I'd Rather Be Reading

LEGO Club

2012-02-23T09:28:00.002-08:00

The boys in the 3rd-5th grade LEGO Club have taken to building together. I am a fan! This week they constructed a fortress tower, complete with a dungeon, an airship, and a whole bunch of LEGO warriors to defend it. I certainly wouldn't want to attack them.

Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes

2012-02-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

For twelve years, Joylin's life was just fine, thank you very much. A rough game of basketball with the guys was all it took to put a smile on her dirt-smudged face.

But then, overnight, her body starts changing without her permission. Suddenly boys are all she can think about. Where did these crazy ideas, like trying on dresses and batting her eyes, come from? Any why can't she stop thinking about Santiago? Does he even know she exists? Any day now, Joylin might become someone she doesn't even know...or like.

Then an accident takes more than just her breath away, and all the weirdness of life screams to a halt, as Joylin is reminded of what really matters and who her true friends are.

Looking for love can be funny, embarrassing, and even downright yucky, and award-winning author Nikki Grimes captures it all brilliantly.

Review

Oh man. It was painful to relive adolesence through Joylin, and by painful, I mean hilarious and embarrassing. I remember that confusion of "why am I doing this!?" and scoping out other girls to see what I should be like. Grimes manages to deal with that huge teenage identity crisis in a concise novel in verse, and for that I am super impressed.

I absolutely adored Joylin's best friend KeeLee. She is a precher's kid who gets it. She knows she isn't perfect, and she wants to be seen as a person and not a label. But she does rebel and try to be bad--she genuinely wants to talk to God and do right. She is Joylin's beacon of hope, and their relationships strains were painful to watch because...KeeLee! She should be in everyone's life! I especially liked when she explains to Joylin that she tried wearing heels for herself, but Joylin was trying skirts for a boy. And that makes all the difference.

Ironically, the biggest plot twist, with the accident that is mentioned at the very beginning, did nothing for me. I don't even think it is really necessary. Should have done without.

Ooo, but also I liked Joylin's family. Caden seems like a really cool kid, and I would love for him to be my younger brother. The pressures of their father felt real, but so did his slow appreciation of his kids for who they are.

Four out of five navy blue outfits.

Release Date: September 2011
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently a part of our collection.

Prime Baby by Gene Luen Yang

2012-02-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Thaddeus doesn’t like his new sister (she’s not that smart— and she gets all the attention). He likes her even less when he discovers that she’s an inter-dimensional conduit for peace-loving aliens (who are totally lame—all they want to do is knit socks for the homeless and have sing-a-longs!). But what’s even worse is that no one will believe him about any of this! How is he ever going manage to grow up to become the President of Earth?

Review

This was my least favorite of Yang's books. There were some cute moments, but overall, it didn't leave me feeling like I'd learned anything about life the way his works usually do.

Things I liked: the aliens! They are adorable, and I am totally in favor of their planetary takeover. The scene where they are mad at Thaddeus for tricking them, then immediately assure him that they forgive him was brilliant. And I liked the fact that his sister really WAS an alien conduit. That was the exact opposite of what I expected. And Thaddeus's decision at the end was pretty touching.

However. Thaddeus himself was my biggest dislike. He is arrogant and dismissive of others. And even though he learns to love his little sister....he still remains arrogant and dismissive. There wasn't a whole lot of character development.

Three out of five space pods.

Release Date: April 2010
Reading Level: Grade 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently a part of our collection.

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

2012-02-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Jason Blake is an autistic twelve-year-old boy in a neurotypical world. Most days, it's just a matter of time before something goes wrong. But Jason finds a glimmer of understanding when he comes across PhoenixBird, who posts stories to the same online site as he does. Jason can be himself when he writes, and he thinks that PhoenixBird--her name is Rebecca--could be his first real friend. As desperate as Jason is to meet her, he's terrified that if they do meet, Rebecca will only see his autism and not who Jason really is. By acclaimed writer Nora Raleigh Baskin, this breathtaking depiction of an autistic boy's struggles--and a story for anyone who has ever worried about fitting in.

Review

I really appreciate stories that get inside the heads of non-neurotypical people (see also, Marcelo in the Real World). But I also wonder, how do the authors get this information? A lot of her descriptions, of Jason feeling like his head is floating, and especially of his painfully logical interactions with others, feel very true. But every once in a while Jason says he doesn't remember how he got to such a place or how something bad happened. Maybe that is how autism works, but it seemed out of place when normally he over-processes every stimuli.

Okay, that was a whole lot of nitpicking. Basically, this book is very good. It's heartbreaking to see Jason lovingly describe his family members and show his love to them, but then watch his mother misinterpret what he is doing as disinterest. His relationship online with Rebecca was agonizing, because just like Jason, the reader anticipates/dreads their inevitable meeting. I was very pleased with what resulted, though. Not too schmaltzy, not too pessimistic.

In the end, Jason realizes that he is fine the way he is. He will always have to work harder at fitting in than neurotypicals. But he accepts that and chooses to go on.

Also, he is a fabulous writer. I kind of want Bennu's story to be a real book! The part after the surgery when he is different but his face is the same!? Oh my word, the emotion. C'mon Baskin, write that story!

Four out of five Storyboard Conventions.

Release Date: March 2010
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman

2012-02-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The race is on to find 39 Clues that safeguard a great power, and fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, are shocked to find themselves in the lead. The search seems to be taking them to Vienna, and they hold a coded piece of Mozart's sheet music that's key to finding the next Clue. But tailed by a pack of power-hungry relatives, Amy and Dan can't see if they are sailing toward victory--or straight into a deadly trap.

Review

My love for this series increased exponentially during the second installment. I think the reason is--they left the United States! The 39 Clues series has now turned into a travel and history adventure, which is basically my favorite thing ever.

I still find it unbelievable that two kids are winning against genius evil relatives, but it no longer bothers me so much. There is so much else that is awesome! Train trips through the Alps. Learning about Mozart and his lesser known but equally skilled sister, Nannerl. Racing through the canals of Venice. And in the next book, they are headed toward Japan! I am so there.

I admire the vision of the series--telling a huge adventure story while sneakily adding in a lot of history, science, music, and geography. Readers learn things and have fun at the same time! Brilliant.

Four out of five CD stores.

Release Date: December 2008
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: J39C

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

2012-02-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Jack
Room 105--Miss Stretchberry

September 13

I don't want to
because boys
don't write poetry.

Girls do.

September 21

I tried. Can't do it.
Brain's empty.

This is the story of Jack
who finds his voice
with the help of
paper
pencil
teacher
and
dog.

Review

A book written in poetry focusing on the death of a beloved dog (not much of a spoiler--that the dog died is super obvious from the beginning)? I HATE IT. I mean. It's original, and it's cool how this kid grows in confidence and learns that poetry is for everybody.

But I hate books where animals die. They are so sweet and innocent, and why would the focus of any book be about their death!? I much prefer to stay in my naive wonderland where animals never die.

So yes, this book is very well done. I think people who are less of animal lovers (or less tender-hearted) than me would like it very much.

However, this is the exact opposite of the kind of book I like. So. Lower points.

Three out of five yellow pieces of paper.

Release Date: March 2003
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems

2012-02-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In We Are in a Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends?!

Review

When I started reading this book, I was completely thrown by Piggie's initial wink and "Thank you." Had I missed something? Were pages missing? Had Willems gone mad? But when I finished the story, I actually cooed "awww!" in understanding and appreciation.

We Are in a Book! is all kinds of creative. I'm a reader, so I spend a lot of brainspace worrying about and loving characters as if they are real people. But I've never considered what it would be like if the characters realized they were part of a story. Would they freak out? Take advantage of the reader? Get excited?

Turns out Gerald and Piggie do it all. They even have an existential crisis when the realize that the book will end. Dun dun duuun. I was thoroughly entertained. Willems is brilliant.

Five out of five bananas.

Release Date: September 2010
Reading Level: Ages 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang and Derk Kirk Kim

2012-02-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Meet Duncan. Charming and brave, he's the Princess's favorite--and he's on his way to winning the throne. But lately, the walls of reality in Duncan's kingdom are wearing a little thin...

Meet Gran'pa Greenbax. Nothing seems to satisfy this greedy old frog's longing for a pool full of gold--until, one day, a mysterious smile appears in the sky. Has his chance at happiness come at last?

Meet Janet. Her nine-to-five life takes a turn for the romantic when she learns in an email from a mysterious Nigerian prince that she has been chosen to liberate his family's vast fortune. All he needs is her banking information.

Review

Gene Luen Yang hits my buttons every time. I was skeptial when I started reading The Eternal Smile--I don't tend to like collections of short stories, and also there were a lot of frogs. But then there was twist! And I was hooked.

Turns out all three stories, while remarkably different in content and drawing style, all revolve around reality and fantasy. What makes this so fantastic is that each story tells a different take on the battle. Is living in a fantasy world always harmful? Always good? Can living in a fantasy world teach you something valuable about the real world?

As an avid reader, movie watcher, TV absorber, I love escaping into fantasy. Curling up in someone else's life and living their drama gives me joy. And the only thing that keeps me from seeing myself as a lazy bum is the belief that you can learn from stories. Watching someone else live through the ups and downs of life (whether in a realistic show like Parenthood or a fantastical possibility like The Hunger Games) can broaden our worldviews, increase our empathy, help us avoid mistakes, and encourage us to be heroes.

I loved The Eternal Smile for delving into this issue. Each story started out kind of weird, but by the time it reached its conclusion, I was completely sold.

Four out of five pools of gold.

Release Date: April 2009
Reading Level: Ages 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently part of Dunlap's collection.

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

2012-02-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Vladimir Tod: Normal eighth-grade student? Or powerful vampire?

Junior high really stinks for thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers and no one to teach him, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and his enlarged fangs. When a stranged substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. But then he realizes he has a much bigger problem: He's being hunted by a vampire killer who is closing in...fast!

Review

The middle schoolers at my monthly book talks LOVE this series. They convinced me to give it a try, and....I'm not blown away? To be fair, this first book is mostly set up. By the end, Vladimir is aware of a lot of things, and his new knowledge will probably mean for some more exciting sequels. Not sure if I'll read them, but I assume they are better.

It might also be a case of vampire-overload. I have pretty much killed myself on supernatural romances (except for Vampire Diaries, I love it). I can appreciate that Vlad is a new take--half-human, half-vampire, successfully living a normal life with a friend who knows his secret.

My main problem was the plot. Which is not a good main problem to have. I was never very worried, and the twists were evident from miles away. All in all, not super awesome. If anyone has read the rest of the series, let me know if it's worth reading on!

Two out of five blood capsule sandwiches.

Release Date: August 2007
Reading Level: Ages 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL BRE

Variant by Robison Wells

2012-02-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he's trapped in a school that's surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school's real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape--his only real hope for survival--may be impossible.

Review

Wow. I'd forgotten how good it feels to be completely in the grip of a novel, desperately turning pages to find out what happens next. Variant is super compelling, pretty creepy, and fairly creative.

I love stories of school/prisons and of kids surviving without adults with what-is-going-on!? plots. Benson is in the same position as us, creeped out by the weirdness but with no idea WHY. And that is the biggest draw Variant offers. Understandably, it is when we begin to get answers that the plot takes a turn for the worse. In a novel like this, the reader's brain fires off idea after idea, trying to figure out what is going on. And sometimes the actual reveal is a bit of a letdown after your own creativity.

Highlight for spoilers. For instance, I LOVED Jane's reveal as an android. I totally wasn't expecting it, and it upped the level of weird. And I liked the end reveal that the school was made to test the androids (I assume testing them to make them more human?), not to test the humans. However. If that is the case, why all the rules and weirdness and killing? Couldn't it be a regular school with real teachers? The androids could join in, "move away" if malfunctioning, or simply graduate out. There's no need for the prison setting. There are so many other believable ways to test androids than to kidnap a bunch of kids.

My love for the surprises was about gone when I got to the last chapter. And wouldn't you know, Wells pulled one over on me AGAIN and now I am newly intrigued and desperate for the sequel that won't come out until fall of 2012.

Four out of five security cameras.

Release Date: October 2011
Reading Level: Ages 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL WEL

Lincoln Award Nominees: FINISHED

2012-02-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

I did what I could. It's not good to meet your goals the first time around, right? That means you set them too low. Yeah, that's going to be my reasoning for not reading all the Caudill and Lincoln nominated books. Next year I'll finish them all!

Here are the Lincoln books I read who earned a five out of five rating:

Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan

I really enjoyed each of these three books, but the standout for me was Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan. I loved Blake (and okay, my love for this book is influenced by our mutual adoration of Doctor Who) and his relationship dilemma. He learned about love and friendship and life without ever straying into melodrama. That deserves all the awards.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2012-02-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Review

First, major props to the designer of this cover. It is easily one of my favorite book covers ever.

Stiefvater has an almost magical ability to explain away the squickiness of her book's romance to the smallest degree possible. Falling in love with a wolf? ...Kinda weird. But she has a bit of wolf in her? So it's okay? Love at first sight is only a little bit creepy?

Whatever. This is the sort of book where you have to throw out your romantic reservations and let yourself bask in the drama and angst. How can they stay together when Sam is a werewolf!? Add in some other werewolves with violent tendencies, and you've got a plot.

I did really like Stiefvater's take on werewolves. Instead of the moon, temperature is what forces them to change form. And each year the time they spend as a human decreases until they are a wolf always and forever. Very clever.

I can see how a lot of people would really adore this series. While I did enjoy it, I have to say it's just not my cup of tea (Earl Grey with cream and sugar). Love at first sight is unbelievable to me at the best of times, and when one lover is a human and the other is wolf, my hesitation is increased a hundredfold. Kudos to Stiefvater for making me care at all, really.

I won't be reading the next two books in the series, but this was a decent read.

Three out of five chocolate shops.

Release Date: August 2009
Reading Level: Ages 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL STI

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

2012-02-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also each other's only friend. So when Cameron disappeared without warning, Jennifer thought she'd lost the one person who would ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she is popular, happy, and dating--everything "Jennifer" couldn't be. But she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they both are confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

Review

With a title like Sweethearts and a wonderfully simplistic cover of a heart-shaped cookie, I picked up this book for a light and fluffy romance. That....was so not the case. Because my expectations were so wrong, I think my opinion of the story is unjustly skewed toward the negative. I'm going to try to be positive though, because if you know it's not a romance, then you will probably enjoy it much more!

What Sweethearts is, really, is an examination of those relationships that are more than friendship, more than romance, more than family. Jenna had a fairly craptacular childhood, but she had BFF Cameron to make it bearable. When he disappears, she reinvents herself and worries every single day that someone will reveal her past as a bullied nobody. Then Cameron comes back, and her world goes crazy.

I loved seeing the psychology of someone who desperately tries not to be herself. I went through a bit of a personality makeover after high school, and I empathized with Jenna's desire to be something more, to resist old tendencies, to fear reverting back. At the same time, there was a subtle thread of hope showing that despite her walled-off defenses, Jenna has learned to trust people a little.

Which is another thing I loved! Steph is a fantastic best friend! She was understanding, fiercely loyal to Jenna, and interested in knowing her mysterious friend more without pushing faster than Jenna could handle. The rest of Jenna's friends were very real; sometimes annoying, sometimes hilarious, always teenagers.

I also really loved Jenna's mom and stepfather. They had a wonderfully refreshing family atmosphere. Jenna's mom was a failure in many ways, but she was believeably clueless about the ways she hurt Jenna. Most of the time she truly thought she was acting in Jenna's best interest, and the Best Stepfather Ever sometimes had to step in and point out Jenna's side of things. I adored the family stuff.

Okay, I've talked myself into a much higher rating. But remember! Not a traditional romance! Do not read this if you're in the mood for fluff. It's much deeper than that.

Four out of five hidden candy bars.

Release Date: February 2008
Reading Level: Ages 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL ZAR

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

2012-02-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Three very different stories. One simple desire. To fit in.

Jin Wang starts at a new school where he's the only Chinese-American student. When a boy from Taiwan joins his class, Jin doesn't want to be associated with an FOB like him. Jin just wants to be an all-American boy, because he's in love with an all-American girl.

Danny is an all-American boy: great at basketball, popular with the girls. But his obnoxious Chinese cousin Chin-Kee's annual visit is such a disaster that it ruins Danny's reputation at school, leaving him with no choice but to transfer somewhere he can start all over again.

The Monkey King has lived for thousands of years and mastered the arts of kung fu and the heavenly disciplines. He's ready to join the ranks of the immortal gods in heaven. But there's no place in heaven for a monkey. Each of these characters cannot help himself alone, but how can they possibly help each other? They're going to have to find a way--if they want to fix the disasters their lives have become.

Review

This book! I was skeptical when I found out a graphic novel won a Printz award (hello, prejudice), but I totally understand why now. Gene Luen Yang, author of Level Up, has officially become an author that I want to follow through every publication. His humor, art, and ability to weave a complex and emotional story is simply astounding.

I enjoyed Jin's story and the tale of the Monkey King, but every time Chin-Kee took a chapter, I was super uncomfortable (as was intended: he flagrantly inbodies every negative Asian stereotype ever believed). But by the end, I was completely won over. I believe there was even a moment when I gasped at the page, astounded and delighted by what Yang had done.

All three stories tell of someone who wants to escape themselves and be something more. But the lesson they each must learn is to be comfortable and happy with who they are. An admirable lesson for us all.

Five out of five transformer toys.

Release Date: September 2006
Reading Level: Ages 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC YAN

LEGO Club

2012-02-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

We did a dinosaur theme for the older kids too, but they finished with time to spare. What else to do but construct the tallest, skinniest tower IN THE WORLD!? Because they used the 2x2 blocks, it kept falling apart, but they managed to make it impressively tall. Next time they hope to have a bigger support and make it even more awesome!

The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

2012-02-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Newsweek called renowned minister Timoty Keller "a C.S. Lewis for the twenty-first century" in a feature on his first book, The Reason for God. In that book, he offered a rational explanation of why we should believe in God. Now, in The Prodigal God, he uses one of the best-known Christian parables to reveal an unexpected message of hope and salvation.

Taking his trademark intellectual approach to understanding Christianity, Keller uncovers the essential message of Jesus, locked inside his most familiar parable. Within that parable Jesus reveals God's prodigal grace toward both the irreligious and the moralistic. This book will challenge both the devout and skeptics to see Christianity in a whole new way.

Review

The story of the prodigal son is one of the most popular of Jesus's parables. But the usual accompanying sermon "No matter what you do, God is always waiting to welcome you back with open arms!" covers about....2% of the intended message. I had no idea of this until I read Keller's book a couple years ago. Then I forgot all that and relearned it this week upon rereading his awesome book.

Jesus is preaching not only to the self-seeking hedonistic "sinners". There's a crowd of Pharisees listening to him too, and it is to them that the story is chiefly addressed. The first son who runs away with his inheritance is only Part 1. The crux of the story comes when the father lovingly confronts his elder son about his self-righteousness. The elder son's response isn't given, meaning we have to answer for him from our on Pharisee hearts.

And that is what I got out of Keller's book. I am so often an elder brother. I look down on others (ironically, usually other elder brothers) and seek to control God's blessings by being so good he has to favor me. Keller deconstructs all those prideful thoughts, then gives hope by describing God's extravagant grace in bringing all people to Jesus.

This short book packs a wallop, and I recommend it to everyone.

Five out of five best coats.

Release Date: October 2008
Reading Level: Grade 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not yet in Dunlap's collection.

Caudill Award Nominees: FINISHED

2012-02-08T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm calling it quits. The 2013 Caudill books have been announced. Even though the 2012 winner has not yet been announced, I can't commit to finishing the nominations. That means I am 7 books short. Oops. But I will tell you my favorite regardless! First, the books that I gave a five out of five rating to were:

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Oh man, this is really hard! I am having a very difficult time choosing between Broken Pieces, Mountain, and Flygirl. This decision is no easier because they are all incredibly different books! Poetic alienation? Asian mythology? Racial history? How can I possibly decide?

Aaaahhh, I'm going to go with All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg, because in addition to teaching me about the aftermath of the Vietnamese War and being really emtionally stirring, it also made me like books written in verse!

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

2012-02-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

New city. New friends. New Paige?

When Paige's parents move her familly from Virginia to New York City, Paige doesn't know where she fits in anymore. At first, the only thing keeping her company is her notebook, where she pours her worries and observations and experiments with her secret identity: ARTIST. With the confidence the book brings her, she starts to make friends and shake up her family's expectations. But is she ready to become the person she draws in her notebook?

Laura Lee Gulledge's stunning art digs deep into the soul and exposes all the ups, downs, and sideways feelings of being a young adult on the edge of the rest of your life.

Review

I loved watching Paige grow in confidence as she decided to share her notebook--her thoughts, desires, emotions--with first her friends and then her family. She forced herself outside of her comfort zone, she purposefully did awesome artsy things for the community, and she was a consistently good friend. All that, and she never once came across as fake or unrealistic. I really liked Paige!

But the real greatness of this book is not its plot or characters: it is the drawings. Gulledge has a phenomenal talent for drawing the emotion rather than the literal scene. For instance, when Paige decides to show her notebook to Gabe, she is shown handing him her heart. Which is exactly what it feels like, to give something so intimate to someone else! Later, Gabe returns the favor by giving Paige his heart (his notebook of stories).

Again and again I had to stop reading because the drawings were so perfect, whether it was the cold of NYC cutting into her or Paige pulling a brick wall around her shoulders as a blanket to keep the world out. Gulledge is a genius.

Five out of five metaphors made real.

Release Date: May 2011
Reading Level: Grade 6+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC GUL

Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor

2012-02-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Aggie isn't expecting visitors at the Sleepy Time Motel in the Great Smokey Mountains. Since Harold died, she is all alone with her cat, Ugly, and keeping up with the bills and repairs has become next to impossible. The pool is empty, the garden is overgrown, and not a soul has come to stay in nearly three months. When she reluctantly places a For Sale ad in the newspaper, Aggie doesn't know that Kirby and his mom will need a room when their car breaks down on the way to Kirby's new reform school. Or that Loretta and her parents will arrive in her dad's plumbing company van on a trip meant to honor the memory of Loretta's birth mother. Or that Clyde Dover will answer the For Sale ad in such a hurry and move in with his daughter, Willow, looking for a brand-new life to replace the one that was factured when Willow's mom left. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that Aggie and her guests find just the friends they need at the shabby motel in the middle of nowhere.

In Barbara O'Connor's warmhearted novel, a cast of unforgettable characters learn that hope is sometimes discovered in the most unlikely places.

Review

The alternating-narrator format has to be done extremely well in order to interest me, and unfortunately, Greetings from Nowhere didn't do it. I think the book would have been much better if the whole thing was told from Aggie's point of view--we could have seen the kids through her eyes, watch her influence them and react to them. And anyway, Aggie was the only character to really become real to me. Her pain at losing her long-time husband was vibrant and hard to read about.

As for the others? Kirby was supposed to be this horrible kid, but because the only evidence we saw of that (stealing a candy bar from a gas station) was childish, I never believed it. Because we were in his head, we knew he just wanted to be valued and loved. I couldn't for a moment believe he deserved to go to a reform school.

Loretta was sweet and peppy, dealing with an unexpected emotional event. Willow was sad and depressed, dealing with an unexpected emotional event. In the space of a few days, they become best friends! Who will keep in contact despite living hours away from each other and only staying that the same motel together! Whaaat? That doesn't happen.

The crux of the book relies on the fact that we believe these four people have made a huge and enduring impact on each other. I didn't see that. Maybe Willow and Aggie pass that test, but no one else. I just didn't care that these characters interacted and talked to each other, and I certainly didn't believe it mattered. Except for Aggie. She was awesome.

Two out of five pig latin phrases.

Release Date: March 2008
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

PAWS to Read

2012-02-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

My favorite program returns! The Peoria Humane Society came back to the library for another PAWS to Read program. Once again, adorable little kids read to adorable little (and massive!) dogs.

Karma by Cathy Ostlere

2012-02-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

It is 1984, and fifteen-year-old Maya is on her way to India with her father. She carries with her the ashes of her mother, who recently committed suicide, and arrives in Delhi on the eve of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination and one of the bloodiest riots in the country's history.

Maya is separated from her father and must rely upon the help of a young man she's just met--they mysterious, kindhearted Sandeep--if she is to stay alive and make it home. But as her love for Sandeep begins to blossom, Maya will have to face the truth about her painful adolescence...if she's ever to imagine her future.

Review

Maya experiences the worst thing a teenaged girl could imagine, AND the worst thing a daughter could imagine. And that is before the book begins, and tragedy piles on top of tragedy. Seriously, this girl! She is born to a Sikh father and a Hindu mother, and she is raised in India. She speaks three languages, but no matter where she goes--Canada or India--she doesn't fit in.

After the horrific riots in New Delhi, I am amazed that Maya finds the strength to keep living. She endures and sees more than anyone ever should. I have the utmost respect for her. Sandeep is also wonderful. At first childish and lusty, he grows by seeing Maya's pain. He realizes there are greater things to live for, people to fight for, and his own mysterious past to discover and forgive.

I loved this book even though it tore my heart to shreds. It isn't an easy book to read. But its message of perseverance, forgiveness, and love--along with all the messy consequences when we fail--is worth the pain.

Four out of five marigold petals.

Release Date: March 2011
Reading Level: Grade 8+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL OST

The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey

2012-02-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Philip Yancey has a way of confronting our most cherished but misguided notions about faith. In The Bible Jesus Read, he challenges the perception that the New Testament is all that matters and the Old Testament isn't worth taking the time to read and understand.

Yancey admits that, like many Christians, he usually avoided the Old Testament. After all, why bother with writings that can be so baffling, boring, even offensive to the modern mind?

But a surprising discovery awaited Yancey when he began to explore how the Old Testament related to his life today. Those seemingly irrelevant Hebrew Scriptures took on a startling immediacy, portraying a passionate relationship between God and people against a backdrop of human experience. Like nothing else, the Old Testament depicts the cries, the complaints, the deep, insistent questionings of the heart, the stuff of life we all must contend with.

With his candid, signature style, Yancey interacts with the Old Testament from the perspective of his own deeply personal journey. From Moses, the amazing prince of Egypt, to the psalmists' turbulent emotions and the prophets' oddball rantings, Yancey paints a picture of Israel's God--and ours--that fills in the blanks of a solely New Testament vision of the Almighty.

Review

I've become more partial to the Old Testament in recent years, but Yancey has made me fall head over heels in love. The rawness of the ancient Hebrews crying out to God for answers, and the rawness of God crying out to his people to love Him and return to Him....those are emotions I can relate to. There are no easy answers in the OT. Stories are confusing and sometimes awful. People rant and rave against God, then rejoice and praise Him in the next breath. It seems nonsensical, and maybe it is. But isn't life just the same?

My attitude toward God can drastically alter in the space of one sentence or one event or one discovery. Sometimes I wonder if He really exists. Sometimes I want to shout from the rooftops how good He is to me. Sometimes I can't bother to care one way or the other. All of that is also in the OT.

I particularly liked Yancey's close-up look at both Job and Ecclesiastes. And I especially loved the last chapter that bridges the yearnings and questions of the OT with the answers found in the person of Jesus in the NT. Why does suffering exist? God never answers this. Instead, He sent His son Jesus to live on earth, suffer for us and suffer with us, to show that God cares. And really, I would rather know that God cares about me while I suffer than to know why suffering exists at all.

God is deeply interested in relationship. I used to think this was a primarily NT idea. Not at all! God's presence and desire for intimacy with His people screams throughout the pages of the Bible. I'm so grateful that Yancey made me aware.

Five out of five searching questions.

Release Date: August 1999
Reading Level: Grade 8+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently in Dunlap's library.

LEGO Construction Club

2012-02-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

Dinosaurs! This was probably the most exciting theme yet. Kids built actual dinosaurs, dinosaur holding cells, and trucks designed to capture and transport dinosaurs. Pictures below the cut!

Bluestem Award Nominees: COMPLETED

2012-02-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

My goal to read all the Illinois Award Nominated books is now 1/2 over! With....barely any time left. I very much doubt I will get all the Caudill and Lincoln books read. But I will try!

The Bluestem category is fairly odd. 3rd-5th graders can be wildly immature or surprisingly deep. The books nominated for the Bluestem award are similarly all over the place. I tended to favor the more mature books, although some of the younger-slanted books impressed me as well.

These are the books that I gave a five out of five rating:

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm
All Stations! Distress! April 15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank by Don Brown
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis
Swindle by Gordon Korman

These were all really great books, but I will be giving my vote to Rules by Cynthia Lord for telling an honest story about the uncomfortable truths of navigating friendships and families.

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

2012-02-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The Sisters Grimm, Daphne and Sabrina, have been in foster homes ever since their parents' mysterious disappearance. Now, they're living in Ferryport Landing with Granny Relda Grimm, who they thought died long ago!

Strange things are happening at Granny's house, and some of the town's residents seem oddly familiar. Then Granny tells the sisters they are ancestors of the famous Brothers Grimm and they must now take on the family's responsibility--they are the new fairy-tale detectives! Their first case: a giant is destroying the town and it might just have something to do with a boy named Jack and a certain famous beanstalk.

Review

Full disclosure: I tried to read this book over a year ago, but never finished it because it didn't grip my attention. Then it was nominated for the Bluestem award, and I felt obligated to give it another chance.

I didn't dislike it as much as I first thought, but...I still wasn't won over. Normally I am a huge fan of fairy tales, but this rendition fell flat. I like my fairy tales full of whimsy and other-worldly charm. The Fairy-Tale Detectives felt too immersed in real life without much of the whimsy I adore. (The movie Enchanted is my go-to example of how to do this right.)

Also, what exactly is Buckley's definition of a fairy tale? Giants, Prince Charming, and the Three Little Pigs all fit my definition, but Ichabod Crane and Arthur? I was confused when I saw them appear on page...aren't they more fictional characters (or fictional accounts of possible real people) rather than fairy tales?

I didn't think much of the book. Puck was about the only redeeming character, and once again, what? Fairy tale?? At least he was funny.

Two out of five jail breaks.

Release Date: August 2005
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

2012-02-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

It's 1952 and the Scott family has moved unexpectedly from Los Angeles to London. Janie Scott feels uncertain in her strange new school until she meets Benjamin Burrows, the local apothecary's curiously defiant son, who dreams of becoming a spy.

Benjamin's father promises Janie a cure for homesickness, and it seems to work. But Mr. Burrows is no ordinary apothecary, and he holds dangerous secrets. When he disappears, Benjamin and Janie find themselves entrusted with his sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia. And Russian spies are intent on getting their hands on it.

Discovering transformative elixirs they never imagined could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous quest to save the apothecary and prevent an impending nuclear disaster.

From award-winning author Maile Meloy comes a novel that sparkles with life and magic. Breathtakingly illustrated by Ian Schoenherr, this is a story that will delight kids and return not-so-young readers to a world in which the extraordinary is possible.

Review

This book was so enjoyable. I love stories in which Americans move to awesome foreign countries (in this case, England), because I get to live vicariously through them. I love stories that introduce me to new time periods. The Apothecary is set seven years after WWII ended, and I was shocked to see how huge an impact the war had on England after all that time. And I absolutely adore books with individually distinct but all awesome characters discovering a wonderful fantastical world in the midst of raging adventure and daring exploits.

Turns out apothecaries are basically wizards. With the right combination of materials, kids turn into birds, become invisible, or create a truth serum. Meloy somehow managed to make this seem unbelievable, and then completely customary. I like when magical/fantastical skills are equated with power--this person has extra power, so what are they going to do with it? Like most great books, The Apothecary is full of people who have power and want to control the nations as well as our heroes who have power and want to use it for peace.

Janie is a wonderful main character, and I especially loved her parents. Benjamin is adorable, and I really loved their slow-paced romance. But I've got to admit, my favorite characters were no-nonsense Jin Lo and trickster Pip. They stole every page they were on.

This book has it all: adventure, romance, history, life-or-death stakes. It's fantastic.

Five out of five melted gold earrings.

Release Date: October 2011
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL MEL

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

2012-01-31T11:52:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached(!). And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. Raina's story takes us from middle school to high school, where she discovers her artistic voice, finds out what true friendship really means, and where she can finally...smile.

Review

Ah, adolescence. I have no desire to ever think of you in any way other than hilarious graphic novels. Suddenly the awkward physical appearances and awkward social situations are less horrific and more hysterical! I so admire Telgemeier for recounting her autobiography in such an entertaining format.

I know this was not supposed to be educational, necessarily, but I was really impressed with the level of dental care available! I had to go through braces, but Raina takes teeth arrangement to a whole new level. She knocks out her two front teeth, then gets braces to slowly move the rest of her top teeth toward the center. She has to correct a crossbite and an overbite. And after so much rearrangement, she has to have gum surgery to repair the damage. GAG. I can't even imagine going through so much pain for over four years! Raina is a superhero.

I also like the subtle way Telgemeier portrayed friendship. The friends that Raina grew up with were catty, and more willing to put someone down than build them up. Luckily, Raina become confident enough to call them out on their insulting behavior, and soon makes friends with far more awesome people.

Five out of five orthodontists.

Release Date: February 2010
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC TEL

PlayAround Shakespeare

2012-01-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

Bradley University was gracious enough to offer us the talent of five of their theater students. They performed a humorous one-hour sprint through five of Shakespeare's most famous plays. There were tears, there was laughter, there was a good time had by all.

More pictures below the cut.

Angry Birds Live

2012-01-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

I have discovered maybe the best program ever! Angry Birds Live. Five teens showed up to make their own yarn angry birds (hint: they fly much better when stuffed with coins), then team up to create and/or demolish obstacles of cardboard, cups, and of course, green pigs.

Peak by Roland Smith

2012-01-28T07:38:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

This is it, I told myself. Fifteen more handholds and I've topped it.

I reached up for the next seam and encountered a little snag. Well, a big snag really...

My right ear and cheek were frozen to the wall.

To reach the top you must have resolve, muscles, skill, and...

A FACE!

Mine was anchored to that wall like a bolt, and a portion of it stayed there when I gathered enough resolve to tear it loose. Now I was mad, which was exactly what I needed to finish the climb.

Cursing with every vertical lunge, I stopped about four feet below the edge, tempted to tag this monster with the blood running down my neck. But instead I took the mountain stencil out of my pack (cheating, I know, but you have to have two hands to do it freehand), slapped it on the wall, and filled it with blue spray paint.

This is when the helicopter came up behind me and nearly blew me off the wall.

"You are under arrest!" an amplified voice shouted above the deafening rotors.

Review

I never knew I was interested in mountain climbing, but apparently I am! Or rather, Smith has made me so. His story of Peak, a 14-year-old who climbs skyscrapers for fun (is this real!? is it even possible!?), is arrested and has to move to Nepal to live with the world-famous mountain climber father he barely knows. He then proceeds to befriend a Tibetan teen, psychologically grapple with a Chinese policeman, and learn to climb Mt. Everest!

It was fascinating. I had no idea the preparation involved. You can't just climb the mountain straight up--you climb to a camp, then hike back down. You rest low for several days, letting your red blood cells get more oxygenated (I think?), before hiking back up. The whole process takes weeks! That is some serious devotion.

On top of that commitment, there's the constant deaths of people attempting to summit the mountain. The scene where Peak nears the top was chilling, as he stops counting corpses after the fifth one. It is too high up there for helicopters to fly and retreive bodies, so anyone who dies about 26,000 feet will stay there forever.

I learned a lot. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the ending. And the family relationships were very compelling--Peak and his father work through some issues without ever devolving into sentimental silliness. Also, Zopa is one of the coolest people I've ever read about. I might attempt to climb Mt. Everest just to experience life with the close-mouthed monk/expert mountain climber.

Four out of five oxygen tanks.

Release Date: May 2007
Reading Level: Grade 6+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

Bone: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith

2012-01-26T09:14:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

It's a full-fledged war as Briar, the rat creatures, and the Pawan army storm the city of Atheia where the Bones, Thorn, and Gran'ma Ben are up in arms to defend the royal city. When Thorn hears a voice urging her to seek the Crown of Horns, Thorn and Fone Bone embark on another dangerous journey as they race to find the one thing that may save them all.

Review

Several people told me they were disappointed with the end of the Bone series, and....I don't know why? Maybe I had sererely lowered expectations, but I really liked it! We got to see all our favorite, or not so favorite, characters one more time. The battles felt realistically scary--I worried for most of our main character's safety at one time or another. I thought some people were goners, but they survived, and I thought some people survived, but they did not.

All the big bads get what's coming to them, in ways that were sometimes surprising. The dragons come back in a big way, and Kingdok is a sad chariacture of his former evilness (and he knows it). Briar remains super creepy, and that whole scene had me on pins and needles.

The story ends quite nicely, explaining what everyone will go on to do. I won't reveal who survived or where people end up, but I have to spoil one: Bartleby! He lives! Just...you know, if anyone else was concerned about the most adorable rat creature in the world. He's okay, and still awesome.

This series takes graphic novels up a notch. The characters are all fully-developed, with conflicting motivations and worldviews. The drawings bring the story to life just as much as the dialogue. In just nine short installments, Jeff Smith creates a wonderful world with an established mythology and epic confrontation.

I loved it.

Five out of five quiches.

Release Date: January 2009
Reading Level: Grade 6+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

LEGO Club

2012-01-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

Only three boys showed up for LEGO Club today, but they are some of the most creative and talented kids I've had the pleasure of watching play with LEGOs. I had decided the theme could be Star Wars, and one boy made the biggest, most epic spaceship in the galaxy. The other two had apparently talked before, and they wanted to make an obstacle course a la Wipeout. They spent a long time integrating polar bears, water cannons, and green glame into the most impossible course I've ever seen. After they showed me how it worked, they put several LEGO men through it, sending them flying and gleefully narrating the events as John Anderson, John Henson, and Jill Wagner.

Pictures below the cut!

Swindle by Gordon Korman

2012-01-25T14:38:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Griffin Bing is on his way to a million dollars...until a mean collector named S. Wendell Palamino (a.k.a. Swindle) tricks him out of a rare Babe Ruth baseball card. Now Griffin must put together a team of friends (and one or two enemies) to get it back.

There are many things standing in their way--a menacing guard dog, a high-tech security system, a very secret hiding place, and the fact that none of them can drive. But Griffin is a Man With a Plan, and even if some things go way beyond his control, he's not going to let his fortune go without a fight.

Review

Wow. I never expected to read an adventurous thieving caper that manages to teach that stealing is never okay without lessening the extremely entertaining story based on stealing. Is that a mouthful? Basically, Swindle is Ocean's Eleven with morals. The kids want to steal something, and justify to themselves why it's not wrong. I was worried throughout, because, well, no, stealing is still wrong. But by the end Korman had covered all his moral bases without once being unfunny or on a high horse.

Griffin and Ben are a great pair of friends. I liked how they were always there for each other, no matter how crazy the situation got. The other kids that helped out with the big break-in were well developed and pretty awesome. Logan the wannabe actor was my particular favorite.

The story moves quickly, and it builds into this ever more chaotic adventure that became really hilarious by the time everything started falling apart. Korman surprised me several times along the way, and I learned both how to break into a house and how stealing is wrong. Managing to pull off both those lessons means I give Swindle a

Five out of five rare trading cards.

Release Date: March 2008
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

2012-01-24T12:43:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Two years after being airlifted out of war-torn Vietnam, Matt Pin is haunted: by bombs that fell like dead crows, by the family--and the terrible secret--he left behind. Now, inside a caring adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events force him to choose between silence and candor, blame and forgiveness, fear and freedom.

By turns harrowing, dreamlike, sad, and triumphant, this searing debut novel, written in lucid verse, reveals an unforgettable perspective on the lasting impact of war and the healing power of love.

Review

All the Broken Pieces has great superficial similarities to The Girl Who Threw Butterflies--an outside tries to sort through their personal demons while playing baseball. But while Butterflies failed to emotionally connect with me, Broken Pieces blew me away.

I'm not much a fan of books told through poetry, but my prejudice has been rocked. Matt tells his story in very easily-read free verse, and the simplicity and starkness of the lines really highlight his emotion and make the story more poignant.

Matt has blocked out his harrowing life as a Vietnamese kid during the war, but when he meets a bunch of American veterans and also is confronted with ugly hate crimes at school, he has to come to terms with his past so that he can truly live in the present. I am fascinated by adopted kids, about the psychology of having two families. Even more so a boy who is quickly transferred from a life of poverty and war to a life of wealth and security. The culture whiplash!

All the Broken Pieces sympathizes with Matt without grossly pitying him. It manages to show the horror of the Vietnam War without villainizing either the American or Vietnamese sides. It portrays the intricacies of bullying with understanding but without ever justifying the hate.

I adored this book. It is a very quick read, but one that will stick with you for a long time.

Five out of five musical scales.

Release Date: April 2009
Reading Level: Grade 6+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

Grounded by Kate Klise

2012-01-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

After her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash, Daralynn Oakland receives 237 dolls from well-wishers, resulting in her new nickname: Dolly. And she doesn't even like dolls! Dolly would much rather go fishing--not that she's allowed to go anywhere on her own after the accident. As she sees it, her whole life has turned terrible, and there's nothing she can do about it.

But when her angry, grieving mother's new job as a hair stylist at the local funeral home is threatened by the new crematorium, Dolly decides it's time to take action. She suggests throwing Living Funerals--a chance to attend your own funeral and hear all the nice things people say while you're still alive to thank them.

Will Dolly's new plan put the 'fun' back into funeral and save a dying business?

In her most affecting novel yet, acclaimed author Kate Klise seamlessly depicts a rich fabric of humor, heartbreak, and healing.

Review

Who knew it was possible to write a book about funerals, cremations, con men, and the death of family members....and make it heart-warming? Klise brilliantly uses the depths of emotion to bring out the heights, and shows the beauty and meaning that comes with the life moments we'd rather not acknowledge.

Daralynn is a great protagonist. She is too young to know how to deal with such overwhelming grief, and her shut-off mother doesn't help her process the change. Her aunt Josie is a fantastic larger-than-life character, nicely balanced by the understated Uncle Waldo. The family is completed by the dementia-addled Mamaw, who steals Daralynn's dolls to feed and care for them.

This is a small town bursting with vivid characters, and Klise does a great job of never letting that overshadow the main point--that life goes on, and that when we care for each other, we can endure the heartaches that inevitably come with life.

Five out of five horse-drawn carriages.

Release Date: November 2010
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: J KLI

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane

2012-01-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

For an eighth grader, Molly Williams has more than her fair share of problems. Her father has just died in a mysterious car accident, and her mother has become a withdrawn, quiet version of herself--a mother who orders takeout instead of cooking, and who reads shopping catalogs instead of talking to her daughter.

Molly doesn't want to be seen as Miss Difficulty Overcome; she wants to make herself known to the kids at school for something other than her father's death. So she decides to join the baseball team. The boys' baseball team. Her father taught her how to throw a knuckleball, and Molly hopes it's enough to impress her coaches as well as her new teammates.

Over the course of one baseball season, Molly must figure out how to redifine her relationship to things she loves, loved, and might love: her mother, her brilliant best friend Celia, her father, her enigmatic and artistic teammate Lonnie, and of course, baseball.

Mick Cochrane delivers an emotionally affecting and gently humorous story that is as surprising and magical as a knuckleball.

Review

What is with all the baseball-themed Caudill books? I can handle one. I'm willing to stretch my interests. But this is the third I've read, and I simply can't care anymore. I appreciate that Molly is all in love with the sport--the clothes, the feel of a glove, the incredibly beautiful and impossible to predict butterfly pitch....but the awe translated to snoozing for me.

Sports make my brain turn off. I cannot understand their appeal.

The central premise was not the only thing I disliked, unfortunately. Molly's narration seemed to mature--she very well might have felt the things she did, but she expressed them far too eloquently. I like when books about kids sound like kids talk and understand. Celia was too well-formed of a feminist. Lonnie was too understanding for a boy with a crush. Molly was too articulate.

All of that added up to an unbelievable story. A girl played on the boys' baseball team and a family learned to continue living after the unexpected death of a beloved family member. That could have been a great story--but it wasn't.

Two out of five knuckleballs.

Release Date: February 2009
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

Radical Together by David Platt

2012-01-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

In Radical, David Platt's plea for Christians to take back their faith from the American dream resonated with readers everywhere, and the book quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Now in Radical Together, the author broadens his call, challenging us to unite around a gospel-centered vision.

How, he asks, might such a vision reshape our priorities as the body of Christ? How might well-intentioned Christians actually prevent God's people from accomplishing God's purpose? And, how can we best unleash the people of God in the church to carry out the purpose of God in the world?

Writing to everyone who desires to make an impact for God's glory--whether you are an involved member, a leader, or a pastor--Dr. Platt shares six foundational ideas that fuel radical obedience among Christians in the church. With compelling Bible teaching and inspiring stories from around the world, he will help you apply the revolutionary claims and commands of Christ to your community of faith in fresh, practical ways.

Review

If I had designed this book, I would have either shaped the entire book as a boot (impractical) or made the cover art into a boot kicking a butt (potentially offensive?). That's why I don't design book covers! But the point stands--Platt's passion for giving our all to God is a kick in the pants to lazy Christians, of which I label myself.

It's so easy to become consumed with the idea that I should do what is best for me--pursue the job I want, live where I will be most happy, interact with the people who feed my ego. But that selfish attitude is exactly the opposite of how I should act as a follower of Christ. Jesus said we are to die to ourselves. Platt encourages his readers to do just that--die to our desires and focus every bit of our life around what God wants.

I would recommend Platt's first book Radical more than this. Radical Together is a more specific book, and while it is excellent, it builds on the lessons taught in his first book. Together, they are incredibly encouraging, in that way where you feel awful but want to do better.

Five out of five black mambas.

Release Date: April 2011

Reading Level: Grade 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently part of our collection.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2012-01-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Review

In The Fault in Our Stars, John Green taught me that there are books that you want to shout about from the rooftops, demanding that the whole world be made aware of its brilliance. There are other books that you love too intensely, that you can't bear to share for fear that sharing it will break the spell it has on you.

This is both. I want everyone to experience the haunting beauty and hilarious tragedy that is Hazel's story. But it's hard to talk about why I love it so much. This a book that, within ten pages, had crept inside my heart. It's a story about a girl with cancer. It's a story about a girl falling in love with a boy.

But it's so much more. The Fault in Our Stars is a philosophical book. It says that even though the world often deals us sucky hands, there is also beauty in the pain. The pain does not make the beauty any deeper or more meaningful, but neither does the pain wash the beauty away. Hazel and Gus are two kids who have had to grow up way too fast by staring their own deaths in the ever-nearing face. They feel panic and joy, and they fear for how their tragedy is affecting the people they love. But they don't let fear of the future cloud their present, not too much.

I loved watching Hazel and Augustus fall in love. They flirt with words, which is my favorite kind of attraction. I loved that Hazel's parents were a huge part of her life, that although she sometimes got annoyed at their hovering, she appreciated what they sacrificed for her and loved them deeply. I loved seeing the kids with cancer bond and joke about their pain, and I loved realizing that we are all broken in different ways, whether it's cancer or pride or fear. But there are still friendships to enjoy, love to give yourself to, and day after day to wake up and live.

DFTBA.

Six out of five fake novels (that I want to be real) within a novel.

Release Date: January 1012

Reading Level: Grade 8+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL GRE

LEGO Club

2012-01-19T08:56:00.000-08:00

We did the ninja theme with the younger kids this week. Although they spent a huge amount of time discovering pink LEGO pieces and chasing each other around screaming, "PIIINK!" like it was the boogie man, by the end of the hour they'd put together some cool stuff. Including a ninja snack bar for aliens. Hahaha! Love.

Pictures below the cut.

Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories by Sandra Markle

2012-01-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Animals, both wild and domestic, have become heroes when they've come to the rescue of humans. In these heartwarming, true stories, Sandra Markle shows how dogs, cats, cows, monkeys, and even dolphins use their normal senses or special training to help people in trouble or in need all over the world.

Review

I love animals. Like, to the point that I can't go into a pet shop without petting the animals for sale for hours and debating whether I can afford another pet (I can't). I avoid movies in which animals die like the plague. So a book about animals saving the lives of their owners or even total strangers? Is right up my alley.

I discovered that I'm a big fan of either the really ridiculous saves or the really mundane rescues. For instance, this dog named Dakota would bark and nuge his owner before Mike blacked out from angina or heart attacks. Consistently knew when the attacks would happen! And that's not it. Mike learned to lay down whenever Dakota freaked out like that, and then Dakota would lie on Mike's chest, warming him up and calming him with his steady doggy heartbeat. I can't even! That's adorable! And HOW?

But then I also loved the story of 19-year-old dog Frisky and his 80-year-old owner George who survived Hurrican Katrina together. Frisky was on an air mattress, and George kept it steady by treading water and holding on for hours while the house flooded nearly to the ceiling. There was no dramatic rescue, but naturally, George got tired of treading water as the night dragged on. Whenever George drifted off or was tempted to just give up and drown, Frisky would crawl over and lick his face. Ack! I have all the feelings!

Those are both dog stories, but there were awesome dolphins and cats and monkeys and even cows! Integrated into the rescue stories were facts and explanations of the disasters or medical problems that were a part of the story. I will study anything if adorable animals are involved, and Markle has that strategy in the bag.

Four out of five Winnies and Velvets (honorable mentions for my favorite animals).

Release Date: September 2008

Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

Bone: Treasure Hunters by Jeff Smith

2012-01-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The Bone cousins, Gran'ma Ben, and Thorn reach the city of Atheia, where they prepare to battle the Lord of the Locusts. Meanwhile, Thorn's visions are becoming more threatening and Phoney Bone is convinced Atheia is rich in gold, and he is determined to find it!

Review

The penultimate chapter in an epic story of hidden royalty, a potential end-of-the-world crisis, and a little guy thrown into a situation too big for him to handle--except maybe he can!

Atheia is a pretty cool city, and finally the Bones unusual appearance, and everyone else's non-reaction to them, makes sense. There are other crazy creatures in the Bone universe. Bartleby and Smiley continue to be my favorite, and I continue to worry for Thorn's safety. Phoney is starting to annoy me--his unceasing greed had better have a point, because it's getting old.

Also, I really want to have a rooftop secret hideout. That is the coolest thing ever.

Four out of five gigantic bees.

Release Date: August 2008

Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford

2012-01-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Join Carter for his freshman year, where he'll search for sex, love, and acceptance anywhere he can find it. In the process, he'll almost kill a trombone player, face off against his greatest nemesis, get caught up in a messy love triangle, suffer a lot of blood loss, narrowly escape death, run from the cops (not once, but twice), meet his match in the form of a curvy drill teamer, and surprise the hell out of everyone, including himself.

Review

I have never been a 14-year-old boy, but when I was that age, I sure liked a bunch of them. Oh man, now I wish I could go back in time and tell myself not to bother. If real teenage boys are as awful as Carter is, I would never have bothered with the crushes and the drama.

Carter is single-mindedly disgusting. He and his friends want to get laid, and will do anything with anyone to get some. Excuse me while I throw up. There is massive slut-shaming and horrific portrayals of girls as basically walking sex objects.

Maybe that is normal (I really really hope not). A point could argued that the author is simply being realistic. But there's also the issue that Carter makes some really bad decisions (like driving and crashing a car without a license, or running away from the cops) and is never punished for anything! The cops are apparently too stupid to catch a kid who drove through lawns and plowed down a retaining wall? And even though his dad catches him, Carter doesn't get in trouble simply because he accidentally insinuates that he might be gay, and that freaks his dad out so much that he forgets about the destroyed property? WHAT? I'm sorry, but that is all just awful.

Granted, a lot of this book is hilarious. I died laughing at one of the most embarrassing first dates ever recorded. But the fact that Carter consistently skeezed me out meant I mostly hated this book. I can't for the life of me understand why this is nominated for the Lincoln award. Carter grows too little, too late. Not worth it.

Two out of five ADD stutterers who are somehow wildly popular.

Release Date: May 2010

Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: LINCOLN

Bone: Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith

2012-01-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The Bones, Gran'ma Ben, Thorn, and their loyal rat creature cub venture on a journey through the mysterious ghost circles to Atheia, the old city of the royal family. One wrong step could change the valley's fate forever...

Review

This installment was mostly set up, positioning all the characters where they need to be as the series nears its end. Despite the lack of big plot developments, a lot happened! Bartleby returned, and he can talk now! We also find out why the rat creatures don't have tails, which has always bothered me. So glad for an explanation. A bit more of the Bones past is revealed, and Phoney seems less conniving, while Smiley is still my favorite.

Thorn is a wild card now. Every once in a while she seems secretly evil, but then things change and she seems healed, but then something else happens, and I don't know! I honestly don't know how this is all going to end. I hope she's not evil. I did like, however, that Gran'ma Ben pointed out that she is more susceptible to evil because she's so powerful....I'm a big fan of stories that hearken to "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." Or "With great power comes great responsibility." Take your pick, I love the sentiment.

I adore this series, even when it gets genuinely creepy. Those voices in the ghost circles! Eaaaugh. So good!

Four out of five peg legs.

Release Date: February 2008

Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

2012-01-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Click.
Saturated self-portrait: Blake, nice guy, class clown, always trying to get a laugh, not sure where to focus.

Click.
Contrast. Shannon, Blake’s GF. Total. Babe. Marissa, just a friend and fellow photographer. Shannon loves him; Marissa needs him. How is he supposed to frame them both in one shot?

Review

I loved this book! It was so refreshing to read a story about a teenage guy who is--normal. He's funny, he can be smart, he thinks about girls a lot, he has interests and hobbies. He tries to do the right thing, but doesn't always manage it. He gets mad and confused and sad. He has a believable relationship with his older brother, and his whole family is pretty awesome.

He is, in a word, a nice guy. He's not damaged or broken or a loner.

And, oh my word, he loves Doctor Who. I threw up my hands and squeed every time he referenced the Slitheen or defended Rose Tyler or watched "Doomsday" when he felt really sad. Squinch him!

Blake is wonderful, and story he is involved in is no less wonderful. I so much appreciate that this is not a love triangle. His relationships with these two girls are so different that simple explanations can't suffice to describe what goes on. And the ending was completely not what I was expecting, but now that I've read it, I can't imagine it ending any other way.

Flash Burnout is a fantastic book about a guy navigating growing up with all the relationships and world-expanding that comes with new experiences. I love Blake, and I think he's going to grow up just fine. Especially with his hospital chaplain mother, medical examiner father, and football superstar brother. (I really loved their family, can you tell?)

Five out of five companion posters.

Release Date: October 2009

Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: LINCOLN

Bone: Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith

2012-01-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The showdown between the Hooded One and the people of the valley begins. Thorn and Phoney Bone seem to be at the center of the maelstrom. Will they survive the Hooded One's sacrificial ceremony by the light of the blood moon?

Review

Ooo, the plot is really taking off. We got the answers to why Phoney Bone is so important and who the Hooded One is--and I liked both reveals! And oh man, that ending. I got chills of anticipation.

That...is a really short review. I guess all I need to say is that this was really good, and I can't wait to read the next one. Everyone should be reading this series! It is not only for 3rd grade boys, as I previously believed.

Five out of five tongues.

Release Date: August 1999

Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

LEGO Construction Club

2012-01-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

At the last minute, I decided that this week's theme would be ninjas. Surprisingly, a lot of the kids were not thrilled. Doesn't everyone love ninjas? Thankfully, I couple kids threw some ninja kicks and punches when I announced the theme, so it wasn't a total loss.

Pictures below the cut.

One-Handed Catch by MJ Auch

2012-01-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Not even losing his hand can keep Norm from trying out for the baseball team What would life be like with only one hand? That's exactly what eleven-year-old Norm finds out when he loses his left hand in an accident at his family's store. It's July 4, 1946. World War II has ended, and life is getting back to normal. But for Norm, the pressing question now is whether he will ever be able to play baseball again, or be an artist. It's up to Norm to find the strength to get beyond this roadblock and move on with his life. Set against the quickening pace of life after wartime constraints, this inspiring novel is about an optimist who overcomes his misfortune with discipline and humor--and fulfills his dreams in ways no one could have expected.

Review

Norm is a fantastic kid. I would adopt him, befriend him, whatever works best. Despite loosing a hand--something which would validate a downward spiral of depression, I think we can all agree--he has so much optimism and ambition.

The story isn't really about a boy who loses a hand. It's about a boy living life, growing up and making friends, learning responsibility, and working for his dreams. Doing it all one-handed is a challenge, but I love that it never defines him. He creates art, enjoys eclairs, and complains about homework all the same.

Norm and his family are really quite extraordinary. The way the handle tragedy is believable and inspiring. Maybe the fact that they live in the era of World War II makes them more used to amputations? Or maybe they are just stronger than I am. Probably both.

Four out of five home runs.

Release Date: September 2006

Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

2012-01-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

You can learn a lot about life by observing another species. That's what Humphrey was told when he was first brough to Room 26. And boy, is it true! In addition to his classroom escapades, each weekend this amazing hamster gets to sleep over with a different student. Soon Humphrey learns to read, write, and even shoot rubber bands (only in self-defense). Humphrey's life would be perfect, if only the teacher wasn't out to get him!

Review

Hamsters can apparently fix any problem in the world. Lonely and single? Consult a hamster. Family won't turn off the TV? Get a hamster. Your parents are too scared to practice English? Make them talk to a hamster. Your husband is ill and cranky? Play with a hamster.

I'm pretty amazed at how convincing Humphrey is as a hamster narrator. He can't actually talk to anyone, but he's a genius, and he sneaks around to make everyone's life better. This is a great fluffy (hah) story about class pets and the power of companionship--as someone who loves pets, Humphrey won me over very quickly.

Four out of five locks-that-don't-lock.

Release Date: May 2005
Reading Level: Grade 2+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

All Stations! Distress! by Don Brown

2012-01-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

All Stations! Distress! Titanic.

It was past midnight. The ship had come to a dead stop and sank down at the bow. Distress rockets were fired skyward from her deck. Steam shrieked as it escaped Titanic's boilers. Passengers made their way to the uppermost lifeboat deck with their life belts strapped on.

Barely three hours later, the crippled Titanic would plunge more than two-and-a-half miles to the ocean floor, taking two-thirds of her passengers and crew with her and leaving seven hundred survivors adrift in lifeboats and rafts on an icy ocean. It was April 15, 1912, and the luxurious giant ship, said to be unsinkable, had been destroyed on her maiden voyage by a collision with an iceberg. This gripping account dramatizes the disaster in the words of the survivors and in watercolors that portray the chaos, desperation, and numerous individual dramas of a night remembered for the most infamous shipwreck in history.

Review

I used to be completely obsessed with the Titanic, and this book does a brilliant job of detailing the horror and stupidity (not having enough lifeboats, not filling up the lifeboats they had) of one of the most tragic events of the last century without getting overly macabre. I think this is a fantastic book for children interested in the Titanic for just that reason.

What makes the story of the unsinkable sinking so endlessly fascinating? I suppose it is largely due to the hubris--is there a better story that illustrates "pride goes before a fall"? And there are so many revealed social injustices, with poor people essentially barricaded to death while rich men and women fled in unfilled lifeboats. Both courage and selfishness come out all the stronger in such overwhelming situations.

All Stations! Distress! tells all of these stories.

Five out of five distress rockets.

Release Date: December 2008
Reading Level: Grade 2+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

2012-01-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Thirteen-year-old Samuel lives with his parents on the edge of the wilderness in the British colony of Pennsylvania, a long way from the civilization of any town. Samuel knows how to hunt and how to survive in the untamed forest that surrounds his home on the frontier, where it can take days for news to arrive. There are rumors that American patriots have begun a bloody war against the English; to Samuel, the fighting in the cities and towns to the east seems far away.

Then the war comes to him. In a savage attack by British soldiers and Iroquois, Samuel's parents are taken prisoner. Samuel follows their trail, drawing on his forest skills, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the unbelievable cruelty, tragedy, and horror of the war. But he also discovers unexpected allies, men and women working secretly on behalf of the patriots. And he learns that he must plunge deep into enemy territory to find his parents. He must follow them all the way to the British headquarters in New York City.

Gary Paulsen brings readers into the flesh-and-blood reality of one boy's struggle in the long and savage war that was the American Revolution--a war that changed people's lives in infinite ways, and whose outcome continues to reverberate throughout America today.

Review

The strongsuit of this book is the outside-the-box information. Stories of the American Revolution usually focus on big cities or famous events, and the bloodshed is minimal. Woods Runner is the exact opposite. I learned a lot about life in the frontier at that time, including that racoon meat is apparently delicious and guns are way more varied than I knew.

My biggest problem with the book is that although it does not shy away from the gritty aspects of war in most respects, it absolutely does in the main plot. The reason why Samuel's father is captured instead of massacred is tenuous at best, and his mother's capture is even less likely. Call me a cynic, I know.

I didn't think this was a great novel. The non-fiction bits were the better parts. I never really got invested in the story.

And anyway, I'm predisposed to be skeptical about American Revolution stories. All I can focus on is how awful it is to fight both the people from whom you stole their land (Native Americans) and the people who currently own it (British). I'm supposed to root for anyone in this mess? Ugh. America, not the best beginnings. Is there ever a good beginning of a country that doesn't include violence and massacre? Let me know, because I want to read about THAT.

Three out of five merchants who are also spies.

Release Date: January 2010
Reading Level: Grade 6+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

LEGO Club

2012-01-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

Twas the week after Christmas and all through the LEGO Club....kids were arguing about the existance of Santa Claus. Since they weren't necessarily being mean to each other, I let them go at it. They've got to figure it out someday. I don't think any of them were budging in their beliefs anyway.

It was all very normal until this conversation happened, and I had to bite my hand to keep from busting out laughing:

Cynic: Santa is completely imaginary!
Believer: Then who brings you presents!?
Cynic: It's one of those elves. An elf brings you presents, not Santa, obviously.

Also, there was LEGO building.

How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt

2012-01-03T12:44:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Building a house takes time and hard work. But a home can be destroyed in one terrible moment--as Harper discovers when her dad and her beloved stepmother get a divorce. Even worse, the divorce separates Harper from her stepsister, Tess.

It's time to escape. Harper joins a volunteer program to build a house for a family in Tennessee who have lost their home in a tornado--not that she knows the first thing about construction. Soon Harper is living in a funky motel and working long days with kids from all over the country. She works alongside Teddy, the son of the family for whom the house is being built. Their partnership promises to turn into a summer romance, complete with power tools. For Harper, learning to trust and love Teddy isn't easy, but it could be the first step toward finding her way back home.

Award-winning Dana Reinhardt has written a rich and irresistible story; Harper's honest, sometimes sardonic voice makes this a novel that readers will take to heart.

Review

I am automatically biased toward this book for several reasons: while I went to school in Tennessee, my university was hit by a tornado, and we underwent major reconstruction for the next couple years. I also spent my high school summers going on construction mission trips such as World Changers, where I learned how to use tools and meet people from around the US. I also, like Harper, was unprepared for the heat in Tennessee, and felt the need to make up a word to describe it (unlike her, I actually did: swelterfuego.)

These similarities make me a bit hard on the book, though. I wanted more description from Teddy about what it was like to survive a tornado. I couldn't believe Linus's lax attitude about summer relationships.

However, Harper's need to escape her crumbling family rang very true. Sometimes we have to run away from our problems to see them with a better perspective. I was glad that although it delves into a summer love plot, the heart of Harper's story remains with her estranged family members (and how they take steps toward rebuilding their home, see what I did there?).

Four out of five hammers.

Release Date: May 2008
Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: LINCOLN

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

2011-12-29T12:47:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye--an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.

But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.

When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.

Review

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I almost always love stories of hidden identities, of pretending to be something you're not to go against social convention. What makes Eon stand out above the rest is the way Goodman plays with the psychological issues inherent in hiding your identity. How deeply do you hide yourself? Should you fully embrace your mask, or should you always remember who you truly are, or can you be a little bit of both?

Since this is a hidden identity where Eona the girl pretends to be Eon the boy, there is also so much fun gender bendiness! There are eunuchs, and men born with women's souls, and girls pretending to be boys, and men taking Sun powder (i.e. steroids) to enhance their power. But none of these things are overwhelmingly preachy. They exist, and there are consequences, and the reader is left to make what they will of the characters.

Personally, I adored Ryko and Lady Dela. They win all the awards for best supporting characters. Eon is complicated and forceful and not at all perfect, which makes her a brilliant protagonist. As her foil, Ido is brilliantly power-mad, terrifying and genuinely creepy. The rest of the cast fills out very nicely, and I liked nearly everyone, which made it so sad when people started to die.

Which is another thing I love about this book. Goodman isn't afraid to kill her characters for the sake of a great and dramatic story.

Finally, what makes me truly adore Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is this. Even though it sounds like just another girl-pretending-to-be-a-boy plot, it does something unusual. Eona isn't only awesome like a boy, capable of fighting and swaggering telling people who's boss. She learns to do those things. But her real power comes from her femininity. It isn't until she embraces her feminine side that she can really kick butt. Girls have worth and power when being feminine. Thank you, Goodman, for the reminder to society.

Five out of five red folios.

Release Date: December 2008
Reading Level: Grade 8+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL GOO

Bone: Rock Jaw, Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith

2011-12-29T12:16:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Fone and Smiley Bone try to return a rat creature cub to the mountains, where they meet yet another adversary: the sly and might mountain lion, Rock Jaw.

Review

This is a bit of a break in the overarching story. There's no Thorn or the village in the valley. Instead, we get a lot of Fone and Smiley, a bunch of adorable baby orphaned animals, some almost good rat creatures, and a bit more mythology development! While it wasn't knock-my-socks off good, it was definitely a great chapter of the story.

I'm constantly surprised at how Smith manages to make this series for both children and adults. There are funny jokes and sight gags, and there are discussions about good and evil and power. Something for everyone!

Four out of five racoons named Roderick.

Release Date: January 2007
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

LEGO Club

2011-12-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

Because New Years is so near, our theme this week was "What do you most want to be invented in 2012?" There was a snack bar, a car, video game car, and....a zombie protection yard. HAHAHA. I suppose 2012 is the end of the world, right? Could be from zombies.

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

2011-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Beware the hare!

Is he or isn't he a vampire?

Before it's too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household--a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits...and fangs!

Review

So before vampires hit is big time, there were...vampire rabbits? That's almost as bad as the sparkly kind (or as great? take your pick). Granted, the story as told by Harold the dog was cute. And I loved Chester the cat, avid reader, frequent journier into the wacky imagination, and super into pop psychology (maybe I identified with him a little).

But a book on the dangers of a bunny? Who sucks vegetables dry? HAHAHAHA.

I guess I'm especially laughing because I remember being a kid and seeing this book on the shelves. I was too scared to read it then. And for nothing, I find out! I think it's not supposed to be scary? Although, really, that cover is terrifying. Rabbits with red eyes leering over a carrot can never be good.

Three out of five white zucchinis.

Release Date: August 1996
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

Beastly by Alex Flinn

2011-12-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

I am a beast.

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright--a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever--ruined--unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you who I became perfectly...beastly.

Review

This book was doomed from the start. I adore the Disney movie that inspired it, and I hated the movie that was made from it. I figured the book would land somewhere between the two, and it did. Unfortunately, it was much nearer the hating than the adoring.

I'm all for modern adaptations of fairy tales, and there were some moments that really worked. Scorning the witch at a school dance made sense, and holing up in a mansion in Brooklyn will make all subsequent trips to NYC very entertaining. "Do you think a beast lives in that house? Or maybe that one? Oh, definitely THAT one!"

However, the bad outweighed the good for me. In Beauty and the Beast, I rooted for the romance because neither of them wanted it. They fell in love despite bad first impressions and horrible circumstances. But in Beastly, Adrian (Kyle changes his name after the transformation) kidnaps Lindy (the Belle of this story) for the sole purpose of falling in love and making her love him. I'm sorry, but...I don't think true love works that way? I didn't buy it, at least.

And Kyle/Adrian rubbed me the wrong way whether he was a narcissistic human jerk or an emo beast. He wants to impress Lindy by appearing smart, but then decides to "let her" be the smart one. What!? No. She could beat his intellectual hide any day; she does not need anyone to "let" her be smart.

That's a small point, but it sums up my biggest problem with this adaptation. Even when at his best, Kyle/Adrian is always thinking about himself. He never really seems to learn selflessness, and because of that, I don't believe that his love for Lindy is pure, and I doubt that it can last in a fairy tale happily ever after way, no matter what the book wants me to think.

Two out of five green houses.

Release Date: October 2007
Reading Level: Grade 8+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: LINCOLN

Graham Cracker Houses

2011-12-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

For me at least, winter means gorging on way too much candy. It also means staying indoors more often. I can only assume that the first person to make a graham cracker house (or gingerbread house) felt the same way.

I promise it's not laziness, but I love to do crafts where I simply provide materials and let the kids get as creative as possible. That's what I did today for our graham cracker houses, and I was not disappointed. Once they got the walls to stay up, they got busy decorating or, in one case, building a graham cracker outhouse.

Pictures below the cut.

Bone: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith

2011-12-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The forces of evil are growing stronger. But could our heroes' worst enemy be Phoney Bone himself?

Review

Ooo, this was a good one! Lots of background mythology and lots of action. Thorn's hidden past, and how she deals with the consequences of her real identity was really good--she doesn't immediately jump into the role of hero, but when it counts, she is there for her friends. Gran'ma Ben is still overwhelmingly awesome even though she was absent for a large part of the book.

There's so much depth to this series. The good guys aren't always good. And the villains have hierarchy after hierarchy! The rat monsters serve the hooded guy who serves the locust horde, which I assume will be dealt with more in the future. And they are not naturally evil--who knew a baby rat monster would be so completely adorable?

Smith's artwork is consistently fantastic. He does cartoons and realistic characters with equal skill. I'm kind of really jealous.

Five out of five dreams?

Release Date: August 2006
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

Cartoons and Pajamas

2011-12-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

With two days to go before Christmas, we had a morning of Christmas cartoons for kids and their caretakers. Added bonus: we all dressed in our pajamas! Let me tell you, it is some kind of glorious to go to work in your pajamas.

We watched the popular and well-received How the Grinch Stole Christmas (my childhood favorite) and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and then the less well-received Mr. Magoo's A Christmas Carol.

I had a lot of fun though, and it was charming to see kids curled up in our oversized stuffed animals or snuggled under blankets. I think I'll have to repeat this program, and soon!

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan

2011-12-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Charlotte Parkhurst was raised in an orphanage for boys, which suited her just fine. She didn't like playing with dolls, she could hold her own in a fight, and she loved to work in the stable. Charlotte had a special way with horses and wanted to spend her life training and riding them on a ranch of her own.

The problem was, as a girl in the mid-1800s, Charlotte was expected to live a much different life--one without the freedoms she dreamed of. But Charlotte was smart and determined, and she figured out a way to live her life the way she wanted.

Charlotte became an expert horse rider, a legendary stagecoach driver, and the first woman ever to vote. And she did these things at a time when they were outlawed for women. How? With a plan so clever and so secret--almost no one figured it out.

Review

This is one of those books geared toward younger readers that I really wish would be rewritten for adults. Charlotte's semi-true story of escaping from an awful orphanage, pretending to be a boy, and generally being all-around awesome with horses was too hurried. There were a lot of really interesting things going on, and I wish I could have heard more about them.

I particularly liked Charlotte's relationships with her kind men-friends, Vern and Ebenezer. They saw her for her skills and virtues, not her sex or the stereotypes that flourished during the 1800s (and today, let's be honest). The picture of the Wild West of that time seriously stirred up my wanderlust--pioneering into new land, every day an adventure.

Bonus factor: Brian Selznick, illustrator of Hugo Cabret, drew several pictures for this book. Naturally, they are awesome.

Four out of five eye patches.

Release Date: September 1999
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

LEGO Club

2011-12-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

We had a couple new kids this week, thanks to school being out for Christmas break and most extracurricular activities being cancelled. They were very good, making creative space ships, Arctic fortresses, and that lava dumping thing from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

Sign and Sing Story Time with Abbey Cook

2011-12-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

It is impossible to speak two languages at the same time...unless you know American Sign Language! I think that is super cool. Abbey Cook is a fantastic sign language instructor and story time leader (look up Communication Junction if you want more information about what she does). Today she brought stories of Santa Claus and Rudolph, taught us all some Christmas signs, and led us in singing with both our voices and our hands.

Under the cut are a couple pictures and a video of "Reindeer Pokey."

The Hobbit Trailer

2011-12-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

If you couldn't tell by my habit reading a book every day or two, I'm...kind of into stories. In fact, I get quite obsessed with the better ones. Never have I been more obsessed than when I devoted four years of my life to the Lord of the Rings series (three years of movies, then another year waiting for the Return of the King extended edition DVD set). I mean, I had LotR themed birthday parties. I have a Frodo doll. I bought books of LotR in different languages when I visited other countries. I, um, even made a scrapbook of all the various LotR pictures and quotes and magazine articles I could find.

I'm a bit of a nerd. Le surprise.

I still really love Tolkien's created world of Middle-earth, and have in fact just reread The Silmarillion and The Hobbit. But I didn't expect the level of fangirling that would ensue when I 1) saw that The Hobbit's trailer was released and 2) watched it three times in a row, and then again when I woke up this morning.

IT LOOKS SO GOOD, YOU GUYS. I didn't know whether Peter Jackson would go with a more child-like feel, or stick to the epicness of LotR. Looks like we're gonna get both! I loved the dwarves falling through the door, and then the plate tossing fun. But there's also the deep singing that sent shivers down my spine, and glimpses of Narsil in Rivendell, and the trolls, and sweeping landscapes.

And oh my gosh. Bagginses....Precious....

The middle of December will always be Tolkien's. I cannot wait for December 14th, to see the first half of Bilbo's journey!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

2011-12-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Mindy Kaling has liven many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck-impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence "Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I'll shut up about it?"

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you've come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently place stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door--not so much literally anywherein the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Review

I am officially a fan of funny comedy writers and their self-deprecating and sneakily insightful autobiographies. (See also: Tina Fey's Bossypants.)

Mindy Kaling is one of those celebrities that you think would make a great BFF. And I'll be honest, after reading her book, I kind of feel like we are BFFs. I just...doubt that she realizes it. So much of Mindy's past echos mine--the nerdy tendencies, the late introduction to bikes and subsequent hatred of them, and of course, the awful huge glasses on a tiny child's face.

I loved her honesty about her weight, and how some people are jerks about anyone who is not stick-skinngy, but how the people who matter love you, duh. Her insights into friendship, men, and working were always funny and scarily true. I could basically quote the entire book here as evidence that you should read it, but....instead, you should just go read it for yourself! You will laugh out loud at least twice. That's a guarantee.

Five out of five pliests.

Release Date: November 2011
Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently in Dunlap's collection.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

2011-12-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

In the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli's mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest.

Review

I loved this book! It is a gentle read, full of adventure and distinctly fairy tale-feeling. The good kind of fairy tales, where virtues are rewarded and vices are punished, by the very nature of those vices and virtues. For example, in order to get past a bunch of greedy monkeys, Minli tricks them into reaching through netting to steal her pot of rice. Their paws can fit going in, but they are unable to withdraw their paws when full of rice. Because they are greedy, they won't let go, and are thus trapped. I love that!

Minli is a fantastic character, strong and full of faith. I loved Dragon, her dragon friend. Har har. I loved how the story mostly follows Minli, but sometimes goes back to her parents, who undergo their own steady character arc. I love the settings, the understated magic, the stories come to life, and the message at the end.

Five out of five goldfish.

Release Date: July 2009
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise

2011-12-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The best-selling author Ignatius B. Grumply is moving into the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road, hoping to find some peace and quiet so that he can crack a wicked case of writer's block.

But 43 Old Cemetery Road is already occupied--by an eleven-year-old boy named Seymour, his cat, Shadow, and an irritable ghost named Olive...and they have no intention of sharing!

Review

I'm not usually a fan of epistolary books, but the letters and newspaper articles that make up Klise's book are charming and clever enough to move me past my prejudice. I didn't think a ghost haunting could ever be so adorable, but when Olive feels bad about causing a chandelier to fall on Mr. Grumply and then convinces him to go on a date with her...well, this is not an ordinary book.

Seymour, the boy abandoned by his parents. Olive, the ghost who steals and then returns library books. Mr. Grumply, the author who hasn't written in 20 years. Together they make up the strangest, and most delightful, found family.

Four out of five banging pianos.

Release Date: April 2009
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

Bone: Eyes of the Storm by Jeff Smith

2011-12-15T14:20:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Life in the valley isn't getting any easier for the Bones and their newfound friends. Lucius, Smiley, and Phoney are attacked by the rat creatures and barely make it back to Lucius's tavern. Then it doesn't take long before Phoney is back to his old tricks.

Back at the farm, Fone Bone and Thorn are troubled by strange dreams, and Gran'ma Ben's reaction is stranger still: She reveals long-kept secrets and unexpected dangers. In fact, they may have to leave the farm forever.

Review

Yay! Hidden identities! Mysterious dreams! A repeated symbol! Volume 3 had all the makings of the beginning of a really good mythology. I'm officially excited to find out how this will all come together.

The fact that Fone Bone's favorite book is Moby Dick cracks me up, especially since he likes it to the point of dreaming about it. Will more be made of this, or is it a nice way of telling readers that the classics can be beloved too?

I haven't talked a whole lot about the artwork that Smith does, but wow is it good. Emotions are plain, and settings are beautiful. Sun or rain looks equally believable. I like when comic creators use the comic format to really heighten the story (I know, this should be the case in all comic books, but few actually jump out at as "of course this story ought to be told in comic format!")....Okay, I lost my sentence. I liked the scene of Gran'ma Ben, Thorn, and Fone Bone hiding in the forest, the background dark in the rain. Lightning strikes, illuminating dozens of rat creatures lurking behind them, searching. Then the background goes dark again as teh lightning fades.

Chills.

Four out of five bartending bets.

Release Date: February 2006
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

2011-12-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Two Kentucky girls, Ivy June Mosley of Tunder Creek and Catherine Combs of Lexington, are participating in their schools' first-ever seventh-grade student exchange program. Taking turns, each girl leaves home for two weeks to live and attend classes with the other, and each records her honest feelings about the experience in a journal. For both of them, it's a chance to see how others live and to find out if what they've been told about each other's lifestyles and beliefs is true.

In some ways, the girls are worlds apart. For starters, Ivy June lives up in the mountains with her grandparents, Mammaw and Papaw Mosley, because it's so crowded down at her parents' place. The Mosleys use an outhouse, drive rickety old cars, and wear hand-me-downs. Catherine lives with her close-knit family in a large, beautiful house with plenty of space for everyone. She has her own room with two beds and is driven to school every day.

As the girls spend time in each other's neck of the woods, they find out that they've both been keeping secrets. And when, without warning, Ivy June and Catherine both face the terror and helplessness of not knowing what's happening to their loved ones, they discover that they may be more alike than different.

Newbery Award winner Phyllis Reynolds Naylor invites readers into the lives of two Kentucky girls who learn together that to become true friends, they need only one thing in common: a belief in the power of faith and hope.

Review

I know very little about living in the Appalachian mountains, so stepping into Ivy June's world was very enlightening. I have to admit, I thought the book was set several decades ago until the plot went to Lexington and there were cell phones. Turns out it's a modern-day book, and my wrong assumption says a lot about the living conditions of many families who live in the hollows of Kentucky.

This is the story of the clashing of cultures, and I really admired the subtle way Naylor dealt with stereotypes. It felt very honest that both Ivy June and Catherine saw things they liked and disliked in the new environments they found themselves in. At the same time, Naylor showed that a lot of times, things we consider bad about a certain culture (Ivy June's emotionally distant parents, for example) are not because they are worse people. It's often because of the harsh living situations they find themselves in, or because they were raised that way, or because it's the only way they can manage to get through the day. And it's not just Ivy June's family that has problems; as she so perceptively says, money creates its own problems.

My one qualm is that I would have liked to see how living in someone else's shoes changed the girls. When Catherine went home, did she feel the need to shower less often? Did she think twice before spending money on new clothes? When Ivy June grew up, did she pursue a higher education? Did she treat her children with attention and compliments?

We saw the two girls see a new side of life, and I assume they grew from it. But I want to know for sure!

Four out of five racoons in the outhouse.

Release Date: June 2009
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

LEGO Constuction Club

2011-12-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

As suggested by one of LEGO participants, this week's theme was "A Merry Brickmas." As such, we had upgraded sleighs (teleportational plane-type creations), Santa's defenders, and my personal favorite, an elf cemetery. HAHAHA. Turns out those little guys aren't immortal, and hey, they need to be properly buried like anyone else.

Pictures below the cut!

Monarch Award Nominees: COMPLETED

2011-12-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

I made a pretty lofty goal this year: to read all the Illinois Award Nominated books, which includes Monarch (grades K-3), Bluestem (grades 3-5), Caudill (grades 5-8), and Lincoln (grades 9-12).

Today I completed 1/4 of my goal! I've read all the Monarch books! YAY!

Please ignore the fact that the Monarch books are the picture books and are therefore the easiest section to finish and really should have been read months ago. Ahem.

After going back through my reviews, these are the books that I gave a five out of five rating:

Never Smile at a Monkey by Steve Jenkins
Dogku by Andrew Clements
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming
Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile

And from those excellent five books, the one I will vote for is....Grace for President by Kelly DiPuccchio, for it's fantastic artwork, sneaky teaching, and empowering message!

The Mitten by Jim Aylesworth

2011-12-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

One day, while sledding in the snow, a little boy loses his red woolen mitten.

Meanwhile, a passing squirrel finds that the cozy mitten is the perfect place to warm his icy toes. So he sque-e-e-ezes inside. But the squirrel is not the only animal with that idea. How many animals can fit inside the little boy's mitten?

Jim Aylesworth's fresh, spirited rendition of this favorite classic begs to be read aloud. And Barbara McClintock's delightfully expressive animals bring the story to its rousing climax. The youngest readers and listeners will be surprised and enchanted by this tale that is as heartwarming and delicious as a mug of hot cocoa.

Review

I am usually quite willing and able to suspend disbelief while engaging with stories. But for some reason, The Mitten was too ridiculous for me to handle. My brain works in weird ways.

But really. What kid loses a mitten and doesn't even realize it until he gets home? Did he not feel that one hand was much colder than the other? Does he have a rule about never looking at his hands while outdoors?

And a squirrel, rabbit, fox, AND BEAR can fit in a child's mitten? Ahem. Let's say I accept that ludicrous premise. But to then say that a tiny mouse is too much for the mitten to handle without exploding into yarny smithereens? Nope, I don't like it.

Finally, those poor animals! Their toes were cold, so they found a nice warm place to cuddle up with their friends and then....they just go their separate ways? How will they stay warm now!?

This is a tragic story. Nevermind the boy and his grandma who loves him.

Two out of five squirrel expressions.

Release Date: October 2009
Reading Level: Grade PreK+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

Bone: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith

2011-12-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Fone Bone and his cousins plan to return home after visiting the village of Barrelhaven with Thorn and Gran'ma Ben. But Phoney Bone risks everything on one last get-rich-quick scheme for the town's annual Great Cow Race. As usual, Phoney's plans go disastrously awry, and Boneville seems farther away than ever.

Meanwhile, ominous signs indicate that a war is brewing, and Fone Bone finds himself helping his friends defend their idyllic valley from a formidable enemy.

Review

I didn't like this one so much. It seemed to be merely reinforcing the characterizations we learned in the first book. Gran'ma Ben is still awesome, Phoney Bone is still a greedy schemer, Smily Bone is still empty-headed, Fone Bone is still hopelessly in love with Thorn, and Thorn is still hopelessly unaware.

Also, why was Gran'ma Ben running in the cow race? And if it's okay for non-cows to run, why did Smiley Bone dress up as a cow? Couldn't he have run as himself?

Still, we did get a bit of interesting backstory for Thorn. And those baby 'possums are the cutest things ever.

Three out of five shirtless honey sellers.

Release Date: August 2005
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

2011-12-14T09:09:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Ida Mae Jones dreams of flight. Her daddy was a pilot and being black didn’t stop him from fulfilling his dreams. But her daddy’s gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against her. When America enters the war with Germany and Japan, the Army creates the WASP, the Women Airforce Service Pilots—and Ida suddenly sees a way to fly as well as do something significant to help her brother stationed in the Pacific. But even the WASP won’t accept her as a black woman, forcing Ida Mae to make a difficult choice of “passing,” of pretending to be white to be accepted into the program. Hiding one’s racial heritage, denying one’s family, denying one’s self is a heavy burden. And while Ida Mae chases her dream, she must also decide who it is she really wants to be.

Review

I have recommended this book to everyone I've seen in the past few days. It was so good! Historical fiction is not my favorite genre, but I was blown away by Flygirl.

Smith's writing voice immediately transports you to 1940s Louisiana. Ida Mae is a fully developed, complicated character. She wants to honor and respect her family, but what if doing so for part of her family means alienating the rest? Is it worth hiding who you are if doing so gets you what you want? Should people be judged on their skin color or sex, or should they be judged on their abilities and skills?

Ida Mae lived in a time where being a black girl was a one-two punch in the face. She has limited options and is constantly confronted with prejudice and insults. But she doesn't let that stop her from pursuing her dreams and trying to do what is right. I loved her.

Five out of five B-29s.

Release Date: January 2009
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL

Bone: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith

2011-12-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins--Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone--are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures.

Eventually, the cousins are reunited at a farmstead run by tough Gran'ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter, Thorn. But little do the Bones know there are dark forces conspiring against them, and their adventures are only just beginning!

Review

My 27-year-old brother recommended this graphic novel series to me, so I put aside my prejudice and gave them a try. I'm so glad I did! Jeff Smith has a wonderful sense of humor that comes out in both his words and his pictures. The mix of realistic and absurd is acknowledged but then never dwelt upon, which I loved. Eventually it becomes normal to see the white glob of Bone holding hands and mooning over the gorgeously drawn human Thorn.

I know many grade schoolers who adore this series, so I was surprised at how much the jokes can appeal to adults as well. There are jabs at greedy polititians and winks at the readers for willfully suspending disbelief (I especially loved the blanket of falling snow). Immediately after finishing the first book, I grabbed #2, #3, and #4 off the shelf. I think that shows how much I wanted the story to continue, and now.

Four out of five mysterious maps.

Release Date: February 2005
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: GRAPHIC SMI

The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip

2011-12-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

At the start, it must be understood that Hed was not a place that produced heroes. The people of Hed were farmers. Even the princes of Hed were farmers. And Morgon was a prince of Hed. But he was something more, too. He was the best student the College of Riddle-Masters at Caithnard had ever had. He had staked his life on a seven-hundred-year-old riddle game that everyone else had lost, and won.

Though Morgon tried to be a simple prince of Hed, the times nad his own destiny were against him. For Morgon carried on his forehead three stars, which no one had ever been able to interpret. There was a harp with the same three stars that only he could play. There was a sword with stars that only he could wield, reluctant as he was to take it: the farmers of Hed were not warriors; a prince of Hed could not kill.

Most of all, though, it was the riddles about stars that drew him on. What did they mean, the ones that linked the end of the age with a star-bearer? Who were the legendary fiigures that suddenly seemed to surround him and lead him into adventures he did not want? Morgon, Prince of Hed, Riddle-Master, did not want to know, and yet, it appeared, he had to find out.

This is the first of what will eventually be three books. It is not a book for readers who like their stories neatly wrapped up in one short volume. It is not a book for readers who like immediate answers to questions asked. The story of Morgon only begins here; many questions are raised, but the answers must come later.

Review

If you like the idea of epic fantasy but avoid the books because of their tendency to describe a scenic hill for three paragraphs, then McKillip's trilogy is for you. I have gotten so used to skimming that her brevity caused me to reread several times. She tells in one page what another author might take a whole chapter to do.

As such, her style is not for everyone. I like a bit more explanation in my stories. It wasn't until the 4th chapter that I really got invested, because she drops her readers in the middle of the mythology and plot and world-building without ever doing a bit of exposition. If there could be some middle-ground between her sparse style and the usual verbosity, I would...really like that.

Style aside, McKillip can tell a good story. I adore Morgon. His identity crisis and fear of being someone special rang close to home for me. It's a question we all can ask: Would we rather pursue a "normal life" with a 9-5 job and house payments, or do we want to go out adventuring and bettering the world? Morgon's crisis kind of inspired me.

There are shape-shifters, stone children, and bouts of amnesia. I think that should be enough to convince everyone that it's an intriguing book?

Four out of five mute harps.

Release Date: August 1976
Reading Level: Grade 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently part of Dunlap's collection.

Peoria Prairie Storytellers: Christmas Edition

2011-12-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to tell stories of giving and selflessness...and red suited dwarf men who steal corn cakes and hog the covers.
The best stories are unusual twists on a classic tale, and the Peoria Prairie Storytellers deliver. I had only ever heard them do Halloween stories before, but they can do quaint and heartwarming just as well as creepy.

The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad Butler

2011-12-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

King's family is missing, and he's been put in the p-o-u-n-d. Why doesn't his beloved human, Kayla, come to get him?

When King is adopted by Connor and his mom, things get more confusing. The new family calls him Buddy!

Then Connor disappears!

Buddy (aka King) has some big problems to solve. Mystery fans and dog lovers will be swept up in Dori Butler's entertaining story about a smart, funny, loyal dog...and left eager for Buddy's next adventure.

Review

A dog who solves mysteries sounds ridiculous, but Butler really pulls it off. I, uh, actually didn't guess the real ending, in a book marketed to 1st graders. Oops. I was thinking as an adult, and assuming the creepiest and the worst. That was not the case, thank goodness, or children would probably be traumatized.

That said, the book does deal with issues like kidnapping and dogs being put to sleep. I was impressed how these issues had the necessary gravitas but also had a nice emotional buffer, since they were seen through a dog's eyes.

Buddy/King is a great protagonist. His stream of consciousness is definitely dog (everything is his favorite food!) but not so overwhelming that it gets annoying. He manages to solve mysteries without straying into any realm of "Really!? A dog could do that?"

As far as being nominated for the Monarch award goes, I think it will suffer for being a chapter book. While the rest are big picture books, The Case of the Lost Boy comes in at 123 pages. It needs to be in a category between Monarch and Bluestem.

Four out of five nameless cats.

Release Date: March 2010
Reading Level: Grade 1+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

LEGO Club

2011-12-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

Little boys are the weirdest things around, and I say that with a lot of affection. They have this intense need to make every conversation involve the word "stinky." They get super excited about alien LEGO men wearing cowboy hats. They make LEGO clubs extremely interesting.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-12-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

From master storyteller and National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes a sweeping and gorgeously written modern fantasy about a forbidden love, an ancient and epic battle, and hope for a world remade.

Review

This is hard to review, because it felt like two different books. I devoured the first half, eagerly delving into both the exotic Czech locale and the exotic hints of Serephim and Chimaera culture. It was fascinating and funny and a bit edgy. Then....things got way more heavy-handed and dramatic, and I'm not sure if I liked it.

That's a problem, because I think the sequel will be much more of the otherwordly and less of the urban fantasy.

However. There are many things I liked! Remaking angel/demon mythology was really well done. And a girl growing up with affectionate demon-like creatures is always going to be interesting. The hints of who Karou is and how she came to be were laid out in tantalizing and believable bite-sized chunks.

I even really like the second half epic fantasy stuff. Forbidden love is fun. A detailed other world is awesome. It just felt like such an abrupt change. Like I was no longer reading the book I thought I was. So I'm going to do something very weird and give the book two ratings.

Part one: Five out of five sketchbooks. Part two: Three out of five masquerades.

Release Date: September 2011
Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL TAY

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

2011-11-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse, unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo--alone and unaided--who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside...

Review

YAY! I just...really love Tolkien. Rereading The Hobbit is like taking a warm bath. I just want to snuggle into the story. Yet despite its comfort factor, I am amazed that each time I read it, I draw more from the story, and love the characters in new ways.

Let's take Bilbo, hobbit hero and predecessor to future hobbit hero Frodo. Bilbo likes eating and watching nature do its nature thing in Hobbiton. When he is thrust into an adventure, he spends a good chunk of time bemoaning his state and wishing he were home. But when push comes to shove, he realizes he can do far more than he ever imagined (or needed to be, home under The Hill). The best part about Bilbo is that he takes his experiences and learns from them! He does one thing awesome, so the next time something scary comes along, he is more confident.

Of course, it must help to have a ring that turns you invisible.

DUN DUN DUN.

Gandalf is brilliant. Thorin Oakenshield is nicely pompous, and prideful to a fault. I adore Fili and Kili, and Dori is a friendly curmudgeon. But Smaug! I want a snarky dragon! I mean, not really, because he would be snarky up until he ate me. But. His scenes are delicious (har har).

I cannot wait until The Hobbit becomes a movie next year. I will be there at midnight with bells on (or maybe a cloak. Or a ring. Or a dragon!).

Five out of five men of Dale.

Release Date: January 1966
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL TOL

Otis by Loren Long

2011-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Otis is a special tractor. He loves his farm and farmer. He particularly loves the little calf in the next stall, whom he purrs to sleep with his soft motor. The two become great friends, romping in the fields, leaping bales of hay and playing ring-around-the-rosy by Mud Pond.

But when the big yellow tractor comes to the farm and replaces Otis, he is cast away to rust beind the barn--until the little calf gets stuck in Mud Pond. Then there is only one tractor (and it's not big or yellow) who saves the day. It's little Otis!

Artist Loren Long has crafted an unforgettable story--and a truly unforgettable character.

Review

I have never in my life thought of a tractor as cute, but Long has changed all that. Otis is adorable. If I had to give a big blue ribbon to either him or the little calf, I...wouldn't know which to choose. The artwork is amazing.

However, I just really dislike stories about inanimate objects being real, when the object is to make me feel bad about replacing them. Sometimes tractors get old. Sometimes playing with toys isn't fun anymore (I'm looking at you, Toy Story), and I don't want to be emotionally manipulated into thinking they have feelings. So. I can't love Otis, because he emotionally manipulated me.

However, I like stories about odd friendships, and I appreciated that Otis saved the little calf by helping her save herself.

Three out of five haybales.

Release Date: September 2009
Reading Level: Grade PreK+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

Rules by Cynthia Lord

2011-11-29T13:34:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"--in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors.

But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the potential next door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?

Filled with humor and warmth, Cynthia Lord's debut novel takes a candid and sensitive look at feeling different and finding acceptance--beyond the rules.

Review

This book made me feel all the feelings. Not in a gooey way. Lord has a fantastic ability to write an "issue" book--relationships with handicapable people--with real honesty, humor, and poignancy.

I loved Catherine because she is equal parts loyal and defensive. She felt like a real 12-year-old. I loved the honesty of her relationship with every single character. She loves her little brother, but is always looking for the next way he will embarrass her. She loves her mom and dad, but resents that they pay more attention to David than to her, while simultaneously realizing they have to. She desperately wants to be friends with Kris, but isn't willing to open up about the things she really cares about. And she genuinely likes Jason, the boy in the wheelchair who uses picture words to talk, but she is uncomfortable with how other people see her when she is with him.

It's all very heartbreaking and uncomfortable--because I share those same incongruous emotions when it comes to handicapable people. That's why books like Rules are so important, to remind the privileged and the healthy that everyone deserves respect, attention, and friendship.

Five out of five grape sodas.

Release Date: April 2006
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

Physik by Angie Sage

2011-11-29T09:05:00.001-08:00

Septimus goes back in time with Jenna, Nicko, Snorri, and Beetle to the time to save them. Septimus is apprenticed to Marcellus Pye who is Princess Esmerelda's brother. (Jenna is recognized as Esmerelda.)

Recommend to: Everyone

Jiyoon (grade 3)

Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst

2011-11-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire, fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil...until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her Family think she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist) and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The vampire king of New England has chosen Pearl's Family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the king's feast--as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends--especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache--to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her Family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

Review

With a title that mocks Eat Pray Love and is about a vampire being horned by a unicorn, I was really looking forward to a cracktastic fun read. Unfortunately, the book was not as funny as I wanted it to be, but neither did it manage to be dramatic or the least bit suspenseful.

There were two things I liked: Durst's description of Pearl being in the sunlight for the first time (she was born a vampire, not made, so it was the very first time for her). It was beautiful and felt very real. I also loved the idea of were-unicorns.

Unforutnately, I really want someone else to write a story about were-unicorns. And that's never a good sign.

The characters never felt realistic. Nearly all the high schooler's dialogue was so outrageously "witty" that I couldn't take them seriously. Many plot threads had the potentail for drama but mostly fell through. There were hints that vampires have consciences even without being staked by a unicorn, and that would have been fascinating to explore! But less than twenty pages after explicitly mentioning this, the door to examining it was closed.

I wanted a lot more out of this book than I got.

Two out of five bad proms.

Release Date: September 2011
Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL DUR

Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian

2011-11-23T11:56:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Prepare to laugh out loud while reading this tell-all tale from a goldfish. With his bowl to himself and his simple routine, Goldfish loves his life...until one day...When assorted intruders including a hyperactive bubbler, a grime-eating snail, a pair of amorous guppies, and a really crabby crab invade his personal space and bowl, Goldfish is put out, to say the least. But time away from his new companions gives him a chance to rethink the pros and cons of a solitary life. And discover what he's been missing.

Review

Sometimes it's not that we don't like people...it's just that we need space. At least, that's what I took away from this book about the travails of a housepet. Me and Goldfish, we understand each other. Thankfully, though miffed that people keep taking over his home, Goldfish comes to appreciate them, disgusting though they might be.

The real fun of this book comes to those who have been fish owners. The silly plants and bubble divers. The gross but fascinating snails that clean the tank scum. Guppies who seemingly multiply overnight. And crabs, scuttling around unseen until they pinch you. Fun stuff.

But not fun enough to make me want to own fish again. Or to make me vote this as Monarch winner.

Three out of five fish faces.

Release Date: April 2010
Reading Level: Grade K+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

2011-11-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth--a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest story promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

Review

I love mazes and labyrinths. I loved it in King's Quest, Final Fantasy 8, and Harry Potter 4. I love fall corn mazes. They fill me with dread and excitement. There's something so quintessentially adventurous about willingly getting lost in order to find something.

So Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson delving into an epic Labyrinth that spans the entire United States, filled with tricks and missteps and monsters--I'm in love! It is no surprise that this is my favorite of the Percy Jackson series.

This time around Nico has a larger, and darker, role. He quickly became one of my favorite characters. Rachel I'm not so in love with, though that is probably because of the way Percy's romance with Annabeth is complicated by her (and by Luke, and by Calypso....lots of love trials in this book). I loved the appearances by some of the gods and goddesses. When they are good, they break my heart. When they are bad, I am gleefully entertained.

Five out of five blue hairbrushes.

Release Date: May 2008
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL RIO

A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker

2011-11-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Bear does not like birthdays. He doesn't like parties or balloons, cards or candles. In fact, Bear does not like anything to do with birthdays at all. He would much rather spend his birthday alone cleaning his house, but Mouse, small and gray and bright-eyed, has other ideas.

The creators of A Visitor for Bear team up again for another comedy about the curmudeonly Bear and his eager friend, Mouse.

Review

Who doesn't like birthdays? Well, my roommate in college. But despite knowing her, I still cannot fathom being unexcited about my birthday. So a story about a bear who would rather clean his house than eat birthday cake and open presents!? I can't relate.

It doesn't help that we are given no hints that Bear actually does want to celebrate his birthday (through words or pictures) until all of a sudden, he's sporting new roller skates, surrounded by balloons, and chowing down on chocolate cake. Whoops, spoilers. I didn't love it, although it's nice that a level book is a part of the Monarch nominees.

Two out of five mousey disguises.

Release Date: September 2009
Reading Level: Grade K+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder

2011-11-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

School is in session! But this is no ordinary kindergarten class. Meet sixteen young giant panda cubs at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Reserve. The cubs are raised together from infancy in a protected setting, where they grow strong. Under the watchful eyes of the scientists and workers, the cubs learn skills that will help prepare them to be released into the wild.

Follow a day in the life of the cubs with Joanne Ryder's spare and simple text and full-color photographs by Dr. Katherine Feng, Wolong's leading photographer.

These special cubs have captured the attention of people around the globe. Thanks to dedicated staff and unique resources at Wolong, this threatened species now has a second chance. Here is the true story of their incredible journey toward hope and survival.

Review

Pandas are one of the animals that make me think, "But you are impossibly cute? Are you really real?" The photographs in this book have not assured me of their reality. Many of them make me curl into myself and sigh, "Aaaawwww."

And sixteen of them? Can't handle it.

I anticipate many kids, after reading Panda Kindergarten, will want to grow up and be a panda scientist. Maybe some adults will want to change careers, too! Their job is recorded as one of dedication, love, and lots of fun.

I do wish the book had dealt a bit about how growing up in the nursery differs from growing up in the wild. It was mentioned that pandas often have twins, but will only take care of one. At the nursery, workers make sure the second twin is well-cared for, but what happens in the wild? I assume the worst, but I would like to know for sure!

Still, a very good, very cute book. Now excuse me while I go cuddle with a panda stuffed animal.

Four out of five panda playgrounds.

Release Date: June 2009
Reading Level: Grade PreK+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

Letters to Malcolm by C.S. Lewis

2011-11-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

In the form of warm, relaxed letters to a close friend, C.S. Lewis meditates on many puzzling questions concerning the intimate dialogue between man and God. He considers practical and metaphyiscal aspects of prayer, such as when we pray and where. He questions why we seek to inform God in our prayers if He is omniscient, whether there is an ideal form of prayer, and which of our many selves we show to God while praying. The concluding letter contains provocative thoughts about "liberal Christians," the soul, and resurrection.

Review

Lewis is the author I respect the most. I genuinely love to read everything he wrote (excepting, perhaps, The Problem of Pain, which took me three tries to get through). He can take the most complicated theological issues and make them completely understandable. On the other hand, he takes things I assume are simple, and makes them very complicated. I love him for both of these things.

In this book, which is really his side of a letter correspondence, Lewis talks about prayer. I am not good at praying, and some of his suggestions were kind of awesome. He discusses many of the issues with prayer--why even bother? why is it so hard? I loved every bit of it. Lewis writes as if he is sitting in a comfy chair, chatting with you and cracking jokes.

And maybe that's what I love about him most of all. Throughout all situations and all theological discussions, he maintains a sense of humor, and a sense of humility.

Five out of five thinky thoughts.

Release Date: March 1973
Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: Not currently part of Dunlap's collection.

Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic

2011-11-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone's outisde the door...but who?

Meet Max--a duck for all seasons.

Review

This was a cute enough story about a duck who takes over a household--much to everyone's chagrin. But when he leaves, they realize how much they miss him, and welcome him back gladly the next winter. Him, and the rest of his flock.

I liked the idea of a duck skipping migration because he wanted to experience winter. I liked the adorableness of an animal-filled house. And I loved the page where all the animals surround their owner as the words say, "Someone had to talk to Max. But who?" Very cute.

However, the story wasn't especially unique or wonderful. I liked it, but I don't think it quite deserves to be nominated for the Monarch award.

Two out of five remote hoggers.

Release Date: January 2007
Reading Level: Grade K+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection:MONARCH

Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost

2011-11-16T14:16:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Cartooning is what happens when you send your drawings on an adventure!

On this adventure, you'll meet an impatient knight, a cowardly horse, and a magical elf. Our heroes are off to rescue a princess and slay a dragon...and they're learning to make comics along the way!

In Adventures in Cartooning, simple lessons in cartooning are woven into a rip-roaring story.

The only thing more fun than reading this comic will be making your own!!!

Review

I love this book! I used to like drawing comics, and I would have loved to have such a fun guide as this to inspire me. The authors' ability to combine a really good tale (mysteries, candy-snatching dragons, magic beanstalks!) while teaching cartooning skills is kind of extraordinary.

The fact that they included a bit of artwork by a child who read their book was a very nice touch. It showed that anyone really can be a cartoonist. The only thing standing in the way of your creativity is your own self-doubt!

Five out of five cowardly horses.

Release Date: March 2009
Reading Level: Grade 1+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

2011-11-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

There's been a terrible mistake. Wayside School was supposed to be built with thirty classrooms all next to each other in a row. Instead, they built the classrooms one on top of each other...thirty stories tall! (The builder said he was very sorry.) That may be why all kinds of funny things happen at Wayside School...especially on the thirtieth floor. You'll meet Mrs. Gorf, the meanest teacher of all; terrible Todd, who always gets sent home early; and John, who can read only upside-down--along with all the other kids in the mixed-up school that came out sideways. But you'll never guess what's in store for Wayside School on Halloween! Part of Louis Sachar's popular Wayside School series, this nutty story about the confused antics at Wayside School remains a classic for readers who like their books slightly...sideways.

Review

I loved this book when I was in grade school. Even when Sachar's imagination went far beyond mine, my confusion was always mingled with a good dose of giggling. Hidden inside each off-the-wall story is a hint of truth, especially regarding the emotions of kids. Who doesn't remember the seeming unfairness of punishments? Or the helplessness when everyone is in on a joke but you?

Okay, but maybe I never found myself in a showdown with a dead rat wearing raincoats.

Sachar's book is an excellent imagination booster, and obviously its appeal is lasting, since it has been nominated for the Bluestem award 26 years after it was published.

Four out of five green balls.

Release Date: August 1985
Reading Level: Ages 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: BLUESTEM

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

2011-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The Silmarillion is J.R.R. Tolkien's tragic, operatic history of the First Age of Middle-Earth, essential background material for serious readers of the classic Lord of the Rings saga. Tolkien's work sets the standard for fantasy. Beginning with the Music of the Ainur, The Silmarillion tells a tale of the Elder Days, when Elves and Men became estranged by the Dark Lord Morgoth's lust for the Silmarils, pure and powerful magic jewels. Even the love between a human warrior and the daughter of the Elven king cannot defeat Morgoth, but the War of Wrath finally brings down the Dark Lord. Peace reigns until the evil Sauron recovers the Rings of Power and sets the stage for the events told in the Lord of the Rings. This is epic fantasy at its finest.

Review

I am a fan of the epic. I want my drama to be high, my heroes to be admirable, and my villains to be despicable. I love beauty and truth and (wow, I feel like I'm about to quote Moulin Rouge), and The Silmarillion has it in spades.

The first story is the creation of the world, and oh my word, it's beauty kills me. When I read it, I feel like my eyes are wobbling back in forth with emotion, like an anime character.

And then Tolkien goes on to build this world where I want so badly to live, where there is peace and creativity. But it doesn't last. There is evil in the world, and slowly, throughout stories of heroes and villains and fate, it crumbles. Kingdoms are overthrown. My favorite characters are killed. BAD THINGS HAPPEN. And I get so crazy invested in Tolkien's world that it makes me unbearably sad.

I just want good things to stay, okay?

Anyway, The Silmarillion is crazy good. The story of Beren and Luthien is one of the best. If you like Lord of the Rings and can't get enough of Middle-earth, then this is the book for you.

Five out of five trees of Valinor.

Release Date: January 1985
Reading Level: Ages 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL TOL

Level Up by Gene Luen Yang

2011-11-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Dennis Ouyang has always struggled in the shadow of his parents' expectations. His path is laid out for him: stay focused in high school, do well in college, go to medical school, become a gastroenterologist. It may be hard work, but it isn't complicated...Until suddenly, it is.

Between his father's death, his academic burnout, and his deep (and distracting) love of video games, Dennis is nowehere near where his family wanted him to be. In fact, he's just been kicked out of college.

And that's when things get...weird.

Four adorable--and bossy--angels, straight out of a sappy greeting card, appear and take charge of Dennis's life. And so Dennis finds himself herded back onto the straight and narrow: the path to gastroenternology. But nothing is ever what it seems when life, magic, and video games collide.

With deceptively simple, cute art by Thien Pham, and a magical-realist plot that keeps you guessing up until the last moment, Gene Yang has returned to the subject he revolutionized with American Born Chinese. Whimsical and deadly serious by turns, Level Up is the next step in a powerful tale that Yang has made his own: coming of age as an Asian American.

Review

This graphic novel is nearly flawless. I say nearly, but....I can't actually think of a flaw. Level Up is a serious reflection on the complications of love between parents and children, and it is a hilarious story in which angels bring coffee and statues change shape. The humor is both subtle (or in the background of the panel) or in-your-face, like the disgusting assignments that must be done in the name of med school.

I loved this book. Anyone who has ever felt parental pressure, or has wondering what to do with their life, or has an imagination, or simply appreciates a dose of whimsy with their reality, will love Level Up too.

Five out of five extra lifes.

Release Date: June 2011
Reading Level: Ages 7+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL YAN

Butterflies and Moths by Nic Bishop

2011-11-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Butterflies shimmer as they glide through the air. Moths are more secretive, flying at night. But both grow up in an amazing way, transforming from wriggly caterpillars into beautiful winged insects. See them up close in Nic Bishop's photographs!

Review

I'm going to try something new--a live blog reading! Here are my thoughts as I read Butterflies and Moths:

Butterflies belong in fairy tales, but they're real! Hahaha, okay, cheese.

When I visited my friend in Mongolia, she told me she was afraid of butterflies. I couldn't believe it, because well, Bishop says they belong in fairy tales and I kind of agree. Turns out she was afraid of moths and didn't know the difference. That made more sense, but I still kind of scoffed. NO. SHE WAS RIGHT. Apparently there are some moths that feed on the tears of sleeping animals and others that drink blood!! That is the scariest thing I've ever read.

Blergh. Caterpillars are mostly gross. I used to catch them and put them in buckets, now I am squeamish. Growing up isn't all fun.

Haha! Caterpillars look so hilarious--OH MY GOSH it looks like a snake! That is awesome! Camoflauge defense for the win.

Monarchs are the mean girls of butterflies. Even their caterpillars are pretty, but if you eat one, their poison will make you sick! Like I said, they are mean girls. Ooo, but I love the idea of caterpillars using ants as their bodyguards. There's a story in there somewhere.

Wow! Butterfly wings up close are phenomenal! I am learning things!

It never stops being amazing and weird that caterpillars turn into butterflies. Ridiculous.

Eurrrgh! A praying mantis eating a butterfly! I didn't want to see that.

Hahaha! So the butterflies mating picture is kind of beautiful (and not sketchy, btw), but the description! "{A male butterfly} may search along rivers and sunny trails, swooping on anything that looks like a female. It might just be a falling leaf, or even a bumblebee. It doesn't take much to confuse the male."

Nic Bishop seems like an awesome guy. His photographs are phenomenal, and his dedication (waiting years to take that creepy snake-caterpillar picture!) is mind-blowing. Pretty cool book.

Four out of five transformations.

Release Date: March 2009
Reading Level: Ages 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: MONARCH

LEGO Club

2011-11-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

The older 3-5 graders anticipated that November's LEGO theme would be Thanksgiving. When I told them it was, in fact, pirates, they asked if they could combine the two. Thanksgiving Pirates? Yes please! Really, this simply resulted in pirate ships and pirate fights...over Thanksgiving food, such as one kid's red radioactive turkey. I'll leave that to the pirates.

Pictures below the cut!

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins

2011-11-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

Book Two left off with Gregor reading the Prophecy of Blood: a prophecy that calls for Gregor and Boots to return to the Underland to help ward off a deadly plague. But this time, Gregor's mother refuses to let him return to the Underland...until the rat Ripred assures the family that Gregor and Boots are just needed for a short meeting, which the crawlers will attend only if their "princess" Boots is present. Gregor's mom finally relents, on the condition that she go with them. The Underland plague is spreading, and when one of Gregor's family is stricken, he begins to understand his role in the Prophecy of Blood, and must summon all his power to end the biological warfare that threatens the warmblooded creatures of the Underland. Fans of Suzanne Collins's acclaimed fantasy series will find more suspense and action than ever in this thrilling third saga.

Review

After the epic bromance of Gregor and Ares....Ares becomes deathly ill and they cannot adventure together. Sad. Luckily, there is always Ripred to fill the empty space in my heart. Gregor, his sister, and the snarky rat are off on another quest to save the Underland. This time they are joined by two rats (I love how subtley Collins is dealing with, and healing, the animosity between the humans and the rats) and two mysterious jungle-dwelling humans! I loved Hamnet and Hazard. I love that the Underlanders are starting to lose their pride by learning the languages of the other Underland creatures. The mental image I have of Hazard screeching in Lizard is pretty hilarious, I have to say.

The threat of a plague was nicely ominous. There was a real sense of danger to the story. The twist at the end was horrible and emotionally sickening...in the best possible way. I love that Collins' is willing to explore the heights, and often the depths, of humanity to tell a good story.

Four out of five rat-eating plants.

Release Date: July 2005
Reading Level: Grade 4+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL COL

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

2011-11-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

Book Jacket

The Myth: Alice Liddel was an ordinary girl who stepped through the looking glass and entered a fairy-tale world invented by Lewis Carroll in his famous storybook.

The Truth: Wonderland is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss's parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, must flee to our world through the Pool of Tears. But in the pool Alyss and Hatter are separated. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author, to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Yet he gets the story all wrong. Hatter Madigan knows the truth only too well, and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

Review

I like Carroll's Alice in Wonderland all right, but it's not a book I rave over. Beddor's reimagining of Alyss's story, though? Yes, I will rave! Here is a Wonderland with a plot, with drama and tragedy and the coolest ideas. I actually almost believe that Wonderland is a real world, and that Alice Liddel was misunderstood. It's that good.

My favorite part of Wonderland was the fact that imaginations are used as tools. You can imagine things into being, and like my favorite fantasy stories, imagination can be used for either good or evil. It's finding the right way to use your imagination that makes all the difference between Alyss and Redd. That whole concept is summed up really excellently when Alyss goes into the maze; I wanted to underline sections of the book, so enormous and beautiful was the truth Beddor dealt with.

There is an ending to the story, with the possibility for more. I've just ordered the other two books in the trilogy for our library. I have no idea where the story will lead, but, well, that's the fun of a wild imagination! It can lead you anywhere.

Five out of five Crystal Continuums.

Release Date: September 2006
Reading Level: Grade 5+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: LINCOLN

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

2011-11-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Book Jacket

Find the 39 Clues. What would happen if you discovered that your family was one of the most powerful in human history? What if you were told that the source of the family's power was hidden around the world, if the form of 39 Clues? What if you were given a choice--take a million dollars and walk away...or get the first Clue? If you're Amy and Dan Cahill, you take the Clue--and begin a very dangerous race.

Review

This series (The 39 Clues) was recommended to me by one of the kids in our Monday Book Talk. I listened to the audiobook over the course of a week, and while I loved Riordan's trademark adventure with hilarity, I think I'm a little too old for the series? Wow, I never thought I'd say that.

The thing is, I can believe 11-year-olds fighting monsters and saving the world when they are demigods. But just regular old kids? Dan and Amy are a little too awesome. Not to mention their pre-teen relatives, who have no problem attempting to kill their cousins. What kind of family is this!? Maybe that is part of the plot, since their family apparently secretly rules the world. I keep expecting to be disappointed there, though. Is the end going to be that the Cahills are really just...the entire human race? Is their secret to being awesome that...I dunno, they have imagination? Or that the process of getting to the final Clue has made them world travelers and world changers?

I just don't see how the end can live up to the set up. But maybe it will!

Despite all this complaining, it was a very entertaining book. Riordan captures kids very well (aside from the aforementioned superhuman abilities), and he frequently makes me laugh. The puzzles were interesting. The danger sometimes felt very real. And I am always a fan of books that take me all over the world, so big points there.

Three out of five catacombs.

Release Date: September 2008
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: J39C