The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman
illustrations by Dave McKean
PRMS hardcover 312 pages

This was a re-read for the eighth grade book club, except I didn't finish it before we discussed it. Interesting that in general, the girls disliked it and the guys liked it. I definitely enjoyed it more the second time around. It was less strange to me and I was able to enjoy the details more. It's an unusual book about Nobody (Bod) Owens being raised in a graveyard by the ghosts. The nature of the Jacks (mortal?) and Silas is never very clear, but it doesn't seem to matter.

Waiting for Normal

by Leslie Connor
Carver County Library, audioCDs, 6.75 hours
read by Angela Rogers

At first, the reader's voice kind of bugged me. She sounded too young, somehow. But by the end of the story, I was crying my eyes out. Addie is the daughter of a very dysfunctional woman. I think the hardest part for me was knowing that kids like Addie exist everywhere - even at my school. Inattentive parents, a lack of guidance and support, challenging situations . . . this was a powerful story.

Chobits

by "Clamp"
volumes 1-8

This manga series caught my attention when I ordered a set off Amazon. Volumes 1-5 were already in my collection and it cost as much to order the set of eight as it did to order just volumes 6-8. When my para was getting ready to add them to the system, some of the content caught her eye. So I took them home to read.

Volumes 1 & 2 seem to exist to grab readers - to titillate and entice. I think what shocked me the most was that they are created, written, and drawn by a group of women! They objectify and sexualize women in such a gratuitous and blatant way! With the successive volumes 3-8, that element dies down and the story line develops more, but that saddens me as well.

Chobits are somewhat mythical persocoms who are such highly developed humanoid robots that they can actually learn and feel emotions. The main character falls in love with his persocom and they have a happy-ever-after experience.

Is this a Japanese cultural statement? Perhaps if electronics develop enough, people don't need to bother with human relationships. They can just have a computer that looks and acts perfectly in accord with one's wishes. No thanks.

No Talking!

by Andrew Clements
Carver County Library, audioCDs, 3 hours
read by Keith Nobbs

Although it's a very elementary-school story (most of Clements' books are . . . ), I enjoyed this tale of boys vs. girls. The main character decides to be completely silent for one day after learning about Gandhi. He blows it, but learns that it's possible to avoid talking. When he challenges one of the most chatty girls to a contest, the all-out silence upsets some teachers and the principal, who demand that they act and speak in a "normal" manner. The first lunchroom / principal scene is my favorite part of the book. This is just a very "young" read.

Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination

by Neal Gabler
Carver County Library, audioCDs, 8ish hours
*abridged*
read by Leonardo Leoncavallo

I usually don't read abridgements, but I missed that detail until the story was over. This was a fascinating look at a very interesting man. In some ways, I was appalled by Disney and his choices. In other ways, I love that he overcame some very serious problems in order to become successful. The author's "voice" was odd - sometimes seeming to adulate Disney and other times painting him as a sad little loser. This makes me want to read other books on Disney. How sad that his nephew Roy just died. The dynasty belongs to others. I had never realized how huge a role his brother Roy had played in building the Disney empire. Very interesting story. The reader's voice was fine, for the most part.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Demigod Files

by Rick Riordan
PRMS, 140 pages, hardcover

A student told me I "had" to read this before reading book five. It's a delightful little book, written as though told to other demi-gods. There are three short stories, some interviews, drawings, etc. I enjoyed the three stories and how they enriched our view of some characters (especially Clarisse and Nico). Delightful book. Quick read.

Crooked House

by Agatha Christie
Dakota County Library, audioCD 5 hrs, 45 min

Typical whodunnit, but with characters I've not met before. Charles Hayward is in love with Sophia Leonides, but when her grandfather is murdered, their engagement is put on hold. The cast of characters and the "obvious" murderer(s) only point to a much more complex answer. The ending was fantastic!

The Battle of the Labyrinth

by Rick Riordan
PRMS paperback 361 pages

In this installment, Percy and friends try to find Daedalus in the labyrinth that he built. They know that Luke will try to attack Camp Half-Blood through an entrance to the labyrinth. Adventure, danger, and some flirting ensue.

I'm so glad that kids are excited about reading these books and getting genuinely interested in mythology as a result! I'm looking forward to reading the last book to see who will fulfill the prophecy.

Life of Pi

by Yann Martel
Dakota County Library, audioCD, 11.5 hours
read by Jeff Woodman

This was both fascinating and infuriating. What an odd mix of zoology and theology in the guise of a survival adventure. Piscine (Pi) Patel is traveling from India to Canada with his family when their ship sinks. The only human survivor, Pi is on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutang, and a Bengal tiger.

Least liked: the hyena eating the zebra live, the muddied theology of being a devout Hindu and Christian and Muslim successfully. The ending. Grr! The way Richard Parker was mentioned for many chapters without me having a clue who he was.

Most liked: the beautiful way he uses language! Some of the passages were so striking, I wanted to stop and write them down. I liked the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. The survival aspects of the story.



I liked the book much more the second time around. I almost wish I owned a print copy . . . and may yet buy one.

• "Fellow students . . . who were in the thrall of reason, that fool's gold for the bright." I had to be parked and hit the back button to listen to this and get the wording right. I love the way he expresses things!
• I made a comment about science vs religion . . . the character is a double-major in those fields and makes some very interesting observations. It apparently bothered me the first time, but I appreciated the insights this time.
• I made a note about the rich detail and beautiful language.
• Pondicherry, India and Toronto, Canada
• Richard Parker . . . fascinating
• Mr. Kumar (atheist teacher) and Mr. Kumar (Muslim baker) - both had a profound impact on young Pi.
• Piscine / pissing / Pi - school kids can be so mean. I love his solution to the name issue!
• seven months at sea! 1977-78
• killing sea turtles - makes me sad. 
• Zebra becomes young Chinese sailor with broken leg / hyena and man in other lifeboat becomes cruel French cook who killed a man and a woman and was killed by Richard Parker / the orangutang Orange Juice became Pi's mother / the tiger Richard Parker . . . becomes Pi!
• the ending . . . what's the true story?
• 100 chapters with #99 being the alternate story
•  

Leepike Ridge

by N.D. Wilson
PRMS paperback 224 pages

Tom doesn't like his mom's boyfriend. When he rides a large styrofoam "raft" on the river, he actually falls asleep and ends up sucked under a ridge into the mountain. Missing and presumed dead, Tom just wants to survive. First he lands on a beach-type area with a dead body. After locating the dead man's helmet, he begins to explore.

Filled with adventure, danger, and a little bit of mystery, this book kept me wanting to find out what happened.

Some of the passages were odd . . . like the author's opening on "onces."

Can You Keep a Secret?

by Sophie Kinsella
Carver County Library, audioCD, 6 hours
Read by ??? (the author?)

I probably shouldn't have listened to the whole thing, but there were parts of it I really liked.

Disliked: the F-word, the casual attitude toward sex, religion, morals, etc.
Liked: Jack's romantic side, some of the humorous situations, her cousin getting a comeupance

Rules

by Cynthia Lord
PRMS paperback 200 pages

I'm glad I finally read this! I like the story of Catherine and her struggle to have a "normal" life, though her brother David has autism and affects her daily existence. Funny, sweet, and touching, this book centers on Catherine's desire to have a friend over the summer while her best friend is staying with her father in California. Between Kristi, Jason, Ryan, and her own family, Catherine is caught between doing what she wants and doing what's right.

Added 2/21/13 (initial post of 11/29/09)
I re-read it to prepare for the 7th grade book club discussion. It's such a lovely little book. Catherine is a bit young to be so agitated by her brother's challenging behavior, but her friendship with Jason truly brings out the best in her (ultimately). Kristi is the new neighbor Catherine hopes to befriend. Ryan is the mean neighbor boy who clearly likes Kristi. Jason is in a wheelchair and cannot talk. His book of words (to point to) becomes a crucial part of the story as Catherine uses her artistic talent to make new word cards for him. The author's notes at the end were interesting.

The Traitor's Gate

by Avi
Carver County Library, audioCD, 8.25 hours
Read by John Keating

Very much reminiscent of Dickens (and many of the characters are reading David Copperfield as it is published in the newspaper), The Traitor's Gate follows young John Huffam as his father is put into debtor's prison. John is the only family member with any sense and it's up to him to figure out what is going on.

This would be a good book for any of my bookish students, especially those who enjoy mysteries, but I don't think it will have broad appeal.

The Titan's Curse

by Rick Riordan
PRMS paperback 312 pages

Book 3 in the Percy Jackson series. Thalia, Annabeth, and Percy rush to help Grover retrieve two half-bloods from a mysterious school. But more and more dangerous monsters are loose and on the attack.

Like: action, mythology woven in, some unexpected turns
Dislike: Nico disappearing without a trace, Bianca's body not being found . . . too many loose ends (so read the next book already!)

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

by Jordan Sonnenblick
PRMS paperback 273 pages

This was a re-read to prep for our 8th grade book club meeting. I still love this book! I cried even harder this time than the first time I read it.

Our discussion yesterday was good. I enjoy this group of young people and liked hearing their perspectives on this story.

Steven is a drummer with a little brother who gets luekemia. Sonnenblick (a teacher) uses a very authentic voice for his protagonist! Wonderfully written, this book is a pleasure.

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls
Chaska H.S. paperback, 288 pages

This is our next school book club title. I finished it with tears streaming down my face. Though Walls makes a point of not blaming her parents, this book made me so sad. It's great that she and her siblings have turned out okay, but their parents were selfish and irresponsible. It saddened me and it will be interesting to have our discussion on this book!

The book is extremely well-written. Her prose is beautiful and evocative.

What It Felt Like

by Henry Allen
PRMS hardcover, 158 pages

When I saw this in the colletion, I was curious. I'm not much of a history buff, but this stream-of-consciousness book interested me. Some of the references went right over my head, but many made sense. It definitely gave me the sense of each era (American decades from 1900-2000). One thing that struck me was the 1920s being such a jaded, lawless time. At times, it seems as though the modern era invented apathy and evil. Of course, that simply isn't true. I was eager to get to the decades I've lived through to see how much the text resonated for me. It was interesting . . . and definitely told through one person's lens.

The Sea of Monsters

by Rick Riordan
PRMS, paperback, 279 pages

Delightful, of course. My students were appalled that I hadn't read past the first Percy Jackson book. In this one, Percy has dreams of Grover in danger. Percy and Annabeth set out with Percy's new "friend" Tyson, who happens to be a young cyclops. Adventure, humor, and relationship lessons happen.

All Fishermen Are Liars

by Linda Greenlaw
Hennepin County Library, audioCD, 6 hours
read by the author

The title caught my attention (for my dad) and I decided to listen to it first. It was enjoyable, though the language was a bit salty for me. I've not read or heard of this author before, but if my dad enjoys the collection of stories (absolutely true, if you can trust fishermen), I may have to look at some of her other work. This story made me even more curious about "The Perfect Storm," which I've heard is an amazing story!

My Heartbeat

by Garret Freymann-Weyr
PRMS, hardcover, 154 pages

A sixth grader returned this, saying she didn't think it was an appropriate book. Noticing the Michael Printz award sticker on the front, I knew that I would have steered her to something else had I been working with her during checkout time. I took it home and read it. It will stay in this collection, but is definitely intended for a more mature reader.

Ellen is a 14-year-old who doesn't socialize well with her peers. Starting in prep school offers her a new chance, but she is most comfortable with her older brother Link (short for Lincoln) and his best friend James. She's long had a crush on James, but knows that he just sees her as "the kid sister." When girls at school make comments on the relationship between Link and James, Ellen starts to see something else entirely. Reading everything she can about homosexuality, she sees her brother war with himself and eventually reject James.

For the most part, I thought this was a sensitive and well-written story. Ellen's thoughts and feelings are genuinely curious and loving. Her parents and their fears are realistic. The family's tendency toward silence and avoidance is believable.

The most frustrating paragraph clearly telegraphs the author's opinion:
"Now it's not a big deal. There's AIDS to worry about or getting attacked by a redneck, but that's about it. Only people who don't know better still think it's shameful or wrong to be gay, but not people we know. Not smart people."

Wow. Although this is the *character's* statement, I would say it quite likely reflects the author's perspective on homosexuality. So all devout Christians, muslims, Jews,etc. must be rednecks or non-smart people. That's a pretty big statement.

The Diamond of Darkhold

by Jeanne DuPrau
PRMS hardcover 285 pages

For the most part, I really enjoyed this fourth installment in the Ember series. Doon and Lina head off to Ember to see if they can get at any supplies that will help them stave off starvation in Sparks. Adventure, danger, mystery - there's a little of everything.

I'm baffled by the ending, though. Other than the requisite happy-ever-after, the author's tie-in to Yonwood left me confused. It doesn't help that book three felt like a disconnected pre-prequel to me. I should go online and play detective. Or maybe I'll ask kids who've read it what they think the ending was about. The connection feels tenuous to me, but I'm glad that Doon's and Lina's story resolved.

Skeleton Creek: Ryan's Journal

by Patrick Carman
JES, hard cover, 186 pages

Mystery. Suspense. The book is a teenage boy's journal about the mysterious happenings at the Dredge (#42 asset). I chose to just read the book without going online and watching the related videos. I think I'm missing too much from the Sarah half of the story. If/when I have time, I'll go to www.sarahfincher.com
Here are the passwords in order:
houseofusher
theraven
pitandpendulum
amontillado
drjekyllandmrhyde
peterquint
lucywestenra
miltonarbogast
tanginabarrons

I can see why the multimedia approach appeals to kids. The story was interesting, with clues about gold, alchemy, etc. leaking out. But it didn't feel complete at all. Good to know that in terms of booktalking it.

Canoeing with the Cree

by Eric Sevareid
Hennepin County Library, audioCD, 3 hrs 45 min.
read by John Farrell

In 1930, the author and his friend Walter Port convinced the Minneapolis Star to finance a canoe trip from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay. The boys were newly graduated from high school and full of enthusiasm. What an adventure!

My dad really enjoyed this story, so I decided to listen to it, too. As I was in the car listening, I wanted to see a map and trace their journey. They persevered through things that would have deterred most people. What an amazing story! It's definitely a product of its time, though, with references to "half-breeds" and other derogatory terms for the Cree Indians.

All in all, though, a cool story. I love that they were successful despite so many people telling them they'd never make it.

Who Killed My Daughter?

by Lois Duncan
PRMS paperback 354 pages

Lois Duncan's daughter was shot in the head in 1989 while driving from a friend's house. This book is the story of a mother's odyssey to uncover the truth.

Most of us in book club did not like it, primarily because of her reliance on psychic readings (and the grammatical oddness of reading their reports). Some of us took issue with the contrast between her stated perspective of being over-protective and her permissiveness with Kaitlyn (e.g. letting her move out and live with her boyfriend at age 18).

All of us empathized with a parent's pain. Many were frustrated with a lack of conclusion (since no one has been charged with the murder).

Most of us wondered how this ended up on the 7th grade LA reading list, even as a lit circle option. . .

There is so much more interesting info on the case available on the websites that follow:
If you’re curious to read more current info, check this out: http://www.johncooke.com/kait.htm
And if you really want to know more, go to ,http://kaitarquette.arquettes.com/index.htm

Beautiful Windows: The Ultimate Window Treatment Book

Dakota County Library, paperback
747.5 Beaut

Great photos and instructions. I used this book for making Roman shades for the lake.

Luke's Story

by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
in the Jesus Chronicles series
Dakota County Library, hardcover, 391 pages

A fictionalized account of Luke (Loukon) as he grows from a slave boy to the doctor known in Scripture. Interesting, but not gripping. If I had realized that the entire gospel of Luke and the book of Acts was in the book, I wouldn't have felt a need to keep running to find my Bible and compare the story to what's written in Scripture.

I suppose it's a way for the gospel to be "brought to life" for secular readers, but I guess I prefer to read the Bible itself and pick up novels for fiction reading. Just my opinion. I think Charles Martin remains my favorite Christian author of all time.

Home of the Brave

by Katherine Applegate
PRMS paperback, 253 pages

Written in prose poetry, this book was very thought-provoking. Kek is a refuge from Sudan. When he comes to Minnesota to live with his cousin and aunt, there is so much he doesn't understand about his new home. But when he asks Lou if he can work for her, taking care of her cow, he knows just what he's doing.

One of the MHL nominees, I don't really see many kids getting into this book. I really liked it, though. It gives another great look into an immigrant's perspective. It would be interesting to do a book club with this and La Linnea.

Hormone Jungle: Coming of Age in Middle School

by Brod Bagert
PRMS, paperback, 120 pages

Interesting that a man wrote this book of a girl's middle school scrapbook. Mary Verbick shared this with me last year. Christina Curtis is heading to college and she unearths her middle school journal, filled with poetry. It all began with a poetry war between Thor (Steven Gilley) and Athena (Christina). A fun, quick, "real" story. It made me cry at the end . . . and I had a hispanic student help me translate some phrases. Enjoyable.

The Orphan of Ellis Island

by Elvira Woodruff
my personal collection, paperback, 174 pages

Before donating this to PRMS, I decided to re-read it. Dominic Cantori is an orphan who has gone from one foster home to the next because "things just don't work out." On a school trip to Ellis Island, he falls asleep and has a "conversation" with an Italian man on one of the museum's phones. Then Dominic travels back in time and meets a trio of Italian brothers.

Sweet story. A bit young - the protagonist is a fifth grader and it reads like an elementary book. Nice historical fiction for young readers, though. It really captures aspects of the immigrant experience, like the crowded passage on the ships and names being changed for convenience.

A Christmas Beginning

by Anne Perry
audioCD, Hennepin County Library, 4 hours & 7 minutes
read by Terrence Hardiman

Runcorn has gone to Anglesey on vacation but he stumbles upon Melisande and a murder. Victorian mystery that just doesn't work for me.

Runcorn is too easily cowed by the gentry. The narrator did a lovely job, but I found myself not able to empathize with the main character. The ending surprised and pleased me, but overall I wish I hadn't spent my time on this one. And of course, I'm now racking my brain trying to figure out which other story I've read by this author and if I liked that one any better . .. .

Amazons Attack!

by Will Pfeifer (writer) and Pete Woods (artist)
Hennepin County Library hardcover, unpaged

What a disappointment! This Wonder Woman sequel was filled with senseless violence, a questionable message about war's futility, and a weird twist at the end to set up the next story in the series. Clearly, the author had a different vision than Piccoult did in the first book. This took me forever to read because I just wasn't enjoying it. So ultimately, was Circe the "bad guy" controlling queen Hippolyta's actions? Or was Granny Goodness at the helm the whole time? The ending tag line, "The war has ended . . . but the apocalypse has just begun." doesn't make me want to continue reading the comic book saga. It tells me I'm done with this.

The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer

by Gary Paulsen
PRMS hardcover, 160 pages

I had never seen this Gary Paulsen title before! I enjoyed it even though it doesn't flow as smoothly as some of his other stories. Paulsen shares his memories of this time in his life in a painfully honest manner. It makes me so sad for the childhood he never had. My favorite part was when he worked with the migrant laborers and felt connected to them. This book might appeal to some of the same kids who like Harris and Me, even though it isn't funny like that book.


Added 11/25/12:
Rather than create a new entry for this re-read, I decided to edit the old. This seems to me to be extremely autobiographical . . . but it's also very raw and personal. The narrator is describing events from the summer of when he was fifteen going on sixteen. Running away from home after his drunken mother makes a pass at him, working the beet fields with migrant workers, falling in love (but never actually talking to the object of his affection), getting ripped off by a deputy, joining a carnival . . . . this is for my older, more mature readers.

Goddess of the Night

part of the "Daughters of the Moon" series
by Lynne Ewing
PRMS, hardcover, 294 pages

I read this because one of my eighth graders has been raving about this series. As I expected, it was filled with darkness - tarot cards, creatures of the night, etc. The thing I didn't anticipate was the flavor of California panache. The combination of too-hip girly stuff along with the darkness just didn't work for me. I thought the story was vapid and pointless. There was some suspense, and some minor romantic pull between Vanessa and Michael.

Interesting how the author distinguishes between the daughters of the moon being "of the light" and the evil of the Atrox. It makes me wonder if the author has ever read Scripture and how she reconciles that with the philosophy put forth in her books.

Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days

by Judith Viorst
Hennepin County Library, audio CDs, 3.5 hours
read by Laurel Merlington

The title caught my attention, since the Alexander book of childhood fame is one of my favorites. This one is about Viorst and her husband hosting their adult son, his wife, and their three young children for three months while their house is being remodeled. I'm not sure if it was her writing or the reader's narration, but this came across mostly as a whiny diatribe of a person who has control issues. Parts of it were funny (and there were times I could see myself in her perspective), but it simply wasn't as enjoyable as I anticipated. I definitely "felt" for her family members!

Redwall

by Brian Jacques
personal collection, paperback, 351 pages

I've read this before, but it's been a while. Delightful story about Matthias "I - am that is" who emulates Martin the Warrior so he can save the Abbey from Cluny the Scourge. "Peopled" with delightful characters (Basil Stag Hare, Silent Sam, Methuselah, and others), this is a great adventure story for smart kids. I can see why Nick enjoyed this series so much when he was younger.

Once Upon a Curse

by E.D. Baker
PRMS, paperback, 244 pages

Book three - Emma wants to find a way to stop the family curse before her sixteenth birthday. She has already witnessed her beloved Aunt Grassina turn into an ugly and mean witch when flowers touched her.

It's odd that I read all three of these books in just over 24 hours when I didn't even really like them very well . . . but I had the set with me on the way to the lake. And I'm a compulsive reader.

Some kids will love these. It's nice now that I know what they're about.

Dragon's Breath

by E.D. Baker
PRMS, paperback, 292 pages

Book two - (I had the first three with me, so I read them all). Still a bit stilted, in terms of writing style, but now that I'm familiar with the characters, I just enjoyed the story.

Emma and Eadric need to track down ingredients to change Grassina's beloved Haywood from an otter back into a man. Emma also needs to convince her parents that she really doesn't want to marry Jorge. They befriend a dragon and have many adventures.

The Frog Princess

by E.D. Baker
PRMS, paperback, 214 pages

Cute fairy tale (of the fractured variety) about Emma and Eadric. She turns into a frog when kissing him to turn him back to a prince.

Based on my students' rave reviews, I expected to love it. Not so much. It was okay. Nothing at all like Gail Carson Levine's stuff, which is clever and delightful.

The Prodigy

by Alton Gansky,
PRMS, paperback, 340 pages

Wow! This rocked. I started it Wed p.m. after church and read 'til 11:30. Last night, I picked it up after Curriculum Night (9:30ish) and finished it at 11:15.

The story begins with the birth of Toby to an unwed teen mother in the Appalachians. Toby is an unusual and special child. But is he performing miracles, or . . . ? Suspenseful, exciting, thought-provoking. I had never heard of this author before, but will look for more of his titles!

At one point, I checked to see who the publisher was (Zondervan) to decide if this was going to end up with a Christian perspective or not. Very cool book! I hope our book club decides to read it.

Rex Libris: I, Librarian

by James Turner
Dakota County Library, paperback, unpaged graphic novel

Funny, smart, and a little bit wicked. Librarians as secret superheroes. I know of at least one person I want to buy this for as a gift. Very clever stuff!

Rain Song

by Alice Wisler
Hennepin, Carver, and Dakota counties (I got three out so I could share)
paper, 295 pages

It's been a few weeks since I read this (and book club doesn't meet until next Monday), but I liked it for the most part.

I was frustrated by some unanswered questions - I hope we talk about these at Book Club:
- What was the purpose of Monet's character? What was wrong with her? What was she supposed to represent?
- Why couldn't Nicole have attended the reunion and gone to Japan later, like in August?
- Why didn't her father get grief counseling or share with anyone? As a missionary, I would think he'd have some support.
- Was it realistic that Nicole would overcome so much history to get on a plane and visit Harrison?

But overall, I liked the unfolding of the story. I loved the relationships between Ducee and everyone else. Iva was a hoot - my favorite character.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis
my collection, paper, 189 pages

Louie and I watched "Prince Caspian" last week and that whetted my appetite for Narnia. I hadn't read any of the books in many years, so picked this one up and read it in an evening. Now I want to re-watch the movie version of it and read the other books in the series.

Beautiful stuff. I'm glad Lewis wrote these allegories.

Words By Heart

by Ouida Sebestyen
my collection, paper, 135 pages

Wow. This was an amazing book. It's been in my collection a really long time (I had it in my LA classroom when I taught freshman English in Jordan!), but I don't think I had ever read it before. Lena is a black girl growing up in 1910 in a white community. She's very good at memorizing and wins a Scripture contest. Her father is her hero and he lives his faith in a way that's hard for Lena to understand.

I really enjoyed this story. It says a lot in its short 100+ pages!

Frazz: Live at Bryson Elementary

by Jef Mallett
Dakota County Library, paperback, 128 pages

Wow! I never even knew this comic existed! I'm so glad I stumbled across it at the library! This is good like Calvin & Hobbes - smart, funny, (a bit less cynical). Frazz is the cool elementary school janitor and Caulfield is the hypersmart kid who comes up with the best lines. Great comic collection! I'm buying one for school and one for me at home!

Wonder Woman: Love and Murder

by Jodi Piccoult (with lots of other people - comic books are so collaborative!)
Dakota County Library, hard cover, unpaged

Wow! I've always loved comic books, and Jodi Piccoult is such a great author. This was a hit! Now I have to track down the next volume . . . Amazons Attack. The authors are different, but there's a great story line going on. Reminds me of when Superman died . . . Won't buy this for PRMS. I just don't think it's one the kids would get into.

Places I Never Meant to Be

edited by Judy Blume
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 202 pages

This volume of short stories and comments by censored writers is powerful. The stories are not here for shock value at all and I almost enjoyed reading the authors' comments after their stories as much as the stories themselves. My favorite short story was Spear by Julius Lester. Many of the stories are sad. Walter Dean Myers' The Beast is in the Labyrinth was powerful. A very good collection. Not sure about buying it for PRMS . . . not many kids read short story collections. Wonder how I can "sell" them better.

The Last Lecture

by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
Dakota County Library, audiobook read by Erik Singer
4 1/2 hours

I have seen parts of the last lecture given by Pausch. Incredible guy (and a big egotistical, but he admits it). So sad that he died so young. But amazing that his story has inspired so many people. We listened to this on the way to & from Strawberry Lake and it affected Louie, Morgan, and Nick too. I'd still like to see the books (for the photos). It sounds as though his parents (and his wife!) are incredible people. Highly recommended.

Fire from the Rock

by Sharon M. Draper
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 229 pages

This story about the integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, takes a while to get going, but becomes engrossing as it goes on. I'm not sure it's enough to pull in middle school readers, but I found myself caught up in the story and sadness for the many real-life people who have had to suffer because of bigotry and cruel racism. It is still hard for me to fathom the depth of hatred directed at people because of their race. It's appalling. Draper infuses the story with a little romance to go along with the human rights tale. My favorite parts were where Sylvia wrote in her journal and her enduring friendship with Rachel, a Jewish white girl.

La Linea

by Ann Jaramillo
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 135 pages

This is a powerful story of Miguel and his sister Elena trying to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. to join their parents. Everyone involved in the immigration debate should read this! What a powerful book. I hope to have a lot of students read and discuss this book. There is a lot of authenticity in the story and it makes me sad.

Life as We Knew It

by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 337 pages

A large meteor hits the moon and knocks it off course, causing devastating tides, flooding, hurricanes, and worldwide devastation. Told from Miranda's perspective, including some journaling, this is a very unusual book. For part of it, I was bored and it seemed to drag too much. Just past midway, I realized that I didn't know how it was going to end (rare with young adolescent books - they're usually pretty predictable). By the time I finished it, I was completely engrossed and thinking of re-reading the last dozen pages just to experience it again. I will probably read the companion novel, The Dead and the Gone, told from the perspective of a teenager in NYC.

The thing that bothered me was the stereotypical pastor who's a big, fat, nasty hypocrite and Miranda's friend Megan who starves herself to death in a religious frenzy, causing her mom to commit suicide. Sometimes I wonder if all YA authors have had negative experiences with religion. It's discouraging to know that organized religion has had such a negative impact on so many people. Jesus isn't about the religious hypocrisy at all!

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

by Ally Carter
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 284 pages

This is another title that I enjoyed less than I expected. Callie is a student at a private spy school. While in town on a mission, she meets a regular boy and is drawn to him. He cannot know who she really is or what goes on at Gallagher Academy.

There were elements of this story that I really enjoyed, like the students have an assigned language (out of the 14 that they learn) for mealtime conversations and some of the James Bond-type gadgets that they use. But I thought the character development was stilted, especially Macey going from bad-girl to . . . just another girl.

Will I read the sequel? Not sure.

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

by Heather Brewer
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 182 pages

This story of a teenage vampire who's trying to hide who he really is while dealing with typical teen angst was a bit disappointing. His best friend and his aunt know and help him get the blood he needs without killing anyone. I had heard rave reviews about this book, and found the mystery of what happened to his parents, who's stalking him, etc. to be interesting. But overall, it was a bit abrupt and convoluted, especially Otis' motivation for finding Tod and how he handled the situation at the end. Not sure I'll read Nineth Grade Slays (sic), though I'm a bit curious . . .

Peak

by Roland Smith
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 246 pages

This is the third MHL nominee I've read and so far it's my favorite. I loved it! This made me cry, but the action-adventure momentum also kept me reading. I think kids will really enjoy this one.

Peak is a climber stuck in NYC, so he begins scaling skyscrapers. When he gets in trouble, his mom and stepdad don't know how to keep him out of juvenile detention. That's when his father, famous climber Josh Wood, steps in to take Peak with him to China. Only Josh's plan is to get Peak to the summit of Everest.

Cool and believable. Lots of details. Interesting characters. Fun book!

Note added 10/14/14:

Peak - teenage protagonist
Josh - his dad
Mom - not sure what her real name is . . .
Rolf - stepdad
Patrice & Paula - "the two Peas" -
Sun-jo - teenage Sherpa climbing with Peak
Holly Angelo - obnoxious reporter trying to climb Everest
Vincent - the teacher who makes Peak write about his experience (in a Moleskin notebook)
Yogi - Sherpa
Yash - Sherpa
Zopa

The Monk Downstairs

by Tim Farrington
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 276 pages

This was going to be our book club book, but Jodi changed to a different one. This didn't read much like a "Christian" book, but it was very interesting. The main conflict for Michael Christopher was the struggle between the contemplative life and the life of action. After twenty years in the monastery, he was trying to figure out what to do with his life. His landlord, Rebecca, is a single mom with struggles of her own and God has no part in her life.

The thing that didn't work for me is that the author seems to be saying (or trying to say) something significant about God. Only he doesn't really have anything to say. I read the author interview, the endnotes, the discussion questions, etc. It makes me sad, but I think this talented writer is another victim of the Catholic church and general detachment from the living Word of God. Jesus changes lives, He doesn't stifle them, especially not through prayer. Very sad.

My favorite parts of this book were the friendship that developed between Mary Martha and Michael, Rebecca's zany mom Phoebe, and Rebecca NOT "settling" for Bob. I'm glad I read it, but I won't rush out to get the sequel.

Notes from the Midnight Driver

by Jordan Sonnenblick
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 265 pages

This author nails the typical teenage voice well. Once again, he has created a character (Alex) who is self-centered at the start of the story, but grows up in a big way. I liked how he drew Steven and Annette (from Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie) into this story.

The reconciliation and family relationships piece was strong. This will be a fun book to talk about with kids. I cried, naturally. Laurie and Sol were my favorite characters. Sol was a blast!



Re-read it because I brought mostly non-fiction to the lake and I wanted to "zone out" with an easy book. (Some people zone out in front of the tv . . . )

Love this! Both funny and serious, it is so delightful.

Reconciliation - parents and kids. Owning your own responsibility.

Talking to the Dead

by Bonnie Grove
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 368 pages

Wow! This one surprised me! I enjoyed it, though it's actually pretty sad for most of the story. Kate's husband's sudden death has sent her spiraling into depression. She isn't sure of her sanity as she hears her dead husband talking to her and has conversations with him. Looking forward to book club!

Ten Tales from Shakespeare

by Charles & Mary Lamb
Scott County Library, hardcover, unpaged
illustrated by Janusz Grabianski

What an intriguing find! Originally written in 1807, this edition dates from 1969. The Lambs intended this volume as a prose introduction to Shakespeare for children. Since Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed on stage, not read in a book, this was a daunting task. The preface (from the 1807 original) is enlightening! I would love to own a copy of this book.

The plays themselves are more enjoyable when read singly, for the story-after-story makes them feel like ridiculous caricatures of humanity. The ones I enjoyed the most are the ones that I have either read or watched in the original Elizabethan language. I think this version of Hamlet is my favorite. :-) All in all, a very interesting collection of stories.

Come Thirsty

by Max Lucado
Hennepin County, hardcover, 155 pages

Considering how short this is, I can't believe it took me two months to read it! Pastor Jamie was using this for our Wednesday night Bible study, but I only got to two chapters' worth. I like to finish things!

In some ways, I don't like Lucado's writing style. In the past, I've thought of him as a bit too touchy-feely. He uses lots and lots of analogies, metaphors, and visual language. But I enjoyed this book. When I finally did start reading it, I was ready for a fresh look at God's love. The book is divided into four sections: accept His work, rely on His energy, trust His Lordship, and receive His love.

Though it didn't touch me deeply, I did enjoy the reminders woven throughout this book. God's power and love are real. No matter how sinful I am, God doesn't stop loving me. I especially liked the letter from God at the end. I could see the Scriptures pouring out. I think I'll copy this for Ann and put the verses in. . . God is good!

The Choice

by Nicholas Sparks
hard cover, Sue Kreuser loaned it out to us Minnesota folks, 272 pages

Of the three or four books of his that I've read, this one's my favorite. The first half of the book was a delightful romantic romp between Gabby and her neighbor Travis. The second half was typical Sparks - maudlin, misleading, and drippy. The "choice" isn't even clear until the last dozen or so pages. Whatever.

The reason Sue lent it out was to "show" us the area she lives in. Sparks showcases Morehead and Beaufort beautifully! The beauty and bounty were definitely appealing. I hope I get to go visit some time!

Words Unspoken

by Elizabeth Musser
Carver County, paperback, 395 pages

I didn't read this in time for the book club discussion (not sure what's up with me these days!) but finished it last week in Michigan. Although this one also had a lot of characters and storylines, it wasn't as overwrought as the last title we read. The main story was about Lissa Randall and her struggle to get over her mother's death. The other intertwining story lines dealt with Ev and Annie and their past. Beautiful story. I really liked this one. I'll need to find some more books by Musser. This contained a great message about hope and possibilities. Some of the characters are bogged down by depression and their struggles to find hope. This was a good story!

Fated Genes

by Harry Kraus, M.D.
public library, 300ish pages, paperback

This took me two or three months to get through. I missed the book club discussion obviously.

Dislikes:
too many characters
too blatant with the evil, liberal, rampant health care ideas
lack of a central character to care about
too ambitious

Likes:
prayer warriors
Belle's faith (though why doesn't she TALK SOME SENSE into her grandson???)
good defeats evil (duh)

I thought about just giving up on this one many, many times. I should blog more about the ideas and themes, but that will have to wait.

Harry Potter

I've spent the last week re-reading HP #6, #5, #1, and #7 (yes, in that order). Kind of a long story why, but it was enjoyable. The books are so much better than the movies! I especially like when Fred & George get revenge on Umbridge. Nice. Louie's planning on reading #7 (for the first time!) while we're on vacation. I asked him if he even remembered what happened in book six . . . it's a bit vague for him.

Emma

by Jane Austen
home copy, hard cover

This is definitely my LEAST favorite Austen story. (so far) It took me four months to slog through it. Yuk! How inane and irritating! It reminded me of "A Room with a View." If I hadn't seen a movie version of it that I liked a little, I don't think I could have finished it. I don't anticipate ever reading this again, but I am now re-reading Pride and Prejudice, one of my faves.

Welcome to the Nerd Farm!

by Garry B. Trudeau
Hennepin County, paperback, 152 pages

Clever, Timely, Thought-provoking. I like this collection. It's especially profound to read the strips in support of soldiers. Too many people have black & white ideas about liberals and conservatives. Trudeau strikes a nerve regarding what it means to truly support the troops.

Animal Friendly

by Patrick McDonnell
Hennepin County, paperback, 208 pages

Cute comics, but not in my top ten list. Some really heart-warming sketches.

Pierced

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Hennepin County, paperback, 127 pages

I love comic books and Zits is one of my absolute favorites. Good stuff. Some of it made me laugh out loud. These guys capture adolescence perfectly.

Till Next We Meet

by Karen Ranney
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 374 pages

Historical romance (aka "bodice ripper") with minimal plot and not much character development. Not sure why I read it when I have so many other books on my nightstand. Summer vapidity, I guess.

Quilting Books!

I didn't exactly read these, but I want to be able to find them again!

Batiks and Beyond by Laurie J. Shifrin (Hennepin County Library)
- Mixed Up But Not Crazy
- Red Sky @ Night
- Terra Cotta Dreams
- Spice Market

Coffee Time Quilts by Cathy Wierzbicki (HCL)
- caramel latte (colors)
- recipes
- Hearty Blend

Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station

by Dorothy Gilman
Scott County Library, hardcover, 184 pages

A comfort re-read. I really enjoy the Mrs. Pollifax books, for the most part. I love her sweet nature which triumphs over evil. This is one that takes place before she marries Cyrus, so it still has that swashbuckling capacity. Delightful.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth

by Jonny Bowden
Scott County, paperback

I've already renewed this book once and really need to get it back to the library. I think I should buy my own copy! It's very interesting and has a balance of ideas. I like how the author points out different perspectives and has his own pov so entertainingly presented. I love this book!

But I'm really, really time-management challenged right now. (For example, I ought to be halfway to work by now.)

ISBN 978-1-59233-228-1 (with CD)

Forsaken

by James David Jordan
Hennepin County Library
paperback 387 pages

I neither loved nor hated this one, but the SOLC book club had an incredible discussion! Terrorism, martyrdom, grace. We had a good time finding fault with some implausible scenarios, but found many characters and situations to praise as well.

The Reader

by Bernhard Schlink
multiple libraries & formats

Book club selection at CMSW. An Oprah pick. No one loved it. Many hated it.

First half = teenage boy in post-WWII Germany having passionate sex with an older woman.
Second half = he watches her trial for war crimes as a college law student.

Sad story. The point? I'm not sure. I missed discussion because of track.

Dragon Rider

by Cornelia Funke
Scott County Library, audioCDs, 11 hours, 36 minutes
read by Brendan Fraser

Nice story. Not in my top ten or anything. Firedrake the dragon and Sorrel the brownie go to seek the Rim of Heaven. They befriend orphan Ben (a human) and their dread enemy's servant Twigleg (a humunculous ?). Full of adventure and fantasy. Predictable but heart-warming ending.

Fraser is one of my favorite actors, but I prefer Jim Dale for reading. Fraser made noises for everything - swallowing, chewing, etc. It got kind of irritating. He also modulated his volume so much that I had to keep turning it up and down to hear everything.

What I liked about it most was the way Sorrel warmed up to beings that she initially distrusted or even despised.

The Year of the Dog

by Grace Lin
Scott County Library, audioCDs, 3 hours
read by Nancy Wu

The reader was fantastic, but the story was hard for me to enjoy. I'm not sure if it's because the target audience is so much younger than the kids I work with, or if it's just a slow story . . . Anyhow, I read it because I had bought a bunch of them at the Scholastic Warehouse sale last year for lit circles. Ugh. Guess I didn't look at it carefully enough. There are some sixth grade girls this might appeal to, especially with the friend element. But this is a really slow story.

Hanging on to Max

by Margaret Bechard
CMSW, paperback, 204 pages

Interesting. This is one of the 8th grade lit circle choices. Most of the kids I talked to really enjoyed it. In fact, one highly recommended it to me. I'm not sure, though, what about it exactly appeals to kids. Now that I've read it, I'm going to have to ask some of them.

Sam is a father at age seventeen. When his former girlfriend decides to give the baby up for adoption, Sam says he'll raise the boy (and rename him Max). Sam's father is supportive (letting them live in his home, helping Sam find a job for after graduation, etc.) but is emotionally distant and critical of Sam. Sam's mother died when he was only nine, so there are definite challenges in this family.

My favorite character was Sam's Aunt Jean, who knew how to help out and how to "be there" for Sam. The ending felt abrupt (a comment I heard from kids), but it made me cry anyhow. No spoiler here. It's a quick read, so you can find out for yourself.

Double Minds

by Terri Blackstock
Carver County Library, hard cover, 309 pages

For most of this book, I didn't really enjoy the story. But by the end, I liked it better. I think the afterword was actually my favorite part!

Parker James is a talented song-writer who would love to become a successful singer. When her best friend Serene asks her to re-write some songs so they're more acceptable for a secular audience, Parker really struggles. Worshiping God is the whole reason she wrote the songs in the first place, but a wider audience might be drawn to Serene's Christian songs if she starts getting more air time. This is not the only "double-mindedness" in the story.

The murder mystery angle was interesting, but a bit too drawn out.

100 Cupboards

by N.D. Wilson
Read by Russell Horton
Scott County Library, audiobook on CDs (6 hrs, 23 min.)

Interesting story. This is one I think I would've enjoyed more reading the text instead of listening, though Horton has a wonderful voice. The girl characters drove me batty! They were such brats. I just wanted Henry to knock his cousins down. The tone of the story was a little dark - kind of like Coraline in its creepiness, especially with the cupboard that led to Endor. Richard was a delightful character and Zeke provided a nice surprise at the end. I don't think I'll bother with the sequel, though. And I'm not sure about buying this title for school. Not sure if it would appeal to a very wide range of readers.

Schooled

By Gordon Korman
CMSW, paperback, 208 pages

I really enjoyed this! Nothing complex or deep, but a lovely little story. It's a lot like Stargirl, but much more lighthearted.

Capricorn Anderson has grown up on a commune with his grandma, Rain. When Rain falls and breaks her hip, Cap ends up staying with a social worker and her gorgeous but angry daughter. Cap has no clue how to function in a normal middle school and the results are both funny and endearing.

Waiting for Daybreak

by Kathryn Cushman
paperback, Carver County library, 315 pages

I liked this one! It was about two female pharmacists - Paige and Clarissa. Book Club discussed it last night, and Jodi called the characters "Whiney and Witchey" - pretty accurate, but I still liked it. Dawn was an interesting character - it would have been nice to see her story played out. Ora was my absolute favorite! What a saucy old gal. I liked the romance, too. I read this about three weeks ago and am just blogging now . . . Hard to stay on top of this!

The Master Quilter

by Jenifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, hard cover, 327 pages

I did not enjoy this one. Too many problems, too little communication among friends (until the very end), too much repetition. The story is told from multiple characters' points of view and tends to cover the same info from a different perspective. All in all, the story got old fast. It did make me appreciate my husband, my job, my friends, etc. in contrast to these women's issues. Probably my least favorite Elm Creek book so far, and it didn't even make me want to work on a quilt at all.

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman
CMSW, hard cover, 311 pages (yes, I read the acknowledgements)

I loved this book! I read it in one sitting, though it kept me up late on Friday night. Bod Owens is a great character and his development is fun to follow. The ending made me cry, even though it was happy. I felt so sorry for this solitary little fellow. His aloneness resonated with me.

Logistically, I had to ignore the fact that an 18-month old was able to get out of his crib, across the room, down the stairs, and out to the graveyard before the highly efficient killer made it from the parents' room to the sister's room to the baby's room. Not too believable . . . but irrelevant. I enjoyed the story.

Specials

by Scott Westerfeld
CMSW, paper, 372 pages

I really disliked this book for the first half. Shay especially had changed so much as a character compared to when we first "met" her in book one. The specials are nasty - cruel and powerful. I also disliked the fact that the author seemed to glorify cutting, with the main characters feeling "icy," focused, and powerful when they cut themselves. With students who use cutting as a way to deal with emotions, I think this is irresponsible for a YA author.

Anyhow, by the end of the book, I liked the story. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say that I'm a very character-driven reader and Tally isn't my favorite character in this series. Now on to Extras!

Brave New World

by Aldous Huxley
CMSW, hardcover, 177 pages

This took me a while to get through, as short as it is! I wanted to read it at the same time that Nick was reading it for British literature class, but I had to force myself to pick it up and read a few pages. I don't like this book. It falls into the same category as 1984 and other bleak writings from earlier this century. I should really research more about the political and ideological landscape of this time period . . . I realize there are good reasons for the inclusion of these titles in classical "canon" lists.

In a nutshell, this book illuminates a future world of constant (but not deep) happiness, since all humans are programmed constantly to be content with their lot in life. Science has created a false utopia with the drug soma relieving any negative thoughts or feelings that do come up. Bernard is different from other people and wants to experience things for himself. When he and Lenina visit a reservation with savages, he brings home John who has grown up as a "savage," but is the most civilized person at all. The story ends tragically.

I'd still love to talk with Nick about this one . . . I wonder what he thought of it.

The Cradle Will Fall

by Mary Higgins Clark
Beaudoins' condo, paperback, 314 pages

I just picked this up to while away some time and it ended up helping me stay awake so we were ready to leave the condo at 4:00 a.m.! I figured if I went to bed, I might not wake up in time, so this thriller helped me stay up.

A doctor is doing some weird experiments on his patients. When he is "forced" to kill one of his patients to protect his secret, things start to unravel. At first, suspicions fall on the woman's pilot husband. But the noose is tightening. Great thriller. Classic MHC.

The Chase

by Susan Wales and Robin Shope
lent to me by Kim Enfield
paperback, 363 pages

Interesting thriller / romance
My favorite part was the last section when all the pieces started coming together. Some of it was a bit over-wrought and almost melodramatic. It was also hard to conceive of someone who was a hard-hitting investigative reporter deciding she was ready for a small-town sedate life so quickly. I liked the character of Craig, of course. I'm a sucker for the handsome, wonderful man who happens to be a faithful believer. I also loved the scene when Jill decided to surrender her life to the Lord. Christmas is a great time to get to know Christ!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (her niece)
hardcover, mine, 278 pages

I'll have to blog later. I'm running out of time! Excellent book. Swept me up.

Later:
Told entirely in letters, this story of a young woman dealing with post-WWII emotions captivated me. Juliet Ashton is the central character who is drawn to the island of Guernsey, which was occupied by German forces during the war. Just a lovely, lovely book! There were times I almost made a "cheat sheet" of all the different characters, but I read it quickly enough (on the beach in Naples, Florida) that I was able to keep it all straight. The romance, the history, the characters - all made it a delightful read! This is our CMSW book club title for March. I look forward to the discussion!

Spelldown

by Karon Luddy
CMSW, hardcover, 211 pages

I see why the elementary schools unloaded their copies of this! The protagonist, Karlene Bridges, is a foul-mouthed, horny eighth grader. Though I found some of it offensive, (especially her loose use of the Lord's name as one of her many swear words), there were some redeeming qualities. The power of love speaks loudly throughout this book. Karlene's love of her older sister, the Harrisons' loving home in contrast to Karlene's more difficult home life, and ultimately, Karlene's love for her alcoholic father.

Billy Ray was my favorite character - so sweet, gentle, and strong. The wordaphile in me LOVED the words and definitions sprinkled throughout the book. (Yes, I know I invented a word there.) The Latin class was a cool piece, too. Definitely a good book for my brainy, mature kids.

Pretties

by Scott Westerfeld
CMSW, paper, 370 pages

Tally has undergone the operation to become a pretty, but her friends in the "Crim" clique include Zane who seems very different from everyone else. Together, they strive to find out what Croy, an ugly, meant when he crashed a party in new prettytown and told Tally that he was hiding something for her. The cure. Interesting to see where the author has taken the story, especially with the visit to the wildlife preserve. Shay's character seems so very different from when we first met her.

Anne of the Island

by L.M. Montgomery
Carver County Library, paperback, 298 pages

Anne at college in Redmond. Older, wiser, less fun. An enjoyable book, but with the bittersweet tang of growing up and leaving childhood behind. Her rejection of Gilbert Blythe was easy to see coming. What a silly girl!

Tornado

by Betsy Byars
home, paperback, 49 pages

What a sweet little story. Not sure why it's down in my piles of papers by my desk. I think I'll see if the Prip boys would enjoy it. It's the story of a family who sits out a tornado in the cellar by listening to Pete's stories about his childhood dog. Short little kid chapter book - an "I can read" kind of thing.

Uglies

by Scott Westerfeld
CMSW, paperback, 425 pages

I started out listening to this on CD, but it was much too annoying. The reader's voice was making me crazy and I wanted to see how the story went. This is one of our 7th grade novel choices.

Tally Youngblood is a 15-year-old who is awaiting her sixteenth birthday and "the" operation that will turn her from an Ugly into a Pretty. She thinks up daring tricks, like sneaking into New Prettytown to see her best friend Peris, who is startled to see her and asks her to not get into trouble before she turns pretty and joins him. Soon she meets Shay, another 15-year-old who likes to do tricks. But Shay has no desire to ever turn Pretty, a fact she slowly reveals to Tally, asking her to run away and join the Smoke, a group of runaways.

Liked the dynamic in the Smoke, especially David's character. Loved the hoverboards. Didn't like the self-centered immaturity of Tally. Or the attack on the Smoke.

Anne of Avonlea

by L.M. Montgomery
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 9.25 hours
read by Barbara Caruso

Delightful sequel to Anne of Green Gables, but I don't like this reader quite as well. I suppose Anne needed an "older" voice, but her Marilla was especially crusty. I like the dynamics between Anne and Gilbert as well as the changes in Mr. Harrison. The story line with Miss Lavender isn't quite as captivating for me.

Anne of Green Gables

by L.M. Montgomery
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 10 hours & 21 minutes
read by Kate Burton

I love this story! I am glad, though, that it is no longer one of the 8th grade novels. I just don't see it as something that most 21st century 13-year-olds can really relate to much. Anne is an imaginative, creative, somewhat careless orphan adopted by elderly siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.

The reader is perfect for this story! She captures the characters beautifully and brings Anne's wistfulness to life. This is one of those "classic" books I should have in my home library for re-reads from time to time. Lovely.

Three Cups of Tea: The Young Reader's Edition

by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
Adapted by Sarah Thomson
CMSW, paperback, 209 pages

This is our February book club pick. I really enjoyed it, and am curious now to read the original version. I did like the fact that this version included an interview with Mortenson's daughter Amira and had lots of color photos. What an incredible young man to take an experience like getting lost on a mountain and turn it into a life-changing opportunity for so many people in Pakistan and Afghanistan!

The most surprising thing to me was that he got married six days after meeting Tara! His persistence and determination to follow through on his promises are also admirable.

Finn's Going

by Tom Kelly
CMSW, hardcover, 278 pages

This was a very challenging read. Not sure I can recommend it to my students. Even though the protagonist is only ten, the writer's style is very stream-of-consciousness. The British terms and expressions are beyond those I've ever encountered. It took me a while to understand some of them. Honestly, I still don't know which brother is which. It's obvious from the start that something tragic happened to one of the twins, but it takes to the very end of the story for the explanation to come out. In the meantime, the reader wonders what the deal is with otters. And is this Danny or Finn who's sharing his grief with us? He tells Airplane Kev that he's Danny. But then he responds to his dad's "Hello, Finn" at the end with an affirmative. The title also plays into this ambiguity. Is "Finn's Going" in reference to the boy who died? Or does it refer to the remaining brother's going through his grief? All in all, not terribly accessible for most of my readers.

Rhubarb

by Garrison Keillor
Carver County Library, audioCD, 77 minutes
read by the author

A fun grouping of summer stories in Lake Woebegone. I like how he added local references for his live audience while he was on tour. Sometimes his stories make me sad, especially when the small-mindedness and meanness of small-town life come through (like the boy who was pressured into wearing a yellow ribbon at school even though he didn't want to), but more often the stories make me laugh. I especially liked the way he talked about rhubarb and how everyone thinks it's unique to their area.

Millions

by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4.5 hours
read by Simon Jones

British story about a boy, Damien, who finds a bag of cash. He and his brother have only a few weeks to spend it before the conversion to Euros. Their mother died a few years earlier, and that along with Damien's fascination with saints and their stories, make for some unusual plot twists as the boys find the money becoming a burden rather than a blessing.

Jones' voice is perfect for this work.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

by Jeff Kinney
hardcover, CMSW, ? pages

I had to read book three (brand new) before checking it out to my students! How delightful! Even though Greg is a little stinker, the book rings true in many regards. I enjoyed this one as much as book one in the series, and waaaay more than book two. What fun!

Greg's mom thinks it's time for him to do his own laundry. His dad wants him to be more manly, like his boss's kids. Greg just wants to be a kid.

Stormbreaker

by Anthony Horowitz
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4 hours & 37 minutes
read by Nathaniel Parker

I enjoyed this more the first time I read it. Listening to it, especially with two 21-year-olds mocking it, made it much less enjoyable. Alex Rider as a 14-year-old spy is pretty far-fetched. I don't think I need to re-read the rest of the series . . . but it's still fun to booktalk it to readers who want something fast and action-packed.

John 3:16

by Nancy Moser
paperback, Carver County Library, 402 pages

I liked (not loved) this book, but am eager for our book club discussion. When we talk about the books, then I really start to appreciate what the author brought to it and what each of us takes away as readers.

Without giving away too much, I'll say that the funeral and Roman finding Trudy's letter were the two parts that I liked the most. My favorite characters were William and Barry. I must just like kids . . .

Some parts of this just felt too pat. I had a really hard time getting into this book (I didn't get past chapter two for weeks!), but once I got into the different characters' storylines, I read quickly and enjoyed it.

As it's written in the book (not sure what version):
John 3:16. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who belives in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Praise God!

Fast Food Nation

by Eric Schlosser
read by Rick Adamson
audioCD, Carver County Library, 9 hours (abridged)

I didn't realize this was an abridgement until the very end of the CD! Good thing it was, though, because nine hours of fast-food condemnation got old. There was some very interesting information. The part on slaughterhouses made me glad that we buy our beef from a local farmer and local butcher. But it's easy to understand how people make the choice to go vegetarian.

I thought he was a little over-the-top in making Ray Kroc and Walt Disney sound like the bringers-of-the-downfall of American society. But he makes some really strong connections between business and politics. Money and power are interesting forces throughout civilization . . . usually for ill rather than good. I'm glad that I'm already trying to eat healthier. This book is definitely "food for thought." I would love discussing it with other readers! (But maybe I should check out the book and read the whole thing.)

Adamson did an excellent job of reading this book, bringing energy and clarity to the diatribe against our fast food culture.

The Circuit

subtitled, "Stories from the life of a migrant child"
by Francisco Jimenez
hardcover, CMSW, 134 pages

What a beautiful but sad collection of stories about a family of Mexican migrant workers. Francisco is four years younger than his brother Roberto, and alternates between the little boy job of watching younger siblings and the grown-up job of working the fields. His joy in going to school is tempered by the challenges of trying to learn in six months what other students get nine months to learn.

The most heart-breaking point of this book for me was when his notebook burned in the house fire. The disappointments and frustrations were tangible. This is a beautifully written book!

Illuminated

by Matt Bronleewe
borrowed from Cindy Ottinger
hardcover, 311 pages

This was much darker and more violent than I expected. And yet the thing that bothered me the most was the idea of people mistreating rare old books! An interesting cross between the Da Vinci Code and National Treasure, Illuminated has two opposing groups trying to gain control of three copies of the Gutenberg Bible to look for clues to the Templars' treasure. August and April are divorced, but end up coming together to protect their son Charlie.

Brownleewe is a founding member of Jars of Clay. This is his first novel.

Kidnapped

by Robert Louis Stevenson
Carver County Library, audioCD, ~8 hours
read by Jim Weiss

From wikipedia:
The full title of the book, Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: How he was Kidnapped and Cast away, his Sufferings in a Desert Isle; his Journey in the Wild Highlands; his acquaintance with Alan Breck Stewart and other notorious Highland Jacobites; with all that he Suffered at the hands of his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws, falsely so-called: Written by Himself and now set forth by Robert Louis Stevenson gives away major parts of the plot and creates the false impression that the novel is autobiographical.

I didn't enjoy this story as much as Stevenson's other books I've read. I think it's interesting that I've always thought of him as a British author, but this story quickly led me to believe that he was Scottish. Indeed! There are many colloquialisms in this story. The reader had a great brogue!