Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

by Liz Wiseman with Greg McKeown
Hennepin County Library hardcover 250 pages
genre: non-fiction leadership

I struggled with this book and wish I'd had time to finish it (due today and no renewals because of the waiting list). Our district leaders (administration) are reading this and I was curious.

On the one hand, I appreciate "multipliers" like Sue Kreuser (the best boss I *ever* had!). I worked harder for her than for any other principal and didn't resent it or feel used at all.

On the other hand, this comes across almost as a "how to get more out of your employees without spending more money" type of book. That doesn't sit well when I see how stretched everyone around me is feeling. We're not working hard enough already?

Like I said, I'm conflicted . . . but I think a lot depends on what I'm bringing to the reading of this book. I love working with good leaders and need to try to be a "multiplier" kind of teacher! This just didn't connect very strongly for me.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper (book one)

by Kazu Kibuishi
personal paperback 186 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, mystery & SciFi

Emily and Navin have dealt with the death of their dad and the frustration of moving to a new town, but when their mom is kidnapped by a bizarre tentacle creature in their "new" home, it's time for the kids to take charge. Emily finds an amulet which accepts her and gives her powers. A strange man with glowing tries to overpower them as they seek to rescue their mom, meet an elderly relative, and team up with some robots. I'm ready to read book two!

Ghost of Spirit Bear

by Ben Mikaelsen
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3:42
read by Jason Harris
genre: YA realistic fiction

The follow-up to Touching Spirit Bear, this story watches Cole and Peter return to their high school (Minneapolis Central) and try to live out their lives as changed individuals.

The mindless bullying and cruelty, indifference and ineptitude of the adults at the school, and Cole's recurrent bouts of anger got old fast. Not sure how many schools like this still exist, but it doesn't resemble anything I'm familiar with. The homeless guy was my favorite character, though we really don't get to know much about him. Keith's transformation was nice, but not very realistic.

Troubletwisters

by Garth Nix and Sean Williams
Hennepin COunty Library audioCDs 8:45
read by Miriam Margolyes
genre: YA fantasy, supernatural adventure & mystery

Liked:
the cats
good triumphs over evil
the blue room
the crocodile thing
reader's voice was very effective

Disliked:
adults keeping kids in the dark, even though the kids' lives were on the line
keeping major life secrets from mom
"Troubletwisters" never really explained
too many secrets and bizarre choices by the wardens

The Wedding Planner's Daughter

by Coleen Paratore
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 4.25 hours
read by Sina Nielsen
genre: YA realistic fiction

Cute little story about Willafred Havisham (her mother is Stella, and she has "Great Expectations" for her daughter) and her dream for getting a father. Her birth father perished the day after his perfect wedding to Stella. Stella goes into business planning perfect weddings for others, but refuses to ever fall in love again.

Willa is a nice character, but she seems very young (closer to sixth grade than eighth). The literary quotations are nice. It's just a sweet, simple story.

The Downside of Being Up

by Lawrence Sitomer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 210 pages
genre: YA male puberty, humor

Oh my. Very funny book, but more penis humor than I've ever encountered in my life before. I think I'll buy it for my collection. Recommended (?) by my peers who heard about it at a BER conference (except I don't think they plan to get it).

Not very realistic that he would be penalized for having an erection in school (as one character says, it would become an all-girl school pretty quickly if they expelled boys for that), this book has enough realistic elements to make it work. The nutty grandpa made me laugh the most. The dad's skewed life philosophy was a catalyst for Bobby to live his life differently. The brother-sister dynamic wasn't explored enough (and there was waaaaay too much of Finkelstein), but it was a delightful book.

Green Lantern: Secret Origin

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, & Oclair Albert
PRMS paperback unpaged
genre: graphic novel, superhero

Interesting. Not my favorite superhero, but a nice parallel to recently having watched the movie. I like the integrity of the mentor green lantern in this comic book version. I also like the emphasis on the brothers' relationships.

Ghostopolis

by Doug TenNapel
PRMS paperback 266 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, supernatural

Glad I finally took the time to read this. Odd story, but a terminally ill child accidentally gets sent to the afterlife by a somewhat slacker ghost hunter. Wanting to fix his mistake, Frank Gallows enlists the help of his one-time love Claire Voyant (clever, huh?) to get to Ghostopolis to rescue Garth Hale. Meanwhile, Garth is discovering that he has tremendous powers in the afterlife, drawing the attention of the evil Vaugner. My favorite part of the story was Garth's connections to his grandfather and his future son. Worth a second read!

War Horse

by Michael Morpurgo
PRMS hardcover 165 pages
genre: historical fiction (WWI) & horse story

Didn't really work for me. I loved King of the Wind, Black Beauty, and Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion too much to enjoy this one. Choppy and not very compelling. I liked the scene in "no man's land" when Joey is rescued.

Finding It: and Satisfying my Hunger for Life without Opening the Fridge

by Valerie Bertinelli
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6.5 hours
narrated by the author
genre: self-help, autobiography

Liked: Tom (what an amazing boyfriend/husband=type person), learning about Wolf (her son with Eddie Van Halen, her mom, and her accomplishments in losing weight and getting in shape

Didn't like: her self-centeredness and shallowness. Get over yourself! Also, her pseudo-Christian philsophizing got old. And her attitude toward food - too extreme.

Somewhat inspiring in terms of her achievements in working out and getting her weight down. (with the help of Christopher, her personal trainer)

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town

by Warren St. John
Hennepin County Library hardcover 300 pages
genre: non-fiction journalism

This book follows Luma Mufleh from Jordan to America, where she goes to college and decides to stay in America to exercise her independence and strength as an individual. Her parents essentially disown her and she struggles to support herself and forge a new life. Over the same chunk of time, many refugees are being resettled in Clarkston, Georgia (just outside of Atlanta). The influx of so many needy refugees into a predominantly white, small town environment has a tremendous impact on the town. Mufleh starts a free soccer team for boys who love to play the game.

The Fugees have their ups and downs as a team, with poverty and violence playing a role. St. John's reporting is wonderful, especially when he acknowledges how difficult it is to remain an impartial observer to the boys' lives and struggles.

Barb Green recommended this book to me. It's a wonderful story! There's a lot of food for thought here. . . .

The Invisible Bridge

by Julie Orringer
Hennepin County Library hardcover 597 pages
genre: historical fiction, WWII

Wow. I've stayed up way too late on a school night to finish this book. Amazing story about Andras Levi, a young Jew from Hungary with artistic talent and a desire to become an architect. France, Budapest, Ukraine, Italy, America . . . Klara, Tibor, Matyas, Polaner, Klein . . . so much in this powerful story. But I really need to go to bed. The author has created a memorable tale.

Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters

by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, with Jeffrey Zaslow
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 9.25 hours
read by Michael McConnohie & Sully
genre: biography, philosophy

Liked: Specifics about flying experiences. His general attitude toward life and doing his personal best.

Disliked: He's kind of arrogant and very, very Type A. Not sure how his wife tolerates him. He got to be kind of a whiner about how much pilots miss out on at home and how poor their pay is.

The Deepest Waters

by Dan Walsh
Hennepin County Library paperback 293 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction, romance

This book is reminiscent of Titanic, with the young lovers Laura and John torn apart when the ship goes down. On their honeymoon and traveling from the west coast to the east to meet John's family, Laura is rescued with the other women. Thinking that all the men died with the ship, Laura struggles to figure out what's next for her as she befriends Micah, a slave on the rescue ship, and a dastardly villain named Ayden Maul. Meanwhile, John and some of the other men are alive but floating on flotsam in the ocean.

We discussed this book last night. Many of us liked it although it was a fairly fluffy and predictable read. I liked Micah's faithfulness especially, and John's efforts on the high seas. The reconciliation with John's family wasn't very believable, but it was much better than last month's book!

All the Broken Pieces

by Ann E. Burg
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 1:51
read by Tobias Christian Wong
genre: YA fiction, adoption, baseball, Vietnam War

Blurb from back: "Two years since he was evacuated out of Vietnam, twelve-year-old Matt Pin is struggling to suppress his memories of the deadly war that gripped his homeland. Circumstances beyond his control are about to make the memories come flooding back and reveal a horrid secret Matt thought he had left back in Vietnam."

Told in prose poetry, this book has a powerful message about love, forgiveness, and sorrow. The scene with Matt and the bully on the ball field, sharing their stories, is my favorite part.

Somewhere in Time

Hennepin County DVD
starring Christopher Reeve & Jane Seymour

I don't remember exactly what it was in the biography of Christopher & Dana Reeve that made me want to watch this. . . but I love Jane Seymour! This movie was based on a book titled Bid Love Return. In it, a man self-hypnotizes in order to time travel to 1912 because he has fallen in love with a woman's portrait. Jane Seymour portrays Elise McKenna, famous and beautiful stage actress. Predictably, the two fall in love. But then it goes from somewhat hokey to really hokey. Weird ending after slow cinematography.

Loved the character of Arthur, both young and old. Loved the gorgeous period costumes. Very attractive couple.

Into the Volcano

by Don Wood
mine, hardcover, 175 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, adventure

Sumo and Duffy are two brothers sent to visit their aunt on a Hawaiian-styled island. It's a bit odd that their mother is MIA, their dad sends them off with their cousin Come-and-Go, and they're headed to visit an aunt they don't even know. Then the story gets weirder when they are taken on an extremely dangerous mission. I liked Sumo's gain of confidence, though he was a whiny brat before he tried to save his brother. Interesting, but I don't love it the way I love the Bone books.

Little Nothings: My Shadow in the Distance

by Lewis Trondheim
Hennepin County Library paperback 127 pages
genre: graphic novel, musings

The main character travels a lot, makes observations, tries to keep a positive attitude, and has nose polyps removed. I liked the artwork, some of the humor, and the clear storyline.

Debt Free for Life

by David Bach
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7:19
read by Erik Davies
genre: self-help finance

Liked some of the recommendations and the fact that I'm already doing a lot of the "right" things.

Disliked: his arrogance (you've probably seen me on Oprah . . . / I've helped millions of people . . . / if you're one of the millions who've already read one of my books . . . ) I've never even heard of him before!!!
Disliked: constant reference to the many web tools (which I don't want to use)
Disliked: lack of advice on cutting spending! End part talked about "changing your mind set," but there wasn't much practical advice on how to do that!

Hahaha! I blogged the above on 10/30/2011 . . . and just now sat down to blog it again. Here's my today (4/1/2016) entry:

I couldn't even get past the first CD! His sales pitches for other products and his ego "You know me from my many appearances on television . . . " The vocal work by Davies is smarmy . . . is it the writing or the delivery or both? Who cares. I can't listen to any more. I like the "forget good debt / bad debt; all debt is bad" message. He mentioned www.debtwise.com and www. finishrich.com (and I thought, "Who cares about finishing rich? You don't need money for Heaven! Perhaps you need some in Hell, though.") He talks about "buying back your freedom" using his "revolutionary new system."

I dislike debt. I'm determined to get rid of it. But I'm not swamped in it and am fairly confident I can tackle it without torturing myself with this book. (Ironic, though, that I checked out the same thing five years ago!)

Books Mary recommended

Not sure when I'll get time, but I want to keep track of these titles (off FB). Mary gives the *best* recommendations:

Great books so far - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett, The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy, Absolutely, Positively, NOT... ...gay by David Larochelle, The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Mary Verbick 1:49pm Jul 13

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

by Donald Miller
Hennepin County Library paperback 240 pages
genre: theology

I would love to do this one for our SOLC book club! It was challenging and frustrating. I really enjoyed the first one hundred or so pages. Miller's take on faith and modern day Christianity interested me and made me think about my own faith. Then the author seemed to fall into a whiny, selfish, pathetic mode that just turned me off.

One part I liked: "That is the thing about giving yourself to God. Some people get really emotional about it, and some people don't feel much of anything except the peace they have after making an important decision." I love the feeling of peace. (But then, I also love the intense emotion that often comes with a move of the Holy Spirit.)

He made a lot of interesting points (on Unitarians, hippies, etc.) but I don't agree with him completely. This is a great food-for-thought book.

Angel Harp

by Michael Phillips
Hennepin County Library hardcover 440 pages
genre: Christian fiction

Fortyish widow goes to Scotland to find herself and play her harp. Gets involved with two men - a parson & a duke. Gains a saving faith.

Liked: her faith journey and coming to know the Lord.

Didn't like: the author's repetition and excessiveness in sharing all he knows about Scotland. This book needed an editor who owned a red pen and some courage! The tone of the book was just wrong, too. This is one male author who *cannot* successfully get into a woman's head.

Book Club discussion was good - largest group we've had yet!

Gwendolyn's illness was too mysterious (and convenient in a literary sense). The "romance" was just not there. The Scottish history was way too much!

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher
Scott County Library, hardcover, 288 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age / suicide

I finally read this (from the public library, since my copy is *always* checked out) before meeting the author last Wednesday evening at Ridgedale Library. I didn't love the book, but think it would make a great discussion book. It was extremely interesting to meet the author. He is a wonderful presenter! I am also encouraged by the response this book is getting from its target audience. For me, Hannah was too hard to understand . . . the "reasons" didn't make sense to me. I think this would have resonated with me much more as a teenager. Very, very cool to meet the author.

You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know

by Heather Sellers
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10.5 hours
read by Karen White
genre: memoir, dysfunction

Things I liked:
- relationship with parents evolving
- how wonderful Dave was
- writing style (for the most part)

Things I didn't like:
- repetition to the point of ad nauseum (?) boredom
- whiny, self-centered, . . .
- lack of info about her brother (though she explains why at the end)
- people's comments to her about being amazed that she survived her childhood. Hello? Anyone read other memoirs? Although she grew up with severe dysfunction, this is nothing compared to Peltzer's A Child Called It or Walls' Glass Castle.

Miscellany:
- very cool to realize that she teaches at Hope College! I wonder if Chris has had any of her classes.
- makes me realize that my family's issues are really not that bad!

Worthwhile read, but I liked the first half much better than the second half. I hope she gets over herself soon. The face blindness info was interesting until she gave the same spiel for the third, fourth, and fifth times.

Bossypants

by Tina Fey
mine, hardcover, 240 pages
genre: autobiographical humor

This is our school book club title for November and I'm on a loooong waiting list for it at the public library. So I bought a copy. Funny, especially the part on "becoming a woman" and the Teat Nazis. I'm going to share it with others at school - it's a very quick read. Tina Fey seems like a very smart, down-to-earth, extremely hard-working person.

Oh - this has *lots* of swearing . . . must be de rigeur for comedy? for television writers? I liked her chapter about her dad. I can only imagine what the family gatherings are like.

Walmart: the High Cost of Low Price

DVD by filmmaker Robert Greenwald
Hennepin County Library 98 minutes
genre: documentary

I've never been a Walmart / Sam's Club fan, but this movie really bothered me. I know so many people who love Walmart (because of the inexpensive items sold there) and just can't see why others (like me) think it's a "bad" choice for shopping. Free market is part of capitalism in America, but I see Walmart in a very negative light. I almost want to buy a copy of this DVD, especially for my friends in Chanhassen who are dreading the thought of a Walmart being located there. Well-done documentary. I'm so sad for the small town business people who were run out of business by the evil empire.

Elvis & Olive

by Stephanie Watson
PRMS hardcover 230 pages
genre: YA friendship

Written by a Minnesota author, Elvis & Olive reminded me of Harriet the Spy. Annie and Natalie take on their code names so they can spy on their neighbors one long boring summer. This would be a nice book for a sixth grade girl. Annie has a tough life and Natalie a "perfect" one. The contrast between these two kids is what makes the story engaging.

Sean Griswold's Head

by Lindsey Leavitt
Angie Tuma's book hardcover 274 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, romance

Lovely book! Payton seems pretty OCD to me, but she is definitely struggling with the accidental discovery of her dad's MS and her family's decision to try to hide it from her. She quits the basketball team, stops talking to her parents, and starts seeing the school counselor under duress. Her best friend Jac makes things more complicated and Payton needs to cope with everything. When told to find a focus object, she selects the head of the boy she has sat behind for many years in school. Focusing on Sean Griswold's head draws her into his world . . . sweet romance.

Hush, Hush

by Becca Fitzpatrick
Angie Tuma's copy, paperback, 391 pages
genre: supernatural romance

Interesting. Sensual - this keys into the female desire. Theology . . . so, so sad and off-base (but that's not the author's intent). Patch is a fallen angel. There's a convoluted logic of how he can become human and why he does not. This is a perfect fit for fans of the Twilight series. I suppose I should read #2 before deciding whether or not to buy the series . . . or maybe I can find trustworthy reviews.

Listening Is an Act of Love

subtitled: A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project
Told by StoryCorps Participants
Hennepin County Library audioCD 1 hour
genre: life stories

This is amazing! People shared their stories in an interview environment. The stories are funny, heart-warming, beautiful. I loved this so much, I put it on my computer so I can listen to it again. Dave Isay founded StoryCorps and has been collecting regular people's stories and archiving them at the Library of Congress.

Quiet Strength

by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker
PRMS paperback & Hennepin County audioCDs
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
genre: sports / autobiography / character

Even though I'm not a sports fan, I really enjoyed this book. Dungy's career, family, and personal character and faith come to life in this book. Fernandez' reading was flawless. I'm so glad Dungy and the Colts won the Superbowl! Made me want to learn more.

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians

by Brandon Sanderson
PRMS hard cover 308 pages
genre: humor / mystery / fantasy

April raved about this book, so I had to read it. Alcatraz is a wonderful protagonist, but the technique of self-aware storyteller got old. Alcatraz has a talent for breaking things. On his thirteenth birthday, things go worse than usual when he sets his foster parents' kitchen on fire, has his inheritance stolen, and gets a gun drawn on him.

Filled with talking dinosaurs (politely British), special lenses, and evil librarians, this is a quirky book. There were *so* many great lines in it that I wanted to jot some of them down. Fun, odd title.

Les Miserables

1935 movie
based on the book by Victor Hugo
starring Fredric March, Charles Laughton, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Hennepin County Library 110 minutes long

I sort of knew the story of Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, but hadn't ever actually read Hugo's book or seen any of the many theatrical interpretations. I enjoyed this old black & white film, but am not sure how faithful it was to the original story. The only thing that really creeped me out was the relationship between Valjean and Cosette. He took care of her from the time she was a little girl and was a father figure, but acted as though he wanted to jump her bones.

I started to watch the 1952 version on the flip side of the disk, but I just wasn't up for another telling of the tale. I'll need to read the novel, but at least now I have a better understanding of the story. Now when I hear a reference to it, I'll have a connection to the text.

Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve

by Christopher P. Andersen
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6 hours
read by Edward Herrmann
genre: biography

From the back "When a 1995 equestrian accident paralyzes Chris from the neck down, the star of four Superman films battles back to become an inspiring symbol for millions. His wife Dana, no less heroic, stands steadfastly by her husband's side until his unexpected death in 2004. . . . " Then Dana's mom dies, then Dana herself, from lung cancer (though she was a non-smoker). Though there were times when I teared up a bit (mostly thinking of poor little Will), this story did not make me overflow with compassion. Mr. Reeve was wealthy and privileged in many, many ways. Though what happened was tragic, many non-famous, non-wealthy people have horrible accidents and are left paralyzed. I struggled at times with my attitude while listening to the book. They really do sound as though they were wonderful people who positively impacted many other people's lives. The author was extremely positive in his portrayal of the Reeves. It just didn't move me the way other people's struggles have. Am I anti-rich? Not consciously. I'm glad that his accident led him to improve research for others with spinal cord injuries. I'm so sorry for all three of his children that they lost their dad (and Will his mom as well) while still so young.

McLibel: The story of two people who wouldn't say McSorry

a film by Franny Armstrong
Hennepin Public Library 85 minutes long & extras
genre: documentary

I don't usually review films, but this one was very interesting. I found myself vacillating between complete agreement and "you've got to be kidding me - this is how the world works." They state that they were not fighting McDonalds so much as multinational companies. I don't think most people really consider how McDonalds, Wal-Mart, and other companies affect this planet and all the people on it. At the same time, some of the arguments seemed a bit much. Interesting, because I despise Wal-Mart and the impact of WM on the world. . . . But I kind of like McDonalds. (Perhaps I'm just an innocent victim of their insidious advertising to small children. My McDonalds connection goes waaaay back.)

In any case, thought-provoking and worth my time. I appreciate food for thought. And I appreciate something that makes me think about my choices.

It truly was stupid of the company to demand apologies for libel based on a leaflet.

Get Real: What Kind of World Are You Buying?

by Mara Rockliff
Hennepin County Library paperback 99 pages
genre: non-fiction consumerism

Finally finished putting the websites mentioned throughout the book into my delicious account! Very interesting book. Very appropos for middle school. Heavily into careful consumerism and green living.

HP #5 & #7

You know I'm feeling stressed when I read cover-to-cover something that I've already read multiple times . . . at least I didn't start with #1 and read all seven . . .

Ten Things I Love About You

by Julia Quinn
Hennepin County Library audioCDs ~10 hours
ready by Rosalyn Landor
genre: historical romance

Enjoyable. Sebastian Grey is the dashing hero - an author of gothic novels in secret. His uncle is the Earl of Newbury, desperate for an heir after his son's death. Annabel Winslow is the poor, beautiful, well-endowed young woman whose grandfather "sells" her to the Earl by pointing out the likelihood that she'll breed well.

An accidental kiss and society's disproving morals get annoying, but it's overall an enjoyable romance story. Landor's reading is good, but it's always a bit disconcerting to hear the male hero's voice through a woman's interp.

Losing Mum and Pup

by Christopher Buckley
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6.5 hours
read by the author

Although I don't know a lot about William F. Buckley, Jr., I knew that his name was strongly connected to "conservative." The title is what caught my eye, and I'm so very glad I listened. Buckley's experiences dealing with aging, ailing parents really resonates with me right now. He writes wonderfully (making me want to read some of his other work and perhaps some of his dad's, too).

At times I thought, "What arrogant, overprivileged jerks." But most of the time, I enjoyed the memoir and the intensity of the parent / child relationships. I'm also very thankful for siblings who help to share the burdens. This was an excellent memoir.

Honor in the Dust

by Gilbert Morris
given by Penny Reynolds to me two book club meetings ago
paperback 303 pages
genre: Christian romance / hist fic

This was just not well-written at all. It lacked flow, clarity of narrative, and general interest. The thing I liked was the steadfast faith of Grace, Leah, etc. Not a particularly engaging or worthwhile story. A bit taken aback when I read about the author in the back. An older fellow who was a pastor before he was a writer, Morris says, " . . . I sometimes think I've written too many books. . . . Sometimes I think I've written the same book 221 times!" Um. Yeah. Stop already.

Thought it was funny to see Penny's red-pen English teacher marks on the use of then & than incorrectly (pages 180 & 262).

Candle in the Darkness

by Lynn Austin
Hennepin County Library paperback 420 pages
genre: Christian romance, hist fic

Sigh. I like Austin's writing, but I was really, really, really NOT in the mood for another Civil War book. Told from Caroline Fletcher's perspective from 1853 until shortly after the war, this felt too long and drawn-out. I loved Eli's faith and strength. In fact, I liked all the slaves. Caroline's spying seemed too far-fetched. Austin obviously did lots of research.

I don't remember who in book club recommended this one . . . not sure if I even bring it up at our next meeting. I just wasn't in the mood for this book.

A Knight in Shining Armor

by Jude Devereaux
Hennepin County Library paperback 464 pages
genre: romance / hist fic & time travel

This was Ann's book club title and I was curious. I've only read one other Devereaux novel (the one with a mention of my friend Lisa Middag in it). It was an enjoyable story so far as she actually includes plot and character development (unlike "pulp" romance). The story bothered me, though. The logistics of time travel are always awkward. Dougless was too wimpy of a heroine for me. I like my protagonists to have a happy ever after. 'Nuff said. Her writing reminds me of Laveryle (?) Spencer, the only romance novelist whose books I would ever read more than once.

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Hennepin County Library hardcover 150 pages

Well-researched and well-written, I didn't enjoy this book. The author did a good job of providing the background for the start of the KKK. The engravings and photographs added a lot of texture. I just don't enjoy reading about such cruelty and hatred. At times, the author seemed to be making such an effort to provide unbiased, factual information that she seemed almost sympathetic to the KKK. Poor white landowners who were land rich and cash poor. The sheer brutality and horror of the KKK's reign were understated, in my opinion. Still, I learned a lot from this book. I had never before known where the name Ku Klux Klan came from. I also didn't realize that the original group were more pranksters than terrorists.

Bleak Expectations

by Mark Evans (?)
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 3 hours
genre: British humor

BBC-produced, this was a radio program that felt like it should be watched. The audience laughed at things that had to be facial expressions on the cast of actors. (I envision a Prairie-Home Companion kind of thing. Produced for radio, but with performers in front of an audience.)

Funny twist on Dickens' Great Expectations, this had a Monty Pythonesque feel to it. Funny, odd, and just a bit dark. It had me laughing in my car while I listened.

Dirty Little Secrets

by Cynthia Omololu
Hennepin County Library paperback 210 pages
genre: YA fiction, troubled youth, hoarding

This book was incredibly difficult for me to read and I'm not sure why. Once Lucy decided not to call for help or tell the truth, it felt like a train wreck waiting to happen. The truth always comes out (except at the end of this story . . . ). In many ways, this story reminded me of MacCready's Buried. Buried was a much more powerful book, but it was not about hoarding. Perhaps this is the main thing I "got" from the book - how hoarding impacts the children. Never having watched any of the tv shows about this, I guess I'm just unaware. In comparison, my family's tendency toward packrat-ism seems pretty mild.

Hurricanes in Paradise

by Denise Hildreth
Hennepin County Library paperback 365 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Book club title for August - lovely! Riley Sinclair is working in hospitality on Paradise Island. Recovering from wounds in her past, this Southern belle is doing her best to stay on track. But an eventful week brings difficult bestselling author Laine Fulton, frightened Tamyra, and widow Winnie into her life. These four women all experience breakthroughs and bonding. Wonderful storytelling. (Except for Mitch's plane trip . . . pointless.)

Makes me want to go to the Caribbean!

Mindblind

by Jennifer Roy
Hennepin County Library hardcover 249 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, aspbergers

Loved it! Nathaniel Clark is a memorable character who works very hard at functioning in the "normal" world. His mother is extraordinary, his dad is a clueless jerk. His friends are the real deal. Great story.

Trickster: Native American Tales

a graphic collection
edited by Matt Dembicki
Hennepin County Library paperback 231 pages

What an interesting collection . . . Native American storytellers and a wide range of artists. There were specific things that I liked and disliked about the many stories in this collection. It's definitely worth having in my collection. One of my favorites (story-wise) is "How the Alligator Got His Brown Scaly Skin." I like this type of story, where the overbearing character gets his/her comeupance. In many of the trickster tales, I do not like how the trickster character triumphs. The artwork in some of the stories was very jarring. It was interesting to read the bios at the end.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

by Georgia Bragg
illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
Hennepin County Library hardcover 163 pages

Interesting, informative, well-designed. Not as gruesome as the warnings describe, but gross enough that most middle schoolers will be caught up in it. Some of these deaths I knew about, but I definitely learned some new things. And yes, I do appreciate modern hygiene, medical knowledge, etc.

Caesar, Cleopatra, Beethoven, Einstein, Curie, etc.

Girl, Stolen

by April Henry
Hennepin County Library hardcover 213 pages
genre: YA adventure - kidnapping & danger

Book's blurb: "Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of the car while her stepmom fills a prescription for antibiotics. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, the car is being stolen. Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne, but once his dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes - now there's a reason to keep her. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare because she's not only sick with pneumonia - she's blind."

The book isn't edgy enough to make you wonder if Cheyenne will make it - clearly she will survive and get back home. The question for me was always about Griffin and his future. Short, easy-to-read, interesting. I'll definitely buy this for my collection. A little bit hoky, but it works okay.

The Unsinkable Walker Bean

by Aaron Renier
Hennepin County Library paperback 192 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, mystery & adventure

Hmmm. Surprised that I didn't like this more. I love graphic novels in general, but I was more confused than enthralled. I felt as though there was an entire back story that I was missing . . . like this was book two and I needed to read book one to "get" it. Walker is a lovely protagonist (though how his dad - a total jerk - raised such a fine son is baffling). Grandpa asks Walker to follow through on a dangerous task that could save grandpa and all of Winooski Bay. Pirates, sea monsters, inventions, friendships, and many trials ensue. Many of the illustrations were quite involved and bear more looking at than I gave them. I'll probably buy it for my collection at PRMS.

A Long Walk to Water

by Linda Sue Park
Hennepin County Library hardcover 120 pages
genre: realistic fiction

Wow! I see why Sarah Rother wanted to use this with 8th graders - it fits perfectly with our Africa / water unit. Based on Salva Dut's real-life experiences in Sudan in the 1980s, this story alternates between his reality avoiding war and starvation and the story of Nya, a girl in the Sudan in 2008. Her reality involves walking for an entire day, every day, to get water from a mudhole for her family. Two trips barefoot. Until the day strange men show up in her village. Powerful story! Makes me sad, though, at how much we take for granted in our American lives

Borrowed Names: poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madame C.J. Walker, Marie Curie, and their Daughters

by Jennine Atkins
Hennepin County Library hardcover 206 pages
genre: biographical poetry

Fascinating concept. Poetry based on the factual evidence of three amazing women and their relationships with their daughters. This actually left me wanting to read more about these women, though I generally liked them better than their daughters! Marie Curie's daughter impressed me most of the younger generation. I hadn't even known that she existed. I read some of this to my mom while she was in the hospital and I think she found it interesting too.

Yummy: the last days of a south side shorty

by Greg Neri
Hennepin County Lib paperback 94 pages
genre: YA graphic novel non-fic

Yummy was an eleven-year-old boy in Chicago in the 1990s. He murdered and was murdered. His life and death raised awareness and passion. Violence cannot be ignored when children are both the perpetrators and the victims. Done in black and white, this graphic novel could easily be a part of my collection with its realistic portrayal of Yummy's story, without being disturbingly graphic.

Cutting Myself in Half: 150 Pounds Lost One Byte at a Time

by Taylor LeBaron
and Jack & Mary Branson
Hennepin County Library paperback 188 pages

This caught my eye when I was getting books one day. This young man went from 297 pounds down to 145! His story is incredible and inspirational. His basic tenets are the ones I already know (exercise more, eat less, & eat good foods), but the way he shares his story amazes me.

I know myself pretty well and at age 45, I'm not interested in his Ultimate Fitness Game (treating weight loss like a video game with points). His points on goals and success are good, though. What an incredible kid. I'll buy this for my collection. I think there are some students for whom this would be very meaningful.

Dreamer

by Pam Munoz Ryan
illustrations by Peter Sis
Hennepin County Library hardcover 370 pages
genre: YA fictional biography

This book reminds me a lot of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, except that it seemed to drag on a bit. By the time I got to the end, I had a new interest in the real life of poet Pablo Neruda. The super-large print and interspersed drawings and snippets of poetry should have made the book go quicker, but it didn't. Something failed to grab me. Not sure yet if I'll buy it for PRMS.

I've been trying to crank through the books for Camp Read-a-Lot, but I think I'd better get onto the website and participate in the discussions instead of just doing my own thing.

Trash

by Andy Mulligan
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 5 hrs 20 min.
read by a cast
genre: YA realistic fiction, mystery

This was incredible. The story never actually says the location of "the city," but I imagined Mexico City. (In looking at reviews, it sounds as though Manilla in the Philippines is more likely). Raphael and his friend Gardo pick trash together in the city dump known as Behala. One day, Raphael finds a purse with a man's wallet, a key, a map, and lots of money. This discovery sends them, along with 10-year-old Rat, on an extremely dangerous path of mystery and corruption. Powerful story!

My only complaint - the audiobook's cast is fabulous *except* for the boy who read Rat's part. His accent was inconsistent (somewhere between French, Scandinavian, and I'm not sure what else). His articulation was almost non-existent, making it hard to hear what he was saying. The few times he slipped into just normal "kid talk" with his own voice, I wondered why the director / producer didn't encourage him to use his regular voice for the entire thing.

I look forward to re-reading a print copy of this book.

The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie

subtitled A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us (unauthorized)
by Tanya Lee Stone
Hennepin County Library hardcover 110 pages
genre: Non-Fic, culture

Very, very interesting book with excellent photos. I wasn't a huge Barbie fan as a kid and I never hated her, but understand the author's perspective that people either love her or hate her. This creation definitely elicits a lot of passion from people. This was interesting to me, but especially in terms of Ruth Handler's story. I would enjoy reading more about this unusual woman. Fascinating. My favorite quote came at the end of the story.

"I have a pink Barbie T-shirt and I wore it to work the other day and got a look from a guy that was like, 'Oh, how sad, you aspire to be Barbie, can't you aim any higher?' And all I could think was, 'Hey loser, my Barbie had a three-story townhouse with an elevator, a pool she floated around in with her friends when she needed to relax, a plane she could pilot on her own, a camper she could rough it in when she felt like getting back to nature, and she was the sole proprietor of a hair salon with a working blow dryer! And all this without a man in her life or the need to ask anyone for a dime to support her lifestyle. Go Barbie.'" - Jennifer O'Connell

Fever Crumb

by Phillip Reeve
Hennepin County Library hardcover 325 pages
genre: YA Sci-Fi dystopia

This one definitely kept my attention. Set so far in the future that the world of technology is a mystery known to specialized engineers, London is a somewhat calm place as nomads move closer. To trade or to invade? Fever Crumb is the only female at the Order of Engineers and has been raised to be logical and unemotional. When archeologist Kit Solent sends for her, she starts to "remember" things that never happened to her. This exciting story is both beautiful and tragic. Fever is a memorable character and I hope there is a sequel in the works!

Countdown

by Deborah Wiles
Hennepin County audioCDs 7 hrs 20 min
read by Emma Galvin
genre: YA hist fic, relationships & coming-of-age

I loved this! I'm not sure if my modern middle-schoolers will, though. The historical details are rich indeed, with the early 1960s coming through loud & clear (though I wasn't even born until 1966!). Franny Chapman is starting her transition from childhood to teenager and it isn't going well for her. With strict parents, an older (college age) sister who is looking beyond home life, a "perfect" little brother, and a best friend who's not being so nice, she isn't sure what to do.

This rich story has layers upon layers of beauty, from Uncle Otts and his personal history to Franny's budding love interest Chris. I guess I should buy a copy for PRMS and figure out how to "sell" it in booktalks.

The Book Without Words

by Avi
PRMS hardcover 203 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, magic

Interesting. I thought of including this with our spring medieval hist fic unit, but the magical elements are pretty strong. The factual details jump out at me - lack of hygiene, poverty, illiteracy, etc. But I'm not sure if middle schoolers would clue into that as much as the book of spells that can only be read by a green-eyed person with great desire.

Sybil is a youngster who is happy to have a place to sleep and some food to eat, even though her new master, Thorston, is not kind. He also plans to steal her life force to make himself invincible, but she doesn't know that yet. Odo the talking crow (who's actually a changed goat), Brother Wilfrid the monk, Alfric the green-eyed street urchin, Master Bashcroft the reeve, and others make this tale intriguing if somewhat predictable. I most liked Alfric and Sybil's ability to make friends and care for others.

The Eyre Affair

by Jasper Fforde
lake book paperback . . .
genre: literary mystery

Re-read. Love this book. Clever and weird. Delightful.



12.18.15 Re-read again. Pure escapism.
I absolutely love this book! I love the cleverness, the adventure, the allusions, and of course, Thursday Next as the heroine who gets Rochester and Jane to a happier ending. 

The Clocks

by Agatha Christie
lake book paperback 246 pages
genre: Murder mystery

Barely a Hercules Poirot story at all. Told by Colin Lamb (code name for a secret agent), friend of HP and Inspector Hardcastle. Too many subplots and characters. Didn't see it coming together and yet wasn't surprised at all. Kind of bored, actually.

The ABC Murders

by Agatha Christie
lake book paperback 224 pages
genre: murder mystery

Hercules Poirot sees past the false clues to the truth. The ABC railway guides, the letters, the victims Ascher in Andover, Barnard in Bexhill, Clarke in C . . . Intriguing story. I did NOT guess the ending.

The Sweetest Thing

by Elizabeth Musser
Hennepin County Library paperback 394 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction, relationships, mystery

Loved it! Can hardly wait 'til book club!
"Perri" Anne Perrin and Mary "Dobbs" Dillard do NOT hit it off on their first meeting. Set during the Great Depression (1933-39), Perri is a wealthy Atlanta socialite and Dobbs is a poor preacher's daughter who has come to stay with her Aunt Josie to go to school. When Perri's dad commits suicide, though, her world is turned inside out and Dobbs truly befriends her.
Suicide, depression, finances, status.
Faith, loss of faith, evangelism.
Theft, honesty, evidence, safety.
Family, love, truth, past.
Jackie, Frances, Coobie.
Mrs. Singleton, Barbara, Irvin.
Hank, Spalding, Andrew, Philip, Luke.
Parthenia, Cornelius, Anna, & Hosea.
Dellareen, Jimmy, & 5 kids.
Mr. Bill Robinson.
LOTS of other characters! Parthenia my favorite.

pg. 266 Mrs. Dillard:
"When you love, it will hurt. You have to choose to forgive, again and again. But it's worth it. That's the crux of human relationships, Dobbs. The sweetest thing. Loving deeply. And forgiving. Your father loves you so much. Talk to him. Ask him your questions. Don't be afraid of your anger and your hurt."

pg. 381 Parthenia:
" . . . I said to myse'f that once there's a bad weed in ya - well, apart from the Good Lawd ripping it out - it's gonna stay." (referring to Mr. Robinson.

Mrs. Pollifax books - various

by Dorothy Gilman
lots of re-reading
genre: spy, mystery

Faves: Mrs. Pollifax's personality & the way people underestimate her
Disfaves: marriages in every book by people who met less than a week earlier. What?!

Starclimber

by Kenneth Oppel
PRMS hardcover 390 pages
genre: YA adventure, romance

In this story, Otto Lunardi offers Kate and Matt the chance to travel to outer space in a new ship he's had built. Although Matt is one of one hundred candidates going through intensely tough training to narrow the field to a few, it's never really a question of IF he'll be chosen, but how. In all three books of this series, I like Matt's underdog status, his creativity and problem-solving in the face of danger, and his general attitude. As usual, I can't *stand* Kate as a character. She is selfish, egocentric, and arrogant. Women's rights to vote, the reality of Heaven, and other themes are woven throughout.

Elijah of Buxton

by Christopher Paul Curtis
PRMS paperback 341 pages
genre: YA historical fiction

I started this as an audiobook while I used the elliptical at school. This is not one of my favorite CPC books, but it has a wealth of topics for discussion. My least favorite part of the story was the "preacher" and his selfish, immoral choices. My next least favorite part was Elijah's own gullibility. Grr! And I really, really disliked a dear character's death . . . however, there was so much here of beauty, truth, and pain. I know how carefully the author researches his topics and I found the story of Buxton to be encouraging and hopeful. Our sixth grade LAX classes read this book. It would be fun to get in on the discussions this coming school year.

10 Things to do Before I Die

by Daniel Ehrenhaft
PRMS hardcover 219 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age

This book went from intriguing to questionable to downright stupid to mildly redeeming - maybe. The premise is the classic "what would you do if you knew you only had 24 hours to live?" Ted Burger spends much of his time at the Circle Eat Diner with his best friend Mark and Mark's girlfriend Nikki.

My favorite part was when Ted saw Billy Rifkin and saw someone whose life had changed in a meaningful way. I also liked his epiphany that sex is not to be treated lightly. The rest of the story and the characters just didn't work very well. I like Ehrenhaft's more recent work better. This one just falls short.

A Separate Peace

by John Knowles
PRMS hard cover 204 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age, historical fiction 1940s

I can't even remember the protagonist's name! His story is defined by his relationship with Finny (Phineas) while the two teenagers are at Devon in New England during the outset of WWII. I read this because a student in grade 8 LAX was complaining about it and I was curious. There were portions were I was bored, and many I want to go back and re-read. What a rich book! There is much here to discuss. As I was reading it, I thought of Gallagher's Readicide. . . what a book to be careful in neither overteaching nor underteaching. Almost makes me want to be an English teacher again!

June Bug

by Chris Fabry
Hennepin County Library paperback 326 pages
genre: Christian fiction, mystery

Spoilers ahead . . .

Liked it, but didn't finish before our book club meeting. Jodi did NOT like it. Fabry leaves some pretty glaring loose ends. . . makes me want to read Dogwood to see if he addresses them. Why does John just walk away from June Bug after raising her for seven years? What happens with Sheila? How does June Bug reconcile her history with her new life? Will Mae and Leason parent June Bug any better than they did Dana?

The story opens in a Walmart with June Bug seeing her own photo age-progressed. The realization that her dad may not be her dad leads her to question many things about their life together. I liked the way the story unfolded, but agree that there were too many things that didn't fit. The one thing that most bothered me was that no one was punished for the attempted murder and subsequent kidnapping of a little girl - at least not in this story. Dana, Walker, and John all walked away.

Still, I like this author's storytelling style and am interested in trying another of his books.

Rainbow Jordan

by Alice Childress
PRMS paperback 127 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, inner city

I really enjoyed this, but am not sure it would appeal to students. I thought about asking Jhanae or Tequilla to read it and give me their opinions, but I'm not sure they'd be interested. Rainbow (aka "Rainey") has an irresponsible mother who's gone a lot. Rainbow goes to spend time with Josie (foster care) and the story is told primarily from the perspective of these two - a 14-year-old and a 57-year-old. Rainbow's mother Kathie also has a "voice," but it isn't prominent.

Sad story, but Rainbow is a mature young lady who learns a bit and grows up through her life's challenges. I liked it.

Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It

by Kelly Gallagher
PRMS paperback 118 pages
genre: professional, education

I finally finished the last ten pages . . . after starting it last fall. Incredible book. Should be mandatory reading for all English / language arts teachers. I hate that we as educators often have the opposite effect than what we desire! Instead of creating lifelong readers, we kill the love of reading. Fantastic book with practical advice. There's a fine distinction between under & over teaching literature. Free reading "in the flow" is crucial! Loved it.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

by Garth Stein
PRMS paperback 321 pages
genre: dog fiction

Told from Enzo's point of view, this is a story of life and racing. Chapter one started with an old dog, ready to die. It was sad from the get-go. Enzo tells his life's story, especially as it intertwines with his owner Denny's life. I was crying so hard toward the end that I couldn't finish reading it until later. I was so angry at Denny's in-laws! And to know that there are people like that makes me sad.

I am not a believer in the idea of reincarnation, but for Enzo to want to come back as a human made sense for the story. Loved it!

Code Orange

by Caroline B. Cooney
PRMS paperback 198 pages
genre: YA science thriller

I wish I'd finished it *before* the 7th grade book club discussed it, but it was enjoyable. Mitty is a slacker rich kid at a private school in NYC. He has to research an infectious disease and what he learns about smallpox changes his world. Based on a true event (someone finding smallpox scabs in an old, old book), Cooney has used modern technology, situations, and politics to write a believable story. I didn't like Mitty as a character - he is WAY too much of a slacker kid with attitude, it was an enjoyable read.

Animal Farm

by George Orwell
Dakota County Library audiobook, 3.25 hours
read by Patrick Tull
genre: ? dystopia? Social commentary

Again, wrong book for me at the time. This is one I feel I ought to have read at some point in the last 25 years, so I finally read it. I'm glad it's short. The corruption and growing cruelty of the pigs toward the other animals frustrated me. Their willingness to consider their own memories wrong and accept whatever Napoleon told them made me sad. I had to take many breaks from the story, just because it bothered me so much. I probably should read some analytical studies of it, but I'm just glad I'm done.

The Lost Quilter

by Jennifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, paperback 337 pages
genre: historical fiction, slavery, quilting

Sigh. When I impulsively grabbed this at the library TWO MONTHS ago, I was in the mood for a little quilting "escape." Too busy, it sat & I renewed it & it sat . . . until I could renew it no more. So I HAD to read it. Alas, it was a slavery story with quilting in it and not the sweet quilting escapism I longed for. But of course I read the whole thing, because that's the kind of person I am. So now I have to pay the late fees, I haven't done any quilting, and I find slavery stories in general to be incredibly depressing. What human beings have justified as acceptable is absolutely intolerable.

Joanna's story is ultimately a story of triumph over evil, but it wasn't an especially fun read. Well-written, but not what I was looking for in a Chiaverini book.

Freedom

by Jonathan Franzen
Chanhassen H.S. hardcover, 562 pages
genre: ? Realistic fiction, relationships

This was torture. It has taken me way, way too long to read. I kept looking for redeeming qualities. . . it was our PRMS April book club title, but we kept having to reschedule. Now we're going to discuss it in May with our May title. I think a lot of people bailed on it. Not sure why it garnered so much attention this past year. I think Patty, Walter, Richard, Joey, Lalitha, etc. think too much of themselves and their sex lives. It will be interesting to hear what others have to say about it.

On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God

by Louise Rennison
Dakota County Library, audioCDs
read by Stina Nielsen
genre: YA humor, British

This wasn't as funny as the first book, but I still chuckled a few times (mostly at Angus). Georgia is a bit too self-centered and selfish (especially in her treatment of her best friend Jas) for me to enjoy her much. She is obsessed with Robbie (aka The Sex God) and doesn't really take any one else's feelings into much account.

Buried

by Robin Merrow MacCready
Carver County Library hardcover
genre: YA realistic fiction

From Amazon: "Claudine Carbonneau, a high-school senior in Deep Cove, ME, wakes up to find her alcoholic mother gone, leaving the teen to clean up their trashed home and to explain her mother's absence."

This book really gripped me. As Claudine's behavior becomes more & more obsessively OCD and more clues come to light about her mother's disappearance, I just wanted to hug her and get her some help. The story (to me) is more about OCD than alcoholism. Her mother's choices really impacted this girl. Powerful.

The Maze

by Will Hobbs
Dakota County Library audiobook, 5.5 hours
read by Ed Sala
genre: YA coming-of-age, adventure

Quick recap: orphan Rick Walker has escaped from a juvenile detention facility and finds himself in the wilderness with Lon Peregrino, a Condor Project employee.

Liked: reader's voice, the hang gliding, Lon befriending Rick
Disliked: simplicity of plot, meanness of villains, contrast between Rick's actions & consequences.

Mine Is the Night

by Liz Curtis Higgs
Dakota County Library, paperback, 447 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

I was surprised by how much I liked this book (especially compared to book one). Elizabeth and her mother-in-law Marjory show up in 1746 Selkirk almost completely destitute. Cousin Anne allows them to stay in her tiny home and life moves on. This story parallels the book of Ruth very closely and has a satisfying romance in Elizabeth and Jack (as well as Marjory and Gibson and Anne and Michael). I think that the cat and the little boy were my favorites, though. We had a very nice book club discussion on Monday. I also got to see the Trewarthas and Keith Johnson's family!

When Dad Killed Mom

by Julius Lester
PRMS hardcover 179 pages
genre: YA grief, domestic violence

Told in alternate chapters from twelve-year-old Jeremy and fourteen-year-old Jenna, this book caught our dean's attention because of the title. I wasn't sure (not my purchase), so I took it home and read it. It's definitely for our more mature readers, but it has a unique perspective on how kids handle tragedy. The story is well-paced, honest, and powerfully written. It all comes together at the end as Jeremy and Jenna start their new lives without their parents (mom dead, dad in prison). I think it captures well the incredible power that adults have over children's lives.

The Name of This Book Is Secret

by Pseudonymous Bosch
read by David Pittu
PRMS Playaway 5 hours
genre: YA mystery

This book intrigued me because of what I had heard about it. It was bugging me as I listened to it, but I plowed through the whole thing . . . The reader's voice was fine. What is it about these clever writers (think Lemony Snicket & the Unfortunate Events) that get so many readers excited but just bug me?

Cass & Max-Ernest collaborate to solve the mystery of the Symphony of Smells, the missing magician, and the Midnight Sun. The dog was my favorite character. Miss Mauvais was creepy. I'm glad I'm done with this.

This was also the first time I listened to an entire audiobook on a Playaway. Not my favorite way of enjoying a story, but helps the time pass more quickly on the elliptical.

The Sign of the Four

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle GoogleBooks, 283 pages genre: mystery, detective Okay, not my favorite Sherlock Holmes story . . . but it's good to try new stories. Holmes is an arrogant drug user. Watson is his typical self-effacing, bumbling sidekick. The mystery is odd and the solution is disappointing. The eighth grade book club discussion should be interesting, if any of the kids read it. I had to translate three phrases (one French and two German) and look up a bunch of words I didn't know!

 

(Above posted 4/4/11. Below added 2022.04.23)

 

Libby audiobook  5 hours

read by David Timson

Published: 1888 (this version in 2005)

Interesting that I can find the title as both "The Sign of Four" and "The Sign of the Four." Little details like that extra "the" stick in my brain . . . but I don't care so deeply that I'm going to spend time and energy figuring it out!

One thing that I like about this story is Watson meeting and falling in love with Mary. (Happened fast!) I also wonder about the jewels . . . I had planned on skipping the Hound of the Baskervilles since I've read the print version, seen the movie, etc., but I think I'll just keep on with my Holmes roll.

Hard Love

by Ellen Wittlinger
PRMS hardcover 224 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age

Lots of kids have checked this book out (provocative title), but I never heard much back from them. Out of curiosity, I had to see what it was about. John is an angry teenage boy with fairly absent parents (emotionally, at least!). As he is getting into the world of writing zines & reading others' work, he is drawn to Marisol, a self-labelled "Puerto Rican Cuban Yankee Lesbian." The "hard love" of the title refers primarily to his growing affection for Marisol, despite her continual reminders that she is not available. The strongest story line, though, comes through in his relationship with his mother, who has not touched him since her divorce from his egotistical father.

Promises to Keep

by Ann Tatlock
Carver County Library, paperback, 343 pages
genre: Christian fiction, historical (1960s)

Roz (short for Rosalind) is at the center of this story about a woman and her three children who flee Minnesota and an abusive husband. Their lives are changed forever when Tillie comes to "her" house and inserts herself into their home. I liked the friendship between Roz and Mara a lot. I went from being irritated by Tillie to loving her. The dad creeped me out! And anyone who tries to manipulate a child by preying on her / his faithfulness as a child is just horribly wrong. Mara's maturity and character were amazing, especially as she struggled to understand her family. The end was much, much, much too quick, compressing decades into a few pages. Anti-climatic.

Pictures of Hollis Woods

by Patricia Reilly Giff
Carver County Library audioCDs
genre: YA coming-of-age

This is a re-read to prepare for sixth grade book club. Wonderful story. Hollis Woods has bounced from foster home to foster home, running away when she's had enough. Then she's placed with the Regan family for the summer and she has found a true home. Until she goes up the mountain and Steven comes for her . . . Told in flashback form after she is placed with the elderly Josie, Hollis Woods is the work of an artist! Beautiful. Made me cry. I love the Regan family.

Columbine

by Dave Cullen
Carver County Library, hard cover, 388 pages
genre: NF, school shooting

Hard-hitting. Powerful. There are so many things I could say about this book. We had a good book club discussion on this title at PRMS. Some of the things that came up were:
- how much did the parents know ahead of time? Could they have done things differently?
- have we had students who were psychopathic? How can one know?
- why did the sheriff not listen to his staff?

There was more, of course, but too much to blog about when I'm not in a writing mood. Absolutely incredible, well-researched book.

The Jane Austen Book Club

by Karen Joy Fowler
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs
read by Kimberly Schraf

Hmmm. I really want to see the movie, which I'd heard great things about. This book didn't connect strongly for me. The book club format was an interesting way to get to know Jocelyn, Sylvia, Allegra, Bernadette, Prudie, and Grigg. But just as I was getting to know a character well, the story switched to a different line. It was kind of disconcerting. And I thought the women were a little snotty. Anyhow, it did make me want to re-read Austen's works, though I'm definitely not in love with them the way these characters are!

From my notes:
Jocelyn - dogs
Sylvia - Daniel
Allegra - Corrine
Prudie - French
Grigg - SciFi
Bernadette - talker

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson
PRMS paperback 198 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age

This is a re-read to prep for 8th grade book club. It made me cry again. What a powerful book about one person's private pain. Being able to confide is powerful. Melinda Sordino goes through too much emotional tragedy in her ninth grade year. I love the author's notes at the end of this edition.

Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock

by Claire Rudolf Murphy
PRMS, hard cover, 60 pages
genre: Non-fiction history

Very quick & cool read about the children who lived on Alcatraz Island over the years. Lots of awesome photos! This island and its history fascinate me. There's not a lot of info here, but it's well-organized and easy to follow.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More

by Roald Dahl
Mary Verbick's copy, paperback, 225 pages
genre: short story collection, life

Mary recommended "The Swan," which she uses with her students. It disturbed me, but Dahl's work sometimes does. Reactions:

The Boy Who Talked With Animals - mob mentality, arrogance of the rich, poor tortoise, glad the boy rescued him and he rescued the boy!

The Hitchhiker - funny, but I can't believe the driver took the taunt to speed. Love how it ends.

The Treasure of Mildenhall - cool message at the end, though when Gordon Butcher went to get Ford, I thought "NO!" Interesting how greed can warp people. Silver vs. pewter . . . nice.

The Swan - I hate bullies and senseless violence.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - long and involved. Interesting. I didn't expect the ending. Again, themes of greed, wealth, and manipulation play here.

Lucky Break - How I Became a Writer - my favorite!!! Very cool autobiographical story of Dahl's young life and unexpected start as an author. Love it!

A Piece of Cake - first story Dahl penned for Forrester to write up as a piece for the Saturday Evening Post. Very cool how this changed his life!

Little Bee

by Chris Cleave
Hennepin County Library, hardcover 271 pages
genre: modern day refugee fiction, relationships

Beautiful. Painful. Haunting. Mary V recommended this last spring. I got on the reserve list in June or July. I got this copy three weeks ago and it's due back tomorrow (waiting list). Read it over the last few days.

Little Bee is a Nigerian girl and Sarah is a British woman. They met once on a beach in Nigeria. Two years later, they meet again. The front flap of the book says, "Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds."

I'll just say that it is very worth reading, but very challenging, too. (Emotionally, mostly. Intellectually, it made me curious to know more. How close to reality is this fiction?)

I'm dying to discuss this with book club, but it's not one of our book club titles! We might have to put it there for next year.



I started to listen to the audiobook about a month ago. I remembered loving this book, but wasn't enjoying some of it as I started "reading" it this time around. I checked this blog entry and pressed on. Alas, it was due back at the library and I had a stack of other books to read. Here are my notes from the first two discs:

- scene where Andrew and Sarah O'Rourke are having sex and little Charlie shows up with poop everywhere . . . why?!
- Yvette from Jamaica, girl with documents, girl in yellow sari, and Bee from Nigeria . . . I wish I could learn more about the other women's stories. So fascinating to look at immigrants and what is happening nowadays . . .

That's it. Too many books and too little time. So I returned it to the library and wen with some other books piled up in my room.

Phineas Gage

by John Fleischman
PRMS Mary's collection audioCDs 1.5 hours
read by Kevin Orton

Fascinating! I have been meaning to read this for years. It's much more about the brain and developing theories (in the 1800s) about how the brain works. Amazing and bizarre that Phineas survived this crazy accident.

Odd thing, though . . . the photo of his skull shows a hole in the *right* side of his face, but the book definitely talked about the spike going through the left side. Unless by "left" side, they mean as one was looking AT him . . . odd, though. I always though that when one talks about a body part, it is from the perspective of the one in the body!

Lady in Waiting

by Susan Meissner
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 10 hours
read by Donna Rawlins and Samantha Eggar

A dual story of Jane Lindsay, whose husband walks away from their marriage, and Lady Jane Grey, told from her seamstress Lucy's perspective, this book was not fun for me. The genuine surprise when Brad says he's not sure he loves his wife any more bothered me. The historical aspect of the tragic Jane of middle ages was more to my liking. Interesting stuff, the intrigue and power plays of those closest to power. I really liked the letters at the end, telling the story of the ring that the modern-day Jane could never know.

Our discussion was lively, as usual, with Kim E and I seeing much of it the same way. Women and choices . . .

4/8/13
I did a re-listen (it's been two years - I didn't really remember when I grabbed it at the library).
Dislike: modern Jane's wishy-washy personality and overbearing mother
Like: the story of the ring and the historical fiction that makes me want to know more about the Tudors.
Both vocal performers were great!

Spy Book Recommendations

As we discussed American Assassin, the talk turned to spy novels in general (Cina loves them!). I have too many books right now, but someday I'd like to check out some Nelson DeMille (Charm School, Lion's Game, The Lion, . . . )

My Own County: a Doctor's Story

by Abraham Verghese
Scott County Library, paperback, 430 pages
genre: medical memoir

This took me a long time to read! I've had it for over two months now, renewing it multiple times. I'm kind of glad that I read Cutting for Stone first. This one deals primarily with the AIDS outbreak and his work in Tennessee. Very interesting look at the disease and how people's lives were affected. Not enough info about his family . . . I think if I check online, I'll see that he and his wife divorced in the early 90s. He was so consumed with his patients and seemed to spend more time learning about their lives than taking care of his wife and sons. Although he is very candid and comes across as humble (just a poor internist, not a rich surgeon), there remains something of the arrogance I have often seen in doctors. He delves deeply into the lives of his patients, to the point that I wondered if he had gotten their permission before publishing his book. A worthwhile read.

Popcorn Days & Buttermilk Nights

by Gary Paulsen
PRMS LA hardcover 100 pages
genre: YA coming of age

I think my sixth grade book club is going to have a hard time with this. I picked it because I had never read it before, it's short, and I had multiple copies. As much as I love Paulsen, this one was odd. The preface has someone coming into "Norsten" Minnesota. Part of that setting includes a burned-out smithy . . . and then the story starts and we learn that Carly is a troubled boy from Minneapolis who comes to stay with his uncle. I spent the whole book waiting for Carly to accidentally (or on purpose) burn down the smithy. Nope. He is reformed from his bad ways by hard work, seeing the poverty of his relatives, and helping David to build a carnival. Some lyrical passages, but not much in the way of a story.

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt

by Anne Rie
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs
genre: Christian Fiction
read by Josh Heine

Never having read any of Rice's famous vampire books, I was curious about her Christian writing. Her personal testimony is powerful and exciting and she has dedicated the rest of her career to glorifying God. However, I didn't even finish the first CD of this story. Perhaps it's because I just forced myself to listen to another story I didn't enjoy, but I just couldn't force myself to finish this one.

She starts with Jesus as a 7-year-old in Egypt. There is so little in Scripture about Christ's childhood, but it just seemed bizarre to me that he would lose his temper in a game, kill someone, bring that person back to life, and have no clue about His identity or source of power. . . I found myself thinking that I'd rather read Scripture than this story about Jesus Christ. It reminded me a lot of the book about Luke I read earlier this year.

I guess I like my fiction to be fictional. . . although I do enjoy historical fiction. This blending of imagination and Truth just doesn't work for me. Though I'm still really glad that Rice has turned her life over to Jesus.

Beyond the Deepwoods

by Paul Stewart (illustrated by Chris Riddell)
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6:14
read by Clive Mantle
genre: children's fantasy adventure

Oh my. This story made me crazy! Louie kept telling me to stop listening, but I was trying to figure out WHY this would appeal to kids and WHICH kids it appeals to. Twig just bumbles along from one incident to another, being a complete dunderhead and demanding to be saved by any creatures around him. There are a plethora of creatures and plants that are fantastical (and usually dangerous). There's not much in the way of a plot and the ending was trite . . . and this is only book one in a series! Argh. Made. me. crazy! Couldn't wait for it to be done. Mantle's voice work was not the problem. The story was stupid, IMHO.

The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, The TItan's Curse

by Rick Riordan
various formats - audio
reader?
genre: YA adventure, fantasy

It's been fun to re-"read" these titles. It freshens my memory for tomorrow's discussion of the Lost Hero. Interesting phenomenon that Riordan created . . .

The Lost Hero

by Rick Riordan
Peter Mobeck's copy, 552 pages

Just like the Percy Jackson series, this was very readable, action-packed, and full of fun characters and unbelievable turns of event. We'll discuss it at eighth grade book club next week. I enjoyed it, but found the improbable last-minute escapes to be a bit much. Leo and Festus were my favorite parts. . .

Love, Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli
Hennepin County Library audioCDs, 6:20
read by Mandy Siegfried

This book bugged me . . . and I'm not sure why. Dootsie was a little brat, Stargirl was irritating, Perry was such a delinquent (though we finally find out what's up with him toward the end of the book). Spinelli definitely creates memorable characters, though. I found myself wanting to meet Arnold, Betty Lou, Alvina, and Charlie. The storyline of Stargirl writing a book-long letter to Leo back in Arizona just didn't work for me, though. I am not sure what kind of reader would most enjoy this book . . . and I kind of want to re-read Stargirl. I loved that book! Siegfried's voice work was nice, so I'm really not sure why this story bugged me so much.

Halt's Peril

by John Flanagan
#9 Ranger's Apprentice
PRMS hardcover 386 pgs

Kind of disappointing, actually. Halt, Horace, and Will are in pursuit of Tennyson. The Genovesans are sent to kill them. Murder and mayhem ensue at a very, very slow pace. The part with Malcolm is my favorite. He rocks! This one just didn't have the momentum of the others. I kept trying to press on to get it done, but it took me four sittings to get through. Good thing #10 ends the series. It's time.

Shiver

by Maggie Stiefvater
PRMS hardcover 390 pages
genre: YA paranormal romance

Grace and Sam are drawn to one another, but Sam is usually in the form of a wolf. Then finally they meet as humans when Sam is struck by a hunter's bullet. These two young people are lovely and their story is inviting. I most enjoyed the storyline with Isabel and her brother Jack, though. The ending was satisfying, but I don't think I'll read book two.

Bird

by Angela Johnson
Hennepin County Library audioCD 2 hours
read by Chantale Hosein (Bird), Kamahl Palmer (Ethan), & Matthew Pavich (Jay)

Bird has run to Acorn, Alabama, to find her stepfather Cecil and bring him back home. But as she stays hidden on Ethan's family's farm, she starts to realize that she misses her mother and having a safe home. Ethan is entranced by Bird, but has spent so much of his life sick and in hospitals that he almost doesn't know how to connect to someone new. Jay misses his brother Derrick, who died of a brain aneurysm. He too is drawn to Bird, especially with his best friend Googie in juvenile lock-up.

This is a very short story that seems to end too quickly. Bird's situation seemed too unresolved. She went all that way from Ohio and spent all those months hiding and watching, but then she never actually confronted Cecil.

The Tiger Rising

by Kate DiCamillo
PRMS paperback 116 pages
genre: YA coming of age, grief

Rob's mom has died and his grief is compounded by being picked on by the kids at his school. Then he meets Sistine Baily, an angry girl who challenges everyone and everything. Rob's tiger (literal and figurative) play a powerful role in this book. The sixth grade book club will discuss this. Great story!

Dragon's Keep

by Janet Lee Carey
PRMS paperback 302 pages
genre: YA fantasy, adventure

We'll discuss this at 8th grade book club. I'll have to hold my tongue, since my reaction was "Dreck. Waste of time. Stupid." Some of the kids have already been raving about how much they like this book. Hmmm. Why? I look forward to hearing. Poor character development, choppy plot, lack of any compelling storyline. Not even worthwhile romance, though Kye is a promising character. Rosie the princess just didn't cut it.

Amy Inspired

by Bethany Pierce
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 315 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Interesting choice for book club. Amy is 30, an aspiring writer who teaches at a college to make a living. Her roommate Zoe is an unconventional person, also a Christian, and a writer who has been publishing. The tension between the roommates heats up when Zoe invites her friend Eli to stay with them until he can find a place of his own.

I liked the characters (especially Everett) and the roommates getting their friendship back. I didn't like Amy's dithering about what to do with her life. It seemed the dilemma of someone much younger.

The Kings of Klonmel

Ranger's Apprentice book 8
by John Flanagan
PRMS hardcover 358 pages
genre: YA adventure

Once again, I loved it! Flanagan's storytelling style just really works for me. I laughed aloud at a couple of places. I love to see the good guys triumph over the bad guys. Will's skill and his growing confidence along with Horace's friendship help them defeat the Outsiders and their attempt to take over Clonmel.

Bone Handbook

by Jeff Smith
PRMS paperback 124 pages
genre: comics, about

There was a lot in here that was a re-hash of what I already know, but enough new nuggets of info (and a few new Bone comics)that it was worthwhile. The most interesting things to me are that Smith modeled Thorn on his wife and the impact different educators had on him and on his career path. I'm glad he stuck with it! I love the Bone comics and am so glad that Smith has been successful publishing them. I love his references to literary inspirations. What an amazing man!

Cutting for Stone

by Abraham Verghese
various versions!
genre: relationships, medicine, life

I started out reading this on Mary's Kindle, then I listened to an audiobook version until I had to return it to the library, then I finished it in print from the Scott County Library. Whew! It was a more dense read than most of what I've done this fall / winter. But it was worth the while! What an intriguing story. It's too hard for me to summarize. At one point, Louie asked me about it and I had trouble describing it. A nun from India and an English doctor from ??? a strange childhood conceiving twins while he was in a drunken state. Sister Mary Joseph Praise dying in childbirth while Doctor Stone tries to save her and kill the babies that he didn't even know about.

And on it goes - Ethiopia, America, rich and poor, politics and medicine, friends and enemies. I think that Genet's storyline was the hardest for me, especially her callous betrayal of Marion. Hema and Ghosh were amazing characters, with frailties and strength intertwined. The ending was poignant - Marion had to survive, because he was telling the story. Absolutely amazing book.


From a post I had started that was still in "draft" form almost two years later:
by Abraham Verghese

some audioCDs (Dakota County Library) - read by Sunil Malhotra
genre: "general fiction" - on the back of the CD case. Life, love, relationships, medicine

The above is from 1/22/11. I just re-listened to the audiobook (10/8/15). The relationship between Marion and Shiva (identical "mirror" twins) is what stood out the most for me this time. The differences between them and their decisions are so stark. This is so beautifully written, but at times absolutely horrible (the operating theatre has some pretty gruesome moments). This is an amazing book. I had forgotten the specifics of the ending. Marion's phone call seems almost anti-climatic.

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin
home library, paperback, 217 pages
genre: YA mystery

I just needed a "down time" book that didn't require much of me as a reader. This is one I enjoy (and still find myself wondering about the clues). A classic.

A Dog's Life: the Autobiography of a Stray

by Ann M. Martin
Dakota County Library, audioCDs, 4 hours
read by Wendy Dillon
genre: YA animal story

Oh my. This was kind of painful. So much potential, but it falls short. The majority of the people in this story are either stupid or mean. The dog's telling of the story lacks personal depth - everything, whether good or evil, seems to be kept at arm's length. I'm not sure what kind of reader might enjoy this story. I didn't. The Susan and Addy portion toward the end was the best, especially when Susan ditched Mrs. Oliver.

The Haymeadow

by Gary Paulsen
Dakota County Library, audioCDs, 3:32
read by Richard Thomas (John Boy!)
genre: YA realistic fiction, adventure, survival

My memory of this book was that it had a slow start, but got really exciting as it went on (once John was alone in the haymeadow and responsible for what happened to the 6,000 sheep). Though Thomas' voice work was wonderful, this time around the story seemed slow. Paulsen remains one of my favorite authors, but this one . . . not sure about it. The ending, with John and his father seemed stilted.

Godless

by Pete Hautman
PRMS hardcover 198 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age

I have put off reading this since I came to the district. Both West and PRMS had a LOT of copies of this title. I know that Sharon Phelps has had this Twin Cities author as a guest before and we have lots of his books in-district. But the title and jacket blurb didn't make me eager to read this story of Jason Bock. Jason rejects his dad's Catholic fervor and his mom's hypochondria (on Jay's behalf). Along with his best friend Shin, Jay starts a new religion focused on the local water tower.

This was our 8th grade book club title, but only four of us had actually read it. We had a very interesting discussion, but I wish more kids had read the book so that we could have a more involved discussion. I found it interesting and thought-provoking. Henry is the kind of person who scares me - charismatic, dangerous, reckless, unconcerned. Shin's descent into near-insanity surprised and worried me. Jay is a worthy protangonist.

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

by C.S. Lewis
Dakota County Library
audioCDs read by Geoffrey Howard
genre: autobiography, faith

This was much more intellectual than I expected. Not a title I would share with those I want to witness to. The portion of his story that is actually about becoming a Christian is tiny compared to all the parts of his early life that made him a determined atheist. Still, this was so interesting to listen to. Howard's voice is wonderful - it seemed as though I were listening to Lewis himself.

Some of my thoughts on this: I'm so very glad that I didn't go to an English boarding school as a young boy in the early twentieth century! Between this and Roald Dahl's Boy, I think it sounds like a wretched experience. Lewis' metacognition is fascinating. What an incredible mind. This makes me want to re-read some of his other work. His friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien also fascinates me. I would like to read more about the Inklings.