Library Queue

Arabella

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:50:00 +0000

Arabella by Georgette Heyer

Originally published: 1949
Republished: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1402219466
Price: $13.99
Pages: 312

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Arabella is one of nine children, the daughter of a country vicar in rural Yorkshire. While she is certainly well-bred, she has virtually no money to her name. Her mother sends her to London to live with her godmother in the hopes that her beautiful face will capture the fancy of a wealthy bachelor who can help set Arabella and her sisters up for the rest of their lives. But Arabella's impulsive and impetuous nature, coupled with her naivete, put her in a predicament that makes her wonder whether she will ever find the right man to marry.

This Regency romance novel had humor in spades. Arabella's antics cracked me up. I also got really excited about the romance in this book. Not because I didn't know who Arabella was going to end up with. But the WAY that she ended up with him was really clever. This book has some unexpected plot twists that kept me enchanted with the story. And while the beginning of the novel went on for far too long for my taste, this is probably my favorite Heyer yet.

Also reviewed by:

Felicia from Scaling Mount TBR

Have I missed yours?

Source: Publisher (Thank you Danielle at Sourcebooks!)

The Girl on Legare Street

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:33:00 +0000

The Girl On Legare Street by Karen White

Publication date: November 3, 2009
Publisher: NAL Trade
ISBN: 0451227999
Price:$15.00
Pages: 336
Series: Book 2 of 4 (Tradd Street)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was excited to receive an advanced copy of this book since I read the first in the series, The House on Tradd Street, earlier this year with my book club. This book continues the story of Melanie Middleton, a Charleston realtor who has a gift that allows her to see and speak with ghosts. Melanie's mother Ginette, who abandoned Melanie when she was just 7 years old, has the same gift. After nearly 33 years, Melanie's mother returns to Charleston to buy her ancestral home at 33 Legare Street. But with Ginnette's return comes a ghostly presence who has a score to settle. Melanie and Ginnette are forced to work together against this evil presence to banish it forever.

Meanwhile, handsome Jack Trenholm still wants to be a part of Melanie's life, but she has her reservations. And annoying reporter Rebecca Edgerton keeps showing up at the house trying to get information about Melanie's ancestors for a piece about famous Charlestonians. Jack and Rebecca share a past and Melanie is surprised at her reaction to their relationship.

This was a really good mystery set in one of my favorite cities. I don't usually get freaked out reading books, but this one has just the right amount of spookiness and I couldn't read it too late at night. The great romantic tension kept me turning pages just as much as the mystery. As with the first book, I did find certain parts to be a little repetitive and I couldn't really figure out why everyone kept being so accommodating to Rebecca. But I enjoyed this book even more than the first one and look forward to the next book due out in 2011. This is a fun series that I definitely recommend.

Read an excerpt here.

Source: Publicist (Thank you Joy Strazza!)

The Railway Children

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:10:00 +0000

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

Book 43 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 8 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge
Book 6 for the Classics Challenge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had three hours in the car by myself and decided to download a library audiobook to my ipod for the drive. I didn't realize how limiting my selection was going to be since I was working on my Mac that night instead of a PC. But, I ended up somewhat reluctantly downloading this book. And then I promptly fell in love with it.

The Railway Children (no relation to The Boxcar Children) is a classic children's story that was written in 1906. The tale focuses on three children named Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis who move to the English countryside after their father is taken away. Their proximity to the railway provides them with all kinds of adventures that they never had when they lived in the city. They learn how to make do, make friends, and enjoy the outside world while interacting with the station master, the signalman, the porter, the town doctor, and even a bargeman.

This book would make a fantastic read-aloud. It kind of reminded me of Thomas the Tank Engine, but for older kids (and without talking locomotives and helicopters). It is definitely one of those great "old-fashioned" stories. Even though there were some colloquialisms used that clearly refer to the time the book was written, this is a story that will never go out of style.

I should mention that I wasn't a big fan of the reader of the audiobook. She had fabulous distinct voices for each character, but her English accent left something to be desired. I ended up reading the last half of the book in hardcover and was much less distracted.

Also reviewed by:

reading is my superpower

Have you read this one? Did you read it as a child?

Source: Library

The Midwife's Apprentice

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:53:00 +0000

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Book 42 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 7 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge

Awards: SLJ Best Book; Young Reader's Choice Award/Nominee; American Bookseller Pick of the List; ALA Notable/Best Books; Booklist Editors' Choice; NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts; Horn Book Fanfare; Newbery Medal; Parent's Choice Award/Honor Book

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book won the Newbery in 1996 and while it has been around for awhile, it has never really made it onto my radar until recently. I picked it up at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale a few months ago and thought it would make a nice quick read for the 24 Hour Read-a-Thon. But I started it late into the evening and I had a hard time getting into it. I thought it was because I was tired, but I finished it up later and still came away with mixed feelings.

This is a short story of homeless girl in medieval England who becomes a midwife's apprentice (obviously). She is found in a town sleeping in a dung heap, and so everyone calls her Beetle, short for Dung Beetle. She is taunted and teased by locals, and pretty much generally abused by the midwife who takes her in. Eventually, she leaves the town thinking that she will be better off elsewhere. But ultimately she learns to face her fears and become the person that she wants to be.

I have to say that I did like the author's use of language and beautiful word choice. But I just wanted more from the story. More depth, more plot, more answers. It was a just a little too simple for the type of tale being told, in my opinion. I think the coarseness of Beetle's treatment and the descriptions used at the birth scenes make this a book for children at least 12 and up. But, the style of the book seemed like it would work better for younger kids. It almost came off as trite. There was just a disconnect for me between the subject, content, and style. I honestly felt that if the book was twice as long, I would have liked it twice as much. And maybe that's just because I'm not the intended audience after all.

After reading some other reviews, I get the sense that this is either a book you love or a book that you don't. So please, check out some of these reviews:

Have I missed yours?

Source: Purchased

Life As We Knew It

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:39:00 +0000

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Book 41 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 11 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2005)
Book 2 for the YA Dystopian Reading Challenge
Book 6 of 25 for the MG Reading Challenge
Awards: Nebula Award/Finalist; ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Andre Norton Award; Booklist Editors' Choice; Quill Book Awards

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've had this one on my to-read list for awhile and even managed to snag a copy through BookMooch. I figured nothing could get me to stay awake during the week hours of the read-a-thon like a book that would scare the living daylights out of me, and this one definitely did its job!

When a meteor hits the moon and knocks it slightly off orbit, the effect on the earth is catastrophic. Miranda, a sophomore in high school, goes from worrying about whether or not she'll go to the prom to worrying about whether or not she and her family will have enough food and fuel to survive the winter. The book is written as Miranda's journal entries. It's a style that I love and I think works especially well with this plot.

I felt like Pfeffer did an excellent job grasping that feeling of helplessness, anxiety, and panic that happens when disaster strikes. I was reminded a lot of how I felt during September 11th, and could imagine how that might be on an even bigger scale. But the author also does a great job portraying how the survival instinct kicks in (or not) and how different people react in a given situation. You can't read this book without considering your own emergency preparedness.

I think this book would be appropriate starting at junior high age. There is a companion book, The Dead and Gone, which looks at the same event from a different set of eyes. At the moment I don't plan on reading it since I was kind of hoping for a continuation of Miranda's story instead. But this is a book that will definitely get you thinking!

Also reviewed by:

As always, please let me know if I have missed yours! (Blogger is being sketchy tonight, so I know I'm missing lots!)

Source: BookMooch

Read-a-thon End of Event Meme

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:22:00 +0000

Well, I fell asleep between 2am and 3am, woke up at 6am, read for a little bit, and went back to sleep. I ended up reading 1,000 pages.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? That 2am hour was a killer.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Shooting the Moon, How I Live Now, and Life As We Knew It were all good to read.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I liked the wide diversity of mini-challenges.
5. How many books did you read? 4
6. What were the names of the books you read? I finished North and South, Shooting the Moon, How I Live Now, Life as We Knew It, and started The Midwife's Apprentice
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Shooting the Moon
8. Which did you enjoy least? Probably The Midwife's Apprentice, but only because I was SO tired.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? N/A
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I'm hoping to participate again. This was my second time as a reader.

Many thanks to the organizers and cheerleaders. I had a blast!

Read-a-thon Update #4

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:04:00 +0000

Well, six hours to go and I still haven't slept yet. This last hour has been tough and I might need a little cat nap here in a little bit.

I just finished reading Life As We Knew It. I have read 937 pages so far and have finished 4 books. I think The Midwife's Apprentice is the next book on my pile.

Thanks for the comments and cheerleading!

Give Me Five Meme

This meme asks us to list five favorite children's books. These aren't necessarily my all-time favorites, but here are five I love:

How I Live Now

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:22:00 +0000

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Book 40 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 10 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2004)
Book 1 for the YA Dystopian Challenge
Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Michael Printz Award; Guardian Children's Fiction Prize; Horn Book Fanfare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How I Live Now is a dystopian YA fiction novel about a girl named Daisy from New York. Daisy has an eating disorder and she can't stand her stepmom-to-be, so she is sent to live in England with her cousins. There is a great fear of war, and her aunt leaves the five children alone to travel to Oslo for political reasons right before England is invaded. As the unthinkable happens, the children are left alone to fend for themselves until they are split up, relocated, and eventually forced to find their way back home.

I mostly enjoyed the innovative writing style which is real stream of consciousness with lots of Capital Letters. But it really captured Daisy's 15-year old voice beautifully. Conceptually I found this book interesting and scarily plausible. There is an, ahem, inappropriate cousin relationship between Daisy and her cousin Edmond which made me a little squeemish. But I absolutely fell in love with 9-year old Piper.

I found this tale of survival and familial relationships to be unique and could provide some interesting discussion. But, it is only a book I would recommend for the upper grade crowd because of its thematic elements.

Also reviewed by:

Have I missed yours?

Source: BookMooch

Read-a-thon Update #3

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:43:00 +0000

I decided to participate in the meme for this hour since we are halfway through.

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Just going to start Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

2. How many books have you read so far? 3

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Hmm. Probably this one.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? My husband took care of the kids and then in the afternoon a friend and I checked into a hotel so we could read in peace this evening.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? My kids were in and out today. But really, they just needed a few snuggles and kisses and they were off again!

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How quickly it goes by!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I'll definitely be participating again. Right now I can't think of anything I would do differently.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Not yet. Talk to me in a couple of hours though.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Read short books that you are really excited about!
I've read 600 pages so far, so I'm a little behind what I accomplished in April. Look for my review of How I Live Now coming up in the next few hours!

Shooting the Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:57:00 +0000

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Book 39 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 9 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2008)
Book 5 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Awards: Boston Globe/Horn Book Award/Honors; Christopher Award; Kirkus Editors Choice

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jamie Dexter is a 12 year old army brat who lives in North Carolina. As soon as her brother turns 18, he enlists as a medic in Vietnam. Jamie's father, the Colonel, is not at all happy about TJ's decision which shocks both brother and sister since they had been taught loyalty to country and the military their entire lives.

Instead of letters, Jamie's brother TJ only sends her home rolls of film to develop. With the help of one of the men on the base, Jamie learns how to develop the film. In the process, she realizes that her brother is communicating with her, just not through words.

This book is simple yet deep. It is incredibly well-written and surprisingly moving. Highly recommended for grade 5 and up. (And it is in your Scholastic book orders and book fair.)

Also reviewed by:

Did I miss yours?

Source: Purchased

Read-a-thon Update #2

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:42:00 +0000

Just checking in for a bit. I finished reading Shooting the Moon and I'm halfway through How I Live Now. I've read 512 pages so far today. I'm surprised at how quickly the day has gone by! Look for a review of Shooting the Moon a little later.

I hope everyone is having a great time!

North and South

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:16:00 +0000

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Book 38 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 5 for the Classics Challenge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I told myself I had to read this before I watched it. And, although it wasn't the quickest or easiest read on the planet, it was well worth it.

North and South is the story of Margaret Hale, the daughter of a country parson who has a crisis of conscience and decides to give up his profession. Because the scandal of leaving the Church of England is so great, the family moves north to Milton (presumed Manchester) where life in an industrial town contrasts so greatly with their idyllic rural life.

Before leaving the South, Margaret is proposed to by her cousin's brother-in-law, whom she turns down because she only considers him a friend. But on arrival to the smoky North, Margaret meets John Thornton, a wealthy cotton manufacturer, whom she despises because of his supposed inferior station.

In the North, Margaret befriends a poor family with a consumptive daughter. She learns much about the struggle between master and worker and even finds herself involved in a strike. These parts, which were written using the local worker's accent, were a little dry and difficult to read. But the social struggle is real and could even be compared and contrasted to those involving unions today.

There is a nice love triangle in this book and I definitely have a new Victorian male to swoon about in Mr. Thornton. But there is a lot of heartache too, much of it revolving around the social and political commentary of the time. This is a classic I am glad to have read and I look forward to reading more of Gaskell's works.

Also reviewed by:

Have I missed yours?

Source: Purchased

Read-a-thon Update #1

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Well, I finally finished North and South. Woo hoo! Not exactly a fast-paced read, but very good. I'll post a review in the next few hours.

I think I'm going to choose a quick, small book to read now. Probably Shooting the Moon.

I've read for a little over 3 hours and blogged for about 1/2 hour so far. Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Read-a-thon Begins!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:14:00 +0000

Good morning all! I was hoping to have North and South finished before this morning, but I didn't quite make it. So, my first order of business is to finish off the last 150 pages or so.

My husband and kids are going out to the bakery to pick up some breakfast for me, and then they are all going to out for awhile. So, it should be nice and quiet around here.

Good luck to everyone! I'll be checking in every few hours today and can't wait to hear about what everyone is reading.

Read-a-thon Stack

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:09:00 +0000

I read five pretty good sized books last read-a-thon, so we'll see what I can actually accomplish this time. Here is the stack:

In the afternoon I'll be checking into a hotel with my friend, and new book blogger, Shanda. We decided it would be fun to make it a girls weekend and enjoy a little peace, without the guilt that comes while reading with kids underfoot.

I've also got a couple of books in transit at the library that I hope come in for tomorrow too. If they do, I'll add to my stack:

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Yay for the Read-a-thon! I can't wait!

Challenges Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:07:00 +0000

Wow, this update is overdue. Back at the beginning of September, I finished J. Kaye's 100+ Reading Challenge. Here were the books I read:

I also finished Carl's RIP VI Challenge reading:

I've recently joined Bart's YA Dystopian Challenge and 3m's Countdown Challenge.

I've also got to finish up the Classics Challenge, Orbis Terrarum, and the New Author Challenge before the end of the year. Many thanks to all the excellent challenge hosts!

I'm excited to be part of the Read-a-thon this weekend and hopefully get closer to finishing some more challenges. Right now I'm reading North and South, which I like, but it is taking awhile. :) Tomorrow I'm hoping to post my stack for the Read-a-thon!

Front and Center

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Book 8 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Series: Book 3 of 3 (Dairy Queen)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Since this book doesn't hit the shelves until Monday, I was thrilled to receive an email yesterday from my library telling me that this book was ready for pickup. I really liked Dairy Queen and I loved The Off Season, and I have been eagerly anticipating this final installment.

This book picks up right where The Off Season left off, with DJ returning to school, hoping that life will get back to normal. It is time for basketball season, and although she knows she needs a scholarship if she is ever going to get off the farm and out of Red Bend, she didn't realize how intense and stressful the recruiting process was going to be in her junior year. She also has a boy, who is a friend, making his intentions clear that he wants to be her boyfriend and she isn't still totally recovered from her first (and last) relationship.

This is really just a book about life. The characters are flawed, and realistically so, but I was rooting for them the whole way. There is humor and poignancy and all the things that make everyday existence so meaningful, and yet so maddening. I don't even like sports or cows, but I enjoy my time in DJ's world.

The whole series is well-written and uplifting. Front and Center is the perfect end to this delightful trilogy. Highly recommended for 8th grade and up.

Also reviewed by:

Source: Library

Shiver

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:44:00 +0000

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Book 37 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 7 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Series: Book 1 of 3 (The Wolves of Mercy Falls)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grace Brisbane lives in Minnesota at the edge of the woods. When she was younger, the wolves from the woods pulled her off her tire swing and attacked her. But she was saved by one of them--the wolf with the yellow eyes. And since that time, Grace has watched him intently.

Sam Roth is a teenage werewolf. When the weather gets warm, he shifts into human form. But when it gets cold, he retreats into the woods behind Grace's house. He would give anything to get to know Grace in his human form. But he never has...until now.

I have to admit that I really vacillated between giving the book 3 stars or 4 stars. I loved the setting and thoroughly enjoyed Steifvater's beautiful poetic language. I appreciated that the swearing in this book is relatively minor. There is a lot of sexual tension in this book and while there are no explicit details, it isn't chaste either. I did have a problem with the fact that there were no responsible or trustworthy adults in the book. The chapters alternate between Grace's and Sam's perspectives and that really worked for me. But, the plot was a little bumpy in spots and I felt the resolution was a little cheap. Having said all that, I went with 4 stars because I stayed up late to finish it and I definitely want to read the next book in the series.

Those who like Twilight, especially Team Jacob members, will enjoy this paranormal young adult romance. You can't go wrong with this one if you just want to curl up with a light and fluffy romance on a cold day.

Read the first chapter here.

Also reviewed by:

Let me know if I have missed yours!

Source: Purchased

The Graveyard Book

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:27:00 +0000

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Book 36 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 6 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2008)
Book 4 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge

Awards: IBBY Honor List; Booklist Editors' Choice; Horn Book Fanfare; VOYA Award/Honor; Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award/Honors; Newbery Medal; ALA Notable/Best Books; Kirkus Editors Choice; Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award/Honor; Hugo Award; Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel; British Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel; Cybils Award

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Neil Gaiman is another one of those authors that I have inexplicably been avoiding. There is some creep factor going on with his stuff and it makes me nervous. But a middle grade book that is a Newbery winner to boot seemed like a safe bet. Plus, my in person book club picked this as our spooky October read. It definitely fit the bill!

The novel opens with the murder of three family members. The baby, however, escapes to a nearby graveyard where he becomes known as Nobody (Bod) Owens. Bod is raised by ghostly adoptive parents and a guardian who is part of both the living and the dead. As Bod grows he begins to be more curious about the world outside. He has an inquisitive nature, and he has been taught well by the centuries of ghosts who live in the graveyard. But the dark force that killed his family is still on the loose with unfinished business...

There were parts of this book that took my breath away. (There was some tear shedding involved at the end.) Gaiman has interesting conceptual ideas, and there were a some passages I wished I had highlighted along the way. However, there were some slow parts and, in my opinion, the novel is too dark/violent/intense for younger children. I will probably wait until middle school to pass this one on to my kids. I also didn't really "get" the illustrations. But overall, this is a great fantasy, deserving of its many accolades.

Also reviewed by:

Let me know if I can add yours!

Source: Purchased

Cold Comfort Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Book 35 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 4 for the Classics Challenge

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Cold Comfort Farm is a parody of the works of Mary Webb, Thomas Hardy, and DH Lawrence who wrote novels depicting rural British life in the late 1800s-early 1900s. Flora Poste is the heroine who travels to Sussex to live with her cousins, the Starkadders, after her parents die. She meets the completely oddball family including fairy-like Elfine, sad sack Reuben, and loony Judith. One she settles in, she decides that she is going to "tidy up" the farm including, not only the lives people who live and work there, but also the cows named Feckless, Graceless, Pointless, Aimless, and Big Business.

I liked the beginning and the end, but the middle really dragged for me. There were some moments that I found amusing, but really I think the cover has the funniest stuff on it. To be fair, I think it is hard for a parody of a bunch of authors I haven't read to seem terribly funny--although I did catch quite a lot of the Bronte and Austen references.

The book was written in 1932 and it is set in the future, after the "Anglo-Nicaraguan War" of 1946. This adds an extra strange element to the book with flying machines and videoconferencing definitely out of place, and the London neighborhoods of Mayfair becoming ghetto while the East End becomes fashionable.

The comedy in this book just didn't quite work for me. My overall impression of this book is that it is just...weird.

Also reviewed by:

Have I missed your link?

Source: BookMooch

Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Book 5 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Book 34 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 3 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Series: Book 1 of 4

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read many faery books, so this one was a unique to me. Wings is a breezy, quick read about a high school sophomore named Laurel who knows she's always been a bit different. She is a vegan that needs very little food to survive and she has ethereal looks. But she had never really given it much thought until a red bump appeared on her back that turned into so much more.

I started out really liking this book, but then once the paranormal stuff started happening it just didn't flow very well. I knew this book was about faeries, so that wasn't a surprise. But when Laurel and her new friend David realize what Laurel is, their reactions are so calm and muted, it just isn't believable. The characters were underdeveloped and real emotion was lacking for me since the book was really heavy on dialogue. I had some plot issues too. I found the whole confrontation scene at the end to be kind of tacked on and rushed.

I'll be the first to admit that I liked the Twilightish love triangle. That alone might get me to read the next book in the series. Although I can't rave about this book, I did like it. It was fun and entertaining. I would recommend it for girls starting at around age 12.

Also reviewed by:

Did I miss yours?

Source: Library

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:54:00 +0000

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

Book 4 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2009)
Book 2 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Series: Book 3 of 6? (Gallagher Girls)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cammie Morgan and her friends are ready to return to Gallagher Academy as juniors. Macey McHenry's father is running for Vice-President of the United States and while attending their party convention, Macey and Cammie become involved in an attempted kidnapping. As school begins and Cammie and her friends try to figure out who the real threats are coming from and why, they certainly can't do it without breaking a few rules along the way.

This book is little more serious and stressful than the other books and has more of a cliffhanger, but it's still really fun (I think I've used that word about 2,746 times describing these books). I like that the girls seem to be growing up some, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I'm just annoyed I have to wait!

Also reviewed by:

Source: Purchased

Other books in this series: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

To Serve Them All My Days

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:43:00 +0000

To Serve Them All My Days by R. F. Delderfield

First Published: 1972
Republished: March 1, 2009
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ISBN: 1402218249
Price: $14.99
Pages: 608

Book 33 of 50 for the New Author Challenge

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an in depth look into the life of David Powlett-Jones, a history teacher at a British boarding school for boys named Bamfylde. David joined the school at the end of WW1 as a shell-shocked young man trying to regain some sense of his life. He finds purpose in his existence at the school, one that ultimately becomes an inseparable part of who he is and determines his life's work.

It's difficult to sum up an amazing piece of literature that spans the period of British history from the end of WW1 to the beginning of WW2 all through David's eyes. But the novel leaves no stone unturned. It delves into David finding love, molding the mind's of impressionable youth, dealing with common room politics, and all the disappointments, joys, heartaches, and triumphs of a life fully lived. David is not perfect, but I found myself rooting for him every step of the way.

Those with an interest in the British political climate of the period will find this book fascinating. Some of it was a bit over my head, but it did not stifle the enjoyment of the book for me. I actually learned a lot while reading. There is some language used that is reflective of the time period and some terminology that is peculiar to British public (which really means private) schools. I got a kick out of it since a lot of it was the same language used when I attended high school in England in the 1990s, just proving the depth and importance of tradition to a school like Bamfylde.

I attended a school with a very similar history to Bamfylde. (Some of the girls I graduated from high school with were part of the first batch of girls to arrive when the school became co-educational in the 1980s.) While I'm sure my own life experiences play into it some, I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it. The writing was superb. At 600 pages, it is truly a book to savor and not to be rushed. I look forward to reading more books by R.F. Delderfield in the future and getting my hands on a copy of the 1980 BBC miniseries of this book!

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Source: Publisher

The National Book Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:53:00 +0000

Saturday was our long-awaited trip to The National Book Festival. My daughter and I headed straight for the children's tent where (from left to right) we heard from Jon Scieszka, Megan McDonald, Steven Kellogg, Nikki Grimes, Kate DiCamillo and Shannon Hale. They were introducing a collaborative book that is going to be published every two weeks on Read.gov called The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Jon Scieszka wrote the first chapter and read it aloud to us. Katherine Paterson will be writing the next installment. Steven Kellogg did some impromptu illustrations and Shannon Hale joked about her regrettable decision to wear white socks that day.

After quickly surveying the massive lines for author signings (we spied John Grisham and Jodi Picoult--their lines were ridiculous!), I told my daughter she could choose one. Her top priority was Kate DiCamillo so we stood in line for 90 minutes so she could sign her copy of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. They had a cute conversation:

C: My entire 4th grade is reading this book right now.
Kate: How's that going?
C: It's going good, but I've already read it like five times.
Kate: Wow! That's a great compliment. :)

There were grins and thanks all round.

The highlight of the day for me was meeting my friend and fellow blogging buddy, Corinne from The Book Nest, for the first time! We both had our 9 year old daughters in tow and the four of us just palled around like we'd known each other forever. I so appreciate that Corinne and her daughter came, and I only hope that next time we meet (which I'm hoping will be sometime in the next 4 months!) we'll get to hang out together longer. Seriously, every time I think about meeting up with these two awesome girls, I get a happy feeling in my heart.

As the rain started, we headed into the Pavilion of the States where each state (except loser Florida) had a booth. C had a little map book stamped and each state passed out goodies like posters, stickers, tattoos, and bookmarks. North Carolina had a little map where we could mark our house!

We stood in the dripping wet just outside the teen/children's tent to hear Kate DiCamillo read aloud some of her newest book, The Magician's Elephant. She also answered questions until her mic quit working.

And then as we managed to worm our way into the tent, Rick Riordan came out! C was so thrilled!

Rick talked about how he went from writing adult mysteries to writing his Percy Jackson and the Olympian series. He also announced that he's writing a series involving Egyptian gods and he read us the first bit of the first book. He was a very likeable guy and totally reminded me of my junior high science teacher, which I guess makes sense since he is a middle school teacher!

It was a great day (despite having to throw my wet shoes away!) and we can't wait to go again next year.

The Willoughbys

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:35:00 +0000

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Book 32 of 50 for the New Author Challenge
Book 1 of 25 for the MG Book Challenge
Book 3 of 55 for the Countdown Challenge (2008)
Awards: NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts; Parent's Choice Award/Honor Book; Kirkus Editors Choice; Booklist Editors' Choice; E.B. White Read Aloud Shortlist

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My daughter and I drove from Charlotte to Washington, DC last night. We are going to be attending The National Book Festival tomorrow, so I thought I would bring along an audiobook from one of the visiting authors, Lois Lowry. I've never actually read a Lois Lowry book and I decided it was time to remedy the situation.

The Willoughbys is an excellent tongue-in-cheek parody of "old-fashioned" storytelling complete with mean parents, orphans, and industrious children. The four Willoughby children are named Tim, A & B (twins both named Barnaby), and Jane. They don't like their parents, and their parents don't like them. So, the children encourage the parents to go on a dangerous vacation tour while the parents get a nanny for the children and attempt to sell the house out from underneath them. With the help of their wonderful nanny and a lonely candy tycoon, everything works out well, as any classic children's tale should.

This book was just hilarious. The reader, Arte Johnson, was so brilliant, I laughed out loud dozens of times. I think that older kids familiar with tales like Oliver, Heidi, Pollyanna, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are more likely to 'get' the humor. But, my 4th grader thought it was a terrific story too. There are also some great vocabulary words in this book--ignominious, affable, and nefarious to name a few--and an equally funny glossary at the end. This would make a great read-aloud for older children. Definitely recommended.

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Source: Library Audiobook