The Painted Veil, by W. Somerset Maugham

The Painted Veil, by W. Somerset Maugham
Adult Fiction, 1925

Kitty is a spoiled pretty girl who on impulse and fear, marries Walter. He is a bacteriologist stationed in Hong Kong, and is quiet and unassuming, never enjoying the more wild social situations and gossip, but content with his work and loving his beautiful wife. Kitty, however, finds herself bored with her husband and her marriage and has an affair with a local government agent, Charles Townsend. On discovering their affair, Walter volunteers in an inland city of China that is having a cholera epidemic, and insists his wife come along. Slowly, Kitty becomes the woman she is meant to, and learns the true depth of the man she married.
I was enthralled from page one with Maugham's writing. It is absolutely superb, and his characterizations are nothing short of brilliant. A tragedy, which was at least a little expected, I was hoping for a bit more closure between the couple before it striked. I also did not like her further adventures in Hong Kong post the cholera epidemic, but I loved her 'make up' with her father. Her repentant attitude and desire to shed the person she was made her a more loveable character, although sometimes you do feel a little frustrated with her slow reactions. In the end, it was excellent, but don't expect and laughter or smiling - when I finished the book I was frowning a bit and at more than one point I wanted to cry.
The movie, is, I believe, a little different. I haven't seen it, but I understand from gossip that there is a love scene between Kitty and her husband - this is very very different from the book, but probably more in line with what most people would want.
The movie poster also doubled for a new book cover in (I believe) 1996.
Graded an A-.

Friday Finds (4)

Ok - here's the latest and greatest grabs for my 'to read' list - which is...ever growing. I'm waiting to post my review of my latest read until next week so my husband can read it too for a duo review. We'll also be doing a giveaway of the ARC which I happen to know very few if any of you have, so look out for that.

A Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick
Adult, 2009
When Ralph advertises for a reliable wife, Catherine isn't exactly what he expected. Hoping to get his money, she plans to poison him, but things don't turn out exactly as expected.


Stalker Girl, by Rosemary Graham
Young Adult, August, 2010
No one really has an idea what this one is about, but I love the cover so...for now it's on the 'to read' list.


Sorrow Wood, by Raymond Atkins
Burned witches, upset occults, a man in love...etc. Apparently a dark tale, but one librarian said she laughed and laughed all the way through it...so, hey, why not?!


Old Magic, by Marianne Curley
Young Adult, 2009
Two teenagers...thwarted love....magic and mayhem...sound a little too familiar? Maybe a twilight knock off but maybe not. Worth a shot, anyways.

Ok, this week doesn't sound so good. A lot of these might get thrown out after the first couple pages, but hey, they sound worth a shot. :)

Happy Reading!

The Pale Assassin, by Patricia Elliott

The Pale Assassin, by Patricia Elliott
Young Adult, 2009

After Sophie and her brother Armand find themselves in the middle of the French Revolution with their guardian fleeing to safety, Sophie must find a way to survive in Paris despite being an aristocrat, while her brother joins the revolutionists. But not all friends are true, and there looms the Pale Assassin as a threat to everything she holds dear.
Ok, I didn't like Murkmere, her first book, but I love to read about the French Revolution, so I thought I'd try this one out. I was, I'm afraid, disappointed. (I'm so sorry this seems to be a trend lately!) Sophie is the spoiled girl you think she is, but she seems to grow up very quickly and without any scenes that show her transformation. The Pale Assassin is really anything but except in the very first scene when he's all mad. And the revolutionaries (including Armand and the 'odious but attractive' Julien) never really do anything but have meetings in dark cellars. When they DO do something, they always fail. Perhaps it's entirely historically accurate, but I was hoping for more of a Scarlet Pimpernelle approach.
Graded a C+.

Shelf Discovery Challenge: Harriet the Spy and The Long Secret, by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
Juvenile, 1964

From Fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Harriet the Spy is about an intensely curious and intelligent girl, who literally spies on people and writes about them in her secret notebook, trying to make sense of life's absurdities. When her classmates find her notebook and read her painfully blunt comments about them, Harriet finds herself a lonely outcast.
An absolute classic, this is a book to read over and over, at least when you're a kid. As a precocious child, Harriet deals with a move, among other changes in her life, and that horrible moment when you realize everyone just might be against you. With unforgettable characters like Ol' Golly and Sport, this is a fully fleshed and excellently written story. Graded an A.

Harriet the Spy was also made into a movie a few years back, which oddly enough wasn't too bad. Maybe about a B.


The Long Secret, by Louise Fitzhugh
Juvenile, 1965
Also from Fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Harriet the Spy refuses to become ruffled when an unidentified person starts leaving disturbing notes all over the quiet little beach town of Water Mill. She's determined to discover the author of the notes. And she drags her best friend, mousy Beth Ellen, into all kinds of odd and embarrassing situations in her efforts to reveal the culprit. Observing in her own special, caustic way with her ever-present notebook, Harriet the Spy is on the case. But will she be ready to face the truth when she finds it?
A similar write to Harriet the Spy, these further adventures are plenty of fun. Graded an A-.

Don't forget to check out the rest of Fitzhugh's Harriet books:
Sport (1979)
Harriet Spies Again (2002) (with Helen Ericson)
Harriet the Spy, Double Agent (2005) (with Maya Gold)

Atherton: The Dark Planet, by Patrick Carman

Atherton: The Dark Planet, by Patrick Carman
Young Adult, 2009

In this third and final book of Atherton, Edgar and his friends embark on further adventures on the planet of Atherton- a world created by Dr. Max Harding as a refuge for the people of the failing planet Earth. By the third book Atherton has evolved into its final state, or so Edgar thinks, until he finds a way to return to the Dark Planet where pollution has made living toxic and where children are made to suffer from the pollution and the terrible disorder that has descended on the world.

First, I would like to recommend the entire Atherton series, starting with House of Power. The characters develop well throughout all three novels and while the science of the books is a little bit over the top (as in unrealistic in my point of view) it is fun and creative and interesting. The plot keeps moving and keeps you involved while amazing you as you see deeper into the mind of Dr. Harding and what his great purpose was in creating Atherton.

Grade (for Dark Planet): B+

Note: Review by Trackgeek.

Terrific Authors on Tuesdays: Nancy Springer

Today we're spotlighting a great author, Nancy Springer, who has written books since the 70s and continues to write today. She writes for juvenile, young adult, and adult, so there's something here for everyone. She also writes just about everything - fantasy, mystery, science fiction, you name it. Here are her books (summaries from fantasticfiction.co.uk), although we haven't read nearly as many of hers as we should have:

Series

Book of the Isle (adult)
The White Hart (1979)
Welcome to Isle, a land of fantasy that existed long before there were such things. Surrounded by vast oceans and dotted with thick forests, Isle was a land in which all beings lived together. There were gods and ghosts dwelling with the Old Ones, the wise ancient ancestors. During this period, The Book of Suns began its life, though little was known about its contents. The mighty marriage between Sun and Moon begins an adventure never seen before.
The Book of Suns (1977)
In the Kingdom of Isle, where the Sun Kings reign with the power of the Book of the Suns, Hal and Alan are given a mission. They must use the ancient strength of wisdom to destroy the evil that plagues the kingdom. The two blood brothers venture throughout the land fighting the many forms that this evil takes so they can arrive at their destiny.
The Sable Moon (1981)
-no summary available-
The Black Beast (1982)
Frain and Tirell, princes of Melior, travel to the mysteriuos regions of Vale in search of an army and a chance of victory.
The Golden Swan (1983)
Young Dair, changeling son to King Trevyn of Isle, is called by a mysterious vision to share his destiny with a strange wandering youth known as Frain. But when the gentle, wolf-human Dair finds his bond brother, the curse of a dark enchantment and the search for a lost love has claimed Frain's injured heart. Now Dair must journey with him, for only together would they unveil the prophecy and know the peace hidden with their web of fate.

Sea King (adult)
Madbond (1987)
Dannoc: Red Hart tribe warrior, who had witnessed horror overwhelming enough to steal his memory - and his mind. Rad Korridun: king of the Seal Kindred tribe, who shoul d have taken a crazed killer's life - but gave him new life, instead. Tassida: tribeless wanderer, who had roamed the world of ruins beyond the mountains, and found no one - no one at all..Dark destiny and deadly secrets await them, on a quest fr o m the shattered order of the six tribes to the nightmare mysteries of enchanted blades and vanishing wilds, spellbound shape-shifters and soul-engorged Devourers..for they seek an evil that uses mindless atrocity and nameless terror - to kill an entire world.
Mindbond (1987)
-no summary available-
Godbond (1988)
-no summary available-

Rowan Hood (juvenile)
Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest (2001)
Rosemary has nowhere to go when her beloved mother dies. She has never met her father-the outlaw Robin Hood-and she's grown up among the woodland creatures her mother loved. So she decides to change her name to Rowan, disguise herself as a boy, and undertake a perilous journey through Sherwood Forest, in search of Robin Hood. But how will she find him? And will he offer her a home?
Lionclaw (2002)
Lionel is seven feet of pure coward. Banished by his warrior father for refusing to learn to fight, Lionel found refuge in the woods of Sherwood Forest, where he joined the misfit band of teens led by Rowan Hood, daughter of Robin. Now, a year later, his father has been taken prisoner by Robin Hood, and Lionel is determined to make peace. But when Lionclaw spots his son among outlaws, he vows revenge. Suddenly Sherwood is crawling with danger and Lionel wants nothing more than to turn and run. But when a couple of bounty hunters capture Rowan and use her as bait, the lion in Lionel is awakened, along with the courage to stand up to his father.
Outlaw Princess of Sherwood (2003)
King Solon the Red attempts to capture his runaway daughter Ettarde and force her into marriage with a rival king who has been threatening his reign.
Wild Boy (2004)
Determined to avenge the death of his swineherd father at the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham, Rook finally gets his chance when the Sheriff's son is captured by Robin Hood.
Rowan Hood Returns (2005)
Guy Longhead. Jasper of the Sinister Hand. Hurst Orricson. Holt, also Orricson, brother of Hurst.To anyone else, just four names. But to Rowan Hood, the gentle healer who has waited two long years to put names to the men who murdered her mother, they are fuel to feed her desire for revenge. And so she leaves the rowan grove that had become her home in Sherwood Forest, and along with her friends, sets off to seek these men. Yet she finds that the closer she draws to them, the farther she feels from the healer she has become.

Enola Holmes (young adult)
The Case of the Missing Marquess (2006)
Raspberry: B+
Trackgeek: B
-no summary available- But for background purposes, Enola Holmes is the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. After her mother disappears, she runs from her brothers and houses herself as the secretary of a "detective" to earn her keep.
The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (2007)
Raspberry: B+
Trackgeek: B
-no summary available-
The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (2008)
Raspberry: B
Trackgeek: B+
Everyone knows Dr. Watson is Sherlock Holmes' right-hand man - so when he goes missing, it's a shock. Even Sherlock hasn't the slightest clue as to where he could be. Enola is intrigued but wary; she's still hiding from her older brothers, and getting involved could prove to be disastrous. But Enola can't help but investigate, especially when she learns that a bizarre bouquet - with flowers all symbolizing death - has been delivered to the Watson residence. Enola knows she must act quickly, but can she find Dr. Watson in time?
The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (2008)
Raspberry: B+
Trackgeek: B
When Enola Holmes encounters her friend Lady Cecily hiding behind a pink fan, she finds it peculiar. In fact, she realizes Cecily is in danger! But what, exactly, is the matter? And how can Enola help? After examining the clues, Enola discovers Lady Cecily is being held hostage in an abysmal orphanage, and if she isn't rescued, she'll be forced into a miserable marriage!
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (2009)
Raspberry: B
-no summary available-
The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye (2010)
-no summary available-


Novels
Wings of Flame (1985) (adult)
In Wings of Flame, her hardcover debut, Springer creates a fantastic new world as the setting for this story of a prince and an orphan who must save a kingdom under siege by an ancient and twisted magic.
Chains of Gold (1986) (adult)
The young virgin Cerilla has been brought to the Sacred Isle as consort for one hour of the Summer King Arlen before he is to be gruesomely sacrificed in the Winter-King ritual. Trying to escape, Cerilla meets Arlen and they fall in love. Arlen's companion Lonn offers to trick the priestesses and take Arlen's place, allowing the lovers to flee. Lonn's gift has its price, however, as his spirit follows the runaways through harsh and fantastic lands to the home they establish beyond the Mountains of Mystery.
A Horse to Love (1987) (juvenile)
With her aunt's help, a girl learns that owning and caring for her dream horse is both frustrating and rewarding.
The Hex Witch of Seldom (1988) (adult)
The King, the Sorceress, the Trickster . . . they are members of the Circle of Twelve, primal human archetypes whose powers are manifest in us all. Most people never meet the Twelve, except in books and movies-but they exist. Those who have the Sight, like young Bobbi Yandro, can speak with them at will. Bobbi does not will-but her own budding powers are beyond her control. And when she becomes the mistress of Shane, a black mustang with eyes like blue fire, a horse who is more than a horse, events sweep her into the very hands of the Twelve. . .
Not on a White Horse (1988) (juvenile)
From the day twelve-year-old Rhiannon spots a lost white Arabian gelding in the woods near her small Pennsylvania mining town, her life finds a focus as she learns to deal with family problems and decides the direction her life will take.
Apocalypse (1989) (adult)
-no summary available-
They're All Named Wildfire (1989) (juvenile)
Jenny loses most of her friends and suffers the verbal abuse of classmates when she befriends a black girl who has moved with her family into Jenny's duplex and shares her interest in horses.
Red Wizard (1990) (juvenile)
Seventh-grader Ryan is whisked from his world into a fantasy kingdom by an incompetent wizard trying to find the perfect color red, but the mistake may avert a crisis with a rebel warlock and help Ryan solve a problem with his own father.
Colt (1991) (juvenile)
Colt Vittorio has never run a race, or even walked down the street on his own. Colt has spina bifida, and sees the world from a wheelchair. Then his mother signs him up for a special riding program.
Damnbanna (1992) (adult)
-no summary available-
The Friendship Song (1992) (juvenile)
Harper learns about true friendship when she and her friend Rawnie find their way through the underworld of her new stepmother's backyard to bring their favorite rock singer back from the dead.
The Great Pony Hassle (1993) (juvenile)
When the mother of ten-year-old twin girls marries the father of two more ten-year-old twin girls, the rivalry and jealousy are worsened by one girl's demand for a pony as a reward for accepting the new family.
Toughing It (1994) (YA)
Sixteen-year-old Shawn must deal with his loss and anger after witnessing his older brother's murder.
The Blind God is Watching (1994)
-no synopsis available-
Larque on the Wing (1994) (juvenile)
Larque creates temporary people from nothing, which does not become a problem until a ten-year-old version of herself leads her on a search for lost dreams and she returns stronger, braver--and male
The Boy on a Black Horse (1994) (YA)
Intrigued by the mysterious and angry Romany boy who joins her class, thirteen-year-old Gray finds that he shares her love of horses but harbors a dark secret.
Metal Angel (1994) (YA)
Volos, a fallen angel who transforms himself into a human being with wings, sets his sights on becoming a successful rock star, but a band of enemies threatens to spoil the career of the former angel.
Looking for Jamie Bridger (1995) (YA)
Fourteen-year-old Jamie Bridger is determined to find out who her real parents were in spite of opposition from the grandparents who raised her, but her search ends in a bittersweet discovery.
Fair Peril (1996) (adult)
A woman who has been abandoned by her husband of many years finds, well, the frog prince. And takes him home to her real life.
Secret Star (1997) (YA)
Fourteen years old, dirt-poor, and unable to remember anything that happened to her before she was ten, Tess is happy living with her wheelchair-bound stepfather, until a scarred young man finds her and starts asking questions about her "real" father.
I Am Mordred (1998) (YA)
Mordred, son of King Arthur, is fated to kill his father and King. To reduce the threat he is sent adrift at sea. The infant survives, and when of age travels to Camelot. But the King cannot recognise his son and so Mordred tries to change his fate. Despite noble intent, this ends in tragedy.
Sky Rider (1999) (YA)
News that her beloved horse, Tazz, must be put down has made the constant pain of Dusty's old back injury doubly sharp. But the night before the vet comes for Tazz, a mysterious teenager, the ghost of a young man who died a strange and violent death on her family's property, appears to Dusty and offers to take Tazz away with him. Away where? Dusty wonders, but Tazz trusts the boy. Dusty's beloved horse seems healed, willing to leap right over the sun, and so she lets him go with the stranger. It isn't long however, before the boy returns, and Dusty realizes she must help him find peace--or become entangled with his vengeful spirit for eternity.
Plumage (2000) (adult)
After being dumped by her husband after twenty-seven years of marriage, Sassy Hummel lands a job housekeeping for the Sylvan Towers Hotel, where a new friend, Racquel, will help her discover a side of herself she never considered.
Separate Sisters (2001) (juvenile)
Donni and Trisha's parents have recently divorced, and the sisters react differently. Outspoken and rebellious, Donni, 13, is suspended several times for angry and profane outbursts at the vice-principal. Trisha, 14, quiet and studious, confides her loneliness to her computerized journal. The story focuses on the younger girl, who lives with her father, and her behavior in school and her strained relationship with her mother and her sister, who live together.
I am Morgan le Fay (2001) (YA)
In a war-torn England where her half-brother Arthur will eventually become king, the young Morgan le Fay comes to realize that she has magic powers and links to the faerie world.
Needy Creek (2001) (adult)
Middle-aged and recently widowed, at a loss for love, Libby needs to reconcile with her aging mother before it is too late.
Blood Trail (2003) (YA)
After his best friend is murdered, seventeen-year-old Booger realizes he is the only one who has any idea who might have committed the crime--but he doesn't dare tell anyone.
Dusssie (2007) (YA)
Dusie always knew puberty was going to be confusing, but she never realized it was going to be catastrophic—until she wakes up one morning to find that her hair has turned into a writhing mass of slithering snakes and discovers the real truth about her family: her mother is a Gorgon—right out of Greek mythology—and she was named after her mother's younger sister, Medusa. Her mother had hoped that Dusie's being half-mortal would protect her from inheriting the family curse.
Somebody (2009) (YA)
At the age of fifteen, a girl who has spent most of her life moving around the country with her father and brother remembers her real name, Sherica, and is moved to search the Internet tolearn the truth about her mother and her own past.
Dead End Bend (2010)
-no synopsis available-

Collections and Anthologies edited
Chance and Other Gestures of the Hand of Fate (1985)
Stardark Songs (1993)
Prom Night (1999)
Ribbiting Tales: Original Stories About Frogs (2000)

That's it. We haven't read many of hers, but a lot are on our 'to read' lists. For more information, visit Nancy's site HERE.

The Book Pixie Birthday Giveaway!

Head on over to the Book Pixie and enter her fun birthday giveaway. Lots of ways to get extra entries, and you get to pick which books you win. :)

Memory Monday: Magnificent Obsession, by Lloyd C. Douglas

Magnificent Obsession, by Lloyd C. Douglas
Adult, 1929

Rob Merrick, a noted playboy whose life is no more than flitting from one pleasure to the next, has a boating accident that nearly costs him his life. The resusitator used belonged to a Dr. Hudson, who suffers an accident himself the same day, and dies. His widow moves to Europe while Rob slowly progresses in his career. Later, Mrs. Hudson is involved in a railway accident where she suffers a brain injury, and Rob is instrumental in her recovery.
I must confess I enjoy the movie better, but this is still a good book with all the elements of self-discovery, the road to selflessness and service and of course a sweet romance tied in. Graded an A-.



The movie is very similar, except that Rob Merrick goes for a life-changing moment when he causes Mrs. Hudson to lose her eyesight in an auto accident, which happens much earlier in the story. There are all the elements that are in the book, except he doesn't have to decode Dr. Hudson's book - he makes a new friend who used to be quite close to Dr. Hudson. Excellent. Graded an A.

Halloween Contest Ended.

The winners have been chosen and emailed - they have until tomorrow morning to respond with their addresses. Thanks guys for participating. We'll have something new to enter soon...maybe... :)

LAST DAY to enter the Halloween Contest!!

Today is your LAST DAY to enter our amazing contest. (As in Sunday) Click HERE to enter by midnight on the 25th.

Meanwhile we're a little behind on reading because someone is teething....no names mentioned, but he looks a little like this:

Princess Bookie Contests During Read-A-Thon

Here's a post, which of course I'm doing for 5 extra entries, but also because this girl has like a DOZEN different giveaways going on all at the same time. You can enter them all, or one or seven, but there's something for just about everyone.
So head on over to Princess Bookie and get crackin'!

Friday Finds (3)

Ok, the nice thing about Friday Finds is not having to hurry and finish a book so I have a post today. Which is good - I'm reading that fattest book ever. Not quite War and Peace, but still intimidating.
Raspberry: reading The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan
Trackgeek: reading The Dark Planet (bk. 3 in the Atherton series)

Now. A few books added this week:


Shanghai Shadows, by Lois Ruby
Ilse and her family live in Japanese-occupied Shanghai in this story about the holocaust.



The Returners, by Gemma Malley
In the future, Will discovers people following him. And then he begins to understand why....
although I'm still waiting for what I hope is the final book in her Declaration series.



Flashforward, by Robert Sawyer
In one moment, almost every one on earth blacks out. As a result, car crashes, surgeries, etc. go wrong and there is a huge fatality. But as everyone recovers, they realize they saw their future 20 years from now. Is the future worth changing, or is that impossible?
Now made into a TV show, I'm curious how it is.



The Midnight Twins, by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Two twins discover they have powers - one can see the past, the other the future. How can they use these to save their town, but without revealing their abilities? Sounds vaguely like a Haddix book.



Top 8, by Katie Finn
When a girl comes home from vacation, she finds her life has been 'hacked' into, and everything is a mess. Can she solve the mystery of who's out to get her? It seems like a silly teenage book, except the mystery part, and of course the obviously reference Facebook idea, which I must confess cracks me up.

Read My Lips, by Teri Brown

Read My Lips, by Teri Brown
Young Adult, 2009

When Serena moves to a new town/school, she prepares herself for the pitying glances she's used to as a deaf girl. But her skills at reading lips prove to be handy, and before she knows it, she's caught the eye of the It girl sorority at her local high school. But, by using her skills, is she staying true to herself, and more importantly, what she believes in?
A sweet story about finding out the consequences of gossip, and doing what you have to to 'fit in'. On the other hand, I thought a lot of situations in there were inappropriate for teenagers. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think teenagers need more assurance that some things are ok and that responsibility is only for adults. Graded a C+.

Shelf Discovery Challenge

To find out more about this challenge, check out Booking Mama's blog. These are oldie but goodie classics that you, or rather I remember as a child. The deal is, you pick 6 books from this list to read before April, 2010. I think you should be able to count other books by the same author. For example, The Long Secret, by Louise Fitzhugh also wrote Harriet the Spy, which in my mind is also acceptable to read. As long as it's old-school. :)

My picks:
Caroline, by Willo Davis Roberts
Harriet the Spy & The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh
These Happy Golden Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin
Amanda, by Candice Ransom
The Grounding of Group 6, by Aliane Thompson

Most of these I've read - I reserve the right to change my mind and switch them to something else.

Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick
Young Adult, 2009

Nora gets good grades, lives with her mom in a cool old farmhouse, and tries desperately to be a normal teenager. When she's partnered with Patch in her biology class, she's annoyed at how easily he can press her buttons - and how much time he tries to spend with her. But as she gets to know him, she realizes there's a dangerous secret surrounding this mysterious new love of hers.
Ok, first, I LOVE the cover. I'm not a cover person at all, but this one was just well done. Second, um...this is Twilight, but with fallen angels instead. I'm dead serious, it's completely parallel. She's an average teenager that gets good grades, lives with a single parent, lots of beat up cars in this one but a nice one for Patch...near death experiences and people out to get her, and realizing she's not so safe from Patch as she thought....and to top it all off she talks about how he smells good. Sound familiar? I will say that in my mind the fallen angels thing is a lot more believable than vampires, so it 'worked' better for me. There's also a lot more sexual tension than in Twilight, although technically nothing ever comes of it. If you loved Twilight, you will love this book. I did like it better than Twilight, but because of the writing I'm still grading it a B-. (Which is, incidentally, what I would grade Twilight.)

Derby Girl, by Shauna Cross

Derby Girl, by Shauna Cross
Young Adult, 2007

Bliss is from the small Texas-town of Bodeen, who feels like she doesn't belong. An indie-rock loving, non-pink wearing, blue-haired girl, she is forced to participate in beauty pagents. One day she discovers Roller Derby, which is love at first sight. But it's going to take some work convincing everyone this is her dream.
I loved the sarcastic-freaky teen personality of Bliss. She was a little annoying sometimes, but what 16-year-old isn't? I enjoyed the other characters too, especially Malice and her dad. However, everything you never want a teen doing is in this book (except the use of hard drugs), and her swearing is prolific. Absolutely ridiculously prolific, particularly with the f-word which really bothers me. Because of that, I won't ever reread it. Graded a B.

Terrific Authors on Tuesdays: Eva Ibbotson

Today we're sharing with you a favorite, Eva Ibbotson. What is so remarkable about Eva is that she is 85 next year and is still writing. Her first book, The Great Ghost Rescue, came out in 1975, and she has written everything from juvenile to young adult, to adult fiction. Her books consistently are placed in England, Austria, and Germany, (and sometimes Brazil), and frequently are at the start or finish of a World War. In her older books there's always a romance, and even a hint of one sometimes in her children's books. Many of her younger books try for a sillier Dahl-ish plot which is perfect for young ones.
Listed are all her pulished books with synopsis and grade listed (From: FantasticFiction.co.uk). Some of them have had reprintings, but are listed in the year originally published.

The Great Ghost Rescue (1975) - only available used
Trackgeek: B-.
The ghosts of Craggyford Castle have been happy for 500 years - but outside, the world is changing. Soon there will nothing left of their old haunts, so Humphrey the Horrible, the Hag, and Gliding Kilt enlist the help of a very special little boy called Rick to help them find a new home.
Which Witch? (1979)
Raspberry: I laughed and laughed. A-.
Trackgeek: B+.
Arriman the Awful has decided to marry. Whichever witch performs the darkest piece of magic will become his bride. Belladonna wants desperately to win...except she's a good witch!
A Countess Below Stairs (aka The Secret Countess) (1981)
Raspberry: B.
Trackgeek: B+.
In the fabled, glittering world that was St Petersburg before the First World War there lived, in an ice-blue palace overlooking the river Neva, a family on whom the gods seemed to have lavished their gifts with an almost comical abundance. All that changes when they become refuges in England.
Magic Flutes (aka The Reluctant Heiress) (1982)
Raspberry: B-.
A mysterious Englishman, who has just bought the fabled Pfafenstein Castle, falls in love with Tessa, who has fled her exalted station.
The Worm and the Toffee-Nosed Princess (1983)
A collection of five monster tales. There is the worm of the title, who teaches a very snooty princess a lesson - and eats her. Kraken is a monster whale, who decides to stop moving one day, and turns into an island. And woe betide the sheep who crosses the grumpy Frid!
Glove Shop in Vienna, and Other Stories (1984)
A collection of 19 decorous stories of love gained and lost. With settings that range from the early 1990s to the present day, they generally feature surprise endings, some of them sadly contrived.
A Company of Swans (1985)
Raspberry: B+.
A historical romance in which one Harriet Morton comes to life only when she attends her weekly ballet class in 1912. She finds her fortune as a dancer, but all the time she is followed by her father and by the man intent on becoming her husband.
The Haunting of Hiram C. Hopgood (1987)
Twelve year old orphan, Alex MacBuff, doesn't want to sell his beloved home, Carra Castle. But it is falling to pieces and he can't afford to keep it. American millionaire, Hiram C. Hopgood, offers to buy it on condition that there are no ghosts - and Alex can't refuse. Problem is, Carra Castle is full of ghosts!
Madensky Square (1988)
Raspberry: B-.
-no summary available-
Not Just a Witch (1989)
Trackgeek: B.
Heckie is determined not to be just a witch. With the help of local wizards and a little boy, she sets about putting the world to rights. But then she falls under the spell of smarming, charming Mr Knapsack and all her good work is nearly undone.
The Morning Gift (1993)
Raspberry: B+.
Ruth enjoys an untroubled childhood in Vienna, until Hitler intervenes. Her previously harmless political antics mark her as a troublemaker, and a young British professor helps her to escape to Britain.
The Secret of Platform 13 (1994)
Raspberry: Anyone that's read this wonders if J.K. Rowling read this prior to the invention of Harry Potter...graded a B+.
Trackgeek: B.
Under Platform 13 at King's Cross Station is a gump, a door that leads to another world. A hag, an ogre, a wizard, and other creatures have been sent through the gump to rescue their young Prince. But he has become a horrible brat called Raymond Throttle, who is determined not to be rescued.
Dial-A-Ghost (1996)
Raspberry: Hilarious. B+.
Trackgeek: B+.
When little Oliver Smith inherits the gloomy mansion Helton Hall, his scheming cousins, the Snodde-Brittles, are determined to rid themselves of the orphan heir. They have a perfect plan. They will hire some terrifying ghosts from the Dial-a-Ghost Agency to scare the boy to death. But, as in any Eva Ibbotson novel, the fantastic creatures do not necessarily behave as expected-they are a little too human for that. Soon the ghosts, led by a mysterious girl spirit named Adopta, have joined with Oliver against his cousins. But they may have underestimated the depths of the Snodde-Brittles' evil....
A Song for Summer (1997)
Raspberry: B-.
Trackgeek: B-.
In a fragile world on the brink of World War II, lovely young Englishwoman Ellen Carr takes a job as a housemother at an unorthodox boarding school in Vienna that specializes in music, drama, and dance. What she finds when she reaches the Hallendorf School in Vienna is a world that is magically unconventional - and completely out of control. The children are delightful, but wild; the teachers are beleaguered and at their wits' end; and the buildings are a shambles. Ellen seems to have been born to nurture all of Hallendorf; soon everyone from Leon the lonely young musical prodigy to harassed headmaster Mr. Bennet to Marek the mysterious groundsman depends on Ellen for - well, everything.
Monster Mission (1999)
Three children have been dramatically kidnapped by some mysterious, mad aunts. But Myrtle. Coral and Etta are far from killers - they need the children for a special mission. The secret island where they live is a sanctuary for magical creatures - mermaids, selkies, the amazing boobrie bird and even the great Kraken himself, and the kidnapped children help to care for them. But the Island of Monsters has become the target of some dangerous villains who want to turn it into a theme park.
Island of the Aunts (2000)
Trackgeek: B.
When the kindly old aunts decide that they need help caring for creatures who live on their hidden island, they know that adults can't be trusted. What they need are a few special children who can keep a secret-a secret as big as a magical island. And what better way to get children who can keep really big secrets, than to kidnap them!
Journey to the River Sea (2001)
Raspberry: A favorite juvenile book, graded an A.
Trackgeek: A-
Miss Minton and Maia are sailing to the city of Manaus, a thousand miles up the mighty Amazon river. Maia, a lonely orphan, is excited to be starting a new life with relatives she's never met. Mysterious Miss Minton has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. But years of living in the jungle have sent Maia's uncle and aunt slightly mad. And their twin daughters are definitely not like normal children...
The Haunting of Granite Falls (2004)
Trackgeek: I honestly couldn't finish this.
When twelve-year-old Alex's Scottish castle of Carra is sold, dismantled, and moved to Texas, the ghosts that raised him from a child have difficulty relocating.
The Star of Kazan (2004)
Raspberry: My favorite of her juvenile books, graded an A.
Trackgeek: A-.
In a tiny alpine church, on a June day in 1897, an abandoned baby girl is found by a middle-aged cook from Vienna. So begins the unusual childhood of Annika, brought up in the house of three eccentric professors by their two domestic servants. By the age of seven she can bake and ice a three-tiered cake and polish parquet floors to perfection. Her life in this golden city of music, fabulous food, and the beautiful Lippizana stallions who dance before the Emperor Franz Joseph is greatly blessed - until her unknown mother tracks her down and comes to claim her...
The Beasts of Clawstone Castle (2005)
Can two children foil an outrageous criminal plot with the help of some of the funniest and maddest ghosts ever invented?
The Dragonfly Pool (2008)
Trackgeek: The characters were very poorly developed. C+.
Tally Hamilton is furious to hear she is being sent from London to a horrid, stuffy boarding school in the countryside. And all because of the stupid war. But Delderton Hall is a far more unusual and interesting place than Tally ever imagined, and she soon falls in love with its eccentric staff and pupils. Prince Karil hates his life at the palace and he is only truly happy when he escapes to the dragonfly pool, a remote spot in the forests of Bergania. Then Karil meets a feisty English girl who brings the promise of adventure. But his country is under threat, and the prince soon looks to his new friend Tally for survival as well as friendship...
The Ogre of Oglefort (2010)
When a Hag, an orphan boy and a troll called Ulf get sent to rescue a princess from an ogre, they expect it to be a fairly standard magical mission. But the ogre is depressed, the princess doesn't want to be rescued - and the ogre's dead wife is turning in her grave. The Norns who rule their fates decide to take things in hand - will the Ogre meet a bloody end, or will he get a happy ending?

Troubadour, by Mary Hoffman

Troubadour, by Mary Hoffman
Young Adult, 2009

When Lady Elinor is just 13, her parents are ready to betroth her to an older man, one who has daughters older than she is. Rather than do this, she runs away and joins a troubadour as a joglar, or male musician, cutting her hair and dressing as a boy. At the same time, a murder of a Catholic representative is witnessed, and Pope decides action must be taken, starting the Albigensian Crusade of the 1200s.
Chock-full of history, Hoffman has weaved a story of the Albigensian Crusade, which will both shock you and teach you. Elinor's story is a sweet one, as she grows up and participates in the escape of Bertran, the destroying of Saint-Jacques, and her onward move to safety in Italy. It ends well, but I felt that Elinor's character was a bit tame in places. Hoffman's writing is sometimes like watching the black-and-white version of a movie. It seems to lack the color and luster of the modern style of writing, which isn't bad, but does seem a bit pale in comparison. Graded a B.

In My Mailbox and a Recipe

I don't have anything to review today, because we went hiking on what we think might be one of our last nice days of fall. However, I got some great stuff at an amazing used book sale today, and some things in the mail, and thought I'd share them all with you:


Top Row:
The Minister's Daughter, by Julie Hearn
So B. It, by Sarah Weeks
Outside Beauty, by Cynthia Kadohata
Bottom Row:
Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
City of Masks, by Mary Hoffman
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson


I'm sorry this is sideways - it loaded that way, which I can't understand. (Anyone else have that problem?)
Top Row (on the left):
Winter Rose, by Jennifer Donnelly
Kiss Me Again, Stranger (8 Short Stories), by Daphne Du Maurier
Bottom Row (on the right):
The Case of the Crimson Kiss, by Erle Stanley Garnder (we collect these)
The Golden Ball and Other Stories, by Agatha Christie

**********************
And today we have an amazingly good and super easy cookie recipe from The Hungry Housewife:

German Chocolate Cookies (I added any notes from when I tried them out. They were gone in 5 minutes!)

1 box German Chocolate Cake mix (I used chocolate which still turned out fine, but German Chocolate tastes better with coconut.)
4 Tablespoons butter, soft (I melted mine since my dough was pretty dry, but I'm at a crazy altitude.)
1 egg
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 Teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped (I didn't have pecans, so I chopped up almonds really fine instead.)
3/4 cup chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
Coconut to roll the cookies in before baking
Preheat the oven to 350º.
In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together until blended.
Scoop out a ping pong ball size amount of cookie.
Roll into a ball (moisten your hands if it gets sticky)
Roll in the coconut.
Place on an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.

The Silver Blade, by Sally Gardner

The Silver Blade, by Sally Gardner
Young Adult, 2009

With Sido safely in London, Yann returns to France to help rescue those doomed to the guillotine. But his gypsy background may be a barrier between them, and Count Kalliovski is alive - or at least has sold his soul to the devil in order to exact his revenge.
This sequel to The Red Necklace continues right where it left off, with Count Kalliovski being scarier than ever. Yann is the hero of the hour, of course, but I felt a bit swamped by his love-thoughts of Sido. Also, I would have like to hear a lot more about the escapes and how Yann gets everyone out of France. Instead we dealt more with Kalliovski and his plots. The writing was at least as convoluted as the first book, which also makes it difficult to enjoy sometimes. While I didn't like it nearly as much as the Red Necklace, it's still welcome on my shelf. Graded a B.

Friday Finds (2)

I don't have anything to review today (maybe later tonight, though). I'm currently reading The Silver Blade and am almost done. Trackgeek is reading a silly mystery that he doesn't like, but doesn't really have time for anything more intense until this weekend. Next week also look for the review of Fire...yes, I'm also in the middle of that too. :)

A few books added to my 'to read' list on Shelfari:

The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness
This came out a while back (2008), but it had such a creepy cover I couldn't bring myself to read it. However, it's not a horror book, it's more of a futuristic what-would-happen-if type book. I'm still hesitant, but everyone that's read it really enjoys it so....I figure it deserves a shot.


Candle Man, by Glenn Dakin
Called a 'steampunk' adventure, Theo is told he has a mysterious disease, until one night he discovers what is behind his mysterious 'illness'. This was released in September of this year.


Dido, by Adele Geras
Adele Geras is a mixed bag - sometimes she has great stuff, sometimes I don't know where she got her plots. But this idea sounded interesting - A princess and her servant fall in love with the same man. I'm not really positive where/when it takes place, as the description is pretty vague. It's only available through amazon.uk, and I'm not sure when it's coming out in the US.


Three Seeds, by Gabriel Madison
Released this year, I can copy Amazon's summary to explain what it's about: "An unnatural cold front grows each day, bewildering world leaders and scientists, while leaving people across the world in a state of panic. All of North America is covered in snow, as Earth slowly reverts into a frozen oasis, causing religious groups to scream of the end of days, while others believe it's the beginning of a new and foretold era."


Women are Crazy, Men are Stupid, by Howard Morris & Jenny Lee
Written by a man. AND a woman, this book just looks funny.

The Resistance, by Gemma Malley

The Resistance, by Gemma Malley
Young Adult, 2008

In this sequel to The Declaration, Anna and Peter find their own ways to help bring down Longevity and the eternal life that current society has so dearly paid for. Peter starts a job at Pincent Pharma in order to infiltrate it and retrieve secrets for the Underground. Anna finds herself consumed by raising Ben, which is particularly hard in a world with no children. As they get closer to the day when they decide to 'opt out', Peter discovers the horror in Pincent Pharma that makes Longevity such a successful drug.
A great sequel, it definitely had many more adult situations than the Declaration. It is apparent that Peter and Anna share much more than friendship, and yet they're only 15. There's also a scene where he drinks some alcohol. It doesn't seem out of place in this book because of the situations, but it's something to think about when recommending it to different age groups. Very well done, and an interesting continuation, I must confess I still liked Declaration better. I believe there is to be a third book at least. Graded a B.

Sphinx's Princess, by Esther Friesner

Sphinx's Princess, by Esther Friesner
Young Adult, 2009

Nefertiti is a good and kind-hearted girl whose precocious ways get her into mischief. She finds herself in tight situations, such as willing to give up her life for a slave, learning to read behind her father's back, and finally, catching the eye of the dangerous Queen Tiye. Using Nefertiti as a pawn in her 'games' at court, Queen Tiye manages to estrange Nefertiti from her family and those who would be her friends. But such a strong will isn't for nothing...and Nefertiti finds herself equal to the task.
It's a fun idea, and I do like the character Nefertiti, but I hate that Friesner has to take every story she writes and drag it out into two huge books. The writing is slow and cautious, so it would be very easy to put the story into one. At any rate, I won't read the sequel (I can't bring myself to read them by the time they come out). I will say that this one had some fun scenes, but it's like I'm reading a biography. I don't feel it's critical to know every step of her childhood or even adulthood. And the ending - well, I could have used a little closure. She's still calling the man you know she's going to end up with 'friend' as if she's blind to the fact that she loves him.
Graded a B-.

What About Wednesdays? Thornspell by Helen Lowe

Thornspell, by Helen Lowe
Juvenile Fiction, 2009

Prince Sigismund learns that he is the one that can break the 100 year enchantment on a beautiful princess in the forbidden wood. Basically, the prince's viewpoint of Sleeping Beauty.
While this book starts out alright, you quickly notice that Lowe is a bit long-winded, and enjoys having her characters stop and think - for a few pages. I felt like she gave away too much at the wrong times, and too little at others, while not letting the characters develop. There are a few excellent ideas and some fun scenes, but all in all I'd give it a C+.

Terrific Authors on Tuesdays: Vivian Vande Velde

Vivian Vande Velde started her writing career in 1985 with her publication of her first book, A Hidden Magic. She is still writing to this day, releasing at least one book a year. Her books are typically (but not always) fantasy, and usually have some oddball humor in them. She always finds a way, though, to make sure everyone gets their comeuppance, which is always very satisfying. Her books are typically appropriate for Jr. High levels, but frequently can be found in teen because of scary situations, the age of the characters, or even some thematic scenes.
A list of books and my grades are below. Trackgeek has, to my knowledge, only read one of her books. Also, because I've only read a handful, descriptions are included (courtesy fantasticfiction.co.uk). A lot of her books are hard to find now since they are rarely reprinted, so check your local library, or expect to get a used copy from Amazon or your local used book store.

Novels
A Hidden Magic (1985)
Lost in a magic forest and separated from her prince, Princess Jennifer seeks help from a kindly young sorcerer in battling an evil witch.
A Well-Timed Enchantment (1990)
A girl and her cat disappear back in time to retrieve a lost watch.
User Unfriendly (1991)
It's the most advanced computer role-playing game ever: When you play you're really there-in a dark dream teeming with evil creatures, danger-filled fortresses, and malevolent sorceries. The game plugs directly into your brain-no keyboard, no modem, no monitor. And for game hacker Arvin Rizalli and his friends, no cash up front, no questions asked . . . and no hope of rescue when the game goes horribly, deathly wrong.
Dragon's Bait (1992) - Graded B-.
Falsely accused of witchcraft, 15-year-old Alys is staked out on a hillside and left as sacrificial bait for a hungry dragon. It's cold, dark, and raining, and Alys is completely alone. Even when she breaks free of her bindings, there's nowhere for her to go. Suddenly, Alys sees the shadow of the dragon coursing across the moon--does the dragon see her?
Companions of the Night (1995)
When sixteen-year-old Kerry Nowicki helps a young man escape from a group of men who claim he is a vampire, she finds herself faced with some bizarre and dangerous choices.
The Conjurer Princess (1997)
Young princess Lylene apprentices herself to a wizard in order to gain the power to rescue her older sister, who was kidnappped during her wedding, and armed with her new magic, Lylene joins forces with a couple of handsome outlaw companions as she embarks on her quest.
Smart Dog (1998)
Fifth grader Amy finds her life growing complicated when she meets and tries to hide an intelligent, talking dog who has escaped from a university lab.
A Coming Evil (1998)
During the German occupation of France in 1940, thirteen-year-old Lisette meets a ghost while living with her aunt who harbors Jewish and Gypsy children in the French countryside.
Ghost of a Hanged Man (1998)
An outlaw condemned to be hanged threatens to wreak vengeance from the grave on those responsible for his death.
That Changeling Prince (1998)
Weiland, a changeling who can assume many forms, is desperate to escape the sorceress who uses him and others as tools for her vengeance, until he meets a thief named Shile, who offers to help free him from the grasp of the sorceress.
Spellbound (1998)
- no summary available -
Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) Graded B+ (trackgeek) and a B (Raspberry).
Wrongly convicted of murder and punished by being sealed in the tomb with the dead man, seventeen-year-old Selwyn enlists the help of a witch and the resurrected victim to find the true killer.
There's a Dead Person Following My Sister Around (1999)
When Ted's five-year-old sister, Vicki, invents an imaginary friend, no one is too concerned...except that Vicki's friend has the never-popular name of Marella, and unlike most imaginary friends, Marella can move things. Ted might think Marella is a ghost, but why would a ghost haunt Vicki, of all people? And why would she suddenly move into a house Ted's family has lived in for ages? And why is Marella terrified of another ghost, a dark figure who seems to be hunting Ted?
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem (2000)
A collection of variations on the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.
Magic Can be Murder (2000)
Set apart from other people because of their unusual abilities, Nola, a teenage witch, and her mother find themselves in great danger when Nola uses her power to call up images and witnesses a murder.
Allison, Who Went Away (2001)
Fourteen-year-old Susan (or, as she prefers to be called, Sybil) has been trying to reinvent herself ever since the mysterious disappearance of her older sister, Alison. Life has been very confusing since Alison left. Susan's mother has become overly protective, fearful of losing another child. Her new school is not all bad, of course, but it is different and puzzling. Her best friend, Connie, has what could be a wonderful idea -- or maybe it has the makings of a disaster: if they sign up for the school play, they might end up with dates for the freshman dance.
Heir Apparent (2002) Graded a B+ (trackgeek), and graded a B (Raspberry).
In Heir Apparent there are as many ways to win as there are to get killed.
Wizard at Work (2003)
The wizard has big summer plans: To garden, fish, and nap. The only thing better would be if he had someone nice to share the days with. But the only people who show up want him to rescue yet another princess, lift the usual vile curse, confront a fearsome ghost, deal with a pack of magical hooligans, harvest a crop of golden cucumbers, and on and on. . . .With everything he has to do, it's no wonder the wizard is all by himself! Who'd want to help him do all of that?
Witch's Wishes (2003)
On her way to the All Hallows' Eve Ghastly Gala A-go-go, a scatterbrained old witch avoids a collision with the Channel 12 air traffic report helicopter. Trick-or-treater Sarah, six, sees her fall from the sky and gives her a Band-Aid. The witch repays the kindness by turning the child's fairy-princess-costume wand into a magical one that grants wishes.
The Book of Mordred (2005)
Dark forces are taking hold in the kingdom of Camelot: King Arthur struggles to keep his knights in line as they steadily divide themselves into factions; the great Merlin has vanished at the hands of his lover and pupil, Nimue; wizards all over the countryside battle for whatever measures of power they can find. At the center of the maelstrom stands Keira, an innocent girl who possesses the ability to foretell the fate of her world. When Keira is kidnapped from her village home, her mother, Alayna, flees to Camelot and finds Mordred, an enigmatic knight who will ultimately become Keira"s greatest champion, Alayna"s greatest love, and King Arthur"s greatest enemy.
Three Good Dreams (2005)
If Howard had known the old hag was a witch, he never would have taunted her.But he did, and she did what witches do--cursed him--and now he's a goose, which to tell you the truth, is not as serene and peaceful as it might look from the shore. People try to kill geese, for crying out loud, and the other geese are none too nice to newcomers. Howard is desperate to become a human again so he can show that old witch a thing or two.
Witch Dreams (2005)
A teenage witch, enters other people's dreams to solve a murder.
Now You See It... (2005) Graded a B.
Wendy's new glasses give her a whole new way of seeing things . . . that aren't there.
Remembering Raquel (2007)
Fifteen-year-old Raquel Falcone is, as one of her classmates puts it, the kind of kid who has a tendency to be invisible. That is until the night she's hit by a car and killed while walking home from the movies. In brief, moving chapters, we hear about Raquel from her classmates, her best friend, her family--and the woman who was driving the car that struck her.
Stolen (2008) Graded a B-.
The old witch steals children, but did she steal Isabelle?

Collections
Once Upon a Test (1984)
Three humorous fairy tales in which the princes and princesses behave in unconventional ways.
Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird (1995)
Presents thirteen twisted versions of such familiar fairy tales as Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Curses, Inc. (1997) Graded a B+.
Velde's spellbinding short stories are filled with magic and mayhem. Witness the boy who breaks his dance date because he's too cheap to spend money on her. He learns about spells the hard way in "Curses, Inc". What happens when a woman brings her son back from the dead in "The Witch's Son"? Many folks go to Granny Orilla for remedies. Does a cure or a curse await in "Cypress Swamp Granny"?
Tales From the Homeplace (1999)
Eight stories capture the life of twelve-year-old Irene Hutto, growing up on a cotton farm in Texas in the 1930s, based on the life of Harriet Burandt's mother.
Being Dead (2001)
Seven supernatural stories, all having something to do with death.
All Hallows Eve (2006)
A boy is trapped in a possessed car that has stalled in the path of an oncoming train. A girl is dragged into a crypt during a field trip to an eighteenth-century cemetery.A group of friends meet their fate after an unsettling visit with a backwoods psychic. And that's just the beginning.Celebrated author Vivian Vande Velde is at her spine-tingling best in this collection of thirteen scary stories, all of which take place on Halloween night. With tales that range from the disturbing to the downright gruesome, this is one collection that teens will want to read with the lights on . . . and the doors locked.

For more information, visit her website, here.

Good Books and Good Wine Giveaway

I don't usually post about giveaways, but Good Books and Good Wine is having a HUGE one and I get mega entries for doing a post! So, click here to enter if you're interested.

Halloween Giveaway Update!

Two more books were added to the Halloween Giveaway - click HERE for more info.
I Know What You Did Last Summer, by Lois Duncan was added to the Lois Duncan Prize Pack, and Jamaica Inn was added as a bonus book with whichever Du Maurier you pick.

Dragon's Bait, by Vivian Vande Velde

Dragon's Bait, by Vivian Vande Velde (tell me you don't love that name...)
Young Adult, 1992

When Alys is accused of being a witch, she's tied up as an offering for the local dragon. When she escapes, she has no where to go, but the dragon offers a tempting alternative.
Typically a fan of Vande Velde's offbeat stories, I must confess this one didn't quite live up to her other books. This was a reread - I believe I read it more than a decade ago, though, so I had forgotten that I'd read it. I wish the ending had been a little more 'tied up', and despite her and the dragon hanging out in the end, I sort of wished she'd has a friend somewhere besides him, if that makes sense. Graded a B-.
Last night as I was finishing this one up, I decided to spotlight Vivian Vande Velde tomorrow for Terrific Authors Tuesday, so just a heads up - we'll point out which of her 26+ books are our favorites, and what you can expect when you read her!

Memory Monday: Vesper Holly Series, by Lloyd Alexander

Anyone who grew up in the 80s/90s remembers Lloyd Alexanders Vesper Holly series. An Indiana Jones-type story, with a Lara Croft-type heroine, this is a favorite for me and my husband: (Descriptions by fantasticfiction.co.uk.)

The Illyrian Adventure, 1986
Vesper Holly's fascination with an ancient legend leads her into exciting adventure in the tiny country of Illyria. She and her guardian set out to search for a legendary treasure. But Illyria is in a dangerous state of rebellion, and someone wants Vesper out of the way . . . for good.

The El Dorado Adventure, 1987
Vesper has just learned that she owns a volcano in the tiny republic of El Dorado-and Vesper being Vesper, she and her guardian respond to the mysterious telegram by sailing to Central America. Almost as soon as they've arrived, Vesper and Brinnie are thrust into danger. Someone wants her property, and they will stop at nothing to get it-even if that means destroying an entire tribe of Chirica Indians and Vesper herself!

The Drackenberg Adventure, 1988
When Vesper is invited to Drackenberg's Golden Jubilee, she and her guardians find themselves involved in an attempted overthrow of the government, the disappearance of a priceless painting, and a kidnapping by evil Dr. Helvitius.

The Jedera Adventure, 1989 (This one was my favorite when I first discovered these.)
Returning a library book is simple--unless the library is in North Africa and the book is Vesper Holly's! She organizes a library-bound caravan, deals with feuding desert tribes, rough terrain, and slave traders--but then she's faced with the evil Dr. Helvitius.

The Philadelphia Adventure, 1990
Vesper Holly has foiled murderers, crossed mountains, and narrowly escaped earthquakes. Now she's home in Philadelphia, where she can relax-until President Ulysses S. Grant asks for her help. The Centennial Exposition of 1876 is about to begin, and luminaries from around the world will be there. But so will Vesper's arch-nemesis, the evil Doctor Helvetius. There's only one person who can thwart his evil plans-Vesper Holly!

The Xanadu Adventure - which wasn't published until 15 years later, in 2005!
Delving into the mystery of the origins of Western civilization, Vesper and her friends set out for the site of the legendary Troy, only to fall into a trap laid by the despicable Dr. Helvitius. Helvitius imprisons the companions in the palace he calls Xanadu, and Vesper will need all her intellectual cunning to engineer an escape.

In all of the books, Vesper is accompanied by her faithful guardian, with a mystery looming in the background of exotic places she visits. Always, there is the evil Dr. Helvitius, who will cause certain doom....Also, it doesn't say in any of the descriptions, but I'm pretty sure they all take place in the mid to late-1800s.
Plenty of fun, recommend these in particular to any jr. high or high school aged girl who likes adventures and/or mysteries. Of course, I still find myself enjoying them, as does Trackgeek. All are graded either a B+ or A-.

Gilda Joyce: The Dead Drop, Jennifer Allison

Gilda Joyce: The Dead Drop, by Jennifer Allison
Juvenile/Teen, 2009

Gilda Joyce, the teenage psychic investigator heads to Washington D.C. for the summer to intern at the National Spy Museum. Having, as usual, fudged a bit and exaggerated on her application she comes to the nation's capitol equipped with all sorts of outrageous disguises and thrift store clothing. As she soon discovers, all is not well at the museum and there appears to be a haunting. Gilda sets out in her quirky, boisterous way to try to figure out what happened to the spy whose ghost is lurking in the museum.
As usual, Allison delivers a fun to read psychic mystery in this the fourth Gilda Joyce novel. Gilda, always the eccentric continues to entertain with her witty insights and hilarious antics. A fun read, as were the previous three novels, Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator, Gilda Joyce and the Ladies of the Lake and Gilda Joyce and the Ghost Sonata. Check out Allison's website here. This was actually one of the better books in the series in my opinion. Grade: B+