Though Waters Roar

by Lynn Austin
Hennepin County library, hardcover, 428 pages
genre: Christian / historical fiction

This generational story stretched from Hannah helping with the Underground Railroad to Bebe and the temperance movement through Lucy and the women's right to vote, and was framed by Harriet's struggle with her identity and cause. Each of these women, and the men in their lives, have an interesting story to tell.

I thought there was a bit too much time-hopping at the start of the story, but it became clearer as the story went on. Enjoyable. Good discussion at the Fish Tale! I love my book club.

City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare
book one in The Mortal Instruments
Becky C loaned it to me, hardcover, 485 pages

Hmmm. This one didn't do it for me. I'm a bit surprised that it's a "New York Times Bestseller" - wonder if that happened before or after Stephenie Meyer endorsed it as a "story world I love to live in." It has some interesting characters and scenes, but I found it to be too dark. The romance angle was also disappointing (spoiler alert!) . . . when the sparks between Jace and Clary fizzle upon their learning that they are actually siblings. I don't even want to read the rest of the series to find out what happens. The scene in the church was most disappointing to me. Jace's abrupt change of allegiances in the final scene with Valentine put the nail in the coffin, so to speak. I'm glad Becky has found a series that she loves, but I don't share the love!

Shug

by Jenny Han
Hennepin County Library, audioCD 6 hours
read by: Liz Morton
genre: YA coming-of-age

Interesting! At first, this story drove me crazy. Annemarie "Shug" Wilcox is starting seventh grade and everything seems to be changing. Her best friend Mark is hanging with the "guys" and spending less and less time with her. Elaine is starting to hang out with the popular girls, and her family seems to be falling apart. I ended up really liking this story. It's got some wonderful scenes dealing with friendship, peer pressure, etc.

Truer Than True Romance

by Jeanne Martinet
PRMS paper 112 pages
genre: humor / romance

What a hoot! When I saw this on the media center shelf, I did a double-take. This is a snarky, sarcastic take on the stereotypical 1940s romance comics. The original splash page is reprinted next to this author's rewritten story lines. A comics-lovers delight. I'm going to send it to the high school, because I don't think most middle schoolers would get it at all. It's hilarious!

Chinese Cinderella: the true story of an unwanted daughter

by Adeline Yen Mah
PRMS paperback 205 pages
genre: memoir

When a student told me I "had" to read this, I was glad to comply. Now, like that student, I want to read Falling Leaves, which is Mah's full autobiography, and an award-winning book. What a horrible childhood - to be blamed as an infant for her mother's death and then treated like a non-person by her stepmother . . . at first, I actually thought she was a bit of a whiner ("poor me"), but as the story went on, I was saddened by the gap between what could (and should) have been for her and her siblings, and their reality. I am curious now to read Falling Leaves. One of the most stark scenes, to me, was when her father had to ask her what her Chinese name was because he didn't remember that (or her birth date). A well-told story.

The Greatest Generation

by Tom Brokaw
Hennepin County Library hardcover 390 pages
WWII non-fiction / heroes

I didn't finish this in time for book club discussion, but found that I was somewhat disappointed in the book. I've heard so many rave reviews of it that I think I expected more. My favorite chapters were on Dr. Van Gorder and Mary Louise Roberts Wilson. I guess in general, I liked the down-to-earth stories of the ordinary people. Even though Brokaw included a "shame" category, the book overall seemed to idealize the generation. We had a great discussion about that. I definitely think that there can be a general social mentality even when there are "good" and "bad" individuals in every era. I think the "me" decade was a time of great selfishness although there were many generous caring people and events at that time, too. Interesting book. Those of a slightly older age were really curious to hear what the 20-somethings thought of the book, but most of the younger book clubbers hadn't read it . . .

Darcy's Story

By Janet Aylmer
Hennepin County Library paperback 268 pages
genre: Victorian romance

I picked this one up when I already have too high a stack of books to read. The title caught my eye! I love Darcy and Elizabeth. It's basically a re-telling of Pride and Prejudice through Darcy's eyes. Though written very true to Austen's original, it lacked something for me. It just seemed like a summary . . . though a pleasant and enjoyable one.

The Loud Silence of Francine Green

by Karen Cushman
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 5:36
read by Anaka Shockley
genre: YA coming-of-age

Cushman's stories are so thought-provoking! This one is about quiet, obedience Francine and her controversial neighbor Sophie Bowman. Set in cold war America, this was especially enlightening after having read Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation." Francine is a good Catholic girl who just tries to stay out of trouble, especially from Sister Basil. Sophie asks questions which provoke.

I'm not sure which of my students would enjoy this kind of book. Cushman is one of my favorite authors of historical fiction for young adolescents. This one reads as though she lived portions of it! Francine shelving books at the school library made me laugh.

Twilight

by Stephenie Meyer
my copy, hardcover, 498 pages
genre: YA romance, paranormal

Re-read for 8th grade book club. I liked it less than the first time I read it. The discussion was very interesting! Most (but not all) of the girls liked it. Most (but not all) of the guys did NOT.

The Hobbit

by J.R.R. Tolkien
our library, paperback, 1977 printing

I re-read this for 8th grade book club, since it's been at least a decade since I've read it. It was a much quicker read than I remembered . . . in the past, the entire adventure seemed so much more drawn-out. I'd forgotten how the confrontation at the Lonely Mountain ended (after Bilbo's "trade" with the Arkenstone). Never count out the goblins and wargs! Beorn is my favorite character, and I'm curious to know more about the necromancer. It will be fun to booktalk this with the kids tomorrow.

Mates, Dates, and Inflatable Bras

by Cathy Hopkins
Hennepin County Library, audioCD 3 hours
read by ???
genre: YA British chick lit

What a fun little story! I'm glad I listened to it. It was not what I expected from seeing this series of books. It's a lot like Rennison's Georgia Nicholson books, but sweeter in a way. Lucy is such a genuine 14-year-old with her worries and joys. This is a really neat little friendship story. Now I know the type of reader to booktalk it to . . . and I'm curious to read some of the other "Mates, Dates . . . " titles.

The reader did a nice job!

The Secret Language of Girls

by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Hennepin County Library audioCD 3:52
read by Michele Santopietro
genre: YA (very young!) chick lit

This book has the *coolest* image and title, but the story just doesn't deliver. I think the reader's voice didn't do justice to the characters, because I enjoyed it a bit more when I read the text in the print copy in my collection.

But the story just didn't work for me even though there were some neat girl moments . . . this would resonate for certain sixth grade girls. But the shifting between Marylin's, Kate's, and even Petey's perspective was disconcerting. The story seemed to shift abruptly from the start of school to Halloween to . . . It seemed more like a string of vignettes than a cohesive story.

I did like certain scenes (e.g. Marylin's first kiss and the disappointment that goes with it, Kate's friendship with Andrew) but it isn't one that I'll be able to enthusiastically booktalk with my students.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

by Jeff Kinney
PRMS hard cover, 217 pages
genre: YA humor

I'm torn. Greg is such a repulsive child - lazy, selfish, rude, etc. Yet these books are so delightfully written (with the exception of #2) that I really do enjoy reading them. There are moments of such pure honesty that Greg, Rowley, and their families are endearing. This summertime experience makes a fun read!

Deceived

by James Scott Bell
Hennepin County, paperback, 327 pages
genre: Christian mystery / adventure / relationships

This book had its good points and bad points. I don't like it when writers start by introducing a dozen different people in a handful of scenarios in the first ten pages. I actually made a "cheat sheet" to keep track of the characters and their situations. Arty is one of the most important characters in the story, even though he falls off a cliff in the first chapter and . . . well, no spoiler alerts here. Mac was my favorite character - I like how he kept working out his faith even when it was really hard. Our discussion tonight was good, but we were frustrated by a lot of unanswered questions.

What exactly happened when Liz pulled the trigger in the graveyard?
How did Mac's position with his daughter and ex finally turn out? (Did he actually just walk away from her and not seek to see her ever again?)
What happens with Rocky?

An enjoyable and action-packed enough book . . . I won't be seeking out this author's other titles.

Messenger

by Lois Lowry
PRMS paperback 169 pages
genre: YA SciFi

What a quick read! I love how it pulled The Giver and Gathering Blue together. I'm a bit disappointed in Lowry, however. The fact that Kira's world had changed so dramatically seems too simplistic. And the change coming over the Trade Mart and the people was never really explored. Matty's sacrifice was cryptic, but that fit with the rest of this intriguing series. Now I wish I had time to go back and re-read the other two. I wonder why Cina dislikes Gathering Blue so much???

The Dog Says How

by Kevin Kling
Carver County Library audiobook 3.75 hours
read by the author

Local playwright Kling has hit the jackpot with this collection of autobiographical stories. I had a good belly laugh on my way to work one morning. "Taxidermy with love" was one of my faves. Having three sons, a lot of the "guy" humor hit the mark for me. His voice is unique, and his tone comes through in both his writing and reading. Delightful storyteller! This one is a gem. The only thing I didn't like was his liberal use of the Lord's name in vain . . . it's always hard for me to hear that.

Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins
PRMS hardcover 391 pages
genre: YA adventure, futuristic, survival

Sequel to The Hunger Games, I can hardly wait for book three to come out this summer! I'm not going to write much about it, because I hate spoilers and I'm so thankful that none of my students spoiled this one for me. This was not predictable and the almost-400 pages felt far too short. What an engaging scenario Collins has created! It's both horrifying and fascinating. Reminiscent of Jackson's The Lottery, it has appealing characters in Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Cinna, and even Haymitch.

Skeleton Man

by Tony Hillerman
read by George Guidall
Carver County Library audiobook 6.5 hours
genre: mystery, adventure

Liked: . . . the reader's voice, the good guys won, some of the Grand Canyon & Hopi Indian info

Disliked: the repetitive storyline! Every time a new character was told the details of the plane, the diamonds, etc. it was like a joke - how many times does the author need to share the exact same info?! Also, who was the main character supposed to be? Leaphorn? He was hardly part of it at all. Jim Chee? Bernie? Joanna Craig? This just didn't work. It was pretty annoying.

Eggs

by Jerry Spinelli
PRMS paperback 220 pages
genre: YA, coming of age

This was a re-read for sixth grade book club at school. David and Primrose are unlikely friends, but they definitely connect in a meaningful way. My sixth graders really liked this - one said the nightcrawler scene was her favorite. David's mom has died; Primrose's mom is self-absorbed and emotionally stunted. The two of them work through some of their issues together with a mix of humor and sadness.

The Lost Symbol

by Dan Brown
my sister's copy, hardcover, 506 pages
genre: thriller, mystery, suspense

I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as The Da Vinci Code. There didn't seem to be a compelling reason for the CIA to behave the way it did (both initially, when they were draconian, and later when they were lenient). The "national disaster" seemed overwrought. The nasty gory stuff was interspersed with long diatribes about ancient mysticism and it just didn't work for me.
What did I like about it? The Washington D.C. lore - I love that city! It's gorgeous and I could spend weeks there, exploring its treasures. An interesting note about this book - really short chapters make it seem more like a "quick" read (133 chapters plus a prologue & an epilogue).

That said, I'll put other people's opinions in the comments below.

The Silent Gift

by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindy Kelley
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 362 pages
Christian / inspirational fiction

The best part about this book was Jodi's ranting and raving about how much she disliked it during our book club discussion. I wasn't quite so vehement, but it's one of the less cohesive stories I've read in a while.

Mary gives birth underwater after her husband has driven the car off the road and watches as it sinks. Jump eight years. Mary is a devoted mother to the deaf and mute Jack, but her husband Jerry is a mean, selfish, abusive jerk who can't stand either one of them. Travel through most of the midwest encountering rich people, scoundrels, governors, jail, a poor house with a psycho doctor, a circus, revenge plots, etc. Until you get to the end and Jack shares his insights from beyond the grave.

It wasn't a terrible book, but it was far from great. My favorite part? Listening to Jodi talk about how stupid it was. Now *that* was entertaining.

(This was originally & incorrectly posted in a different blog. I've altered today's post date of 8/23/11 to the original one.)

A Touch of Grace

by Lauraine Snelling
Hennepin County Library audioCD 11.5 hours
read by Stina Nielsen
historical fiction / Christian / romance

I cannot believe I even got this one! From the cover, it looked a lot like Janette Oke-style storytelling or one of those Amish romances that drive me nuts. But I did. And no matter how crazy it made me, I listened to the whole thing! Grrr. What a poor use of drive time.

Repetitive, over-wrought, and maddening. The narrator's voice was fantastic - she created the characters and related the story effectively. But the writing was . . . did I already say this? . . . repetitive!!! The exact same phrases were used as the main character, Grace, contemplated her feelings for Toby, suffered over whether or not her sister had forgiven her, and wondered about Jonathan's intentions.

Jonathan, his sister, and their spunky neighbor were my favorite characters. I liked the lack of swearing and crudity.

Skybreaker

by Kenneth Oppel
PRMS hardcover 544 pages
YA adventure with scifi / fantasy elements

Matt Cruse is once again off on an adventure with Kate de Vries. This time, they have banded with the arrogant Mr. Slater and the questionable Nadira.

Loved it! Fun, wonderful story!

The View From Saturday

by E.L. Konigsburg
PRMS paperback 163 pages
YA relationships

I re-read this to jog my memory and decide to whom and how to recommend it. Four sixth graders tell their piece of an overlapping story as their teacher, paraplegic Mrs. Olinski, keeps us up to date on how these four became an academic team that called themselves "The Four Souls."

An enjoyable story, but it's definitely for a younger mature reader (young in years; mature in reading ability). These are four intelligent, articulate youngsters. My favorite part of the book was the current academic challenge competitions, not the reflections upon their past lives.

H.I.V.E.

by Mark Walden
PRMS paperback 309 pages
YA / action

The Higher Institute of Villainous Education has abducted some of the brightest and most evil-prone children on the planet. The purpose of the school is to provide villain training. Some of the children, led by Otto Malpense, want to escape HIVE's island location and regain control over their own lives.

This story was enjoyable, but mostly predictable. It reminded me of a cross between Artemis Fowl and Alex Rider. My favorite character was Wing Fanchu - it will be interesting to hear more of his story in the next book. I'm also curious about the identity and motives of "Number One."

Get Out of that Pit

by Beth Moore
Carver County audioCD
read by the author
subtitled "Straight Talk about God's Deliverance"

I usually really enjoy Beth Moore's teaching, but this one didn't connect for me. I thought about sharing it with Ann, but that might be a bit much for her. I liked her down-to-earth conversational style, though she talked really darn fast. I like her illustrations. I thought about any "pits" I might be living in, but couldn't relate too much. She's great at encouraging, though, and I appreciate that about her.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Hennepin County Library, hard cover, 308 pages

What a fascinating book! I heard about it on Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog, and am so very glad I got it. These brothers have studied why some ideas (like urban legends and good marketing campaigns) "stick" in people's memory and why other ideas don't (like so much of what is shared in businesses, classrooms, etc.!).

Sticky ideas follow the "SUCCESs" checklist: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional Stories. I'll recommend this one to my principal. I'd love to see this as an all-school read (the way Sue had us do at NP). Fascinating book!

The Dive from Clausen's Pier

by Ann Packer
Dakota County Library, hard cover, 370 pages

Carrie Bell has been ambivalent about her relationship with Mike, her job, her future . . . and then a group of friends picnic up at Clausen's Pier. When Mike dives in, he breaks his neck in the shallow water. Now Carrie's dilemma gets even tougher.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. There was enough to pull me along to see what happened next. At the conclusion, though, I was disappointed. Carrie didn't seem to grow or change as a character at all. She didn't seem to ever figure out what she really wants out of life. She just went along, drifting from one situation to the next, hurting others and apologizing profusely.

I look forward to the book club discussion, but don't know how I'd rate this book. At times, it was quite engaging.

The Last Olympian

by Rick Riordan
PRMS, hardcover, ? pages

Wow. This series just got better and better with each book. I really enjoyed this conclusion to the story as the Olympians and the Titans do battle. Percy has grown and matured, other characters' storylines and futures are more thoroughly dealt with, mysteries are woven and unwoven. Delightful!

Never Sniff a Gift Fish

by Patrick F. McManus
Carver County Library, audioCD, ~6 hours
narrated by Norman Dietz

This humorous look at sportsmen's lives was more fun than I expected. I can't believe I've had it sitting around so long (at least one renewal so far). My dad will enjoy this title! It pokes fun at hunting, fishing, men, their wives, etc. Dietz's voice is perfect for this title.

Persuasion

by Jane Austen
home, hardcover, 116 pages

Anne Elliot is not nearly as likable as Elizabeth Bennett, but I enjoyed this story anyway. Reading too much of this type of fiction makes me impatient and bored with the idle rich. Yet at the same time, the excellent manners and restrained passions are intriguing. Mrs. Russell's interference prevented me from appreciating much of anything about her.
There are two Austen works I've not yet read, but here's the order of preference so far:
Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility
Persuasion
Emma

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.

 

<Above posted 11.10.2009. Below added 1.28.2025.>

 

Libby audiobook / read by Katherine Kellgren

Libby eBook 

 

I listened to this book to "finish" the series. I don't plan to re-read the prequel . . . I vaguely remember disliking it and feeling that it didn't set up the City of Ember trilogy very well. (Also, why is Book 3 the prequel and Book 4 the storyline that follows Book 2?)

 

After I had listened to almost half of this, I had to get an ecopy to finish reading. Why? 

 

Because the part where Doon was forced to help Trogg and his family find things in the deserted city made me so frustrated. I understand that for people who can't read, books just seem like handy fuel for fires. But to smash things and trash rooms is so very short-sighted. You're already living in a post-disaster world where resources are scarce. Why wouldn't you be careful in case something is needed in the future? 

 

Chapter 16: "He's old, and it's hard to be happy when you're old."

 

Maggs answers Lina's comment about the horse Happy not looking very happy with this comment after saying "he used to be happy." Ouch! I want to grow old AND be joyful.

Chapter  26: "Edward became known to the roamers in the area as someone who would buy books of almost any kind. After a roamer's visit, the library was sometimes actually crowded with people stopping in to see what was new."

Yay for libraries and the people who curate them!

Chapter 27: "'You know, son, I don't think there's such a thing as an easy life. There's always going to be hard work, and there will always be misfortunes we can't control lurking out at the edges - storms, sickness, wolves. But there is such a thing as a good life, and I think we have one here.'"

I really liked Doon's father, Loris Harrow, and wished he'd been a more prominent character throughout the stories.

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.