Thirteenth Child, by Patricia Wrede

Thirteenth Child, by Patricia Wrede
Young Adult, 2009

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Eff was born a thirteenth child. Her twin brother, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son. This means he's supposed to possess amazing talent -- and she's supposed to bring only bad things to her family and her town. Undeterred, her family moves to the frontier, where her father will be a professor of magic at a school perilously close to the magical divide that separates settlers from the beasts of the wild.
Trackgeek: I think that Wrede did an interesting job of introducing an entirely new twist on the traditional way that Victorian era magic is handled by moving the story to America in the expanding west. While at times it seems that the plot plods a little bit, it makes sense in terms of the perspective that the story is told from (more of a life history that highlights important bits of time leading up to the end of the story). I felt like Eff's character development was pretty good, but the romance element was weak (but this will probably be explored more in the rest of the Frontier Magic books). Grade B+
Raspberry: I'm afraid this was a Failed to Finish for me, but I'll probably give it another shot at some point.

Failed to Finish: TMI, by Sarah Quigley and The Fidelity Files, by Jessica Brody

It's been a while since I've done Failed to Finish books, because I think they're such negative posts, but I've got a couple here I thought I'd share - as you can see it was a frustrating week. :)


tmi, by Sarah Quigley
Young Adult, 2009

Becca shares everything. She can't keep a secret to save her life, and to make things worse shares more details about her life and....everything else, than most people care to hear. When it starts to get her in trouble, she starts an anonymous blog to vent it all out where it doesn't hurt anyone - but will that really work? And can she really keep it anonymous?
I made it 2 chapters before I smacked it closed. Becca is SO annoying - constantly talking and about almost nothing, and of course, there's definitely TMI. I can't sympathize or care about a character that I just want to shut up. I found her best friend much more intriguing, but couldn't stay with it long enough to find out what happens.




The Fidelity Files, by Jessica Brody
Adult, 2008

Jennifer Hunter is a beautiful L.A. woman goes undercover as a 'fidelity inspector' named Ashlyn to find out who's faithful and who's not.
A bit of an edgy topic, I was pleased to find her up-front ideas about men hilarious. However, the constant use of the F-word made me close it within a chapter. Not a word I give any slack to. It also brought up some interesting questions about whether she's really wrecking marriages or not. Other than that it was actually pretty clean, but I'm not sure if it remained that way since I didn't stay to find out.

Gateway, by Sharon Shinn

Gateway, by Sharon Shinn
Young Adult/Adult, 2009

From fantasticfiction.co.uk:
As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a street fair shows her a black jade ring - and tells her that 'black jade' translates to 'Daiyu' - she buys it as a talisman of her heritage. But it's more than that; it's magic. It takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan. There's only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . .
Trackgeek: While some of the travel between worlds bit can be rather confusing, but overall Sharon Shinn did a good job of managing the whole different worlds (iterations) part and coming up with a good explanation. Also, the love story, while a little instaneous to begin with, develops nicely throughout the book as Daiyu really has to evaluate what she is doing in another world as she tries not to forget her old world and the important things that she learned about life there.
Grade: B+

Mini Reviews: The Believer, by Ann Gabhart, and Sea of Love, by Jamie Ponti

I thought I'd do a couple of mini reviews since a) I don't feel up to doing a full review for either of these (see the grades), and b) it will start a new trend for the blog.

The Believer, by Ann Gabhart
Adult, 2009

When Elizabeth has nowhere to turn after her father dies, she and her siblings present themselves to the Shakers. But when Elizabeth and a believer, Ethan, begin to have feelings for each other, they run the risk of losing the security of their new home, and perhaps their own salvation.
Writing is ok, plot is decent, although familiar, the characterization is....eh, and the ending rushed and sloppy.
Graded a C+.




Sea Of Love, by Jamie Ponti
Young Adult, 2008

Darby moves reluctantly with her family from NYC to Coconut Beach, Florida, where she scoffs at everything from the sand to the salt water until cute-boy Zach grabs her attention. Slowly he shows her the ins and outs of their town as she discovers she might actually fit in. That is, until her flashy NYC boyfriend shows up, threatening to ruin everything she's now a part of.
Writing is....eh, plot is ok, characters are decent - love the dad AND the mom, love a few side scenes that totally unique, but found a lot of the dialogue between teens ridiculous.
Graded a C+.

Memory Monday: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte

Anne Bronte, the lesser known of the Bronte sisters, has published a number of books that are just as well written as Charlotte and Emily. The difference is a more satirical look at life and a tendency to write things as they truly are without padding. Fortunately she still provides the happy ending we all crave - unlike Emily - and we like her all the better for it in the end. I still think of all the books published by the Bronte sisters, that Jane Eyre is the best, but Anne's books are a very close second, in particular Agnes Grey, a sweet and shorter work of hers.
Today I'm reviewing an old favorite:

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte
Adult, 1848

Told from the letters of one George Markham, but sometimes quoting the diary of a Mrs. Helen Graham, the story is of a mysterious widow that comes to reside in a crumbled down mansion in his small village. Because of her obvious distaste for company and her odd ways of raising her only child, a son, she soon is the brunt of malicious gossip. However, Mr. Markham finds himself intrigued by her mysterious ways and curious about her odd opinions. Forming a friendship he eventually comes into possession of her diary, explaining the life she has run away from. By the time he finishes reading it, however, she has returned to her previous life, one he is afraid she'll never return from.
Anne's book is a complexity of morals and ideals of the time and a woman caught in between what she knows is right and what society believes is right. It seems to be a world ruled by men and suffered by women - but one woman flies in the face of it all in order to save her child and herself from it. A sweet love story, you breathe a sigh of relief when the ending finally resolves itself. I must confess to liking the ending of the movie better - it seemed much more cut and dried, but on the other hand I believe this ending to be much more realistic to the times. A particularly interesting read if you are married, have children, etc.
Graded an A-.



The movie (1996) has the unforgettable Toby Stephens as Mr. Markham (on the left) and Tara Fitzgerald (Woman in White) playing Mrs. Graham. Her wretched husband is on the right. I enjoyed the movie, but on the other hand don't watch it too often since it is mostly bittersweet, and you spend most of it watching her husband be a total, well, rear-end. It's a bit heavy for teens.
Graded a B+.

Girl V. Boy, by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout

Girl V. Boy, by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout
Young Adult, 2008

Luisa Perez is the kind of girl that gets good grades, avoids extra-curricular activities, and blends in with the school populace. But when she's assigned an anonymous column in the school newspaper with another anonymity, it's a battle of the sexes as she realizes she just might have what it takes to be a great writer.
The writers of The Black Sheep (which I've read, but haven't reviewed here - probably about a C+) have gotten together again with another great plot idea. Despite the ridiculous that a high school story can have, they basically got right on for the ages and personalities of the characters. I'd say that boy-writer was a bit too immature in his writing - I really wanted to wring his neck, but then maybe that was the point.
Some light swearing, with some more adult situations (i.e. her sister dropped out of high school when she got pregnant), I'd say it was most appropriate for older teens.
Graded a B-.

Judging A Book By It's Cover

It used to be that you really couldn't tell very much about a book cover. Glance at your shelves and your favorite classics have covers such as....

A vintage edition of Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell has a more elaborate cover than many of my vintage classics on the shelf.



Republications of classics include pictures, etc., but in the long run are rather boring to look at. This is a Pride and Prejudice edition from a few years back.




And the current editions....this one has a depiction of Elizabeth and Darcy on the cover - leaving you to turn to the cover when wondering what she looked like during your favorite scenes.

I think this current trend of putting posed people (have you noticed they always look much better looking than you remember being as a teenager?) on the cover ruins a bit of the imagination process, and yet - it sells. So here's the paradox. The saying 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' has started to lose a following, as teen after teen picks up the pretty book over the ugly one.
So, as an adult reader who spent her childhood/high school years picking up books whether their cover was pretty or not, I find myself falling into this pit because a) the publishers are, realizing if they have that type of cover a teen is that much more likely to pick it up and therefore spend the money to do so, and b) it works. I seriously have picked up books strictly based on the cover to find gems. That said, don't knock the ugly books - you may find there's so much more to them than their cover.

Any favorite covers out there? Any favorite books out there that have ugly covers? Any thoughts on having posed teenagers on covers that look 25 and gorgeous? :)

*****************
By the way, I've added a new feature to my reviews - I have started posting what ages I feel the book is most appropriate for, and while I typically mention swearing, sex, violence, etc., I'll try to be as specific as possible so you know whether or not this is appropriate for your children, your classroom, or even yourself.

The Other Side Of The Island, by Allegra Goodman

The Other Side of the Island, by Allegra Goodman
Young Adult, 2008

Honor and her parents move to Island 364, where everything is controlled and everyone is safe from the unpredictable weather. But Honor soon realizes just how unpredictable her family is and how it conflicts with what she learns every day in her school. A post-apocalyptic book told from a child's perspective, the reader watches Honor sort through her knowledge, figure out her priorities, and rise to the name her parents gave her.
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected - lately the apocalyptic books have seem kind of cookie-cutterish. But Honor has a unique voice, and Allegra Goodman does a fantastic job being in her head. I thought Helix seemed to old for his age, as well as Quin (can't spell this one's name fully). And while it didn't provide the details that would have been available to an older audience, it was just what you needed. The ending gave hints of a sequel - I can only hope so since it was a bit of a cliff-hanger. Particularly great for ages 10 - 14.
Graded a B.

Printz Award Challenge

This is my 'to read' pile of Printz Award winners. Crossed out are ones I've read, although if I don't want to read one or I couldn't get into it, I'll leave a note. No timeline with this one either, just another challenge to try.
First books are the winners, the following are the honors for that year.


2010
Going Bovine, by Libba Bray
Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith, by Deborah Heiligman
The Monstrumologist, by Rick Yancey
Punkzilla, by Adam Rapp
Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973, by John Barnes

2009
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves, by M. T. Anderson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart
Nation, by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

2008
The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean
Dreamquake, Elizabeth Knox
One Whole and Perfect Day, by Judith Clarke
Repossessed, by A. M. Jenkins
Your Own Sylvia, by Stephanie Hemphill

2007
American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party, by M. T. Anderson
An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
Surrender, by Sonya Hartnett
The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

2006
Looking For Alaska, by John Green
Black Juice, by Margo Lanagan
I am The Messenger, by Marcus Zusak
John Lennon: All I Want Is The Truth, A Photographic Biography, by Elizabeth Partridge
A Wreath For Emmett Till, by Marilyn Nelson

2005
How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff
Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel
Chanda's Secrets, by Allan Patton
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary Schmidt

2004
The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson
A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly
Keesha's House, by Helen Frost
Fat Kid Rules The World, by K. L. Going
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler

2003
Postcards From No Mans Land, by Aidan Chambers
The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer
My Heartbeat, by Garret Freymann-Weyr
Hole In My Life, by Jack Gantos

2002
A Step From Heaven, by An Na
The Ropemaker, by Peter Dickinson
Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth Century Art, by Jan Greenberg
Freewill, by Chris Lynch
True Believer, by Virginia Wolff

2001
Kit's Wilderness, by David Almond
Many Stones, by Carolyn Coman
The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
Stuck in Neutral, by Terry Trueman

2000
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers
Skellig, by David Almond
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlinger

Newbery Award Challenge

This will be an ongoing challenge - I'm not even going to TRY to get all of the books into one year. I'm including all of the honors, of course.
Strike-outs are those that have already been read, and italicized means I'm not going to read it (as in I tried it and it just isn't going to happen). Everything gets a try. The first book listed is, of course, the winner, the others are honors for that year.

1922
The Story of Mankind, by Hendrik Willem van Loon
The Great Quest, by Charles Hawes
Cedric the Forester, by Bernard Marshall
The Old Tobacco Shop: A True Account of What Befell a Little Boy in Search of Adventure, by William Bowen
The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, by Padraic Colum
The Windy Hill, by Cornelia Meigs

1923
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting

1924
The Dark Frigate, by Charles Hawes

1925
Tales From Silver Lands, by Charles Finger
Nicholas: A Manhattan Christmas Story, by Annie Carroll Moore
The Dream Coach, by Anne Parrish

1926
Shen of the Sea, by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
The Voyagers: Being Legends and Romances of Atlantic Discovery, by Padraic Colum

1927
Smoky the Cowhorse, by Will James

1928
Gayneck, the Story of a Pigeon, by Dhan Gopal Mukerji
The Wonder Smith and his Son, by Ella Young
Downright Dencey, by Caroline Snedeker

1929
The Trumpeter of Krakow, by Eric P. Kelly
Pigtail of Ah Lee Ben Loo, by John Bennett
Millions of Cats, by Wanda Gág
The Boy Who Was, by Grace Hallock
Clearing Weather, by Cornelia Meigs
Runaway Papoose, by Grace Moon
Tod of the Fens, by Elinor Whitney

1930
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, by Rachel Field
A Daughter of the Seine: The Life of Madame Roland, by Jeanette Eaton
Pran of Albania, by Elizabeth Miller
Jumping-Off Place, by Marion Hurd McNeely
The Tangle-Coated Horse and Other Tales, by Ella Young
Vaino, by Julia Davis Adams
Little Blacknose, by Hildegarde Swift

1931
The Cat Who Went To Heaven, by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Floating Island, by Anne Parrish
The Dark Star of Itza: The Story of a Pagan Princess, by Alida Malkus
Queer Person, by Ralph Hubbard
Mountains Are Free, by Julie Davis Adams
Spice and the Devil's Cave, by Agnes Hewes
Meggy MacIntosh, by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Garram the Hunter: A Boy of the Hill Tribes, by Herbert Best
Ood-Le-Uk the Wanderer, by Alice Lide & Margaret Johansen

1932
Waterless Mountain, by Laura Adams Armer
The Fairy Circus, by Dorothy P. Lathrop
Calico Bush, by Rachel Field
Boy of the South Seas, by Eunice Tietjens
Out of the Flame, by Eloise Lownsbery
Jane's Island, by Marjorie Allee
Truce of the Wolf and Other Tales of Old Italy, by Mary Gould Davis

1933
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze, by Elizabeth Lewis
Swift Rivers, by Cornelia Meigs
The Railroad to Freedom: A Story of the Civil War, by Hildegarde Swift
Children of the Soil: A Story of Scandinavia, by Nora Burglon

1934
Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women, by Cornelia Meigs
The Forgotten Daughter, by Caroline Snedeker
Swords of Steel, by Elsie Singmaster
ABC Bunny, by Wanda Gág
Winged Girl of Knossos, by Erik Berry
New Land, by Sarah Schmidt
Big Tree of Bunlahy: Stories of My Own Countryside, by Padraic Colum
Glory of the Seas, by Agnes Hewes
Apprentice of Florence, by Ann Kyle

1935
Dobry, by Monica Shannon
Pageant of Chinese History, by Elizabeth Seeger
Davy Crockett, by Constance Rourke
Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic, by Hilda Von Stockum

1936
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink
Honk, The Moose, by Phil Stong
The Good Master, by Kate Seredy
Young Walter Scott, by Elizabeth Janet Gray
All Sail Set: A Romance of the Flying Cloud, by Armstrong Sperry

1937
Roller Skates, by Ruth Sawyer
Phebe Fairchild: Her Book, by Lois Lenski
Whistler's Van, by Idwal Jones
The Golden Basket, by Ludwig Bemelmans
Winterbound, by Margery Bianco
The Codfish Musket, by Agnes Hewes
Audubon, by Constance Rourke

1938
The White Stag, by Kate Seredy
Pecos Bill, by James Cloyd Bowman
Bright Island, by Mabel Robinson
On The Banks of Plum Creek, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

1939
Thimble Summer, by Elizabeth Enright
Nino, by Valenti Angelo
Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard & Florence Atwater
Hello the Boat!, by Phyllis Crawford
Leader by Destiny: George Washington, Man and Patriot, by Jeanette Eaton
Penn, by Elizabeth Janet Gray

1940
Daniel Boone, by James Daugherty
The Singing Tree, by Kate Seredy
Runner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis Agassiz, by Mabel Robinson
By the Shores of Silver Lake, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Boy With a Pack, by Stephen W. Meader

1941
Call It Courage, by Armstrong Sperry
Blue Willow, by Doris Gates
Young Mac of Fort Vancouver, by Mary Jane Carr
The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Nansen, by Anna Gertrude Hall

1942
The Matchlock Gun, by Walter Edmonds
Little Town on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
George Washington's World, by Genevieve Foster
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison, by Lois Lenski
Down Ryton Water, by Eva Roe Gaggin

1943
Adam of the Road, by Elizabeth Janet Gray
The Middle Moffat, by Eleanor Estes
Have You Seen Tom Thumb?, by Mabel Leigh Hunt

1944
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
These Happy Golden Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Fog Magic, by Julia Sauer
Rufus M., by Eleanor Estes
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates

1945
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes
The Silver Pencil, by Alice Dalgliesh
Abraham Lincoln's World, by Genevieve Foster
Lone Journey: The Life of Roger Williams, by Jeanetter Eaton

1946
Strawberry Girl, by Lois Lenski
Justin Morgan Had A Horse, by Marguerite Henry
The Moved-Outers, by Florence Crannell Means
Bhimsa, The Dancing Bear, by Christine Weston
New Found World, by Katherine Shippen

1947
Miss Hickory, by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
Wonderful Year, by Nancy Barnes
Big Tree, by Mary & Conrad Buff
The Heavenly Tenants, by William Maxwell
The Avion My Uncle Flew, by Cyrus Fisher
The Hidden Treasure of Glaston, by Eleanor Jewett

1948
The Twenty-One Balloons, by William Pène du Bois
Pancakes-Paris, by Claire Huchet Bishop
Li-Lun, Lad of Courage, by Carolyn Treffinger
The Quaint and Curious Quest of Johnny Longfoot, by Catherine Besterman
The Cow-Tail Switch and Other West African Stories, by Harold Courlander
Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry

1949
King of the Wind, by Marguerite Henry
Seabird, by Holling C. Holling
Daughter of the Mountains, by Louise Rankin
My Father's Dragon, by Ruth S. Gannett
Story of the Negro, by Arna Bontemps

1950
The Door In The Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli
Tree of Freedom, by Rebecca Caudill
The Blue Cat of Castle Town, by Catherine Coblentz
Kildee House, by Rutherford Montgomery
George Washington, by Genevieve Foster
Song of the Pines: A Story of Norwegian Lumbering in Wisconsin, by Walter & Marion Havighurst

1951
Amos Fortune: Free Man, by Elizabeth Yates
Better Known as Johnny Appleseed, by Mabel Leigh Hunt
Ghandi, Fighter Without a Sword, by Jeanette Eaton
Abraham Lincoln, Friend of the People, by Clara Ingram Judson
The Story of Appleby Capple, by Anne Parrish

1952
Ginger Pye, by Eleanor Estes
Americans Before Columbus, by Elizabeth Baity
Minn of the Mississippi, by Holling C. Holling
The Defender, by Nicholas Kalashnikoff
The Light At Tern Rock, by Julia Sauer
The Apple and the Arrow, by Mary & Conrad Buff

1953
Secret of the Andes, by Ann Nolan Clark
Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White
Moccasin Trail, by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Red Sails To Capri, by Ann Weil
The Bears On Hemlock Mountain, by Alice Dalgliesh
Birthdays of Freedom, Volume I, by Genevieve Foster

1954
...And Now Miguel, by Joseph Krumgold
All Alone, by Claire Huchet Bishop
Shadrach, by Meindert Dejong
Hurry Home, Candy, by Meindert Dejong
Theodore Roosevelt, Fighting Patriot, by Clara Ingram Judson
Magic Maize, by Mary & Conrad Buff

1955
The Wheel on the School, by Meindert DeJong
Courage of Sarah Noble, by Alice Dalgliesh
Banner in the Sky, by James Ullman

1956
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham
The Secret River, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
The Golden Name Day, by Jennie Lindquist
Men, Microscopes, and Living Things, by Katherine Shippen

1957
Miracles on Maple Hill, by Virginia Sorensen
Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson
The House of Sixty Fathers, by Meindert DeJong
Mr. Justice Holmes, by Clara Ingram Judson
The Corn Grows Ripe, by Dorothy Rhoads
Black Fox of Lorne, by Marguerite de Angeli

1958
Rifles For Watie, by Harold Keith
The Horsecatcher, by Mari Sandoz
Gone-Away Lake, by Elizabeth Enright
The Great Wheel, by Robert Lawson
Tom Paine, Freedom's Apostle, by Leo Gurko

1959
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare
The Family Under The Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson
Along Came a Dog, by Meindert Dejong
Chucaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa, by Francis Kalnay
The Perilous Road, by William O. Steele

1960
Onion John, by Joseph Krumgold
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
America Is Born: A History For Peter, by Gerald W. Johnson

1961
Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell
America Moves Forward: A History For Peter, by Gerald W. Johnson
Old Ramon, by Jack Schaefer
The Cricket in Times Square, by George Selden

1962
The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare
Frontier Living, by Edwin Tunis
The Golden Goblet, by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Belling the Tiger, by Mary Stolz

1963
A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends From Scotland, by Sorche Nic Leodhas
Men Of Athens, by Olivia Coolidge

1964
It's Like This, Cat, by Emily Neville
Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era, by Sterling North
The Loner, by Ester Wier

1965
Shadow of a Bull, by Maia Wojciechowska
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt

1966
I, Juan de Pareja, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
The Black Cauldron, by Lloyd Alexander
The Animal Family, by Randall Jarrell
The Noonday Friends, by Mary Stolz

1967
Up A Road Slowly, by Irene Hunt
The King's Fifth, by Scott O'Dell
Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
The Jazz Man, by Mary Hays Weik

1968
From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsburg
Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth, by E. L. Konigsburg
The Black Pearl, by Scott O'Dell
The Fearsome Inn, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

1969
The High King, by Lloyd Alexander
To Be A Slave, by Julius Lester
When Schlemiel Went To Warsaw And Other Stories, by Isaac Bashevis Singer

1970
Sounder, by William H. Armstrong
Our Eddie, by Sulamith Ish-Kishor
The Many Ways of Seeing: An Introduction To The Pleasures Of Art, by Janet Gaylord Moore
Journey Outside, by Mary Q. Steele

1971
Summer Of The Swans, by Betsy Byars
Knee Knock Rise, by Natalie Babbitt
Enchantress From The Stars, by Sylvia Louise Engdahl
Sing Down The Moon, by Scott O'Dell

1972
Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien
Incident At Hawk's Hill, by Allan W. Eckert
The Planet of Junior Brown, by Virginia Hamilton
The Tombs of Atuan, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Annie and The Old One, by Miska Miles
The Headless Cupid, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

1973
Julie of The Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
Frog And Toad Together, by Arnold Lobel
The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
The Witches of Worm, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

1974
The Slave Dancer, by Paula Fox
The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper

1975
M. C. Higgins, The Great, by Virginia Hamilton
Figgs and Phantoms, by Ellen Raskin
My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier
The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope
Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe, by Bette Greene

1976
The Grey King, by Susan Cooper
The Hundred Penny Box, by Sharon Bell Mathis
Dragonwings, by Laurence Yep

1977
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
Abel's Island, by William Steig
A String In The Harp, by Nancy Bond

1978
Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
Ramona and Her Father, by Beverly Cleary
Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey, by Jamake Highwater

1979
The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin
The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson

1980
A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal 1830 - 1832, by Joan W. Blos
The Road From Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl, by David Kherdian

1981
Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Paterson
The Fledgling, by Jane Langton
A Ring Of Endless Light, by Madeleine L'Engle

1982
A Visit To William Blake's Inn: Poems For Innocent and Experienced Travelers, by Nancy Willard
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by Beverly Cleary
Upon The Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary, 1939 - 1944, by Aranka Siegal

1983
Dicey's Song, by Cynthia Voigt
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley
Doctor DeSoto, by William Steig
Graven Images, by Paul Fleischman
Homesick: My Own Story, by Jean Fritz
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, by Virginia Hamilton

1984
Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary
The Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare
A Solitary Blue, by Cynthia Voigt
Sugaring Time, by Kathryn Lasky
The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree, by Bill Brittain

1985
The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley
Like Jake and Me, by Mavis Jukes
The Moves Make the Man, by Bruce Brooks
One-Eyed Cat, by Paula Fox

1986
Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan
Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, by Rhoda Blumberg
Dogsong, by Gary Paulsen

1987
The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman
A Fine White Dust, by Cynthia Rylant
On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens, by Patricia Lauber

1988
Lincoln, A Photobiography, by Russell Freedman
After The Rain, by Norma Fox Mazer
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen

1989
Joyful Noise: Poems For Two Voices, by Paul Fleischman
In The Beginning: Creation Stories From Around the World, by Virginia Hamilton
Scorpions, by Walter Dean Myers

1990
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
Afternoon of the Elves, by Janet Taylor Lisle
Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind, by Suzanne Fisher Staples
The Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen

1991
Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi

1992
Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Nothing But The Truth: A Documentary Novel, by Avi
The Wright Brothers: How They Invented The Airplane, by Russell Freedman

1993
Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant
What Hearts, by Bruce Brooks
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural, by Patricia McKissack
Somewhere in the Darkness, by Walter Dean Myers

1994
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
Dragon's Gate, by Laurence Yep
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, by Russell Freedman

1995
Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech
Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman
The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm, by Nancy Farmer

1996
The Midwife's Apprentice, by Karen Cushman
What Jamie Saw, by Carolyn Coman
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Yolonda's Genius, by Carol Fenner
The Great Fire, by Jim Murphy

1997
The View From Saturday, by E.L. Konigsburg
A Girl Named Disaster, by Nancy Farmer
Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner
Belle Prater's Boy, by Ruth White

1998
Out Of The Dust, by Karen Hesse
Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine
Lily's Crossing, by Patricia Reilly Giff
Wringer, by Jerry Spinelli

1999
Holes, by Louis Sachar
A Long Way From Chicago, by Richard Peck

2000
Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Getting Near To Baby, by Audrey Couloumbis
Our Only May Amelia, by Jennifer L. Holm
26 Fairmount Avenue, by Tomie dePaola

2001
A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck
Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo
Joey Pigza Loses Control, by Jack Gantos
The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech

2002
A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park
Everything On a Waffle, by Polly Horvath
Carver: A Life In Poems, by Marilyn Nelson

2003
Crispin: The Cross of Lead, by Avi
The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer
Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff
Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen
A Corner of the Universe, by Ann M. Martin
Surviving the Applewhites, by Stephanie S. Tolan

2004
The Tale of Despereaux: Being a Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread, by Kate DiCamillo
Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, by Jim Murphy

2005
Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kadohata
Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko
The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle For Equal Rights, by Russell Freedman
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy,by Gary D. Schmidt

2006
Criss-Cross, by Lynne Rae Perkins
Whittington, by Alan Armstrong
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale
Show Way, by Jacqueline Woodson

2007
The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron
Penny From Heaven, by Jennifer Holm
Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson
Rules, by Cynthia Lord

2008
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village, by Laura Amy Schlitz
Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt
Feathers, by Jacqueline Woodson

2009
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, by Margarita Engle
Savvy, by Ingrid Law
After Tupac and D Foster, by Jacqueline Woodson

2010
When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly
Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, by Grace Lin
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick

Newbery and Caldecott Award Winners, 2010

I'm pleased to present the winners for this year....really, it's always almost a personal contest to how many I've read. The last few years it has been almost none, except Wednesday Wars. Which should have won. Just saying.

This year, the Newbery winner is:


When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
Juvenile, 2009

Summary from Fantastic Fiction: Four mysterious letters change Miranda's world forever.
By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it's safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late.

I've seen it on the shelves, but never thought to try it out - I'll have to get right on it!

The Newbery Honors went to (sometimes just as good if not better than the actual award winner):
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose
From the ALA website:
Hoose reveals the true story of an unsung hero of the Montgomery bus boycott. Hoose’s work stands out for its creative approach to narrative biography. Colvin’s own recollections are merged seamlessly with the narrative voice, providing a uniquely personal view of Colvin and the Civil Rights Movement.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly (click for review)
From the ALA website:
On the eve of the 20th century, 11-year-old Calpurnia awakens to new possibilities, and through her evolving relationship with her naturalist grandfather, learns to think like a scientist. Kelly’s rich, evocative language captures Callie’s distinctive voice and lively observations of the natural world.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin
From the ALA website:
A rich tapestry of stories, both original and traditional, transports readers to a fantastic world where Dragon joins Minli on a fortune-changing quest.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick
From the ALA website:
This rollicking yarn, presented through the voice of 12-year-old Homer, uses humor and pluck to mitigate the horrors of the Civil War.

*****************************************
This year's Caldecott winner is:

The Lion and the Mouse, written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

From ALA website:
The screech of an owl, the squeak of a mouse and the roar of a lion transport readers to the Serengeti plains for this virtually wordless retelling of Aesop’s classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney’s textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two very unlikely friends.

I haven't read this, but the cover looks gorgeous, so I'll have to try it on my 'half' and see if I get any growls!

The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams

The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams
Young Adult, 2009

Kyra is one of 20 children in her polygamist family of three mothers and one father. When the prophet commands her to marry her uncle - a man also 50 years older than her - she has to come to grips with her love for her family, her secret passion for books, and her hopes for another she had hoped to marry.
Polygamist runaways/searching-for-a-new-life teenagers is a genre in and of itself, although typically poorly done. In this case, Williams has obviously done her research. She writes very well, and has captured the voice of not just Kyra, but her father, her mothers, and the siblings she is closest to. I was bothered by the outcome of the driver of the mobile library, and I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. There's also a disclaimer: if you are a MOTHER, then DO NOT READ this book for a particular scene where someone hurts a baby. I burst into tears (I don't cry over books as a rule.) on the spot and was very bothered by that scene, so I'm voicing a word of caution. However, I'm hoping Williams continues writing, as she is a great new voice to add to the teen world.
Graded a C+ (for the scene. Sorry, I can't have this on my shelf. I'm a mama with nightmares about my child. If it didn't have the scene it would have been a B.)

Darkwood, by M. E. Breen

Darkwood, by M. E. Breen
Young Adult, 2009

When dark falls on Howland, it's instant and smothering, and you had better be behind closed doors. At night the kinderstalk prowl, and no one is safe outside. But when Annie hears a horrible plan her uncle has in mind for her, she escapes to the woods and the kinderstalk. But everything isn't as she's been taught, and plots swirl around her threatening the land, the king, and those she loves.
Not quite what I expected, I was intrigued until about half way through the book when things started to get...weird and go downhill. I liked the sisters that help her, but for the most part thought the characters weren't very well written. The beginning, however, is excellent, making this a bit of an anomaly.
Graded a C+.

Forbidden Sea, Author Interview and Giveaway!

So, here is the interview Sheila Nielson gave me a few months ago - reposted now that interviews and arcs, etc. are all out there now. (For the reviews by both Trackgeek and I, click here.)
Please note all photos, drawings, etc. are copyright Sheila A. Nielson 2009. Please contact her for permission before using any of them.

What was your inspiration for this book - how long did you have the idea before writing it down?
Two little sisters came into the library one day asking for mermaid books. I took them around the shelves pulling everything we had (which wasn't much). They went away a little disappointed that I didn't have more to give them. This had happened to me many times before this, but their disappointment really stayed with me. Someone needed to write more mermaid stories. Why couldn't that someone be me? That's when the mermaid character came to me fully formed. What she looked like and what her personality would be like. Unfortunately, I did not have a story plot for my mermaid to inhabit, so I put her in the back of my mind for another day.

I always have lots of story ideas simmering in the back of my mind, but I don't start writing on them until they are fully formed with a beginning middle and end. I also have to be extremely excited about the story. It can take a year or more to finish a manuscript and unless I'm completely in love with the characters and plot in every way, I'll grow tired of the manuscript and it will never get finished. I had one story idea that came to me, but I couldn't make the thing work right. Something was missing. That something, it turned out, was a mermaid. I took my fully formed mermaid character, who still had no plot to star in and plugged her into the tale. The story wrote itself after that. I have never written a rough draft of a story as fast as I did FORBIDDEN SEA. It took years to get to that point though.

The best part of writing the story was imagining what the world of merfolk would be like. As a very young child, I had loved the idea of mermaids but didn't like the way they were portrayed in mythology. I imagined all sorts of things about what I thought mermaids SHOULD be like. I ended up returning to these childhood ideas to create the merfolk in my story.

What was the inspiration for your characters?

How many of us know someone who is truly amazing, but they have no idea how wonderful they are. Often these people think very little of themselves because the world can not see what those of us who know them best do. I wanted my main character to be this kind of person. An ordinary girl who finds greatness within herself, when she is called to face difficult circumstances. I have a very dear friend who happens to be just such a person. I found myself using her as my inspiration for Adrianne, the protagonist in my story. You will notice that Adrianne has unfashionably short hair in the book. This was my way of paying tribute to this good friend who always made short hair look fabulous.

As for Adrianne's love interest, I admit I've always had a thing for good boys. I'd take Gilbert Blythe over Draco Malfoy any day. Adrianne's true love is sweet, gentlemanly and full of mischief, what's not to love?

Sheila is also an amazing artist - she has a BFA in Illustration, for crying out loud. She drew her characters here, and it was always fun to look at them while reading the story:
(From left to right; Adrianne (the main character), Cecily (her sister), Denn (love interest), The Mermaid, who I must confess I like more than the cover's version, but I think it's because it was the first version I saw.)




















In the book, Adrianne is amazing with horses - why this side plot?

I have always loved horses. I worked for years on a ranch as a trail guide when I was a teenager. My work with horses taught me many things over the years, especially about myself and my own strengths, fears and weaknesses. I wanted my character, Adrianne, to have something like that in her life.

My grandfather owned lots of horses as well. I used to ride with him when I was just a little girl and he would teach me all about how to tell what a horse was thinking by reading their body language. These early memories of my grandfather are some of the very sweetest I have--especially now that he is gone.

My grandfather had a horse exactly like the one in the story--a beautiful dark bay. That horse loved my grandfather like a dog loves its master. If it could have slept at the end of his bed at night it would have. When it came to anyone else, this horse wanted nothing to do with us. It was more than a little insulting to me as a girl when this horse would doing everything in his power to throw me off his back when I rode him, and then prance around proudly lifting his feet high, sweet as an angel, whenever my grandfather got on his back. At the same time, it was also extremely touching to see this horse's devotion to the one man he loved.

Is a sequel planned?

Yes. In fact, the manuscript is almost complete. But my editor says they will only consider publishing it if the first book does well. So whether or not anyone gets to read it depend on how well FORBIDDEN SEA is received.

What other writing projects are in the works?

I am currently working on a contemporary ghost story with a little paranormal romance and mystery thrown in. I have also started a fantasy novel involving centaurs (another creature there are very few books about), but this manuscript still has a ways to go yet. Both are young adult novels.

And a little help for all of us out there who enjoy writing:
What do you do when you have writer's block?

Sometimes it takes time for the creative juices to get moving, but I try not to let it stop my ability to write. I either move on to write a different scene in the same book or move to another story completely while waiting for the answers to come to me. I find that my best ideas often come either in the middle of the night or while I'm commuting to work in the morning.

When is your favorite time to write and what is your inspiration?

Working full time as a librarian keeps me pretty busy so I write whenever I possibly can find the time. I use my hour for lunch to write everyday and my days off as much as possible. I am also guilty of writing on my laptop in bed late at night when I should be sleeping.

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Working in a children's library provides me with all sorts of inspiration. I visited a sixth grade class for my job one day and got more material than I ever would have imagined possible in just a two hour period. I also use music as inspiration while I'm writing. I will often create a soundtrack for my books, so I can get the right feelings and emotions during key scenes. As an illustrator, drawing my characters also helps me get a better feel for their personalities and what they look like.

Any advice to budding authors out there with regard to getting their work published?

If you want to write books you first have to read them. Read everything and anything you can get your hands on.

Get a writer's group. No one can judge their own work properly. It takes an outside person to see your mistakes and help you become a better writer. You'll be amazed at how quickly your writing improves when you have feedback.

But most of all--just write. Even if you feel your writing is awful, keep doing it as much as possible. It's like practicing the scales on the piano. The more you write, the better your writing will become. Someday all that work will pay off! Just don't give up.

Thank you so much, Sheila! For more information or just to see what she's up to, check out her book blog, here.



Giveaway! Sheila is giving away an ARC of her book, Forbidden Sea, on her blog - HERE. Also, spread the word, so that it does well, so that the sequel can be published. I've been reading chunks of the sequel and it's amazing so far!

Summary for Forbidden Sea:
When, one stormy night, a mermaid comes to take Adrianne Keynnman's sister, Cecily, down into the depths of the sea, Adrianne knows she must fight with every ounce of her strength to protect her little sister. On land, Adrianne toils away, trying to eke out a living for her mother, sister, and aunt, after a tragic accident stole her father. Now, life takes a strange and frightening turn as Adrianne's dreams are filled with the mermaid's singing . . .

Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop, by Lee Goldberg

Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop, by Lee Goldberg
Adult, 2009

Mr. Monk is back in this 8th installment of the Mr. Monk series (based on the TV show), but this time has been let go as a consultant for the police department. Feeling compulsive about solving crimes, he calls in 'Anonymous' tips. But when Captain Stottlemeyer is in jail accused of murdering an ex-cop, it's up to Monk to save his friend and find the real killer.
This was my first Mr. Monk book - I enjoy the series, although lately in the TV show he just seems to be getting worse about his compulsions, which just makes it annoying. Goldberg does a decent job getting all of the characters right, but it's obvious his hands are tied with creativity as you read the choppy writing and stilted transitions. There were some definite laugh-out-loud parts, which are really funny if you've seen the show and can picture Tony Shalhoub saying those things. Great for a quick light read.
Graded a B-.

Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress, by Tina Ferraro

Top Ten Uses For an Unworn Prom Dress, by Tina Ferraro
Young Adult, 2007

Nicolette Antonovich buys THE perfect prom dress, only to get dropped just before prom. Not having the heart to ditch the dress, she starts a mental list of things to do with an unworn prom dress, all while she's trying to save her mother's career/their house, have her dad as part of her life, fix the problems with her best friend, and try to figure out her love life.
Surprisingly cute, I was pleased there weren't so many of the cliches that are rampant in teen drama books now. Her best friend wasn't perfect, and while Rascal is much more how I remember high school guys being, (than say the other guys she hangs out with), it was fairly realistic. Props on the dress - it sounded fabulous.
Graded a B-.

Say What?

So, I went over to Kate's blog (The Neverending Bookshelf - oh MAN does my collection feel like that). and she had an interesting post on her blogging identity crisis. Despite the fact that she has a gorgeous blog (who designed it?!), she feels like she's in a bit of a slump. As I read the post, I felt the same way - but I've only been blogging for about 4 months.
I remember when I started this blog as a way for Ryan and I to review the mass amount of books we read. I was excited to start giveaways and get followers, but now...I find myself looking for books that will make the readers excited, not what I would necessarily like to read, and I feel bad when I give a widely popular book a bad grade. But Kate has inspired me, and dog-gone-it, I've decided that however wonderful it is to have readers come to my blog, I'm only going to read what I want, and be proud of a grade I give despite the popular opinions. On the other hand, I think it's pretty darn brave of me to give Twilight only a B, and Harry Potter 7 a C+, and The Hunger Games a B-. (I realize you may have just run screaming from the room...)

In an attempt to make this still enjoyable for me, but still have fun memes that you may (or hey, may not) like, here's a revamping of those - a spring cleanup (well, winter cleanup):

Memory Monday - I still love this, and I'm still going to review those 'oldie but goodie' books. They typically have a good grade, and I wouldn't review them if I didn't think you oughta read them.

Terrific Authors on Tuesday - nix.

Friday Finds - this works about every other week, and I'm not sure how much clicking you do on my Shelfari account, so this tells you what I've added. However, someone has suggested that when I do reviews, I should post when they were a Friday Find....truthfully it's been a long time since I've read a Friday Find and liked it.

So - I could use a little help for days in the middle - any bright ideas? Anything you'd like to see in particular?

Disney Reading Challenge!

Ok, I am horrid at making buttons. UPDATE: I made a code of SOME kind. The button on our sidebar is technically a button...if you can get that, then...great. I'm so sorry I'm a technological mess. :)

Watching 101 Dalmatians with my kid today, I realized that just about every Disney movie is based on a book, whether it be Kipling's Jungle Book, or Hans Christian Anderson's short story of the Little Mermaid. Whatever it is, it would make for a wonderful reading challenge.

Rules:
1. You're welcome to do ANY animated movie, regardless of who made it (so, Warner Brothers is ok), and of course it has to be based on a book that was written prior - NOT a book based on a screenplay (yeck).
2. It finishes December 31, 2010
3. You can use them for multiple challenges.
4. It can be any kind of book, as long as it has an ISBN, and short stories count, although try to limit them if you can.
5. You can pick one of 3 levels:
Sleeping Beauty - Read 3 books.
Ariel - Read 7 books.
Belle - Read 10 books.
6. Feel free to take the 'button' of sorts, and then post your blog announcing your entry into the Disney Reading Challenge. All entries will receive an extra entry into our Valentine's Day giveaway, which as of yet has not been posted, but will be awesome, I can assure you.

(Ps. Sorry that the Mr. Linky says this is In "Other" Words. Forgive me - it wouldn't let me make my own meme.)

Duo Review: City of Masks, by Mary Hoffman

City of Masks, by Mary Hoffman
Young Adult, 2002

When Lucien find himself transported to a parallel sixteenth century Italy (Talia), he finds a release from the cancer that is slowly draining his life away. There he finds adventure, romance, and a city-state to save. But as wonderful as this all is, will he survive back in London where his home truly is?
Trackgeek: I enjoyed this a lot. While I hope that they don't try to elaborate on why there are time discrepancies between one world and the next in the other books, I did enjoy this one. I enjoyed the adventure that is told, and appreciate that the basis of the story doesn't have to do with traveling back in time in the same world (or reality) which always leads to problems.
Graded a B+.
Raspberry: For my review, see this post.
Graded a B-.

Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge, 2010

Hosted by Book Chick City, basically the rules are that you read 12 thriller/suspense novels between now and the end of the year. Of course, it can be anything at all in that genre, including many subgenres and ideas listed here. I'm getting a slower start, and I'm afraid I haven't got a list yet, per se, of what I'd like to read for it, but I'm excited for the challenge. :)

1.

The Classics Reading Challenge

I stumbled across the Gilmore Girls challenge, but found that most of the books on the list I had read, and if I hadn't then I didn't want to. (i.e. Henry James. Seriously. Can only take so much, ok?)

So, instead we're coming up with our own classics challenge. I don't have a button and this is pretty laid back, but the idea is, to make a list of classics that you'd like to read, but never got around to.
I am a voracious reader, like all of you, of course, and have read an inordinate amount of classics - in fact, they were about all that I'd read during high school. (I slaughtered the children's section during elementary school, and the YA after college.) So. This may seem a bit eclectic, and of course, if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment and say so.

The books:
Mary Barton, by Elizabeth Gaskell
Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell
Ruth, by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Jungle Books, by Rudyard Kipling (Never finished...)
The Four Feathers
Under a Greenwood Tree, by Thomas Hardy (started)
The Haunted House, ed. Charles Dickens (short stories with contemporary authors like Dickens, Collins, and Gaskell)
St. Ives, by Robert Louis Stevenson (I own it, but it's such an old edition that I'm afraid to read it.)
Lorna Doone, by Richard Blackmore
Mrs. Miniver, by Jan Struther (I realize this is more of a 'modern' classic.)


The goal is to read 5 of these books by the end of the year. I realize that seems a bit...sparse, but since I read mostly YA and children's books, I figure that sounds about right.

Friday Finds (on Saturday) 9

Sorry - I think the 'no sugar' thing is getting to me...(see yesterday's review of Fat Cat). So here are my Friday Finds - I didn't come up with this idea, and so many book bloggers do this that it's hard to know who really started it in the first place, but the point is, I didn't and am just a copycat. :)


Aztec: The Goldsmith's Daughter, by Tanya Landman
YA, 2008



The Wide-Awake Princess, by E.D. Baker
YA, 2010



The Girl with the Mermaid Hair, by Delia Ephron
YA, 2010



Body Double, by Vicki Hinze
YA, 2004

Fat Cat, by Robin Brande

Fat Cat, by Robin Brande
Young Adult, 2009

Cat is a super smart, friendly junior in high school, who loves all things chocolate and sugar coated, can out swim anyone, and is an amazing chef. She also happens to be very overweight. When her science fair project comes up, she decides to be the 'guinea pig', and starts living and eating more healthy - i.e., no more sugar, chocolate, car (so, walking everywhere), make up, blow dryer, phones, etc. Exceptions for school and emergencies only. With this daring plan she finds herself slimming down, feeling better, and gaining confidence. But when the boys start paying attention, she starts to realize a few things beyond outside appearance.
A very well-written book, with a fabulous idea, I enjoyed it so much that mid-way through I decided to try giving up sugar and see how long I could go. (One day so far...it has been torture, I'll tell you what....!) I love that she seems to find her 'niche', but still is a teenager with doubts, awkwardness, and some growing up to do.
Graded a B+.

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons, by Barbara Cohen

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons, by Barbara Cohen
Young Adult, 1982

From back of the book:
Buran cannot - will not - sit quietly at home and wait to be married to the man her father chooses. Determine to use her skills and earn a fortune, she instead disguises herself as a boy and travels by camel caravan to a distant city. There, she maintains her masculine disguise and establishes a successful business. The city's crown prince comes often to her shop, and soon Buran finds herself falling in love. But if she reveals to Mahmud that she is a woman, she will lose everything she has worked for.
Trackgeek: A little bit dis-jointed by the change in the perspective of the story (between two people's experiences), but considering the story it makes sense to tell both sides. I enjoyed that this is an elaboration of an ancient story that I am not familiar with.
Graded a B+.

Review and Giveaway: Darcy's Story, by Janet Aylmer

Darcy's Story, by Janet Aylmer
Adult, 2009

Pride and Prejudice told from Darcy's standpoint - some rewritten areas and some very similar to Jane Austen's words.
Ironically shorter than Pride and Prejudice (of course a man's viewpoint would be.... :) I wasn't particularly sold on Darcy being quite as sensitive as Aylmer wrote him. While an obviously decent guy, he's still a guy, and I expected some 'guy stuff' from him - albeit 'guy stuff' from the 1800s. Definitely a short fun read for any of you Jane Austen addicts out there, although I must confess to grading him a C+, largely due to my personality - not her writing.

For the giveaway, you enter here, and please remember to read the instructions. You have to give me your 'two cents', etc. about our blog. New rule to the giveaway: My favorite suggestions - as in the ones I actually use, will get one extra entry.
The giveaway ends around the end of January, but I reserve the right to wait a little longer if I'm getting a lot of comments. I DON'T use random.org - I actually stick all the names in a hat, so first or last to comment, it doesn't matter.
Open internationally.
Thanks, guys!

Alex Rider: Crocodile Tears, by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider: Crocodile Tears, by Anthony Horowitz
Juvenile/Young Adult

Book 8 in the series, summary from fantasticfiction.co.uk: A con artist has realized there is big money in charity - the bigger the disaster, the greater the money flow! So that is what he will produce: the biggest disaster known to man, all thanks to genetically modified corn that can release a virus so potent it can knock out an entire country in one windy day. But Alex Rider will face whatever it takes - gunfire, explosions, hand-to-hand combat with mercenaries - to bring down his most dangerous adversary yet.
Trackgeek: Amazing to realize that the entire series of Alex Rider books has now only taken a year of Alex's life. I think that this fits right in with the other books in the series. All of them are well written, while at times it is a little hard to imagine a 14 year old pulling off all of the James Bond stunts that we are used to from Ian Fleming's famous series, it is still grippingly told.
Graded a B+.

Books to look forward to in 2010!

While discussing books - of course - Trackgeek and I decided to make a list of all the books we're really excited for that are coming out this year. I know we've missed some and probably have to keep adding to this, but this is what we came up with so far:
(Bolded are ones we really really really are excited for... :)

The Ranger's Apprentice: Erak's Ransom, by John Flanagan
The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa
Thirteen Treasures, by Michelle Harrison
Thirteen Days to Midnight, by Patrick Carman
Forbidden Sea, by Sheila Nielson
Voices of Dragons, by Carrie Vaughn
Princess For Hire, by Lindsey Leavitt
The Owl Keeper, by Christine Brodien-Jones
Keep Sweet, by Michele Dominiquez Greene
Revolver, by Marcus Sedgwick
Sea, by Heidi Kling
The Snowball Effect, by Holly Nicole Hoxter
Little Miss Red, by Robin Palmer
Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver
Daughters of the Witching Hill, by Mary Sharratt
Princess of Glass, by Jessica Day George
The Fool's Girl: A Social History 1250 - 1550, by Celia Rees
The Tension of Opposites, by Kristina McBride
Knightley Academy, by Violet Haberdasher
The Education of Bet, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
The Princess and the Snowbird, by Mette Ivie Harrison
Faithful, by Janet Fox
Inside Out, by Maria V. Snyder
Mistwood, by Leah Cypress
Guardian of the Dead, by Karen Healey
Spring Fling, by Sabrina James
Magic Under Glass, by Jaclyn Dolamore
X-Isle, by Steven Augarde
A Match Made In High School, by Kristin Walker
The Beautiful Between, by Alyssa Scheinmel
Numbers, by Rachel Ward
The Returners, by Gemma Malley
The Best and Hardest Thing, by Pat Brisson
Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake, by Sarah Maclean
Dido, by Adele Geras (already released in UK)
The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye, by Nancy Springer
Monster Republic, by Ben Horton
Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus, by R. L. LaFevers
Birthmarked, by Caragh O'Brien
Brightly Woven, by Alexandra Bracken
Claire de Lune, by Christine Johnson
Light Beneath Ferns, by Anne Spollen
Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher
Forget-Her-Nots, by Amy Brecount White
Cinderella Society, by Kay Cassidy
A Golden Web, by Barbara Quick


If you see we're missing something, feel free to comment and let us know. Sometimes we don't have a book because we're not that far in the series yet, etc.

The Overnight Socialite, by Bridie Clark

The Overnight Socialite, by Bridie Clark
Adult, 2009

Pygmalion and My Fair Lady hit the modern day and the multi-millionaire realm of New York.
Trackgeek: Overall, the book did an ok job of having characters develop as Lucy conquers the social scene. But, Wyatt is just as stuck up and out there as any Henry Higgins. At least in the end it isn't because Lucy just miraculously falls for Wyatt, but that they both change, which I appreciate. the only problem really is the ending, there isn't a conclusion, just that they are on good terms- I mean the whole point of the romance is for something to get wrapped up.
Graded a B-.

The Secret of Moonacre, aka The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

They've got a trailer out for The Secret of Moonacre now, although it doesn't look much like I remember the book being....any thoughts? I must confess I'm not a huge fan of the book - I like other contemporaries instead, but it was still a fun read.