Monday, April 30, 2012
Tintin in America
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Mysterious Benedict Society
PRMS hardcover 485 pages
genre: mystery adventure
What an interesting story! This would be a wonderful title for LAX 6, but not the fantasy title we were seeking. Four children "pass" a strange series of tests that bring them to Mr. Benedict. Full of clever wordplay and strange situations, this book is absolutely delightful! I love how it is smart, but not too mature in content. It can be so hard to find books for excellent young readers. Stewart has a hit here. I may have to read books 2 and 3 now . . .
Friday, April 27, 2012
The Magician of Hoad
The Disappearing Spoon
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Cloud Searchers
by Kazu Kibuishi
PRMS hardcover 198 pages
genre: YA fantasy adventure graphic novel
I am really enjoying this series! I love the scene in the bar (reminiscent of the Star Wars cantina scene) and the new aspects of Prince Trellis. Looking forward to book four.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Tale of Despereaux
PRMS paperback 280 pages
genre: children's fantasy
I thought I had read this before, but I was just mixing it up with Edward Tulane. Lovely story of a small mouse with big ears who falls in love with a princess.
A student had donated a book and I was looking forward to collecting more copies for the sixth grade book / movie unit. When I looked at the donated copy, though, I noticed the words "junior novelization." Sure enough, after DiCamillo's book was made into a movie, someone else made a book of the movie . . . and changed the story too much for me. Instead of opening with Despereaux, the novelization opens with The Rat (Roscuro) and a sailor named Pietro. Sigh. This is one GONE book!
The original tale is quaint and sweet. It's a bit on the young side, but that makes sense. Her intended audience was not my middle school kids.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Dewey the Small-town Library Cat Who Touched the World
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
read by Suzanne Toren
genre: memoir, animals
I finally broke down and got the audio version, even though I own the paperback. I spend too much time in my car to not use that time to get more "reading" done. Overall, I really enjoyed this book by Vicki Myron. She intertwines her life story with that of Dewey Readmore Books, who was left in the book return on a frigid night.
I guess I'm just a library nerd. This appeals to me in that I love books and libraries, too.
The Red Pyramid
Kane Chronicles 1
PRMS paperback 516 pages
genre: fantasy / mythology adventure
Carter and Sadie are siblings being raised apart. Egyptian mythology, good vs. evil, Sadie is younger but also bolder. Their uncle Amos. Goddess Bast. Lots of fighting and travel portals.
Good, but I'm too tired to blog.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Amulet:: The Stonekeeper's Curse (book two)
PRMS hardcover 217 pages
genre: YA graphic novel fantasy
I am really enjoying this series! Not sure why it has taken me so long to read more of it. The surprising thing in this volume is that the elves are the bad guys! I didn't realize in book one that they were elves. Now I'm very curious about the elven prince and his role in the story. I love the fox character and am glad that Emily's mom is okay.
Of Mice and Men
CMSE hardcover 107 pages
genre: classic American literature, historical fiction, relationships
I hadn't read this in over twenty years and had recommended it to David C. (who had to read a classic American work and does NOT like to read). I think he ended up going with Fahrenheit 451. I had forgotten how much swearing and slang was in this short little book (more like a novella than a true novel). Perhaps its length is what made so many English teachers choose it for high school students to read - at least it's short!
I loved seeing the way the different men communicate with one another. George and Lennie have such a simple yet profound relationship. Slim is my absolute favorite. I wish Lennie had been able to have a stuffed animal or a fur coat to fulfill his desire to pet something soft . . .
Monday, April 09, 2012
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
PRMS hardcover 530 pages
genre: YA historical fiction
This was a re-read so that I had the story fresh in my mind when I watched Hugo. Lovely story. I actually liked the movie a lot, although it deviated from Selznick's book a fair amount. I loved learning about Georges Melies (the first time I read this) and seeing how his life story came to life. Wonderful. Glad I could share it with Louie!
The Puzzling World of Winston Breen
Carver County Library kit book paperback 209 pages plus answers
genre: YA mystery
Loved it! Most of the mysteries were pretty easy to figure out. I wonder if the kids saw the note at the front of the book that you could go online to print out the puzzles. This will be fun to talk about. The wooden puzzle pieces, the town's history, the hidden treasure . . . all added up to a wonderful book in the same vein as The Westing Game. Good stuff!
Melonhead
Carver County book-club-in-a-kit paperback 210 pages
genre: children's humor
It will be interesting to hear the kids' opinions (6th grade book club). I thought it was too "young" and not terribly funny. I liked how very "boy" Melonhead was - not really thinking about the consequences of his actions. I also liked that he and his friends weren't malicious (or even mischievous in a Dennis the Menace sense) but they were definitely getting into a lot of trouble. I marked a few spots to bring up at our discussion. Their rhyming name game was also kind of cute.
Hunger Games (US magazine)
PRMS paperback 72 pages
genre: movie fandom
Lots of pics, interviews, etc. Interesting.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Odd Hours
read by David Aaron Baker
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 7 discs
genre: paranormal mystery
Another wonderful Odd Thomas story! Odd is drawn to a coastal town, but he isn't sure why. Now that Elvis has moved on, Frank Sinatra is showing up regularly in Odd's life (as is Boo, one of the rare dog ghosts). Odd thwarts a nuclear terror plot, but encounters many interesting characters along the way. And he uses a gun! Anna Maria is strange, but since she leaves the town with Odd at the end of the story, I'm sure we'll get to know more about her in the next story.
To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
artwork by Mark Siegel
PRMS hardcover unpaged
genre: graphic novel memoir
Wonderful! I have tried ordering this many times, but it has not shipped to me until now. (Thank you, Amazon!) Siena shares her lifelong love of dance, her parents' divorce, and her decision to move in a different direction as an adult. Her husband illustrates her story beautifully. Dance lovers will definitely enjoy this well-told story.
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat
art by Jonathan Bean
Carver County Library hardcover 346 pages
genre: YA fantasy, mystery
A sixth grader recommended this book for book club, but I don't have access to many copies. I enjoyed it, but am not sure how it would appeal to boys. Emmy is a nice girl, but no one seems to notice her except her evil nanny Miss Barmy. Emmy can hear the class rat talk, though no one else seems to until one day when Joe says something to her about it.
Full of adventure and rodents who have amazing powers, this was a delightful book. I believe I've met the author before. It might be fun to have her come and visit someday.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Brain Camp
PRMS paperback 151 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, SciFi
Subtitled "A summer at Camp Fielding will really change you," I'm glad I finally read this book. Weird, fun, interesting. Jenna is unusual in her family of overachievers. Lucas is on his way to being just like his father - a criminal in jail. When they are sent to Camp Fielding they quickly realize that something strange is going on.
Creepy, fun, and a little bit romantic (though Lucas' wet dream is a bit TMI . . . not sure middle school readers will "get" it), this is a good read. The storyline and artwork work well together to communicate a middle school mystery.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Same Kind of Different as Me
by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent
Hennepin County Library hardcover 235 pages
genre: true life story
subtitled: a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together
Amazing. Absolutely incredible story told in alternating chapters between Ron Hall (the art dealer) and Denver Moore (the black homeless man). This book had SO much going on that I want to own a copy. I love the life lessons that Ron learned. I cried. It is a beautiful book. Everyone in book club today enjoyed it. Excellent read!
<Above posted 3.26.2012. Below added 12.08.2020.>
I thought about buying a copy of this to own, but decided to re-read a library copy instead. (I've been trying to decrease my possessions . . . ) This is truly an amazing story.
The pieces of Denver's story told in his youth in Louisiana really struck me. The time three white teenagers roped him and dragged him because he was helping a white woman change the tire on her car. Why didn't she speak up?! And seeing the house burn with his grandma inside, not being able to wake her up. How awful!
There are so many times that Ron's attitude and language bug me, but I appreciate that he is honest about his own skewed perspective. And I love the truth of what believers can do - share their own story. Amen! On page 61, I loved this observation:
Looking back now, I mourn the mutual wounds inflicted in verbal battles with the "unsaved." In fact, I have chosen to delete that particular term from my vocabulary as I have learned that even with my $500 European-designer bifocals, I cannot see into a person's heart to know his spiritual condition. All I can do is tell the jagged tale of my own spiritual journey and declare that my life has been the better for having followed Christ.
All of Debbie's cancer journey was so very hard to read . . . the pain, the faith, the prayers, and the challenges. I loved how God spoke to and through Denver throughout this journey.
Page 143 has an example of Deborah's faithfulness. What an amazing woman!
"Let's praise God," she said.
"For what?" I thought without saying it.
"Let's forget what he (the doctor) said about only living one year, and let's just trust God," she told me. "Dr. Goldstein is just a doctor. We serve the living God, who knows our number of days. I intend to fulfill each one of mine."
There was some humor mixed in, mostly from Denver's perspective. At a fancy dinner honoring their work with the homeless, Denver made this observation (page 200-1).
When the food come, I took my cloth napkin and put it on my lap. And I kept a eye on Mr. Ron to make sure I was usin the right fork. I had learned by then that rich white folks got a lotta rules 'bout forks. I still ain't figured out why they got to use three or four different ones and make a lotta extra work for the folks in the kitchen.
Page 211 at Deborah's funeral from Denver's perspective (my bolding):
Then I felt like the Lord had given me a word for the people that was gathered there. And when the Lord say "speak," ain't much you can do but get up, open your mouth, and see what comes out.
Here's what come out that day: "Miss Debbie was a close enough friend a' mine that I prayed and prayed for her, day and night - even to the point of offerin God life for life. 'Let me go in,' I said to Him. 'Let her stay here, 'cause she more worthy than me to stay here on this earth, and I would be better off to go on up to heaven 'cause I ain't had no kinda luck down here.'"
Finally, on page 230, Ron's humble honesty resonates with me.
The pain of losing Deborah still brings tears. And I cannot mask my profound disappointment that God did not answer yes to our prayers for healing. I think He's okay with that. One of the phrases we evangelicals like to throw around is that Christianity is "not a religion; it's a relationship." I believe that, which is why I know that when my faith was shattered and I raged against Him, He still accepted me. And even though I have penciled a black mark in His column, I can be honest about it. That's what a relationship is about.
After re-reading this, I went online to "catch up" with these people. Ron Hall has remarried. Denver died in 2012. Ron's and Debbie's kids have families and careers of their own. Life goes on. God is good.
A Sound Among the Trees
Hennepin County Library paperback 324 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
Marielle marries Carson knowing about his dead wife, two wonderful children, and the historic home in Fredericksburg where his grandmother-in-law Adelaide resides. But she has no idea the stories that have become engrained in people's minds about the house, Adelaide's great-grandmother Susannah, and the potential for ghosts and spirits to continue wreaking havoc on the lives of those who live at Holly Oak.
I enjoyed this story and look forward to tonight's book club discussion. My favorites were the old letters Susannah wrote during the Civil War and Caroline's impact on modern-day events. I didn't like the eerie house-is-haunted nonsense. Some people!
