Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin/Robert Byrd/

A picture-book biography of a fascinating Founding Father.  A true Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin was the first American celebrity. In pictures and text, master artist Robert Byrd documents Franklin's numerous and diverse accomplishments, from framing the Constitution to creating bifocals.   Listed as an ALA Notable Children's Book for 2013.

Dead in the Family/Charlaine Harris/461 pages

Sookie Stackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from her own kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a place in her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arrives with Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie's tracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), Vampire Bill Compton.

In addition to the multitude of family issues complicating her life, the werewolf pack of Shreveport has asked Sookie for a special favour, and since Sookie is an obliging young woman, she agrees. But this favour for the wolves has dire results for Sookie, who is still recovering from the trauma of her abduction during the Fairy War

Charlaine Harris has done it again with another Sookie Stackhouse best seller.  Dead in the Family is the 10th in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Dead and Gone/Charlaine Harris/pages 389 pages

The vamps have been out for years, and now the weres and shifters have decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world. Sookie Stackhouse already knows about them, of course - her brother turns into a panther at the full moon, she's friend to the local were pack, and Sam, her boss at Merlotte's bar, is a shapeshifter.

The great revelation goes well at first - then the horribly mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of Merlotte's, and Sookie agrees to use her telepathic talent to track down the murderer. But there is a far greater danger than this killer threatening Bon Temps: a race of unhuman beings, older, more powerful, and far more secretive than the vampires or the werewolves, is preparing for war. And Sookie is an all-too-human pawn in their ages-old battle

Dead and Gone is the 9th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Swindle/Gordon Korman/252 pages

Gordan Korman delivers another humorous children's Chapter Book.   Griffin Bing, and his best friend Ben, find a rare Babe Ruth baseball card.  They take it to an art collector S. Wendell Palomino, who scams the kids.  Later when Griffin and his friend find out the card is worth a million dollars, and not the $120 that S. Wendell gave them, they hatch a plan with their friends to get it back.  Griffin is "The Man With the Plan", but the heist doesn't go according to plan and hilarity ensues.

Steve Jobs: the Man Who Thought Different/Karen Blumenthal/275 pages

You think you know who Steve Jobs is?  What the public saw barely scratched the surface of this enigmatic man.  While most inventors and other great cultural revolutionaries are often quite quirky, Jobs was at the extreme reaches.  He would throw tantrums and harshly berate his employees in front of others, then later be the definition of charm, making working for him extremely difficult.  As one employee said, He didn't invent computers, cell phones or portable music/audio devices, but he knew how to package them and make the world not only want one, but make them think they couldn't live without one. He single-handily changed the world and there is hardly anyone who hasn't been touched by one of his "inventions".
Blumenthal writes a teen biography that is easily read.  Steve Jobs: the Man Who Thought Different is listed on several recommended reading list.

	Top Ten Science and Health Books for Youth 2012 (Booklist) Top Ten Biographies for Youth 1012 (Booklist) ALA Notable Children's Books, 2013

Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim/Lisa Scottoline/365 pages

Lisa Scottoline is known for her Mystery books.  She also writes a column called ChickWit  for the Philadelphia Inquirer with her daughter, Francesca Serritella.  The essays have been complied into a book that will have you laughing out loud and nodding in understanding.  Both write about their experiences as mother/daughter and friends.  Both share experiences that we can all relate.  While sometimes tough to go through, these two ladies show us the humor in all situations.  I recommend this to fans of Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry.

From Dead to Worse/Charlaine Harris/359 pages

From Dead to Worse is the 8th title in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  This time around Sookie is just back from the summit where a terrorist bomb took out a good chuck of the Louisiana vampires.  There are internal wars in the Vamps community and the local werewolf pack.  Sookie seems to be caught in the middle of both, but comes out unscathed and even a little on top after the dust settles. 

Harris gives us another well-written novel, but the plot seems a little tame compared to the previous books.  While the plot of the changes in both communities were built up for suspense, the answers seemed a little anti-climatic.  When finished, I felt this was more of a bridge book between #7 and #9 in the series and more of a set up for another big arc in the storyline than a suspenseful title in and of itself.

All Together Dead/Charlaine Harris/323 pages

Charlaine Harris has written another exciting entry in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  This time around, Sookie has been hired by the Queen of Louisana to go with the Louisiana contingent to the Vampire Summit.  She is to act like a human lie detector and let the Queen know if someone is trying to swindle her.  However, Sookie and another telepath, Barry, stumble across a terrorist plot to kill all those attending the summit.  It is up to them to figure out who is planning the attack and save all those targeted.

Charlaine Harris writing an intriguing plot that makes you want to start the next book in the series, even if it is one o'clock in the morning.  Very hard to put down.  The HBO TV series, Trueblood is based on Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books.

The Space Between/Brenna Yovanoff/363 pages

Daphne is half demon,  the daughter of Lucifer and Lillith.  Brenna Yovanoff writes of a world where the demons and fallen angels aren't really that bad and where Archangels really aren't that good.  Here is a world where the citizens made a bad choice in the Angel War, lost and now are making the best of their situation for eternity.  Can demons learn to love and are they inherently evil?  The Space Between is a beautifully written novel that was listed as one of the Best Notable YA books of 2012 by ALA

Judgment in Death/J.D. Robb/472 pages

J.D. Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) 11th installment in the In Death (Eve and Roarke) series doesn't disappoint.  This time someone is killing dirty cops making a very visceral statement.  But who is it?  Is it a "good" cop tired of the dirty cops giving the police force a bad name, or someone in Internal Affairs taking justice into their own hands, or an old adversary of Roarke's who loves playing games, pitting cop against cop.  It's up to Eve Dallas and her team to find the murderer before they make another mistake and kill a clean cop.

Witness in Death/J D Robb/516 pages

J D Robb's Eve Dallas has another mystery to solve.  This time she actually witnesses the murder along with 2,000 other theater patrons.  During the final scenes of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution a stage knife is replaced by a real knife and a famous actor is killed is front of thousands.  Dallas and her team know what happened, but not who was truly responsible for the very brutal and very public execution.  It also turns out there was no want for motive, either, as every actor and a few of the stage crew had a reason to hate the victim.  This series entry had a very intriguing twist near the end that was very surprising.

Twelve Kinds of Ice/Ellen Bryan Obed/64 pages

Twelve Kinds of Ice was a quick, short read, but with beautiful writing.  Until now, I thought that ice was just ice.  I have a new appreciation now of the different types of ice that Ellen Obed grew up with in Maine.  Starting with the first ice, which is a thin layer that forms in the water bucket and ending with the perfect ice skating ice, Obed defines many types of ice that make up the winter months in her neighborhood.  With each arrival of new ice, the children of the area eagerly anticipate the next with text explaining, it's not just ice, it's a new adventure with each layer.  Each description was so lyrical, it made me want to visit Maine in the winter, just so I can experience all twelve kinds of ice.

Thor the Mighty Avenger vol. 2 / Roger Langridge/128 pages

I read this volume because I read vol.1 as it was recommended for Top Ten Best Graphic Novels for Teens from Booklist.  I liked the first volume and was certain I would like the second volume.  However, I still had issues with the 1962 comics they slipped in the back of the volume. The writing of todays Thor is just so much better than the writing from 50 years ago.  And modern technology has made the illustrations just so much more vibrant.  A good read for the most part.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger vol. 1/Roger Langridge/128 pages

I read this because it was listed as one of YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Top Ten - 2012) and a Top Ten Graphic Novel for Youth (Booklist) (2012).  In general, I am not a big fan of graphic novels or comics, but am attempting to broaden my reader's advisory of this genre.  The first graphic novel I read thusly did not endear me to the genre, but I think I might change my mind after reading Thor.   Having seen the recent movies, it was quite an entertaining read.  It tells of a re-imagined beginning for the hero Thor and Jane that parallels the main events from the movie, Thor.  The artwork was very good as well as the storyline.  An addition at the end of the graphic novel is the original 2 stories from the 1960s.  I got quite a giggle to see how far comics and graphic novels have come in the past 50 years.  Happy to say it was a big improvement.  It also made me think that I might be judging my like/dislike of the genre base on what was available when I was younger.  If that is the case, I am more than happy to give graphic novels another try.

Smart Girls Think Twice/Cathie Linz/290 pages

Smart Girls Think Twice is the fourth installment in Cathie Linz's series "Girls Do or Don't" about a small town in Pennsylvania with quirky characters.  It's been a few years since I read the first three in the series, but Linz didn't disappoint.  This was a quick, light romance with plenty of humor.  Cathie Linz is a librarian and she always hits it on the head when portraying our profession.  Nothing stereotypical with her.

Emma Riley, the youngest of three sisters, has come home to Rock Creek, PA for her sisters weddings.  While there she decides to do a little research work for her publish or perish job at a university.  Since she is a sociologist, she decides to interview the residents of Rock Creek and determine the cause of the resurgence of the small town.  She meets newcomer Jake Slayter who has come to Rock Creek for reasons of his own that he is not willing to share.  Because of trust issues, there is the standard miscommunication that happens in romances, but Linz doesn't let it get too far out of hand before bringing the characters back together.  All in all, a very quick, fun read.

Belly Up/Stuart Gibbs/294 pages

2012-2013 Mark Twain Nominee

I had high hopes for this book, the description and first few pages made it sound over the top hilarious.  However, after the first chapter it settled into a basic children's mystery story, never again to become laugh out loud funny.  All in all, though, it was a quite acceptable read.  Worthy of being nominated for the Mark Twain, but I agree with the children of Missouri that is was not a winner.  I love the cover and the map of FunJungle on the endpapers.  It was enough to get me to read the whole book.

Teddy's parents work for FunJungle, a zoo based on the concept of theme parks rather than the average zoo.  While this sounds like fun and the dream of every kid his age, he's actually very bored because he is the only kid there.  FunJungle is 30 miles on the middle of the Texas Hill Country with only the residents of the zoo living in the vicinity.  This leads to Teddy getting into mischief.  He also stumbles upon a mystery where it seems all the adults around don't seem too worried.  Henry the Hippo, FunJungle's mascot has died.  While Teddy was not overly fond of Henry, no one was a particular fan of Henry's, he still thinks that someone should have to pay for murdering the hippo. With the help of Summer, the daughter of the owner of FunJungle, Henry sets about discovering who and why they are covering up Henry's murder.

The Husband List/Janet Evanocih and Dorien Kelly/401 pages

I picked this book up because I absolutely adore the Stephanie Plum series.  Evanovich and Kelly had collaborated on another book which I also thought was very humorous.  However, this book was like neither of these.  It was still a good book, but I was very shocked that it was nothing like any of Evanovich's earlier writings.  The Husband List is a historical romance that takes place in Newport, RI in 1894 during the height of the Rockefellers and Astors. (although those families were only mentioned in passing)  While it had its moments, I never had a laugh out loud moment, and I miss that from Evanovich.  It read very similar to Regency novels in that they were upper society with strict etiquette and the plot centered around a "season" where young ladies were paraded at social events.  A good book, but don't expect classic Evanovich while reading.

Notorious Nineteen/Janet Evanovich/356 pages

Another wonderful addition to the Stephanie Plum series.  This time Stephanie tracks down  FTA, Failure to Appear, Geoffrey Cubbin to a mysterious medical facility.  When a second felon also disappears in a similar manner, she is forced to work with Joe Morelli which is distracting to say the least.  Not having success finding Cubbin and needing to pay rent, Stephanie accepts a job with Ranger.  Again, nothing is simple with Stephanie and a little food poisoning, a pink bridesmaid dress and a ex special forces maniac will not stop Stephanie from getting her man.

Explosive Eighteen/Janet Evanovich/341 pages

Janet Evanovich has does it again.  Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinnie who runs a bails bonds company.  While trying to track down bail jumpers ineptly, she also is trying to juggle two men in her life.  Add to that a sidekick, Lulu an ex-hooker and her grandma Mazur and nothing in Stephanie's life is simple.  Filled with humor and exploding cars, this was a great read.  All of Evanovich's books are good, but this one is one of my favorites so far.

Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life/Bill Engvall/238 pages

Blue Collar Comedy Star Bill Engvall is JUST A GUY.  He's been one his whole life.  He can't help it.  He was born that way.  And that makes him an expert on the subject.   

For the record, here's the official definition of a guy:  A person who doesn't think before he speaks.  He can't.  He's not that deep.  Because a guy has only three basic needs: eating, sleeping, and sex.  That's it. 
In this hilarious and heartfelt memoir, Bill Engvall takes you on the rollicking ride of his life, beginning with his childhood in Texas and adolescence in Arizona, becoming a fixture in local emergency rooms, the result of massive amounts of non-thinking behavior trying to impress girls or torture his sisters; to high school in Dallas where he dabbled in an array of truly odd jobs, learned the trombone, and came of age, all strangely connected; to college and his tenure as his fraternity's social chairman, where he masterminded a series of legendary parties and attempted to rescue his pet bird while the house was burning down (not his fault, honest); to following his dream as a standup comic and, gulp, singer; to his brief stint in children's theater while sharing the stage and the back of a van with the director's dog, and as a movie extra with forked tongue and cloth claws; to his bumbling and riotous courtship, then marriage to Gail, the love of his life; and, finally, fatherhood, where he remains, to this day, a well-meaning, but flawed parent.

This was a hilarious, quick read.  If you are familiar with the comedian, then you will immediately "hear" his voice as you read.