make it look like a
professional recipe. Consider making your
dangerous pie at home and taking a picture to
include with your recipe. Below is an example of
a professional pie recipe from Food Network. You
could use the format below to help you organize
your recipe for dangerous pie. All recipes are
due in the media center by no later than April
15, 2009.