AVID: A Blog for Readers

Beastly, by Alex Flinn

2012-01-06T16:45:00.000-06:00

Modern Fairy Tale

"Beastly" is a modern day version of the classic fairy tale "Beauty and The Beast". It is a very fast paced story told by the beast Kyle Kingsbury. He was a very popular student at his high school, the kind that drew a crowd.. On the outside Kyle was handsome, but on the inside he was cruel, so cruel in fact that he publicly humiliated Kendra, a girl completely opposite of himself.

That night his fate was sealed.

Kyle was transformed into a hideous beast, hidden away by his father from everything he valued because of his looks. Kyle has two years to find true love or he will remain a beast forever. It is a witty book, the chat rooms Kyle goes to are funny, they are run by Chris Anderson and the characters Kyle meets there are very memorable.

The book is listed as a young adult and could be enjoyed by both girls (of course) and boys, because it is being told from Kyle's point of view. I enjoyed this book and have recommend it to several people.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library.

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Hold Tight, by Harlan Coben

2011-10-07T14:31:00.000-05:00

Small Town Crime

In this thriller, a murder, a missing housewife and a suicide occur in a New Jersey suburb. Each crime appears to be independent and random.

The story gains interest immediately by introducing the families who have been faced
with these tragedies. Parents are suffering the loss of a child through suicide. Others are dealing with the effect the suicide has on friends left behind and possible involvement.

Spouses and children are dealing with the uncertainty of a missing mother, and police are trying to solve the murder of a woman beaten to death and dumped in bad part of town. Because this is a small suburb, the characters are linked by everyday life, schools, doctors, teachers and friends.

Harlan Coben skillfully places the clues to each crime. It isn’t until the final chapter that Coben reveals how the crimes and families are connected. Throughout this fast paced murder mystery, the reader is reminded of how important family is and to “Hold Tight”.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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The Last Child, by John Hart

2011-10-04T14:21:00.000-05:00

A Quest to find the Lost

A gripping mystery with very strong characterization.

A young boy is determined to find his twin sister who disappeared the year before. The detective over the case, weighted down by guilt in his failure to solve the case, is drawn to the child and his mother.

While certainly bleak at times, the caring, morally strong characters make for an uplifting story.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck

2011-09-30T14:13:00.000-05:00

Moving to "Hick Town"

15-year old Mary Alice from Chicago goes to live with her Grandma Dowdel in "hick-town," during the 1937 recession. Mary Alice wasn't happy about having to spend a year down South, as "the town did not even have a picture show." However, Mary Alice knew that her Grandma was not afraid of anyone and was more than willing to "lay down the law" on occasion.

While it was hard to tell sometimes, Grandma really had a big heart for the people in her town. Yet, most of the things she did seemed to be in contradiction. For example, one evening Grandma stole Old Man Nyquist’s tractor and drove it into a pecan tree so the pecans fell ankle-deep. To justify this, Grandma reminded Mary Alice that Old Man Nyquist said she could have any pecans that fell. She reasoned that he was too deaf to hear her start the tractor and would just think it rolled out of the barn by itself.

To show her generosity, she used those pecans to make pies for the upcoming Halloween Party that fed the town during this tough time. While her actions may not always seem admirable, Grandma had a plan for justice and she completed it with lots of humor.

Adults will enjoy this book as much as young adults. With one adventure after another, it is quite humorous and very witty. A wonderful Newberry Award winner.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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McNally’s Alibi, by Lawrence Sanders/ Vincent Lardo

2011-09-28T10:26:00.000-05:00

A Fun Read

When Lawrence Sanders died, Vincent Lardo took over as the writer of the adventures of Archy McNally, PI. The new author has stayed true to the
character and events that fill the life of this Palm Beach., Private Investigator.

In McNally’s Alibi, Archy is hired to investigate the stolen manuscript of Truman Capote’s Answered Prayers. Beautiful Claudia Lester believes her former lover, Matthew stole the manuscript. Matthew believes the thief is Claudia. McNally is surrounded by beautiful women, fast cars, exquisite life styles, romance and love triangles.

This novel is filled with light-hearted events, intrigue and mystery. A fun read.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Wicked, by Gregory Maguire

2011-09-22T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Wicked Witch

This story is based on the L. Frank Baum stories about the Wizard of Oz, Land of Oz, and all the various characters therein. It is a sort of prequel, that being how the Wicked Witch of the West got to be so "wicked," and what some of the other characters, most notably Glinda, the Witch of the North, were really like.

As a stand-alone work, this book is well written and very detailed and complex. It is not, however, meant for children. It has graphic references to both substance abuse and bestiality, as well as a lot of pettiness, politics, and other human failings perpetrated on the citizens of Oz, similar to those found in our own culture.

The characters, over and above those from the more familiar stories, areas well developed as they are shocking. I would not recommend this book to anyone who had enjoyed the original stories as children, nor to anyone who loved the movie starring Judy Garland. It is not a pleasant book. It is, however, an interesting concept, for anyone with a "Dark Shadows" (long-running vampire soap-opera) frame of mind.

Reviewed by Miriam, First Regional Library

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The Bridges of Madison County, by Robert James Waller

2011-09-20T14:14:00.000-05:00

Love or Duty?

For a brief moment in time, two strangers from opposite worlds meet and share a love that will endure until they die. Their contentment with their existing lives quickly changes to internal conflict in each of them as their relationship deepens.

Francesca must choose between leaving the farm to fulfill her dreams of love and travel or to stay and fulfill her duty as wife and mother.

Robert who leads a nomadic life as a photographer realizes how empty his life is without sharing it with someone.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Swift Horse, by Cassie Edwards

2011-09-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

Native American Romance

This book is another of Ms Edwards’ Native American romance series. These series are filled with excitement, romance, and mystery. She combines with these an emphasis on authentic customs and languages in each book.

In this book Marsha Eveland and her parents are on their way to Kentucky in 1850 to join her brother. Her brother, Edward James, runs a trading post in the Creek village. On their way to join him, they are attacked by a one-eyed renegade and Marsha’s parents are killed. Marsha decided she could never forgive the Indians for this. After she arrives at the trading post, Marsha’s brother announces he is going to marry Soft Wind the sister of the Creek chief, Swift Horse.

Marsha begins to fall in love with Swift Horse. Then she discovers that Swift Horse’s lifelong friend is the warrior who killed her parents and that he wants to kill her too. Marsha must come to terms with the fact that Swift Horse may never believe her about his friend. She must decide between revenge and true love.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Your Library Card

2011-09-15T14:10:00.000-05:00

September is...

...Library Card Sign Up Month.

Do you have a library card?

Also, replacement cards are free this September.

The Sky-Liners, by Louis L'Amour

2011-09-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

Fast Paced Adventure

The story is set in the days of the westward expansion. Two brothers, (Sacketts of course) reluctantly agree to escort a young lady west, at her grandfather’s request. Naturally, the young lady has other ideas. Black Fetchen has proposed marriage, and she plans to accept. However, she doesn’t know the true nature of the man she plans to marry. This fast paced adventure is full of action as well as a hint of mystery and romance.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Dicey's Song, by Cynthia Voigt

2011-09-09T10:09:00.002-05:00

Believing in Each Other

After being left by their mentally ill mother to survive their own, the four Tillerman children traveled to their grandmother's rundown farm on the Maryland shore to finally find a home. It is what Dicey has wanted for her three younger siblings, but after they arrive, Dicey finds it hard to let go of her role as caregiver, and allow her Grandmother to be the parent .

Dicey is faced with making new friends, taking on a job cleaning a small grocery store and saying goodbye to her mother, who eventually passes away.

This is a heartwarming story filled with the timeless emotions of a poor family learning to find strength by believing in each other.

Dicey’s Song is a Newbery Award- winning novel and is the second book in the excellent Tillerman Family Series by Cynthia Voigt.

Tillerman Family
1. Homecoming (1973)
2. Dicey's Song (1982)
3. A Solitary Blue (1983)
4. The Runner (1985)
5. Sons from Afar (1987)
6. Seventeen Against the Dealer (1989)

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Big Girl, by Danielle Steel

2011-09-06T12:19:00.000-05:00

Journey of Self-Discovery

Victoria Dawson is on a journey of self-discovery. She grew up with a narcissistic father, uncaring mother, and in the shadow of her perfect younger sister. When Victoria was young her father referred to her as the “tester cake.” Victoria is a plus-size woman whom due to childhood psychology issues inflected by her father believes that she is unlovable. Discover how she overcomes all her prejudices she believes about herself.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis

2011-08-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

Football and Family

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis is a story about football and a family. The story begins by explaining the evolution of the game. If the quarterback is the highest-paid position in the game, the evolution of the game is that the second highest-paid position is the one that provides protection for the quarterback, the left tackle.

The book also tells the story about Michael Oher, a poor black kid growing up in Memphis, Tn. Michael is adopted by a rich white family, the Tuoheys. The story follows Michael as he enters a Christian private school through his first year of college. It tells of his struggles from grades to social skills. The story also shows a side of college football recruiting and the NCAA. It’s a must read for any football fan.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Write it When I'm Gone, by Thomas DeFrank

2011-08-08T12:56:00.000-05:00

Glimpse into the Life of President Ford

This collection of interviews is interesting. The author, journalist Thomas DeFrank, gives an insider’s glimpse into the life of former President Gerald Ford. This rarified perspective of Ford’s personal thoughts and opinions reveals his true character.

Far from being the boring, clumsy character he is often portrayed as being, this book introduces him as he really was, thoughtful, humble, intelligent and downright fun to be around. This touching story pays tribute to a man many underestimated. One who struggled to bring our nation through very troubling times following the resignation of President Nixon over Watergate. His simple, honest character held the country together, while his ties of loyalty (and a presidential pardon) cost him an election. Truly a “team” player, he put the needs of his country and his beloved Republican Party first. Sacrificing himself to serve the needs of both was second nature to President Ford.

This is a must read for any history buff no matter what his/her political affiliation. It also gives the reader insight into one of the most exclusive clubs around, how the experience can make friends of former political adversaries, and just exactly what it is that former presidents do after they leave office.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Hannah's Hope, by Karen Kingsbury

2011-08-02T13:10:00.000-05:00

Book 4 in Red Glove Series

Go on a journey with fifteen-year-old Hannah as she discovers that her father is not her biological father. Unfortunately, Hannah’s father is stationed in Iraq. Follow Hannah as she tries to find her father in time for Christmas.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

2011-07-26T10:49:00.000-05:00

Peace through Education

Don’t think the actions of one person amounts to a hill of beans? You’ll think differently after reading this account of Greg Mortenson, who to date has built over 60 schools for boys and girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Greg’s story starts in Pakistan in 1993 with his attempt to climb K2, the second highest mountain in the world, to place a necklace in memory of his recently deceased sister, Christa. His team was unable to reach the summit and turns back. Lagging behind his guide, Mouzafer, Greg takes the fork in the trail that leads to the village of Korphe, not Askole, where his party awaits.

Exhausted from his three months in the mountains, Greg is taken in by the family of the village chief, Haji Ali, and nursed back to health. On a walk during his recovery, he is stunned to see children scratching school lessons in the dirt with a stick, as they have no school, no supplies and a teacher just a few days each week.

Greg decides to repay the villagers’ many kindnesses and honor his sister’s memory by building a school. Greg had barely enough money to return to his home in the United States, let alone build a school. He wasn’t sure how he would accomplish this, but he was determined to do so.

This is the wonderful story of how he achieved his goal, and gives us a glimpse into a part of the world and its Muslim inhabitants in a way few of us have ever experienced. Greg now dedicates his life to promoting peace through education, one child at a time.

Sarah Thomson adapted the story into a Young Adult format (with the same title) and by Greg as a juvenile book entitled “Listen to the Wind”

For more information, go to his websites: www.threecupsoftea.org or www.gregmortenson.com

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Apps for Readers (Free)

2011-07-22T12:02:00.000-05:00

Organize

Stanza
iPhone & iPad
http://www.lexcycle.com/

Puts your library at your fingertips. Downloads to iTunes, where you simply drag and drop the e-books and documents you want to read on your Apple device. You organize your library according to your preferences, arranging books and documents in the folders of your choosing.

Stanza offers a unique feature that allows you to copy notes, pictures, and passages from your books by simply dragging your finger over the area you want to isolate. Then you can send that media in a note, an email, a twitter, or even a text. Books have been adapted to fit your screen size for easy reading, plus you can shrink or enlarge the font size to your preference.

Local Books
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/local-books/id335363746?mt=8

Connects readers to LibraryThing.com and locates events at book places around you. You can search, locate, organize, and read brief descriptions about book related events and venues around you.

eReader
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ereader/id284499993?mt=8

Allows you to download and read over 100,000 ebooks. Also, allows you to upload your own personal content or ebooks from other websites so you are not locked into any one site. Thousands of new books are added each month from ebook retailers like eReader.com and Fictionwise.com

Bookstores & Purchasing

Kindle
iPhone & iPad & iPod Touch
http://itunes.apple.com/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8

Allows enthusiastic readers access to over 950,000 of Amazon’s e-publications. Kindle includes magazines, newspapers, and books, all of which are instantly delivered digitally. Kindle even includes a multiple sync feature, which allows someone with multiple devices with Kindle App to automatically sync your notes, bookmarks, and last page read to every device.

Nook
iPhone & iPad
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-for-iphone-ipod-touch/379002320/
http://itunes.apple.com/app/barnes-noble-nook-for-ipad/id373582546?mt=8

Offers access to more than 2 million titles. You can sample any Nookbook for free. Comes with the LendMe, which lets you share Nookbooks with friends. Offers multitasking options such as adding notes, highlights, and bookmarks.

Kobo
iPhone & iPad
http://www.kobobooks.com/iphone

Offers readers access to over 2.2 million e-books, e-magazines, and e-newspapers. You can shop at Borders online store from anywhere and instantly have books delivered to your iPhone. Offers the “instapaper” feature, which allows you to save and access snippets, blogs, and notes on your iPhone and iPad.

IndieBound
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/indiebound/id310898838?mt=8

For avid readers who are looking for that next great read, the next big thing, or that undiscovered gem. Allows you to see what’s going on in the independent bookseller’s world and to purchase and read indie books. You can see what the IndieBound recommends, or you can choose from the bestsellers list. Also offers a link for each book so that you can purchase directly from the nearest store.

iBooks
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8

Apple offers enhanced books, which automatically play audio or video included in the book. This app comes with all the amenities and multitasking features typical to an e-reader. One of the newer features built into the app is the “read-aloud narration” with a real narrator who reads the book to you.

Comics

Marvel Comics
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marvel-comics/id350027738?mt=8

Comic lovers will enjoy lots of free, hard to find comics available for download. The comics store also offers new releases and best sellers for almost half off. Any comic reader looking to increase their collection must check out this app. It makes searching for and collecting your favorites so accessible and easy.

Clickwheel Comic Reader
iPhone

Allows you to quickly download and access your favorite comic books – anywhere anytime.

Comics
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=303491945&mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D6

Connects you to largest eComic library and store on the web. Comics app uses Guided View technology to adapt comics to smaller formats without losing visual content and readability. Many major and independent publishers are flushing content into the Comics library. You’ll find new releases and older comics side by side.

Others

Audiobooks
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiobooks/id311507490?mt=8

Contains over 3,535 classic audiobooks for free: Oliver Twist, Moby Dick, Pride and Prejudice, Art of War, etc. Now offers modern titles for purchase. Here’s a list of some neat features: -Background Playback, Offline Playback, Automatic Bookmarking, Sleep Timer and much, much more.

Overdrive Media Console
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id366869252?mt=8

Allows you to check out ebooks and audiobooks from your public, school, or college library. The books are instantly downloaded to your device and automatically returned when the lending period expires so that there are never any late fees!

Constitution
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/constitution-for-iphone-ipod/id288657710?mt=8

Exactly what its name suggests – a copy of the constitution on your personal device. Not only does it contain the constitution, but it also has bios of each of the signers of the constitution.

Shakespeare
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shakespeare/id285035416?mt=8

Complete works of Shakespeare. You’ll be given scene breakdowns with the overview of scenes, their location, and more. You’ll also have a glossary at your fingertips to help define words and phrases.

No Fear Shakespeare
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/no-fear-shakespeare/id329377976?mt=8

Offers modern translations of Shakespeare’s work for those who have trouble reading and understanding Shakespeare. You get the first scene of 18 of Shakespeare’s plays (you must purchase the rest of the play), 154 complete sonnets, plot summaries, historical facts to give context, character descriptions, and choice insults from each play.

Bible

iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible/id282935706?mt=8

Read or listen to 80+ free translations of the Bible. You can use it offline and also in airplane mode. Access the Bible in many foreign languages, postmark pages and verses, choose from dozens of daily readings, and take notes.

Wattpad

iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id306310789?mt=8

Discover new stories and check out what people around the world are reading right now! An app for reading and writing in real time – with over 1 million downloads per month, Wattpad is the world's most widely used eReading app to discover unlimited free stories for everyone.

Whether you like fantasy, romance, historical fiction, mystery, teen or fan fiction you can always find something to read, connect directly with writers and chat with other fans.

Snaptell
iPhone & iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snaptell/id291920403?mt=8

Allows you to snap a picture of the cover of any book, DVD, CD, or video game and get instant information pertaining to that item: ratings, descriptions, and links to websites with more information about it (YouTube, Wikipedia, IMBd, etc.). Great to use while shopping as you can instantly get information, compare prices, and compare products.

DearReader.com

2011-07-21T10:33:00.000-05:00

www.DearReader.com

The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan

2011-07-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

Greek Mythology

This is one of the best Young Adult series I have ever read! If you like Greek mythology you will enjoy the stories. Percy Jackson is a demi-god, son of Poseidon and a human mother. He is sent to Camp Half-Blood for training and studies. He meets and befriends other demi-gods and ends up fighting a war to defeat Kronos and his minions. Zeus and the other gods give Percy difficult challenges along the way, and Percy learns that one of the demi-gods will die at the age of 16.

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Tom Sawyer, by Tim Mucci

2011-07-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

Tom Sawyer, the Graphic Novel

Illustrations come from the imagination of someone else. Words to go with the illustration sometimes must come first. In "Tom Sawyer", credit must go to Tim Mucci as the writer and to Rad Sechrist as the artist of this particular graphic novel. Adapting a novel to graphic form may not give details like the novel, but this one summarized to my enjoyment.

The illustrations begin with one word. TOM! Aunt Polly seems to be upset with Tom, and Tom is always tricking Aunt Polly and running away to get into trouble. On the first pages and throughout I was glad to see Mark Twain’s sense of humor. The colorful graphics are pleasant to view and easily understood. Some interesting details used by the artist were the X for each eye of the dead cat that Huckleberry Finn found, and the heart shape of Tom’s eyes when Becky gave him a kiss. Also, while in hiding, Injun Joe wore a long coat, scarf and sunglasses. Most impressive was the stern look of Aunt Polly’s face. Oh, my goodness!

There is a bit of interesting history about Mark Twain in the back of the book with a few quotes by him and about him. Most of us will agree with Thomas Edison..."An average American loves his family. If he has any love left over for some other person, he generally selects Mark Twain."

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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Arnie, the Darling Starling, by Margarete Corbo & Diane Barras

2011-07-10T14:07:00.000-05:00

An Unexpected Companion

This is a true story about Margarete, a grandmother, who raises a baby bird after several attempts to put it back in its nest. Rather than let it die, she feeds it and puts it in a rat cage to keep it safe from her cats. When she returns from an errand, she finds the bird in the middle of the floor. Her cats were situated around it as if babysitting. Arnie, the darling starling learns to talk and becomes an unexpected companion to Margarete.

This story is full of human and human-like compassion and warmth. It is something children and adults would enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read the next book "Arnie And The House Full of Company".

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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The Confession, by John Grisham

2011-07-07T12:21:00.001-05:00

Criminal has a change of heart

Travis Boyette is a man content to let the police and prosecutors convict the wrong man and he does not care how they do it. He is happy that the verdict is guilty. He is content to allow an innocent person to go to prison, to serve hard time even to be executed.

In a small East Texas city, he abducted, raped and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as the police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donte’ Drumm, a local football star and march him off to death row.

Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime. Donte’ is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what is right and confess. But how can he convince a whole town of lawyers, judges and politicians that they are about to execute the wrong man?

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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The Tree Girl, by T.A. Barron.

2011-07-05T11:01:00.000-05:00

A Bear with Secrets?

Anna, a lonely girl who desires a friend more than anything, lives in a cottage on a deserted island with a cranky old fisherman she calls "Master".

She is not allowed to go into the forest even though she yearns to , Master has warned her of the ghouls that live there and their desire to harm her. They had attacked her and her mother when she was a baby and he had saved her, there under the roots of the "High Willow". She loved to sit atop of the tree, "Ole Burl", and look deep into the forest at the High Willow.

Time moved on and she continued to cook and clean for master, but she still desired more. One day while out working in the garden a strong gust of wind came and blew her bonnet into the forest, and without thinking, she went after it.

She spied two bear cubs playing in the forest, when one of them saw her she was so afraid she ran off. Days went by and curiosity got the best of her, and she decided to find the bear again. Secretly, Anna and the bear, Sasha became best friends.

Will he help her in discovering the mysteries of her mother or will his secrets destroy their friendship?

Reviewed by Teresa, First Regional Library

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Hokey Pokey: Another Prickly Love Story, by Lisa Wheeler

2011-07-02T13:12:00.000-05:00

Can’t dance?

Cushion is a porcupine with a problem.

Cushion loves Barb.

Barb loves to dance and Cushion is a disastrous dancer.

He heads to the petting zoo to find a dance teacher. The fox tries to teach him to foxtrot and gets an injured tail. The bunny teaches him the bunny hop and gets his feet trampled. The hen attempts to teach Cushion the funky chicken and her backside becomes a pin cushion.

What’s a porcupine to do? Will Cushion find a dance instructor? Will he ever be able to dance with his favorite hedgehog Barb?

Reviewed by Sara, First Regional Library

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Secret of the Andes, by Ann Nolan Clark

2011-06-30T13:06:00.003-05:00

Newbery Award Book

Cusi grows up in a hidden valley high up in the Andes with an old llama herder, Chuto, who found him on a trail as a baby. One day, looking down from the mountain, he notices a family living far below. Watching them, he begins to wonder.

Where are my parents? What would it be like to grow up with brothers or sisters?

Cusi and Chuto make a short journey to the valley of salt. Along the way, he hears a new language, explores new trails, sees his first burro, his first truck and meets new people. On the way back home, he ponders these new experiences. When a teacher arrives in their remote valley, he learns about the Incas: their history, plant lore, medicine, secrets of the stars and more.

However, he finds that despite all he’s learned, his mind is only filled with more questions than ever. He knows his people’s history, but what of his own personal past? Where are his parents? Are they even alive?

Chuto says he must make a journey alone to seek his heart’s desire. He is going to Cusco, the holy city. Will he find his answers there?

Reviewed by Sara, First Regional Library

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