Some Suggestions for Summer

If you are looking for some good reads for the summer try one of these favourites of mine:


"Eragon" by Christopher Paolini - I loved reading this book about a young boy and his dragon fighting the evil emporer with the help of elves and dwarves.


"Terrier" by Tamora Pierce - and of course follow this with "Bloodhound". A young police woman who uses a bit of magic to help solve crimes in the slums of her city.

"Warrior Heir" by Cinda Williams Chima - and "Wizard Heir" and finally "Dragon Heir". Like Twilight without vampires.

"Montmorency - Thief, Liar, Gentleman" - by Eleanor Updale. A criminal who steals by day and is a gentleman by night.

"Mimus" - by Lilli Thal - a young prince who is turned into a "fool" by an enemy king.

Keeper

As the World Cup fever is running rampant I put out a display of, you got it, soccer books, non-fiction and fiction. My favourite is "Keeper" by Mal Peet. This is a wonderful surreal book about a young boy growing up in the rainforest of South America who one day wanders upon a mysterious soccer field and a more mysterious coach who trains him to become the greatest goalkeeper ever known. The ending does indeed tie things together to explain how and why this has magically happened. I don't know soccer but I loved this book.

What are you reading today?

The Chronicles of Prydain

I have had these books on my shelves for years and years and thought they looked good but was so busy reading new books I never found the time to read these old ones. I am talking about Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series beginning with "The Book of Three" followed by "The Black Cauldron", "Taran Wanderer, "The Castle of Llyr" and finally Newberry Award winner "The High King". I read 4 out of the 5 simply because I forgot to bring one home!
I liked them. Do they compare with "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini? Not quite but I do think they were the forerunner of very good fantasy literature. They are more simple in storyline and telling but I really liked the main character, an assistant pig keeper named Taran who, at the beginning of the series, is this young, brash, idealistic boy intent on setting his mark on the world fighting evil. Along the way he attracts friends such as a feisty princess, a bard, a small hairy creature, some dwarfs, and a prince to name just a few and gains in knowledge of himself and his world. His common sense prevails as he gets himself and others into all sorts of problems. The last book was the hardest to read as the last battle is the hardest and some dear friends are sacrificed.

What are you reading today?

A Few So-So Books Not To Read

I was asked recently if I write about books I don't like and to be truthful I don't usually but I will today. I have read a few this past month that I simply didn't like for a variety of reasons. However, I do realize that everyone is different and please let me know if you like them.

First up "The Underneath" by K. Appelt. This was even a Newberry Honor book and I saw it on another Teacher-Librarians list and it was a "must have" at Vancouver Kidsbooks. With great anticipation I began this book about a group of kittens, their mother and a bloodhound who live underneath the house of a sadistic man to escape his abuse. Also brought into the equation is a snake imprisoned for a thousand years in a jar. Enough said. While I recognize the beauty of the language, some images were too vivid, events too disturbing for me with the storyline distracting as it jumps around. I skipped through to know the ending but could not dwell on the passages in between.

Another I thought was too..... was "The Unknowns; A Mystery" by Benedict Carey. Geometry was the key to solving the mystery of the disappearing people on this tiny island that housed a power plant. While solving mathematical equations is interesting there was not enough action to keep me going. I limped to the finish just because I wanted to find out the end but even that was not as satifying as I thought it could be.

And a third, "A Hidden Magic" by Vivian Vande Velde. This is an author whom I have come to really like. Her books such as "Heir Apparent", "Three Good Deeds", "Never Trust a Dead Man" are all good. I was excited to pick up this book to read over the weekend. Nope - I didn't get it. Oh I know it is a play on fairy tales etc. but just found it to be so so-so. When there are so many good ones I did not want to waste anyone's time on so so ones so into the recycling it went.

What are you reading today?

Thanks for letting me know you are reading "The 39 Clues" - It is hugely popular in my school and I have read part of the first book and would like to get back to the series - maybe this summer! Is the story good or just all the cards and gimmicks?