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?

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?