Exciting Adventure

I have had this book "Middleworld" Book 1 of The Jaguar Stones by J & P Voelkel sitting beside my bed for a while now but just picked it up to read last night. I wasn't sure if it was my type of book. The cover looks like an adventure story and I have read a few recently and they were just ok. But I must have liked this one as I did not put it down till I finished it tonight. It is quite a ride - very unbelievable but fun and exciting - just like Indiana Jones. Max is a 14 year old who is whisked off to the land of the Mayans after his archaeologist parents disappear there. Very strange things are happening, one of which is the theft of a rare object, one of the five Jaguar stones, that is about to be illegally sold. Max decides to follow the thief and get back the stone but instead gets wrapped up in ancient myths and prophecies. A Mayan girl named Lola helps him maneuver the jungle and its inhabitants and helps him escape from a very determined and evil Spaniard who is after him. Would you believe two howler monkeys play an important and amusing part? This book is chockablock full of Mayan facts and history and is quite fascinating the way it weaves pyramids, sacrifices and secret tunnels into the story.

What are your reading today?

Forest Born

I just had to read the fourth book in the series The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale titled "Forest Born". It leads you a dance with hints here and there of what is happening with Rin, sister of Razo. She is desperate to leave her forest as she is sure something is very wrong with her and the trees, which have always been her comfort, have turned against her. She accompanies her brother back to live in the palace hoping to find peace from her problems. Before she knows it Rin is swept up in an adventure with The Fire Sisters (as she calls Queen Isi, Enna and Lady Dasha) to the land of Kel where an old nemesis wants them all dead. Rin manages to finally understand her gifts and uses them in dealing with the mystery that encompasses them. Shannon Hale is a beautifully poetic writer - her books let us enter this imaginary world where evil and romance dwell side by side

What are you reading today?

After "The Thief"

After I re read "The Thief" by Megan Whalen Turner I had to re read "The Queen of Attolia" and "The King of Attolia". I purchased new copies so the covers look up to date! Well, I still like them as much as I remembered but I think for the very good reader. In the second book Gen heads back to Attolia where he is caught by its Queen and she cannot let this thief get the better of her! The worst punishment for a thief is not death but the cutting off of his right hand. He is sent back to Eddis where it takes him a long time to come to terms with his disability. However, he finally regains his strength and his determination to help his Queen of Eddis in the politics of war with its neighbouring countries. Gen has a very fascinating plan and, while things do not go smoothly, I think you will love the ending. And of course "The King of Attolia" follows and this is also one not to miss. Things are always not as they seem and you have to see through this to see what is really happening. Sounds confusing? I love it!

What are you reading today?

One for Older Readers

I am getting a head start on next year's Young Reader's Choice Award nominees and have just finished reading a Gordon Korman book called "The Juvie Three". Three young men are in juvenile detention centres for crimes they have committed but receive a second chance when they are chosen for an experimental halfway house in New York City. Two of the boys relish this opportunity but one sees it as a way to continue on his road of crime. An accident leads to unexpected events; their councillor is hurt and finally wakes up with amnesia, not knowing who he is or who the boys are. The boys are faced with decisions on what they should do; go on with their lives trying to stay out of trouble till his memory returns or take off. What would you do?

What are you reading today?

One for Young Readers

I am always looking for some good books for our younger readers in Grades 2,3 and 4. I have just finished reading "Dear Hound" by Jill Murphy and thought it had an engaging main character, a young deerhound named Alfie who has run off and is lost in the woods, and his two unlikely supporters, Fixit and Sunset, who are foxes who take him under their wings. Alfie's owner is trying desperately to find him but is always just missing him as he heads back to the woods to hide out. Just as we think things are going to be okay another twist happens. Try it and let me know.

What are you reading today?

One Good Deed

Actually it is Three Good Deeds! This is the title of a wonderful book by Vivian Vande Velde for younger readers about a young boy, Howard, who is turned into a duck by a witch because he was mean. Three good deeds is all it will take to turn him back into himself but that process is not easy when you are a duck! Funny and yet heartwarming - you will love it!

What are you reading today?

Some Great Books!

It's been a while but I have been reading some great books to write about. I am currently re- reading the series the begins with 'The Thief" by Megan Whalen Turner, a Newberry Honor book in 1997. I remember it being good and have recommended it over the years but could not remember the details. A 4th book in the series was recently published and after reading it realized I had to go back to fill in the blanks. It was as good as I had remembered it. It was definitely for an advanced reader, one to infer the subtleties that a good author includes in a well paced plot. The first book introduces us to Gen, a thief who is caught bragging about a recent theft of the seal ring of a Magus in the kingdom of Sounis. Imprisoned, starved, beaten and then released into the care of the Magus who now has a very special assignment for him; to steal Hamiathe's Gift, a special stone hidden away for centuries. This Gift enables its owner the right to give it to the person who is to be the ruler of Eddis and the King of Sounis wants that and to make the Queen of Eddis his own. The adventure begins and Gen proves himself to be skillful and resourceful and a respected companion for the Magus as they trade myths and stories of their gods. What appears to be a simple adventure ends up not to be so simple at all. It has a wonderful ending that puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and leaves you wanting the next chapter, The Queen of Attolia followed by the King of Attolia. They all have these wonderful twists and that is why I am so enamored of this series.

What are you reading today?