Kirjasto (library)

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

2008-12-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com Review
Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski. Ever since she saw Bryce's baby blues back in second grade, Juli has been smitten. Unfortunately, Bryce has never felt the same. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird--after all, what kind of freak raises chickens and sits in trees for fun? Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Bryce begins to see that Juli's unusual interests and pride in her family are, well, kind of cool. And Juli starts to think that maybe Bryce's brilliant blue eyes are as empty as the rest of Bryce seems to be. After all, what kind of jerk doesn't care about other people's feelings about chickens and trees? With Flipped, mystery author Wendelin Van Draanen has taken a break from her Sammy Keyes series, and the result is flipping fantastic. Bryce and Juli's rants and raves about each other ring so true that teen readers will quickly identify with at least one of these hilarious feuding egos, if not both. A perfect introduction to the adolescent war between the sexes. (Ages 12 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Joe received this book for Christmas this year. It made a fun read-aloud. We finished it quickly and wish it had more.

The Doll in McCalloway's Store

2008-11-05T17:19:00.000-08:00

The Doll in McCalloway's Store by Kevin Krogh is the first novel by this LDS author.
Some interesting thoughts instore and glimpses of poetry. Focus is on finding faith and recognizing God in our lives.

The Willow Switch by Kevin Krogh ***

2008-11-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

The Willow Switch by Kevin Krogh is his second book. The first one, I am currently reading is The Doll in McCallaway's Store. Kevin is not afraid to talk about indepth things close to his heart. To talk of faith, atheism, death, abuse, etc.
This book captured my fatigued attention more than the heavy backgrounded first novel for late night nursings. The story is of a young boy, abused by his "biological father" and his healing and love by another "father."
A book that was written with integrity about a topic obviously close to the author's heart yet with only references to vulgarity and violence.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolinin

2008-10-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Currently reading with Joe...Book three of the Inheritance "Cycle", not trilogy because there will be a book four now, apparently.

Curse of the Titans (Percy Jackson, book3)

2008-10-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9–In this installment, Riordan continues to enliven ancient mythology with wit, contemporary staging, and teenage heroics. Percy Jackson is now 14, a bit older and wiser, yet still entangled with the Fates. Friends, monsters, dysfunctional gods, and the romantic stirrings of all things natural and mythological are encountered. His good friend, if oft-time rival, Annabeth (daughter of Athena) is missing, as is Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Joined by best buddy Grover-the-goat-boy and an argumentative array of accomplices, Percy sets off to fulfill, and hopefully foil, the foreboding prophecy of the Oracle. Plagued by ominous dreams, thwarted by hideous monsters, and challenged by conflicting partnerships, the search party's success hinges on unlikely unity. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. 'Wow,' Thalia muttered, 'Apollo is hot.' 'He's the sun god,' I said. 'That's not what I meant.' Intricate prophecies and relationships are neatly braided into the adventurous plot. Teachers will cheer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians as they inspire students to embrace Greek mythology and score the ultimate Herculean challenge: getting kids to read. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.–Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Miramax (May 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423101456
ISBN-13: 978-1423101451

Rapunzels Revenge by Shannon Hale, etc.

2008-10-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (August 5, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159990070X

Product Description

Once upon a time, in a land you only think you know, lived a little girl and her mother . . . or the woman she thought was her mother.

Every day, when the little girl played in her pretty garden, she grew more curious about what lay on the other side of the garden wall . . . a rather enormous garden wall.

And every year, as she grew older, things seemed weirder and weirder, until the day she finally climbed to the top of the wall and looked over into the mines and desert beyond.

Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale teams up with husband Dean Hale and brilliant artist Nathan Hale (no relation) to bring readers a swashbuckling and hilarious twist on the classic story as you’ve never seen it before. Watch as Rapunzel and her amazing hair team up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) to gallop around the wild and western landscape, changing lives, righting wrongs, and bringing joy to every soul they encounter.

Julie's take: I really like Shannon Hale's work, usually. This novel may be perfect for my eight year old daughter. It has some interesting twists upon an old tale. Similar to a hardbacked comic book...it was not like Hugo Cabret which actually used the pictures in a subtle way to tell the story. I found this book rather choppy...an interesting debut "graphic novel."

Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson, Book 4)

2008-10-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson, Book 4) by Rick Riordan
Once again, this is an enjoyable book as Percy heads towards sixteen (he is 15) and the fateful prophecy. I was a bit irked by the references to vegan/vegetarians in this book after the teens visit a cattle ranch of the gods.

Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth–a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest audiobook promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet. (Amazon comment)

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 6, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423101464
ISBN-13: 978-1423101468

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

2008-09-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Miramax (March 20, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423103343
ISBN-13: 978-1423103349

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9 In this second installment in the series, Percy, Poseidon's 13-year-old demigod son, is desperate to rescue his friend Grover, captive of the bloodthirsty Cyclops Polyphemus, and to retrieve the healing Golden Fleece. The sheepskin is needed to restore the protection around Camp Half-Blood, the only safe haven for the children of gods and humans, heroes-in-training in our modern world. However, the camp has already been compromised and the quest for the Golden Fleece has been awarded to the bully Clarisse. Encouraged by Hermes, Percy sets off for the Bermuda Triangle anyway with his friend Annabeth and classmate Tyson, who turns out to be a half-brother and a Cyclops as well. Adventure follows chaotic adventure at a rapid pace, and readers with even a passing acquaintance with the Odyssey will enjoy this fresh use of familiar stories. Percy is an appealing kid, and the subject of a chilling prophecy may resonate with readers. Those who start the series with this title will be drawn in by the clever humor and have the opportunity to go back to The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005) before the inevitable sequel appears. Kathleen Isaacs, Towson University, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

*This has been a fun, adventurous, mostly "G" series that is well written and easy to read (even with mommy brain).

The Secret to Platform Thirteen by Eva Ibbotson

2008-08-21T20:26:00.001-07:00

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6?The door between our world and the enchanted Island is only open for nine days every nine years. Unfortunately, in the last minutes before it closes in 1983, the baby prince of the Island is kidnapped by a nasty woman named Trottle. For nine long years, the king and queen pine and plan for his rescue. Which of the magical creatures of their land should be sent to rescue their lost child? Finally, the team is chosen: Cor, an ancient wizard; Gurkie, a lovable agricultural fairy; Hans, a one-eyed giant; and Odge, a resourceful young hag. Guided by the ghosts who guard our end of the portal (called a gump), the team sets out to rescue little Raymond Trottle. While they are charmed by the kitchen boy, Ben, they are horrified by the piggish Raymond, who does not cooperate with their plans. The plucky group, with the help of Ben and the few magical creatures they find in London, tries to cajole and then, desperate, tries to steal Raymond before the gump closes. Ibbotson's lively fantasy is full of fun with its Dahl-like, but less mean-spirited, humor. Children will enjoy the magical creatures, including the cuddly mistmakers who emit fog when they hear music. The author's odd characters are endearing? Poor Odge is something of a failure as a hag, but a rousing success as a friend. Certainly readers won't be surprised to discover that kindly Ben is the lost prince, but they will be delighted by the adventure. Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This book is a Utah Children's Award Winner and rightfully so! It is a quick, magical read that even my son (at 5 yrs. ) enjoys reading. It was definitely read by J.K. Rawlings before she wrote her famous Harry Potter novels and is similar to the Narnia tales by C. S. Lewis.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Puffin (November 1, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0141302860
ISBN-13: 978-0141302867

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

From Publishers Weekly
In this tantalizing SF thriller, planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a soul called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes. While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie. 10-city author tour. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hardcover: 624 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (May 6, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0316068047
ISBN-13: 978-0316068048

Joe read this one aloud to me. It may have been easier to follow the story closer had I read it myself. I did not enjoy this as much as the Twilight series. That said, it was a well written book about humanity.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

2008-08-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Miramax (March 20, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423103343
ISBN-13: 978-1423103349

Land of the SIlver Apples (II) by Nancy Farmer (Audio)

2008-08-14T21:39:00.001-07:00

From AudioFile
THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES continues the saga begun in THE SEA OF TROLLS. It is Britain, 790 A.D. Young Jack, a bard-in-training, learns that his little sister, Lucy, so different from the rest of the family, is actually a changeling and his real sister is living with the hobgoblins. Lucy disappears during an exorcism, and Jack descends into the out-of-time Land of the Silver Apples to rescue her and his lost sister. Gerard Doyle gives an engrossing narration. He gives voice to a hobgoblin king, kelpies, yarthkins, elves, and other assorted creatures, human and magical. He maintains a balance between nail-biting action and the tangled mix of pagan and Christian traditions that simmered in eighth-century Britain. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (August 21, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416907351

*** I listened to the audio CD version of this. The reader was excellent yet I had a hard time "getting into" this book. I felt that Nancy Farmer was asked to write a Fantasy story (series, actually) and followed a script of an adventure novel--her heart was not in it. There is not the magic of creativity as there is in the Harry Potter novels where the author clearly enjoys living in a fictional world and presenting it.
I have loved her books about coming of age young adults in Africa or the fictional African future or fictional land of Opium between the Mexican and U.S. borders.

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

2008-08-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9–In England in the early medieval period, young Jack is chosen by the village's bard to serve as apprentice in award-winning author Nancy Farmer's exciting fantasy (Atheneum, 2004). After the bard is attacked by a Nightmare, Jack develops the ability to feel everything at once, which causes him to be vulnerable to the "Life Force," the power that exists in all things in nature. When they realize that Viking berserkers are coming, Jack and the bard raise fog to hide the village, but Jack and his sister, Lucy, are captured by Ivan One-Brow and his crew and are taken to the court of Ivar the Boneless and his evil half-troll wife, Queen Frith. Jack casts a spell to make the queen's hair fall out. To save his sister from being sacrificed to the Norse goddess Freya, Jack must accept a quest to travel to the icy Troll kingdom to find Mimir's Well, from which he must drink in order to learn the magic spell to replace the Queen's hair. Throughout his journey, Jack must deal with an argumentative Norse Jill, trolls, giant troll bears, a dragon, and giant spiders. As he completes his quest, Jack matures and realizes that all beings have the Life Force within them and must answer to its calling, whether it is Yggdrisil, the giant life tree of the Norse, or the simple need of berserkers to raid and pillage. Farmer weaves the threads of Norse and Celtic mythology into a coming-of-age tale that followers of Tolkien and J.K. Rowling will enjoy. Gerard Doyle does an excellent job of narrating the story, giving each of the large cast of characters a unique voice. Although a lengthy audiobook, listeners will want to complete the journey.–Lisa D. Williams, Chocowinity Middle School, NC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 459 pages
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (September 7, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689867441

I Capture the Castle (Audio) by Dodie Smith

2008-08-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain wants to become a writer. Trouble is, she's the daughter of a once-famous author with a severe case of writer's block. Her family--beautiful sister Rose, brooding father James, ethereal stepmother Topaz--is barely scraping by in a crumbling English castle they leased when times were good. Now there's very little furniture, hardly any food, and just a few pages of notebook paper left to write on. Bravely making the best of things, Cassandra gets hold of a journal and begins her literary apprenticeship by refusing to face the facts. She writes, "I have just remarked to Rose that our situation is really rather romantic, two girls in this strange and lonely house. She replied that she saw nothing romantic about being shut up in a crumbling ruin surrounded by a sea of mud."

Rose longs for suitors and new tea dresses while Cassandra scorns romance: "I know all about the facts of life. And I don't think much of them." But romantic isolation comes to an end both for the family and for Cassandra's heart when the wealthy, adventurous Cotton family takes over the nearby estate. Cassandra is a witty, pensive, observant heroine, just the right voice for chronicling the perilous cusp of adulthood. Some people have compared I Capture the Castle to the novels of Jane Austen, and it's just as well-plotted and witty. But the Mortmains are more bohemian--as much like the Addams Family as like any of Austen's characters. Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmations, wrote this novel in 1948. And though the story is set in the 1930s, it still feels fresh, and well deserves its reputation as a modern classic. --Maria Dolan --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Entertainment Weekly
...an odd, shimmering timelessness clings to its pages. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 1, 2003)
Language: English

I listened to the audio of this...well read. A strange romance that ends as it is beginning.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

2008-08-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

A very charming, funny, fast paced adventure set in the Sixth Grade about a boy (12 yrs.) who discovers that his ADHD and dyslexia have a purpose. He teams up on a quest to save the known world with a young girl (also 12) and best friend who happens to be a satyr...Polish up on your Greek gods and mythology--this is a great read!

Paperback: 392 pages
Publisher: Miramax (March 21, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786838655
ISBN-13: 978-0786838653
Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth in a series by Ms. Meyer. It was interesting to see what would happen between Bella and (vampire) Edward Cullen. Before this book was published it was mentioned that Ms. Meyer had to watch the violence because her audience was between 8-80 yr. olds (mostly girls/women). A couple of chapters I worried that her imagination took her too graphic (in a violent way) into childbirth/labor and that it would change young girls view of having children. I appreciated the later two thirds of the book and felt it had a satisfactory ending. Anyone have another good romance to recommend?

Afternoon with the Elves (Newberry)

2008-07-28T00:11:00.001-07:00

Queste by Angie Sage

2008-07-28T00:10:00.000-07:00

Dragon Flight

2008-06-08T23:38:00.001-07:00

Dragon Flight is book two by Jessica Day George. Creel and Prince Luka must join forces when a neighboring country uses collared dragon in the military and they learn of a plan to invade King's Seat.

With the Dragon Wars over, Creel finds herself bored with life as a seamstress. Then word comes that a bordering country has been breeding dragons in preparation for an invasion. Never one to sit around, Creel throws herself headlong into an adventure that will reunite her with her dragon friend Shardas, pit her against a vicious new enemy and perhaps rekindle a friendship with Prince Luka that seems to have gone cold. Funny, heart-felt, and action packed, this is a sequel that will satisfy on every level. (Amazon Book Review)

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (April 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599901102
ISBN-13: 978-1599901107

Wednesday Wars

2008-05-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (May 21, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618724834
From Booklist
*Starred Review* On Wednesday afternoons, while his Catholic and Jewish schoolmates attend religious instruction, Holling Hoodhood, the only Presbyterian in his seventh grade, is alone in the classroom with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, who Holling is convinced hates his guts. He feels more certain after Mrs. Baker assigns Shakespeare's plays for Holling to discuss during their shared afternoons. Each month in Holling's tumultuous seventh-grade year is a chapter in this quietly powerful coming-of-age novel set in suburban Long Island during the late '60s. The slow start may deter some readers, and Mrs. Baker is too good to be true: she arranges a meeting between Holling and the New York Yankees, brokers a deal to save a student's father's architectural firm, and, after revealing her past as an Olympic runner, coaches Holling to the varsity cross-country team. However, Schmidt, whose Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2005) was named both a Printz and a Newbery Honor Book, makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous. Seamlessly, he knits together the story's themes: the cultural uproar of the '60s, the internal uproar of early adolescence, and the timeless wisdom of Shakespeare's words. Holling's unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open. Engberg, Gillian

If you are a teacher, you are sure to be won over by Mrs. Baker and this story of how she impressed this middle school student in a "finding myself" teen novel.

The Reading Mother

2008-05-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

The Reading Mother
You may have tangible wealth untold:
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
But richer than I you can never be,
For I had a mother who read to me.
~~Strickland Gillilan

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2008-05-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Caldecott Award Winner and amazing Graphic Novel-- a 600 pg. novel with over 286 pictures that add to the story

A Letter from Brian Selznick

Dear readers,

When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I’m an illustrator myself, I’ve often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities.

My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.

I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn’t until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born.

A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work.

Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Yours,

Brian Selznick

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Here is a true masterpiece—an artful blending of narrative, illustration and cinematic technique, for a story as tantalizing as it is touching.Twelve-year-old orphan Hugo lives in the walls of a Paris train station at the turn of the 20th century, where he tends to the clocks and filches what he needs to survive. Hugo's recently deceased father, a clockmaker, worked in a museum where he discovered an automaton: a human-like figure seated at a desk, pen in hand, as if ready to deliver a message. After his father showed Hugo the robot, the boy became just as obsessed with getting the automaton to function as his father had been, and the man gave his son one of the notebooks he used to record the automaton's inner workings. The plot grows as intricate as the robot's gears and mechanisms [...] To Selznick's credit, the coincidences all feel carefully orchestrated; epiphany after epiphany occurs before the book comes to its sumptuous, glorious end. Selznick hints at the toymaker's hidden identity [...] through impressive use of meticulous charcoal drawings that grow or shrink against black backdrops, in pages-long sequences. They display the same item in increasingly tight focus or pan across scenes the way a camera might. The plot ultimately has much to do with the history of the movies, and Selznick's genius lies in his expert use of such a visual style to spotlight the role of this highly visual media. A standout achievement. Ages 9-12. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details

* Reading level: Ages 9-12
* Hardcover: 544 pages
* Publisher: Scholastic Press (January 30, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0439813786
* ISBN-13: 978-0439813785

The Wizard Heir

2008-05-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

The Wizard Heir From Booklist
Sixteen-year-old orphan Seph McCauley is a wizard, one of the Weir, an underground magical society first introduced in companion novel The Warrior Heir (2006). But Seph has had no wizard training, and magical mishaps occur wherever he goes. When one such accident causes a death, Seph is sent to the Havens, an exclusive boys' school in rural Maine, where he finds the Alumni—a student group of wizards led by Headmaster Leicester. Seph is excited to explore his gifts, but when Leicester attempts to initiate him with a terrifying blood ritual, the teen realizes that this training comes at the price of his soul. In his combined independence, bravado, and vulnerability, Seth is an appealing character, making the psychological torture Leicester inflicts upon him all the more horrifying. Unfortunately, the pace lags once Seph escapes Leicester and the Havens, at which point new and returning characters appear, and the chaotic politics of the Weir come to the forefront. Persistent readers will find that the momentum picks up again, though, and most will emerge satisfied by this absorbing, suspenseful follow-up. Hutley, Krista
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Product Details

* Hardcover: 464 pages
* Publisher: Hyperion (April 24, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1423104870
* ASIN: B0014JOKKM

Dragon Slippers

2008-05-05T09:10:00.001-07:00

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George (YA) Fiction 336 pgs. From Booklist
Creel's aunt plans to end the family's poverty by foisting her orphaned niece on the local dragon, hoping that the knight who comes to Creel's aid will want to marry the rescued maiden (and share his riches with her relatives). This daffy reasoning gets George's debut novel off to a lurching start. Once Creel meets and befriends the local dragon, though, the story takes off. Creel heads to the city, where she hopes to start a dress shop, and along the way, she befriends new dragons and receives a mysterious pair of slippers that link her to a dangerous political plot. A chance meeting with a prince becomes a warm friendship, and Creel calls on her dragon cohorts to help him restore peace in the land. The plot elements are sometimes awkwardly stitched together, but the exciting, fairy-tale action and vivid scenes, from glittering dragon cave to posh dress shop, are captivating, and readers will easily connect with brave Creel, who weathers betrayals and learns to value true friends and her own talents. Engberg, Gillian
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details

* Reading level: Ages 9-12
* Hardcover: 336 pages
* Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (March 20, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1599900572
* ISBN-13: 978-1599900575

Give Me a Book

2008-04-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

“Give Me a Book”

Give me a book

And long tall grass

There will I look

As the hours pass

To other places

I can see;

To other faces

strange to me.

In black and white

They fill my head

With men and women--

Vanished, dead—

Of hopes and fears

of wish and need.

The world stands still,

I breathless read,

And in their history

I see

The untold mystery

of me.

Myra Cohn Livingston

A Library of Your Own

2008-04-23T12:23:00.001-07:00

Years ago I read about forming a library of books for your children and family to enjoy. Joe and I have had to be rather picky about movies and books that we keep in a family library because we know that the selections will reflect our values to our children.
A neighbor who lived by us in Salt Lake was mentioning to me that she did not allow her children to touch or hold books because children "abuse" books. Children learn by touching, licking, seeing, feeling, even tasting...Better to have books that can be abused and develop children who love to read than have a few beautiful books and children who don't enjoy books.
Of course, that is why I have a top shelf of "Read with Mom" books and then purposely put books on low shelves I hope they will reach.
Joe and I recently attended a Literature workshop held by our local library. They flew in a reading specialist from Massachusetts. She was a great speaker whose advice to parents was "eat cold cereal for dinner and let children see mom and dad reading. Reading for pleasure!"
Bibliotherapy--using books to reach children in times of trial--friendship, maturation, death of a spouse, divorce, siblings with disabilities, etc. At times a book can reach a child in a way that a lecture or talk by a parent doesn't. Reach a child through a good book and create a lasting moment together.

Where do I buy my library?
Savers (nationwide, I understand) sells children's books in UT for 69 cents and $2.00 for special hardbacks.

Deseret Industries--an LDS thrift store has baragin books for 50 cents, $1.00, and $2.00 for collector books (like the Childcraft series).

Local Library Booksale--our library has a sale quarterly where they liquidate books to re shelve new books. Joe knows that I do not enjoy shopping except this "hunt" where I have found great reads for a quarter, fifty cents, or a dollar.
Half.com--beaware that this site is part of Ebay and I have had sketchy success but like it's name, you can get bargains on books, audio selections, etc.

Yard sales

Holiday Selections on our Bookshelf

2008-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Easter:
The Velveteen Bunny

Little Bunny Follows His Nose

The Easter Story

The Golden Egg Book

Bunny Finds a Home

The Bunny Who Had Red Wings

Parenting Books

2008-04-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Baby Book by William and Martha Sears A pediatrician and his nurse wife write about helps in this large book after raising seven of their own children and an adopted child. Their seventh son was Down's. Especially appreciated are Martha's notes from mothering which talk about childhood stages at different ages. A broad book on sleep helps with various sleep situations: crib, nursery, co -sleeping, etc.

A Joyful Mother of Children by Linda Eyre an LDS mother of nine writes hints that helped her enjoy her mothering.

Enjoy the Journey by Lucille Johnson

Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Books I Want to Read

2008-04-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Wednesday Wars--2008 pick for the Newberry Medal
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George A rewrite of a favorite trade book of mine, East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a Nordic tale of a young girl who must try and regain the true love she has lost in the northern cold.

Currently on the Nightstand

2008-04-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

I can't figure out the layout on this blog--it does not have a tab that my other two do and so I will simply write a new post. (Joseph has a hard time with the amount of books I read and listen to simultaneously). He can keep computer threads and quests separate and active.

Books I am currently reading:
The Book of Mormon--I am behind the church reading schedule...just finishing up 2 Nephi. I try and start my day with a chapter to aid spirituality and remind me to be a better person.

* The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm by Nancy Farmer--Newberry Honor book, excellent stroyteller.

*The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick--Newberry Medal Winner, A Graphic Novel, has 284 pages of illustrations so the "book" reads like a black and white film with pictures aiding the storyline. My husband, and children (including four year old son) are totally captivated with this one...good enough to motivate children to be all ready for bed just to listen/see to a chapter or two.

*The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Joe and I are reading this book together (and so I promised not to read ahead). We listened to the first book, The Warrior Heir, on audio book shortly after Susannah was born and liked it. It is about a group of people with special powers who live alongside us mere mortals...no, it is not Harry Potter and it is well written.

The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm

2008-04-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm, written by Nancy Farmer, published by Scholastic Books (2004), YA (Sci Fi), 320 pgs. ISBN:0439530644

The year is 2194. The country is modern day Zimbabwe. General Matsika has worked to rid the country of gang violence and establish peace. In his plush, modern home, his three children are isolated and live in relative harmony until a scout trip across town lands them kidnapped and put to work in a plastic mine for the SheElephant. Matsika's wife hires three unusual detectives to use their special powers to search for them.
A Newbery Honor Book.

Issues explored: modern day technology versus traditional Africa, birth defects, courage,...

The House of the Scorpion

2008-03-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

*****The House of the Scorpion, written by Nancy Farmer, Athenuem Books (2002). (YA) SciFi, 380 pgs. ISBN 978-0689852220.

This book has been the recipient of many awards:

It is the story of Matt Alacranz, a young boy (clone of El Patron, a powerful drug lord and creator of the Opium Empire). Matt lives in a futuristic land called Opium, an area between California (United States) and Azatlan (Mexico). Farmer is an excellent weaver of an extremely believable adventure as young Matt finds out who he is, how he was "conceived," and what is his purpose.

Issues discussed: moral/ethical issues surrounding human cloning, legal worldwide drug distribution, authority, communism, aristocracy, etc.