Reading Everywhere

Book Review: Martha Doesn't Say Sorry, by Samantha Berger & Bruce Whatley

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Berger, Samantha & Whatley, Bruce. Martha Doesn't Say Sorry! 48 p. Little, Brown. 2009. Hardcover $15.99. ISBN 9780316066822.

If you have a three year old, you NEED this book. Believe me, I know.

It tells the story of a spirited young otter named Martha who, as you can guess from the title, is kind of a pain in the rear. She stirs up all kinds of trouble and then has a little trouble with apologies.

NOT COOL, MARTHA.

But, of course, she does learn the beauty of a nice, clear "I'm sorry" in the end. Whew!

Now, why is it that kids love watching other kids do something bad and get in trouble for it? Toddler schadenfreude, I tell you. Our little guy picked out this book all on his own, and he finds Martha's naughtiness hilarious. He totally gets that she's doing bad things, and he delights in commenting disapprovingly on her behavior. ("Marfa not say sorry.")

The story may seem didactic to an adult, but it's wonderfully simple and straight to the point, reinforcing the importance of an apology at just the perfect level for a small child's understanding. The illustrations add a layer of levity to the text that children and adults will both enjoy.

The book's title is repeated quite a few times in the narrative, making for a fun-filled interactive reading experience. When you read it aloud, trail off with "Martha doesn't say..." and let your little one fill in with an exuberant "SORRY!" This works well for enhancing the participatory elements of a preschool storytime, too.

I love it-- a crowd-pleaser that teaches an important lesson.

Graphic Novel Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 1, by Gene Luen Yang & Gurihiru

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Yang, Gene Luen & Gurihiru. Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 1. 80 p. Dark Horse. 2012. Paperback $10.99. ISBN 9781595828118.

After my enthusiastic review of Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Lost Adventures, you can guess I'm a fan of this franchise, right? In case you're new to it, believe the hype. With solid storytelling, incredible worldbuilding, an epic good versus evil plot, and characters you'll grow to love, it's an animated series you don't want to miss.

This graphic novel, written by Printz-award winning author Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Japanese illustration team Gurihiru, picks up right where the original series leaves off, and retains the feel of the show exquisitely. To be honest, I was quite giddy to read this! It was like catching up with a long-lost friend.

The writing has pretty much everything a fan could hope for: fast-paced action, laugh-out-loud one-liners, and demonstration of true bonds between the characters. The dialogue leaps off the page as if spoken by the original voice actors. There's a little bit of aww-inducing romance that I found absolutely adorable-- but since the relationships in this series are a hotly debated issue, I'll point out that those who don't care for the romance will be mollified as one character freaks out every time the others display affection for each other, to hilarious effect.

Almost all of the characters we know and love all get a chance to shine here-- although I wouldn't mind seeing more of Uncle Iroh in subsequent volumes! And with two more parts to this story, I'm confident we'll get our Iroh fix.

The art is outstanding, with rich colors and lively facial expressions. And the backdrops! Some of the panels simply made me pause to admire their gorgeousness-- a Fire Nation colony in the Earth Kingdom struck me as particularly spectacular.

I can't recommend this volume highly enough to Avatar fans. If you liked the show, you'll definitely want to read this.

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 1 comes out on January 25th. ARC for review provided by Dark Horse Books via NetGalley.

And!! We're interviewing Gene Luen Yang on the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast this Friday, January 20. If you have any questions for Gene, please comment here and we'll do our best to ask them on your behalf!

Book Review: The Dead of Winter, by Chris Priestley

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Priestley, Chris. The Dead of Winter. 224 p. Bloomsbury USA. 2012. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9781599907451.

This engaging, atmospheric gothic novel is the perfect antidote to the 80-degee weather we've been having here in Southern California lately. I mean, it's JANUARY. I'd like to feel the cold!

Well, despite the unseasonable temperatures, reading The Dead of Winter made me want to wrap myself in a heavy blanket and sit in front of a roaring fire to keep warm. It's deliciously chilling!

The plot neatly comprises nearly all the familiar Victorian gothic tropes: an orphan, a gloomy old manor with a tortured owner; a helpful and loyal servant; a tragic ghost. Oh, and moors. In short, it's pretty awesome.

This book reads like an homage to classic gothic novels, and could be a great introduction to Poe or the Bronte sisters. Occasional SAT words encourage vocabulary building, but short sentences and a fairly straightforward plot make the old-fashioned writing style very approachable for a young reader.

The ambiguous ending works well with the tone of the novel, and the overall effect is genuinely creepy, but not exactly scary-- a solid pick for a middle schooler who likes ghost stories.

The Dead of Winter was published in the UK in 2010, and will hit US bookstore shelves on January 31. ARC for review provided by Bloomsbury USA via NetGalley.

Adventures in Butterbeer

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

You guys know Jimmy Wong, right? He's this total YouTube sensation with a ton of awesome music videos. I've been a fan ever since he made that hilarious and super catchy song about Alexandra Wallace. (Remember her? Asians on cell phones in the library? Yeah, her.)

Well, Jimmy Wong has a new venture: Feast of Fiction, a video series that aims to recreate recipes from games, books, and so on. One of his first videos will be of particular interest to librarians and kidlit fans: three versions of BUTTERBEER!

Like most youth services librarians, I harbor a certain amount of love for the Harry Potter books. In fact (um, should I admit this?), I have a Gryffindor costume I bought for a Harry Potter party I hosted at the library to celebrate the Deathly Hallows release. I trot it out every so often on Halloween.

So of course I had to try the butterbeer!

I love heavy whipping cream, so I had the most fun making the butterbeer foam. I cut the recommended sugar by half, and it was perfect for me. Depending on your sweet tooth, you might want to proceed cautiously with the sugar and add in more to taste as you go. The plentiful amount of vanilla gives it a nice kick. The recipe as stated in the video makes a very generous amount of foam, so if it's just you and a friend, you can adjust the recipe accordingly.

Of course, I didn't mind having extra, because it's DELICIOUS.

Now, onto the results of the recipes...

The cold version is super simple to make. The foam is what really takes this drink to a whole new level of awesome. I've made butterbeer before (as a refreshment for the aforementioned library Harry Potter party), but I never thought of adding whipped cream foam. Genius!

The blended version allows for copious amounts of that oh-so-good foam, and would be a refreshing treat on a hot summer afternoon.

The hot version is the ultimate comfort beverage on a chilly evening. It's mild and quite sweet. Since this is a hot drink, the whipped cream foam sinks in as it melts, making the end result all the more delectable. As suggested in the video, rum would indeed be a nice addition to this recipe for the adults among us!

Having tried all three recipes, I'm with Jimmy-- the hot version is my personal favorite. The blended version is excellent for those who like frappuccino type drinks. But the simple cold version impresses me the most as the drink I picture from the Harry Potter books, both in taste and appearance. Perfection!

Thank you to Jimmy Wong and friends for these "magical" recipes. Cheers!

Book Review: Across the Universe Series, by Beth Revis

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Revis, Beth. Across the Universe. 398 p. Razorbill. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9781595143976.

Revis, Beth. A Million Suns. 400 p. Razorbill. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9781595143983.

Across the Universe begins with an agonizing decision as seventeen-year-old Amy must choose whether to stay on Earth or be cryogenically frozen for 300 years alongside her parents, who are instrumental in a space mission to a new planet. She decides to go with her parents-- but is awoken 50 years too early. Somebody on the spaceship is unplugging the frozen people and leaving them for dead, and she has to solve the mystery before her parents fall victim to the murderer.

I'm honestly not much of a sci-fi reader, yet Across the Universe kept me turning the pages with its layered characters and riveting plot twists. The narrative is well paced, blending mystery and suspense with moments of human reflection, (justified!) angst, and even some romance as Amy forges a tentative relationship with the ship's future leader, Elder. The story is told through the dual narration of these two characters, and the constant shifting between their perspectives works to keep driving the plot forward.

I truly felt immersed in this book. Reading about characters cooped up on a spaceship made me crave the outdoors. I had to go out for a walk and get some fresh air, and had a new appreciation for the ability to breathe fresh air and see the sky! Revis creates and sustains a remarkably claustrophobic atmosphere with the spaceship setting, and the result is unforgettable.

A Million Suns does exactly what a sequel should do: it has more of what we experienced in the first volume, but ups the stakes, reveals more complications, and delves deeper into the characters and their relationships. It answers questions from Across the Universe while raising new ones, and leaves the reader eager for the final book in the trilogy. There were some truly awesome "OMG!" moments in this one. Just when you think it can't get any worse for these characters, Revis drops another bomb. I couldn't put it down!

I recommend these books to sci-fi fans and non-fans alike. This series has something to appeal to almost every reader. Don't miss it!

Across the Universe was published in last year, and A Million Suns comes out from Razorbill/Penguin tomorrow, January 10.

Challenge Accepted!

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

In keeping with my New Year's resolution of being a more interactive blogger, I'm signing myself up for a few reading challenges.

The Debut Author Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren, looks like just my cup of tea. I love reading debut authors! A quick count tells me I read and reviewed nearly 20 books by debut authors last year, so I'm thinking I can probably manage the official goal of the challenge, which is to read and review at least 12 middle grade or young adult novels this year.

The first debut novel I'm reading this year is Incarnate, by Jodi Meadows. Thanks, HarperCollins and NetGalley!

Eye-catching cover, right? I'm only about 25 pages in, but the story is intriguing so far. I'm really liking it.

I'm also going to try the Newbery Book Challenge, hosted by Mr. Schu and Colby Sharp. This challege encourages participants to read every single Newbery book... ambitious, right?? But the challenge very kindly allows for modifications and above all, NO STRESS.

So I'm going to take Mr. Schu's advice and simply commit myself to reading one Newbery winner from each decade this year. I have way too much going on to read all the Newberys, and to be honest, that's not a particular goal of mine. But I am curious about some of the older Newbery winners, and I'm sure I can find at least one winner per decade that I'll enjoy.

I haven't decided yet what I'm going to read from the 1920s, but my selection from the 1930s will be Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, by Dorothy P. Lathrop.

When I was a kid, my mom told me it was a really good story, and I completely blew off her suggestion because I was the kind of reader who needed to discover books on my own. (Also, maybe because I was being kind of a brat.) I'm sorry, Mom. I'm going to read Hitty, and I bet you're right about this book!

How about the rest of you? Are you excited about any particular reading challenges this year? Any tips? Recommendations?

Book Review: Under the Never Sky, by Veronica Rossi

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Rossi, Veronica. Under the Never Sky. 400 p. HarperCollins. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780062072030.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I was seriously hooked!

A unique blend of dystopian sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure, Under the Never Sky tells the story of Aria, a girl from a rigid pod-based society whose residents use virtual reality to escape the monotony of their closed-in life. When she's banished to the outside world after an incident, she is rescued by the rugged Outsider, Perry. Though the two can't stand each other, they have to learn to work together to achieve a common goal.

This book strikes me as a great title to introduce science fiction to a non-sci-fi reader. Despite the dystopian setting, most of the action takes place in the more primitive outside world. With battles against warring tribes, fierce wolves, and unpredictable bursts of deadly weather, the bulk of the narrative is a riveting survival story as Aria and Perry undertake their journey through one dangerous situation after another.

Worldbuilding is somewhat vague, but I didn't mind the lackof specifics one bit. I didn't feel like Ineeded to know exactly what had happened to this world to make it such a harsh place-- I could glean enoughfrom context.

Rossi's concept of a dualistic society is inventive, with those living in the pods being completely dependent on their technology, and those left on the outside having developed supernatural powers to help them survive the elements. The contrasts between these two factions of society set up a perfectly compelling conflict between the two main characters as they learn to overcome their differences.

Indeed, the romance between Aria and Perry is well-crafted and quite swoon-worthy-- definitely one of the highlights of the narrative for me. These characters harbor true disdain for each other initially, and the gradual development of their relationship is believable, with genuine chemistry. I couldn't get enough of these two!

First in a trilogy, this fast-paced story is sure to please those who read across a variety of genres.

Under the Never Sky hits bookstore shelves today. ARC for review provided by HarperCollins via NetGalley.

New Year's Resolutions: Bookish Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Happy 2012! As a librarian and book blogger, I resolve to…

Read more sequels

Because part of my job as a librarian is personally recommending books to all different types of readers, I feel obligated to read as widely as possible. Sequels don't add to the variety of my reading, so they languish on my to-read shelf. But I think I'm missing out! I used to LOVE getting really hooked on series. I'm going to reclaim that pleasure this year, if only just a little. After all, reading a series can strengthen my reader's advisory in that I can authoritatively state whether the quality is maintained after the first book, right? Right!

Be a more interactive blogger

I love the great wide world of book blogs. I want to comment on your blog. I want to connect with you. But alas, in juggling my time and energy between family life and professional responsibilities, I fall behind on blogs. Even if I just comment on one blog a day in 2012, it'll be an improvement.

Apply for a YALSA selection committee

As I've mentioned before, I'm the current chair of the YALSA Local Arrangements Committee for the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, and loving it. I am energized by the opportunity to serve YALSA and connect with fantastic colleagues in the library field, and I'm so excited about Annual. (Will YOU be there? Tell me!) When I wrap up my responsibilities for the Local Arrangements Committee, I'm eager to apply for the chance to serve on a selection committee. I find the YALSA selection lists so helpful in developing my library's collection; I want to take part in forming those lists.

What are your bookish goals for the new year?

Book Review: Dumpling Days, by Grace Lin

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Lin, Grace. Dumpling Days. 272 p. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2012. Hardcover $15.99. ISBN 9780316125901.

I once took a trip to China just forthe food. True story!

Of course, I was living in Japan atthe time, so it wasn't that far, but still... I am dedicated to experiencing good food and interesting travel. Giventhat this book combines both of these things, it’s no surprise that Iabsolutely loved it.

The third installment in Grace Lin'ssemi-autobiographical "Year of..." series sees the Lin family on amonth-long trip to Taiwan. It's a first for Pacy, who is not exactly in touchwith her Taiwanese heritage, having lived in upstate New York all her life. Shedoesn't feel like she belongs in Taiwan, and is caught between her twocultures. As Pacy navigates an unfamiliar language, a daunting new art style inChinese painting class, and her own insecurities, her only comfort is dumplings.Luckily, there are a lot of delicious dumplings to be had in Taiwan!


Soupy dumpling photo by flickr member keepwaddling1

Filled with vivid descriptions of Taiwan, an exuberant extended family, and a rich array of new experiences forPacy, this book is a treat for the senses. As in the previous books in theseries, charming black and white line drawings accompany the narrative. In thisvolume, the illustrations give the feeling of a travel journal.One need not be familiar with Taiwanto enjoy the narrative; in fact, since it’s all new to Pacy, the reader isintroduced to the sights and customs of Taiwan along with her.

The wonder of discovering a new place deftly parallels the theme of self-discovery, and Pacy's struggle with the sensethat she doesn’t belong in her parents’ homeland will ring true for manybicultural readers. The process of her coming to terms with her identity andfinding balance is layered, realistic, and ultimately heartening.

Those who have gotten to know Pacy through the first two books in the series will love witnessing her continued growth in Dumpling Days. Here, in learning more about herself, she also forges deeper connections with her family, displaying increasing maturity as she considers how her parents musthave felt when they left Taiwan to make a new home in the United States.

I found this book to be completely enchanting, and so true to the confusing, amazing, exhilarating experience of travel. I'm so excited to give it to my nieceas a Lunar New Year gift-- she'll get a red envelope too, don't worry... but anew book by her favorite author will be quite a bonus!

I recommend reading the first twobooks in the series before this one, but DumplingDays stands on its own quite effectively if you want to jump right in.

Warning: you may feel an urgent need to run to the nearest dim sum restaurant and order up a mountain of dumplings while reading this book. I say go for it!

Dumpling Days will be available in bookstores everywhere on January 2, 2012. ARC for review kindly provided by Little, Brown.

Book Review: Ditched: A Love Story, by Robin Mellom

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Mellom, Robin. Ditched. 288 p. Disney-Hyperion. 2012. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 978142314338.

If you're looking to start the new year off with a light, fast-paced read that will make you laugh, this book is definitely it.

Justina has the wost prom night ever, as a series of crazy misadventures culminate with her ending up in a ditch. See? She was ditched! LITERALLY! (Hee.) Seeking solace at a convenience store after her awful night, Justina tells her story in flashbacks to a hilariously opinionated audience. The nonlinear storytelling is fun, as details and relationships cleverly unfold bit by bit.

In addition to a sympathetic protagonist, this book has a large cast of unforgettable characters. I adored the cheerful stoners, Mike and Mike, who call their dates by their "essences" instead of their names (Serenity and Bliss). The dates themselves, classic "bad" girls with hearts of gold, are also utterly endearing.

Speaking of "bad" girls, I was a little perplexed by Justina's angst over her own supposedly tarnished reputation. She used to kiss a lot of guys, and- horrors!- kissed two guys at the same party one night. I mean, not that I condone rampant kissing... it's just that I'm not entirely sure it's that big of a deal to today's high schoolers. But hey, for our younger teen audience, I like that the author keeps it clean!

As I was reading, I kept thinking: "This would make an AWESOME movie!" It's reminiscent of one of my favorite teen classics, Can't Hardly Wait. In fact, the characters in this book attend Huntington High School, just like in that movie... a clever shout-out? Or maybe the book is actually set in Huntington Beach, which is possible from the references to In N Out Burger, a California-based fast food chain. Either way, the setting made me smile.

Bottom line: Ditched is a super cute story and a fun read. I can't wait to recommend it at my library, and if it's ever made into a movie (which it totally should be!), I will be there.

Look for Ditched in bookstores everywhere on January 10, 2012. ARC for review provided by Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.

2011: Bookish Highlights of My Year

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Did everyone have a happy holiday? I made the lemon chess pie from Sarah Weeks' Pie for the Christmas gathering at my in-laws'. It was a huge hit! I'd never heard of lemon chess pie before, but it's now a family favorite. Sweet and comforting, it's a sort of custard pie with a satisfyingly crunchy crust. And the recipe is so easy!

Now that Christmas is over and we're approaching the new year, I'm taking inspiration from Jessica Love Writes and doing a rundown of my most memorable book-related moments in 2011.

Winter

Went to ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego with my 3-month-old daughter blissfully strapped to me in a baby wrap. Did you know a baby is a fabulous accessory and conversation-starter when walking around the exhibits hall? Everyone wants to see the baby! Baby and I were pleased to meet up with some wonderful Betsy-Tacy enthusiasts.

Photo by flickr member bonnyglen aka fabulous author Melissa Wiley, who is 2nd from left.

Started this blog! Aww, my first post. It's hard to believe I've been blogging for almost a year. I honestly wasn't sure I'd be motivated to keep up with it when I started, but I've found blogging to be quite an addicting hobby.

Spring

Started the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast with Michelle from Never Gonna Grow Up Reviews.

We did our inaugural podcast interview with Holly Black and Cassandra Clare in April, when I hosted an event with them at my library. The crowd loved them-- their fans are so enthusiastic!

Hosted a lovely, cozy library event with fabulous debut author Josie Angelini. Love her! Starcrossed was one of my favorite reads of 2011. Michelle and I also interviewed her for the podcast.

Was honored to be appointed chair of YALSA's Local Arrangements Committee for the ALA Annual Conference in 2012.

Summer

In addition to continuing to review books for School Library Journal, started reviewing apps for SLJ's Touch and Go blog.

Attended YA in Bloom, an author event presented by Bridge to Books. Got to met Deb Bryan, who I've known online for YEARS-- ever since we figured out that we both taught English in the same remote corner of Japan. Missed her by a few years in Japan, and was thrilled to finally meet in person in Pasadena! (But why didn't we take a picture??)

Went to a book signing for Kiersten White, Andrea Cremer, Stephanie Perkins, and interviewed them for the podcast. That was the first podcast in which we went out into the crowd at an event-- we love meeting other book lovers and capturing their comments.

How cute is Kiersten White, standing on a chair
so the crowd can see her while she speaks??

Did a podcast interview with Suzanne Young, Nova Ren Suma, Cindy Pon, and Holly Goldberg Sloan at SCWBI in LA. These ladies are delightful!

Left to right: Michelle, Suzanne, Cindy, Allison, Holly, Nova
Photo by Vania Stoyanova

Did podcast interviews with both Gretchen McNeil and Marie Lu at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena. Both of these ladies are debut authors this year, and their books are fantastic.

Fall

Presented about podcasting with Michelle at KidLitCon in Seattle. I loved that conference so much! And Seattle is such a fantastic city.

Helped host my library's annual Readers' Festival - emcee'd Heather Vogel Frederick's presentation (also interviewed her for the podcast!) and moderated a fabulous panel of teen authors.

Lisa Yee, Gretchen McNeil, me, Cindy Pon, Marlene Perez
(Think an oversized polo shirt and a lanyard is a good look for me?? So chic, I know.)

Introduced Brian Selznick when he came to speak at my library. What an honor! His presentation was riveting.

Along with the other Local Arrangements Committee members, organized the YALSA Happy Hour at the California Library Association conference in Pasadena, and met all sorts of awesome YA librarians and YA lit advocates. This event made me that much more excited for Annual in June.

Went to Laini Taylor's book signing in Huntington Beach and interviewed her for the podcast. The signing was fabulous- the crowd got masks!- and Laini is so brilliant. Plus, I love her pink hair!

Attended Tahereh Mafi's launch party for her debut novel, Shatter Me; interviewed her for the podcast (stay tuned for that interview in January... she's adorable!).

All in all...

It's been an AMAZING year, you guys. I feel like I've been challenged in so many wonderful ways and had so many fantastic opportunities.

Before this year, I never thought I'd be able to keep up a book blog, and a YA lit podcast was just a pipe dream. I knew I wanted to get involved with YALSA to help out with next year's ALA Annual Conference, but I didn't think I'd have the opportunity to serve in a leadership role.

I'm looking forward to what 2012 has in store.

Cozy Christmas Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Grab a blanket and make a mug of hot cocoa-- here are my recommendations for books to read while you're in the Christmas spirit!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

The first volume of the Chronicles of Narnia is quite possibly my ideal wintery read. It may have a lot to do with childhood nostalgia, but when I think of cozying up in a in front of the fire with a good book, I'm probably picturing this one.

I mean-- four kids traipsing around wearing floor-length fur coats in a snowy, magical land where it's "always winter and never Christmas." Such a perfect winter read!

And then, oh, the joyous and majestic moment when Father Christmas himself appears, as a harbinger of the goodness and healing to come... I've always gotten chills at this part:

"I've come at last. She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch's magic is weakening."

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

An epic story of good versus evil set around midwinter and the twelve days of Christmas. The story weaves fantastic contrast between dark and light, making for an evocative and atmospheric read while the days are short and nights are long.

Almost too dark and intense for me to revisit often, but incredibly captivating, this story full of myth and questing is perfect if you want something to really make you feel the winter's chill.

The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens

I just finished this one, and was struck by how perfect it is for this time of year. Christmas figures prominently in the beginning and end of this book.

First in the Books of Beginning series, The Emerald Atlas is an action-packed adventure that's sure to be a hit with many young readers, and is enjoyable for an older audience too. With its warm, comforting narration by the incredible Jim Dale, this title would make a great audiobook choice for those long family car rides during the holidays.

Betsy In Spite of Herself, by Maud Hart Lovelace

In this installment of the Betsy-Tacy series, fifteen year old Betsy sets off to visit her old friend Tib for a "gemütlich" German-American Christmas in Milwaukee.

The descriptions of Tib's large extended family and their traditions are utterly delightful. I love seeing it all through Betsy's curious, amazed eyes. Waltzes, afternoon coffee, pastries, and a whole week of Christmas Days... ahh, where's my time machine? I'd like to be transported back to Milwaukee in 1907, please!

Let It Snow, by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

A charming holiday read for a slightly older audience, this book comprises long-ish short stories by three fantastic contemporary YA authors.

The stories, all sweet romances infused with humor, can stand alone but are cleverly interconnected. They tie together in a satisfying way for an overall feel-good reading experience that's sure to give you the holiday warm-fuzzies-- kind of like a YA book equivalent of Love Actually.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy reading, everyone!

Audiobook Review: Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Vanderpool, C. Moon Over Manifest. 2010. Random House Audio. Audiobook $25.00. ISBN 9780307941930.

When this year's Newbery winner was announced, I had the same reaction as a lot of readers: Moon over WHAT? It kind of came from left field to win the medal. But let me tell you, that Newbery committee knew what they were doing when they chose this title. It's good. Really, really good! To be honest, I had my doubts about how I would like it, but ended up completely riveted.

It's a book in which different threads of story come together in an satisfying conclusion. In 1936, Abilene is sent to the town of Manifest, Kansas, while her father works on the railroad, which he says is no place for a young girl. Her father had spent some time in Manifest as a boy, and Abilene is determined to find out more about his connection to the town. In her efforts to discover the history of her father, she discovers the history of the town itself.

Moon Over Manifest is one of those seemingly quiet books that kids may not pick up on their own. But if they do, they’ll undoubtedly be drawn into the mystery of the story as it unfolds layer by layer. Boys and girls will both enjoy this book equally, as there are two main characters: Abilene in 1936, and Jinx, the boy whose letters she discovers from 1918.

Of the dual narratives that make up the story, it’s Jinx’s story that really grabs the reader. His story is filled with lively characters, high stakes, and brilliant schemes, and Abilene's story is more of a frame. The storytelling is masterfully executed, as neither portion of the story would have the impact of the two combined. Abilene’s determination to find out more about her father gives emotional weight to the flashbacks, and the structure of the narrative makes for a fascinating puzzle as the reader wonders how the town went from a place full of hope in 1918 to a near ghost-town in 1936. If we didn’t have the picture of the town in 1936, the events of 1918 wouldn’t mean as much to the reader.

This novel works very well as an audiobook. The three modes of storytelling (the main narrative, a newspaper column, and a young soldier's letters home from war) are differentiated nicely with three actors reading the parts. The two secondary narrators, Kirby Heyborne and Cassandra Campbell, bring their roles to life and are a pure pleasure to hear.

The primary narrator, Justine Eyre, has a very distinctive texture to her voice that makes her unconvincing as a young girl, so I’m not sure she’s the best choice for a first-person youth narration. That said, she has excellent pacing, and does a fabulous job with the adult characters. She’s got quite a range, creating distinct voices for each character and using a variety of accents. Also, I enjoyed that her speech is clipped and precise in a way that sounds old-fashioned, like something out of a 1930s movie, making her performance perfect for historical fiction.

I still find myself thinking about this book months after finishing it. I'm so glad I gave it a try, and recommend it enthusiastically to anyone looking for a solid, uplifting story.

Book bloggers: What to do with those old ARCs?

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Following up on my post about how librarians can get ARCs, I'm turning my attention to book bloggers and the question of what to do with an ARC once you're done reviewing it.

Donate to your local library

Please (please please please!) consider donating ARCs to your local library. Most book bloggers know libraries can't add ARCs to our collections or sell them at our Friends of the Library bookstores for legal and ethical reasons. Trust us, we won't do that. But did you know we can still use ARCs in other ways?

I use them as prizes in my library's teen Summer Reading Program, which encourages teens to read for fun and maintain their level of literacy while they're away from the school setting.

Each participant is invited to earn a free paperback book in exchange for writing five brief book reviews. In the past, I've had to budget for the expense of prize books, which, of course, takes away from other things I could be providing for the teens. And with library funding the way it is these days-- well, believe me, every penny counts. Getting ARCs to use as prize books for free is a truly wonderful thing.

And Summer Reading is just the tip of the iceberg. Some librarians use ARCs as door prizes at teen events, or as giveaways for contests throughout the year. Others share ARCs with their book club or distribute them to their Teen Advisory groups who often have input on purchasing books for the library's collection. Your local librarian will find a way to get your old ARCs into the hands of young readers and introduce them to some really fantastic recent titles.

Other donation possibilities

Although I am biased toward the library (natch!), there are other venues for ethically passing along your ARCs, including classrooms, homeless shelters, hospitals, juvenile detention facilities, or organizations that serve youth, such as Boys and Girls Clubs.

You can do something good with those old ARCs. They don't have to go in the recycle bin. Even if they're really old, somebody can use them.

Did I miss any donation possibilities? Please share in the comments. Book bloggers, how have you passed along your old ARCs?

Big thanks to Michelle from Never Gonna Grow Up Reviews for the ADORABLE photo above demonstrating the book blogger/ARC quandry. Be sure to check out her blog, because it's just as awesome as she is. And she does, in fact, donate ARCs to my library!

Librarians: How to get ARCs

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Book bloggers are pretty savvy about how to get ahold of books before their publication date. But librarians don't always have a source for getting advance reader copies (ARCs)-- even though reading them can influence our book-buying decisions as we add to our library collections. Being knowledgeable about the latest titles (even before they're published!) can also boost our ability to make excellent book recommendations to our patrons.

Librarians usually rely on professional review journals to keep up with forthcoming titles, but the question of how to get ahold of ARCs often comes up in the library community. Reviews are invaluable, but clearly a lot of us like to read books first-hand and evaluate them on our own.

So how can librarians get ARCs? Here are a few strategies that have worked for me:

1. Attend conferences

I know this can be easier said than done for many of us, but when ALA Annual or Midwinter is in your neighborhood, it's a must-do. Bookmark this list of upcoming conferences to keep tabs where ALA will be held every year through 2017. Other conferences where ARCs are distributed include BEA and NCTE. If you can attend these conferences or know anyone who’s going, it’s a great way to gather a ton of ARCs. I'm sure there are other conferences where you can pick up ARCs-- please share in the comments if you have any suggestions!

2. Contact your local independent bookstore

My library has a wonderful partnership with a local independent bookstore, and the owner has occasionally brought over boxes of slightly older ARCs that she and her staff were done with and had no room to store. Such a treat! So if you have any great indie bookstores in your area, see if they would be willing to donate the ARCs they're no longer using. Even if the ARCs are past their publish date, you can use them as giveaways for your library teens, who won't care that the titles have already been published. They'll just appreciate the cool books.

3. Sign up for NetGalley

If you've got an ereading device (or don't mind reading on your computer screen), NetGalley is one of the easiest, most convenient ways to read ARCs. A variety of publishers choose to make ARCs available in digital formats. You can create a profile on the site, request ARCs (which expire after a certain time period), and easily send your feedback to the publisher when you're done reading. I LOVE NetGalley!

4. Join YALSA-BK

Publishers occasionally post ARC giveaways on YALSA-BK, a mailing list primarily of interest to young adult librarians. But you have to be quick! ARCs go like hotcakes, and the publishers usually have a limited number to offer.

5. Build relationships with local book bloggers

Many book bloggers approach publishers directly for books to review, and would welcome an ethical way to pass along ARCs once they're done reading. Try to make contact with book bloggers in your area and ask them to consider passing along their ARCs to you. You'll probably have good luck meeting book bloggers by attending author events in your area-- and hopefully you'll not only build a partnership, but make a friend!

Edited to add...
6. Contact publishers directly

You heard it here... book bloggers aren't the only ones who can ask publishers to send them ARCs. When I tweeted about this blog post, the Library Marketing Team at Hachette Book Group responded to encourage librarians to contact publishers' library marketing departments.

Isn't that awesome? I honestly never thought of simply asking for an ARC... I was worried it might seem pushy or grabby. But truly, ARCs make a huge difference when I'm selecting for my library's collection.

Even if I read an ARC and it turns out not to be my cup of tea, I'm able to see its appeal for another type of reader. I'm much more likely to order a book for the library if I've read it and know I can recommend it to someone.

It really does benefit the publisher to make ARCs available to librarians, and I see that I shouldn't feel so hesitant about asking. So, thank you to the Library Marketing Team at Hachette Book Group for the excellent tip!

Of course, I'm not sure if all publishers share Hachette's stance on this, but it's worth a polite inquiry. Even if a publisher isn't in the practice of sending ARCs to librarians, their library marketing departments have some cool stuff to offer- reading guides, newsletters- so check them out! EarlyWord has a great round-up of library marketing contacts from various publishers:

Publisher Contacts: Library Marketing, Children's
Publisher Contacts: Library Marketing, Adult

So, those are my tips on how librarians can get ARCS, and I hope you find them helpful. What strategies have worked for you?

Next: book bloggers: what to do with those old ARCs?

Book Review: Stars, by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Ray, Mary Lyn and Frazee, Marla. Stars. 40 p. Beach Lane Books. 2011. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9781442422490.

This beautifully illustrated, simply written picture book calls children to notice the stars, to feel comforted and strengthened by their presence-- even when they're invisible. The narrative underscores the importance of having something to believe in. It also encourages creativity and imaginative play, and invites children to look beyond the literal and see stars in different places all around them.

For me, the highlight of this book is Marla Frazee's artwork. Always expressive and endearing, her coloring technique reminds me of Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire's work, as the drawings seem to glow from within. There's an illustration of three children cozily huddled in a hollow tree trunk that's positively spellbinding. If it were made available as an art print, I would buy it immediately. (I'd like an art print of the cover illustration, too, please.)

The richness of Frazee's artwork emerges with each reading of this book. Details and characterizations reveal themselves to the delight of a child who loves to make visual connections, and the brilliance with which Frazee depicts the vastness of the sky is stunning.

Ray's text is spare and lovely. The concepts are easily relatable for a child, and an adult will enjoy the deeper themes reflected. It occasionally seems a little aimless to me ("Because a star is different from a rock."), but there are moments of pure beauty. I love the way the book begins:

"A star is how you know it’s almost night.
As soon as you see one, there’s another, and another.
And the dark that comes doesn’t feel so dark."

This book has become a welcome part of my three-year-old son's bedtime routine. He asks for it every night, and I'm more than happy to cuddle up and read it with him.

I've heard Caldecott buzz for this one, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a sticker on its cover next year.

Book Review: Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Inside Out and Back Again was my "lunch hour" book for a few days, so here it is on my desk at the library.
It's surrounded by my favorite scarf because unlike the subtropical climate of south Vietnam,
it's been co-o-o-ld here in Orange County and I've been bundling up!

Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out and Back Again. 272 p. HarperCollins. 2011. Hardcover $15.99. ISBN 9780061962783.

I'm still thinking about this book, reflecting on it several days after finishing it. Reading the author's story of her family's escape from Vietnam just before the fall of Saigon felt personal for me. My husband was born here in California, but his family, too, escaped Vietnam in 1975.

His family rarely mentions their refugee experience because it was so harrowing. The memories are too difficult to talk about, too overwhelming to bring to the surface. The older generation doesn’t want to “burden” their children by discussing what they went through.

I think it’s really important, therefore, that Thanhha Lai has written her family's story. It's fictionalized, yes, but as I understand it, still very much the truth of her own experience, and reflects the stories of so many who escaped Vietnam at that time. Through this poignant novel in verse, younger generations of Vietnamese-Americans can gain perspective on the pain and trauma their parents and grandparents endured to give them the life they lead now.

Even without the personal connection, this is an intensely powerful book. Readers don’t have to be Vietnamese-American or be connected to refugees in any way to feel their heart rate increase as the tension of war infiltrates daily life, perch on the edge of their seat during the desperate escape on a crowded ship, or sigh with empathy at the bullying young Hà endures as she struggles to adapt to her new life in the United States.

Headstrong Hà is a relatable protagonist and a keen observer of the world around her. Young readers will champion her for getting angry at the frustrations and limitations she faces as a refugee trying to learn a new language and culture. Lai doesn't sugar-coat, and the effect is stunningly real. The verse format is a perfect fit for her story, eliciting heartbreak or laughter with just a few words.

A fairly quick read that's well worth lingering over, Inside Out and Back Again is the winner of the 2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. 316 p. Tor. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780765328656.

For whatever reason, I ignored the buzz about this book, even though there was a LOT of it. But once my library’s copy came across my desk, I found myself absolutely hooked from the first page. I love it when a book takes me by surprise like that!

The premise is awesome: a creepy Victorian house haunted by the wrathful spirit of a murdered teenage girl who kills anyone who enters the house... except our ghost-hunting main character, who’s there to put an end to her slaying spree? HELLO, SIGN ME UP.

And the book delivers on that awesome premise, making for a fast-paced, genuinely engaging read. Really, I have no idea why I didn’t pick it up sooner.

Anna Dressed in Blood reads like a really awesome episode of the TV show, Supernatural-- before the show got all convoluted with demons and angels, back when it was just monster-hunting, I mean. There’s lots of legends and lore, and the horror is pitch perfect in this book. There are some genuinely chilling scenes and really creepy, gruesome imagery-- things I’d cover my eyes to avoid watching on a screen, but don’t traumatize me in print. Scary, but fun!

It’s kind of unfortunate that this book has a girl on the cover and a girl’s name in the title, because it's not just for girls-- guys will totally dig it too. It’s got a gruff, street-smart male protagonist who delivers some truly great hilarious one-liners. It’s light on the romance and heavy on the action and suspense. It’s got gore. I know, I know-- the cover and title shouldn’t matter, guys should transcend stereotypes and read it anyway… but I can tell you from experience pitching books to teen guys, most of them are pretty self-conscious about reading a potential “girl” book. Alas! So it might take some convincing, but I would definitely recommend this title to girls and guys.

But speaking of the cover… BONUS! There’s a dead girl depicted, but unlike so many other dead girls on book covers, she’s clearly not a victim. She looks strong and imposing. Dead girl empowerment! It’s about time.

I enthusiastically recommend Anna Dressed in Blood to anyone looking for a slightly scary story to curl up with on a chilly Fall night.

Waiting on Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. My choice this week:

The Fault in our Stars, by John Green
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release date: January 10, 2012

Well, OF COURSE I'm eagerly anticipating the new John Green novel! He's an amazing writer and an important voice in YA literature. I'm really into contemporary YA fiction right now- a little burned out on paranormal, I have to admit- so I'm compelled by this story of a girl who may be near the end of a long battle with terminal cancer.

I usually steer clear of "dying person" books because they can get maudlin and emotionally manipulative, but I know I can rely on John Green to stay out of Lurlene McDaniel territory. From The Fault in our Stars, I expect great dialogue, memorable characters, and a story that will make me laugh and cry.

This book is such a big deal, there are NO ARCs. But my friend Beth over at A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust is giving away a SIGNED chapter sampler. How awesome is that?!

I'm really looking forward to this book, both for myself and my library teens. I think we're all going to find it a really powerful read.

Librarian's night out: Breaking Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

I consider it my librarian duty to see movies based on YA literature, and the Twilight series is no exception. So what can I say about "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1?" (Other than, wow, that's a long title...)

Well, it was VERY FAITHFUL to the book. Ahem. Make of that what you will. But did I have fun watching? Indeed I did!

Things that were ridiculous yet somehow endearing

Jackson Rathbone had only two lines in the entire film. But he delivered the heck out of those lines! Way to make it happen, Jackson.

Bella's baby name discussion. The name Renesmee will never NOT be funny.

Edward and Bella play chess on the honeymoon! With a red and white chess set! GET IT?? Ohhh, these movies just can't stop with their ever-so-subtle shout-outs to the book covers.

Things that made me shake my head

Kristen Stewart drives me batty. Girlfriend looks like she'd rather be anywhere but acting in these Twilight movies. Cheer up, KStew! You're getting paid for this!

The hideousness of Bella's wedding dress. There's already a replica available from wedding dress designer, Alfred Angelo, but I implore the brides of America: please... when choosing a bridal style icon, think Kate Middleton, not Bella Swan.

The pacing. There's just about enough plot to fill a thimble, so scenes were dragged out with long, lingering close-ups on Bella, Bella's eyes, Edward, the honeymoon bed... you get the picture. Enough already!

IMPRINTING. It was done as tastefully as possible (I can't believe I'm saying that), but just-- auggggggh.

Things I genuinely liked

So the wedding gown wasn't my cup of tea, but the shoes were pretty fabulous! Manolo Blahnik "Swan." (See what they did there?)

The wedding speeches. Charlie, Emmett, and Jessica were hilarious. Intentionally so!

Seth! He was adorbs. Seriously. Leah was pretty awesome, too.

And the bit at the end, after the credits? The Volturi are so entertaining. Can't wait to see more of them in the next movie.

Links of note

Cleolinda's Breaking Dawn in Fifteen Minutes Perhaps her best work yet. Don't miss it! I heart Cleolinda.

'Breaking Dawn' movie causing seizures? Well, look, I know not everyone's a fan, but come on now...

'Twilight: Breaking Dawn:' Does it send the wrong message? A thought-provoking look at Twilight's take on sex, love, and childbirth, whether you agree with it or not.

And just think! There's only a year until we can look forward to seeing "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2." Well, maybe "look forward" isn't quite the phrase I'm looking for... but, um... it's a thing that will happen.

And I will be there for sheer amusement.

Book Review: Audition, by Stasia Ward Kehoe

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Audition shares the nightstand with other precious items: a picture of my husband and myself, a baby doll that reminds me of my daughter (it's hers, really, but she'll just chew on it), a baby monitor, and a tin of my current favorite hand lotion, Badger Balm.

Kehoe, Stasia Ward. Audition. 464 p. Viking Juvenile. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780670013197.

Even if you think you don't like verse novels, try this one. The story of a young dancer admitted to an intense ballet academy on scholarship might change your mind.

Kehoe's knowledge of the ballet world, with all its beauty and ugliness, shines in this book. The intimate details of ballet school life and an inadvisable (but inevitable) romance make for a compelling combination.

The complex and consuming relationship between twenty-two-year-old Remington and sixteen-year-old Sara may tempt the reader to race through the pages to reach the story's conclusion. But to do that would be a disservice to Ward's writing. Her use of language is graceful, expert. You want to linger over it. She harnesses the power of the verse novel format effectively, evoking fully-realized settings, emotions, and plot turns with spare, deceptively simple lines of text.

Tension is sustained throughout the novel as Sara compares her relationship with Remington and her entire experience at the ballet school as one long, never-ending audition. She can never rest easy. She's always striving, always competing, always feeling judged. The pressure is palpable.

It's coincidental that this novel was published around the same time as Bunheads, another novel about a young ballet dancer (read my review here). Though both novels cover somewhat similar territory, the writing styles and plot elements are different enough that the books don't feel too much alike. In fact, reading one book actually enhances the experience of reading the other, especially for those unfamiliar with ballet terms.

I had the pleasure of meeting Stasia Ward Kehoe at KidLitCon 2011, and she is totally fantastic. Isn't it nice when fantastic people write fantastic books? Audition is a captivating story of self-discovery, and I am eager to recommend it at my library.

Book Review: Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Mafi, Tahereh. Shatter Me. 342 p. HarperCollins. 2011. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780062085481.

In the wake of The Hunger Games, there are a lot of novels about dystopian societies popping up these days-- but with its inventive premise, heart-pounding romance, and strong writing, Shatter Me stands out from the crowd.

Juliette is incarcerated for a crime she didn’t mean to commit. She has the power to kill a person just by touching them... a power she doesn’t want. Society is in shambles, the environment has gone haywire, and a new regime called The Reestablishment is in power. And they seek to use Juliette as a weapon.

Mafi’s use of language is striking and unique, crafting vivid imagery and believable emotions. Run-on sentences and strike-through formatting in the text deftly establish Juliette’s fragile mental state at the beginning of the story, and the writing gracefully shifts to a more even-keeled style as the character gains stability and confidence, occasionally reverting to run-ons to highlight moments of intense emotion with great effect.

The plot moves at a brisk pace, and the first-person, present-tense narration adds a sense of urgency. The full truth of Juliette’s lethal mistake unfolds bit by bit, and the big reveal is horrifying-- definitely a “wow” moment. Mafi pulls no punches, that’s for sure.

Readers will root for Juliette, a sympathetic main character who really deserves something good for once in her life. Fans of the dystopian genre will eat this book up, and the romance element of the story may attract readers who think they don’t like science fiction. I can’t wait to recommend it to teens at my library.

Shatter Me hits bookstore shelves today. ARC for review was picked up at BEA by my library director and graciously shared. Also, we have an interview coming up with Tahereh Mafi for the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast, so stay tuned!

Audiobook Review: Turtle in Paradise, by Jennfer L. Holm

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Holm, Jennifer L. Turtle in Paradise. 2010. Random House Audio. Audiobook $25.00. ISBN 9780307738301.

Slowly but surely, I'm catching up with the last round of Newbery books before the next batch is announced in January! I liked this story about a girl who is sent to live with her aunt and cousins in Key West, Florida, during the hard times of the 1930s. I didn't quite love it, but I liked it.

With its spunky main character and lighthearted tone, I would hand Turtle in Paradise to any elementary schooler with a historical fiction assignment. Despite the fact that there's a girl on the cover, boys and girl readers can enjoy this story equally-- there are plenty of hilarious boy characters.

The episodic feel of this book had me wondering where the plot was, even as far as halfway through the story. And then, after much meandering, I was a bit thrown off by the book's implausible climax, and an ending that felt abrupt to me. But if you like episodic plots, this is the book for you!

To me, it's the setting and characters that shine in this book. The character of Turtle provides some great laugh-out-loud moments with her snappy one-liners, especially involving her distaste for the saccharine child actress, Shirley Temple.

The Depression-era setting is effectively evoked through references to pop culture of the time, such as radio shows and comic strips-- which were called "the funny pages," of course. My grandma used that phrase! When did it go out of fashion, I wonder?

I listened to this book on CD, and highly recommend it in audio format. The narrator, Becca Battoe, is completely delightful. She has a soft Southern accent, which sometimes comes through even in the characters who are supposed to be Northern, but I was so charmed by it, it's easy to overlook any inconsistency. Her pacing is perfect, and (hooray!) she sounds appropriately youthful for a middle grade novel told from a first-person point of view. She suits the sassy character of Turtle perfectly, and her performance really enhanced my experience with this book.

Any young reader who likes historical fiction will find a great deal of charm in Turtle in Paradise.

Book Recommendation: A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Ness, Patrick and Kay, Jim. A Monster Calls. 215 p. Candlewick. 2011. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9781406311525.

One of the most buzzed-about books this Fall has been A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness. As soon as my library's copy came across my desk, I was compelled to read it. Inspired by an idea by author Siobhan Dowd before she passed away after a battle with cancer, it's a story about a boy whose mother is very ill. In the midst of his attempts at coping with the inevitable, he is visited by a monster, who wants to tell him three stories in exchange for one story of his.

I can't properly review A Monster Calls. It sort of left me dumbfounded. In a good way. In a good, crying-my-eyes-out kind of way.

So I'm just going to say: read it. If you're in the right place for it, that is. It's at once healing and heartwrenching, and you have to be ready for that. It could be cathartic or completely devastating.

This book is a quick read because it's so intense and hard to put aside. It's not an easy read, but a worthwhile one. The thoughtfully crafted prose is complemented by bold, messy black and white illustrations that add another dimension to an already-powerful story. It's the kind of book that stays with you a while after you turn the last page.

Book Review: Between the Sea and Sky, by Jaclyn Dolamore

noreply@blogger.com (Allison) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Dolamore, Jaclyn. Between the Sea and Sky. 240 p. Bloomsbury. 2011. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9781599904344.

Ahhh, this book is just what I want out of a mermaid book. It's solid fantasy, as opposed to paranormal romance, taking place in an old-fashioned alternate-world Italy. Esmerine, a mermaid and newly appointed siren, uses her ability to form human legs when she goes above the water's surface to search for her older sister, who has gone missing. The only person she can turn to for help is Alandare, a winged boy, her childhood best friend... and perhaps more than that.

Detailed fashion descriptions, charming dialogue, and rich and imaginative worldbuilding all add up to a lovely read. Esmerine is a strong character with a lot of determination, and the gradually blossoming romance between her and Alandare is enchanting.

And a there's a bookshop!

The bookshop scenes will bring a smile to any book lover's face-- Alandare is hilariously snobbish about his customers' reading choices. In contrast, Esmerine turns out to be delightfully skillful at recommending a good read, and it's adorable.

Oh, and for anyone suffering from sequel-itis with all the trilogies out there these days, you'll be glad to note that this book stands satisfyingly alone.

We have a great interview with Jackie at Authors are ROCKSTARS!, so be sure to give it a listen, and pick up her books if you haven't already.