Booking It

It's blogtastic

2010-10-24T14:17:00.001-05:00

Thank you to those of you who have continued to check my blog in hopes that I would finally begin posting again. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to post blogs for a while, but now I am back and it is time to get some blogging done. Please stay tuned for the next few weeks as I blog my heart out about the books that I have been reading/hearing these past six months. Thanks for your patience. It feels good to be back.

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen

2010-05-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

Pages: 29

Ages: 2+

Publication: Already Available

Illustrations by : Mark Teague

In this rhyming story, different dinosaurs behave badly for their human parents, but the humans love them despite their misbehavior. The dinosaurs experience the same things a human child might, such as waking up grumpy and throwing sand at the playground. The human parents are disappointed, but know that the rewards of a smile or a hug are just around the corner and misbehavior is not enough of a reason to leave/stop loving someone.

This story has a simpler and less diverse vocabulary than some of Yolen's other rhyming stories, but remains fitting for her intended younger audience. The concept of this story is also a little simpler than Yolen's other works, again because of intended audience.

Yolen presents the concept of misbehavior and unconditional love with simple honesty. I like that dinosaurs, not children, are the subjects of the book because Yolen takes the "blame" and guilt away from the child as a reader and projects it onto the dinosaurs--an important technique. Instead of feeling accused, the child will feel empathy for both the dinosaur and the parent. Also, in seeing the parents still love the dinosaurs after they are bad, young readers can relate the book-parent's unconditional love to their own parents.

Teague helps the story with big, bright dinosaur pictures and wonderful background details. Since the book is aimed at younger audiences, Teague adds enough details to make the scene look real, but not overwhelm the eye of the younger reader. Those readers interested in the illustrations will find the dinosaurs' bedrooms interesting and the playground details fun to decipher. Teague focuses on the dinosaurs in each scene by placing them in the foreground, drawing the readers eye away from open spaces, and coloring the dinosaurs brightly. The dinosaurs don't look scary, but aren't too "cartoony" either. It is a perfect balance for the younger readers.

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? is a good lesson presented in a gently way--a must have for every loving household.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 Pages

The Seeing Stick by Jane Yolen

2010-05-10T13:21:00.003-05:00

Pages: 30

Ages: 4+

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini

A blind princess lives her life oblivious to some of the beautiful things that surround her. Because of her handicap, the princesses father decides to seek help for her, but no one seems to be able to. When an old man from far away comes to town and says he can help the princess, the guards are skeptical, until he shows them the seeing stick. Thus, the princess begins to learn the fine art of seeing by other means than her eyes.

The Seeing Stick is a charming folk tale set in ancient China. Readers will feel sympathy for the princess and her distraught father as she lives in darkness and he tries to find a cure. Readers will also feel awe and inspiration as the old man carves his stick with scenes for the princess to "see."

Terrazzini beautifully illustrates the story with imagination and vivid imagery. The first image of the book is dark and dreary with only a few smoky reds and greens added sparingly, then as the princess and her world begin to brighten, color is added more liberally. The first full-color illustration is 10 pages in. The choice to slowly add color to the illustrations reflects the story's plot and creates a way for readers to identify with the princess as she begins to see things herself.

An added bonus to this book is that readers can "see" some of the portraits the way that the princess does. Raised, glossy pages, add texture (literally) to the story, and make this book a tactile reading experience. The seeing stick comes to life in and on the pages of the book!

Rating: 4 Pages

Saved by the Music by Selene Castrovilla

2010-03-18T15:35:00.002-05:00

Pages:280

Ages: 14+

Publication: Already Available

When Willow spends the summer helping her Aunt Agatha remodel an old barge into a floating chamber music concert hall, she runs into all kinds of trouble. First, there is sleazy and good-looking Craig, who looks at Willow like he could plunder and pillage right in front of her Aunt. Then, there's the fact that the barge is still largely a metal box that doesn't have a shower, or a real place to sleep. Willow is away from her friends and her mother, dealing with the strangeness of her aunt (in a good weird aunt kind of way), a new place, new people, and her own distorted self and body image. And there's Axel.

Castrovilla creates a compelling story in her debut teen novel. I've praised her before for telling it like it is, and this story is no exception. It is gritty, real, and unabashedly open. At times, the emotions and events are so realistically portrayed that I felt a bit like a peeping tom. As Willow muddles her way through the hurdles of anorexia, rape, love that can't be requited, and trying to save the life of her friend, the story can seem to spiral downward quickly--just like Willow.

However, even with all the dark and heavy issues this novel tackles, there are several lighter spots to break it up. The more humorous moments come from Aunt Agatha, who sees the world as her playground, and seemingly is unfazed by the problems that come her way. Agatha is so carefree that when her car looses a tire in traffic (TWICE!), she laughs it off and accepts s ride with a colleague until her car can be repaired. There are other laughs too, but none so plenty as Agatha.

The characters of this novel are pretty stock: the hurting young girl/woman; the heroic crush with a sordid past; the overly sexual twenty-something male; the absent, but beautiful mother; the cooky aunt (or semi-supportive matriarch). These characters only get short breaths of life as the story progresses. Many of the conversations between characters seem to happen over and over on one subject or another, which stalls the plot of the book.

I really bothers me that Willow truly believes that she is ugly and unlovable, even to someone as loathable as Craig (who takes advantage of her in the worst way). After all the trauma and trouble Willow has been through she should have more growth and self realization, but she seems to believe that she is nothing without Axel. She says that without Axel she is "pissed and lonely," but she eats because she "owed it him" to take care of herself. I wonder why Willow can't see that she owes it to HERSELF to take care of herself. It is only upon Axel's return, a year later, that she feels happy and worthy again. Perhaps readers will see Willow's constant self deprecation and take something positive from it. If readers can see that Willow is not worthless, maybe they can recognize their own self worth.

The novel is interesting and Willow's voice will rings true in many parts. Castrovilla constructs a neatly laid story with the obligatory year later and looking up ending. Her constant play of darkness and light pays off in the end. This is an important read for anyone in the shadows.

Rating: 3 1/2 Pages

Come to the Fairies' Ball by Jane Yolen

2010-03-15T16:54:00.000-05:00

Pages: 29

Ages: 3-7

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Gary Lippincott

In this rhyming story about a fairy whose dress isn't good enough to wear to the open-invitation ball, Yolen weaves a tale that echos many fairy tales. The fairy, with a dress tattered from hanging too long on a thorny plant, is comforted by ants who encourage her to work diligently until her dress is repaired. Meanwhile, a grouchy prince won't celebrate at the ball because nothing is good enough for him. The prince most surely is looking for a beautiful fairy with whom to dance, but can the fairy repair the dress in time for the ball? And is the late fairy the one who will make everything perfect for the prince?

Come to the Fairies' Ball uses amazing onomatopoetic vocabulary and still manages to rhyme! This is one of the most interesting rhyming stories I have ever read because of the alliterative and creative words that Yolen uses to describe the action. The author also sets the fairy kingdom in reality, but does not forget the magic. Fairies ride to the ball on rabbits, turtles, and butterflies, but readers still sense a bit of magic (and maybe even a little love) in the air. In keeping in the tradition of fairy tales the book is gently laced with lessons about punctuality, friendship, hard work, helping others, and true love.

As for the illustration, I like that Lippincott eschews the Disney version of fairies and uses earthy tones of browns, greens, pale yellows, and oranges. Even inside the glowing hall where the ball takes place, the colors remain earthy. The fairies themselves are not the usual fairies either. Lippincott portrays the inhabitants of the kingdom as angular and as varied in looks as any group of humans might be. Many fairies have pointed elf ears, large angular noses, and long thin bodies. These fairies are far from the rounded, flushing, wand carrying, sparkling versions of fairies children often see in modern media. There isn't a sparkle or a wand to be found.

My absolute favorite illustration is that of the actual ball. The hall is warmly glowing and the fairies are all cutting loose. There is so much detail in this one picture that readers could quite possibly find a new something every time they open the book.

In all this story is a fast, fun, rhyming love story that leaves readers believing (in fairies, love, fun, and friendship).

Rating: 4 Pages

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Annette Laing

2010-02-16T14:27:00.014-06:00

Pages: 209
Ages: 9+Publication:
Already Available (2007)

When Hannah, Alex, and Brandon skip out on their summer extracurriculars to wander the campus of Snipesville State College, they wander into the college library. In the library, the children meet a mysterious professor and then find themselves magically transported to WWII England.

The children are asked to take on new names, participate in London evacuations, and solve the mystery of a missing child. Can three American children survive in WWII England? And more importantly, can the children solve the mystery in time?

In her debut novel, Annette Laing delivers. This novel is slow to start, but once the story gets going it is hard to put down the book. Part historical fiction, part mystery, part modern teen lit, and part sci-fi, Laing creates a unique storyline that has something for everyone.

With a wide geographical and temporal range, Laing gently compares and contrasts the lives of modern children in the U.S. with those of children from two different time periods in England. All three settings are during times of war, however the modern U.S. children seem blissfully unaware as to the goings on in the Eastern hemisphere whereas the children in England have bombs being dropped on their doorsteps. Astute readers will be able to draw meaning from Laing’s parallels and juxtapositions.

While the plot and action of the storyline were well developed, I feel like the characters were a little underdeveloped in places. The professor seemed more of a literary device than a person, especially after the forward takes the time to introduce her work to the audience. The professor appears and disappears at various times, but never seems to really give the children any help, or illuminate the story for readers.

Perhaps the main thing that bothers me is that I really don’t like Hannah. The character doesn’t seem to learn much from her hardships. I was actually happy when she was given an old fashioned spanking. On the other hand, Laing may be getting at something very real with Hannah. At her age, Hannah is beginning to form her own opinions and question authority. Regardless of her “issues,” Hannah is coming into her own—a transition that is hard to make no matter what time period one might be in.

What I liked about the book was all the things that the children do get to experience. It is a realistic look at the way things were in WWI and WWII England. I also appreciated the different takes on racism throughout the book. It startled me to hear that blacks were treated so badly in England, and I laughed out loud then the dentist put English superiority into stark perspective. I also like that the foods aren’t so delicious and that children were looked at in a different light during the wars.

In all, I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to more adventures with Hannah, Alex, and Brandon.

Rating: 4 Pages

By the Sword by Selene Castrovilla

2010-01-11T13:47:00.002-06:00

Pages: 40

Ages: 9-12

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Bill Farnsworth

When America went to war for independence from the British, so did Benjamin Tallmadge. A school teacher by trade, Tallmadge gave up his profession and joined many other young men in the pursuit of freedom; freedom by the sword, the cannon, and the rifle. But what is it really like to give up the safety of your old life and enter the chaos of the Revolutionary war? Benjamin would soon find out.

Castrovilla paints a vivid picture of what life was like as a member of George Washington’s troops. Based on a memoir and other historical documents, the author creates a work of historical fiction that not only encompasses the brutality of wartime, but shows the human side as well.

Castrovilla eschews the usual “glory” of war stories in children’s history books and tells it like it was. The story’s main character endures days in a muddy trench, eats tiny rations of raw meat, and fears for his life every time the thunder rolls. This realism is refreshing in that Castrovilla gives history with the ugly and the good; she recognizes, in specifics, just what sacrifices soldiers of that time were asked to make.

The main character, Benjamin Tallmadge, brings to life the human aspects of wartime. His thoughts, actions, worries, and fears clue readers into just how much the American side struggled during the Revolutionary war. When Benjamin forgets his horse, Highlander, during an undercover flight for safety, he risks his life to retrieve his beloved animal. Even during a war, Benjamin protected his pet as he protected himself.

Bill Farnsworth adds more to the story with haunting and slightly out of focus illustrations. Oil paintings that lack sharp focus and minute details serve as both metaphor of the haze of war and a reminder that history remembers big events, not the small details—sometimes the small details are lost all together! The soft focus and muted colors also help to show the violence, but leave the graphic stuff to readers’ imaginations.

Interesting, intimate, and involved; this book is a good introduction to the Revolutionary war as it truly was. The happy ending will keep young readers from getting overwhelmed and serves as confirmation that troublesome times can lead to better times. This should be a classroom staple.

Rating: 4 Pages

Pumpkin Baby by Jane Yolen

2009-12-03T14:47:00.002-06:00

Pages: 28

Ages: 3-6
Publication: Already Available
Illustrated by: Susan Mitchell

When a girl visits her aunt’s pumpkin patch as a three-year-old, her aunt and mother joke about a baby pumpkin. The girl wonders if it is possible to love a pumpkin baby. Later, the girl’s mother jokes with the mailman about a stork baby and the girl imagines a flying baby with long legs.

In this book, Yolen creates an imaginative and fun book about what it might be like to have a younger sibling. As the main character, a little girl, grows older, she finds that there are many different phases of babyhood. Eventually, the little girl gets an actual younger sibling of her own and sees her brother grow through the vegetable and animal stages described earlier in the book. In the end, the girl finds she loves her younger brother no matter what stage of life he is in.

The idea of family and siblings (younger and older) is explored with love within this book. I also like that Yolen hints at the different ways in which to answer the ever- haunting question: “where do babies come from?” Yolen explores and then gently debunks these myths while giving each myth a real life connection through metaphor.

Susan Mitchell illustrates the story in bright colors and big, geometric shapes. The pictures are simple, yet telling. My favorite pictures are the last two pages, where the girl and her little brother share a picnic and then a nap. These pictures illustrate the more quiet part of love that siblings share.

Yolen and Mitchell are a great pair for this story; it is beautifully told and beautifully illustrated.

Rating: 4 Pages

The Scarecrow's Dance by Jane Yolen

2009-11-24T14:29:00.006-06:00

Pages: 29

Ages: 4-8

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Bagram Ibatoulline

The Scarecrow's Dance is one of my favorite rhyming books. When an old scarecrow leaves his post in the corn field to dance the night away, he encounters something he never expected.

The scarecrow gleefully twists and twirls after being relieved of his duty to keep the cornfield free of destructive crows, but quickly returns to his post when he hears a little boy's prayer. The scarecrow realizes that even though dancing gives him joy, he is just as joyful in knowing that he is the best at keeping the fields crow-free.

Yolen touches on family, joy, and duty in this magical tale of a dancing scarecrow. The scarecrow is an great example of how one can get restless doing what he/she is supposed to do. The scarecrow has grown bored on his post and needs to get away for a while. He does so by dancing.

When the scarecrow realizes that he is needed at his post for the sake of his family (a family that cares very much for him), he feels a renewed sense of joy and pride in a job that he earlier felt was less important that self-satisfaction (dancing). Children will realize that helping family, or anyone else, might not be the most fun thing in the world, but it feels good to help someone who needs you.

Ibatoulline beautifully illustrates the didactic story. The dark colors of the first few pages accurately portray twilight and the coolness of nighttime, but leave enough color to make the reader feel joy when the scarecrow takes off dancing. The contrast of the colors when the scarecrow looks in on the praying boy is amazing. The boy's entire room is filled with warmth and love while the scarecrow stands cold, but illuminated.

My absolute favorite illustration is the pages when the scarecrow is leaping into the sky to position himself back on his pole. It is a bug's eye view of the scarecrow leaping into the air and the color, composition, and details are absolutely perfect. I have a feeling that even careful attention was paid in placing the stars in the sky.

I liked this book so much that I shared it with my nephews who are both under 3. They loved the book. The younger nephew repeated the rhyming words and the older nephew seemed to look at the barnyard illustration for hours. When the nephews visited a few days ago their first request was to read the "ska-cow" book again. And again we did. And again. And again. And again...

Rating: 5 Pages

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

2009-11-12T21:36:00.004-06:00

Pages: 48

Ages: 5-9

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Gail De Marcken

E.T.A. Hoffman's classic story becomes highly visible when Gail DeMarcken illustrates it. In the story an enchanted doll makes toys come to life after midnight and DeMarcken captures the adventures of one little girl in vivid snapshots of fantasy.

The illustrations in this book are yet another good example of how to bring to life such a fanciful story. DeMarcken uses bright colors and the look of a snug, candlelit room to create a feeling of warmth and safety at the beginning of the book. However, when the lights go out, the colors change to the vivid strangeness of dreams and fantasy. Each picture is detailed and captures so much more of the imagination than just reading the story.

This is what a picture book should be.

Rating: 5 Pages

The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson

2009-11-12T21:03:00.005-06:00

Pages: 34

Ages: 3-6

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Jon J Muth

The Christmas Magic is a fun book for younger children to read when Christmas gets close. The book focuses on Santa Claus and how he knows when Christmas is near. Thompson does a wonderful job of giving specific details as to what Santa's house looks like and how meticulously Santa works to ready himself for his biggest night of the year.

So, how does Santa know what to bring all the children of the world? How does he get the reindeer to fly? How do all those toys fit on the sleigh? And most importantly, how does he deliver all those toys in one night? The answer is right on the cover of the book. Even adults might want to believe again after reading about how much love goes into everything Santa does.

Jon J Muth beautifully illustrates Thompson's story with bright colors and insightful paintings. Children who can't read yet, or just like to add to the story will be able to look at the illustrations and find new things each time. I also like how Muth eschews the fat, jolly, and red Santa for a character more like the French Father Christmas.

In this book, the pictures and the story create a Santa full of love, magic, and giving, which might be just the right way to introduce a child to Christmas.

Rating: 5 Pages

Winter's Tail

2009-10-27T20:22:00.002-05:00

Pages: ?

Ages: 4+

Publication: Available

Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again (picture coming soon) is a wonderful book and true story about a little dolphin that survives a big ordeal. When Winter gets caught in some traps meant for other sea animals, she begins struggling and ends up more tangled than before. Thanks to a watchful fisherman, Winter is rescued and sent to a facility where she can rest and repair. Winter was lucky to be alive, but had a tough journey ahead. Her tail was too damaged and fell off, leaving her unable to swim.

This book chronicles Winter's journey from tangled and mangled to happy and healthy (minus a tail). While it is a short book, it is full of meaning for those who read it. Nature loving children will like the real life photos of the brave dolphin, rescuing children will like to know how Winter was helped, and other children will connect with Winter's hardships while she learns a new skill. In short, the book will appeal to all kinds of children (and adults, too!).

I especially like the part of the book where winter gets a prosthetic tail and people with prosthetics begin to come and see her. It is nice to know that animals and humans can bond over something so tragic/magic. I also like the technical aspects that are included in making Winter's tail. The book gets pretty specific, but not so in depth as to be daunting.

I think that this book could be a great addition to several classroom lessons as well as a inspirational tool for parents/guardians.

Rating: 4 Pages

Giving Up the Ghost by Sheri Sinykin

2009-09-28T15:01:00.002-05:00

Pages: 227

Ages: 12+

Publication: Already Available

When thirteen-year-old Davia goes with her parents to Louisiana to help care for dying Aunt Mari she discovers a world that her parents can't see. In forming a tentative friendship with Aunt Mari, Davia learns about family history, life on a southern plantation, and that Aunt Mari can see ghosts. Ghosts of her family members from generations ago, that is. Mari has only one request for Davia--help her die in peace by helping the ghost of Emilie find her own peace.

Davia begins a journey into a world that she isn't even sure she believes in, but she is determined to help her Aunt Mari. When Emilie does finally appear, she and Davia don't get along so well. As the two get to know each other and Davia finds out about the past (from Emilie and Mari), the two begin to work through their problems. Through Emilie, Davia begins to see the "ghosts" which she's been holding on to and Emilie finally tells Davia the truth about her death and why she insists on haunting the plantation. But will Davia and Emilie finally give up their ghosts in time to let Aunt Mari give up her own ghost?

This story is beautifully written and perpetuates the often-used older woman-younger woman friendship through storytelling. While Sinykin sets her story in post-Katrina Louisiana, the plot does not revolve around disasters that happened during or after the storm. In fact, the mention of Katrina serves as a metaphor for Davia's life in the past few years (her mother has cancer). Just as Louisiana is slowly healing (with a few parts still in shambles), so is Davia and her family.

The characters in this story are archetypes at best. For the most part, Davia, her mother, her father, and Emilie are just shells of real people. Only Aunt Mari, the dying one, is full of life and personality. However, in a literary kind of way the lack of "character" and the "shell-ness" of the other people in the story is a reflection of their hardships-they are simply going through the motions.

The scenes in which Emilie and Davia converse seem strange and too young for the girls. They seem to play a game of secrecy more like 10 year-olds than 13 year-olds, which makes for a frustrating and unproductive story line. The girls fight like sisters (they are related!), but don't really seem to have a good enough relationship for what happens in their last encounter to be plausible.

I applaud Sinykin for the scene in which Aunt Mari "gives up her ghost." It is beautifully written with a quiet calm that isn't often seen in books with death scenes. Everyone should be so lucky as Aunt Mari. The description of Davia's emotions in this scene is enough to make even the most sensitive of readers smile and the most calloused readers feel the warmth and freedom of letting go. Of the many death scenes that I've read, this will be one that stays with me for a long, long time.

This is a quick and heartfelt read that will have readers engrossed from the very beginning.

Rating 4 and a half pages

Death Mountaion by Sherry Shahan

2009-09-09T15:32:00.005-05:00

Pages : 198

Ages: 12+

Publication: Already Available

When Erin skips out on her trip to see her estranged mother and opts to hitchhike, she comes across Mae and Levi (Mae's brother), who are going to hike up the mountains and swim. Erin quickly decides that Mae and Levi would make for a much better trip than the emotional reunion with her mother will bring.

As Erin, Mae, and Levi arrive at the mountain, they find that there are search parties for a missing ranger. Erin, ignoring the foreboding feeling she has, decides to go ahead and climb the mountain with Mae, Levi, and some people from a search party. However, when the mountain unleashes its fury in a lightning and thunderstorm, the girls are separated from the group and must survive in the wilderness of the mountain for days.

Shahan creates a survival story that will have readers feeling time creep, exhaustion set in, and cold night air blast into their bodies. The descriptions in this book are very realistic, especially when it comes to the terrifying and beautiful storms that the girls are forced to endure. Through her descriptions, Shahan creates a violent natural world, but one that is not overly "gory," even when the girls happen upon a dead body. I applaud the author for excellent use of description in that respect.

However, there are parts of the book that are so detailed and descriptive about things that seem somewhat unimportant that the movement of the story is dragged down. In a way, the slowness of the plot at these points echoes that of the creeping time the girls experience, but the reader might get a little bored with the floundering plot.

Along the same lines, the dialogue between Erin and Mae gets tedious and a little redundant while they are finding a way back to civilization. I'm wondering if this isn't a product of the slow moving plot during the "Wilderness Trek." What can two girls really talk about when survival is the utmost important thing on their minds? The dialogue lull I will dismiss as circumstantial, since dialogue before and after the girls are alone is spot-on with humor, story movement, and characterization.

While I have to admit this book was not really my pace (I was trying something new!), I did enjoy reading it. The suspense of the girls' journey and the contrast between home and wilderness proved to be a good combination. I also like that Shahan has the subplot of the estranged mother that is resolved, but leaves room for a sequel that further explores some of the ideas that are hinted toward and linger at the conclusion of the book. I would like to know what happens to Erin after she has been home for a while.

In all, I think this book will stand up to other survival stories out there. And props to Shahan for writing a wilderness survival book about two intelligent and strong young women!

Rating: 4 Pages

Secrets of Truth and Beauty

2009-06-17T13:35:00.003-05:00

Pages: 352

Ages: 12+

Publication: July 2009

Megan Frazer's Secrets of Truth and Beauty has something for everyone. The book has mystery, action, romance, and a healthy dose of dysfunctional family.

In the book, it is no secret that Dara Cohen is fat (her word)--people can see that. What people can't seem to see is what a great person she is, or that she has a sister whom she has never met. When Dara gets into trouble over a body image project for school, she decides to find and call her long-lost sister. Rachel, Dara's sister, is surprised and pleased to her from her and invites Dara to meet her.

Dara picked up the phone to call Rachel and spite her parents, but she never bargained her life would completely change. Rachel is noting like Dara's parents said she was, and Dara begins to suspect her parents were lying about the past. As Dara begins to unravel the mystery of her sister, she learns a great deal about herself as well.

Frazer weaves a wonderful tale in this book. All the characters have depth and are full of life. Even secondary and tertiary characters are so vivid I felt as though I knew them. The descriptions of people and places are worthy of awards. I found myself sitting at the dinner table with the farm crew, waving from the float at the parade, and secretly reading the diary of the farm's owner when I thought no one was awake. In short, I was pulled completely into Dara's world.

While much of the focus of the book is on inside change, the author focuses some on the fact that Dara is overweight. The book is filled with Dara backpedaling on her statements about being fat. Sometimes Dara says her weight does not hold her back, but when she mets Owen, the H-O-T, hot farmhand, she decides he could NEVER like her because of her weight. It almost seems like in the end, Frazer lets Dara base her worth more on a beauty pagent and her ability to attract boys. Sure, the moral of the story is inner strength/beauty, change, and growth, but all that comes at the price of the typical, "I can't be beautiful outside because I'm fat" mantra.

In all, this book was a good read. Dara exemplifies a strong (at the end) female lead character who knows what she wants/needs and stands up for it. Readers will be pulled in by the mystery of the absentee sister, will stay to find out the story behind the farm, and will read to the end to find out what Dara decides really matters. The book doesn't hold anything back and there are scenes that are so raw and real that readers might feel like they are spying (although I doubt any of the farm members would really care). This story has the makings of a classic.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 pages

Horrid Henry

2009-06-17T13:30:00.003-05:00

Pages: 78-90

Ages: 7-10

Publication: Already Available

Horrid Henry, an Atlantic crossover written by Francesca Simon, is Dennis the Menace for the contemporary crowd. Horrid Henry's antics can be reminiscent of Disney Channel's Even Stevens Louis Stevens.

I read four Horrid Henry titles including: Horrid Henry, Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy, Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine, and Horrid Henry's Stink Bomb. Each title has 4 stories in one book and several illustrations to go with each story.

Simon weaves didactic tales of bad behavior and possible consequences into funny and true-to- life tales of childhood antics. The plot of each story moves quickly (it has to because of the length of the story), which means each tale is action packed from the very beginning. Horrid Henry and alliterate friends (and enemies) find themselves in situations that I remember clearly from my own childhood.

Whether Henry is tricking his younger brother, Perfect Peter, into thinking boys will wear dresses and lipstick in the future or plotting to trick the tooth fairy into giving him money for a tooth he didn't lose, the tales will make child and adult readers alike laugh at Henry's fervor.

The only thing I don't really like is that it seems like Simon consciously changed some of the words from British vernacular to American English vernacular. Henry says words like, "cookie," "candy," and, "dollar coin" instead of "biscuit," "sweets," and "pound coin." The tooth fairy story seems a little off when Henry's parents promise to give him a dollar coin, which we have, but don't generally use. Why not have Henry ask for a "Quid?" Sure, some of the words don't "translate," but a glossary could be included. I LOVED glossaries for "different languages" when I was a child.

In all, the series was enjoyable to read and will interest readers of a wide variety. Horrid Henry was fun, fast, and easy to relate to.

Rating: 4 Pages

Satisfied Saturday

2009-05-16T15:16:00.004-05:00

There are two things that satisfy me this Saturday, so I’ll just get right down to it.

The first thing is the Degrassi Goes Hollywood movie that is scheduled to air this summer. From the previews I’ve seen, it looks like the Manny and Paige rivalry will be a focus and while some old characters will return for a visit, a few new characters will be introduced. I’m super excited to see this movie and can’t wait to watch it!

The other satisfaction I have today is having a copy of Dallas Reed’s Shimmer. I’ve been asking my library to purchase this book for months and now I have a solid copy in my hands. The reading begins at 6:30 tonight and will be interrupted by an episode or two of Star Trek: Voyager, but I’ll post a review shortly after I finish reading.

It is a good Saturday!

Those Are For the Kids!

2009-05-14T17:29:00.005-05:00

Since we're gearing up for summer reading here, there are lots of supplies just lying around and looking tempting. The theme is "Get Creative," which allows us to get creative too. Hence, there is an abnormal amount of STUFF accumulating in our back office.

Particularly tempting are the crayon, glitter glue, paint and construction paper reserves that seem to increase exponentially on a daily basis. I'm one of those people who looooooves "crafty things" and walking into the back room is like entering paradise (if the mess can be overlooked). Am I strange for thinking this way? Possibly, but I don't care. Crayons rule!

As I was breathing in the smell of creative potential (c'mon you know you recognize that smell, it's in the same family as new school supplies), I began to peek into boxes and pick up a few of the items. I was holding a bottle of glue and reminiscing about elementary school (c.1990s'), and I must have looked like I was going to run away with glue in hand because a coworker shouted, "Put that down, those are for the kids!"

I put the glue back, of course, but I'm thinking that I NEED to stop at the store tonight. What's on my list? Glitter glue, construction paper, crayons, stickers...

Emily the Strange: the Lost Days by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner

2009-05-07T14:31:00.004-05:00

I have to say, I’ve never been a big “counterculture” fan, but this newest installment of Emily the Strange is quite good. I like Emily, even if she is a little creepy.

In this new book, Emily has a tough case of memory loss. Now she’s on a mission to figure out why she has the memory loss, who did it to her, and what she needs to do in order to fulfill her duty. Emily awakes in a town where she’s never been (or so she thinks) and sets out on an adventure to solve the mystery of her amnesia. When clues lead to something bigger than herself, Emily must figure out how to defeat her enemy and save the day. Can she do it in time, or will the unnamed enemy win and send her packing without answers?

Emily is one of the strongest and best developed characters I have read lately. I imagine her slightly deadpan, but even that has a biting sense of humor to it. It is also to the writers’ credit that Emily is a strong, smart, independent, fearless girl who loves science, technology, and solving mysteries. It is rare that all those qualities can be found in the character of a young girl of today’s literature.

The plot of the book was interesting and gave enough clues to guessing, but not too many that the mystery was “easy” to solve. The missing pages of the diary are affixed at the end, so the readers can fill in the gaps that Emily can’t fill herself (or perhaps she can, since she reads them too). There were so may set-ups and pay-offs right at the end, that it seemed almost like the readers had amnesia right along with Emily. Who could have known that Raven was good at driving AND taking impossible dares? Readers find out what Emily knows when Emily knows, thus the genius of the book. However, readers are likely to see all the clues add up before the dénouement if they think of the book in retrospect: clever.

Emily the Strange: the Lost Days will keep readers interested with its mystery, oddball characters (and I don’t mean Emily!), strange science, and witty commentary done in diary style. This will be a must-read for fans and newcomers alike.

Rating 4 and a half pages

Teaser Tuesday

2009-05-05T19:01:00.002-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Rules:
1. Grab your current read
2. Open to random page
3. Share 2 teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
4. Be careful not to include spoilers!
5. Share the title and author

Here is my teaser:

“Detective Inspector Pearce got up from her chair. ‘I’d better go,’ she said, but I’m not sure that anyone listened except for me and Dad, who had not joined in the shouting either.”

The London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd

I’m super excited to read this (I’ve only read the first two pages!) because: 1) I lived in England for a while and I’m excited to transport back “home” 2) I’ve been on the London Eye 3) I can’t resist a good mystery and 4) I know from above there is a woman detective in it!

Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez

2009-05-05T18:17:00.008-05:00

Publication Date: June 2009
Ages: 8-12
194 Pages

Newcomer Diana Lopez colors the tween scene with her debut novel about a normal Latina girl who loves socks, sports, and science. If only Lina’s life were actually that simple.

Apolonia “Lina” is a girl with a lot on her plate. Still smarting from her mother’s death a year ago, Lina and her father can’t seem to find a comfortable place in which to exist with one another. Lina thinks her father is too interested in stories and Lina’s father thinks she is too interested in anything but.

As an added bonus, Lina’s best friend, Vanessa, has begun using her to secretly date a new boyfriend and Lina’s current crush doesn’t seem to like her “that way.” Oh, and Lina’s English grade has dipped so low that she can’t play sports and her teacher has sent her to the school counselor.

Lopez does a smashing job of portraying an all-American character that doesn’t fit neatly into the all-American mold. Lina is Latina and lives in Texas, but she seems to easily transition between the two cultures in which she frequently finds herself. I really like that Lopez makes Lina’s dual world normal and does not focus too much on one culture or the other. In fact, there are dichos disguised as chapter headings in Spanish and English, as well as a healthy smattering of un-translated Spanish throughout the text.

I think this duality will ultimately be to the book’s advantage because both cultures are very real, but neither is shown to be better or dominate, they simply co-exist. The book does not become a culture “war,” but rather a story about a girl finding her place in a world where both cultures exist. Lina does not have to choose one over the other—she can have both. And so can readers.

The character of Lina is vivid and real. She is quirky, smart, tenacious, and unabashedly pursues her unique passions. However, other characters in the story seen a little flat. Vanessa seems to be the all too often used “flakey friend,” Lina’s dad is the clichéd unavailable brooding widower, and Vanessa’s mom is the very epitome of a man-hater. Bleah. While the story is largely about Lina and her struggles, the overall effect of the novel would have been greater if these characters were more developed and didn’t seem purely incidental to the plot.

For the most part, this bildungsroman unfolds as one might expect. However, it is to Lopez’s credit that the novel ends on a positive note, but does not have a syrupy sweet perfect ending. The sense at the end of the book is that things are looking up, but Lina still has some hardships to overcome. The ending is realistic, yet hopeful; but not overdone.

Lopez sends a clear (but subtle) message to her readers: listen to the wisdom of the ages; be who you are, not who you think you should be; and when life hits bottom, there is nowhere to go but up! Lopez reiterates a message that can’t seem to be delivered enough.

Rating: 3 and a half pages

Weekly Geeks: All About the Animals

2009-04-25T11:05:00.004-05:00

Favorite Books:

My little brother and I absolutely loved The Fox and the Hound. We had this book and tape set that we read until the flimsy paperback fell completely apart and the tape actually broke inside the cassette. Our absolute favorite part was this: “We’ll always be friends forever. Awoowoowoo!” It was the howling that we thought was so great. We also loved The Very Hungry Caterpillar; Brown Bear, Brown Bear; and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (although I’m not sure if the song or book came first).

When I got a little older, I loved Charlotte’s Web, but I had issues with the book. It never made sense to me that no person thought Charlotte was incredible. I always screamed in my head for someone to notice Charlotte instead of just Wilbur. When I read the book again in my 20s’, I realized the incredible sacrifice Charlotte made for Wilbur and I was touched by the story.

Pets:

About 9 months ago, I got a Yorkie puppy and I decided to name her after an author. While the author isn’t exactly a children’s author, I liked him as a teen and I still enjoy his work. The only problem was that my puppy was a female. Hence, Douglissa. I named her after Douglas Adams and her life is full Hitchhiker’s Guide. Douglissa, or Dee, for short, keeps a towel with her almost always. I gave her the towel the first night I brought her home and she dug it out of the trash when I deemed it too icky to keep. Of course she got to keep it. Dee’s toys (now thoroughly chewed) are named, Ford, Zaphod, Humma Kuvula, and Deep Thought. Maybe I went a little overboard with the likeness to Hitchhiker’s Guide, but it amuses me. Douglissa makes me happier than reading Mr. Adams’ work ever did, but he still ranks a very close second.

So there ya’ have it.

Movie Review: 17 Again

2009-04-23T19:22:00.004-05:00

17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry as Mike O’Donnell at 17 and 37, uses conventional methods to tell a conventional story. A man, unhappy with is life, is given a chance to do it all over again and maybe make the right choices this time.

The movie unabashedly flaunts its already-been-done-to-death plot in a scene where Ned (the best friend) and Mike (recently 17 again) pour over hundreds of comic books, myths, and other literature in order to find answers for Mike’s transformation. While this scene was slightly amusing, the admission of guilt on the writers’ parts made me roll my eyes and groan.

The movie opens to a high school and a basketball court in which a game is about to take place. Gee, Zac Efron as the big shot basketball player, hum where have I seen that before… I almost thought I’d misread the theater signs and walked into High School Musical (1, 2, or 3, it really doesn’t matter).

Another thing that bothers me is: I think some people failed to do the math. The opening sequence shows Mike O’Donnell dancing to Young M C’s "Bust A Move." While the song did come out in September of 1989, Mike would have had to dance to it in early to mid year as he graduated in 1989. The song just wouldn’t be out yet.

Also, Mike learns that his girlfriend is pregnant at the beginning of the movie and twenty years later his daughter is still in high school. I’m no math genius, but 20 years minus nine months equals over 19. Hum… Sure the film’s release date was pushed back, but if it is billed as 20 years later, people will assume the movie is taking place in 2009 and dates adjusted accordingly.

I won’t even get started on the scene where 17-year-old Mike and his son have lunch on Mike’s first day of school (just watch Mr. Efron’s burger) or the other scenes that were blatantly incongruent/ lacking continuity.

With all that said, the movie does have a certain “everyone” appeal. Teens and tweens will want to see Efron, parents might be fans of Perry, action lovers will get plenty of light saber fights, and romantics will fall for the honey sweet ending. There are a few funny bits throughout the plot (that aren’t completely predictable), mostly found in the antics of Ned in his enthusiasm for wooing and courting the school’s principal.

I found myself rooting for Mike as he began to connect with his children in a way he couldn’t before. Mike’s reconnection with is children is where the movie shines, proving that parents were once kids too and they might know more than kids could imagine.

I was won over by Efron’s portrayal of a teenaged father with teenaged children and I found that at times ( but not during the obvious lectures) I could see both the teenager and the father in his soul; a mighty feat of acting, if you ask me.

Overall, the movie was sweet, easy to predict, and occasionally funny as Mike navigated his way from 17 to 37 to 17 to 37 again. The movie offers a few philosophical moments for the more cerebral audience, but ultimately feels average. Nothing in the plot or writing particularly wowed me and the acting was fine, just not great. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I might even watch it again someday.

Rating: 3 Pages

What is This That I Hear and Do Not See?

2009-04-13T18:17:00.004-05:00

I admit I’m a bit of a book snob. I want the book physically in my hand and to read it with my eyes and my imagination, not with my ears. However, I just finished listening to my first audio book, and I LOVED it. I chose to listen to Suzanne Collins’s Gregor and the Marks of Secret, read by Paul Boehmer. While I am enamored with Collins’s writing already, I like it even more when it is performed on this audio book.

I decided to listen to the book in my car, usually when I was going to or coming from work, so I finished it within a week.

I like how Collins creates suspense in her written works by leaving the reader dangling at the end of each chapter. When I read the first three books, I was always promising myself one more chapter, then reading five more just to find a place that didn’t leave me wanting more, which usually didn’t happen. The audio book does the same thing, particularly between discs. I kept the car idling to squeeze in one more sentence of the story.

Since I have to have the physical book with me, I found it a bit of a challenge to keep up with the plot. I would find my mind wandering and have to back up the CD. I don’t think that the mind wandering was because the audio book was boring, but rather because of my inexperience at LISTENING to a book. Eventually, I figured out how to retrain my brain, and now I can drive and see the action in my head (without being a road hazard!).

While my review of the book is probably similar to that of the Overlander review, I just felt that the audio part of the whole experience was more important. Now I feel as though a whole new chapter (ugh, sorry about the bad pun) has opened in my book life. More importantly, I wonder: where can I get a gig reading books out loud and get paid for it?

Rating: 4 pages

A Library Program

2009-04-11T13:23:00.002-05:00

Discussion and Activities for Rules by Cynthia Lord

Time Needed: 50 minutes to 1 hour

Supplies Needed:
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Several hardback and paperback books that are OK to destroy
Several CDs, tapes, or floppy disks that no longer function and can be destroyed
Several rolls of receipt tape or toilet paper
10 rubber ducks
A large plastic box/container
Several pencils, pens
Several pieces of blank paper
Index cards
Crayons, pencils, markers
Preprinted coloring sheets, coloring books

The activity portion of this lesson is designed to be experienced first. The activity focuses on a set of rules that participants must break or follow. Six stations (three to break the rules and three to follow the rules) should be set up throughout the instruction space. Participants will travel to each station and follow the directions printed on direction cards. Only allow 3-5 minutes at each station; then have the participants switch to the next. Below is a listing of each station and the rules to break or follow. Please note that the stations and rules can easily be altered depending on budget, supplies readily available, participant needs, and/or book relevance. Those stations listed are EXAMPLES only (however they were actually used for a book club presentation).

Station One:
Rule to Break: No toys in the fish tank.
Supplies: 10 rubber ducks, large plastic box, container

At this station, participants get to be David for a moment; they are given a rubber duck and asked to TOSS/THROW it into the plastic box or container. If the instruction area allows, the container may be filled with water, but blue construction paper can just as easily represent water. The participants may play a game to see who can make the most baskets.

Station Two:
Rule to Follow: Make three new cards for Jason’s communication book. Make one VERB, one ADJECTIVE, and one NOUN.
Supplies: index cards, crayons, pencils, markers

At this station, participants take the place of Catherine and make some cards for Jason’s communication book. Participants should take the cards they make with them for later use.

Station Three:
Rule to Break: Don’t unroll the paper, unless you need it.
Supplies: Receipt tape or toilet paper

At this station, participants are allowed to unroll as much or as little of the paper as they’d like. Some children might toss the paper or play catch with a friend.

Station Four:
Rule to Follow: Choose a partner and WRITE a message to them. Communicate an entire conversation without saying a word.
Supplies: Pencils, blank paper

At this station, participants get to be Jason for a moment and experience what it is like to not be able to communicate through talking. Have children keep the conversation for later discussion.

Station Five:
Rule to Break: Don’t misuse or destroy books, tapes, CDs, or other things from the library.
Supplies: Books, CDs, tapes, and other materials that can be destroyed, pens or pencils

At this station, participants can tear pages out of books, snap CDs in half, pull the tape out of the cassette (like David does) or simply write on the materials

Station Six:
Rule to Follow: Color inside the lines.
Supplies: Coloring sheets, crayons, blank paper

At this station, participants can color the preprinted pages or choose to draw their own works. However, the focus should be on keeping the color inside the lines.

After the station part of the lesson is finished, have participants sit in groups of four or five for the discussion questions. The following is a list of discussion questions that could be used. Again, please note that the questions can be altered according to children’s/student needs and time.

1. How did it feel to BREAK the rules? Do you think David felt the same way when he broke rules? Why or why not?

2. How did it feel to FOLLOW the rules? Do you think Catherine wants to break more rules than she does? Why or why not?

3. Using your communication cards, come up with a group sentence to describe Rules. Each group will tell their sentence to the rest of the class.

4. How hard was it to describe something with limited words? Do you think Jason often felt frustrated with his lack of words? Why or why not?

5. What do you think of the rules Catherine created for David? Are they helpful or hurtful? Do the rules help or hurt Catherine most? Do the rules help or hurt David most?

6. Other assorted questions as time and discussion allow.

Weekly Geek Challenge Haiku Review

2009-04-08T10:18:00.005-05:00

I have to qualify the title and say that I can't review in haiku, but I can summarize in haiku. So, here goes...

Rules by Cynthia Lord
David tries, Catherine
tries deflecting laughter and
each needs the other

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Tally betrays her
friend, learns truth about what lies
under all pretties

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Bubbly is the rave
most pretties do not it crave,
but Crims are special

Specials by Scott Westerfeld
Shay is in control,
David to Diego goes
to keep rights ugly

Extras by Scott Westerfeld
Three years time has passed
Aya kicks catastrophes,
Tally saves the day

Wake by Lisa McMann

2009-04-04T19:14:00.004-05:00

Ages: 14+

Janie has the ability to see what others dream. The premise is intriguing and just a little bit unbelievable, but McMann seems to make it easy to believe—the dream hopping, at least.

Janie gets to know some of the secret inner thoughts of the students at her school, but is being present in their dreams everything it could be? Why does she get to see the star quarterback’s anxiety over the next football game? On one particular night Janie wrecks her car when she jumps into the dream a neighbor is having. The dream is scary, very scary, and it keeps Janie away from that house for quite some time.

Then, out of the blue, the sort-of creepy neighbor boy, Cable, shows up for the new year of school with a completely new look (read: he’s hot!). Since Janie wrecked her car near his house and she’s interacted with him before, she impresses her friends by chatting with Cable and the two quickly become friends. The rest of the book chronicles how Cable and Janie build a relationship and begin to trust one another as Cable learns Janie’s secrets and Janie learns Cable’s.

The actual layout of the text was what first caught my attention. It isn’t the average left justified, full sentence type of writing. No, the writing is fragmented, stop and start, even broken in a few places. Could I. Please. Read real sentences? And paragraphs? However annoying this style is to me, it must have been awful for Janie, because that’s how she lived her life—fragmented, stop and start, broken. I have to give props to McMann for the parallelism.

The relationship that Cable and Janie develop seems almost violent at times, even though there are never actually any blows made. The violence is all in their heads (and dreams), and is indicative of the suffering they have both endured, but no less bleak. The relationship seems to be quite unhealthy and based on intense bouts of infatuation some days and intense bouts of hate on others. Most of the drama happens as a pay off to a bigger plot point, but the lead up and outcome are weak.

The plot, while sometimes annoying and teetering on too unbelievable, kept me hooked well enough to keep reading and intrigued enough to continue on to the second book. McMann ingeniously weaves nightmares, love, hate, crime fighting, and high school into one big story about unintentional voyeurism and the consequences it may have.

Rating 4 Pages

Dork Diaries

2009-04-02T18:46:00.006-05:00

Ages: 9-13
Tentative Publication Date: June, 2009

Rachel Renee Russell answers Jeff Kenny’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid with a girl-power punch in Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life. The book is written in diary fashion, complete with manga-esque illustrations and comic strips which tell a story within a story.

Nikki Maxwell, the diary’s author, seems like an ordinary girl trying to make a place for herself in her new private school. But when she is assigned a locker next to MacKenzie, the most popular girl in school, trouble ensues. Nikki has to endure the snide remarks of MacKenzie’s CCP (Cool, Cute&Popular) friends, fight the crowd around her locker, try to make friends, find ways to interact with her crush, and keep up with school all at the same time!

The story is filled with comical and realistic situations which Nikki negotiates to the best of her ability. From getting stuck with shelving dusty books during fifth period to listening to the Itsy Bitsy Spider (Rihanna style) courtesy of her little sister, Nikki’s life seems to be getting worse by the day. However, Nikki does manage to make a few friends and begins to see that maybe she doesn’t have it so bad after all.

Russell seems to fully understand and accurately portray the thoughts, feelings, and world of a 14-year-old girl. The imagery of the “love roller coaster” is funny and when Nikki describes the term "butterflies" as an inadequate description of love, I’m sure many readers will agree. There is even a bit of a “gross factor” left in the text to accommodate those readers who still find snot and other bodily secretions funny (but Nikki rewrites the scene with sanitation in mind).

At times it seems as though Russell tries a little too hard to insert pop culture and lingo into Nikki’s diary. Yet, others times the diary seems to be a little out of sync (Michael Jackson and Prince William are both mentioned, but the younger readers might fear Jackson and crush on Prince Harry). What seems like name-dropping to older readers might be a younger reader’s way of connecting to a larger world, but it still limits the time frame in which Dork Diaries can be considered current.

Readers will fall for this clumsy and sometimes socially awkward girl who just can’t seem to achieve her perfect life. The intended audience will laugh, feel embarrassed, think about crushes, and fight the evil forces of middle school right along with the characters as they recognize themselves in the pages of Nikki’s diary.

Rating: 4 Pages

Unwind

2009-03-31T19:56:00.007-05:00

I have to admit, I’ve tried to blog about this book on three different days. Each time I sit down to write it up, I start typing and four hours later, I have my PhD. dissertation. No kidding! So, here’s how I’ve whittled it all down.

Shusterman does a wonderful job of creating a world that is not so far from our own. It is a near future that could also be the present, save for the mention of ANTIQUE i pods and such. It is impressive that the stories of Connor, Risa, and Lev don’t get lost in the high-tech future world, as in so many future books.

The book’s premise is that a compromise between the pro-life and pro-choice camps is reached by the instatement of the Bill of Life. The instatement means people can’t have abortions, but when a child is between the ages of 13 and 18, the parent can have the child “unwound” and the medical community will use the child’s organs to save others. The idea being that the child is not dead, but alive in the “divided state.”

The idea of a divided state seems outrageous (in the sense that one might wish to shake the lawmakers), but is even more outrageous when it is confided that the Bill of Life came from a sarcastic remark meant to make the sides see how ridiculous they were acting. I have to applaud the author for his irony here.

The plot of the story seems almost effortless as it ebbs and flows in just the right places, giving readers a breath before the next sprint for life. Shusterman often gives his readers the luxury of hope for the runaways, then pulls them back into a fight for their lives. There are also some very clever literary devices employed in the story, and the author executes them well.

Lev, the most interesting character, believes at the beginning of the book that he is better than the rest of the unwinds because he is a tithing (a religious gift of sorts) and has been slated to be unwound before birth. At the beginning of the book Lev wears all white, but as he is forced to do different things to survive, he sheds his white clothing and delves into the darkness of his brain. However, at the end, Lev finds himself suspended in the air on a cross and wrapped in layers of gauze—an amusing use of a literary device. Lev has come full circle.

I was engulfed in this novel and read it straight through. The only part that I found distracting was when Shusterman lost track of his own characters. When the Connor, Risa, and Lev are on the bus to school and meet the girl with the baby, she introduces the baby as Chase, and says Chase’s father, Chaz, is away at military school. Later, when Risa and Connor are fleeing the school they run into the girl again. Shusterman writes that CHAZ is chewing on the girl’s shoulder. This is impossible because Chaz is at military school, and I doubt the girl would be carrying her own boyfriend. Yes, I was THAT into the book!

Rating: 5 Pages

Deep and Dark and Dangerous

2009-03-28T19:51:00.010-05:00

Grades: 4-7
Mark Twain Award Nominee 2009-2010

Mary Downing Hahn creates a solid ghost tale with Deep and Dark and Dangerous.

Thirteen year old Ali finds a mysterious picture in an old book and begins to wonder who has been torn out, so when her aunt gives her the opportunity to babysit at a cabin by Sycamore Lake (where the picture was taken), she jumps at the chance. Maybe she’ll solve the mystery!

Soon after arriving at the cabin by the lake, Ali begins to investigate further into the mystery of the picture. In the process of investigation and babysitting her niece, Emma, Ali meets Sissy; a girl who seems to cause trouble wherever she goes. As things begin to escalate, Sissy appears more often and Ali figures out who Sissy is. Could she really be the ghost of the girl from the torn picture?

Hahn weaves a tale of mystery and suspense that will have readers’ hearts pounding through the action scenes. The book has a little bit of a slow start, perhaps focusing too much on the frailty of Ali’s mother and not enough on the mystery itself.

However, once Ali gets to the cabin with her aunt and cousin, things pick up very quickly. The last half of the book is action-packed and offers few refuges from the action. Hahn did an incredible job of building suspense to the point of absolutely bursting before revealing who Sissy really is and winding down the action.

Aside from offering suspense in the plot, Hahn waxes philosophical with such topics of loneliness (how far will one go to have a friend?), spirituality (what happens after death?), guilt (how long does it take to heal childhood trauma?), and redemption (can you truly remedy a wrong by saying you’re sorry?).

Hahn seems to be a little disconnected from her characters, and the conversations surrounding the mystery of the picture get a little redundant and monotonous. Character development also seemed minimal during the book. Perhaps there is a little development on Ali’s part and Emma learns an important lesson about friendship, but Ali’s mother and aunt (those who should have changed the most from solving the mystery) stay static and secondary.

The book will hold the audience's interest and give just enough clues throughout to help astute readers guess the solution before the end of the book. The book might seem a bit scary as “A Ghost Story” is written on the front cover, but it’s the kind of ghost story that is creepy, not gory. The book does what it sets out to do—tell a ghost story that will keep readers guessing the answer to a mystery.

Rating: 4 Pages

Satisfied Saturday

2009-03-28T18:13:00.003-05:00

I just got my hands on my library’s copy of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The book has been out since 2007, but I’m just now hearing, uh reading, a lot about it.

I’ve never been one for the topics like this book looks to be about, but what do I know—I thought I’d hate the Di Vinci Code. What actually strikes me about the book is its size. It is seriously ginormous in all three dimensions.

Oh well, all the better to see it with, I guess.

What the Duck!?

2009-03-28T17:46:00.008-05:00

On Thursday I noticed that a boy kept walking past the reference desk and glaring at me. Since the boy never uttered a word, after the third time he passed the desk I put on my big smile and asked, “Can I help you find a book?” The following is the conversation that took place after my question.

Boy: Crosses arms, stares through me, and speaks icily. Did you give it back?
Me: Give what back?
Boy: The duck!
Me: What duck? Are you sure you’re not confusing me with someone else?
Boy: Sighs loudly. Were you at Children’s Literature Fest with Cynthia Lord?
Me: Yes. Well, no. I was there and I did help. I introduced her. Why?
Boy: I SAW you carrying the duck after we left.
Me: Of course I gave it back! That was a gift to her. I’d never take someone’s property.
Boy: Our class did a lot to get that.
Me: It was a great present, I’m sure Ms. Lord loved it. Did you see it at her autograph table?
Boy: No. But you gave it back.
Me: Absolutely!
Boy: OK. Do you have any books on Star Wars?

The strange thing about this whole conversation is that the festival was over four months ago and I was only visible to the crowd as I introduced Cynthia Lord (that took all of 25 and a half seconds)! I guess he’d been worried for quite some time…

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters

2009-03-24T14:06:00.012-05:00

Grades: 4-6
Mark Twain Award Nominee 2008-2009

Aside from having possibly the best title in a while, Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters, by Leslie M. M. Blume, has some really crafty storytelling to it as well.

When Cornelia meets eccentric neighbor, Virginia, the two become fast and very unlikely friends; unlikely because a ten-year-old and an old woman are rarely thought of as buddies. However, the friends share two passions: words and storytelling (Cornelia listens and Virginia tells).

The text of the book jumps in time from present to past to present, sometimes within Virginia’s story. While this technique is generally eschewed by children’s authors in favor of a more linear timeline, Blume manages to make the transitions seamless and easy to follow.

The character of Cornelia is well developed even in the beginning of the book as the audience is given clues as to why Cornelia would be such a fast friend of Virginia. Virginia, the source of most of the book's storytelling, shines as Blume’s biggest work of art. Virginia is just crazy enough to be fun and just grounded enough to be serous when the need arises.

With a fast, interlocking plot, Cornelia and Virginia seem to move through time and space experiencing hilarious mishaps while traveling the globe. Each of Virginia’s stories involves some kind of cultural misunderstanding, but ultimately serves as point of didacticism. Each story teaches something, but I really like that Blume lets the readers glean their own meaning instead of pushing one onto them.

Another credit to Blume is that while the ending is sweet, Cornelia does endure a pretty big tragedy: one that readers might suspect, but hope won’t happen. The tragedy ultimately proves to make Cornelia stronger. Cornelia is not left with memories only—a very special trinket reminds her of where she’s been and where she might go.

Blume’s ability to weave stories together -- and to tell good stories at that -- is what makes this book worth the read. The bittersweet novel about growing up and learning about life will keep readers interested and maybe even inspire them to tell tales of their own.

Rating: 4 and a half pages

Satisfied Saturday

2009-03-21T01:13:00.002-05:00

I just got my very first ARC thanks to GBTQ. I read her review and just HAD to read the book too. But I had to be sneaky to get it.

I just could walk the 50 yards to GBTQ's office from mine and ask to see the copy. So, I asked and she let me see it, and then I ran away from her office like a maniac, copy in hand!

No, actually she brough it to me the day after I asked if I could borrow it. I still have to read it since I am trying to finish Speicals and Extras first, but I'll be ready for it within 48 hours.

Yep. I'm definately excited!

High Flying Fun

2009-03-17T17:47:00.003-05:00

I went to my parents’ house this weekend and, of course, my dad dragged me away from my books and "made" me help with a kite flying event. Since my dad is an event planner for the parks and recreation department in my home town, I get the pleasure of "helping out" during such events.

It was pretty fun to see all the children trying to get the kites to stay up and to watch the parents try to keep the children from getting the kites in a tree. However, the tree won twice.

So, now that I have witnessed all the fun, I’m thinking that SGCL needs to have a kite flying day. I’m wondering how well that would work in this city. It could be very pretty to have more than a dozen kites dancing in the air next to the library. Maybe I can do the event as part of our summer reading program when we “Get Creative.” The ideas have begun to pour in.

Check out pictures of the Mexico, MO event here: http://www.mexicoledger.com/news/x1683626995/Lets-Go-Fly-A-Kite

March Reading

2009-03-15T16:36:00.001-05:00

I’ll follow GreenBeanTeenQueen’s lead and write about what I have read this month. Since it is only the Ides, this will not be a complete list. I’ll add more when the month is finished.

Here is what I’ve read so far:

Gregor the Overlander Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Prophesy of Bane Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods Suzanne Collins
The Big One-Oh Dean Pitchford
The Hunger Games (again) Suzanne Collins
Wake Lisa McMann
Deep and Dark and Dangerous Mary Downing Hahn
Uglies Scott Westerfeld
A Bundle of Sticks Pat Mauser Mccord
The Girl With Silver Eyes Willo Davis Roberts
The Lightning Thief Rick Riordan
The Hawk and the Wolf Mark Adderly
Found Margaret Peterson Haddix
Double Identity Margaret Peterson Haddix
Several (15 or so) picture books and non-fiction books that I won’t list

Reviews to come...

Satisfied Saturday

2009-03-14T19:06:00.003-05:00

I just finished reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld and I now have in my possession Pretties and Specials, which I will probably devour over the weekend.

While I thought Uglies was too slow to start out with and I found some of the characters a little too dull, the book did pick up during the last half and really started to hold my interest. I liked the juxtaposition between the Smoke and the City(s), but I think that the book could have started with Tally being black mailed by Special Circumstances and it would have been just as good (Westerfeld could have worked in “what it is like in the city” during Smoke time).

In any case, now that I need to find out how The Smokies trick the Specials and if the cure works, I have my reading cut out for me.

A Day in the Life of This Children's Librarian

2009-03-13T15:21:00.006-05:00

I decided to do my own Day in the Life since Abby (the) Librarian and GreenBeanTeenQueen did theirs. However, I am going to do my most INTERESTING day, which is the third Wednesday of the month. I think this day is the most interesting because it has so much movement. I am out and about the library and the community. It is a busy day, but I love it!

9:30am - Arrive at work, check e-mail, write nametags for the 1, 2, and/or baby story times

9:45am - Go over story time books and make notes for performance

10:00am – On desk. Questions include:
-Can I get more books about (topic)? My son/daughter enjoyed that topic today.
-Where are your 300 lexile books?
-Can you help me find a princess book?
-I need superhero books.
-Where are your Caldecott books?

10:45am – Prepare for 3-6 story time. Arrange room and set up books for check-out after program.

11:00am STORY TIME!

11:45 – Clean up after story time

Noon: On desk again

1:00 – Lunch

1:30 – Prepare for book club. Get games and interactive stuff ready.

2:00 Back on desk. Questions include:
-Where are the Mark Twain nominee books?
-What is next book in the Ember series?
-Who wrote The Tale of Despereaux?
-Can you help me find (insert title) in the young adult section?
-Where is the Wii?

3:00 Drive to elementary school for book club, set up book club stuff

3:30 Begin book club

4:30 Clean up after book club and drive back to work

5:00 File reports for story time and book club, work on desk

6:00 Time to go home

Falling for Story Time

2009-03-11T23:13:00.003-05:00

Today is a monumental day. I did my first story time all by myself. Yep. I'm a big girl now!

Actually, I wasn't slated to do one, but a coworker called in sick and I was asked to do it on the fly. Talk about nerve wracking. Actually, it wasn't that bad because the veterans at SGCL were there for me all the way. They gave me books to use and suggested songs.

The actual even went well. I was worried because I have been fighting a battle with the lost voice plague that seems to be going around, but my voice held and I got through all the songs and THREE books.

I know some of the children were a little worried at first because they are used to Miss Gail doing the program, but they (and the parents) were very receptive.

I only hit a few snags...

I'll list the things I learned about story time today:

1. Learn what grown-up goes with what child

2. Be honest about being nervous. I was and I even made some people laugh about it

3. I am NOT good at reading upside down

4. I can't quite figure out where to stand so everyone can see the pictures

5. If I'm going to do a song that requires jumping--I should wear better shoes so I don't twist my ankle in the middle of story time

Regardless, I think I came out OK. The reviews are in and I got 10 thumbs up from a little girl, so that makes it all work while.

I can't wait to start thinking of themes for the next few weeks!

Multimedia Sunday

2009-03-08T17:57:00.002-05:00

I just saw on the-n.com that The Best Years is starting a second season. I had heard that there was quite a demand for a second season, and those in charge must have listened.

New episodes of The Best Years start airing on April 3. If you missed out on all the drama the first time around, you can see season one right now on the-n.com for free.

Yay for renewed interest in teen drama series!

Satisfied Saturday

2009-03-07T11:46:00.004-06:00

I just got my very own copy (to keep forever) of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I am VERY EXCITED to reread it. Yes, reread.

The first time I read the book, I was at my parent's house and I borrowed it from my niece. Then, I had to stop reading at page 94 and go back to my house FOUR HOURS away! It was absolute torture to wait another six weeks to read the rest of the book, so I read it like I was one of those ravenous tribute/wolf muttations or a trackerjacker honed in on my prey.

This time, I'll take it a little slower and actually digest what I am reading. Then, of course, I'll write about it. So, more on The Hunger Games to follow.

I can't wait to read Catching Fire, the next book in the series!

Findle by Andrew Clements

2009-03-05T19:55:00.007-06:00

This is a story for all the young linguists out there. Frindle explores how one person can change or impact the English language. Clements creates a realistic classroom within which a child with “plenty of ideas” decides to undermine his teacher’s love of the dictionary. And, really, what child hasn’t hated hearing these words from their teacher, “Look it up in the dictionary!”?

Nick Allen, the boy with all the ideas, is one part trouble maker, one part genius, and one part Jungian archetype. Nick is Jung’s child archetype (think ornery Peter Pan) in more ways than one, and his juxtaposition with Mrs. Granger as the (eventually) wise old “man” archetype makes the story more interesting. Mrs. Granger is more like the dragon from The Dragon’s Boy by Jane Yolen, than she is Hook from Peter Pan. The difference being that Hook just enjoys terrorizing Pan, while the dragon is trying to teach Artos some important lessons—like Mrs. Granger is for Nick.

When Mrs. Granger asks the children to do things they don’t particularly enjoy, one child, Nick, convinces the rest of the children to show their true selves. In the plot of the book, Mr. Granger and Nick butt heads several times over the simple change of the world "Pen" to the world "Frindle." Soon, an all-out battle takes place. Nick wants to prove that he can create a new word and that naming things is arbitrary. Mrs. Granger just wants the children to see that language has a long and rich history.

As the plot thickens, the children come up with more and more ways to defy Mrs. Granger’s rules and Nick becomes more and more set in his convictions of arbitration. Nick “wins” in the end only to find out years later that Mrs. Granger was on his side the whole time.

Clements creates a classroom with dialog so real, I felt like I was in 5th grade again (however, I still heard those kinds of comments throughout college). His characters are vivid and arc appropriately throughout the story line. The clever twist at the end will give mean, fifth grade, disciplinarian, teachers a better name. This is one of the few stories where the adults are not useless and only to be seen as opponents. Clements gives the adults realistic abilities and even lets the feared adult become the revered adult. In all, the action and timing were right on pace, the characters and plot were involving, and the ending ties everything into a neatly wrapped package. One must wonder… where has my Frindle, uh, pen, gone?

Rating: 4 pages

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2009-03-03T20:32:00.008-06:00

Haddix produces a thought-provoking beginning book with Among the Hidden. The series, called The Shadow Children, is seven books long and Among the Hidden introduces Luke Garner to the readers.

While the plot of the first book is pretty mundane and somewhat slow moving, it does serve to create a world in which each family is only allowed to have two children. Haddix hints at the ideas of population control (through a corrupt and over-reaching government) and caste systems as a way of social organization.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Among the Hidden is the juxtaposition between poor farmers who are terrified by the government and rich government officials who break the very laws they have passed. Luke, an illegal third child from a poor farming family, sees the world as dangerous and accepts his life as it is. However, Luke’s neighbor, Jen Talbot, the step-daughter of a wealthy government official, sees the world as something for which to strive and feels she deserves to live her life without hiding.

Ultimately, Jen’s rebellious nature and carefree way of living (she isn’t even careful to stay away from open windows!) are what bring on her demise. Luke’s caution and fear of the government keep him alive and eventually give him a privileged life (for a while, anyway).

This beginning book is more of a philosophical introduction than most series, but there is some pretty good action toward the end. What I though to be the climax of the plot—Jen’s death at the rally—doesn’t even actually happen in the plot, but is talked about in passing a few pages later. Jen’s death is so important to the plot because it is what gives Luke the courage to come out of hiding. I am a little disappointed that Haddix chose to leave that scene out, but also understand that in leaving out the scene the audience remains in the dark just as Luke does. When what happened to Jen is described to Luke the audience finds out in the exact same way as he does—very clever!

The world that Haddix creates in this series is very vivid, yet is never named as a particular time or place. I like that the time is not named, but a remains a vague future that could be a few, or a few hundred, or a few thousand years. However, there are limited places that the book can actually take place.

There are telltale signs of "where" that show up in the book. In chapter 17, on page 79 (paperback edition), Jen offers Luke potato chips and soda (in the novel "junk food" has been banned). Linguistically, potato chips only happen in North America, and soda happens only in certain parts of North America. I give to the fact that perhaps the events of Among the Hidden happen so far in the future that language has been homogenized, but that is unlikely. If anything, the readers who eat potato chips and drink soda will feel as though the story takes place where they live; those who eat crisps and drink pop or fizzy drinks will feel as though the story takes place somewhere else.

In all, Haddix uses her first book of the series to introduce readers to a new world and to give insight to Luke. The characters introduced in this first book are complex; full of life, thought, feelings, and needs. Even some of the minor characters like Luke’s mom and dad are well-written and give a sense of what Luke’s life in hiding might be like. Since Luke or Luke’s actions will carry or intercept with forthcoming novels, it was imperative that Haddix spend the most time on him. The mundane and slow plot for the action of the book don’t seem so important when one looks at the energy put into creating Luke, his world, and the thought-provoking text of Among the Hidden. It is the beginning to a series that is sure not to disappoint.

Rating: 4 and a half pages

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

2009-02-26T19:00:00.006-06:00

In The City of Ember—the book and the actual city—commonplace things become uncommon. Many times throughout the text, the characters come across things they can’t recognize, and the reader of the book may do so also. The literary device, known as defamiliarization, serves the story well and enables DuPrau to create a world that is familiar and at the same time unfamiliar.

Within the first few pages of the book, DuPrau lets readers into a world that feels comfortable and real. Descriptions of the city include flood lights, power lines, houses, streets, and even a school (p 4-5), yet it is the description of the sky that gives the reader a sense of the unfamiliar. The sky is described as, “always dark” (4). The familiar and the unfamiliar are presented to the reader upon first entering Ember. The city is normal, and bustling with people, but the lights are—as the reader quickly learns—essential and unnatural.

The escape from Ember is what most notably constitutes defamiliarization for readers as Lina and Doon try to piece together the last few pieces of the puzzle. First, the unfamiliar objects are explained as the two heroes find them in the blackness, then when the lights come on the objects become even more unfamiliar to the characters.

In her box, Lina finds “smooth white rods, each about 10 inches long. At the end of each one, a little bit of string poked out” (188). Both the audience and the characters are not sure what this new thing is, but the audience soon learns that the item is a candle. DuPrau’s description of the candles as the character’s see them defamiliarizes them for the audience.

In his box, Doon finds, “dozens of small packets wrapped in slippery material” which contain “a lot of short wooden sticks, each with a blue blob on the end.” In the next line, the readers learn that Doon has matches.

The brilliance of the scene lies in the fact that Lina and Doon still don’t know that to do with candles or matches. Thus, the familiar tools the reader sees perplex and slow down the heroes. DuPrau forces readers to think about how a match or candle might be described if one had never encountered them before.

More deafamiliarization happans at the end of the book, when Lina and Doon have come to the surface, the sky is once again described in unfamiliar terms allowing the familiar world of the reader’s surface to be viewed once again through new eyes. The moon is described as, “a shining silver circle hanging in an immense black sky” (252-253). Stars are describes as “hundreds and hundreds of tiny flecks of light, strewn like spilled salt across the blackness” (253). Even the sunrise is poetically defamiliarized.

DuPrau’s ability to make the familiar seen strange and out of place is ultimately what carries her book, characters, and readers on a successful journey of hope. Beyond her defamiliarization is DuPrau’s ability to create characters that are rich and developed. Even the smaller characters in Ember are as vivid as the city itself. This tale of post- apocalyptic dystopia finds a delicate balance between the darkness that is the worst of human nature and the light that is the best of human nature.

Rating: 5 Pages

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

2009-02-24T19:37:00.015-06:00

On the back cover of Gregor the Overlander, author Suzanne Collins, is said to have been “inspired to write (the book) when she wondered what city kids must make of Alice and Wonderland.” However, Collins infuses other influential authors and works into Gregor; intentionally and unintentionally. Carroll’s Wonderland is just the beginning.

Collins seems to draw inspiration from Franz Kafka in her “Crawlers.” Crawlers are overgrown cockroaches that are capable of speech and thought. While Gregor never actually BECOMES a cockroach—or “cockhorse” as the underland king misnames them—he does encounter two very human-like bugs.

Ideas reminiscent of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth also permeate the text. When Gregor falls, he is transported to an underground maze that eventually leads to an entire underground world. Where Collins parts from Verne is that her underground world has humans. In this respect, Collins mergers her idea with Jeanne DuPrau as the human population is not accidental, but placed there for the purpose of human survival after the surface is destroyed. It would have been difficult for DuPrau to inspire Collins (or vice versa) with the idea of an underground city because both authors’ were published in the same year.

There is also a hint of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia that can be found in Gregor the Overlander. After falling down a dryer shaft, Gregor encounters talking beasts that inhabit a seemingly magical land (magical in the sense of impossible—not actual magic as in Narnia).

With all those other books flowing through the veins of Gregor, Collins still manages to strike out a good story of her own. Collins presents a well rounded and well developed cast whose likes, dislikes, and personality flaws give the story many opportunities for set-ups and pay-offs. For example, Boots’ love of purple prompts her to poke Luxa in the eye and prove her ability to conquer within seconds of meeting the girl.

The main character, Gregor, seems to be more caring or perhaps responsible than most eleven year olds might be, but there are times when his youth gets the best of him. Gregor dislikes Luxa from the start, but ultimately sees her for what she really is—a child still hurting from her parent’s death. Gregor’s thoughts in the book are what propel the story as well as add humor and depth to the protagonist. When Gregor first enters the underland and meets up with Temp (readers’ won’t know his name for a while), who asks what smells so good. In that passage, Gregor thinks, “Be cool, be nice, answer the bug.” Gregor tries to make the best of his situation.

All in all, the book offers an interesting plot, well developed characters, a few unforeseen twists, and a quest that is worthy of Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle. Collins plays with words and concepts in such a way to set up the next books to come, but does not give everything away too soon. A good beginning to what I hope will be a good series.

Rating: 4 and a half pages