Secrets......for those who geek books

The first thing I can say about Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, is that it seems like a book for book nerds.  As I read it, my memory was tweaked by references to some of my favorite books, some by name, some by language, like "tessered:" A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia, fairy tales and even The Phantom Tollbooth.  Being a book nerd, it was like being in on the secret, I wonder, however, how it reads for those that aren't book nerds, or aren't book nerds yet?

In the story, Hazel and Jack are best friends.  The share a wild imagination, and a love for all things creative.  They have used their elaborate fantasy games to escape some grim realities of their own lives.  They are reaching that age, however, when boys and girls aren't supposed to play and be friends.  To add to this struggle, Jack is the kid everyone likes, while Hazel has only one friend, Jack.  This has never been a problem before, until a magic mirror breaks, and a shard lodges in Jack's heart. To the world, he begins acting as he "should" by playing with the guys and not with the odd girl.  Hazel is devistated.  Then, Jack disappears.  His family claims he is visiting an aunt that Hazel has never heard mentioned before.  She begins to suspect there is something more going on, and begins a harrowing journey into the woods to find her friend.

I wasn't thrilled with the ending.  It resolved too quickly and left me with more than a few unanswered questions.  In some ways I really enjoyed this story, however, I wonder if the target audience, third through fifth grade students will get all the deeper meaning?  Maybe that's the magic, it's a good story on it's own, but a much more interesting one if you are in on the secrets.  

Sci fi meets the old west

I checked out The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness, because I read about it somewhere, and when I checked, the ebook was available.  I have to say that I have never liked and hated a book so much at the same time.  

It's set in a world full of Noise.  Young Todd is soon to turn thirteen, at which point he becomes a man, in a world in which he is the last boy.  The Noise is the constant chatter caused by the fact that everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts...oh, and animals talking as well.  Oh the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise.  There was a terrible war fought before Todd was born against the resident aliens, who infected them with thus ability to hear way too much.  And, it killed all the women.  Todd is the last baby born in a dying society.   One of the reasons I didn't like the book is that they use primitive spellings to get across the idea that they are all ignorant.  Words like "tho," "cuz," and "preparayshuns" are part of the style of writing (writin'), and I found it annoying.  Then, I didn't really like Todd all that much:  sullen, whiny, mean to his dog.  Hard to get behind this story.

Then, Todd finds a pocket of silence in a world of Noise.  Suddenly, he finds that secrets have been kept and he, and the source of the silence, must run for their lives.  Todd finds that the world in which he lives is not as dead as he believed, and, that much of what he was told about his town was a lie to hide a terrible past.

I'm certainly glad I didn't give up.  This book is surprising, thought-proviking, and exciting.  And, oddly, those annoying bits enhance the way the story sits.  It just does't sit right, and, it's not meant to.

I've seen the future, and it doesn't look good

Because of the fate of Overdrive requests, I have been immersed in a dystopian future.  I have started three different series and all three books became available at one time.  Our future looks bleak: a caste system, deadly college entrance exams, and infection.  What, exactly do we fear?  This was my Overdrive bookshelf:

My least favorite is the Delerium Trilogy second installment: Pandamonium by Lauren Oliver.  Actually, I liked this book better than then first.  In this future, love is considered a disease, literally.  At eighteen, proper citizens receive a brain surgery to "cure" them of the possibility of infection.  It also turns them emotionally flat.  Lara is nearly of age and can't wait to be free of the threat of love.  Then, she meets Alex and the unthinkable happens....she becomes infected.  She learns that love is both irrational and amazing.  She also learns of an underground movement opposed to becoming emotionally sterilized.  Thie second book follows her as she goes undercover as part of the resistance. While the plotting and fighting are exciting, the whole idea of society willing to have brain surgery just doesn't ring true.  Plus, without giving away too much, there is way too much moping.

My next favorite has been The Selection Trilogy by Kiera Cass.  I didn't expect to like it so much, actually.  In this future, America is ruled by a King, and is divided into castes.  The Prince conducts what is essentially a beauty pageant to find his bride-to-be.  Entrants are chosen from all the castes, making this a Cinderellla story.  Our main character is named America, and is from a lower caste of performers and artists.  She does NOT want to be there, but feels she must to better her family's future.  While the selection process progresses, revolution is brewing.  America finds herself thrust into the conflicting role of possibly falling in love with the Prince, and, wanting something more for her country.  Definitely girly, with little fighting that we have come to expect from dystopian books.  Still, it is engaging, and I find myself caring about the characters.

Finally, my favorite series is The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau.  In this future, in the wake of environmental failure, America is divided into territories that are attempting to bring the earth back to life.  From each territory, only the best and brightest are allowed to attended University.  And, the must complete a mysterious testing process.  Failure during the testing process means death.  Cia Vale is from a remote territory that hasn't sent a qualified student in years.  As luck would have it, this year they send students to compete.  Her father, who was a successful student himself, leaves her with mysterious, and chilling, advice.  She must learn the truth, not only about the horrible consequences of failure, but, with her continued success, the dark truth behind it all.  

With all these dark ideas about our future.....is there hope?!

Shades of King Arthur

I started the The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater, because I am a fan of the Shiver Trilogy, but, I honestly had no idea what to expect.  As with Shiver this story is a new twist on a familiar legend.  Instead of werewolves, this is the legend of King Arther moved to the mountain country of Virginia.

Blue has grown up in a very non-tradional family.  She comes from a long line of true psychics.  She, however, does not have the sight, instead, she has the ability to amplify those powers in others.  Oh, and her future has been seen; she is destined to kill her true true love with a kiss.  Naturally, she avoids boys altogether, especially, Raven boys.  Raven Boys are rich, entitled, snobs who attend a local, very expensive, private school.  Much to her dismay, Blue becomes drawn to four boys on a mission to find a lost king.  Will she help them? Or, will her growing attachment lead to someone's death?

I like that this story is both familiar, and unpredictable.  Much like destiny, I thought I knew what was coming, but was surprised when we got there.  This is the first in The Raven Cycle series.

Moving story about living in Afghanistan

I must admit, I almost gave up on critically-acclaimed Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy.  I wasn't in the right mood, I think.  I'm so happy, however, that I finished it.  It became so much more than I expected.

It is the story of Zalaika, who lives in a traditional Muslim family in Afghanistan.  It is set after the Taliban has been removed from power, just as Afghanistan gets to vote again.  Zalaika dreams of many things, to learn to read, to have a family of her own, but especially to have her cleft lip repaired.  She is called "Donkeyface" because of her disfigurement, and is embarrassed to eat in public because it it so difficult.  Then, an American soldier sees her and offers to make her dream of a repaired lip come true. She also meets a local woman who begins to teach her to read.  It seems that her dreams are coming true, after all.

I appreciated this story because it depicted a realistic and respectful portrayal of the joys and struggles in Affhanistan.  I was afraid it would be a sort of Cinderella story in which everyone lives happily ever after.  However, it was not.  It manages to join hope and courage with fear and tragedy.  While written for young people, it is graphic in its description of violence; be prepared for discussion.

Exciting, post-apocalyptic

I wasn't sure what to expect from the book after seeing the cover of The Boy at the End of the World, by Greg van Eekhout.  It seemed a bit odd:

Why is the boy glowing?  Is the robot going to hurt him?  He's looking at something amazing? scary? huge? all of the above?  Is there a fire in the background?  It seemed a bit much for a cover, and I was worried that the book would be.....messy.  I must say, it was exciting, action-packed, and yet it worked.  I was never bored!

It begins with Fisher, the boy on the cover, waking (being born) in the pod in which he had been "grown."   This is set in a future in which humans have destroyed the earth.  In an effort to save the world that was falling apart, scientists created Arks in which they grew and maintained genetic clones of all the creatures that were dying: elephants, bears, bugs and humans, to name a few.  The Ark in which Fisher slept was completely destroyed.  He was the last living organism.  As The Ark crumbles around him, he must escape with only one companion....a robot that was programmed to maintain The Ark, and, who woke him.  Fisher quickly names him Click, and they escape into the wilds.  They discover killer robots, mini mammoths, giant killer parrots, and prairie dogs that talk.  They venture off in search of the other Arks, in hopes of finding more humans.  Will this be the end of humanity?

This books is full of action and a sly sense of humor.  For example, Fisher ends up joined by a baby mini mammoth that he quickly names "Protein."  Quick, entertaining, read that makes one think, a little, about the impact our decisions make far into the future.

Classic children's lit

I got a chance to read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by e.l. konigsburg, which shows up regularly on must-read lists of children's literature, and even won the Newbery Award.  I have to say that I was underwhelmed.  It seems to fallen prey to that phenomenon of not being able to live up to high expectations.

It is, ultimately, the story of young Claudia, who decides she is going to run away.  Like many young people that contemplate this, her reasons are large, yet unspecific.  Life at home is simply "not fair."  Claudia, however, is anything but typical....she is a planner.  She planned every detail, including roping in her younger brother, Jamie, because he has all the money.  They run away to the Metropolitan Mueseum of Art in New York City, and manage to stay in the museum at night, so they have someplace safe and warm.  They then become involved in trying to discover the origins of a statute that may have been carved by Michelangelo.

I enjoyed the resourcefulness of the siblings, and because I'm a librarian, their research process.  It is definitely pre-internet, and even pre-personal computer.  Nowhere, It is told from a very weird perspective, a sort of interrupted narrative from a third party.  I found that confusing at first.  It was a fine story, but, I'm not sure I can rave about it.

Blah

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata was just OK for me.  It hits some interesting points of interest: minorities, farming, first kisses, rotten boys, odd family; however, it still manages to be bland.  Go figure.

It is the story of 12-year-old Summer, whose family is Japanese.  Her family works driving huge harvesting machines that harvest wheat.  They travel through the wheat fields of Texas, Oklahoma, and north.  They work long hours, under much pressure.  This season, Summer's parents are in Japan tending to family business, so she is working with her Japanese grandparents.  She must deal with their strictness, her "weird" younger brother, and her first crush.  

I learned much about the harvest process, as well as a little about being Japanese-American, but, there was almost too much about that, and not enough about the other.  Oddly, however, there is too much kissy girl stuff to appeal to the hard-to-reach boy segment that would appreciate the farming aspect. 

Two books in one

Like the main characters, Jake and Lily, by Jerry Spinelli, is two books, both literally, and figuratively.  It is told in two, alternating voices, those of twins Jake and Lily.  In my opinion, though, there is the annoying part and the part I liked.

Since six years old, Jake and Lily have shared "goombla," the ability twins sometimes have to know each other's thoughts.  If one was in trouble, the other knew, and, it was impossible for them to play hide and seek.  Then they turned 11.  Suddenly, Jake is hanging out with a bunch of guys, leaving Lily adrift.  Lily has to learn to be Lily-without-Jake.  At the same time, Jake faces his own challenges as his new friends begin to bully a new kid.  Both Jake and Lily must come to terms with their lives separately and together.

As the book started, I did not like it.  I found the constant shift in voice distracting, and the initial problem introduction uncomfortable.  Having said that, as the problem resolution began, I was used to the changing perspective and was invested in how it finished.  If you start this book, be sure to finish; it is worth it.

Starter horror story

The cover of Doll Bones, and the author, Holly Black, had me anticipating a truly creepy story.  It didn't quite deliver.  While it had some creepy moments, it is really more of a coming-of-age story.

Poppy, Zack, and Alice have played wild, made-up adventures using action figures.  They love the world they have created, in which the Queen rules.  The Queen is an antique bone-china doll that is kept locked in a cabinet.  They are almost getting too old, however, to be playing with "dolls."  Zack's dad forces him to quit in the worst way.  Zack, unable to admit what happened, lies about his reasons, and quits the game.  Suddenly, Poppy declairs she has been having dreams about the doll and a girl from whose bones it is made.  The three decide to make a journey to put those bones to rest.  While on the trip, things get creepy as Zack has dreams of the dead girl as well.  Could the doll be haunted?  Will they put the spirit to rest?

I may have like this book more if I hadn't been expecting a scary story.  It really is more about these three friends navigating the changing world of middle-school friendship, with a touch of creepiness.

Funny and insightful

I had no idea what to expect from Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle.  I found this book funny, touching, interesting, and insightful.  Quite a bit more to it than I would have guessed from the cover.

Nate has been ridiculed his whole life in his small Pennsylviana town.  He doesn't fit in.  His older brother is everything a son should be: handsome, athletic, well-liked.  Unfortunately, Nate is nothing like him.  Short, "husky," un-athletic, and a lover of show tunes, he has been called many names, none of which are cool.  His chance to escape his small town come when his best friend, Libby, lets him know that there is an open call in New York City for "ET," the musical.  He sneaks on a bus to make his dream of becoming a star on Broadway come true.  Of course, things never go quite as planned.

His trip to New York shows him how there is so much more to the world than his small town.  In a world where a guy must be gay if they don't like sports and girls, he learns not only that being gay isn't hated everywhere,  but also that it's OK to not be sure who you are quite yet.

Action and adventure

The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman reminds me a little bit of the Percy Jackson series.  While there are no mythological creatures, there is a school for gifted children, and a hero that doesn't understand his legacy or his power.

Jax Opus is a typical twelve-year-old, or so he thinks.  There are his eyes; they sometimes change colors.  And, sometimes, people seem to do exactly what he says.  But, his gift isn't discovered until he attends a hypnotist's show.....and hypnotizes the star.  Suddenly he is brought to a prestigious institute, run by the respected Dr Mako.  There he learns that he has an extraordinary gift, and that he is the descendent from two very powerful hypnotic families.  As he develops his considerable talent, he discovers a rival group of hypnotists, and begins to suspect there is plot to use his gifts for evil intent.  Who can he trust?  Will he twart the plot?  Can he escape?

This was a quick, exciting read that will appeal to those that love a good battle between good guys and bad guys.  Especially when the good guys might not be perfect themselves.

Silly....not remarkable

About the only thing remarkable about Remarkable by Lizzie K Foley is how many times the word "remarkable" is used.  Now, I enjoy farce from time to time, but this was just too much for me.  

It is the story of the town of Remarkable, in which everything, and everybody, is...remarkable.  Except for poor Jane.  She is ordinary, so ordinary that people, including her family, forget she's there.  She is the only student at the public school because all the other students attend the school for the gifted and talented.  There is a lake monster, an ex-pirate with two peg legs, a missing composer, a Science Fair, and twins who are remarkable at breaking the rules.  All the elements converge at the christening of the remarkable new bell tower.  

Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, but I found it remarkably silly.  

Fun adventure, if maybe a bit too tidy

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver is part fairy tale and part Harry Potter.  It is filed with horrible adults, resourceful children, and some help from The Other Side.  It was a compelling read that kept me interested all through.

Poor Liesl has been kept locked in the attic by her evil step-mother ever since her father took ill and died.  She has no contact with anyone until she is visited by young Po, a spirit from The Other Side, accompanied by Bundle, an animal spirit that may be a cat, or perhaps a dog.  She has also been watched by Will, a young orphan who sees her at the attic window as he is running errands for n abusive alchemist for whom he slaves away.  Their lives unexpectedly converge as Will makes a terrible mistake with the greatest magic ever created.  Magic that, in its creation has stolen the sun from the sky.  Will must run far away to escape the wrath of the alchemist, at the same time that Liesl escapes with the help of Po, and Bundle, and begins a quest of their own to bury the ashes of her father.

My only complaint is that it was a bit too coincidental; things came together too easily.  I while I enjoyed reading it, that made it a little too simple to rise above a story for young people.  Because of the implications of what happens to us when we die, I wonder if it may be a bit too much for the young?

Scary, full of action

I started reading Lockwood & Co., The Screaming Staircase by Jonathon Stroud after reading a rather disappointing story targeting the same age group, 3rd through 8th grade that was supposed to be "creepy," but fell short. I was expecting this one to be an adventure.  Well, it is not only an adventure, but also quite scary.  So much so, I might not recommend it for young people under fifth grade, unless they are very brave.  It certainly made up for the disappointing prior read.

The story takes place in London, but a London quite different than today.  While the time is undetermined, it is after The Blitz, allows for cars, cabs, and telephones, but seems somehow old-fashioned.  This London has been besieged with "The Problem" for some years now.  The Problem being rampant ghosts.  So many that there is a government agency tasked with dispatching all of them as well as independent agencies.  The best agents for detecting ghosts, it turns out, are children.  As people age, their ability to sense spectors decreases, however, it doesn't decrease their ability to be killed if they are ghost-touched.  The ghosts of England aren't just scary....they are deadly.  

Enter the agency of Lockwood & Co, the only independent agency with no adult overseeing them.  Anthony Lockwood and Lucy Carlyle, go blind into a haunting, much to the anger of their research specialist, George Cubbins, and end up burning down a house.  The ghost of a murdered actress turns out to be much angrier than they anticipated. To save their agency, they agree to spend the night in a house so haunted, the last 3 agents that tried all died. In facing the terrors of this house, they uncover the mystery behind The Source.  The only way to stop a haunting is to destroy The Source.  Can they make it through the night alive?

There are truly frightening images of ghosts, hangings, blood-filled rooms and slaughtered monks.  This book is not for the faint of heart.  However, it is a page-turner....I read it in one day!  And, as the first of a series, there will be more.

Raccoons, gaters, and snakes, oh my!

When I started The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, by Kathi Appelt, I thought it was just another critter book.  However, it quickly becomes part critter tale, part tall tale, part little guy beating the big guy. 

It begins with raccoon brothers, Bingo and J'miah, being installed as newly independent Scouts of Suger Man Swamp, located somewhere in Texas.  It is their job to keep and eye out, and in the case of emergency, wake the Sugar Man.  What is the Sugar Man?  He has been around as long as the swamp, and is cousin to Bigfoot and the Yeti.  He can be counted on to protect the swamp, mainly by throwing out anything hat threatens it, and by throwing out, I mean throwing into the next county.  The point of view quickly shifts among, to name a few:  the raccoon brothers; twelve-year-old Chap, whose mom may lose the sugar pie making business; greedy Sonny Boy - descendant of pirates; a house cat; some dastardly feral hogs; and a very large snake. 

Chap is trying desperately to save the only home he has known, and the swamp, from being turned into a gater wrestling theme park by Sonny Boy.  He needs to either earn a "boatload" of cash, or find proof of the Sugar Man, or the extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker.  While he is working as that, the animals are sensing the imminent invasion from a maurading band of feral hogs with bad attitudes.  

This book was so compelling I finished it in one day!  It was engaging hearing the voices of all the different players in this story that reads like a legend.

Willie Wonka....in a library....with amazing games!

What a wild ride! Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein has something for everyone: book lovers, book avoiders, gamers, puzzle-solvers.  Imagine, if you will, that the world's most creative and innovative game inventor decided to donate millions to build the most awesome public library ever!  That is Mr Lemoncello.  

Our main character, Kyle, is NOT a reader, like is brainy older brother, nor a great athlete, like his all-American oldest brother, but he would do anything to beat them at one of Mr Lemoncello's board games.  So much so he gets grounded.  When he learns that he could end his grounding early by winning a prize lock-in in the brand-new library, he scrambles to write an essay that will get him in the door.  Once locked in, they are in for the ride of their lives.  Not only is it the coolest, most technologically advanced library, Mr Lemoncello has planned a series of puzzles to solve.  The person who finds the secret way out of the library gets to help promote Mr Lemoncello's Christmas campaign.  There are puzzles to solve, competitors that will do anything to win, and advanced problem-solving.  Will Kyle win, or will the super-competitive (and less-than-honest) Charles get the fame and fortune?  Solve the mystery and find out what the key to winning really is.

This book was great fun, and, I may need to read it again as there is a puzzle hidden within the book.  If you figure it out, e-mail the author.

Quotable, inspiring

I almost gave up on Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.  It starts with a jolt, then backtracks, and I almost couldn't continue.  I was prepared for depressing, quirky, schlock.  I am so glad I hung in just a little longer.  It was moving, quirky, and engaging.  At the same time, it really made me think.  

In it, Willow Chance begins a new Junior High School.  Willow is not a traditional teenager.  Obsessed with plants, reading, and calmed by counting by 7's, she is a genius who has not learned to connect with people her age.  She is accused of cheating on her first standardized test because she finishes in record time and gets the only recorded 100%.  This sends her to Dell, a counselor for students he has labeled the FOUR GROUPS OF THE STRANGE: Misfits, Oddballs, Lone Wolves and Weirdos.  He is an adult who barely copes with the world himself.  Willow defies his system.  Leading him to this moment: "Dell found himself wondering if all kinds of assumptions were questionable."  Willow makes her first age-appropriate connection while waiting to see Dell, a Vietnamese girl waiting for her brother's session to finish.  Willow even learns to speak Vietnamese to further connect with her new friend, Mai.

A terrible tragedy strikes Willow, and sends her whole life into chaos.  She must overcome her own despair and just survive, making connections that not only change her life, but also the lives of those who come to her rescue: Dell, Mai's family, a Hispanic cab driver, and a cat named Cheddar.  During the worst of her days, she comes to realize that, "All reality.....is a blender where hopes an dreams are mixed with fear and despair.  Only in cartoons and fairy tails and greeting cards do endings have glitter."

The sadness is balenced with the right amount of hope to raise this to a level of inspiring.

Hints of fairy tales

Jinx by Sage Blackwood is a sort of fractured fairy tale. Kinda.  There are hints of many:  Hansel and  Gretel (only no Gretel), Little Red Riding Hood (no wolf, but she is on her way to Grandma's), and a dashing prince (or at least he has good manners).  Nothing quite turns out as I expected, however.   

Young Jinx has had a hard life, as our story starts.  He lives in squalor in a clearing of the huge forst called The Urwald.  He knows never to leave The Path, as the forst is full of all manner of monsters:  trolls, werewolves, trees that hold grudges, and evil wizards.  Then his step-father drags him off the path, intending to abandon him.  Jinx is rescued by Simon, a wizard, who turns out to be more cranky than evil.  Jinx's life is changed forever as he helps Simon and learns about his own gifts.  A terrible betrayal  rips them from him, and goes off in search of an answer.  But, danger is lurking in the forest...

I liked that this book was full of adventure and surprises.  Having said that, oddly, there were sections that dragged.  

 

Zombie games

I almost gave up on The End Games by T. Michael Martin.  I believe this is because it is more than just a zombie book.  It is a zombie tale told by a lover of first-person shooter video games, of which I am not.  This is one of the first books that made me realize my age.  Teens, especially teen boys, will love it.

It begins with seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother making their way through post-zombie-apocalyptic West Virginia.  Michael uses reflexes honed in the gaming world to navigate the dangers posed by the "Bellows" and by some of the uninflected survivors.  They are trying to make their way to the safe zone, without being totally sure of where they are.  Michael has regular communications with the "Game Master" who gives them clues on how to earn points and "win."  This is where the book nearly lost me.  While I can accept zombies, not so much the whole video game thing.  The purpose of the "game" is soon revealed, making the story much richer.  Michael must protect his little brother from all sorts of evil, as he realizes there may not be a safe zone.

His struggle to overcome both the real dangers of the world, and the imagined pitfalls of the game, as well as the insanity left in the world make this a worthwhile read.  The author is a film school graduate and it shows; the fight scenes reminded me of a great action flick.

Overcoming that inner voice

Skinny by Donna Cooner illustrates a voice that all women, young and old, have heard, and, unfortunately, fed.  We have all fallen prey to that inner voice that tells us we can't, can't lose weight, can't fit in, can't compete...the focus may be different, but the voice is there, whispering our worst inner fears.  This odd twist on Cinderella, has the main character, Ever, imagining her voice, which she calls "Skinny" as a "goth Tinkerbell" fairy godmother.

At the beginning of the story, 16-year-old Ever has become morbidly obese in the wake of her mother's death from cancer.  She now weighs 302 pounds and has the evil voice of Sknny telling her terrible things: how everyone laughs at her, no one could possibly love her, that she's ugly.  It doesn't help that her step-sisters are perfect and beautiful.  Ever makes the difficult decision to have gastric bypass surgery after breaking a chair in front of the entire school.  What follows is her battle to adjust to her new life and changing body.  More important, however, is overcoming Skinny, and being able to accept love and success in her life.

This book has the potential to change lives.  Truly.  When Ever hits rock-bottom, at the moment that was supposed to be her happily ever after, her realization about Skinny can change how we all respond to that inner voice of defeat.

Peculiar.....but in a good way

I had seen this book around, but had no idea what to expect of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs.  My first impression....very creepy.  This creepiness is partially a result of the old-fashioned, eerie, pictures peppered throughout: the floating girl on the cover, a baby in a bottle, and glowing tunnels to name a few.  But, most importantly, the story is written almost like a movie, from the beginning.  The author writes very visually, I could truly picture each scene.

Jacob has grown up with stories that his grandfather would tell him of the "peculiar" children with which he took refuge during World War II on an island in Wales.  All had amazing abilities like levitation, invisibility, strength and even bees that lived inside them.  He even had pictures to "prove" it.  As Jacob grew older, he realized the photos were obviously faked, and grew disillusioned.  

Then, Jacob sees a terrible monster murder his grandfather, and Jacob begins to thinks he's joining his grandfather's delusions.  A trip to the island in Wales to find the orphanage leads to his discovery of the truth behind the peculiar children, and the evil that stalks the world.  He must join the battle, or remain in the "real," non-peculiar, world.

I had to take a second look at all the pictures when I found they weren't staged, but, real photos found at flea markets.  Maybe the peculiar children do exist......

If Harry Potter were a girl, and an elf, and magic was really just science....

The Keeper of the Lost Cities, by Shannon Messenger, is a great fantasy, that kept reminding me of the Harry Potter stories.  Not that it's a bad thing, or that the Harry Potter series invented some new formula....it just IS.

The story begins with Sophie suffering through another day as a 12-year-old that happens to be a senior in school.  Not only is is she super-smart, but she also has a secret she hasn't even told her parents; she can read minds.  Imagine being bullied in a traditional way, and having the pleasure of knowing exactly what everyone thinks!  She sees a strange boy following her, who tells her why she doesn't fit in....she's not human at all, but an elf!  

She is brought to the elf world and enrolled in a school where she is no longer a genius, in fact, just the opposite.  She is woefully behind, and much of the science she learned in the human world is found to be wrong.  Her only gift is her Telepathy, which is surprisingly strong.  She must abandon her human family, and learn all she can about her new world.  Of course there is the mystery of her origin, a mysterious group of rebels calling themselves The Black Swan, and a headmaster that has it in for her.  Sophie, with the help of her friends, begins to find some answers, which lead her into terrible danger.

My daughter, who is a freshman in high school, picked up this book on a whim, and finished all 500 pages in one day!  She then wrote a book report, and I loved what she took from this book:  we all fit in somewhere, we just have to find our place in this world.

One of THOSE BOOKS......

Because of Mr Terupt by Rob Buyea is one of THOSE BOOKS.  I have yet to meet a reader that didn't like it, both young and old.  I often find myself waiting for the let down, as books people rave about often don't "do it" for me.  I'm relieved to say, for once, I am in agreement.  I not only enjoyed the story, but also found it inspirational.

It is a story told in seven voices at the start of fifth grade.  Each voice is a student with very different reasons to hate school.  There is the class bully, the prankster, the shy one, a new kid, the brain, the follower, and the sullen kid.  They all are in the class of Mr Terupt, who manages to inspire them and keep them in check.  As the school year progresses we learn the root of these students problems.  It takes a terrible accident to truly inspire these students to change their paths.  

As a teacher, I can only hope to connect with my students as well as Mr Terupt does.  And, I believe students can identify with one, or more of the characters in the story, as well as see the "other side" of those that they don't.  Our state has a Minnesota Youth Book Award And the students of my school voted for  this book to win.   Jury's still out on state results....

A book in which not much seemed to happen

Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer had all the trappings of a book I would like: a hint of magic, clever children, a bit of mystery.  And yet....it fell short.  I learned more about how to be a top-notch servant than about any magic.

Frederick is a miserable orphan at the beginning of our story, who manages to escape a horrible punishment with the help of a mysterious creature by the name of Billy Bly.  He uses the advantage to become a sort of helper to the less-than-talented "cook."  He is, of course, clever, so he learns to sharpen knives properly and tie knots.  Frederick suddenly finds himself in the employment of a wizard, thanks to the fact that the livery suit mysteriously fits him.  And then....more about being an effective servant.  There IS a mysterious curse that surrounds the wizard family, and Frederick's knot-tying talents DO save the day, but, honestly, it's too little, too late.

If you like Downten Abby, minus the romance, and mostly about the work, this is the book for you.

Great little story

8 Class Pets+1 Squirrel/1Dog=CHAOS by Vivian Vande Velde is a rollicking chase through the biggest mystery to a kid....what do school pets do at night?  This quick little read begins innocently enough with the school-yard squirrel running for his life from a maurading owl.  In the coure of his mad dash he accidently runs over the dog next door, who must, of course, join the chase.  The squirrel escapes the owl by dasing into an open door of the school.  Told from the point of view of various animals....the squirrel, a rabbit, a hamster, fish and even a macaw, the mad dash of the squirrel, who is more naughty than panicked, ends in a huge mess!  Each chapter picks up as the squirrel romps through the classrooms with the poor dog chasing it. Luckily, all ends well thanks to the cleverness of these school pets.  Great fun!

Gross, exciting, engaging........

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs is funny, exciting and even informative.  I was immediately engaged (and grossed out), and it kept me guessing until the end.

12-year-old  Teddy has led a adeventurous life.  As the son of a famous gorilla researcher mother and wildlife photographer father, Teddy has lived in wild places all over the world.  How could he guess that one of his biggest adventures would happen at the first "real" job his parents had accepted?  He is getting to live every kid's dream...being a full-time resident at FunJungle, an amazing destination zoo that is like Disney, only with animals.  His mother has accepted a position as an animal expert and Teddy gets to spend the summer with the run of the park.  Only, after a while, the fun wears a little thin.  

Then Henry, is found dead.  Henry is the bad-tempered hippo who is the mascot of the park, and who likes shooting the crowds with hippo poo.  Many weren't really sad to see him go, however, no one suspects that it could be murder.   After Teddy sneaks into the autopsy, he begins to suspect just that. But who would want to kill a hippo, even a rotten-tempered one?  He ends up with an unlikely ally, Summer, the celebrity daughter of the billionaire park owner.

Their search for the solution leads them on many adventures...some gross, some life-threatening.  Teddy begins to realize that he has no idea who he can trust, but the death of Henry leads to much larger secrets.

Not really so simple

As Simple as It Seems by Sarah Weeks is not really simple at all.  It is compelling and touching in dealing with the life of Verbena and the problems she faces.  

Verbena is growing up in the mountains out east, the only child of parents who dote on her, especially her mom, who sometimes treats her like a baby.  Verbena is not only embarrassed of the way her mom treats her, but, unfortunately, also about how she looks.  Her mother is very obese and Verbena can't stand that classmates laugh at her.  Add to that her trouble reading and terrible vision.... Verbie's problems are very real.

She is hoping for a fabulous summer until she discovers a terrible family secret, that has her worried.  Are her sudden angry reactions a sign that she is like her Uncle Mike?  He was just plain mean, and she has cause to believe she may have closer ties to him than she thought.

Her summer starts rocky when her best friend heads off to camp for the summer.  Enter Pooch, a "low lander" spending time in the house next door.  They become friends, even though Pooch initially believes her to be a ghost.  They both have to face fears and come to grips with their own realities, as well as with the truth of family.

Well-written, engaging, serious, and funny all at the same time.  It truly isn't so simple....

More to it than meets the eye

Looking at the title and cover of Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden, I was expecting a silly little read for third and fourth grade girls about a girl that can't keep track of her shoes.  I was pleasantly surprised, however, that there was more to it.

The title character, actually named Josephine-Kathryn, is called Cinderella because she manages to lose one shoe.....regularly.  As she enters third grade she faces a best friend that is suddenly not treating her so kindly.  Then, there's a new girl.  The new girl mistakenly believes that Cinderella has insight on evil step-sisters and approaches her to help determine if her soon-to-be step-sisters might be evil.  While a bit naive, they manage to approach very real fears of a blended family.  This book also takes on the sneaky ways in which young girls can bully, when Cinderella is competing with her former best friend over a coveted role in the upcoming dance recital.  And, of course, Cinderella has lost her brand-new tap shoe.

I appreciate Cinderella's optimism, and that there are friends who respond in a supportive way to help their friends through the troubles of growing up.

The fault in this book

OK....I seem to be the only person in the world that isn't raving about the The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  It is a typical angst-riddled teen romance...oh, and there's the cancer thing.  Our lovely "Juliet" is terribly sick, struggling to breath, while our brave "Romeo" has beat bone cancer, only losing part of one leg.  What could be more romantic?  You have to know that, when our heroes meet in a group session for sufferers/survivors of cancer, someone isn't going to make it.  The book was saved from being completely schlocky by the snarky sense of humor throughout.  It also has very real moments of speculation about life, the universe, and everything.  I can also say that as a teen, I would have LOVED it.  The dark, mopey tone would have been exactly what sucked me in.  Not anymore, sorry.

Quick, fun for younger readers

I read Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie by Bill Doyle and it was quick fun meant for younger readers, especially boys.  It is the adventures of Keats and Henry as they try to earn money from the mysterious Mr Cigam to replace the bikes they ruined.  They realize something is not as it seems when one item on their to-do list is to "battle the shark-headed zombie."  The I pictures really add to the action..what could be worse than a shark? One that can hop on land on it's back fin.  Can the boys not only defeat the monster, but also escape the magical house? Will they earn enough to get tier bikes back?  It's worth the read to find out.

Civil rights kept me up until the wee hours.....

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristen Levine came highly recommended, and that worried me.  I have often found that I am disappointed when I expect too much.  I must admit, as I started the story, I thought it this would disappoint.  It is told from the point of Marlee, a thirteen-year-old girl living in Little Rock in 1958.  She is afraid of heights and terrified of speaking....period.  In fact, her older sister challenges her to say 5 words, in complete sentences, on her first day of school.   Marlee surprises herself by not only accomplishing it, but by doing so in meeting the new girl, Elizabeth.  Elizabeth seems to be all that Marlee isn't:  funny, talkative, engaging.  And yet, they become best friends.  This is the point when I worry the book won't live up to the hype.  It seemed like a girly sort of friendship book.

Luckily, history takes over and the book lives up to the hype.  1958 is called "The Lost Year" in Little Rock.  It was a year in which none of the public high schools opened to protest the forced integration that the federal government had imposed the previous year when the "Little Rock Nine," nine black students, had attended an all-white public school.  Marlee's older sister is left home while Marlee attends Junior High.  Soon, her family, and her friendship with Elizabeth is thrown into the escalating conflict over integration.  Unable to watch the unfair discrimination she witnesses, Marlee finds her voice, risking not only her newly found friendship, but also her safety.

It is a story about standing up for what is right, even when it scares you.  And, it also deals realistically with the consequences of such bravery.  I literally couldn't put it down....finishing it in one late-night reading marathon.