Deception of the Emerald Ring / Lauren Willig / 11 disks / 400 pages

  The third in the Pink Carnation romance/adventure series. Eloise is still on her hunt for the identity of the Pink Carnation and her relationship with Colin Selwick is decidedly going nowhere. She has uncovered quite a tangled history with her Carnation and the notorious Black Tulip. But now Eloise isn't sure where to turn for the next chapter in her thesis. By chance she types a name into the library computer and comes up with a new lead. Will this be the answer Eloise is looking for?
  Letty Alsworthy tries to prevent her older sister from eloping and ruining the reputation of her family. Unfortunately the plan goes awry and she ends up marrying her sister's intended and being abandoned all within a few days. Letty isn't one to take this sitting down and she decides to follow her husband and set him straight on a few things. Little does she know this journey will turn into a trip of a lifetime.
   Willig still has quite a bit of fun in store for us with secret identities, historical Irish rebellions, and the Pink Carnation teaching Letty the ways to a husband's heart. What a joyful and laugh out loud romp through Georgian Ireland. There are still the usual plot points stretched a bit thin but Willig has excellent author notes telling the reader what was and wasn't changed historically. Still a fun recommendation.

Six degrees of reading: Better Quality of Murder by Ann Granger, Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen, Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal.

The Butterfly Clues / Kate Ellison / 325 p.

Penelope "Lo" is OCD; a condition that has worsened since the death of her beloved older brother. It also leads her to the murder of a young woman from a seedy area of town. It puts her in danger, but she also finds a young man who can see past her problems.

The OCD aspect makes Penelope's character interesting.  But the view of homeless young people is a little too glossy and the connection she finds between herself and the murder victim are a little to neatly woven.

Nine (9) Books Read / Eight (8) Readers / 3,157 Total Pages / 2 Bram Stoker 2012 Nominees

RAteam Reads for October 2013

The RAteam continued learning about the HORROR genre in October, with a book talks session held on Wednesday, October 30th. There were eight (8) participants for the Horror book talks (with one person reading two books!) and the titles read during October were:

  
 Joyland / Stephen King / 283 Pages





                                   Red Rain / R. L. Stine / 369 Pages




Let the Dead Sleep / Heather Graham 
/ 331 Pages




                                    Breed / Chase Novak / 310 Pages



   

The Haunting of Maddy Clare / 
 Simone St. James / 330 Pages

                      Wide Open / Deborah Coates / 304 Pages

                             [Bram Stoker 2012 Nominee]

 
 
Doctor Sleep / Stephen King / 531 Pages 

        Charlotte Markham and the House of 

                    Darkling / Michael Boccacino / 296 Pages    

                                  [Bram Stoker 2012 Nominee]      

          

 
 
The Wolf Gift / Anne Rice / 403 Pages






The annotations for these eight (8) titles will be posted on the Tales from the RAT Queen blog.

Web of Love / Mary Balogh 420 p.

Mary Balogh in the Web of Love tackles the subject of how guilt and grief can turn to love in this second in the Amberley family series where a young woman loses her beloved husband at the Battle for Waterloo and finds herself caring for his badly wounded best friend, Lord Dominic Eden.

Balogh richly describes the pre-battle social life in Brussels as the Duke of Wellington prepares for the final battle with Napoleon.  She shows the seamier side of war, the horrific carnage of war, and the medical care of the time.  She presents a warm story of love between Ellen and her husband as well as a very believable new love developing. This work is steamy, amusing, upbeat, strong sense of place

Similar reads include works by Amanda Quick, Mary Jo Putney, and Julia Quinn.

Regency Christmas / 340 p.

Regency Christmas is a collection of stories by Sandra Heath, Carla Kelly, Edith Layton, Amanda McCabe, and Barbara Metzger.

Each presents a twist on the traditional Regency romance.

 In the Amiable Miser, a tightfisted uncle takes in his cousin to work in his bookstore where she proves to be a boon to his rental library when she hosts a women's section.  For all appearances, he is oblivious to her fast approaching "on the shelf" status.  But a situation occurs that gives Joy the opportunity to see more of a fellow who came to the shop to return his aunt's book and the reader to realize a different side to the Amiable Miser.

Next Aways / Nora Roberts 341 p.

Next Always by Nora Roberts entertains the reader with this first in the trilogy about the Montgomery brothers.  Beckett has a long distance love for the war widow Clare Brewster since his teen years.  She has returned home to raise her three sons.  The brothers are working with their mother to rehab the Inn Boonsboro.  Beckett, almost daily, runs into Clare even volunteering to babysit her rambunctious sons.  Surprising to the pair, romance blooms.

The hilarious goings on when Beckett babysits the three boys are spot on; as is the brotherly interactions between the Montgomerys.  Look for romance developing between the recent hires for the inn and the brothers.  Loaded with realistic descriptions of rehab efforts including the introduction of a gentle ghost nicknamed Lizzie.

This contemporary romance exhibits strong sense of place, rich details, humor, and descriptions.  Readers may enjoy works by Jude Deveraux like Knight in Shining Armor and as well as Nora Roberts many other works.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation / Lauren Willig / 12 disks / 400 pages

 The first volume in the Pink Carnation series. Eloise Kelly an American graduate student looking for the one piece of history that will get her dissertation published. She believes there is someone else despite the Scarlet Pimpernel and Purple Gentian in the spying game against France during World War I. With a failed romance in the not so distant past, Eloise digs into her research and discovers a link between the past and present. A letter writing campaign results in a discovery of a secret cache of letters and diaries which may lead to her answer. The reader and Eloise go back in time to the gaiety of English society and the secret world of spies and murder plots. Is the history of England's most elusive spy about to be uncovered and what about Eloise herself? Will she finally find a boyfriend?
  Willig takes on a decidedly fun and witty style. This is a romance, adventure, spy comedy all rolled into one. There are times the plot is stretched a bit thin and you wonderful just how much more proof Eloise needs in order to figure out who the Pink Carnation is. But it is a fun romp with laugh out loud antics and a painful reminder that true love doesn't follow a smooth course. A perfect book to curl up with and forget about the rain or snow. A hearty and enthusiastic recommendation.

Six Degrees of Reading: And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander, Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn, India Black by Carol Carr.

Year Down Yonder / Richard Peck 130 p.

Richard Peck, in A Year Down Yonder, continues the story about Mary Alice when, in 1937, she moves in with her grandmother Dowdell, in this story of the Depression, small town life, and the life forming events, initiated in Long Way from Chicago.

When Mary Alice's father loses his job, their children go elsewhere.  Mary Alice learns more about her grandmother's character than she first knew.  A woman who has a huge dominating personality but with a hidden soft side.  A woman for practical jokes as well as a practical life.

This Newbery Honor book is warm, witty, moving, upbeat telling of Depression era life.   Other stories in this vein are the Soup books by Robert Newton Peck.

Tara Road / Maeve Binchy 502 p.

Tara Road, by Maeve Binchy, hones in on the domestic relations of two different women, a Dubliner and a American, at low points in their lives.

Both women have enjoyed rich relations with family, but, as life sometimes happens, cataclysmic events occurred in each of their lives.  Ria, in Dublin, accidentally takes a call from Marilyn, who wants to switch homes for the summer; which they do.  Each learns more about the other's lives and their relationships.

Tara Road appeals to those who enjoy reading leisurely-paced women's stories richly loaded with detail.

Similar work for this Oprah Book Club selection are Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

Arcadia: a novel / Lauren Groff / 291 pgs

  With the hype from her previous novel still ringing in my head, I picked up Lauren Groff's second novel with great anticipation. I was curious to see what a book dealing with a communal society outside of New York city would bring to the table. It seems to be a mixed bag. At the beginning of the 1970's a group of people decide to rebuild a crumbling mansion and create the perfect society. We are introduced to Abe and his wife Hannah and their son Bit or Little Bit as he is called. They are our guides through the society the Family is trying to establish. We meet the leader Handy through both Abe and Hannah's eyes and most tellingly though Bit's eyes and ears. The novel follows the establishment of the community and their struggles and triumphs and eventual implosion of everyone's ideals.
  The novel seems to be told with a soft focus. Everything is said and done with the least possible energy in trying to keep the reader's interest. We figure out the leader isn't all he's cracked up to be, the women do most of the work, and the children are the most damaged of all. The foreshadowing of the eventual doom of the commune isn't handled well, Bit and his family are caught in some sort of time warp that doesn't resolve in any satisfactory way and the reader is wondering at what the heck just happened. Though there are some interesting characters that could have brought more focus and interest to the novel, this avenue wasn't explored. If you are looking for a book with a challenge this may be it. Not my highest recommendation.

Six degrees of reading: The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper

Code Name Verity/ Elizabeth Wein/ 9 disks/ 352 pages

  It is very rare for me to be rendered completely speechless about a book. This YA novel has me completely gobsmacked. I am unable to find the words to describe just how spectacular, gut wrenching, emotionally draining and fulfilling story this is. We have two narrators. One is a pilot and the other is a spy and both are best friends. they are young ladies living in Britain during World War II. They are doing their bit for the war effort and meet during their training. On one night of unforeseen circumstances, the pilot Maddie and spy Verity are shot down over France. One has a chance while the other doesn't. What follows is the story of each girl struggling to survive while remembering her past. Get ready for one punch of a story.
   One of the benefits at the end of the narrative is the author herself talking about the research undertaken and what she may or may have not tweaked in order to make the story work for the two young ladies. The work done for historical accuracy is a great tribute to persistence for making sure things like ball point pens actually were around during World War II. I enjoy little trivia details like that. I was sucked into this story and just couldn't stop wondering what would happen to each of our heroines. I will admit to being so emotionally attached to our pilot and spy that I cried at the end of book. You will be rewarded.

Six degrees of reading: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse, B for Buster by Iain Lawrence.

The Hit / David Baldacci / 390 pages

Will Robie, the government sanctioned assassin, reappears in this book that involves another assassin, Jessica Reel, who appears to have gone rogue.  Baldacci is really good at writing plots with twists and turns, high action, and the bad guys in government.   In his stories the reader will always be wondering who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Hopefully The Hit is not realistic but it sure keeps you hanging until the end.  Question...can you be an assassin and still be human?

Twerp / Mark Goldblatt / 274 pages

This is a coming of age story about 12 year old Julian Twerski whose 6th grade teacher makes an assignment that helps Julian to understand himself and an act of bullying.  The story takes place in 1969 in Queens.  Julian's teacher sees that Julian is a writer and he assigns a journaling project which turns out to be the book, Twerp.  Through his self-examination, Julian aka Twerp, relates stories involving his best buddies, talks about his Jewish heritage, touches on a beginning interest in girls, shares his pride and concern about being the fastest kid in school, and finally relates the bullying incident in which a boy is injured.  Nostalgic.

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp / Kathi Appelt / 326 pages

An enticing blend of rich setting, intriguing characters, and heart-warming plot make this book, which is a finalist for the National Book Award, a pleasure to read.  It is storytelling at its best.   I listened to the audiobook version narrated by none other than Lyle Lovett who did a great job with the coyote calls!  A widowed mother and her son Chap live in the deepest part of the Sugar Man Swamp on the Bayou Tourterelle.  They make their living by making sugar pies from the sugar cane in the swamp. Chap and two "true blue scouts" that are raccoon brothers, manage to save the swamp from marauding feral pigs (Clydine and Buzzy) and a piggy human, Sonny Beaucoup, who wants to build an alligator wrestling theme park.  Share this book with someone by reading it aloud!  Recommended for grades 4-7.

Starry Night/Debbie Macomber/243 pages

In the introduction, Debbie Macomber says "it's a romance - plain and simple", and she's right about that.  It's also called "A Christmas Novel", and the story takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I wouldn't consider it a "Christmas" story.  Carrie Slayton is bored writing for the society page of a large Chicago newspaper.  Her boss challenges her to write an article about the reclusive author of a hot, new book who lives in Alaska.  This story is truly a romance.

I Could Chew On This: and other poems by dogs/Francesco Marciuliano /110 pgs.

The title says it all: these are short poems written as if by dogs. In most cases, there are also accompanying pictures. The book has the feel of a Hallmark gift book--as a matter of fact, I plan on buying a couple as gifts! It's really a sweet book, and dog fans will really enjoy it.

Sisterland/Curtis Sittenfeld/400 pgs.

Daisy "Kate" and Violet "Vi" Schramm are identical twin sisters, both a little "psychic" and each dealing with this phenomena in her own way. Vi embraces her "uniqueness," and makes it into her career--psychic readings, predictions, etc. Upon entering college, Daisy begins using a form of her middle name, Kate, hoping people from her high school won't recognize her; she tries to put all psychic feelings behind her. The novel is told in Kate's voice, and centers around Vi's prediction of an earthquake in the St. Louis area. Chapters go back and forth from the past to the present giving the reader insight into Kate and Vi's personalities, and helping the reader understand the choices each makes. It's a disturbing read on some levels, and I'm not quite sure if I "liked" the book. A bonus was that the majority of the action takes place in the St. Louis/St. Louis County area--particularly,  Kirkwood. As a native Kirkwoodian, I found it entertaining recognizing landmarks that Sittenfeld describes.

Endangered / Eliot Schrefer / 264 pages

wow.  Great book.  this is about bonobo apes and the relationship between one bonobo, Otto, and a teenage girl Sophie.  It is set in the Congo where the bonobos unfortunately live.  The Congo has been beset by war and undeclared was since 1960.  The statistic in the book states that 1200 people have died every day since 1998. 
     Bonobos are the closest genetic species to humans and should be protected.  However, they are eaten or killed and the babies sold.
The story immediately brought up the fears I have had since the early 1960's when the revolution started and men with machetes were chopping up missionaries.  (see Poisonwood Bible)  Fast forward, machetes are still a weapon of choice; In fact there is a word for it -- kata kata (cut cut)!!
This is a survival book.  It's an environmental book.  It's a political book.  It's a great story and should be read by all teens and discussed.  Distopian nothing.  This is real.
There are websites and questions answered by the author at the end.  It is a National book award finalist, but should have won.

Joey Pigza Loses Control / Jack Gantos / 195 pages

Joey Pigza looks forward to his summer visit with his dad.  Although he has not seen Carter in years, he is hoping that his mom and dad will get back together and they can all live as a family.  Unfortunately, Carter has a girlfriend and a drinking problem.  He is a grown-up version of Joey before he went on medication and had special ed help.  Carter wants Joey to be his baseball star.  Joey wants to be normal.  Is his dad right?  Can he throw away his medical patches and not return to his old hyperactive, self-abusive self?  This is great audio book that will have you advising, and groaning, as Joey fails to heed your advice.

The Case of the Deadly Desperados / Caroline Lawrence / 279 pages

This book was a most delightful surprise!  I checked it out because my husband likes westerns and we were going on a long auto trip and love to listen to audio book as we ride.  Imagine, if you will, a twelve year old half-blood on the run from a gang of ruthless desperados who have killed his foster parents and are determined to obtain a deed from him and are willing to kill him to get it.  P. K. Pinkerton has a thorn.  He suffers from an inability to read the expressions of other or express emotions with own facial features.  (Perhaps Asperger's Syndrome?)  Mark Twain appears as a character uttering many of his own famous quotations.  This is an excellent peek at life in 1862 Virginia City, Nevada.

Trapped / Irene Hannon / 393 pages

"There couldn't be many saber-wielding librarians around,"  but James Devlin found one and he might be falling for her hard.  Laura Griffith came to Phoenix Detective Agency for assistance in finding her missing half sister, Darcy.  A tremendous snowstorm inhibits Darcy's plans to flee to Chicago and lands her in the clutches of murderous Mark Hamilton.  Will Laura and Dev find Darcy before Mark's diabolical plans come to fruition?  As always, Ms. Hannon has produced a spine-tingling, edge-of your-seat thriller that entertains, informs, inspires, and is set in hometown St. Louis.

"Sometimes God's most evident in small gestures of kindness, and those gestures can be found in the worst situations."

Crystal Gardens/ Amanda Quick / 473 pages

I used to read Amanda Quick a lot, but must admit it has been years since I have read one of her books...and I almost stopped reading this one.  The romance scenes were quite plentiful and explicit and the storyline seemed hampered by paranormal impossibilities.  I persevered, however, and was very glad I did.  The book bears a suspense rather than a romance label for good reason.

Hero / Mike Lupica / 289 pages

I chose this audio book because I have enjoyed every Mike Lupica book I have ever read.  I was very surprised that this one only makes passing reference to sports.  Instead, it illuminates what hero means to one Zach Harriman.  Zach's dad was recently killed when the plane he was piloting crashed.  Zach thought he knew his dad - Knick's fan, ex-Harvard football star, special advisor to the presidents of the United States.  He missed him often when he would make his frequent  business trips.  Now Zach discovers that his dad has special powers which he has inherited.  Who can Zach trust - his uncle, himself...?  Although the secret power part is a bit over the top, Mr. Lupica makes the reader suspend disbelief and presents a thought-provoking, engaging read.

The Secrets of Vesuvius / Caroline Lawrence / 173 pages

This is the second book in the Roman Mysteries series featuring Flavia, Jonathan, and Lupus.  In this book, they travel to the Bay of Naples to visit Flavia's uncle who lives near Pompeii.  Attending a Roman festival at Herculaneum, they are directly in the path of one of the worst natural disasters of all times - the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  Excellent historical facts and references to Jewish and Christian lifestyles in A.D. 79 lend authenticity and spice to an engaging mystery.

Bound / Cullen Bunn / 151 pages

The Sixth Gun, Book 3:  Bound
This graphic novel was nominated fro the Bram Stoker Award?!  Really?!  I loved the artwork and the historical tie-ins, but was distressed by the zombie-like bad guys (revenants).  Becky Montcrief and Drake Sinclair journey by secret train to hide the body of the evil General Hume.  Unfortunately, the secret is out.  Will the magical, mystical 6 guns be adequate to save them?

The Heist / Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg / 369 pages

"Never underestimate the power of chocolate."  Nicolas Fox is a con man involved in numerous heists internationally but never caught.  At least not until FBI agent Katie O'Hare apprehends him by ramming his getaway car with a bus.  Nick is allowed to delay his jail time if he agrees to help Kate catch a corrupt investment banker who has fled the country.  After assembling a most unorthodox team, Kate and Nick put their plan into action.  This is the first adventure in an electrifying new series featuring nonstop action, clever comebacks, and just enough romantic tension to keep things interesting.

Laugh With the Moon / Shana Burg / 245 pages

"How do you explain to someone that a part of you has died?  How to you tell someone that you feel like a ghost without a soul?" Thirteen year old Clare Silver has just lost her mom to cancer.  Her father, a doctor, has taken her to Malawi, Africa where he served in the Peace Corps.  Clare must attend the Mzanga Full Primary School, learn a new language, and teach English to the Standard One students.  On an outing to the beach, Innocent, the brother of her new friend, Memory, comes down with malaria and despite Claire's heroic efforts, he dies.  Claire believes that if Innocent had gone to the better hospital he might have been saved.  But Memory "knows there's a system in place, and we can't change it overnight.  We can only do our small part, and take one step at a time, even it that step involves tangling with the law."  This is wonderful, inspiring book filled with facts and eye opening insights into life in Africa.

"There's no happy occasion complete without some chocolate."

"Grief isn't a tunnel you walk through and you're done.  It waxes and wanes like the moon."

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Insignia / S. J. Kincaid / 446 pages

Albert Einstein once said "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."  But the world is in the middle of World War III and they're far from ending civilization.  The major nations have forms alliances, and corporations are evenly aligned within these alliances.  The war is being fought on other planets by avatars.  When Tom Raines is approached by the Pentagon Spire to become one of these avatars, he jumps at the chance.  He's tired of moving from school to school and casino to casino with his loser gambler dad.  His mother has left them and is living in New York as a kept woman.  Tom is threatened with a foster family because of his poor school attendance record and bad attitude.  At the Spire, he discovers that to be one of the combatants he must have a multi-million computer inserted into his brain.  He feels manipulated.  Why wasn't he told this up front?  Beautiful Heather from CamCo is sent to convince him.  He'd give anything to be important.  Could this be his chance?  This is an awesome read, perhaps appealing to fans of The Hunger Games, etc., filled with unlikely heroes, and a story to be continued.

"There will always be war, as long as human beings are capable of envy, hatred, and fear."

Truman Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

The Quilt Walk / Sandra Dallas / 213 pages

Emmy Blue "was confused about whether [she] wanted to go to Colorado Territory.  Part of [her] was like Pa, wanting the excitement of going to a new place where [they] might become rich.  But the other part wanted to stay in Quincy with [her] friends and grandparents, with everything [she] knew, where [she] could be safe."  Based on a real incident and family in Colorado history, The Quilt Walk tells of the Hatchett (Burgess) family's westward journey.  Set in 1814, it deals compassionately with themes of spousal abuse, the marital duties of men and women, and the heroic courage, determination, and sacrifice of early pioneers.

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Fourmile / Watt Key / 228 pages

Watt Key's Alabama Moon was nominated for the Truman Award several years ago and was a favorite among the sixth - eighth grade boys.  (The language was a bit inappropriate and we chose not to purchase it for our elementary school library, yet it was voted among the top three that year by our students!)  Fourmile is even better.  Twelve year old Foster doesn't like his mom's new boyfriend, Dax, but then he doesn't like much of anything since his dad died.  We don't find out until midway through the book about the death's circumstances when Foster relates the details to the mysterious drifter who offers to do repairs on the farm in exchange for a temporary place to stay.  Gary Conway has secrets, talents, and skills which make a life-altering difference in the life of one young boy and his mother.  This is a realistic, action-packed story "reminiscent of classic westerns."

Truman Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Mudbound / Hillary Jordan / 324 p.

Would I have loved this novel quite as much had a read it instead of listening to it? Probably, but I'll never know. It certainly wouldn't have taken me as long to get through it.  But I sure LOVED the audio version. Six actors were used for the main characters voices and they certainly brought the story to life.  I was especially taken with the voice of Laura--down-to-earth and womanly--but they were all good.

There certainly is bad that happens--it's set in Mississippi in the late 1940's and involves a white family and a black family.  How could something bad not happen?  It also shows a time and place far different from what I am used to--a husband who ups and moves the family to a farm with no word of warning to his wife--because he's the man and he can do that; a community of extreme racism. But this is also a story of love, devotion, hardship, despair and resilience.

What a wonderful "read."

And the Mountains Echoed / Khaled Hoseini / 402 pages

Another really good book by Hosseini.  Just thinking about losing a sister or giving away a child makes me want to cry again.  Even though living up in Paris and having education and opportunities in her life without the trauma of war, Pari still carried that invisible wound of something missing inside her.  It was a trauma to each of the characters involved and Hosseini follows the story of each character with great insight.
This was not as tough to read as Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns, but it was still an emotional ride.

Starry Night: a Christmas novel / Debbie Macomber / 243 pages

Publishers Weekly says:  tender tale of impractical love. Newspaper reporter Carrie Slayton is sick of covering Chicago society events, so she hops on a plane to the Alaskan bush, determined to track down Finn Dalton, a bestselling author no one knows anything about. Finn hates reporters, guards his privacy, distrusts romance after a bad breakup, and resents his mother for leaving him and his father. Naturally, he refuses to engage in any personal conversation with Carrie when she arrives. But he can't control his attraction to her and slips a few times during her stay, showing his sensitive side. By the time Carrie goes home, they are halfway in love, and they bridge the distance with e-mail and text messages. Carrie has to be extremely patient while Finn works through his issues, but their happy ending is a delicious Christmas miracle well worth waiting for. (Oct.)  It was typical Macomber...the characters are well developed with many problems along the way, but you know in the end all will work out.  It was a fun read.

Big Stone Gap / Adriana Trigiani / 272 pgs

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime—a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever. Brimming with humor and wise notions of small-town life, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book with a giant heart. . . 
This is the first book in this series.  I read this after "The Shoemaker's Wife."  It didn't grab me as quickly as the shoemaker, but was a pleasant read.  I will probably read the other titles in the series.

Attack of the Bullies / Michael Buckley / 302 pages

This is the 5th and final book in the N.E.R.D.S. series.  Ruby Peet, aka Pufferfish, is the featured super spy agent who must save the world from the evil librarian.  Themes of family, friendship, and love run beneath the surface of spy action, gross bullies, and hilarious character interactions.  This is a great book for reluctant readers, boys & girls, and kids who like funny and action packed books.  Can't wait to see what Michael Buckley comes up with next.  I plan to use my super spy talents to force Agent Beanpole to share his next project with me when he visits the library!

From Norvelt to Nowhere / Jack Gantos / 278 pages

This book continues the story of the young Jack Gantos and Miss Volker from the Newbery award-winning Dead End in Norvelt.  It's historical fiction at its best.  You will love these characters; you will love the hilarious predicaments, you will love the relationship of Miss Volker and Jack, you will love the little nuggets of wisdom shared by Jack's mom and Miss Volker and you will love going on the best road trip ever taken in 1962.  Great story to be shared whether as a read aloud or as a book discussion title.  Recommend for grades 5 & up.

The Thief of Always/ Clive Barker/ 132 pages

This is a graphic novel adaptation of Clive Barker's tale of the Holiday House.  I think it may loose some of it's edge in the graphic telling.  Not sure.  But, it was a good story of lost children and evil spirits to get you in the mood for Halloween.

Alice I Have Been/ Melanie Benjamin/ 351 pages

I have been wanting to read this book for a while since I read Benjamin's book about Mrs. Tom Thumb.  I thought it would be a nice story about the real Alice in Wonderland.  Instead it was sad and a little disturbing.  I don't know what to think about Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll)--this story definitely made me feel like he had a questionable--at best--relationship with children.  And if there was nothing to hide and he was innocent of doing anything wrong why did his family destroy part of his diaries.  Anyway, I guess the truth with never be known about what actually caused the rift between Alice's family and Mr. Dodgson, but it saddens me that it may be something so terrible involving a small girl.  Still it was an interesting read and it will provide lots to discuss at my book club.  While I wouldn't want to read it again, it was a good story that I think does deserve some investigation.

Catch & Release / Blythe Woolston / 216 p.

A pair of physically "damaged" teens take a road trip in an effort to deal with what has happened to them.  Typically this might be from a car accident or fire, but these teens are survivors of a deadly attack of MRSA.  Connected only by this tragedy, they struggle to deal with what has happened to them.

Polly is the more thoughtful; "Odd" is quite impulsive and the instigator of the road trip. They are both greatly depressed. It's not a bad story, just slow and just did not have enough plot to keep me "hooked."

Cry Purple/Christine McDonald/221 pgs.

This is Christine McDonald's journey from drug addict/prostitute to becoming a contributing member of society. Her purpose, I believe, is to bring the reader to an understanding of a segment of society that one would prefer to pretend doesn't exist. Christine doesn't let the reader get by with that. She explains the "nitty gritty" of street life, and the struggles involved in trying to pull oneself out of such a pit. It is unbelievable how far she has come in this journey, and how little society has helped her. I forgot to mention that during her rehabilitation, Christine lost sight in both of her eyes. Yet she still perseveres to make a better life for herself and her son, Ricky. Equally surprising is that she is a local author. It would be so awesome to have her speak at our library. This is truly an inspiring read--highly recommended!

The Raven Boys/Maggie Stiefvater/408 pgs.

Blue Sargent comes from of family of psychics. While she hasn't "psychic" powers as such, Blue is able to assist psychics by "amplifying" their talent--they can "see" more clearly in her presence. Every year Blue accompanies her mom, Maura (a clairvoyant), on the "soon-to-be dead" walk.  Something different happens this time: Blue sees a boy emerge from the walk. His name is Gansey--a student from a private school, Aglionby. The students are referred to as "Raven boys," and Blue soon becomes a part of the Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah group. She learns that Gansey is on the hunt for a ley line,  which he hopes will lead to the awakening of the legendary King Glendower. The awakening of Glendower will result in a reward for the person who achieves it. This is a great beginning for a series. Hunger Games fans and Divergent fans should consider this series. Highly recommended!

The Bride Wore Size 12/Meg Cabot/392 pages

Heather Wells is a former pop star who has reinvented herself as an assistant residential hall director at New York College. She's getting married in a month to P.I. Cooper Cartwright. Now she just needs to get through freshman orientation week so she can finish the wedding plans. But, her office is filled with parents trying to get their children transferred to her hall, Fischer Residence Hall, formerly known as Death Dorm because of a few mysterious deaths in the past. Before the day is over, one of the RAs (Resident Assistants) is found dead in her room and her future sister-in-law has invited her long-estranged mother to the wedding. Not one of her better days.

This is the fifth installment in the Heather Wells series. I haven't read the first four, but I enjoyed this enough to go back and start from the beginning. This one isn't published yet; I got the uncorrected proof, so I guess some detail might change before publication.

Deadline/Sandra Brown/410 pages

I am never disappointed by Sandra Brown's books. There are always twists and surprises in her plots and "Deadline" contains several.  Dawson Scott is a journalist for a news magazine and has recently returned from Afghanistan, suffering from PTSD.  As a favor to his godfather, who is an FBI agent, he attends a murder trial in Savannah, to check out a possible connection with an old, unsolved FBI case.  The surprise ending was not what I expected.

Please Don't Tell/Elizabeth Adler/358 pages

"Please Don't Tell" reminds me of the first Elizabeth Adler novel I read, which was "Fortune is a Woman".   Fen, an older woman, has two nieces whom she raised after their parents death. The two nieces, Vivian and JC, each has her own problems. Vivian is a busy emergency room doctor, just getting over a break up. JC is an unsuccessful entertainer who, at this stage of her life, is out of a job and penniless and seriously rethinking her life and career. On a stormy night, a stranger comes to Fen's door, seeking help after an accident at the edge of her property. At first, Fen is frightened, but later becomes more relaxed, to the point of enjoying the man's company, once he stays a while. Meanwhile, there is a serial killer lurking, worrying Vivian and JC, and all signs point to this stranger as the killer. None of them believes this to be true.  I liked this novel better than other recent books that Adler has written.

Proposal / Mary Balogh 365 p.

At last the story of Lady Gwendoline Muir is told.  Lady Gwen has known her share of tragedy from the death of her husband and of her unborn child.  When her gimpy leg gives out on the beach, a   survivor of the Napoleonic Wars, Lord Hugo Trentham carries her back to home.  They agree that they don't suit.  He is of the business world, he won his title during the war; and she is of the Regency society.  He is rather gruff and taciturn while she is light and full of laughter.  With the sponsoring of his sister into society, Lady Gwen is drawn into Lord Hugo realm as he is into hers. As each shares their individual nightmares, an attraction very slow grows between them.  This is the first in the Survivor series. This series explores the trauma of war and its effects on the survivors, both men and women with emotional and physical issues.  I look forward to the next in the series.

Because of Winn-Dixie / Kate DiCamillo 182 p.

Young India Opal Buloni has just moved to Naomi, Florida with her preacher father when a large, ugly dog finds her in the produce department of Winn-Dixie.  Through her dog, Opal is introduced to a cast of quirky characters, Miss Fanny the librarian, who's family candy taste of sorrows, Gloria Dump who's tree is hung with empty liquor bottles to remind her of her mistakes, and Otis, ex-convict, musician, and pet store manager.  All come together as friends.  A heart-warming story that involves the reader so much that one doesn't want to stop until the last page is reached.

Newbery Award Honor Book

Smokescreen / Dick Francis 213 p.

Edward Link, movie star, is sent to South Africa by his dying friend, Nerissa, to investigate why her horses are running so poorly.  His arrival sparks immediate reaction: several murder attempts miss.  Just as he cottons onto the lay of the land, he finds himself living the last scene in his recent film, handcuffed in a car in the bush with no hope of rescue.  Filled with interesting secondary characters, plot twists, rich details, this suspense thriller is a page turner.

Shadow Prey / John Sandford 318 p.

In the sequel to Rules of Prey Lucas Davenport teams up with NYPD lieutenant Lily Rothenberg to track down a serial killer.  The victims are spread across the land; the commonality is each is guilty of crimes against Indians; murdered with a native American ceremonial knife.  The opening scene is of a young cop, now the FBI director, raping an Indian girl.  The native Americans have formed a terrorist group to lure the director to his death.  The trail leads to the Crow brothers and their psychopathic killer, Shadow Love.  The shootout in Davenport's basement is a real page turner.

There Was a Little Girl / Ed McBain 323 p.

Matthew Hope takes two shots outside a bar in a seedy neighborhood in this 11th in the series.  As he lies in a coma, private investigator Warren Chambers joins with Morris Bloom, and Toots Kiley to find out who wanted Matthew dead.  Hope was hired to close a real estate deal for a circus, but, found himself investigating the death of a three-foot-tall woman, part of the circus, and just where her estate went.  Chambers, Bloom and Kiley retrace Hope's past week to find the shooter.

Forbidden / Leanna Ellis 421 p.

In this second of the Plain Fear series, young, pregnant Rachel Mussbaum blames herself for the death of her husband.  She is persuaded to go with Jacob, now Akiva, to help him.  She finds herself fearing for her life and that of her baby as she is taken deep into vampire culture.  Her faith in God is strong. Her Amish faith helps her.  When Rachel goes missing, her family turn to Roc, a former cop, to find her.  Roc is experienced with hunting vampires.  When he finds her, it becomes a race for their lives.
Amish vampire story

Miss Me When I'm Gone/Emily Arsenault/356 pages

Gretchen Walters made a name for herself as the author of Tammyland, a memoir that talked about her divorce and her love of female country music icons that was called a "honky-tonk Eat, Pray, Love" by the reviewers. Her next book was supposed to be a follow-up concentrating on the men of country music, but instead she starts exploring more of her past. She was raised by her aunt and uncle as their own, but she always knew her birth mother if not her birth father. Her birth mother's murder when Gretchen was 8 was never quite solved. The man thought responsible was found not guilty, and no other suspect was identified. While digging into the past, Gretchen is killed in a fall that is thought to be an accident.

Her best friend from college, Jaime, is asked by Gretchen's family to organize her notes to see if the original book idea can be published. As Jamie sorts through Gretchen's computer and notebooks, she becomes engrossed in learning more about her friend and the secrets she discovered.

This looked to be an easy, mindless beach read, but I was wrong. The chapters alternate between excerpts from the fictional book Tammyland, Gretchen's interviews and Jamie's narrative. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes it was hard to keep that straight. All in all, though, it was a good story with a fair amount of intrigue and reflection.

My Name is Parvana / Deborah Ellis / 176 pgs

A young teen is found wandering around in the ruins of a bombed out school building in Afghanistan, and is picked up by American forces.  She refuses to speak to the soldiers even though she knows English and is put in an isolation cell for being a suspected terrorist.  The narration weaves between her interrogation and the events that led up to the school bombing.

When I picked up this book I didn't realize that it was part of a series, so many times the main character will refer to people or events that happened in other books.  While the reader can follow this story without reading the past book, you do get a sense that you missed parts that belong to the bigger picture.  Especially, since there were a few times when a side character would just show up and save the day.  It really felt like this book was a little thin on plot and was mostly trying to tie up loose ends from the other books in the series.

Still, the writing was descriptive, and I felt I got a sense of the time and place that this girl was living in.  I also loved the strength and courage that the main character Parvana shows to survive all of the things that happen in her life.  It looks like the author Deborah Ellis has been following and writing about the changes that have been occurring in Afghanistan since the early 2000's (after the fall of the Taliban); with an emphasis on women's rights in the region.  I am really looking forward to read the first book in this series called "The Breadwinner"; and Ellis has a nonfiction book called "The Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War" (2012) where she interviewed real kids living in Afghanistan and shows how current events have affected them.

Due to some discussions of torture and violence (which you really cannot gloss over when you are talking about living in a war zone) this book is probably for older "Tweens", maybe 5th grade and up.

Princess Posey and the New First Grader / Stephanie Greene / 85 pgs

There is a new girl joining Posey's 1st grade class.  Her name is Grace, she is nice and she looks like a princess; but Posey is unsure about her.  She worries that her friends like Grace more than her and won't have time for her anymore.  Will Grace and Posey become friends?  And How is Grace feeling about being the new girl in school?

The Princess Posey books are accessible for young readers.  They are right on level for my little 1st grader to read and it helps bridge her to chapter books.  Plus, the main character is likable and MUCH less annoying than Junie B. Jones.

The Screaming Staircase / Jonathan Stroud / 390 pages

Wow! This is a great, enthralling and riveting ghost story by the author of the highly acclaimed Bartimaeus series.  There's an epidemic of many kinds of ghosts in England.  The ghosts range from benign to murderous and horrific.  The infestation of ghosts can only be managed by children who have the Talent to see, hear or sense them.  After reading this book, you will want to arm yourself with rapiers, salt bombs, iron chains, magnesium flares, iron filings and other potent weapons.  Lockwood & Co is a trio of kids who are ghosthunters for hire.  Great characters, great plot, wonderful setting, and plenty of ectoplasm!  (You don't ever want to be ghost-touched...just sayin').  Recommended for grades 5 - 8.  Glad to know there will be more in this series!

Bones of the Lost, Kathy Reichs, 324 pages

Temperance Brennan is back in North Carolina.  She is faced with a problematic death involving an unidentified teen girl.  Just as she starts to make headway, her almost ex husband, Pete, needs her help.  The son of an old friend has been accused of murdering two civilians while stationed in Afghanistan.   Due to some amazing string pulling Tempe is off to Afghanistan to examine the remains of the two civilians.  Detective Ryan makes only the briefest appearance in this novel.
I enjoy reading the Temperance Brennan series.  My usual complaint is how Tempe is frequently knocked unconscious without any permanent brain damage.  Not so with this novel, but I found the ending of the book to be a bit too much like a Nancy Drew mystery, too many things coming together too neatly.  Even with that, Tempe is more entertaining than some of the recent novels featuring Kay Scarpetta.  

Silencing Eve/Iris Johansen/403 pgs.

First, there was Taking Eve. This was followed by Hunting Eve. Silencing Eve is the conclusion to this trilogy. Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor, has been kidnapped by a psychopath, James Doane, who wants her to reconstruct the skull of his dead son, Kevin. In Silencing Eve, the reader learns what else James Doane has in store for Eve, and those who are trying to rescue her. Jane MacGuire, Eve's adopted daughter, has her own story line going throughout this trilogy. I found her quite annoying by the end of Silencing Eve. She has always been portrayed as self-sufficient, but she comes across as whiny and bossy--a real pain. Other than that, there are some surprises, and a building tension that leads to a fairly satisfying conclusion.

Starters / Lissa Price / 336 pages

Nobody won the Spore War. The Pac Rim countries launched their spore-head missiles and everyone between the ages of 20 and 60 was killed.  American retaliated with their EMP weapons which crashed their computers and their stock markets.  Nobody won.  In less than a year, the face of America changed from a sprinkling of Starters, well off, well fed, and oblivious.  The Starters are forced to live on the streets, scavenging what they can because they are not allowed to work or vote.  Callie is desperate.  Her seven year old brother, Tyler, has a lung disease and needs medicine, food, and a proper place to live.  Prime Destinations may hold the answer.  They will pay Callie an exorbitant sum to rent her body to Elders so they can experience being young again.  But Callie's rental goes wrong...how wrong?!  This is an excellent dystopian novel, featuring engaging characters in thought-provoking situations.  The story continues in Elders.

Truman Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

The Shadow's Collector's Apprentice / Amy Gordon / 202 pages

"Shadow-collecting is a tool of war, not of peace-loving citizens," but Cully's dad, Jack, discovers this is exactly what Jim Bates is doing.  When he strips a shadow, the person changes, becoming irascible and quite unlike their former selves.  The shadows are sewn together to create invisibility cloaks.  Jack's father took off.  The farm is having financial difficulties despite the efforts of Cully's three aunts.  Cully takes an apprentice job with Jim Bates at Batty's Emporium and discovers Batty's nefarious deeds.  This page-turner set in 1963 is an engaging tale featuring spies and the cold war, a loving family, bullies, and a young man determined to do the right thing.

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Flying the Dragon / Natalie Dia Lorenzzi / 233 pages

"Caucasian applies perfectly to Sorano (Skye) - Asian hiding in a word meaning white."  Skye is crushed when her Japanese father and her American mother inform her that will have to attend Saturday Japanese classes instead of playing on the All Star soccer team.  Hiroshi is equally disappointed when his Japanese parents tell him are moving from Japan to Washington, D. C. to live near Skye and her parents so that his grandfather can receive critical medical treatment.  This is a heartwarming story infused with Japanese culture, traditions, and competitive kite flying.

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Jump Into the Sky / Shelley Pearsall / 344 pages

Levi's real name is Chester, after his grandpa.  But when his singer/star mother abandoned him in the car with a note that said "Levin'", his name became Levi.  His dad is in the army, a paratrooper and has left Levi behind with his Aunt Odessa.  Levi's great-aunt Odessa thinks its time he took some interest and responsibility for his son's care.  She packs up Levi and ships him off to an army base in the South.  When he finally arrives, he discovers that his dad's unit has been reassigned to Oregon.  Levi accompanies Cal, Peaches, and Victory on an eye-opening, life-changing adventure.  Set in May of 1945, this is an excellent portrayal of life in the U.S. during the waning days of World War II and one young African-American's courage, determination, and love.  Interesting information about Japanese war hot air balloons.

Truman Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Magesterium / Jeff Hirsch / 310 pages

Glenn Morgan might as well be an orphan.  Her mother left six years ago and her father is consumed with work on scientific projects.  Glenn dreams of escape and applies to work on Star 1863.  She has lived next to The Rift for all her sixteen years and knows nothing of what lies beyond.  Her only friend, Kevin Kapoor, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft.  Glenn doesn't believe in either, or magic in general.  Her entire belief system in thrown off its axis when her father's work leads to his arrest and her flight into the previously unknown.  This is captivating adventure story set in the dystopian future.  Can Glenn find and save her mother?  At what cost?

Truman Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Glory B. / Augusta Scattergood / 202 pages

"Libraries are about books.  Books have no color, and they don't care who reads them."  Miss Bloom, the librarian in 1964 Hanging Moss, Mississippi, refuses to close the library in response to pressure from the white community in the face of desegregation and the new Civil Rights laws.  Gloriana June Hempfill is proud of her.  She hates the fact that the community pool has closed to keep African Americans from swimming there.  Glory befriends the new girl from the north whose mother is one of the Freedom Fighters.  Glory's best friend is in favor of the pool closing and opposed to Glory's new friendship.  Glory has many important decisions/choices to make.  Who can/should she trust?

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Book Review on Amish Vampire

"Is The Amish Bloodsucker the new trend in Amish vampire romances?" Written by Bertena Varney, this review dated December 29, 2012. this review gives a brief synopsis of the three books in the trilogy:  Chosen, Shunned, and Reckoning.  I must admit I was not encouraged to read any of these vampire romances.  I enjoyed the Twilight series but don't feel compelled to read other vampire romances.

Ordinary Magic / Caitlen Rubino-Bradway / 276 pages

"Ords. You only ever hear about them as kids.  You only ever about them in that whisper-down-the-lane way."  When twelve year old Abigail Hale is judged to be an ord, possessing no magic whatsoever, it is expected that her family will want to get rid of her or auction her off to adventurers.  Instead they send her to a secret school for ords whose chief sponsor is her super-magic older sister, Alexa.  Ords are shunned in normal society and Abby has been expelled from her school so she agrees to go to the nation's capital.  The romance-reading heroine meets King Steve and is instrumental in capturing Barbarian Mike and saving the school.  Five ords have been captured and sold away.  Will a sequel detail their rescue?  Loved the cover and the applicability of using this book to illuminate prejudice.

Mark Twain Award Preliminary Nominee 2014-15

Flesh and Bone / Jonathan Mayberry / 469 pages / Bram Stoker Award Challenge Winner

This is the third of four books in the Rot and Ruin series.  Benny Imura, Nix, Lilah and Chong continue on their quest to find the plane - evidence that humanity and civilization must have survived the apocalyptic events and the zombies.  "More than seven billion people had died since First Night,  some to the zombies, some to the mad panic and wild savagery into which mankind had descended during the collapse of government and the military and society.  Some were killed in the battles, blown to radioactive dust as nuclear bombs were dropped in a desperate attempt to stop the legions of walking dead, and many more died in the days after, succumbing to ordinary infections, injuries, starvation, and the wildfire of diseases that spring from the death and rot that was everywhere."  They find the plane...and reapers...and sanctuary...and...  This is Jonathan Mayberry at his best.  Read all his books!!  You can't go wrong!

The Haunted / Bentley Little / 389 pages / Bram Stoker Nominee Challenge

"Human beings could adapt to anything."...Even a haunted house?...Claire and Julian Perry have moved from LA to Jardine, New Mexico to be near Claire's family.  When they experience ongoing difficulties with skateboarding delinquents, they purchase a home closer to downtown and Claire's law office.  Julian works from home as a web designer.  Their kids, Megan and James, have the summer to acclimate to their new surroundings.  But all experience frightening apparitions, voices, and compulsions.  Reminiscent of The Amittyville Horror, this horror tale keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly looking over your shoulder, and listening for untoward sounds...repeatedly telling the Perry's to get out...now!  Great historical sidebars - 1598, 1777, 1855, 1921, relate present day occurrences to past atrocities.

The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief / Charles Day / 154 pages / Bram Stoker Award Nominee

Seventeen year old Nick is looking forward to Halloween, his second favorite holiday.  He loves reading mysteries so when their jack-o-lantern is stolen, he decides to solve the mystery of who took the pumpkin.  "The new mystery reminded him of the stories he's heard among his classmates;  the urban legend of the Pumpkin Thief."  According to Jeffery Beamer who wrote an article for the school newspaper, the Pumpkin Thief stole the jack-o-lanterns which warded off evil spirits, protecting the homeowners from ghosts, ghouls, and goblins.  Strange happenings ensued due to this lack of protection.  This is a quick, easy read, but the many typos are a bit disconcerting.  At times the dialogue and text feels contrived and overly simplistic.

The Drowning Girl: A Memoir / Caitliln R. Kiernan / 336 pages / Bram Stoker Challenge Winner

"Ghosts are those memories that are too strong to be forgotten for good, echoing across the years and refusing to be obliterated by time."  "Hauntings are contagious."  "Too often, people make the mistake of trying to use their art to capture a ghost, but only end up spreading their haunting to countless other people."  India Morgan Phelps (Imp) "inherited the Phelps Family Curse." She's insane or more correctly suffers from schizophrenia, as did her mother and grandmother.  She viewed Phillip George Salton's painting The Drowning Girl when she was eleven.   She immediately felt drawn into the painting.  When she "picks up" Eva Canning years later, she believes the two are immediately related - the girl in the painting and Eva.  She writes this memoir in response to a haunting within a haunting.  On the advice of her suicide mother, she began a written record of her haunting.  Although this book received rave reviews, I found it a bit tedious.  Imp did not tell her story as a linear narrative, but with numerous repetitions and convolutions making it somewhat  confusing.  The many literary and artistic references, including numerous to Red Riding Hood, while making for interesting, challenging reading also tended to weigh down the plot pace.

"Nobody reads by accident."

The Savage Fortress / Sarwat Chadda / 292 pgs.

Ash and his little sister Lucky Mistry are in India visiting their Uncle who is an archaeologist and working on a dig for a very Eccentric and Mysterious Benefactor.  After an accident occurs at the archaeological site, Ash is thrown into a supernatural world of demons (called rakshasas) and  is in a fight of good vs evil and the fate of the world.

This book reminded me a lot of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" Series; except substitute the Greek Gods for Hindu ones.  Lots of action, some violence; although I'm pretty sure kids will get a kick out of the description of the hero pulling a demon's heart out of its chest and crushing it with their bare hands.  :)  

The Candy Corn Contest (The Kids of Polk Street School, vol. 3) / Patricia Reilly Giff / 80 pgs

Richard (aka The Beast) really wants to win the Thanksgiving Candy Corn contest by guessing the correct number of candies in the jar.  Unfortunately, guesses are earned for every page a student reads in their book, and Richard is a poor reader.  While Richard is alone in the classroom admiring the Candy Corns he absentmindedly ate three pieces.  What should Richard do?  What will the teacher Ms. Rooney do when she finds out?

Aside from the dilemma of whether Richard should own up and tell the truth or try to hide his mistake, there is another very important side issue about how to be a good friend.  Richard is having a Thanksgiving sleepover, but some of the boys in the class do not want to come to his party if another certain classmate will be attending.  This can lead to great discussion about politeness, compassion, being helpful, and being a good friend.

Judy Moody predicts the future / Megan McDonald / 146 pgs.

Judy eats seven bowls of cereal to FINALLY get her free Mood Ring.  With the Ring she tried to predicts her friends and families future.  As Judy discovers the ups and downs of her fortune telling career she starts to realize that by being observant and reading people's body language and mood is a better indicator of what is going on than relying on a mood ring or magic 8 ball.

Always funny, the Judy Moody series are quick, fun reads for kids.  As a character Judy is a bit hyper and still a little to focused on herself.  These flaws are what get her into trouble and sticky situations, but I like that by the end of each book Judy learns to look outside herself and consider others' feelings and that usually resolves things.  A good lesson for kids about friendships and behavior. 

The Prince of Mist / Carlos Ruiz Zafron / 214 pgs.

"In 1943, in a seaside town where their family has gone to be safe from war, thirteen-year-old Max Carver and sister, fifteen-year-old Alicia, with new friend Roland, face off against an evil magician who is striving to complete a bargain made before he died." [from Catalog]

A pretty straightforward ghost story; family moves into a haunted house, strange things happen, a family curse is uncovered, etc.  The book is clean for young readers, no major gore, relationship issues, no profanity.  I did however, listened to the CD version of this book, and the sound effects and descriptions were pretty eerie, which makes me think that it could actually creep out younger readers.    

A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray / 403 pgs.

Gemma Doyle is sent to a strict boarding school after witnessing a supernatural creature attack and murder her mother.  At the school she along with 3 other friends discover that she has "powers" to cross over to the spiritual side, and possibly be able to bring that magic back into the real world.  However, there is always a light and dark side to any magic and the girl may have unleashed something very dark and dangerous.

Someone (on this blog) described this book as a combination of "Mean Girls" and "The Craft"; I TOTALLY agree.  In the day-to-day life of Gemma Doyle, she has to deal with navigating cliques and fitting in as the new girl in her school.  After she makes friends and they start delving into the supernatural some get a little carried away with their new power.

The book is a little PG-13ish as far as the Romance scenes go; the girls are practicing witchcraft, but nothing that sounds like what an actual seance or ritual would look like.  Entertaining and I liked that Gemma was a better person who could see all of the power plays that the "mean girls" were doing and was able to just ignore and even better, defend the weaker people against them.  It is hard to stand up to bullies and to stand up for people who are being bullied, but Gemma does it even though she knows that attacks on her will follow.  

The Villain Virus / Michael Buckley / 259 pages

Book 4 in the N.E.R.D.S. series features Julio "Flinch" Escala who due to his hyperactivity is superfast and superstrong.  In this book Julio gets his first chance to serve in a leadership role for the team of super spies who have graduated to Middle School.  Readers will follow Julio as he struggles to deal with his new role and combat the "villain virus" that is infecting the entire world including the team, his family and his neighborhood.  Buckley's books are full of humor, action, weird characters and little nuggets of truth about humans!  The book designer does an excellent job of integrating artwork that reading about our favorite superheroes lots of fun. There's a librarian superhero character so that alone means kids should read the book!  Recommended for grades 4-7.

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail / Richard Peck / 223 pages

Richard Peck is the Mary Poppins of books for kids....he's practically perfect in every way.  In this book which takes place on the 60th Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria we discover that there is a parallel mouse kingdom and that mice are responsible for what happens in the world.  One young mouse "Mouse Minor" is on a quest to find out who he is and what he discovers is truly amazing.  Richard Peck is an impeccable author who writes precisely, sprinkles his stories liberally with humor, and provides completely satisfying books.  Absolutely delightful illustrations including some color plates make this book even more charming.  Great as a read aloud book so start reading!  Recommended for grades 3 - 5.

Attack the Lusitania: a World War I novel / Jerry Borrowman / 221 pages

I will begin by admitting that the St. Charles City-County Library District does not own this book. So, if you are interested in this book, you will need to visit a bookseller or try to get it through Interlibrary Loan.

About the genre- Attack the Lusitania is Mormon fiction centered around the events leading up to and including the sinking of the steamship Lusitania during World War I. For those unfamiliar with Mormon fiction, it is very similar to Christian fiction in that the heroic characters are usually unfailingly true to their religion and the writing style is usually more mainstream than literary. This book is a quick read without a lot of depth but does provide some brief historical facts about the sinking of the Lusitania with which I was not very aware.

Synopsis - A Wyoming coal mine operator, who happens to be Mormon, chooses to take the Lusitania on a round trip business excursion to England. During the trip, he discovers that his room steward is also a Latter-day Saint, as well as the steward's brother, who works shoveling coal for the steam ship engines. The miner protects his steward from discrimination at the hands of a supervisor, after which a German submarine torpedoes the ship and we see the crew, passengers, and  main characters' struggles to survive the horrific event.

Analysis/Recommendation- There are some historical facts about early World War I and the events leading up to the Lusitania's sinking that will interest those not familiar with them. There is also some detail about the operations of a luxury steam liner. But, for the most part, the storyline comes across as a Titanic wannabe. The Mormon storyline is rather predictable but not overbearing. Non-Mormon reader will not feel that they have been proselyted by this book. Overall, it's a decent read, but recommended mostly for fans of Mormon fiction and those who didn't know much about the sinking of the Lusitania.

Fashionista Murders, William Thompson Ong, 268 pages

Following the murder of fashionista, Paisley LaForge, Kate Conway is sent to Paris to cover Fashion Week for her employer taking her out of her comfort zone of investigative reporter.  Kate is paired with a renowned photographer who acts as her guide.  Soon it becomes apparent that someone is out to murder all the fashionistas.  As Kate digs deeper into the murders danger mounts for her.  This book was a good mystery holding my interest until the end.  The murderer does a good job covering his/her tracks.

Countess in Cowboy Boots/ Jodi O'Donnell / 329 pages

This light romance was just right for reading in bed.  In fact, I woke up with it lying on my face. (Thankfully not a kindle).  I chose it for the cover. 
The storyline is girl from small town in Texas marries a count and eight years later, divorces the count.  She returns to her home town to rebuild her life and, of course, meets her true love whom she will resist until nearly the end.  Formula romance.  Maybe.
This author has a message that she wants to deliver about girls and women valuing themselves and knowing what they want in life.  She doesn't want them to buy into the myth of the "knight in shining armor"
In the book, Lacey is recovering from such a "knight" who turned the happily ever after into a control-your-life event.  She struggles to discover what she wants to do which causes a lot of tension around her.  She is fortunate to have caring parents and meets such a good man.  Although the message is about women making their own decisions, finding their own way, not depending on a man for happiness, Lacey and Will end the book with a kiss that I'm not convinced isn't her Prince Charming 2.
I would have liked to see her without a true love at the end.  Maybe she could meet one in book 2 or 3.  Maybe the next book could have a more ordinary looking heroine as well.
This is a very sanitary romance:  Kissing only.

Progressive Dinner Deadly (A Myrtle Clover Mystery) , Elizabeth Spann Craige, 224 pages

Myrtle is a southern octogenarian with a knack for solving murders.   Her son is the town's Chief of Police.  Myrtle, a retired school teacher would like to encourage a  selection of higher quality literature for her book club.  When she suggest a change, everyone is in agreement and the book club becomes a progressive dinner club!  Arriving at the entree location the book club members discover someone has been murdered.  Myrtle and her side kick, Miles, are once again involved in looking for the killer.  Myrtle is a likable character who manages to be a very smart crime solver willing to use her 'senior' status when necessary.

Dead Cert / Dick Francis 205 p.

Alan York, amateur jockey, watches his best friend take a deadly fall in a race where he was "dead cert" to win.  Alan knew it wasn't an accident.  He investigates and finds mob-like activity in the protection racket.  It has its claws into race betting.  Dick Francis hero is an ordinary man thrust into a dangerous situation, trying to find the murderer of his friend.  What you get is a lot of detail information about racing, wonderful secondary characters, complex plots with twists that keep you guessing till the end, and a hero you can care about.

I'm Gonna Get You! / Dotti Enderle / 79 pages

This book is second-third grade level and is second in a series of Ghost Detectors.  It should be interesting to kids in those grades and is fairly interesting with fair pictures.

That being said, I was not happy with the one-dimensional characters.  The sister is depicted as nasty, mean, and ugly. Maybe a brother might not appreciate his sister, but this went beyond in terms of no redeeming features.  In the same manner, his "best" friend sidekick, a black boy, is depicted as weird, dopey, and lacking social skills (ie: having his finger in his ear or nose or doing odd things.)  The grandmother is apparently memory challenged and the main character, Malcolm isn't really sympathetic toward any of the characters in the book.  He only cares about the ghost zapper that he has bought. 

The story about trying to zap a ghost is fine. In fact, a little bit scary, but not too scary.  I just don't like my characters to be so flat and unsympathetic.

October's Reading Challenge:

This pictures has nothing to
do with the Bram Stoker
Award, but I thought it was
a pretty cool-looking Dobby.

Read if you Dare............

This month you will receive "2" bonus points for every nominated Bram Stoker Award Title and "4" bonus points for every Winning title. 

About the Bram Stoker Awards: Each year, the Horror Writer's Association presents the Bram Stoker Awards for Superior Achievement, named in honor of Bram Stoker, author of the seminal horror work, Dracula. Any work of Horror first published in the English language may be considered for an award during the year of its publication.

2012 Bram Stoker Award Nominees & Winners

[presented in 2013]

Novel	Ethridge, Benjamin Kane - Bottled Abyss (Redrum Horror) Everson, John - NightWhere (Samhain Publishing) Kiernan, Caitlin R. - The Drowning Girl (Roc) winner Little, Bentley - The Haunted (Signet) McKinney, Joe - Inheritance (Evil Jester Press)
First Novel	Boccacino, Michael - Charlotte Markham and the House of Darkling (William Morrow) Coates, Deborah - Wide Open (Tor Books) Day, Charles - The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief (Noble YA Publishers LLC) Dudar, Peter - A Requiem for Dead Flies (Nightscape Press) Gropp, Richard - Bad Glass (Ballantine/Del Rey) Soares, L.L. - Life Rage (Nightscape Press) winner
Young Adult Novel	Bray, Libba - The Diviners (Little Brown) Lyga, Barry - I Hunt Killers (Little Brown) Maberry, Jonathan - Flesh & Bone (Simon & Schuster) winner McCarty, Michael - I Kissed A Ghoul (Noble Romance Publishing) Stiefvater, Maggie - The Raven Boys (Scholastic Press) Strand, Jeff - A Bad Day for Voodoo (Sourcebooks)
Graphic Novel	Bunn, Cullen - The Sixth Gun Volume 3: Bound (Oni Press) Moore, Terry - Rachel Rising Vol. 1: The Shadow of Death (Abstract Studio) Thornton, Ravi - The Tale of Brin and Bent and Minno Marylebone (Jonathan Cape) Wacks, Peter J., and Guy Anthony De Marco - Behind These Eyes (Villainous Press) Wood, Rocky, and Lisa Morton - Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times (McFarland) winner

*and for a bonus, I will bestow "4" points on anyone who finds and reads/reviews a book that features an Amish Vampire.  (yes, I said "Amish Vampire"). 

Rooftoppers / Katherine Rundell / 277 pages

The story opens with the rescue of a 1 year old afloat in a cello case after the sinking of the Queen Mary.  An eccentric bachelor, Charles Maxim, rescues the babe, names her Sophie and raises her in the most unconventional manner possible.  (He encourages writing on the walls, and they use books for plates!)  At age 12, the authorities threaten to take Sophie away and together they escape to Paris in search of Sophie's mother.  Sophie is full of hope.  She never loses her childlike innocence.  She is a brave, determined girl who despite all well-meaning adult counsel believes the mother she barely remembers is still alive.  In Paris Charles & Sophie are on their own and Sophie discovers a unique band of homeless children that live in the treetops and roofs of the city.  She too becomes adept at running across roofs, scaling drainpipes, leaping between buildings and walking tightropes.  This is a very unusual book with interesting characters and beautiful writing.  Yes, it reminds us all to never give up hope...there's always a possible.

Deadline/Sandra Brown/410 pgs.

In my humble opinion, this is one of Sandra Brown's more entertaining books. Dawson Scott is a well respected journalist, recently back from Afghanistan; he's trying to hide the fact that he is suffering battle fatigue. His godfather (Gary Headly), on the cusp of retiring from the FBI, receives information pertaining to the disappearance and/or death of Jeremy Wesson--the biological son of Carl Wingert. Carl Wingert, the leader of the Rangers of Righteousness, a domestic terrorist group, escaped capture 40 years ago. This has been a thorn in Gary Headly's side, and he wants Dawson to bring his journalistic skills to the table to determine what's transpired these past 40 years. There is romance, suspense, murder, and some nice twists and turns along the way--a good time!

Murder Room / P.D. James 653 p.

Commander Adam Dalgliesh returns for the 12th in the series to investigate murder at the Dupayne Museum, a small private museum in London focused on the time between World War I and World War II.  Museum owners and siblings are divided as to the fate of the museum.  Dr. Neville Dupayne is murdered at the museum in a way that resembles a case on exhibit at the museum.  Everyone at the Dupayne is explored.  Another murder occurs paralleling another historic murder case at the museum.  P.D. James builds characters with quirks and dept, leads to reader down the wrong path, and continues Dalgliesch's love interest in this police procedural.

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip/ Antony John/ 329 pages

I love this author, but the book took a little while for me to get into it and really like the characters.  Luke has just published a best selling book of teen parables.  Now, it's summer and he's going on a road trip/author tour along Route 66 with his brother.  What he doesn't know is that his brother is also bringing his girlfriend and Luke's ex-best friend, Fran.  I really enjoy the humor of this book.  Luke is a very honest character when he reacts to certain situations.  This book is a lighter read and will make you want to see some of these Route 66 legendary stops as well.

When It Happens to You/Molly Ringwald/240 pages

To start, yes, the author is that Molly Ringwald. The actress of many teenage-angst movies is also a published author and a surprisingly good one. This is subtitled "a novel in stories." The first story deals with Greta, her husband Phillip and their spoiled six-year-old daughter, Charlotte. As the stories unfold, we see a thread running through them all. The last story comes back to deal with Greta and Phillip and their future.

I've always been a fan of short stories, and this combines both the short story and novel format, so it could convince more fans of each to try the other.

Silencing Eve/Iris Johansen/403 pgs

This is the final title of the trilogy that started with "Taking Eve".  In this one, it takes up where "Hunting Eve" left off.  All of Eve's family and friends are holding a memorial service for Eve - she was supposedly killed in the explosion at the end of "Hunting Eve".  But you soon find out that there is a chance that she is still alive - of course you can't kill off the main character in a series unless that is the final book!  Joe, Jane, Catherine Ling, Kendra and others are searching for Zander (Eve's supposed dad) and Doane, her captor to find out the truth.  Good book but ending was rough for some of the characters - I kind of knew what was going to happen but it still was tough.

The PMS Murder: A Jaine Austen mystery/Laura Levine/245 pages

Jaine Austen, a freelance writer in L.A. (not the other writer with the same name, but different spelling), has found a new friend to fill the void after her best friend finds love and begins planning a wedding. Pam is part of a group of women who meet once a week to discuss their lives over margaritas and guacamole. Jaine joins the group and finds the other members entertaining if not entirely lovable. When one of the members is murdered at Jaine's second meeting with spiked guacamole (peanut oil, targeting the member with a severe peanut allergy), Jaine hopes to clear the obvious suspect and track down the real culprit.

This series was new to me, and while it was fairly entertaining, I probably won't read anymore in the near future. The main character wasn't intriguing enough to me. Plus, I'm not a cat person, and Jaine has a very obnoxious cat that she supplies with imagined dialogue. I like Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson enough to overlook her obnoxious cat, but Jaine isn't in the same league.