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.