Sophia's War / Avi / 302 pages

Twelve year old Sophia Calderwood lives in British occupied New York City in 1776.  Her family supports the cause of the rebels, and her beloved older brother William dies as a prisoner of war from the horrid, horrid conditions of the British prisons.  The Calderwood family must share their home with the dashing and charming British soldier John Andre who colludes with the traitor Benedict Arnold.  Three years later Sophia avenges her brother's death when she becomes a spy for the Americans and exposes the treachery.  Avi uses the fictional character of Sophia along with the historically accurate story of John Andre and Benedict Arnold to illustrate the horrors of war, the divided loyalties, what it's like to live in occupied territory, and the personal costs of freedom.  Young readers in grades 5-8 will gain a good understanding what it must have been like in 1776-1780.  In an author's note, Avi states, "History provides endlessly amazing stories. Historical fiction, I believe, can illuminate those stories with the ordinary people who make extraordinary history.  Or let me put it this way:  Truth may be stranger than fiction, but fiction makes truth a friend, not a stranger."

The Fault in Our Stars/ John Green/ 313 pages

Hazel has cancer that forces her to live with a breathing machine.  Her mom convinces her to go to a support group to get out and meet other people.  It turns out she does make some friends there, but as you can get this a sad story.  Although, the teens in it are witty and great, which makes it worth the saddness. 

The Book Thief/ Markus Zusak/ 550 pages

I read this book for book club and loved it.  This story is told by Death and it tells the life of Liesel an adopted girl during WWII Germany.  It's a love story, a family drama, and a history lesson full of characters that you will love.

Where the Red Fern Grows / Wilson Rawls 212 p.

Hunting dogs are Billy's biggest desire; so much so, that he takes on any and every kind of job for two years to earn the money for two pups, Old Dan and Little Ann, which he trains to be the finest hunting team in the valley in this heartwarming coming of age tale of a boy growing up in the Ozarks.  Warning: a tearjerker ending.

Appeal:  Character-driven, Fast-paced, Haunting, Homespun, Moving, Strong sense of place

Decades Books: 1960

Soulbound / Heather Brewer / 394 pages

Soulbound is the first book in the Legacy of Tril series.  It features a strong feisty 16 year old female character, Kaya, who though born a Healer wants to learn to fight and protect herself though that is a right reserved to Barrons.  Brewer creates a strong fantasy world that is threatened by Graplars and the evil King Darrek.  There's a touch of romance, thwarting of authority, plenty of edge of your seat action, and a cliff-hanger ending.  The author makes good use of descriptive language...I got really, really hungry for crispy bacon and I definitely want to avoid Graplar drool.  A fun, page-turning read sure to be enjoyed by grades 6-9.

One Year in Coal Harbor / Polly Horvath / 216 pages

One Year in Coal Harbor is a companion book to Horvath's Everything on a Waffle.  It is a delightful story, funny but thought-provoking.  Primrose Squarp is a feisty 12 year old girl who wants to have a best friend, has a cast of quirky adult friends, plays matchmaker for her Uncle Jack and Miss Bowzer, helps to save a mountain from loggers, forms a close relationship with a foster kid named Ked, and loves to cook.  She and Ked are working on a cookbook they decide to title:  Just Throw Some Melted Butter on It and Call It a Day.  This is one of those books that is laugh out loud funny but also has these nuggets of wisdom about life and relationships.  All in all a great read.  Recommended for grades 5-7.

To Heaven and Back / Mary Neal / 222 pages

This is the true story of a near death experience and Mary Neal's life and her religious experience and beliefs.  She grew up fairly religious,  ie:  mainstream protestant.  The biggest problem that changed her world as a child was her parents divorce.  She didn't see it coming.
Eventually her mom and dad both remarried.  Throughout her life, she sees how God is guiding her and she stays quite aware and gains even from bad experiences.

She became a spine surgeon and also married a surgeon which accounts for them living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and being able to ski and do sports all over the world.  Hence, her kayak accident in Chile.  (note to self - kayaking waterfalls not good idea)  Anyway, her story is fascinating not only from a religious and near death aspect, but from the very different kind of life she has had from me. 

She had actually finished writing the book when her son died in an accident so she continued the book with her dealing with his death.  This too, is valuable.  She also has a website as does her son (memorial website).  He was very into the environment and it's for donations and information.  www.wnealenvirofund.org  and   http://drmaryneal.com  . 
She is the real deal and worth reading.

Highlander for the Holidays / Janet Chapman / 344 pages / R. T. Reviewer's Choice Award

"Healing one's self is nearly impossible - and far less rewarding - compared to the magic that's created when two souls combine their strengths and heal together."  Jessie Pringle has horrifying flashbacks to the night her husband was killed and she was terribly injured during a break-in and alleged burglary attempt.  She has a service dog, Tobias, who senses when an attack of flashback will occur and gets her to a safe place until the attack subsides.  She decides to move to Pine Creek, Maine to start her life again and have her attacks in relative seclusion.  Her first night in town, she meets Ian MacKeage, heir to Tar-Stone, who will forever change her life...and his own!  This story is a most delightful read - heartwarming, tender, clever, filled with manly men and women strong enough to tame them.

Running Out of Time / Margaret Peterson Haddix / 184 pages

Richard Peck said that "If Ray Bradbury had written The Giver, the result might rival Margaret Peterson Haddix's Running Out of Time."  Jessie lives with her family in the frontier village of Clifton, Indiana.  When diphtheria strikes the village and children start dying, Jessie's mother reveals a horrifying secret.  The year is not 1837, but 1996.  Clifton was designed as a living history site similar to colonial Williamsburg, but whereas the people in Williamsburg were actors role-playing and returning to their twentieth century homes each evening, the residents of Clifton think the year was really 1837 and live accordingly.  Originally children were to be told the secret when they reached their twelfth birthday and given the option to remain in time-frozen Clifton or leave for the modern world.  That option is no longer offered.  Jessie's mother sends her outside Clifton to secure medicine to stop the diphtheria epidemic.  Great comparisons between the 1880's and the twentieth century and Jessie's reactions to the many modern changes make Running Out of Time an interesting and entertaining read.

Mr. Popper's Penguins / Richard and Florence Atwater / 138 pages

Mr. Popper would love to be an Antarctic explorer.  He watches Admiral Drake on the telly and believes him to be a true hero as he explores Antarctica and its penguins.  In response to a fan letter, the admiral sends Mr. Popper a penguin. Although the family has little money, Mr. Popper remodels his family home to accommodate his penguins - yes plural!  He trains the penguins and they become a much sought after act.  Mr. Popper puts the penguins' welfare ahead of monetary reward.  This unforgettable classic invites readers to imagine, dream, and believe that anything is possible.  (I could never be as supportive as Mrs. Popper.)

Casual Vacancy / J. K. Rowling / 503 pages

"A casual vacancy is deemed to have occurred:  when a local councillor fails to make his declaration of acceptance of office within the proper time; or...on the day of his death."  When councillor Barry Fairbrother dies of an aneurysm, his seat is sought after by three rivals - Miles Mollison, Simon Price, and Colin Wall.  Barry was a supporter of maintaining Pagford support of The Fields; others want to see The Fields ceded to Yarvil.  Although Pagford appears to be an idyllic English town, it is, in fact, a town at war.  Andrew Price, a teenager, is determined to sabotage his father's council bid by hacking into the council website and exposing his father's dishonesty (but not his tendency to invoke physical terror and ritual humiliation) writing as "The Ghost of Barry Fairbrother".  "This ugly act of filial disloyalty had sprung from the primordial soup of anger, frustration, and fear that had slopped inside him all his rational life."  He is not alone in his anger, frustration, or fear.  His friend, Fats - the principal's son, envies the fact that  what Andrew has done is "ingenious and potentially explosive in its consequences."  Could he do the same?  Although the Harry Potter books have not yet stood the test of time, it is generally accepted that they will become classics in Children's Literature, not so J. K.  Rowling's first venture into writing for adults....I found Casual Vacancy to be a huge disappointment...It is depressing and, hopefully, unrealistically depraved.

Kept in the Dark / Penny Hancock / 340 pages

I was disappointed with Kept in the Dark.  Although the cover recommendations would lead one to believe it would be fraught with suspense and difficult to put down, I must admit I did not find it so.  I just thought it sad.  Sonia has kidnapped young fifteen year old Jezas as he comes to her river house to borrow one of her husband's records.  She imprisons him and perhaps uses him as a substitute for her dead brother.

The Perfect Hope/Nora Roberts/324 pgs.

This is the 3rd book in the "Inn Boonsboro Trilogy." This is Hope Beaumont and Ryder Montgomery's story. I'm a big Nora Roberts fan, but I don't feel this is one of her best efforts. Maybe it's because I didn't really like Ryder, and couldn't see him ending up with Hope. Anyway, the mystery of Inn BoonsBoro's resident ghost, Lizzy, is also solved. A so-so conclusion to an otherwise entertaining trilogy.

Twelve Days/Teresa Hill/254 pages

Sam and Rachel McRae got married over a decade ago. Their dreams for a family have never materialized. One child born too early, a couple of failed adoption attempts and finally one foster child taken from them when his mother became legally able to take him back have broken their spirit. Rachel has fallen into a deep depression, rarely leaving their home. Sam has begun to make plans to leave her right after Christmas. Then Miriam, Rachel's aunt and a placement worker, brings them three children who were left by their mother in a motel room twelve days before Christmas.

This was a "Free Friday" selection on my Nook. It's a sappy romance novel with lessons in forgiveness. In other words, perfect reading for the holiday season.

RITA Finalist

Summer of the Gypsy Moths / Sara Pennypacker / 275 pages

I could not stop reading this wonderful book.  It is the story of two 12 year old girls who begin as oil and water and become best of friends one summer in Cape Cod.  Pennypacker fills the story with humor, courage, poignancy, longing, darkness and light.  Stella, a devotee of Heloise Hints, longs for order, connections and continuity in her life as she struggles with an irresponsible, immature mother who abandons her multiple times.  Angel whose mother was killed in an accident and whose father drowns after giving away his safety suit to someone else, struggles with anger, destiny or fado, and mistrust.  Sounds depressing but it's not; it's totally uplifting.  The girls manage to survive for four weeks on their own (after burying Great Aunt Louise in the garden), taking care of a cottage colony near the beach, and learn to depend on each other.  Highly recommended....it's a Newbery contender.  Great for readers in grades 4-6.

We've Got a Job: the 1963 Birmingham Children's March / Cynthia Levinson /156 pages

This is a wonderful book...beautifully designed, powerfully written, and thematically important.  Nearly every page has a large black and white photo that helps to tell the story as much as the text that with plenty of leading makes the story very approachable.   Levinson sets the story of four young and very different African Americans ages 9 to 15 against the larger backdrop of the Civil Rights movement in the deeply segregated city of Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.  In We've Got a Job, readers discover that it was the students of Birmingham who marched, were hosed, bitten by dogs, and arrested that brought the struggle for freedom to the eyes and ears of the entire nation.  Historical figures including Rev Fred Shuttleworth, Rev Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Shores, Bull Connor, and Sidney Smyer are included.  The author provides the broader story of how both blacks and whites reacted to what was happening in their town.  Well documented, primary resources, great bibliography and extensive index are included.  Fascinating and thoughtful reading.  It will make you believe in the power of one person, even a child, to change everything.  Grades 5-10.

Just for Fun...

I have no real reason to post this, but I was reading "Ramona the Pest" last night to my two girls and I came across this picture.  It reminded me how much I loved the Illustrations of the Ramona books when I was little.  Its a shame that the publishers have to change Illustrators when they reissue a book;  I also miss Garth Willimas' illustrations in the "Little House" books. 

Z is for Zombie: An Illustrated Guide to the End of the World / Adam-Troy Castro / 52 pgs / Zombie Challenge

Yes, I read this for the points.  It's a very quick alphabet book that would make for a cool Christmas gag gift.  The illustrations are funny and gross; (for example there is a picture of a Zombie eating brains from a skull) and each letter entry somehow relate back to Zombies.  My favorite letter is "J" for "Just a few Random Survivors" as the essay talks about how in most stories the protagonist ends up with a group of survivors who all have awesome skills and special training like a 'super special black ops CIA agent' or a 'Rambo-esque killing machine'; but in reality you'll probably end up with "a mobile phone salesman, a zither player, a sommelier, and a guy who knows the world is ending but still can't stop talking about his favorite Star Trek episode".      

Judy Moody Gets Famous / Megan McDonald / 126 p

Another book that I finshed with my kids.  They really like Judy Moody since they saw the Judy Moody movie this past summer.  Yey!  Books made into Movies so kids will want to REad the Book!!!

In this one, Judy tries several things to get herself into the newspapers and hence be famous.  In the end she learns that some of the best accomplishements are not always noticed and published in the papers.  A good lesson and a fun story to read.

Walking Dead Vol. 4: Heart's Desire / Robert Kirkman / 200 pgs. / ZOMBIE CHALLENGE

A newcomer joins the and stirs up the group dynamics.  Leadership roles are challenged and shaken up.  This story arc also really focuses on the relationships between the characters and their feelings of love, respect, hate, jealousy, sorrow, community, and more. 

Walking Dead #3: Safety Behind Bars / Robert Kirkman / 200 pgs. / ZOMBIE CHALLENGE

In this volume the ragged band of survivors leave their campsite and move into an abandon prison.  They find that the prison has just about everything they will need to survive for the next few years: food, shelter, running water, etc. but will they be able to get along with their new neighbors, the surviving inmates that have already claimed the prison as their home?  It also asks the question who can be more dangerous: Humans or Zombies?

Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk / Megan McDonald / 145 pages / November Challenge Zombies

Judy Moody's little brother, Stink, and his friend, Webster, are definitely into zombies.  They eat brain-shaped suckers, zombie zits, and candy scabs, play zombie games, and play with monster-turned-zombie dolls made by Stink's grandmother.  They want to attend the Midnight Zombie Walk sponsored by a local bookstore.  To attend they must purchase a copy of Nightmare on Zombie Street, Book Five, so they have to raise $25.98.  Their school, Virginia Dare Elementary, is having a Read to Your Zombie Day to reach their goal of reading one million minutes.  This is pure fun and features zombies factoid pages!  Did you know they have Zombie Walks all over the world?

Beautiful Ruins / Jess Walter / 337 pages

Pasquale Tursi inherits a small hotel in a remote Italian coastline village of Porto Vergogna.  Although the village is accessible only by boat, Pasquale has the dream to turn the village into a resort that attracts Americans.  An American actress, Dee Moray does show up in the village and so the story begins.  With a colorful cast of characters, Beautiful Ruins tells the story of how what happens in 1962 turns out in 2012.  Believe it or not, the debauched Richard Burton (once called Beautiful Ruins) plays an important role in the book.  The author weaves together the innocence of a young Italian, the naivete of a young actress, the machinations of a Hollywood studio troubleshooter, and the hopes and dreams of a young filmmaker into a complex web of story and discovery of what is important and the motives of people.  Not exactly my cup of tea but well-written for those who like character-driven novels.

Marvel Zombie Return / Fred Van Lente / 155 pages / November Challenge Zombies

I haven't read a comic book since I was a kid...and that was a lon-n-ng time ago!  It will be just as long until I read one again.  Although the artwork was stunning, the text was just too gruesome.  (Actually the artwork was pretty gruesome, too!)  The Super Heroes have been turned into zombies and are trapped in an alternative universe.  Spiderman Zombie escapes, has lost his powers, and so uses zombie appetite to defeat the bad guys.

Dog on it: a Chet & Bernie mystery / Spencer Quinn / 305 pages

This is the first in the series about Chet (the would be police dog who was booted out of the academy) and Bernie (a frumpy private investigator).  The story is told from the point of view of the dog and it's quite amusing.  Bernie & Chet are called to find a young girl from a broken home who is missing.  Everyone except Bernie & Chet think Madison took off on her own.  Chet figures out the kidnapping a lot sooner than his owner but Bernie, with Chet's help, does save the day.  The mystery is mild, the characters endearing, and dog lovers would certainly want to continue reading the series.

The Dead / Charlie Higson / 485 pages / November Challenge Zombies

This second book in The Enemy trilogy is actually a prequel to book 2 and gives the backstory, or events at the beginning of the apocalyptic disease that struck everyone over 16, either killing them or causing them to become zombies with pustulant skin and an insatiable desire for human flesh.  "The world was falling apart and people couldn't see outside the little boxes they'd lived in all their lives."  Ed, Jack, Bam, and other students at prestigious Rowhurst School realize it is time to escape.  On their way to London, they are rescued by a seemingly healthy adult driving a bus.  Unfortunately, Greg doesn't remain healthy and the kids must again run for their lives.

"What was the point of survival if you became an animal?"

"Books were a gateway into an alternative universe.  They were magic.  A book could hold anything inside it."

"Clever beats strong every time."

He was not really alone.  "He had books for company, and to him they were living, breathing things.  The writers were there among the book stacks with him, like friendly spirits.  Whenever he opened a book and read the words hidden inside it, he was waking a ghost, and the ghost would talk directly to him.  The long-dead writer would come alive."

"If we want to survive, we need knowledge.  And books contain knowledge.  Trust me.  Books will save our lives just as much as weapons."

Ines of My Soul / Isabel Allende 321 p.

Learning of the death of her husband after she arrives in South America, Inés Suárez begins a fiery love affair with Pedro de Valdivia, field marshal to Francisco Pizarro as the Spanish of the 17th century conquer the native Indians and settle Chile.

Appeal factors: historical fiction, character-driven, realistic portrayal principal characters, strong sense of place, romantic, slow paced, first person narrative, and disturbing (for treatment of native population).
Continents Books: South America
Australian Book Industry Awards: Book of the Year

Dead Man's Song / Jonathan Maberry / 508 pages / November Challenge Zombies

Jacob Troutman, one of Pine Deep, Pennsylvania's farmers, said, "If I was a superstitious man,...I'd think this town was cursed.  We have more plagues than Egypt ever saw during Moses' time." ...and he was only referring to the blights and diseases that struck the crops bringing economic disaster to farms, families, and the town itself.  An epic battle between the forces of good and evil that began in Ghost Road Blues continues, as Ubel Griswold, the Bone Man - Oren Morse, Karl Ruger, et al resurrect to wreck havoc and murder on the good citizens of Pine Deep.  If you read and enjoy Stephen King and/or Dean Koontz, Jonathan Maberry is guaranteed to whet your appetite for terror, and feed your passion for monsters, things that go bump in the night, and the tireless, timeless efforts of a few good men...and women to defeat them.  Oh yeah...Our heroe's favorite drink is Yoo-Hoo!

"Worlds turn on moments."

Grampa's Zombie BBQ / Kirk Scroggs / 106 pages / November Challenge Zombies

"Kirk Scroggs is making a name for himself as a fun-loving author of monstrous distinction.  His "Wiley and Gramps's Creature Features are entertaining, quick-witted, funny, and sure to please."  One day,Wiley is disappointed in the school cafeteria food and invites everyone to his grandfather's annual BBQ.  Unfortunately, the guest list swells when the undead (zombies) rise hungry for bar-b-que.  At first this is not all bad...after all, who gets to dine with Wild Bill Hickok and his wife?  Other guests include Hans Lotion and his grandson Jergens, Heck's Angels, and Vera, the lunch lady, who has brought a killer borscht.  Wiley brarricades the door with his grandma's collection of romance novels.  The zombies are afraid of...
Fun!  Fun!  Fun!

Dawn of the Dreadfuls / Steve Hockensmith / 287 pages / November Challenge Zombies

This was an absolutely delightful audio book.  Katherine Kellgren did an outstanding job with voices, English accents, and Ninja warrior screams.  Zombies aside, it was the story of four well-bred English sisters turned zombie slayers.  Filled with ill-fated romance,  it includes a reverend who is so frazzled by events at hand that her reads notes from the editor, the table of contents, and footnotes from the Bible instead of appropriate passages.  We meet Elizabeth Bennet who continues in Pride, Prejedice, and Zombies.

Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie / Bill Boyle / 104 pages / November Challenge Zombies

This fun Stepping Stone Chapter Book is a delightfully unbelievable...come on...a shark-headed zombie?  This unbelievability makes it safe...not too scary.  Cousins and best friends, Henry and Keats, take a job with Archibald Cigam doing odd jobs to earn money to replace the bikes they lost doing one of Henry's World Greatest Plans, riding down Steep Cliff Hill.  The jobs they do for Cigam are definitely odd...and dangerous!

This Is Not a Test / Courtney Summers / 326 pages / November Challenge Zombies

How is it possible that Sloane Price looks better now than she did before the end of the world, before the zombies came?  She had decided to commit suicide.  Her mother is dead; her sister, Lily, is gone; and her dad beats her.  She doesn't want to live, and yet here she is fighting for survival with six other high school students who have barricaded themselves into Cortege High School. Somehow a teacher, Mr. Baxter, gets into the school.  Has he turend?  What are they going to do with him?  The radio says survivors are gathering in Raytown.  Should they risk the journey?  Is Lily back?  This is a very suspense-filled YA read.  The ending, however, left something to be desired.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies!, a Book of Zombie Christmas Carols / Michael P. Spradlin / 81 pages / November Challenge Zombies

Thanks goodness my husband is out of town!!  I would have been embarassed if he has heard me singing this book of Christmas carols.  (It's the only way to read this book!)  Christopher Moore, author of The Stupidest Angel, said, "It is universally acknowledged that there are few literary pursuits which can not be improved by the addition of zombies, which are to the written word as cheesy goldfish crackers are to life in general..."  I don't believe, however, that this book will become a Christmas classic.

The Outsiders / S. E. Hinton / 188 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Pony Boy is a greaser, but he is not a hood.  The greasers are at war with the soc's (Socials).  Soc's are privileged, wealthy, spoiled, and, in some cases, mean.  They are always picking fights that sometimes result in rumbles.  In a scuffle, Pony Boy's friend Johnny, kills a soc.  They go on the run; hide out in a church; and save the lives of some kids visiting the church on a field trip when the church catches fire.  Pony Boy is afraid the state will separate him from his brothers, Darry and Soda Pop.  Set in 1965 Oklahoma, The Outsiders was challenged in south Milwaukee, Wisconsin because "drug and alcohol abuse was common and virtually all characters were from broken homes."  Ranked #43 on the ALA Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books List 1990-2000, it was banned from some schools and libraries because of its portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, strong language, slang usage, and expose of family dysfunction.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky / 213 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Charlie is a wallflower.  He sees things.  He keeps quiet about them.  And he understands.  Unfortunately, he is not truly participating  in life.  He is a freshman and has senior friends, brother and sister, Patrick and Sam.  Charlie loves Sam.  Patrick is gay.  Using letters written to a friend as the vehicle, Charlie expresses his feelings and reactions to school, friends and family, and books recommended by his English teacher, Bill.  Charlie suffered a trauma (his favorite aunt sexually abused him) as a young boy which certainly affected who he was and how he reacted, but perhaps not forever.  Perks of Being a Wallflower was banned from a number of high school libraries in the U.S. by groups citing homosexuality, drug use, and sexual behavior.  There is a great deal of drug use, underuage drinking, descriptions of sexual acts, and inappropriate language.

Brains for Lunch, a Zombie Novel in Haiku?! / K. A. Holt / 87 pages / November Challenge Zombies

"Goofy, gross, demented, and...delicious."  This is a novel written entirely in haiku and accompanied by graphic, hilarious illustrations.  Loeb is a middle school zombie who has a crush on the librarian and on a lifer (regular human).  He enters the school's poetry competition to impress Ivy; wins the girl; and...takes a bite of her brain.  Although this comedic novel employs a simple format, the issues/themes portrayed are monumental, universal, and focus on teenage/societal angst.  Caution:  This JF novel has one student giving another the finger - literally.

Night of the Living Gerbil / Elizabeth Levy / 85 pages / November Challenge Zombies

"How does a book about zombies begin?"  "With a dead-ication."  Robert has 2 gerbils, Exterminator and Terminator.  He also has bad luck with pets.  He has lost a goldfish and a turtle and now Exterminator is sick.  Robert's older brother, Sam, jokes about Extermie's, and past pets', passing.  To assuage his brother's grief, he asks Mr. Winston, who owns a shop called "Weird Science", to stuff Extermie.  After their teenage babysitter, Willie, shares information about Zombies and Night of the Living Dead, Sam and Robert suspect that both Exterminator and Mr. Winston are zombies.

SideScrollers / Matthew Loux / 216 pgs.

This book follows the characters Brian, Brad and Matt who are in that period of their lives where they are right out of High School and really have no direction for their futures.  Kind of like the movie "Clerks" or "Mall Rats" the story is filled with their sarcastic remarks, disdain for conformity, and endless hours of sitting around watching movies and playing video games. 

Their lazy days are interrupted by the arrival of a new girl in town, who Matt is sweet on, but is dating the local bully / football jock.  The boys band together to try to steer her away from the jerk and win her over, as the shenanigans ensue. 

If you enjoy Kevin Smith films or liked "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" then you'll find yourself ROFL at the little remarks and side action that goes on in the story.

Sleep No More/Iris Johansen/390 pgs.

I wasn't certain where Iris Johansen would go with her Eve Duncan character after completing the Joe, Eve, and Bonnie trilogy. I like what she has done! In Sleep No More, Eve learns that she has a half sister, Beth Avery, who has been a patient in a mental institution for years. Beth has gone missing, and Sandra Duncan (Eve's mother) wants Joe Quinn (Eve's significant other) to find Beth. Family secrets are revealed as the mystery unfolds. A very satisfying read!

Come and Find Me/Hallie Ephron/276 pages

Diana Highsmith has barely stepped outside in over a year. She has turned her childhood home into a fortress. She runs her computer security company from her den and uses an avatar to conduct business meetings in a place called OtherWorld. Diana used to climb mountains and hack into company's databases with her boyfriend Daniel, but his death while climbing in Switzerland left her traumatized and looking for ultimate security. When her sister Ashley goes missing, she has to overcome her fears to find her.

Pretty good story, but also pretty predictable. If you think Big Brother is watching, then you shouldn't read this unless you're looking for verification.

Never Let Me Go/Kazuo Ishiguro/288 pages

Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are students at Hailsham, an exclusive board school in England. It is very secluded, and the students never leave the grounds. As the story unfolds through the eyes of a grown-up Kathy, it becomes clear that there is something very strange about the school, the staff and the students. The students are treated as though they are very special, and there is no contact or mention of any parents. As the students get a little older, there is some mention of "donations", but it isn't explained to the reader. The second part of the novel deals with these three students moving on to the next step of their journey by going to the Cottages. There, we learn more about the future of all the students. The final section of the book deal with the trio as adults and their ultimate fate.

This is my book club's selection for December. I found it to be very slow-moving and vague. It took quite a while to find out what was really going on with the students. Near the end of the book, there was a discussion about the ethics of the "program" and that did open up an opportunity to see some parallels to our world. This has been made into a movie, and I've ordered it on Netflix, so I'll be interested to see how it translates to film.

A Man Book Prize Finalist

Starry River of the Sky / Grace Lin / 288 pages

Starry River of the Sky is a companion book to Lin's book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.  The author uses the same format of story intertwined with folklore.  This book is amazingly beautiful in format, luminous illustration and language.  Lin says in her author's note that as an Asian American child she spent most of her life resisting her parent's efforts to share her heritage. As an adult she traveled to the East to rediscover her roots and started creating her own myth-like stories based on those she heard as a child.  Lin states "And my journey to write this book was much like Rendi's-starting with confusion and doubt and ending with wonder, strength, and self-discovery."  Starry River of the Sky is a timeless book of universal truths that will endure and must be shared by reading aloud, family sharing and book discussion.  Highly recommended.

Liar & Spy / Rececca Stead / 190 pages

What a perfectly crafted book!  7th grader Georges doesn't fit in at school, his dad lost his job, he has to move, and his mom is strangely absent.  In other words, his world is in total turmoil.  He meets two unusual kids, Safer & Candy, in his new Brooklyn apartment and joins the Spy Club.  Through all of his relationships, Georges is able to find a way to survive at school, meet his fears, and help others to conquer theirs.  Highly recommended for grades 5 -7.  A great read.

Splendors & Glooms / Laura Amy Schlitz / 384 pages

Set in 1860's London, this book is a wonderful gothic thriller that Charles Dickens would have immensely enjoyed!  Creepy characters, a powerful fire opal, heroic child characters, and good vs evil all delivered with theatrical style.  Beautifully written.  Great selection for our young literary readers.  Recommended for grades 5 & up.

November's Reading Challenge

So are you ready for the coming Zombie Apocalypse???!!! 

No you say?! ...Well you should be taking this seriously!  The government is, just check out the latest CDC report on "Zombie Preparedness": http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies.htm

So to do my public duty to get you ready for those lifeless blank stares and constant moaning (and no I am not talking about your teenage kids) I am awarding "5" points for every Zombie book you read.  You do know that 12/21/12 is coming up, which is almost as scary as 12/25/12 if you haven't started shopping.    Good Luck and Stay Save folks!!

All Creatures Great and Small / James Herriot 442 p.

Newly qualified Yorkshire veterinarian James Herriot gives delightful descriptions of eccentrics, both people and animals, he encounters as practices in a time dominated by the horse and before the advent of antibiotics.
Decades Books: 1970

Genre: Autobiographical, biographical, family, rural life.

Appeal factors: funny, heartwarming, homespun, strong sense of place, upbeat, lyrical, conversational, richly detailed, engaging,

Belles on Their Toes / Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey 237 p.

The Gilbreth children tells their story with mirth and warmth where Cheaper by the Dozen ends, of how they carried on after their father’s sudden death forcing their retiring mother to take charge, tightening the belt, keeping the family together, continuing the Gilbreth Firm’s work of One Best Way in spite of all obstacles, while opening doors for women engineers.

Genre: Nonfiction, autobiographical, biographical, memoirs, family.

Appeal factors: Character-driven, amusing, bittersweet, heartwarming, conversational, richly detailed.

Triangles/ Ellen Hopkins/ 529 pages

This is the adult companion novel (book in verse) to Tilt.  So, basically it centers around the 3 adult mothers of the main characters from Tilt.  I was  sad to read about some of the things that were going on with them, that clearly made them not pay attention to the things going on with their children.  But, some of it was also insightful--I mean, it's nice to have the answers to "what was going on with the parents??"  But, what I really missed was the point of veiw of some of the minor characters that we got in Tilt.  I would have liked to have brief glimpes into what that dads were really thinking in this book.

Z Is for Zombie, an Illustrated Guide to the End of the World / Adam-Troy Castro / 56 pages / November Challenge Zombies

I know revelations said that in the final days the dead shall arise.  I did not, however, ever consider that this meant zombies...  In this tongue-in-cheek (I hope.), non-fiction (That means true.), alphabet for adults book, the author reminds us that "zombies are rotting unburied corpses.  They're amusement parks for deadly bacteria."  If they don't get us - and they will eventually - their plagues will.  Jonathan Maberry, author of several zombie books including Rot and Ruin and Patient Zero, says "Z is for Zombies is hilarious, subservise, and gruesome.  You need to know your basics if you're going to survive the zombie apocalypse.  Highly recommended!"

The Zombie Zone / Ron Roy / 89 pages / November Challenge Zombies

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose look forward to their vacation in Louisiana.  They are going to hike, camp, and study alligators.  Unfortunately, the village has recently had a rash of grave robbings.  Also, someone posted a sign the read "Zombies" and it looks as if it has been painted in blood.  The kids solve several mysteries, including that of the open graves.  This A to Z Mystery is a quick, entertaining read for the early chapter book set.

Welcome to Dead House / R. L. Stine / 138 pages / November Challenge Zombies

Believe it or not...this is the first Goosebumps book I have ever read.  It was suspenseful and engaging, but I thought the ending a bit weak.  Josh and Amanda did not want to move, but when a great-uncle they never knew they had left them a free house in his will, their parents said they had to take it.  Dad wanted to be a writer.  A free house would enable him to do that.  Josh is stubborn and won't even enter the house when they go to see it.  Amanda sees a boy at the window.  After they move in, Amanda hears whispers, giggles, and sees children.  Out for a walk, Josh and Amanda meet and play with several kids who say they used to live in the same house.  While searching for their dog, Petey, in the cemetery, they discover that the kids and the real estate man are zombies and they are holding their parents prisonerer.  Do Josh and Amanda save their parents?  What about the zombies?

Rage Within / Jeyn Roberts / 357 pages / November Challenge Zombies

This is the second book in the trilogy that began with Dark Inside.  Aries, Clementine, Michael, and Mason have survived the earthquake and the baggers (zombies) and fled to Vancouver.  They hope to encounter other normal humans and Clementine's brother, Heath.  They are still on the run and hiding from baggers, who have begun collecting and imprisoning humans.  Daniel explains to Aries that a sort of deranged Mother Nature is at work.  "It's been here since the beginning of time.  It has no name; it existed before words had meaning.  You can't destroy it; it would be like unmaking the earth.  This probrably isn't the first time it's tried to destroy manking."  Will they survive?  This is a great follow up to Dark Inside.  The baggers fit every definition of zombies, except they do not need to die first to develop their taste for human flesh.

"Funny thing about doubt.  It grows that much larger when the odds in your favor suddenly drop off the map."

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact / A. J. Hartley / 438 pages

"Something's deeply weird about this place" (Hillside Academy, a school in Atlanta, Georgia), says Rich.  Darwen Sebastian Arkwright agrees.  He has a mirror in his closet, that Mr. Peregrine gave him at the mall, that enables him to enter Silbrica - "an enchanting world that holds as many dangers as it does wonders."  Darwen's parents were killed in car accident in England and he has come to Atlanta to live with his busy, financial advisor aunt.  She enrolls him in prestigious Hillside Academy which he hates.  Well-to-do bullies and difficult teachers make his adjustment even more difficult.  He does form somewhat reluctant friendships with Alexandra and Rich, and together they save the world - both of them!  Unfortunately, Greyling escapes and so the Peregrine Pact will continue to use trust, imagination, and love to battle the forces of evil.  Filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures, Silbrica is sure to please Fablehaven fans.

"Almost is such a wonderful word...so full of wiggle room and loopholes, so not absolutely anything..."

"Archeology is awesome because it is history and science at the same time."

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

Little Bee/Chris Cleave/271 pgs.

"Little Bee" is a 16 year old  illegal, Nigerian refugee, escaping to England. Prior to her escape, she meets up with a wealthy British couple, Sarah and Andrew, on vacation, who witness a brutal scene on the Nigerian beach involving Little Bee and her sister. This novel is about Little Bee's escape, and the impact she makes on Sarah, Andrew, and their child, Charlie. The narrative is told in Little Bee's and Sarah's voices, making for a powerful and haunting tale. It's a very unforgettable story!

The Boy in the Suitcase/Lene Kaaberbol & Agnete Friis/313 pgs.

I can see why this was the winner of Denmark's Best Thriller Award! Nina Borg, a Red Cross nurse, is contacted by estranged friend, Karin, to pick up an item left in a public locker left in a Copenhagen train station. The locker contains a suitcase--which contains a drugged little boy (Mikas). This isn't your typical child abduction--there are surprises along the way--up until the very end. This is the 1st in a series--and highly recommended!

The Last Honest Woman / Nora Roberts / 248 pgs

 Ok,I am listening to this Nora Roberts fluffy romance on cd in my car when the heroine, Abby, comes down with flu.  She has 103 temperature, is shaky and pale.  This is the point where the love interest notices how attractive she is.  (or how hot)  I'm sorry, but that really didn't work for me.  I'll give her a pass since the story did improve, but seriously, no one wants an amorous advance when they have flu.  (He did keep himself in check - luckily)
This being a 1988 book, it is fun to see that they "rent" a vcr for the weekend as a treat.  Also, I guess:  Beware the biographer.  Apparently when one does a biography, relationships can ensue  ie:  Abby and Dylan / Gen. Petraeus  and Paula Broadwell.  Hmmpf.
  Not a great book, but an okay one for Nora Roberts.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda / Tom Angleberger / 141 pages

Dwight is a 6th grade oddball.  He has created an origami finger puppet and gives advice to his friends using Yoda's voice.  Yoda seems to be able to predict the future and suggests the best way to deal with tricky situations.  Dwight himself appears to be clueless.  Tommy sits at the same lunch table as Dwight and is mystified by his dual personality.  He invites his friends to relate their experiences with Yoda/Dwight and records them in journal format.  This is great audio recording with multiple performers.

Darth Paper Strikes Back / Tom Angleberger / 159 pages

Dwight/Yoda's predictions/advice have gotten him into trouble.  He is accused of threatening another student, is suspended, and faces transfer to a different school.  His classmates discover that they miss him and hate his nemesis, Darth Paper, crafted by Dwight's nemesis, Harvey.  Darth Paper spews insults and might be responsible for getting Dwight kicked out of McQuarrie Middle School.  Again told as case files like The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Darth Paper Strikes Again is entertaining and is a well-done audio featuring multiple performers.

Ghetto Cowboy / Greg Neri / 218 pages / Notable Children's Book 2012

Cole's mom has lost all patience with him.  He keeps skipping school and the truancy officer insists that it has to stop.  He has missed so much school that he must attend summer school if he is to pass his current grade.  When he continues cutting, his mom takes him to live with his father in inner city Philly.  Cole has never met his father before and is shocked to learn that his father is a ghetto cowboy and faces a seemingly unwinnable fight with the city for control of his land, stables, and horses.  Cole is instrumental in winning this battle.  This is an excellent read filled with action, ideals, and family/group dynamics.  "Inspired by the real-life inner city horsemen of Philadelphia and Brooklyn, Ghetto Cowboy is a timeless urban Western about learning to stand up for what's right - The Cowboy Way."

Ghost Road Blues / Jonathan Maberry / 498 pages / November Challenge Zombies

"There are shunned places in this world where no one should ever go.  Black places where the darkness clings to the sides of trees and the undersides of rocks, like lesions from some ancient disease."  Pine Deep, Pennsylvania has just such a place and two undeads reside there - Ubel Griswold and the Bone Man.  Griswold had a grand plan to resurrect and claim the town, and perhaps the world, as his own.  A deadly murderer and madman comes to town, fleeing a drug deal gone bad resulting in a shoot out.  He becomes a player in Griswold's scheme and threatens Malcolm Crow, his fiancee, and her family, and, well, basically, all the good people of Pine Deep.  If you love Stephen King, you'll love Jonathan Maberry. 

The Supernaturalist / Eoin Colfer / 267 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

The Supernaturalist was banned from the Lackawanna, NY middles school library because of concerns that it dealt with the occult.  (It was later restored following accusations of censorship from some parents and teachers.)  Set in the future, The Supernaturalist is an exciting adventure story featuring kids who patrol the city at night hunting parasites they believe are sucking the life force from damaged, or dying, human beings.  Cosmo Hill recently joined the group.  Apparently he has the ability to spot the parasites, a rare gift.  He has escaped from the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Paternally Challenged Boys where he and the other boys were used testing highly dangerous products.  The Supernaturalists learn that they have made a grave error.  Once again, Eoin Colfer has crafted a masterpiece sure to captivate, inspire, and challenge. 

"In comic books, people with gifts become super heroes.  In real life, they become outcasts."

The Day No Pigs Would Die / Richard Peck / 150 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Young Robert Peck saves the life of Mr. Tanner's prize cow when he safely delivers her calf and stops her from choking to death.  To reward him, Mr. Tanner gives him a baby pig.  Young Robert raises the pig and learns the hardships of farm life in rural Vermont.  Robert emulates his father's Shaker beliefs, although he does, at time, question them.  The Day No Pigs Would Die was challenged and banned because of its graphic violence and sexual content.  I would not personally recommend this book because of several horrifyingly graphic scenes of cruelty to animals.

Fat Kid Rules the World / K. L. Going / 187 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Troy Billings is 6'1" and 296 pounds and is so discouraged with his life as the fat kid that he contemplates suicide on the subway tracks.  His attempt is interrupted by Curt MacCrae, an "emaciated, semi-homeless punk guitar genius who also happens to be a dropout legend at Troy's high school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan."  Curt decides that Troy will be the drummer for his new band, Rage/Tectonic, although Troy hasn't played drums since junior high school.  Curt arranges for lessons and Big T vomits all over the stage during their first gig.  Disgusting?  Yes! ... and filled with inappropriate language.  There are noteworthy themes at work in this novel, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

Sugarhouse: A Memoir/Matthew Batt/258 pages

"Turning the Neighborhood Crack House into Our Home Sweet Home"--on the cover. That pretty much says it all. A young married couple who have no experience at all in home remodeling buy their first house. It's a fixer-upper to the max. Over time, they learn how to sand floors, install hardwood and slate floors, refinish cabinets and, in general, turn a wreak into a home. When they aren't working on the house, they are dealing with Matt's family which is a big job all by itself.

Where We Belong/Emily Giffin/372 pages

One night Marian, a successful television producer answers a knock at her door and finds a young girl that will shake her perfect world to the core. Kirby is the daughter she gave up to loving adoptive parents after a summer love affair between high school and college. Kirby is now searching for answers to who she is and what she wants. Even though her adoptive family is loving and supportive, she wants to know her birth parents. The story is good, the characters likeable and if you like light contemporary reading, you will enjoy this book.

Brides of Rollrock Island /Margo Lanagan/305 pages

Rollrock is a lonely, magical island where poor fisherman make their living from the sea and where Misskaella,the outcast little girl who has grown into her magic, weaves her magic spells. And her magic always has a price. Misskaella can bring brides  from the sea, she can draw hauntingly beautiful women from the seals that lie in herds on the beachs of their lonely little town. The fishermen can have and hold a sea bride and tell themselves they are the master, but they become transformed and encaptured by the new wives and nothing is quite the same. This book is a fairy tale but also a tragic tale of human nature. The author has told the story from different characters viewpoints and how they  have been affected by the decisions of the fishermen and Misskaella. The tale is tragic and moving but it was not an easy book to read. For older teens and adults that enjoy fairy tales.

Crank / Ellen Hopkins / 537 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Crank was #4 on ALA's 100 Top Banned/Challenged Books list in 2010 for drugs, offensive language, and sexually explicit scenes.  Hopkins says the book was loosely based on her daughter's addictions to crystal meth.  Several school districts not only removed her books from the shelves (Texas and Norman, OK), they cancelled previously scheduled visits.  Crank chronicles Christina's descent into the hell of drug addiction, unwise, sometimes abusive relationships, rape, and personality loss.  On a summer visit to her ne'er do well, estranged father, she becomes involved with Adam as Brie.  He introduces her to drugs and her world is forever, irreparably changed.  Much inappropriate language spots the cautionary, perhaps too graphic, tale.

The Boy Who Lost His Face / Louis Sachar / 198 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

David Ballinger wants Scott to still be his best friend.  Scott has recently joined a new group of friends and tells David that he has to be cool to join them.  Their coolness leads them to mistreat a lonely, old woman.  Rumor has it she is a witch and has her husband's face on her wall.  David does not participate in the mayhem and is a reluctant observer.  Instead of apologizing, her gives Mrs. Bayfield the finger.  She tells him that his "doppelganger will regurgitate on his soul."  He doesn't understand this, but he believes he has been cursed.  Bad things happen, including bad language, and much inappropriate finger pointing.  This book is about peer pressure and bullying and was "challenged for obscene gestures, profanity, bullying, and the fact that the story revolves around curses/witchcraft/occult."  I would recommend this book, but the finger gestures should probably be discussed

Nickel and Dimed.../ Barbara Ehrenriech / 221 pages / October Banned Books

In 2010, Nickel and Dimed was #8 on ALA's 100 Top Banned/Challenged Books list.  It was criticized for drug use, inaccuracies, offensive language, political viewpoint and religious viewpoint.  In it the author recounts her attempts to live on the salary of various low-paying jobs.  It was certainly heartbreaking to read what 12 million American women must endure each day!

Mousenet / Prudence Breitrose / 389 pages

TM3 has a mission, perhaps the most important mission in the history of the world..."The subject is female about 2/3 size, red hair in ropes at back, crested in front... She is the best thing since sliced cheese."  Megan's Uncle Fred is an inventor. His latest invention in a tiny, mousesize computer.  He gives it to Megan when she must move from Cleveland to Oregon to stay with her Dad while her Mom goes to Australia to do research on wombats.  Megan is approached by representatives of the Mouse Nation who want Uncle Fred to make millions of the computers for mice.  Megan insists that the mice help ameliorate global climate change in exchange for the computers.  This is a cute story about friendship, commitment to ideals, and family.  Perhaps, however, it is a bit long for its intended audience.  The illustrations are a definite asset.

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon / Grace Lin / 278 pages

What is the best way to describe this book?  Satisfying.  Grace Lin artfully weaves Chinese folktales with the story of the young Chinese girl Minli who sets off to seek fortune for her family and finds the true meaning of fortune.  The book itself is beautiful with luscious drawings by Lin and wonderfully crafted design.  Where the Mountain Meets the Moon would make a wonderful read aloud book and great book discussion title.  Highly recommended for grades 3-6.  Can't wait to read the next book...Starry River of the Sky.

Cleopatra's Moon / Vicky Alvear Shecter / 355 pages

Cleopatra Selene is the only daughter of Queen Cleopatra of Egypt and General Marcus Antonius of Rome.  She and her twin brother, Alexandros, and their little brother, Ptolemy Philadelphos, live in a palace of wealth and love, and respect.  Servants see to their every need and education is a top priority.  Cleopatra sees her role as queen to be a divine directive.  She puts her queenship first, her personal desires second.  Cleopatra Selene wants to follow in her mother's footsteps.  When Octovianus, the nephew of Julius Caesar, mounts a campaign to invade and conquer Egypt, her life is forever, irreparably changed.  This is thought-provoking, eye-opening work of historical fiction with just a touch of romance, intrigue, and a strong females protagonist.

Gateway Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

Will at the Battle of Gettysburg / Laurie Calkhoven / 230 pages

"War is a jumbled mess of pride and fear and sadness."  So thinks young Will Edmonds.  He has daydreamed of being a hero like his brother Jacob, now a prisoner of war, and his dad, a doctor who has gone to heal wounded soldiers.  When both the North and the South come to Gettysburg, a young Confederate soldier, Able, saves Will's life; Will saves the lives of captured slaves; and he is instrumental in getting important information to General Meade.  Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, part of the Boys of Wartime series, puts the reader right in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg and shows us the humanity and inhumanity of war.

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

Divergent / Veronica Roth / 487 pages

Pride is important to Dauntless, more important than reason or sense.  Wow! This is one of the best books I've read in a long while!  Set in dystopian Chicago, Divergent tells of a society on the cusp of change.  All citizens must select from one of five factions on their 16th birthday - Candor (Honest), Abnegation (Selfless), Dauntless (Brave), Amity (Peaceful), and Erudite (Intelligent).  This one choice decides their friends, defines their beliefs, and determines their loyalties.  But what if you are divergent?  What if you tryly cannot be just one?  Beatrice Prior must hide her uniqueness, undergo the rigorous intiation of the Dauntless, uncover a world-altering scheme, protect her family, and fall in love...to be continued...in Insurgent.

Gateway Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

Pregnant Pause / Han Nolan / 340 pages

Eleanor Crowe is 16, unmarried, and pregnant.  She has been in juvie twice "for stupid stuff like breaking and entering" - her boyfriend's house, and "stealing a car" - her parents.  Her boyfriend is a spoiled loser and her parents work with Aids orphans in Kenya.  Her parents want her to come with them to Kenya, have the baby, and give it up for adoption.  Rebelling, she claims she is going to marry the father and keep the baby.  His and her parents agree to the marriage.  After the wedding, Elly and Lam go to a summer weight loss camp run by her in-laws (FIL and MIL).  She is a counselor-in-training.  He is a lifeguard.  Her MIL wants her baby.  Elly's sister wants her baby.  What should Elly do?  You'll find humor, horror, and humiliation in this morality tale, as well as an indomitable, unlikely heroine.

"We're all only tourists in this world."

Gateway Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

I'll Be There / Holly Goldberg Sloan / 392 pages

I kept avoiding this Gateway Award Preliminary Nominee based on its cover art - silhouettes of a boy and girl lit by headlights at the edge of a cliff.  I thought - another teenage romance filled with the angst of adolescence.  I'll Be There is both of these, but much, much more.  It is a tale of love at first sight, soul mates, abusive parenting, mental illness, developmental delays, extraordinary gifts, survival in the wilderness, generosity, etc.  At time I thought I was reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen...but with an edge.  The story is a bit marred by bad language, but it is not overwhelming.

Stay with Me / Paul Griffin / 288 pages

Mack's mother left to escape his father and to be in the movies.  They followed her to New York but didn't find her.  She did make it into commercials.  Mack is a dropout with a record - burglary and assault.  He works at Vic's restaurant as a dishwasher and also walks dogs.  He is saving his money to go to dog trainer school and Vic wants to help pay his way.  Mack refuses.  He's almost afraid of himself.  When he gets upset he loses control and is afraid he may one day kill someone.  At the restaurant, Mack meets Anthony, his quarterback who enlists in the army, and introduces him to his sister, Cece.  He wants Mack to look out for his sister while he is in Iraq.  They fall in love...and he is right....their love is doomed.

Gateway Award Preliminary Nominee 2013-14

Templeton Twins Have an Idea / Ellis Weiner / 227 pages

First in the brand spanking new Templeton Twins series and a very fun and well-designed book.  John and Abigail are the genius twin children of the eccentric college professor and inventor Elton Templeton.  Their story is told by a very snarky narrator who interacts with the reader constantly.  John and Abigail manage to foil their kidnapping by the evil twins Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean.  The copious illustrations by Jeremy Holmes are unbelievably creative and an intrinsic part of the story.  Hmmm who will read this, all middle-grade kids who like books with puzzles, Rube Goldberg style inventions, and funny books.  Highly recommended.

Flight of Gemma Hardy / Margot Livesey / 443 pages

Set in the 1950's and 60's in Scotland and Iceland, this is the story of Gemma Hardy, an orphan raised by a devoted Uncle who dies in an accident and leaves her in the hands of a resentful, cruel Aunt and three awful cousins.  Gemma, a very determined young girl who feels terribly alone in the world, is accepted at age 10 in a boarding school where she is treated as a lowly servant.  After the school closes shortly before she is 18 and can sit for the exams to enter university, she finds a job as an au pair in the isolated Orkney Islands.  The mysterious master of Blackbird Hall, Hugh Sinclair, pursues her and Gemma determines she must find out who she really is before she can make any commitments.  It's a very satisfying Cinderella and Jane Eyre story beautifully written.  The settings are wonderfully described.  The characters interesting.  A good story.

Delusion in Death/J.D. Robb/388 pgs.

I love this series! Someone is releasing a chemical in popular eateries which makes the customers go crazy and kill each other. It's up to Eve Dallas and her cast of regulars to figure out who is doing it, and how to stop him/her before striking again. One of Robb's better entries in the series. Highly recommended.

Totally Joe / James Howe / 189 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Joe Bunch is 12 going on 13 and in 7th grade, when his teacher, Mr. Daly, assigns alphabiographies to the kids in his class.  They must write something about themselves for every letter of the alphabet.  Joe decides that if he going to do this, he is going to write the truth.  He asks Mr. Daly to keep all information confidential.  In seventh grade information is ammunition.  He doesn't just share information about himself, but about his friends and family as they relate to him.  Joe is coming to terms with his homosexuality.  This would be an awesome read aloud because of its humor, anti-bullying, self-awareness/appreciation, and writing references.  Be aware, however, that the gay theme permeates the text, there is some bad language, and much inappropriate finger pointing.

Totally Joe was banned (removed from the shelves) at Jefferson Elementary School in Bedford County, VA in 2007 for inappropriate content.
"Who you are isn't a choice."
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."  Eleanor Roosevelt

Lord Langley Is Back in Twon / Elizabeth Boyle / 368 pages / R. T. Reviewer's Choice Award

Lord Langley is not only back in town, he's alive!  He was presumed dead in Paris, a traitor to his country.  Instead, he was a prisoner in a French jail and had no recollection of the events that sent him there.  He has returned to London to clear his name and to visit his 2 daughters.  He encounters his daughter's former nannies - his mistresses, and one Minerva, Lady Standon, who is not a nanny, not a mistress...and ...not a lady?!  This was a fast-paced, enjoyable read.  Perhaps loose ends were tied together rather abruptly and conveniently, but satisfactorily.

The Breath of God / Jeffrey Small / 403 pages / R. T. Reviewer's Choice Award

Grant Matthews is in Bhutan doing research for his doctoral dissertation.  A mishap on a white water rafting trip leaves the guide dead and Grant stranded in a Buddhist monastery for 6 weeks with a broken leg.  Kinley Goenpo, a monk, has manuscripts relating to Issa, a mysterious Indian saint which show a direct historical link and compatibility among the world's great religions - the object of Grant's research.  Tim Huntley is an ex special op soldier who was asked to leave the military.  He is a computer expert; a man who sleeps only 4 hours each night; a man who believes he is chosen by God, a descendant of one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel; a man with eczema; a man determined to thwart Matthews' procurement of the Issa documents.  Kristin Misaki is a freelance journalist, raised Catholic.  Brian Brady is an evangelist who designed the New Hope Community and has written The #1 bestselling book in the country, Why Is God So Angry?  He has mounted an election bid for president of the national Association of Evangelicals, a position that will thrust him into international prominence, position, and power. 
Grant and Kristin are searching for the elusive Issa manuscripts which explain the whereabouts of Jesus during the 18 years unaccounted for in the Christian bible.  This book has everything - suspense, romance, philosophy, comparative religion analysis, a murder in the Taj Mahal...

"Hinduism is a religion of one God but many faces."
"Life was not a series of individual incidents but...a web of interconnections."
"Understanding is a fine goal, but it not enough.  If all you do is seek with your mind for knowledge, you will never be satisfied."
"Religion is not about what happened in the past, but about what is happening to us in the present."
"God is a presence withing every human being."..."If our minds and emotions are distracted...we become blinded from seeing the tiny flickering candle in the center of our soul."

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew / Margaret Sidney 256 p.

Mrs. Pepper, a widow, with five children struggles to provide the necessities; warmth and love abounds so much so that a wealthy young boy is so drawn to them that the Peppers find luck coming their way.

I read this because the Gilbreth's mention in Cheaper by the Dozen that this was a favorite of theirs and their mother.

Appeals:  character-driven, fast-paced, feel-good, moving, conversational.

Hawk's Way Grooms / Joan Johnston 378 p.

Strong men find their the love of their life:  Mac Macready, facing a football career ending injury, returns to Hawk's Way and discovers love with his best friend Jewel Whitelaw (Virgin Groom); while U.S. Air Force major and pilot, Colt Whitelaw, brings news of his best friend's death to Huck's fiance, Jenny, who Colt has secretly loved forever (Substitute Groom).

Appeal terms: character-driven, fast-paced, bittersweet, moving, steamy, engaging.