The Book Sighting: Hidden Reads

The Revenge of Magic

Welcome to the eighth episode of The Book Sighting: Hidden Reads! This week, Watson Mountain’s very own Lasya discusses James Riley's The Revenge of Magic. Mrs. Maxell, one of Watson's fabulous English teachers, serves as guest interviewer. From Goodreads: When long-dead magical creatures are discovered all around the world, each buried with a book of magic, only children can unlock the dangerous power of the books in this start to a thrilling new series from the author of the New York Times bestselling Story Thieves! Thirteen years ago, books of magic were discovered in various sites around the world alongside the bones of dragons. Only those born after “Discovery Day” have the power to use the magic. Now, on a vacation to Washington, DC, Fort Fitzgerald’s father is lost when a giant creature bursts through the earth, attacking the city. Fort is devastated, until an opportunity for justice arrives six months later, when a man named Dr. Opps invites Fort to a government run school, the Oppenheimer School, to learn magic from those same books. But life’s no easier at the school, where secrets abound. What does Jia, Fort’s tutor, know about the attacks? Why does Rachel, master of destructive magic, think Fort is out to destroy the school? And why is Fort seeing memories of an expelled girl every time he goes to sleep? If Fort doesn’t find out what’s hiding within the Oppenheimer School, more attacks will come, and this time, nothing will stop them!

The Seventh Most Important Thing & Counting by 7s

To celebrate our seventh episode, Watson Mountain Middle School's Gela Russell (Assistant Principal) and Adam Howells (Instructional Technology Facilitator) dive into two incredible books with the number "seven" in the title: Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s and Shelly Pearsall's The Seven Most Important Thing. Both books' young protagonists navigate profound grief and discover their own strength through unexpected human connections. They also discuss the power of fiction and how stories can profoundly change the way you interact with others on a daily basis. Check out some of the art that inspirated The Seventh Most Important Thing: James Hampton | Smithsonian American Art Museum [https://americanart.si.edu/artist/james-hampton-2052].

Big Game (FunJungle)

Welcome to the sixth episode of The Book Sighting: Hidden Reads! This week, Watson Mountain’s very own Maya discusses Stuart Gibbs' Big Game from the FunJungle series. Ms. Peyton, one of Watson's fabulous English teachers, serves as guest interviewer. From Goodreads: When someone takes aim at Rhonda Rhino, FunJungle's pregnant (and endangered) Asian greater one-horned rhinoceros, the zoo steps up security measures in order to protect this rare animal and her baby. But the extra security isn't enough;someone is still getting too close for comfort. Teddy and company start to suspect that whoever is after Rhonda is really after her horn, which is worth a lot of money on the black market. For the first time ever, the head of the zoo enlists Teddy for help; for once, he doesn't have to sneak around in order to investigate, and the results are even more wacky, and even more dangerous, than ever before.

I Hope This Doesn't Find You

Welcome to the fifth episode of The Book Sighting: Hidden Reads! This week, Watson Mountain’s very own Navvy discusses Ann Liang's I Hope This Doesn't Find You. Mr. Chung, one of Watson's fabulous English teachers, serves as guest interviewer. From Goodreads: Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a "pleasure to have in class." It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She'd never send them of course -- she'd rather die than hurt anyone's feelings -- but it's a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie's work. All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. "You're attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you've been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft..." Sadie doesn't have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them... that is, until they're accidentally sent out. Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down. It's her worst nightmare -- now everyone at school knows what she really thinks of them, and they're not afraid to tell her what they really think of her either. But amidst the chaos, there's one person growing to appreciate the "real" Sadie -- Julius, the only boy she's sworn to hate...

Hidden Reads in the Watson Library

Welcome to the fourth episode of The Book Sighting: Hidden Reads! This week, Watson Mountain’s wonderful librarians, Ms. Larson & Ms. Buffi, discuss books that are not regularly checked out (but should be), as well as what makes the Watson library the literal and metaphorical heart of the school. Adam Howells, Watson's Instructional Technology Facilitator, serves as guest interviewer. Books Discussed: * The Lost Year [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60316963-the-lost-year?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=E1l2iuiRj9&rank=1] (2023) - Katherine Marsh * Between Shades of Gray [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824322-between-shades-of-gray?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=AyXXsaoySU&rank=1] (2011) - Ruta Sepetys * Salt to Sea [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25614492-salt-to-the-sea?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=nExtQyjdaZ&rank=1] (2016) - Ruta Sepetys * Maybe He Just Likes You [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43822752-maybe-he-just-likes-you?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ZxHV4VuU5o&rank=1] (2019) - Barbara Dee * Impossible Creatures [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205977739-impossible-creatures?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=RSQbQhD2CH&rank=1] (2023) - Katherine Rundell * The Poisoned King [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217497829-the-poisoned-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=RSQbQhD2CH&rank=2] (2025) - Katherine Rundell