a good book.

Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Stephen Guarnaccia
Pages: 32
Age Range: 6-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG

When the nation calls for knitters to send goods to the troops fighting in WWI a young boy can't see the importance of it all. But when a knitting bee is proposed and the girls taunt the boys saying they're chicken to even try the boys decide to learn and not only participate in the bee but learn some valuable lessons on the way. Great large illustrations and simple text make it a perfect introduction to war for young readers. An author's note at the back explains about the actual events the story was based on and there are photos in the end pages. Another lovely historical fiction picture book on a slightly obscure event.




 

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
Author: Liesl Shurtliff
Pages: 264
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Fantasy
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG


Rump is born in a land where your name foretells your destiny, and with a name like Rump things won't ever be good. His mother died just after giving birth and he's convinced she only spoke part of his name before she passed, adding to his troubles. So he sets out to figure out the rest of his name and escape his fate. He ends up finding the truth about both and it's more than he'd bargained for. This is a great re-imagining/re-telling of the fairy tale filled with magic, humor, heart and self-discovery sure to appeal to both boys and girls.

 

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Author: Susan Nilsen
Pages: 243
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2012
Genre: Realistic Fiction/YA
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13


Henry and his father have just moved to Vancouver, BC in an effort to start over after a murky event Henry calls 'It'. His mother is in another city with his grandparents, his older brother is dead and Henry has anger and coping issues and is forced to talk to his school counselor who encourages him to write his feelings in a journal. Each entry exposes a bit more of the past (which I won't disclose here because it's a huge plot point), his day-to-day life trying to cope with it all, his weight gain, lack of friends, trust issues, new life with his dad etc. An unlikely set of friends prove to be the support system he needs and when a similar incident rears its head with his new friends Henry is able to take a bit of ownership in dealing with it which leads him to being able to deal with the other event and begin to forgive his brother. This is a harsh and disturbing story with dark elements and a heavy tone but it's also one of those stories that needs to be told and the details aren't overly graphic or as grim as they could be. Bullying and school violence will continue to be timely topics and this book does a fabulous job of showing one of the lesser highlighted points of view.

a good book.

Or a few.  I've been on a wierd reading schedule the last little while with trying to pack and being gone and everything so I haven't read as much as I would have liked.  I've also been in a bit of a slump.  If you follow me on Goodreads you'll have noticed that most of my books have gotten a rather bland 3-star rating, nothing super outstanding.  But here are some of the rare few that have captured my interest and kept me reading  and excited beyond the blah and ordinary.

 

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever--or Snack Time?
Author:Tammi Sauer
Illustrator: Michael Slack
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4-8
Published: 2013
Genre: Picture Book
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG

Nugget and Fang are best friends. And life is perfect until Nugget, a minnow, goes to school and learns that sharks (of which Fang is one) eat minnows! His new friends convince him they shouldn't hang out anymore but Fang is devestated. He tries everything he can think of to tell them he's not going to eat them but it's not until he saves them from a fishing net that they finally believe him and now they're all friends together!

Unlikely friends are a common theme in picture books and the shark one saw plenty of play in Finding Nemo but I think that works in its favor in this case (I kept wanting Fang to burst into choruses of "fish are friends, not food"...though to convince said fish, not himself as is the case in the film) The illustrations are grand with bright and plentiful shades of blue and other tropicals. The texture is great as well; you get hints of wood and oil, sponge, collage and more giving it an authentic underwater feel and the creatures are delightfully cartoonish.

Sever
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 371
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2013
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopia/Sci-fi
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

Rhine is back under her father-in-laws roof but with the help of Cecily and Linden eventually finds herself on the road again with the two of them in tow searching for her brother in an effort to stop his terrorist antics and prove that she is alive. But she finds out Rowan is working for Vaughn and the world she's been trying to escape is not what she'd always believed.

I've finished up several trilogies in the last little while and all of them fell very flat; strong and intriguing first installments, weak seconds, and unfulfilling thirds.  This was the best of the bunch, keeping the tension and my interest right through to the end.  It still didn't quite meet the expectations I'd established with the first volume but it was pretty close. A heartbreaking but satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Doll Bones
Author: Holly Black
Pages: 244
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Suspense/Fiction
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG


3 kids spend the bulk of their time playing make believe games involving queens and heros, pirates and quests all acted out using various dolls and toys. But Zach's father thinks its time he grew up and Poppy and Alice are going through changes of their own as they begin to mature. When all of Zach's toys go missing he can't bring himself to tell Poppy and Alice the truth so a string of lies and misunderstandings ensue. Poppy takes it upon herself to bring them together with one final quest. This time they must venture out for real, across state lines to bury a china doll of her mother's she tells them holds the remains of a murderd girl whose ghost has been haunting Poppy's dreams. They go along out of spite and placation but as their quest gets stranger and stranger they realize Poppy may have been telling the truth all along. Equal parts creepy ghost story, quest and growing up this is a great spine tingling adventure perfect for those middle readers who are eager to be seen as older yet still have moments of clinging to their childhood.

Moloka'i
Author: Alan Brennert
Pages: 389
Age Range: Adult
Published: 2003
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

A young girl contracts leprosy and is taken from her family on the Big Island to live in the leper colony on the island of Moloka'i. Following her through childhood and on through old age we see her progress through the disease, cause trouble, fall in love, form friendships and lead a beautiful life that touches all she comes to know. Around her the world progresses as well; the Americans usurp power from Hawaii's queen, the world descends into war, pictures begin moving and lights are captured in small glass globes, yet through it all Rachel never loses her love of learning and her longing to discover the world around her and beyond the bounds of her life. 

There's so much going on here with lessons about the history and political background of the Hawaiian islands, the history of the treatment and eventual understanding of leprosy (now known as Hansen's disease) and its effects on the people who contract it as well as their families, and of course, Rachels own story. It's a heartbreaking story of love, life, and beating unbeatable odds. I can't stop thinking about it.
Those are the recent standouts. What have you been reading lately?

a good book.

It's been way too long since I did a book review (or any real consistent blogging.) I have some big announcements coming up as I've already hinted to but I'm still not quite in a position to say anything public just yet. But that's my excuse. Despite the nutsiness of life I have been doing a bit of reading (though not nearly as much I'd like!) Here are a few of my recent favorites.

Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas!
Author: Philippe Courdray
Pages: 32
Age Range: 7-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Graphic Novel
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG

Fans of Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking, rejoice! The bear is back with more hilarious situations and not-so-obvious solutions to the scrapes he finds himself in. Whether he’s crossing rivers, herding sheep, trying to rid himself of fleas, or catching squirrels Benjamin’s unique way of doing things is sure to bring a smile to the face of the reader. Each paneled story takes just one page to play out and relies on the perfect blend of visual cues and sparse text to deliver the punch lines. The length makes this volume ideal for newly independent readers yet to truly appreciate the jokes requires some higher-level thinking skills, thus a more advanced reader crowd is simultaneously pulled into the audience as well. Bright and richly colored illustrations expertly draw the eye to the pictorial puns and subtle subversive humor. These brilliant cartoons are sure to appeal to readers of all ages. Highly recommended! 

Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure
Author: Mike Wolfe
Pages: 113
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2013
Genre: Non-fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ****
Rating: G

Taking a leap from the small screen to the printed page, History Channel’s American Pickers host, Mike Wolfe, adapts his treasure hunting secrets and obsessions for a young audience of up and coming pickers. Covering such topics as the thrill of the hunt, where to begin and how to develop your own picking style, kids with a beginning interest in picking will have plenty to work with. Wolfe also ties in green trends like repurposing and sustainability, uncovering your own family history, making a profit, and using various resources to discover an item’s story, widening the appeal to those not necessarily looking to dig through endless flea markets and dumps. The orange, black and white palette give it an appropriately vintage feel and the lively layouts sprinkled with photos, real kid-picker profiles, and picking pointers adds to the book’s accessibility. This is a surprisingly versatile resource that would be a fine addition to any library.

Shadow and Bone
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 356
Age Range: 13 up
Published: 2012
Genre: Fantasy/YA
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG-13

Orphans Alina and Mal have only each other to rely on growing up and when they go off to fight for the fate of their kingdom together that loyalty is tested beyond anything they could have imagined. On a journey through the dark and dangerous Fold, Alina saves Mal’s life from a deadly vulcra by unleashing an unknown power. Targeted by the Darkling for her newly discovered ability she’s conscripted into the Grisha (the magical elite) and after rigorous training, introduced to court as the hoped-for Sun Summoner who will conquer the darkness of the Fold once and for all. Alina, however, is not used to magic or the intricacies and intrigues of court life and only when it’s nearly too late does she realize that things, and people, aren’t always as they seem. Hand this to fans of Graceling and Daughter of Smoke and Bone or anyone looking for a well-developed magical romance. Dripping with rich atmosphere and fascinating characters, this is a world readers will be loath to leave.

What have you been reading?

a good book.

The Lions of Little Rock
Author: Kristin Levine
Pages: 298
Age Range: 9-12
Published: 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: ***  (the image on the left isn't the same as the cover I had, but I like this one even less, it's far too generic)
Overall Score: *****
Rating: PG (violence, intense situations)

Marlee's world is changing. Her older brother is off to college, her sister is being shipped off to their grandmother's because the high schools are all closed in protest of integration and she's not sure she’ll be able to handle things on her own. She's basically a selective mute speaking only to her family (mostly her sister) and providing one word answers at school when forced. And then Elizabeth shows up. Liz has a way of pulling the words out of Marlee and making her do things she never thought possible. But when it's discovered that Liz is actually a light-skinned Negro their friendship becomes forbidden. Their world is volatile and the racial tensions in the city are real and life threatening.

When Liz goes back to her school she enlists Marlee to help her learn to be quiet and ignore the comments and slams she receives. The girls sneak around in an effort to see each other and call each other on the phone using fake names. Their efforts lead to more and more trouble until it escalates into an older white boy’s violent actions against Liz’s family and neighbors. But the girls won’t be deterred.

Listening to the lions in the nearby Little Rock zoo roar each night Marlee bolsters her courage (much as the lion in the Wizard of Oz, a movie the girls see together, does as well.) She decides to do what she can to keep the first friend she’s ever had.

Marlee and Liz deal with realistic portrayals of racism, ignorance and bigotry even from members of their own families. There’s a lot of history here with some background information on the NAACP, Emmitt Till, John Carter, the KKK, the Little Rock Nine, lynchings, bombings and more. There’s enough info given to explain the gravity of the situation without dwelling on it all, as befits the target audience.

Marlee is a fantastic character with a great voice and insight into the people around her. Because so much of her dialogue (at least at the beginning of the book) is internal we see her growth and evolution in a very direct way through her thoughts but also the words she chooses to say aloud and those she chooses to say them to.

Here’s a sampling:
You see, to me, people are like things you drink. Some are like a pot of black coffee, no cream, no sugar. They make me so nervous I start to tremble. Others calm me down enough that I can sort through the words in my head and find something to say.

My brother, David, is a glass of sweet iced tea on a hot summer day, when you’ve put your feet up in a hammock and haven’t got a care in the world… (pg 5)

Each new person she comes to interact with is labeled in this way; bubbly sodas, wholesome milk, shots of whiskey. Eventually it all leads to this conclusion near the end of the book:

Summing people up as a cola or a coffee wasn’t really fair. Most people were a whole refrigerator full of different drinks. Trying to force them into one cup or one glass meant I never really got to know them. (pg 271)

Not only does little Marlee find her voice but through her influence the people around her find their voices as well and slowly change begins to come. This is a quietly powerful fictionalization of 'the lost year,' 1958 (the year following the events of the Little Rock Nine) and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, the Civil Rights movement, equality or just plain great stories.

a good book.

Gravediggers: Mountain of Bones
Author: Christopher Krovatin
Pages: 323
Age Range: 10-14
Published: 2012
Genre: Sci-fi/Horror
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ***
Rating: PG

Beware of the zombie apocalypse! Zombies are taking over the world and a tiny part of me is content to be along for the ride. I think my real foray into the genre started when I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth when it first came out a few years ago. (Though I may or may not have participated in a few late night viewings of The Evil Dead movies in college.) I saw this movie a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it (though it's obviously not your traditional zombie tale.) And I'm more than a little excited to watch Brad Pitt take on the masses in this movie this summer. But I'm not a giant fan of gore so I much prefer to read about the undead than to watch them writhe and stumble about on screen.

Kids of course want to jump on the bandwagon of whatever trend happens to be enticing their older brothers and sisters but there are very few true paranormal and quality (sorry RL Stine) horror books for middle readers (and obviously even less for the young crowd.)  So I was thrilled to come across this book in our library's new orders recently.

A school group is headed to the wilds of Montana for their Homeroom Earth experience, learning all about wilderness and survival. Little do they know that in a few short hours they'll be literally running for their lives.

Three of the kids are lured into the forest following a huge buck and are soon lost. At first they don't panic. Kendra, the brain, has a map and compass and knows she can figure out a way back. PJ has a backpack full of food and other supplies thanks to his paranoid parents while Ian has more than enough confidence for the three of them. But the woods hold a deadly secret. Groups of campers and wanderers have been disappearing for years. Last year's Homeroom Earth was cancelled because the Pine City Dancers vanished the year before...or so the urban legend says.

First they hear noises, then the compass stops working and then there's the feeling of being watched. They seek shelter in an abandoned cabin only to find that the basement is filled with bones and a diary belonging to one of the lost dancers. It's no legend after all and their paranoia in the woods wasn't their imagination. The forest is 'alive' with the un-dead!

Things get even stranger when they run into an old woman who claims to be the Warden set to protect the land and keep the zombies in check but the kids have unwittingly broken her charms and she can no longer do it alone. They band together to survive and protect the rest of their friends who are still at camp and oblivious.  There is a satisfying, and age appropriately positive ending but we also have the kids being marked as 'gravediggers', zombie killers who help keep the balance but were disbanded years ago, which foreshadows the promise of a sequel.

This is exactly the kind of book that would have had me reading under the covers with a flashlight as a kid.  And the the kind of book that would have had me sleeping with that flashlight for the next week in an effort to keep the nightmares at bay. It's creepy and atmospheric. There's gore (I mean there is rotting flesh and walking dead and all) but it's not too over the top and while there's a good deal of peril there's not much in the way of actual violence so you can feel pretty comfortable in handing it off to most kids.


Looking for more kid-friendly zombie fare?  Try Zombiekins, Zombie in Love, or Paranorman.  Have a slightly older crowd? Give Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,  Rot and Ruin  or  I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It a go. (I can't vouch for the quality of these last two as I haven't read them myself, but they are on my TBR list so if anyone else has read them let me know if I should bump them up to the top!)

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #38)

13 Treasures
Author: Michelle Harrison
Published: 2010
Pages: 355
Age Range: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: ****
Rating: PG
 
First Sentence: She was aware of their presence in the room before she even awoke.

Tanya has always been able to see fairies. She’s tried to deal with them but every time she mentions them to anyone (or even simply writes about them in her journal) they torment her and make her life miserable. When her mother finds her in strange predicaments and Tanya offers no real explanations her mother makes her life miserable. When her mother can’t take it anymore she ships Tanya off to her grandmother’s house so they can all recoup.

Tanya and her grandmother have never really gotten along. Tanya always feels as if she’s a burden to be borne and as if she can’t do anything right. The house, a secluded and rundown countryside manor, is full of locked doors and surrounded by dark woods. Fabian, the groundskeeper’s son, is the same age and while a nuisance is her only friend. Together they get tangled in the mystery of Fabian’s grandfather, old Amos who lives upstairs, and a girl gone missing from the village many, many years ago. And then there are the babies and children that have disappeared in the last few months including one newborn from a hospital just a few days earlier. How do they all tie together and what do they have to do with Tanya?

This is a dark fantasy. Fairies and goblins aren’t Disneyfied and cute but amoral and often vindictive. There is extensive background on original fairy lore and their interactions with humans. It shouldn’t be too dark for most kids, but it definitely has a bit of a gothic chill about it. It’s well written with an old-fashioned feel to it, (think The Secret Garden but with menacing fairies) giving it a timeless quality though it is set in modern day England. Fans of The Spiderwick Chronicles will appreciate it as will those who enjoyed Fablehaven but want a bit more of the lore and like mystery rather than an adventure.

Apparently it's also the first in a trilogy.  Look for the sequels, 13 Curses and 13 Secrets as well.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #34)

Three Times Lucky
Author: Sheila Turnage
Published: 2012
Pages: 312
Age Range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: *****
Rating: PG
 
First Sentence: Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt.

Moses LoBeau, rising sixth-grader, was abandoned as a baby. She washed up on the shores of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina after a hurricane. Picked up by the Colonel, who also mysteriously washed into town that night with no memories of his past, they’ve been family ever since. He and Miss Lana, a stranger herself, built a café in town and have raised Mo as their own. Mo loves them dearly but she’s never given up her search for her Upstream Mother, even starting a detective agency with her best friend Dale to get the job done. But when Joe Starr, a lawman from Winston-Salem arrives in town and Mr. Jesse their neighbor ends up dead, Mo and Dale find themselves wrapped up in a real live mystery, one that will threaten their very lives.

I loved this book. Mo is spunky and endearing. I might be partial to southern characters but there’s just something about the way they can throw around quirky phrases and time worn adages that grabs me from the get go. And part of me has always wanted to live in a small town. Tupelo Landing is one of those everyone-is-always-annoyingly-in-your-business-but-will-stand-by-you-‘til-the-death kind, full of eccentric characters that add color, drama, and humor to the story. They’re all fleshed out enough to make you feel as if you know them without detracting anything from Mo’s place as the star.

The mystery is believable with just the right amount of suspense. There are a few twists and turns that kids won’t see coming and a few scenes that will have you wondering if everything will actually end up okay. A terrific story combined with fabulous characters? You’ve got yourself one great read.

And Mo has one of the best voices I’ve read in a while. Here’s a sampling:

In return, Mr. Li gives Dale and me free [karate] lessons for life. Dale hates it. I enjoy kicking others, but would do better in an art that allows spitting. (72)

I hesitated. The Colonel always says not to lie, but sometimes the truth doesn’t feel like a good fit. (19)

Sal, the smallest kid in our class, is shaped like a tube of lipstick. She wears Strategic Ruffles and curls her short brown hair to create the illusion of shape. She also possesses a calculator brain and a love for Dale that will go epic, if he ever notices. (107)

It’s too soon to really conjecture but I’d love to see this one make it all the way to the top. Highly recommended!

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #25)

Stealing Freedom
Author: Elisa Carbone
Narrator: Robin Miles
Published: 1998
Pages:258
Age Range: 9-12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Score: ***
Overall Score: ***
Rating: PG

First Sentence: (I don't remember!)

Thirteen-year-old Anne-Marie Weems is living a rather decent life for a southern slave in 1854. Her family resides in a home together in Maryland. Her father is free while the rest of them work for the Prices, an Irish family who mostly treat them well until drought hits, the master's crops fail and his gambling debts mount. Soon her older brothers are sold to slave holders in Alabama and the family fears they will never be together again.  Before the rest of the family can be separated the Underground Railroad and the Vigilance Committee step in. Her mother and sister's freedoms are purchased but the Prices refuse to let Anne go. She reluctantly moves with them to Rockville where she takes charge of their young niece who inadvertently teaches Anne to read and meets Alfred, a handsome slave who lives in town. But a plan is in the works to steal her to freedom and one night she is taken from her bed to begin a long and arduous journey north. Strangers risk everything to help her along the way.  First she spends months in hiding in Washington, DC in the home of a priest.  Her mother, father and sister are living just down the street yet no one knows she is there until just before it is time for her to leave again. Next she is disguised as a boy to make the journey to Canada where she is reconnected with an aunt and uncle and begins a new life as a free person.

I loved that you got to see more into the inner workings of the Underground Railroad, aside from just running and brief shelters in the dead of night. The author introduces you to black, white, slave and free characters who all take part in the journey (some aren't much more than mercenaries while others are involved for the obvious moral reasons) including people in other countries who donated funds to purchase freedoms when possible or to assist the cause by purchasing food, clothing and such.

Anne is young enough to have questions and not always understand what is going on but makes a lot of growth throughout the story.  She faces very adult situations and circumstances with just the right combination of naivete and street smarts to be believable and sympathetic.

I actually listened to this one as an audio book (hence the lack of first sentence above) and was pleased with the narrator. She spoke clearly and conversationally (sometimes they are so slow and precise it drives me bonkers to try and listen!)  She was no Jim Dale but she adopted voice changes to distinguish between characters and convincing accents (Irish, southern) when applicable. Definitely recommended.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #18)

Princess Academy

Author: Shannon Hale

Published: 2005

Pages: 314

Age Range: 10-14

Genre: Fantasy

Cover Score: ***

Overall Score: ****1/2

Rating: PG

First Sentence: Miri woke to the sleepy bleating of a goat.

I’d decided to re-read this one in anticipation of the release of the sequel later this summer and then found that Ms. Hale was going to do a read-along on her blog this month.  I’d intended to follow along but once I got into the story again I couldn’t read just a chapter a day, I’m too impatient.

Miri is a young girl living in a mountain village with her father and sister.  Her mother died just after giving birth to Miri and because she is so small she’s always been kept out of the quarry where everyone else works, young and old.  She feels unimportant and unvalued in many ways because of this and has struggled to find a place among the other girls her age who share the gossip, stories and experience of the quarry that Miri has missed.

But her sister is good to her and she has her best friend Peder.  Though lately their relationship has become a bit strained and awkward thanks to Miri’s evolving feelings for him.

One day troops from the ruling city come to tell them that the next princess has been prophesied to come from their village.  All girls of a certain age must leave their homes to attend a school to train them in preparation for a ball where the prince will choose his wife.  Many of the girls are ecstatic for a chance to leave the sleepy town and experience the world outside and daydream of their fairy tale lives with the prince.  But most of them are anxious about leaving their homes for the first time and that anxiety increases when they meet their tutor who is harsh and exacts unfair punishments on them for so many things.

Over the course of many months Miri stands out as an exemplary student and finds herself in competition with Katar, an older girl determined to win the prince’s affections. Miri spends part of the time in isolation from the other girls who believe her to be a stuck-up trouble maker though eventually she finds friendship with Britta, another outsider. Several experiences prove to the other girls that Miri is a born leader and her quick and far thinking allow them to earn extra privileges, make life a bit more fair under Tutor Olana’s rule and eventually ends up saving their lives.

This would be a fairly straight-forward story except for the aspect of quarry speech which gives it a bit of a fantastical bend.  The linder stone the villagers quarry seems to have nearly mystical properties.  Through it the villagers can communicate in a telepathic sort of way.  This figures prominently in the story on multiple occasions and is a key in helping Miri to find her path and personal strength.

I love Hale’s writing style and attention to detail. Her descriptions stay true to the voice of her narrator as if it were someone from the mountain village telling the story of someone they knew.  All of the images are based in things familiar to the people she is talking about.  For example:

One more snowfall, then the clouds retreated higher than any mountain.  Winter’s grip eased, and the sun seemed to lean closer to Mount Eskel.  It was painfully bright, the sky a hot blue.  The hard crust of snow softened and patches of earth emerged, showing green things rising out of the mud and pushing up onto the hills.  The smell of the wind changed—it felt thicker, richer, like the air around a cook pot.  Spring was stretching on the mountain.  (pg 113)

If you want to follow along with the rest of the read-along it’s not too late to start.  And be sure to look for the sequel, Palace of Stone, coming out in August.

Happiness is...a good book (Summer Reading edition #12)

So You Want To Be a Writer?
Author: Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood
Published: 2012
Pages: 186
Age Range: 10-14
Genre: Non-Fiction
Cover Score: **
Overall Score: ***
Rating: G

First Sentence: You pull into the parking lot of your favorite bookstore, knowing that this time it’s not going to be jut to meet your buddies. Someone else is expecting you—YOUR FANS!

This is a starter how-to guide full of encouragement for young aspiring writers. It’s chock full of information to get you started including:

• short bios and sketches of famous/established authors telling how they got started and sharing their writing habits
• q&as with young authors
• tips on finding the time and space to dedicate to your writing
• establishing your style and voice
• a collection of resources for writers
• how to work with a writing group
• basic story archetypes and genres
• quizzes and exercises
• journaling and prompt ideas
• the publishing process (proposals, contracts, agents, publicity)

There’s not really anything new here but it is very accessible and user-friendly, and the tone is encouraging and empowering. It’s a great start-up for the target audience, full of tips and advice.

I even found a few great reminders for myself:

• You can’t be a writer if you’re not writing!
• Learn to trust your gut.
• Focus on the writing and expressing what you feel inside and don’t worry about the rest. (For now!)

Fiction and non-fiction, poetry, journalism, screenplays, and lyrics are all touched on so anyone who is interested in writing of any kind should find something to get them going!

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #7)

The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate
Illustrator: Patricia Castelao
Published: 2012
Pages: 305
Age Range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Cover Score: ****
Overall Score: *****
Rating: PG

First Sentence: I am Ivan. I am a gorilla. It’s not as easy as it looks.

Ivan lives at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Living with Mack, the owner, for most of his life, Ivan has come to accept his circumstances and make the most of them by forgetting what little he remembers of his family and life in the jungle. His friends (Stella the elephant, Bob ‘a dog of uncertain heritage’, Julia the custodian’s daughter) are a comfort to him and all is well until a baby elephant arrives to help boost the failing circus’ revenue. Ruby is inquisitive, constantly pestering Ivan and the others for stories and answers to all of her questions. She inadvertently helps Ivan remember what his life was like before and the animals decide they must do what they can to make sure that Ruby has a better life than the one she’ll get in her small cage at the mall. Ivan has always been an artist, creating images out of mud when he was tiny and crayons and paint once Mack discovered that people would pay for a gorilla original. Ivan uses his talent (with a little help from Julia’s interpretations and understanding) to start a campaign to get them homes in zoos where they will have room to roam and grow.

Told in first person verse-like narrative, we see life through Ivan’s eyes and thoughts. We feel his pain as he is taken from his family and his longing for gorilla companionship and the taste of the wild again.

"Some animals live privately, unwatched, but that is not my life.
My life is flashing lights and pointing fingers and uninvited visitors. Inches away, humans flatten their little hands against the wall of glass that separates us.
The glass says you are this and we are that and that is how it will always be."**

“You could try remembering a good day, “ Stella suggest. ‘“That’s what I do when I can’t sleep.”
Stella remembers every moment since she was born: every scent, every sunset, every slight, every victory.
“You know I can’t remember much,” I say.
“There’s a difference,” Stella says gently, “between ’can’t remember’ and ‘won’t remember.’”
“That’s true,” I admit. Not remembering can be difficult, but I’ve had a lot of time to work on it.

The harsh realities of life are not glossed over. Humans are shown in light of their cruelty to animals. Death, neglect, ignorance; all are touched upon and a young sensitive reader might find it a bit too much. But it’s not graphic and opens the doors for great discussion and most will have their eyes opened to a reality they may not have otherwise imagined. And all is not dismal. There is much hope in the friendships and outlooks of the animals and many humans who seek to do right by them. The wise Stella even states:

“A good zoo is how humans make amends.”

Applegate uses Ivan’s memories to shed light on some of the gorilla’s habits and natural tendencies, particularly in family groupings, food, nurturing, displays of emotion, habitats etc. These are balanced nicely in the narrative giving readers some facts about the animals she’s humanized.

I loved Ivan’s story. While animals are definitely wild and not to be treated as anything but, that doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings and even personalities (anyone with a pet can attest to that fact.) By remembering they aren’t that different from us we might seek to treat them better than we do…there’s a fine line between giving them the respect they deserve and seeking to make them human. This is a simple yet powerful story of the rights of all creatures.




And I loved this quote by George Eliot found in the front:
                                  ~It's never too late to be what you might have been. 

I think that might have to be my new mantra!

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July tomorrow.  For those of us here in the States it means a day off in the middle of the week full of cookouts and fireworks and basking in the sun (and by that I mean trying not to die of heat exhaustion!)  But I will be enjoying it all from the comfort of my now air-conditioned house! That's right, the power is finally back on. Hooray for little miracles!!

I'll just warn you right now that there may be no book post tomorrow, but I'll give you two on Thursday to make up for it!


**apologies for the lack of page numbers here...I will remedy that as soon as have a copy in my hands again but I am way down at the bottom of a long hold list!

Happiness is.. a good book (Summer Reading edition #5)

The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom

Author: Christopher Healy
Illustrator: Todd Harris

Published: 2012

Pages: 438

Age Range: 8-12

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Cover Score: ****

Overall Score: ****

Rating: G

First sentence: Prince Charming is afraid of old ladies. Didn't know that, did you?

Prince Charming is tired of all the stories going around about him. They all are.  There are actually 4 princes (Duncan, Frederic, Liam and Gustav) each with their own talents, quirks and stories to tell.  But the bards who tell the tales seem to find pleasure in giving all the glory and great bits to the princesses and relegating the heroics of the princes to over generalized sentimentality. Ironically they find themselves being shunned by their various princesses for a number of different reasons and even being thrown from their kingdoms. So, separate from each other they each set off to hunt down the bards and change their stories.

Eventually they all meet up with each other and stumble on a wicked plan by a dastardly witch to kidnap the bards and have them tell of her exploits making her the most famous (and evil) character in history.  Determined to re-gain their hero status they combine forces to combat the witch with a little help from Cinderella, some dwarves (and please don't call them dwarfs), a giant, a dragon and more. Together they overcome a few of their personality quirks (or learn to use those quirks for good) and personal trials making them better people in the end, of course. The bards are also rescued but even in the end they don't seem to be able to get things right.

This was an utterly charming (pun intended) story with thoroughly enjoyable characters. As I read it I kept seeing a Disney movie running through my head (and I mean that in the best way possible) especially the newer versions with a bit of sarcasm and spunk and slightly off-kilter portrayals of typically stereotyped characters. Briar Rose was a spoiled brat, Snow White was a ditzy granola tree-hugger type, Rapunzel was shy and more of a loner and Cinderella (the primary princess) had a lust for adventure and a bit of a hero complex herself.  But it was truly the princes' story.

The dialogue was witty and quick full of banter and narrator asides and commentary that made me laugh out loud in spots.  Here's a sample:

I've got some important news about the royal wedding."
"Will there be cheesecake?" someone shouted.
"No, I'm sorry. No cheesecake. Actually--"
"Will you be taking your vows in a hot-air balloon?" another voice called out.
"No, of course not.  Why would someone do that?  So, about the wedding--"
"Will there be little sausages on toothpicks and a choice of dipping sauces?" yet another person yelled.
"No."
"What about cheesecake?"
"I already said there'd be no cheesecake. Look, people, please let me--"
"Will you ride up the aisle on a unicorn?"
"There's not going to be any wedding!" the prince blurted out. (pg 84)


The princes waved good-bye to the trolls and galloped off for their climactic showdown with Zaubera. Together again, and having had a little taste of victory, they were more optimistic than ever--which they probably wouldn't have been if they'd known that one of them was not going to walk away from that battle.
Oops, sorry about that. I probably should have said, "Spoiler alert." (pg 344)

Obviously my ideal Disney is tainted with touches of The Princess Bride, Stardust, some mild  Monty Python and the like. :)

In true fantasy fashion there was a map of the land and kingdoms at the front but I wish there'd been a list of the cast of characters as well. I kept getting interrupted in my reading (for days at a time) and when I'd go back I'd mix up which prince was which and the princesses they belonged with.  But that's pretty much my only complaint. It was just good, plain fun! Boys and girls will both love it and it would make a fabulous read aloud (though it is a bit on the long side.)  This would also make a fantastic audio book with the right reader.  And while there was a neat and tidy ending the author could easily pull a loose thread here or there to spin out a sequel or two.

And now fair readers I am off to enjoy a fabulous outdoor concert. Who will I be seeing?  Why, these amazing people...yes, again!

And I've also made a judicial decision. Rather than posting a book review every single day I am hereby declaring weekends 'review free'! I've just had so many other things coming up lately I don't think I'll be able to keep up.  So, you'll still get a review each day Monday through Friday until our Summer programs end in August but I may be MIA Saturday and Sunday.  I know you'll miss me but I'm giving you time to get some of these books to read for yourself!  So get busy! :)

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #2)

I'm baaaack!

So sorry about the confusion in the posting earlier.  For a quick re-cap go here or just know that I'll be posting a book review for each day of our Summer Reading programs at the library. We're back on track now with book #2.

The Secret Tree
Author: Natalie Standiford
Published: 2012
Pages: 245
Age Range: 8-12
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Cover score: ***
Overall: ***
Rating: G



First Sentence: Ghosts can live anywhere.

Voodoo curses, a Man-Bat, a missing cat, The Witch Lady, and a strange boy who lives in an abandoned model home; these are just a few of the mysteries Minty encounters the summer just before she turns eleven.  Add to that a best friend who doesn't feel so 'best' most of the time, constant tormenting by the Mean Boys, and anxieties about starting middle school and Minty's life is in constant disarray.

At first she and Paz (the BFF) are preoccupied by their obsessions with roller derby, practicing new moves and routines in every spare minute.  But when a mysterious prowler leads Minty on a chase through the woods she finds a hollow tree with a scrap of paper in it. And on that paper is written a secret. A secret that will change Minty's life forever.

The prowler turns out to be just a kid, Raymond, who lives alone in the model home next door to The Witch Lady. Together Raymond and Minty compile of book of photos of everyone in the neighborhood and additional secrets they continue to find in the tree, matching each person to their secret after spying on them. Paz can't be bothered with childish games and abandons Minty for the older, more mature Isabelle, leaving Minty hurt and confused. Raymond has more than his share of secrets and Minty wonders if she's the only one who isn't hiding something.

Their snooping leads to a few misunderstandings but ultimately the truth outs and all is well.


Here's a sample of the text:

The next day, my life was one sentence different than it had been the day before.  I kept looking at people I was used to seeing every day, and I wondered whether they felt that nobody loved them except their goldfish. Or if they were international spies.  (pg 31)

"Bring your harmonica over next time and we can play together."
"I don't have a harmonica."
"Too bad," Raymond said. "Everybody needs a harmonica. It's like a little pocket friend.  Goes wherever you go."  (pg 99) 
(**How could I not mention the harmonicas?!)

I was learning this thing about secrets: Even if they're not about you, once you know them, they feel like they could be about you.  Every secret connects to something inside of you, whether you know it at first or not.   (pg 148)

I was reminded of more than one book while reading this one...

• the snooping and creating a book with everyone's secrets made me think of Harriet the Spy
• the Man-Bat and various other neighborhood folklore made me think of Dandelion Wine
• the secrets hidden in the hollow tree trunk instantly reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird

It had an old-fashioned sort of feel to it with the kids being allowed quite a bit of freedom to come and go all day long, but there were enough modern references to keep it safely out of that realm. The characters were believable and realistically portrayed even if the solutions to their problems weren't quite as realistic. I don't see this as becoming a classic but it's a great middle reader that will definitely find fans (especially in the all-too-small niche of young roller derby enthusiasts!)