The Bookmouse

Just found out about this today:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090702/people_nm/us_sugden_1

Was sad to see this. I love Are You Being Served. She was fantastic as Mrs. Slocombe. Also loved her in "My Husband and I," where she starred with her real-life husband William Moore (who passed away a few years ago).

Book reivew:

51. Savvy, by Ingrid Law. This was a very charming coming-of-age story, good for preteens. Mibs is anxiously awaiting her 13-birthday, when her "savvy," or special skill, is supposed to bloom. Will she have X-ray vision? Will she be able to turn invisible, or be able to shut the mouths of those who annoy her, like the two bratty girls from her school? Will it at least be as impressive as her two older brothers' savvys? But just before this landmark birthday, her father is involved in a terrible accident. Suddenly, super stregth isn't nearly as important as hoping for a talent that will save her beloved Poppa. On the day of her birthday, she sneaks aboard a bus she thinks is going to the town where her father is hospitalized. One of her older brothers and her younger brother, along with a boy from their church and his older sister, wind up going with her. The resulting trip is a growing experience for all of them.
The start of the story seems fairly typical, but then, like that bus ride, takes a few unexpected twists and turns. The story's bittersweet ending is not what I expected, but I liked "Savvy" all the better for the more realistic ending than I thought would materialize. Some of the minor characters are "stock" -- the two bratty, annoying girls from Mibs' school -- but the main characters are well fleshed out. What I really liked were the insights about talents: how one doesn't have to have a supernatural "savvy" to be special, and sometimes even a savvy doesn't help solve your problems.

Heh, there were so many things I should have done this weekend, but between this that and the other... I needed a break. So, I read. And as of this evening, I have finished 50 books. Yay!

47. Tiger Moon, by Antonia Michaelis. 2009 Batchelder Award Honor Book. A really neat story, that did NOT end the way I thought it would. It's almost two stories in one, but it's hard to tell where the story ends and reality begins, which is part of the charm. Farhad, the unwitting and reluctant hero of the story, is charged with trying to rescue a princess from a demon. He is aided by a sacred white tiger, a tiger with a sarcastic tongue and issues of his own. Meanwhile, in a distant land, the young bride of a tyrannical, wealthy merchant keeps her spirits up by telling a story of rescue to a house servant. It's engaging to watch Farhad and the tiger Nitish race against time against seemingly impossible odds to rescue the princess. Both grow in confidence as the story progresses. At times, this reminded me of Arabian Nights in the storytelling, although the bride's tale is one continuous story, rather than many stories. Also enjoyed the symbolism, especially with the valuable but trecherous bloodstone, which tended to cut (literally and figuratively) the hands that possessed it.

48. The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt. 2009 Newbery Honor Book. Fans of books such as "Watership Down" and "Heavenly Horse of the Outermost West" and the like will enjoy this one. The narrative style is very conversational; indeed, I think this could be a fun book to read outloud to older gradeschoolers. Ranger, an old hound dog, befriends a calico cat. THe cat has two kittens, and their first and most important rule is to never, ever leave The Underneath, the sheltered space between the ground and the house above them. For Ranger's owner is the cruel, heartless Gar Face, who would use them as alligator bait. Of course, however, kittens will be kittens -- curious and playfull. One day, one of them does stray out of the safety of The Underneath, and sets of a chain of events, with entities going back more than a thousand years. This story leaps back and fourth in time, doling out the multiple stories in bits and pieces. But I personally found it very easy to follow and very engaging. I would save this for older gradeschoolers; one character dies, and Gar Face is truly a nasty, evil and cruel character.

49. Garmann's Summer, by Stian Hole. 2009 Batchelder Award Honor Book. Garmann is trying to enjoy his last days of summer, but he is worried about his first day of school. He knows school will start soon. His three elderly aunts have come to visit, and autumn is in the air. Garmann is also frustrated: he has not lost a single tooth yet. This sophisticated picture book packs a lot of themes -- life, death, changes, and fears -- between the pages. The artwork is fascinating, well done and layered. The thoughts come from a 6-year-old boy, but this is almost more for adults with its complexities. This may not be the best book for someone just starting school, not only because of the depth and complexity of the topics, but his fears never really get resolved. This might be a good book to share with second grade and up, who are facing something they fear, in a one-on-one, so the child and adult reader can talk.

50. Starclimber, by Kenneth Oppel. This is the third book in Oppel's "Airborn" series. This book was a fun read, but I thought the first two were superior. Fans of the fast-paced, near non-stop action of the first two might find the pacing slow. Personally, I thought the pacing was fine; it was slower and more deliberate, and got more into the relationships and interactions, especially between Matt and Kate. I also liked how some things which seemed inconsequential in the beginning turned out to be important at the end.
In this third installment, both Matt and Kate are invited to become astralnauts on the Starclimber, which will be the first vessel in space. Much of the first half of the book covers the training Matt goes through with the other potential candidates.
There are some good, laugh-out-loud moments, such as Sir Hugh's trying to upstage Kate during her lecture. The second half of the book has more action than the first half. The ending and resolution between Matt and Kate was a bit surprising. I guess the biggest stretch was the civilian crew. Some members (well, one in particular) should not have been on there, and it felt a bit contrived. But if you are willing to check that at the door, this story is a fun ride.

Ugh what a weekend! First I go to the theater Friday. On my way back to work, one of my tires blows out. Thankfully I have AAA (which I cannot recommend highly enough) and had it towed. Even more thankfully, my best friend was home and was able to drop me off at my place.

Actually that worked out in a way because best friend had "Chess: In Concert" featuring Josh Groban ('xcuse me while I squee a moment). So we listened to that and finished a puzzle.

Next day, Rach drove us around as we attended a free drawing workshop. Now THAT was FUN. We learned about birds of prey and drew from taxidermy animals. We hope to go back on Wednesday for another workshop, this time on flowers.

That evening, Rach, Kit and I were hoping to watch Chess: In Concert on PBS. There was one problem. One, I found different times in which it was supposed to be on. Two, the channel it was on I couldn't get : ( Darn digital changeover - -I used to get it. And no I am NOT getting cable -- I really don't watch enough television to make it worthwhile. Only reason I even bothered with the converter box is because my grandfather stays here when he's in town. So, we just played Upwards, chatted and had a late dinner (not in that order).

This morning, I finished an art project I'd been working for...probably about three weeks total from start to finish. It's for a contest. I'll post it up once the contest is over with. So that was a great feeling!

I was going to go back to the theater this afternoon -- I stepped outside to see my car muffler on the ground > : ( ARGGH! At least, it's easy to fix. Indeed, my dad (bless his heart!!!) came out and said all I need is a new bolt, old one had rusted away. So he's tying up my muffler as I type this then I'm heading over to my parents' house, where I hope to give dad a PROPER Father's Day gift and hug. I feel so bad for making him work on father's day.

OK, I also have two more book reviews:

45. The History Buff's Guide to The Presidents, by Thomas R. Flagel. This was a fun read! It's chock full of short, informative articles on the various leaders of our nation, their spouses, their relatives and other information. The book is organized in a series of top 10 lists: top 10 scandals, top 10 largest budgets, top 10 veto'ers, top 10...you get the picture. It's not unbiased, and the top 10 lists are, of course, subjective and debatable. But that's what makes this book fun and entertaining, and not some dry fact-spewing. What I also liked, however, is how it puts our history in perspective, and how many obstacles we faced as a country in preserving our sovereignty. It's tempting to wring our hands over today's woes, but scandal and bad times are not unknown. Who was it that said there is nothing new under the sun? At any rate, history buffs will want to get their hands on this one.

46. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation Volume Two: Kingdom on the Waves, by MT Anderson. Wow. I have been looking forward to this sequel for a long time, and it did not disappoint.


If you have NOT read the first book, there WILL be spoilers here (otherwise writing a review will be nearly impossible).


 

( Here be spoilers )

"Octavian Nothing" is not a light, fluffy read to take to the beach. But for a meatier, substantial read that will leave you thinking and debating for hours, you don't get much better than this.

... and God laughs.

Ugh. Stuck at home again this weekend, with either what is the worst 24-hour stomach flu bug I have ever had or food poisoning. Not sure which. Feel better today, but still not 100 percent.

I guess the silver lining is now I have time to update my reading list : P

41. Spellspam, by Alma Alexander. We are all familiar with e-mail spam, that annoying componant of e-mail, where at best you are bombarded with ads for the latest pills, Rolex watches and...other things. Some of the nastier ones can carry viruses that wreck havoc with your computer. But what if there was a way to send magic spells via e-mail?
This isn't supposed to be possible, especially at the Wandless Academy, but as Thea watches, her classmates start feeling the effects of various and malicious spellspam. Thea and her friends have to figure out who is behind the spells and why -- and how to stop them.
I'm really liking this series, and can hardly wait to get my hands on the third book. The concept of spellspam is genius (if a bit scary). Same with the elemental house. Thea is beginning to come into her own, and is more comfortable in her own skin. I am a bit worried about Ben, and can't help wonder if his insecurities may be an issue in the next book.

42. The boy who dared, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. This was every bit as good as I anticipated. Bartoletti takes one of the stories from her "Hitler Youth: Living in Hitler's Shadow" and expands on it. Young Helmuth Hubener had been considered an ideal young Nazi. He was smart, handsome and his mother's new husband, Helmuth's stepfather, was a ranking official with the Nazi party. But Helmuth grew discouraged and disgusted by the changes and loss of freedom he witnessed in the name of "patriotism." So, with the help of two other friends and an illegal radio, he started his own underground movement in distributing pamphlets about the truths of the war. He would later be caught and would pay with his life at age 17, but Helmuth's actions during the trials allowed his comrades to escape with comparitavely lighter sentences. Parts of the book, by necessity, are fictionalized, but Bartoletti provides a pretty thourough afterwards, along with a timeline and photos. She also had the opportunity to interview one of the friends and one of Helmuth's older brothers.

43. Dewey : the small-town library cat who touched the world, by Vicki Myron, with Bret Witter. A charming story. Library director Myron could not have know that in finding a weeks-old kitten in the drop box after a bitterly cold night in January, that her life would be changed and the town of Spencer, Iowa, would become known worldwide. Dewey Readmore Books found his home at the library, becoming a fixture among many of the library patrons for the next 19 years. Myron shares her memories and anecdotes about the famous library cat, both hilarious and bittersweet, as well as her own recollections about her life. Both stories are engaging, and I'm glad Myron interwove her own thoughts and life into the story of Dewey.
A note of caution: I'm glad the issue of allergies came up, and I guess for the most part things were OK. I know I'm very severely allergic to cats and could have never gone into that library. I couldn't help thinking that while things worked out in this case, that "library cats" don't become a fixture. I am glad that Myron pointed out that not all cats would have been suitable at the library.

44. Bloody Jack : being an account of the curious adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy, by L.A. Meyer. When Mary's family is wiped out by illness, she is forced to beg and steal on the streets with a band of urchins. But one day, at 13, she decides to disguise herself as a boy and manages to work her way onto a British war vessel commissioned to hunt pirates. "Jacky" must keep her identity a secret, as well as cope with growing up, her crush on another cabin boy and other adventures. The story is quick-paced and well-described. I listened to this one on CD, and the voice actress Katherine Kellgren did a commendable job with the large cast of characters.

Tried to read:

Wicked Lovely, by Melissa Marr. Got this one on CD too, and stopped after the first disc. This was just way too slow, and the conversation towards the end between the main character and her crush just stretched credibility to breaking point. I have a feeling this was written more for the "Twilight" crowd, which I didn't care for either.

Yes, I've finished two more books, and after having just posted yesterday. Before you look too shocked -- these were short. One was 105 pages, told in free verse, and the other was a picture book. I finished both in less than an hour.

However, just because they were quick reads doesn't mean they didn't have a profound impact. Both of these just left me stunned by the beauty and heartfelt emotion told through a few words.

39. "T4" by Ann Clare LeZotte. Tiergartenstrasse 4, or T4, was the edict handed down by the Nazi Party to remove disabled children from their homes to have them "evaluated" at local hospitals and institutions, and their quality of life "analyzed." That was the official story. Bluntly, this was part of Hitler's eugenics program. Many, if not all (I'm not sure on this point) sent to these places were euthanized, deemed "useless eaters," and "not fit to live." This novel is told in free verse from the point of view of a young teen who is deaf. Her life with her family is turned upside down in 1939, when T4 is announced. She is forced to go into hiding with a Catholic priest, where she goes from shelter to shelter until Hitler repeals the unpopular law a few years later. The book shows Paula's struggles to communicate and find acceptance in her neighborhood as a girl, and her growing understanding as a teen as to what the Nazis are doing. What is very profound is that many characters in the book preach against these actions, and wonder how something so horrible could take place. But when you read between the lines -- you see why. This is most poignantly told with the introduction of one character, who isn't as he seems. Anything more than that will spoil the story. Highly recommended for teens studying World War II. It's a fast read; even the more reluctant readers should find this easy to manage. But there's a lot of story told in these pages.

An interesting note is that the author herself is profoundly deaf, so it's little wonder Paula's thoughts and frustrations come across so believably. This is LeZotte's first novel; hopefully the first of many.

40. Silent Music: A Story of Bagdad, by James Rumford. A really neat story! Ali, a young boy who lives in Baghdad, is in many ways like most boys: he likes soccer, playing with his friends and "parent-rattling music" (that line made me laugh). But he also loves the art of calligraphy. Through the book, the reader sees various items from Iraq, in a sort of collage format. But the most interesting thing was the breakdown of some of the Arabic words. Another nice touch was how warm and vibrant the pages are when Ali is talking about his day-to-day activities, and how dark and subdued they are when he is talking about the war, which started in 2003. One of the most profound things was when Ali mentioned how easy the calligraphy was for "war," and how hard it was for him to write "peace," and he wonders how much he will have to practice to get that one correctly. Wow.

Greetings!

Completely over the strep bug -- yay!

Had a fairly light weekend. Watched two movies, read three books and did some cleaning, whee!

Movies:

X-Files: I want to Believe. Finally got around to seeing this one. In its heyday, I was a big fan of the television series. I have mixed feelings on this one. I watched the extended version (as opposed to the theatrical release). It felt a bit slow at times, although not unbearably. Part of it could have been looking at all that snow -- made me cold! I guess the stranges thing is it felt more like a 2+ hour episode rather than a movie. I think had I seen it on the big screen and paid admission, I would have been disappointed. This was a good fit on tv/DVD, though. I liked the internal struggles of the characters and the moral dilemnas throughout. But from the trailers... I was expecting something more along the lines of the first movie. So... I guess if you really liked the television series, you may like this.

Ran. A friend recommended this one after we were talking about King Lear. Think of "Ran" as a close parallel with King Lear, set in feudal Japan. This was different, but good. Rather violent, though. I must say, the battle scenes were pretty impressive, considering this was made in the days before CGI. With this story, you have three sons instead of three daughters, although the wife of one of the sons has a key role. The "Lear" of this story is definitely more ruthless, even in the current action. He does some pretty horrible things, so it's almost Karma that two of his sons turn out to be such monsters.

And on to the books -- the all Ancient Egypt Special! I checked these out after a great art lecture on Ancient Egypt at one of our local libraries.

36. "Valley of the Golden Mummies," by Zahi Hawass. The one drawback -- and it's a fairly minor one -- is that this was published in 2000. I'm sure a LOT has changed since Hawass wrote this. But then, that's the occupational hazard with history books. Otherwise, this is a great look at the discoveries made around that time, especially in Baharia Oasis, where numerous tombs containing hundreds of well-preserved mummies were found. The book has a number of amazing pictures from the site, as well as a lot of the authors anecdotes about making such a discovery. There are also chapters on the ancient gods and the funerary ceremonies. One thing I like is Hawass is very careful with the conclusions he draws -- he is aware that history is very much in the making. This could make a good reference book for older students and budding Egyptologists alike.

37. "Ramses II and Egypt," by Olivier Tiano.I had mixed reactions to this book. On one hand, the information seems to be pretty accurate, but it's rather scattered. I do like the "modern" tone given to it. There were sections that made me chuckle. My biggest problem is the font size of a lot of the text, which looks to be about 7 or 8 point. Having a lot of text at that size is bad enough. Having that size text on a busy background is just poor book design. This should have either been trimmed to be more about Ramses II, or expanded so the text could be bigger.

38. "The Murder of Tutankhamen," by Bob Brier. Heh, this shows the dangers of the book format when it comes to discoveries in progress. This was published in 1998; I think the popular theory now is that the boy king died in an accident. Nonetheless, this is an interesting read. Brier's writing style is very easy to follow, and very engaging. I would add, too, that the murder theory is not necessarily debunked as far as I can tell. Who knows what happened? He shares some very interesting information about the loving relationship between himself and his wife/half sister, Ankhesenamen. A very sweet, but sad story; she miscarried twice, and what happened to her after Tutankhamen's death is a mystery (my guess is she was probably murdered). Includes a nice timeline of the pharoahs. I like how each clue is dissected and a multitude of conclusions drawn, discussed and discarded (or fleshed out). Even though the young king may not have been murdered, this is still a good read.

I hadn't planned this. Honest. But this just happened to work out so well.

I was looking up books and saw two by Susan C. Bartoletti that looked rather interesting. So, on a whim, I checked them both out, and wound up reading them back to back -- one of them fiction (historical fiction) and one nonfiction. They both cover about the same time period -- the turn of the last century. They both cover issues of child labor and the several children's strikes that occurred from 1899 to the early 1900s. Yes, you read correctly: child labor strikes.

For those working with older grade school, these two books would be great to pair together in a child issues unit.

34. My Name is America: The Journal of Finn Reardon, a Newsie, by Susan C. Bartoletti. Finn lives with his family in cramped quarters in New York City. He goes to school in the morning, but at evening and night, he works as a newsie. He buys newspapers, then takes them to the street corner to sell. This is written in journal format, and covers just less than a year. This is short, and pretty easy to read, and is more of a "slice of the life" of a boy who may have grown up in that period, rather than a streamlined narration. There were a couple loose ends I would have liked to have seen addressed, such as what happened with the grandfather and the snowshovelers. But the bits of history, such as the newsie strike, seem accurate. Most of the characters, like Finn's family, are fictional, but there are historical figures mentioned. There's a nice afterwards going more into the history, plus some good pictures, at the end.

35. Kids on Strike! by Susan C. Bartoletti. This is a really neat, well-laid out book on the various strikes held by children and teens -- sometimes with adults and sometimes on their own. It covers the newsie strike in 1899, the Lawrence strike and introduces readers to figures such as Mother Jones. This gives an eye-opening account on how awful child workers had it; the book not only tells the story of these children in clean, consise text but has many pictures throughout. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, such as the Lawrence strike and, of course, the tragedy of the Triangle fires. This book serves not only as a lesson on how well we have things now, but as a warning that things could slip back to these times if we are not careful. Readers will see the pitfalls and the problems with overcoming the top brass, the mistakes that were made -- and how some strikes were won.

Again, amazing what this bug has done with that tall library stack of books I had... :P

Anywho, here it is:

33. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart. 2009 Printz Honor Book. Frankie, a sophomore at a prestigious boarding school, has, in the course of a year gone from unknown duckling to swan. She has attracted the attention of one of the most attractive seniors on the campus and is now part of an inner clique of older students.

But ... she's not happy. She's tired of being underestimated, sick of being treated as an insignificant "bunny rabbit" and wants to make her mark on the world. So by using her sharp, calculating mind and ability to blend, she manages to find out many secrets of a secret society, and hatches a few memorable plans, partially for attention, and partially for commentary.

This was a fun, coming-of-age story, good for middle and younger high school. It's pretty clean, content and language-wise. Some alcohol is consumed, that's about it, though. The characters are interesting, very complex. Frankie is still trying to find out what she wants and where she fits in. Matthew, her senior boyfriend, isn't a bad guy -- but not what she needs, either. There are no "evil" or "good" people -just people, which is refreshing.

Edit: Wow, I just realized, I read or finished 11 books this weekend, if you include today!

Amazing what this forced down time has done to my reading list LOL.

30. "A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy," by Jim Murphy. This actually should have been included in last night's list but I accidentally left it downstairs on the coffee table. Pity, because it's a nice compare and contrast with "No Man's Land." Again, we have a good historical book centered on a boy, 15 this time, who went to fight in the Revolutionary War. "No Man's Land" was more historical fiction, but this uses a lot of maps, old cartoons and images, plus quotes from several sources to tell the story of Joseph Plumb Martin. "A Young Patriot" takes the reader through pretty much the entire war. Murphy does an excellent job of showing the horrible conditions those men and boys had to go through, and how close the colonies came to losing. A great book for older grade school and middle school.

31. Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta. 2009 Printz Award book. An amazing read, especially when you get about halfway through. I generally try not to give away spoilers, but I'm going to clue you in on part of a spoiler here, because otherwise the first part of the book would be nearly impossible to follow. There are large sections of italics in the first half of the book. This is another story, written by another character in the book (not saying who, although the reader will figure it out quickly). The first half is a bit disjointed at times, which makes sense because the main character, Taylor Markham, isn't sure where she fits in. She finds herself the reluctant leader of a private school dorm, thrust into planning the annual schemes the school puts up against the Cadets and Townies. Taylor's life is shaken further when Hannah, an adult counselor of sorts who lives on the school grounds, vanishes overnight. Taylor's mother abandoned her near the school when she was 11, and the teen always saw Hannah as a mother figure. She is especially worried because of additional reports of young girls going missing. In addition, it seems like Taylor's closest peers and adults know more about her past than she does -- are are reluctant to give her any details. As I said -- the first half of the book is a bit disjointed, but it's not too bad. Things finally get rolling with the confrontations between the teens at the school, the Townies and the Cadets, and the story finds its stride when the students go on vacation. At that point is when the book becomes purely exhilerating, and the wrap-ups end on many unexpected twists. Some language, but fairly clean overall; good for 8th/9th grade and up.

32. "What the World Eats," photographs by Peter Menzel, written by Faith D'Allusio. This has to be the most information crammed into 160 pages I have ever encountered. But "crammed" in a fairly orderly, well-laid-out fashion. This book has so many possibilities for schools, both children and adult groups, libraries. Heck, you could build a whole curriculum out of this book! The author and photographer went to 21 countries and met with 25 families. The basic package takes a snapshot of each family with a week's worth of food. Included are the number of family members, and how much they spend -- in their currency compared to the U.S. dollar. Countries include Australia, the United States, Chad, China, Equador, Mali, Guatemala, India, Japan and Poland. Many also have more pictures of the family in their day to day lives, as well as brief conversations on what they like, and the contrasts between the older and younger generations. These contrasts are especially evident in countries such as China, Japan and India, which is seeing more and more fast food and "western" influences. My best friend, who also read this, pointed out something interesting -- how many of the families in the industrialized worlds had prepackaged, brand name foods, while other countries had more fresh stuff. Interesting, especially when you look at the sugar consumption, etc. I think one of the saddest pictures/profiles was one of the families in Chad, a refugee family. There were six people, sitting before food that barely looked adequate for two or three people for three days, much less a week. Wow. That was eye-opening. There also are a few "family recipes" in the book. Some won't be possible, but I know a lot of groups often have international days, and I think some of the recipes may be workable with little to no revision. I wonder if there are plans for revisions and updates?

So much for my weekend :P

Here I had a nice schedule all laid out -- only to be done in by a microbe. I'm recovering from a nasty strep throat infection, joy, rapture. So I've been sidelined for the next couple days.

I am feeling better; got some good drugs from the doctors. Well, this explains why I was dragging all week...

Anywho, also gave me a chance to do some reading, so...

23. So Yesterday, by Scott Westerfeld. Had actually checked this out in anticipation of having a doodle/chat session with my best friend, but she was busy last weekend and me, well, I've already told you about that! Got this on CD. OK, still love the Uglies books, but Westerfeld's fans who have not read this one will not be disappointed. This is a lot lighter, more fun, although there are still some pointed digs at commercialism. The story centers on Hunter, a Trendsetter paid to find and observe what is in and what is out in the world of conspicuous consumerism. His world gets turned around by a chance meeting with Jen, together with a call from Hunter's boss that sets their paths in an unexpected direction. I just love the phrases Westerfeld comes up with, such as "The Nod," and how Hunter uses descriptions to keep from naming brand names. Ordinarily, such gags clunk after a couple of uses, but he keeps them fresh. It didn't quite end how I expected, and I wonder if there will be a follow-up. There's enough material for one. Also liked Westerfeld's treatment of Hunter's parents -- Hunter gets annoyed by them, but at one point, he is glad for their support.

24. No Man's Land, by Susan Bartoletti. I was looking for "The Boy Who Dared" (which I am still waiting for) when I ran across this and thought "Why not?" It seems like a typical historical fiction story set during the Civil War from the cover: Thrasher Magee, 14, enlists in the army to prove to his father that he can be brave. But there are a lot of twists with this tale: One, Thrasher is a Confederate, and I've never seen a lot of stories center on. There's only one battle towards the end, but Thrasher's unit (based on a real one) sees the aftermaths. Also interesting is there's little mention of slavery. The emphasis here is how people's perspectives change as the war progresses. One soldier, confident in the beginning, begins to lose his nerve as he thinks of his family. Another, Thrasher's older friend from his hometown, a a joker, but he becomes a little more serious as the tale goes on. I guessed Tim's story fairly quickly, but that made it no less interesting. I liked the details and notes Bartolli put in the back (I did not know that about "standing on 18") and while there were some mistakes in terminology when she was talking about baseball (or, back then, base ball)this was fairly minor and might have been intentional. Trying to explain all the terms back then may have bogged the story down too much for what was a neat but short scene. Again, this was more of a character-driven story.

I remember when I was interning at a local library, and one assignment that students came to us with was finding a historical fiction work. Boys, naturally, wanted ones with a boy main character. I realized checking the shelves that there didn't seem to be too many -- most historical fiction books aimed at children and teens seem to be girl-centered. Well, for students with this assignment, this is a good boy/teen-based historical fiction book.

25. One Boy from Kosovo, by Trish Marks, with photography by Cindy Karp. The author and photographer spent time in a Macedonia refugee camp looking for a willing interviewee. They found one in Edi, one of the nearly one million ethnic Albanians driven out of their homes in Kosovo. Here, Edi talks about his fears and experiences as he and his family abandon their home to flee to Macedonia and their lives at the camp, where he tries to meet friends and keep an ear out for news on friends and family back in Kosovo. A nice way to teach present-day history to older grade-schoolers and middle-schoolers, using a more personal touch.

26. Are You Ready to Play Outside? By Mo Willems. 2009 Geisel Medal Winner. Willems strikes gold again with this latest Gerald and Piggie story. The normally cheerful and rambunctious Piggie gets frustrated when rain threatens to soak her plans for an outdoor day of fun. Harold comes to the rescue, and the two friends have a good day. Willems' art in this book is so simple and straightforawrd, but very charming.

27. Chicken Said, "Cluck!" by Judyann Ackerman Grant, with pictures by Sue Truesdell. 2009 Geisel Honor Book. Two children are eager to start a garden, but Chicken keeps interfering. However, Chicken comes to the rescue after grasshoppers threaten to destroy the children's work. This was...OK. The illustrations are darling, and brighten up the rather boring text. I know, this is supposed to be geared for first-time independed readers, and some repitition and limited word choice is necessary. But I've seen this type of book better done, word-wise. For example, do both children have to say "Shoo?" Couldn't Pearl have said "Go Away?"

28. Stinky, written and illustrated by Eleanor Davis. Stinky, a swamp monster, is horrified when he discovers a human boy has invaded his precious swamp. Stinky sets out to drive the boy away, but winds up finding a friend. Told in graphic novel style. A very charming read! The illustrations are clean and basic enough, but there are fun details on some of the larger panels that are neat to look for.

29. Just In Case, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales. 2009 Belpre 2009 Illustrator Award Winner. Both a story and a Spanish alphabet book. Great for young children learning both languages (youngsters NOT studying Spanish might get confused, since Spanish has additional letters ("ch" for example, is considered a seperate letter). Senor Calavera realizes it's his good friend Grandma Beetle's birthday-- and has to try to find just the right gift (by going through the alphabet). But when disaster strikes on the way to the party, Calavera and his friend, the ghost Zelmiro must find a solution. Wonderfully illustrated, with great alphabet examples. Also loved Zelmiro -- he's the one who keeps Calavera thinking about the possible gifts -- and not just for the sake of teaching the alphabet! Nice touch.

Sleepy today. Don't know if it's the adjustment from low 60s to mid 80s overnight or what (NOT complaining, but it is an adjustment). Have a busy weekend coming up, should be fun, though. Play Friday, family gathering Saturday and the ballet on Sunday.

Also have read lots of books:

17. Bogus to Bubbly, by Scott Westerfeld. Fans of the "Uglies" books will probably like this guide to that universe, particularly fanfic writers and trivia buffs. I thought it was pretty good -- I liked the illustrations for some of the inventions. Still, I was a bit disappointed. I wanted more. For example, we get the hint that Dr. Cable was a bit of a rabble-rouser in her youth. I would have loved to have seen her entry expand on that. Same with Az and Maddy. And how did Peris and Tally become friends? This wasn't a bad read -- I just wanted more information. Ninty-nine percent of what is in here is covered in the four books.

18. Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator, by Sarah C. Campbell, photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. 2009 Geisel Honor Book. This is another reminder why we should never discount children's books when looking up information. I had never even heard of wolf snails, which eat other snails. Kudos on the photography, too. I wonder how long it took to get so many good, applicable close-ups?

19. Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum, by Robert Andrew Parker. 2009 Schneider Family Book Award. An easy-to-follow book on Art Tatum, a gifted piano player who was born with severe vision problems. It starts from his childhood and goes to young adulthood, where he is beginning to make a name for himself. I like the illustrations -- they have a feel of being a memory. I like the biographical information at the back, which will be handy for students doing reports.

20. One Boy, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. 2009 Geisel Honor Book. A very charming numbers book. As the reader turns the page, a cutout helps create the story. Very bright and vibrant. Good for 2 years and up, perhaps younger.

21. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, by Margarita Engle. Newbery Honor book and 2009 Belpre Author Award Winner.
This was a very powerful book, told through several points of view in a series of poems, about Cuba's fight to become independent from Spain between the 1860s and the 1890s. Much of the story focuses on Rosa, a talented healer who hides away in Cuba's mountains, sheltering the refuges, orphans and soldiers. Rosa is based on Rosa la Bayamesa. Other views include Rosa's husband Jose, an officer who put me in the mind of Javier from Les Miserable in his quest to find and kill Rosa, and an orphan. There's also a nice chronology and author's notes as well. A quick but dense read, good for both the "reluctant reader" and anyone interested in history.

22. The Storyteller's Candle/La Velita de los Cuentos, but Lucia Gonzales, illustrated by Lulu Delacre. Belpre Honor award for author and illustrator. A neat book, told in both English and Spanish (and wow is my Spanish rusty!) about a Puerto Rican family who had just moved to New York in 1929. They are learning to adjust to the cold winters and different environment. But the visit of librarian Pura Belpre to one child's class opens up a new world to them at the library and through getting to know other families like them. They learn things about their new home, while working together to keep some of their traditions alive.

Found this at pinstriper 16's blog *Waves* and thought it was amusing:

Your result for The Which Shakespeare Play Are You? Test...

Hamlet

You scored 43% = Tragic, 38% = Comic, 19% = Romantic, 35% = Historic

Take The Which Shakespeare Play Are You? Test at HelloQuizzy

Yay! The weather, slowly but surely, is beginning to improve. This coming weekend, according to initial forecasts, is supposed to be lovely -- which is great because it's going to be very busy! Seeing two plays, and face painting.

More books:

15. Obstruction of Justice, by Perri O'Shaughnessy. I actually started this late last year, and finally got around to finishing it. All in all, it was pretty enjoyable. A bit slow in places, but it keeps you guessing. There's more twists and turns in this than a double knot.

Basically, there are two different mysteries: the death of a viscious, controlling man and a hit-and-run death of a probation officer three years earlier. The cases wind up being related. Nina Reilly, an attorney, witnesses the death of Ray de Beers, and from all appearances, it looks to be accidental -- he was struck by lightning while hiking up a mountain. But she is then hired by the widow to help stop the disinterment of the body, which Ray's father has called for. Nina gets unwittingly involved when she comes across a potential murder scene, which points a finger of suspicion at Ray's son. Nina believes he is innocent of the death, but how far will she go to protect her client? As it turns out, pretty far -- even risking criminal charges against herself for withholding a key piece of evidence.

I found one plot point -- where one of the characters finds forensic evidence, from the three-year-old case in a parking lot -- a bit of a stretch, and the pacing was slow at times. But the characters are a lot of fun, especially Paul, a rather egotistical guy you'd love to hate, but can't because he's too charming and too good at his job. Nina and Paul are a pair.

16. The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. 2009 Newbery Medal winner. I had started this book Saturday morning, with the intent on reading a couple chapters before going on errands and to an afternoon committment. Big mistake. Next thing I know, I'm done with the book, and I am racing out the door to that appointment (thankfully I didn't have far to go). What can I say? This one was hard, very hard, to put down. I read "Stardust," which I thought was OK (personally, I preferred the movie), and I read "Coraline," which I really enjoyed (I listened to it on CD, which was wonderfully done). But this I think is Gaiman's best by far.

Nobody Owens was found as an infant by the resident ghosts of a cemetery as a baby, and has been brought up by them since the brutal murder of his family. In the cemetery, he is more-or-less safe from the man Jack, protected by his adopted parents and a mysterious guardian, Silas. Bod has a rather strange upbringing -- as well as reading and writing, he also learns how to Fade and dreamwalk and other skills generally confined to the spirit realm. There is a nice mystery throughout -- why was the man Jack after Bod's family? How and why is Bod able to do things only ghosts generally can do? It comes together nicely in the end -- although the way it concluded, I doubt there will be a sequel. Darn.

What I really liked is that it takes some of the conventions and turns them on their head (for example, werewolves are actually "good guys" here). I like the play on words with the Jacks. What I really liked is that while Bod's existance in the graveyard is strange and wonderful -- you get the sense early on that he cannot stay forever, and eventually he gets restless and is ready to move on. This succeeded in showing this need to move on far better than "Tender Morsels," which I reviewed earlier.

Yep, that's me!

Had a nice holiday with family. Mom made me my favorite kind of cake for my birthday: Angel food with whipped creme and fresh strawberries. Yum, squared!

I'm hearing rumors that the release date for the Harry Potter movie has been moved again. Say it ain't so (unless, of course, it's earlier)!

Books:

12. Fool, by Christopher Moore. In a nutshell, this story is inspired by Shakespeare's King Lear, told from the point of view of Pocket, the king's fool. This book manages to be charming despite itself. It's sophomoric one moment, and very sharp the next. Pocket, along with his dim assistant Drool, are part of the king's court. The fool, traditionally, is someone who can say anything, even to to king, without much fear of reprisal, and Pocket plays that to the hilt. No one is spared his tongue or wit. Book purists should be warned: this story does not end the same way as Shakespeare's tragedy. Moore's tale gets rather bawdy at times, especially when it comes to the serving wenches and the king's older two daughters. However, it's good to keep in mind that Shakespeare himself wrote not just for the nobility, but for the rank and file. A good read for adults who don't mind bawdy hijinks and pokes at The Bard.

13. After Tupac and D Foster, by Jacqueline Woodson (Newbery Honor Book). A very dense, moving story that will appeal to young teens, particularly young teen girls. Two best friends, Neeka and the narrator of the story (who is unnamed) meet a third girl, who calls herself D, when she is wandering around the neighborhood. The three become close friends during the summer, particularly after Tupac Shakur, their idol, is shot but survives. The three are quite different: D lives with a foster mother, and is free to roam the city, something Neeka and the narrator envy. They are not allowed off of their suburban block. Neeka comes from a large, close-knit family whose homosexual brother is in jail after being framed for a hate crime. The narrator lives with her mother; the father ran away years ago.

The summer D's mother comes back for her makes for many changes for the three. Their circle has been broken, and Tupac has been shot again, and this time he does not survive. The ending is open-ended; you aren't certain what the future holds for the girls, especially for D, but you hope for the best.

14. Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan (2009 Printz Honor Book). This is supposed to be a take on the Grimm Fairy Tale, Snow White and Rose Red. It has been so long since I've read that story, so I can't compare the two. Personally, I found this book to be a bit slow. I don't mind books that take their time, but around the 300th page, I was tempted to give up.

There are a lot of good things in this story, although it is NOT for the faint of heart or easily offended. The characters are well done, and the settings are very visual. Lanagan does a superb job in describing the various worlds and characters. Liga starts out as a young teen. After years of being molested by her father, then raped by several town boys, she is allowed to enter her "dream world," where she never has to feel in danger, where the people are pleasant and she wants for nothing. There, she raises her two daughters, the mild Branza and the precocious and mischevious Urrda.

However, the world is not 100 percent safe. Through the accidental meddling of a witch, visitors from the real world occassionally pop in. Some, like a bear (a man in a bear outfit in the real world) are gentle and kind. Others, like the "littlee" man, who is after gold and treasure, are not so kind. Some, like another bear that comes in, are downright treacherous (although this is where I thought the story started to drag; the thing with the second bear, and that side plot with the three youths really had little bearing -pardon the unintended pun-on the rest of the story).

First, a cool announcement: I have another blog, this one "official" -- as in company sanctioned. Introducing DigitalLit: http://blogs.dixcdn.com/digitallit/

I'll have some book reviews there (more will still be found here, for I have parameters there I need to keep if I don't want to get inundated :P ) The official blog site will concentrate on local author and book news, as well as the occasional review.

And speaking of book reviews -- this next round is mostly from the 2009 Caldecott honor and awards:

5. Daughters of fire : heroines of the Bible, by Fran Manushkin and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz. This is a really nice collection of short stories about the famous women in the Bible. There's aren't a lot of illustrations, and most are fairly simple, but well done. The stories seem best for a read-to for younger children, and independent reading for older grade school. Or, for someone like me interested in a general history. The stories are easy to follow and well-written. Very enjoyable, all in all. The illustrator won a Calecott honor, and I stumbled across this book when looking for it. Call it a happy accident!

6. The diamond tree : Jewish tales from around the world. Selected and retold by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush ; illustrated by Uri Shulevitz. Another one I stumbled upon, and am happy to have done so. This is geared more to younger readers. It's amazing how universal some stories and folktales really are, although each version has its own, localized twist. Loved the story of Thumbelina, and the story about the fools (I wonder if this is where Neil Simon got his inspiration for his play, Fools?)

7. A couple of boys have the best week ever, by Marla Frazee. This book was so charming! It's one of those books that children will enjoy now for the obvious jokes, and perhaps a couple not-so-obvious ones. Then, 20 years later, they will find it, flip through it and laugh all the harder at the more subtle digs they missed. One of the best examples of the type of humor in this gem is when the text is saying that James was sad when he was left at his friend Eamon's grandparents' house -- but the illustration shows James with a huge grin on his face, and he is waving to his offscreen parents and shouting "BYE!"

8. The house in the night, written by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes. The 2009 Caldecott medal winner. Very unusual, since it's mostly black and white, with soft yellow accents. But I love the theme. This is a great bedtime story book. It takes situations that may seem dark and threatening -- the dark house, for example, but the lights and the words (which offer nice repetition) are not scary at all, but soothing. A very magical, sweet book!

9. A river of words : the story of William Carlos Williams, by Jen Bryant ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Caldecott honor book. This is a nice reference book for a young student needing to do a biography of someone. It's short, pretty well narrated, and has a nice dateline in the back. It was neat for me reading this book, because I remember reading some of those poems when I was in grade school (particularly the one about the plum). Wasn't as crazy about the illustrations. I do like how the poems were woven into the background, but ... I don't know. Just didn't do too much for me. It struck me as cluttered, somehow. Distracting.

10. How I Learned Geography, written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz. THIS was the book I had been looking for when I found "Daughters of Fire" and "The Diamond Tree." Caldecott Honor book. Really neat story, and somewhat autobiographical. Taken from the author's memories as a refugee during World War II. The family's father comes home, bringing a map instead of food. At first, the son is angry, but as he studies the map, he imagines himself in far-away places, where he can, for a time, forget how miserable and hungry he is. Lovely contrast between the daydreams and the stark reality.

11. Nation, by Terry Pratchett. A bit of a change of pace. This was a 2009 Michael L. Printz honor book. Pratchett is probably best known for his offbeat, dry and sometimes twisted humor, especially in his Discworld books. This still has the ironic, droll wit, but Nation is a lot more serious and reflective compared to the other books I've read. After a devastating tsunami destroys all that they have ever known, Mau, an island boy, and Daphne, an aristocratic English girl, together with a small band of refugees, set about rebuilding their community and all the things that are important in their lives. Both children -- especially Mau -- struggle with thier identities and the beliefs and mores they grew up with as they build a new world. A neat story with interesting and balanced observations, with no stone -- whether it be religion, racial bias or gender roles -- left unturned. I'd recommend this for 13 and up. The ending was probably "neater" than what would have happened in real life, but given the scope of the tragedy elsewhere our protagonists have to go through, it was appropriate.

Currently reading: Fools, by Christopher Moore.

You Are An ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. You break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

Wow, I can't believe it's been two months since I've posted. Eesh! Bad me, bad me!

Not a lot to report, except a couple book reviews.

- Brisingr, by Christopher Paolini. My best friend and I listened to this while working a puzzle. The narrator was quite good, although we did giggle sometimes at the likeness of some of the characters to Star Wars characters. But all in fun -- there is quite a cast to juggle!

This third installment was a bit disappointing. There were a lot of good elements: the humor was great (Saphira was wonderful, as usual, and there's a great "scar" competition between Eragon and his cousin Roran). The politicking was well-done and thought out. I begin to see why Eragon not only will have to leave Alagaesia, as prophesied, but he will probably want to.

HOWEVER, this book was in desperate need of a good editor. In fact, I think with a good editor, the fourth installment really could have fit to make this series a trilogy. There was just too much monologing, and it really interrupted the flow. The only character who could get away with that  much dialogue in one go, without interruptions is Nasuada -- and only her to a degree. Also, I understand that with the increased battles, there would be more violence, and I do like the conflicts the characters go through when they have to go to battle (I do worry about Roran -- he's beginning to like battles a bit too much. I think that will make his relationship with Katrina and Eragon very interesting!) If the gore had been limited to the battle scenes, I wouldn't complain. But there was a good deal of bloodshed in this one, to the point where it got gratuitous. The trial of the long knives was just nauseating.

I'm a bit worried about the fourth book after this one.

Oh, and another note: skip the interview with the author at the end. It was extremly irritating.


-- Hatter M., by Frank Beddor. I had really been looking forward to this graphic novel spinoff of "Looking Glass Wars" and "Seeing Redd" -- which are excellent "alternate fantasies" to "Alice in Wonderland." This was a bit disappointing. There were some bright spots of dry humor with Hatter M, one of the neatest characters Beddor created. But the comic is not that well-drawn, and it's too monochrome. The story itself was a bit choppy.