Charlie Bone and the Hidden King - by Jenny Nimmo

Ok, all of you Harry Potter elitists out there who refuse to pick up the Charlie Bone series because you think it's just another Harry Potter rip-off, get over it and pick up these books because they are good! I know this series has a lot of similarities to Harry Potter (an outcast boy with black hair suddenly discovers he has magical powers and is whisked away to a private school for children with special abilities), but is that really such a bad thing? Back in my days of working in the children's section at Borders I can't tell you how many parents came up to me and told me their child really liked Harry Potter, but wasn't interested in reading anything else so they had nothing to read until the next Harry Potter came out, and the parent wondered if there was a book that I could recommend that their child might enjoy. There should have been a button that I could push that would turn on a spotlight shining on the Charlie Bone books while a chorus of angels played in the background.

As the story goes, long ago lived the magical Red King who had ten children who each inherited a magical power. After the death of his wife, he lost control of his children and they battled against each other. The Red King disappeared and ever since his ancestors have been locked in a fight of good verses evil. Charlie learns he is one of these descendants. He has the power to step into pictures and interact with them. Once he learns of his powers he is sent to Bloors Academy where other ancestors of the Red King can keep an eye on him.

Charlie Bone and the Hidden King is the fifth book in the series. The plot maintains just as much excitement at the first book in the series. At the beginning of this novel Charlie receives a message that something bad has been set free and he must keep watch. Charlie is further perplexed when he discovers that all of the animals have fled the city. Meanwhile his mother starts acting strange, and he's still searching for information about his missing father.

Fans will be delighted to know that I huge secret is revealed in this book. I'm going to have a tough time waiting for the next book in the series. Hurry Jenny Nimmo, we need more!

The Sister's Grimm: The Unusual Suspect - Michael Buckley

I love it when the second book in a series turns out to be even better than the first, and that is just the case with this book.

Sisters Daphne and Sabrina Grimm continue their escapades as detectives in Ferryport Landing, a town where fairytale characters live among humans. Their grandmother forces them to take time off from their search for their parents to begin school. Daphne is happy to discover her teacher is Snow White, but Sabrina immediately doesn't get along with her teacher or her classmates. Sabrina becomes even more miserable when her teacher is murdered and Puck is assigned to pose as a student and keep an eye on her at school. The sisters become determined to discover what's really going on at their school.

Many series get stuck in a rut following the same formulaic pattern for each book so I was pleasantly surprised that this novel was so different than the first. The first novel feels like a complete story on it's own, but the second ends with a mega cliff-hanger. A glimmer of romance that wasn't in the first book also begins in the second novel.

The book did continue a few things that I like though, it slips in definitions of difficult words that the younger sisters doesn't understand and asks about. It also continues to introduce new characters that readers will love identifying from fairy-tales. I really like that in both novels, Daphne and Sabrina are not perfect detectives. They are real kids who make mistakes and do their best to recover from them. Readers of the first book will absolutely enjoy the second!

August - Peter Pan Prequels

We're meeting at my house this August to discuss Peter Pan Prequels.

Please read:

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley PearsonCapt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorius Youth by J.V. Hart

They're both rather long so that's all that's required, but if you have time, here are a few more titles:

Wendy by Karen Wallace

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Surviving the Applewhites

Meet the cast for the Columbus Children's Theater reading of the stage adaptation of Stephanie Tolan's novel Surviving the Applewhites.


I was able to attend the reading before I went on vacation. The play isn't finalized so the purpose of the reading was to get the reaction and advice of local people from the theater world. Katherine Paterson and Stephanie Tolan are working on the script. Can you spot them in the photo with the cast?

I was curious to see how they would handle certain aspects of the book, most notably how they would handle swearing. One of the main characters, Jake, is a juvenile delinquent with colorful language, but the novel never actually uses any swear words it just says that Jake swears or uses parrots words (the parrot in novel also swears). In the stage adaptation Jake never uses actual swear words either, he just says "bleep!" in a high pitch. I think kids will think it's funny, but it got a bit distracting after awhile.

I wondered how true to the novel the play would be since the novel's author was writing the script. The beginning was different; the characters are supposed to walk out of a large copy of the book on stage and then they argue about who the main character of the book really is and begin the story (a clever way for Tolan to remind the audience that if they like the play it's based on a book and they should go buy it). From there on most of the dialogue is straight out of the novel until the end when the actors summarize a lot of what happens instead of adding a lot of characters and staging the play that takes place within the play.

It was an interesting process to watch and I wanted to ask why Tolan chose to leave certain things out like the Guru and one of the uncles, but not a single person raised their hand during the questions and answer period, and I wasn't brave enough to start.

Afterwards I got to meet Stephanie Tolan and Katherine Paterson, and they were both as nice as I imagined them. I meant to ask Katherine Paterson about the movie adaptation of Bridge to Terebithia, but I was too star-struck to do anything but try to keep my mouth from hanging open.

There was another author sitting with Stephanie Tolan and Katherine Paterson on the first row, one of the professors who was present at my thesis defense, Janet Hickman. I have to admit that the most embarrassing moment of the evening was when she asked me what great things I've accomplished since graduation. After graduate school I planned to work as an editor in children's publishing, but then I was surprised when my husband was assigned to do his residency after medical schoool here in Columbus so I'm still working in commercial real estate as a Marketing Manger. At my thesis defense Dr. Hickman and Dr. Keifer told me that they would be happy to help me set up interviews in New York for publishing positions, but they thought I should be a writer. Now here I am, a year later I run into Dr. Hickman and what great things have I accomplished? Uh . . . I joined SCBWI, I still lead the children's literature book club, and I'm in the middle of two horrid rough drafts that seem to be going nowhere, and I'm still working in commercial real estate. Of course Dr. Hickman was totally nice about it and said she understood that everyone has to pay their bills, but I'm sure I left with burning cheeks.

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

I’m not sure if I fell in love with this book because of the storyline or the author’s writing style or because it was narrated by death, which is such a unique perspective (I know, something narrated by death sounds dreadfully morbid, but it’s not).

I didn’t read this book quickly, I slowly let it soak in, and I actually finished it a week and a half ago, but I wanted to let it ruminate in my brain for awhile before I reviewed it (plus I was on vacation for a week and a half so I haven’t been blogging).

This novel begins with Death telling the story of Liesel Meminger growing up in Munich, Germany during World War II. Liesel is sent to a foster family in Munich because her mother has been associated with the Communist Party. Her foster father, Hans Hubermann, helps Liesel in her struggle to learn to read. Soon words surround Liesel and she becomes the Book Thief.

As you might imagine, this books is filled with the tragic events of the Holocaust, but it’s also full of the details of Liesel’s everyday life. I love the reminder that even while life is full of horrors, it has moments of comedy too.

I really wish that I purchased this book instead of checking it out from the library because there were so many beautiful sections that I was dying to highlight. Zusak has such an original way of describing things. Here are a few that delighted me:

• “Frau Diller smiled. Her teeth elbowed each other for room in her mouth (pg 155)”
  
• “When Max heard the news, his body felt like it was being screwed up into a ball, like a page littered with mistakes. Like Garbage.
  Yet each day, he managed to unravel and straighten himself, disgusted and thankful. Wrecked, but somehow not torn to pieces. (pg 194)”

I think part of the reason I was able to focus on the beautiful writing was the way it was narrated. Since Death was telling the story, the narrator already knew how everything would end and spoiled the ending ahead of time. Normally I would have hated the spoilers, but instead of rushing forward because I had to know what was going to happen, the narration allowed me to just enjoy each passage as I went along. Death even comments of this method of telling the story:

Of course, I’m being rude. I’m spoiling the ending, not only of the entire book,
but of this particular piece of it. I have given you two events in advance,
because I don’t have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me. It
chores me. I know what happens and so do you. It’s the machinations that wheel
us there that aggravate, perplex, interest, and astound me (pg 243).

Even though Death was only the narrator, his character intrigued me. Death was not happy about WWII, he thought it was awful. There’s a point in the story where even Death gets emotional about what happens to Liesel and after his description of the events he says, “You see? Even death has a heart (pg 242).” Death sees moments in shades of color and as he describes events he often tells the reader what color the events were. It was so intriguing to me.
All of the characters were original and I know they will each stay with me for quite awhile. I recommend that you go straight to the store or the library and pick up this book. You will be greatly rewarded!

I can’t wait to watch Zusak’s interview with School Library Journal for their Under Cover series.

The Prophet of Yonwood - Jeanne DuPrau

I really loved City of Ember and The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau so I was looking forward to the prequel to City of Ember, The Prophet of Yonwood. I was almost finished with the book when it had several unresolved issues, and it was nowhere near setting up or connecting to the City of Ember and I started the think DuPrau must be planning to write another book leading up to the City of Ember. I was wrong; a whole novel’s worth of information was just squashed into the last few pages in a chapter titled “What Happened Afterward”.

11-year-old Nickie travels with her Aunt to her late great grandfather’s home in Yonwood to prepare it to be sold. Nickie secretly has three goals in mind: 1. To convince her family not to sell the house and move there with her parents 2. To fall in love 3. To do something good for the world.

Nickie is surprised to learn that Yonwood is not the picture of tranquility she imagined. Before her arrival a local woman had a fiery vision of the future of the world. The woman was terrified into a dreamlike state. The townspeople began to call the woman the Prophet because she had seen the future and most of them did their best to follow her mumblings. A local busybody, Brenda Beeson, appointed herself as the Prophet’s mouthpiece and did her best to translate the prophet’s mumblings into orders for the townspeople. Many of the people believe the vision was a warning from God and if they can surround themselves with a shield of goodness, they will be safe from the eminent war with the Phalanx nations. Nickie follows the prophet’s directions. She tries not to be a sinner and gives up things like singing. She even spies on other people and reports them to Brenda, until the prophet says no dogs. Nickie is not willing to give up the dog she’s been hiding at her house, and she begins to question whether helping Brenda Beeson was the right thing to do.

The book is thought provoking, especially when discussed long with current events, but it is not as well rounded as the other two novels in the series.

On an interesting side note – I listened to this book on CD and it wasn’t your average reading; it included sound effects. If Nickie was outside you heard birds chirping in the background, and if she went through a door you heard it open. They drove me crazy at first because I was just trying to concentrate on the words and I feel like some things should be left to the imagination, but I’m sure other people would enjoy it.

The Thief Lord - The Movie

So many movie adaptations of books are truly awful so when I heard that the new movie of The Thief Lord was going straight to video, I didn't think it bode well for the movie. I figured this was going to be another Ella Enchanted so I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down to watch it last night.

There are a few discrepancies (I'm sure I would have noticed even more if I reread the book recently), but overall they were fairly loyal to the plot of the book and the movie captured a little of the magical feeling Funke created in the book.

It might have benefited from being a little longer in order to include a little more from the book, but overall I really enjoyed the movie.

Title Thieves? (I'm kidding, sort of)

OK, after Pirates of the Caribbean there were tons of pirate books, after March of the Penguins I saw all sorts of penguin picture books, but what's with all of the books about thieves? It seems like everywhere I look there's a book with Thief in the title: The Thief Lord, The Shadow Thieves, The Book Thief, The Lightening Thief, Storm Thief, Montmorency: Thief Liar Gentleman, Thieves Like Us, Abadazad: The Dream Thief, Peter and the Shadow Thieves. Why the sudden obsession with thieves? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad these books have been published because some of them are great, I'm just not sure what prompted them. It seems like a pretty random coinsidence.

Wendy - by Karen Wallace

I picked up Wendy because I'm trying to prepare to host the Peter Pan prequels month in August. I already know I want to include Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson and Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J.V. Hart in our discussion so I've been searching for something different to round things out. Wendy is certainly different. As you might guess by the title, Wendy is the story of Wendy Darling's life before she meets Peter Pan.

This books takes a much more realistic approach than the other Peter Pan prequels I've read. Without spoiling too much, since we may be reading it, Wendy has no control over her life, her parents dictate who she will play with and a tyrannical nanny watches over her day and night. Her only joy is visiting Rosegrove, her uncle's estate in the country, where she spends her days reading to her friend Thomas while he paints. Wendy is stunned when she accidentally sees her father kissing another woman. Not even a summer at Rosegrove can help her avoid her confusion.

Wallace uses the societal constraints set on Wendy and the other members of her family to set up the Peter Pan story in original way that certainly adds depth to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.

The School Library Journal & Booklist reviews both question who the intended audience of this book really is. Younger readers looking for a magical expansion of the Peter Pan story will not find what they are looking for in Wendy. Wendy is only nine-years-old and I can't imagine many nine-year olds enjoying the complex relationships in this book.

Ophie out of Oz - by Kathleen O'Dell

In college two of my roommates were taking a pop-culture class and they told me that their professor says that the Wizard Of Oz has become so engrained in American culture that you can’t go a day without hearing a reference to it. We all thought that was ridiculous until we started paying attention. Now it seems quite true. If you’ve watched the movie recently and you start paying attention you’ll find out for yourself.

Anyway, since then, all things Wizard of Oz seem to catch my eye so that’s probably why I picked up Ophie Out of Oz at the library. Fourth grader Ophie Peeler had a wonderful life in California and the best friend of her dreams. Her life drastically changes when she moves to Oregon, where the most popular girls want nothing to do with her, her mom is busy with her baby sister, her teacher returns all of her paper covered with corrections, and boring Brittnay follows her around. Ophie hits rock bottom when her mother informs her that they will be settling in Oregon permanently and then Ophie discovers that her beloved ruby slipper no longer fit. She begins to think she’s not as much like Dorothy as she thought she was, and she’s desperate to fit in.

The main character in this book was nowhere near as endearing as Dorothy. In fact I disliked Ophie so much I had a hard time continuing with the story because I really didn’t care what happened to her. Of course once she schemed her way into popularity, she realized it wasn’t really worth it, but she was so wrapped up in herself that I never felt like she truly grew to appreciate anyone else in the story.

There were a few memorable moments that made the book a little more engaging. Ophie’s principal completely understands Ophie’s desire to be like Dorothy and reveals that she too is a glamourous star in her secret heart. And there’s a brilliant scene when Ophie discovers that Brittany has a boyfriend and emails him every evening. Ophie is completely disappointed to discover that all she emails him is a list of what she has for dinner and then he emails her back a list of what he has for dinner.

This isn’t a book I’m buying for my personal library, but I think a lot of preteen girls would enjoy Ophie’s escapades.

Meet Margaret Peterson Haddix

You've read her books, now if you're in Central Ohio you can meet her at the library!

Tuesday, June 20th

• Reynoldsburg Branch at 11 a.m.
• Dublin Branch at 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 21st

• Gahanna Branch at 2 p.m.
• Hilliard Branch at 7 p.m.

Fairest Galleys

This month's issue of the "Children's Bookshelf" newsletter published by Publisher's Weekly had this ad in it. Just in case you can't read it, it says, "Get your advanced reader's copy now! Email your name and address to harperchildrens@harpercollins.com with the subject FAIREST to receive a galley (while supplies last)."

Wouldn't you love to have a copy?

Water Mirror - by Kai Meyers

I was really enjoying listening to Water Mirror on CD until I got to about the middle of the book and an envoy of the princes of Hell arrived. Seriously, I did not see the book headed in that direction (or at least part of me was in denial that it was headed that direction). Much like Cornelia Funke, Kai Meyers is a popular German author of fantasy for children/young adults, but only recently translated into English and published in the US.

The book begins with two orphaned girls, Junipa and Merle, being delivered to be apprentices to Arcimboldo, a creator of magic mirrors in the city of Venice. The girls are instant friends. Both girls are unusual; Merle was found as a baby floating in the canals in a basket that also contained a magic mirror. Junipa is blind, but Arcimboldo puts mirror glass in her eyes, which allows her to see for the first time. After a party, Merle and another apprentice overhear city councilors who have captured the essence of the Flowing Queen who protects Venice from Egyptian Invaders. Merle steals the vial that contains the essence of the Flowing Queen and drinks it before the men can turn the vial over to the Egyptians. Thus Merle joins the Flowing Queen in a quest to escape the city and find help to save Venice for the Egyptians.

I hated the part of this book where Hell opened up so an envoy could offer an alliance to protect Venice. It was especially creepy listening to it because the reader voices every other character in the book with mild variation, but his voice gets all computer distorted and high-pitched screechy for the representative from Hell. It was like fingernails on a chalk board.

I also am not a fan of books that have no conclusion. I knew that this is part of a series, but I prefer books that wrap up at least some of the plot instead of leaving you completely hanging. I want to know that Harry Potter temporarily escaped Voldemort even if I don’t know that he’s won the war; and I want to know that Percy Jackson finished his latest quest even if I don’t know if ultimately he is the Hero who will save the Greek Gods. Water Mirror stopped abruptly a third of the way through the story and seems very incomplete. It didn’t seem like a stand alone novel. Readers who enjoy it can already pick up the second book, Pirate Curse, but they’ll have to wait patiently for the third.

July - Graphic Novels

We will be discussing graphic novels (kind of like long comic books) at Emily’s. A few of the titles are really limited so you probably want to reserve them right away. They are very fast reads so please try to share them with other club members so everyone gets a chance to read them.

Kristy's great idea : a graphic novel by Ann M. Martin Limited Copies

The Demon of River Heights by Stefan Petrucha (Nancy Drew Series) Limited Copies

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (a picture book)

Babymouse: Beach Babe by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Limited Copies

Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith (BONE Series)

It pays to know people in high places

I'm so excited I have to brag!

Columbus Children’s Theatre will be doing a stage adaptation of Stephanie Tolan’s Newbery Honor novel Surviving the Applewhites. The play doesn't run until October, but next month they are holding a reading to get suggestions from the local theater community. Luckily I happen to be very good friends with two fine actors who have worked with CATCO and they have invited me to come along. Not only will Stephanie Tolan herself be there, but so will the person who helped her with the adaptation . . . Katherine Paterson! How can I wait a whole month?

New Movie in the works

Well, it was only a matter of time.

Jeff Stockwell Adapting Edward Tulane

And the blurb doesn't even get the book title right.

The same site mentions that Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher will be voicing characters in an animated version of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. I know some people think Coraline is brilliant and everyone is calling it a modern Alice in Wonderland, but I have to say I thought it was just plain weird.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (Book 2) - by Rick Riordan

Percy begins book two with a new friend, Tyson, who is rather slow but very loyal. After an uneventful year in seventh grade, Percy looks forward to spending another summer at Camp Half Blood, but disaster strikes on his last day of school. Percy and Tyson flee with Annabeth to Camp Half Blood only to find it under attack. Meanwhile, Percy’s dreams reveal his best friend Grover is a captive of Cyclops Polyphemus.

The second book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series matched the fast pace of the first book. Fans will be delighted in this much awaited sequel. I really enjoyed it, but again I would probably have an even greater appreciation if I followed the Greek Mythology side of the story. On his blog Rick Riodan says that he’s already received several emails from readers who have finished his second book and are ready for the third. I can’t spoil the plot but part of a prophecy about Percy that is mentioned in the first book is revealed in the second book, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

New Books

I love hearing about new books I can look forward to. I recently read this interview with Gail Carson Levine the reminded me of why I love Gail Carson Levine and really made me look forward to her newest book Fairest.

Today I came across this list provided by Publisher's Weekly of galleys being handed out by the BookExpo America Exhibitors. Here they are:

Publishers are giving away a handful of noteworthy debut novels:
Skinny by Ibi Kaslik (Walker, 2220), a story about battling anorexia.
Alabama Moon by Watt Key (FSG, 2204), about a boy who has grown up in the forest and finds himself in an institution in Alabama after his father dies.
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga (Houghton, 3339), about a comic book geek whose life is turned upside down when he meets a "goth" girl.
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (HarperTempest, 2538), a Desperate Housewives combination of suburban murder, scandal and intrigue.
The Candy Darlings by Christine Walde (Houghton/Graphia, 3339), in which two candy-addicted friends go up against a powerful clique at school.

Three adult authors try their hands at children's books:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (Random House/Fickling, 1824), from the Irish author of three adult novels.
The Lighthouse Land (Book 1 in a trilogy) by Adrian McKinty (Amulet, 3502), a teen fantasy from this adult crime fiction writer.
Haters by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (Little, Brown, 2812), a YA novel from the author of The Dirty Girls Social Club.

New works from popular authors:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson (Candlewick, 5715), the first of a two-part story.
Escape from the Carnivale by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (Disney Editions, 2831), the first in a series of chapter books based on characters from Peter and the Starcatchers.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Dutton, 2938) the second novel by the author of Looking for Alaska.
Part of Me by Kimberly Willis Holt (Holt, 2230), in which linked stories trace four generations of a family.
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (HarperCollins, 2538), a fairy tale loosely based on Snow White.
The Oak Inside the Acorn by Max Lucado (Tommy Nelson, 5739), about a little acorn that grows up to be a big oak tree.
Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica (Philomel, 2938), a holiday story with a basketball theme
The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo (Scholastic/Orchard, 5800), first in a trilogy.
Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson (Clarion, 2726), about a girl's experiences during the 1912 millworkers' strike.
Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce (Random House, 1824), the first in a new Tortall trilogy.
The Wish House by Celia Rees (Candlewick, 5715), in which a boy is intrigued by the family that has moved into a deserted house.

And don't miss these sequels:
Crispin: At the Edge of the World by Avi (Hyperion, 2831), the companion to Crispin: The Cross of Lead.
Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (Disney Editions, 2831), a sequel to Peter and the Starcatchers.
Ruler of the Realm by Herbie Brennan (Bloomsbury, 2221), the third novel in the series that began with Faerie Wars.
River Secrets by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury, 2221), featuring the characters from The Goose Girl.
Voices by Ursula K. Le Guin (Harcourt, 2528), the follow-up to her Gifts.
Dark Reflections: The Stone Light by Kai Meyer (S&S/McElderry, 2838), the follow-up to The Water Mirror.
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown/Tingley, 2812), the sequel to Twilight.
Maximum Ride #2: School's Out—Forever by James Patterson (Little, Brown, 2812), sequel to The Angel Experiment.

Some new takes on teen life:
A Girl Like Moi: The Fashion-Forward Adventures of Imogene by Lisa Barham (Simon Pulse, 2838), the start of a series about a teenage fashionista.
Powers by Deborah Lynn Jacobs (Roaring Brook/Brodie, 2230), a romance between two teens whose psychic powers are unlocked when they are together.
Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss (Roaring Brook/Brodie, 2230), about a teenager dealing with cancer.
Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer (Harcourt, 2528), about the boy who became the playwright and the farmer's daughter who became his wife.
Good Girls by Laura Ruby (HarperTempest, 2538), about a good girl who can sometimes be bad.
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick (Scholastic, 5800), about a boy who must do community service at a senior center.
Cathy's Book by Sean Stewart and Jordan Weisman (Running Press, 3429), an interactive fantasy.

And for those interested in reference:
Pick Me Up (DK, 2950) is a reference book that, according to the publisher, is organized like a miscellany, inspired by the Internet, styled like a video game and informed by pop culture.


Ahhhh, so much to look forward to!

Elsewhere - by Gabrielle Zevin

Wow! I haven’t read a book this imaginative and intriguing in a really long time. I struggle with summarizing books in my reviews for two reasons: 1. I want these to be reviews, not just summaries and 2. I hate spoiling surprises. I don’t even read the descriptions on the backs of books because I do not want to know what is going to happen. I like being surprised by a story, and this one definitely surprised me.

That said, without spoiling too much, the basic premise of this book is that a 15-year-old girl, Liz, dies and travels to Elsewhere, where the dead live and age backwards until they become babies and they are sent back to Earth. Now this does not agree with my vision of the afterlife at all, but maybe that’s partially why I find this book so intriguing; the book is so creative I don’t think it’s similar to the way anyone envisions the afterlife, and because it’s so visionary, conflicts come up that I have never imagined before so this book was incredibly thought provoking.

A lot of people would be happy with the prospect of growing young, but the news makes Liz angry and depressed. She knows she will never go to prom or go to college or travel the world, and the only connection she has with her old life is watching her family from the observation decks in Elsewhere. She feels her life in Elsewhere doesn’t matter because she knows the exact date it will end and she’ll be sent back to Earth to start over.

There are three tiny parts of this story that I could have done without. The first two are pretty similar, when Liz watches her parents on earth having sex and when Liz watches her best friend Zoey lose her virginity after Prom. The book only provides as much detail on those two events as I just provided you, but just the idea of Liz watching both of those things is creepy and gross and it really wasn’t necessary to advance the story. The third was also unnecessary, when Liz sees mermaids in the ocean. As bizarre as the plot of this whole novel may sound, it wasn’t until Liz saw mermaids that I found myself thinking, “That is so unrealistic!”

There’s a little bad language and a few trite moments, but overall I really enjoyed this book. Liz’s voice rings true as a teenager struggling to grow up. I promise the book is better than I make it sound!

Among the Free - by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The newest (and final) installation of The Shadow Children Series, Among the Free by Margaret Peterson Haddix, has been released. I was surprised to hear this would be the last in the series. I wondered how Haddix would finish up her complicated plot. The answer: almost as simply as possible (a little too simply if you ask me, but I still enjoyed the book).

The Shadow Children Series is set in a futuristic society where a law was passed to combat overpopulation by limiting every family to a maximum of two children. The series begins following Luke, a third child raised in hiding; a shadow child. Luke joins up with other third children in the battle against the corrupt population police for their freedom. The books in the series alternate between the perspectives of different third children working with Luke. Among the Free returns to Luke’s perspective for the dramatic conclusion.

I’m not sure this book would do well as a stand alone because depends too much on character development from previous books, but I was happy with it as the conclusion. The books continues in the series’ themes of hope, the consequences of mob mentality, and what freedom really is.

I’m anxious to see what Haddix writes next!

You can read an interview with Haddix about writing Among the Brave here.

Bella at Midnight - by Diane Stanley

I thoroughly enjoyed this fairy tale by Diane Stanley. Some might call it a Cinderella story; it does include glass slippers, a godmother (although she is not a fairy), a mean stepmother, and two stepsisters, but even with all of those elements it departs far from the European Cinderella tale I grew up with.

Bella is born to a knight. Her mother dies in childbirth so Bella is sent away to a wetnurse and virtually forgotten by her arrogant father. She grows up as a peasant befriended by Prince Julian who was nursed by the same woman. She didn't know that her peasant family is actually a foster-family until her father reclaims her at the age of thirteen. In truth, her father doesn't care about her, but after he remarrys, he begins to wonder if Bella looks like her mother so he sends for her. He feels no guilt about sending her away and not providing her with the upbringing a knight's daughter should have. Bella's stepmother and her daughters have already suffered great losses. They were forced into Bella's father's home after they lost everything and he was cruel. The stepmother finds Bella's presence the ultimate insult and does nothing to welcome her into the family. Bella is constantly criticized and left to sleep in the kitchen. When Bella hears the king is attempting to begin a war and Prince Julian's life is in danger, she sets out to do what she can to save him.

The prince does not fall in love with Bella at a ball, there is no pumpkin carriage, and Julian doesn't try a glass slipper on every maiden. I absolutely loved this story for its originality. The author included enough of a background story to help me understand why the stepmother was so mean and why Bella's godmother wasn't more involved in her life.

I was also particularly interested in the way this story dealt with the miraculous. In the beginning of the story, most of the wondrous things that happened are explained as magic, just as they are in most fairy tales. There's a magic emerald ring that can show you the person you most want to see, and Bella inherits and magic comforting touch. As the story proceeds, the bigger miracles at the end of the book aren't explained as magic, they are explained as works of God. I found this unusual for a fairy tale because everything could have easily been explained as magic. None of the other reviews that I've read have even mentioned the strong religious under tone of this book. Because God has to be left out of school, God is also being left out of most books so this book stood out to me for more than just its original plot.

I was enthralled from the beginning of this book and I think that you will be too.

Making changes

As you've probably noticed, I'm making some changes to the book club blog. There's a new banner with some of the books that we've read. Somehow as I was pulling them off of my shelves last night, I managed to get one in there that we didn't read. There's a prize for the first book club member to figure out which one I included by mistake (it's not a major prize so don't struggle too much with it). As you can tell I'm still trying to figure out some of the formatting so hopefully the site will look better soon.

I'm also adding links to the blogs of some of our book club members. I love reading these blogs, and I thought that you might enjoy them too. It's a good way to get to know some of the other book club members a little better. If you know of any blogs that I am missing, please let me know.

I haven't had any objections so I'm going to start posting reviews of other books that I read on this site along with all of our book club postings. I was going to write a new review today, but I ran out of time so check back later if you're interested.

Let me know if you have suggestions for any other changes that I should make.

Thanks!

Steph

Sisterhood

I will never look at the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants the same way again. If you are at all interested in the books you have to read this article that Fuse #8 pointed to. She is right, I will never trust Ann Brashares again!

June - Multicultural Literature

We'll be meeting at Anna's and here are her picks:

Day of Tears: a novel in dialogue by Julius Lester, which was this year’s Coretta Scott King award winner. It’s historical fiction centered around the largest sale of slaves in the US. It’s told through multiple views so you get some really interesting perspectives.

The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales
Sofia grows up in the close-knit community of the barrio in McAllen, Texas, then finds that her experiences as a scholarship student at an Episcopal boarding school in Austin only strengthen her ties to family and her "comadres."

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Gary Schmidt
In 1911, Turner Buckminster hates his new home of Phippsburg, Maine, but things improve when he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a girl from a poor, nearby island community founded by former slaves that the town fathers--and Turner's--want to change into a tourist spot.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.

Ellington Was Not a Street
Illustration by Kadir A. Nelson By Ntozake Shange

Child Lit Blogs

For those of you who asked, here are a couple of my favorite children's literature blogs:
Big A Little A
Book Moot
A Fuse #8 Production

They have links to many other children's lit blogs and links to some author sites too.

I also enjoy these author blogs:
Lois Lowry
Shannon Hale
Meg Cabot

Edward Tulane Reviews

I mentioned in our meeting that not everyone loves Edward and a few of you were interested in reading some of the negative reviews so here's one and here's another

May - A Book From Each Decade

Here are Krystal’s picks:

1950's- Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White

1960’s- The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

1970's- Are you There God? It's Me Margaret, by Judy Blume

1980's- Dicey's Song, by Cynthia Voigt

1990's- The Year of Impossible Good-byes, by Sook-Nyul Choi

If you have read any of these before or have time to read others, try Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor (1970's) or Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary (1980's). Also, please spend a little time thinking about books you loved when you were in elementary and junior high school. We'll talk a little bit about how the books we grew up compare with books being published today.

The Duckling Day Parade

If any of you are interested the Annual Duckling Day Parade at Whetstone Library is on April 15th.

This is sucha fun event. Where else can you see hundreds of little kids dressed up like ducklings reinacting Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings?

2006 Schedule

I’m so excited about our new topics! We still have two months without hosts. I am happy to host one of them, and I will take whatever topic and month are left over. The two topics left are poetry and Peter Pan prequels. If you are interested in either one please let me know. We’re always looking for volunteers for treats too!

Here’s what we will be reading for the rest of the year:

May
Topic: Books from Different Decades
Host: Krystal
Treats: Heather & Anna

June
Topic: Multicultural
Host: Anna
Treats: Jessica

July
Topic: Graphic Novels
Host: Emily
Treats: Rachel

August
Topic: Peter Pan Prequels
Host: Stephanie
Treats:

September
Topic: New Award Winners
Host: Heather
Treats:

October
Topic: Favorites
Host: Tara
Treats: Meg

November
Topic: Short Stories
Host: Jessica
Treats: Laura

December
Topic: Poetry
Host: Amy
Treats:

April - New Books by Authors that We Have Enjoyed

Here are Kelly’s picks:

Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn Dixie)
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale (Sequel to Goose Girl)
Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke (The Thief Lord, Inkheart) – This one’s a picture book
The People of Sparks By Jeanne Duprau (Sequel to The City of Ember)

There are a lot of other new books by authors that we’ve already read so if you finish Kelly’s choices, you can pickup some of these:

Small Steps By Louis Sachar (Loosely related to Holes)
Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Shadow Children Series)
Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff (Loosely relates to Lily’s Crossing)
Replay by Sharon Creech
Fairydust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine
Wright 3 by Blue Balliett (Sequel to Chasing Vermeer)
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park

Also keep an eye out for Lois Lowry’s Gossamer (April 24th) and Jeanne Duprau also has a prequel to The City of Ember coming out called the Prophet or Yonwood (May 9th). I really wish these two were coming out earlier, because I can’t wait to read them.

New Topic Ideas

Here’s what we have so far for potential topic ideas. If you come up with any new ideas please post them as a comment to this post. I would like to plan through the end of the year so you will be able to vote for more topics than you usually can. If you really like any of these ideas, please come next month ready to rally for it. You might even want to come with some examples of books that you could use for that topic to get other book club members excited about your topic idea.

• Graphic novels (novels that are written kind of like comic books)
• New award winners
• Children’s poetry (we could have our own poetry reading)
• Illustrator study of three illustrators
• Caldecott award winners
• Mysteries
• Historical Fiction
• Books from different decades
• Multicultural books
• Coretta Scott King award for African American literature
• Pura Belpre award for Latino literature
• Robert McCloskey author/illustrator study
• Mormon author study
• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Roald Dahl author study
• Westerns
• Nonfiction
• Short stories
• Favorites (everyone brings one of their favorite books in one month and we select some to read the next month)
• Biographies

March - Historical Fiction

We will be meeting on THURSDAY, MARCH 2nd at Laura's for our March meeting. We're focusing on the American Revolution. Here are Laura's picks:

Katies Trunk by Ann Turner (picture book)

Katie, whose family is not sympathetic to the rebel soldiers during the American Revolution, hides under the clothes in her mother's wedding trunk when they invade her home.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (256 pgs - 1944 newbery winner)

A story filled with danger and excitement, Johnny Tremain tells of the turbulent, passionate times in Boston just before the Revolutionary War.
Johnny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in a dramatic involvement with Otis, Hancock, and John and Samuel Adams in the exciting currents and undercurrents that were to lead to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington--and finally, a touching resolution of Johnny's personal life.

The Fighting Ground by Avi (152 pgs - easy read)

He may be just thirteen, but Jonathan knows he's ready to go to the war against the British. He can handle a gun. He yearns to battle for glory, just like his brother and cousin.
So when Jonathan hears the tavern bell toll, calling men to fight, he runs to join them. He doesn't realize that in just twenty-four hours, his life will be forever altered -- by the war, by his fellow soldiers, and by the terrible choices he must make.

Recipe - Stephanie's Cheesy Bacon Pinwheels

Cheesy Bacon Pinwheels

1 (8-oz) cream cheese
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup chopped cooked bacon
2 Tablespoon finely chopped green onion
1 package Pillsbury crescent rolls
¼ cup of grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine all ingredients except crescent rolls. Separate crescent rolls into four rectangles. Spread cream cheese mixture on each. Roll up like cinnamon rolls. Cut up into 16 pieces and place on cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown

Shannon Hale's Reaction to her Newbery Honor

I know Shannon Hale is a favorite in our book club so I thought that you might enjoy reading this. This is taken directly from Shannon Hale's blog at http://oinks.squeetus.com

A phone call at five a.m.
Holy cow. Holy holy cow. If there ever was a holy cow, I’m invoking said cow now.
So, at 5-something this morning, the phone rings. I was aware that today was the ALA (American Library Association) Mid-Winter meeting, where they announce the book awards. I knew my agent had left on Friday to go attend. So, phone call at 5 am, and I’m thinking, this is the meanest prank call in the world.
Me: Hello?
My editor: Shannon, can you believe it?
Me: Uh, uh… (finding myself in very vulnerable condition of believing something I haven’t heard yet and is likely impossible)
My editor: (her voice is full of smiling and she asks again, most likely unaware she’s the first to call) Can you believe it?!
Me: Uh, uh…(afraid to say it) did princess academy get a Newbery Honor?
My editor: Yes!
I began to shake. My hands and legs were shivering in a way they’ve never done before. I can’t recall anything else I said until my other line beeped. I hung up with my editor (bless her) and answered the other line.
Me: He…hello?
Barbara (I hope I’m getting her name right, I was shaking pretty hard by now and couldn’t hold the phone straight on my head): Is this Shannon Hale?
Me: Yes? (at this point, I was unsure myself)
Barbara: This is Barbara (last name? again, recall the shaking) and the entire Newbery Committee.
Me: (I’m not sure I said words at this point, perhaps some sort of primitive grunt)
Barbara: (I’m paraphrasing, I’m sure she was much more eloquent) We are calling to inform you that princess academy has been selected as a Newbery Honor Book.
Me: Oh! Thank you so much. Uh…grunt, grunt…
Barbara: Are you crying?
Me: Uh, ya, um, I have to admit I’m crying. (I was pretty slobbery, and still with the shaking.)
I could hear now that I was on speaker phone, and the entire Newbery committee really was all there, listening, and they laughed at me, which I was so grateful for.
Barbara: We’re all looking forward to meeting you this summer at the annual meeting.
Me: Oh, do I get to go?
Again, more laughter.
Me: Thank you, I just want to thank you so much.
Barbara: No, we want to thank you for such a wonderful book.
Then they applauded. They clapped for me on the phone, on speaker phone, as I sat in bed in my flannel pajamas at 5-something in the morning. That was perhaps one of the most magical and strange and ethereal moments of my life. Not as glorious and transcendental as when Max was born, but something akin to it. After the call ended, I lay down in bed, hugged my husband, and sobbed. For like ten minutes. And then I felt like I needed to throw up so I went to the bathroom and dry heaved for a while, then I returned to bed and lay there with Dean until I stopped shaking and could stop saying, “I can’t believe it…” Now we could talk about it at last. Now we could laugh.
Me: I just want to assure you, now that I’m famous and adored, I’m not going to leave you.
Strangely, that idea never seemed to have crossed his mind.
And, later,
Me: Honey, this is crazy.
Dean: Well, you’re crazy, so it fits.
Of course, we couldn’t go back to sleep. We tried for about 10 minutes until it became ridiculous. I got up, checked my email (none), to watch the webcast on ala.org, just to make sure. I was nervous as I watched, half-anticipating that they wouldn’t really give princess academy a Newbery Honor. Then when they actually really did announce princess academy, they cheered for me! As if they’d heard of my book before or of me or something. It’s so weird. I’m just some schmo.
Deb called, my friend and publicity director at Bloomsbury, and we laughed and shook together, and she told me people would be calling me (they haven’t yet. Who will they be? And how will they get my number?).
Deb: Purely from a design standpoint, the silver sticker will look better on the princess academy cover than the gold would have.
Me: Oh, I’m so glad it’s an honor and not the medal. I’m not ready for that kind of pressure.
I need to call my family and friends, as soon as it’s not too early. And I’ll spend the day with Max, of course, reading and eating oatmeal and applesauce and running around the stool. I’m going to go rewrite a scene from rapunzel’s revenge before he wakes up. Keeping my head in the game, that’s what I’m going to do.

This Year's Awards

American Library Association announces literary award winners

(SAN ANTONIO) The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books and video for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio.

A list of all the 2006 literary award winners follows:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature

“Criss Cross,” written by Lynne Rae Perkins, is the 2006 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Whittington” by Alan Armstrong, illustrated by S.D. Schindler and published by Random House; “Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow” by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and published by Scholastic Nonfiction, an imprint of Scholastic; “Princess Academy” by Shannon Hale, published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books; and “Show Way” by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Hudson Talbott and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children

“The Hello, Goodbye Window,” illustrated by Chris Raschka, is the 2006 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Norton Juster and published by Michael di Capua Books, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children.

Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Rosa,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Nikki Giovanni and published by Henry Holt and Company; “Zen Shorts,” written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth and published by Scholastic Press; “Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride,” written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, An Anne Schwartz Book from Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster; “Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems,” illustrated by Beckie Prange, written by Joyce Sidman and published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

“Looking for Alaska,” written by John Green, is the 2006 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Dutton Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.

Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Black Juice” by Margo Lanagan, published by EOS, an imprint of HarperCollins; “I Am the Messenger” by Markus Zusak, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books; “John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth, a Photographic Biography” by Elizabeth Partridge, published by Viking, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.; and “A Wreath for Emmett Till,” written by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Philippe Lardy and published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults

“Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue,” written by Julius Lester, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children.

Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl” by Tonya Bolden, published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers; “Dark Sons” by Nikki Grimes, published by Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children; and “A Wreath for Emmett Till,” written by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Philippe Lardy and published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award

“Rosa,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Nikki Giovanni and published by Henry Holt and Company.

One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected: “Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan” by R. Gregory Christie, published by Lee and Low Books.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

“Jimi & Me,” written by Jaime Adoff, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Hyperion Books for Children.

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

“Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart,” illustrated by Raul Colón, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Pat Mora and published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House.

Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books for illustration were selected: “Arrorró, Mi Niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games,” selected and illustrated by Lulu Delacre and published by Lee & Low Books, Inc.; “César: ¡Sí, Se Puede!Yes, We Can!” illustrated by David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and published by Marshall Cavendish; and “My Name Is Celia/Me Llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/La Vida de Celia Cruz,” illustrated by Rafael López, written by Monica Brown and published by Luna Rising, a bilingual imprint of Rising Moon.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award

“The Tequila Worm,” written by Viola Canales, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Wendy Lamb Books, a division of Random House.

Three Belpré Author Honor Books were named: “César:¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!,” by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, “Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart” by Pat Mora, and “Becoming Naomi León” by Pam Muñoz Ryan and published by Scholastic Press.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience

“Dad, Jackie, and Me” written by Myron Uhlberg, illustrated by Colin Bootman and published by Peachtree Press, wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.

Kimberly Newton Fusco is the winner of the middle-school (ages 11-13) award for “Tending to Grace,” published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Under the Wolf, Under the Dog,” written by Adam Rapp and published by Candlewick Press.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book

“Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas,” written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Suçie Stevenson is the Seuss Award winner. The book is published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Four Geisel Honor Books were named: “Hi! Fly Guy” by Tedd Arnold and published by Cartwheel Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; “A Splendid Friend, Indeed” by Suzanne Bloom and published by Boyds Mills Press; “Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa” by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Betsy Lewin and published by Harcourt, Inc.; and “Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day” by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by Ann Schweninger and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2006 Edwards Award winner. Her books include: “I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This,” and its sequel, “Lena;” “From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun,” “If You Come Softly” and “Miracle’s Boys.”

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children

“Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley,” written by Sally M. Walker, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Carolrhoda Books, Inc., a division of Lerner Publishing Group.

One Sibert Honor Book was named: “Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow,” written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and published by Scholastic Nonfiction, an imprint of Scholastic.

Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video

Michael Sporn, of Michael Sporn Animation, Inc., and Paul Gagne and Melissa Reilly, of Weston Woods Studios, producers of “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers,” are the Carnegie Medal winners. The video is based on the book by Mordicai Gerstein and is narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, with music by Michael Bacon.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States

Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., is the Batchelder Award winner for “An Innocent Soldier.” Originally published in German in 2002 as “Der Russländer,” the book was written by Josef Holub and translated by Michael Hofmann.

Two Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Nicholas,” published by Phaidon Press Limited and “When I Was a Soldier,” published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

“Midnight at the Dragon Café,” written by Judy Fong Bates and published by Counterpoint.
“Upstate,” written by Kalisha Buckhanon and published by St Martins
“Anansi Boys,” written by Neil Gaiman and published by William Morrow & Company
“As Simple as Snow,” written by Gregory Gallaway and published by Putnam
“Never Let Me Go,” written by Kazuo Ishiguro and published by Alfred A. Knopf
“Gil’s All Fright Diner,” written by A. Lee Martinez, published by Tor
“The Necessary Beggar,” written by Susan Palwick and published by Tor
“My Jim,” written by Nancy Rawles and published by Crown
“Jesus Land: A Memoir,” written by Julia Scheeres, and published by Counterpoint
“The Glass Castle: A Memoir,” written by Jeannette Walls and published by Scribner

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site

Kevin Henkes will deliver the 2007 lecture. Henkes has published seven novels and more than 20 picture books, as well as a number of board books for young children.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit the ALA Web site at www.ala.org.

science fiction for girls

I thought that some of you might be interested in this article after our discussion at our last meeting.

Teen Angels A bestselling novelist on why boys aren’t the only ones who like sci-fi
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Nicole Joseph
Newsweek
Updated: 6:28 p.m. ET Jan. 12, 2006

Jan. 13, 2006 - Author Libba Bray has many mysteries in her life (“Why doesn’t George Clooney call me? Why do I always get mistaken for Catherine Zeta Jones?”). But there are no questions about the fact that her newest novel, “Rebel Angels” (Delacorte, 2005) is a hit in the world of young-adult fiction. Angels is the much-anticipated sequel to Bray’s 2003 bestseller, “A Great and Terrible Beauty.” The books, set in 19th century England, are an unusual mix of sci-fi, fantasy and unalloyed romance. They have a large and devoted following of teen girls who identify with the heroine Gemma Doyle—a sardonic, redheaded boarding school student. Gemma and her posse of friends battle otherworldly villains and adolescent angst in a mystical world called “The Realms.” Think “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” but in corsets and with a heady infusion of historical detail.
Texas-raised Bray spent the fall on a book tour of girls’ schools, where she ran writing workshops for aspiring teen writers. Now there’s talk of turning her series into a movie, but Bray says she’s doesn’t have time to indulge in success just yet. She is back on deadline and already at work on the third and final novel in the trilogy, which will be released in the fall of 2007.

Before she settled too deeply into her own magical writing realm, NEWSWEEK’s Nicole Joseph spoke with the (terribly funny) author about learning to write and why teen girls like sci-fi lit too. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: It seems like people sometimes associate sci-fi and fantasy with boys more than girls. Do you think that’s true? Libba Bray: I do think that there has been a perception of that being the domain of boys, but I think that a lot of writers are starting to challenge that now. I didn’t necessarily set out to challenge it—I simply wrote about the things that I wanted to write about and that I love. When I was an adolescent, the girls that I hung with were somewhat feral and unsupervised… and probably behaved a lot like boys did. We wanted to start a band. You’re always writing with you own perspective, I suppose, and I was interested in sci-fi and fantasy and Victorian England. [So while] I do think [sci-fi] has been more the playground of boys, I think that it’s great that it’s being challenged and we’re saying: “Hey, you know, girls like this stuff, too.”

February - Children's Classics

Emily is hosting February and here are her picks!

This month I have chosen to only read two books because of the length. I want everyone to come prepared with what they think makes a classic book. There are several different opinions.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: “Triumph and tragedy, romance and comedy are artfully blended in an enduring domestic drama.”

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: “Lone survivor of a shipwreck succeeds in creating a personal kingdom on a deserted island with help from the owner of a mysterious footprint.”

Other Classical Books to consider:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson
Peter Pan by James M. Barrie
Twelve Tales: Hans Christian Anderson
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Chronicles of Narnia
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
The Call of the Wild
Red Badge of Courage

Websites with more classic

Kidsreads.com
Americanliterature.com

January - Science Fiction

Krystal is hosting January's meeting and here's what she picked:

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is the book we will spend the majority of the time discussing. Because it is a little longer than some of the books we have read in the past, it is also the only book I encourage everyone to read.

Some questions/ideas to guide your reading.

1. Why does Ender hate himself?


2. How are the characters in the novel like real people? How are they unique? What does this say about the way people should be?


3. What is Orson Scott Card’s view of violence?


4. In the ongoing fight of good vs. evil, how do we ensure that we are good?


5. What kinds of games are prevalent in the novel and what does the term “Game” come to mean?


6. The computer game Ender plays throughout the novel, and the connection the buggers have with the game


7. Ender’s struggle with isolation and friendship


8. What does it mean to be Speaker for the Dead?


Also, come prepared to discuss Science Fiction as a genre, and choose any (or all) of the following books, or any others you are interested in.

Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card. A companion book to Ender’s Game, written from the perspective of Bean. This book will also be included in the upcoming movie of Ender’s Game.

The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen, author of Hatchet, Brian’s Winter, The Winter Room and Dogsong. When someone uses futuristic technology to play pranks on twelve-year-old Dorso Clayman, he and his best friend set off on a supposedly impossible journey through space and time trying to stop the gamesters who are endangering the universe. (87 pages)

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer, author of the New York Times best-selling Artemis Fowl series. In the future, in a place called Satellite City, the Supernaturalists patrol the city at night, hunting the Parasites in hopes of saving what is left of humanity. But soon they find themselves caught in a web far more complicated than they’d imagined. (267 pages)

Taylor Five by Ann Halam. Fourteen-year-old Taylor is still dealing with the fact that she is a clone produced by the same company that funds the Orangutan Reserve which is her home on the island of Borneo, when the Reserve is attacked and she flees with her younger brother and Uncle, the Reserve’s mascot. (197 pages)

Mr. Was by Paul Hautman. When John Lunt travels to Memory, Minnesota to visit his sick grandfather, what he finds is a door that leads to the past, where his foreknowledge of the atom bomb does not keep him from fighting in WWII. Disclaimer-This book has an intense scene of domestic violence, so beware if you choose to read it. (255 pages)

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Originally published in 1953, this novel is set in the future when “firemen” burn books forbidden by a totalitarian “brave new world” regime. The hero, according to Mr. Bradbury, is “a book burner who suddenly discovers that books are flesh-and-blood ideas and cry out silently when put to the torch.” (190 pages)

Recipe - Jeaneane's Pumpkin Cake

Here is the recipe...
For the "crust"
1 yellow cake mix (minus 1 cup--for later)
1 egg
1 stick (1/2 cup) melted margarine/butter
Mix and place in 9x13

Then mix together--
2 cups pumpkin (I usually just use one small can which is 15oz.--close enough!!)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teas. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teas salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup evap milk
1 teas. vanilla
Pour this over the "crust"

Then "cut" and crumble over top--
1 cup cake mix
1 teas. cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold margarine/butter

Bake 45-50 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Jack Gantos

I love this quote from a talk by Jack Gantos about people who don't read, and I thought some of you might enjoy it too.

“Some people simply refuse to dance with a book—won’t allow themselves to become ‘transformed’ by the literature, made to become the ‘other partner’ of the literature. They resist being the characters, seeing the setting, discovering the themes, anguishing over the actions. In a small way they don’t even feel a bit of joy when little Corduroy gets his button (or pocket), or when Sylvester comes back alive from being a pebble, or when Harry the Dirty Dog takes a bath and is discovered to be his old self, or when The Little Engine That Could, can, or when Eloise runs though the halls of the Plaza scraping a stick along the walls and doors and making a great ruckus. No, some people resist the happy feel of a book, the charm of a book. They fight it. Not Reading is a statement that hollers out to the world: ‘I will remain the same. Don’t give me the stick with rock; I just want the rock!’ Or maybe they want even less, they just want to beat their head against a great big rock . . .People who refuse to read conquer a book by not reading it. As we all know, being ignored is the worst snub. A book is sucked dry of its rhythm and blues, its hokey-pokey, its two-handed waltz when the owner shoves it onto the shelf.

December - Mormon Authors

I am hosting December's book club meeting. We had to change the date because the University Ward's enrichment will be on Tuesday, December 6th so we will be meeting on Wednesday, December 7th at the normal time. At our December meeting we will be having a book exchange so if you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped children's or young adult book.

These are the books I picked for December:

Goose Girl - by Shannon Hale
Wishing Moon - by Michael Tunnell
Mississippi Trial, 1955 - by Chris Crowe (This is based on the Emmett Till case so be warned that it does have some disturbing images)
The Shakeress - by Kimberly Heuston

Enjoy reading!

Fall Book Review

Cover to Cover always has a great fall book review. The people there really know what they are talking about, and I never miss this event. Here's what they said in their mailer:

Our annual book review evenings will be held Tuesday, Novemebr 15th and Thursday, November 17th from 6:00 until 8:00. Cover to Cover staff will share the best of the Fall, 2005 publications for pre-school age youngsters through young adults. Parents are teachers are welcomed, and gift bags of book related items will be given to all in attendance. Light refreshments will be available.

Cover to Cover is also celebrating their 25th birthday with a 20% discount from November 7th - November 12th (And they usually offer this discount after the book talk for any new books you heard about and want to buy)

Recipe - Krystal's Reese's Peanut Butter Pie

We've had some great treats at our meetings, and we'd love to have your recipes. If you send them to me (Steph), I will post them on our web site. Here's one from Krystal:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie (makes 2 pies)

Crust:
1 bag oreos with cream scooped out, blended (generic work fine)
Put crumbs in bottom of two pie pans (approximately 1 cup each)
Melt 5-6 TB butter and pour over crumbs (just moist enough to mush)

Filling:
8 oz pkg cream cheese
½ cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Stir together, and then add 12 oz Cool Whip

Divide in two, pour into two crusts. Let set up for a little while in fridge so fudge spreads easier.

Layer hot fudge on top (1 can sweetened condensed milk and ½ pkg chocolate chips makes a good hot fudge) of each pie. Top off with 12 oz Cool Whip.

November - Mysteries

We'll be meeting at Katherine Richardson's to talk about mysteries.

Please read the following books:

The Westing Game – By Ellen Raskin
One fateful day, sixteen people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. To their surprise, the will turns out to be a contest, challenging the heirs to find out who among them is Westing's murderer. Forging ahead, through blizzards, burglaries, and bombings, the game is on. Only two people hold all the clues. One of them is a Westing heir. The other is you!

Bernie Magruder and the Bats in the Belfry – by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A rare breed of bats invades Middleburg, Ind. (or have they?), that horrible hymn still rings from the belfry (but why?), and Bernie and his friends are determined to figure out why the town's gone batty in Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Bernie Magruder & the Bats in the Belfry

Assassin: The Lady Grace Mysteries – by Patricia Finney
It's the spring of 1569 and 13-year-old Lady Grace, the youngest lady-in-waiting to the Queen, finds herself at a glittering ball choosing amongst three suitors. But the Queen's generosity turns deadly as threats, dark secrets, and even murder descend on the Tudor court. And it is up to Grace to use her intelligence, stealth, and curious nature to solve the mystery that threatens the very lifeblood of England.

Flush – By Carl Hiaasen
On Father's Day, Noah visits his dad at the local jail. Dad is a feisty environmentalist with a short fuse. Convinced that the Coral Queen was dumping raw sewage into the harbor, he decided to take matters in his own hands. He sank the floating casino (at least temporarily), but ended up in the hoosegow. Noah knows that his dad was right about the sewage, even if his corrective method was a little over the top. To clean the slate and the harbor, he drafts a motley crew of friends to get the goods on the illegal dumpers.


For the fifth book choose what you want to read! Choose another mystery to read and then share it with the group. Here are a few titles to consider, but feel free to pick whatever you want, even a grownup mystery, and bring it to share with the rest of the group! (We haven’t read all of these books, they were recommended by different librarians, so please read at your own risk)

Ruby in the Smoke – Philip Pullman
A Book Without Words – Avi
Bird – Angela Johnson
Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery – John Feinstein
Shakespeare’s Secret - Elise Broach
Crooked River - Shelley Pearsall
And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie
Ravine – Janet Hickman
Wolf Rider: A tAle of Terror – Avi
The Dark Stairs – Betsy Byars
Falcon's Malteser, The: a Diamond Brothers Mystery – Anthony Horowitz
Acceleration – Graham McNamee
Whispers from the Dead – Joan Lowery Nixon
The House of Dies Drear – Virginia Hamilton

October - Banned Books

Tara MacArthur will be hosting October’s bookclub and the topic is banned books.
Here are Tara’s picks:

Julie of the Wolves – by Jean Craighead George
A Wrinkle in Time – by Madeline L’Engle
How to Eat Fried Worms – by Thomas Rockwell
Bridge to Terebithia – by Katherine Paterson
The Story of Little Black Sambo – by Helen Bannerman

If you haven’t read The Giver by Lois Lowry, please try to read that too because we’ll be including it in our discussion

The Quills Award

The Quills Awards are a new national book award that honors excellence in writing and publishing, including consumers in the voting process. Designed to inspire reading while promoting literacy, the Quills will honor winners in more than 15 different categories,
including Book of the Year, Debut Author Of The Year, and Lifetime Achievement.

They have a children's picture book category, a children's chapter book catergory and a teen category. I believe that we read books from these categories this year and it is a award based on people's choice, so you can go to the website - www.quillsvote.com and vote! The awards will be on tv on October 22nd (maybe on NBC??) I thought it would be cool to watch authors win these awards like the Emmy's or something.

PS - Thanks Cassie for letting us know about this!

Upcoming Months

The votes are in and here are the final results:

October - Banned books hosted by Tara McArthur
November - Mysteries hosted by Katherine
December - Books by Mormon authors hosted by Steph
January - Science fiction hosted by Krystal
February - Classics hosted by Emily
March - Historical Fiction hosted by Laura
April - Sequels hosted by Kelly

September - Batchelder Award

Kim Roberts is hosting September's meeting.

Here are the books we will be reading:
Run,Boy Run by Uri Orlev
The Island on Bird Street by Uri Orlev
Secret Letters from 0 to 10 by Susie Morngenstern
The Book of Coupons by Susie Morgenstern

As you can see we are just going to be focusing on two authors. All these books are of course winners of the Batchelder Award since that is what our topic is for this month.

Long Shot Wins the Carnegie Medal

This article is from School Library Journal (The Carnegie medal is Britain's equivalent of the Newbery Award)

First-time novelist Frank Cottrell Boyce has won Britain's prestigious Carnegie Medal for Millions, a powerful tale about two young brothers who are faced with an ethical dilemma after finding a sack of money.

Boyce's debut novel beat off strong competition from books by former winners Philip Pullman (The Scarecrow and His Servant) and Sharon Creech (Heartbeat), and well-established writers Eva Ibbotson (The Star of Kazan) and Anne Cassidy (Looking for JJ). Gennifer Choldenko, the author of the 2005 Newbery Honor Book Al Capone Does My Shirts, was also in the running. The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, for an outstanding book for children and young people. CLIP is the largest, most comprehensive membership body for library and information professionals in the UK.

"The quality of children's writing currently available, as demonstrated by this year's shortlist, made choosing a winner a seemingly impossible task, says Sharon Sperling, chair of the judges. However, the panel was unanimous in their choice of Millions as the 2004 CILIP Carnegie Medal winner.

Frank Cottrell Boyce is an established film and television scriptwriter with numerous British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominated films to his credit, including the film Millions. He has always wanted to write a children's novel. Having initially conceived the story as a film script, it was while working with the film's director, Danny Boyle that Boyce realized he already had the story he had been searching for.

Millions tells the story of two young brothers who discover a sack full of cash. There's only one problem, sterling is about to go out of circulation to be replaced by the Euro. How can they spend the money before the deadline?

Boyce is donating a percentage of the royalties from the book to the charity Wateraid, which is dedicated to providing safe drinking water to poor people worldwide.

The Carnegie Medal is now almost 70 years old. Its first winner was Arthur Ransome in 1936, and since then it has been awarded to many of the great names of children's literature, including C. S. Lewis, Eleanor Farjeon, Anne Fine, and Philip Pullman.

Potential Topic Ideas

Here's the list that we've come up with so far. Feel free to add new ideas by posting them in a reply. Everyone will have three votes so start thinking about your choices. If you can't be at the August meeting, but you would still like to vote, please email me with your three choices, and I will be sure to include them in the vote.

• Cynthia Voigt author study
• Orson Scott Card author study
• Fantasy
• Science fiction
• Poetry
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Picture books
• Chris Van Allsburg illustrator study
• Jon Scieszka author study
• Historical fiction (we need to select a specific time period)
• Value books
• Books by Mormon Authors
• Shannon Hale author study
• Books for boys
• Banned/controversial books
• Printz Award winners
• Other Newbery Award winners
• Teen Fiction
• Biography
• Mysteries
• Classics
• Kids' choice/Buckeye Book Award
• Margaret Peterson Haddix author study
• Follow-up book month (sequels to books we've read or new books by authors we've read)

August - Humorous Books

Jessica Anderson is our host for August and she has selected some quick reads perfect for some summer fun!

The Pepins and Their Problems, by Polly Horvath
The reader is invited to help solve the Pepin family's unusual problems, which include having a cow who creates lemonade rather than milk and having to cope with a competitive neighbor. (174 pages)

A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck
In 1937, during the Depression, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice, initially apprehensive about leaving Chicago to spend a year with her fearsome, larger-than-life grandmother in rural Illinois, gradually begins to better understand and admire her grandmother's unusual qualities. (129 pages)

Summer Reading is Killing Me, by Jon Scieszka
At the beginning of summer vacation Joe, Sam, and Fred find themselves trapped inside their summer reading list, involved in a battle between good and evil characters from well-known children's books. (90 pages)

The Twits, by Roald Dahl
Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything except playing mean jokes on each other, putting innocent birds in pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads. Now the Muggle-Wumps want revenge! (76 pages)

BRAINSTORM!!!!

Yes, it's already time to brainstorm new topic ideas! Is there something you read and would love to discuss with the group or something that you've been wanting to read, but you've been too busy with our monthly selections? Well, now's your chance! Please come full of new topic ideas and be ready to talk them up or post your ideas here as a reply to this post.

My first idea is a poetry month. We could select a few of the newer poetry books that you might not be familiar with and everyone could browse the poetry section at the library and come with their favorite poem to share or we could have a short poetry writing workshop and poetry slam.

What are your ideas?

July - Informational Books

We're trying something new for the month of July. We're taking a look at informational picture books. Please read as many recommended books as you can to be discussed as a group (All are very short). Then choose a topic you would like to learn about and select informational books on the topic to share with us at book club. If you would like to find excellent books look at the Sibert Medal books for the past few years or The Beehive Awards. Here are some helpful websites to informational books:
http://www.clau.org/awpast/infopast.html
http://www.15degreelab.com/award.html
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/horn.html

Recommended:

• If the World Were a Village by Shelagh Armstrong
  This unusual picture book shrinks the world's population down to a village of 100 to help children better understand who we are, where we live, how fast we are growing and more.
  
• Hidden Worlds: Looking through a Scientist’s Microscope by Stephen Kramer
  Hidden Worlds takes you behind the scenes of a scientists work and explains how he captures his remarkable images of microscopic life and objects.
  
• Sadako by Eleanor Coerr
  Winner of the Beehive Award 1995
  The story of 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki's brave struggle against leukemia
  
• Food Rules! The stuff you munch, it’s Crunch, it’s Punch, and why you sometimes lose your Lunch by Bill Haduch
  Runner up of the Beehive Award 2003
  comprehensive book on food and nutrition – created for kids
  
• I Face the Wind by Vicki Cobb
  2004 Sibert Honor Book
  Renowned science author Vicki Cobb makes scientific principles easy for even the youngest kids to understand.

Laura did a great job selecting books, and I'm looking forward to seeing what topics each of you choose! Happy reading!